The twins escorted me onto the train, all of us talking and laughing as they filled me in on the goings on at home, and how the family was doing. Apparently they had gone to the quidditch cup, or the wizarding cup, I really wasn't well versed in wizard events. I'd met the whole Weasley clan once in Diagon alley, they had been getting their books signed by one of our old professor's, I can't remember his name but he left before the term ended, out of the blue and nobody ever heard from him again. But I had met his mother and father, who were the most adorable married couple I'd ever seen, and I also formally met Ginny Weasley for the first time, and from there on we became very good friends despite my being a few years older. I'd been very impressed at her standing up to the infamous Draco Malfoy, and from there on decided I was adopting her as my little sister. I'd always wanted a sibling after all.

The train was very crowded and I nervously toyed with one of my earrings, smiling politely at people I recognized, but overall I was just trying to make it through without tripping over anyone like I'd done in my second year.

Since we were rather early we found an empty compartment towards the middle of the train, and made ourselves comfortable. I kept Barney in his crate next to me against the wall, hoping he would calm down soon. His growling was starting to give me a headache, and he managed to catch Freds attention, which in hindsight isn't that hard to do.

"Aw, why don't you let the poor guy out Gracey, I'm sure once you let him out he'll be right as rain." Fred said confidently, reaching over to the latch as I slapped his hand away.

"no way, he's in a nasty mood and will destroy the place. It took me forever to get him in here, and he's not leaving until we get to the castle." I grumbled, eyeing the growling cage warily as though he would burst through the little door at any moment.

"don't be such a worry wart, I'll put him right back in once we get to Hogwarts." Fred retaliated, once again making a daring move towards the cage.

I blocked the cage with both arms and kicked him in the shin as hard as I could manage, there was no way in hell that Barney was getting out of his cage in this little space while he still probably held a grudge against me. Fred took the opportunity to poke me in the side with his wand, making me jump up and squeak in surprise as the twins doubled over laughing and I tumbled clumsily to the floor.

"That was not funny you ass!" I shrieked, kicking him and George repeatedly in the legs while they laughed at my misfortune.

"Aw, I'm sorry love, let me help you." Fred said between laughs. He reached down and grabbed my hand, and in a fit of anger I tugged as hard as I could and pulled him down with me. He landed with a thud next to me, and I began to tickle him without mercy. We were rolling around laughing and pinching each other until George finally intervened.

"well don't you two look like a lovely couple." He said with a grin.

I stopped what I was doing to catch my breath, tears rolling down my cheeks from laughing so hard, and felt my face redden faster than a firebolt as I realized what a compromising position we were in. my legs wrapped around his torso in what was meant to hold him still while I attacked, his body over mine, face nestled in the crook of my neck and hands on either side of me.

"Get off you big lug." I managed to squeak out as I released him, wiping the tears off my cheeks and propped myself up on my shoulders, giving him my best death glare which most likely wasn't even the least bit intimidating.

"I'm quite comfortable actually, and the view just can't be beaten." He answered cheekily, and I could feel my chest tighten and cheeks burn even more. I shoved him off with as much strength as I could muster and scooted into a proper seated position against the door, fixing my hair which I was sure was all over the place and frizzy. Afterall the work I'd put into it that morning too, how depressing.

"You're such a weirdo Freddy." I replied, regaining my composure, hoping my reddened face went unnoticed. Or at the very least looked like a healthy blush.

"I'm sure it was just as enjoyable for you as it was for me." He answered, getting up off the floor and sitting back on the bench next to his brother, reaching out to me and helping me get up.

I huffed and sat back down next to Barneys cage, realizing that the hissing and growling was finally over. Maybe there wouldn't be too much mayhem releasing him into the dorms later.

We all sat and continued to chat, laughing and joking until finally we were joined by Lee and Angelina. Angelina sat right next to me after we hugged and squealed after having not seen each other all summer. I said hi to Lee as well, although truthfully he had always been more of the twins friend than mine, but he was always good for a laugh and he always let me sit next to him when he was announcing at the quidditch games.

"How was your summer Grace? Did you go see your mom's family?" Angelina asked, excited to here about my trip to America.

"I did, it was really cool, although a bit of a culture shock, but really not that different than London. Although, the entire time my bobe kept asking if id meet some of the nice Jewish boys in the neighborhood." I said with a laugh.

"Bobe?" Angelina asked, not familiar with Yiddish or as my cousins lovingly called it, the official language of queens.

"It means grandmother." I said simply, always forgetting that not only were my friends were from wizarding families but that Yiddish wasn't as openly used here and wizards didn't really have a traditional religion.

"I love these little vocabulary lessons." She said with a laugh, saying the word a few times out loud.

We continued chatting about our summers and what we had accomplished, when the train finally departed, and Katie ran in out of breath, always late. Ever since I first met her in first year, Katie had yet to ever arrive on time to anything, it was quite astonishing really, but at least she was committed to something.

"Hey guys, you wouldn't believe the hell I went through to find all of you." she said, plopping herself down on the bench, breathing heavily as though she had just finished a particularly vigorous duel.

"I bet we wouldn't believe it either." I said with a grin, earning a glare in return.

"We can't all be prompt and perfect like you." She said, closing her eyes and leaning back into the seat to get comfortable.

"I know, I've learned to understand though." I said smiling, as she opened her eyes to grin back at me.

We had a very rocky friendship, not that we seriously fought or ever disliked each other, but we were frank and honest, both of us having very strong personalities.

Angelina was to me like a blanky to a baby. She was there to always comfort me and calm me down. In return I kept her constantly entertained. Together we were an interesting group, especially when the boys were involved.

Speaking of the boys, as Angelina and Katie began to talk to each other, I snuck a look at Fred, and felt my chest tighten. He was my best friend, as was George, but of the two he was more out going, he initiated the pranks and jokes and activities, George contributed and was just as much if not more than an evil genius than Fred, but he and I really clicked, we were both opinionated and playful and while George tended to be more polite and stick up for me, Fred wasn't afraid to pick on me and treat me like an equal and I loved it. In fact, id realized it last year, but I loved him. Maybe not love, I'm only 16 so maybe I don't know what true love is, although my parents were 17 and 18 when they got married, and in the wizarding world it was fairly typical for younger witches and wizards to marry early and fall in love. But who knows, maybe it's just a crush. Perhaps I'm just a silly child still.

He started to turn towards me and I quickly turned my attention to Angelina and Katie, trying to figure out was being discussed so I could join in. the idea of him knowing I was staring at him was terrifying, like one look into my eyes would be like waving a flashing sign saying "I like you! Like me back! I'm pretty sure I freaking love you, you big idiot!"

Eventually I joined in the discussion, and the train ride was filled with jokes and games of exploding snap. The train ride had to be my favorite part of the Hogwarts experience, or at least it was in the top five. I always hoped that rides would last forever, but just as it always did, it ended and we finally reached Hogwarts.

The view of the castle and its grounds always left me temporarily speechless, which anyone who knows me or has talked to me for five minutes would know is a very rare and unusual thing to happen. The beautiful rolling hills to one side, a glittering lake to the other, the only way to describe it was magical.

We ended up having to split up for the carriages, and Fred and I managed to score one for ourselves, although I felt slightly guilty seeing little second years struggling to find carriages.

"I really missed you this summer love, and of course I missed Barney." Fred began, looking around at the scenery, also swept up in the mystical properties of the view.

"I missed you too Freddy, there really is nothing that can replace you and Georgey." I said in return, smiling up at him. the moon on his skin was a view of its own.

"You should visit us next summer, mum loves having visitors." He said, looking over at me with a lazy grin on his face.

"hm, I guess I can consider it, but you'll have to be very nice to me." I answered with a wink, lifting my legs and putting my feet in his lap.

"Nice to you? You're the one always abusing me, love." He said, feigning a hurt expression and resting his hand on my shins.

"That's complete bullshit." I stated, nudging him in the stomach with my other foot.

"Language please, miss. You're corrupting my innocent young mind" he said, wagging his finger at me in a scolding manner.

"Me? Corrupt you? Where did you get this wild imagination Freddy!" I said with a laugh, feeling familiar butterflies in my stomach as he lazily traced circles on my leg where his hand was.

I loved how comfortable we were with each other, where we could just sit and talk about nothing, sure I could talk with all my friends, but with Fred I could just relax. I recalled when I dated Oliver Wood for a month the year before. I cared for him of course, and I enjoyed truly our time together, but we were never totally comfortable around each other. I blame myself partially as id never had a boyfriend before and was guarded, but he was also always totally focused on quidditch. I wondered what it would be like to be with Fred.

"Grace? You there?" I was startled from my thoughts as Fred called to me, jabbing my legs.

"We're here Gracey, figured I'd tell you since it looks like it's going to rain." He said with a smile.

"Well aren't you such a gentleman." I answered coyly, pulling my feet off of his lap and following him off of the carriage.

Even the walk to the castle wasn't silent, as it never was when it came to us, we could talk for days on end and still find new things to discuss. There was nothing quite like it.

FREDS POV

I discreetly watched Grace climb down from the carriage, enjoying the view. She was always ideal for me. Those insanely blue eyes of hers. They could light up my day or have so much anger they could freeze my soul. And when I hugged her she fit into my arms like I was made for her specifically.

And as she walked the swaying of her hips was enough to do me in right there. I mean, she's my best friend, these are not thoughts that I should be having about her.

Id thought about asking her out many times, but the time was never right, and things were great now so why change things?

And of course I'm just her friend, shed never signaled that she wanted anything more from me. I mean there were glances and when we touched she seemed to like it as much as I did, but those really aren't enough to risk what we have.

Are they?

GRACES POV

We finally reached the great hall, and I separated from Fred to say hello to Hermione, I'd met her the year before in the library when she saw me struggling with my charms essay. With her help I managed to get the highest grade in my class.

I quickly rejoined my group, and waited for the sorting to begin. Although, looking up at the teachers table I could see, something was up, and even Dumbledore had an extra twinkle in his eye. But what caught my attention the most, was the empty seat where the dark arts professor should be. Things were definitely going to be intense this year. I could feel it.

SQUEE finally done! Figured id squeeze in a little fred thought in there…..im always curious about what's going on in other peoples minds when I read… and I cant take credit for the chest thing, one of my friends said that the other day and I thought it was beautiful….just beautiful…just remember kiddies, the more reviews I get the faster each chapter gets put up, also, if you want to see something happen or have an idea let me know, id like this story to be the best it can be. Also I promise things will get more interesting soon! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!