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Here's another chapter!
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After quick hot shower and good scrubbing, Jade walked beck to her room all red from the steam.
"So What are you guys up to?" she asked, sitting down on her bed, still trying to dry her hair with the towel.
"Not much." Said Sue throwing her plush beat in the air and catching it again. "Should we go down for dinner?"
"Yeah, probably, are we supposed to wear school uniform again?" asked Jade jumping up from bed.
"I think so, but relax, we still have plenty of time." Assured her Katie who was braiding her hair in front of the mirror.
It was still raining outside and the sky was almost black but the darkness was quite frequently interrupted by bright lightning, closely followed by thunder.
"This sucks. I don't like rain." Complained Joyce and turned on the Christmas lights which filled their bedroom with soft glow and it instantly looked more cosy.
"What do you say to horror stories before bed?" exclaimed Katie, we could sit on the floor and everyone would tell their favorite one! That should be fun!"
Girls agreed and started to get ready for dinner.
Jade pulled on her white shirt, skirt and robes before finger-combing her hair.
"Ready to go." She announced and run down the stairs, suddenly realizing how hungry she was from all the swimming.
"Wait for us Jade!" laughed Sue as she caught up with Jade and pulled her back by the robes.
"Someone's hungry after swimming?" teased Maddie.
"You know about that?" asked Jade surprised. Did the whole Gryffindor house already knew?
"We saw you running back from the lake with your brothers and you were soaking wet so we figured it wasn't only from rain but now you're busted!" laughed Maddie.
"Did you really go swimming in the lake? The lake?" couldn't believe Sue.
"Well it wasn't planned, or something, we just jumped in and…" Jade wasn't sure what to say. Now it really sounded like crazy idea.
"That's insane." Commented Sue but she sounded impressed.
they walked in the Great Hall and soon after they sat down the food appeared.
All the tables were full of students , apparently dinner really was the official ending of the day.
Loud chiming of silver fork on crystal glass interrupted the chatting of students over dessert and professor Dumbledore walked in front of the teachers' table.
"Please don't let me keep you from eating the delicious pudding, my personal favorite,…" he smiled. "Since we won't have another official dinner together until Monday because as you know the meals during week-ends are free and you might come and go as you wish, I'd like to use this opportunity for one announcement.
It was brought to my attention that we didn't clearly…let you know that swimming in the lake is off limits. My bad, my bed, I apologize. Clearly a lake which might seem like too cold and deep to swim in -to my old mind, is for the youth an inviting place where they wish to swim. That's why we've decided to clarify that swimming in our school lake should be forbidden unless you obtain a spatial permission from the head of your house and have supervision of at least one of your professors."
A wave of giggles and exclamation from unbelieving students erupted in the Great Hall.
"Oh, I assure you that yes, indeed, three of our students found it to be suitable place to cool off during today's extremely hot afternoon, that's why we're telling you now that since tonight the new rule was established. I'm sorry for any future inconvenience this might cause for your planned swimming trips. My apologise, Fred, George, Jade." Bowed Dumbledore and he truly looked sorry.
An explosion of laugher covered the rest of Dumbledore's words so he just turned around and went to finish the plum pudding.
Fred and George looked pleased with the attention they received, it helped their reputation greatly, starting a year with afternoon swim with giant squid was nice addition to their account as mischief-makers but Jade sat on her place with face red like tomato trying to hide from all the comments and teasing, until she realized it was all well meant and people quite liked the story about their little adventure, well, everyone except Percy who was assuring those who would listen that this was not acceptable in their family and not all Weasleys behaved like that.
When the dinner was over girls agreed to meet in their room at nine and they went up to the Gryffindor tower to just relax in the common room.
Jade however hurried over to Hufflepuff table where she saw Deric packing some book back to his school bag.
"Hi! So how was your first day?" asked Jade happy to see her first Hogwards' friend again.
"Well, not as exciting as yours apparently." Laughed Deric who looked even happier that she came to talk to him.
"Hey deric? We'll wait for you in the common room, k?" asked a tall boy with straight brown hair, looking at Jade with interest.
"Alright, I'll be there in a minute." Answered Deric and turned back to Jade.
"I see you have new friends." Teased Jade, remembering how he was worried kids wouldn't like him.
"Well, yeah, they're my roommates." Said Deric as if it was the reason why they were hanging out with him.
"I think they really like you, that boy wouldn't make sure you know they'll wait for you if he was just your roommate. You are friends." Said Jade in a tone which ended any argument on this topic.
"Yeah, right. So…it was nice to see you again…" started Deric and half turned in the direction of the door.
"Sure it was. We'll have transfiguration together on Monday but I wanted to make sure we'll see each other before that." Smiled Jade happily.
"Why?" asked Deric surprised.
"Well, I just thought it would be nice to, catch up, see what's new, I don't know, I thought it could be fine to have a friend from different house… never mind. Maybe you should hurry up, I'm sure your friends are waiting for you." Said Jade feeling a little bit sad, because it seemed that the boy wanted to be friends anymore.
"No, of course…oh, I always say something stupid, sorry. Of course I want to be friends I just wasn't sure why you'd want to… maybe we could get together some time tomorrow?" he asked with hope in his voice.
"Yeah, that would be great, Gryffindor's having Quidditch try-outs in the morning and my brothers are going there so I wanted to watch them, but I'm not sure when that is. How early do you wake up on week-ends?" asked Jade going over her plans for tomorrow in her head.
"What about 7. a.m. ? That's when they start breakfast and we could plan something then – I think teams usually fly early in the morning, so you would have to get up anyways." Smiled Deric.
"Alright, see you at breakfast." Sid Jade and walked in the opposite direction after they said their good-byes.
It was half past eight already and she still wanted to ask Fred and George to tell her some horror story really quick, because she didn't know any.
She found them in the common room, surrounded by a group of their friends, all sitting on the back of two couches they pulled together, creating a little closed circle.
The were laughing really loud and playing exploding snap with what seemed like a pile of knuts. Jade didn't think Molly would be impressed with that but she wasn't going to tell on them.
"Amm, George?" she asked quietly. She was almost sure they couldn't hear her through all the noise from explosions and all the laughing, but they both turned around and jumped out of the couch boot.
"Sorry guys, we win!" called George and put a handful of knuts in his pocket, leaving only two or three for the other winners.
"How can we help you ma'am?" asked Fred, grabbing Jade's hand and kissing her knuckles.
"At your service ma'am" added George and kissed her other hand.
"May I add you've scrubbed yourself splendidly from all the ink but you've missed a spot right here" Fred pointed to a tiny ink blob on the inside of Jade's pinkie finger.
"Well, sir, thank you kindly, I tried my best with the scrubbing." Giggled Jade and pulled her hands out of twins' grip.
"Listen, do you know any good horror stories? We're going to tell them to each other tonight and I don't know any, and you know, I want to fit in." whispered Jade, looking desperate.
We might have something better than horror story for you to fit in like you said." Whispered George back.
What would you say to a little snack? That would make you the favorite story teller of the group without any story." Fred winked at her and they both pulled her out of the common room.
"Horror stories are overrated." Explained Fred as they walked down some corridors where Jade haven't been before.
"Plus, I'm pretty sure you'll only need one or two and the girl who suggested this has it covered." Continued George.
"However, a nice big bowl of popcorn or caramel toffee and few cans of pumpkin juice, that's the real addition to the party." Grinned Fred and tickled a pear on one painting.
HE really just did that. He tickled a pear.
Jade couldn't believe her eyes. The painting swung to the side and behind it was giant room full of little creatures with huge eyes and ears, all wearing some kind of togas made out of tea towels. They all looked extremely busy, carrying around dirty dishes and pots, but when George stopped one of them, he looked happy to be able and help Master George, as he called the boy.
"Minky, would you be so kind and help us get some snacks for tonight? You see, there will be some story telling and we'd love it if you could give us a bowl of some crackers or something. Just something small." Asked Fred.
The elf looked angry for a while. "You won't get anything small here Master Fred. We never do anything small, we create dinners for knights, afternoon tea for the queen, breakfast for professor Dumbledore and epic snack for any story telling party, but never something small, and no crackers here!" exclaimed elf and snapped his fingers.
Suddenly three other elves appeared next to him, carrying big paper boy of hot popcorn with butter, small pack of caramels, one six-packs of pumpkin juice and one of butter beer, end one of them balanced a stack of small plastic cups filled with chocolate ice cream. They had caps on and wouldn't melt until opened, explained the elf, handing Jade five spoons.
"Thank you so much, Minky. You're a treasure." Bowed Fred and waved at the rest of the elves who happily waved back.
"It was our pleasure Master Fred, please come back soon, we enjoy your company very much." The elf bowed back and then turned around rushing the rest of his companions back to work.
Jade was just standing there with open mouth, until George pulled he away.
She was still in shock when they reached the portrait of Fat lady.
"Now, that should be enough snacks for you girls right?" chuckled George but was surprised by Jade pulling them both into hug.
"You're awesome guys! Thank you so much!" she exclaimed and squeezed them even harder.
"That's nice to be appreciated." Laughed Fred. "now, here's my bag, you'll give it back tomorrow. He said and carefully placed all the food in his empty school bag.
"Why do you carry your school bag around?" asked Jade as she slowly swung it over her shoulder.
"It's a habit of ours, you never know what you might find, or what you might need to secretly carry through a common room full of hungry people." Said George patting his own bag.
"You're the best!" said Jade and climbed through the portrait.
"Oh, hey guys? You're going to the team try-outs tomorrow?" she asked remembering the notice on the board.
"Yeah, do you wanna cheer for us?" asked Fred looking hopeful.
"Sure, I'd love to see if you're as good as you claim to be." She chuckled.
"Is it open for everyone or just Gryffindors?"
"Uh-oh, our baby sister has a date!" exclaimed George laughing but Fred looked really serious. "Who is it? Do we know him?"
"Will you stop it! It's not a date, I just want to spend some time with a friend, he's from Hufflepuff, do you think it would be a problem?" asked Jade.
"Nope, try-outs are public, it's only the trainings that Wood tries to keep secret." Said George. "It's at eight, do you think you'll be up by then?"
"Yeah, sure, see you there. And thanks again for…you know." She lifted the bag a little and smiled widely before running up the stairs.
"Hey girls, sorry I'm late." Jade apologized when she entered their bedroom and found them spreading the blanket on the floor while Sue arranger pillows on the sides.
"Finally! We were going to look for you if you didn't come soon. Where were you? I didn't see you in the common room." Asked Maddie, looking a little bit worried.
"Well, you'll be happy that I'm late when you see what I brought with me." Giggled Jade, pulling her PJs top over her head.
She pulled down the blanket from her bed and tucked it around herself after sitting down next to Sue.
Jade opened the bag and pulled out the box of popcorn which was still warm. Then she handed out drinks and finally spoons and ice cream.
"You've got to be kidding me!" squealed Katie in delight when she opened the cap from her ice cream and tasted the chocolate topping.
"You are the best!" they all agreed but Jade explained it was all her brothers' doing and promised to thank them tomorrow.
"Oh, and I'm going to watch the quidditch try-outs tomorrow, and Deric, my friend from Hufflepuff's coming too. Do you wanna join us?" asked Jade already excited
for tomorrow.
"Hmmm, when do they start?" asked Katie still licking the spoon from her ice cream.
"Eight in the morning." Stated Jade simply.
"No way! Sorry but I'm gonna sleep until ten tomorrow and then maybe get up and go for really late breakfast." Laughed Sue.
"Yeah, same here, are you insane to get up that early on Saturday?" asked Maddie shaking her head.
"Well, they are my brothers and I love flying." Shrugged Jade.
"We could meet at half past ten in Great Hall and then go somewhere and write the essay for history of magic." Suggested Katie.
"Yeah, sounds good." Everyone agreed.
"Now enough with school already. Are you prepared for the scare of your life?" asked Katie with deep voice and turned off the lights, leaving only her wand to illuminate her face from below.
"It was late, stormy night and five girls were sitting on the floor, surrounded by darkness…"