Chapter 3-7 (POV Fred)

George yelps, plunging his hands into the snowbank while the burning hunk of plastic falls from his hands. The snow sizzles and steams in his hand, which is bright pink with burns. I look down at my own hands and pull off the gloves I'm wearing- they're burned too, but nothing serious. I pull George up and we laugh, comparing our battle wounds.

"Not so fun, is it, eh?" I ask him with a shove. He shoves right back, but we don't let it escalate, lest we set off an explosion of tampered-with snow globes. Dad had millions of them back home, they were cheap and easy to get a hold of, even in the Wizarding World. We had had ideas back at the Burrow- crazy inventions and the like, but this was our first time really trying something. We were attempting to creating snow globes that, when shaken, actually make it snow out. In the winter it was an innocent enough product to test, we figured. Problem was, my charms were a little off- instead of snow, when we shook the globes they burst into flames. Hence the burns.

"Once we show Cas, she'll know right what to do," I tell George, but he isn't so hopeful. Cas and Jo are both gone- went home for the holidays. I don't much mind being at the castle, especially since it gives me and George plenty of alone time. I love the girls and having them around, but it's rarely ever just me and my twin anymore. This is refreshing, to me at least. George is perpetually hung up on the gossip of first years in his House.

"I don't know where they're getting it from, Fred. I mean, really? Them two? Dating? It's absurd," he tells me for the millionth time.

"If it's so absurd, why d'ya care so much, then?" I throw back, a little annoyed. He hasn't stopped complaining about this rumor that's been going around since the first Quidditch match of the year- people've been saying that Oliver, the Gryffindor Keeper, is dating Jo. Everyone knows Quidditch teams are a tight knit group, and yeah, everyone's noticed that for a third year Jo gets a lot of respect and attention from some upperclassmen, but I still find it ridiculous to think they're dating. She wouldn't do that-not to George. Between her own good nature and Cas's bizarre drive to get them together, it would never happen, especially without any of us knowing. Unfortunately I'm having trouble convincing George of this.

"Wouldn't you be bothered? Say if Cas were dating someone? Don't tell me you wouldn't be pissed," he challenges, and I'm a little taken aback. Honestly I had never thought of it- of Cas dating. She doesn't much seem like the type to have a boyfriend or go out on dates or anything like that.

"I wouldn't care," I retort, trying to sound calm but coming off defensive, even in my mind. But honestly, why would I care? I shouldn't care, it's none of my business, the same way Jo and Oliver's relationship isn't George's.

"So you don't care then that she's been poking about with a certain Quidditch commentator?" George baits. I scoff.

"Lee? Really, George? Cas isn't the kind to take a boyfriend, 'specially not a Gryffindor, and even more especially not someone so into to Quidditch," I tell him. His eyebrows raise up in slightly surprised amusement.

"Didn't realize you cared so much, Fred. Maybe you should have a talk with Lee then about it," he says. I refuse to believe it. Cas and Lee- them together- it's not a thing.

"Hey, I gotta idea, then. A wager maybe. You 'n me switch spots tonight at dinner- you wear my robes, I wear yours. Lee's stayed here for Holidays too- you can ask him yourself, or just hang about and hear the gossip. Whatever you like, but I know I'm right," George offers.

We shake on it and right there in the open we peel off our wet robes and take off our new Christmas sweaters that mum knit us- a red one with a 'G' for George, and a green one with an 'F' for me. It's a little weird, mum never made green sweaters before. Not that all of them were red, but usually they kept away from colors from the other Houses. The green is just...well, even after three years in Slytherin it's going to take some getting used to.

We switch colors and identities and spend the rest of the afternoon playing catch- or rather, dodge- the flammable snow globes. We decide to stop after George nearly pegs my head with a flying fireball, leaving me with singed hair. We go back into the castle when time for dinner comes, we split up in the Great Hall. I go to one side of the room and sit with the Gryffindors, and George goes to be with my House.

I'm immediately and overwhelmingly aware of how much I don't belong with these people. Maybe three years ago I would have. Probably. Everyone's voices, they're conversation, it's sounds like me- like me a George. Loud and happy, a proper mixture of serious and lighthearted talk. Three years ago I could have thrived here. But I look back to my table, to the see of black and green, where half the conversations are whispered, the things that make them excited don't resolve themselves in shouts but in raised eyebrows and furious dialogues kept under a certain volume.

But right now I'm not Fred, not a Slytherin. I'm George. A Gryffindor. I love the shouting and raising of voices, the playful shoving and such. Lee sits down next to me and I stiffen a bit- this is it, the telling time. Can I pull it off, pass for George? I don't say anything and stare down into my food.

"Oi, George, where've you been all day? Didn't see you at all," Lee asks while pulling as much food as he can grab onto his plate.

"Uhh, uh well, I've been...just, uh with Fred," I stutter nervously, still avoiding eye contact with Lee.

He laughs, prompting me to look up at him. He's smiling into his food, not suspecting anything. Okay, this is good. I can keep going- prove George wrong. But how do I bring it up- Jo or Cas? How would George do it?

"Ugh, I can't bloody take the first years anymore," Lee says suddenly.

"Oh?" I pipe up, deciding not to push anything; to just let Lee talk.

"Yeah, I mean, I love the attention and all, and obviously I'm the best commentator Hogwarts has seen in a long time, but I mean- give me some space, right?" He complains. I just nod and let him keep going, "Like- how should I know if Jo and Oliver are dating? I mean- I do know, but still," he laughs again.

"Hmm?"

"What?"

"Well, are they?" I ask, and Lee nearly spits out his food. He's coughing for almost a minute and I slap him on the back until he grabs a glass of water and gets himself under control.

"Are you alright?!" I ask.

"Ha, are you kidding, man? Best joke I've heard all week. As if Jo and Oliver would actually be dating- I mean, it's fun to gossip about but it's all complete rubbish! And you of all people know that best, eh George?"

"Right, right," I mutter. We eat in silence for a few minutes, Lee chuckling occasionally about what was apparently a very good joke. I still don't get it. So they're not dating, and apparently everyone who's got a head on their shoulders thinks the idea of it is ridiculous. That's good. George'll owe me on that. I guess my job is done, technically...unless I want to ask about Cas. Which I don't- I mean, it doesn't matter to me. I could get up right now, walk away and switch back with George. It would be that easy.

"So, how was it then, with you and Fred today? It must be hard, man, having your twin be Slytherin," Lee says as I'm preparing to get up. I stop myself. It's fate, I guess.

"Uh, it was good. He was, uh, talking about Cas...sidy. Cassidy. Yeah," I catch myself. George never calls her Cas. Usually I don't mind, even think it's kinda funny how much it bothers her, but right now I'm finding it kind of annoying myself.

"Oh, 's that so?"

"Mhmm."

"Little awkward, ain't it?"

"Why's that then?" I ask.

"I mean, weren't you think of moving in on her a bit ways back?"

Now it's my turn to spit and cough and nearly choke. George? Moving in on Cas? No. No way.

"No!" I nearly shout.

"Okay, okay. No need to get upset. Just thought I remembered you saying the two of you were actually gonna try being friendly is all."

I give him a little smile through my food and we just sink back into silence for a minute.

"Well, I mean, no offense but I guess I'm kinda glad you're not making a move," he says, quieter than usual.

"Oh?" I ask.

"Yeah, I mean- I was just..."

"Are you thinking of trying something with her?" I ask, more than a little aggressively. He looks down and away and I feel my hand clenching my fork. I didn't- I didn't mean it like that or anything. I'm not angry, why should I be?

"Well, no it's like- well, she and I are friends, but not...it's not like...I was thinking of Fred, actually," he spits out. I'm stunned for a second, but I can't tell whether he's being serious or not. He sounded defensive, panicked, but...what if he was serious?

"Fred?" I ask him.

"Yeah, sure...I mean, doesn't- doesn't Fred like Cas?"

"I, uh, I don't know. It's...possible, maybe, I guess."

"Eh, it's not important, let's drop it," he tries, and starts talking about Quidditch. This is dangerous territory if he starts taking or asking about the Gryffindor team. I'm good at bullshitting, but not that good. First chance I get I stand up, telling him I got to go. He waves me off and I look towards the Slytherin table. I nod at George and I see him get out. We rendezvous in an empty hallways and switch back robes and any House related.

"So?" George asks me.

"So, you owe me," I tell him. His face lights up. I'm not so excited about.

"Ha! So no Jo and Oliver? No Cas and Lee? Damn, how much I owe you? Any amount, you just say," he offers, but I'm not that easy.

"How about an explanation."

"What?"

"Explain to me why Lee is under the impression you're planning on putting the moves on Cas."

Silence.

"...That-that's...that's ridiculous, Fred. I don't- I mean, I wanna be friendly with Cas, that's all. It's just...okay...see- Jo's being kinda distant recently. She's always on about Oliver and Cas is kinda, well, she's a little more there, ya know?"

"Fine, okay."

"Wait."

"What?"

"I thought you said you didn't care."

"I...no, I..."