©Sunrisepainter: Because of Snape

Friends Are Like Wands

The seventh graders of Gryffindor had a free period after lunch. While most of them spend their time in the common room in front of the chimney, Hope crouched down between two great piles of books and tried to find out more about the mysterious herb which she and Fred needed for their love potion. However, she could not stay focused for long. After she actually read the same line for five times in a row, she forcefully closed the book. Sighing she rested her head on her hands and soon was lost in thoughts.

She somehow had been afraid of Fred as he was threatening her the day before. His grip had been quite firmly and as he had been talking it felt like a cold wind blew right into her face. She did not know what she was supposed to do if she would meet him next time. Somehow, they had to work together on their potion. Alone. In the dungeons.

Severus Snape told them this morning that their class room was available for them as long as no lesson took place. This rule also applied to the storeroom for ingredients. The potion had to be prepared within three month.

Hope had taken another look on their list of ingredients and she had realized that some of the ingredients were really hard to get. She even never heard of some of them, like for example Cyrillus which was some kind of rare herb. Perhaps her teacher for Herbology, Professor Sprout, could tell her more because she knew that Snape would never help them.

"Hello Hope."

The girl raised her head.

It's him again!, she thought and gave him a grim glance.

"How are you going to get on my nerves this time, McLaggen?"

"I won't! I just wanted to know what you're doing here."

She looked at him suspiciously but his expression was earnest and sincere.

"I'm reading!" she hissed. He smirked:

"To me it didn't look like reading, though."

"You know, McLagge, just leave me alone!" With that, she grasped a pile of books and staggered away. However, McLaggen was more persistent than she thought. he followed her and took some of her books off her arms.

"Need a hand, my Lady?",

She growled threateningly but didn't say anything.

"Where do you want the books taken to?", he asked and looked at the book cover of the one lying on top of the pile, "Medical herbs and magic plants. Well, I guess this belongs into the Herbology Section, right?"

"Wow, you're such a genius", she rolled her eyes and pushed the first book back in its usual place. Cormac laughed:

"Yeah, I am."

"Show-off!"

"Okay, perhaps I'm a little conceited, too."

What? Did McLaggen just admitted to be a bragger? being all shocked, Hope let go of the books in her hands but she didn't pay attention to it and instead just stared at him.

Smirking he got down on his knees and started to pick up her books.

"I'm quite aware of my shortcomings although none of you would have thought", he said without looking up, "and I know very well that I appear to be quite cocky sometimes!"

"Indeed", Hope mumbled and also knelt down to help him.

"Do you really think I'm conceited?", he asked. She hesitated for a moment before she answered honestly:

"Yes, maybe you're not as bad as Malfoy but annoying!" he couldn't refrain from grinning.

"Well, sometimes I can be a real jerk, I guess. At least when I'm around girls I like."

Hope remained silent. What could she probably say in this awkward situation?

"How can I persuade you that I'm not a complete jerk?", he wondered playfully.

"I don't know", she couldn't hide her insecurity at all.

"But I do", he snapped his fingers, "how about accompanying me to Hogsmead this afternoon?" She was uncertain how to answer. Absolutely uncertain.

"I'm sorry, McLaggen, I have to study."

"What a pity!", he sounded really disappointed.

"I actually wanted to prove to you that I'm different than you think!"
She bit her bottom lip. In the meantime, they were able to but every single book back in its place. Hope stood in front of him with her head lowered and didn't know what to say any more.

"So, see you!", Cormac finally said and slightly smiled.

"Yeah, see you", she mumbled, "and thank you for...bringing back the books." He grinned:

"No problem!" With that said he turned around and walked away.

"Cormac?", Hope hurried after him.

"Yeas?", he looked at her questionably.

"Well..you see...I...actually I guess I really need a day off sometimes and...would...would you still go to Hogmead with me?" His face lit up:

"Of course, I wouldn't have asked you in the first place otherwise, would I? When should I pick you up?"

"How about at three o'clock in the entrance hall?"

"Great! I'll see you then! I'm so happy!", he smiled for the last time and finally disappeared. Hope stayed a little longer in the library. She was confused because she actually had a date with Cormac McLaggen! Sometimes she wondered if she was mentally deranged or something like this. However, there was no bailing out now.

And who know, maybe it won't be so bad", she thought but it did not sound convincing at all.

In the meantime, Fred and George did not have a clue about Cormac getting closer to win their bet. They eagerly made plans for their joke shop which they dreamt of for quite a while now. Thanks to Harry, they were closer to their dream than ever.

"You see, this shop in the Diagon Alley looks proper", George stated and skimmed through the description one more time.

"260 square metre for the shop and another 180 square metre of living space for the two of us. That's something we can work with, right?"

"Not bad", Fred agreed., "however, the shop in the Knockturn Alley tempts me much more."

"It's cheap but Mom would kill us", George grinned.

"You're so right. Additionally, there would hardly be any customers. I mean, what kind of parents would let their children shop in the Knockturn Alley?"

"Death Eather parents?"

"Sure, maybe even you-know-who himself", Fred laughed.

"Goodness knows, perhaps he needs a new set of stink bombs to scare some muggles?"

Thinking about his absurd idea, both of them burst out laughing.

"Hey, what are you laughing about?", Lee walked in.

"Oh, we were just thinking bout how amusing it would be to throw some stink bombs at Malfoy", Fred lied. Even though Lee was their friend, they did not tell him about their plan to open a joke job at all. Lee grinned:

"Great idea! I'm definitely in, but I actually came here to get you. Alicia and Angelina are already getting impatient."

"Okay", George rolled up the newspaper advertisements of the Daily Prophet. They went into the common room together.

"There you are!", Angelina impatiently shifted from one food to another, "I want to leave!"

"Don't always be so demanding, Ange", George mockingly put his arm around her shoulder.

"Leave me alone, Fred! You know that I don't like this", Angelina griped and tried to free herself.

"I'm George."

"Oh, sorry."

"Are you coming or should we wait until it's dark?", Alicia asked sarcastically. She was already in front of the portrait hole.

"Sure." Lee, George and Angelina followed her.

"What's up, Fed?", George turned around to look for his twin.

"Go ahead without me. I still have something to do." He just found someone whom he still owned an apology. George nodded and left with their friends. Fred took a deep breath and walked over to a desk in a more deserted area of the common room.

"Shycates?", he asked softly.

"What?"

He sighed and without further ado occupied the seat across from her.

"I just wanted to apologize. I never meant to offend you this morning", he pointed out. She answered him without lifting her head:

"Great, that means you can leave now."

"So, you're accepting my apology?"

"Thats something I have to think about first. The thing you did this morning was way over the top. Even for your standards, Weasley. Something like that could be expected from someone like Malfoy but I thought that you were different. I guess I overestimated you."

Fred gulped. Her words were harsh but she told the truth.

"I know that we were often at loggerheads in the past and most of the time the for petty reasons. However, I want you to know that today was just a knee-jerk reaction on my side. So, what I'm going to ask you now isn't easy for me and I'm quite sure whether you'll accept my suggestion, but", he paused for a moment, "shouldn't we start anew? I want to make up with you."

Now, Hope raised her head in surprise and eventually had to look him in the eyes. This was probably the last thing she expected him to say.

"You're serious?"
He nodded. She deeply peered at him but he coolly returned her look.

"Very well then!", she said hesitantly, "at least truce." A small smile formed on Fred's lips which passed on to Hope's face.

"By the way, you can call me Fred."

"I'm Hope." They sealed their deal with a handshake.

"So, now that war time is over we can start with our potion tomorrow, can't we?"

"Sure! We absolutely have to talk to Professor Sprout about the Cytrillus after Herbology."
"Let's do it like this!"

"Okay..."

"So..."

"See you and have fun in Hogsmead."

"Thanks...er...good luck...with studying...I guess."

"Thank you."

They smiled at each other once again before Fred hurried away. Hope gathered her stuff and went to the girls dorm while humming to herself. She decided to dress up a little although she was only meeting Cormac McLaggen.

In the meantime Fred could not believe what he did some minutes ago. Actually, he just wanted to apologize to Hope and now...yeah...what was their relationship now? Friends? Acquaintances? Or something in between? Fred did not know but he was positive that life would become less of a hassle from now on. For both of them.

He buried his hands in his pockets and strolled trough the corridors. Somehow, he was in the mood to whistle. How was this song by Celestina Warbeck called which his mother was into?

Wands are like friends.

End of Chapter Eight.