Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Aftermath

There were a few tense and dramatic seconds where time seemed to halt. And all there was to focus on was me pointing my wand at Lockhart. At least it had stopped raining. Otherwise, that would have made everything even more thematic.

Everything else faded into the background; Adrian calling my name in worry, the crowd of people, including Fred, escorting Harry to the hospital wing, and the Slytherin quidditch team standing behind me. The only thing I was focused on was Lockhart. At first, he stood still with his hands held close to himself. But then, like a camera lens that couldn't focus, Lockhart began to change. I thought I was imagining it. It was something with his eyes. They were still as blue as always. But something was leaking in. A sort of… malicious that made my skin crawl. I couldn't put my finger on it. On why Lockhart suddenly appeared this way instead of his carefully crafted good-natured image he clung to. I didn't get to question it either.

Not when the eye contact Lockhart and I were both making was interrupted by uproarious laughter. Like a group of fraternity brothers embarking on a pub crawl, the uninjured members of Slytherin's quidditch team were howling. While I didn't turn around to look at them, their amusement weakened my resolve. My elbow loosened and my magic calmed, but I didn't lower my wand. Lockhart gawked at me; mouth hanging open as what I thought I had seen in his eyes vanished. He began to act as if no one had ever dared to point their wands at him before. "M-miss Weasley", he finally forced out in a stutter; placing both of his hands on his hips, elbows sticking out in false bravado. "This mistrust is completely unfounded". One of the quidditch players behind me snorted; not even trying to be discreet. Lockhart said all that like he hadn't just deboned Harry's arm. A true daydreamer, this one.

I didn't get the chance to retort or even think about my next move. Threatening members of staff with magical assault was a new experience for me and I hadn't planned any of this out beforehand. Madam Hooch bustled over with an expression that suggested just how done she was with today. "Wand away, Weasley", she barked as she pushed past Lockhart "No one will be vanishing any more bones today", she said with a glare to her fellow instructor as she came closer, stopping once she was looming over me and Adrian. "Right, Pucey. You took a bludger to the ribs. Try not to move", Hooch took control, sprouting out orders and unwavering expectations like a drill sergeant. She pulled out her own wand as I stood up, and stepped away from Adrian, even though that was a hard thing to do. Because of my stupid plan, George and gotten purposely hurt, and Adrian was accidentally hurt. And there was little I could do to lessen the damage. As guilt swirled around in my gut, I lowered my wand and placed it back into my robe pocket. "I'm going to levitate Mr. Pucey to the hospital wing", Hooch called over her shoulder to Lockhart. "If you want to help, clear the way". And just like that, with Lockhart being occupied Adrian was in safe hands being escorted off the pitch, a crisis was averted. Leaving me alone with turbulent thoughts and my boyfriend's teammates…. Bloody perfect.

As if they were scavengers, I soon found myself surrounded; Flint flanking my right and Montague on my left. Lovely. "Out of curiosity", Flint started to say; his voice sounding far more cordial than I have ever heard from him before. "What were you planning to do?"

Feeling their eyes on me, I quickly scanned the pitch. Only to come to the horrifying realization that we were its last occupants. The pitch had cleared out with the injured. There were still a few stragglers in the stands, but little good that would do me. I was a little bit surprised that Fred had left without me, but not for long. George would have been at the forefront of his every thought. George should have been my first priority too…

I forced myself to take a breath. Whatever this was, Flint probably saw it as a game of wits and wills. Rattled nerves wouldn't help me win. I tilted my head to the right until I locked eyes with the Slytherin quidditch captain. Briefly, we studied each other. Flint's smiling, giving me a good look at his crooked yellow teeth. Pulling my lips back into a smile of my own, though it came off more like a wince, I asked, "Would you like me to show you?"

Flint's smile grew into a grin as he huffed a laugh; encouraging the rest of his team to chuckle along with him. "Play nice, Weasley", he said, holding his arm out to me like he wanted me to take it. I didn't move as I eyed his arm in suspicion. It was the same gesture Adrian would make when we were out walking. But it sure didn't feel the same. "We only want to study your…." Flint paused as if the word he was searching for escaped him. "What would you call it, Montague?"

I turned my head just in time to see the boy on my left shrug. "Moxie", he suggested; voice coming out surprisingly deep.

"Yeah", Flint agreed as I turned back to him. "That's a good word. Moxie", he gestured his held-out arm to me again. "Shall we escort you to the hospital wing?"

That didn't even warrant a thought... "No thank you", I said, already walking away in the direction of the castle. While I was heading to the hospital wing to check on George, Harry, and Adrian, the last thing I needed was some nasty rumor spreading around that I was romancing all the members of the Slytherin quidditch team. Though wouldn't that make for an interesting story.

But I only made it a couple of steps before a hand grabbing my elbow stopped me. "I have to insist, Weasley". Flint said as he stepped forward; the rest of his team followed. Though he did let go of my arm once we were standing shoulder to shoulder once more. "The majority of the school, although distracted by Potter, just saw you run to the aid of a Slytherin. You sure you want to be walking around the castle alone right now?" The question was rhetorical as evident when Flint and Montague started walking, leading their group forward. Their teammates pressing onward behind me forced me to fall into step.

In an effort to not appear put out by the Slytherin team's unexpected and suspicious display of chivalry, I answered, "I'm a Gryffindor with brothers who have a vengeful streak." As we left the pitch, I could see some students making their way back up to the castle in the distance. But there was no one behind us. "It's safer for me to walk alone than most". Of course, that's not taking into account the giant monster traveling through the pipes.

Flint shrugged as if that wasn't a good enough reason for me to brush off his concern. If it could even be called that.. Flint wanted something. I just had no clue what that was.

We continued the trek up to the castle in silence. Years of living in the middle of Slytherin/ Gryffindor tension made me uncomfortably aware of the Slytherins walking behind me, and it bugged me that I didn't know all of them... I just knew two of them were Malfoy and Warrington. As a second-year, Malfoy wasn't much of a threat. He was still waddling through his whiny git phase. But knowing what his late teenage years might be like, I didn't trust him to be near my back. And Warrington, well, Warrington has a reputation of being a brute. Even the girls of his house steered clear. I thought about running. It'd probably be unexpected enough that I would get a head start. Might even be comical if I just suddenly bolted. But stubbornness kept my pace casual. Whatever this was, I didn't want to come out the other side appearing weak. Nor did I want a lecture from Adrian later about what I should have done.

When we drew closer to the castle's entrance, Flint ordered, "Malfoy, get the door". I waited for Malfoy to snap back with some comment about how he wouldn't do a servant's job. But there was none. Instead, Malfoy jogged past the rest of the team to get in the lead; arm extended to grab the door handle. My eyes flickered to Flint in shock as the door's hinges creaked open. How did he get Malfoy to be so well trained?

Feeling my eyes on him, Flint looked in my direction and he offered me another crooked smile. At that moment, both my fear and respect for Flint increased. Meaning that I actually had some. "That's a nice scarf you have, Weasley", Flint said as we started to cross the threshold into the entrance hall.

"Thanks", I answered; keeping my voice flat. "I'll let Adrian know you like it". Maybe Ron was right. Maybe I shouldn't be walking around in Slytherin colors.

Not everyone seemed to agree with Flint's compliment. Or at least, the one person in the group too young to read into the hidden context. "Red clashes with green", Malfoy spoke up as we passed him; his face twisted into a sneer. "A Gryffindor will never look good in our colors".

Even though we had already passed Malfoy and were still moving forward, I gave a retort without really having to think. "I think it's funny that some think Gryffindor and Slytherin colors clash". I wasn't speaking to anyone in particular, as Flint and Montague started leading the way up the grand staircase. But I was confident that I had a whole quidditch team listening to me. From behind, I heard the door close and assumed Malfoy caught up. "Especially when red and green are always paired together at Christmas time".

A comparison that would have made my brothers snort and reply with sarcasm was met with silence from the Slytherins. All except for an acknowledgment from Flint. "You have wit, Weasley. I've never noticed before", he said as we ascended past the first floor. I thought about how inconvenient it was to have the hospital wing located so high up in the school. And I thought about how I had never wanted Flint to notice anything about me as he continued to speak. "Your knit-wit look-alike brothers always speak for you. It's surprising to know you have thoughts of your own". A compliment with an insult laced in, I think as we passed other students. At least indoors there were more students nearby. "Makes me wonder why you weren't sorted into Ravenclaw", Flint said in an off-handed manner; ignoring the curious looks we were getting from members of the student body.

I waited until we moved beyond the third-floor landing before saying anything. Tact and waiting for the opportune moments are not ways I usually use to solve problems or win games. But with Flint and company, I felt they were needed. "People really don't know a lot about the sorting hat". I said as we climbed more stairs. The hospital wing wasn't far away now. "We don't really know how it works. And people just trust it will place them in the house that best fits them. They don't wonder what would happen if they tell the sorting hat what house they want". I paused to let the implication that I had done what I had just said sink in. Of course, I hadn't. At least, not on purpose. As an eleven-year-old entering Hogwarts, strategizing for the future hadn't come close to breaching my thoughts. The night of my sorting, I had been terrified about being away from the burrow, daunted about what I knew the future held, and anxious about the possibility of being separated from Fred and George. That night the only thing I had been capable of thinking about was getting back to the accustomed safety of my brothers. But Flint and the other Slytherins didn't need to know that.

"If that's true, Weasley", Flint said as we climbed our last step and the hospital wing's open doors came into view. "What house did the hat consider for you?"

Already seeing the Gryffindor quidditch team surrounding two beds, it was more of a struggle to actually respond to Flint. Especially with my fellow triplets so close. But I managed. "I'll leave that to your imagination", I said before finally stepping away from the Slytherin team and approaching the homey sight of red and gold.

Wood, Alicia, and Katie stood around Harry's hospital bed as Madam Pomfrey bustled around them, muttering under her breath about how much a health hazard quidditch was. That left Fred and Angelina to visit George; making it easy for me to find a place close to George's side.

Hooch and Lockhart had already dropped Adrian off and left, as I could see him lying in a bed on the other side of the wing, but could not see Hooch or Lockhart. I wanted to check in on Adrian too. I would need to before the day was over. But right now, Flint and the rest of his team were approaching Adrian's bedside, and I wasn't in a hurry to have another tête-à-tête with the Slytherin quidditch captain.

With Angelina on my left and Fred on the other side, I sat down on the edge of George's bed. "H-how do you feel?" I asked; voice wavering as my guilt surged. The blood had been cleaned off his face. There were still bruises, but the swelling around his eyes had gone down. Through magical means, I'm assuming.

"Hungry", George answered in his normal voice. His answer made me flinch. My eyes started to sting, and I curled into fists. Couldn't he have the common decency to just be mad at me for concocting a plan that jeopardized his well-being? "Madam Pomfrey was going to bring me food. Tomato soup and a cheese toastie. But then Harry and Pucey were dropped off, and she-" George cut himself off. "Jolly Holly, don't cry''. His eyes flickered to Angelina. And he was right of course, we couldn't let on that this was anything more than a quidditch accident.

"I'm not crying".

Fred leaned over George as if he wanted to get a better look at me. "Not yet, but it looks like you could start any minute", he said. But unlike George, he wasn't using his normal voice. His tone was too terse, and vowels too carefully pronounced.

The back of my throat was starting to feel dry and raw when I said, "I'm not going to cry".

"It's okay,'' Angelina spoke up. She was standing next to George's head but her eyes were fixed on Fred. "Fred shed a few tears when we first got here", she said as she crossed her arms over her chest with a smile... It was an attempt at levity, but sadly it was failing.

"No, I didn't", Fred immediately denied. "There was dirt in my eye".

"Uh-huh", Angelina vocalized in clear disbelief.

Fred opened his mouth to deny the acquisition again, but George beat him to it. "It's okay Fred. I'd cry too if I had to wake up to your sorry mug every day".

I closed my eyes. An appearance joke. An identical brother joke. Now? After getting his face pummeled in due to my stupid plan? But it reached its intended audience. Angelina let on a single laugh behind closed lips. At the same moment, Madam Pomfrey declared, "I can mend bones in a heartbeat, but growing them back-"

"I'm glad you're doing okay, George", Angelina said as I opened my eyes. "I'm going to check on Potter". And she walked away to the other hospital bed being occupied by a Gryffindor.

"You weren't supposed to get hit in the head", I whispered as soon as it was only Fred and I focusing on George.

"Holls-" George tried to interject.

I spoke faster. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have- shouldn't have come up with such a-"

"Holls," George tried again. This time reaching out to cover the back of my hand with one of his. "I agreed to do this", he whispered; eyes flickering back and forth between Fred and me. "We knew it was risky. And Madam Pomfrey said I'll be fine. Even if I don't get my cheese toastie". My shoulders shook with a hysterical chuckle that I refused to let out. A part of me wanted to jump up and run to the kitchens to get George his bloody cheese toastie. But I also knew he wasn't being serious about that part. "So, the both of you", George addressed us together. "Can stop acting like I'm on my last leg". George squeezed my hand and didn't lessen his grip until I nodded. Fred gave his own silent assent.

Behind him, there was a loud sputtering sound followed by Madam Pomfrey exclaiming, "Well, what did you expect? Pumpkin Juice!"

"Go", George said to Fred and me while everyone was distracted by the fascinating process of regrowing bones. "We better rest when we can. I'll see you tonight", George said as he confirmed our plans. Yes, the first horrendous part of my stupid idea was over. Now, we just had to talk to Dobby.

Fred nodded again, only this time it came off as more solemn. Nothing at all like his usual self. George took his hand off mine before I stood up. "If Pomfrey doesn't deliver on that cheese toastie, we'll visit the kitchens tomorrow", I promised.

George smiled. "Counting on it".

Both Fred and I moved away from George's bed and came to stand shoulder to shoulder in the aisle between the two rows of beds. We both started forward, heading for the doors. But when we were halfway to exiting, I shook my head. Placing a hand on Fred's upper arm, I stopped him. "Wait a moment", I asked before turning around before Fred could give me an answer. Knowing fully well both of my fellow triplets were tracing my steps with their eyes, I made a beeline for Adrian and his team. All their heads were bent together surrounding Adrian's bedside. And whatever they were discussing must have been private because they fell silent as soon as I pushed Malfoy and Montague out of my way. Ignoring the lot of them, I sat down on the edge of Adrian's bed; just as I had done with George. "You good?" I asked once steely grey eyes connected with my brown ones.

Adrian nodded, though he was still holding himself in a stiff and still posture. "Madam Pomfrey said I'll be fully mended by morning".

My heart calmed. "Alright, If I don't see you at breakfast I'll come visit later tomorrow". I said as I stood up slowly. I didn't want to leave. But George was right. We needed to prepare for tonight, and I knew that Fred and I needed to talk. But I paused for a moment as a thousand different thoughts and desires bombarded me. My conversation with Flint rolled around in my head. And knowing that he and the entirety of the Slytherin quidditch team were watching me, along with my brothers. I felt like I needed to make some sort of claim/ Despite knowing Adrian wouldn't approve. It was only fair, I told myself as I tucked some hair behind my ear. Adrian had done the same last year. It was my turn. I kept my eyes locked with Adrian's as I leaned closer and closer. It felt like I was moving slowly. So slowly that I was making this awkward. But I knew, in reality, I was moving faster than my perception. Tilting my head just slightly, I pressed my lips against his.

Adrian twitched against the contact but didn't turn away. It was our first kiss, but it didn't feel like one. It didn't taste like one. First kisses were generally short, innocent, and cautious as there was often fear of rejection or failure laced in. But for this kiss, I used all the knowledge I had from Jessie's romantic endeavors to make it appear long, heavy, and confident. And while I truly felt the intensity of affection that I was trying to convey, when I pulled away and turned to make my way back to Fred, I looked directly at Flint with a hard gaze. I wanted to make it clear. Everything Flint had said and done earlier was still confusing, but that just made it more important to me that this fact was made clear. While I am dating a Slytherin, I am not dating Slytherin. The only loyalties I have to the green and silver house are through Adrian. Every other snake had no claim to them.

When I broke eye contact with Flint, Fred's eyes immediately found mine. He had his eyebrows raised as if he was asking me, 'really?' I shook my head at him as we started for the exit again, standing shoulder to shoulder. With my hand shaking ever so slightly from all the different emotions I felt today, I grabbed Fred's hand; seeking an anchor. "So, why did you come here with the Slytherin team?" Fred asked as we stepped out of the hospital wing.

I puffed my cheeks up with air before releasing it with a sigh. "It's a mystery to me".