Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Running Interference
"Please stop!" I exclaimed, trying to be heard over Fred and George's heated back and forth.
"You're such a creep!" Fred yelled in the hallway outside of the library. The very place we knew Percy had plans to meet Flint. "Who puts pickle juice in a man's shoes?"
George scoffed. "You're one to talk. It was you who put bubotuber pus in Filch's desk drawers. I got the idea from you!"
We were attracting an audience the longer we stood in front of the library with Fred and George yelling insults at each other and me trying to force some sort of peace. Just as we had been for the past couple of days. "We all put bubotuber pus in Filch's desk", I tried to get them to remember. "It was funny. How about we go do that again?"
Except neither of my fellow triplets heard me. Or rather, they acted like they hadn't. Fred threw his hands up in the air and vocalized a noise of disgust. "I wish you were never born", he boldly declared. "Being a multiple is torture. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemies!".
I held my hands flat in front of my chest and pushed the air down in a placating manner. "You don't mean that", I pleaded. My voice took on a watery quality.
George's voice was dark and full of retribution. "Yes, he did". Reaching into his pocket, George withdrew his wand and aimed its tip at Fred's chest. "What do you say, Holls? Should we grant this git's wish?"
"No!" I interjected very loudly and desperately.
But that did nothing to stop Fred from taking out his own wand. "I appreciate the offer Forge. Now, just stand still and I'll be rid of you".
Taking a hurried step, I stood in between my fellow triplets. "Stop this", I demanded; my hands shaking. Of course, I wasn't actually worried Fred and George would use their wands. Not when this was all an act. But the tremor in my hands was genuine. As was reasonable when one has two wands pointed at them.
"Holly, get out of the way", George ordered.
"You can't do this", I continued to plead. "Hasn't this fight gone on long enough?"
"You don't understand", Fred started to say without lowering his wand. "You don't have to share a face with a buffoon".
"Buffoon?" George asked as he took an aggressive step closer. Close enough that he was able to place a hand on my shoulder and push me out of the way. "If I'm a buffoon, then you're a-"
"Fred! George!" A very irate voice broke through their fight and that of the whispering audience. Pushing through a cluster of students, Percy appeared with Flint at his elbow. "That is enough. Separate at once!"
I allowed myself a brief moment to reflect on how much Percy sounded like Mum before I maintained my role. As Percy dealt with Fred and George, I observed Flint's face. He had his lips pressed together and his eyes focused on Percy's back. Ultimately, his face was void of readable emotion. But I thought I could detect a hint of aggravation in the way Flint was holding his shoulders.
"Fred said-"
"George was-"
My fellow triplets tried to be heard over the other. But Percy wasn't having it. "Enough". Percy's tone left no wiggle room for further argument. "Fred, to the common room". Percy pointed in the direction behind Fred. "George, to the great hall". Percy pointed in the direction behind George. "And don't let me see the two of you arguing with your wands out again", Percy ordered as he stared our identical brother down until they started to move; following Percy's directions. Of course, under normal circumstances, Fred and George wouldn't have caved to Percy's will that quickly. But for the goal we were striving for, it was necessary in this case.
Sighing loudly, Percy shook his head as he turned around. His eyes briefly locked with Flint before he remembered the audience Fred, George, and I had accumulated. "And the lot of you can keep moving", Percy addressed the spectators; talking loud enough that no one would struggle to hear him. "This is a hallway, not the quidditch pitch". The small crowd started to disperse as they continued their whispered conversations. No doubt the Weasley triplets had given them enough material to feed the Hogwarts rumor mill for a while.
When a steady traffic flow had been reestablished to the hall, Percy turned towards Flint. "Sorry about them. I don't know what's gotten into them". Percy made a couple of steps in his new friend's direction.
Flint opened his mouth to respond. But we can't have that. So, I let out a hiccup of a whimper; my arms wrapped around myself in a hug.
Percy's eyes swung in my direction. Momentarily, his eyes widened. As if he forgot I was there. However, he didn't let that lapse in memory affect him for long. "Holly", he said; his whole countenance softened as he took a step away from Flint and closer to me.
I locked eyes with my older brother. "They said they didn't want to be identical. And that they wished we weren't multiples".
"Fred and George didn't mean it", Percy assured me as he placed a hand between my shoulder blades and started leading me in the direction of the library. "Come on. You can study with Flint and me. I believe fifth years have their charms exam tomorrow, correct?"
I allowed Percy to direct me into the library as I ignored the apologetic look he cast over his shoulder in Flint's direction. In most situations, it felt awful to be a third wheel. But as that was currently my goal, I had no such feelings. I waited until Percy was distracted by the task of finding a good table for a group study session before looking behind me at the Slytherin. Dropping the act, I grinned unabashedly at Flint. Who was three steps ahead now, Flint?
Flint returned my expression with a deeply displeased scowl. One that promised retribution. Bring it on, Flint. I dared silently with my eyes. We're ready.
It was a particularly finger-numbing cold day in the dungeons. The type of day when you needed to wear scarves indoors. You know, the perfect day to take your end-of-semester potions exam. At least it was a practical. Meaning we got to have our cauldrons lit; creating some source of heat.
While I was picking Alihotsy leaves from its stem, Adrian decided to share some of the grievances that had been weighing on him. "Whatever it is you are doing, it needs to stop".
I looked up slowly at him as I tried to work through the confusion I suddenly found myself in. "So… you don't want me to add the Alihotsy leaves to the cauldron? I think we'll fail if we don't". In fact, I didn't think we'd fail. I knew we would fail. Especially when we had a teacher like Snape who enjoyed handing out low marks.
Adrian didn't respond to the words I had spoken. Instead, he fixed me with a steely grey eye stare. "You're stepping on Flint's toes", he elaborated to give me some much-needed context.
"Oh", I said with a roll of my eyes as I went ahead and added the Alihotsy leaves to the cauldron. "That's what this is about".
Adrian kept going as if I hadn't said anything. "And when you get in Flint's way, I have to endure speeches about how I need to have better control over my woman".
My hand stilled over the infusion of wormwood I had been reaching for. "What did you do in response?" I asked; feeling curious but also recognizing that Adrian's answer would be a test in itself.
Adrian squared his shoulders as he took a defensive stance. "I told him I'd look into it".
"Look into what, exactly?" I asked as I found myself on the borderline between insulted amusement and combative irritation. "Why does Flint think you can control me? Or what you're going to do with your time when you find yourself unexpectedly single".
Adrian eyed me in a very unamused fashion. Reaching for the scurvy grass he started to chop it up as he explained himself. "Telling someone you'll look into whatever is grieving them is a diplomatic answer. I didn't promise any result. Neither did I leave Flint's… concerns to be invalidated".
"No", I said with a raised eyebrow; stirring the cauldron counterclockwise. "You just told me to stop without even knowing what I'm being accused of. That's not looking into anything".
Adrian's voice was pointed. "It's you. I'm sure you're up to something". My jaw muscles became tense as I clicked my teeth. Before I could retort, Adrian kept going. "And that's not mentioning your brother pulling me aside after the monthly prefect's meeting to chew my ear off about taking his sister to unauthorized and arguably inappropriate venues without supervision".
It was the way Adrian worded that last part that cued me in on what brother Adrian was referring to. "So, you're just mad in general", I threw out there as I checked the flame that was heating our cauldron. "I don't know what to tell you. I have seven siblings and being with me means interacting with them".
The potion bubbled blue. A quick glance at our potions text told me we were on the right track. Or at least, we were on the right track about something. "Are you going to tell me what you're doing?" Adrian asked; moving away from dangerous waters. Probably recognizing there was no negotiating room when it came to family.
In my head, I counted to five; needing a few seconds to hear his words without them being overpowered by feelings. "Flint is becoming buddy-buddy with Percy. We don't understand why, but it feels wrong. So Fred and George staged a fight and I'm pretending to be very lost and upset about it so Percy is kept busy dealing with us. Thus giving Flint less access to… whatever it is he thinks he'll get from being friendly with our brother".
Throughout my explanation, I hadn't been looking at Adrian. Finding it easier to stare into the boiling depths of our end-of-semester potions exam. But when I had finished, I found the temptation too great and my eyes flickered over to him. I started with the curve of his earlobe as I worked up the courage to look at his eyes. When I made it there the expression that was waiting for me was one of unsurprised exasperation. "You can be a part of a plan that concocts all of that, but you are struggling to pass herbology?"
A response was on my tongue. My mouth was open to deliver it. Before I could, as is usually the case, an explosion erupts in the background. More out of instinct than curiosity, Adrian and I twist in our seats to get a good look. The explosion occurred on the Gryffindor side of the room. We got a glance of Lee and Fred before Snape swept past us in the role of the adult who is currently responsible. Fred and Lee were sitting with soot-covered hair and faces as they gaped at their empty and mangled cauldron. For the first time in his life, Fred didn't look like a redhead.
"Who's identical now", George jeered from the row behind Fred and Lee. He held out his hand for his potions partner, Angelina, to give him a high-five. Angelina did no such thing. Instead, she covered her eyes with our hands and tried to make it clear she had no part in this.
"Dismal, Misters Weasley", Snape snarled in his doom and gloom persona. "As usual, your immature and incessant need for attention has disrupted my potions lab and interrupted the pitiful academic endeavors of your classmates". There was a pause as Snape allowed Fred and George to feel the full weight of his immense dislike. In that pause, no one dared to move or risk anything that would involve making a sound. Leaving the only sounds in the dungeon to be that of nine or so bubbling cauldrons. "Ten points from Gryffindor, each. And after you have cleaned up this disaster, the two of you can leave my lab knowing you'll be receiving failing marks for the semester".
Snape started to move to return to the front of the room, but a thought had him remaining for a few seconds longer. "Johnson, Jordan", Snape addressed the two unlucky souls that had pulled into this nonsense. Unwittingly in Angelina's case. "I suggest you partner together if you wish to salvage what you can for a passing potion".
Adrian and I turned back around once the show was over. Sighing under the strain of this whole act, I tried to focus on our potion. Though it was hard knowing the type of trouble Fred and George would be in with Mum when she found out they purposely failed a class.
However, Adrian wasn't ready to allow us to return to passing our own exam. His eyes were on me in a silent ask to answer an unspoken question. Shrugging, I gave him the answer I thought he was asking for. "Percy's smart. If they fight only when he's there to see, Percy would eventually notice".
The ploy we were playing tied Flint's hands in certain ways. For one, it didn't matter if he knew we were staging the whole Weasley Triplet break up because he couldn't tattle on us without Percy either not believing him or painting himself in a bad light. But that didn't mean he was without the means to retaliate.
"There you are", Flint greeted as he made himself known. Percy and I were taking advantage of a rare bit of sun out in the transfiguration courtyard to practice some charms when he found us with two others trailing behind him.
First, Percy looked over his shoulder before he adjusted his glasses and turned completely to face the newcomers. "Flint", he greeted.
Groaning in complaint, I lowered my wand before following suit. My spine stiffened when I saw who was accompanying Flint; Ginny and Luna. What was the angle here?
"I know you said your hands were full with your younger siblings", Flint started to explain himself as he waved a hand behind him to gesture for Luna and Ginny to step closer. "So, I thought I'd help out". When Ginny and Luna were in reach, Flint clapped a friendly and well-meaning hand on each of their shoulders.
My eyes narrowed at the contact as I focused on the two second-years. Ginny appeared thrilled at the attention as she smiled a Slytherin-appropriate smile at Percy. While Luna was staring very intently at a…. cloud. I guess this one is just along for the ride then.
"Mr. Flint has been helping us revise for charms", Ginny shared. "Second years have their Charms exam at the end of the week".
Flint let out a loud and overly pleased laugh at being referred to as Mister. "So polite", he praised. More for Percy's benefit than anyone else's.
I glanced in Percy's direction to see if he was buying this. Unfortunately, he evidently was. There was color in his cheeks as Percy stumbled over his words. "Uh. Thank you. That's… That's very kind".
Flint shook his head, suggesting his actions were no big deal. "I know how you worry about your siblings". Flint's eyes shifted to me and there was a slight darkening in his expression. "Especially the more needy ones".
I bit my cheek and waited for Percy to react. But he didn't; having completely bought Flint's act. It also didn't help that Flint resumed his boy-scout performance before Percy could think to question anything. Oh, Flint. You're standing on an edge and I'll push you off it soon enough. Just you wait.
"Except", Ginny broke in before anyone else could. The way she had done it was poised. And her timing had been impeccable; making me wonder if it had been rehearsed. Maybe even directed. "We're having trouble with the skurge charm".
"Yes", Flint agreed. Because he's just the sort who would admit to weakness in front of a twelve-year-old. "Charms have never been my strong suit. Not to mention I've never had a need for the skurge charm". That was a fact that had me feeling doubtful. Really? A family as old as Flint's has never been haunted by a revengeful ghost that vandalized their house with an abundant amount of ectoplasm? Well, I guess I know what I'll be doing in the afterlife. That is, assuming I'm allowed to die this time around. "When little Luna, here", Flint shook Luna's shoulder gently. But still, she remained focused on the sky. "Shared that Holly used to be Flitwick's assistant for her charms class".
My face drooped into a frown. I think I know where Flint is going with this. Luna nodded her head without looking at anyone. "She stopped me from setting a transfigured chicken on fire", Luna shared.
I could feel Percy's and Ginny's eyes on me; wanting to know more about that particular story. However, Flint had an agenda and he pushed through. "So, I thought Holly might be more suited to assisting your youngest sister".
I shook my head; ready to point out I was currently busy being tutored myself. But Percy started talking before I could. "That's a marvelous idea", Percy complimented the idea.
"What about my exam?" I reminded my older brother. "It's right after lunch".
Percy turned towards me and gave me his best attempt at a comforting yet confident smile. "You're ready. Charms is your best subject. Besides, one of the best ways to learn is to teach others". Percy stepped away from me and towards Flint. "And this will give me time to check on Fred and George; see if they're any closer to making amends".
"I'll go with you", Flint announced as he turned to walk side by side with Percy. Leaving the two second-years behind with me. "Merlin knows I'm curious about that as well", Flint said, glancing over his shoulder at me as he and Percy walked away to make sure I heard him. Bloody Slytherin.