Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
The Best Kept Plans
The first two weeks of school should be seen as a grace period. Without it, I'm not sure how we'd have started YUP so quickly. Because come Monday that third week back, the teachers came to the mutual agreement to become overly serious and sadistically demanding. Well… all of them except Sirius… and Binns. But only because the ghost professor had no sense of time. If you were a fifth or seventh year, the only thing teachers wanted to talk to you about where your upcoming death sentence. Otherwise known as standardized exams. The only small benefit to sitting for OWLS or NEWTS was that we wouldn't hat to take final exams to get final grades. Those marks would be derived through different means.
Still, if you raised your hand in herbology, it better be a question regarding the different types of acidity in soil. If you had your wand out in charms, it better be because you were perfecting a wand movement. If you were talking in defense, it better be because you were rehearsing your pronunciation of defensive spells. Snape was quick to assure everyone that if they didn't have scrolls upon scrolls of potions notes we were reviewing, we could confidently fail. In Transfiguration, if you had your hand up…. It better be there because you were giving Sirius a high-five. Honestly, if the man got the memo about making us suffer and fear for our futures, he didn't read it.
Some, if not most, really took the teacher's forewarning to heart. It became common to see fifth and seventh years walking around with stacks of self-made flashcards. It wasn't long before I was no longer one of the few to have dark circles around their eyes. If a few more people got on board, we could probably make it into a Hogwarts fashion trend.
However, not everyone got swept up by the teachers' seriousness. "All of you have gone mental", Lee announced as he, George, and Fred joined us in the common room. "The exams aren't until May".
George squeezed himself onto the couch, pushing me closer to Alicia. Other than a grumble of complaint I said nothing. Too absorbed in Percy's potions notes years one through five. Percy was right. His handwriting was easier to read than mine.
Angelina didn't look up and Alicia couldn't even be bothered to respond. "Between all the practice Wood is making us do and that new club you want us to join, we have to start studying now to handle everything", Angelina said; her quill furiously copying her history of magic notes from one sheet of parchment to another.
We all had our own ways of studying. Alicia liked to play with the information; applying it where ever she could until she had it down pat. Angelina favored memorization over everything else. It'd be interesting to see how they both faired considering these exams had both practical and written portions. My study habits were a mixture of Alicia's and Angelina's styles. Memorizing was best for subjects like history of magic and ancient ruins. But potions were easier to recall if you had brewed the recipes. Charms theory was easier to cite if you knew the feeling of casting the spell the theory applied too.
With there being no more room on the couch and not feeling brave enough to try to share Angelina's armchair with her, Fred sat criss-cross on the floor. "I have a secret for you ladies", he whispered. Even going the extra mile of pretending that it was very hush-hush by narrowing his eyes and shifting them left and right in search of any potential eavesdroppers. "You only need to study for the classes you want to take next year".
"Words of wisdom", George complimented; bumping shoulders with me to make sure I was listening. In response, I handed him a scroll of Percy's notes. If he was going to be here, he could at least read it and then quiz me later.
"Couldn't say it better myself", Lee agreed from where he was leaning on the back of the couch.
Alicia threw the cork to her inkwell at him. "My mum would kill me if I didn't try my best on all of them".
"Yeah", I agreed, finally looking up from Percy's notes. But only because I felt a bit cross-eyed. "Both Bill and Percy passed every subject". Don't ask me how they each got twelve OWLs because I have no bloody clue. Unless they were also using time turners. "Charlie got seven OWLS. Do you really want to spend all summer with Mum comparing our shortcomings to their success?"
Fred and George winced at the thought, but they disguised it with two laissez-faire shrugs. "Let me put it this way, Jolly Holly", George said as he unrolled the scroll of notes I'd handed him. His eyes lazily scanned the neat writing as he said, "We only need to enroll in three classes next year to stay at Hogwarts. Most people only take three or four NEWT classes".
"Only the overachievers take five or more", Fred chimed in. "Percy's a bloody asylum patient for trying for all twelve". Again, don't ask me how it's possible. I have no idea. And frankly, I'm afraid to ask.
"So, instead of worrying about what our mum will think of us, you should be asking yourself how many NEWT exams you want to take in two years' time", George finished. It was Angelina's, Alicia's, and my turn to wince. "Holls, are these Percy's notes? Because there are footnotes in the margins. Who does that?"
"Sometimes it's hard to believe he's our brother", Fred added his two cents.
Alicia finally tore herself away from her textbook. "Don't say that", she whined, looking at George; commenting on his NEWT realization. "Going day to day is hard enough right now. Don't make us think about our seventh year".
George wasn't moved. "Just trying to spare you some wasted hours", he said as he rolled up the scroll and set it down on my lap.
"Work smarter, not harder". Lee chimed in, causing a vein in Alicia's temple to visibly throb.
"That's rich coming from you", Angelina grumbled.
"We're only planning on three OWLS ourselves", Fred announced and was accompanied by three agreeing head nods from George and Lee.
Needing a break, I caved. "What three would those be?" I asked, running a hand first through my hair and then rubbing my face. From what I could remember about the 4th book, I know Mum went off on Fred and George for not passing a lot of subjects… and for feeding a ton-tongue toffee to a muggle. But I couldn't recall what they'd passed or failed. Had that even been mentioned in the books?
Since I was freely conversing with my brothers and their friend, Alicia and Angelina were free to ignore them and return to studying. Which they did without so much as a second thought. "Defense and charms, obviously", George answered.
"Why is it obvious?" Was my next question.
"They're useful", Fred replied. "They'll help us make products for our joke shop. And Charms is your favorite subject. We know you'll pass it. So, this way the three of us can at least have one class together". That was… sweet. And considerate… and also false. With Lupin as our professor, the impending future events, and Adrian breathing down my neck to be able to defend myself, there's no way I'd fail the defense OWL. So, we'd at least have two NEWT classes together. That's to say if Fred and George passed.
"Speaking of creating our joke shop", George continued. "Learning more about herbology and transfiguration will also help us. So I'm going to get an OWL in transfiguration because I'm better at it than Fred".
Fred nodded along; completely comfortable with that fact. "And I'm going to get an OWL in herbology because I like it more than George". Wow. They put a fair amount of thought into this. Fred made eye contact with me and smirked. "It's safer this way. Since everyone knows you won't be passing the herbology OWL".
My face dropped as George and Lee snickered. But I couldn't argue with Fred. Not when he was right. Hell, even if I did pass the herbology exam, Merlin would have to sprout wings before I signed up for the NEWT course. It was a decision I'm sure Sprout would applaud me on. "Why not potions? Don't you need that for making your joke products?"
"Oh, potions are useful", George agreed. "But we don't want to spend time in a lab with Snape longer than we have to".
"Which is why", Fred began pointing a finger at me to clue me in that this was specifically directed at me. "You will have to pass and take NEWT potions".
"What if I don't want to take potions?" I asked indignantly. Even though I was kind of planning to. If I passed my OWL. But I wasn't about to admit that. Especially not in front of Alicia and Angelina who still liked to bring up my Snape joke from a few years back.
"You have to, Holls", George said solemnly as he placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. As if I'd just gotten drafted for war. "It's for the greater good of all future joke shop endeavors".
"Besides, Lee already said no", Fred added.
Angelina muffled a laugh. Both at my expense but also in consideration of my feelings. So… I wasn't sure if I should feel thankful for her or annoyed. "I'd rather be fed to the giant squid than be sneered at by Snape for another two years", Lee said as he peered over Alicia's shoulder at her book.
"Our joke shop will be a family business anyway", George continued; forcing me to turn my eyes back to him. "It's better this way. The Weasley triplets taking the world by storm one prank at a time".
Angelina rolled her eyes. "You three are already doing that".
"You've been doing that since our first year", Alicia chimed in.
"Sure", Fred agreed from his spot on the floor. "But this time we'll be making a profit".
Now my eyelids were starting to feel weighed down. "You're assuming I want to work at your joke shop", I said to my fellow triplets. Leaving out the other three completely.
"That's always been our plan, Holls", George said.
"Yeah", Lee piped up. "Stick to the plan, Holly". He spoke like I was some jerk who decided to go against their team and screwed over everyone… I don't think Lee will pass unscathed by the time these exams are over.
But this line of our conversation caught Angelina's attention. "Holly, what do you want to do after school? You've never said".
And that was the million-galleon question. Everyone but Alicia was looking at me, waiting for an answer. Sighing, I look upwards at the ceiling. It's hard imagining life outside of Hogwarts. It was nearly impossible to think about living past the events in the Deathly Hallows. "I don't know", I answered after a drawn-out minute. I didn't want to dream about a future until I knew for sure that Fred would be in it.
There was still snow on the ground for the Slytherin vs. Ravenclaw quidditch game. Hooch had melted any snow and ice that found its way to the quidditch pitch. But the same could not be said about the stands. The benches felt more like a skating rink than wood. Most spectators choose to stand because of this. My group included. With Adrian's scarf tied around my neck, I stood huddled between Percy and Ron. Even the warming charm I put on all my clothes wasn't enough to ward off the cold. For the first time, I was grateful Ron had grown taller than me. Now I could use him and Percy to block some of the wind.
Percy and I almost didn't make it to today's game. Both of us would have much preferred to stay in the warmth of Flitwick's classroom; working on YUP plans and studying. But then we remembered we both had significant others playing today who'd want our support. Although, I doubt neither Adrian nor Flint would ever admit such a thing. It also didn't help our case when Flitwick pointed out that as YUP officers, we should make an appearance and be seen cheering on both teams. So, here we were. Diligently playing our roles with only a little unwillingness.
"Who do you think will win?" Percy asked as Madam Hooch released the bludgers and tossed the Quaffle into the air. Immediately Cho Chang zoomed off, zigzagging through the sky in search of the snitch as the rest of the players took their places. Keepers to the goal posts, beaters to manage the bludgers, and chasers to fight over the quaffle. Compared to Chang, Malfoy got a sleepy start at beginning his own search for the game-ending ball.
Yawning a yawn that forced my mouth to stretch as wide as it could, it took me a few seconds before I could answer. "Slytherin". I think that is how this match turns out. But… who even knows anymore.
"You're only saying that because of Pucey", Ron argued with a frown. His nose was a little redder than normal from being bitten by the cold. It was cute. But I knew the days where I could tell him that was passed.
Frowning back at my little brother, I tried to think of what I could say. Arguing was impossible because I couldn't do so without telling him things about me that I didn't want him to know. Percy shifted a little awkwardly when Ron mentioned Adrian. Despite Ron knowing nothing of his ongoings with Marcus, Percy's body language was enough to tell me he wouldn't feel comfortable jumping on the 'support the Slytherin team' bandwagon so soon. So, I settled on offering Ron a wide closed-lipped smile. "Want to bet?"
Ron's frown fell off his face as he studied my expression. His jaw went lax and his eyes remained focused on me. The only movement coming from his person were bits of his hair being messed by the wind. But so sure was he that the Slytherin team sucked, it wasn't long before his jaw firmed and a light in his pupils became determined. Still, and I have to give him props for this, Ron didn't immediately agree. "Bet what?" he asked. Oh, he knows me so well. From Ron's other side, Hermione scoffed and rolled her eyes. For once acting as a surly teenager. After the second YUP meeting, she hadn't been too pleased with Percy and me and has been giving us the cold shoulder ever since. Not that we really noticed.
"Let's see", I started; thinking about all the things I could make Ron do. Knowing me just as well as Ron, I could feel Percy eyeing me nervously. As I thought, a chaser from Ravenclaw stole the quaffle from Adrian and managed to chuck it across a quarter of the field to a teammate before anyone in green could stop him. "If I win… you have to ask McGonagall to marry you in the Great Hall at breakfast tomorrow".
"Ten points to Ravenclaw!" Lee announced from the commentator booth as Percy started to cough. Like he was choking on something. Poor him.
"I'm not going to do that!" Ron bristled as the crowd erupted in cheers all around us.
"Fine", I relented before Ron could back out of the deal completely. Getting him to agree to that was a long shot anyway. "If I win you have to…" Trying to think of something else, I gazed across the quidditch pitch. The players flew through my line of sight in blurs of blue and green. Merlin, betting was a lot easier when you had money. "You have to jump into the great lake".
Percy's initial reaction caused him to flinch away from me. "Holly, it's January", he reminded; sounding aghast.
But I merely shrugged and kept staring at Ron, waiting for the youngest Weasley boy to make a decision. Ron would be fine. I'll have blankets and a pepper-up potion at the ready. Throw in some drying spells and Ron will only momentarily be an icicle.
Leaning around Ron's frame so both Percy and I could get a good look at her downturned lips and scowling eyes, Hermione informed us, "Ron's not going to do something so stupid for a dumb bet". Huh, her knit cap matched her scarf. Did Mum make those? The handiwork looked familiar.
Ron squared his shoulders. "Alright, fine", he agreed. Just in time for Flint to score ten points. Whatever amount of faith Hermione had in Ron died a little. Her expression crumbled as she swung her heated gaze to him. Ron, being the typical bloke he is, chose not to notice. "But if I win, you have to… walk around backward for a day".
Hermione scoffed in the background. "Utterly idiotic", she mumbled under her breath.
Percy must have agreed with her, but for a completely different reason. "That's completely unsafe". If he sounded shocked when I suggested Ron take a mid-winter swim, he sounded terrified at Ron's idea.
Meanwhile, both of my eyebrows raised. I was impressed and proud, and a little pleased. Ron, little Ronnikins, came up with an idea like that. It was creative and challenging. It was almost Fred and George worthy. "Deal", I agreed. Much to Percy's horror. "But I get to face forward when sitting. It is my OWL year and I need to be able to see the blackboard when in class".
"Fine", Ron relented as a bludger was smacked in the direction of the Ravenclaw keeper. On the other side of Ron, Hermione started to vibrate like a bottle rocket about to explode; her gloved hands balled into fists.
"And the stairs!" Percy quickly added, having come to the realization there was nothing he could do to stop us. "If you win, Holly can at least walk facing forward when using the stairs".
Ron rolled the idea of leniency around in his head. If it was Fred or George suggesting it, he'd probably refuse on the spot. But something about Percy, probably the wide-eyed panicked look he was portraying, made Ron accept it. "Yeah, alright. But only when she's going down the stairs. Going up, Holly still has to walk backward".
"Ronald!" Percy scolded as Hermione shook her head furiously. Although, their reactions were occurring for different reasons.
"What?" Ron asked, eyeing our big brother like he couldn't figure out what his problem was. "She'll be fine. Holly won't hurt herself if she falls going up the stairs".
"The stairs move, Ronald", Percy pointed out with narrowed eyes. It had the effect he wanted his words to carry. Visions of me walking backward off a set of stairs that weren't attached to any landing filled my mind. They were comical in an old cartoon type of way. But definitely not how I wanted this life to end.
Ron must have had similar visions because he caved a second time. "Fine". Turning to face me, he blocked off Hermione completely. "If Slytherin wins, I'll jump in the lake. If Ravenclaw wins, you have to walk backward for a day but not when you're sitting or using stairs. Deal?" He asked, holding out his hand to shake. The expression on Ron's face was overconfident and he was already smiling in premature victory.
None of that stopped me from grasping his hand. I didn't even hesitate. "It's a bet", I declared; squeezing Ron's hand as tightly as I could. Sadly, it wasn't as strong as his grip. Ron grinned. Percy let out a worried sigh. And unfortunately, Ron's and my handshake proved to be the final straw for Hermione.
Practically steaming like she'd take a pepper-up, Hermione bulldozed her way back into the conversation. "So, there's time for brainless, moronic pranks like this, but not time enough to hear proposals about promoting house-elf equality or supporting Hagrid and Buckbeak?" Hermione kept her words targeted at me and Percy, but Ron had the sense he wasn't in the clear either. As if catching Hermione's ire was contagious, he quickly dropped my hand and rubbed his palm on the front of his cloak. Hmph… at least he's learning.
Annoyed about having to hear all this again, I rolled my head on my shoulders until I was looking at Percy. Around us, the student body started cheering. But I was too caught up in our conversation to figure out which team they were cheering for.
As president, it really should be Percy taking a stance, right? At least, I thought so. However, Percy just adjusted his glasses as he scrambled to find a diplomatic response. So, I made the executive decision to place the task of shooting Hermione down on my shoulders. Rolling my head back around, I put on my best stone-serious face. "We're not going to draw lines in the sand and demand people pick our side. We're not going to force-feed YUP members subjective moral philosophy".
Hermione's face scrunched up as she turned flushed. Her lips were pressed together and her cheeks puffed out; making her look like she was struggling to hold her breath. "But it's the right thing to do", she argued; releasing heated, angry air. "Things need to change!"
Eyes rolling; my shoulders pulled back and pushed my chest out. The stance I'm taking called for better posture, apparently. "We are a student organization. The only thing we're trying to do is build friendships across the different houses". And raise our numbers for UP and Lord Flint's master plan. Whatever the hell that entailed. But…. Announcing that wasn't something we should be saying in public. It was more inner circle only knowledge. "So, stop trying to make YUP fit your agenda. If you want to change the world, take it up with… UP". I said the last part at a lower volume. Mostly so others wouldn't pick up on it. But, also because I realized how stupid it sounded.
"Ten points to Slytherin", Lee announced depressingly; his voice magically echoing through the stands.
There was a second where many different things flashed across Hermione's face. Mostly insults, if I had to take a guess. However, she used none of them. Instead, with as much self-righteous dignity that she could muster, Hermione announced. "I'm going to sit with Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor team". Then she stomped off; forcing her way through the clusters of students watching the match. Ron gaped after her; mouth slightly ajar.
Feeling more guilt than I should, I nudged my little brother with my elbow. "Go after her. Let her vent". Ron refocused his eyes on me and stared like I was nuts. "Listen to what she wants to say", I kept going. "Tell her she's right. Tell her we're… behaving like oppressors if that'll make her feel better. Then after she's calmed, reminder her why YUP is important".
Another cheer erupted from the stands as Ron slowly nodded and closed his gaping mouth. He took a few steps in the direction of his female friend. "Why can't quidditch just be about quidditch?" he asked himself in a grumble as he took a few more steps before pausing and glancing back at Percy and me. "Why is your club important again?"
I shared a look with Percy. Or rather, Percy looked at me expectantly. Oh, I'll just do all the work today, shall I? "Have Harry remind Hermione why Yup is important", I told Ron who nodded in agreement and hurried after his friend. That was probably a smarter route anyway. Harry had more tact than Ron. But Ron telling Hermione he thought she was right and we were wrong should at least score him some major brownie points.
"I think they've seen the snitch!" Lee yelled into his microphone.
Suddenly feeling tired, I leaned into Percy's side; soaking up his warmth as the players whizzed by. "We need to do something about Granger", he said, not complaining about the added weight.
"I know", I agreed. But what? Hermione was important. She was one of the few muggleborns currently in the club. We were hoping she'd attract more muggleborns. But we couldn't just give in to her either. The club's purpose was to create a climate where the different blood statuses weren't afraid to work together. So, when the time came, many different groups and hopefully their families would side with Flint Sr. It was simple math really. You-Know-Who built his army around purebloods and the occasional half-blood… And a werewolf who enjoyed the taste of human flesh… But mostly purebloods. The middle ground Lord Flint was trying to make would, ideally, bring all types together to stand against a common threat. This way, our numbers would be larger than You-Know-Who's followers. We didn't have to agree on everything. We just had to agree that You-Know-Who's wizarding UK wasn't one we wanted to live in.
Recognizing there was nothing to be done right now, Percy changed the subject. "You shouldn't have made that bet with Ron". His statement was supported by Ravenclaw scoring more points. "You're going to crack your head open. Or run into a suit of armor and accidentally impale yourself".
My nose wrinkled. How… would I… "Would you relax?" I asked rhetorically. "I'm not going to lose".
A moment passed with the two of us watching a game we both didn't care about in silence. "You know what just occurred to me?" I asked.
Percy hummed in response.
"There are three chasers per team. Between you and me, we have two-thirds of the Slytherin chasers". Percy's muscles tensed. "What do you think our odds are of getting a complete set?"
Percy pushed me away from him, hands shaking a little. "Holly Weasley", he scolded in a hushed, aggravated whisper; back to sounding horrified.
"What?" I complained. "It was just a question".