Chapter 36 - Snakes
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Gryffindor had won against Slytherin! I was cheering alongside the Hufflepuffs, but when I saw the Gryffindor team descent to the ground, I knew something was up when I saw that Malfoy kid there, with smug grin that shouldn't be on his face after they just lost. I said goodbye to Cedric and the others before running up to the spot they were standing. But before I reached it, I saw Harry and George jump on Malfoy. I stopped in my tracks as I saw fists flying around. In the corner of my eye, I saw Angelina hold Fred back from jumping in too.
"GEORGE!" I yelled, but he didn't seem to hear me. I continued my way to the others of the team and stopped in front of Fred. "Fred!" My voice loud and stern and Fred looked away from the fight to me. "Don't! Umbridge is coming, they'll be in enough trouble already, you know that."
Fred looked at me for a moment before I saw the fight leave his eyes and his shoulders slump. Thanks. Angelina mouthed next to him. I turned back to see Harry and George yelling at Umbridge about what had happened. Blood covered their hands and their lips. George had a black eye, while Harry was already sporting a large bruise on his cheek. I took Fred's hand in mine as our eyes followed them when the professor took them away.
"This isn't good." I whispered and I saw Angelina nod as she watched them walk to the castle. "Come on, let's go. We won't find out until they get back."
"Mister Weasley, miss Johnsson. I want the whole team in the tower. Miss Northon, you can head back to the Hufflepuff common room."
"But -" I started, but the Head of Gryffindor gave me a pointed a look. "Yes, professor."
"I'll let you know as soon as we know something." Fred said a bit gloomy.
"Thanks." I mumbled and Angelina led Fred back to the castle, leaving me standing there alone. The crowds of students all passed me as they walked up to the castle. The images of George punching Malfoy flooded my thoughts. Blood from him or Malfoy, or both covered his hands and his mouth. I didn't know how long I stood there but by the time my feet started to move, the pitch and the stands were completely empty. No voices were heard, no chanting or shouting or even the scuffle of feet. Only silence.
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I was pacing the Hufflepuff common room, I was pretty sure my feet were leaving a mark on the floor, but I couldn't care less. I had to keep myself busy as I waited for news. Lyra and Odin had tried to sit me down, and it worked... for about two minutes, and I started pacing again. I turned once again and was suddenly faced by Cedric, who placed his hands on my shoulder.
"It's going to be fine. Probably just detention and the deduction of house points." His thumb caressed by shoulder as he leaned down to look at me.
"You didn't see Umbridge's face, Ced. She won't let them go off lightly."
"Professor McGonagall will be there." He said soothingly.
"Yeah." I breathed out shakingly and wrapped my arms around his waist, my head resting on his chest. Cedric's hand rubbed up and down my back in a soothing manner while his cheek was leaning on the top of my head.
"Why don't you go with me on my rounds." He said as he pulled away.
"Your rounds? Why-" Then it hit me. "Oooh. Sure." I shrugged with a little smile. "I think I can keep you company."
"Brilliant." He grinned. "Ready, miss Northon?" He held out his arm and I took it with a smile.
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We were walking in the empty corridor, just talking about classes. Cedric pulled out open a door from a classroom or a cupboard once in a while, and he scared a few fourth years away on the second floor. I was chuckling as the couple flew out of our eyesight when Cedric grabbed my arm and pulled me to the side.
"Ced, wha-" I started, but he hushed me and pointed to the end of the hallway. I hadn't really noticed where we had gone to, but now I saw we were a few meters away from Umbridge's office and the door had swung open. George and Harry looked to the ground as they stepped out with McGonagall on their heels.
"I'll escort them back to the common room, Dolores." McGonagall said to Umbridge, who was out of sight in her office, her voice laced with venom. Before the pink toad could answer, McGonagall had closed the door behind her. She turned to the two players in front of her.
"Professor-" The two boys started, but the professor held out her hand.
"No, there is nothing more I can do. If I wasn't there, you two would probably be packing your bags to go back home." The professor sighed and rubbed her forehead. "You can go back to the tower and inform the others. I'm sorry." She nodded and walked out the corridor, leaving the stunned boys alone. "I'll come by the tower later to make sure miss Johnsson didn't kill you two."
"I really hate that bitch!" George started as they walked towards us. "I-" He stopped when he saw Cedric and I huddled together.
"George, are you okay?" I ran over to him and wrapped my arms around him. He enclosed me in his large strong arms.
"I'm okay." He whispered on the top of my head. "What are you doing here?" He asked as he pulled away.
"I wanted to make sure you were alright."
"You - you saw?" His eyes large and I nodded.
"The moment I saw Malfoy, I knew something was up and came over. I even called out to you."
"I'm sorry." He pulled me back in.
"What happened?" I asked once he let me go, my hand in his as we walked the empty corridors. Harry and George explained what Malfoy said, making me and Cedric fume with them. "So, what's the punishment?"
"Harry and I are banned from Quidditch."
"What!" Cedric and I nearly shouted; our voices echoed in the empty corridor.
"If it wasn't for McGonagall we would've been expelled." Harry said.
"You're not serious?" I gasped looking between them, but they both nodded.
"So, you need a new seeker and a beater?"
"Two beaters." George grumbled and Cedric and I looked confused. "Fred's been banned too."
"Why?! He didn't do anything!"
"Umbridge says if it wasn't for you, he would've pounded on them too. She said if you been a few seconds later, he would have gotten out of Angelina's grip."
"Oh." I frowned at the floor.
"I didn't know you had such an effect on my twin." George squeezed my hand as he tried to lift the mood.
"At least he listened to me." I bumped him with my hip. "Not that I'd made a difference."
"We really need to do something about that toad." Harry grumbled next to George, and we all agreed. Because McGonagall was going to come to the tower later, we said goodbye at the portrait before Cedric and I headed back down the stairs.
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The next few weeks were... off. With the twins and Harry banned from quidditch, they weren't even allowed at their practices. So, I made a plan to keep the twins busy. Hermione had taken up her role for Harry and checked in with Fred once in a while, which was extremely sweet. On the nights the twins weren't on planning a prank or their revenge on Umbridge, I kept them busy with their plans for the shop and creating their products. The twins, Lee and I made so many products over the next few weeks, it was getting harder to store them. The walls of their dormitory were filled with boxes, the products we could shrink without damaging we'd put together in three large boxes. We also narrowed down three properties on Diagon Alley, and the twins were now owling back and forth for one of them.
Bash and Charlie had written me a letter, telling me they were going to pick me up from the platform when Christmas break started. They were staying at a flat in London and were planning on going wedding shopping. I looked forward to seeing them again and a few days before break I was lying in George's bed as I twirled the bracelet on my wrist.
"You sure the boys don't mind me staying over again?" I asked as George changed into his pyjamas.
"Of course not, they love you." He smiled as he climbed in the bed with me. "I love you." He kissed the top of my nose, and I rolled my eyes playfully.
"I love you too, you weirdo." I leaned forward to kiss him lightly before I rested my head on his chest. "So, ready for Christmas break?"
"Yes and no. I'm going to miss you, especially since it's our first anniversary in a few days."
"You remembered?" I asked a little shocked and pushed myself up to look at him.
"How can I forget?" He gave me a smile that made my heart pound fast. "But I won't mis that Umbitch." He sighed. "I don't know how long we can take this."
"What do you mean? What will you do?"
"I don't know. Fred and I talked about it... We just don't know if we want to stay here, not like this."
"Oh." I said softly as I traced lines on his chest. "I honestly can't imagine Hogwarts without you and Fred."
"We're not gone yet, and I'll promise when the time comes, I'll tell you before we make any plans." He tilted my chin and kissed me. "And I asked mum if you could come over this break, but we're still staying at the safe house."
"It's okay, at least now I know." He intertwined his fingers with mine just as the door of the dorm opened.
"Told you she would be here." Fred chuckled to Lee behind him. "Hey, cuddle buddies." Fred hopped on the end of the bed.
"Hey, Fred." I nudged him with my foot.
"Cedric asked me to tell you that it was okay for you to stay over the second week of Christmas break."
"Great! Didn't think they'd say no, they never do." I grinned.
"Now get off." George pushed his two feet against Fred, making him topple out of bed and closed the curtains as Fred grumbled from the ground.
"Night, Freddie. Night Lee." I called from our cocoon.
They chorused back a goodnight and I snuggled closer into George and let my eyes fall shut as George pulled the covers over my shoulders.
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"WAKE UP!" A voice suddenly called in the twins and Lee's dorm. I opened my eyes to see it was still dark out, but all of the curtains were thrown open and Seamus was standing over us, while Dean stood next to Fred's bed. "Oh, uhm, sorry Gwen. I didn't-" Seamus stumbled over his words as a blush crept over his face.
"It's okay. What's going on?" I asked pushing myself up as George woke.
"Professor McGonagall is downstairs, she asked us to get Fred and George. It's important."
My eyes went wide as I looked to the twins. They had both jumped out of bed and were already making their way to the door. I shared a look with Lee, and we both jumped up and followed the twins down. As we were making our way down, Lee wrapped his bathrobe over my shoulders. The common room was filled with the Weasleys and Professor McGonagall. I stepped next to George and intertwined my fingers with his as we looked to the professor. The professor looked at me with raised eyebrows for only a second before she looked grim to the others.
"Your father has been attacked while on..." Her eyes shifted to me and Lee. "Assignment. He's been transported to St. Mungo's. Dumbledore has set his floo open, so you can floo to the safehouse. Don't worry about your things, I'll bring them over later. Let's go before Umbridge gets word of this."
I saw all of the Weasleys faces turn pale from the moment the professor uttered the word attacked. Ginny was visibly trembling, and Fred had pulled his arm around her shoulder, to calm them both. "Where is Ron?" I asked, seeing a missing Weasley.
"He's already in the headmaster's office." McGonagall said and Fred and Ginny followed her to the portrait hole.
George looked back to me worried and pale. "It's okay, go." I kissed his cheek. "I love you."
"I love you too." He kissed my lips softly before following the others out the common room, leaving me and Lee alone in the dark and silent room.
"Maybe I should head back to the Hufflepuff common room." I whispered.
"No, no. Stay here. You can stay in George's bed." Lee already guided me back to the spiral staircase, his arm around my shoulder. I climbed back up the stairs with Lee behind me and walked in the eerie dark room. I climbed back in George's bed, the scent of him soothed me. But not enough to let me fall asleep easy. It took me awhile before sleep found me again, afraid of what had happened, afraid Mr. Weasley wouldn't make it.