Forever... Always

Year 3 - Hogsmeade

Cedric, Fred and George have all become more popular than they were in the last two years. I've also become rather popular, but not amongst the same crowd as the boys. I've become like a guardian angel to first years because of my willingness to help any of them who approach me. Many of them ask for help learning about quidditch or studying. Neville and I meet in the library to study rather frequently. He's constantly asked for help, I'd say more so reassurance that he knew what he was doing. He's smart, he's just not confident about it, making him not realize his potential. We met quite often and I enjoyed our time together. He's become a close friend of mine and I appreciate having a friend who is more withdrawn because it's different than I'm used to, Cedric and the twins being rather outgoing. Speaking of Georgie and Freddie, they were no longer asking me for input on their pranks, they planned all of them with Lee and I don't have a problem with that, I just feel a bit jealous that they aren't doing it with me anymore. I'm glad that they're still making time for me though.
As of recently on top of everything else, I spend my Saturdays, around quidditch practices when there is, helping Hagrid with his garden and a few creatures. He always tells me how much he wishes he could be a Professor. Hagrid has safely taught me more about some creatures in a couple Saturdays than Professor Kettleburn has in all his lessons up till now. I like him a lot, don't get me wrong, it's great to have another Hufflepuff professor, but even Hagrid isn't as reckless as Professor Kettleburn. Hagrid has mostly taught me about Fang, spiders, nifflers, knarls, dragons, bowtruckles and a three-headed dog he named Fluffy.
"I'm sure if yer ever meet Fluffy he'll love ya, ye do play instruments don't ya? Fluffy loves the harp most, puts em right to sleep." Hagrid rambled as we watered the garden together.
"I play piano, though I haven't played much since I started at Hogwarts, I'm sure I could learn to play the harp if I try, but Hagrid, you talk a lot about Fluffy, but you've never introduced me? Can I ask why?"
"Dumbledore needed Fluffy's help fer something that I can't tell ya about. I shouldn't have told ya about Fluffy at all."
"It's alright, I won't tell anyone about Fluffy. I guess you'll just have to introduce us when Dumbledore doesn't need him anymore." I said kindly, I don't want Hagrid to get in trouble so I'll keep my knowledge of Fluffy to myself.
"Rayne! Are you ready to go?" Cedric called to me as he, Fred and George approached Hagrid's hut.
"Where are we going?"
"You forgot, didn't you?" Fred asked me.
"Seems that way. What did I forget?"
"We're going to Hogsmeade. It's a Hogsmeade weekend and we'd decided we wanted to check out the Three Broomsticks." George told me.
"I'm so sorry! I did forget! Hagrid, are you going to be able to manage all that needs to be done this afternoon without me?"
"Absolutely Rayne, I actually have Harry coming to pay me a visit. Ya do remember I used to do it all on my own too ya know."
"Alright, take care Hagrid. I'll see you soon." I called to him as I headed to where George, Cedric and Fred stood waiting for me. "I have to get changed, do you guys mind?"
"Not in the least, we'd rather you don't look like a walking garden Winnie." Georgie told me jokingly.
"Very funny Jelly bean, I'll be back asap." I said, rolling my eyes and making my way back into the castle.
As I walked the halls towards the basement, I ran into Ron and Harry, who I assumed were on their way to Hagrid's.
"Rayne! Are the twins with you?" Ron asked me nervously.
"They aren't right now, they're waiting outside for me, why?"
"They've been bothering me non-stop! Just like they'd done to Percy! Now that Percy is a prefect, they bother me!" Ron cried, sounding desperate for help.
"He was wondering if you could ask Fred and George to let up on him a little." Harry said gently.
"Ok, ok, I'll try, but I already asked them not to bother Neville and you are their brother Ron. Thank you for just getting to the point Harry, Ron would have continued complaining." I teased.
"C'mon Rayne, they don't bother you as much so please help me out." Ron pleaded.
"George just told me I look like a walking garden, they tease me too you know. Either way, I'd better get going otherwise they'll get impatient and I'll have no chance of asking them to let up on you."
"Thank you Rayne." Ron said and Harry gave me a small smile before we parted ways.
I got to the common room, rushed to my dorm and pulled out a cute outfit. It's not too chilly out yet so I decided to pull on my black nylons, a pair of shorts underneath my black overall dress because I'm too clumsy to not wear shorts under dresses and skirts. I put on my white turtle neck jumper then my overall dress. I quickly tied my hair into two loose low ponytails, grabbed my daisy patterned bag, put on my cute black boots and basically ran back to George, Cedric and Fred.
"Look at you, didn't take too long either." Georgie told me. "Let's go!"
We all made our way to Hogsmeade. We entered the Three Broomsticks and were seated at a table. We all ordered a Butterbeer after deciding that if we're going to try it, we have to do it together.
"To be rather honest, I'm not completely sure how you two got Aunt Molly to give you visitation permission." I said with a chuckle.
"Her favourite punishment." Fred sighed.
"We had to degnome the garden." George added, realizing Cedric might not have known.
"Here are your butterbeers." The waitress said with a smile.
"A toast?" Cedric said, grabbing his drink.
"To?" I asked curiously.
"Us. The four of us. Friendship to last a lifetime my dad says. Forever."
"Always." The twins and I said joyfully while tapping all of our glasses together.
We joked and laughed, teasing one another and wishing this would never end. We were all at least a little buzzed because everything was funny. We headed out of the Three Broomsticks and into the main streets of Hogsmeade. That's when I spotted where we had to go before heading back to Hogwarts.
"Let's go guys!" I exclaimed, grabbing Georgie's hand and dragging him in the direction of the shop.
"Where are we going at such a pace?" Cedric asked, not looking up to see the sign on the shop.
"One day we'll run this place into the ground. Right George?"
"I was thinking the same thing Fred."
The four of us stood there looking at a colourful window display of a shop called 'Zonko's Joke Shop'.
"They've got everything you'd ever need for a prank or trick." Cedric said.
"We'll have more than you can imagine Cedric." George stated as if this was common knowledge.
"Just you wait. We'll be the ones supplying young wizards and witches with all they could ever dream of." Fred added.
"I'll be there on the opening day with you two. That's a promise."
"What if it's on the same day as er- your- WEDDING, what if it's the same day as your wedding?" Fred asked, eagerly waiting for the answer.
"I'd hope you three would be at my wedding." I said laughing. "Although that means I'd have to get someone to love me enough to want to spend the rest of our lives together. I might have to resort to one of you three if no one wants me." I teased, playfully nudging Georgie.
He looked... almost hurt. It made me feel bad and I wanted to take back my comment.
"I'm sure it'd be lovely to be one of your wives." I said, trying to recover or mend what I'd said before.
We entered the shop, splitting into two groups, Fred and Cedric and me and George. We figured we'd be able to see more in a shorter time if we split. We were looking at plenty of pranks and tricks, but when I looked at George, he didn't seem to actually be looking at anything.
"What's the matter Jelly bean?"
"Oh- uh- it's nothing Winnie. Don't worry about it."
"You're so gloomy, tell me what's wrong because I want to help, you don't have to hide stuff from me."
"You're right. It was a joke, what you said, about us being last resorts, right?"
"Yes of course! Who knows what the future holds." I assured him with a smile, it's not like Georgie to make sure something is a joke because he can usually tell. "Oh- look! Hadn't you and Freddie said you needed more of these?"
"Dungbombs! Yes, we do!" He gave me a quick hug. "Freddie, Rayne found the Dungbombs, how many did we need?"
"Four or six, can't quite remember." Freddie called back at us.
"Five it is then." George said as he grabbed a few.
We left Zonko's with nothing more than five Dungbombs that the twins bought. We made our way back to Hogwarts joyfully together, still laughing about things. As we were making our way towards the castle, I remembered what Ron had asked me because I saw him and Harry at Hagrid's.
"Oh! That's what I'd forgotten. I have something to ask of you Fred and George."
"What is it?"
"I know I already asked you to not bother sweet little Neville, but someone else asked me to talk to you guys about letting up on them as well."
"Let us guess." George said.
"It's Ron, isn't it?" Fred finished.
"Would you guys mind? Just pull more pranks on Filch or something." I suggested.
"Fine, fine." Fred said passively.
"Only because you asked Winnie." George added.
"Thank you. I'll see you two in DADA tomorrow." I said as Cedric and I turned to head back to our common room.
We were both pretty tuckered out so we headed to our dorms and as I expected, Amber was there.
"How was your day?" She asked without looking up from whatever she was writing.
"Marvelous, as always, what have you been up to?"
"Marcus and I played Gobstones in the courtyard with a bunch of others after lunch. I studied some in the library with some friends and finally, I came back not too long ago to write my parents a letter."
"Sounds like fun. What are you writing them about?"
"What Marcus is like. They seem to be becoming rather fond of him and I'd like him to be able to meet my parents this summer."
"How wonderful! I'd chat more, but I'm exhausted. Goodnight Amber." I said crawling into my bed.
I lay awake for a little while thinking about what's left in this year. We still have our quidditch match against Slytherin, Gryffindor demolished us this year. There's yet to be an electric storm for me to complete my Animagi transformation. Finally, we still have our exams. It feels like such a long year, but in a good way.