Ethereal

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The Goblet of Fire

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The rest of the journey passed pleasantly enough. Sadie wished it could have gone on all summer, in fact, and that she would never arrive at King's Cross, she wasn't ready to go back to another world her brother was not in, but as she had learned the hard way that year, time will not slow down when something unpleasant lies ahead, and all too soon, the Hogwarts Express was pulling in at platform nine and three-quarters. The usual confusion and noise filled the corridors as the students began to disembark. Harry, Ron and Hermione struggled out past Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, carrying their trunks. Sadie, however, stayed put.

"Fred, George, wait a moment."

The twins turned. Sadie pulled open her trunk and drew out the Triwizard winnings Harry practically forced her to take.

"Take it," she said, and she thrust the sack into George's hands.

"What?" said Fred, looking flabbergasted.

"Take it," Sadie repeated firmly. "I don't want it."

"You're mental," said George, trying to push it back at Sadie.

"Maybe I am," said Sadie. "You take it, and get inventing. It's for your joke shop."

"She is mental," Fred said in an almost awed voice.

"Listen," said Sadie firmly. "If you don't take it, I'm throwing it down the drain. I don't want it and I don't need it. Like Harry said, it should have been Si's, but you know, he can't really use it right now. But I could do with a few laughs. We could all do with a few laughs. I've got a feeling we're going to need them more than usual before long. So please, take it because I know Simon would have wanted you to take it if it can make hundereds, maybe thousands of other people happy."

"Sades," said George weakly, weighing the money bag in his hands, "there's got to be a thousand Galleons in here."

"Yeah," said Cassie, grinning. "Think how many Canary Creams that is."

The twins stared at her.

"Just don't tell your mum where you got it, although she might not be so keen for you to join the Ministry anymore, come to think of it. . . ."

"Cass," Fred began, but Cassie pulled out her wand.

"Look," she said as she looked at Fred, "take it, or I'll hex you and you know I will. I know some good ones. Just do me one favour, okay? Please buy Ron some different dress robes and say they're from you."

"Thank you," George said shocked as he put the sack of coins in his trunk and walked out.

"Cass," Fred said as Sadie looked at him. 

"Yeah?" She asked, hopeful that he would say the thing she wanted him to.

"I love you," he blurted out, both of them looking shocked. 

"W-what?" she asked as Fred looked just as shocked.

"I love you," he repeated, "I've loved you from the moment we met at platform 9 and 3/4. I've loved you at Christmas, on every Quidditch practice, every time we've been together, and every time we've been apart. And I know you wouldn't feel the same, why would you but I had to tell you."

Before Sadie could respond, he had walked out of the compartment, leaving the blonde alone. She quickly got her thoughts together, grabbed her trunk and hurried out of the compartment where the others were standing together. She put her trunk down with her friends and walked towards Fred.

"Fred?" she asked. 

The taller boy turned around and was surprised when Sadie had grabbed the collar of his jumper and kissed him. Everyone around them were pleasantly shocked and when Sadie broke apart from Fred, he had a look of shock on his face as she smiled. 

"You are an idiot to think I wouldn't feel the same," she said smiling before she made her way towards Harry, Ron and Hermione. 

"See you. Harry," said Ron, clapping him on the back.

"Bye, Harry!" said Hermione, and she did something she had never done before, and kissed him on the cheek.

"See you soon," Sadie said, hugging him tightly. 

Sadie, Ron and Hermione all waved goodbye to Harry as he waved goodbye back, turned to Uncle Vernon, and followed him silently from the station. 

"So," Sadie said as she looked at Ron and Hermione, "let's hope next year is better."

"You want to explain what that was about?" Hermione asked, a shocked grin on her face as the blonde smiled.

"I'll tell you later," she said smiling.