Weasley Twins - A Fate You Can't Escape

Chapter 8 - Friends of Friends

Charms goes relatively well.  Honestly, it's probably the most useful class.  A lot of the things we learn gets used in day to day life.  Although we how things are going with You-Know-Who, Defense Against the Dark Arts should also be pretty helpful.  At least it would be if it weren't for Umbridge.

After Charms class, I head to the great hall for lunch.  I spot Mia sitting with Ray and non other that Alex Finnley.  Grinning, I take the seat next to Alex, finishing the square.

"Hey guys!"  I reach forward, grabbing some fruit and putting it on my plate.  "How's classes been going?"

"Pretty good," Alex replies, smiling at me.

"Yeah!"  Mia agrees.  "Ray, Alex, and I all have Defense Against the Dark Arts together."

"It's a bit of a drag with Umbridge, but at least it isn't hard."  Ray takes a bite of his pizza, leaving a trail of sauce on his chin.

"You have a little something..."  I motion to his chin and he quickly wipes it off.  "Hopefully she just teaches us enough to do well on our N.E.W.T.s."

"Hazel, do you ever think about anything other than your N.E.W.T.s?"  Mia rolls her eyes, and I frown.

"Well yeah.  But they're important."  I look down at my plate, hurt by my best friend.  I think she notices because she quickly turns it around.

"You're right.  I'm sorry.  I guess my way of dealing with the stress of it all is not taking it as seriously as I should."  She shrugs apologetically.  

"That makes sense.  And I'm not mad."  I smile at her, instantly forgiving her.  Shifting the subject a bit, I ask Alex a question.  "I heard that you're having Quidditch tryouts today.  Do you think you'll have a good turn out?"

"Hopefully!"  Alex says passionately, excited to talk about his favorite thing.  "It's really unfortunate that we have to replace Laila on such short notice.  But she said she'd come to tryouts and help chose her replacement."

"I told Mia she should try out."  I tell him.  "She's a good flyer and I think she'd be an excellent fit.  What do you think?"

"That would be great Mia!"  He nods encouragingly to her.  "You should for sure try out.  We'd love to have you."

Mia's lovely face turns bright pink and she nods, agreeing to do it.

"And you should too, Hazel."  Alex continues, and the smile falls off of my face.

"What?"  I blink at him.

"You should try out too."  He repeats.  "The more the merrier."

"Yeah, Hazel."  Mia says, begging me with her eyes to agree.  "We could do it together."

"Fine."  I cave.  "But no laughing.  I'm not good at preforming in front of people."

"Of course."  Alex promises and Ray and Mia follow suit. 

How did I get myself into this one?

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Mia also ends up having a free period after lunch and I invite her to spend it with Celeste and I.  She seems reluctant at first, but agrees for my sake.  We stop by the dorm to swap out books before heading to the library.

I find Celeste sitting by one of the giant windows, reading her Advanced Potions book.

"Hi!"  I smile as we approach.  "This is Mia.  We've been friends since first year.  Mia, this is Celeste."

"Nice to meet you."  Mia hold out her hand and the two girls shake.

"Are you taking potions too?"  Celeste asks, holding up her book.

"No.  I wouldn't even if I had gotten a high enough O.W.L."  She grins sheepishly.  "Professor Snape scares me a bit."

"Me too."  Celeste sets her book down and gestures for us to sit.  "But my love of potions is greater than my dislike of Snape."

We sit down and I pull out my things for my potions essay, and Mia gets out her Ancient Runes homework.

"You're taking Ancient Runes?"  Celeste takes note.

"Yeah.  I think they're pretty cool.  I love the history behind the different symbols."  

"I'm taking it too."  Celeste pulls out her own book.  "Sadly I'm not as good at them as I'd like to be.  Any advice?"

A twinkle appears in Mia's eyes at the opportunity to show her smarts.  The two of them start on a discussion that frankly goes over my head.  I smile to myself and start in on my potions essay.  Maybe Mia will realize that Slytherins can be kind after all.

***

Mia has class during the second free period so I take a break and walk her there.

"So what did you think of Celeste?"  I ask eagerly, hoping that they got on as well as it seemed.

"She's pretty cool."  Mia admits.  "I was wrong about her.  I guess I shouldn't have assumed."

Her words make me beam.  I'm so happy that my best friend and my new friend are getting along.

"Makes you wonder how many other Slytherins out there get a bad rep from just being in the same house as the likes of Malfoy."  She muses thoughtfully.  "Hopefully they don't feel alone."

I wrap her in a reassuring hug.  

"You're the best,"  I tell her.

"Thanks."  I can feel her laugh.  "You too, love."

I leave her at the door to her classroom and start making my way back to the library.  I want to read some of my Muggle Studies text in preparation for class today.

Walking through the corridors I bump into non other than the Weasley twins.

"Hazel!"  George calls, jogging over to me, Fred on his heels.  "You got free period?"

"Yeah.  I was about to head back to the library."  I tell them.

"With no homework?"  Fred notes my lack of bag.

"It's in the library.  With my friend Celeste."  I explain, keeping on walking.

"Fred and I aren't the biggest fans of the library."  George says.

"I don't think the library likes us very much either to be fair."  Fred quips, cracking up his brother.  "But we'll walk with you."

"Thanks.  How have things been going for you guys?  Any big plans for the school year?"

The boys glance at each other, seeming to have an entire conversation with their eyes.  Impressive, yet unnerving.

"Alright.  We'll tell you."  George says after they come to some sort of agreement.

"As long as you keep it a secret."  Fred adds.

"Alright, that's fine."  I'm a bit suspicious that what they're about to tell me could get me into trouble.

"We're starting a business."  They whisper together.

"Oh, me too!"  I beam excitedly back at them.  They seem taken aback by my response, but pleased non the less.

"Perhaps some collaboration could be beneficial?" Fred suggests, stroking his chin.  "I suppose that depends on what you offer."

"I'm planning on selling those gel pens.  Some kids in other classes have also inquired about them.  I know it's nothing incredibly interesting, but it could be fun."

"This gives me ideas, Freddy."  George says in a sing song voice.

"You always have ideas, Georgie, dearest brother.  But are they of any quality?"  Fred's remark sends them bickering the entire rest of the way to the library.

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