A Whole Different World

Chapter 16 - Friendship

Bustling people running past knocked Anna's trolley as she walked through Kings Cross Station. Anna was with Ella and her mum, Anna's family couldn't fit in the car so they said goodbye at home. They found platform nine and three quarters and went through the barrier. Ella's mum said goodbye to them and they went on the train, there were a few empty compartments but they found one that had Mackenzie and Gillian in it so they sat there, Anna didn't know where the others were.

"Guess what, I went to Diagon Alley with Laura and I found out her family are friends with the Malfoy's!" Mackenzie exclaimed, Anna looked at Ella and she nodded,

"We know," Mackenzie frowned when Anna said that, "Aneesha told us," Anna explained,

"Well, I didn't know," Gillian said, "Was he nice?"

"He was alright, until we saw Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys,"

"Aneesha told us that his father and Mr Malfoy started a fight in Flourish and Blotts!" Anna exclaimed,

"Yeah, they did, but I'm worried that everyone is angry at us for being with Draco," Mackenzie said worriedly,

"Well us three aren't, and I'm sure whoever knows about this will find it in their heart to forgive you," Anna told her,

"I hope so, should we find the others?"

"Yeah, but we shouldn't leave our stuff here, someone could take it," Ella said worriedly,

"Don't worry, Anna and I will stay, you go look for the others." Gillian said. Anna frowned, she never agreed to that, but Gillian just assumed that she would stay.

Ella and Mackenzie left and Gillian and Anna decided to play a game of exploding snap.

"Anna,"

"Yeah?" Anna asked Gillian. She shook her head mouthed 'It wasn't me' and pointed towards the door. Anna's eyes followed where she was pointing and standing at the other end of her finger was Neville Longbottom with Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan and Hermione Granger.

"Have you seen Harry and Ron? We can't find them," Neville asked Gillian and Anna,

"No, sorry, but if we see them we will tell you. If you guys find any of our friends tell them to come here," Gillian said to the four students at the door,

"I saw Taylor, Keira and Aneesha a few minutes ago; they were walking down that way," Dean said, pointing to his left,

"Thanks," Gillian grinned,

"See you two soon." Hermione said before the four of them left.

Soon Mackenzie and Ella came back with Laura, Amy, Catherine and Eden. They had been in another compartment but hadn't bothered looking for their other friends. They all sat, squished in the compartment.

"Does anyone know why Aneesha and Keira barely hang out or talk with us anymore?" Amy asked,

"They're always with Fred and George," Anna answered.

"Where's Taylor?" Laura looked at all of the others; realising Taylor wasn't here there,

"With Aneesha," Gillian said,

"We need to talk to Aneesha and Keira about the cons of hanging out with the twins so much," Eden said,

"Yeah I think we do." Catherine sighed.

*****

After the feast Catherine, Ella and Anna sat on Anna's bed discussing Harry and Ron flying a car to school and crashing into the whomping willow. Anna only realised after that that's where they were when Neville and the others were looking for them. They hadn't had a chance to talk to Aneesha yet, or Keira. Anna hoped they wouldn't react too badly.

"What Harry and Ron did was silly, but it was quite heroic, especially of Harry." Catherine said in awe. Ella and Anna grinned at each other, knowing that Catherine had a huge crush on Harry.

"I wish I had a flying car." Ella said dreamily.

*****

After their first lesson the next day Ella, Eden, Laura, Mackenzie, Catherine, Amy, Anna, Gillian and Taylor (Gillian had told her what was happening) went to the outside of the owlery to meet Keira and Aneesha. They had told them to meet them there to talk about school but they would really talk to them about Fred and George. Anna saw Keira and Aneesha coming up (without the twins for once) and told everyone to sit in a circle but leave places for the two coming up the hill.

"Hi, everyone!" Keira exclaimed as she ran over to them. They all replied 'hi', Aneesha walked over and breathed a "hi" out to them all. They sat down; Aneesha between Taylor and Ella and Keira between Eden and Catherine.

"We need to talk," Laura said, looking first at Keira then Aneesha,

"About what?" Aneesha asked,

"You spend an awful lot of time with Fred and George," Ella said to the two,

"And? They're our friends, just like you all are," Keira said angrily, nobody but Aneesha knew why she was getting angry so quickly,

"We just feel like they're not the best influences for you," Catherine said,

"If you get too close to them it will be so upsetting when they leave earlier than you, they're in their fourth year already. By the time you're in sixth year they won't be at the school anymore," Mackenzie said,

"I think this is something that you're going to regret later on in life," Amy added,

"I'm not going to sit here and listen to you guys say this stuff." Keira almost growled, she jumped up and ran off. Aneesha looked pissed off and upset, but she didn't say anything. She just got up and left her friends without a glance back.

"Keira wait!" Aneesha yelled running after her, Keira stopped and leant against the wall of one of the corridors in the castle,

"Aneesha...why?" Keira sobbed,

"Why what?" Aneesha frowned,

"Why did this have to happen?"

"I don't know, maybe we have been neglecting our friends..."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"But they don't understand!" Keira exclaimed,

"I know, I know," Aneesha reassured her,

"Do you think we should tell them why we spend so much time with Fred and George?" Keira asked her friend,

"No. They have never been in this situation. They won't know what to say,"

"Okay. I need to go to the bathroom I'll meet you back here, yeah?"

"Yeah." Aneesha slid down the wall with her hands burying her face and let a tear escape her eye, she was sick of the crap that came with having more than a couple of friends.

Aneesha heard footsteps behind her, she removed her hands expecting to see one of the girls, but instead one of the twins was there,

"What's wrong?" He asked worriedly, he came and sat next to Aneesha, and pulled her into a hug. She snuggled up close to him, his touch comforted her.

"It's just...nothing," She sighed into his chest, her chest rose and fell against his,

"You're crying, it must be something,"

"My friends don't like that I'm spending so much time with you and your twin,"

"That's terrible," He frowned hugging her tighter, "I could talk to them for you, if you want,"

"Don't worry; I'm never going to stop being your friend." Aneesha smiled up at him, he smiled back and she could feel her heart speed up.