Because I - George Weasley

9: Because I Burned

When Professor Moody had announced that he would be putting the Imperius Curse on each of us to demonstrate its power and to see whether any of us could resist its effects, everyone seemed dumbstruck.

"But it's illegal, Professor," said a Hufflepuff in the front of the class.

Fred hadn't done much to convince George and Lee to take seats in the back of the class during our next lesson. Neither of them fancied another battle between Moody and I.

"You aren't supposed to use it against another human unless you fancy a trip to Azkaban," agreed Alicia Spinnit.

"He didn't seem to follow that rule well when he put the Cruciatus Curse on Winters," Fred mumbled from my side.

"Dumbledore wants you taught what it feels like," said Moody, his magical eye swiveling onto Fred and fixing on him with an eerie, unblinking stare. "If you'd rather learn the hard way — when someone's putting it on you so they can control you completely — fine by me. You're excused. Off you go."

No one had left.

It'd been three lessons of putting the students of my year under the Imperius Curse and Moody wouldn't so much as make eye contact with me.

When he hobbled into the class for the fourth lesson, he told us that we'd be getting through everyone who hadn't had a turn yet. Since he'd been going through everyone by last name, the twins and I were up.

I'd gotten through the last three classes by not even glancing up at the people he was putting the curse on. I allowed myself to slip into Fred or Lee or sometimes George's inner thoughts to keep myself concentrated on anything than what was happening at the center of the room.

It'd learnt a few things about them.

Fred really likes Angelina Johnson.

Lee had been meeting with Madeline Cline after lunch almost every day since the start of term.

George was jealous of Fred because Angelina and him had been flirting for a while and he felt devastatingly alone.

Lee liked Angelina Johnson and had originally used Madeline to cope with the fact that her and Fred had become close.

Fred genuinely cannot understand his potions homework.

Lee pretty much only thought about Madeline.

George uses classes to distract himself from social anxiety.

Lee couldn't decide if he was in love with Madeline or not.

And I was a voyeur creeping in on people's personal thoughts.

I shut my notebook after finding that Fred was admiring Angelina's butt and I didn't feel like tampering my brain with his weird boy thoughts anymore.

"You good?" George asked, propping himself up on the same desk I was sitting on.

I caught myself glaring at Fred with a disgusted look. I chucked a little. He was teasing her now, trying to cop a feel.

"Fred," I grumbled.

George followed my eyes to see Fred with his hand on his teammate's arse.

"Yeah, he does that..." grimaced George. "But they're definitely not in a relationship or anything."

"Definitely not," I agreed sarcastically.

"Hands to yourself, Weasley!" Moody growled.

Fred jumped and moved away from Angelina, his ears turning pink and her dark skin flushed in embarrassment.