𝐎𝐃𝐃 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓 harry potter.

5: Double Trouble

ALLY WEASLEY, despite somewhat settling in and finding a companion within the unfamiliar castle, still found great comfort with the premise of sharing a class with Gryffindors so frequently. This meant sitting next to Ginny, sharing gossip underneath their breaths, and passing notes when the professors turned their backs on them.

Her twin was still very hung up on Harry, losing hope every day as the famous boy never really spared her as much as a glance since they arrived at Hogwarts. Ally consoled her, saying that Harry must be riddled with several worries like Quidditch (especially under the tutelage of Wood), or evading his usual band of followers like Colin Creevey. This sent a displeased shock to Ginny, realizing that Harry might see her as one of his fans. "He won't hate me for that, won't he?" she asked one time.

"No, he won't," Ally replied though she was unsure if Harry found a sense of comfort with the idea of little Ginny always trailing behind them, watching him from afar.

They shared a flying class one bright morning, which was enough for the twins to become very giddy, a feeling that became tucked away in the corner of their emotions ever since they left the Burrow and resided in the cold and unfeeling castle. The twins squared up, standing across each other, wearing different colored robes.

"Now, stand next to your broom," said Madame Hooch, whistle dangling on her neck. "And say, 'up!'" she commanded, blowing air onto the whistle. They followed suit, but none of them had an easy time conjuring their brooms. "With conviction," she added with another whistle.

"Place one leg on the other side. Make sure you're well-balanced. None of that side saddle nonsense," the professor said as she walked by the students, checking their progress. "I want you to mount and only mount."

After what felt like five attempts of commanding her broom to "Up!", Ally finally succeeded in summoning it and mounted with the same ease as if she'd just ridden Harry's Nimbus yesterday. Ginny, on the other hand, adapted to her broom even faster, needing fewer than five tries before swiftly balancing herself atop it.

Colin Creevey's broom seemed jinxed. Though it behaved normally at first, it suddenly began looping wildly mid-air, forcing Madam Hooch to chase after him.

"Psst!" Ally called to her twin. Ginny, her flaming red hair tied back in a ponytail, flicked her head around, spotting Ally flanked by her Slytherin friends. A surge of jealousy and possessiveness hit Ginny, accompanied by a nasty thought of knocking the two girls off their brooms.

"Race you to the goalpost?" Ally suggested in a casual tone. Still feeling bitter, Ginny sped past her, skimming close enough to make the Slytherin girls wobble on their brooms. Ally chuckled at her twin's behavior, gripping her broom tightly as she silently counted down.

Three... two... one!

The twins shot off, neck and neck, their eyes locked on the distant goalpost, hair whipping in the wind. From a distance, they appeared as two black specks darting through the air, though one had noticeably longer limbs, while Ginny's vibrant red hair stood out. Their schoolmates watched in awe, and even Madam Hooch, now holding onto Colin Creevey, didn't try to stop them.

Ally suddenly soared higher, climbing above both her twin and the goalpost. Ginny glanced up for just a split second, and in that moment, Ally shot ahead, passing the goalpost with ease.

Ginny, coming in second, chased after her. When they landed, their classmates erupted in cheers, but while Ally sported a wide, prideful grin, Ginny's face was drawn into a deep frown that her cheeks seem to sag.

"Gin, good work!" Ally cheered, oblivious to her sister's mood.

Ginny was so upset that tears threatened to spill from her eyes. When Ally tried to hug her, Ginny dodged, throwing her broom to the ground and running back to the castle, hands covering her face.