Twin Troubles

The Rest of Summer

It's been a few days since we left the quidditch world cup. The attack at the campsite has been all over the prophet ever since. I've spent most of my time at the Weasley's playing quidditch two on two (Me and Harry vs Ginny and Ron) while Hermione sits down and pretends she's watching us but really she's reading when she thinks we're not looking. Today I'm just walking around the Weasley's yard by myself, enjoying the warm weather and the feeling of being outside. I don't get that feeling much at Hogwarts. Don't get me wrong, school is pretty awesome, I mean I'm actually grateful for Hogwarts. It gets Harry away from his abusive aunt, uncle, and cousin. But you know, for a girl who has to leave a family who loves her for nine months, it can get pretty rough. I miss my parents sometimes. I'm sure most of the kids at Hogwarts feel the same thing though. At least I've got Hermione, and the Weasleys are my family to. You know what they say,  blood doesn't make a family, love does. My thoughts are interrupted when I run into someone.

"I'm so sorry," I say to the person I've run into. It's Harry.

"It's fine, I wasn't watching where I was going," he says to me.

"What were you doing anyways?" I ask him.

"Just taking a walk. You?" he says to me.

"Same," I tell him. He nods.

"Walk with me?" he asks.

"Sure," I say to him. We walk side by side in silence. I've never really talked to Harry alone before. I guess there's a first time for everything. 

"You looking forward to going back to Hogwarts?" he asks me, making an attempt to make small talk.

"I guess so, you?"

"Well compared to the Dursley's, that place is heaven for me," he says. I give a slight chuckle.

"I figured," I say.

"I'm mostly excited for the quidditch season," he tells me.

"Yeah me to, I can't wait to crush Slytherin like a bug!" I say in my competitive voice.

"Same," he says to me.

"HARRY, MARI! DINNER!" we hear Mrs. Weasley shout from a distance. 

"I guess we better start walking the other way," he tells me.

"Yeah," I say.

"Do you like Fred?"

"Well of course I like him, he's my best friends," I tell him.

"No I mean do you like him?"

"Oh, well I've never thought of him like that. To be honest, he's more of a brother type figure to me. You know the kind that you don't argue with all of the time," I tell Harry. He nods. "Why do you ask?"

"Just curious," he tells me. I shrug and we continue to walk side by side in silence. When we finally reach the house, Harry holds the door open for  me. Weird...

"What's for dinner Mrs. W?" I ask Mrs. Weasley.

"Onion soup and rolls, my dear," she tells me.

"Yeah!" I say. Me and Hermione love her onion soup and we both practically beg her to cook it every time we come over here. It seems that this time we didn't even have to beg. Hermione and Ginny come into the room.

"Is that onion soup I smell?" says Hermione.

"You better believe it is!" I say to her. We both take our places at the dinner table, sitting next to each other of course. Hermione sits on my right, and Harry sits on my left. I usually sit in between Fred and George, but I decided to switch it up a bit since this is me and Hermione's favorite meal. Mrs. Weasley places a giant bowl of soup and a platter of homemade rolls in the middle of the table and we all help ourselves. Dinner is delicious and me and Hermione have thirds. When we are dismissed from the table until desert, Mrs. Weasley orders us all to go and de-gnome the yard. Harry, again with his ignorant mind, had no idea what this was so Fred and George are quick to explain the process to him. We all head out to the yard. I find a gnome, I grab it by it's hat, swing it around, then throw it as far as I possibly can. I watch it fly out to oblivion in exhilaration.

"Nice one," says a voice behind me, practically scaring me to death. I clutch my chest and turn around. It's Fred.

"Fred! You nearly gave me a heart attack," I say to him.

"Isn't that a Muggle thing?" He asks me. I roll my eyes. "That was a pretty good throw, Granger. But I bet I could do better!"

"Oh, yeah, wanna put it to the test?" I say to him.

"Yeah, George come over here and tell s who's throw is better!" he shouts over to George.

"I don't think so he's biased," I say to him.

"What are you talking about, he wouldn't pick me because I'm his brother," he says to me.

"Exactly, he would pick me to get on your nerves. We need someone who's not really neither of our friends," I say to him. I look around to see Ron listening in on our conversation. "What about you, you're neither of our friends," I say to him.

"Wow Mari, thanks," he says to me.

"Your welcome, buddy," I say to him. "Ready to judge?" I ask him.

"I guess," he grunts.

"Alright then, ladies first," I say to Fred. He rolls his eyes at me then catches a gnome by its hat.

"Gather round young ones," I shout to the others. "To see an epic FAIL!"

"You wish," says Fred. I snigger, all eyes are on him. He swings the gnome around about ten times in the air then lunges forward as he releases the gnome into the air. He get a round of applause from most people and a whistle from Harry. 

"Step aside, rookie," I say to him as I step up to take my throw. I see a gnome try to scuttle by, I snatch it up and swing it around about twenty times above my head. Then, with all my might, I lunge forward, and fling that gnome out into the distance. It flies across the yard, then out of the yard, then so far none of us can see it anymore. I get an overwhelming round of applause from everyone even Ron (who I had just recently stated wasn't my friend). I bow three times and wave to everyone like a pageant queen.

"So Ron, who do you think has the best throw?" I ask him. He points to me. "Any objections, Fred?" I ask him. He is still staring in awe and shock into the direction in which I threw the gnome. "I guess not, I win!" I say in triumph. Everyone cheers again. I blow kisses and wave. Then we all get back to our de-gnoming. Tomorrow is the last day before we go back to Hogwarts. What a night. What a summer.