Shrinking Violet

Year 4

Year 4

It was raining, the day that Cleary Prince stood patiently beside a rather mundane looking entrance to platform 9 3/4. The two boys had assured her that they would be here soon enough, and it felt like only a few moments before she caught sight of the tell tale red hair that seemed to follow everyone that signed their last name with WEASLEY.

She had only just barley caught sight of Ron's red face, when a flash of red crossed her sight, and she was overcome with a pair of arms wrapping around her waist, and then another along along her side. A loud 'thunk' following her back colliding into the ground as giggles escaped her mouth.

"It's nice to see you guys too." She laughed, her voice causing several people to give them odd looks.

"Where have you been all bloody summer?" Fred demanded rather than asked, as he got up, a broad grin still stretched out over his face. To which George rolled his eyes, holding out his hand which Cleary took as he pulled her to her feet.

"What he means, is that we've missed you." George corrected, his eyes eyes narrowing slightly at Fred for only a split second. And it was true, they had missed Cleary, Fred missed her her quick solutions, and witty remarks.

But George was a different story, he missed the way how in winter he would always wrap his Gryffindor scarf around her neck, and when she returned how her scent would linger. The way she always said 'um' before she provided an answer during class, he even missed the disheveled way her hair looked after their late nights exploring every inch of the castle.

He was so captivated with taking her completely in, her thick curls that fell down her back, and eyes much browner then his memories proved, lips a thick rosy shade. And then, he was once again shoved aside by his mother.

"You must be Cleary! I've heard so much about you!" She said quickly, and Cleary had just stuck her hand out, when Mrs. Weasley wrapped her into a bone crushing hug.

"If one of those two gives you even a bit of trouble, you owl me immediately." She said, giving the two red heads a stern look before pushing them to the platform.

"Have you two gotten taller?" She asked, as if that was even possible at this point. The three had just stepped into the train, and she couldn't help but notice the even greater distance in between their heads. Before it had been a slight tilt of the head to meet his steady gaze, but now her head had to roll back. It was a strange experience, like or the first time she was fully aware of how much of a boy he actually was.

But Fred seemed oblivious to this monumental discovery, as he simply shrugged, strolling down the long line of compartments until he found an empty one. Plopping down on the entire seat, leaving his bag unattended.

"Get that for me, will you George?" A playful grin stretching across his face as George scowled.

"Get it yourself you lazy git." He had just said, noticing in the corner of his eye that even when Cleary stood on the very tips of her toes, she was still not tall enough to get the very edge of her bag onto the thick metal rack.

"Here let me help you with that." George, was unaware of how her heart fluttered as his breath tussled her hair, but rather found himself, surprisingly enough, enjoying the close proximity. His thin, spider leg like, fingers easily pressed against the side of her bag. Brushing against her fingers which remained firmly on the suitcase.

"Oh really, you help her but not me." Fred yelled loudly, a well needed interruption from their own thoughts for the both of them. "You. Know what that is?" And when neither answered the question, rather looking at him with lank stares, he sighed loudly.

"It's called sexism, I think you owe someone an apology." He stated in a know it all fashion. (Someone might even think he had been hanging around Hermione a bit too long.) While George's face flushed so red, it actually matched his hair. He had been preached about woman's rights ever since Ginny was born, and felt quite embarrassed that he had made such a silly mistake in front of Cleary.

"I-I'm s-s-so sorry Cleary, I just wanted to help, I didn't mean-"

"Not to her you git, to me." And once again his comment was returned by two blank stares. "You help her because she's a girl, but not me even though I'm your own flesh and blood? Just because I'm a boy." George rolled his eyes, plopping down on the seat because at the moment his twin was causing him much needless grief.

***

Half way through the train ride, a bit after George and Fred Weasley, Cleary Prince, and the arrival of Ginny had sparked a long game of elemental. A card game, having to do with the elements and natural disasters. The goal was to beat the past element, such as water beats fire, and be the last one standing. As the cards where placed, they showed a short visual of what happens when each card is placed. So if there was water, it would show a puddle of water, and then when the sun is placed on top, the water would evaporate and the sun would stand proudly on top.

"Hurricane beats rain" George said.

"The sun shows up after a hurricane." Fred declared. Though it was a loose challenge, no one questioned it.

"Thunderstorms make the sun go away." Ginny pushed her card onto the in larger pile.

Cleary had just tugged on a card, ready to place it on the pile when everyone was startled by the door opening. To their surprise it was simply Cedric Diggory. His hair neatly combed back, robe neatly pressed.

"Is it all right if I borrow Cleary for a minute." His voice had a tentative As he stood by the door, while everyone nodded. Tough everyone, including Ginny, was a bit against Cedric coming anywhere near Cleary.

As she silently got up, telling Ginny to play for her. And when she was out of ear shot, the door clicking shut Ginny whispered.

"Their names even sound good together." Her nose scrunching as she dropped a card on the pile.

"Meteor beats everything," a blazing ball of heat colliding with the sun, pushing it out of view, flames dancing around the edges. "I win."

***

Cleary had conveniently missed the dementors, and had rather met up with the three at the carriages.

"What did you and Cedric to about?" Ginny asked it in a very casual, yet curious tone. Her hair flipping to the side as she followed George into the carriage.

"Oh you know," she stepped into the carriage, only this time, Ginny was sitting beside Fred. She hesitantly sat next to George, aware of her thumping heart. Swallowing quickly. "Just stuff." She shrugged, shuffling the deck once again.

Though, uncharacteristically enough, Fred was kind enough to not think- let alone ask anything, but George was a different case. He kept prodding in thinly veiled questions.

"So have you been writing to Cedric over the summer?" The statement in between was, just like us, but Cleary seemed oblivious as she threw a card down.

"A bit I suppose, over quidditch and his trip to France." And then once again the conversation died down as they played.

"So how quick are we talking? Every week, or every few days?" Ginny sighed loudly as she threw down the fire card, causing the wood to burn into a blaze of heat.

***

"I'm sorry for springing this on you so suddenly." He whispered in her ear, plump red lips only an inch away from her ear.

"No it's fine, we'll meet this Saturday?" Her cheeks were tinged red from flattery, remembering what he had said on the train.

A grin crossed his face as his cheeks grew a ruby red, eyes never drifting off her face as his hand rested on her arm.

"Definitely" he grinned.

And once again, no one noticed Oliver Wood declaring how much he hated people, sitting at the Gryffindor table next to George Weasley who couldn't have agreed more at the moment.