like a redheaded stepchild

Chapter 7: am good snek

It was a beautiful September day, the sun shining on the great lake, the waters sparkling like diamonds as the wind blew the waves gently on the the shore. The sounds of the lapping water mixed with the cries of naked terror from a young witch perched on top of a broom and clinging to it like it was about to fall out of the sky.

"Oh come on Hermione, you just have to relax!" Ginny called, swooping around the other girl on her broom.

Hermione, for her part, was ashen faced. "B-b-b-b-but the w-w-w-water! I c-c-c-c-ould fall in!"

"Oh, the water's fine, see?" Ginny bent low over her broomstick, diving down and reaching out to with one hand. A wake rose behind her, and Ginny whooped with joy as she shot along the water's surface.

"That's not safe!" Hermione called. "What if something happens?"

Ginny of course, was too far away and making too much noise to hear. Suddenly, a black shape rose out of the water and slapped her, causing Ginny to plummet into the water.

"GINNY!" Hermione screamed, her own panic forgotten. She leaned forward and her broom shot downwards toward the foam and bubbles where her honorary sister had fallen. She hovered over the turbulent water, patting her robes frantically for her wand. Before she could find it, Ginny bobbed up to the surface and sputtered. "Oh thank God," Hermione gasped, reaching down and dragging the soggy girl onto the broom. Thankfully, she wasn't dressed in heavy robes, but a blouse and shorts that were far lighter.

"Bleh! Ugh. Thanks." Ginny shook her head. "Where's my broom?"

Hermione looked around, then spotted it bobbing on the surface a few feet away. "Here!" she flew over, and Ginny scooped it out of the water. With surprising agility, she hopped onto her own broom and took off to hover above Hermione. "You saved me there! And look, you seem to have gotten over your own fears as well!"

Hermione flushed, looking down and realizing that she was flying, and not utterly petrified. "Oh. I guess I did."

Ginny grinned. "Come on, I'm going to go dry off. We can go flying again later."

Hermione didn't notice the two gingers in the reeds shaking hands, nor the wink and wave Ginny sent in their direction.

"Proper prankster, our Gin-Gin," Fred (he was nearly sure he was Fred today) observed.

Probably George nodded. "Now if only we can get Hermione to join in the fun!"

"Well, I'm not entirely convinced she and Harry didn't cook up this whole Evil Lockhart thing as some elaborate prank."

"It is possible, but have you noticed how they squirm whenever he's looking at them?"

"True, true, almost as if they actually think-"

"- a capital fellow like that could be evil!"

Laughing together, Fred and George (whichever was which) trekked back towards the castle to plot their next grand prank.

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"I now call to order the first official meeting of the Stop our Professor's Evil Ways, or S.P.E.W., to order," Hermione declared, banging her gavel twice.