homesick ☆ f.weasley

.:07:.

The leaves were turning golden and the weather was getting colder. Tension rose amongst all the students because the time to announce the champions was drawing nearer and nearer. This meant pressure was building for the twins. They were desperate to enter the tournament and still hadn't manage to effectively brew their solution.

Emmeline was busily hunched over a cauldron. A potions textbook balanced in her other hand, her eyes darting furiously across the pages. She had promised Fred and George she would get the over that age line. She didn't expect them to be so benevolent in nature and allow her to be part of their work. She desperately wanted to make the most of her youthful years and the fact that she is a witch when her whole family were muggles. Her and her sister were miracles, so why did Emmeline live her life constricted by worry? Also, she really wanted to impress Cedric. Hufflepuff's golden boy had found the twin's pranks hilarious. She wanted to be perceived that way too. It was time for a change.

"If you can't do it I'm sure there will be another way-" began Fred kindly.

"No," she snapped. "I have to do this."

"Once she's started something there's no stopping her until it's done," Angelina chuckled, observing the trio from above her copy of the Daily Prophet.

Meanwhile, the whole Gryffindor common room was enthusiastically discussing who they estimated the goblet would chose to compete.

"It's got to be Krum!" Ron said, his eyes eagerly dashing.

"I'm not sure about the Beauxbatons. None of them look particularly strong," added Harry.

Hermione shook her bushy brown head in disgust. "It's not all about strength!" she said shrilly. She was currently knitting, a purposeful look etched on her face.

The discussion continued as dusk turned to twilight. More determined than ever, Emmeline was adding more ingredients to her cauldron.
She gasped triumphantly as the mixture turned from a dark plum to a gorgeous mauve and began emitting a sweet smell of chocolate.

"I've done it," she announced, beaming.

"Oh. My. God," said George, astonished, crawling over to view the mixture.

"You're a genius," breathed Fred.

"Well..." stammered Emmeline, blushing a violent shade of tomato red.

"This is it, Fred. We're going to enter the Triwizard Tournament," George whispered, his eyes dancing.

"It isn't going to work," mused Hermione.

Fred turned to view the brunette, his blue eyes narrowing. "Why ever not?"

"Don't you think Dumbledore would have thought about people making aging potions?" she proclaimed knowingly.

Emmeline's pale face clouded with a slight disappointment. Fred noticed this.

"No, I'm sure it will work. He won't have thought of everything surely?" Fred said.

Hermione tutted, daring them to prove her wrong.

"Ignore her," Ron stated dismissively. "She's been in a bad mood ever since the world cup and Crouch sacked his house elf."

Hermione shot Ron a bitter look that managed to turn the whole room frosty. The boy timidly retreated back to his game of exploding snap.

"I can't believe you are actually entering the tournament," Harry said in awe, breaking the awkward silence that had ensued.

"Wouldn't you?" asked Daisy. "I think you would be very good!"

Harry scoffed. "Thank you, but absolutely not."

"Imagine, one of my brothers, the Triwizard champion," said Ron.

"Don't tell mum," warned George his face darkening.

"Don't tell mum what?" Ginny, the youngest Weasley sibling, asked. She had just walked into the common room, eager to join the discussion.

Fred and George exchanged a nervous look before telling her about their plan to enter.

"What?" Ginny snarled. "What if you die?"

"We won't die-" began Fred.

"You don't know that. As if you would put your lives at risk!"

"Ginny," said Emmeline softly, trying to settle her.

"And you!" Ginny cried, pointing at a surprised Emmeline. "You're their friend and you think it's a good idea to help brew them a potion so they can enter?"

"It's not going to work anyway," Hermione repeated impatiently.

"And even if it does, the likelihood of them being picked is very slim," Emmeline added. Guilt bubbled away inside of her. She didn't want to upset anyone.

"We're loving the support here," Fred said, sarcasm dripping in his voice

Ginny had calmed down and flopped on the couch beside Emmeline. "I'm just worried about you."

"We won't do anything stupid," George assured her.

"Everything you do is stupid," Ginny reminded them.

"What we mean is we won't put ourselves in any danger," said Fred. "Promise."

Ginny had relaxed to a large extent and began laughing and joking with the rest of the group. Emmeline was joining in, relieved that Ginny wasn't upset with her. However, a slight worry was digging at the back of her mind. If Fred or George did become a champion, and anything happened to them, would Emmeline be to blame? Anxiety blossomed in her stomach. Surely they wouldn't be picked, out of everyone in Hogwarts. But as Hermione kept saying, it wasn't all about strength. She was surprised at how intelligent the boys were when they seemed to prioritise everything except their school. Emmeline assured herself Cedric would get chosen to represent Hogwarts and not the twins.