Friendless » Fred Weasley

cxviii. that's blackmail

"It's just appertaining in and out of the ring! It's not that hard!"

"Just because you did it on your first try doesn't mean it easy for everyone Lee!" Tori sighed as they walked through the town of Hogsmeade. Lee had come to Fred and Tori, bragging how he had just passed his apparition test.

Hogsmeade had been hosting extra practices for anyone before they took the exam. Tori couldn't take hers until June, since they had to be at least seventeen. She's been taking the classes, but ended up leaving the ends of her hair behind.

"Tori's trying her best," Fred told Lee, who was scoffing while walking further away. "Besides, that hair cut didn't look too bad on you."

"If anyone's getting a haircut, it's you and George."

"Tori's getting a hair cut? I'm surprised you and your brother haven't ended up chopping it off by now." Cedric's voice caused the two to turn around. He was with Cho Chang, seeming to come from the direction of Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop.

Fred chuckled. "We've considered it. George is usually the one to come up with the idea. Unfortunately, I don't want to be murdered."

Cedric nodded. "Maybe if she went blonde..."

Tori narrowed her eyes at the two boys. "Stop it. Go back to not liking each other."

"Can't. We're pals now." Fred replied, patting Cedric on the shoulder. Tori had sat both them down a few weeks ago and asked them to try and get along.

"I care about both of you. Look, you don't have to be best friends. You don't even have to like each other. But can you at least pretend to be along?"

Turns out, they didn't need to pretend. Tori rolled her eyes, hearing Cho Chang giggle.

"I don't think we've officially met. I'm Tori."

"Cho. It's nice to meet you. I like your jacket." She gestured to the 'sweatshirt' Tori was wearing. "Thank you. Muggles call it a sweatshirt. I like yours."

"Girls." Cedric groaned. "Have you been given the clue for the final task yet?" Tori asked him. He nodded. "It's a maze. Mr. Bagman says it's got loads of dangerous obstacles. He says it will be 'fun'"

"That doesn't sound good," Fred noted. Bagman hadn't kept his promise to introduce Zonko's product man to the twins or give them back their money.

"It's probably not. Luckily, I have a few months to train." Cedric nodded, glancing at his watch. "We've got to get going, but I'll see you two around."

✧    ✦    ✧

"First, Bagman doesn't pay us back. Then when we confront himself about it for the final time, he turns all nasty and refuses to pay us what's due. And now we learn he's in debt?" Fred shook his head, holding the thick letter in his hand as he, George, and Tori headed up the stairs of the Owlery.

"That's blackmail, that is, we could get into a lot of trouble for that—" George began.

"— we've tried being polite; it's time to play dirty, like him. He wouldn't like the Ministry of Magic knowing what he did —"

"I'm telling you, if you put that in writing, it's blackmail!" George said loudly. "George's right Fred," Tori said, rubbing her arm nervously. "You guys can get in loads of trouble!"

"So what? Yeah, and George won't be complaining if we get a nice fat payoff, will you?"

"I'm serious Fred!" Tori said loudly. "If Molly found out about this..."

"Mum won't," Fred replied harshly. He turned, facing both Tori and George. "Unless either of you plan on writing her a letter."

"Of course we don't." Tori snapped. "I just don't want to see you get in trouble over some money."

The Owlery door banged open. Fred and George came over the threshold, then froze at the sight of Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"What're you doing here?" Ron and Fred said at the same time.

"Sending a letter," said Harry and George in unison.

"What, at this time?" said Hermione and Tori.

Fred grinned. "Fine — we won't ask you what you're doing, if you don't ask us,"

Harry glanced at the sealed envelope, but Fred, whether accidentally or on purpose, shifted his hand so that the name on it was covered.

"Well, don't let us hold you up," Fred said, making a mock bow and pointing at the door. Ron didn't move. "Who're you blackmailing?" He asked.

The grin vanished from Fred's face. George half glance at Fred, before smiling at Ron. Tori swallowed.

"Don't be stupid, I was only joking," George said easily, trying to play it off as a joke.

"Didn't sound like that," Ron said.

Fred and George looked at each other. Then Fred said abruptly,  "I've told you before, Ron, keep your nose out if you like it the shape it is. Can't see why you would, but —"

"It's my business if you're blackmailing someone," Ron crossed his arms. "George and Tori are right, you could end up in serious trouble for that."

"Told you, I was joking," said George. He walked over to Fred, pulled the letter out of his hands, and began attaching it to the leg of Athena.

"No ones blackmailing anyone," Tori assured the three fourth years. "And if they were." She hardened her eyes. "I wouldn't be very happy with them using my owl."

George pointed at her like she had just made a point. "You're starting to sound a bit like our dear older brother, you are, Ron. Carry on like this and you'll be made a prefect."

"No, I won't!"  Ron said hotly.

George carried Athena over to the window and she took off. He then turned around and grinned at Ron.

"Well, stop telling people what to do then.
See you later."

The three of them left the Owlery quickly after that, not saying much as they walked down the stairs. "I don't have a good feeling about that," Tori admitted.

"What's done is done. Bagman shouldn't have lied to us." Fred replied. Tori and George glanced at each other uneasily but followed him anyway.

so today's my first official day of school
(the other days were walkthroughs)
i'm hoping i can still update daily.