International Love | Fred Weasley

Chapter 32

The day after the Hogsmeade trip, I sleep in until I'm sure breakfast isn't served in the Great Hall anymore. I wrap myself in an easy outfit and head to the common room. Normally, the common room is peaceful on Sunday morning but there is a commotion around the notice board near the entrance. I spot Roger among the students grouped around the board and walk to our Quidditch captain.

I have to stand on the tips of my toes in order to see the board and what all the fuss is about. Roger notices me standing beside him and sighs. He points at the paper in the middle of the board. 

Pushing away some first-years, I read the piece of parchment that hangs among the other pieces. Educational Decree 24: All student organisations are henceforth disbanded. Any student in noncompliance will be expelled.

My first thought is that Umbridge somehow learned about the plan to form a secret DADA group but when I see the fallen expression on Roger's face, I realise that all student organisations are disbanded.

"Does that-"

"Yes," Roger grits his teeth, "I have to ask Umbridge if we can play Quidditch as a team."

The boy rolls his eyes and with another sigh, he stalks out of the common room. I watch Roger go and wonder if the Gryffindors have already read the news. I turn on my heels and head back to the girl's dormitory. From my bag, I grab the metal tool I took away from George yesterday. I also grab one of Evelyn's Muggle breakfast bars from the shared food cabinet before heading back to the stairwell. Checking over my shoulder to see if someone is watching, I step into one of the dark shadows.

"Gryffindor common room."

The Gryffindor common room is fairly empty, probably due to the amazing weather outside and most students wanting to enjoy the weather for as long as possible. I spot the twins and Hermione sitting on the sofas near the windows. Harry and Ron are sitting in one of the windowsills. I head over and throw myself on the sofa beside Fred.

"Wow! You need to stop sneaking up on us," Fred laughs startled. He wraps an arm around my shoulder and pulls me closer.

The expression on Hermione's face is like the one on Roger's face and I say: "You have read the decree as well then."

"Yes, but it's not going to stop us!" Hermione jumps up and walks off. Harry and Ron follow her out of the common room.

I hold the metal tool out for George to take and before he can take it, I say: "Don't threaten anyone with this again."

George snatches the tool and rolls his eyes before nodding.

"What are you planning to do with them anyway?" I ask Fred.

"We're using these tools to make our products," Fred says, pointing at the other metal tools on the table in front of us, "These make that process a lot easier."

Lee demonstrates the use of one of them by moving it in the air. I eye the tool before nodding slowly. George starts explaining the products they have been creating thus far and how the testing is going.

The conversation is interrupted by Angelina who enters the common room with a thunderous expression on her face. She doesn't even look surprised to see me here and sits down in one of the chairs next to the sofas.

"I just visited Umbridge and guess what! She has to think about my request for the Gryffindor Quidditch team to practice together!" Angelina grabs a pillow and presses her face into it. Her scream is muffled by the pillow and when she is done, she lifts her head and sneers: "The permission slip from the Slytherin team was signed immediately – right in front of my nose. Ugh!"