All The Small Things (Harry Potter) *Fred/OC*

11. Bubbles, Explosions and Games

"So did we miss much in Defence Against the Dark Arts yesterday?" asked Rose when they got down to Care of Magical Creatures the next morning. She hadn't thought to ask before.

"Yeah, you missed all the fun," joked Tee. She recounted the lesson's events to Rose and George.

"You've been lucky lately, haven't you?" George said to Fred.

"Very," said Fred sarcastically. "I think things just like to strangle me."

"And I just like to get hit on the head," added George.

"It's fun, isn't it?" said Tee brightly.

Rose laughed, but George made a face. "If you say so."

"I've hit my head so many times, I think I've become immune to it or something," said Tee. In answer, Fred pulled a book out of his bag and hit her on the head with it. "Ow! Hey!"

"Maybe not quite so immune," grinned Fred.

"Bully," Tee pouted.

"Aww, I'm sorry, Kittykat," said Fred, putting his arm around her.

Tee gave him a shove instead. "Bugger off."

"Fine," said Fred, acting offended. "I'll be Rose's friend instead." He tried to put his arm around Rose.

"No, you won't. You're bullying my Tee!" protested Rose, pushing him away as well. "Eww, and your hand's all vuzzy..."

"It's what now?" said Fred, looking at his hand in confusion.

"She means your veins," explained Tee. "Rose doesn't like veins."

"Well, your hand's 'vuzzy' too," pointed out George, taking Rose's hand and inspecting it.

"Well, your fly's undone," retorted Rose, pulling her hand away.

"What?" George started and looked down. It wasn't.

"Made you look," grinned Rose.

"And what were you doing looking in the first place?" grinned George, starting to tickle her.

"Alrigh', you lot?" greeted Hagrid, suddenly appearing beside them.

"Yeah, fine," replied Rose, managing to push George away. "Just got two troublesome boys to deal with."

"I'll second that," grinned Tee.

Hagrid looked bemused. "Well, I can assure yeh you're not the firs'. I think every teacher in the school will agree with me on that."

Fred and George looked quite proud. "We try our best, Hagrid" they assured him.

"Righ'," said Hagrid, still wearing a bemused expression. He raised his voice. "Alrigh' then, class, we're gonna be startin' work on Fwoopers today."

He directed them all round to a small pear tree by the back of his hut, where a dozen large birds with impressive plumage were roosting – either orange, pink, lime green or yellow. They were all singing happily.

"Now Fwoopers come from Africa," explained Hagrid. "They never stop singin' an' will eventually drive yeh insane. So they're usually sold with a Silencin' Charm, which yeh have to renew every month."

"Well, they'd make a nice birthday present then," muttered George sarcastically.

"People like retailers like Fwoopers 'cos they lay real nice patterned eggs and their feathers can be used as fancy quills," said Hagrid. "So we're gonna be tryin' to get some feathers off them today."