Althea's POV
Althea had been right. The two twins, second years as she'd learned they were, were indeed trouble. But so was young Miss Aubert. The young girl had learned this the hard way, on a sunny Wednesday afternoon sometime mid-first year.
See, the girl had just been leaving potions class when a dungbomb went off just as she was about to exit the classroom. And of course, being the only student left in the room at that point, it wasn't much of a surprise when Professor Snape automatically assumed she was the culprit. She had never been one to pull pranks like that, and she would never be caught dead committing one. But she could easily think up two people who might be willing to carry out such a prank. Maybe even three, if she considered the fact that Melanie was slowly beginning to become involved in the twin's shenanigans.
Unable to come to her own defense though, due to her emotional sensitivity, she simply stood there with watery eyes as her Professor reprimanded her. Just as her tears threatened to spill though, the Weasley twins came hurtling through the classroom door, a wide-eyed Melanie in tow. "Professor!" The other girl started, taking Althea's hand in hers and placing another reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Professor Snape, it wasn't Althea!" One of the twins spoke, and Althea immediately recognized him as George. She had practically mastered the art of telling the two of them apart. "It wasn't! We swear on it!" Fred swiftly added. Melanie nodded. "In fact, we know exactly who did it." She spoke, and they all exchanged knowing glances at this.
And that was how the four of them ended up with detention. Four, because Snape still wasn't convinced that Althea wasn't involved.
As the four of them made their way out of Potions, the twins turned to Althea, an apologetic look scrawled across the both of their faces. "We're sorry about that." Fred said, and George nodded. "Really, we are. We didn't mean to set off the dungbombs while you were still in there."
"We thought you had already left." Melanie added, and Althea wasn't surprised the twins had managed to rope her into this particular scheme. "It's alright....I'm just happy you guys stood up for me. I felt like I was going to spontaneously combust in there." The other three all let out their own cackles at this, and Althea couldn't help but giggle a little as well. "Maybe detention won't be so bad with you three there." She smiled softly, blushing a little and averting her eyes at her own admission. "Detention? With Georgie and Mel? That'll be absolutely dreadful. With me, on the other hand..." Fred said with a smirk, earning an elbow in the stomach at that from his brother, and Melanie smacked the back of his head playfully.
Althea couldn't help but let out another giggle as she witnessed the dysfunction of her friends. Maybe the three of them had a knack for roping her into trouble with them, but she couldn't think of any better friends for her than them.
Melanie's POV
It was long after their detention had been served, and Melanie was relaxing by the fireplace as she read over one the many books she had picked up from the library on potions. Along with herbology and care of magical creatures, it was one of her favorite subjects, and she enjoyed leisurely reading about it in her free time.
As her eyes drifted across the page, she hardly even
noticed as someone came bursting into the common room. She had been the only person in the common room up until that point, so this new person added another living addition to the room. It wasn't until the person settled besides her that she realized this was someone she knew.
"Melanie!" The person spoke, shaking the other girl in what Melanie could only describe as pure excitement. Melanie knew as soon as she heard that voice precisely who had disturbed her reading. She looked up from her book, surprised that Althea was so excited about something for once. "Oh, hey! What is it, Althea?" She inquired kindly, a soft smile gracing her features. "Come on! The twins have something to show us!" Althea said, ushering the other girl to her feet. Melanie placed her book down on a nearby table, certain it wouldn't go anywhere anytime soon. "Alright, I'll tag along. What is it exactly they want to show us? Althea shrugged at this. "Oh I'm not sure, they wouldn't tell me. They just told me they had something they wanted the both of us to see."
Melanie was pleased by how openly Althea was speaking. When she had first met the girl she had been shy and timid, but the longer she hung around with Melanie and the twins the more she had begun to open up. She had even started talking more to strangers, people she either wasn't accustomed to or didn't know very well. Gone was the girl Melanie had met, having blossomed into someone warm and welcoming, someone to lean on and count on in the darkest of times.
As the pair made their way between hall among hall, Melanie couldn't help but think that she was truly proud of her friend. She had come so far in such a short amount of time. It had been a nice thing to witness, Melanie thought.
By the time they had made it to their destination, a remote corner hidden away from the rest of the school, Melanie was unsurprised to find the twins already waiting there for them.
"Well, what is it you lot dragged me out here for?" She said, grinning cheekily. "Oh, only just to view the best creation known to the Wizarding World." Fred started, and George nodded with raised brows as if to confirm this. "It's more than just the best, Fred. It's bloody brilliant." He added, and Melanie saw the look of apprehension cross over Althea's features. "Is this another prank of yours?" She spoke, the apprehension in her voice clear as day. "What would make you think that, Althea?" George spoke, and Fred quickly added: "Yeah, where'd you get that idea from?" Althea let out a huff at this, and Melanie caught the slight roll of her eyes she gave them. "Oh, I don't know, maybe the countless amount of times you two have roped me into your pranks? That might just be it."
"Well, we promise that's not it. Here look." Fred said, before whipping out a piece of parchment. The paper was entirely blank as far as the eye could see. Melanie wouldn't have been lying if she said she was confused. "What is this?" She questioned, raising a thin brow in the twin's direction.
"This, dear Mel, is the method behind our madness." One of them spoke, as the other whipped out their wand before tapping it against the parchment. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." They said, and at this a series of words appeared across the parchment.
"Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs are proud to present the Marauder's map? What on earth is this?" Melanie said as she read the parchment aloud. "This, Melanie," Fred started, and George continued with: "Is how we've been getting away with so many of our pranks." Melanie's eyebrows shot up at this. "What exactly do you mean?"
One of the twins flipped the parchment open at this, and both Melanie and Althea simultaneously made sounds of awe. "This is..." Althea started, before being promptly cut off by one of the twins, who finished her sentence for her. "A map of school."
"It shows precisely where everyone is at every exact moment."
"That's bloodily brilliant!!" Melanie exclaimed, before leaning over to get a better look at the parchment. "That can't be good..." She voiced warily. Althea furrowed her brows at this. "What is it?" She questioned aloud, glancing over Melanie with a look of worry etched into her features. "Filch is heading this way....."
And, seeing as it was already after curfew, that was how the four of them ended up in detention once more.
Althea's POV
The year had gone by in a blur, and before Althea knew it she was already saying goodbye to her friends. She made sure to say goodbye to Melanie and the twins, before saying goodbye to all the friends she'd made through the twins. Those friends being Lee Jordan, Angelina Johnson, and Alicia Spinnet. She'd briefly hugged the lot of them before heading off the platform, but not before making sure to give Melanie and the twins extra long hugs.
Now she was in her home, having just finished up a violin lesson. The girl had been playing since a young age, since about six to be precise. It was her favorite pastime, and it made her happier than most other things. Besides her newfound friends, of course.
It had already been a while since school had got out, and in a few weeks time she'd be back at school with the rest of her friends, enjoying her second year and trying her best to make it through her classes.
The girl made her way upstairs, instrument case in one hand and a book bag filled with music books in the other. As she placed her belongings in her bed, she couldn't help but notice out of the corner of her eye a figure slowly approaching her window. It took a moment for her to realize that the figure was an owl, and she quickly flipped her window open so the creature could make its way in.
"Erol?" She spoke, confusion lacing her voice as the Weasley family's owl landed on her windowsill. Held in its beak was a letter, and Althea let out a quick utterance of the word "Thanks," before taking it from him.
The letter read as follows:
Dear Althea,
How has your summer been so far? Ours hasn't been very eventful, but we're not complaining. We know the summer is coming to a close soon, but we were wondering if you'd like to come spend the last few weeks here at the Burrow? We've already asked our mum, and she's alright with the idea. As long it's alright with your mother, then we should be good to go! We look forward to hearing back from you soon.
From,
Fred and George
Althea couldn't help the grin that broke across her face at this. A few weeks at the Burrow sounded like a dream come true. She missed her friends dearly, and she couldn't wait to finally see them again. It would be nice if she could see them sooner than she originally thought she would have. She gave Erol a little pat on the head before reassuring him she'd be back soon with a letter before bounding downstairs to consult with her mother.
"Mom! Mom!" She cried, practically jumping in place from the sheer amount of excitement she felt. The woman, who had been sitting at her work desk, took off her reading glasses and gave Althea the side-eye. "What is it dear?" She spoke with raised brows as she glanced over at her only child. "Mom, the Weasley's just owled and said that I could spend the rest of the summer at the Burrow! That is, if it's alright with you." Althea responded, fiddling with her fingers as she did so and averting her eyes nervously. "Honey, we've talked about this. You know how I am about you going to visit someone who's parents I haven't met." Althea visibly deflated at this. "But..." her mother continued, and Althea perked back up. "Seeing as it is the Weasley's, and I already know they're good people. I suppose it'll be alright. Please just try to stay out of trouble."
And that was the end of that conversation.
After sending Erol back to the Weasley's with confirmation that she could in fact visit, she waited eagerly for a response. Once it had finally come, Althea's mother helped prepare her daughter for her trip. She was going to travel by Floo, of course, as it was the most convenient way and she was still underage. The Weasley's of course knew this, and were currently waiting patiently for her arrival.
Before she knew it, she was in the Weasley family home, sitting around the dinner table with the Weasley's and much to Althea's surprise, Melanie Aubert. Althea, upon arrival, had been surprised to find the girl there. Melanie quickly explained that they'd invited her as well, and she had arrived just the day before. Althea was elated to say the least. She got to see all three of her best friends in one summer, what more could she ask for?
Before sitting down for dinner, Fred and George had introduced Althea to the rest of their family. There were their parents, Molly and Arthur, who Althea immediately took a liking to. She secretly wished her mother were more like them, as opposed to the encroaching person she truly was. Then there was their older brother Percy, who Althea already knew from school. Apart from him was Ron, who would now be starting his first year at Hogwarts, and their younger sister Ginny who wouldn't start school for another year. They had two other brothers, Charlie and Bill, but the both of them had already graduated.
As the lot of them sat down to eat, Molly and Arthur both quizzed Althea on her summer, while simultaneously attempting to gauge her personality. Percy didn't speak much, and Ginny didn't either, but Ron really liked to make his presence known. By the end of their conversation, Althea had learned of his love for chocolate frogs, amongst a plethora of other things.
Once they had all finished up, Althea tried to help Molly clean up, but the woman just wouldn't let her. "Dear, you're our guest, just go have a seat somewhere, alright? And make sure to keep my boys out of trouble!!" That didn't blow over well, because as it was about twenty minutes later the boys were seemingly trying to get her into trouble.
Her, Melanie, and the twins were currently outside, and the sun was already beginning to set in the sky. Fred currently held a broom in one of his hands, as did George, and they were looking at both Althea and Melanie expectedly. "What's this for?" Althea inquired, wariness spreading over her features. "This," Fred started, and George concluded by adding: "Is for you two."
Melanie's eyebrows shot up at this. "Whatever do you mean?" She spoke, sounding more confused than wary.
"You two are going to fly. Right now." Fred said, and Althea immediately froze up. "No, no we're absolutely not going to do that. I will not be flying today." "Sure you will." Said George, and Althea let out a defiant huff. "I will n-"
Fifteen minutes later and the four of them were in the air, and Althea regretted ever protesting against this. "See! It isn't so bad!" One of the twins said. "Yeah! You're really good at this. You should try out for the quidditch team this year!" Said the other.
Althea took a moment to consider this, and she gave the two of them a wide grin.
"Maybe I will."