"YOU'RE LATE, BOYS!" Professor Flitwick commented as Harry opened the classroom door.
"Yeah, because it's not like i'm here or anything." Aria muttered under her breath as she walked through the entrance.
"Come along, quickly, wands out, we're experimenting with Cheering Charms today, we've already divided into pairs —"
"Where's Hermione gone?" Ron suddenly spoke up as they hurried to a desk in the back as Flitwick told Aria that she had to go with them since there was an odd amount of students and happily she obliged. Harry seemed to look around too, "That's weird. Maybe -- Maybe she went to the bathroom or something?"
They seemed to glance at Aria who was pulling out her books from her cauldron and looked up when she felt eyes on her.
"What?" Aria questioned skeptically placing the book on the table in front of her.
"We'll you're her best friend --" Ron began but was cut off by a scoff from the girl.
"So I automatically should know her bathroom schedule? You guys are ridiculous."
Aria shook her head going to read her book as the boys exchanged confused looks but all Aria could think about was that she knew exactly where Hermione was and it was killing her not to tell the guys but she knew how important this secret was to be kept and she made a promise so she had to keep it.
Seconds after the lesson ended and as they were heading to lunch, Aria managed to slip away and quickly rush to the Gryffindor tower where she figured the girl would be at and as she climbed through the portrait hole into the common room her eyes landed on Hermione sitting at a table, fast asleep her head resting on an open Arithmancy book causing Aria to let out a sigh as she walked over to her friend and sat down besides her and prodded the girl awake.
"Wh-- what's going on?" Hermione asked waking up blinking rapidly. "Is it time to go -- which lesson have we got now?"
"Hermione," Aria sighed "You missed charms,"
Hermione's face fell into a panicked expression, "what? that can't be! I --"
the portrait had opened mid sentence as Hermione pushed her hair frantically out of her face to see the boy's climbing into the common room causing Aria to clear her throat and sit up straight.
"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed "where have you been? Why didn't you come to Charms?"
"I forgot -- I --" Hermione stuttered out hesitantly as they walked over and sat next to the girls.
"But how could you forget? You were with us till we were right outside the classroom!"
"I don't believe it!" Hermione wailed "Was professor Flitwick angry? Oh, it was Malfoy, I was thinking about him and I lost track of things"
"You know what, Hermione?" Ron began looking down at the Arithmancy book "I reckon you're cracking up. You're trying to do too much."
"No, i'm not!" Hermione exclaimed defensively looking for her bag. "I just made a mistake, that's all! I'd better go and see Professor Flitwick and say sorry. . . .I'll see you in Divination!"
"I'm coming with!" Aria exclaimed standing up and grabbing the girls bag she forgot after rushing to the portrait, Aria had taken one glance at Harry's confused face and decided to go with the girl not wanting to be interrogated on how she knew where Hermione was and why she slipped away and all those questions.
"Thank you," Hermione chirped as she accepted the bag from Aria's grasp once they made it to the hallway. "Oh I just hope Professor Flitwick isn't mad."
"I think you're going mad Hermione, maybe Ron's right -- maybe you should drop a class or two. Go back to the average classes that regular third years are taking. It's not that I don't have faith in you, I mean if anyone can do it -- it's you. But you don't want to be known as the school freak, but then again you might not have to worry about that because I seem to already have that nickname locked in, thanks to Malfoy." Aria rolled her eyes "What did you mean by you were thinking about him anyways?"
"Well, --" Hermione began but was cut off by Fred advancing up to them at a rather determined speed.
"Oh, god --" Aria trailed off grabbing Hermione's arm and taking off down the hallway.
"Aria -- I really need to --" Hermione started but as they rounded the corner she came to a sudden halt at George's chest, lee standing by him. Aria took a step back swallowing nervously.
"George ---" Aria began
"I think i'll leave you three --- four, alone." Hermione chimed in walking around the group to the charm's room. Aria looked behind her at 'four' to see Fred standing there his arms crossed.
"Long time no see," Fred smirked.
"So what's the plan here Freddie?"George questioned
"I honestly don't know, Georgie." Fred shook his head his eyes never leaving Aria's
"Well, it seems like are little witch here has been over working herself, so why don't we go on an adventure?" George asked as Fred raised an intrigued eyebrow.
"I was thinking exactly the same thing, you in lee?" Fred asked
"Definitely," Lee chimed in a smirk playing at his lips.
"But first --" Fred grinned reaching into his cauldron and pulling out an almost theatrical hat and placing it on the girls head before brushing some of her hair out of her face a small smile on his lips then taking a step back to observe it, "Perfect."
Aria shook her head as she let out a breathy laugh, "what on earth are you three talking about?"
The trio exchanged looks a smile on their lips, "You'll see."
The things the twins had planned to make Aria relax herself and taking in her surroundings, the girl never would've guessed of. They were pure unexpected, unpredictable and abnormal.
First, they had pulled out a mental list of pranks which led them to planting things in Snape's class room and waiting outside his room as they went off and they were chased out by a green haired Snape. They even pranked peeves who Aria knew that they would face their consequences later.
But after pranking several professors and dueling each other in the forbidden forest, it left them to George sending Aria's wand into the tree which they thought was hilarious - yet of course, Fred ended up climbing up the tree to get it instead of taking the easy way and casting it down with a spell which Aria offered to do.
And once the twin was up, it was like he turned ten times more reckless.
The boy dangled from a tree branch by one hand as he laughed happily yet Aria felt a completely different way as she shouted up from the ground dramatically frightened,
"What on earth are you doing? Fred get down you're going to hurt yourself! You aren't immortal you imbecile!"
"Come and make me!" Fred grinned amused at the whole situation
"Fred I swear the merlin, i'll --- George make him stop!"
George only shrugged, knowing exactly what his twin was up to and brushed off the girl.
"Oh!" Aria exclaimed rushing over to the twin on the ground and pushing him with all her might angrily "You complete arse! I can't -- Lee!"
Worked up, the girl decided to climb up the damn tree and pull him down herself and so that's exactly what she did and when she reached the branch he was on she held out her hand and he happily accepted it as she pulled him up causing them to stumble a bit but he grabbed her waist letting Aria snatch her wand from his pocket.
"I'm done with you three fools," Aria scoffed going to climb down but Fred grabbed Aria and pulled her back into him.
"I'm sorry I scared you ace," Fred apologized pushing the girls hair back, "don't you trust me?"
"I --"
A grin emerged on the boy's face as he cupped the girls face, "let's jump."
"W-what? Are you insane? That's like a fifty foot drop --"
"Do you trust me?" Fred asked grabbing a hold of the girls hand and facing the view where the other two were standing on the ground chanting, jump!
"You jump, I jump" Aria finally decided letting out a breath of fresh air nervously. Fred didn't hesitate to pull out his wand with his free hand and as they took a step off the branch and the ground seemed to be coming at them rapidly - suddenly the speed changed and they were floating graciously towards the bottom.
That moment didn't last long as they were chased out of the forest by Hagrid who agreed not to tell on them if they left at that minute and so since they were already in trouble for pranking the other professors they decided to take him up on that offer and dip.
Aria let out a laugh as they finally reached the great hall entrance when Fred grabbed Aria's arm pulling her to a stop brushing his finger against her chin causing her to smile at him as George and Lee left the two alone quickly.
"Fred --" Aria began
"You've been avoiding me since the kiss, why?"
"I-I don't know. We are just going so fast and it's a lot to take in. I like you, I really do it's just - I'm 13 and you're 15 years old. This is a normal situation to occur at your age but at my age -- I'm not supposed to be thinking about dating, i'm supposed to be playing Quidditch and pulling pranks and --"
"You think this is a normal situation for me?" Fred asked with a furrow of his eyebrows "What is normal about me falling for my little brothers best friend? I didn't plan this, feelings aren't something you plan, Aria."
"I know, but --"
"You want to wait, don't you?" Fred asked as Aria hesitated.
"Okay, I can do that." Fred nodded
"Fred i'm not asking you to ---" Aria began
"I know, but i'm telling you. However long it takes, i'll be here for when you're ready to let yourself be cared for. I'll see you around, Ace."
Fred kissed Aria on the cheek before walking away leaving a confused Aria by herself.
~~
Barely making it to Divination on time, Aria joined the group at the bottom of ladder looking restless.
"What happened to you?" Hermione questioned
"What's on your head?" Ron asked reaching out to touch the hat but Aria smacked his hand away before he could, taking the hat and shoving it into her cauldron.
"It's nothing, let's just go."
Harry sent an unconvinced look towards the girl before letting her go up the ladder before him, stepping into the dim tower room. Glowing on every little table was a crystal ball full of pearly white mist. The group managed to sit down together at the same rickety table.
"I thought we weren't starting crystal balls until next term," Ron spoke in a mutter casting a glance towards Professor Trelawney afraid she would be lurking nearby.
"Don't complain, this means we've finished palmistry," Harry muttered back "I was getting sick of her flinching every time she looked at my hands"
"Good day to you!" a voice chirped from the shadows as the professor walked out dramatically.
"I have decided to introduce the crystal ball a little earlier than I had planned, The fates have informed me that your examination in June will concern the Orb, and I am anxious to give you sufficient practice"
Hermione snorted at this, "Well, honestly . . . 'the fates have informed her' . . . who sets the exam? She does! What an amazing prediction!"
Harry, Ron and Aria choked back on their laughter in sync at Hermione's comment while the professor continued on,
"Crystal gazing is a particularly refined art, I do not expect any of you to see when first you peer into the Orbs infinite depths. We shall start by practicing relaxing the conscious mind and external eyes. so as to clear the Inner Eye and the super conscious. Perhaps, if we are lucky, some of you will see before the end of the class"
After a while of looking blankly at the crystal ball and shoving Ron to stop him from laughing quietly besides her, Aria finally spoke up.
"Seen anything yet?"
"Yeah, there's a burn on this table," Ron pointed out "Someone's spilled their candle."
"This is such a waste of time, I could be practicing something useful. I could be catching up on Cheering Charms---" Hermione ranted but was cut off by Professor Trelawney rustling past,
"Would anyone like me to help them interpret the shadowy portents within their Orb?"
"I don't need help," Ron whispered shaking his head "It's obvious what this means. There's going to be loads of fog tonight."
Harry, Aria and Hermione all bursted out laughing at Ron's remark to which he smiled sheepishly at.
"Now really!" Professor Trelawney exclaimed dramatically causing everyone's heads to turn in their direction. "You are disturbing the clairvoyant vibrations!"
The professor approached their table and she peered into their crystal ball.
"There is something here! Something moving... but what is it? My dear..." Professor Trelawney breathed out gazing up at Harry "It is here, plainer than ever before... my dear, stalking toward you, growing ever closer... the Gr--"
"-- Oh for goodness' sake!" Hermione interrupted the professor loudly causing Aria's eye's to widen at her friends outburst glancing at Hermione surprised. "Not that ridiculous Grim again!"
"I am sorry to say that from the moment you have arrived in this class, my dear, it has been apparent that you do not have what the noble art of Divination requires. Indeed, I don't remember ever meeting a student whose mind was so hopelessly mundane."
There was a short moment of silence before Hermione suddenly snapped out of her seat frustrated, "Fine!"
The brown haired girl grabbed her book and crammed it into her bag. "Fine!" she repeated swinging the bag over her shoulder and almost knocking Ron off his chair. "I give up! I'm leaving!"
Hermione then stroded over to the trapdoor, kicked it open and climbed down the ladder out of sight. Aria let out a breathy scoff, impressed at her friend's behavior towards this nonsense of a lesson and decided to pack up herself as Lavender gushed over the Professor's previous prediction about one of our number leaving us forever.
And stood up herself, tucking her bag over her shoulder - her items neatly tucked within.
Professor Trelawney pulled her shawl closer to her as she noticed Aria stand up getting ready to rush after her friend.
"Miss Anderson," Trelawney spoke up suddenly causing Aria to stop in her place and turn to face the professor. "Do you need to be excused from class?"
Aria shook her head like it was the most obvious thing ever and tilted her head, "Yeah."
After responding the brunette didn't wait for the professor to respond before following her friend's footsteps and climbing down the ladder, Aria was quick to catch up with her friend in the common room where she got a lecture about following her out of the class instead of staying and completing the lesson but Aria told her that no matter what, she'd always be by the girls side and that she agreed that the idea was stupid and was fighting the urge to leave anyways.
And so with that dramatic experience the two girls sat in the common room and worked on their extra homework while Aria found herself going over the event that occured today with the twins and Lee and couldn't help but let her heart flutter - unaware that her best friend, Harry Potter was sitting in Divination almost completely awe struck at the girl's actions yet he still couldn't help but worry about the grim that seems to be haunting his every move might some how not only hurt him and his friends in general but also the young anderson girl who he has become to realize he cares ever so deeply for yet, from his perspective and most everyone's at hogwarts, she seems to be smitten with a certain weasley twin and that idea just makes Harry's heart crack yet his plan not to ruin the chance of happiness for his friend by sticking his neck out and confessing his feelings, was still on track. So all he could do for now was swallowing back his words and hope that one day in the future she will come to terms with the idea of them possibly being more than friends.
—
(a/n) - please, Harry and Fred as such simps. 💀😂
But i mean can you blame them? Look at malina ~ like damn okay queen pop off 🥵
Anyways, sorry i'm being so slow with updating and my ideas are being kinda choppy (like most of this book (lol) i got this chapter's main idea from gilmore girls so credit goes.) Needless to say, thanks for the continuous support through this writers block / editing process, I appreciate it.
Which much love and care,
Rach
[edited: yes! (01-24-21)]