"So that's it for this lesson," Harry announced during one of their DA meetings. "Now, we're not gonna be meeting again until after the holidays. So just keep practicing on your own as best you can. And well done, everyone. Great, great work."
Everyone clapped, packing up their things. The twins and Tori approached Harry shortly after. "Harry. We've been thinking." Fred began, glancing at George. "We could always slip Umbridge some Puking Pastilles."
"Or Fever Fudge. They give you massive, pus-filled boils..." George nodded, looking down at their boxes. "But with no antidote." Tori chucked.
"Sounds great, guys. Would you excuse me?" Harry asked, seeming distracted. He weaved around them going towards Cho Chang.
The twins both threw Harry judging looks before leaving the room.
✧ ✦ ✧
Tori didn't remember when she fell asleep in the twins' dormitory. Maybe it was in between practicing her hexes with Lee or helping Fred with his potions homework. All she knew that suddenly in the middle of the night Professor McGonagall was in the dorm, getting the twins up.
"What's going on?" Tori mumbled, realizing her was leaning up against Lee's bed on the floor. McGonagall sent her a look before whispering, "There's been an incident with the Weasleys. Come along Mr. Weasleys."
The twins quickly got up, groggily and confused. Lee was still sleeping but Tori didn't have the heart to wake him. She rushed down after the twins, running her hands through her hair.
"Not you Miss Silvers. I just need the Weasleys." Professor McGonagall shook her head. "Why can't Tori come?" Fred demanded, crossing his arms.
"Miss Silvers is not a Weasley," Professor McGonagall said sharply. Tori saw Fred and George open their mouths but shook her head. Ginny was the last to come down and Professor McGonagall quickly led them out of the portrait.
Tori heard footsteps come down the stairs. "Hermione?" Tori whispered, squinting. "I'm here. What's going on?" Hermione yawned quietly, coming down the stairs. "Something happened with the Weasleys. McGonagall didn't say what."
"Where's Harry?"
"I assume he and Ron are already there."
The two didn't get much sleep that night.
It was early in the morning when Hermione and Tori were called down to Dumbledore's office where he explained that Mr. Weasley has been attacked.
"Can we go see him?" Tori asked hopefully. Dumbledore shook his head. "You must stay here until the term ends. Professor Umbridge—"
"I don't give a damn what Professor Umbridge says! We should be able to be there." Tori snapped, getting a look of horror from Hermione. Dumbledore, however, didn't react. "We have to keep the word of the order on the down-low. Umbridge is already upset that five students have left Hogwarts. If we send two more it will seem suspicious."
The conversation ended there.
Tori tried her best to make it through the next week or so.
Lee had a lot of questions, and Angelina was angry they had just lost another seeker. Tori only told them there was a family emergency. No one said anything else.
Umbridge if anything seemed more than happy now that the twins and Harry were gone. Tori kept her head down in classes and barley spoke unless spoken to. She was internally counting down the days until the term ended.
She and Hermione spent a lot of time, but neither of them had received any owls from anyone. Hermione assumed Umbridge was holding back all their mail.
On the last day of term, Tori sat with Hermione on the train ride. "My parents think I'm staying a Hogwarts. I told them I couldn't go skiing this year and I really needed to focus on my O.W.L.S. They were disappointed, but understood." Hermione told her as they approached the platform.
"What's skiing?" Tori asked, grabbing Athena's cage of the rack.
"It's a Muggle sport."
They both got off the platform, waving to those who they knew. Tori found an empty corner away from the others and waited for Hermione to catch up.
"Come on," Tori said, holding her hand out towards Hermione. Hermione looked at it confused. "We're going to apparate," Tori replied as if it was obvious.
"But I'm not of age..."
"You're not apparating. I am. I'm just bringing you will me. I've looked it up. It's allowed. Just... don't vomit."
Hermione hesitated before taking Tori's hand. Tori closed her eyes, imagining the exterior of Grimmulad's Place before lurching forward and suddenly appearing in front of the broken-down building.
It was pretty dark by then, the sun had already gone down and it seemed most people were inside so no one saw them appear. Tori could see her breath and shivered.
She turned to see Hermione clutching her stomach and holding her hand to her mouth. Tori laughed, a genuine laugh. She had not laughed in a while. "You'll get used to it. You'll learn how to do it on your own next year. Just be lucky you didn't lose any limbs."
"That can happen? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Where's the fun in that?" Tori asked, pulling her trunk up to the door. They stood there for a moment until Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. "Aren't you going to ring the doorbell?"
"The what?"
"The doorbell. That thing there?"
"Oh. That's what that is? I thought it was just some weird building mistake." Tori looked at it for a moment. "Is that a muggle thing too?"
"Uh, I guess so." Hermione sighed, shivering, and ringing it herself. They waited there for a moment, shivering with every blow of the wind before Molly opened the door.
"Thank goodness! Dumbledore sent an owl that you two were coming but I was starting to get worried. Come in!" She flicked her wand and lifted their trunks inside.
She let them float upwards and away into their rooms. "You two must be freezing. How long were you outside for?"
"Only a few minutes. Tori apparated us here." Hermione told her, blowing hot air into her hands. Molly looked as if she was going to scold Tori but decided against it.
"Harry and Ron are in Buckbeaks room, and the twins are on their own." Molly patted both girls on the shoulder. "We'll be having dinner shortly."
Hermione and Tori nodded, heading up the stairs. They went separate ways, and Tori slowly twisted the door open to the twins' room.
Fred stood up immediately and Tori nearly knocked him over with a hug. "Hey, I'm here too." George chuckled. Tori smiled, hugging him as well.
"How's your dad, is he alright?"
"Dad's fine. A bit roughed up, but he's doing alright." Fred assured her. "How was school? Umbridge?"
"Boring without you two. She seemed cheerier than usual. No problems overall."
ive been procrastinating this chapter all day lol