Warring Weasleys

Chapter Three: Stirring the Cauldron

Draco sat in the Slytherin common room, eyeing the fire that roared in front of him. His usual companions, Crabbe and Goyle, were off fetching some ingredients for a potion Draco was concocting. He stared at the flames as they jumped and crackled, wringing his hands nervously. If this potion works, he thought, I'll never have to see that Mudblood ever again!

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up as if excited at the prospect. He licked his lips and realized he was salivating at the thought of attacking Harry Potter where it hurt most – his heart. Why did Harry have such a big heart, anyway? Those with big hearts only had more chance to be hurt, he reasoned silently.

Draco knew he was what other students called "unpleasant". He was bitter, angry, so very angry, jealous, and pinched. He didn't spend a lot of time thinking about it, nor about changing. He could never change; he was his father's son. To change would mean to make an effort, to turn away from the easy Slytherin path that was set before him. No, he didn't even have it in him to be like Potter.

"Potter!" he spat loudly and with such venom the other Slytherin's studying nearby got up and left the room quickly so as not to be the target of his wrath. They were all too aware of Draco's unhealthy obsession with revenge.

Crabbe and Goyle lumbered into the room clutching a tan cloth bag.

"Finally!" Draco said, perpetually annoyed. "Give it here!"

Goyle tossed the bag to Draco who caught it and stormed purposefully out of the room, leaving his sidekicks standing with their mouths hanging open.

All he needed was to get Moste Potente Potions, a restricted book from the library. His father had a copy but it was hidden away in the Malfoy manor. No, he'd have to handle this one on his own.

He swept into the library and Mrs. Norris greeted him with a hiss. Draco kicked at the cat, which scampered away looking for her master. He looked around cautiously and as he was about to enter the restricted section, he heard an odd sound – like a puppy whimpering.

* * *

George Weasley wasn't used to moving about the secret corridors of Hogwarts without his brother, but he was on a secret mission and left Fred in the Gryffindor common room, pining away for Hermione. While Fred was wasting time, George decided to take the bull by the horns and do some spying on Hermione himself.

When Fred and Hermione arrived the night before, Hermione had a singular twinkle in her eye and George didn't like it. There was no way he was going to let his brother get one over on him, not when they both wanted the same girl. Even though she was a bit younger then the twins, she was pretty and smart, a combination not often found in any world. So what if her teeth were a bit big? She did have dentists for parents. Anyway, George reasoned, everyone has at least one flaw.

Then he thought of her hair and how he longed to run his fingers through it. He imagined himself sitting behind her, gently combing her tresses as she read from the Standard Book of Spells. He might even pull her long golden streaked hair aside and lean down to her neck –

As George was about to enter one of the secret passages, he stopped and listened. A faint snuffling sound came from down the hall. He followed it, walking gingerly and focusing all of his attention on the sound. Creeping up to the wall, he pressed his ear to the paneling. Whatever it was, it was inside the wall, somewhere. It sounded almost like someone crying, though not exactly. For a moment he thought it might be Moaning Myrtle, but she stayed in the girl's bathroom and wasn't about to go roaming around Hogwarts.

Footsteps sounded on the floor behind him and George jumped, startled nearly out of his skin. He turned, expecting to see at best one of the teachers and at worst, a horrible, ghoulish nightmare.

As it turned out, it was neither.

* * *

"Are you going to let my brothers slobber all over Hermione, Harry? I mean, that's awful cruel, don't you think?" Ron chewed on a chocolate frog as he spoke, his mouth stuffed full of sweets.

Harry Potter paced the dormitory. He was in a miserable mood. He hadn't yet sorted out his feelings for Hermione, but as soon as he'd seen the twins taking an active interest in her, he realized how much he truly cared for her. He never quite believed there would be – competition. What am I on about? he thought, suddenly angry. I don't know what I feel! Why shouldn’t Hermione have admirers? She's clever, cute...but Fred and George? They're not even her type!

"If you don't put a stop to this, she'll probably start dating one of them. Or..."

"Me put a stop to this? They're your brothers!" Harry said. "Wait a minute, what do you mean 'or'?"

"Well, she could go out with both of them. Boy that'd be pretty messed up. She'd be scarred for life."

"Why?"

"You know how they are, Harry. Hermione's well, she's serious. And Fred and George don't have a serious bone between them. They're all right and all, they're me brothers you see, but I can't see them being...ugh...romantic. 'Specially not with Hermione. She'd as soon kick them in the shins if they tried anything."

Harry was comforted by Ron's reasoning. Still, she did look quite pleased with herself the other night.

"You better stop pacing or you'll walk yourself right down to the dungeons."

Harry went over the couch where Ron was seated, surrounded by candy wrappers.

"Ron," he began carefully, "where did you get all that candy?"

"It was here when I came in. I just figured it was fair game. Was it yours?" he asked, a worried look on his face.

"No, but I think it isn't just innocent candy."

"You don't mean?" Ron was thinking that it was charmed or poisoned. A look of grief shadowed his features and he began to turn slightly green.

"No, it's not going to hurt you. I was saying that I think it's meant as a diversion."

"Why would anyone want to diverge me?"

"It could be your brothers..."

"Why would they bother? I don't care what they do, anyway, apart from Hermione, of course," he said as Harry shot him a look.

"What'd I say?"

"Forget it," said Harry, the wheels in his mind already turning. Who would leave food out, knowing that Ron would be distracted by it and – "I've got it!"

"What?"

"Put that chocolate down and come with me!"