Disclaimer: I do not own anything other than my original characters. Everything Harry Potter affiliated belongs to the amazing J.K. Rowling
Looking back, I should have known I was doomed from the start. I should have known that the second I chose the seat next to the freckled, red headed twins that my life was permanently changed. But just because I should have known that my life was changed, didn't mean that I realized it.
And just because my life, after that moment, became completely ridiculous and troublesome, doesn't mean that I would have changed any second of it.
I followed my mother through the crowd of people, guided by the constant clicking of her high heels. Trying to maneuver through everyone at a crowded train station proved to be tremendously difficult, especially with my large roller bag of school items. My bag managed to run over everyone's feet that happened to be walking within a yard of me, causing me to get multiple rude stares and even ruder gestures.
"Adele," my mother called from fifty feet ahead of me, "hurry up!"
I sped up my pace, avoiding eye contact with each person I brutally ran over with my luggage. I could tell by the way my mother pursed her lips that she was not pleased with my mediocre attempt to keep up with her.
"Sorry mom," I said, slightly out of breath.
"Here you are," she said, signaling to the marker that read, 'Platform 9'.
"Where do I go now?" I asked, remembering that the ticket specifically said Platform 9 ¾.
Grabbing my hand, my mother led me to a tall, stone wall that held up the arched ceiling. My mother didn't stop in front of the wall, and, with my hand in hers, she led me through the wall. Amazed, I dropped my luggage as I took my first steps on Platform 9 ¾.
"Pick it up," she said harshly.
I felt color rush to my face, and quickly did as I was told. There was a huge amount of people, ranging from a young child like me, to middle-aged adults. My mom led me through the crowd, her high heels making that familiar clicking sound they always did. "Alright dearie," said my mother, who focused on folding the collar of my shirt just perfect, "board the train, and find a compartment."
She shooed me inside the chimney red train, and didn't even bother to say her goodbyes. With a deep breath, I looked around for an empty train compartment. I heard an uproar in laughter from the compartment on my right, followed by the most disgusting smell. Gagging, I raced in to the compartment, only to see two red-headed twins, with even redder faces from laughing.
"What's that smell?" I asked, my voice coming out unusually squeaky from plugging my noise.
One of the twins, plugged his nose as well before saying, "It's our first attempt at a stink bomb."
"Well it works, can you make the smell go away before I pass out?"
"Of course not!" They said simultaneously.
"It's ghastly! It should be reported immediately before some poor student inhales too much and dies," I retorted.
As I turned away to tell on them, one of the twins grabbed my arm, swinging me around. His face, still slightly red from laughing, was rather serious and solemn. He held onto my arm for awhile, making sure that I wouldn't run for it the second he let go.
"You can't tell on us! You don't understand how much trouble we'll be in," said one of the twins.
"You should have thought of that before you did it!"
"Well you can't leave," said the twin holding my arm.
"And why is that?"
"Because now you're involved, and as a potential threat to us, we can't let you go."
As ridiculous as it sounded, I believed them. I sat down in the empty seat across from them, and avoided eye contact. It was an uncomfortable silence, and I could feel their gaze on me.
"I'm George," said one of them.
"And I'm Fred," said the other.
"We're twins," they said, once again in unison.
"I've noticed," I said, picking at my itchy Hogwarts uniform, "my name is Adele, by the way."
"I'm guessing you're a first year, too?" said the twin I recognized to be George.
"Yes," I said, hoping to end the conversation.
"What house are hoping to be sorted in? Fred and I are hoping for Gryffindor, it's clearly the best house."
I nodded my head, but didn't bother answering the questions. Whatever house I'm in, I thought, please do not let it be with the Stink Bomb Twins. They continued to chatter amongst themselves, which was truly amazing because of their ability to complete each other's sentences. They mostly talked about prospective pranks and Quidditch, much to my annoyance.
"Say Adele," said Fred, "care from some candy?"
"From you? Absolutely not. It's probably laced with some potion to make me vomit or something," I said, snappily.
"Vomit inducing candy, that's genius! Imagine it, George! We could easily miss lessons, and get out of cleaning at home," dreamed Fred.
"And if we were to expand this to other kids, we could make a fortune!"
I smacked my hand against my forehead. I did not just aid in helping them expand their horrible -not to mention smelly- pranks to other students. They rambled on excitedly, despite my numerous attempts to try and persuade them otherwise.
"Adele, you're truly a genius! You single-handily inspired multiple pranks for my brother and I," George said, with a huge grin on his face.
I folded my arms tightly across my chest, letting out a humph sound. Their smiles only seemed to get larger, and they talked about pranks once more, only this time louder and much more obnoxious.
"Stop! Please!" I begged, crossing my hands in a prayer position.
"I don't get it Adele," started George.
"Why are you so prissy?" finished Fred.
"I am not-" I began.
"You are too!" They said in unison.
"I can be fun," I said, mostly to reassure myself more than them.
"Prove it," they said.
I told them every possible prank I could think of and they seemed to absorb every idea I listed. When we reached Hogwarts, they walked with me, which is a good thing because I had no idea what I was doing. I was never really a prank person, in fact, I never really considered pranking anyone at all.
"Adele," said Fred, nudging my arm, "you're going in the wrong direction. First years ride the boats!"
I followed Fred, taking in the amazing view of Hogwarts. It was nothing like my mother had described it. Large, cone shaped peaks that glistened over a beautiful lake and a dark forest behind it. All the first years were amazed at the beauty of Hogwarts, and I was no exception. George and Fred were silent for once, which was a huge relief to me because I was not sure if they knew what silence meant. The boat ride was a little longer than expected, and a big, burly man who introduced himself as Hagrid led the way. Once inside, we were all gathered together and taken in the Great hall by an older, stern-looking woman. Fred and George's silence was short-lived and I had to tell them multiple times to shut up.
The Sorting Hat sat on an old, wooden stool. We were shuffled in front of four long tables, filled with students. I stood awkwardly next to George, and another short boy was standing on my left.
"I will call each student up individually," said the same stern-looking professors, "you will then be sorted and find your house table."
My stomach erupted in butterflies. I didn't know much about how the sorting worked, but I worried that they wouldn't be able to place me because I wasn't a witch after all.
"Julian Weber!"
The short boy next to me walked towards the stool, sat down and had the Sorting Hat placed on his head. It took a few seconds, and I heard the Sorting Hat mutter some incoherent words before finally shouting out, "Ravenclaw!" He promptly got off the stool and ran over to the Ravenclaw table.
"Matilda Rowland!"
A tall, blonde girl sat on the stool. The Sorting House didn't even have to deliberate about where to put her and loudly yelled out, "Slytherin!"
"Death eater," George muttered under his breath.
I wasn't sure what the term meant, but I didn't consider asking because the nerves seemed to have taken control of my ability to speak.
"George Weasley!"
George took a deep breath and walked over to the stool. Fred scooted closer to me, filling the gap that was once George's spot. The Sorting Hat was placed on George's hat, covering his red hair.
"Gryffindor!"
George shot up excitedly and hustled over to the Gryffindor table, where he was greeted with an enthusiastic applause.
"Fred Weasley!" Fred jumped at the sound of his name, but quickly maneuvered through the jittery first years, and sat on his stool. The Sorting Hat sat snuggly on the top of his head and, just like his brother, it yelled out, "Gryffindor!" Fred joined his brother at the Gryffindor table.
"Carlene Cremer!"
A beautiful, short girl approached the stool, sat down with a soft plump.
"Hufflepuff!"
"Ruby Karwill!"
Another student made her way to the stool.
"Slytherin!"
"Adele Moorbuck!"
My leg's felt a little shaky, but I somehow managed to make my way up there. I sat on the stool, desperate to calm the swarm of butterflies in my stomach. The Sorting Hat was placed on my head.
"I believe you will do fine in GRYFFINDOR!"
The hat was removed and I happily stepped off the stool, towards the Gryffindor table. Fred made room for me on the bench. They finished the Sorting ceremony and we eventually started the Feast.
"Happy you're in Gryffindor?" George asked me, while tearing into a turkey drumstick.
"Well now I'm stuck with you two, so I guess I can't be that happy," I said, serving myself some pudding. A boy across from me laughed in response, and I looked up to meet the eyes with a scrawny, brown haired boy that I recognized to be Lee Jordan from the Sorting Ceremony.
Fred flicked part of his mashed potatoes at Lee, who, in return, flicked some peas at him, but Lee missed and I found myself attacked by peas.
Fred, George, and Lee burst out in hysterics.
"Adele," Fred mustered between laughs, "this is the start of a beautiful friendship."
And it was.