James didn't go running to Emily to tell her about their Transfiguration conversation, and Charlotte didn't mention anything either, making Tori the happiest she'd been since the day before going back to Hogwarts. Suzy even smiled timidly at her during breakfast, which was a nice plus. And Tori was fast becoming Umbridge's favourite student.

The tiny pink woman hated the majority of the class, particularly Fred, George and Lee. She was indifferent to the girls like Angelina and Shelley, but really seemed to like Tori, perhaps for her manners and willingness to do as she was told. Truthfully, Tori couldn't remember doing anything more boring, except perhaps History of Magic lessons, but she wasn't about to say anything. It seemed that Umbridge really was interfering at Hogwarts after all. She'd reportedly put Harry Potter in detention already for losing his temper with her in class.

"When do we get to practice spells, Professor?" Fred asked one lesson. Umbridge looked up at him.

"Please put your hand up next time you wish to speak," Umbridge said coldly. "And I don't see any reason why you need to be practicing defensive spells."

"So we can pass our exams?" George said.

"Your hand isn't up, Weasley!" Umbridge snapped. "As long as you have the knowledge, why shouldn't any of you pass your NEWT examination?"

No-one answered; Tori could almost feel Fred rolling his eyes behind her.

Tori hadn't had any interactions with Fred since their first Transfiguration lesson, and for some reason she found herself missing their conversations, however stupid they tended to be. She was quite pleased that they were getting on better; on the first day she was convinced that it would be a difficult year.

But all of this changed in Charms. Fred seemed to get quite bored in Charms for some reason, despite it being probably the most interesting of his lessons. In this particular lesson, Tori had sneezed. She had quite a delicate, high-pitched sneeze as she considered it rude to sneeze obnoxiously loud like most people did.

"Gosh, Tori, you have the poshest sneeze I've ever heard," Fred said beside her. He imitated her, much to the amusement of their fellow classmates. Tori tried not to get annoyed.

"Thank you, Frederick." She got on with the work they had been set, but Fred was not finished yet.

"I bet even your burps and farts are polite-"

"That's disgusting! Ew!" Tori was repulsed by this; she could feel her face reddening. Under no circumstances did she ever discuss embarrassing bodily functions, except perhaps periods with close female family members and friends.

"Weasley! Plunkett-Calthorpe! Kindly get on with your task, please!" Flitwick squeaked from the front.

"Sorry Professor!" Tori turned to Fred. "Just because I'm not as repulsive and vulgar as you seem to be-"

"Oh yeah? What are you implying, Toff? You think you're better than me, with your mansion and bloody fur coats and all that oh dahling rubbish?" This had gone beyond a joke now, and the class knew it.

"Your analysing skills are dreadful, Fred. I never said I thought I was better than you, just that you're rude and your manners are vulgar-"

"I think she's trying to say that you're common, Fred," Emily called, almost crying with laughter at Tori arguing with Fred – again.

"Well I'd be right if I did say that, wouldn't I?" Tori snapped, and there were stupid noises – "oooooh" – from almost every member of the class. It was times like this when Tori was too much, because many were wondering how she thought she had the right to call someone else common.

"That's it. Plunkett-Calthorpe, Weasley! Detention!" Flitwick said over the noise. Tori was absolutely horrified. She had never once gotten a detention. Ever. "I will not have you two childishly arguing every single lesson!"

"Ha! Bet that's ruined your perfect record," Fred muttered maliciously, elbowing her, and Tori saw red again.

"Crinus Mute!" She aimed her wand at Fred, and immediately his eyebrows turned bright green, as they had done in Transfiguration.

"Nice!" George said, laughing at his twin. With a look of fury on his face, Fred pulled out his wand.

"Out!" Flitwick had rarely looked so cross. "I've had enough. I will be speaking to you, Miss Plunkett-Calthorpe, later. As for you, Weasley, I will be speaking to Professor McGonagall later on."

Looking mutinous, Fred packed up his things and swept out, deliberately bumping into Tori on the way out. Tori packed her own things with shaking hands and, swinging her bag onto her shoulder, left almost straight after Fred.

"She needs to work on her temper," Polly said loudly to Emily as she walked out.

Tori kicked a wall as she walked down the corridor; before today she would never dream of kicking anything. Stupid Fred; this was all his fault! She wished she had never seen him on that first day back, when he helped her with her trunk. If she'd gone straight to where Shelley was sat, maybe she would never have spoken to him; maybe Emily and Polly wouldn't hate her... A tear rolled down her cheek.

"Now, are you really crying over getting kicked out of Charms?"

Fred stood in front of her, arms folded. His anger seemed to have ebbed away. Tori wiped her face furiously. "Leave me alone, Fred."

"I was only trying to make you laugh, you know. I forget how sensitive you are sometimes." He looked like he was trying to refrain from rolling his eyes. "I know you meant all that stuff you said to me though-"

"I was just angry. I don't think you're common; I wouldn't ever describe you like that. I just find your sense of humour slightly crude, that's all. Sorry I'm not like everyone else here."

"But that's why I enjoy your company, Tori. You aren't like the others. You can trace your family back to the 5th century, your father receives peacocks from India and you'd never dream of staying in the Leaky Cauldron."

The boy had an astounding memory. "Do you really like my company?" Tori said pathetically.

"You are way too hard on yourself. Of course I do. I'm one of the most popular students here; I have my pick of friends." Tori chuckled at this, unsure of whether he was joking or not. "And honestly, getting kicked out of class isn't the worst thing in the world. George and I are always getting kicked out of class. In fact, Snape banned us from taking NEWT Potions even if we got full marks."

Tori laughed properly now. "Oh dear, Fred. You aren't missing out on much, I assure you. He gets scarier as the potions get harder."

"I don't doubt that for a minute." He looked at her closely for a second. "Hey, I have a good idea on what we can do until your next lesson."

"How did you know I have a lesson next?"

He tapped his nose. "A good guess. Now let's go, but promise me, no backing out. Agreed?"

"Fred, where are you taking me?" Tori laughed as he took her arm (carefully) and began to walk down the corridor.

It ended up being a very long walk, but on the way, Fred told endless amusing stories. It was mainly of him and George and the pranks they pulled, mostly on Ron, but also on teachers in previous years. Tori remembered some of them, and they had a good reminisce over their earlier school years.

"-First Years are so cocky these days," Fred sighed dramatically, as they drew closer to their destination. "Ah, almost here."

"Fred, this is the Owlery." She couldn't keep the panic out of her voice. Tori tried to pull away from him, but he hung onto her arm.

"I thought I'd try and help you get over your phobia. Especially since I can't figure out how anything gets delivered to you if you don't like owls-"

"I have a messenger pigeon."

Fred's eyes widened for a second, then he roared with laughter. For once Tori could see the funny side and joined in.

"An extra reason to help you face your fears. Come on." He bundled her up the steps in front of him.

"Oh, but Jim is like part of the family," she pouted, but she walked up the steps, feeling the wind blowing through her hair. Outside the Owlery, she stopped. Fred gently nudged her aside, then opened the door and stepped in. Reluctantly, Tori stepped in behind him.

The soft hoots of the owls almost melted Tori's heart, but she saw a huge owl soar through the window and almost bolted. It was only Fred that kept her in there, as he tried to calm her.

"See, they don't attack humans, unless you really annoy them. Sure, they eat mice and other small birds-"

"Fred," Tori said with a shudder. "Not helping."

"Sorry. But look, don't you think they're adorable?" He gestured to a baby owl sat at the top of the rafters, which was chirping happily. It was cute.

"Do you feel ready to hold an owl now?" Fred tried to summon one that was on the larger side, and Tori took a step back.

"I'd rather not, that one's quite big. What about that adorable baby one there?" She looked up at the fluffy grey baby; she could handle one of those ones. Fred called it down and it swooped gently towards him. After landing on his arm and ruffling its feathers importantly, he set it down on Tori's arm.

"Just stroke him gently, Tori. Look, he likes you." This seemed to be true; the little owl was clicking its beak happily and staring at her with its massive eyes.

"I do like the babies," Tori admitted. She reached out to stroke its wing and it let her, hooting gently. A flapping sound behind her startled her, making her jump, but before she could turn and look, the significantly larger owl came to sit on her shoulder. Tori tensed up, but the owl did nothing except sit and click its beak.

"See? They aren't all that bad, and your phobia isn't that bad either. You aren't crying or freaking out like you did the other day-"

"Oh Lord, don't bring that up again." Tori shuddered. "I may never live it down."

"Oh come on, Tor, embarrassing things happen to everyone. Remember when I tripped and fell down the last flight of stairs on the way to Potions in our second year? And I landed right at Snape's feet?"

Tori let out a sudden scream of laughter that caused both owls to take flight. It didn't bother her any more though. "I'm sorry, but that was absolutely hysterical!" she choked out.

Fred smiled, completely unoffended by her laughter. "I won't deny that. George didn't stop laughing for a week."

"Didn't he have to get a Calming Potion from Madam Pomfrey?" Tori mused, remembering that day well.

"Those were the days," Fred said reminiscently. They spent a few seconds in a dreamy silence. Then Tori broke the spell.

"Well, thanks ever so much for this Fred. This'll show them. Emily and Polly, I mean."

"You know, I have no clue why Angelina and Alicia are so surprised about those two showing their true colours. I always thought they seemed bitchy. That's why I've always avoided them."

Tori thought this was very interesting. But then another thought hit her. "You've avoided me for years. Why choose now to engage in conversation with me? Why now?" she asked as they left the Owlery. She was so busy looking where she was treading that she missed Fred turning red.

"No particular reason," Fred said casually. "Just realised that I've never victimised you in all the years we've been here."

"That's not true!" Tori turned on Fred. "You shrank my pyjamas in third year. I have no idea how you got them, but I was positively raging." Tori giggled. It seemed such a big deal at the time, but looking back on it made it seem quite amusing. Besides, she had five other pairs.

"I could repeat that prank specially for Emily," Fred offered. "I almost never pull the same prank twice; but in your case, I'll make an exception m'lady."

Tori giggled. "Oh Frederick, you're such a gentleman. What a chivalrous offer, shrinking my roommates pyjamas."

Suddenly, an urgent thought struck her. "What's the time?"

"Dunno, don't wear a watch," Fred said, unconcerned.

"Typical," Tori muttered. She glanced at her own (1000 Galleon) watch; she was late to Potions by almost fifteen minutes.

"Oh Merlin! Snape's going to be furious!" Tori's heart pounded. Seventh year Potions students were treated no better than the younger ones. If anything, he was stricter on them.

"Emily's going to love this," Tori groaned. It was a small miracle that Emily, with her lax attitude to schoolwork, had passed her OWL in Potions, but she had and now she had to face her and an angry Snape.

"Do you want me to come along and spin a fake tale? Or would you like to try our first batch of products from the Skiving Snackboxes George and I-"

"No! Sorry Fred, but I really must dash!" She ran off, leaving Fred staring after her incredulously.

"It's just Potions!" he called after her.

It was a pity that the Dungeons weren't closer, Tori thought to herself as she sprinted down the stairs, almost doing a Fred-style trip all the way to the bottom. Eventually she reached the door and flung it open.

"Plunkett-Calthorpe." Snape always sneered her name, like he thought it was ridiculous. "You're late."

"I'm sorry Professor Snape, I-"

"You know that this potion requires the exact hour and a half of lesson time to brew, don't you?" Snape interrupted in a bored voice. Tori didn't reply, her face heating up. She couldn't even look at the teacher.

"Sit down. You will be in detention sometime this week until you complete the potion. For now, you can relabel some of the jars of ingredients over here. No, don't sit next to Daniels. You can sit here." He smirked as he pointed to a chair in the corner. There was a loud snort of laughter.

"That will do, Hyde." Snape addressed Emily harshly, and she stopped at once, bending her head over her cauldron.

'I hope it explodes in your face,' Tori thought viciously. She put her bag down below the desk and waited for Snape to bring over the jars. He thumped them down in front of her and wordlessly handed her a quill and ink.

It was a long, tedious job. Tori never found Potions particularly exciting, but this was even duller, not to mention often disgusting. It turned her stomach to see some of these ingredients up close. At last, when the bell went, Tori packed up as quickly as possible and left the room, without even waiting for Shelley. Another detention? What was happening to her perfect record? Tori wanted to cry.

On her way to the Great Hall, there was a huge crowd of students. Tori was so despondent that she didn't see who was on either side of her. All she knew was that one minute she was walking, and the next she was falling. She put her hands out to prevent the damage, but she scraped her knees badly and her palms too.

"Ha!"

Terrence Higgs couldn't resist laughing. Nor could many others, for that matter. Getting up slowly and examining her hands and knees, Tori glanced back to see who'd done this to her.

Two amused brown eyes stared at her. They belonged, of course, to Fred Weasley. And he was laughing too.

Tori got up and fled.