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The Burrow
Village of Ottery St Catchpole
- Devon, England
( September 1st, 1994. )

                                  𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐄𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 1𝐒𝐓, early enough that the sky still held a gentle haze. They'd need to leave by eight to reach King's Cross Station well before the Hogwarts Express would depart at eleven sharp.

Bill, Charlie, and Achilles had decided to come along to see everyone off, adding to the sense of excitement and anticipation. Percy, however, with a sigh and an apologetic smile, explained that he couldn't join them this time. "I just can't justify taking more time off right now," he said earnestly. "Mr. Crouch is really starting to rely on me."

George gave him a thoughtful look. "You know what, Percy?" he said with mock seriousness. "I reckon he'll know your name soon enough."

Mrs. Weasley, determined to make the trip smooth, had braved the village post office's telephone to arrange for three ordinary Muggle taxis to take them to London. "Arthur tried to borrow Ministry cars for us," she explained as they gathered in the rain-soaked yard, watching the taxi drivers struggle with the weight of six heavy Hogwarts trunks. "But there weren't any to spare... Oh dear, they don't look too happy, do they?"

Meanwhile, Pigwidgeon was in a frenzy, hooting loud enough to wake the neighborhood, his wings fluttering in a chaotic blur. Just as everyone was finally settling in, one of Fred's trunks snapped open, spilling out a burst of Filibuster's Fabulous No-Heat, Wet-Start Fireworks, which exploded in vibrant colors across the wet pavement. The driver handling the trunk let out a startled shout, not helped by Crookshanks, who had seized the opportunity to climb the poor man's leg, his claws digging in as he scrambled upward. Amidst the rain, noise, and laughter, the trip was off to a lively, unforgettable start.

The journey to King's Cross was far from comfortable, as they were squeezed tightly in the back of the taxis alongside their heavy trunks, leaving little room to breathe. By the time they arrived, relief washed over them at the prospect of finally stretching their legs, though their respite was cut short by the rain, which now fell in relentless sheets. They braved the downpour, getting thoroughly soaked as they navigated the bustling street, hauling their trunks through the puddles and into the crowded station.

To avoid drawing too much attention from Muggles, they gathered in small groups. Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione led the way, huddled closely with Pigwidgeon fluttering excitedly and Crookshanks prowling by their feet, drawing curious glances. Behind them came Olympia, Cassie, Fred, and George, sharing a few jokes to ease the tension of the morning's travel. Atlas, Charlie, Bill, and Achilles followed, keeping a watchful eye on everyone, with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley arriving just minutes later, rounding up the group with warm smiles.

The Hogwarts Express stood waiting, a grand scarlet steam engine with polished paint gleaming even through the mist. Clouds of steam rose from it, swirling around the platform in thick, mysterious billows, giving the bustling crowd of students and their families an almost spectral appearance as they moved in and out of sight. Pigwidgeon, sensing the excitement in the air, hooted even louder in response to the cacophony of owls echoing through the haze, adding to the sense of anticipation and magic that marked the beginning of another journey to Hogwarts.

"I might be seeing you all sooner than you think," Charlie said with a grin, wrapping Ginny in a hug as he bid her goodbye.

"Why?" Fred asked eagerly, his curiosity piqued.

"You'll see," Charlie replied with a sly smile. "Just don't let Percy catch wind of it... it's 'classified information, until such time as the Ministry sees fit to release it,' after all." He imitated Percy's formal tone, flashing a mischievous smile.

Bill, standing nearby with his hands in his pockets, gazed almost wistfully at the train. "I sort of wish I were back at Hogwarts this year," he murmured.

George's impatience got the better of him. "Why's that?" he asked, eyeing his brother with frustration.

Achilles chuckled, his eyes alight with mystery. "You're going to have quite an interesting year," he said, his gaze twinkling. "Who knows? I might even get time off to come watch some of it."

"Oh, just spill it already!" Olympia interjected, crossing her arms in exasperation.

But just then, the train's whistle pierced the air, signaling their departure, and Mrs. Weasley gently herded them toward the doors.

"Thanks so much for having us, Mrs. Weasley," Olympia said as they climbed on board, turning back to smile and wave.

"Yes, thank you for everything!" Cassie added warmly.

"Oh, it was my pleasure, dears," Mrs. Weasley replied, her expression tender. "I'd invite you all for Christmas, but... well, I have a feeling you'll be wanting to stay at Hogwarts this year, what with... one thing and another."

"Mum!" Ron groaned, clearly annoyed. "What do you three know that we don't?"

Mrs. Weasley only smiled, a hint of excitement in her eyes. "I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will fill you in soon enough. It's going to be a thrilling year-and mind you, I'm quite relieved they've changed the rules."

"What rules?" Harry, Ron, Fred, and George exclaimed in unison.

"You'll just have to wait and see," she replied, reaching up to pat their cheeks. "Now, you'll all behave, won't you? Especially you, Fred and George?"

The pistons hissed as the train began to pull away, and Fred leaned out of the window, shouting, "Tell us what's happening at Hogwarts! What rules are they changing?"

But Mrs. Weasley only waved, her face a picture of delight, and before they rounded the corner, she, Bill, Achilles, and Charlie had Disapparated, leaving the young travelers to wonder.

As rain splattered thickly against the windows, the landscape outside became a hazy blur, making it hard to see much of anything.

"Bloody hell," George grumbled, leaning back with crossed arms. "They could just tell us instead of giving us all these vague hints!"

Olympia shot him a look, trying to lift their spirits. "I'm sure they have their reasons, George," she said, her voice bright with optimism.

The morning had already been an adventure. Atlas had slipped away to join his friends, looking forward to a break from his beloved but boisterous companions. Being quite popular at Hogwarts, he had plenty of compartments to choose from and relished a moment of calm after such a whirlwind start.

Inside compartment six, Fred and George helped lift Cassie and Olympia's trunks into the overhead bins, their strength easing the girls' burden as they settled in.

Suddenly, as the four of them relaxed into their seats, a feeling of warmth enveloped the compartment, as if they'd all been wrapped in a cozy embrace. There was a quiet comfort in the air, a shared sense of belonging that made their hearts swell, filling them with joy and anticipation for the year ahead.

"This compartment must be charmed," Olympia observed, looking around with a knowing smile. "Just like the one we found last year."

"Called it the lucky compartment, didn't we?" Fred grinned, recalling fond memories.

"Oh yeah, I remember!" Cassie chimed in. "We kept finding stray galleons under the seats! Wonder what sort of charm this one has?"

Olympia caught George's gaze, and her heart did a little leap. She quickly looked down, trying to steady herself. 'Perhaps it's an attraction charm,' she thought, though she dismissed the idea almost immediately, knowing such charms only amplify what's already there. For now, she kept her thoughts to herself. "Don't know," she answered, glancing away to hide her smile.

"Well, whatever it is, it's perfect," George murmured, his eyes lingering on Olympia with a warm glint. A soft smirk played on his lips as he settled into a seat, brushing his hand along the cushion. "Spacious, cozy... I feel like I could sink into these seats."

Fred echoed his brother, "Couldn't agree more. This year is going to be amazing-no doubt about it. And if it isn't, well, we'll make it amazing!" He shot George a challenging grin.

Olympia hummed contentedly and, without much thought, took a seat next to George. It was a break from her usual habit of sitting beside Cassie, with the twins opposite, and her unexpected choice earned a pair of raised brows from Fred and Cassie, who exchanged a quick, knowing look.

George, for his part, was more than pleased by her decision. Surprised by just how comfortable the seats were, he chuckled to himself, thinking back to his jokes about his old, lumpy mattress at home. He used to tease Olympia that the only way it could feel better was if she joined him for a cuddle. Maybe one day, he'd always thought to himself, finding excuses to sling an arm around her whenever he could.

Now, as he settled in beside her, he felt a warm thrill, and with a mischievous grin, he shot Fred a look, who was stifling a laugh. Leaning slightly toward Olympia, George casually draped his arm along the back of the seat behind her, close enough to make his intentions clear without saying a word.

"You're right, Fred," he said, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. "This year's going to be something else. I can already feel it-the pranks we'll pull on all the ghosts, those elective classes we're sort of looking forward to, the Quidditch matches, trips to Hogsmeade..." He leaned in closer, his voice softening. "And, of course, every single free moment we have together, Olympia."

He gave her cheek a light poke, his grin widening as she blushed. The cozy charm of the compartment only seemed to encourage him, and he found himself savoring every second of this unexpected closeness, the promise of a magical year stretched out before them.

As George's arm settled along the back of the seat, Olympia's gaze met his, her heart fluttering with an excitement she hadn't expected. Normally, she'd roll her eyes or give him a playful shove. But this time, she found herself leaning into him, feeling the warmth of his shoulder as she relaxed, breathing out a soft sigh.

"Any free moments you can manage, Georgie," she teased lightly, a hint of reality slipping in. "But you'll have to compete with my mountains of homework and all those extra credit assignments." Her words held a familiar humor, but there was a touch of wistfulness too. She knew, deep down, that this year she wanted to find a better balance-not letting her studies take over every moment.

George's grin softened, his expression warmer than usual. "I've got all the time in the world, sweetheart," he murmured, the light blush on his face betraying a rare shyness as she leaned closer. He hadn't expected her to be so open, so at ease beside him.

Olympia, sensing the moment might become a bit too serious, changed the subject with a smirk. "So, Fred," she said, turning to the other twin. "What's the first prank you two troublemakers have cooked up?"

Fred leaned forward with a glint of mischief. "Oh, the first one's a classic. I'm planning to make Marcus Flint's broom go berserk during Quidditch tryouts. But you know, something else will probably come up before then." He laughed. "Revenge pranks are the best, aren't they, Georgie?"

George grinned. "The absolute best."

Just then, Cassie stood up, a thought dawning on her. "I promised Judeth I'd sit with her," she said, waving. But before leaving, she smirked at the two of them, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, and Fred-don't leave those two alone," she added with a wink, her gaze darting between Olympia and George as she shut the door behind her.

Olympia's cheeks flushed. "Oh, shut up, Cass!" she muttered, laughing as her face grew even redder.

George's grin widened as he watched Cassie leave. "Or what, hm?" he said, his voice daring. "What could we possibly do in this little compartment together?" His gaze shifted to Fred, his eyes glinting with amusement. He tried to control his thoughts, but failed miserably.

Fred raised an eyebrow in surprise. George was usually the more reserved one, not one to flirt so openly. But today, he seemed as daring as Fred himself. Maybe this compartment really was charmed to bring out whatever was just beneath the surface - or maybe it was simply letting them all be a little braver with what they already felt. Fred grinned to himself, storing away plenty of mental notes to tease George about later. But for now, he just leaned back, watching his twin with a mischievous glint, sensing this year might be full of more surprises than any of them anticipated.

Fred decided, on a mischievous whim, to leave the two alone. "Right, I'm off to the loo," he announced with an exaggerated grimace. "Might be gone for a while-got a nasty one brewing."

Olympia rolled her eyes, thoroughly unimpressed. "Fred, we really didn't need the details."

"Yeah, gross," George laughed, shaking his head.

But as Fred closed the compartment door behind him, it dawned on both of them what he was actually up to. A silence settled between them, unexpected and charged. Neither had anticipated being left alone, and suddenly the air felt different.

George cleared his throat, breaking the stillness. "So... I s'pose the return of Miss Studious is just around the corner, huh?" His tone was light, but there was a touch of disappointment in it.

Olympia sighed. "It's nothing personal, George. School is important to me. I just... I have to be perfect."

George's brows furrowed, and he looked at her earnestly. "Olympia, you are perfect. You don't have to prove anything to anyone."

Her eyes flashed with a mix of frustration and vulnerability. "You don't get it, George," she snapped, her voice taut with a defensiveness she didn't entirely understand. "It's... complicated."

He took the hint and let the subject drop, sensing this wasn't the moment to push. "Alright, then -"

But Olympia interrupted him, her question coming out of nowhere. "Why did you chase after me?" Her voice was quiet, yet urgent. She looked at him, her eyes searching his, holding his gaze with an intensity that was unusual for her. Usually, she'd look away if their eyes met for too long, as if too much closeness made her nervous. But now, she looked straight at him, her expression soft yet serious.

George was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"At the World Cup. When. . . when everything went wrong," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "When we were attacked. You could have stayed with your brothers, but you didn't. You came after me, straight into danger. Why?"

George opened his mouth, but he didn't quite know what to say. In truth, he didn't fully understand it himself. He just remembered seeing her run off in the chaos, her face full of fear, and suddenly, nothing else mattered. He'd felt an overwhelming need to make sure she was safe. It hadn't been a decision-it had been instinct.

"Honestly?" he said, his voice softening. "I don't know. I just. . . couldn't let you be out there on your own. I didn't even think about it." He looked down, feeling suddenly exposed, as if he'd revealed more than he meant to.

Olympia continued to stare at him, her gaze unreadable. "I don't get you, George Weasley," she murmured, but there was a tenderness in her voice, something close to admiration, even if she wasn't ready to admit it.

George chuckled, a bit nervously. "Guess that makes two of us." He leaned back, feeling the weight of the moment between them, both comforting and unsettling.

In that quiet space, as the train rumbled along and the world outside blurred, it felt as if something unspoken had finally surfaced, something that had been lingering in the air between them all along.

The quiet between them lingered, soft and charged. George's gaze drifted to her face, noticing the way her eyes seemed a little softer, less guarded. He wasn't sure what he was about to do, but he knew he didn't want this moment to slip away.

Slowly, he reached up, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. His hand lingered by her cheek, and he leaned in, his heart thudding louder with each inch he closed between them.

Olympia's breath caught, her eyes flickering to his lips before she looked back up, her cheeks flushed. She leaned in too, and for a brief, dizzying moment, it was as if the world outside the compartment didn't exist - just the two of them and the inches slowly disappearing between them.

Then, just as their faces were close enough for her to feel his breath, the door to the compartment swung open with a loud, dramatic creak.

Fred strolled back in, an impish grin on his face. "You two aren't snogging in here, are you?" he teased, his eyes twinkling with far too much enjoyment at having caught them so close.

Olympia pulled back quickly, her face heating up as she stammered, "N-no, of course not!" She crossed her arms, trying to compose herself, but the flush on her cheeks betrayed her.

George shot his twin a half-annoyed, half-amused look. "Couldn't give us five more minutes, could you, Fred?"

Fred shrugged, clearly enjoying himself. "Wouldn't want you two getting into trouble without me around. Plus, the loo was occupied." He dropped down into his seat across from them, still grinning, while Olympia avoided both of their eyes, her heart racing.

George looked at her, their almost-kiss still hanging in the air, a silent promise between them that he wasn't quite ready to let go of.

As Fred settled in, still grinning at his untimely interruption, George shot him a look that could have melted steel. He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head, as if to say, Really?

Fred caught the silent message immediately, his grin widening even more. With an innocent shrug, he mouthed back, 'What? I didn't see anything.'

George sighed, exasperated, and shook his head slightly, his expression clearly conveying his annoyance. He leaned back in his seat, pointedly looking out the window for a moment to keep from glaring at Fred outright.

But Fred, ever the mischief-maker, only found George's silent irritation more amusing. He nudged his twin with his foot and raised his eyebrows, winking at Olympia to make it clear he wasn't about to let them live this down.

George clenched his jaw, giving Fred one last pointed glare before refocusing on Olympia. She, clearly flustered, glanced down at her hands, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. George felt his own annoyance soften slightly as he saw her smile; even if Fred was being impossible, the moment hadn't been completely ruined.

Still, he made a mental note to get back at Fred later - after all, he always has a few tricks up his sleeve.

As the Hogwarts Express finally pulled into Hogsmeade Station, the air buzzed with excitement. Olympia, George, and Fred gathered their things, still exchanging knowing glances and jabs from the journey. The rain had stopped, replaced by a cool, misty breeze that hinted at the magical castle waiting just ahead.

They stepped out onto the platform, looking for familiar faces amid the crowd of students. Soon, they spotted Cassie and Judeth waving wildly from a few feet away, grinning as they weaved through the throng of students.

"Olympia! George! Fred!" Cassie called out, hurrying toward them with Judeth close behind. The two girls looked as though they'd had their own adventure on the train, laughing and chattering with an infectious energy.

"We were beginning to think you'd ditched us for good!" Judeth teased, her dark eyes gleaming with playful suspicion. "Found a new favorite compartment, did you?"

Olympia shot George a quick look, her cheeks warming at the memory of their almost-kiss. "Oh, you know, the twins are always full of surprises," she said, forcing her voice to sound casual.

Cassie raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing there was more to the story. "Well, don't keep us in suspense, what happened?"

Fred, unable to resist, leaned in with a mischievous grin. "Oh, nothing much. Just a perfectly normal train ride, with George making heart eyes the whole way."

Olympia shot him a warning look, but Cassie and Judeth only burst into laughter, clearly intrigued. "Sounds like there's a lot we need to catch up on!" Judeth grinned.

As the friends chatted and teased, they joined the rest of the students, heading towards the carriages that would take them up to the castle. The misty air grew denser as they drew closer, and before long, the towering spires of Hogwarts loomed into view, glowing softly against the evening sky.

The carriage ride was filled with stories, laughter, and friendly nudges, each of them falling into an easy rhythm as they shared tales from the summer. Judeth leaned forward with rapt attention as Olympia and Cassie recounted the Weasleys' eventful stay and the mishaps from the burrow over the summer, though Olympia carefully left out a few particular details about the train ride. Cassie noted her twin's secrecy, knowing to ask her about it later.

George pulled out a heart-shaped note from his pocket, its edges cut from an old newspaper. The words 'you're a bloody idiot ~ o' were written in neat, handwriting, each letter precise and deliberate. He looked upon it, a bemused expression crossing his face as he turned it over in his hand. 'She must've slipped this in my pocket when I wasn't looking,' he thought with a chuckle, shaking his head at the unexpected yet somehow endearing message.

Soon, they passed through the castle gates and clambered out of the carriage, joining the excited crowd making their way into the Great Hall. The candles floated above, casting a warm, welcoming glow over the hall, and as they found seats together, Olympia felt the thrill of being back - surrounded by her friends, her house, and the magic of another year at Hogwarts.