Eventually, Crabbe and Goyle did come past, eating the cakes without prompting. The test worked as predicted but that was far from the most interesting thing anymore. Saskia had fallen silent as she so often did but her words were still etched into the twins minds.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Fred?" George grinned after Saskia had gone.

"That we've just found a magical Umbridge repellent? Yes."

George rested his arm on his brother's shoulder, "Well, we have Defence against the Dark Arts next..."

"And you think we should test it out?"

The twins smirked at each other, "Gred, you took the words out of my mouth," George then faltered slightly, "Just be ... decent about it, okay?"

"Decent?"

"Don't be an arse, that's all I'm saying..."

"I'm always an arse, George, always..."

As usual, in Defence Against the Dark Arts, they were working from textbooks again. Before both the twins had rather enjoyed Defence but in a matter of weeks, it had infamously gained a reputation as the most boring lessons. Still, their little experiment ought to brighten things up a bit.

"Does everyone have their copy of 'Advanced Defensive Magical Theory' by Wilbert Slinkhard?" The twins exchanged a grin; usually, she gave an irritating little greeting but today she was just diving straight into it. Her eyes seemed far more glassy than usual too, a few hairs out of place but otherwise she appeared normal.

Walking across the classroom in an unusually quick fashion, she slumped into her chair. The casualness of her posture was noticed so she quickly amended this by sitting up a little too straight, "I would like you all to turn to page twelve and read Chapter Three, Non-verbal counter curses. If you have a query, please raise your hand."

The entire class sighed, retrieving their books from their bag. Fred and George were placed across the other side of the room from each other, George at the front and Fred at the back. This had probably been done to avoid talking but in reality just gave them eyes all over the room.

For half of the lesson, Fred simply watched Umbridge as he 'read'. She was certainly shaken by the incident, murmuring things to herself as she stared blankly at the wall. 

"Professor..." Around halfway, Fred finally decided to test out whether 'Dolly' worked for everyone or just Saskia.

Umbridge looked up, a weary look crossing her face as she heaved herself up. George snuck a glance at Fred, smirking as Umbridge wandered over.

"Did you have a question about the chapter, dear?" She asked in a sweet voice that barely concealed the irritation hiding underneath.

"Oh, yeah, I did, Dolly - "

"Thirty points from Gryffindor, Mr Weasley. Next time, my dear, it will be a detention," She replied her voice still sickly sweet despite the manic flare in her eyes. A few people had turned to look, hiding sniggers behind their hands but quickly went back to their work after Umbridge shot them a look, "You know that I am to be addressed as Professor Umbridge, not ... Dolly. Now, dear, what was your question again?"

Fred studied her face for a few moments longer before shaking his head, "Oh, sorry, I forgot."

Umbridge said nothing, merely smiling sweetly before returning to her chair. The experiment had failed but was still very telling.  Fred didn't see his girlfriend that lunch that day due to conflicting schedules so decided to wait until the meeting to inform her of the revelation: only Saskia Cyrus held that power over Umbridge. 

• • •

"Can you do - "

"More Saskia babysitting whilst you have snogging sessions with your boyfriend?" Lexy finished as the two girls walked out of Ancient Runes together.

Aubrey immediately stiffened; had her cheeks allowed it, she would no doubt be blushing crimson, "No, hon, we, er ... discuss Saskia all the time - "

"Oh my God, Aubrey, I really don't mind but please don't lie about it," Lexy replied, nudging her best friend, "Just use protection - "

"Lexy, hon, we don't do that yet!"

"Sorry, sorry, I'm messing with you," Lexy sniggered, "I'll stop, I promise, it's just fun..."

"Will you do it then?"

Lexy sighed but nodded, "Obviously, I've got nothing better to do due really other than a lot of alchemy revision. I've realised I literally procrastinate other revision by doing non-stop Alchemy ... anyway, where is she?"

"The library, I reckon," Aubrey shrugged, "That's usually where I find her. She's not even working most of the time, just sort of sat there making paper cranes and reading the most random things."

"Well, she's a weird girl," Lexy replied, "I'd even say the weirdest but then again we've had the likes of Quirrel walk through our doors so who really knows anymore..."

The two friends eventually parted ways and Lexy began to make her way towards the library, bracing herself for another uncomfortable day with Saskia. During these odd moments where it was just the two of them, Saskia either didn't talk at all or asked odd questions regarding Aubrey. After the odd leg breaking incident which Lexy was highly suspicious of Saskia but figured that if she were quiet, she'd be alright.

Having Saskia around definitely did increase one's paranoia a lot and Lexy walked quickly, glancing around every time a slight sound was heard. This was of course why she almost jumped out of her skin when she heard footsteps running behind her. Turning around, her hands reaching for her wand, she realised it was none other than one of the Weasleys.

"Are you Fred or George?"

The twin smiled, "Both."

"Liar, I can tell you're George."

George pressed his lips together, "And here I was thinking my Fred impression was half decent ... guess I was wrong," His brow furrowed slightly, "Everything alright ... fancy going for a walk to talk it out ... with me, if that wasn't clear."

She gave a small laugh but wasn't entirely able to tell if it was a joke or not, "I would but I have to hang out with Saskia ... you could join me though if you're not up to too much mischief that is, I am an amazing conversationalist ... and that's coming from me. I know me the best after all," Giving him her best angelic grin, she pleadingly asked, "Will you be my Knight in Shining Armour?"

George shrugged, "I've got nothing better to do really although I might have to pass on the armour..."

"I'll provide the best armour free of charge?"

"Well, Lexy Masters," He tilted his head from side to side, "I think we may just have ourselves a deal." 

When they arrived at the library, Saskia greeted them with a small smile before returning to flicking through the pages of a random history textbook. This forced George and Lexy to provide the conversation but they would have done that anyway. Time passed much faster for Lexy now that she wasn't alone and George truly was excellent company. 

"You know, Lexy, don't tell Fred but I think your crude puns are better than his."

She grinned, the alchemy textbook still shut as it had been for the past fifteen minutes, "It's because I've been so repressed. Angela hated puns and Aubrey hated all things romantic."

"You were wasted on them!"

"Aubrey hates dirty puns," Saskia giggled, speaking for the first time since they got there, "Do you remember when she covered her ears rather than listen?"

George and Lexy exchanged a smile which quickly turned into suppressed laughter as Lexy nodded, "Uh huh..."

"I guess our Grindle-words offended her," This was too much for Lexy who collapsed into giggles, alerting the attention of Madam Pince who glowered from the end of the row. An echo of mirth still lingering on her face, Lexy opened the textbook to at least pretend they were working. She looked down as irritation set across her: she'd brought the wrong damn textbook.

"I need to get something, I've only gone and brought the wrong bloody book," She said, slowly standing up, "Wait here, I'll be right back..."

"No, don't leave me with ..." George began before tactfully adding, "Madam Pince. Think she might be checking me out, I hate feeling like a piece of meat."

"It's always the quiet ones that surprise you, didn't peg her for a cougar but here we are," Lexy agreed, "Fine, Saskia, save the seats we'll be - "

"I'll come too," Saskia cut in, shivering, "I don't want to be here with a cougar, those things have so much hair..."

She stood up ushering for them to go ahead, as George and Lexy mouthed 'What?' at each other before walking off. Somehow they actually managed to keep a straight face.

Aubrey and Fred may have been able to talk telepathically before but George and Lexy were managing to communicate silently pretty well without one. She could tell George felt kind of bad about it but every time there eyes met, they found themselves almost laughing.

As they came to the top of some steps, they noticed Umbridge heading towards them down an intersecting corridor and Lexy gripped George's arm, "Looks like we're taking the long route," Giggling, the pair of them turned away from the corner, continuing on the empty balcony. 

"Merlin's pants, that was close ... an awful near encounter with Dolly."

Lexy raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"Dolly ... didn't we tell you?" George asked, his question returned by a blank expression, "Saskia said it and it - "

"Oh my God, Saskia!"

"Yeah, that's what I said anyway - "

"No, she's gone agaon!" Lexy rolled her eyes, "You know, I might start asking Aubrey to pay me next time ..." She began to walk away towards the corridor when George pulled her back, catching her by surprise. He pressed a finger to his lips, gesturing towards the corridor. Lexy obliged, listening and was confused to hear a frantic raised voice from around the corner.

Saskia? she mouthed but George shook his head, clearly recognising the shrill high pitched voice from around the corner. Slowly they moved towards the corner of the wall, their ears almost visible as they listened.

" - I know you can hear me in there ... they said I was losing my mind waiting but I wasn't, it is you ... in the flesh. Do you want to know the worst part? I was starting to fear that they were right but I was correct," George stiffened as Umbridge laughed, a breathy, manic sound that sent a shiver down Lexy's spine, "It was a signal, wasn't it? Wasn't it? Gil, I told them that I was correct but like always but they didn't believe me, silly Dolly and her hairbrained agendas... they'll be so jealous, I can almost picture their little faces!"

Lexy leant onto her tiptoes, leaning on George for support as she peered around the corner. Her eyes widened as she saw Saskia stood completely still, her eyes glassy whilst Umbridge gripped her shoulders like a dying woman clings to a lifeboat.

"Can you see me in there? You know you don't need to spend your time around her again ... history repeating itself - "

It was as if a switch had been flicked and Saskia suddenly gasped, tugging herself free from Umbridge's claw-like grip. Lexy wasn't sure what compelled her to do it but seeing the horror etched on Saskia's face was suddenly unbearable, even if the girl annoyed her. Both she and George seemed to feel it, making themselves visible at the same time.

"Saskia, there you are!" Lexy managed weakly and Umbridge turned in horror. Within seconds she had straightened herself up but a strange expression remained on her face. For a second, Saskia remained still before running over behind Lexy, gripping her tightly.

"It's incredibly disrespectful to eavesdrop," Umbridge's voice pierced the silence, "But given the ahem ... eve slipping standards at Hogwarts, it's to be expected. Carry on your way."

Saskia tugged at Lexy and the girl followed, George in tow. His voice was soft as he added, "It's also bloody rude to grip students but alright..."

"I ... I'm tired, I think I'll sleep now," Saskia muttered, her voice unusually high.

"Saskia, what was that - "

"She's ... she's a weird one, a weird human," Saskia murmured before falling silent.

The evening had taken a rather confusing downturn and Lexy found herself sitting alone in the bustling common room after Saskia went to bed. Aubrey returned about ten minutes later.

"Your hair's messy," She observed as Aubrey took a seat.

"Please don't tease me?" Aubrey asked, her smile fading as she noticed the joke wasn't accompanied by a cheery grin, "Are you okay, hon?"

"Well ... let me just say, shit went down."

• • •

Finally more Gexy/Leorge along with a perspective from Lexy's view - it felt so odd to write but I liked it. Also depending on my mood, this might even stretch into next-gen mainly because this series writes itself for me which is brilliant - E x