It was the next day, and Summer and Fred were getting rid of a couple of Doxys, that had nested themselves in an old unused trunk. It was a fairly straightforward task, and they were currently waiting for the doxycide to begin to work.

"You know," Fred began, fiddling with his fingers uncertainly, "I obviously don't understand what it feels like, you know, with your sister."
Summer's whole demeanour changed, as she waited expectantly for him to elaborate. He seemed to notice this, as he hastily carried on.
"But in my fourth year at Hogwarts, something bad happened to Ginny and, well, we all thought she was going to die."
Summer stared at him, a shocked expression struck her face.
"Really? What happened?"

"Have you ever heard of the Chamber of Secrets?" Summer nodded, not sure where this was going.
"But it's just a myth, surely it doesn't exist?"
"It does. In her first year, Lucius Malfoy slipped You-Know-Who's old diary into her bag, and she had been writing in it all year. He kind of possessed her, she wrote all sorts of weird messages on the walls, and then released a basilisk on some of the students- of course, none of it was her fault, she wouldn't remember it after."

He took a break and gulped. Summer gave him a little nod, that it was okay to continue. "In the end, he brought her down, into the chamber, she was half dead when Harry found her."
"Did he save her? How? He must've been only about thirteen himself?"
Fred nodded.
"I don't know how he did it, something to do with Godric Gryffindor's sword. Anyway, all I know is that I sat in Dumbledore's office the entire night, already mourning my little sister, sure she was dead. I think it was one of the worst moments of my life." He finished, leaning back into his chair. Summer took a deep breath.

"Wow... I'm so sorry that happened, Fred. That man seems to have made a habit of going after little girls... I'm so happy she's okay now, though."
"Me too."
She leaned over to hug him, and a tear rolled down her face, as she thought of Felicity, and how she had not been as lucky as Ginny. When she pulled away, Fred stayed leaning towards her.

"Woah, are you crying? Come on, it's okay, love." He took her hands in his, and squeezed them tightly.
"Sorry, sorry." Summer pulled away- suddenly feeling ashamed, and willed herself to control her display of emotions.
"It's alright," he pulled her into his chest and squeezed tightly, before letting go. She smiled weakly at him as she quickly made her way to the bathroom to dry her eyes.

When she returned, Hayden came in, dressed in some turned up, dark wash jeans, and a white shirt tucked in slightly. On his head, he wore a backwards cap, and swivelled his wand between his fingers.
"Where are you going?" Summer raised an eyebrow at him.
"Thinking of playing some Quidditch, want to join? I even got Kalen to agree to play."
"You want to, Fred?" Summer shrugged her shoulders at him.
"Sure, don't see why not. But I don't have my broom..."

"No worries," Hayden dashed through a nearby door, and emerged, carrying a handful of brooms, he threw one casually over to Fred and another to Summer, who both caught it.
"No way, you just have spare Firebolts lying around?" His mouth was dropped in awe, as he examined the broom carefully in his hands.
"We have our own pitch too!" Summer exclaimed in an over-enthusiastic voice.
"Really?"
"No, no," she laughed, "But we do have some practice hoops we can set up, although Hayden's better at it than I am."
At this, Hayden nodded in agreement, and Kalen and George walked in.
"George! We're playing on firebolts!" Fred said excitedly to his twin- causing his face to light up as his eyes roamed the broom in their hands.
"Brilliant."

They all made their way outside, the sky wouldn't start to darken for a couple of hours, just enough time. Hayden and Kalen set up the hoops with a flick of their wands, as Fred and George lugged the heavy trunk of balls into the centre. They took out the quaffle, but paused and called Hayden over.

He outright refused to let the bludgers out while Summer was playing.
"But Hay! It's fine, just don't aim them at me this time," she whined, but to no avail, he just carried on shaking his head at her. Even Kalen agreed, sending Summer into uproar.
"Stop treating me like a baby, you guys! It's not fair, I can handle a bludger, you've seen that."

"I've already hurt you enough this month, I don't want to ever again."

"It's fine! I don't mind, come on."

"Well good luck getting it out, because I have the key," Hayden waved a flash of silver at the girl, before putting it in his pocket, just as she lunged for it. He took off at a sprint, and the twins laughed as they watched her attempt to catch up with her brother, who was miles in front of her by now.

Eventually, she gave up, and came back, defeated and panting.
"Come on, Summer, we only have enough people to play with the quaffle anyway." Kalen passed her a broom and she got on just as Hayden arrived back to them, grinning.

                                       ❀❀❀

They arrived back inside rosy-cheeked, even Kalen was looking pretty happy, as they all flopped down on the sofas. They mainly just threw the ball around, but it was great fun all the same. A voice in the doorway disturbed the brief silence, however, as Mrs Blanchet stood there, hovering almost nervously.

"Hello children, you all play brilliantly I must say, I watched some from my window." Hayden winked over at the rest of them.
"She's talking about me," he placed a hand under his chin and batted his eyelashes at his mother. "Thanks."

The older woman simply rolled her eyes before continuing. "Dinner will be ready shortly." She seemed to smile particularly at Kalen, who for once didn't have a glazed-over expression plastered on his face.

                                      ❀❀❀

They had finished eating, and the elves had begun cleaning the table, as Fred and Summer sat on an emerald, velvet sofa in one of the living rooms. Hayden had brought George over to another room to show him the games table and some of the vast store of potions things.

"Why are you guys so interested in weird potions ingredients I've never heard of?"
Fred looked taken off guard by this question.
"What do you mean? Nothing weird about it, we just like potions." But Summer could tell there was something he wasn't telling her.

"Fred, come on, I'm not stupid," she did her best to stare him down, and he finally spoke.
"Fine, but it's got nothing to do with your terrible stare down, and you have to promise not to tell anyone, especially my mum."
Confused, but eager to listen, Summer hastily nodded, and sat up to attention.

Fred then explained about how he and George were just experimenting for now, but were looking to make their own brand of joke products, starting with sweets to get you out of class, then they would expand. Summer didn't know what to think of this.

"Jokes?"
"Don't look at me like that, I know what you're thinking, but trust me, I think we've found a niche in the market. All we need is our bloody money back from Ludo Bagman."
"Ludo Bagman has your money? How?"
"Long story, but it involves betting and leprechaun gold," Fred scowled as he thought back to it. Summer hit him round the arm with a nearby book.

"Fred Weasley! Why are you betting with Bagman! He's notorious for being a dirty little cheat. He still owes my father about a hundred galleons!"
"What? No way, there's no chance we'll get it back now. If he hasn't even paid back someone as important as your dad..." Summer hated how demure he looked after realising this to be true.
"I could give you back-"
"No. Just no. It's fine, we'll work something else out."

They lay on their respective sofas for a while longer, as floating candles danced around their heads, throughout the room. Summer lay curled up under a blanket, reading some of her Herbology book, while Fred was scribbling something down on a piece of parchment. He stopped quite abruptly, and cleared his throat before speaking.

"Hey, Summer," She put her book down and sat up to face him properly.
"Yeah?"
"I know you don't want to go to the Yule Ball, but would you, I don't know, like, want to go with me?" Summer's heart rate sped up as she dropped the book she was holding. Fred seemed to notice her nervousness and quickly finished with "You know, as friends, just as friends of course." At this, her hammering heart instantly plummeted to her stomach. Oh.
"Y-Yeah, sure," she forced a smile, and sunk back under the blanket, unsure of what to feel now.

                                       ❀❀❀

It was later in the day, when Summer found herself staring at her green and silver dress robes, that lay in front of her on her bed.
"Not for you anymore?" Fred asked. He had been watching her intently, trying to figure out what was going through her head.
"Yeah... Mother bought them for me after reading the Hogwarts letter for this year, but I don't really want to wear them anymore..." She picked them up and placed them over her vanity chair.

"I know it's not the same as going with your other friends, but we could always go into London before returning, and find you a new dress? How about that." Summer looked excited at that prospect. She never even thought about going into London, it was so close after all that it made perfect sense. A new dress! She hugged Fred as they excitedly chattered about the plan.

                                     ❀❀❀

No matter how hard they had tried, they couldn't convince Kalen to join them in the bustling city that they currently stood in. He had hated the idea, no matter how many times Hayden had tried to persuade him with 'It'll be so fun man, c'mon', 'You need to get out and see people again,' and other such things.

"So for this dress, Sum, Diagon Alley or a muggle shop?" Hayden asked as he sipped on a coffee from a nearby cafe they had stopped at. Initially, she hadn't been sure, but now she was convinced, after seeing some of the storefronts they had walked past.
"I'd like to look at some muggle stores first, but that'll probably bore you men, how about I meet you guys in a couple of hours there?" She suggested.
"I want it to be a surprise," she whispered to Fred, who nodded as he tried to suppress the smirk tugging at his lips. Summer wanted to surprise him with a dress. Him.

Just as she was about to set out on her own path, Hayden grabbed her arm.
"Will you be okay? Do you have any muggle money on you?" He patted down his pockets, as if he would suddenly find any pounds in his freshly laundered clothes. It wasn't a regular occurrence that wizards used this currency- therefore rendering it highly peculiar.

"I'll be fine, of course, I brought some just in case." She waved them off at the Leaky Cauldron, and began her mission to find the perfect dress from the perfect shop.

                                       ❀❀❀

Finally, six stores and two hours later, Summer sprang out of the doorway carrying a large white carrier bag, containing surely one of the most beautiful garments she had ever laid her eyes on. She had used almost all the money she had brought with her, but it was going to be worth it when she saw Fred's face- even if they were just going as friends- she thought.

As she walked through the entrance to Diagon Alley, she wondered where they might be. Probably Zonko's, knowing the twins. But upon arrival, she realised she was wrong, they weren't there, although the shopkeeper said he had seen two redheads that day.

Eventually, after half an hour of wandering the uneven bricks, Summer's eyes fell upon the trio, and she ran up to them enveloping as much of their bodies as she could into a hug.
"I thought I was never gonna find you guys!" She exclaimed, sighing in relief.
"Sorry, I thought I'd told you we would still be at the Leaky Cauldron, must've forgotten," Hayden was carrying a glass of fire whiskey. He finished the rest in one sip, and slammed it back down onto a nearby surface, earning a few looks from passers-by.

                                    ❀❀❀

The next few days had passed in a blur, and soon it was time to head back to Hogwarts.

"Bye, Kalen." Summer squeezed her brother tight, and he hugged her just as tightly back, if not harder.
"Stay safe, I mean it," he whispered into her ear, and pulled her into an even tighter hug, which she hadn't thought was possible.
"Promise me you'll be okay?" She asked, needing a reassuring answer. 
"I promise. I love you so much, see you next holidays," he gave a sad sort of smile as he turned to retreat to his room.
"Love you too!" she called to him, and turned away to enter the main hall.

Summer and the twins stood at the bottom of the stairs, she was impatient in waiting for her brother, who was still upstairs.
Fred and George were both just in hoodies and jeans of different colours, unlike Summer who was bundled up in a massive white fur jacket, which however didn't cover her legs. They only had leggings to keep them warm, and on her feet were large white snow boots.

"Hayden! Come on! We can't be late!"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming." Hayden came strolling down the stairs, a mellow expression on his face.
"Are you not bringing anything back with you?"
"Nah, I think I got everything I need there," he shrugged on a light brown denim jacket, over his hoodie, and adjusted his cap before gesturing to the door.
"Let's go, then!" He rolled his eyes as they started walking down the path to the front gate.

When they had written to Dumbledore, he had explained that it may be safer to take a Portkey from a nearby forest, instead of apparating, and that they were lucky no incidents occurred last time. To get there, they would drive, as it would have been a long walk.

"Oh yeah," Hayden looked around, pretending to think, before dramatically focusing his gaze on Summer, "What are you wearing? It's not snowing yet, we're in the south, Sum." She glared back at him.
"I'm cold, okay? And anyway, I'm going to need these when it does snow up there, so," she stuck her tongue out at him.

Hayden was just unlocking the garage doors when he spoke.
"I told that bugger to write to us more when I said goodbye, if he doesn't I'm going to send every owl in the school Owlery until he does."
"Please do," Summer agreed, "Then maybe he will literally get the message." The twins laughed and shook their heads at her as they entered.

"Woah," they gasped simultaneously as their eyes fell upon the many cars parked. There were a couple of convertible sports cars, an old fashioned looking one, and two SUVs, the one Hayden was walking towards was the latter- he whistled as he swung the keys around in his hands. This car was the largest, and was all black, with some forest green panelling on the side.

"What do wizards need so many cars for?" Fred asked, climbing into the back with his brother.
"Loads of reasons," Summer turned around from her seat at the front to answer.
"Plus it's fun, I have bikes too," Hayden added, pointing to a row of motorbikes lined against the far wall.

"And you didn't tell us?" George leaned against the window, staring longingly at them.
"My bad, next time we'll take them out."
The car started quite abruptly and Hayden began driving out into the open and down the lane. After pointing at the gates with his wand, they slowly began to open, and through they went.

                                     ❀❀❀

It was five fifteen and they had been driving in circles for about half an hour.
"It's not that difficult! He said Farley Wood- just read the signs!" Summer was beginning to panic. That portkey would leave in fifteen minutes and they were nowhere near finding the car park, let alone the object itself.

"Ugh, Summer, you're not helping!" He repeatedly hit his head against the steering wheel and groaned impatiently.
"Wait, I think the sign on the right says something beginning with 'F', " called out Fred. The siblings instantly followed his line of view to see that they had finally found it.
"Yes! Quickly, we only have ten minutes!" Summer stuffed some things back into her purse  from the glove compartment and closed it.

Before Hayden could even park up, she had leapt out the door in search of the boot they were supposed to take.
"Here!" She breathed out a sigh of relief, had it been any better hidden, they wouldn't have had time.

"Another boot? We took one to get to the Quidditch World Cup last time!" Fred gave a disgusted look at the moulding shoe that lay in front of them.
"That is the mankiest looking thing I've ever seen, I'll ask Dumbledore for something more tasteful next time," Hayden chuckled as he came up behind the three.

"Wait, are you just going to leave your car here until the summer?" George eyed him- confused. Hayden shook his head.
"My mum said she'll apparate here and drive it back later, I'd never leave her for that long here," he sighed and looked back at his car.
"Her?" Summer raised an eyebrow at her brother- clearly judging him.
"Oh shut it Sum, don't think I haven't forgotten about Monsieur Maximus," he winked knowingly at the girl.

"Who?" Fred asked, watching Summer with a playful grin.
"Not who, what, it's-"
"Time?" She interrupted, slapping a hand over Hayden's mouth in the process.
"Five-twenty-nine," George checked his watch.
"See, you almost made us miss it, come on," they all placed a hand on the repugnant looking boot, and suddenly, they were flying and lurching through the sky, spinning and spinning. Until they opened their eyes to see the gates to Hogwarts, and Hagrid beaming down at them.