"SHOULD'VE KNOWN WE'D FIND YOU HERE," A familiar voice called out, pulling Devora's attention away from her textbook.

Devora sighed and closed the book, knowing she'd get no work done once the twins began to bother her. She had been avoiding the familiar red heads and hoped she'd be able to go longer without seeing them, but she was a creature of habit. The library was one of her favorite places to study, so it was no wonder they were able to find her there.

She had ridden with the boys and May on the Hogwarts Express, but she avoided conversation. Her disinterest had been feigned with her hiding her nose in a book, ignoring the others every time they tried to engage with her. Although the four of them had planned to meet up after the first dinner that night, Dev had slipped away. The news of the triwizard tournament, and the arrival of the other schools, had certainly been shocking, but she was too stubborn to share in her surprise with the others. Not when she was this angry.

"The school years just begun, what could you possibly be studying for?" Fred prodded, sliding into the seat next to her as George sat across from her.

"N.E.W.T.s start this year, I'm just trying to get ahead," Dev sighed, resting her head in one of her hands while glancing between the two.

Five years of friendship meant that the twins could read the girl like the back of their hand, so no matter how hard she tried to hide it, they could tell when something was wrong. The twins shared a glance, one that Dev picked up on, and she knew they were about to pester her.

"What's wrong?" George cocked his head to the side.

"Nothing," Dev lied. She had half a mind to look away, but knew it would be too much of a give away, so she forced herself to look between the two.

"Come on, what is it?" Fred nudged her lightly.

When Dev simply shook her head, a grin grew on Fred's face.

"You know we'll get it out of you," He raised his hands slowly. "We have our ways."

"Fred," Dev warned, sticking up a finger. "Don't."

Fred ignored her warnings, moving in and beginning to tickle her sides. As much as Dev wanted to stay mad, she couldn't help it. A smile broke out onto her face and she couldn't control her giggling. She threw in the occasional 'cut it out' but Fred wasn't holding back.

"Madam Pince is going to kick us out!" Dev finally broke free, schooching her chair away from the boy's grip.

"Like that would be such a bad thing," George chuckled in amusement. "Now, are you going to tell us?"

"I just had a rough summer, that's all," Dev straightened up, avoiding the eyes of the twins. While Fred's touch lingered on her skin, her previous anger seemed to bite away at the spots. "And I hardly saw you two, or May, for that matter."

"Well that's not our fault," Fred responded, sounding somewhat defensive.

Dev knew that was somewhat true. While in previous summers Dev had spent them almost entirely visiting the Weasleys or the muggle-world with May, the past summer she had been forced to stay at the Bane Manor. It had started with her Nan wanting to ensure she was seriously studying for her upcoming year, but as Dev's mental health began to deteriorate with her nightmares and visions, her Nan insisted she stayed in. Dev knew the woman was simply worried about her, trying to find any means she could to help, but it only made it worse.

Dev had convinced the woman that she needed to get out of the house towards the end of summer. She assumed the twins would invite her to attend the Quidditch World Cup with them, but the invitation never came. She had tried not to take it too personally, until she found out the family had brought Harry, Hermione, and May. Now, she was a little hurt.

"Well you could've asked me to go to the Quidditch World Cup with you guys," She crossed her arms, her words coming out softly. She was trying her best not to sound too hurt, but she knew she was failing.

"That's what this is about?" Fred questioned, sounding a bit amused.

"You don't even like Quidditch!" George laughed.

"We knew you would say no," Fred chuckled, going to nudge her arm until she moved away from the touch.

"I wouldn't have said no though!"

Fred and George shared a glance, recognizing that she wasn't about to laugh off the situation as easily as they'd hoped.

"You can't possibly think we wouldn't want to spend time with you?"

"Every owl we sent this summer you turned down."

"But you guys know that was because of my Nan, and I had told you she was easing up towards the end of summer," Dev reasoned.

"Well, we're sorry," George caved first, leaning across the table. When Fred said nothing he shot him a look.

"We are," Fred finally agreed. It wasn't often the boy apologized or admitted defeat, so Dev knew he meant it. "But you have to know, we always love having our Bee around. If we thought you would have enjoyed it, we would have asked."

Dev fought back a smile at the nickname, a faint blush tinting her cheeks. Fred had begun calling her that from time to time, ever since she had told the twins the meaning of Devora was 'bee.' It was why so many of her notebooks and room decorations were littered with the little creature.

"Would it make you feel better if we told you how awful a time it was?" George questioned.

"No," Dev shook her head, she wouldn't want them to have a bad time.

"Well, good, because it was bloody amazing," Fred grinned.

A smile broke onto Dev's lips as she let a chuckle escape. The boys' eyes lit up at the sound, knowing they had successfully broken through.

"Oh shove off, Weasley." She teased.

"Ah, there's that smile!" Fred cooed, brushing her cheek with his finger.

"Why don't you tell us about your summer then we can fill you in our plan to enter our names for the tournament?" George suggested, causing a light eye roll from Dev, but eventually she nodded.

And just like that, it was if nothing changed. Dev knew she would never be able to stay mad at the boys for long.

☽

DEV SAT WITH MAY AND HERMIONE, each with a textbook open in their laps. Occasionally, they would glance up at the sound of cheers and another student placing their name in the goblet of fire. She understood the honor in competing, but it felt as though the risk out weighed the reward for her. She was secretly thankful neither twin could enter.

All three were distracted completely by the sounds of cheering as Fred and George ran into the room, holding up two vials in the air. As they ran by a group of younger students, they high-fived them on the way. May and Dev shared a glance before rolling their eyes in unison.

"Well lads, we've done it!" Fred called out.

"Cooked it up just this morning!" George beamed.

"It's not going to work," Hermione called out in a sing-song tone, returning her gaze to her book.

"Don't bother," May and Dev spoke in unison, catching each others eyes. Perhaps they were spending too much time with the twins.

Fred and George smirked at the trio for a moment, before Fred kneeled down on Dev's side and George kneeled down on May's, with Hermione sandwiched in the middle.

"Don't worry Granger, Bee and May have already tried to warn us," Fred teased.

The two stood and inched closer to the goblet of fire, and Dev was glad that they could not see the blush that had rose to her cheeks. She really was starting to regret telling him about her name meaning.

"I do wish he would stop calling me that," Dev glanced down at her book, but she knew she would not be able to focus.

"Why, because it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy?" May cooed, leaning across Hermione's lap so that Dev could hear.

Hermione giggled lightly at May's teasing. While they weren't best friends with the girl, they did spend time with her from time to time. They all had a mutual respect for each other's intelligence and work ethic. Plus, she was often there when they'd spend time at the burrow. It wasn't hard for her to pick up on Dev's crush on Fred, whether Dev wanted to admit it or not.

"Hush!" Dev warned, glancing back at Fred in hopes that he hadn't heard. Luckily, him and George were preparing to jump past the age line after downing the potion, so she thought she may be in the clear.

The three girls became enthralled as the two successfully placed their names in the goblet. For a split second, they all wondered if they were wrong to doubt the twins. Then, a shot of blue fames flew from the goblet, knocking both the twins out of the ring and onto their backs. While Hermione and May giggled, Dev raised a hand to her mouth and gasped. She was about to rush and see if they were okay, but as they slowly sat up, looking about the age of Dumbledore, she joined in on her friend's giggling.

"You said!" Fred accused.

"You said!" George shot back.

The two quickly jumped up and began rolling around, fighting with one another. Dev rolled her eyes and turned back to the girls, whose giggles had now turned to snickers.

"Do you think they'll actually start listening to us now?" She cocked her head to the side, already knowing the answer.

"No," All three decided in unison.

The crowd had erupted into a chorus of 'fight,' surrounding the twins so they were no longer in view. The sound of their rustling and arguments could just barely be heard, and Dev was wondering at what point she should step in and break it up. Ultimately, she decided she'd let them sweat it out a little longer.

The chants of the crowd were slowly silenced as Viktor Krum entered the room, all eyes on him. He approached the goblet stoically, avoiding all eye contact with the many gazes on him. After placing his name, he glanced slightly to his left, catching Hermione's gaze and lingering on it. Then, as quickly as he came, he was turning on his heels and leaving.

"What was that?" Dev pestered, nudging Hermione with her elbow.

"What're you talking about?" Hermione seemed to snap out of a trance.

"He was just about undressing you with his eyes," May sneered, although Hermione didn't seem to pick up on it.

"It was nothing," She waved off, returning her focus to the textbook on her lap.

Dev glanced at May and was quickly confused by the look of distaste gracing her features. She brushed off the realization, knowing it would be better to question her when they were alone later.

"I ought to figure out how to return the twins to normal," Dev sighed, raising from her seat and tucking her textbook under her arm.

"Maybe it'll be good practice?" Hermione offered with a weak smile.

"Maybe," Dev agreed before making her way to the twins.

They now sat on the floor, resembling old men but holding the posture of toddlers. Neither would look at the other as they sat with their arms crossed. Dev let out a laugh at the comical scene, earning a glare from both twins.

"Oh, so you think this is funny?" Fred accused, narrowing his eyes at the girl.

"Hey, I was coming over to offer some help, but if you don't need it..." She trailed off, a innocent smile playing on her features.

"No!" The twins perked up in unison as she had just begun to turn and walk away.

"What's the magic word?" She knelt in-between the two, letting her eyes wander back and forth.

"Please?" George offered quickly. Fred was never one to gravel, and it wouldn't start today.

"Actually, it was butterscotch, but I suppose that'll do," Dev shrugged with a grin, pulling her wand out of her back pocket.

"You are so strange," Fred teased, a smile playing on his lips as he gazed at her.

Had they been in their normal state, Dev was sure she would be blushing. But as she gazed at the two now, long white beards and bushy brows, she couldn't help but giggle. She even considered leaving the twins as they were. At least, in that situation, everything Fred said wouldn't be able to make her stomach do somersaults.

Dev thought back on her knowledge of potions. Her wand was raised and she was prepared to try a few spells that might work, or that may make things worse. Then, the realization hit her. She knew if the twins simply waited, the results would be reversed in the matter of a few hours.

"Or, I could not turn you two back," Dev suggested, a devilish grin spreading across her face. Both the boys groaned in unison.

"Do we really have to beg?" Fred whined.

"No, no, that's not what I meant," Dev shook her head. "The potion should wear off in a few hours. Why not have a little fun with it while it lasts?"

"What did you have in mind?" George questioned cautiously. The boys were never one to turn down a good scheme, but the glint in her eyes was enough to even make them nervous.

"I mean," Dev paused, raising to return her wand to her pocket. She then stretched out both of her arms, preparing to help the two boys—who now resembled old men—up. "You guys could borrow the map off of Harry, go to Hogsmeade, and get us some firewhisky. Surely, no one will question your ages now."

"I knew there was a reason we kept you around," Fred's eyes glistened as if he'd never heard a better plan in his life. Both twins wrapped an arm around Dev's shoulder, enveloping her in a side hug.

"Alright, grandpas," She teased, pushing away from the two. "You'd better get going, the potion will probably wear off within two hours. We can meet outside the Gryffindor common room around 8."

The boys nodded to one another before rushing off in the direction of Harry. May soon found her way to Dev's side, staring inquisitively off at the two boys.

"Why didn't you reverse the potion?" May questioned.

"Figured it'd be better to use their stupidity to our advantage," Dev shrugged, throwing an arm around May. "Hope you didn't have any plans tonight."

May rolled her eyes at Dev's statement. Of course Dev knew May wouldn't have any plans that didn't involve her or the twins. Dev grinned at the girl as they began walking back to the Ravenclaw common room together. After the summer she just had, she could use one relaxing night. One without cryptic nightmares or visions. One where they could all just be kids for once.

She ignored the many signs within that told her something would be off about this year. Instead, she was prepared to force it to be great.

☽

author's note !

yo it was a rough day for me and I'm just so excited for this story I couldn't help it.

I hope you enjoy the first chapter, any feedback you have would be greatly appreciated.

rose <3