Vulnerability || George Weasley

A Warning From The Hat

Angelina Johnson had tackled her boyfriend in a close embrace on platform nine and three-quarters. All Fred could do was hold her as she kissed him, swore at him and swear she'd curse him if he ever went a week without talking to her again. When she released him, Fred was left rather red faced as members of the Order, including his mother, Sirius (disguised in his Animagus' form as a great, big black dog), Lupin and Mad-Eye had been watching their displays of affection.

"Well," began Lupin after Angelina had hurried off to say farewell to her parents and find a compartment for the seventh years. "Look after yourselves."

"Yeah, keep your head down and your eyes peeled," Moody advised gruffly. "And don't forget, all of you – careful what you put in writing. If in doubt, don't put it in a letter at all."

"It's been great meeting all of you," beamed Tonks, giving both Hermione and Ginny a hug goodbye, and a wink at Phoenix. "We'll see you soon, I expect."

The familiar sound of the warning whistle reverberated around the station, Phoenix thought miserably that it would be the last time she would hear that whistle. Merlin, she felt sentimental.

"Quick, quick!" called Mrs. Weasley, she was hugging them all at random, kissing her children's heads quickly. "Write... Be good... If you've forgotten anything we'll send it on... Onto the train, now hurry!"

George took Phoenix's trunk with a chivalrous smile, she smiled in return and picked up Silvano's cage, waving goodbye to everyone on the platform. It was an incredibly nostalgic feeling being back on the Hogwarts Express. The sound of the hissing pistons, the sights of parents hugging and kissing their children goodbye, it was something she had previously took for granted before but now she was savouring every small detail of the morning.

"He shouldn't have come with us," Hermione exclaimed once the train exited the platform. Phoenix knew she was talking about Sirius, and was undecided as to whether or not Sirius coming had been a wise idea or not.

"Oh, lighten up," Ron responded, hoisting up his trunk and Pigwidgeon's cage. "He hasn't seen daylight from months, poor bloke."

"Well, can't stand around chatting all day," proclaimed Fred, "We've got business to discuss with Lee. See you later!"

"What business?" Phoenix asked the twins curiously after they were out of earshot of the fifth years.

"About the shop!" boasted Fred.

"Have you told Angelina about your plans to leave?" asked Phoenix, a knowing smirk tugging at her lips.

"Of course not," Fred said brightly, "she'd murder me!"

The journey to Hogwarts was bittersweet but enjoyable nonetheless. Angelina, Alicia and Lee had joined the twins and Phoenix as per usual. They had all laughed and joked about their summer's; Phoenix and the twins had to tell a little white lie about their summer, they said they had spent the majority of it at the Burrow, obviously keeping the Order of the Phoenix a secret to themselves.

"Oh I've missed you guys," sighed Lee, looping an arm around Alicia's neck, causing her to squirm and smack Lee's stomach in retaliation. "I have had one lonesome summer!"

"You've been Barbados all summer!" Alicia exclaimed, narrowing her green eyes at Lee enviously. "You can't complain about your summer when you've been in a beautiful country! Try getting dumped."

Alicia and Jason's relationship had been rather rocky over the summer, Alicia had grown frustrated after Jason had failed to make plans to visit her during their time off school. When he finally did decide on a date to visit Alicia, he and Alicia's father had clashed heads an awful lot. Alicia Spinnet cared a lot about her family and valued her father's opinion highly, so she knew if her father did not like somebody, there was a valid reason behind it. It caused a lot of tension during Jason's trip, they bickered a lot over Jason's sly comments about her father. When Alicia had attempted to discuss the subject seriously with Jason, he had simply said he didn't see the point in a relationship anymore.