Advice

The next few days were filled with her practicing on her own or with Minerva and even Derek between and after classes. Her first-year books from Charms and Transfiguration, already completely read and the spells fully mastered. She was reading her Herbology book as she walked the corridors on her way to the green houses. The kids of the school still looked at her as she passed them, whispering to each other but she just smiled at them. When she started attending some of the classes, standing next to a professor, the students were informed she was an apprentice at the school, like they agreed.

When she reached the grounds, she heard a boy sniffle between greenhouses one and two. She closed her book and stuffed it in her bag as she looked around. Then she saw him, an 11-year-old Ravenclaw boy huddled in the corner, crying. She walked slowly to him and slides down the wall.

"Hi." She whispered. The boy wiped his tears away with his sleeve before he looked up at her. "I'm Leah."

"David." He said with a soft voice.

"You like hanging out between the weeds?" She smiled down at him.

"At least they don't call me names." His voice getting even softer.

"What kind of names?"

"Some boys from Slytherin call me names, call my parents' names."

"Are your parents muggles?" The boy nodded. "I come from a muggle family too."

"Really?"

"Yes, and I'm not ashamed of it, nor should you. We know the best of both worlds, the things we could accomplish if we put the two together. I even went to college, and I used to develop games for the PS."

"That's amazing! And I always wanted to go to college."

"You still can. If you do well here at Hogwarts, you can do anything you put your mind to."

"T-thanks." He gave a small smile.

"Do you have a class?"

"I'm supposed to be in potions."

"Alright, are you ready to go? I'll take you there."

He nodded as he pushed himself up from the wall. "What about those boys?"

"I know you probably don't want to tell a teacher, but you can always come to me." She said as they walked to the castle. "And don't let them pull you down, just show them off in every class. Be better than them."

"I'll try." Leah gave him a pointed look. "I will." He smiled then.

She smiled back at him. "Do you have classes with them now?"

"No, with the Gryffindors. They're alright."

"Okay." She chuckled as she knocked on the door before pushing it open. "Professor Slughorn?" The well-rounded professor walked towards them from the back of the class. "I think you're missing a student." She smiled as she gently pushed David into the classroom.

"Ah, mister O'Malley. Why don't you take a seat and follow the instructions on the board." The boy nodded and went to sit with two other Ravenclaw boys. "Thank you, Leah."

"Not a problem, Horace." She winked and closed the door behind her.

The next day a Hufflepuff girl came up to her when she was walking out the great hall after dinner.

"Miss Derijker?" She piped up. "I'm Helena."

"Call me Leah." She smiled as the Hufflepuff followed her out. "What can I do for you Helena?"

"Uhm." The girl pulled nervously on her sleeve. "David said I could talk to you."

"Sure." She tried to hide the surprise in her voice. "Are you being bullied?"

"No, not really. But I don't... fit in. I've been here for almost a year, and I have one friend." She sighed desperate.

"Is it a good friend?"

"The best."

"You know, it's better to have one best friend, than a lot of bad ones." She offered the blond girl a smile. "But if you want to fit in, I heard there are clubs you could join. You could make some new friends there but choose your friends wisely." She stopped the girl as they reached the grand staircase. "There are flyers on the board in your common room as well as next to the great hall. See what peeks your interests."

"I think I will, thanks Leah." The girl beamed. "I better go see what's on our board, bye!" She waved and darted down the steps.

When she entered her room on Friday night, a familiar owl was perched on top of the armchair at the window. She put her bag down at the table before she walked over to the owl.

"Hi, Stella. How are the boys?" She scratched Stella's head, who gave her a small hoot in return. "Let's see what you brought me." She said as she untied the letter from her paw.

Hey Leah,

It feels like forever ago since I last saw you, even though it's just a couple of days.I'm happy to hear that your stick lessons are going great! I knew it would. Still I – WE wish we could be there for you. To finally see your full potential. Have you seen any dead people lately, except the ghosts from Hogwarts?

And I got to say, it's getting harder to lie to the family about Fred with Sunday coming closer. Especially since I had to tell mum I won't be coming for Sunday dinner. She thought I had a relapse and came to check on me like I was a five-year-old. I mean, I don't blame her, I can act like one but still.

Minnie told me you've adjusted well, and the other teachers love you. But of course, every person who meets you, loves you. Even the person you think doesn't.

We'll arrive at 11

Love, George.

Ps: Here is the money back for the daydream charms, sweet dreams.

And when she reached the end of the letter, the money fell out of the envelop, rolling to the ground. Damn you, George! But she anticipated that and had the money already transferred to their vault at Gringotts, with the help of Veec.

"Stella, you can go back to the flat if you want." She said, but when she looked up the owl had her head tucked under wing, as she slept on. She smiled at the owl before she walked over to her bedroom to change.

After she too, was tucked in her bed she opened a daydream charm. It was a simple white candy in the shape of a cloud that rested in the middle of the small box. She looked at it with furrowed brows before popping one in her mouth as she relaxed against her pillow.

She was working at a desk; a pen and her wand kept her hair together in a loose bun as scribbling down fast in her notebook when someone walked in. She didn't look up and when she nibbled her pen and arm slid around her waist.

"Hey, gorgeous." Fred's voice whispered in her ear. Leah instantly leaned her head to the side as he peppered her with kisses . "You know it drives me mad if you nibble on a pen."

"I thought it was when I bit my lip." She asked teasingly.

"That's even worse."

Leah turned in her seat and looked up at him. She hummed as she saw his ruffled hair from towel drying it. "You don't look bad yourself." She bit her lower lip seductively and pulled him closer by the towel on his hips.

"The things you do to me, witch."

"And what do you want to do to me?" She asked standing up, her face an inch away from his. She heard him growl before he picked her up and put her on her desk, stepping between her legs. He started his kisses on her lips before they travelled south. And with each kiss, he popped open a button of her blouse as he traced it all the way down until only her bra was left. He kisses the swell of her breaths before he wandlessly made her bra disappeared and took in her nipple, earning him a loud moan from her. He pushed her down, so she was lying with her back on her desk. His kissed went lower and lower, while one hand played with her breast. He unbuttoned her jeans quickly and gently pulled it down, while his hands roamed her body. With her jeans and nickers discarded, he began kissing the inside of her thigh before he went to the spot that made her see the stars. She was calling out his name as he went down on her.

"Fred!" Leah called out breathless as she came out of the daydream. She let her head fall back down on her pillow and sighed, closing her eyes as she tried to remember every last thing she saw, she felt, from the daydream charm. Why won't that certain red-headed Weasley get out of my head. She grumbled before she turned on her side and tried to fall asleep which didn't come easy.

It was Sunday. The day that they would try to bring Fred back. The twins were arriving in less than an hour, making Leah feel nervous. She walked the halls lost in thought, blue sparks shooting out of her wand unintentionally. She was slowly walking her way to the headmistress' office when she was suddenly swooped up and tossed over a shoulder. She cried out in surprised and looked back, the black hair of Derek that was standing in every direction.

"You nearly gave me a heart attack!" She laughed, still over his shoulder.

"I called your name like three times." He chuckled as he bumped his shoulder. "Where to milady?"

"I can walk you know." She put her head in her hand as it didn't look like Derek was going to put her down. "Minerva's office."

"Let's go then." She could hear the grin in his voice as he continued to walk the corridor. The few students they passed looked at them curiously but they both just flashed a smile.

"Thank Merlin, almost everyone is outside."

"I could carry you inside the great hall too, if you'd like."

"Don't you dare!" She laughed as he finally put her down. She turned and saw Fred and George at the entrance of Minerva's office, looking at her wide-eyed. "George!" She yelled and ran to him, hugging him tight. When she let go, she saw them both looking at Derek, who had followed her. "Oh. George, this is Derek Hill, he teaches muggle studies." She looked to Derek. "Derek, this is George Weasley."

"From the famous joke shop?" Derek asked excited. "I've been meaning to stop by, but I haven't been here that long."

"Yes, and Minerva said you came all the way from New York?"

While Derek seemed at ease, both twins looked on edge. Fred's hands were bawled into fists, avoiding her eyes. She tore her gaze away from him and concentrated back on the other two. She must have missed a part of the conversation because Derek started to laugh at something George said.

"No, I mean Leah here is great, but she's not my type."

Leah shook her head as she looked between the two. "Uhm, what did I miss?"

"Oh," George started nervous, rubbing his neck. "I thought you and him..."

Leah looked at Derek, who gave her an approving nod. "George... Derek is gay."

The twin's expression changed immediately. George looked flabbergasted as he looked at the young professor. While Fred's eyes finally found her, making her heart skip a beat. They tore their gaze of each other when George spoke again.

"Oh, that's... cool."

"Glad you think so." Derek laughed at his discomfort; Leah snickered next to him. "But don't go blabbing it around. I don't want the kids to know just yet."

"And I told you they won't mind; the kids love you." She squeezed his upper arm and smiled up at him.

"Everyone is here, brilliant." Minerva's voice came from behind her. The headmistress walked up next to her. "We better get upstairs."

"I'll see you at dinner." He kissed Leah cheek. "Minerva, George." He nodded before he walked back form where they came from.

"Snickerdoodles." Minerva said and the gargoyle sprung to life. The four of them walked up in dead silence.