Another Visit

Dylan stood in the corridor, watching the Toad walk away, feeling rather sick to her stomach and ready to... What? Cry... or scream? She felt like doing both.

"I can't believe she bought that," Fred stated, looking immensely pleased with himself, watching the Toad make her way through the students in the corridor. "She will have a demon of a time getting them out of the loos."

Dylan looked up at him in shook. "It got us in detention – again!"

"Yes, but it will take her and Filch hours to get the two grindylows out of the loos," he said, controlling his face to mere amusement. "It was brilliant. Have you actually been recording the stages of the grindylows' growth?"

"Yes, it's why Professor Hagrid let me have the pond water in the first place," Dylan replied. Oh, dear Merlin. We've been caught, the Toad knows, this has to end...

He suddenly became very serious. "What about the other tank? Do you still have them? Do you have to get rid of the others?"

The others... I'll have to get rid of the others... "Disillusionment Charm and disguised as polliwogs in frog scum," Dylan answered him, slightly distracted. Mum will be so angry with me – detention – again! My hand... the last lines have finally healed and I'm going to have to do more of them...

"So you still have them?" he asked, breaking into her self admonishment.

Dylan simply said, "Yes," still berating herself for the predicament she was in. Detention – again... another detention... My hand will never heal – I'll be scarred for life...

"So, are we still on to do it in her loo?" he asked, looking at her, concerned.

She wanted to say no, that she was giving up, that they had done enough, that she just couldn't do it, and that she was afraid of getting expelled... What she did say was, "Oh, yes. Now I really want to get her back," a little surprised at the venom in her voice.

~o0o~

Dylan sat cross-legged on the floor in her favorite place in the library. All she could see through the window beside her was the deep cerulean blue sky and large, fluffy clouds. Several books floated in the air as she balanced her note pad on her knee. Idly she turned a page of Magical Insects of the Known World with a wave of her finger, then scanned the page, writing down the names and magical properties of the insects in her notes.

"Mary Ellen said she'd be here," Dylan heard one of the twins say from somewhere near her.

Startled from her studies, Dylan looked up, trying to determine where the guys were. Are they looking for me? she wondered.

"We need that stuff she promised us. Somehow she got all the elements we need, so we need her," the one who had spoken continued.

"But this agreement we have with her is taking too long," the other answered, obviously frustrated.

Dylan listened, feeling a bit surprised and hurt by the statement. They only need me because of the elements and because I have the tadlowogs! I was hoping we'd become... friends. They were only one aisle over, but the stone pillar that supported one of the gothic arches blocked them from view.

"When exactly are we going to get more of the stuff for the last prank you two pulled?"

So that must be George, Dylan assumed.

"I hoped to corner her and find out."

Fred, Dylan decided. At least I can almost hear a difference in their voices.

She was about to call out to them when George asked, "Have you figured out the problem with that spell yet?"

"Almost," Fred answered. "No. It only works if the twigs are separate. I can charm the lot to grow, but they can't be mixed with the wet stuff. It works best with a twig or a branch that still has leaves for the trees, rather than just a leaf or a twig. Grasses, sedges and rushes work really well, and I can charm each one to grow under the same spell. The spell itself won't make the stuff grow, unless it's done individually."

"That isn't going to work," George said. There was a long pause. "What if we charm them and pack them separate? Ya know, we can have it in two parts..."

"That might work," Fed replied. "One part would produce the aquifer, the brackish, mud and mire... Then toss in the trees, grasses, rushes and sedges... Doing it in two parts... that would work."

"We need that stuff she has, all of it," George said frustrated. "This is taking too long. I wonder how she got the elements. The apothecary doesn't carry them."

Dylan was deciding if she should call out to them when she heard her name from the other direction. "Dylan?" Jolliet called from the aisle behind her. "Jeanie, I don't see her."

Dylan knew Fred and George wouldn't have wanted to be overheard by her friends. "She said she would be by the windows," Jeanie said, sounding much closer. She heard the twins swear softly from the other aisle confirming her suspicions. "Over here," Jeanie called out. "Dylan, why are you always so hard to find? Do you have your notes?"

"Yes," Dylan answered. "I found half a dozen books on the insects too." Bugger, I hope they are not upset with me, she thought as her friends squeezed into the aisle to join her. I should have said something, let them know I was here... but, yes... they should have the stuff.

~o0o~

Dylan waited until she thought that her roommates had fallen asleep, reading quietly. The only other light came from a wax essence burner she had given Giselle for her birthday that illuminated the far side of the room. She set her book aside and slipped silently to her trunk, pulling out the containers of chemicals from under her robes. At this point I have given them one or two containers of each chemical element, except for these four, she surmised. It's only fair... they need them; he said so. Dylan bit softly on the inside of her lip, considering. If I give them these four, at least they will have every element on the list that I got for them.

She pulled on her light blue dressing gown over the white tank and powder blue pajama bottoms and put the four containers in her pockets. Looking over her remaining containers, she added another gas element and turned to her mirror. The canisters thumped uncomfortably on her hips. Thankfully I won't feel them when I transform. With careful concentration she closed her eyes, exhaling deeply to locate and find her center, before melding into her Eurasian lynx form. Her soft amber-brown eyes looked back at her from the mirror, but the rest of her had successfully changed. Well, at least I know what Professor McGonagall will register as my markings: my eye color and the small birthmark on my right hip.

Tonight it was a bit more difficult to get to the Gryffindor common room. Her first obstacle was Professor Snape, who must have seen her movement across the adjoining corridor when she ran across the space. He fired a Stinging Hex after her that Dylan swerved just in time to miss, laughing after hearing him curse the fact that the castle had too many cats. At least he didn't get a good enough look to be able to see that I'm not your average house cat or kneazle! He probably thought I was a kneazle – a big-eared, long-legged, tailless kneazle.

Her second obstacle was her house prefect, Williams, finishing his rounds at the top of the staircase on the sixth floor. Dylan had to wait until he finished locking lips with the Hufflepuff prefect, bidding her 'good night' at least four times. She could do little else but sit at the foot of the stairs waiting. After several long kisses, she even began to hope that Snape would come by. Did I actually just hope to see Snape again – I'm loosing it tonight! Finally the girl broke free, laughing, and turned to descend the stairs. Dylan crouched as low as she could, hoping that the kissed-dazed girl wouldn't see her. Just as the girl reached the lower steps, the Grey Lady floated down, and the two of them walked away, deeply engrossed in their conversation.

As Dylan ran up the staircase to the seventh floor, she had to hide from Mrs. Norris. She quickly stopped and turned down the corridor in the opposite direction she wanted. Unfortunately, Mrs. Norris saw her and gave chase. Dylan slipped behind a tapestry, and turned about, facing the on-coming cat, ready to pounce on her if necessary. Mrs. Norris peeked into the space between the tapestry and the wall after her. With a wicked grin, Dylan swatted Mrs. Norris on her nose, scaring the snobby cat, who ran off, probably to find Filch. Afraid to run into Filch, because he might recognize her Amimagus form, Dylan ran the rest of the way to the Gryffindor tower.

Finally at the portrait of the Fat Lady, Dylan was so nervous that she almost scratched the delicate canvas when she put a tentative paw on her skirt to wake her. The lady, startled awake, scolded her, but allowed her entry. By the time Dylan eased into the dorm room on the second landing, she was as nervous and jumpy as Professor Quirrell had been.

She crossed easily to the beds where she knew Fred and George slept, laughing softly in remembrance of her last visit in this room. The bed on her right was empty, the covers neatly folded back to the foot of the bed. The other bed on her right, the occupant was soundly asleep. Last time I chose the bed on the left, that bed, and it turned out to be Fred, so this must be George – unless they switch beds as frequently as they switch jumpers. She changed back, standing in the space between the beds, looking at the sleeping guy. Now I finally get him all by himself... and with a good probability that he actually is George... Where is Fred? I thought that they did everything together.

She gently nudged his shoulder, and George grunted, one leg stretched out and he rolled over onto his side facing away from her. "George," she said softly, and he only grunted. Great! He's fast asleep. I wonder if he sleeps deeper than his brother? Fred had been easy to wake up. She tried to wake him again gently, then stood up, the six containers banging heavily against her hip. She pulled off her dressing gown and laid it gently on Fred's bed. If I startle him awake, I don't want the nitrogen exploding if he tackles me, or worse – curses me.

Just as she stood up to consider her options, either try to wake George again, or to simply leave the canisters on Fred's bed, strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her into an embrace. "Snuck in here to see me again, have you?" His arms were slightly damp.

Dylan suppressed the instinct to scream out as he nuzzled against her neck, his wet hair tickling her. "I – I came here, it – to see you," she faltered.

"I can see that," he chuckled. His hair and skin had a mixture of herbal scents that filled the air around him.

"You were not in your bed," she said, her tone slightly accusing, even in her own ears. Brilliant, state the obvious. "Where were you?" You're being thick, Dylan. You can guess where he was – taking a bath!

"Taking a bath in the Prefects' bathroom," he said in her ear.

Dylan tried to turn around in his arms, eliciting a chuckle. "You know where it is? How to get in there...?" She suddenly realized that he was wearing only a grey T-shirt over his pajama bottoms, his wet hair making his collar damp. He'd draped his towel on the foot of his bed, next to her dressing gown.

"Obviously," he said amused. "It's on the fifth floor, the fourth door after the statue of Boris the Bewildered. If you'd like I could show you; I wouldn't mind taking another bath."

"But you're not a prefect!" she said, her voice rising despite her resolve to keep quiet.

George stirred in his bed, as well as two of the room's other occupants. "Weasley, pipe it down, will you!" a sleepy, disgruntled voice growled from across the room, simultaneously with a, "Gees, Weasley, stuff a sock in it!" from the bed near the door.

He ignored the aggravated statements from his dorm mates. "All you need is to know which door it is, and the password, and you're in. The door has a lock – we'd have privacy."

"Fred! I'm not going to take a bath with you," she exclaimed in a loud hiss.

"Hush, you don't really want to wake everyone," he said, "unless you want me to wake George. Do you want me to wake George?"

"I'm already awake," George mumbled from his bed. "Hard to sleep with you and her going on like that."

Dylan tried to step back away from Fred's embrace, her cheeks flushing hotly. "I came here to talk to you about Wednesday. I can't do it – I'm sorry." She suddenly felt uncertain. "Maybe we should talk tomorrow," she suggested.

"And scratch a really good plan?" George asked, getting out of bed and looking at her, disappointed.

"We need that stuff," Fred stated. Dylan nodded, about to explain her reason for being in their room – again – and was cut off by Fred. "All right, you said that the tadlowogs were not mature enough yet, right? So, how much longer until we can do the rest?"

"At least another week – better yet, two," she said. Fred crossed his arms and leaned against the bedpost, seriously considering the delay. George on the other hand looked rather annoyed. They have helped me get back at the Toad; it's only fair. "Look, you have been really great about all this, and I've had a blast pulling these pranks on the Toad with you..."

"We really need that stuff," Fred stated again, cutting her off a second time.

"I don't suppose you'd tell me what for?" she asked. Fred tilted his head and raised his eyebrows while George let out a big sigh looking away. "I suppose not. Okay, as I was saying, you've really done more than enough to earn the stuff anyway, and as much as I really like doing these pranks with you, I think you deserve to have them."

Both guys stared at her, dumfounded. George found his voice first. "You mean it?"

"Yes," she said, "with a condition."

"Oh yeah – like what?" Fred asked, exasperated.

"First, promise me we will still pull off the plan for her loo," she said, "and secondly – promise that whatever you are planning to do with the stuff, I at least get to see it, and that it's not against Ravenclaw."

Fred started to laugh. "That is three conditions." He held up a hand cutting off any retort from either George or Dylan. "Yes, we will still pull off the plan for the Toad's loo. I'd hate to give up a perfectly good plan, especially a prank as good as that one. As for your second request, if it goes off as we plan; you won't be able to miss it. And no – it's not against Ravenclaw... exactly."

"Okay, so we are on then, right?" George asked. "We'll infest Umbridge's loo a week from Wednesday, just as we planed."

Dylan shook her head. "Fred and I have a week of detentions with Umbridge..."

"Actually, I believe we have detention with Filch," Fred cut in. Dylan looked at him in utter terror.

"Which is a good thing," George stated when she looked at him worriedly.

"But he hangs students in the dungeons by their toes!" she said unable to control her concern. One of their roommates stirred and grumbled.

"No, he doesn't," Fred said, laughing at her reaction. "Haven't you ever had a detention with him before?"

"The only detentions I've had have been because I spoke up in the Toad's class," she replied.

"That was your only detention in six and a half years?" George said incredulously.

"Well, and one with Professor Lupin when I screamed and ducked behind him in class, avoiding a Stunning hex and accidentally setting his shoe on fire. And twice with Professor Snape: first in second year when my potion boiled over and spilled on the floor, and the other in fourth year when Professor Snape scared me and I dropped my vial on his boots." Dylan looked down at her hands. "Then there was the Boggart incident in the library my first year. I – um, don't handle Boggarts well. Professor Flitwick let me do that detention with him, instead of with Filch."

"And this year, you've had detentions with Flitwick frequently," George stated.

I can't tell him it's to practice stuff from my brother's notes on Defensive spells... No one is supposed to know but us Ravenclaws... "He has us sit in his classroom – and, um – study," Dylan said.

"So, when do we get our stuff?'" Fred asked.

"Oh! That's why I came here tonight." She grabbed her gown and started pulling out the canisters.

"I thought that you came here to see me," Fred teased.

Dylan straightened up holding up two large bottles marked 'leave in conditioner' and 'styling gel.' "I did!"

George took the containers as she turned to pull two more from dressing robe pockets. "Maybe you'd like me to pull my curtains closed and give you some privacy?" Dylan turned back to him abruptly, her eyes wide.

"Actually, I believe we were going to take a swim in the Prefects' bathroom," Fred said, placing the containers in his trunk. "I'm sure it would be okay if you came along."

"I thought that you already had your bath?" George stated with a wicked grin.

"I did," Fred admitted. "But one can never be too clean, right, Dylan? Are you up for a swim?"

"Fred, I – ah... maybe – no – I should, um..." Dylan stammered.

"She is getting to the point where she can tell us apart," George said, amused.

"You were able to conjure a pig with wings a few nights ago – and once I added the Levitation charm on him, he did fly," Fred said. "So we can give you your flying pigs, Dylan!"

"Doubt Fudge will turn the reins over to Dumbledore though," George said with a smirk. "He's been pretty paranoid that Dumbledore will take over his job. Somehow I don't think he'd actually agree."

"So, Dylan, we are still only two out of three? Isn't that good enough?" Fred teased, stepping closer to her. "You have us both wide awake and at your disposal. Don't suppose you'd be up for that shag? Or... at the very least we could take a nice dip in the tub in the Prefects' bathroom? It's truly amazing – you'll love it."

"To quote you, 'When pigs fly, Dumbledore is Minister of Magic and you finally can sort out which of us is which.' Been working on the identify thing," George said, "but really, once we get you into it I'm sure you'll loose track anyway – so the names won't really matter. Besides I don't mind if you call me Fred."

"It's really late." Dylan was starting to feel nervous.

"Yes it is." Fred eyed her as she tried to ease her way away from their beds. "But we'll make sure you won't mind a bit!" he stated reassuringly.

"I should go... I just wanted to bring you – and I have – so I'll just go," Dylan stammered. She turned to face George. "I'm sorry to have woken you, George."

"Not a problem," he answered with a shake of his head, grinning like he was trying to keep from laughing at her. Dylan knew she was blushing, because her cheeks felt very hot.

"Dylan, why don't I walk you down," Fred suggested, picking up her dressing gown and holding it up for her.

Dylan stepped into her gown gratefully. "Thank you," she said softly. George climbed back into his bed, laughing quietly. She just caught Fred's wink at his brother before he turned back to her, indicating for her to lead the way.

The common room was silent as they entered, the only light was from the dying fire in the grate, bathing half the room in a warm glow. Fred walked her past the array of plush chairs to the hole in the wall. "Thanks for bringing us the stuff. We really needed it and – well..."

"It was taking too long to do the pranks. I overheard you in the library," she admitted. "I would have said something, but my friends showed up and..."

"I remember," he said. "Well, good night."

"Good night," she replied back shyly. She had to stifle a laugh. This is just like Williams and his girlfriend. "Night."

Dylan closed her eyes to find her core, felt a hand touch her face and opened her eyes just before Fred's lips landed on her mouth. As before, his kiss was strong and breath-taking as his lips claimed hers. She sighed, leaning into him, placing a hand on his chest for balance. He chuckled as his arms wrapped around her. Dylan nearly fell and her other hand slid up his arm to his shoulder for support.

His kiss became teasing caresses across her lips, and she opened her mouth slightly to speak, breathless, but the words, I really need to get back you know, was smothered when he deepened the kiss. He pulled her tighter against his body, and by their own accord both of her arms encircled him, relying on him to keep them both from falling over.

When he suddenly stopped kissing her, Dylan opened her eyes slowly, her heart racing, her breathing heavy, feeling unsteady and like Snitches bounced around in her stomach. Fred traced her face with his finger, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "You should go. We have detention together tonight," he said.

"Uh, uh," she murmured, not wanting him to let go of her yet.

"I know Professor Snape and Filch are patrolling the corridors tonight. I wouldn't want you to get caught," he stated. He wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning back slightly to look her in the eye. "Are you going to change into your Animagus form to get back, or do I need to see you safely back to your dorm room?"

"I was going to change when you kissed me," she stated demurely.

"Were you? So you don't need me to walk you to your dorm. They won't catch you?" he asked.

She looked up at him. "They won't see me if I change – I can run all the way and my paws don't make any noise."

"That's a good thing to know," he said, grinning at her. "Too bad we didn't know that about you sooner. We could have so much fun with you, pulling stuff off around the castle." She looked up at him, biting her lip, so he kissed her again, placing soft teasing kisses on her mouth and licking her bottom lip.

When he stopped, she inhaled and opened her eyes. Unconsciously, her tongue swept her lower lip to taste him. The corner of his mouth turned up as he watched her reaction. "Most of the professors know about my form, Professor Dumbledore, McGonagall, Flitwick, Hagrid... but I don't think Filch knows." She cocked her head, regarding him. "Professor Snape usually thinks I'm a kneazle, and Mrs. Norris is usually afraid of me, unless Filch is close by... I'm not sure about the others. But my night vision is great and my hearing – it's how I avoid trouble."

"I'll keep that in mind," he said, drawing her into an embrace again, placing a kiss on her temple. "What kind of cat are you? I thought you were a kneazle at first – but you look different – no tail."

"A Eurasian Lynx, surprisingly enough – related to a kneazle – although not as magical. They can't be heard unless they want to be..." She paused as he leaned in to kiss her neck, around and just under her ear, breaking her concentration on what she was saying. "A-and they can make themselves blend – sort of... camouflage – to match the rocks and stuff..." A soft moan escaped her throat. "Ah, Muggles think that they are nearly extinct."

"Can I watch you change?" he asked, trailing his kiss from her neck, up to her cheek.

"That's what I was doing when you kissed me," she murmured, nearly a purr.

"Oh," he said against her ear, "sorry about that." She pulled away, looking at him in disbelief. "Not about the kiss – I meant – I thought you closed your eyes so that I would kiss you... I thought you wanted me too." He gave her one last kiss, cupping her face in his hand.

Dylan smiled and bit her lip. "No – I mean, um, yes... I – you surprised me.... I really should go." Fred let go of her and took a step back. Dylan closed her eyes, opening them briefly to see if he was going to let her change. He chuckled again, and she closed her eyes to concentrate on her center. Finding the energy there, she let herself meld into it and become her lynx form.

When she opened her eyes, he smiled down at her. "I really should learn how to do that," he said as he opened the portrait for her. Dylan gave him a wink and ran out of the hole into the dark corridor.

*~*****~*

Author's Notes:

I owe a big debt of gratitude to Juliannanight, Charmed3, Notsosaintly for all their hard work and time in cleaning this story up and making it presentable. Thank you both. I appreciate it more than either of you can know.