"George, get back here!" Erin yelled as she chased one of the twins down the hallway. She had been studying for an Arithmancy test that was coming up in the library whilst the twins wanted her to help with one of their new inventions. When she declined, George had stolen her Arithmancy book and made a run for it. Hence why she was hashing him down the hallway.

"Catch me if you can!" he yelled. He had way longer legs, so there was no way she could catch him. She slowed down and sighed. Now she couldn't study at all and it annoyed her. She made her way back to the library where Fred was still waiting.

"Didn't catch him?" he smirked, to which Erin replied with a nasty glare.

"Merlin, it's just Arithmancy. It's boring anyway." Erin shoved her books, not having any of it.

"Well sorry if I take my grades seriously", she snapped and headed out.

"Come on, Erin, don't be mad!" Fred yelled. George walked in as she headed for the exit.

"So you're coming with us?" he asked.

"No. Now give me the bloody book back."

"Come on Erin, we need you."

"And I need to study. Give. It. Back!" George noticed how annoyed she was and gave her back the book.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry", he mumbled. Erin ignored him and walked out of the library. She had been extremely tense these past three days and she just couldn't deal with them right now. She hadn't received any letters from Oliver anymore since the one from Marlo and it made her nervous. Had he given up? But her letter would have gotten there by now, right? Would he write her back? Or should she have written more than three small words? This is why she wanted to wait until Christmas break.

"Hey, Erin, please don't be mad at me, I didn't mean to", George said, blocking her path.

"Well then don't be so annoying", she said, causing George's face to fall. That was harsh and Erin realised it.

"I'm sorry", she sighed. "I don't mean that, I'm just a little on the edge." She sat down in the window sill and stuffed the book in her bag. George sat down next to her.

"Why's that?" he asked. Erin didn't really want to talk about it, she just wanted the next two weeks to go by really fast. She wasn't even excited about the Yule Ball anymore.

"Just a little worried. I haven't received any letters anymore."

"Did you respond to him?"

"I did", Erin sighed, gnawing on her lip. "Three days ago."

"Well, owl post can be excruciatingly slow. I bet his letter in on its way. Just give it another day or two."

"Guess you're right", she mumbled. She was constantly trying to think of what she would do if he didn't reply to her and it killed her. She didn't know what she would do.

"Do you still want to go to the Yule Ball?" George asked after a while. Did Erin? She kind of did. Fred and Beatrice were going together, so it'd be an absolute blast. She just hoped she could get herself to enjoy it.

"Yeah, of course I do", she said. She'd be fine.

"That's great, because I've been practicing my dance moves and I have to say, they're pretty wicked", George joked, standing up and twirling around.

"You're an absolute idiot", Erin said, a smile tugging on her lips.

"But I'm making you smile, or am I not?" George wiggled his eyebrows.

"No, you're not", Erin said, forcing herself to stop smiling, just to annoy him.

"I think I am", George grinned, grabbing her hands and pulling her off the window sill. He dramatically twirled her around and forced her to dance with him.

"Come on darling, show me that smile of yours", George continued, dipping her until she almost hit the ground, before pulling her back up gently.

"Not working", Erin said, but the corners of her mouth were twitching.

"I swear to god, woman, I will get you to smile." He now pretended to be the woman in the dance duo, twirling around himself and putting his hand on her shoulder instead of on her hip. Erin had a really hard time containing her laughter.

"Catch me!" George yelled and threw himself in Erin's arms. Erin panicked and tried to keep the two from falling, but failed miserably. The two tumbled to the ground and Erin couldn't stop herself from laughing this time. She laughed until the happy tears blurred her vision.

George couldn't help but laugh too. Every time their eyes met, a new wave of joy hit them, sending them into another fit.

"Why would you do that?" Erin cried out, a huge smile on her face.

"Well, I thought you'd catch me!" George grinned, rolling off her.

"I'm a small human! You're a giant! How did you think that would work?" Erin gripped her stomach, which hurt from laughing. How had he managed to do that?

George stood up and extended his hand for Erin to take. She sighed and let him pull her up.

"But you're smiling again, aren't you?" Erin narrowed her eyes, but there was no way this smile was leaving her face.

"Don't think this means I'm helping you with your invention. I still have to study for my test", she shrugged.

"Aww come on!" George pouted. "Just one hour? Please?" George held Erin's hands so she couldn't walk away and sported his best puppy eyes.

"Nope, not happening."

"But we need you. We can't do it without you."

"Sure you can, I'm leaving." Erin reluctantly pulled her hands from his and turned around.

"I won't allow it", George said and wrapped his arms around her waist. "You're not going anywhere."

"George, let me go", Erin laughed and tried to break free from his hold.

"Tell me you're going to help us!"

"No!"

"Please!"

"No!"

George finally released his grip and let her go. He dramatically fell down, laying there in starfish position.

"Just know you've hurt me beyond repair", he said.

"Well that's just not my problem, I think", Erin smiled walking away again. Professor McGonagall walked around the corner at the same time.

"Oh, Miss Evans, just the girl I was looking for. Can you come with me quickly?" she asked. Erin frowned, but nodded. What was going on now? The last time Erin had been summoned to a teacher's office, it hadn't been good news.

"Mr Weasley, are you alright down there?" McGonagall asked when she spotted George who was still lying down on the ground.

"Not sure professor", he grinned, propping himself up on his elbows. McGonagall stared at him for a while before she shrugged.

"Follow me Miss Evans", she sighed. Erin quickly waved George goodbye and then followed the professor.

She was a little nervous when walking down the hallway with professor McGonagall, but she didn't seem as distressed as when Erin had to follow professor Sprout, so she forced herself to remain calm.

"You've got a visitor", McGonagall explained on the way to the office.

"A visitor?" Erin frowned. Visitors weren't very usual at Hogwarts. Sometimes around the holidays, parents would visit their children who stayed at school, but Erin had never gotten a visitor before.

"It isn't very usual in the middle of the year", McGonagall continued. "But they said it was an urgent family matter, so we've allowed it."

"Urgent family matter? Is everything okay?" Erin asked slightly panicky. Her mind was racing. Did something happen to her mother, or her aunt perhaps?

"Yes, I'm sure it is. It had something to do with a pet", McGonagall said. Erin was beyond confused. She didn't even have a pet at home.

"They're waiting inside, go ahead. Just shut the door when you're done and send him back to Dumbledore's office so he can sort his departure."

"Okay", Erin mumbled, still utterly confused. What was going on? "Thank you."

McGonagall left her in front of her office and Erin took a few breaths before going in. An urgent family matter that had something to do with a pet that she didn't have? What the bloody hell?

She just tried to empty her head and opened the door. Her eyes widened as she saw who her visitor was.

"Oliver?"