Through the Pages of Time: Joey’s Hogwarts Tale

Joey was furious. How dare anyone disrupt her perfect plan today? These people needed to be taught a lesson! She muttered curses under her breath as she ran through the rain, her robes clinging to her skin. The downpour had started unexpectedly, and now it was coming down in sheets, soaking everything in its path.

Fred hadn't anticipated the rain either. When the first few drops began to fall, he had considered going back to intercept Joey, saving her the trouble of a wasted trip. But before he could make up his mind, he was ambushed. A spell shot out from behind one of the boulders near the pier. Fred barely managed to dodge it, his reflexes saving him from a direct hit. Another spell grazed his cheek, leaving a stinging cut. There was more than one attacker.

Fred quickly ducked behind another boulder, his mind racing. He thought of the strange owl that had delivered the letter the previous day. It had all been a setup. Someone had lured him here. But who?

"Come out, Weasley! There are four of us. You can't escape!" a voice called out.

Fred recognized it immediately—Warbell, a Slytherin. The same guy who had been hanging around Shafik on Valentine's Day. Fred clenched his fists. He knew he was in trouble. The pier was remote, and no one else was around. It was the perfect spot for an ambush. He couldn't help but admire the Slytherins' meticulous planning, even in his dire situation.

If he was going down, he might as well go down fighting. Fred laughed loudly and shouted back, "Warbell, if you've got any guts, fight me one-on-one! What's the point of four against one?"

Warbell sneered. "Slytherins don't play the lone hero, Weasley. We win, no matter what it takes." With that, the four Slytherins charged toward Fred's hiding spot.

Joey was nearing the pier when she heard Warbell's arrogant voice. "Let's see how much fight you've got left!"

She was exhausted, her legs burning from the sprint, but she pushed herself harder. Fred was in trouble, and she wasn't going to let him face it alone. These bastards were going to pay. She'd make sure they ended up in the Black Lake, food for the giant squid.

When Joey reached the pier, the scene before her made her blood boil. Fred was sitting in the mud, drenched and bleeding, his face marred by deep cuts. Yet, he was still laughing, taunting Warbell, who looked like he was about to lose his mind.

"Why? Only two of you left now? Are you scared of me? Hahaha!" Fred's laughter was strained, but Joey could hear the exhaustion beneath it. She wasn't about to let this go on any longer.

With a roar, Joey charged forward, her wand slashing through the air as she unleashed a barrage of spells. The two remaining Slytherins dodged and retaliated, but Joey was relentless. She took a few hits herself, but she didn't care. She was too focused on getting to Fred.

"Get out of here!" Warbell snarled, shoving Fred hard. Fred's body hit the water with a loud splash, disappearing beneath the surface.

"Fred!" Joey didn't hesitate. She jumped into the Black Lake after him, her arms wrapping around his limp form. He was barely conscious, his strength fading fast.

"Trying to be a pair of tragic lovebirds? How touching!" Warbell sneered from the shore.

Before Joey could respond, George and Lee arrived, their wands drawn. Without a word, they tackled Warbell and the other Slytherin, fists flying. Magic was forgotten in the heat of the moment—this was personal.

Joey focused on Fred, her heart pounding. He was so cold, his lips almost blue. She needed to do something. Oxygen! If only she had Muggle oxygen equipment. But then an idea struck her.

She took a deep breath, pressed her lips to Fred's, and slowly exhaled, sharing her breath with him. His lips were icy, and she held him tighter, willing him to wake up.

"Hey, baby, you're choking me…" Fred's voice was weak, but it was there. He was alive.

Joey's relief was short-lived as Fred suddenly cupped her face and kissed her deeply, his strength surprising her. For a moment, she forgot where they were, the world narrowing to just the two of them.

A large bubble rose from the water, lifting them to the surface. Fred broke the kiss, his eyes twinkling despite his injuries. He brushed Joey's wet hair from her face and smiled. "So, my hero, here to save the day?"

"Save a big idiot, more like," Joey shot back, though her voice lacked any real anger. "The king of pranks, outsmarted by a bunch of Slytherins. How embarrassing."

"Embarrassing? Maybe. But worth it," Fred said, his grin widening before he kissed her again.

"Hey! Enough already!" George and Lee shouted from the shore. "Get out of the water before the giant squid decides you're dinner!"

By the time Hagrid arrived, drawn by the commotion, the Slytherins were lying motionless on the ground, courtesy of George and Lee's fists. Gryffindors might not always win in a duel, but in a brawl, they were unmatched.

Hagrid scolded Joey for wearing a skirt in such weather and offered Fred a stretcher, which Fred promptly refused. Being carried back on April Fool's Day? He'd never live it down.

The school hospital was unusually busy, filled with students suffering from various pranks gone wrong. Madam Pomfrey was shocked to see Fred, the king of mischief, among the injured.

"So, what dangerous experiment went wrong this time?" she asked as she tended to Fred's wounds.

"He was set up by these four," Hagrid explained, gesturing to the unconscious Slytherins.

Shafik arrived shortly after, his expression calm but his eyes sharp. He glanced at Joey, who was wrapped in Hagrid's oversized coat, her face bruised but defiant. His gaze lingered on her for a moment too long before he turned to address the situation.

"The merpeople saw everything," Hagrid said firmly. "They can tell Dumbledore exactly what happened."

Shafik's smile was polite but cold. "Perhaps it was just a joke. After all, it is April Fool's Day."

Fred, despite his injuries, laughed. "Yeah, just a joke. No harm done."

Shafik's eyes narrowed, but he didn't press the matter. He left with the Slytherins, though not before casting one last glance at Joey.

Later, in the Gryffindor common room, Ryan confronted Joey, his worry evident. "You got into a fight? Who hurt you?"

"It's nothing," Joey said, brushing off his concern. "Just a little scuffle."

Ryan turned to Fred, his anger flaring. "Is this how you protect her? Letting her get hurt?"

Fred opened his mouth to respond, but Joey cut him off. "He's hurt worse than I am! Don't blame him!"

Ryan looked between them, his frustration mounting. "You're both impossible!"

As the chaos of the day settled, Joey couldn't help but smile. It had been a disaster, but Fred was safe, and that was all that mattered. As for the Slytherins? Well, they'd think twice before crossing her again.