Through the Pages of Time: Joey’s Hogwarts Tale

Professor McGonagall stood with her hands clasped tightly over her abdomen, her lips pursed, and her brows furrowed so deeply that one might think she was trying to catch a fly between them. Her voice, sharp and edged with fury, cut through the silence of the corridor.

"Mr. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, Miss Forest," she began, her tone dangerously low. "Would you care to explain what pressing matter compelled you to venture into the Forbidden Forest?"

Her voice rose with each word, unable to contain her exasperation. "The Forbidden Forest! How dare you! You are only first-years! Do you have any idea how reckless this was?"

Joey shivered involuntarily, her teeth chattering from the lingering cold. Beside her, Fred and George Weasley were in a similar state, their frozen expressions betraying their discomfort.

With a sigh, Professor McGonagall flicked her wand, casting several warming spells over them. Relief washed over Joey as warmth seeped back into her limbs, but the enchantments did nothing to remedy her frost-covered hair or the twins' soot-streaked faces from their earlier misadventures.

"Professor McGonagall, Headmaster Dumbledore said these students should be left to me," Filch interjected, rubbing his hands together, his eyes gleaming with a sinister delight as he eyed the trio.

"I am well aware," Professor McGonagall replied curtly, arching a single brow. "However, given their current state, I believe they require medical attention. Madam Pomfrey will oversee their recovery tonight, and tomorrow they will report to you."

Filch scowled, his cat, Mrs. Norris, letting out a long, whining meow in protest. Yet, he dared not argue further and only muttered begrudgingly, "Yes, of course, Professor McGonagall. I've already thought of the perfect punishments for them."

Joey bristled at his words, her fingers twitching toward her wand, but Fred swiftly placed a restraining hand over hers, shaking his head in silent warning. Reluctantly, she relented.

Hagrid, who had remained quietly on the sidelines, turned to leave but not before giving Joey a meaningful look, miming a zipper over his lips as a reminder to keep their adventure under wraps.

Professor McGonagall sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as she continued. "Twenty points each will be deducted! And rest assured, your parents will be hearing about your little escapade tonight! I cannot spend all day deducting points from my own House!" she exclaimed, her voice laden with frustration.

Still fuming, she escorted them to the infirmary, where Madam Pomfrey, roused from her sleep, hurried to examine them.

"Frozen stiff, are they?" the matron muttered as she bustled about. "And let me guess, those Weasley twins got hit by a spell gone wrong? Just like Charlie used to—oh, and Bill, he was quite the handful!"

As she prepared potions, she exchanged a few hushed words with Professor McGonagall, their voices dropping when the name "Sirius" came up. Joey strained to hear, but their conversation faded as she became distracted by something else in the room.

Fred, ever curious, had wandered over to a bronze-colored shelf labeled "Unowned Gifts." He picked up a jar filled with what appeared to be eyeballs, turning it over to examine a tiny label on the bottom.

"Fox eyeballs?" he whispered incredulously. "Who in Merlin's beard would give this to a patient?"

George's eyes lit up with mischief. "We could use that! Imagine how they'd look in our Crackling Cards!"

Fred grinned, giving an approving nod before slipping the jar into his robe pocket. Just then, Joey let out a sharp cough, signaling that Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall were approaching. The twins quickly straightened, feigning innocence.

Madam Pomfrey handed Joey a small bottle filled with a light red potion, the wooden cork seemingly pulsing with life. "Drink this, dear. It will restore your hair."

Joey eyed the bottle warily, unsure if she should blow on it first. With a cautious puff of air, she finally took a sip—only to realize it wasn't hot at all. Madam Pomfrey burst into laughter at the sight, and even Professor McGonagall allowed herself a small smile before regaining her stern demeanor.

The twins downed their green potions in one gulp, thanking the professors in unison. That night, the infirmary was filled with laughter as they marveled at their slowly fading enchantments. Joey's frozen hair steamed as it thawed, while Fred and George watched their skin gradually return to its normal shade.

"You look like chameleons!" Joey teased.

"And you look like a steaming locomotive!" the twins shot back, grinning.

Madam Pomfrey, listening from the adjacent room, smiled warmly.

The next morning, they awoke fully recovered and, after bidding farewell to Madam Pomfrey, dashed to the Great Hall for breakfast. Snow-dusted owls swooped in, dropping off parcels for eager students.

Joey's excitement turned to horror as her owl, Meow, swooped in with a red envelope clutched in its beak.

A Howler.

"No!" she yelped, diving under the table and grabbing Fred's legs in a desperate attempt to hide.

The letter, however, bypassed her entirely, landing instead on her brother Ryan's head. The Howler exploded open, Luther's furious voice booming across the Hall.

"How could you let Joey run into the Forbidden Forest?! Your mother has fainted from fright and still hasn't woken up! If anything had happened to her, would you ever forgive yourself?! Next time, you better accompany her!"

Ryan, mid-sip of pumpkin juice, nearly choked. The entire Hall erupted into laughter—except for the Ravenclaw table, where students lifted their glasses in silent sympathy for him. Meanwhile, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff were howling with amusement.

Just as Joey peeked out from beneath the table, the Howler drifted toward Fred and spoke again, this time in a far softer tone.

"Oh, my little sweetheart, you were so brave yesterday! You must have been so scared. My poor darling. Next time, Dad will take you on an adventure instead! How about the Amazon rainforest?" It attempted to kiss Joey before bursting into flames.

Joey, realizing it wasn't from her mother, beamed. "Dad, I love you!"

Fred pulled her out from under the table, laughing. "You're the first Gryffindor to be scared into hiding by a Howler! A legend in the making!"

Joey laughed along with her housemates, not minding the teasing one bit. Percy, however, stormed over.

"You went into the Forbidden Forest for Scabbers?!" he demanded. "That was reckless! What if you had run into a werewolf?"

Fred and George, in eerie unison, whispered in mock Filch-like voices, "Oh, Percy, there are far worse things than werewolves in the Forbidden Forest."

Joey grinned sheepishly. "I thought I could find Scabbers... but I didn't. I'm sorry, Percy. I'll get you a new pet."

Percy hesitated before muttering, "Well... maybe Scabbers just wanted freedom."

"Oh, a mouse pursuing freedom—how touching," the twins mused dramatically.

The day carried on with laughter, anticipation, and, most importantly, no Potions class. For Joey, Christmas Eve had never felt more magical.

Joey was in an exceptionally good mood that day, and for a very simple reason—there was no Potions class! 

Of all the subjects at Hogwarts, Potions was the one she dreaded the most. From the very first lesson, she had been relegated to the farthest corner of the classroom, which she had initially thought might be a blessing. But she quickly realized that no matter where she sat, Professor Snape had an uncanny ability to appear behind her out of nowhere, like a shadow, his cold voice cutting through the air as he deducted points and scolded her mercilessly. 

Oh, those were not pleasant memories. 

It didn't help that she had absolutely no talent for Potions. According to Professor Snape, she had "the head of a troll" when it came to brewing anything correctly. 

"Your mother should be crying her eyes out at home for bringing such a little monster into the world," Snape had once remarked coldly. 

And honestly? Joey had to admit—he had a point. 

But today was different. Not only was she free from the horrors of Potions class, but it was also Christmas Eve! 

Fred had invited her to spend the holidays with his family, and she had eagerly accepted. But just as she was about to leave the Great Hall with the twins, Filch intercepted them at the entrance, his expression twisted into a gleeful smirk. 

"Don't forget," he said, relishing every word, "your week of detention starts right after the holidays. Six days in a row. Half past six sharp." 

Joey's heart sank. No Christmas at the Burrow. No cozy holiday with the Weasleys. Just six long nights of punishment. 

With a dramatic sigh, she turned to her brother Ryan. "Well, there goes my Christmas. Make sure to wish Mum and Dad a Merry Christmas for me." 

She clutched her chest theatrically. "I'm so heartbroken, I might not be able to eat anything tonight." 

Ryan, who had known her long enough to recognize her dramatics, simply raised an eyebrow as he watched her practically skip down the corridor, laughing with the twins. 

Yeah. She'd be just fine.