Disclaimer: I do not own any Harry Potter characters. They are the property of J.K Rowling

Chapter 1

'This is ridiculous' exclaimed an indignant Percy. 'I have great respect for the staff at Hogwarts, but this is the most ludicrous idea they have ever dreamed up. They really must be desperate. How is the Ministry going to be able to operate properly with these two capering about, blowing things up?'

It was after the Christmas holidays and the day the Weasley children were due back at school.

Fred looked up from his porridge and gave his brother an amused look. 'We are not going to 'caper' about. You make us sound like pair of demented elves'

George laughed. 'Yeah, and you're also describing us like we are a serious threat to national security or something...'

'And I would be right', seethed Percy, shooting George a steely glare.

'Hey, how do you think we feel about it', said Fred defensively. 'We don't want to spend two dreary weeks filing through scraps of yellowing paper...'

'Or plonking tea's and coffee's on people's desk because they can't be bothered to get of their lazy...'

'Stop there Fred', warned Mrs. Weasley, swiftly turning from the bacon pan to glare.

'I'm George, Mum' he corrected wearily. But Mrs. Weasley wasn't listening, for alarming flames were shooting from the pan, spraying the surrounding area with bacon fat.

'Anyway, our point is that we are going to be driven crazy with boredom in such a dull environment. You can't blame us if we want to spice it up a little...' continued Fred.

Percy opened his mouth to complain, but Fred silenced him by raising his hand.

'We know that when this school years finished you want to lodge yourself behind a Ministry desk for the rest of your colourless life, Perce, but not everyone is so keen; even if it is only for a couple of weeks.'

'But that's not all Percy has planned though. He wants to go all the way to the top. Become Minister of Magic. Turn the whole wizarding nation into an army of lifeless vegetables. I can see the laws now; absolutely no enjoying yourself or else you'll be hanged...' teased George, giving Percy a malicious grin.

'Ok, that's enough', snapped Mrs. Weasley, fearing an argument was about to erupt. She was tense enough as it was; due to the fact her two most unruly children were to be unleashed into a government building.

'Isn't this Work Experience a Muggle idea anyway?' she asked suspiciously, chiselling blackened remains from the bottom of the pan.

George frowned. 'Generally, yes. But the school have made an exception. They seem to think that temporarily experiencing how a working environment operates will make us quit fooling around and aspire to be drab little office-goers.'

Fred shook his head in a pitiful manner. 'Poor deluded souls'.

At that moment Ron and Ginny came thundering down the stairs in a clumsy fashion, pouring into the kitchen. Yawning loudly they collapsed into their chairs and wearily tucked in.

'No bacon?' enquired Ron in a disappointed tone.

'No', said his mother tightly. 'I see you two finally surfaced. About time. I was worried I'd have to cart you onto the Hogwarts Express in your pyjamas.'

Mr. Weasley wandered in clutching a dusty plug, an old circuit board and a pair of Muggle jeans, which looked as though they had recently been dragged through a rock-pool. He carefully set them down at the table and then began avidly examining them with various exclamations of 'Oooh' and 'So clever'.

'Arthur! We don't have time for that. We have to drop Ron, Ginny and Percy of at the station before you take Fred and George to work experience. And what are those disgusting trousers doing on the table! You'd better hope all that green gunk doesn't go in any food. Ron and Ginny had enough near-death experiences last year as it is...'

Percy vainly tried once more to express how absurd he found this Work Experience idea. Once he'd finished a pretty good-sized rant, aimed mainly at his Father, Mr. Weasley was no more considerate about his concerns.

'Nonsense Percy. Fred and George will be fine. I'm sure at the end of this I can still go into work proud of my children', said Mr. Weasley with more confidence than he felt.

'But Father, if you let this doomed plan go ahead, there won't be a work to go to. It will be little more than a crater in the ground'.

'Quit your moaning Percy. We're going', shouted Fred.

'Now you two', said Mrs. Weasley, sitting opposite her 15-year old twins and adopting her most stern expression. 'Promise me you will be good?'

'We promise', they said in unison. Which was rather like pig promising not to roll in mud...