There are certain times in life where one can't help but feel completely screwed. Rushing to finish before a deadline is quite effective in invoking this feeling, as Ron knew all too well. He had a transfiguration essay due in three hours and several other assignments due by the end of the week, including an exposition on the seven uses of dragon blood.
Ron had not started any of these tasks and had been relying on his good friend Hermione to assist him in this endeavour. Unfortunately, Hermione and Ron were arguing (Ron had tried colouring Crookshanks ultramarine blue for laughs and Hermione had not been amused) and he knew she wouldn't help him out unless he apologised. But there was no way he was apologising, a blue cat is hilarious and Hermione should have accepted that.
He would have to rely on his own intelligence. He was screwed.
"Wow," thought Ron to himself, "maybe school is the greatest trial in life. Maybe even harder than defeating Lord Voldemort."
Then he slapped himself because that was one of the stupidest things he had ever thought. Voldemort had killed so many of Harry's loved ones it wasn't funny. His flippant remark was highly disrespectful. He shed a tear of pure liquid shame and turned away dramatically.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted his blank transfiguration and cursed. Oh what he wouldn't do to have a pre-prepared essay to copy! As if on cue, Fred and George entered the common room.
"Well well Mr Weasley. What have we here?" inquired one of the twins (Ron couldn't recognise whether it was Fred or George), "Looks like you could use a pre-prepared essay to copy."
"You wouldn't happen to have one on your person, would you?" inquired Ron hopefully yet warily. The twins smiled in unison, sending chills down Ron's spine. This couldn't lead to anything good, but he was desperate.
"We may happen to have our essay from two years ago when we did the same essay. It's in our trunk, isn't it Fred," smiled George eerily.
Fred cheerfully smiled back, "It sure is George. But Ron, it's quite valuable to us. We'll only give it to you at a cost."
Ron narrowed his eyes suspiciously so much so that he could barely see.
"Name your price."
"Just make an unbreakable vow with us to fulfil this list of conditions we just happen to have here. You complete these tasks under the magic of the vow, we give you the essay. It couldn't be simpler."
Ron knew this was of course untrue, there was no way it was that simple but again, he was desperate at this point. There was two hours and 48 minutes left on the clock.
"Alright damn it. I accept."
As Ron said this, he silently prayed that their demands would not be too trying. He almost managed to convince himself that this would be the case. But as the flames swirled around him and he spoke the words the twins advised him to say, he glimpsed the first few points of the contract and his heart sank. This was going to be awful...
To be continued...