# Pranksters Unleashed #
A Harry Potter Fanfic by Nosgoroth

Disclaimer: Not mine. Ask the insanely rich blonde writer in Great Britain.

Summary: What better way to promote a joke shop that making public demonstrations where the most potential customers reside? When Fred and George thought so, they just didn't think about the consequences.

Author's Note: Exams are over! Yay! Perhaps I'll finally be able to unload my Plot Bunnies on the net. This story I'm starting is yet another attempt at writing a long story and finishing it –I'm suuuch a lazy writer… U

Anyway, I'm posting the prologue so you can tell me if you like the idea. Just so you know, the story will be from a traditional "Harry's-Point-Of-View", occasionally switching to other characters, much like in my friend Ruskbyte's stories. (Which you should read. Really.)

Well, I'll leave you to it. Read and review!

Nosgoroth

Prologue
Unconventional Methodology

[Thursday 17th of July, 1996]

"Advertisements in the Prophet are going to leave us flat broke at this rate," sighed George, eyeing with weariness the parchment in front of him, which showed that in a year's time such advertising were going to leave them flat broke indeed. A long time, perhaps, but if there was something the much-loved, much-hated Weasley twins didn't joke about, it was ironically their joke shop, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Precisely in their shop was where they were at that moment, albeit in a customer-restricted room.

"I know, I know," said Fred, who was standing behind his brother's chair, looking at the calculations over his shoulder. "Keeping it up is absolutely out of the question. How can they charge so much for just a few inches of space? It's ridiculous!"

Even though, as they had told their brother Ron at the beginning of summer, business was blooming for Fred and George Weasley, they couldn't just sit back and let the shop run by itself. At the moment, the twins were trying to find a (legal, plausible) way to make Weasley's Wizard Wheezes well known without losing the pile of Galleons that meant keeping two weekly half-page adverts in the middle pages of the Daily Prophet. They were positive there was a solution to their problem.

The solution just wasn't in the mood of showing its face anywhere near them.

"What about Quidditch?" said George suddenly, turning his face to look at his brother. "You know the scoreboard spouts adverts every once in a while. Perhaps we could…"

Fred was shaking his head. "You know what I think about those kind of adverts."

George smiled ruefully. "I do, and you are right, of course. Not flashy enough. It was just an idea," he shrugged. "But if we're going for a flashy thing, we'll have to use unconventional methods."

Fred nodded. "But what?"

"Dunno," mused George, thoughtful. "We could ask for help."

"Help?" Fred said in a disbelieving tone. "Help to come up with flashy things? We're the masters of all things flashy!"

"Perhaps," said George. "But we can go to the master of all things unconventional, can't we?"

Fred grinned slowly in realization. "Capital idea, brother mine."

[Later that day]

Professor Albus P.W.B. Dumbledore finished with a flourish the letter he was writing and stored it in the second drawer of his desk. He allowed himself a small smile. Something told him that unexpected things were about to happen in that very room during the coming minutes. "Almost time," he said out loud.

"So it is," confirmed Armando Dippet from his portrait. "I wonder what those two have up their sleeves."

"Don't remind me," reproached the painting of Phineas Nigellus uneasily. "I hope you know what you're doing, Albus. Those youngsters are the worst trouble-makers I've seen since the days of those four Gryffindors –remember them? The ones that used to prowl around the castle hexing everything that moved and most things that didn't?"

"How could I forget them?" Albus said honestly.

A moment later, the staircase outside the door rumbled, and all the portraits started and hastily settled themselves in a sleeping position, eyes cracked open the smallest fraction while they snored most convincingly. Albus straightened in his chair.

"Come in, Fred, George," he called good-naturedly, when the staircase stopped.

Sure enough, the Weasley twins entered the Headmaster's office, both of them wearing nervous smiles. They sat in the armchairs that Albus conjured up and looked at each other.

"Well," said Dumbledore, leaning forward, his hands clasped together. "What is this proposition you mentioned in your letter? I must say I am quite intrigued."

George took the lead. "Yes. Um. Well, the thing is… Present circumstances have made life at Hogwarts a fair bit gloomier than it should be, I'm sure you will agree with me."

"We feel this is inappropriate for the poor young teenagers residing at the castle," continued Fred.

Albus arched an eyebrow. "Most certainly." He could see, behind his guests, the portrait of Dilys Derwent stifling a snicker. Fred and George couldn't have made their meaning plainer. He decided, however, to let them finish, for details' sake. "Please continue."

Emboldened by the Headmaster's interest, Fred continued where he had left. "We have decided to take it upon ourselves to rectify this situation."

"Our plan is to randomly liven up the atmosphere of Hogwarts Castle-"

"-while we help prepare the students for the coming conflict against You-Know-Who's forces."

"Voldemort," corrected the Headmaster automatically.

Both twins blanched. "Where!?" They turned their heads to the door behind them in unison.

Albus rolled his metaphoric eyes. Really, so much fear of a name… He left the twins to calm for themselves while he digested the information. They intended to prepare the students for the war? That was unexpected. Behind the twins, Dippet looked as surprised as he felt, while Phineas simply scoffed, even though he appeared entertained by the redheads' antics. "And how do you plan on doing this?" Albus asked curiously.

"Our idea is to introduce a new subject this year," explained Fred.

Albus frowned. "Students' timetables are quite packed already."

George grinned. "That's the beauty of it. Constant Vigilance won't need to be imparted."

"Constant Vigilance?" Albus asked in disbelief, putting one and one together and coming up with the twins.

Dilys Derwent, between giggles, intervened, voicing the Headmaster's suspicions. She had settled herself on a leathery armchair in a rather big canvas behind Albus' desk. "You mean you plan on pranking the hell out of each and every student outside class hours and mark them on how they cope?"

"Er…" said Fred and George simultaneously,

"Yeah," admitted George, nodding empathically.

"That's pretty much it," confirmed Fred.

Dilys exploded in hysterical laughter. It sounded outrageous, Albus thought. It even felt outrageous. Hell, it was outrageous. But it was so outrageous that it actually was a good idea. Besides, that made it three Professor Weasleys at the same time. The thought of Severus' face when he learned of this was what finally made the aged wizard make his decision. Many parents and students might think him mad because of this… but didn't they already?

"If you will wait one minute or two, gentlemen…" said Albus, opening a drawer and pulling a blank piece of parchment, in which he started to write. The Weasley twins looked at each other nervously again. The scratching of the quill was driving them crazy with anticipation, if the way they kept fidgeting and looking at each other was any indication. Most of the portraits, giving up their feigned sleep, had gathered in the canvas behind the Headmaster, and were trying to discern his hasty writing.

Finally, Albus put down the quill and presented the twins with the following text:

17/07/96

I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, currently Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (from now on the employer), hereby give Fred Weasley and George Weasley (from now on the employees) the status of Hogwarts Professor, provided they accept the following conditions:

- The employees will have the right to room and board within Hogwarts.

- The employees will receive a monthly payment of 650 Galleons. Any damage to school property, students, or other Professors will be deducted from this payment.

- The employees will be in charge of the subject called 'Constant Vigilance'. They will also accommodate any students wanting to discuss this subject.

- The employer will have the right to alter the contents of the subject should he feel it inappropriate.

- The employees will refrain from testing new products on the student body. They will also refrain from causing severe and/or irreparable damage (physical or psychological) on the student body.

- The employees will test and grade all students fairly.

The list went on with various unimportant points, ending with Albus' signature and space for the twins to sign. Which they did eagerly, without thinking twice, before Albus could warn them that it was a magical binding contract.

At the exact moment they signed, many Hogwarts students, miles away from the school, shivered or flinched without knowing why.

(To be continued? Depends on your opinion of this prologue.)