3rd POV

Fred and George sat across from each other silently. Their eyes flicked from the entrance to the Great Hall and then back down to their plates. Ron had said he would be down for breakfast at exactly ten after eight, and that's when the spell would ignite itself, attacking whoever entered next. With Ron nowhere in sight, and the clock hitting twelve after, the twins were beginning to feel a tiny bit of worry forming in their stomachs.

The door finally opened and a purple cloud of smoke filled the door way. It was an instant reaction to laugh, and for a moment Fred thought they had actually gotten their brother.

"What's going on?" a voice piped up beside George.

"We just got Ron good," Fred informed as he moved his head around, trying to see past Dean as the smoke began to dissipate.

The small voice by George piped up again. "That's not possible guys, I'm right here. I was waiting for you guys at the other end of the table."

The brothers locked eyes across the table before slowly turning to see the smoke completely gone, and where Ron should have been stood Lauren Obst, a fifth year Gryffindor. As everyone in the Great Hall finally took in the sight, laughter erupted all over. Her pale skin was dyed purple and her once brown hair was a wicked Slytherin green. The tall blonde next to Lauren ushered her from the hall quickly.

"You were going to do that to me? Bloody hell," Ron set his plate down next to George.

Hermione approached Fred on the right, potions book in hand. Her lips were in a tight line as she cleared her throat to gather their attention.

"I think you two should be ashamed of yourselves. What'd she ever do to you?" Hermione hadn't been expecting an answer, but the twins responded before she could stomp away.

"It was an accident," George replied.

"A funny accident, but still an accident," Fred finished.

Hermione looked to the smaller Weasley for support, but he merely shrugged his shoulders and continued on with his sausages.

Leaving potions class, Fred and George collected a few lingering high fives for the spell they had cast earlier that morning. Snape scowled disapprovingly, waiting until the last few stragglers were out of the classroom before calling out to them.

"Mr. Weasley and Mr. Weasley, Professor McGonagall would like to speak with you before lunch. I would advise that you see her straight away. Time will only make things worse," he drawled.

The two red heads blinked several times as if not comprehending the words.

"Did I stutter?" Snape questioned and with that they ran into the hall and straight for McGonagall's office.

The door opened itself before George could muster up the nerve to knock. Of all the pranks they'd pulled this was the first time McGonagall herself was dealing with the consequences. As they stepped slowly into the office, they saw their house professor waving her wand slowly over Lauren's face. The last splotches of purple left her skin; a few stubborn streaks of green were stained in her hair. Regardless, the girl hopped from her seat and hugged the old teacher.

She darted past Fred and George without a second glance. Lauren didn't know why they did it and she didn't want to know. Professor McGonagall's hair was slightly out of place and she looked more than agitated as she turned to greet the boys.

"Sit," they stared in disbelief. "That's not a suggestion," she said and they scurried to the two nearest chairs in the room.

"Sometimes I wish you two would try half as hard on your homework as you do on your pranks. That spell took me two hours to reverse and we'll still have to wait for the rest to wear off," she walked with her back straight to the desk, picking up a bright red envelope. "I've already spoken with your mother and she's sent you a reply."

"Is that," George hung his head.

"A howler?" Fred's eyes widened.

"Go on and open it, I'm sure whatever's in there is better than what I could say."

Fred tentatively took the letter from McGonagall, careful not to hold it too close. He kept a hold of the corner as George reached out and tore the seal.

"Fredrick Gideon and George Fabian, you had better be glad I'm not there right now. How could you do that to that poor girl?" Fred almost tried to argue back, but sunk in chair as he realized it would do no good to yell back at a letter. "I don't know how you plan on making up for this, but you will make it up to her. And when you come home your father is going to have a serious talk with you two about maturity."

The small red envelope tore itself to pieces after giving one final aggravated sigh. McGonagall pressed two pieces of paper into their hands as they stood.

"What's this?" Fred questioned, eyes only barely skimming the words.

"These are formal statements barring you from leaving the school grounds for the next month. See to it that you use that time to reflect on your actions."

"It's not bloody fair," Fred said for the fourth time as he sat in front of the fire.

Ron, Hermione, and Harry approached with caution after hearing his frustration.

"What's not fair?" Harry asked.

George sunk a little further into his seat on the couch. "We're stuck on school grounds for the next month because of that teeny tiny prank we pulled this morning."

The common room was mostly empty. A few students were dispersed about the great room, cramming for quizzes and discussing the tri-wizard tournament in hushed voices.

"You forgot the part where we have to do something to make it up to her," Fred spoke bitterly.

Ron and Harry attempted to back away, not wanting to catch any flak for pushing their buttons. Hermione had a much different idea.

"Well I think it's a fair punishment," two red heads snapped towards her as she continued. "And as for making it up to her, isn't it obvious?" As four boys stared at her in awe, she rolled her eyes with a great sigh. "Oh come on. One of you needs to ask her to the Yule ball. I have it under good authority that one of the Durmstrang boys recently dumped her to take a Slytherin to the dance instead."

She pivoted away, brushing past Ron who looked surprised. No one had ever insulted Fred and George like that.

"She has a point," he said, looking over to Harry who simply nodded. "Just ask her to the ball and get it over with."

The two fourth years crept quickly up the stairs to their room after Ron's last statement. Fred stood from the couch, patting his brother's right shoulder.

"I already have a date to the ball, so that leaves you. Good luck," Fred smirked as he nodded to the entrance of the common room.

Lauren was slipping in just as the clock announced curfew. George looked back to Fred for some assistance to find he was already halfway up the stairs. The few others that had once been studying were gone. The only noise George found himself hearing was the sound of his own heavy breathing, and her shoes as the clicked past him without notice.

Fred was normally the one who handled getting them dates and dealing with girls in general. George found himself opening and shutting his mouth a good number of times before he could actually speak to her. Lauren's brown hair was still streaked with green, making her green eyes shine as she flipped her head around and looked right into his eyes.

"What?" she questioned from the foot of the stairs.

She had seen him when she entered, and had planned on saving that fight for a later day, when she realized he was gawking at her like an idiot.

George said several ums and uhs before spitting out his invitation in a rushed sentence.