The Switching Hour
Miranda Shadowind

Author's Note: Sometimes I think I should take vacations more often. Usually there's no internet access, but I've come up with some of my best ideas during them, this story included. Enjoy and review!

Chapter 1: Dungbombs and Boxers

It was an average summer morning at the Burrow. Mr. Weasley was half-hidden behind the Daily Prophet, his wife was cleaning up the kitchen, and four of their seven children were halfway through breakfast.

The only ones not present were the three eldest boys still living at home. Percy's empty seat was no surprise, given if he wasn't at the Ministry he was holed up in his room to the point where his mother had to drag him downstairs for meals. But the absence of both him AND the twins could only mean one thing: Trouble with a capital "T."

Up in the attic, the family ghoul banged a drumroll on the pipes in anticipation.

*BOOM-SPLAT*

"AAAAAGGGHHH!!!" Percy. A pause, then

*CLICK!*

Followed shortly by, "FREDERICK GEORGE WEASLEY GIVE ME THAT CAMERA THIS INSTANT!!!"

"You see the look on your face, Perce-" Fred.

"-it was positively priceless!" George.

Laughter, then the sound of three rapid sets of footsteps on the second floor.

The rest of the family, whose eyes had been on the ceiling since the explosion, now focused them on the stairwell. Within a minute, two identical blurs - well, almost identical as Fred still had his camera - raced down into the dining room. Right behind them was Percy, clad only in glasses and boxers and tracking dung. The sight was enough to make their siblings burst out laughing. Mr. Weasley hid behind his paper, sniggering. Their mother, however, was not amused.

At that point, Fred and George split up, each going around a different side of the table. Percy didn't give chase; he didn't need to. Mrs. Weasley was waiting for her delinquent sons at the other end. The pair skidded to a halt upon reaching her, feigning innocence.

"Morning, Mum."

"Lovely day, isn't it?"

"Don't try pulling that with me you two! Honestly, I thought you were above simply dungbombing your older brother by now!" Her tone was mostly exasperation with a hint of disappointment.

Fred shook his head, chuckling. "Of course we are!"

"This was just an experiment-"

"-replaced the regular fuse with a Timer Charm-"

"-worked without a hitch, really-"

"-just ask Percy!"

Mrs. Weasley was unimpressed. "And the camera...?"

"Proof!"

Ron let out a cough that sounded distinctly like, "Blackmail!" Fred and George couldn't help but snigger.

"Blackmail indeed! They just as good as admitted it just now!" Percy cried. "A whole night's work, ruined!" He started to go into one of his long rants, but stopped short when he saw his whole family staring at him, as if noticing him for the first time.

George finally broke the silence. "Really, Percy-"

"-put some clothes on!"

"You're scaring Ginny!"

But Ginny was giggling, being quite used to seeing one or more of her older brothers running amuck half naked by now. Usually it was anyone but Percy, though.

Percy opened his mouth to yell again when there was a tap at the side window. Bill opened it and let in a handful of owls. "Saved by the post!"

Given the amount of them, it was obvious that the usual Hogwarts letters had arrived. Ron's and Ginny's were dropped at their places at the table, while the twins' fell into their hands.

Fred blinked, as his felt heavier than usual. "What the..." He opened the envelope, peered inside, and his jaw hit the floor. "This has got to be a big mistake..."

"What is it?" George peered over his brother and partner in crime's shoulder, then gaped.

For there, next to two pieces of parchment, was a shiny new badge that read "Head Boy."

To be continued...