[Hi there! I know I've been gone a long, long time, but this should be the beginning of you guys seeing what should be a lot of me.
It's just a short one-shot that I had the idea for after rereading book five, the Order of the Phoenix. Set right as Fred and George leave Hogwarts. The first teeny bit is straight from the book, then I take over.
Some could even call it drabble.]
Disclaimer: I find these unnecessary because fanfiction is for authors who are obviously going to copyright. And I'm pretty sure that the website has something about copyrighting in the terms of service. Not that I read it, it's jut a hunch. But, of course, nobody owns anything here. Thus the 'fan' in 'fanfiction.'
"We won't be seeing you," Fred told Professor Umbridge, swinging his leg over his broomstick.
"Yeah, don't bother to keep in touch," said George, mounting his own.
Fred looked around at the assembled students, and at the silent, watchful crowd.
"If anyone fancies buying a Portable Swamp, as demonstrated upstairs, come to number ninety-three, Diagon Alley—Weasley's Wizard Wheezes," he said in a loud voice. "Our new premises!"
"Special discounts to Hogwarts students who swear they're going to use our products to get rid of this old bat,' added George, pointing at Professor Umbridge.
"STOP THEM!" shrieked Umbridge, but it was too late, As the Inquisitorial Squad closed in, Fred and George kicked off from the floor, shooting fifteen feet into the air, the iron peg swinging dangerously below. Fred looked across the hall at the poltergeist bobbing on his level above the crowd.
"Give her hell from us, Peeves."
And Peeves, whom Harry had never seen take an order from a student before, swept his belled hat from his head and sprang to a salute as Fred and George wheeled about to tumultuous applause from the students below and sped out of the open front doors into the glorious sunset.
Fred and George flew quickly to the gates of the school, barely noticing the winged boars on either side of them.
Both looked over their shoulders at the immense castle, a wave of sadness momentarily overtaking them. The warm pinks and oranges of sunset lit up the front of the castle, making it practically shine with the spirit of summer and….freedom.
But the sadness was gone right after Fred raised an eyebrow at George, causing both of them to erupt into a wave of laughter.
Down the road to Hogsmeade they went, cackling madly the whole way.
They landed in front of the Three Broomsticks, pausing only to grin at each other and Apparate into their new flat, which happened to be right above the new joke shop.
It was almost empty, of course. They hadn't had any time to move anything in, what with being at school and planning the escape.
There was only one piece of furniture as of yet; a bright green couch that folded out into a bed.
George sank down into said couch, and grinned again at his twin.
"We did it, Gred. We actually did it." His voice is full of amazement.
"Yeah, Forge, I guess we did," said Fred, chuckling.
It was quiet for a moment, as both relived their own thoughts and feelings during their departure. Another sudden wave of sadness overcame them both, and Fred flopped onto the couch as well.
"What do we do now?" George asks softly, already missing Lee, and the common room, and everything else about Hogwarts.
"We hide from the law, dear brother of mine. We create, and laugh, and make others laugh," answered Fred wisely.
George manages a smile, and digs something out of his pocket.
"How about we use this to start another fire?"
He holds up the small firecracker, and Fred knows exactly what his twin is thinking.
"We go out with a bang…. And come back in with a bang."
And that they do.