House: Gryffindor
Position: HoH
Category: Short
Prompt: Firewhiskey
Word Count (excluding header and AN): 605
Beta: Tigger
AN- There is some variability in the spelling of firewhisky/firewhiskey depending on publisher. Also, I firmly believe that McGonagall enjoyed the twins' antics and would have loved to give them house points for some of their more impressive bits of magic. Enjoy!
"Wait a minute Minerva," called Filius as he hustled down the hallway to catch up with his colleague. "Pomona, Severus, and I were planning on meeting up this evening for a few rounds of Exploding Snap and some Firewhisky. Would you care to join us?"
"As appealing as that sounds, Filius, I have to monitor detention this evening."
"Who is it this time?" he asked.
"Who else? The Weasley twins decided to engage Peeves in a prank war. They charmed a few of the statutes to drop their stone trousers and wave their backsides about."
Filius laughed. "That's an impressive bit of magic for second year students. Some of my N.E.W.T. level students wouldn't be able to do a charm like that."
"Yes, well it still broke school rules by creating a disturbance to the learning environment. So I had no choice but to give them detention."
"Minerva, I know you too well. You gave them detention because you knew how bad it would look if you gave them the house points they deserve for such extraordinary magic."
She smiled slightly at that; he was right. "That's neither here nor there. But it means I am unable to join you and the other professors this evening."
"We'll be playing until around midnight. That's when Severus usually decides he's had enough of us and scurries back to his lair in the dungeons. Come join us if you'd like."
"I'll keep that in mind, Filius." Minerva said goodbye and walked to her office to grab some essays to grade.
"You know, Professor," George Weasley said, "you don't need to stay here and watch over us. Freddy and I will be good little boys and sit here quietly until our detention is over. I'm sure there's other things you'd rather be doing than keeping us company."
"Thank you for your offer, Mr. Weasley," she said. While she was being very productive grading her O.W.L. level students' essays, she would have much preferred to be sharing a bottle of Firewhisky with her fellow Heads of Houses. But the Weasley twins did not need to know that. "But even if I did have somewhere else to be, I would not leave the two of you alone in my classroom for a single second."
"It's like she doesn't trust us at all, eh, Georgie?" Fred asked his brother.
"That hurts my feelings, Professor," said George. "Really cuts deep."
"I'm sure you'll both get over it and move on to planning your next trip to detention," she replied.
The twins looked at eachother and Minerva swore she could see the mischief brewing in their eyes. She glanced at the clock and sighed. If she let them go early, she could pop down to meet Filius and the others.
"You have fifteen minutes left of your detention. However, you may leave now so long as you return to your dormitory. I'll check in with your brother tomorrow to ensure that you didn't take any detours." She saw the thought bubble up in their minds and quickly clarified, "Your brother, Percy. Don't think I don't know that Charlie would cover for your antics."
"Perfect Percy, spoiling our fun," Fred said as he packed his bag up. "Ready, George?"
"Ready, Fred. Ready, Professor?"
Oh, she was certainly ready. Ready for a nice big glass of Firewhisky and a chance to decompress over a few hands of Exploding Snap. The Weasley twins could drive her to drink. She only hoped that the two remaining Weasley siblings yet to attend Hogwarts were more like their eldest siblings and obeyed the school rules.