A/N: This was actually written for history, where we're studying the silk road. Thus, this fanfic contains education. The teacher who suggested this to me has, understandably, been promoted to the department of pure awesome.

Thanks to author eknightess for being my beta. This would not have been half as good if she had not been gracious enough to accept my request. She has made this what it is.

Harry Potter awoke to sharp clicks at the window. It was the familiar sound of an owl pecking to come inside. He was staying at the burrow, so he pretended not to hear in the hope that Ron or Hermione would get up first.

'Harry,' mumbled Ron from under his blankets. 'Can you get it?'

'Make Hermione do it.' A little sigh came from under another pile of bedding on the other side of the room. As always, it was Hermione's job to do the dirty work for those two idiots.

'Harry, let the peacock in,' a bossy voice said.

'Peacock?!' exclaimed Harry, as he started. Indeed, a marvelous, green peacock was struggling to stand on the window ledge. He held a small parcel in his beak. He looked as if he were to fall if he stood there any longer. Harry let the bird in and took the package from it. It was addressed thusly:

To Harry Potter

Wherever he may reside

Deliver as soon as possible.

There was reno return address but he had suspicions as to who sent it. He didn't dare to open it yet.

'Unless it's fan-mail from the London zoo,' said Hermione, 'I'd say this was sent by a foreign wizard.'

'Should we open it, Harry?'

Just then, a loud crack filled the room. The Weasley twins materialized in front of them.

'Hey, Fred...look who's got a parcel.'

'Who sent it?' piped up George.

'Dunno.' All 5 of them stared at the small cardboard box. Harry and Hermione looked at it as if it would spontaneously combust at any moment; Ron looked apathetic, just too tired to care and the twins had hungry grins on their face...anything to cause chaos.

'We should wait until we're at Hogwarts,' remarked Hermione. 'Then Dumbledore can deal with any dark magic.'

'Dark magic?' snorted Fred. 'Who'd want to kill Harry?'

'Who doesn't want to kill Harry?' replied Ron

'Good point, but you should still open it.' The twins sat down beside the trio, in sudden realization that they'd been standing above their ickle faces the whole time; they didn't plan to terrorize the three until absolutely necessary. Then George said something very Hermione-ish.

'No, Fred, this is not a good idea.'

'If you won't open it, I will.'

'That just proves that it's not a good idea. I never thought I'd say this, but I agree with George,' said Hermione in agreement.

'Oh well, Freddie, it's shame,' said George, in a surprisingly hurried tone. 'C'mon, let's go.'

'But...but...' George left, tugging Fred's arm as his twin gave him a frustrated look. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked on towards this strange occurrence. No one could believe it, but Fred and George were fighting.

Enjoy. Free cookies to all that review (please review...pretty please). Next chapter should be up soon-ish...hopefully.