When the owl came, Verity knew it couldn't contain good news. Being a muggle, her mother only used snail mail which Dumbledore was kind enough to have rerouted to Hogwarts for those with families in the muggle world. So that left her dad's family or the school. Sure enough, the words of the letter fell hard into Verity's reality and she reeled back in pain after finishing the letter. So stupid, this whole situation, this life she had been put into. But only a few seconds later she had a plan. Would it work? She wasn't sure, but she had to act now if she didn't want a permanent stain on her family's reputation; And to Slytherins that was everything.
She found them in an empty classroom playing with potions. Fred's eye had healed nicely and it was now close to impossible to tell the two apart again. They were whispering heatedly over a cauldron.
"I think the ashwind egg should go in after the moonbeam stones."
"No, no, no, the textbook says the ashwind egg goes in first!"
"But can we trust the instructions when we're changing the recipe so much?"
A quiet female voice spoke out causing the twins to jump, "Ashwind egg should go in first so as to not create a high concentration moonbeam solution and accidently enthrall yourself."
The boys quickly moved to jump in front of their work in a laughable attempt to block it from view considering the large mountain of ingredients piled up around them.
The twins peered at the girl standing in the doorway, "You're…?" "…Verity?" They finished the question and glanced at each other before staring back at the short girl leaning against the doorway with her arms crossed and a serious frown on her face.
"And you're attempting to make a love potion, which is against school rules by the way."
George's face pulled into a concerned frown at the threat underlined in her statement, but Fred only started grinning his trademark salesman smile.
"Well, if it isn't the girl who right hooked my face. Looking to buy our new products? Boys aren't interested in girls who punch them? I'm afraid to tell you you'll just have to wait; we're still in the developing phase."
Verity smiled, "That's too bad, maybe I should let Snape know, I'm sure he could give you tons of advice. What with you using his ingredients and all." Verity could play this game all day.
Fred only smiled further. "Oh, but we were so hoping to surprise Snape. If anyone requires a love potion it's him."
"Perhaps I could be of some help then. As you'll need to be out of permanent detention to even hope of finishing. But I can help keep your surprise I suppose, for the right price of course."
The threat now hung heavy out in the open and Fred had dropped his cheerful façade. The twins exchanged doubtful glances.
"I don't know why you think we'd make a deal with a Slytherin." "We've dealt with Snape before."
She knew it wasn't going to be as easy as that so she had come prepared to put more on the table.
"I think maybe you'll like you're end of the bargain. I know a good bit about potions and McGonagall usually gives me access to the restricted section unlike you guys… I bet I could help you fix.." She glanced doubtfully at the cauldron that was now starting to emit ghastly green bubbles, "well, whatever that is." She waved disdainfully.
The twins glanced at each other meaningfully. And Fred slowly said the word 'restricted section' as if testing to see how it tasted in his mouth. Sweet apparently as his face broke into an excited smile.
George turned back to Verity. "What could you possibly want so badly that we have?"
Fred turned too, a large charming grin on his face. "This isn't the first time we've been bribed to go on a date you know." He nudged George playfully.
Verity glanced back and forth between the confused and confident faces and began fiddling with the necklace around her neck. This was a large request.
She glanced down. "Well, your father works at the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department right?"
The twins frowned simultaneously.
"This has to do with-" "Dad?" They finished their thought together confused.
By now Verity had reached into her pocket and was rolling her wand around in one hand, while fiddling with a button of her cloak with the other. Her face remained stoic and unreadable, but she still hadn't made eye contact with either of the twins.
"My great uncle he's well an idiot and well he got into some trouble in that department and um I kind of need the scandal to be kept quiet for a bit."
She glanced up quickly to gage their reaction.
It was met with stunned silence and soon after some loud exclamations.
"Bloody hell!" "That's pretty illegal even for us!"
This was going about as well as Verity had imagined it would.
"I just need one little paper to go missing. I've looked it up, if the department doesn't correctly fill out an evidence report they can't prosecute a suspect and-"
"He could get fired if anyone found out!" George was indignant and Fred nodded along vigorously.
He started to glare out the small girl whose gusto had long ago worn off. "Maybe that's your plan… I wouldn't put it past a Slytherin."
"Look, I can give you all the information, its true about my uncle, his name is Steven Bainbridge. And it's really unlikely you would be caught. A single missing paper from the lame-duck department of the ministry would go unnoticed…"
Verity spluttered out for a second as she realized the affect her poor choice of words were having. She paused to recollect herself. "But I really will make the deal worth your while, I do know a good bit about potions, and which restricted books could help you guys."
The boys still seemed dubious and glanced at each other. Fred cocked an eyebrow but George only shock his head. It was if a silent argument was taking place.
Finally George spoke, "We'll look into it and get back to you." He stared up at her seriously
"But if we find out you're lying you better sleep with one eye open Slytherin!" Fred had started grinning again, but it was less than reassuring.
Verity let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Okay, just let me know." She turned to the doorway and than paused. Rotating her torso she looked back at them and showered them with the smile she had worn at the beginning. "Oh and don't worry. I won't tell Snape, yet."
A hand slammed a form down on the desk Verity was working at causing her to flinch. She turned to see a Weasley twin smiling at her. She thought it was Fred but she wasn't sure.
"Found the form and your story holds out so far, so we're gonna give you a chance." He slid the form towards her.
Verity quickly picked it up and read it over. Yep it was all there, every last drop of ink. She glanced at the smug twin with a hand still leaning against her desk.
"You actually found it! How did you get it so fast?" She couldn't keep the excitement out of her voice.
"That's a secret love. But before we agree to anything…" He reached over and plucked the paper out of her hands, "We need to make sure you follow through on your end of the deal." He smiled down at her clearly enjoying himself.
Verity had to muster all her strength not to fight him for the paper then there, and Fred seemed to notice her frustration. He only smiled further. Finally she forced her face into a some semblance of calm.
"Of course, what do you need?" She made herself unclench her jaw, and looked up at him innocently.
"Well let's say a week's trial. We see how much of a help you actually are and then you can have this stupid form."
Verity paused. She had meant to follow through on her part of the deal anyways so the test wasn't a big deal, she didn't like owing debts; magic often found a way of righting those wronged. But she wanted the form destroyed as soon as possible. And she didn't like how the tables had turned. It seemed she was now at their mercy and it made her sick. Well, the important thing was that the form was missing, right? She could put up with it being used against her for a week she supposed.
Finally she nodded, "I suppose that's fair."
"Perfect." The Weasley straightened up and ran his hand through his hair smugly. Which only served to piss of Verity more.
She suddenly smiled sweetly and stuck out her hand. "Unbreakable vow then?"
The fear and surprise that replaced the smugness of Fred's face was well worth it.
"Wha-, That's- Are you crazy?!"
Verity couldn't hold in her laughter. "Pfff, calm down Gryffindor, you're not supposed to actually be as dumb as you are brave."
Multiple emotions flitted past Fred's face as he decided whether to find the prank funny. Finally he gave in and chuckled. "Fine you got me, meet us in the classroom at 8 tonight."
"Yes sir!" Verity mocked him, glancing back down at her homework.
"Oh shut it Slytherin, you are in a library you know?" He kept smiling though while motioning at Ms. Pince stalking through the aisles. "See you tonight, don't be late!" And with that he fled the library as Ms Pince watched him like a vulture, which ironically she quite resembled.
Verity rolled her eyes, but continued smiling after she turned back to her studies; the success of her prank and the prospect of getting her hands on that form lifting her spirits.