Title: Secretly Proud
Rating: K
Characters: Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall
Summary: House swap for a week. It's a punishment. Right?

"Mr Weasley, I don't care if you couldn't find anything else to wear this morning, that attire is simply unacceptable!" George winced as his defence was blown back in his face by the irate professor standing in front of them.

Fred and George Weasley sat on a pew in Professor McGonagall's office, squirming uncomfortably under her thorough and piercing eyes. Perhaps, thought George, we might have gone too far this time.

Running down the corridors and breaking into the Slytherin Common Room wearing nothing but their underwear and Slytherin girl's skirts, then stealing the bed sheets from Draco and Theo had seemed like a good idea at the time. Draco and Theo had instigated this, if you asked the twins.

The Slytherin pair had dressed in Gryffindor Quidditch robes and broken into the team change rooms to steal Fred and George's beaters' gear. Although where either pair of them had acquired their rival's house attire was unfathomable.

"As punishment for your actions, Professor Snape and I have decided one of you will transfer to a different house for a week. Your Quidditch privileges will be revoked, you will not be permitted to attend Hogsmeade this term, and for that whole week you are not permitted to communicate with each other. Clearly, lessons must be learned."

Fred and George looked at each other in shock. A whole week without speaking? This was torture from hell. And McGonagall was Cerberus.

A knock came at the door. "Enter."

Professor Snape walked into the room, holding repentant-looking Draco and Theo by their ears. His eyes appraised the Weasley twins' unconventional apparel (to say the least) and a smug smirk crossed his face.

"I suggest, Professor, you take Mr Malfoy for the week, and I shall make sure Mr Weasley is…welcomed appropriately," Professor Snape gestured in George's direction. And with that, Snape grabbed George by the arm and dragged both him and Theo out of McGonagall's office before she could say another word.

This was going to be a week of disaster.

Of epic proportions.

***

Fred trudged down the corridor, Theodore Nott in tow, looking suitably chastened. His disgruntled demeanour was clearly obvious, as students began to part like the Red Sea to avoid him. Theo appeared to be just as happy about the situation; the look on his face when Professor McGonagall gave him a Gryffindor uniform to wear could have curdled dairy. Anyone would have thought he'd been asked to wear a hessian sack.

"I can't wear this…this…this abomination! It's an insult to my family. And it's…red," he exclaimed in horror as he held the winter scarf away from himself with two fingers.

"Actually," Fred had chimed in, "I think you'll find it's maroon. And don't worry, it's not that insulting. It's a vast improvement, actually. Makes you look like less of a baboon's backside."

Now, the pair of them were carrying armfuls of Theo's belongings to the Gryffindor dormitory; Fred was making sure the hallways were littered with Theo's socks, broomstick cleaning kits and sweet wrappers.

At least that was making him feel better.

Although it would have been better if George was there to laugh about it with him.

***

"Well, I needed this like a hole in the head," George muttered under his breath as he donned the Slytherin scarf and emptied his belongings unceremoniously onto the bed opposite Draco's. Draco heard and offered him a scowl.

"Me. A Malfoy. Saddled with a Weasley. My father will hear about this! Honestly, the punishments at this school are getting more inhumane by the day."

George stared at him with a straight face. "What's inhumane, Malfoy, is that your parents allowed you to come to school with that haircut."

And before Draco could respond, George marched off.

***

"George!" A hushed voice drifted frantically from the broom closet opposite the Slytherin Common Room. George started, and followed the sound. "OI. Georgie-boy. Time for some fun," the whisper continued. George reached out and yanked the broom closet open; only to find it empty. After about ten seconds of silence, George turned to leave, only jump in sudden fright as Fred grabbed his arm from underneath Harry's invisibility cloak and yelled a loud "Boo!" into his ear.

"Idiot," whispered George. Do you want to wake the whole snake nest?! I swear Malfoy sleeps with one eye open. It's damn creepy."

"George. That's exactly what I want to do," grinned Fred. "Harry's lent me the cloak; Peeves wants in on it too. It's time to give 'em hell."

George grinned. "That's brilliant."

Fred nodded. "I know."

***

Less than two hours later, Fred and George were back in Professor McGonagall's office, and Nott and Malfoy were receiving a dressing down from Professor Snape. Emerging subdued but unscathed, the Weasley's, with George back in possession of his Gryffindor uniform, headed back to the Gryffindor Common Room.

Peeves had mysteriously been admitted into the Dungeons and had proceeded to wreak havoc, pushing students out of bed and ripping their sheets off them whilst yelling "SNAKES! SNAKES IN THE DUNGEON!" at the top of his lungs and cackling with laughter. Fred, safe under the invisibility cloak, helped by hurling water bombs at tired, confused and barely awake Slytherins. It had been a brilliant night.

"Two weeks of detention and no Quidditch for a month. That could have been a lot worse," grinned George.

"One day. One day they'll expel us," sighed Fred in mock sadness.

"Whad'ya reckon we have to do to get that?"

And they raced down the hallway laughing.

***

Professor McGonagall shook her head in resignation. Those Weasley twins. They reminded her of another group of boys she had had to deal with. Incorrigible.

She began to laugh. Only two more years of Weasley twins.

And if you'd asked her right then how she felt, there would have been no doubt about her answer.

Secretly proud.

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