Chapter 37: Sweet 17

"Mione. Get up!" I said, shaking Hermione as she lay peacefully in her bed. She groaned and rolled over. I gave out an exasperated sigh and threw my pillow at her. "Get up!"

"It's not even six yet, Ami." Hermione mumbled.

"I know. I need some time. Come on!" I pulled on her arm until she fell out of bed. Hermione groaned again and reluctantly got ready.

My mind was racing. Today was the first of April, otherwise known as April Fool's Day. But today was also the birthday of two certain red-headed boys. And I, as of now, had planned nothing as far as celebrating. I was planning on setting it up yesterday, but I had gotten distracted. And, today, I couldn't think of anything at all.

Nothing seemed good enough for their seventeenth birthday. Everything was either too small or too done before.

Hermione was no help either. She wasn't very good at the whole 'party' thing and 'prank' thing. "Well it's not my fault that the past three birthdays the three of you have spent together have been so extravagant. If you just started smaller and worked your way up over the years, we wouldn't have this problem."

I remembered old cartoons where light bulbs appeared above a character's head. This was one of those moments. "You're brilliant Hermione," I said, grabbing her hand and running out of the Gryffindor common room.

It was now nine o'clock on that Saturday morning, and the twins would be waking soon. I tiptoed to their beds in the boy's dormitory. I crept close to their beds, and jumped on George's first.

"GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP!" I said, bouncing up and down on George's bed. George groaned in pain as I hopped off of him and jumped on Fred's bed. "GET UP GET UP! IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY, GET UP!"

I heard some groans of annoyance from the other boys in the dormitory, but I didn't care. Fred smiled up at me and said, "Thank you darling, but your knee is digging into my ribs." I smiled brightly and jumped off his bed.

"Meet you downstairs!" I called and dashed down the stairs. I was so excited for this day, now that the plan was in set. But I didn't wait for them; I practically ran to the Great Hall and started breakfast without them.

The boys showed up, pretending not to look confused, a half hour later. There were specks of green in George's hair from the first part of my birthday surprise. When they exited the porthole of the Gryffindor tower, they were blasted with green smoke, like we used on Malfoy. It was a small prank, and it looked like they had both avoided pretty easily, but I was only just getting started.

"Toast?" I asked. The twins sat down, taking their food. "So how does it feel to be seventeen? You're officially adult wizards."

"I feel… a bit bloated, actually." George said, putting butter on his toast.

"Well that's wonderful," I said sarcastically.

We finished breakfast quickly and I left to use the restroom. I passed Lee Jordan on my way, and I winked at him. He knew what to do.

When I came back, I set off the rain of confetti. It fell on top of the now stuck- to- the- floor (thanks to Lee) Fred and George. It littered their hair with rainbow specks. But, of course, the twins were still not impressed. "Cute." Fred said.

"I hoped you'd think so." I said, smiling mischievously. I unstuck them.

"Well. Let's go back to the common room, shall we?" I said. "Happy Birthday, again, Georgie." I said, but I was looking at Fred.

"Happy Birthday, love," I said to George. I kissed George full on the lips, and grabbed his hand and ran off. "Come on, George!" I called to Fred behind me.

At the common room, I gave Fred and George their presents. I handed George the self-serving mug I had gotten for him, which had the letter "F" on it. I handed Fred an identical cup, with the letter "G."

George was smiling at Fred, but Fred simply looked annoyed. I grinned widely at the both of them, "And these are from your Mum and Dad," I said. I gave George Fred's card, and I gave Fred George's card.

"Happy Seventeenth." I said, yet again.

Fred and George opened and examined their gifts. After looking at my mug for a while, Fred said, "Thank you, darling," and he leaned down to kiss me. I backed away, putting a shocked look on my face.

"What the hell are you doing, George?" I said, receiving another annoyed look from Fred. I smiled to myself.

"Well boys, ready for dinner?" I asked, and we headed to the Great Hall. I let them walk a bit ahead of me, and jumped behind a corner when I saw my chance. I let off one of our products that wasn't quite ready. It was a kind of darkness powder the blurred the victim's vision. I then shot them with a spell down another corridor, slowly leading them to our true destination.

A series of other pranks went off (set up by me and a reluctant Hermione), all eventually leading Fred and George to a door that led to the castle grounds. At this time, I was just outside of that door, on the lawn. Behind me, was a wonderful birthday party on the lake. Several Gryffindors were there, and we had set up floating streamers and lanterns and food from the Hogwarts kitchen. Now all we needed was the birthday boys.

Fred and George opened the large doors, obviously knowing that they had been lead there. My wand was still pointing at a spot above them, but I relaxed my hand. And then about a hundred water balloons fell on top of Fred and George.

They got soaked. I let out a scream of triumph. I got them. Both twins laughed after getting over their shock, and stared happily at the party set up just for them.

I grabbed their hands, laughing giddily. "This is amazing." Fred said, looking around at our set-up by the lake. "Not too shabby." George said.

We partied until sunset, and we would have gone longer, but Filch was bound to shoo us back into the castle once it got dark. We all planned to continue the party back up at the common room. Everyone made the hike back up to the Hogwarts castle, but I stayed behind to clean everything up.

I picked up the last bit of streamers when two arms grabbed my waist. They pulled me back, and I felt a kiss on my cheek.

"Gotcha." Fred said.

"Gotcha first." I said. "Did you like my charade?"

"A bit annoying, but very worth it."

I laughed again, "Kiss me, George."

And Fred did.

This day was probably very high on my list of Best Days. I kissed Fred by the lake at sunset, and I had gotten the infamous Fred and George Weasley, even if it was only with a few water balloons.

But hey, those water balloons did the trick.