Written for Hogwarts Challenges & Assignments - Term 14, Assignment 1: Curse Breaking, Task #4 - write about Peeves the Poltergeist.
A Prankster's Understanding
Peeves looked suspiciously at the package that Fred Weasley was holding out to him. It was a simple brown-paper package, and it would have been completely unremarkable were it not for the fact that it was wriggling.
"What's this?" he said, raising an eyebrow at the identical redheaded troublemakers. "Have the twin Weasels brought me a present?"
"Sure, if that's how you want to think of it," Fred said airily. "We prefer to call it an understanding, though."
"An understanding?" Peeves' eyes narrowed. "And just what might the terms of this understanding be, young Weasel?"
"All you have to do is promise to use the contents of this package on unsuspecting students," George explained.
Peeves zoomed away to think this over, the stone corridor becoming a blur, before he suddenly careened around and headed back towards the twins.
"Why?" he demanded. "What's the catch?"
"No catch." Fred untied the package and showed him the contents: large, white larvae. They wiggled and writhed in a truly disgusting fashion, and it made Peeves grin widely just thinking about the shrieks and squeals they might elicit. "These are Witchetty grubs. Got them 'specially from Australia and thought they'd be fun for a bit of pranking."
"And why can't you two do it?" Peeves said shrewdly. He knew a good deal when he saw one, but this was too good a deal. "Too busy for mischief now, are you?"
Fred and George looked at each other before shaking their heads in unison.
"Nothing like that," George said, waving a hand dismissively. "We just think you'd be way better at dispersing them throughout the castle, what with all the high places you can reach."
Peeves' chest swelled. Finally, an acknowledgement of his pranking abilities! Filch would never understand his talents, but at least these two young wizards did. "I quite agree, young Weasels! Onward!"
With that, he snatched the parcel from Fred and sped off with a cackle. Dinner would be served soon, and these grubs would make quite the splash in the Great Hall.
WC: 340
