Hello everyone, this is my submission for round five of Season 9 of the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition. Thank you to my teammates: Cupcakeyyy and Wellwick for betaing this. I do not own any rights to Harry Potter; they belong to J.K. Rowling.
Chaser 1 Task: Laziness
Optional Prompts used:
3. (word) dangle
6. (dialogue) "You think you're so clever, don't you?"
12. (color) bronze
Word Count: 1776
Fred and George Weasley had always had a natural talent for joking about even before they had started their education at Hogwarts. The temptation to wind their family up (in particular, their mother, Molly) was just too enticing not to. It was like a carrot you could dangle in front of a rabbit, no matter whether it would get it or not.
School, however, was a different ball game entirely, with so many opportunities for mischief which ran alongside the dangerous risk of getting caught. The issue with the twins was a simple one: even though they were bright and had a raw aptitude for pranking, they were lazy with class work and homework. They would hand in assignments late, not follow instructions in class and cause constant distractions for their fellow students. They had gotten away with it for their first two years at the school but as they continued with their stretch of idleness, slacking off well into the first term of their third year, what they didn't yet realise was that things were about to change. And all because they had come to the attention of their Head of House – Professor McGonagall.
Minerva had taught all the Weasleys, even the parents, but the twins were a conundrum to her, albeit one she intended to solve. She had been informed by the other staff members of how the two red-headed boys had been acting in class. During their first year she had believed that they would grow out of the laziness. But alas, she had been wrong as it had continued not just into their second year but now their third. She could see they were smart, yet they chose not to use their intelligence, playing it off. The thing was she had always helped her students flourish and she was determined that these two unruly twins would shine, too. It was time that she sat down with them and had a talk – one she hoped would make them change their ways, because if they didn't, they would fail.
After lunch on Monday, the twins had been so engrossed in making more notes about ideas for joke creations which they kept in their Intermediate Transfiguration textbook which was red with bronze-gilded corners and a decorative bronze band which held the book shut around the middle, that they had failed to notice that the Great Hall was considerably emptier than it had been before. It was only when they looked up to see a few students sitting on each of the four long oak house tables that panic began to set in. They were late for their next class – Transfiguration.
"She's going to kill us," Fred said, fear laced in his voice.
"My thoughts exactly, brother of mine," George agreed.
They packed everything hurriedly into their bags before running out of the Great Hall and all the way to the Middle Courtyard where the classroom was situated. They skidded to a stop on the stone floor, panting from the exertion, their cheeks as red as their hair. Once they had regained their breath, they moved to the walnut door which seemed to loom over them threateningly – a warning of what was to come should they step inside and over the threshold.
Turning the door handle, the hinges screeched in protest as they opened it and stepped inside. Sunlight filtered in from the high windows in the large classroom. All the students along with Professor McGonagall, who was stood by one of the chalkboards that were situated on either side of her desk, had turned around to look at them.
Minerva had expected them to be late, but she wouldn't lie and say she wasn't disappointed because she was. She could see the shame and guilt clear as day on their faces. She knew her own face would look like thunder and she was right to feel and look so.
Fred and George watched as Angelina and Alicia looked at them with disdain before rolling their eyes and turning to face the front. Lee and Kenny shook their heads good naturedly in their direction. The next thing they knew, Professor McGonagall was striding down the aisle between a row of desks, it was clear from the look on her face that she was not amused by their lateness.
"Continuing as you mean to go on, I see," she said, her voice thick with disappointment as she peered at them both from behind her glasses. At their identical looks of confusion, she clarified, "You're late yet again."
"We're sorry, Professor," the twins said in unison, guilt clear in their russet-brown eyes. It hadn't bothered them much in the past, being late, but this time something had changed. Their stomachs were twisted in knots and they knew they were in the wrong. Professor McGonagall expected better of them and they had let her down.
"We lost track of time," George explained, even though he knew it was a lame excuse.
"If I had a Galleon for every time, I heard that, I'd be able to retire," she quipped, the sarcasm like venom on her tongue. "Perhaps you should both invest in Rememberalls." They were good students but their laziness was getting worse and it was sad to see. "Do I dare ask if you have done the homework I set?"
As if on cue, the boys scrambled into their satchels and took out two pieces of parchment, not realising that one was slightly heavier than the other.
Taking the scrolls from their hands, she said, "Instructions as to which chapter is to be read are on the board. Take your seats." Her tone clipped, she turned on her heel and made her way back to her desk.
The twins did as they were told, taking residence at their desk on the left side of Lee and Kenny. As they placed their books and equipment on the table, Fred nudged George with gentle urgency.
"What is it?"
"The notes, the ones we wrote at lunch… they're gone," Fred said, clearly panicked as he motioned to the red textbook with bronze-gilded corners and the adorning bronze band around the middle that he usually folded the notes into, the pages void of any spare folded up sheets.
Their faces blanched with worry as they looked towards the Professor's desk.
While the students read the chapter that she'd set out for them, it gave Minerva ample time to mark the assignments. As she began to pore over the twins' rushed attempts, her gaze had caught at a sheet poking from beneath Fred's essay, altering her focus. It was a neat list of ideas for joke creations.
Glancing up from the papers on her desk she met the worried glances of the twins. "I'd like to see you both in my office after class."
They nodded their acquiescence, already dreading the detention that was obviously on the cards for them; even if the Professor hadn't said as such, they just knew.
Throughout the remainder of the lesson, the twins followed the instructions on the board, reading the selected chapter that had been set before making diligent notes while listening to McGonagall teach them.
When the class was over, the twins packed their things away and followed the Professor into her office. Inside there was a large fireplace to the right, flames crackling pleasantly in the hearth, the walls were lined with bookcases with books of different sizes, shapes and colours. The long windows looked out upon the Quidditch pitch and training grounds.
Professor McGonagall motioned to the seats opposite her desk as she sat down, her hands clasped on the desk, her eyes focussed on them. "Take a seat, both of you." She knew that if she was to get through to both of them, she would need to dangle their errors in front of them, it was the only way.
They did as they were told, perching on the edge of the chairs, not daring to move back and get comfortable, a nervous energy wrapping around them.
Minerva took her spectacles off to rub her eyes before putting the glasses back on. "You think you're so clever, don't you? Late for classes, homework and classwork under par. Do you honestly think us teachers haven't noticed?"
"We're sorry…"
She held up a hand to stop them. "I'm not finished. I'm disappointed in both of you, I thought you'd be like your brothers – hardworking. You are, but your laziness is an issue: it has taken root in both of you. You will not succeed if you carry on this way and from reading these notes that you made it's clear what you both wish to do when you leave school. I have to say that these ideas are clever, but the fact of the matter is you will need to pass all your classes – in particular mine, Potions and Charms as you will need them if you want to follow your dreams."
When she looked at them, she could see the understanding dawn on their faces.
They did understand; while she was angry, they knew it was because she wanted the best for them and at the moment, their laziness was the thing that was holding them back.
"So, we don't have detention?" George asked.
Minerva couldn't help but laugh softly at the question. "Oh, you have detention tonight, but I'd like to discuss a few things with you both in that time, perhaps lend you a few books that you may study. I'm happy for you to make notes of your ideas but not in class and not at the expense of your studies."
"So, you're saying in our free time?" Fred queried.
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. Do we have an understanding?" She raised her eyebrows expectantly. From the relief on their faces, she already knew the answer.
Fred and George nodded. She'd given them a second chance and they weren't about to waste it. "Yes, Professor. We'll do better from now on, we promise."
Professor McGonagall smiled, knowing she had gotten through to them finally.
"I will see you both tonight, seven o'clock."
"We won't be late, Professor."
She handed the notes over and watched as they went to leave her office.
Pausing in the doorway, George turned and said, "Thank you, Professor McGonagall."
Fred smiled at her and then they were gone. The twins knew that they couldn't be lazy anymore and they were determined not to be, not just because of what they wanted to do in the future but to make McGonagall proud.
They had learnt the error of their ways. Now it was time for change.
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I'll see you all soon,
S L Blake x