Chapter 29: The End of Term

"It's time," said Fred, as they all met in the library as usual.

"Time for what?" asked Harry.

"Time to test out our map on something BIG! We know it works, but now we need to do something proper, to let everyone know that pranking and our usual shenanigans can't be stopped by Snape having a map."

"Are you going to need me?" Harry asked, hoping the answer was no.

"No, but could we borrow your cloak?" asked George.

"Yes, I'll bring you it this evening," Harry replied, "Please don't get it confiscated, or if you do, please make it clear I wasn't involved."

"Of course," said George, "But we won't get caught."

"Pass me another mirror, would you?" whispered Fred.

George quietly passed Fred a mirror which Fred stuck to the wall. The mirror was shrunk, or, more accurately, it was a small hand held mirror that was charmed to appear full body height when it was observed. Every blind spot on the fourth floor contained mirrors. Not normal mirrors. That would be dull. There would be the usual, make you look fat or thin or wobbly mirrors, but it was more that there were also mirrors that would scream at you, and fire harmless shooting stars at you. The fourth floor became a maze. The mirrors were pointed at each other enough that corridor navigation would have more than one person walk into a wall.

Fred liked floor three best. Every blind spot contained an illusion of a creature. They were illusion bombs. They were set to go off at a specific time and release the illusion. The illusion wouldn't travel far from the bomb, but they looked damn realistic. While it's great to walk around a corner and see a unicorn, seeing a giant spider wasn't quite the same.

They were pleased with the second floor too. Every blind spot contained a hidden sprayer. A fine mist, coming from an invisible ball on the ceiling. They contained the same active ingredients that had been in the sweets before the holidays.

George liked the ground floor. There were less blindspots because there were more portraits, but they'd hung from the ceiling larger versions of the hats they'd made last year on their birthday. People could step under them and be invisible.

"How many more have we left?" asked Fred.

"Just half a dozen," answered George. "This has taken some time to set up, even with the cloak."

"But we know we've not been seen," said Fred, "No popping to Snape's office."

It was 12:30am. They'd left Gryffindor tower at 11pm. Late enough that the last member of staff had finished a curfew round, the blue dots had all disappeared, but they knew Snape would be idly watching his map for a while longer.

By 1am they were both back in their beds. The Fat Lady had grumbled at them, but Fred had promised to personally get proper cleaning materials and buff her frame the next day. She agreed not to say a word unless the Headmaster asked her.

At 6am the timed illusions came to life. They were all active when the students stepped out of their dorms.

The twins had chosen a Saturday to enact their prank. The last Saturday before the end of term. Exams had finished the day before. At least that way none of the staff could accuse them of disrupting their planned lessons or students' study.

There was chaos around school. Students were running up and down corridors, or into walls as the case may be on the mirrors corridor. A lot of first year girls were found up on the third floor oohing and aching at the baby unicorn. The hats in the entrance hall and the great hall were a hit. At one point a group of students were trying to play sardines and fit as many under them as they could. There were a lot of disembodied arms waving around in the air.

Dumbledore went to investigate the second floor. As did Filch and Mrs Norris. Dumbledore arrived at breakfast with blue hair and a green beard. Mrs Norris was now a red tabby. Filch was not pleased.

When the twins got to breakfast they got a standing ovation from the school.

"But we didn't do anything!" said Fred, innocently, "Why do you always assume it's us. George, did you report that someone had stolen our remaining invisible hats a while ago?"

"Sorry, Fred, I forgot," said George, the picture of false innocence.

When the student body had calmed down, they looked at the staff table. Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape had a silencing charm around them. Snape didn't look happy.

Severus marched into the great hall for breakfast and put up a charm around himself, Albus and Minerva.

"We all know it's the twins, Albus, what are you going to do with them?" he huffed.

Dumbledore stroked his green beard, "I rather like it, Severus, it's the end of term, and you've got to admit, there's some good magic in this. And a bit of necessary light hearted entertainment."

"Really, that's what you're going with?" replied Severus.

"You have the map, Severus," added Minerva, "Did you see them out last night?"

Severus sighed. "No, I didn't."

"Well then, I think that given you definitely caught all of them a couple of weeks ago, I think you need to admit that this round goes to the twins, don't you?" asked Minerva with a smile.

Snape just glowered. He hated losing, but if he admitted it to himself, that's what he was annoyed about, more than the prank. The prank was harmless, and was quite entertaining, but the twins had a way past his map. That annoyed him. He had been watching it last 'd just have to work it out and catch them next time.

Dumbledore cancelled the silencing charm. "Good morning everyone, happy last Saturday of term. As you can see, there have been some practical jokers busy recently. Do enjoy, but I expect it all gone by Monday!"

The last week of term, and the year, passed happily for everyone. Lessons were fun, and no homework was set. Hermione had finally stopped trying to ask people what they'd written for question six.

The group had gone outside to sit by Black Lake, as had many others, it was a beautiful day.

"Can we arrange to meet up during summer?" asked Dudley of the twins and Ron, Harry nodding along to the question.

"Your place or ours?" asked Fred.

Harry lay back in the sun and closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth on his face. Two years ago he had dreaded going home for the summer. Last summer had been an improvement, but this summer he truly believed things were better. His cousin was friends with the Weasley twins. The twins had done Dudley good. They'd channeled his darker creativities elsewhere. Sometimes Harry thought back to last year when Dudley had poisoned him. That was a serious low point, but Dudley was different now. That Dudley was gone. The past would never be erased. There would always be things Harry would think back on with resentment, but at least going forward would be better.

******Fin******