Disclaimer: The only thing that is mine is the plot. J.K. Rowling owns
everything else.
Chapter 2 ~ No Joke
The three of them left the Three Broomsticks and were still laughing when they were walking in the streets of Hogsmeade. The streets were very crowded since all of the students in Hogwarts who were 3rd years and up were allowed to go to Hogsmeade that weekend.
Desperate to get out of the crowds, Harry said, "Why don't we stop by 'The Joke's On You'?"
"Isn't that the Weasley twins' shop?" Remus asked.
"Yeah. They must be making a lot of money today. Their store is a big hit at Hogwarts. Well, maybe not all of Hogwarts, just the students. The teachers aren't thrilled with all of the items made to play jokes on teachers. I can't blame them, though. Some of the tricks have been dangerous," Harry said trying to sound sympathetic for them, but unable to get rid of the smirk on his face.
Sounding worried, Remus asked, "What do you mean that some of them have been dangerous?"
"Take this for example. They've got pieces of parchment that if a teacher tries to mark something wrong on it, it'll bite them. That's my personal favorite. I've been getting a lot less things marked wrong on my tests and homework," laughed Harry.
"I always knew I liked those kids," Sirius said, joining Harry laughing.
"What does Dumbledore do about this?" Remus asked.
"Nothing! Ok, well, he does do something. He laughs at it! He says that the teachers need more of a sense of humor."
"That's Dumbledore for ya. Always a joker at heart," Sirius said still laughing.
Finally, they arrived at "The Joke's On You". Harry was right; the store was packed with Hogwarts students. After a while, the students finished their shopping, so Harry, Remus, and Sirius were able to go and greet Fred and George.
"Hey Harry! What brings you here? Need more of the biting parchment?" Fred asked.
"No, I've got a pretty big stock at home. We just came to say hi," replied Harry. "Is Ron here by any chance?"
"Actually, he is. He's in the back checking what we need to make more of. I think Hermione is back there, too," George said.
"Ok. Mind if I go back there to say hi?"
"No problem, Harry. Just don't steal anything," George said laughing.
As Harry was walking to the back of the store, he heard Sirius ask the twins if they could show him some of their new jokes.
Better not take anything from Sirius, Harry thought.
"Hey Harry!" Ron and Hermione said in unison.
"Hey guys! Got anything really cool back here?"
"Not really. It's just the same stuff my brother's keep out there. Except for this," while saying that, Ron held up what appeared to be a crystal ball.
"What does it do?" Harry asked.
"That's what we've been trying to figure out," Hermione sounding a little upset with the fact that she wasn't able to do something.
"Let me see it," Harry said. He couldn't figure out how to get it to work, so he brought it to the front of the shop to ask Fred and George how to get it to work.
"Oh, that doesn't really do anything," George replied when Harry asked.
"We tried to get it to tell a person what kind of joke they should play on a person, but it never worked," said Fred lowering his head when he came to the point of them not being able to get it to work.
"What was the person supposed to do to get it to work?" Harry asked.
"They would have to trace their initials on it with their finger," replied Fred. After Fred said this, Harry traced his initials on it. Much to everyone's surprise, something began to happen. The crystal ball became very cloudy and then in a very loud voice said, "The battle that will change your life is coming soon, Harry Potter. It is you who will affect who lives and who dies."
Harry dropped the crystal ball and it shattered. Remus and Sirius, seeing how upset he looked, rushed over to him to make sure he was ok.
"That wasn't funny!" yelled Sirius.
"We didn't know that would happen!" exclaimed Fred.
"Honestly! It never worked before!" shouted George.
Harry, still a bit shaken up, said, "I want to leave."
As Sirius, Remus, and Harry went to leave, Fred and George were still apologizing, but Harry didn't say anything to them. He wasn't mad at them, he knew they would never play a joke like that on him, but he wanted to leave as quickly as possible. As he went to open the door, he noticed Hedwig on a bench holding a letter for him. For Hedwig to come out during the day, Harry knew the note was important.
Chapter 2 ~ No Joke
The three of them left the Three Broomsticks and were still laughing when they were walking in the streets of Hogsmeade. The streets were very crowded since all of the students in Hogwarts who were 3rd years and up were allowed to go to Hogsmeade that weekend.
Desperate to get out of the crowds, Harry said, "Why don't we stop by 'The Joke's On You'?"
"Isn't that the Weasley twins' shop?" Remus asked.
"Yeah. They must be making a lot of money today. Their store is a big hit at Hogwarts. Well, maybe not all of Hogwarts, just the students. The teachers aren't thrilled with all of the items made to play jokes on teachers. I can't blame them, though. Some of the tricks have been dangerous," Harry said trying to sound sympathetic for them, but unable to get rid of the smirk on his face.
Sounding worried, Remus asked, "What do you mean that some of them have been dangerous?"
"Take this for example. They've got pieces of parchment that if a teacher tries to mark something wrong on it, it'll bite them. That's my personal favorite. I've been getting a lot less things marked wrong on my tests and homework," laughed Harry.
"I always knew I liked those kids," Sirius said, joining Harry laughing.
"What does Dumbledore do about this?" Remus asked.
"Nothing! Ok, well, he does do something. He laughs at it! He says that the teachers need more of a sense of humor."
"That's Dumbledore for ya. Always a joker at heart," Sirius said still laughing.
Finally, they arrived at "The Joke's On You". Harry was right; the store was packed with Hogwarts students. After a while, the students finished their shopping, so Harry, Remus, and Sirius were able to go and greet Fred and George.
"Hey Harry! What brings you here? Need more of the biting parchment?" Fred asked.
"No, I've got a pretty big stock at home. We just came to say hi," replied Harry. "Is Ron here by any chance?"
"Actually, he is. He's in the back checking what we need to make more of. I think Hermione is back there, too," George said.
"Ok. Mind if I go back there to say hi?"
"No problem, Harry. Just don't steal anything," George said laughing.
As Harry was walking to the back of the store, he heard Sirius ask the twins if they could show him some of their new jokes.
Better not take anything from Sirius, Harry thought.
"Hey Harry!" Ron and Hermione said in unison.
"Hey guys! Got anything really cool back here?"
"Not really. It's just the same stuff my brother's keep out there. Except for this," while saying that, Ron held up what appeared to be a crystal ball.
"What does it do?" Harry asked.
"That's what we've been trying to figure out," Hermione sounding a little upset with the fact that she wasn't able to do something.
"Let me see it," Harry said. He couldn't figure out how to get it to work, so he brought it to the front of the shop to ask Fred and George how to get it to work.
"Oh, that doesn't really do anything," George replied when Harry asked.
"We tried to get it to tell a person what kind of joke they should play on a person, but it never worked," said Fred lowering his head when he came to the point of them not being able to get it to work.
"What was the person supposed to do to get it to work?" Harry asked.
"They would have to trace their initials on it with their finger," replied Fred. After Fred said this, Harry traced his initials on it. Much to everyone's surprise, something began to happen. The crystal ball became very cloudy and then in a very loud voice said, "The battle that will change your life is coming soon, Harry Potter. It is you who will affect who lives and who dies."
Harry dropped the crystal ball and it shattered. Remus and Sirius, seeing how upset he looked, rushed over to him to make sure he was ok.
"That wasn't funny!" yelled Sirius.
"We didn't know that would happen!" exclaimed Fred.
"Honestly! It never worked before!" shouted George.
Harry, still a bit shaken up, said, "I want to leave."
As Sirius, Remus, and Harry went to leave, Fred and George were still apologizing, but Harry didn't say anything to them. He wasn't mad at them, he knew they would never play a joke like that on him, but he wanted to leave as quickly as possible. As he went to open the door, he noticed Hedwig on a bench holding a letter for him. For Hedwig to come out during the day, Harry knew the note was important.
