A/N: Thanks to my first and so far only reviewer L.M. Frickendorffer. I'm
glad you liked chapter one. Plus I'm sorry I took so long to write this
chapter. Currently in the middle of a hectic time – doing Year 12 VCE and
it is SAC after SAC after SAC! I'll never get a break. Unit 1 exams are
in two weeks as well.
Argh! Anyway – enjoy.
Chapter 2: Losing Their Touch.
Fred and George Weasley were Hogwarts greatest pranksters. Well, all thanks to Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. But still, they were famous for causing trouble. And then getting into trouble. But what they did was worth every detention. If a toilet seat suddenly disappeared and turned up on Professor Flitwicks desk, or if Dungbombs went off in the corridors, you knew it was the work of the Weasley Twins. They hoped to be able to continue their work after they finished Hogwarts by starting their own joke shop. Of course, this was not approved by their mother…then again, nothing ever was. This was their final year at Hogwarts, and they decided they wanted to finish with a bang. To go down in Hogwarts history as the all-time greatest pranksters. But things seemed to be happening that could place this dream in jeopardy. It all started as they were walking to their second class, which happened to be potions. Not exactly their favourite subject. Turning a corner, they heard a very small Hufflepuff girl say something that made their ears perk up with interest.
"That's what Hogwarts needs" she had said, "someone who will make
people laugh!"
Fred and George stopped in mid step, and in unison turned around to follow the girl who said the words. But at that moment a wave of first years came out of their Transfiguration class, followed by Professor McGonagall.
She looked at them suspiciously and said, "I hope you two are going to class."
"Of course, Professor," George said.
Fred looked innocently at her. "Where else would we be going?"
"Do you really need me to answer that?" she muttered blankly, raising her eyebrow before returning back to the room.
Both Fred and George looked about them. There was no sign of the small Hufflepuff girl.
"Where did she go?"
"Hang on, that's her there. Walking out to the courtyard. Come on." Fred grabbed on to his brother's robe and pulled him towards the door. Hiding behind the shrub where she was sitting with her Ravenclaw friend, they listened into the conversation.
"Can you hear what they are talking about?" Fred asked.
George leaned closer, but lost his balance and nearly toppled over. Fred pulled George up, and gave him a 'gee, do you want to give us away' look. When they looked back, they noticed that both the Hufflepuff and the Ravenclaw had disappeared off to class.
"Good one, George," Fred mumbled. "Always the clumsy one."
Seriously considering cursing his brother at that moment, George decided against it and said, "I suppose we had better get to class too. I have the feeling McGonagall is watching us."
Upon entering the dungeons for their first Potions class, they were greeted by an extremely enraged Professor Snape. He was standing at the front of the classroom glaring threatening at anyone who looked at him. They sat at the desk furthermost away from Snape and prepared for class.
"What do you think is up with him?" George whispered to his brother, nodding his head towards Snape. Fred shrugged.
When the entire class had arrived, Snape went through the usually routine for Gryffindor of explaining what the year had in store for them and deducting points.
"Whatever happened that is making him like this must have been really bad," Fred stated the obvious.
Lee Jordan leaned over to the twins from his cauldron and asked if they had any newt eyes left. "I've run out," he said.
"Nope, I'm dry too," George said, looking at his jar. "Hey, do you know what Snape's deal is today?"
Lee's eyes widened. "You mean you haven't heard? Wow, it was the only thing most of the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were talking about between class before."
"We were a bit preoccupied," Fred said, looking up at the front of the class to make sure Snape wasn't listening. "So…what happened?"
Lee took a deep breath. "Well, a Hufflepuff girl created some sort of monster that tried to bite Snape's leg off last class. The whole room erupted with laughter – thought it was hilarious. However, I don't think Snape did though."
"Why didn't we think of that, George?"
"We must be losing our touch," George joked.
Lee's smile faded. "That's what some of the Hufflepuffs said. They said that it topped something you guys would do." Lee went back to his own cauldron, leaving the twins in silence.
Fred and George quietly walked into the Great Hall for lunch, which was quite odd for them because they liked making big entrances. But their minds were on more important matters this time. Like their reputation as pranksters. Sitting at the Gryffindor table, all they could do was look into the distance, saying nothing. As if being knocked over, George slumped his head onto the table.
"Do you think we are losing our touch, Fred?" he asked. But Fred looked as though he was in a trance. "Fred?"
"Huh? Oh, I don't know."
Fred and George didn't notice when their youngest brother, Ron, sat down across the table from them with his two friends, Hermione Granger and the famous Harry Potter.
"What's wrong with you two?" Ron questioned curiously. "Let me guess, one of your pranks went wrong."
Fred looked as though he was going to cry. "Worse, we're losing our touch. We aren't Hogwarts' greatest pranksters anymore."
"Losing your touch? That's impossible!" Harry said, reassuringly. "What makes you think that?"
"Hufflepuffs think we come second best to a girl who nearly got Snape eaten by a giant monster."
Ron laughed. "So you heard about that! Hey, why didn't you two think that one up?"
Fred sighed. "We have asked ourselves that."
At that moment, dozens of owls swooped over the student's heads dropping letters and packages. Fred and George noticed that as Harry got a letter his eyes widened with surprise, and he turned to Ron and Hermione.
"Hey, I got a letter from Snuffles," Harry whispered. But if he was trying to hide this fact from the twins, it didn't work. They looked at each other, but agreed not to mention anything at the time being. Snuffles was probably just a nick-name for someone at the school. Fred and George sat waiting for mail, but nothing came.
"Gee, we're in demand!" Fred said sarcastically.
"What was the girls name?" George wondered. "You know, the one who did it. We never actually found out."
Harry sat up a bit from his seat to get a good look at the Hufflepuff table. "She's Jake Stebbins' best friend. You know, the Ravenclaw chaser. Ah, there she is. Right next to Stebbins." Harry pointed at the far end on the Great Hall.
Fred and George turned around and saw that the person that Harry was pointing at was none other than the girl that had been following before their potions class.
Harry sat back down. "Her name is Sarah Fawcett."
Sarah was becoming a bit of a celebrity to the Hufflepuffs. The incident in Potions that morning had spread to nearly the entire school. People she didn't even know were patting her on the back and shaking her hand to congratulate her.
"Don't let it get to your head," Jake said, smiling at her.
"I won't! Well, maybe I will just a little."
Sarah picked up her large, fluffy chocolate muffin with hunger in her eyes. "I have been waiting for this since breakfast!"
But just as Sarah was about to put it in her mouth, she heard a "POOF!" noise and realised that her hand was holding thin air. Her muffin had disappeared. She looked with disbelief, which shortly turned to anger when she heard Jake laughing. "All right, very funny! What did you do with my muffin?"
"It's you're fault for not paying attention in Transfiguration. I did what we just learnt!"
"I know what we just learnt…" she started, but finally admitted that she wasn't paying attention. Then it dawned on her. Another brilliant idea.
"Oh no," Jake said, "I know that look. You've just had another 'brilliant idea'."
Sarah gave him a huge grin. "How did you know? Now can I have my muffin back, please?"
With a wave of his wand, the chocolate muffin appeared in her hand. Jake looked up from the table and saw that Fred and George Weasley were looking over in their direction. He turned backed to Sarah and said, "Don't look, but I think you have gained some attention from a certain pair of red- headed Gryffindors."
"What?" she spurted out. "Fred and George Weasley? Why?"
"How would I know?"
Sarah winced. "You don't think they hate me because of some of the Hufflepuffs remarks that they are 'losing their touch'?"
Jake just shrugged.
"Well you're a great help. Now I feel terrible. Should I go and apologise?" Sarah was beginning to panic. She admired the twins a great deal and hated to think that they thought she was trying to steal their limelight.
"I'm sure they just wanted to see the person who created the Snape-eating- goo," he said, trying to calm her.
Sarah breathed deep. "Right. Of course they are." Sarah sat looking at the table for a few seconds before getting up in a hurry saying, "I'm going to the library. Do you want to come?"
"What for?"
"My brilliant idea, remember. I have to tell you what it is."
Jake didn't look very happy about spending his lunch in the library, but followed Sarah anyway.
At Gryffindor table, Fred and George, (who had watched Sarah and Jake leave the Great Hall), stood up to leave.
"Well goodbye all," Fred said.
George stole a sideways glance at the huge door to the Great Hall. "We've got business to attend to."
The Hogwarts Library was empty apart from Sarah and Jake, who were sitting at one of the study tables that was crowded by a lot of heavy, leather books, (which the two were trying to hide behind so that Madam Pince wouldn't get suspicious). Fred and George quietly snuck in and sat down at the table next to them.
"So Fred," George said loudly, trying to make it obvious that they were seeking their attention, "did you hear what happened in Snape's Potions class?"
"Yes I did George. Pure genius. Wish I had thought of it."
Sarah and Jake slowly looked up at the twins. Sarah tried to say something, but all that came out was a few nervous mumbles. In fact, she was so nervous she clumsily knocked over one of the piles of books on the table, receiving a stern look from Madam Pince.
"What was that again?" George asked.
Sarah pleaded with Jake to say something, and he rolled his eyes. "Sorry about Sarah, her vocal chords have temporarily shut down. I think she wants to apologise for what some of the Hufflepuffs have been saying about you two."
Fred and George chorused, "Forgiven," and Sarah sighed with relief.
But they weren't going to leave it there. "So what are you two up to?" Fred asked. "We, ah, overheard some of the things you said about how this school needs laughter…"
"…And we want to know if you need help."
Sarah stared at them, her eyes wide in shock. "You want to help me?"
Jake coughed. "And Jake – me and Jake."
"Yeah! Wouldn't miss out on something like this. So, what have you planned so far?"
Sarah looked around to make sure no one was listening and told the twins what she and Jake had thought of so far.
"Not bad. Think it might work," George said. "Only problem is, how are you going to get that many of them?"
Sarah grinned. "That's where you two come into it."
Author's Note: I think I know where I'm going with this. All (well most) will be revealed next chapter (eg. the brilliant idea). Even more Harry next time for those who adore the Boy Who Lived. But he won't be a major character until Chapter 4.
Please review and tell me what you thought – plus any good ideas for pranks.
Argh! Anyway – enjoy.
Chapter 2: Losing Their Touch.
Fred and George Weasley were Hogwarts greatest pranksters. Well, all thanks to Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. But still, they were famous for causing trouble. And then getting into trouble. But what they did was worth every detention. If a toilet seat suddenly disappeared and turned up on Professor Flitwicks desk, or if Dungbombs went off in the corridors, you knew it was the work of the Weasley Twins. They hoped to be able to continue their work after they finished Hogwarts by starting their own joke shop. Of course, this was not approved by their mother…then again, nothing ever was. This was their final year at Hogwarts, and they decided they wanted to finish with a bang. To go down in Hogwarts history as the all-time greatest pranksters. But things seemed to be happening that could place this dream in jeopardy. It all started as they were walking to their second class, which happened to be potions. Not exactly their favourite subject. Turning a corner, they heard a very small Hufflepuff girl say something that made their ears perk up with interest.
"That's what Hogwarts needs" she had said, "someone who will make
people laugh!"
Fred and George stopped in mid step, and in unison turned around to follow the girl who said the words. But at that moment a wave of first years came out of their Transfiguration class, followed by Professor McGonagall.
She looked at them suspiciously and said, "I hope you two are going to class."
"Of course, Professor," George said.
Fred looked innocently at her. "Where else would we be going?"
"Do you really need me to answer that?" she muttered blankly, raising her eyebrow before returning back to the room.
Both Fred and George looked about them. There was no sign of the small Hufflepuff girl.
"Where did she go?"
"Hang on, that's her there. Walking out to the courtyard. Come on." Fred grabbed on to his brother's robe and pulled him towards the door. Hiding behind the shrub where she was sitting with her Ravenclaw friend, they listened into the conversation.
"Can you hear what they are talking about?" Fred asked.
George leaned closer, but lost his balance and nearly toppled over. Fred pulled George up, and gave him a 'gee, do you want to give us away' look. When they looked back, they noticed that both the Hufflepuff and the Ravenclaw had disappeared off to class.
"Good one, George," Fred mumbled. "Always the clumsy one."
Seriously considering cursing his brother at that moment, George decided against it and said, "I suppose we had better get to class too. I have the feeling McGonagall is watching us."
Upon entering the dungeons for their first Potions class, they were greeted by an extremely enraged Professor Snape. He was standing at the front of the classroom glaring threatening at anyone who looked at him. They sat at the desk furthermost away from Snape and prepared for class.
"What do you think is up with him?" George whispered to his brother, nodding his head towards Snape. Fred shrugged.
When the entire class had arrived, Snape went through the usually routine for Gryffindor of explaining what the year had in store for them and deducting points.
"Whatever happened that is making him like this must have been really bad," Fred stated the obvious.
Lee Jordan leaned over to the twins from his cauldron and asked if they had any newt eyes left. "I've run out," he said.
"Nope, I'm dry too," George said, looking at his jar. "Hey, do you know what Snape's deal is today?"
Lee's eyes widened. "You mean you haven't heard? Wow, it was the only thing most of the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were talking about between class before."
"We were a bit preoccupied," Fred said, looking up at the front of the class to make sure Snape wasn't listening. "So…what happened?"
Lee took a deep breath. "Well, a Hufflepuff girl created some sort of monster that tried to bite Snape's leg off last class. The whole room erupted with laughter – thought it was hilarious. However, I don't think Snape did though."
"Why didn't we think of that, George?"
"We must be losing our touch," George joked.
Lee's smile faded. "That's what some of the Hufflepuffs said. They said that it topped something you guys would do." Lee went back to his own cauldron, leaving the twins in silence.
Fred and George quietly walked into the Great Hall for lunch, which was quite odd for them because they liked making big entrances. But their minds were on more important matters this time. Like their reputation as pranksters. Sitting at the Gryffindor table, all they could do was look into the distance, saying nothing. As if being knocked over, George slumped his head onto the table.
"Do you think we are losing our touch, Fred?" he asked. But Fred looked as though he was in a trance. "Fred?"
"Huh? Oh, I don't know."
Fred and George didn't notice when their youngest brother, Ron, sat down across the table from them with his two friends, Hermione Granger and the famous Harry Potter.
"What's wrong with you two?" Ron questioned curiously. "Let me guess, one of your pranks went wrong."
Fred looked as though he was going to cry. "Worse, we're losing our touch. We aren't Hogwarts' greatest pranksters anymore."
"Losing your touch? That's impossible!" Harry said, reassuringly. "What makes you think that?"
"Hufflepuffs think we come second best to a girl who nearly got Snape eaten by a giant monster."
Ron laughed. "So you heard about that! Hey, why didn't you two think that one up?"
Fred sighed. "We have asked ourselves that."
At that moment, dozens of owls swooped over the student's heads dropping letters and packages. Fred and George noticed that as Harry got a letter his eyes widened with surprise, and he turned to Ron and Hermione.
"Hey, I got a letter from Snuffles," Harry whispered. But if he was trying to hide this fact from the twins, it didn't work. They looked at each other, but agreed not to mention anything at the time being. Snuffles was probably just a nick-name for someone at the school. Fred and George sat waiting for mail, but nothing came.
"Gee, we're in demand!" Fred said sarcastically.
"What was the girls name?" George wondered. "You know, the one who did it. We never actually found out."
Harry sat up a bit from his seat to get a good look at the Hufflepuff table. "She's Jake Stebbins' best friend. You know, the Ravenclaw chaser. Ah, there she is. Right next to Stebbins." Harry pointed at the far end on the Great Hall.
Fred and George turned around and saw that the person that Harry was pointing at was none other than the girl that had been following before their potions class.
Harry sat back down. "Her name is Sarah Fawcett."
Sarah was becoming a bit of a celebrity to the Hufflepuffs. The incident in Potions that morning had spread to nearly the entire school. People she didn't even know were patting her on the back and shaking her hand to congratulate her.
"Don't let it get to your head," Jake said, smiling at her.
"I won't! Well, maybe I will just a little."
Sarah picked up her large, fluffy chocolate muffin with hunger in her eyes. "I have been waiting for this since breakfast!"
But just as Sarah was about to put it in her mouth, she heard a "POOF!" noise and realised that her hand was holding thin air. Her muffin had disappeared. She looked with disbelief, which shortly turned to anger when she heard Jake laughing. "All right, very funny! What did you do with my muffin?"
"It's you're fault for not paying attention in Transfiguration. I did what we just learnt!"
"I know what we just learnt…" she started, but finally admitted that she wasn't paying attention. Then it dawned on her. Another brilliant idea.
"Oh no," Jake said, "I know that look. You've just had another 'brilliant idea'."
Sarah gave him a huge grin. "How did you know? Now can I have my muffin back, please?"
With a wave of his wand, the chocolate muffin appeared in her hand. Jake looked up from the table and saw that Fred and George Weasley were looking over in their direction. He turned backed to Sarah and said, "Don't look, but I think you have gained some attention from a certain pair of red- headed Gryffindors."
"What?" she spurted out. "Fred and George Weasley? Why?"
"How would I know?"
Sarah winced. "You don't think they hate me because of some of the Hufflepuffs remarks that they are 'losing their touch'?"
Jake just shrugged.
"Well you're a great help. Now I feel terrible. Should I go and apologise?" Sarah was beginning to panic. She admired the twins a great deal and hated to think that they thought she was trying to steal their limelight.
"I'm sure they just wanted to see the person who created the Snape-eating- goo," he said, trying to calm her.
Sarah breathed deep. "Right. Of course they are." Sarah sat looking at the table for a few seconds before getting up in a hurry saying, "I'm going to the library. Do you want to come?"
"What for?"
"My brilliant idea, remember. I have to tell you what it is."
Jake didn't look very happy about spending his lunch in the library, but followed Sarah anyway.
At Gryffindor table, Fred and George, (who had watched Sarah and Jake leave the Great Hall), stood up to leave.
"Well goodbye all," Fred said.
George stole a sideways glance at the huge door to the Great Hall. "We've got business to attend to."
The Hogwarts Library was empty apart from Sarah and Jake, who were sitting at one of the study tables that was crowded by a lot of heavy, leather books, (which the two were trying to hide behind so that Madam Pince wouldn't get suspicious). Fred and George quietly snuck in and sat down at the table next to them.
"So Fred," George said loudly, trying to make it obvious that they were seeking their attention, "did you hear what happened in Snape's Potions class?"
"Yes I did George. Pure genius. Wish I had thought of it."
Sarah and Jake slowly looked up at the twins. Sarah tried to say something, but all that came out was a few nervous mumbles. In fact, she was so nervous she clumsily knocked over one of the piles of books on the table, receiving a stern look from Madam Pince.
"What was that again?" George asked.
Sarah pleaded with Jake to say something, and he rolled his eyes. "Sorry about Sarah, her vocal chords have temporarily shut down. I think she wants to apologise for what some of the Hufflepuffs have been saying about you two."
Fred and George chorused, "Forgiven," and Sarah sighed with relief.
But they weren't going to leave it there. "So what are you two up to?" Fred asked. "We, ah, overheard some of the things you said about how this school needs laughter…"
"…And we want to know if you need help."
Sarah stared at them, her eyes wide in shock. "You want to help me?"
Jake coughed. "And Jake – me and Jake."
"Yeah! Wouldn't miss out on something like this. So, what have you planned so far?"
Sarah looked around to make sure no one was listening and told the twins what she and Jake had thought of so far.
"Not bad. Think it might work," George said. "Only problem is, how are you going to get that many of them?"
Sarah grinned. "That's where you two come into it."
Author's Note: I think I know where I'm going with this. All (well most) will be revealed next chapter (eg. the brilliant idea). Even more Harry next time for those who adore the Boy Who Lived. But he won't be a major character until Chapter 4.
Please review and tell me what you thought – plus any good ideas for pranks.