Fred peered around the corner. No Snape. He was in the cold dungeons, lurking near Professor Snape's classroom. Quickly, he scrambled into the room. After checking to see if anyone was coming, he grabbed several liquid and solid ingredients and poured them into a cauldron. Lastly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black round thing and added it to the cauldron. Muttering the incantation, he lit a fire beneath it. Stuffing his wand into his pocket, he hurried out of the room.
Checking often for any teachers, he waited at the end of the corridor. As he had hoped, thick black smoke began pouring out of the classroom.
Fred grinned evilly and started down the corridor, unfortunately running into the very teacher he had hoped not to.
"Mr. Weasley," came his oily voice, "what would a fourth-year Gryffindor be doing down in the dungeons on his Christmas holidays?"
"Oh, just taking a walk, Professor." He quickly glanced at his watch. "Well, I'd better be going. Got to get to the library to start working on that essay you assigned." He smiled and walked quickly past Snape. Once he was out of sight, he bolted down the corridor. Faintly, he could hear a deep, bellowing voice, and he had a feeling that it was bellowing his name. Knowing he would soon get detention, Fred ran off toward his common room.
By the time he reached Gryffindor Tower, however, Professor McGonagall was already waiting for him. Her arms were crossed and she wore a very sour expression on her face. "Come with me, Mr. Weasley."
Out of breath, Fred followed her to her office. "When?" he asked.
"Tomorrow morning and every morning for the next two weeks at six o'clock," she answered, anger in her tone. Suddenly she stopped walking and turned around. Her eyes were filled with disappointment. "What could possess you to do such a thing?" she demanded. "You could have caused serious damage to the school."
"Serious damage to the dungeons," he muttered.
"Pardon me?" she asked sharply.
"Nothing."
"So, why did you do it?" McGonagall repeated.
"Er…for fun?" he tried.
"Is that your answer? You did it for fun? Is that the best you can do, Weasley?" She frowned. "Your parents will be getting an owl about this." She sighed. "Fifty points from Gryffindor. Maybe next time you'll use better judgment when you decide to have some…fun." She frowned at him again and walked away.
Fred slowly turned around and, dragging his feet, went back to his common room. He spoke the password and the portrait hole swung open.
George looked up from a large stack of papers. "What happened? McGonagall came in here looking for you. Seemed a bit peeved."
Fred dropped into a chair. "Y'know how we were talking about testing Choker Smokers?"
George's eyes lit up in delight. "You tested them?"
Fred nodded. "On Snape. I put a few of his potions and a Choker Smoker into a cauldron and let it boil," he explained.
"How much smoke?" George asked eagerly.
"A lot. Thick black smoke too." Fred smiled. "I've got detention every morning for two weeks, but it was worth it, just to hear Snape screaming down the corridor." He paused. "Oh, yeah, I lost fifty points for us."
George shrugged. "It's expected of you." He went back to the stack of papers. Then, suddenly, his head shot back up. "I meant to tell you this!" he said excitedly. "I've got this idea for a candy that makes you tongue grow."
"Yeah?" Fred peered at the papers.
"Order forms," George said, responding to the puzzled look on his brother's face. "I figure people will buy our joke stuff. I mean, we've just got to bring a lot of it to school then we can sell it. I've got some things in my trunk already."
"How'd you get past Mum with all that?" Fred questioned.
George smiled. "Secret compartment. She didn't even think about looking for one." He looked at his watch. "Want to get some dinner?" Fred nodded. "Ron and Harry are up in their dormitory. I'll go get them." George got all the way to the stairs, and then he stopped. "You got a letter. From Angelina." He nodded toward the table.
Fred picked up the envelope and tore it open. Dear Fred,
I hope you're well. This might be a bit early, but Happy Christmas anyway. I'm sure you've been going against Oliver's word and haven't practiced Quidditch at all. He'd expect nothing less from you. I'm wishing I hadn't gone home for the holidays. It's quite boring down here without my friends to talk to. Maybe you could send me a letter. It would give me something to do. Well, I suppose I should stop, now that I've sufficiently bored you. See you in a few days, Fred.
Angelina
He folded up the letter and stuffed it into his robes. At that moment, George came down the stairs with Harry and Ron trailing behind. Together, they set off toward the Great Hall for dinner.