A/N: Hullo! This is one of fav chappies because I got to write George and Fred. I think they are the best characters after Ron of course and it goes into a bit more depth on R/Hness, for all you wonderful R/Hers out there! *blows a kiss* Thanx to those who reviewed chappie two.
Natalie Potter: See author's notes.
Burgundy: I agree I love that plot twist too. I think it wil happen.
Cheese Diva: Yes I made Dean evil, you like? Mua-hahaha!
Chapter 3: An Unpleasant Surprise
"Come on Harry. Get up we've got to go eat breakfast. Mum says our Hogwarts letters will be here any moment."
Harry heard Ron's muffled voice from underneath his pillow. He had been having the strangest dream. He was flying high on a broomstick and he was flying fast because he was late for a wedding--Ron and Hermione's wedding. And just when he got there Hermione came running out of the church saying that purple bunnies were attacking the church and they had to leave now, because Ron had been bitten by one and he had turned into a rabbit too.
"Wait a second. You can't be turned into a rabbit by having one bite you!" he said when it all sunk in.
"What? Harry I think you need some breakfast. NOW!" Ron pulled Harry up off the bed and told him to get dressed.
"I'm starving," Ron said as they walked in the room, "I could eat a Blast-Ended Skrewt!"
"I doubt it," Hermione said with a smile. Everyone laughed.
Harry took a seat in between Ron and Hermione and then started to fill his plate with scrambled eggs and bacon. Just as he was about to tuck in Hermes came flying through the open window dropping a letter onto each of their plates. Harry brushed the scrambled eggs off his letter and opened it up to examine the new book list.
"Oh my gosh!" Hermione's voice said.
Harry looked up at Hermione not quite expecting anything.
"What?" he asked.
Now everyone was looking at Hermione.
"I…I…I'm Head Girl!"
"Why am I not surprised?" George said, shoveling more eggs onto his plate.
"That's wonderful, Hermione, dear!" Mrs. Weasley said, getting up to attend to the next batch of bacon that was cooking on the stove.
Harry looked at Ron who was still staring at his letter trying to decide whether to open it or not. He looked up at Harry.
"Are you Head Boy?" Ron asked him so that nobody else could hear.
Harry shook his head. "Nope."
"Crud." Ron slowly opened his Hogwarts letter. Nobody was watching him, which Harry thought was a good thing.
Harry leaned over to look at Ron's letter and saw:
Mr. Weasley,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been chosen to be Hogwarts Head Boy this year with Hogwarts Head Girl, Hermione Granger. Please report to the front car of the Hogwarts Express on September 1st. There you will be given instructions and the instructions to give the new prefects. Congratulations!
Minerva McGonagall Head Mistress
Albus Dumbledore Head Master
"Well done, Ron," Harry said clapping Ron on the back.
"Well done, Ron, what?" Fred said and then he smirked and grasped his letter.
"Oh my goodness gracious Ron we are so proud of you!" he said mockingly.
"You be sure to put all those little kids in their place, now you here?" George said smirking at him.
"But I'm sure if you can't manage, Hermione can help you, eh little brother?" Fred said nudging him.
"What's going on?" said Mrs. Weasley. She had completely missed the excitement.
"Oh my goodness, Mum, didn't you hear? Ron's been made Head Boy, with Hermione." George said putting an extra emphasis on Hermione's name and nudging Ron slightly.
"Oh!" Mrs. Weasley almost dropped the plate of bacon she was holding, "Ron! That's wonderful! Oh this is great Ron Head Boy and Hermione Head Girl! This is fabulous! I am so proud of you, baby!" She had begun to hug and kiss him just as she had done in his 5th year when he had become a prefect.
"Mum, get off of me. It's not a big deal."
"It is a big deal, Ron," Mrs. Weasley said beaming at him. "It's wonderful. I am very proud of both of you!"
Harry looked over at Hermione who was smiling at Ron with a very admirable look on her face that Harry had never seen her use before.
"But Mum," said Fred grinning at his twin, "Isn't it funny that Ron became Head Boy and *Hermione* is Head Girl?"
Mrs. Weasley looked puzzled.
"I don't see why that's funny. They are in Gryffindor and they were prefects. So of course they were picked."
"Oh we know that it just seems funny that you know it's *Ron and Hermione*. I mean they were prefect *together* and now they're Head *Boy and Girl*," George said grinning bigger than ever.
Harry looked at Ron and Hermione who were both staring down at their plates glowing bright red. It seemed like neither of them had the nerve to stop the twins from being so awful. Harry felt bad that he wasn't stopping them, but then again what would he say? He had noticed the same thing and found it rather funny too.
"That's enough of that both of you!" Mrs. Weasley snapped as she realized what the twins meant. "Ron and Hermione were picked to be Head Boy and Girl because they are good students. Nothing else." She sat down and began eating her bacon and didn't talk about anything else.
After breakfast was cleared Harry and Ron went upstairs to get their cloaks so that they could go to Diagon Alley. Ron didn't look at Harry the whole way up to his bedroom. When they were behind closed doors he turned to Harry.
"One of these days I am going to embarrass the twins so badly! I don't know what I'll do, but it's going to be good. It'll be pay back for all the misery they've caused me!" He was still bright red, but now more out of anger than embarrassment.
"Ron," Harry said taking a deep breath, "what they were saying downstairs…I mean…" Harry lost his nerve to ask him about Hermione at the last second, "that was pretty cold," he finished lamely.
Ron nodded briskly and grabbed his cloak and went back downstairs.
Everyone was gathered around the fire waiting for the boys when they came down. Harry and Ron joined Hermione in the fireplace and Ron took a handful of floo powder.
"Diagon Alley!" they all said and in a swish of green flames they had landed in Diagon Alley.
Harry brushed himself off as the twins arrived behind them knocking into Ron.
"Oh, sorry there little brother, we didn't mean to hurt you. Don't give us detention, please," they said in mock concern.
"Oh clear off!" Hermione said, pushing the twins away from Ron. "You guys are so immature, really!"
"It's no big deal, Hermione," Ron said, brushing himself off and straightening his cloak.
"Why are you two even here?" Harry asked pointing at Fred and George. "You guys left Hogwarts two years ago."
"Yes, well we decided to go along with you young ones to help you get through this difficult time," George said, looking down and shaking his head.
"To educate you for your futures," Fred continued.
"And of course to tease our favorite little brother and Hermione," George finished grinning widely.
"Oh shut up," Ron said, glaring at them. "You guys drive me mad!"
"Glad to hear it little brother," Fred said smiling. "Anyway we have to get down to our shop, so catch you young lovebirds down there later!" The twins took off howling with laughter.
"One day they're going to get it and good!" Ron muttered clenching his fists, "One of these days."
"Oh don't listen to them Ron. They're just being stupid," Hermione said, but Harry wasn't convinced; she was still quite pink in the face, "By the way, well done, Ron. I mean, with Head Boy and all."
"Thanks," Ron mumbled, "you too."
"I mean I sort of expected it. I mean we were both prefects and all," Hermione said, as she walked with the boys down to Gringotts.
"Yeah don't worry you guys will be great!" Harry said, giving them an encouraging smile, "No matter what Fred and George say."
Ron blushed again.
When the Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry had collected their money they headed down to Fred and George's shop. The sun was bright and the people crowding the streets were talkative and cheerful. Harry felt happier than he had felt in days, himself.
When they got to the shop, Harry had to admit it was pretty impressive. It was a small shop that had been cleaned up to look like new. A big, dazzling, sign, charmed to flash different colors, hung over the door. It read Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. Harry followed the Weasleys and Hermione into the store.
The sight that met his eyes was absolutely amazing. Fred and George sure had done a great job of making their dream a reality. Everywhere Harry looked there were the most bizarre things on display shelves. He recognized quite a few things such as, Skiving Snack Boxes, Portable Swamps, Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-Bangs, Ton Tongue Toffees, Canary Creams, and Headless Hats, but some of the items in the shop were completely different to him.
"Harry!" Fred and George came over to Harry and pulled him over to the front of the shop, "You have to see our latest creation. It is the best."
They opened up a box on the front desk away from the other customers.
"It's not quite ready for selling yet. We still need to work out a few of the bugs, but it is terrific!" Fred said.
Harry looked inside the box and saw a round disk about the size of a Galleon that was filled with swirling green flames, like the ones used in floo powder. Harry leaned forward to get a closer look, but George pushed him back.
"Careful, Harry, mate. Like we said, we still haven't worked out all the bugs."
"Um," Harry said standing back, "Ok, What is it?"
"Tickling Tizzies," Fred said pulling out his wand. "Watch." He stuck his wand in the center of the disk and muttered, "George Weasley." Then, suddenly, George fell over laughing, clutching his side and gasping for breath. Fred released his wand and the Tickling Charm ceased.
"Think of the damage you could do with that," George said, when he had caught his breath.
"It transports the Tickling Charm to anyone in the same building or premises as you by touching your wand to it and saying their name. We thought it would be great to use during school. Just think you could be in your dormitory, mutter Draco Malfoy and leave it on him for as long as you please. It's genius!" Fred explained, beaming down at the green disk as if it were a newborn child.
"But like we said, it still has some bugs to work out. Sometimes if you are anywhere near it and say somebody's name it will automatically cast the charm."
"Or if you touch it, the same effects."
"Well, that is wicked, you guys! Send me one at Hogwarts when you have all the bugs worked out. Don't worry I'll pay you," Harry said, pulling out his moneybag.
"Oh, no need, Harry," Fred said pushing back the Galleon Harry had just pulled out of his bag.
"If it weren't for you, we wouldn't even have this place," George said looking around admiringly at the shop.
"We feel we owe it to you," Fred finished, grinning at him.
"But that really doesn't seem fair," Harry said still holding the Galleon. "You've already given me enough perks. Come on just take the money."
"Well, there is something you could do for us that would make us take the money," Fred said, grinning mischievously at his twin.
"What?" Harry wasn't sure if he was going to like this and thought maybe he should just take what he has been offered in the first place.
"You give Ron and Hermione a hard time about them being Head Boy and Girl together, we'll let you pay us," George said, casting a sly glance over at his brother and Hermione who were looking at the Headless Hats.
"Since we won't be there to do so," Fred said in regretful tones.
"Well," Harry thought about it for a moment. If he said he would do it then at least they would take his money. "Ok deal."
"Perfect," George said reaching his hand out for the money, "We'll send one to you the moment it is bug free. I guess we'll send you some for Ron and Hermione too, but I don't know if they will want them. They might be too good for pranks."
Harry laughed. "Maybe Hermione, but I know Ron will love to have one."
George grinned. "Yeah you're probably right. Well we'll send one for both of them just to be nice."
"We really do like Hermione," Fred said, smiling, "It's just that-"
"-we think our brother--"
"-might like her--"
"-a little more-"
"If you get what we mean," George finished, nudging Harry and winking.
Harry grinned. "I may have to agree with you on that one."
"Good," said Fred.
"Get something to happen with them this year," George said, looking over rather disgusted at the two of them, "They're driving me mad!"
Just then Ron and Hermione came over to them. Fred hastily closed up the box containing the Tickling Tizzies.
"Well, speak of the devil. Look, Fred, Ron and Hermione are here!" George said, grinning at them.
"Hey, little brother, what do you two think of our shop?" Fred asked, throwing out his arms to accentuate his point, and hitting George in the head in the process.
"Well, it's pretty good, you guys," Ron said looking around in awe, "You'll put Zonko's out of business."
"Thank you, dearest brother. You are too kind," George said, giving an over dramatic bow and hitting Fred in the head with his arms.
"It's really something, you two," Hermione said grinning at them.
"Thanks, Hermione. You're a pal!" Fred said grinning back.
"Well, we are sorry to say that we have to go," George said.
"There are many other customers to attend to," Fred continued.
"So good-bye, farewell, so long, until we meet again," George said backing away with his twin.
"Parting is such sweet sorrow," Fred said giving a little salute and the two of them walked away, waving.
The Weasleys, accompanied by Harry and Hermione, left Fred and George's shop and headed all over Diagon Alley getting their school supplies. As they walked into Flourish and Blotts to purchase their new books for that year, Ron was still fretting about Fred and George and their unmerciful teasing.
"Why do they always pick on me?" he said scuffing the ground with his sneaker, "Is there something wrong with me or am I just special?"
"Ron there is nothing wrong with you!" Hermione said trying to calm him down, "You're Head Boy for crying out loud!"
"You make it sound like a good thing," Ron muttered still looking at the floor.
"Well, it is a good thing," she said frowning slightly. "Don't you think so Harry?"
"Huh?" Harry said. He hadn't been paying Ron and Hermione's conversation very much attention. He was too busy looking at the new Defense Against the Dark Arts book that had been assigned. It was entitled; Defensive Training. It looked rather boring and basic. More like something Professor Umbridge would have assigned then any new teacher Dumbledore must have hired. "Oh yeah, of course it's a good thing, Ron. I mean to say; it could've been worse right? It could've been Hermione and Malfoy."
"You're absolutely right, Potter, it could've been."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione whirled around to come face to face with Harry's archrival and son of a Death Eater, Draco Malfoy.
"But you needn't worry about that," he drawled, "I would never have been Head Boy with a mudblood."
"Shut up, Mafoy!" Ron snarled.
"What's the matter, Weasel? Don't want me to hurt precious Granger's feelings?"
"It's you that's going to be hurt if you don't clear off!" Ron said menacingly.
"Ron! Don't!" Hermione hissed at him.
"Oh come on, Granger, let him fight me. Don't worry I'll be gentle."
Ron whipped out his wand, but Hermione grabbed his arm and forced it back down to his side.
"Don't!" she said holding hard onto his arm.
"Why don't you just get out of here, Malfoy?" Harry said, glaring at him.
"But I can't leave now, Potter," Malfoy said forgetting about Ron and Hermione for a moment, "I haven't got to tell you my wonderful news."
Malfoy shoved a newspaper in his hand that had the headline:
Accused Death Eater Runs Free
On the date August 10th Lucius Malfoy was held on trial in front of the Ministry of Magic. Heard to be dangerous and still active Death Eater, Lucius Malfoy was tried innocent by the jury.
"Lucius Malfoy came in as calm as can be and by the end of the trial he had us all convinced that he was innocent," said Ministry official, who wishes to remain unnamed. As far as the Ministry knows Lucius Malfoy was a Death Eater once, but is not responsible for what happened two years ago in the Department of Mysteries. The accused had been held in Azkaban, but is now released and is back home with his wife and 17 year old son, Draco Malfoy.
"My father has always been a model citizen," young Malfoy tells the reporter, "I do not understand why anyone would accuse my father for doing anything as rash as joining league with You-Know-Who."
Harry stared at the article and shoved it back towards Malfoy.
"He will be found guilty, Malfoy. He will," Harry said, with a cold look in his eyes.
"But you see, Potter, it doesn't matter what you say, it matters what the Ministry sees," Malfoy said gloatingly, rolling up that article and putting it in his pocket. "See you at school, Potter, Mudblood, Weasel King." He walked away from them laughing out loud.
"Oh, he is so dreadful!" Hermione said, her eyes brimming with angry tears. "How can he do that? He's such a horrible little monster!"
"Yeah, but there's nothing we can do about it," Ron said glumly. "I wish you would've let me fight him!"
"Ron," Hermione said exasperatingly, "Your Head Boy! You can't go around cursing people just because you don't like them!"
"He called you a mudblood!"
"How many times have I told you, Ron? It doesn't bother me. I don't care!"
"Well, it bothers me," Ron muttered.
Hermione looked rather flattered and said nothing else.
Harry turned to them. "What are we going to do?"
Ron and Hermione looked puzzled.
"What can we do?" Ron asked, picking up Defensive Training and looking at it with the same disgust Harry had.
"Well, we can't just sit here and pretend Malfoy's dad is innocent!" Harry could feel his heart pounding fast out of anger. He wanted to hurt Malfoy now more than ever, and that was saying something, because he always wanted to hurt Malfoy.
"But nobody will believe us, Harry," Hermione said, "Like Malfoy said, it's the Ministry's opinion that counts."
"But he's guilty!" Harry shouted, making many people in the shop turn and stare at him.
"We know that, Harry," Ron said quietly.
"But our knowing won't change anything, so just relax and everything will get sorted out eventually!" Hermione insisted.
Harry took a deep breath and thought about what Hermione had said. As much as he hated to admit it she was right. There was nothing they could do. Harry realized that the only people who could do anything would be the Ministry, and Dumbledore had obviously heard and would take matters into his own hands. There was nothing left to do now, but just wait for justice to reign.
Harry picked up one of the Defensive Training books and went up with Ron to the front counter to pay for it. Somehow he knew that this year was going to be just as weird and dangerous as it usually was with him around.
A/N: Ok I have an assignment for you class. Today we will be learning how to be good readers. Since you have all read the story, listen closely. You will now push the button that says "Submit Review" and if you review well, you get an "A" if not you get an "F" enough said. So until I update again!
Natalie Potter: See author's notes.
Burgundy: I agree I love that plot twist too. I think it wil happen.
Cheese Diva: Yes I made Dean evil, you like? Mua-hahaha!
Chapter 3: An Unpleasant Surprise
"Come on Harry. Get up we've got to go eat breakfast. Mum says our Hogwarts letters will be here any moment."
Harry heard Ron's muffled voice from underneath his pillow. He had been having the strangest dream. He was flying high on a broomstick and he was flying fast because he was late for a wedding--Ron and Hermione's wedding. And just when he got there Hermione came running out of the church saying that purple bunnies were attacking the church and they had to leave now, because Ron had been bitten by one and he had turned into a rabbit too.
"Wait a second. You can't be turned into a rabbit by having one bite you!" he said when it all sunk in.
"What? Harry I think you need some breakfast. NOW!" Ron pulled Harry up off the bed and told him to get dressed.
"I'm starving," Ron said as they walked in the room, "I could eat a Blast-Ended Skrewt!"
"I doubt it," Hermione said with a smile. Everyone laughed.
Harry took a seat in between Ron and Hermione and then started to fill his plate with scrambled eggs and bacon. Just as he was about to tuck in Hermes came flying through the open window dropping a letter onto each of their plates. Harry brushed the scrambled eggs off his letter and opened it up to examine the new book list.
"Oh my gosh!" Hermione's voice said.
Harry looked up at Hermione not quite expecting anything.
"What?" he asked.
Now everyone was looking at Hermione.
"I…I…I'm Head Girl!"
"Why am I not surprised?" George said, shoveling more eggs onto his plate.
"That's wonderful, Hermione, dear!" Mrs. Weasley said, getting up to attend to the next batch of bacon that was cooking on the stove.
Harry looked at Ron who was still staring at his letter trying to decide whether to open it or not. He looked up at Harry.
"Are you Head Boy?" Ron asked him so that nobody else could hear.
Harry shook his head. "Nope."
"Crud." Ron slowly opened his Hogwarts letter. Nobody was watching him, which Harry thought was a good thing.
Harry leaned over to look at Ron's letter and saw:
Mr. Weasley,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been chosen to be Hogwarts Head Boy this year with Hogwarts Head Girl, Hermione Granger. Please report to the front car of the Hogwarts Express on September 1st. There you will be given instructions and the instructions to give the new prefects. Congratulations!
Minerva McGonagall Head Mistress
Albus Dumbledore Head Master
"Well done, Ron," Harry said clapping Ron on the back.
"Well done, Ron, what?" Fred said and then he smirked and grasped his letter.
"Oh my goodness gracious Ron we are so proud of you!" he said mockingly.
"You be sure to put all those little kids in their place, now you here?" George said smirking at him.
"But I'm sure if you can't manage, Hermione can help you, eh little brother?" Fred said nudging him.
"What's going on?" said Mrs. Weasley. She had completely missed the excitement.
"Oh my goodness, Mum, didn't you hear? Ron's been made Head Boy, with Hermione." George said putting an extra emphasis on Hermione's name and nudging Ron slightly.
"Oh!" Mrs. Weasley almost dropped the plate of bacon she was holding, "Ron! That's wonderful! Oh this is great Ron Head Boy and Hermione Head Girl! This is fabulous! I am so proud of you, baby!" She had begun to hug and kiss him just as she had done in his 5th year when he had become a prefect.
"Mum, get off of me. It's not a big deal."
"It is a big deal, Ron," Mrs. Weasley said beaming at him. "It's wonderful. I am very proud of both of you!"
Harry looked over at Hermione who was smiling at Ron with a very admirable look on her face that Harry had never seen her use before.
"But Mum," said Fred grinning at his twin, "Isn't it funny that Ron became Head Boy and *Hermione* is Head Girl?"
Mrs. Weasley looked puzzled.
"I don't see why that's funny. They are in Gryffindor and they were prefects. So of course they were picked."
"Oh we know that it just seems funny that you know it's *Ron and Hermione*. I mean they were prefect *together* and now they're Head *Boy and Girl*," George said grinning bigger than ever.
Harry looked at Ron and Hermione who were both staring down at their plates glowing bright red. It seemed like neither of them had the nerve to stop the twins from being so awful. Harry felt bad that he wasn't stopping them, but then again what would he say? He had noticed the same thing and found it rather funny too.
"That's enough of that both of you!" Mrs. Weasley snapped as she realized what the twins meant. "Ron and Hermione were picked to be Head Boy and Girl because they are good students. Nothing else." She sat down and began eating her bacon and didn't talk about anything else.
After breakfast was cleared Harry and Ron went upstairs to get their cloaks so that they could go to Diagon Alley. Ron didn't look at Harry the whole way up to his bedroom. When they were behind closed doors he turned to Harry.
"One of these days I am going to embarrass the twins so badly! I don't know what I'll do, but it's going to be good. It'll be pay back for all the misery they've caused me!" He was still bright red, but now more out of anger than embarrassment.
"Ron," Harry said taking a deep breath, "what they were saying downstairs…I mean…" Harry lost his nerve to ask him about Hermione at the last second, "that was pretty cold," he finished lamely.
Ron nodded briskly and grabbed his cloak and went back downstairs.
Everyone was gathered around the fire waiting for the boys when they came down. Harry and Ron joined Hermione in the fireplace and Ron took a handful of floo powder.
"Diagon Alley!" they all said and in a swish of green flames they had landed in Diagon Alley.
Harry brushed himself off as the twins arrived behind them knocking into Ron.
"Oh, sorry there little brother, we didn't mean to hurt you. Don't give us detention, please," they said in mock concern.
"Oh clear off!" Hermione said, pushing the twins away from Ron. "You guys are so immature, really!"
"It's no big deal, Hermione," Ron said, brushing himself off and straightening his cloak.
"Why are you two even here?" Harry asked pointing at Fred and George. "You guys left Hogwarts two years ago."
"Yes, well we decided to go along with you young ones to help you get through this difficult time," George said, looking down and shaking his head.
"To educate you for your futures," Fred continued.
"And of course to tease our favorite little brother and Hermione," George finished grinning widely.
"Oh shut up," Ron said, glaring at them. "You guys drive me mad!"
"Glad to hear it little brother," Fred said smiling. "Anyway we have to get down to our shop, so catch you young lovebirds down there later!" The twins took off howling with laughter.
"One day they're going to get it and good!" Ron muttered clenching his fists, "One of these days."
"Oh don't listen to them Ron. They're just being stupid," Hermione said, but Harry wasn't convinced; she was still quite pink in the face, "By the way, well done, Ron. I mean, with Head Boy and all."
"Thanks," Ron mumbled, "you too."
"I mean I sort of expected it. I mean we were both prefects and all," Hermione said, as she walked with the boys down to Gringotts.
"Yeah don't worry you guys will be great!" Harry said, giving them an encouraging smile, "No matter what Fred and George say."
Ron blushed again.
When the Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry had collected their money they headed down to Fred and George's shop. The sun was bright and the people crowding the streets were talkative and cheerful. Harry felt happier than he had felt in days, himself.
When they got to the shop, Harry had to admit it was pretty impressive. It was a small shop that had been cleaned up to look like new. A big, dazzling, sign, charmed to flash different colors, hung over the door. It read Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. Harry followed the Weasleys and Hermione into the store.
The sight that met his eyes was absolutely amazing. Fred and George sure had done a great job of making their dream a reality. Everywhere Harry looked there were the most bizarre things on display shelves. He recognized quite a few things such as, Skiving Snack Boxes, Portable Swamps, Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-Bangs, Ton Tongue Toffees, Canary Creams, and Headless Hats, but some of the items in the shop were completely different to him.
"Harry!" Fred and George came over to Harry and pulled him over to the front of the shop, "You have to see our latest creation. It is the best."
They opened up a box on the front desk away from the other customers.
"It's not quite ready for selling yet. We still need to work out a few of the bugs, but it is terrific!" Fred said.
Harry looked inside the box and saw a round disk about the size of a Galleon that was filled with swirling green flames, like the ones used in floo powder. Harry leaned forward to get a closer look, but George pushed him back.
"Careful, Harry, mate. Like we said, we still haven't worked out all the bugs."
"Um," Harry said standing back, "Ok, What is it?"
"Tickling Tizzies," Fred said pulling out his wand. "Watch." He stuck his wand in the center of the disk and muttered, "George Weasley." Then, suddenly, George fell over laughing, clutching his side and gasping for breath. Fred released his wand and the Tickling Charm ceased.
"Think of the damage you could do with that," George said, when he had caught his breath.
"It transports the Tickling Charm to anyone in the same building or premises as you by touching your wand to it and saying their name. We thought it would be great to use during school. Just think you could be in your dormitory, mutter Draco Malfoy and leave it on him for as long as you please. It's genius!" Fred explained, beaming down at the green disk as if it were a newborn child.
"But like we said, it still has some bugs to work out. Sometimes if you are anywhere near it and say somebody's name it will automatically cast the charm."
"Or if you touch it, the same effects."
"Well, that is wicked, you guys! Send me one at Hogwarts when you have all the bugs worked out. Don't worry I'll pay you," Harry said, pulling out his moneybag.
"Oh, no need, Harry," Fred said pushing back the Galleon Harry had just pulled out of his bag.
"If it weren't for you, we wouldn't even have this place," George said looking around admiringly at the shop.
"We feel we owe it to you," Fred finished, grinning at him.
"But that really doesn't seem fair," Harry said still holding the Galleon. "You've already given me enough perks. Come on just take the money."
"Well, there is something you could do for us that would make us take the money," Fred said, grinning mischievously at his twin.
"What?" Harry wasn't sure if he was going to like this and thought maybe he should just take what he has been offered in the first place.
"You give Ron and Hermione a hard time about them being Head Boy and Girl together, we'll let you pay us," George said, casting a sly glance over at his brother and Hermione who were looking at the Headless Hats.
"Since we won't be there to do so," Fred said in regretful tones.
"Well," Harry thought about it for a moment. If he said he would do it then at least they would take his money. "Ok deal."
"Perfect," George said reaching his hand out for the money, "We'll send one to you the moment it is bug free. I guess we'll send you some for Ron and Hermione too, but I don't know if they will want them. They might be too good for pranks."
Harry laughed. "Maybe Hermione, but I know Ron will love to have one."
George grinned. "Yeah you're probably right. Well we'll send one for both of them just to be nice."
"We really do like Hermione," Fred said, smiling, "It's just that-"
"-we think our brother--"
"-might like her--"
"-a little more-"
"If you get what we mean," George finished, nudging Harry and winking.
Harry grinned. "I may have to agree with you on that one."
"Good," said Fred.
"Get something to happen with them this year," George said, looking over rather disgusted at the two of them, "They're driving me mad!"
Just then Ron and Hermione came over to them. Fred hastily closed up the box containing the Tickling Tizzies.
"Well, speak of the devil. Look, Fred, Ron and Hermione are here!" George said, grinning at them.
"Hey, little brother, what do you two think of our shop?" Fred asked, throwing out his arms to accentuate his point, and hitting George in the head in the process.
"Well, it's pretty good, you guys," Ron said looking around in awe, "You'll put Zonko's out of business."
"Thank you, dearest brother. You are too kind," George said, giving an over dramatic bow and hitting Fred in the head with his arms.
"It's really something, you two," Hermione said grinning at them.
"Thanks, Hermione. You're a pal!" Fred said grinning back.
"Well, we are sorry to say that we have to go," George said.
"There are many other customers to attend to," Fred continued.
"So good-bye, farewell, so long, until we meet again," George said backing away with his twin.
"Parting is such sweet sorrow," Fred said giving a little salute and the two of them walked away, waving.
The Weasleys, accompanied by Harry and Hermione, left Fred and George's shop and headed all over Diagon Alley getting their school supplies. As they walked into Flourish and Blotts to purchase their new books for that year, Ron was still fretting about Fred and George and their unmerciful teasing.
"Why do they always pick on me?" he said scuffing the ground with his sneaker, "Is there something wrong with me or am I just special?"
"Ron there is nothing wrong with you!" Hermione said trying to calm him down, "You're Head Boy for crying out loud!"
"You make it sound like a good thing," Ron muttered still looking at the floor.
"Well, it is a good thing," she said frowning slightly. "Don't you think so Harry?"
"Huh?" Harry said. He hadn't been paying Ron and Hermione's conversation very much attention. He was too busy looking at the new Defense Against the Dark Arts book that had been assigned. It was entitled; Defensive Training. It looked rather boring and basic. More like something Professor Umbridge would have assigned then any new teacher Dumbledore must have hired. "Oh yeah, of course it's a good thing, Ron. I mean to say; it could've been worse right? It could've been Hermione and Malfoy."
"You're absolutely right, Potter, it could've been."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione whirled around to come face to face with Harry's archrival and son of a Death Eater, Draco Malfoy.
"But you needn't worry about that," he drawled, "I would never have been Head Boy with a mudblood."
"Shut up, Mafoy!" Ron snarled.
"What's the matter, Weasel? Don't want me to hurt precious Granger's feelings?"
"It's you that's going to be hurt if you don't clear off!" Ron said menacingly.
"Ron! Don't!" Hermione hissed at him.
"Oh come on, Granger, let him fight me. Don't worry I'll be gentle."
Ron whipped out his wand, but Hermione grabbed his arm and forced it back down to his side.
"Don't!" she said holding hard onto his arm.
"Why don't you just get out of here, Malfoy?" Harry said, glaring at him.
"But I can't leave now, Potter," Malfoy said forgetting about Ron and Hermione for a moment, "I haven't got to tell you my wonderful news."
Malfoy shoved a newspaper in his hand that had the headline:
Accused Death Eater Runs Free
On the date August 10th Lucius Malfoy was held on trial in front of the Ministry of Magic. Heard to be dangerous and still active Death Eater, Lucius Malfoy was tried innocent by the jury.
"Lucius Malfoy came in as calm as can be and by the end of the trial he had us all convinced that he was innocent," said Ministry official, who wishes to remain unnamed. As far as the Ministry knows Lucius Malfoy was a Death Eater once, but is not responsible for what happened two years ago in the Department of Mysteries. The accused had been held in Azkaban, but is now released and is back home with his wife and 17 year old son, Draco Malfoy.
"My father has always been a model citizen," young Malfoy tells the reporter, "I do not understand why anyone would accuse my father for doing anything as rash as joining league with You-Know-Who."
Harry stared at the article and shoved it back towards Malfoy.
"He will be found guilty, Malfoy. He will," Harry said, with a cold look in his eyes.
"But you see, Potter, it doesn't matter what you say, it matters what the Ministry sees," Malfoy said gloatingly, rolling up that article and putting it in his pocket. "See you at school, Potter, Mudblood, Weasel King." He walked away from them laughing out loud.
"Oh, he is so dreadful!" Hermione said, her eyes brimming with angry tears. "How can he do that? He's such a horrible little monster!"
"Yeah, but there's nothing we can do about it," Ron said glumly. "I wish you would've let me fight him!"
"Ron," Hermione said exasperatingly, "Your Head Boy! You can't go around cursing people just because you don't like them!"
"He called you a mudblood!"
"How many times have I told you, Ron? It doesn't bother me. I don't care!"
"Well, it bothers me," Ron muttered.
Hermione looked rather flattered and said nothing else.
Harry turned to them. "What are we going to do?"
Ron and Hermione looked puzzled.
"What can we do?" Ron asked, picking up Defensive Training and looking at it with the same disgust Harry had.
"Well, we can't just sit here and pretend Malfoy's dad is innocent!" Harry could feel his heart pounding fast out of anger. He wanted to hurt Malfoy now more than ever, and that was saying something, because he always wanted to hurt Malfoy.
"But nobody will believe us, Harry," Hermione said, "Like Malfoy said, it's the Ministry's opinion that counts."
"But he's guilty!" Harry shouted, making many people in the shop turn and stare at him.
"We know that, Harry," Ron said quietly.
"But our knowing won't change anything, so just relax and everything will get sorted out eventually!" Hermione insisted.
Harry took a deep breath and thought about what Hermione had said. As much as he hated to admit it she was right. There was nothing they could do. Harry realized that the only people who could do anything would be the Ministry, and Dumbledore had obviously heard and would take matters into his own hands. There was nothing left to do now, but just wait for justice to reign.
Harry picked up one of the Defensive Training books and went up with Ron to the front counter to pay for it. Somehow he knew that this year was going to be just as weird and dangerous as it usually was with him around.
A/N: Ok I have an assignment for you class. Today we will be learning how to be good readers. Since you have all read the story, listen closely. You will now push the button that says "Submit Review" and if you review well, you get an "A" if not you get an "F" enough said. So until I update again!