Chapter 12
The Twin's Joke Shop

The next day the owl post had arrived. Soraya was very glad to see Merlin had brought back the letter with the reply. It had a great big letters stamped on it saying 'URGENT'. Soraya tore it open and read the reply next to her letter.

URGENT

Dear Fred and George

Your brother told me how you loved to cause mayhem at Hogwarts and I would love to give you that opportunity. This Friday night I am meeting Peeves in the owlery with Harry and Ron. We are not telling Hermione for obvious reasons. Peeves wants to give you the details of some of his pranks you have yet to hear...who knows you might even get some ideas for your joke shop. I have come to this arrangement so Peeves won't bother any of my friends for the rest of this year. I shall be coming in to your shop by floo powder and money so maybe I can buy some gags that will liven the place up a bit. If this works then Peeves will not bother me and my friends for the rest of the year and I'll test some of your gags if you like. But I need an answer by Friday morning. Otherwise the plan goes out the window, the School will be less exciting and I'm begging to get bored as it is. So this is more like a plea for help than a request. I hope to see you in Diagon alley soon.

Soraya

She looked at the reply underneath and smiled.

Dear Soraya

We have looked at this letter, and we feel it's our duty and our nature to help you out in this time of need. We shall be waiting in our shop tonight and are very willing to help you and the other Griffindors out. Just say the name of our shop 'Weasleys wizarding wheezes', and you shall appear in the living room fireplace above our shop. We will be very pleased to meet you three and supply you with what you need. Money is not needed as we are willing to do this for free. Hogwarts was our playground and it would be a shame for the usual mayhem to stop.

Fred and George

Soraya saw Hermione looking curiously at the letter from across the table. So Soraya used a vanishing spell and the letter disappeared before Hermione could take a look at it. Soraya waited in the common room after dinner for everyone to go to bed. Only she, Ron and Harry were left. Hermione said goodnight to them before giving them each a searching look. Even Amily was suspicious that something was going on but the three were very good at looking innocent. So they waited for the last person to leave and then set to work.

Harry took out the map and cloak from under a comfy chair's cushion by the fire.

"Do you know why they really are doing this for free Ron?"

"Have you seen their business? It's a hit and they're shop is hardly ever empty so it's no surprise really. They must be getting bored just selling the jokes and think it nice to cause some good old fashioned mayhem. Just like they used to before they left."

"Oh." They went under the cloak and slowly crept out of the entrance so as not to make any noise.

There was a heart wrenching moment as they journeyed up to the owlery. Snape had rounded the corner completely oblivious to the fact they were there. So Soraya decided to play a little trick on her uncle. Ron and Harry couldn't stop her as she performed a levitation spell and hit him in the back of the head with a clump of dust. It made him cough and sneeze until he took his wand out. The three stood as still as statues and stared at the wand as it was pointed right at them. He looked around and had sneer on his face as he had an idea to who it might be. But then it vanished as Peeves manic laugh sounded very close. So Snape changed his mind to who it could be and looked very disappointed too.

"Peeves! I shall be having a word with the bloody baron tonight."

He turned and left with dust still on his robes, clothes and hair. Harry and Ron breathed a sigh of relief. But Soraya on the other hand just grinned maliciously as they continued their journey down the corridor to the owlery.

"What did you do that for?"

"Oh come on Ron. It was well worth it to see the look on his face. Ok, ok I'm sorry but you have to admit that he did deserve it."

'My first prank...and what a prank it was.' She thought happily as they went to the owlery. Ron and Harry still looked a little angry but eventually found what she said was true and nearly laughed. Finally after many stairs they reached the door and looked inside. At first the few owls that had come back from hunting looked around for the intruders and saw nothing until they removed the cloak and stepped forward. The owls then let out soft hooting noises as if to say hello, Soraya told them to keep it down as they didn't want to be caught. So the owls complied and kept quiet. Soraya looked around for Merlin to see if he had returned yet. But sighed as she couldn't find him.

They waited cautiously for Peeves to show up as they weren't so sure that he would keep his word. But he did and looked very excited too. He had two pieces of parchment in one hand and a pouch as big as a tennis ball in the other. Soraya could only assume it was completely full of floo powder.

"Saw what you did to Snape. You have to be very brave or very stupid."

"Neither Peeves; that was plain and simple revenge." Peeves gave Soraya a very odd look before handing her the objects and then took a copy of Soraya's tricks.

"Hope you find some of it useful Peeves." Peeves took one look at the list and cackled with an evil grin spreading across his face. Ron and Harry stared at her and Peeves for a while before covering themselves with the cloak again and heading back down.

They finally got back to their common room. They had to duck down another corridor as Mrs. Norris was patrolling their route back. They had to go in a different direction and it took a little while longer to get back to the Griffindor tower. They kept the cloak on until they stopped next to the fireplace and checked the coast was clear. Soraya took out the pouch containing the floo powder and a copy of peeves's tricks. She cast a silence spell over the fire as Floo powder would make it roar. The flames turned green and Ron stepped in first to show how it was done. Harry looked very apprehensive about using floo powder due to his past experiences of using it. Then Soraya took a pinch and put the powder in her pocket. She did the same with Peeves's list and stepped in to the fireplace.

"Weasleys Wizarding wheezes!"

Soraya could feel herself being sucked in to a vortex or something. She had to close her eyes as watching fireplaces flash past in a blur made her feel very sick. She kept her arm and legs tucked in tightly as Ron had told her to and then came to a stop with a small bump.

When she opened her eyes Soraya saw the grinning faces of two read haired twins.

"So you're Soraya?"

"Yes and your are...Fred?"

"Nah George, hold on a sec." George reached inside his robes which were a dark purple colour the same as Fred's. George took out a small golden chain with a G on it. Fred did the same and had an F on his.

"I keep forgetting to put this outside of my robes so people can see it."

"Yeah me too George. It was so much easier when mum gave us those jumpers with our initials on them."

"If we didn't have these chains then people will be hopeless at telling us apart."

"So we wear these hanging around our necks outside our robes so people can."

"Its great fun when we swap them round and hide them. The only two people we would never do that to are mum and Dumbledore."

"Why Dumbledore?"

"Because he always knows me from him. So there's really not much point trying to play a trick on Dumbledore."

"He always seems to know when we are up to something." Harry and Soraya smiled whilst Ron just rolled his eyes and sighed.

They stayed in the living room for about half an hour before getting down to business. They took the copy of Peeves and Soraya's tricks and gave the others some gags.

"Try them out."

"We have only just made these and they haven't been put on the shelves yet."

"Send us an owl to how well they've worked."

Fred spent the next fifteen minutes showing them how they worked. Where as George read the parchment they received from Soraya. George laughed a few times and told Fred to read this and then he burst out laughing too.

"Did you really do that?"

"Do what?"

"Miss. Baldwick and the bucket over her door?"

"With the whoopee cushion?" Soraya nodded and the twins just stared at her for a couple of minutes.

Before anyone knew it the time had come for them to leave. Soraya was reluctant to go but they said they would see her in the summer holidays. So she said goodbye to Fred and George and then went back to Hogwarts by floo powder. When she landed there was someone there that they didn't want to see. Harry and Ron groaned as Hermione approached them with a very stern look on her face. Soraya could already tell what was coming and tried to make a break for it. But Hermione was blocking one set of stairs that led up to the dorms and put a magical field on the other one.

"What do you think you were doing? Are you completely mad? You might get expelled for this."

"Might? Hermione you aren't going to report this are you?"

"Of course I'm not! But just don't do it again or I will have to tell McGonagall!" Ron yawned and looked annoyed as he tried to push his way past Hermione. He may have been taller than her but she was putting up a real fight and Ron wasn't giving up.

"Grrr! Get out of the way Hermione!"

Soraya sighed and took out her wand.

"Come on Harry, we can levitate to the landing above the stairs." He nodded and they both levitated themselves to the landing. But stayed to watch how long it took for Ron to do the same. He levitated when he finally gave up and landed on the landing. He got in to the dorm before Hermione could get to the top of the stairs. Soraya urged Harry to get in there quick before Hermione reached him.

"You aren't going to take the full wrath of Hermione!"

"Come on Harry what can she possibly do?"

"Well..." But then he stopped as Hermione appeared on the landing red faced and panting for breath.

"Bye Soraya."

"Come here Hermione and I'll tell you all about it." Hermione looked very annoyed, so Soraya decided to feed her a story with some very quick thinking. It was at though she knew something like this might happen and planned the story before she left the school.

"We had to meet up with this guy at his house for information about Voldermort. He had to talk quickly and so we listened. He wouldn't talk to us without Harry and Ron got wind of it so naturally he came too. The man said that Voldermort was looking for a weapon more powerful than the killing curse."

"That's not new Soraya, so anything else?"

"He said Voldermort might try and storm the ministry again to see what he can find. He was about to tell us something but he couldn't finish and we had to leave as his house was being broken in to." Hermione looked stunned and shocked.

"You shouldn't have gone to his house in the first place! What if something happened to Harry?"

"Well it hasn't and this guy was genuine...if only we could have stayed there a few minutes longer. Then we could have found out what Voldermort was looking for."

"Then maybe we could stop Voldermort getting his hands on whatever it is."

"You know what. Apart from me, Dumbledore and Harry I don't think anyone else says Voldermort." Hermione blushed and looked less annoyed but still a bit shocked at the story.

Soraya waited until Hermione was asleep before going back to her clothes and emptying her pockets. Soraya shoved the gags in her trunk and hid the list in a secret compartment. The next morning Soraya woke up first and reached Ron and Harry before they left for the great hall. She told them the story she told Hermione.

"You did what?"

"Sorry but I had to think on my feet." She gave them descriptions and of what happened so Hermione wouldn't smell a rat.

In the great hall for lunch she talked with them about it and was none the wiser.

"Harry you have got to stop being so strong. Ron stop tagging along and encouraging him. Soraya don't ever do anything like this again otherwise next time I will tell." Ron made a face when Hermione left and Soraya breathed a sigh of relief. Harry stabbed at his porridge and looked angry but eventually calmed down.

* * *

Hermione was still asking them questions every now and again about that night. At first it was fun and hilarious, but now it was just starting to get annoying. They were relieved when she finally gave up and couldn't squeeze any more information out of them.

Over the next few days they tested the gags that Fred and George gave them and they were a real hit. Soraya sent an owl to Fred and George with the analysis. Peeves was having a great time testing the rest of the gags in the corridors. Filch turned different colours of rage as he chased him down the corridors. Soraya had to duck in to a classroom so Filch couldn't see she was laughing. He passed by with his skin all different colours. These were the only things keeping Soraya from cracking as the next few days were near to unbearable. She kept on feeling sick because of the blood potion as her scar was very slow in healing up no matter what madam Pomfrey tried.

"Well that's mysterious scars for you, hard to come by hard to heal."

"You mean like Harry's?"

"Not exactly. His head just hurts with excruciating pain when his scar acts up. But it does not burst open and almost cause him to bleed to death."

This did not comfort Soraya at all. But Halloween was coming tomorrow and so to the prospect of a Hogsmeade visit.

Then Halloween finally came and so did Madam Pomfrey's constant protesting. But Dumbledore over powered her and let Soraya go with her friends to Hogsmeade. They had broad grins on their faces and saw everything from the shrieking shack to Zonkos joke shop.

"I know you're disappointed about not being able to come with us Amily. But its third years and up. Tell you what sis I'll buy you a lot of stuff O.K?" This made Amily smile and bid her sister farewell before she left. Soraya bought a little from each shop for Amily and more than enough in the sweet shop.

The day was cold and windy so they went to the three cauldrons before they returned to Hogwarts.

"What's this?"

"Butter beer... (gulp)...go on have some, it'll really warm you up." So Soraya tasted it and thought it was delicious, and Ron was right when he said it warms you up. For as soon as she had so much as a mouthful a warm feeling spread from her stomach to the very tip of her fingers and toes. She enjoyed each mouthful and had a great time talking with her friends about nothing in particular.

"I wish they had these in the village near my house." Soraya said this savouring the flavour as she drank deeply from the tankard.

They went back to Hogwarts with their purses considerably lighter. They had huge grins when they arrived back at the school and red wind slashed cheeks. They were going down the corridor to meet Amily and give her their presents but Malfoy called her name behind her. Soraya handed her presents to Ron and Hermione.

"Go find Amily and give these to her."

"But-"

"Go!" Harry stayed put and stood beside Soraya glaring at Malfoy. The brat called her name again only this time with more malice in his voice.

"Oi Griffis!"

"What do you want Malfoy?" She spoke without turning around and saw Snape appear from the end of the corridor. He watched with a sneer on his face.

"I heard that you got that scar the same way Potter did." Soraya still didn't turn round and anger burned inside her like a raging fire. She could swear Snape's sneer increased in size and so her fire burned stronger.

"Yeah, so what of it?"

"Oh nothing. I suppose your parents met the same end?"

Soraya hands were now shaking with fury but daren't do anything in front of Snape. 'Who knows how many points he will take if I retaliate...I have to keep control.' But it was very hard not to do anything as Malfoy just carried on. Even Harry who was beside Soraya noticed Snape and tried to not say anything back to the little toad.

"Probably pleading for their lives. 'Please, please sir, don't kill us as we are mindless fools.' Did they have any brains? They can't have done since they were killed in their own house." Malfoy was laughing and something very strange happened.

Soraya's scar had erupted under the bandage. It was now so sodden with blood that it trickled down her face, clothes and then to the floor. Her eyes glowed golden and before anyone could stop her she rounded on Malfoy. She pelted him with a golden, shining, see through ball of air without even touching her wand. Malfoy was blasted from one end of the corridor to the other and hit the wall at the end. He slid slowly down it and was doubled up gasping for breath; he must have been winded very badly for he couldn't get up. Everyone screamed and looked at both Malfoy and Soraya in horror.

Soraya's eyes stopped glowing and she looked at Harry. Like him she looked horrified at what she just did and her breathing was erratic. Soraya felt like running but a cold half covered hand closed around her wrist. She turned round to see Snape looking right at her; he had a look between puzzlement and curiosity on his face. Soraya had to be imagining that she could see a slight tinge of fear to his eyes as well. He then proceeded to steer her away from the disturbing scene.

"Crabbe, Goyle! Take Malfoy to the ward. Go to your friends Potter this is a matter for Dumbledore now!"

"But sir-"

"Go Harry! There is no reason for you to be in trouble too. Now Go!" Harry nodded and went to find Ron and Hermione.

Soraya's heart was in her throat as Snape continued to literally drag her to Dumbledore's office. His grip was so tight and refused to relent. At one point her hand felt numb as if he was cutting off the circulation of blood to her hand. Her scar was still bleeding a lot and left a trail of blood from the scene of the crime. They past Filch and he looked livid, but didn't say anything as Soraya was still being dragged by Snape. Soraya felt very tired and wondered how long she had to keep this up before she ended up passing out.

Then they stopped before the gryphon statue.

"Fizzing Whizzbies." Like before the statue moved and stairs appeared. Snape then dragged her up the stairs and to the door of Dumbledore's office. Soraya was feeling very faint but still didn't say anything. She willed herself not to show weakness had overpowered her as Snape rapped on the door three times.

"Come in Serverus." So Snape came in dragging a blood soaked Soraya behind him. Dumbledore looked slightly shocked at Snape's conduct but heard what he had to say anyway.

"Headmaster, she used very powerful magic with out the use of a wand."

"Really, what did she do Serverus?"

"She threw a solid mass of air in the shape if a golden ball straight at Malfoy. He flew from one side of the corridor to the other."

The room started to slip in and out of focus. Soraya felt very tired and cold and began to sway dangerously on the spot. Soraya collapsed to her knees and then to the floor where she lay unconscious. But was awake long enough to hear a few more words.

"Has she been to see Poppy yet?"

"Oh...yes...well...I will...go...now."

When she came round in the ward the room was out of focus and the pain in her scar was blinding her. It took a while before she realised she could hear voices but couldn't make out what they were saying at first. But a few minutes later the room came in to focus, but her vision was still very blurry. Soraya could hear a very heated conversation between Snape and Madam Pomfrey.

"Poppy! I saw what she did! The prophecy is true! Her powers are extraordinary!" Soraya was glad she couldn't see the look on his face but could hear no less than pure emotion in his voice.

Soraya thought if she saw it in his face she would either more likely to make a face or be violently sick. She was tempted to laugh if her head didn't hurt so much. Because Madam Pomfrey argued back and silenced Snape.

"I don't care if she could sing and play the banjo! You have no idea to how close this child came to death today! Just think yourself lucky that I have a lot of blood replenishing potion in my office!"

"Yes but you-"

"No buts! A second later Serverus and she could have died! Now leave as she is awake and by the looks of her needs a lot of rest to recover from this amount of blood loss."

But Soraya didn't want to stay and struggled to get off the bed. She was still wearing her blood soaked clothes which were not helping in the least. They were heavy from the amount of blood they had absorbed and weighed Soraya down. Madam Pomfrey was stronger than she looked and wrestled Soraya back on to her bed when Soraya tried to push her away. All the while Snape just stood there watching the unusual scene. Soraya gave up as she had no more strength but was in an upright position on the bed. She looked right at Snape with complete and utter loathing. His odd look vanished and he glared back at her with malice.

"Did you tell Dumbledore the whole story sir? Or of only what I did?" Snape gave her a piercing look and then strode out of the ward. His black cloak as always billowed behind him. Then a strange wave of sleep took hold of Soraya. The next thing she knew she had fallen back on to the bed and passed out. There were no dreams, no light, no nothing just blackness.

Just like before the shadowy figure came up to see her every night holding a lantern. No one saw this figure as Madam Pomfrey was always in bed and the other patients were asleep as well. Through the days her friends continued to visit and she slept on without any interruptions.

The next time she woke Dumbledore was beaming at her and his eyes twinkled.

"You missed the Halloween feast and two days after that." Soraya's head was aching a lot and she felt very sick. She reached up to feel her head and was relieved to find no bandage.

"No bandage this time. Your scar stopped bleeding instantly as soon as you passed out. Poppy is totally mystified as am I. But it's good to see that you are no longer bleeding and getting better."

"Did Snape tell you the whole story?"

"Only half of the story but do not worry. The other three houses gave me eye witness reports and told me all about Draco. You were provoked so no punishment will be given. I think he learnt his lesson when you blasted him down the corridor." Soraya smiled. She couldn't help it and she swore she saw one flicker on Dumbledore's lips as well.

"I must go and patch things up with Malfoy and the ministry. Even though his father is still in prison the Malfoy's still have a lot of power over certain areas of the ministry and they could get you expelled." Soraya looked horrified at the very idea.

She had just arrived at the magic school she was supposed to go to years ago. Only to be expelled a couple of months later.

"Expelled in two months? That's got to be like a school record of something."

"No the record was a week; a very ambitious young Slytherin used the killing curse on a teacher. He blew half the class room apart with his class mates still inside. The teacher survived by dodging it and his class mates ducked under their desks so no one was hurt. But now he is either in Azkaban or St.Mungos and that was a very sad day for all. A student only in their first year to break like that. But don't worry I highly doubt that you will be expelled anytime soon. Now get some rest for tomorrow is a fresh start. Monday you have charms I believe?" Soraya nodded and went back to sleep as Dumbledore left.

*** Ok I admit that I'm being a bit harsh on Malfoy. But I know a few prats like him in real life who deserve more than that.