Chapter 13 - Twist of Fate.
Fred and George Weasley were sitting in Dumbledore's office. They had been in the headmaster's office many times over the years but this was the first time they had asked to be there. Professor McGonagall hadn't even asked why they had wanted to see the headmaster. She had simply brought them to Dumbledore's office and told them to wait.
"You're sure this was a good idea?" George whispered to his brother.
"Ahhh… the Weasley boys." Dumbledore said cheerfully as he entered the room with Professor McGonagall. "How nice it is to have you visit, boys, and I didn't even have to invite you this time." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
"Ummm… Professor we came to talk about Ron." George began hesitantly.
"And the others." Fred added.
"Yes, the others as well. Harry and Hermione are like members of the family too." George continued.
"We're worried about this training they're doing." George said.
"We know about Harry, I guess he has to, with You-Know-Who after him." Fred said in a whisper.
"But Ron… well Ron..." George tried to explain but his was unable to put into words his and his brother's feelings.
"I do understand" Dumbledore replied, "You're worried about all of them but particularly your baby brother."
"Yes, they might do something rash, something dangerous. Ron can be very reckless, you know." Fred said in all seriousness. Professor McGonagall seemed to choke just then. Dumbledore had to repress a smile too.
"Yes boys, I share your concerns, especially as your brother and his friends might try to act too soon, before their training is complete. As you well know, in the past they have left the castle undetected by the staff on a number of occasions. Mind you, they were not the only ones to have done that." Dumbledore said.
The two boys tried to maintain what they thought was a look of innocence. "Professor, that's what we're worried about." George replied.
"Professor McGonagall and I have been discussing this very problem. I think we have come up with the perfect solution or I should say the prefect solution." Dumbledore said smiling. "We are going to be assigning a couple of prefects to Professor Bond as assistants. They will help with the classes and keep an eye on his students. Keep them out of trouble before they are ready."
"Begging your pardon Headmaster but none of the prefects know the castle as well as Harry does. You see we gave him this map last year…"
"The marauder's map, " Dumbledore said smiling. "I found out about it last year."
"Well, Harry knows every inch of the castle and the grounds. All the secret passages, the hidden rooms, everything. No prefect is going to be able to stop him or Ron and Hermione getting out if they want to."
"Yes you are quite right, none of the existing prefects would be suitable. That's why we are appointing two new prefects would know the castle and its secret passageways every bit as well as young Harry does." Dumbledore's sat there with his eyes twinkling in delight.
"Who are they?" Fred said.
But George looked horrified "NO! You wouldn't"
"What?" said Fred.
"US!" said George.
"NO!" said Fred
"YES!" said Dumbledore holding out his hand upon which sat two shiny prefect badges.
"But…" George replied.
" I have already informed your parents." Dumbledore told them both, "Your mother was delighted! Seems to think you should shoulder some more responsibility and besides it's becoming quite a tradition in your family to be prefects here at Hogwarts."
"Trapped" Fred said to his brother.
"Precisely!" Dumbledore said. "Now put your badges on. I fancy Professor McGonagall would like to see how they look." At this Professor McGonagall couldn't hold it any longer and laughed out loud.
Frowning, the boys took the prefect pins and reluctantly pined them on their robes.
"Wait until Percy finds out." George said.
"We'll never live this down." Fred replied despondently.
"Professor Bond will see you after dinner to explain your new duties." Dumbledore went on.
George and Fred left the Headmasters office still stunned at the turn of events. "What the hell just happened?" Fred asked his brother. George could only shrug and say "Dumbledore! I think he's getting his own back for all the trouble we have caused him over the years."
"We could refuse…" Fred ventured.
"Mum would kill us. Besides he's right. We are the only ones who know the castle as well as Harry and Ron. They're not going to sneak out with us watching them."
"But later, we get Dumbledore back right?" Fred said.
"Oh yeah, big time!" George replied with the devious smile reappearing on his face for the first time since they left the headmasters office. The two brothers began to laugh as they walked back to the Great Hall, their new prefect pins on their robes glinting in the torchlight.