I REWROTE THIS CHAPTER. THIS is the rewrite. So there.
Fred leaned back on his broomstick and sighed contentedly, the scene running through his mind.
Umbridge's toad-like mug was fixed upon the tall twins. "You two," she hissed, "are about to learn what happens to wrongdoers in my school." Umbridge was wearing an unattractively dangerous smirk. Stupid prat. ''Oooo, I'm so scared." thought Fred bitterly. "What can she do? Whack me on the head with a Ministry Decree? I'd like to see her try..."
"Fred." said George.
"You know what?" Fred intoned, smirking at her. "I don't think we are."
"Come on," he thought fiercely at Umbridge. "Challenge me, I dare you."
"George," said Fred, turning to his twin with an air of regality, "I think we've outgrown full-time education."
"Oy! Fred!" George intoned again. Fred ignored his other half and remained in this reverie, replaying the indescribable look on Umbridge's squat face a dozen times over.
"FRED! WATCH OUT!"
Fred snapped out of the memory just in time to see a large muggle water tower looming dangerously in front of him.
"Bugger!" Fred yelled, swerving to avoid it and getting swiped by tree branches in the process. "Owwww..." he intoned as the two continued riding.
"Quit whining. It's your fault." said George with a grin. "Be grateful it's not the Whomping Willow. Chocolate Frog?"
Fred gratefully accepted the chocolate and tore off the wrapper with his teeth. He'd miss the Whomping Willow... It was always entertaining when unsuspecting students 'met' it for the first time. The small card accompanying the frog fell out, spinning all the way down to the bare field below, and Fred caught a glimpse of Dumbledore's face as it floated down to land in squelching mud. Dumbledore looked extremely miffed, and Fred chuckled. Life was fantastic.
The twins were flying steadily across English countryside, destined for London and a bright future in sales.
They rode on in silence for a time. "Remind me again why these damn brooms are so uncomfortably hard and pointy around the-"
"Aha!" George cut in, grinning. "I do believe I have found us temporary overnight residence, my dear twin." Off in the distance, just slightly visible, there was a small dilapidated house. It was the only sign of life for miles. "Good eye." remarked Fred, impressed. "Good timing as well. I'm famished and exhausted."
They neared the house within five minutes, finally making a soft landing on the overgrown weeds next to the door. The building was literally falling apart, and the setting sun made shadows leer out of every corner.
"Right then..."said Fred, sounding far more confident than he felt. "You first." he finished cheerily, attempting to mask the unease he felt at these unfamiliar surroundings.
George, bemused at his twin's reluctance and feeling no more eager to enter, clucked his tongue. "Is ickle Freddykins afraid of the dark, scary house?"
"Very funny. Wittier than a house elf." said Fred sourly. "Oh come now, just knock and get it over with. Where's your sense of adventure?"
"All right," George responded with a cocky shrug of his shoulders. He stepped up to the door and knocked very softly. "Er... right, then," he said swiftly, with a grin. "No one home. I reckon it's safe for you to go inside."
Fred reached for the doorknob with a grin on his face, and had pushed the door open and begun to step inside when he felt a fist connect with his skull. The last thing Fred heard was a fierce feminine voice; then everything went dark as he was falling, falling, falling.....
A/N: To reviewers: The fact that you reviewed is marvelous, and I commend you for your valiant efforts! I guess my other story really sucks, because only my friends reviewed that one. Ha. Don't read it.
To Acknowledge: Thank you for your detailed review! For a bit, at least, however, i shall be switching between the twins' POVs and Talia's. So no physical description until maybe next chapter. And I agree that the element of suspense is part of keeping the reviewer interested. And I know that the last two sentences weren't really sentences. Anyhow, it is good for you not to know everything right off the bat. :D Then I control your mind, muah ha ha ha. just kidding.
To Moonbrite: Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you like it.
To Lazy-anji: Yah... I thought that the Lestrange part was kinda an intriguing thing to put at the end of the chapter. Thank you for reviewing and liking it!
To Sarah29: Thanks for reading!
Oh, and to all readers (like there are others, Ha!): If you see a heinous (any) grammar or spelling mistake, TELL ME! It is extremely irritating to not know that a typo or mistake is in a chapter. So, review. Same-ol, same-ol. (Character dialogue grammar doesn't count)
"When you review, you make my day
I smile and i'm delirious.
I warn you however, as I write this today:
Not reviewing can be deleterious!"
