This is a mini-chapter, but the next one will be longer, I promise.
I went down the train away from the driver. I figured whoever was ahead had to be older than me. That didn't matter. I was an expert at annoying people, whatever their age.
I heard two similar male voices leaking through the crack in the compartment door. Their voices were somewhat like Ron's, but a bit deeper. They seemed to be talking about something mischievous, or confidential. Sounded like people that I might want to get to know. We might be able to work together.
"So, when Mrs. Norris comes down the corridor to Moaning Myrtles bathroom, why is she there?" said one boy.
"She is chasing a live mouse that is.." said the other boy.
"Going after cheese in the broom closet. You will be.."
"Hiding behind the suit of armor by the door." They were finishing each others sentences seamlessly, as though they had done so for years.
These guys seemed to be expertsat this. They must have been going over a plan for a start-the-school-year-off-with-a-little-mayhem thing. One of my favorites. These seemed like possible colleagues.
"Then what?" I interrupted, opening the compartment door with a bang. The two whirled around. They were two boys, identical twins, with flamingred hair and a mess offreckles. They seemed oddly familiar.
"Do you guys have a brother, or something?'Ienquired,remembering the other red-head I had seen so far."In the first year?"
"Ah! It seems she has met our youngest brother Ron!" said the first twin.
"So, what are your guys's names?" I asked.
"This is Fred, and I'm George. We're the trouble-makers-in-chief around here." said George, previously referred to as the other boy.
"Fred and George Weasly?" asked the daughter in awe. "You mean you talked to the owners of the joke shop that put Zonco's out of business?"
"The one and only Fred and George." the mother replied triumphantly. "They were so much fun to be around." she said, reminiscing slightly. Staring off into space for a moment, she was brought back down to earth violently by her daughter's anxious plea.
"So what happened next?"
"And you are . . ." prompted Fred.
"Jen. Soooooo, whatcha plan'n?" I asked. I was interested in what these two had in store for the whole of Hogwarts. I also wondered if they were as good as they said they were.
"Well, it has a little to do with kidnaping Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris. Filch is the caretaker at Hogwarts. He's in love with his cat, treats her like a human and she helps him patroll the hallways. He will give you the worst detentions you could dream of, so you want to stay clear of him." said Fred.
"Ugly gitt." muttered George.
"Anyways, it's a very complicated plan, so, if you get lost or want us to repeat something, just let us know."They were treating me like a child! I had concocted a fair many complicated plans for trouble-making, so I was deeply insulted.. I didn't show it though.
"Don't worry about me." I said, with a smile that was fake, but not obviously so.
"Well, it goes like this. Fred here gets a mouse from somewhere . . ."
"Isn't that risky? What if he can't find a mouse?" I interrupted.
"Don't interrupt! There are a few things that have something to do with chance." said George, irritated.
"Then there is a large chance that it won't work." I retorted.I was throwing these two off balance. They obviously weren't used to people questioning their plans.
"Just listen to the plan and don't interrupt."answered George angrily. They were getting annoyed. And here I thought it might be hard.
"Well, I get a mouse and wait with it at the end of the corridor towards Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Moaning Myrtle is an overly-sensitive ghost who haunts a girl's bathroom." Fred explained.
"Meanwhile, George has nicked some of the best cheese from the kitchens. Mrs. Norris always takes the same route around the corridors. It took us a long time to memorize it, but it has been worth it on many occasions." said Fred, pridefully.
"So it helps you make sure she's not around while you're preparing a trap or something like that." I cut in.
"Yes, but just don't interrupt." said Fred, exasperated .
"Anyways, I hide the cheese in a broom closet near the end of the corridor and wait behind the suit of armor near the door." continued George.
"As soon as she gets near to me, I let the mouse go. The mouse runs for the cheese and is chased by Mrs. Norris."
"When Mrs. Norris is in the broom closet, I shut the door on her and she is trapped!" finished George. They were both grinning smugly, as if saying "Isn't it great!". My face was the opposite. It defiantly answered a big flat "no".
"That's it? That's your master plan? Well, I guess it's good." I said, in a "maybe" tone."Talk to ya later." I slipped an old grubby piece of parchmentup my sleeve quickly as I turned to leave.
"Mommy," the young daughter interrupted, "you stole . . ."
"They didn't need it." she said defensively.
"Need what?" asked the curious girl.
"You'll see, you'll see." she answered. The girl looked at her pleadingly. "Not telling." pouted the woman.
"All right." consented the girl, laughing a little. "Just tell me what happened next."
Glancing back, I noticed the twins looking somewhat dejected and hurt. They recovered quickly, though. They seemed arrogant. That would have to be remedied. Trouble-makers-in-chief, eh? I would begin to plan an even better trick than what they had planned. I decided to try out my new powers. Theirs was pathetic, to much chance involved. I would execute my plan and foil theirs, without their noticing.
I spent the rest of the train ride there planning. Well, some of the time planning, but most of the time training Prankster. He was going to be a key part in it.
"Part in what, part in what?" asked the anxious girl, practically jumping out of her seat.
"I'll tell you soon." answered the mother. "But first, it's time for lunch." Her daughter looked up at her, begging with her eyes to hear more.
"You have to eat." she replied to the unspoken plea. "I'll make anything you want." she said, getting up and walking to the kitchen. The girl sat indecisively, thinking. Finally she followed her mother's path into the smoothly tiled kitchen.
"Can I have cake?" she asked hopefully. The woman chuckled at her cleverness.
"No, you can't have cake. How about some macaroni and cheese?" she suggested.
"Oh, alright." she accepted. "But can I have some Honeyduke's chocolate for desert?"
"Sure, honey." said the mother lovingly, starting to prepare the meal.