As it turned out, Mrs. Figg was a bit frightened at the prospects of taking the place of a student in Hogwarts being that she was a squib, but she accepted nevertheless, for the "adventure" and the "opportunity to torment that wretched Dudley-boy."
Fred and George looked doubly mischievous when told that they would need to fill in as Ron.
"And where would you three be off to?" queried George.
"That's a secret," said Hermione.
"Secrets…" snorted Fred. "Keep your secrets. But just remember, Mum is going to be pretty mad if she found out…"
"That's why we need you two!" said Ron. "Come on, you left Hogwarts before the end of your 7th year, so you should understand our decisions…"
"Are you saying, mate, that all we have to do is to pretend to be you?"
"Yes," replied Ron a little apprehensively. "You wouldn't do anything to get me in trouble would you?"
"Oh please," Fred rolled his eyes. "Is that all you ever worry about? The question is not whether we get you into trouble, it's the question of who we can make trouble for."
"Hear, hear!" nodded George. "And Harry, wouldn't you like us to have some more fun with your cousin?"
Harry laughed, but secretly, he worried about the plan. How would Dudley pull it off? Would the imperious curse work well enough to make him act exactly as Harry would?
"We'll do it, but what are we going to get in return?" said Fred suddenly.
"In return?" Ron looked worried. "What do you want?"
"Better yet," said George, elbowing Fred. "We'll let him know when we decide, eh?"
Ron groaned.
Harry turned to Hermione. "You know," he confessed. "I'm not quite sure how we're going to get to Privet Drive…"
"If you can't figure that out, maybe you ought to spend your last year at Hogwarts after all," commented Fred and the twins disapparated.
"Do they always have to rub it in that we can't apparate?" complained Ron.
"Well I don't see why we can't take the test," said Harry brightening. "I'm of age already! Let's do it!"
The next day Mr. Weasley escorted them to the "Official Examination Department for Apparating".
Ron went in first and Harry waited outside with Hermione.
"He was really close last time," said Hermione nervously. "I hope he makes it."
"Well, after practicing all night, he should have it by now," yawned Harry. He went to sleep after practicing for an hour, but Ron kept disapparating and apparating with loud "pop"s throughout the night.
Ten minutes later, Ron appeared looking a little disgruntled.
"Well, did you pass?" asked Hermione.
"Yes."
"Why the long face?" remarked Harry. "You didn't make a mistake did you?"
"Left something behind," mumbled Ron.
"What? And they still let you pass?"
"Well technically," piped up Hermione, "You can pass as long as you don't leave any body parts behind…"
"What did you leave behind?" prodded Harry.
"My clothes," mumbled Ron turning red.
"Your what!" exclaimed Hermione.
"My clothes! My clothes, alright!"
Hermione giggled. "All of them?" "Harry Potter, you're next." A witch appeared at the doorway and scanned the room. Her eyes met Ron and she winked at him. He sank lower in his chair turning a violent shade of deep red.
Harry stood up grinning and her blue eyes rested on Harry's heart-shaped scar and she blinked repetitively. "Hmm…" she said. "Harry Potter it is…"
The room turned out to be more of a hall.
"My name is Rosa Pink," she stated matter-of-factly. "I will be testing you on apparation. Please stand behind that line."
Harry stood with slight apprehension.
Her eyes never leaving Harry's scar, Rosa said, "You will disapparate to the entrance of the Ministry of Magic. You will see my sister, Bianca, who will be waiting for you to appear. After you tell her your name, you will apparate back into this room, but I want you to appear on that couch at the end of the hall instead. Got it?"
He nodded.
"Okay then, go ahead when you're ready."
Harry focused all of is attention… what was it again? Determination, Divination, Declaration? Of course it wasn't. Sighing, he concentrated. Must get to the front of the Ministry of Magic, must get to the front of the Ministry of Magic--- an uncomfortable sensation overcame him. Before he knew it, he was standing in front of the building.
"Bianca?" he asked, a little breathless.
"Ah! Yes!" a tall blond woman with a clipboard replied. "Excellent, you did better than that redhead that was just here," she chuckled. "I'm afraid he gave quite a shock to Rosa…Anyway, what's your name?"
"Harry. Harry Potter."
"Ah, Harry," smiled Bianca. "Well, nice job. Rosa will be expecting you now. Mind you don't leave your clothes behind."
"Hehehe…" Harry laughed weakly. He concentrated hard again, and the same sensation overtook him, though it was not as shocking as the first time.
"Ah! You're back!" said Rosa. "Well Harry, this is quite an interesting test."
Harry was puzzled. "Did I pass?"
"Well, of course you did," said Rosa, waving away his comment. Failing to suppress a giggle, she pointed at his clothes and made a small catcall. Harry looked down to see himself dressed in the pink kilt and matching sweater Mrs. Weasley had made him.
"I—I—" stammered Harry.
"It's not uncommon for people to leave their clothes or accessories behind," remarked Rosa trying to appear professional. "But it is quite an interesting case to change your clothes midway…Oh well, you passed, that's all."
And before Harry could figure out what to do about his clothes, she lead him straight out the door where Hermione and Ron could see him along with the other wizards and witches in the waiting room.
"Come on let's get out of here," groaned Harry, dragging his friends away.
"What happened?" asked Ron. "Rosa didn't ask you out for coffee did she?"
"Ah no…" and Harry began explaining.
"Well, I don't know what happened," said Hermione. "Who knows."
"Rosa didn't ask you out for coffee?" repeated Ron, looking uncomfortable now.
"Oh get over it Ron," Hermione rolled her eyes. "She's at least ten years older than you…"
"But no one's ever asked me out for coffee before!"
"Well, no one's seen you in your bare skin before either," said Hermione, looking annoyed. "If you want so desperately to get coffee, I'll take you, all right?"
Ron looked satisfied.