Chapter 47: Dos Bros

The group of friends was currently sitting in the Great Hall and watching the first years being sorted. Sam, a bit bored, let his gaze wander when he realised something.

"Hey, where are Snape, Sprout and Dumbledore?" he asked the others.

Everyone simultaneously looked at the head table only to realise that yes, said teachers indeed were missing, interesting.

"I wonder what happened," Hermione mused.

"They're probably missing because of that flying car incident," Harry said with a shrug.

"Flying car?" the twins echoed with a frown.

"Ah yes you missed that," Loki replied thoughtfully. "During the train ride, we saw a blue Ford flying next to the train though we have no idea who flew it."

Instantly the twins looked around, only to groan audibly when they saw that their younger brother was missing.

"That idiot," George moaned.

"He will be expelled for that stunt," Fred followed.

Harry though looked curiously at them.

"Why? What happened?" he asked them.

"It seems that our stupid brother Ron took our father's car," Fred explained.

"It is a blue Ford Anglia," George added.

"Though we have no idea why," they both finished.

"Huh," was all Harry said to that, he didn't overly care about that idiot Ron.

They all watched the sorting when Luna was called out and with a spring in her step walked over to the three-legged stool. She sat down, and Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head. It didn't take long until the hat groaned and called out Gryffindor.

With that Luna bounced over to them and sat down opposite of Harry, right next to Neville who made space for her.

Not much later the sorting came to an end with the sorting of Ginevra Weasley. Harry guardedly watched her how she walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down a few seats away from him. He would have to be careful around her, not that he spurred her on in her phantasy of her becoming Lady Potter.

The twins took the end of the sorting as their cue to stand up and wave their wands in the air. Suddenly music started to play from seemingly nowhere, filling the entire Great hall. McGonagall, who was about to put the stool and the hat away, looked disapprovingly in their direction but did nothing to stop it, not that it would have worked anyway.

Don't ever think you're the first one who did it
Dos Bros, Dos Bros did it
And you wouldn't believe who already knew
Dos Bros, Dos Bros knew it
They came, they saw, they took, they shook
No one can stop them go, go!
Don't ever think so

(Dos Bros – The Bosshoss)

Quite a few of the students chuckled upon the twins' way of introducing themselves while those that never had any contact with the muggle world looked confused upon the choice of music not the music itself – that they were used to by now. Some of the professors looked surprised while others, like McGonagall, simply looked resigned.

From the outside they're handsome devils
From the inside they're true born rebels

Several students from different houses laughed upon those lines, and the twins even received a few wolf-whistles.

Don't ever make Dos Bros your enemy
They're unbeatable, they're uncheatable
And if help breaks loose you will understand
It's here to have friends in a rock band
They rule, you drool, they rock until you drop
No one can stop them, blow blow
Don't ever think so

By now the twins had jumped over the Gryffindor table and now stood in the middle aisle, showing their prowess in charms by conjuring birds and other animals that jumped and flew over the tables and other students. After a short while, the animals exploded and showered everyone near them in sparks that floated to the ground before vanishing.

You better never ever mess with Dos Bros
Because you're messing with the los Dos Bros

They gave the entire student body and professors quite a show, well except those who were missing because there was an idiot that thought flying a car to school was a good idea. The rest was thoroughly entertained, and even the teacher liked what they saw. That went especially for Professor Flitwick, who was excitedly bouncing in his seat. They ended their show with a formation flight of four little dragons, each having a different coloured tail trailing behind them in the house colours.

"Oh, what a marvellous display of magic," the small professor exclaimed once the twins were done. "Take ten points for Gryffindor each, and I hope to see something new next year."

"Filius," McGonagall said in a scolding tone. "You cannot be serious! Don't encourage them."

"Minerva, what is your problem? This was entertaining, no one got hurt, and it was a great way to start the year," Flitwick replied, a few of the other professors nodding along.

McGonagall growled in exasperation but didn't say anything further about that matter while putting the stool and hat away.

The twins in the meantime bowed to the hall that loudly applauded them.

"Thank you all."

"We thought that this was a good way of introducing ourselves."

"And giving a warning to the new students."

"To never mess with the Dos Bros."

"The infamous Weasley twins!" They finished together.

"The demons of Gryffindor!" Harry shouted.

Under heavy laughter and more applause, the twins bowed one last time before they hopped back on their seats, both sporting broad grins.

"Well done you two," Loki praised them. "Well done indeed."

This was a good start into a new school year.

In the office of the headmaster currently, three adults and one very intimidated student were silently sitting and apparently waiting for something. Dumbledore, who was sitting in his chair and slowly stroking Fawkes' feathers looked disappointedly at Ronald Weasley, who sat next to a worried Sprout. The boy looked sullenly but also intimidated especially by the looming figure of a furious Severus Snape that stood behind him. Next to him stood two empty chairs.

It was a few minutes later, that the fire in the fireplace flared green and first spat out Arthur Weasley, quickly followed by his wife, Molly.

"Albus, I'm so sorry. I don't know what my son was thinking about flying the car to school," Molly began to wail before she turned to Ron. "And you…stealing the car! Your father is facing an inquiry at work because of this…!"

Coughing from Michael was all it took to silence the shrieking rant of Molly and brought blessed silence. How a woman could shriek like a banshee was beyond him, and he hoped that she wouldn't start any time soon again.

"Please calm down Molly," he told her and when it seemed that she wanted to reply something he looked sternly at her which seemed to do the trick. "Very well, I called you here because since Ron is underage a parent has to be present during any interrogation pertaining to the investigation. I would ask everyone in turn to relay his or her information regarding Ron flying in a car to school before I will ask a few more questions and come to a fitting punishment. Furthermore, I would ask you to stay silent while someone else talks, you'll all have the time to tell me your point, so there is no need to interrupt each other, is that clear?"

Severus and Pomona only nodded, and it hadn't been them Michael was concerned about but the Weasleys, especially Ronald and Molly.

"Good, I think the best will be to start at the beginning. Ron, why did you think that it is a good idea to fly in a car to Hogwarts?"

Ron huffed. "I missed the train," was all he said to that.

Severus looked at the boy in disbelieve. "You thought it aptly to steal your father's car, fly in it to Hogwarts not to mention through the centre of London where no less than twelve muggles saw you?" he asked incredulously only to earn himself a sharp glare from Michael. "My apologies."

"While I don't approve of Severus interrupting you, he has a point there. Though I fear that the estimation of twelve muggles is incorrect," Michael stated leaning forwards.

"My apologies for speaking out of turn again but what do you mean by that?" Severus questioned.

Michael merely opened the top drawer of his desk and pulled out what Severus could clearly identify as a laptop, probably one as he knew Harry owned. Opening the computer, Michael quickly began to tap away before he finally turned it around. On the screen played a video in which everyone could clearly see one Ronald Weasley ascending in a blue Ford before after a few seconds vanishing from sight. Severus looked at the screen shocked, but what shocked him, even more, was the number displayed beneath the video.

"One and a half million?" he choked out. "You've got to be kidding me!"

"Unfortunately not but don't worry, Madame Bones already knows about this. They managed to cover it up with the shooting of a new movie. The most common theory on the internet is a new episode of the Doctor Who series," Michael explained.

"That would actually fit, they tend to film a lot in London," the Potions Master mused, receiving a strange look from Michael. "I happen to like the series ever since I was a child," he said defensively, it had been Lily who brought him to it, and they liked to watch it together.

"Uhm, might someone please explain what you're talking about?" Arthur spoke up for the first time, though curiosity had entered his expression.

"Of course. You see the muggles have long since evolved technologically beyond where a simple Oblivate could solve any sightings of magic. They can, as you saw, record everything and within minutes make it available to every other person on this planet. As Severus already stated, over one and a half million people already know that your son flew in the car through London," Michael explained.

Both elder Weasleys gasped in shock while the young one only looked at him blankly. It was glaringly apparent that none of them had known that. This was one of the main reasons why Michael had over the summer revised the Muggle Studies class. Unfortunately, he had to fire Professor Burbage because, while she was a good teacher, she had no idea just how advanced the non-magicals were now and that would become a problem, or already had as it seemed. The class was now taught by a muggle-born, and he even gave her the funds to buy the needed technology to show the students. He also had wanted to make it a mandatory class for everyone, but the board of governors had refused that, not that he wouldn't continue trying. Michael really had no idea how Dumbledore could have let that subject decline so much, it was plain dangerous, not every incident could be covered up like the one with the car.

"But don't worry the problem is being taken care of. Anyway, we got a bit side-tracked, Ron if you missed the train, why didn't you write a letter or floo over? No one would have said anything if you had," Michael asked confusedly.

"I didn't want to," Ron retorted sullenly before slumping in the chair with a huff.

Dumbledore knew that it would be impossible to get any further information from the boy, so he left it be.

"Arthur, Molly, you didn't realise that your son didn't make it on the train?"

To Michael, it looked Like Molly wanted to let loose one of her tirades again but was silenced by a hand on her arm from her husband.

"We were a bit late today. The others barely made it in time, we simply thought that Ron was with them. That was until we saw that the car went missing. You see Albus, with five children it sometimes is hard to keep track of everyone," Arthur explained with a solemn face.

"Was your car locked?" Michael inquired.

"No, why?" Arthur asked perplexed.

Michael had to suppress the urge to groan, that was grossly negligent. What if a non-magical had come across the car and found out what it was capable of?

"Okay Pomona, what can you tell me about the damage done to the Whomping Willow?"

The woman took a deep breath before she began to speak. "The damage is extensive but luckily not threatening. It will take a few months for it to heal but with care, it will. Severus will have to brew me a few potions, but I don't think that it will be a problem," she summarised with a brief glance at Severus who nodded towards her.

"Good, good, is there anything you want to add, Severus?" Michael addressed the last person.

"Nothing of importance," Severus curtly replied though he gave the boy in front of him a glare.

Michael smiled thankfully at the man while leaning back in his chair, he didn't want to be here forever. Musingly he stroked his beard while he contemplated what to do. On the one hand, it was a serious transgression that could have meant unknown troubles with containing the outfall, but on the other side, he was very well aware that Ronald was only twelve years old and probably didn't really think about what could happen. So no, he wasn't inclined to expel him from Hogwarts, but he needed to find a punishment that would fit the crime. That was when an idea came to him. Ron obviously didn't see the damage he had done by behaving so reckless so what better punishment than having to help reverse it.

"Please Albus, Ron is just a child, he didn't mean…" Molly began to plead when Michael had been silent for too long but was quickly stopped by Michaels glare.

"I already came up with a fitting punishment and no, Ron will not be expelled," he sternly said, which let Molly exhale in relief. "No, I decided that Ronald Weasley will have to help to reverse the damage he did. That means that you'll have to serve detention with both Professor Sprout and Professor Snape and help them in every way they need you to when they need you to…even on Sundays if necessary, is that clear?"

"What? Why on Sundays?" Ron cried out.

"Would you prefer to be expelled?" Michael asked while looking at the boy from over his half-moon glasses, but he received no answer beside sulking. "Thought so, however, should I get any complaints about your working moral or that you didn't show up…let's just say that you won't like the result. Very well, since it is late enough, I'd suggest that we close this. Arthur and Molly, it was a pleasure to see you again."

"Likewise, Albus, and thank you for not expelling my son," Molly said in a much lower voice now. "But should you put even one toe out of line again I will pull you from Hogwarts myself."

Ron nodded weakly but didn't reply. Molly and Arthur said their goodbye before they left through the floo. Not soon later Sprout also said her farewell. Together with Ron, whom she would escort to the Gryffindor tower, she also went, leaving behind Michael and Severus.

"Why do I have the feeling that Mr Weasley will find himself with detention at 5 a.m. on a Sunday in the foreseeable future?" Michael chuckled lowly.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Severus replied with a smirk while sitting down in one of the now vacant chairs.

"Of course, you don't," Michael now laughed. "Whiskey?"

Severus nodded, and Michael stood up, walked over to a well-hidden bar, picked up a tumbler and two glasses before he returned to his desked and filled them both with the amber liquid. One of the drinks he passed to the Potions Master while he took the other and sat down again.

"Any news on Riddle's possessions?" he asked after taking a sip.

"Unfortunately, not really. I mean, I can make an educated guess on what some of them might be but not where they are," Severus shook his head.

"And what are they?"

"From what I learned, Riddle was obsessed with the founders of Hogwarts and tried to collect their heirlooms, Hufflepuff's cup, Slytherin's locket and Ravenclaw's diadem. Other than those I couldn't find anything."

"Don't worry, this is already more than we had at the beginning of the summer. With time we'll find them," Michael replied.

"What if we don't have the time?" Severus wondered.

"Crowley isn't stupid, he knows that this cannot be rushed hence why he didn't give Harry a time limit, not to mention with how protective my brother is. No, we have all the time we need."

Severus didn't look convinced but didn't say anything further about that matter. After a few minutes of silence, he drained his glass and stood up.

"I'll leave now, I have to make sure that the first-years settle properly and prepare for my patrol. Good night!"

"Good night, Severus."

Michael watched the other man leaving before he leaned back in his chair. Fawkes instantly came flying over from his perch, trilling softly and soothingly.

"It seems that it doesn't matter who they are, children are always the same. A lot of trouble but very well worth it."

A/N: 'til next chapter!