Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, but I do own Sarah Jane Stone-Black.
I'm editing and reposting, bear with me. The original plot shouldn't change that much, but the chapters will, in case you haven't noticed. Thanks for reading :)
Even though the Headmaster had excused them, the Weasley twins remained planted in their chairs. Fred's face reflected pure shock, his eyes fixed solely on Sarah while his mouth hung open. George, whose brow was furrowed, looked as if he were extremely panicked.
After several moments of silence, Fred finally spoke, "Professor Dumbledore, why do we have to take care of her?"
"We weren't the ones who hurt her back," George agreed.
"Yeah, you said that it was our prank that caused the effects-"
"We didn't cause her back injury."
"That is an excellent point, you two," Dumbledore smiled. "You didn't hurt her back, the Whomping Willow did. However, you did prank her and for that you will need to be punished."
"Then why not stick us with detention?" Fred blinked.
"Because it has occurred to me that, at this point, detentions are meaningless to you two. Regardless of the punishment you are sentenced with, the two of you continue to prank students and staff alike."
George nodded. Dumbledore had a point there. Detentions for him and his twin were just another moment spent thinking of new pranks.
"Can you tell us what we can expect?" questioned Fred.
"Yeah," George agreed. "You said that she wouldn't be-"
"Entirely herself-"
"What does that mean?"
"I'm not entirely sure myself, though I believe that she may be ill for some time and her emotions will be imbalanced until the effects of the spells wear off."
"In that case, why don't you send her to St. Mungo's?" Fred snapped.
"Yeah, or have her stay in the Hospital Wing?" George agreed.
"You two may recall that earlier I said this is beyond Madame Pomfrey's jurisdiction. As for St. Mungo's, her symptoms are not serious enough for her to be sent there."
The twin's blinked, "But-"
"I greatly admire your determination to get out of this punishment, Mr. and Mr. Weasley, but there is no getting out of this. The Willow did cause harm to her, but we cannot punish a tree now can we? The two of you must learn to take responsibility for your actions. You are responsible for part of what happened to Sarah. Therefore, it is only natural that you will have to take care of her. I am very sorry that it has come to this. Fred, George, Sarah Black will be your responsibility until she is well again."
The two redheads stared at Dumbledore for a moment before standing and walking towards the door.
"Boys, I believe you have forgotten someone."
The words 'responsible' and 'responsibility' played over and over in their heads like a broken record, as they turned to face him once more. Making sure his left arm was behind her back and his right was under her knees, George gingerly lifted Sarah off of Dumbledore's desk.
Fred placed his hands in his pockets, "Anything else, Professor?"
"Yes," Dumbledore nodded. "If you go to Gryffindor Tower, turn left, and walk about two paces to the right, you will see a portrait of a lady in a blue dress. Say the password and you will get into your suite. The password is 'pumpkin squares'. That is all."
Both Fred and George thanked the Headmaster and quietly left his office. Once they were down the hall, George looked at his twin.
"I can't believe it," he sighed. "The first time we get a punishment from Dumbledore in a year and it's the worst."
"I know," said Fred.
"And what-I mean, how are we supposed to care for her?"
"I don't know."
Following Dumbledore's instructions, Fred and George walked until they found themselves in front of a portrait of a thin lady in a baby blue dress. Looking not much older than twenty, the blue lady had long, blonde ringlets, soft hazel eyes, and thin, ruby red lips.
"Password?" She smiled.
"Pumpkin squares," the twins answered.
The blue lady curtsied with a giggle, "You two gorgeous boys may enter."
As the portrait hole opened, both Fred and George entered to find a large common room. There was a red and gold fire burning with a couch, armchair, and a loveseat surrounding it. Fred's mouth was ajar and George almost dropped Sarah.
"George," Fred looked at his twin, "I think this punishment just got ten times better."
"I was thinking the same thing," George agreed.
On the far left side of the room there was an entryway which led to a bedroom. On the far right, there was an identical entryway which also led to what the twins assumed was another bedroom. From what the twins to could see, the right bedroom had a door to separate it from the common room, but the left did not.
"I guess Dumbledore doesn't trust the three of us enough to give us doors on both of our rooms," Fred chuckled.
George smiled, "Which room do you supposed is hers? The one with the door?"
"I guess so. Let's try the right."
They walked past the furniture and through the doorway on the right, entering into what seemed to be Sarah's room. Across from the door was a full-sized four poster bed covered with a red and gold bed spread and pillows to match. There was a nightstand with a lamp next to her bed along with extra blankets on the foot of her bed. On the right side of her room was a closed door and on the left was a dresser with drawers, a matching chair, and an arm chair.
"If this is her room-" Fred blinked.
George looked around, "Then our room should be-"
"About the same."
"What's in that room?" Fred pointed at the closed door.
George shrugged and watched as Fred entered the room, "It's a bathroom! Bloody amazing one at that! Shower, Jacuzzi tub, normal loo, and a porcelain sink."
"Wicked," George grinned.
Fred left the bathroom while George gently laid Sarah on her new bed, taking great care lay her on her back with her head on a pillow. Fred moved to the other side of the bed and took off Sarah's shoes before placing them on the floor by her nightstand. Following his twin's lead, George removed her robe and draped it over the arm chair.
"There," Fred smoothed her hair.
"She should be more comfortable now," George smoothed her clothes.
The twins took a moment to look over Sarah. Her French braided hair was now frizzy, not just from the static spell, but from the day's events as well. Her white button up shirt and tie were in place along with her skirt and calf high socks.
"Her belongings are here," Fred pointed.
George looked up in enough time to see the dresser drawers open and the contents of her trunk float into place. Once the drawers closed, her trunk closed and slid next to the dresser.
The twins' eyes lit up, "Brilliant."
"Fred," George suggested. "Let's go check out our room and get back to class."
"Yeah," Fred agreed. "Sarah needs her rest."
"Sleep tight Sarah-doll."
"See you soon, Princess."
With that, the boys kissed her cheeks and turned out the lights before heading out of her room.
Sorry for the long wait. I'm now officially graduated and finished with dance, so now all I have to do is go to orientation and start college in the fall :)