A soft hand on his shoulder got Fred's attention. Lost in his sorting, he was startled. He turned and saw a familiar yet unexpected face behind him. "Professor McGonagall?"
His Head of House, well former, looked extraordinarily out of place in the joke shop. She had a scarf wrapped around her head and she was dressed in all black robes with a large pair of black sunglasses. "Hush, Mr. Weasley."
"What in the world are you doing here?" Fred asked, leaning in towards his former professor. "Aren't you furious at me?"
"Whatever for?"
"Dropping out of school," Fred replied, still taking the situation in. "Me and George."
"Nevermind that," she said. "I see it hasn't kept you down." She looked around the shop, seeming unmoved by the moving pieces all around them.
"Professor McGonagall, is this really happening?" Fred lightly hit his forehead. "I have no idea what to even say."
"It is. I wanted to see you and pick up some things. I'm proud of you," she said. "This is quite…impressive." They walked to the railing, overlooking the bottom floor of the shop. Fred had never spoken to McGonagall one on one, and he never thought it would be in his joke shop.
Fred felt himself blush. He couldn't believe the strictest professor from Hogwarts was applauding his and George's decision. "Whatever you want, it's on the house," he said.
"I meant what I said," McGonagall said, lowering her sunglasses to her nose and looking him in the eye. She looked ridiculous, and Fred was trying his hardest not to laugh. "That day in the classroom. About needing more people like you and George."
"Oh hey, Freddy," a voice came from behind them. "Who's your lady friend?" His brother came from the other side of McGonagall, putting a hand on her shoulder. When she turned to look at him, Fred saw George's eyes pop out of his head. "Uh, McGonagall. Professor…"
"Hello, Mr. Weasley," McGonagall said, pushing her sunglasses back over her eyes. Her nonchalant manner was out of character. "I was just telling your brother about how proud I am of you both."
George mouthed "what the hell" to Fred who just shrugged. "Um, Professor McGonagall, what can we do for you today?" Fred asked.
"I wanted to pick up a few things, but ah, was not going to reveal myself to the numerous students of mine who are here today," she replied.
"We'll show you around," Fred said, putting an arm around here. "Right, George?"
"Absolutely," George added, putting his arm around McGonagall.
As they stopped at the first section of the store, the sweets spot, George pointed McGonagall to the Mysterious Moonlight Madness drops, something Fred had been quite proud of. "This wouldn't be anything like that love potion you had Severus drug me with, is it?"
Fred laughed. "It could be."
"You know," she said, picking a box of Moonlight Madness off the shelf, "You two should have been punished for that."
"But, you didn't," George said. "Why?"
"We all needed a laugh," McGonagall replied.
"I thought Professor Snape was going to turn us in," Fred said.
"I think he enjoyed your stunt," McGonagall said.
"You could get at him back with these," George chimed back in. "And, hey, if the goal is revenge, we got a lot more where that came from."
"With the Head of Slytherin, the goal is always revenge," McGonagall smiled. "Show me what you have."
And so, by the end of their shop tour, McGonagall had her hands full of a variety of Weasley products including love potions, a Tiny Twister, Shimmering Silver Salt Drops, and an Umbridge on Unicycle as a special treat for her run-in with Umbridge. The stern woman looked out of place with a bag full of their jokes. "Your rivalry with Professor Snape must go pretty deep," Fred said, trying his hand at finally finding an answer to his theory of their involvement.
George glared at him from the other side of her. He'd always denied the facts that pointed the two professors to being together. "It does, Weasley. Years of Quidditch banter just aren't enough anymore. Time to take it to the next level."
"Well, as a Gryffindor, we will always be on your side of the fight," George said.
"I would hope so," she replied.
"We miss you," Fred said honestly.
"I miss you both dearly. Gryffindor Tower is not quite the same." Unexpectedly, she hugged them both. "Have a lovely evening. Best of luck with everything. You look like you're doing a fine job."
Fred walked her to the door of the shop. "Goodnight, Professor."
"Minerva," she corrected.
"Minerva," he repeated, albeit uncomfortably. "I uh, wanted to ask, how are you feeling?"
"Feeling?"
"Well, since Umbridge."
"Doing quite well, Mr. Weasley. Thank you." With that, McGonagall was gone into the darkness of Diagon Alley.
Fred made his way back up to him and George's office, taking a seat in his chair. "George, tell me that I'm not right?"
"About what?" George asked, putting his feet up on his desk.
"Snape and McGonagall."
"This again?"
"Yes, this again. She came here just to buy things to annoy him. If that's not love, I don't know what is!"
George laughed. "That's how you and I show love, Freddy." He motioned to the open door of their office. "That's why we built this. But, McGonagall, she wants to take down Slytherin once and for all."
"I'll bet you half of next year's earnings."
"That what?"
"They're shagging!" Fred was more confident after their interaction today.
George rolled his eyes. "Fine! Half of next years earnings if there is actual proof or confirmation."
"Shake on it," Fred said. He stood up and walked towards his brother, putting his hand out for George to shake. George shook his hand and a bet was made.