"And that will be the end of our lesson on switching charms, make sure to practice before our lesson next week on Tuesday, so we can move on to asymmetrical switching. Enjoy your lunches everybody!"
Fred left the charms classroom quickly after those final words by Professor Flitwick, followed closely by his brother. Even though charms was one of his favourite classes, he always got restless near the end of the morning lessons. Sitting and listening was certainly not one of his strengths. But before they were able to leave the hallway, they were stopped by Professor McGonagall:
"Mister Weasley and Mister Weasley, could you spare me a moment of your time?", the stern witch asked them.
They both answered in unison: "Certainly, Professor. How could we help you?".
"It might be better if you observed the situation, please accompany me to the history classroom."
As they followed their Head of House, Fred found it hard to suppress a grin. He had a strong suspicion what they would find when they reached their destination. As they entered the first floor corridor, he could hear a loud wailing. "Are you going to introduce us to a new ghost, Professor?" they asked in unison.
McGonagall answered in a strict tone: "I would request you to refrain from your usual jokes, as this is not a laughing matter. A student might be seriously hurt."
When they arrived at the history class room, they found the source of the noise. A group of Gryffindor and Slytherin students were standing near the entrance of the room. The screaming was coming from Draco Malfoy, who was hanging in the door opening, with his right hand stuck at the top of the doorframe. "Get if off, get it off,…!" the boy was bleating while his loyal friends, Crabbe and Goyle, were trying to help him by holding him by the legs to support his weight. A confused Professor Bins, was staring at the scene being his usual useless self and wondering how long the peace and quiet in his class room would be disturbed.
"Well?" Professor McGonagall turned to the twins, "What do you have to say for yourselves?"
"Uhm, what would you like us to say Professor?" George asked.
"It looks like Mister Malfoy got himself stuck?" Fred supplied.
"An astute observation, would you happen to know how he got 'stuck' there?"
"We have just spend a double period in charms class, Professor." George said. Fred added "Surely you cannot expect us to have caused this problem?"
"Well, that would clear your names, if not for the fact that Mister Malfoy is wearing a metal bracelet that is marked with 'WW', a symbol that I have come to associate with various joke products that seem to pop up around this institution lately. It is in fact this bracelet that has attached itself to the doorframe, would you happen to know anything about that?" McGonagall asked.
"Surely not!" both twins gasped simultaneously.
George continued: "This looks like one of the anti-Thievery bracelets that we developed."
Fred added: "The best way to protect one's property against pickpockets while on the move. Simply carry around this metal bar in your bag…"
"… and it will wrap around the arm of anyone reaching in, other than yourself of course." George finished.
"And how would this device find itself around the arm of Mister Malfoy?" a frowning McGonagall asked.
From the middle of the group of Gryffindors, Ron stepped forward. "I am afraid that would come from my bag, Professor. My brothers asked me to test their newest invention, I have just checked, the bracelet in my school bag is gone."
"And how would one deactivate this new invention?" McGonagall asked.
"Simple!" The twins exclaimed, "you just have to say the password and the bracelet will detach from the doorframe and release your arm."
"Come on, stupid Weasels, tell me this password already." An angry, crying Malfoy shouted from his elevated position.
"No need to be agitated, Heir Malfoy." Fred said.
"We will tell you the password immediately," George added, "in fact, we are surprised you did not find it already, you simply say 'Weasley is my King' and you will be released."
"Weasley is my King?" Draco asked quietly.
"You'll have to speak louder!" Fred and George echoed.
Draco huffed annoyed and said "Weasley is my King."
"We can barely hear you!" the twins called.
Finally, the angry Draco Malfoy shouted "Weasley is my King!". With a small plop, the bracelet released from the door and Draco landed on the shoulders of his friends.
"That is strange," Fred said, "the bracelet is still on your arm. It seems like we will still have some tinkering to do before we can release this on the market."
"All in all, I would call this a successful prototype, brother." George answered.
With a deep sigh, Professor McGonagall said "Thirty points from Gryffindor for endangering another student and twenty points from Slytherin for disrespecting a fellow student's properties. And of course all three Misters Weasley and Mister Malfoy will serve a detention with me."
Fred thought they got off rather lightly there, as the group of students left the corridor, he could not help but smile when he heard the cursing of Draco Malfoy as he was promptly hoisted up by his wrist when he passed the next door opening. His cursing was closely followed by a loud "Weasley is my King" that could be heard throughout the stairwell. He turned to Ron who was walking next to him and asked "So, how did you get him to reach into your bag?".
"That's very simple," grinned Ron, "I knew Malfoy would not be able to resist the temptation to mess with me and Harry. I simply spoke to Harry too loud about some seeker tactics I prepared for him while tucking a booklet away and then left my bag lying near Malfoy while I was 'falling asleep' during Binn's lecture."
"Nice Job, little brother, I knew you had it in you. And now you get to hear Malfoy proclaiming you're his king for the next week." Fred said. The grin Ron showed only grew wider as he heard Malfoy's loud voice doing exactly that.
Ron only became happier throughout the day, in the evening he was recounting to every Gryffindor in the common room willing to listen, how Draco had lost points from Snape when he was forced to shout "Weasley is my King" when entering the potions dungeon. Fred and George were sitting in their usual seats, flanked by Angelina and Alicia, smiling as they watched their brother.
"That is a nice thing you did for your little brother." Alicia said as she turned to them.
"Yes, I think this will be a confidence boost for our keeper." Angelina agreed as she leaned in closer to Fred, "You know, you two really are something else."
Fred laughed and said, "Anything to please our Team Cap..."
He was cut off as Angelina pulled him closer by his robes and planted a long kiss on his mouth. Fred thought process was interrupted by sparks in his head as he felt her lips, but quickly caught on and deepened the kiss. If he would have been able to divide his attention, he would have noticed that on the couch next to him, his brother was receiving a similar treatment from Alicia.
When the kiss finally broke off, Fred inhaled deeply as he leaned back and could only dreamily utter "Marvelous."
When he heard his brother next to him say "Wonderful" at the same time, they glanced at each other surprised, it seemed the 'curse' of always echoing each other was momentarily broken. But they did not get a lot of time to think about it, as Angelina stood up, took Fred's hand and dragged him up.
"Where are we going?" Fred asked her.
"You are going to show me the best place to snog." Angelina said, "And with your knowledge of this castle, I know you will not take me to a simple broom closet."
It was a very happy Fred that was dragged along to the portrait of the fat lady.
Thank you for reading this story, I hope you liked it.
Best regards,
Chuckling Goose