Trying | Hogwarts OC student

chapter 5

Trouble with the Twins

After his moment by the Black Lake, Alistair forced himself to return to the castle. He slipped back into the Great Hall just as breakfast was ending, managing to avoid any more encounters with Snape. His stomach churned at the sight of food, so he grabbed an apple and headed to his first class of the day: Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall.

The lesson was on human transfiguration, a topic that required intense concentration. Alistair found it a welcome distraction from his thoughts. McGonagall's stern but fair teaching style was a relief compared to Snape's oppressive demeanor. He threw himself into the lesson, determined to keep his mind occupied.

"Excellent work, Mr. Montrose," McGonagall said as Alistair successfully transformed his matchstick into a needle. He gave a tight nod, appreciating the rare praise.

As the class ended, Alistair gathered his things and made his way to Charms. The corridors were bustling with students, and he navigated through them, feeling oddly detached. He spotted the Weasley twins, Fred and George, whispering conspiratorially with each other near a suit of armor. Their mischievous grins promised trouble.

"Oi, Montrose!" Fred called out as he and George fell into step beside Alistair. "Fancy joining us for a bit of fun?"

Alistair raised an eyebrow. "What kind of fun?"

George grinned. "The kind that'll get us detention, but it's totally worth it."

Normally, Alistair would have dismissed them, but today he felt a reckless urge to do something—anything—to break the monotony. "Alright," he said, surprising even himself. "What's the plan?"

The twins exchanged gleeful looks. "You'll see," Fred said, leading the way.

They sneaked through the castle, avoiding teachers and prefects until they reached an unused classroom. George pulled out a box of fireworks from under his robe, and Alistair couldn't help but smirk. This was going to be interesting.

"We're going to set these off in the Great Hall during lunch," Fred explained. "Cause a bit of chaos, you know?"

Alistair nodded, feeling a spark of excitement. They carefully made their way to the Great Hall, slipping in just as students were settling down for their midday meal. The twins positioned the fireworks strategically around the perimeter of the hall.

As the hall filled with students and the hum of conversation grew louder, Fred gave the signal. George lit the fuse, and the three of them bolted for cover behind a suit of armor in the entrance. Moments later, the sky erupted in a brilliant display of colors and deafening bangs. Students screamed in surprise, some laughing, others ducking for cover. Food and drinks flew everywhere, adding to the pandemonium.

The twins were cackling with glee, and even Alistair found himself laughing. For a moment, he forgot about his troubles and just enjoyed the chaos they had caused.

"Montrose! Weasley!" a familiar, furious voice shouted. Alistair turned to see Professor Snape storming towards them, his face a mask of rage. "What is the meaning of this?"

Before Alistair could respond, Fred stepped forward. "Just a bit of fun, Professor. No harm done."

Snape's eyes narrowed. "Detention. All three of you. Tonight."

George opened his mouth to protest, but Snape cut him off. "And fifty points from Gryffindor and Slytherin."

Alistair's brief moment of joy evaporated. He glared at Snape, the anger from their earlier confrontation surging back. "This is ridiculous," he spat.

"Another twenty points from Slytherin for your disrespect, Montrose," Snape said coldly. "And I suggest you keep quiet unless you want further punishment."

Fred and George exchanged glances but said nothing. As Snape turned on his heel and stalked away, Alistair felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see George giving him a sympathetic smile.

"Worth it," George said with a wink. "See you in detention."

As the twins walked away, Alistair took a deep breath, trying to quell his anger. Today hadn't gone as he planned, but at least he had managed to feel something other than misery, even if it was just for a moment. He made his way to his next class, determined to survive the rest of the day without further incident.