Fred and George and the Toilers of Trouble (Year 1) ✔

Chapter 4:4

Before leaving the Burrow for Kings Cross, the twins had planned an ingenious, albeit absurd, way to introduce themselves to one special compartment on the train. Fred, now wearing a panicked expression, slid the door open and bounded into the cabin.

"Hello," chimed the girl, looking over with a grin. "You can sit here if you'd like. Are you —?"

"There's no time to talk," Fred blurted erratically, grabbing the short boy by the collar. "Have you seen someone who looks just like me?" He flashed them a disturbed expression. "A strange wizard cast a spell on me in the hall, and it seems there are two of me running around now. I'm hopeless. Please...I think it's trying to eat me alive! Hide me!"

They laughed awkwardly while Fred struggled with the handle on the small cupboard before heaving himself inside and slamming it shut. He stayed there for a few seconds before bursting out, opening the compartment door, and running down the hall to the left. Moments later, George vaulted into the room from the right.

"Another one?" the boy chuckled.

"There's no time to talk. Have you seen someone who looks just like me?" George shot them a glare of lunacy, causing the boy to twist his mouth in a series of confused smiles.

"Yeah...just a moment ago, we —" the girl started, as George blurted out an interruption.

"A strange wizard cast a spell on me in the hall, and it seems there are two of me running around now. I'm helpless. Please...I think it's trying to eat me alive! Hide me!" he yammered, copying his brother's exact movements. Only this time, when he launched himself from the compartment, he ran off to the right.

After a minute of odd silence, the girl raised her eyebrows and giggled. "What in blazes just happened?"

"I'm not sure," the boy started, just as the twins slid back into the doorway from opposite ends of the hall. The two students sharing the cabin applauded, and the twins bowed ceremoniously.

"Ever so sorry," Fred hummed, grinning ear to ear. "We wanted to introduce ourselves properly, but my doppelganger always prefers to be silly. I'm Hopeless, but you can call me Fred," he said, waving slightly.

"I'm Helpless. Er — George. Hey, I thought you were my doppelganger," he added, only to shrug the thought away.

"That was rather funny," the girl chuckled, continuing to laugh as she spoke. "My name is Angelina Johnson. First year at Hogwarts."

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Johnson," said George, bowing again. "We're first years as well. And you?"

"First year," the boy said, offering them a simple smile.

"It's a pleasure, Mister Year," said Fred, grabbing the seat beside him. Then he held out his hand for a good shake. "A pleasure indeed."

"Jordan, actually. Lee Jordan," the boy corrected, imitating the voice of a high society wizard.

"I believe we saw you buying your wand on Diagon Alley," Fred recalled, continuing the joke by copying Lee's snooty inflection. "My brother and I were searching for Knockturn Alley."

"Knockturn Alley?!" Angelina gasped, raising her comic book. "It's too dangerous for young wizards. Lady Luck and The Contraption just fought a troll disguised as a witch on Knockturn Alley in issue two hundred and seventy-five of Dark Force Defense League."

"Cracking good comic, that," said George, watching as the characters battled on the animated cover. "Never seen a girl reading one before."

"Well, then I pity the company you keep. What girl wouldn't read Dark Force Defense League? They have a ghost, an immortal, and the best dueler of all time," she said proudly, before holding up an octagonal container of treats labeled, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. "Would you like some? We've had a few, and the last ones were just wretched. They come in every flavor imaginable...one was tuna fish flavored, if you can believe it."