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

Chapter 15:1

DANDY'S DISTRESS

For several weeks, Fred and George spent their evenings in Gryffindor Tower beside the massive fireplace with Charlie and their teammates, plotting a course to overthrow Slytherin's impressive three-year run on the Quidditch Cup. Each night, when the lights were shut off and everyone left for their dormitories, the twins would sneak back to the common room to study the map and journals in the dying firelight.

They developed some of their best ideas and learned much about Hogwarts castle during these dim hours, memorizing the hundreds of passageways that spoked throughout the school, virtually linking every hallway and classroom. Of course, they should have spent that time reviewing their notes for the impending end-of-term exams. Although Fred was excelling at Enchantments, and George skillfully handled all of their Potions assignments, the scrolls they needed to write for History of Magic were grueling, and they had yet to think up a way of convincing Madam Hooch to remove the broom tethers.

Nevertheless, there was good news. All gossip surrounding the Toilers of Trouble had lessened after an article in the Daily Prophet referred to them as "bored students looking for a laugh". Then all the spells and hexes the boys had placed around the castle were undone by the staff, save for their permanently vanishing step. To keep students from falling through the floor, Mr. Filch posted warning signs at each of the landings. And when that was discovered to be a waste of time (as they were stolen soon after being hung), Filch was left with the task of covering the stairwell entrances with dingy, moth-eaten tapestries. It turned problematic, however, when the taller students who continued to use the concealed staircase would forget which step to avoid and become lodged somewhere between the second and third floor, where they'd be trapped for hours at a time.

According to the staff, everything was as it should be. Though they were still searching for an instructor brave enough to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, the school's historic paintings had remained unharmed, and they no longer feared the threat of some mischievous students. Which is why the twins believed it was precisely the right time for the Toilers of Trouble to reemerge.

If anyone had been inspecting the Marauder's Map that chilly November day, they would have seen two small ink dots labeled 'Fred Weasley' and 'George Weasley' leaving the Owlery and sneaking past Mr. Filch on their way back to the greenhouses, where they could watch their newest prank come to fruition during Herbology.

As they strolled confidently into Greenhouse two, Professor Sprout waddled toward them to shut the beveled glass doors.

"Please be seated. We've much to cover this afternoon," she said rapidly, sidestepping down the aisle of desks. "For today's lesson, I'd like you to pair up with another student. We'll be using some rather sharp shears, so — Fred...George, don't make me pick for you."

Looking appalled, George placed a hand to his chest. "Madam, I'm shocked you don't trust us with shears."

"Mister Weasley, must I explain myself?"

"It won't be a problem, Professor," said Fred in a businesslike manner. "George and Angelina work quite well together, in fact."

"Uh...er," George stammered, as his twin abandoned him unexpectedly. His eyes darted across the room as the other students found their partners. "That might not be the best idea."

Lee raised an eyebrow as he scooted his stool toward Fred. "On the contrary. Weren't you just telling us last week how well you got along?" he noted mischievously. "Angelina is a fine student, you said. Heard it loud and clear."

Professor Sprout looked satisfied as she checked on the pairings. "I will say, it's refreshing to see that you two aren't always compelled to work together."

"Hang on —" George faltered, as Nettles and Towler moved toward each other.

"I couldn't agree more, Ma'am," declared Fred, as Lee chuckled from behind his book. "These two are natural partners, really."

"Don't be a prat, Fred," said Angelina hotly, as the girls abandoned her as well.

The students of Gryffindor House, who knew firsthand how deeply they despised one another, watched with great delight as George shuffled awkwardly over to Angelina, where he placed his parchment and quill at the very edge of the table. They turned away from each other as Professor Sprout passed them a set of wide scissors, knives, and a tool that looked like a miniature pitchfork on one end and a fisherman's hook on the other. George quickly dismissed his mandatory partnership when Sprout passed around an assortment of small pots, each containing a thin twig of a tree with spiky green leaves that tinted purple at the blades. He glanced back at Fred, who was just as thrilled to see the matching pots making their way across the room. More so, they enjoyed watching their teacher return comfortably to her seat at the front of the narrow greenhouse, completely unaware of how close she was to facing utter madness.

"Right," said Sprout energetically. "As I laid out in our previous lesson, there are defined methods to cutting and scoring magical plants, and the integration of these methods is of utmost importance to both witch and wizard. These are saplings for a Whomping Willow — a species of tree that is fraught with danger, one of which resides on the school grounds...for some foolish reason. At my count, you may begin cutting the plant according to the diagram in your text," she paused, checking to make sure that her students were listening, holding the proper utensils, and had their books open to the correct page. "Ready? Three...two...one."