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

Chapter 22:9

The castle would have been silent, were it not for the deathday party that Moaning Myrtle was throwing for herself in the girls' bathroom on the first floor. From the sound of her tantrum, Peeves was the only apparition in attendance. And apart from the house-elves' constant sweeping, it was easy for the twins to move throughout the halls undetected, because even Mister Filch had brought his mangy cat outside to watch the epic Quidditch final.

Fred and George convinced themselves, with each gradual step toward the office corridor, that their profound fear was not worsening. Somehow this timid man, who was often riddled with fear himself, had scared the boys so intensely in the darkness of the Forbidden Forest that they were practically shivering, wondering how they could have misjudged him. And so, for extra protection, they hid beneath the Invisibility Cloak when they reached his open doorway.

At first, the twins were glad to hear him talking. Professor Quirrell was in his office, just as they had hoped. But then they heard a second person and flattened themselves against the wall. Before they could eavesdrop on the private conversation, it was interrupted by Lee Jordan's distant commentary.

"Denied! The shot is blocked by rookie Hufflepuff Keeper, Cedric Diggory!" he said triumphantly, leading the roar of the crowd.

"...it is dangerous...and all but a myth!" Quirrell muttered, as footsteps echoed in his small chamber. The twins shook their heads as, once again, they heard him speaking steadily. "Must I wear this at all hours?!"

Fred and George leaned in to get a better look. Quirinus Quirrell was standing with his back to the plated windows and slowly unraveling his purple turban. He stopped to look down with displeasure at a square of wrinkled parchment on his desk.

"And what in the name of Merlin does this do?" he said, flipping it over in his hands.

Why is he confused? George thought. Can't he see it's a map of the school?

Let's be glad he hasn't figured that out, Fred replied. The moment he does, he'll see that the Weasley twins are right outside his door. We have to move faster.

Fred stepped into the room, leaving George no choice but to follow. And before they could strategize how to steal the map from Quirrell's hand, his expression changed unexpectedly. Their professor looked closer at the parchment, the strip of purple fabric swinging over his shoulder.

"There's writing here. This page...it's mocking me!"

"It is nothing!" came a deep voice from somewhere in the room.

That has to be the same bloke from the forest! Fred thought.

Is he hiding? said George inwardly, as they scanned the room.

Quirrell straightened his back and snarled at the page. "Fred and George Weasley..."

The twins froze and swiveled back to face him, wondering how Quirrell had seen them through the cloak. But he was still looking down at the parchment.

"Insults! They placed a personality charm on this page with two of their friends."

"You're wasting your time!" the voice declared impatiently. "We've more important things to discuss."

"Yes, you are right," said Quirrell, as he crumpled the map. He raised his wand, and the parchment levitated off his desk. It traveled swiftly through the air toward the rubbish bin, only steps from the door.

"WHOA, nearly knocked off the broom by that one," said Lee, his tone magnified. "A well-placed hit by the usually dreadful...I mean, honestly, you'll never find a worse — sorry, Professor McGonagall — Slytherin Beater, Tenice Montague!"