The Cupboard Series 4: The Fourth School

Chapter 21

Eating breakfast one handed was a little more awkward than Harry had anticipated, but all in all, he wasn't complaining. And who could blame him? Holding the hand of his best friend, his girlfriend, under the table while they ate was wonderful. And the little glances that they shared, the way that they'd started leaning in towards each other to share some comment or other had plastered an almost perpetual grin across his face.

For once, Harry was incredibly glad of his metamorphmagus ability. Without it, he knew that his face and, more than likely his neck as well, would be eternally brilliant red, not unlike Hermione's for that matter. But with the constant 'oohs' and 'aahs' and teasing that they were being subjected to, embarrassment was inevitable.

"Letter for you, Master Harry Sir," Dobby said, popping in beside Harry's chair.

"Thank you, Dobby," Harry said, freeing up his hand to take the envelope.

"It be from your Twin Red-Head Menace friends," Dobby added.

Harry guffawed, the image of their faces appearing in his mind if the twins ever found out what Dobby called them. He couldn't work out if they'd be insulted or impressed. Either way, he decided that there had to be some prank-worthy mischief that he could find to subtly, or perhaps, not so subtly, drop the name on them.

"Dobby, their names are Fred and George; you shouldn't call them that," Hermione admonished.

"Oh, I don't know, Miss Granger. It sounded rather accurate to me," Minerva said offhandedly between sips of her tea.

This, of course, produced laughs around the table, no more so than the great barking laugh of Sirius.

"I think we've created a monster, Moony," Sirius observed, wiping the tears from his eyes.

"Then our job is done," Remus agreed, saluting his partner in pranks with his cup.

"What do the twins have to say?" Hermione asked.

Harry tilted the freshly opened parchment towards her so that they could both read it at the same time.

Hi Harrikins (and probably Hermione, too, reading over Harry's shoulder),

We just heard some very interesting news that we thought that you might appreciate knowing. More for the sake of how it now doesn't affect you.

You see, you'll never guess who's just turned up here at Hogwarts for the TriWiz. Our brother Charlie and Hagrid, that's who! We managed to have a chat with them this afternoon and we reckon that we've worked out what the First Task is.

As you know, Charlie and Hagrid both work at the Romanian Dragon Reserve and apparently Hagrid is considered the best dragon handler when it comes to nesting mothers. So much so, according to Charlie, that he's not allowed to be away from them in case they get a bit 'excited'.

And guess when dragon breeding season is? If you were to say that it begins in November, then you'd be spot on, mate.

So, just put the clues together and the task is worked out. Aren't you glad you're not a Champion? I know we are. Don't know what we were thinking wanting to go in the TriWiz and we're doubly glad that Angelina's name never came out either.

Anyway, best go,

Prank you later,

Forge and Gred.

By the time that Harry'd finished reading the letter his eyes had expanded to saucer size and all of the colour had completely drained from his face. He would have had to face dragons?