At the breakfast table, Harry found the Weaselly twins up to their usual tricks. They were doing something under the table with a red glass bottle and something that looked like a doll’s head. Every time a professor or ghost glanced their way, whichever twin was holding it would toss it to the other and then lean to block the view. Years of practice had left them capable of building nuclear weapons in plain sight, without anyone knowing.
They didn’t bother to hide it from Ron or Harry though. Professor McGonagall called Hermione aside for something and George elbowed Ron.
“Look at this, little brother,” he said, opening his hand. Harry craned his neck to see it too. It was a doll head, two of them, one with the eyes and ears sealed shut and the mouth wide open. The other had its mouth and eyes sealed and its ears open. “You talk into this one’s ears,” Fred said, holding up the second one. “And the voice comes out of this one’s mouth! You can leave them anywhere.”
“Voice throwers?” said Harry, turning back to his eggs. “I thought McGonagall took all of them.”
“We had to sacrifice a few of the prototypes,” George admitted. “But it was worth it!” He sloshed the red bottle playfully. “With all the commotion it was almost too easy to get this.”
“What is it?” Ron asked, a little fearfully. The twins broke into identical grins. George tilted the bottle so that he and Harry could read the label on the lid. Harpy Blood was written in Snape’s handwriting.
“He will make you eat that bottle, lid and all,” Ron said, horrified. Harry wasn’t as impressed. Hermione could raid the Potions cabinet, why not the twins? At least now he could tell Lorelei and Sirius not to worry about Esme drinking the blood.
“What do you need it for?” he asked.
“We needed a better voice thrower,” George said. “And nothing carries sound-related spells like harpy blood.”
“Why do you need better voice throwers?” asked Ron, still wary.
“I’ll grant you that the old ones were good enough to get us into the Potions supply cabinet, but for what we have planned, we’ll need a better distraction.” The twins grinned at each other again.
“So, are you going to say what the plan is?” Harry asked. “What’s the secret?”
“Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead,” Hermione said suddenly. She had rejoined them silently and was looking with disapproval at the twins.
“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” said George, pocketing the doll heads. He sprang to his feet, kissed Hermione on the cheek and hurried off with a smirk. Fred was a second behind him. He tucked the bottle in his coat and kissed Hermione’s other cheek.
“You’ll be hearing ALL about it soon enough,” he said, and was gone after his brother.
“They were going to tell us, Hermione!” Ron complained. She narrowed her eyes at him and took a seat.
“You are going to be busy enough without being dragged into one of their schemes,” she said. She went fishing through her satchel and brought out a scroll. “I need you to take notes for me in Professor Binns’ class.”
“How did you manage to get out of that class?” asked Ron, taking the scroll reluctantly. Hermione wasn’t as good at subterfuge as the twins, but she made a quick check to be sure no one was listening.
“Remember the centaur?” she whispered. The boys looked blank a moment. “The one the Morthahg nearly ripped in half?” she added and they both winced.
“Ginny finally stopped having nightmares about that,” Ron said. Hermione nodded eagerly.
“She’s well enough to go home now! Professor McGonagall asked me to help with moving her. I’ve never seen a female centaur before. All the books say they keep to themselves even more than the male ones.”
“So what do they need you for?” Harry asked.
“It seems she wears as much clothes as the male centaurs do,” Hermione nearly giggled. “Poor Hagrid blushed so hard he gave himself a nosebleed.”
“Oh geez,” Ron turned a little pink too. “It’s girly stuff then.”
“Just try to take legible notes,” she said, getting back to her feet. “I’ll see you two after class.” She began to walk off and then called back over her shoulder. “And tell your brothers that if they want to invent something to try and develop some sort of breath mint.”
At the breakfast table, Harry found the Weaselly twins up to their usual tricks. They were doing something under the table with a red glass bottle and something that looked like a doll’s head. Every time a professor or ghost glanced their way, whichever twin was holding it would toss it to the other and then lean to block the view. Years of practice had left them capable of building nuclear weapons in plain sight, without anyone knowing. They didn’t bother to hide it from Ron or Harry though. Professor McGonagall called Hermione aside for something and George elbowed Ron. “Look at this, little brother,” he said, opening his hand. Harry craned his neck to see it too. It was a doll head, two of them, one with the eyes and ears sealed shut and the mouth wide open. The other had its mouth and eyes sealed and its ears open. “You talk into this one’s ears,” Fred said, holding up the second one. “And the voice comes out of this one’s mouth! You can leave them anywhere.” “Voice throwers?” said Harry, turning back to his eggs. “I thought McGonagall took all of them.” “We had to sacrifice a few of the prototypes,” George admitted. “But it was worth it!” He sloshed the red bottle playfully. “With all the commotion it was almost too easy to get this.” “What is it?” Ron asked, a little fearfully. The twins broke into identical grins. George tilted the bottle so that he and Harry could read the label on the lid. Harpy Blood was written in Snape’s handwriting. “He will make you eat that bottle, lid and all,” Ron said, horrified. Harry wasn’t as impressed. Hermione could raid the Potions cabinet, why not the twins? At least now he could tell Lorelei and Sirius not to worry about Esme drinking the blood. “What do you need it for?” he asked. “We needed a better voice thrower,” George said. “And nothing carries sound-related spells like harpy blood.” “Why do you need better voice throwers?” asked Ron, still wary. “I’ll grant you that the old ones were good enough to get us into the Potions supply cabinet, but for what we have planned, we’ll need a better distraction.” The twins grinned at each other again. “So, are you going to say what the plan is?” Harry asked. “What’s the secret?” “Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead,” Hermione said suddenly. She had rejoined them silently and was looking with disapproval at the twins. “Couldn’t have said it better myself,” said George, pocketing the doll heads. He sprang to his feet, kissed Hermione on the cheek and hurried off with a smirk. Fred was a second behind him. He tucked the bottle in his coat and kissed Hermione’s other cheek. “You’ll be hearing ALL about it soon enough,” he said, and was gone after his brother. “They were going to tell us, Hermione!” Ron complained. She narrowed her eyes at him and took a seat. “You are going to be busy enough without being dragged into one of their schemes,” she said. She went fishing through her satchel and brought out a scroll. “I need you to take notes for me in Professor Binns’ class.” At the breakfast table, Harry found the Weaselly twins up to their usual tricks. They were doing something under the table with a red glass bottle and something that looked like a doll’s head. Every time a professor or ghost glanced their way, whichever twin was holding it would toss it to the other and then lean to block the view. Years of practice had left them capable of building nuclear weapons in plain sight, without anyone knowing. They didn’t bother to hide it from Ron or Harry though. Professor McGonagall called Hermione aside for something and George elbowed Ron. “Look at this, little brother,” he said, opening his hand. Harry craned his neck to see it too. It was a doll head, two of them, one with the eyes and ears sealed shut and the mouth wide open. The other had its mouth and eyes sealed and its ears open. “You talk into this one’s ears,” Fred said, holding up the second one. “And the voice comes out of this one’s mouth! You can leave them anywhere.” “Voice throwers?” said Harry, turning back to his eggs. “I thought McGonagall took all of them.” “We had to sacrifice a few of the prototypes,” George admitted. “But it was worth it!” He sloshed the red bottle playfully. “With all the commotion it was almost too easy to get this.” “What is it?” Ron asked, a little fearfully. The twins broke into identical grins. George tilted the bottle so that he and Harry could read the label on the lid. Harpy Blood was written in Snape’s handwriting. “He will make you eat that bottle, lid and all,” Ron said, horrified. Harry wasn’t as impressed. Hermione could raid the Potions cabinet, why not the twins? At least now he could tell Lorelei and Sirius not to worry about Esme drinking the blood. “What do you need it for?” he asked. “We needed a better voice thrower,” George said. “And nothing carries sound-related spells like harpy blood.” “Why do you need better voice throwers?” asked Ron, still wary. “I’ll grant you that the old ones were good enough to get us into the Potions supply cabinet, but for what we have planned, we’ll need a better distraction.” The twins grinned at each other again. “So, are you going to say what the plan is?” Harry asked. “What’s the secret?” “Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead,” Hermione said suddenly. She had rejoined them silently and was looking with disapproval at the twins. “Couldn’t have said it better myself,” said George, pocketing the doll heads. He sprang to his feet, kissed Hermione on the cheek and hurried off with a smirk. Fred was a second behind him. He tucked the bottle in his coat and kissed Hermione’s other cheek. “You’ll be hearing ALL about it soon enough,” he said, and was gone after his brother. “They were going to tell us, Hermione!” Ron complained. She narrowed her eyes at him and took a seat. “You are going to be busy enough without being dragged into one of their schemes,” she said. She went fishing through her satchel and brought out a scroll. “I need you to take notes for me in Professor Binns’ class.” “How did you manage to get out of that class?” asked Ron, taking the scroll reluctantly. Hermione wasn’t as good at subterfuge as the twins, but she made a quick check to be sure no one was listening. “Remember the centaur?” she whispered. The boys looked blank a moment. “The one the Morthahg nearly ripped in half?” she added and they both winced. “Ginny finally stopped having nightmares about that,” Ron said. Hermione nodded eagerly. “She’s well enough to go home now! Professor McGonagall asked me to help with moving her. I’ve never seen a female centaur before. All the books say they keep to themselves even more than the male ones.” “So what do they need you for?” Harry asked. “It seems she wears as much clothes as the male centaurs do,” Hermione nearly giggled. “Poor Hagrid blushed so hard he gave himself a nosebleed.” “Oh geez,” Ron turned a little pink too. “It’s girly stuff then.” “Just try to take legible notes,” she said, getting back to her feet. “I’ll see you two after class.” She began to walk off and then called back over her shoulder. “And tell your brothers that if they want to invent something to try and develop some sort of breath mint.” “How did you manage to get out of that class?” asked Ron, taking the scroll reluctantly. Hermione wasn’t as good at subterfuge as the twins, but she made a quick check to be sure no one was listening. “Remember the centaur?” she whispered. The boys looked blank a moment. “The one the Morthahg nearly ripped in half?” she added and they both winced. “Ginny finally stopped having nightmares about that,” Ron said. Hermione nodded eagerly. “She’s well enough to go home now! Professor McGonagall asked me to help with moving her. I’ve never seen a female centaur before. All the books say they keep to themselves even more than the male ones.” “So what do they need you for?” Harry asked. “It seems she wears as much clothes as the male centaurs do,” Hermione nearly giggled. “Poor Hagrid blushed so hard he gave himself a nosebleed.” “Oh geez,” Ron turned a little pink too. “It’s girly stuff then.” “Just try to take legible notes,” she said, getting back to her feet. “I’ll see you two after class.” She began to walk off and then called back over her shoulder. “And tell your brothers that if they want to invent something to try and develop some sort of breath mint.” At the breakfast table, Harry found the Weaselly twins up to their usual tricks. They were doing something under the table with a red glass bottle and something that looked like a doll’s head. Every time a professor or ghost glanced their way, whichever twin was holding it would toss it to the other and then lean to block the view. Years of practice had left them capable of building nuclear weapons in plain sight, without anyone knowing. They didn’t bother to hide it from Ron or Harry though. Professor McGonagall called Hermione aside for something and George elbowed Ron. “Look at this, little brother,” he said, opening his hand. Harry craned his neck to see it too. It was a doll head, two of them, one with the eyes and ears sealed shut and the mouth wide open. The other had its mouth and eyes sealed and its ears open. “You talk into this one’s ears,” Fred said, holding up the second one. “And the voice comes out of this one’s mouth! You can leave them anywhere.” “Voice throwers?” said Harry, turning back to his eggs. “I thought McGonagall took all of them.” “We had to sacrifice a few of the prototypes,” George admitted. “But it was worth it!” He sloshed the red bottle playfully. “With all the commotion it was almost too easy to get this.” “What is it?” Ron asked, a little fearfully. The twins broke into identical grins. George tilted the bottle so that he and Harry could read the label on the lid. Harpy Blood was written in Snape’s handwriting. “He will make you eat that bottle, lid and all,” Ron said, horrified. Harry wasn’t as impressed. Hermione could raid the Potions cabinet, why not the twins? At least now he could tell Lorelei and Sirius not to worry about Esme drinking the blood. “What do you need it for?” he asked. “We needed a better voice thrower,” George said. “And nothing carries sound-related spells like harpy blood.” “Why do you need better voice throwers?” asked Ron, still wary. “I’ll grant you that the old ones were good enough to get us into the Potions supply cabinet, but for what we have planned, we’ll need a better distraction.” The twins grinned at each other again. “So, are you going to say what the plan is?” Harry asked. “What’s the secret?” “Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead,” Hermione said suddenly. She had rejoined them silently and was looking with disapproval at the twins. “Couldn’t have said it better myself,” said George, pocketing the doll heads. He sprang to his feet, kissed Hermione on the cheek and hurried off with a smirk. Fred was a second behind him. He tucked the bottle in his coat and kissed Hermione’s other cheek. “You’ll be hearing ALL about it soon enough,” he said, and was gone after his brother. “They were going to tell us, Hermione!” Ron complained. She narrowed her eyes at him and took a seat. “You are going to be busy enough without being dragged into one of their schemes,” she said. She went fishing through her satchel and brought out a scroll. “I need you to take notes for me in Professor Binns’ class.” “How did you manage to get out of that class?” asked Ron, taking the scroll reluctantly. Hermione wasn’t as good at subterfuge as the twins, but she made a quick check to be sure no one was listening. “Remember the centaur?” she whispered. The boys looked blank a moment. “The one the Morthahg nearly ripped in half?” she added and they both winced. “Ginny finally stopped having nightmares about that,” Ron said. Hermione nodded eagerly. “She’s well enough to go home now! Professor McGonagall asked me to help with moving her. I’ve never seen a female centaur before. All the books say they keep to themselves even more than the male ones.” “So what do they need you for?” Harry asked. “It seems she wears as much clothes as the male centaurs do,” Hermione nearly giggled. “Poor Hagrid blushed so hard he gave himself a nosebleed.” “Oh geez,” Ron turned a little pink too. “It’s girly stuff then.” “Just try to take legible notes,” she said, getting back to her feet. “I’ll see you two after class.” She began to walk off and then called back over her shoulder. “And tell your brothers that if they want to invent something to try and develop some sort of breath mint.”