Chapter Fifty-Five: The Weasley Twins
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ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : INFERNO
"No Halo,
Baby I'm the reason why hell's so hot."
The fact that Umbridge had taken over the school didn't take long to get around — she had made it known with a degree on the wall to join the others. Sapphire had already lost count of people asking her what had happened in the office, having been one to bear witness.
She's stopped responding after the first few times, finding herself needing to actually focus on her N.E.W.T.s if she wanted to pass. Umbridge had already stripped away her Head Girl title for being mixed up in the situation in the first place.
McGonagall hadn't been very happy about that.
Seeing the house point dwindle down was hard to see for her. She took a lot of pride in her house and this was her final year...going down the drain.
"Noticed, have you?" She asked Noah, Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Malfoy just docked us all about fifty points," said Harry furiously.
"He docked me ten for being the son of a werewolf," Nate added, crossing his arms. "Prick."
"Yeah, Montague tried to do us during break," said George.
"What do you mean, 'tried'?" Ron questioned quickly.
Sapphire smirked.
"He never managed to get all the words out," said Fred.
"We forced him headfirst into that Vanishing Cabinet of the first floor," Sapphire admitted.
"But you'll get into terrible trouble!" Hermione argued. "You're head girl, Sapphire!"
"Umbridge took that from me already," Sapphire replied. "Besides, we won't get into trouble until he appears...who knows when that will be."
"Anyway...we've decided we don't care about getting into trouble anymore," said Fred.
"Have you ever?" asked Hermione.
"We've never been expelled!" Sapphire pointed out. "We've always known where to draw the line."
"We might have put a toe across it occasionally," said George.
"But we've always stopped short of causing real mayhem," said Fred.
"But now?" said Ron tentatively.
"Well, I still need to pass my N.E.W.T.s...but these two—"Sapphire put her arms around Fred and George's shoulders. "—don't care now Dumbledore's gone."
"— we reckon a bit of mayhem —" said George.
"— is exactly what our dear new Head deserves," said Fred.
"You mustn't!" whispered Hermione. "You really mustn't! She'd love a reason to expel you!"
"You don't get it, Hermione, do you?" said Fred, smiling at her."We don't care about staying anymore. We'd walk out right now if we weren't determined to do our bit for Dumbledore first."
"Besides, you worry to much," Sapphire added to Hermione. "Live a little, Granger."
Sapphire flashed the trio a smile before hooking arms with the twins and walking away.
Before long, the three of them had managed to cause utter havoc without anyone knowing it was them — minus Harry. They had released enchanted fireworks, dragons formed of vibrant green and gold soared and Catherine's wheels spun down the corridors.
They continued all day, with Sapphire receiving a few knowing looks but going completely under the radar. The fireworks continued to burn and spread all over the school that afternoon. Though they caused plenty of disruption, particularly the firecrackers, the other teachers did not seem to mind them very much.
Sapphire had suggested to McGonagall that they just call Umbridge every time there was a firework in the classroom; her teacher had much enjoyed that suggestion. Even Hermione had been impressed with them and Sapphire called that a win.
"Harry," Sapphire called, sitting across from him that night.
"Hey," Harry replied happily. "Wicked fireworks."
"Yeah...but listen," Sapphire looked him dead in the eyes. "I know Snape isn't teaching you Occulemency anymore."
"Who told you?" Harry questioned in surprise.
"Alex," Sapphire replied honestly. "It doesn't matter. You need those lessons."
"Do I?" Harry asked, leaning forward. "I don't think they work anyway. I don't understand why you couldn't just teach me in the first place."
"Because I'm not that skilled in it—"
"Don't lie to me. You and Alex know more than you let on," Harry corrected.
"Yeah, well, don't think it's always a good thing," Sapphire added bitterly.
"Is this something to do with what Dumbledore said when he left?" Harry continued. "Is there something wrong with your magic?"
"I don't think anything is 'wrong' with it. I've got something most people don't have," Sapphire took a breath. "It's ancient magic...old magic. I can't control it right now and that makes it dangerous. I'm not going to play around with your mind when I don't know what I could do."
"Why haven't you told me?"
"It's not something for you to be concerned over, Harry," Sapphire pressed. "And we need to get back to the point. How did you anger Snape?"
"It was worth it...I saw his memory," Harry explained. "Our dad's...they were bullying him. My mum...and yours...they tried to help but Snape just offended them. Your mum was really stubborn."
"Yeah, she was," Sapphire half-smiled. "I didn't really know her but I miss her all the time. I can't even imagine how dad feels."
"Why were they like that, why did they bully Snape?" Harry added.
It surprised Sapphire that Harry couldn't see the clear hatred Sirius had for Severus Snape, it didn't take a genius to realise that there was a history between them. Sapphire knew that James Potter had hated him too, partly the reason for Snape's dislike for Harry.
"They were immature teenagers, Harry. I don't know what they were thinking," Sapphire shrugged. "If it means so much to you, talk to Sirius about it. Fred, George and I can get you into Umbridge's office."
"You can?"
"Really, you question me at this point?"
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In the grand scheme of things, Sapphire didn't dwell too much on Harry's concerns about their parents. She had done what she promised—let him speak to Sirius—but truth be told, she had more pressing matters on her mind.
The final match of the Quidditch season.
That being said, the method they used to get Harry into Umbridge's office was a bit... excessive. Sapphire had known what the outcome would be, and she wasn't exactly looking forward to it.
It reminded her of the night Trelawney had been sacked. The atmosphere was electric with tension. Students gathered in a great ring along the walls, some of them splattered with what looked suspiciously like Stinksap. Teachers and ghosts hovered among the crowd, watching the scene unfold.
The Inquisitorial Squad stood proudly among the onlookers, smug expressions plastered on their faces. And then there was Peeves, bobbing overhead, his gaze fixed on Fred and George, who stood in the centre of the floor, unmistakably cornered.
"So!" Umbridge's triumphant voice cut through the noise. Sapphire hadn't even realized she was standing just a few steps ahead, looming over her prey. "So... you think it amusing to turn a school corridor into a swamp, do you?"
"Pretty amusing, yeah," Fred answered without hesitation, his voice laced with defiance.
Sapphire wouldn't even lie—her boyfriend had never been more attractive.
Filch elbowed his way to Umbridge's side, practically trembling with glee.
"I've got the form, Headmistress," he croaked, waving a piece of parchment. "I've got the form and I've got the whips waiting... Oh, let me do it now..."
"Very good, Argus," she said approvingly. Her beady eyes returned to Fred and George. "You two," she continued, "are about to learn what happens to wrongdoers in my school."
Fred exchanged a glance with George.
"You know what?" he said. "I don't think we are."
"George," Fred declared, "I think we've outgrown full-time education."
"Yeah, I've been feeling that way myself," George agreed, his tone light and easy.
"Time to test our talents in the real world, d'you reckon?"
"Definitely."
Before Umbridge could react, the twins raised their wands.
"Accio Brooms!"
A crash echoed in the distance. Sapphire barely had time to react before the Weasley twins' broomsticks came hurtling down the corridor, one still dragging the heavy chain and iron peg Umbridge had used to lock them up. She instinctively ducked as they shot past, screeching to a halt right in front of their owners.
Fred swung a leg over his broomstick. "We won't be seeing you," he told Umbridge, grinning.
"Yeah, don't bother keeping in touch," George added, mounting his own.
Fred turned to the gathered students, his voice carrying across the hushed crowd.
"If anyone fancies buying a Portable Swamp, as demonstrated upstairs, come to number ninety-three, Diagon Alley—Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. Our new premises!"
"Special discounts to Hogwarts students who swear they'll use our products to get rid of this old bat," George added, jerking a thumb at Umbridge.
"STOP THEM!" she shrieked, but it was too late.
The Inquisitorial Squad lunged, but Fred and George shot into the air, fifteen feet above the floor. The iron peg swung wildly beneath Fred's broom. Then he turned, eyes locking onto the poltergeist hovering nearby.
"Give her hell from us, Peeves."
The poltergeist, whom Sapphire had never seen take orders from a student before, tipped his belled hat in a grand salute.
Before they left, Fred halted midair in front of Sapphire. Without a word, he leaned down and kissed her, and the crowd erupted into cheers.
"Give her hell, love," he murmured against her lips.
Sapphire smirked. "You got it."
Fred grinned, gave her one last look, and with that, he and George wheeled around, soaring through the open doors into the golden sunset, leaving chaos—and a legacy—behind them.