𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐞'𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞┃𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙒𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙮

Chapter 45: The Fourth Champion

As the next day was Saturday, most students would normally have breakfasted late. Laughing, the twins plus Lee dashed down the stairs, followed by an amused Rubi Black, who was waiting to see how this would play out.

"Done it," Fred said in a triumphant whisper to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who had just arrived before them."Just taken it."

"What?" said Ron.

"The Aging Potion, dung brains," said Fred.

"One drop each," said George, rubbing his hands together with glee. "We only need to be a few months older."

"We're going to split the thousand Galleons between the three of us if one of us wins," said Lee, grinning broadly. They had wanted to include Rubi but she immediately declined, knowing if they got the chance, they could make good use of it regarding Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

"I'm not sure this is going to work, you know," said Hermione warningly "I'm sure Dumbledore will have thought of this."

Fred, George, and Lee ignored her.

"Why aren't you knocking some sense into them?" Hermione directed at Rubi, who shrugged, a grin playing on her lips.

"It's not like they would listen plus I'm curious to see what's going to happen."

"Ready?" Fred said to the other two, quivering with excitement. "C'mon, then- I'll go first-"

Rubi watched as Fred pulled a slip of parchment out of his pocket bearing the words Fred Weasley - Hogwarts. Fred walked right up to the edge of the line and stood there, rocking on his toes like a diver preparing for a fifty-foot drop. He looked back, his gaze landing on Rubi who shot him a thumbs up, trying to be supportive of her friends, even if she wasn't sure their plan would be victorious.

Then, with the eyes of every person in the entrance hall upon him, Fred took a great breath and stepped over the line. For a split second Rubi thought it had worked as her jaw fell open- George certainly thought so, for he let out a yell of triumph and leapt after Fred- but next moment, there was a loud sizzling sound, and both twins were hurled out of the golden circle as though they had been thrown by an invisible shot-putter. They landed painfully, ten feet away on the cold stone floor.

Rubi gasped in surprise as concern clouded her features. "Fred! George!" She exclaimed, rushing forth.

But to add insult to injury, there was a loud popping noise, making the girl pause, and both of the twins sprouted identical long white beards. The entrance hall rang with laughter. Rubi couldn't help herself and burst out laughing, sharing a look with Lee.

Fred and George sat up and looked at each other.

"You said!"

"You said!"

The twins began to tackle the other, rolling around on the ground. Rubi and Lee only further laughed until they finally separated the two brothers.

"I did warn you," said a deep, amused voice, and everyone turned to see Professor Dumbledore coming out of the Great Hall. He surveyed Fred and George, his eyes twinkling. "I suggest you both go up to Madam Pomfrey. She is already tending to Miss Fawcett, of Ravenclaw, and Mr. Summers, of Hufflepuff, both of whom decided to age themselves up a little too. Though I must say, neither of their beards is anything like as fine as yours." Fred and George set off for the hospital wing, accompanied by Lee and Rubi, both who were howling with laughter, collapsing onto one another.

"Oh gosh!" Rubi breathed out in between her laughs, "I knew- Dumbledore- wouldn't be- that- stupid!" She clutched her stomach harder, as it only ached more with the laughs wracking the girl's body. "You're- old! The- both- of- you!" She wheezed out, her eyes full of tears.