Things are unstable at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A chilled feeling of unease has replaced any sense that the castle could remain a safe haven to teach and learn magic.
With the misfortunes of the previous year behind them, Fred an...
"Shall we carry on with the tour, then?" Rupert beckoned to the corridor to the right of the stairs.
"Rupert," said Mrs. Jordan. "Please set the dining hall. I'm sure that River and his guests will be hungry before long."
"They're not hungry," Lee said hurriedly, scuttling forward. "There's no need to have... and I've already begun setting out lunch in the kitchen."
"Wait a moment..." Patrice rested a hand to her chest and inclined her head. "You are the pure-blood twins. Interesting. River, you didn't tell me these were your friends."
He looked back at Fred and George. Then at Rupert. "Let's get underway. We could show them the gatehouse. Or the carriage house. Or the old tower house behind the —"
"April the first," his mother continued, her radiant smile never leaving her face. "I remember as if it was yesterday. River was a just a pip. It was our first outing, actually. You had made the front page and I promptly took him into town in order to buy a duplicate copy of the Daily Prophet. He constantly cried."
"Still does," said Fred.
"Lunch, then?" Lee blurted. "I could do with a bite to eat. Rupert?"
Patrice left the stairs and approached them with a particular keenness in her gaze.
"The Boy Who Was Twins. I heard you boys were going to Hogwarts. There's a fair few prophecies about you, did you know? My favorite is, you will know a puzzle's final clue when you appreciate these newborns, two. Marvelous, that. Short, but very mysterious." She took a step closer, getting more excited by the second. "There's another about leprechauns. Or maybe rainbows. Can't recall it off-hand. Dumbledore would know. He has an in with the Department of Mysteries. Perhaps, if we did a reading, I —"
"Mum, PLEASE — no clairvoyance today."
"Oh, all right."
"The kitchen is right this way," Rupert instructed, showing them to the underside of the stairs.
"Be careful going down, darling..."
"I know," Lee complained, hastening his pace.
"Seven visions out of seven you miss the first step."
Lee held out an arm to stop the twins before going down the stairs. He looked imploringly at them. "My entire life, I've never missed that step. Don't you dare trip. I'd never hear the end of it if one of her kooky visions came true."
"I think she's wonderful," said Angelina sweetly.
"Well, that was them on their best behavior," he explained. "And if any of you call me River, consider our friendship terminated."
"Aww," Fred complained. "I had already planned to lampoon you with nearly a dozen wisecracks. I'm gutted."
"It's worth shedding a tear over. But they were more quips, really," his twin brother corrected.
"George," said Fred.
"Yes," said George.
"Remind me to name my first-born son, River. I can't let these go to waste."
"I will... 'twould be a travesty."
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