A garish, oversized notice dominated the common room bulletin board, its bright colors practically screaming for attention:
"Ever feel like your pocket money's never enough? Want to earn some extra Galleons? Contact Fred and George in the Gryffindor common room! The Weasley brothers offer easy and simple part-time work (Note: Applicants assume all job-related risks)."
Hermione "Absolutely not!"
Hermione ripped the flyer down with righteous fury, revealing the school's official notice about the October Hogsmeade visit beneath it.
Hermione "We need to have words with them, Ron."
Hermione declared with grim determination:
Hermione "We're prefects now. It's our responsibility to put a stop to their ridiculous schemes."
Ron remained conspicuously silent, his expression broadcasting his complete lack of faith in the upcoming confrontation.
They climbed through the portrait hole and descended to the Great Hall for breakfast. As they entered, Orli couldn't help scanning the staff table: Professor Grubbly-Plank was chatting with Professor Sprout, Snape was conspicuously absent, and Hagrid remained missing.
The enchanted ceiling mirrored their collective mood—a miserable expanse of storm-laden gray clouds.
Harry "Dumbledore didn't even mention how long Hagrid would be gone."
Harry complained as they settled at the Gryffindor table.
Orli "Don't dwell on it, Harry. Maybe Dumbledore deliberately wants everyone to overlook Hagrid's absence—perhaps he doesn't want people noticing he's missing."
Orli mused thoughtfully.
Breakfast passed without incident, save for Angelina Johnson stopping by to inform Harry that she'd been elected the new Quidditch captain. With Wood's graduation, they desperately needed to find a replacement Keeper.
Hermione "With everything that's happened, I'd completely forgotten Wood had left."
Hermione observed, nibbling her toast.
Harry "I hope Angelina schedules fewer training sessions than Wood did."
Harry settled across from Orli and Hermione:
Harry "Wood was brilliant as Keeper. Wonder who could possibly replace him."
Orli "Didn't Ron just acquire a Firebolt?"
Orli nodded meaningfully in Ron's direction. Ron immediately began choking on his pumpkin juice, coughing violently until the crimson flush faded from his face.
Harry "That's brilliant, Ron! Why don't you try out?"
Harry's eyes lit up with genuine enthusiasm for the first time in days, his encouraging smile a welcome sight. Their conversation was interrupted, however, by Professor McGonagall making her way along the table, distributing class schedules with military precision.
Ron "Look at this nightmare!"
Ron groaned in despair:
Ron "History of Magic, double Potions, Divination, and double Defense Against the Dark Arts—Binns, Snape, Trelawney, and that Umbridge woman all in one day! I wonder which of Fred and George'sSkiving Snackboxes could handle this catastrophe."
Fred "Did I hear correctly?"
Fred and George materialized on either side of Ron like mischievous bookends.
Fred "Our dear prefect brother wants to skip classes?"
Ron "Just look at what we're facing today!"
Ron thrust the schedule under their noses:
Ron "This is officially the worst Monday of my entire existence!"
Hermione launched into her prefectorial lecture, delivering the "necessary education" to Ron, Fred, and George with characteristic fervor. Meanwhile, Orli's fingers traced the schedule with growing dread. In previous years, double Potions would have been her sanctuary during such a torturous day. But this year... those two Potions classes might prove the most challenging of all.
Fred and George continued their animated discourse, their voices providing an oddly comforting backdrop to the breakfast chaos.
Fred "...we're not planning to waste our final year at school,"
Fred declared with characteristic confidence:
Fred "We've already secured our O.W.L. certificates, after all."
The day ahead loomed like a storm cloud, promising trials that would test more than just their academic knowledge.
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