Striking Back

Dylan quickly transformed as the door began to open and found herself being held roughly against Fred's chest. She began to panic as Professor Snape entered the room, his glaring sneer changing into a malevolent smirk, giving her a fright as he walked up to them.

"Mr. Weasley, what are you doing in the prefect's bathroom...?" he started to ask in his cold, silky voice.

Dylan let out a feline scream and, scrambling out of Fred's arms, rebounded against Professor Snape's chest, knocking him to the ground as she bolted for the door.

"Circe! No!" Fred exclaimed, making Dylan halt outside in the corridor. She slunk into the first doorway she passed and crouched against the rough rock, trembling.

"What was that creature?" Snape bellowed, his voice echoing off the marble walls and out into the quiet corridor.

"Circe, Professor," Fred said. "She is my kneazle."

"If in fact that was a kneazle, Mr. Weasley, which I fervently doubt," Professor Snape said slowly. Dylan could hear the scrape of his boots as if he was pulling himself off the floor. "What were you doing with it in the prefects' bathroom?"

"My roommate, Chen, gave me the password so that I could wash my kneazle, sir," Dylan heard Fred explain, though he sounded a bit flustered. "She's kind of shy around strangers. I really should go and get her, Professor."

"A kneazle, Mr. Weasley, has spotted fur, large ears, and a lion-like tail. That creature did not have a lion-like tail," Snape challenged.

"She has a kind of muted spotted-stripe pattern to her, sir, that's just barely discernable, probably because of some tabby mix in her. But she does have the prominent long legs and large ears with tufts. Although, her tail has been bobbed short," Fred explained. Dylan smirked inwardly, not realizing that he had examined her that closely the few times he'd seen her in her Animagus form. "I think that's why she's so skittish. I think someone hexed her tail off."

"And how, pray tell, did you acquire a kneazle?" Professor Snape inquired.

"She was slinking around in the forest, sir, and saw me and my brother down near Hagrid's hut," Fred's voice carried softly through the door.

He had seen her? The day of her lessons? No – he couldn't have... However, Dylan could hear his every word very clearly.

"She must have followed us back to the castle. She jumped up on my bed one night, and she's been hanging around me ever since." Dylan chuckled at how effectively he was twisting the truth into a semi-believable lie.

"Really," Snape sneered in a low growl. "You expect me to believe that?"

"It's the truth, sir." There was a long pause of silence. Dylan held her breath. "Sir, if I don't go find her, she will claw her way into the common room. If you don't believe me, you can come ask the Fat Lady yourself. It's how she gets in. The Fat Lady has complained to me a fair few times about Circe." There was a soft growl and Fred asked, "Pardon me, sir?"

"Mr. Weasley, firstly, you are not given leave for the use of this bathroom. It is strictly for prefects and team captains. Secondly, I do not appreciate your animal attacking me; thirdly, you are now out after curfew. So I will be enjoying your company in detention each weekend for the next three weeks." Dylan could almost hear the crooked smile and smug look. "Now, get yourself back to your common room where you belong."

Seconds later, Fred bolted from the door, and Dylan easily caught up to him, although he let out a startled yelp, "Bloody hell!" when she jumped out in front of him. "I didn't even hear you! Is he following us?" Dylan listened and then shook her head. "That went rather well."

Dylan looked at him incredulously, then transformed into herself. "It landed you in detention," she hissed, the thick timbre of her lynx form still in her voice.

Fred ignored her. "I love it when you just change back. You sound so sexy," he said, reaching out to pull her to him. "And I just want to pounce on you."

"I should just say good night and go to my common room," she said softly, this time allowing the feline purr to thicken her voice.

"Or we could just go to our turret?" he whispered seductively in her ear.

"I'm a little worn out from our swim, never mind our encounter with Snape," she said reluctantly. "I should go..."

Fred kissed her, holding her tight, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes. When his lips left hers, she opened her eyes slowly to see him smiling at her. "Then I should say good night, unless I can change your mind." Dylan shook her head, staring at the Gryffindor colors on his tie. "Walk you to your common room? I know a few short cuts."

"Tempting," she replied. "But I've gotten you into enough trouble already." She pulled away to go. "Besides there is always tomorrow, isn't there?" She transformed before he could change her mind, looking back up at him.

He was grinning at her mischievously. "I accept your date, my little lynx. I'll see you in class tomorrow." He turned and ran off in the direction of Gryffindor tower.

I asked him for a date? she thought, stunned, as she made her way to her own dorm. I asked him... I asked Fred out on a date. What is he expecting? That I'll take him to some place in the castle he hasn't been? Is there anywhere in the castle he HASN'T been? I'd better ask Jolliet for suggestions.

~o0o~

Dylan and Mary Ellen raced from the library in order to get to Defense Against the Dark Arts class on time. Both carried books on or about Defensive Magic by some the most renowned Dark wizard-catchers of their age. They had just entered through the door as Umbridge cleared her throat. She looked up, scowling, as Dylan and Mary Ellen quickly took their seats. Dylan reached down into her book bag pulling out a small jar containing two tadlowogs onto her lap then withdrew her quill.

"Hem, hem... Very well, Will you all please pass your essays forward and pull out your books," she said in her little-girlish voice. "Please turn to chapter thirty-two and begin reading..."

Umbridge was cut off when a resounding, "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" bellowed from the book when Dylan opened it to retrieve her essay, in the all too familiar voice of Auror Alastor Moody. A second later a repeated, "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" rang out over the snickers of her classmates when she turned several pages to pull out a second sheet of parchment.

"Miss Avondale! What in the name of Merlin was that?" Umbridge asked in high-pitched, breathy screech.

"Method of Madness: Thwart, Shield and CONSTANT VIGILANCE, the unauthorized and hexed biography about the infamous Alastor Moody, Professor," Dylan said as she handed Fred her essay nonchalantly, winking at the twins. "He is a Ministry of Magic Auror and a famous Dark Wizard catcher, so I though this would be acceptable reading for class assignments."

Umbridge was now on her feet, although she was too short for that to really make a difference. The act actually made her shorter rather than taller. "We are reading chapter thirty-two of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard," she said in her high-pitched twitter.

"I've read that chapter twice. How about if I just read When Up Against A Monster by Almerick Sawbridge instead? I noticed that your signature was on the lending card," Dylan stated as she set the mentioned book on top of her pile.

"Oh, let me see! His portrait is supposed to hang near Gryffindor tower," Roseanna pleaded. Dylan held up the book passing it to Roseanna. The portrait of a very swarthy, bare-chested and bare-armed very well-muscled man took up most of the cover. His dark eyebrows, beard and moustache framed a handsomely roguish, masculine face that made Felicia and Wendylene nearly swoon as they leaned forward to see the picture.

"Oh, look at his biceps!" Felicia cooed. The portrait of Almerick winked at the girls and looked at them with a flirty gaze. "Oh, he was dreamy."

Umbridge came around her desk as several girls all leaned in to see the picture. "Miss Avondale, that is not a class approved text. I was quite clear when I assigned today's reading assignment." Umbridge made her way to the fourth row following the large tome.

Dylan removed the lid of her jar and caught Fred's eye. He grinned as they quickly pulled out their wands and flung the two tadlowogs into the pitcher on Umbridge's desk. Dylan shrugged as Fred gave her an annoyed glance and shrunk her jar to fit easily in her pocket. They had barely tucked their wands away before Umbridge stomped back to Dylan's desk, thrusting the book at her. "What are those?" she demanded, pointing at the other books on her desk, the girlish tilt sounding strained and no longer had the usual high pitch.

"Professor Moody's unauthorized biography, Defensive Magic and Protective Magic Spells, by Galatea Merrythought and Practical Magical Defense by Norvel Twonk. I used them as references for my essay."

"Then you'll be receiving another 'D' on your essay assignment," Umbridge said, her girlish twitter returning along with her annoying toothy grin.

"No matter, my mum liked my essay enough. She apparently showed it to her friend, Mitilida Scribbington from Witch Weekly." Dylan sat with her hands folded neatly on the desk, looking innocently up at the Toad, watching her smile fade. "Apparently she liked it so much, it will be published in their next issue."

"Well? You are to read chapter thirty-two, Assertive Creative Communication Skills with the rest of the class today. I suggest you begin," Umbridge said, trying to lean over the desk to glare down Dylan.

Dylan sat up straight, which brought her eye level with the Toad, and she tried her best to keep a pleasant smile on her face. "Which part of the chapter would you like me to quote for you?"

Umbridge regarded her with a look that bordered on abhorrent animosity. Dylan tried to keep her expression somewhere near a benevolent gaze. Fred tried to hide his smile and several students began to snicker. Everyone knew that Dylan probably did have the chapter memorized since she'd quoted the book frequently enough in class before. "None of it – you are to read it again in class." Finally Umbridge walked to her desk and sat down. "Well, what are you all waiting for?" she yelled at the class, pouring herself a glass of water. Several students openly snickered as a tadlowog slipped into glass as well. "Begin your reading assignment!"

Her shriek might have been heard from anywhere in the castle. Umbridge threw her glass away as the little creature clamped onto her nose and chin, biting her upper lip. The glass shattered next to Mary Ellen's feet, as the Toad tried to disengage the tadlowog, which fell onto her desk. Instantly George was on his feet wand drawn. "I'll get it!" he declared as he quickly levitated the tiny creature into the flower vase on the desk.

"Augh! Not in my vase, Mr. Weasley!" Umbridge screeched as she jumped back, pale and breathless. "W-who – h-how did t-that get in my glass!" she shrieked angrily. "Who did this? Tell me – NOW!"

"Oops, sorry, Professor," George apologized. "I wasn't thinking."

"It was in the water pitcher, Professor. You put it in your water glass when you filled it," Mary Ellen stated. She had repaired the shattered glass and was walking up to the Toad's desk to return it to her. "Here is your water glass, Professor," she said politely, setting the glass on the Toad's desk.

Umbridge stared at the glass a moment as if it offended her, then looked up at Mary Ellen, then at George, her face livid. The Toad's lips were already beginning the swell and turn a deep red. "Get out, get out, GET OUT – OUT...!" the Toad repeated, hopping mad and stomping her feet. Everyone gathered his or her things to bolt for the door, happily. "You four," Umbridge roared, pointing at George, Fred, Dylan and Mary Ellen. "Detention, all of you – tonight!"

Mary Ellen was near tears as they left the classroom. Fred looked at Dylan as she tried to console her friend. "I don't want to scar up my hand with that quill of hers..." she sobbed, looking up at Dylan.

"Neither do I, Mary Ellen," Dylan said soothingly. "Can't we come up with something?" she asked, looking at the twins.

George shrugged. "We've tried boils, fevers, nosebleeds, fainting, even vomiting," Fred answered. "She won't buy any of it."

"I wish I was at home for Easter holidays. Too bad we can't get to Hogsmeade and see your brother," Mary Ellen sobbed.

"Why?" the twins asked.

"WE could give her a good case of jiggling from some jigger stings or make the Toad laugh with giddiness and levitating off the floor from a couple of billywig stings... or spewing sentimental sappiness because of a sulmouth mite bite," Mary Ellen ranted, nearly whining. "I'd even settle for hallucinations from a furnwort bite or... I don't know – muscle jitters from a kleigerid sting!" Both Fred and George shrugged. "Bugs – insects! Dylan's brother is Eldrich Avondale... He's a Magical Entomologist!" she exclaimed as if they should know him and surprised that they didn't.

"Oh, we've heard of him," George stated. Mary Ellen beamed with pride.

"You just want an excuse to see my brother!" Dylan said, smirking. Mary Ellen blushed a deep red. "My brother has a cottage in Hogsmeade, and he just came back from Southeast Asia. He has a shop of sorts that takes up his great room and front sitting room," Dylan tried to explain. "But I don't have permission to visit him until this weekend." Both Fred and George grinned. "What? I know that look."

"Fred, we seem to suddenly have free time instead of a Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, lunch and then another period of free time. I could use some potions supplies, and possibly a few Fizzing Whizbees... maybe..."

Fred looked at Dylan and Mary Ellen, grinning. "Of course it's worth the trip. I need a few things as well. Maybe get some butterbeers. Dylan, you did ask me out on a date after all – do you two care to make it doubles?"

"But we can't!" Mary Ellen nearly shrieked as Dylan asked simultaneously, "How would we get out of the castle?"

"Haven't you learned to trust us yet? C'mon," Fred said, taking Dylan's hand.

George placed his hand on Mary Ellen's waist. "It'll be fun, and you can introduce us to this famous Magical Entomologist of yours!"

To Dylan's surprise, Mary Ellen looped her arm with George, smiling brightly and followed him eagerly. "Can you really get us to Hogsmeade?"

Fred and George had a harder time getting Mary Ellen to run the length of the tunnel once it narrowed and the walls became rock than they had to convince her to go with them to Hogsmeade. She had been eager enough at the statue of the one-eyed witch, but Mary Ellen liked beetles, flies and crickets – not spiders. It is one of the things that Eldrich found adorable about Mary Ellen when he was a student and the reason he still answers her letters; a common interest in insects, Dylan thought in amusement. And it wasn't something Mary Ellen developed an interest in just to flirt with him either. Although, Mary Ellen's favorite subject in school is Herbology and Charms, I suspect it has more to do with the creatures Professor Hagrid brings to class than a lack of interest in magical creatures themselves. If Dylan had her way, she was going to talk some sense into her brother, and get them together, after she and Mary Ellen finished school.

They emerged in the cellar of Honeydukes and entered the shop. Mr. Fume, although quite surprised by their entry into his shop on a school day, wasn't the least bit put out by Fred and George's sudden appearance. He happily allowed them to select their sweets, adding a few freshly made cockroach clusters and fudge truffles to their purchases.

Out on the cobbled street they quickly ran in the direction of Eldrich's cottage. The two story Tudor-style home had a large front garden with an arched trellis over the front gate and front door covered with flowering vines. All along the fence bordering the garden were all types of flowers and aromatic herbs. Both large front windows had overflowing window boxes, full of flowers and there was a little sitting area beside the walk with a table and four chairs surrounded by flowering plants and a small potted geranium on the table. Not your typical bachelor's house, but then my brother is a bit unique. The house once belonged to their great grandmum, and the groundskeeper was a woman who made perfume. What an arrangement they have. She tends his garden, keeps the place blooming... giving her two properties to grow her scented flowers.

Eldrich was such a – well, a geek in school, Dylan mused. Whose best friend just happened to be the star Quidditch player in his year. He's also a fairly good mountaineer and tree climber, all for the pursuit of those hard-to-get insects in their natural habitats. Charlie taught Eldrich how to fly a broom and Eldrich taught Charlie how to rock-climb; both belaying and abseiling. They would fly in practice together, racing each other as they chased the Snitch, and spent Easter holidays on mountain expeditions, or camping with Dylan's family. But in appearances, good looking, athletic, well-built Charlie was the physical opposite of Dylan's brother.

Dylan's brother was tall and thin with shoulder-length blonde hair slicked back from his face and darkly tanned skin. He wore glasses and short homemade tunics with big pockets, and trousers with multiple pockets that he purchased through a Muggle military supply shop in London. "Dylan, Mary Ellen, what a surprise! I didn't expect to see you until Saturday!" he said, stunned as opened the door to see the four of them on his doorstep. Eldrich had an excitable, yet deep baritone voice and a crooked smile, caused by a wound in his left cheek from a moonstinger sting four years previously. Both Dylan and Mary Ellen hugged him as he ushered them into his cottage.

Sitting at his kitchen table, Fred and George were fascinated by the hundred or so glass jars, cages, terrariums and aquariums that filled nearly every available shelf and counter. Eldrich passed around butterbeers and sat down, watching Fred and George curiously. "So, Dylan, Mum tells me you are dating Fred Weasley?" he said, pointing at first George, then Fred, confused. Fred lifted his hand, smiling. "Yes, well, I know your brother, Charlie. Nice chap. Calls me when the dragons get infested."

"I remember that the two of you were friends; he always thought you were cool," Fred replied casually. "Said you were really good with defensive spells, too."

George turned the little basket on the table, looking at the three tiny rainbow crickets inside. "He said you helped him get through Charms."

"We used to practice those together too; he hated taking notes in class." Eldrich smiled in remembrance. "Your brother spent hours trying to talk me into playing on the house team just so we could really compete against each other out on the pitch. Although, we spent plenty of time racing each other for the Snitch during his practices. Of course, he always got it before me... Great guy, Charlie. So, what are your ambitions? Your brother tells me loads about you two. Any thoughts about what's next, after years of causing trouble, mischief and mayhem at school?"

"Joke shop," Fred stated proudly. "We already have a mail order business and plans to buy a premises. You're looking at the owners, inventors and proprietors of Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes!"

"They're really clever, make all kinds of stuff already," Mary Ellen said, shyly watching Eldrich's every move, blushing when he looked at her.

"Speaking about stuff... Eldrich, I need some bu-ug..." He hates it when I call them bugs – stay on his good side, "Insects." Dylan showed her brother her hand. "I don't want to keep using that horrible blood-oath quill! You are my last hope, Eldrich. You've got to know some way to help me!"

"Geeze, sis!" Her brother flinched at the red lines scarred into her hand. "Dylan, I don't know what I can do! I don't know what you want."

"I want to destroy those quills!" she said in anguish. Eldrich smiled. "Don't you have a bug or parasite that would – I dunno, destroy or eat them?"

Mary Ellen was examining a cage on the china dresser containing large beetles with pretty green shells and striped wings. "Oh, these are pretty. What are they?"

"What's in here?" George asked, eyeing a glass terrarium full of feathers that sat on the table next to the crickets.

"African flamboyant flower beetles, Mary Ellen," Eldrich replied with a smile, watching her face light up with interest, and then turned back to George. "Chizpurfle, a fairly invasive magical parasite that lives in the fur or feathers of some magical creatures..." Dylan reached for the egg-shaped glass container to examine the insects inside. "Sis, no – you cannot... they are a pest! At a place like Hogwarts – they could become an infestation!"

Dylan examined the feathers inside the terrarium. "They infest magical items," she said wistfully. All she could see were tiny little fuzzy brown winged dots on the white plumes.

Fred and George eyed the terrarium in her hands with expectant faces. "And the entire castle!" Eldrich exclaimed, alarmed. "You cannot be serious..."

"So... don't they die if sprayed with ammonia and salt? I'm sure you have a spray bottle of the solution somewhere?" She looked at her brother, tipping her head so her eyes would be wider and biting her lip in a way that always worked on him. "Please, I only need a few."

"Oh, bugger! Sis, Professor Snape is a very good customer, and now that Professor Umbridge is teaching, and Madam Pomfrey's needs have increased, my Hogwarts orders seem to have doubled."

Dylan tilted her head the other way and smiled at him, blinking demurely.

"I cannot afford to lose him as a customer. No – no... no."

"You could always add us to your list of customers," George said eagerly. "We've heard that you're on-call at Gringotts from our brother, Bill, when the curse-breakers have to deal with unusual insects or infestations."

Fred sat up straighter in his chair. "Sure, it's always good to know a capable and well-stocked Magical Entomologist! Charlie always said you really know your insects; topped him in Care of Magical Creatures in school."

Eldrich leaned back in his chair regarding the twins seriously. "A joke shop, huh?"

~o0o~

Dylan, Mary Ellen, Fred and George raced back to the castle and entered the first floor corridor just as everyone was heading to lunch. Mary Ellen fidgeted with her potpie, looking lost in her own world. Dylan smiled inwardly, remembering the look in her brother's eyes when he gave Mary Ellen the little cage that now rested in her lap. The beautiful African flamboyant flower beetle scurried restlessly in the confined space. "Why don't I ask Professor Flitwick to let you come with me to Eldrich's on Sunday?" Dylan asked, helping herself to a baked apple. "Do you think your parents will give you permission? Mum and Dad are going to come."

"Oh, Dylan, may I?" she answered, her eyes wide and hopeful.

"I already have Mum's invite; she was going to owl your parents and Professor Flitwick this morning. I just forgot that I hadn't asked you yet." Dylan rolled the apple in a napkin and took a few cookies. "Okay then, it's settled. You'll have Easter dinner with us. I'm off to the library. See you in the common room – unless you come looking in the Care of Magical Insects section for me!"

Ironically, Fred and George caught up to her as she approached the corridor that lead to her common room. "Going the wrong direction, aren't we?" George called after her.

"You cannot be serious! Now?" Dylan asked, coming to a halt and turning.

George reached her first. "No time like the present," he said mischievously.

"We could dump one of the infected feathers on the desk in her office and the other in her classroom," Fred stated, smiling wickedly.

"You're wicked," she said, smiling. "Her office... should I get a tadlowog too?"

"Go!" they chorused.

Dylan ran the whole way, enlarged the jar in her pocket and pulled two tadlowogs from the tank. Only three more remained. They managed the entry into the Toad's office easily. George carefully levitated one of the infected feathers from the glass jar to fall into the Toad's quill cup and put another one in her desk drawer, while Fred sprayed the floor around the desk with the ammonia and salt mix. Dylan left a tadlowog in the flower vase on the desk, and they quickly left the office, resetting the simple warding spells.

Fred, George and Dylan waited in the library until nearly the end of their free time, reading randomly selected books. Just before the bell sounded, they walked down the stairs to the second floor, stopping near the door to the Defense classroom to wait until the classroom emptied. Fred pulled Dylan through the throng of students as Umbridge walked out of the classroom and climbed the stairs. The Toad was dabbing at her nose as she passed them, obviously having been attacked by the second tadlowog and heading to see Madam Pomfrey.

They raced down the corridor and into the classroom before the next class could arrive and quickly searched the desk for the blood oath quills. Fred found them when he unlocked the top left drawer of the desk. Dylan smiled as George simply dumped the infected feathers on top of the offending quills, using a quill from the quill cup on her desk to straighten them out and quickly dumped the now contaminated writing quill back into the cup. Fred once again sprayed the floor around the desk with the insecticide solution and the first row of desks.

Dylan had meanwhile dumped the last tadlowog, water and all, into the Toad's water pitcher and turned to go. They had just reached the door when a few second-year Gryffindors entered the classroom. "Look, free Canary Creams if none of you tell," George said to the stunned second years.

"And butterbeers if you all cover for us," Fred added. Every one of them nodded eagerly.

Well, that will use up the butterbeers they'd purchased from the Three Broomsticks before running back to school. Dylan tried to ease from the room, worried. I hope the second years hate the Toad as much as we do...

"What did you do?" one boy asked. Dylan felt her heart pound in her chest.

"Oh, you'll find out as soon as class starts, I assure you," Fred said, smiling. "Now enjoy the show and pay attention."

"Oh, yes, one more thing. Keep your book bags closed if you're near the front of the class," George warned. "Otherwise they might infest your belongings. Bye – be good, or be good at it." All the Gryffindors took the seats at the back of the classroom as Fred and George left, pulling a now confused and very nervous Dylan with them. "It will be fine," George said reassuringly.

"They love our Canary Creams," Fred said, kissing her cheek and ushering her off to her next class. "Now you'd better git."

~o0o~

That night as Dylan and Mary Ellen descended the stairs to head for detention, they were both really apprehensive. They both knew that the Toad would be in a foul mood, especially after what they had overheard on the way to dinner. The towheaded second year Gryffindor, who Dylan recognized, sought out Fred or George as they entered the Entrance Hall before dinner calling out, "Fred! George! Wait up! Got a minute?" The second year, apparently unable to tell them apart, said their names as if they were one hyphenated name, and began telling them excitedly what happened in class. Jolliet and Mary Ellen pulled Dylan aside to listen, allowing the students going to dinner pass between them and the guys they were trying to overhear.

The boy explained that first the Toad had carefully inspected the water in the ceramic water pitcher, titling it to try and see if any creature hid inside. The mucky water from the tank must have obscured the tiny creature because she poured herself a glass. The Toad shrieked at the disgusting water, dropping the glass and the pitcher on her desk. The tadlowog, having landed on the desk among the shattered glass and ceramic pieces, attacked her hand, clamping its teeth into her finger. Umbridge immediately began to holler, flinging her hand around in the air, trying to dislodge the creature to the great amusement of the students.

When the creature did finally release her finger, it went flying into one of Umbridge's kitten plates and landed on the bookshelf, half dead. A student in the first row levitated the tadlowog, tossing it into the wastebasket. According to the second-year boy, Umbridge went into hysterics demanding that someone confess to putting the infested water and tadlowog in her water pitcher. Of course, no one admitted putting the creature and the mucky water into the pitcher, so the entire lesson was spent writing lines of; It's not funny putting dangerous creatures in your professor's water pitcher. Somehow, Dylan didn't think any of the second years would ever believe that lesson, no matter how many times the Toad made them write it out.

The girls continued to the Great Hall with Jolliet laughing so hard, her eyes filled with tears. Fred and George joined the girls on the stairs, teasingly admonishing them for eavesdropping, then parted once they all entered through the doors together. As Dylan sat down, she noticed Umbridge staring at her, then over at Fred and George and back to Dylan with a glare that sent shivers down her spine.

However, that night the scene in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom wasn't at all what Dylan expected when she and Mary Ellen opened the door. Since Dylan and Mary Ellen knew about the chizpurfles, they'd left all their magical items, except their wands, in their dormitory, and wore their oldest robes in case the chizpurfles had started spreading around the classroom.

What they hadn't expected to see was Umbridge swatting away at a little cloud of brown dots that surrounded her and her desk. Filch was swinging a duster trying to help her, and Professor McGonagall raising her voice, trying to get both of them to desist so that she could get rid of the pests.

Apparently, neither Fred nor George, who were leaning against the last row of desks laughing, remembered to tell Filch that chizpurfles liked feathers and that swinging an urvogel goose feather duster would only excite the tiny parasites.

"Dolores! Calm yourself. Mr. Filch, would you please – both of you stop," Professor McGonagall admonished, backing up as Filch missed her hat by mere inches.

"Filch, Stun them! Do, (sputter), something! They – uff, are getting in my – (gag), mouth!" Umbridge was saying as the tiny brown chizpurfles buzzed around her head.

"Yes, Headmistress," Filch wheezed, swishing his duster. Fred and George were both trying to contain their laughter, clearly amused.

Mary Ellen tried getting the professors' attention. "Excuse me, Professor."

"Really, Argus! Enough! They will spread if you keep batting at them!" Professor McGonagall continued to admonish him.

Mary Ellen tried again to get the attention of either professor. "What is it, Miss Glass?" Professor McGonagall said irritated.

"If you please, Professor," Mary Ellen said timidly, "I think they are chizpurfles... or they could be. At least they look like a chizpurfle swarm." Dylan turned to her friend, stunned.

"They – fft, w-were, (gag), all o-over – spft, my quills! Ruined – fft, them!" the Toad said between spluttering. "They – spm, they did this! I – spft, I know they – spft, did!" Umbridge made a revolting hawking sound in her throat.

"Now, Dolores... Mr. Filch – please cease that swatting," Professor McGonagall said, and then turned to Mary Ellen. "Explain yourself, Miss Glass."

Mary Ellen took a deep breath. "Tiny, brown, winged insects – chizpurfles, that infest magical creatures... they prefer feathers and..."

"I – spft, know what a, (hak), chizpurfle is," Umbridge spat.

Mary Ellen nodded, suddenly intimidated. "Ammonia and salt gets rid of them, Professor; you need to spray them with a solution of ammonia and salt – if they are chizpurfles, that is."

The Toad continued to gag and cough, apparently having swallowed some of the insects. Filch dropped his duster to pound Umbridge on her back. Fred and George were now openly laughing at the pair, and Dylan was so worried over what they had done, she wished she could simply Apparate away. "Mr. Filch... ARGUS! Go get some ammonia and salt solution in a spray bottle – now, Argus! Before they spread from this classroom!" demanded Professor McGonagall. "Dolores, stay here until he returns. Do not move." Suddenly she turned facing Dylan, Mary Ellen, Fred and George. "You four – to my office – now! I'll deal with you in a moment."

Fred and George quickly left the classroom, taking Dylan and Mary Ellen with them. "Excellent!" George exclaimed, as soon as they were in the corridor.

"What's excellent?" Mary Ellen nearly sobbed. "She knows! The Toad knows! And now we are going to be expelled for infesting the school with a – a pestilence!"

"No, we're not," George said, trying to reassure her.

Fred laughed, opening the door to let the girls enter into McGonagall's office first. "Yeah, we'll just answer some questions and serve out our time feeding critters or cleaning out the cages in the Transfiguration classroom. No big deal," he said.

"Yeah, we've had detention with her loads of times," George stated, offering Mary Ellen a chair and handed her a beige handkerchief. Fred sat in the other chair facing the desk, pulling Dylan onto his lap, and George sat on the edge of the desk, picking up some kind of stone. "Hey! She still has this plufforizzle we turned to stone in third year."

Fred laughed, gripping Dylan's knee under her skirt to make her wiggle in his lap. "Yeah, well, it did bite you as I recall."

Professor McGonagall swept into her office. "Mr. Weasley, please get off my desk."

"Sorry, Professor, there are only two chairs, and I know how much you dislike me sitting in yours," he stated, standing up quickly.

"Yes, well... Miss Avondale, you can rise off Mr. Weasley now, if you please, young lady." Professor McGonagall conjured two more chairs as she crossed the room to sit in her own chair. "Now, explain yourselves."

"I'm sorry, Professor, I didn't mean to..." Dylan started to say, watching Professor McGonagall sit, and feeling uneasy under her stern stare. "We really shouldn't have..."

Professor McGonagall raised her hand. "My dear, I understand that you and Mr. Weasley are a bit of an item lately. What I meant was – why did you have detention with Professor Umbridge. I'm a bit confused as to the offense." She said, interrupting her and reached for a pretty tin, passing it to Mary Ellen. "Here, Miss Glass, have a biscuit and please pass the tin down."

Mary Ellen took a lemon cream from the tin and passed it to George, then Fred. Fred answered first. "Well, Professor, there was something, a critter in Professor Umbridge's water – on her desk..."

"And when she took a drink – it tried to bite her, so she threw her water glass across the room," George explained.

"It did bite her," Fred stated and Mary Ellen nodded. "I don't think she meant to, but I believe she threw her water glass at Mary Ellen."

"It landed on the floor near her feet, I think," George added. Mary Ellen nodded again.

"George tried to flick the critter into the waste basket and overshot his aim," Fred said as he handed Dylan the tin and she took a biscuit, nervously. "I think it landed on her desk..."

"It went into her vase," Dylan said softly, unable to lie to Professor McGonagall.

"Oh, yeah, that's right," Fred stated with a smirk, "And then Mary Ellen repaired Professor Umbridge's glass from the floor..."

"And she handed it back to her," George finished as Fred took a bite of his biscuit. "I think that's when she put us in detention."

Professor McGonagall sat a moment, her lips pursed tightly. "Do either of you girls have anything to add to Messrs. Weasley's statement?"

Both Mary Ellen and Dylan shook their heads. As convoluted as their version of the events are, the story they made up is, well, it is the truth.

"Very well, then. Now, if you will please stand, I must check that none of you were infested by those insects." She stood, drawing her wand, ushering all four of them to their feet and making sweeping circles while casting a charm. Dylan briefly felt a light breeze sweep around her, but nothing happened. "Oh, very good – nothing. So, Miss Glass, how did you know that the insects were chizpurfles?"

Mary Ellen blanched, then blushed and lowered her head. "I like insects, Professor. It was an assumption; by the way they swarmed, their color and size... and Professor Umbridge said that they'd infested her quills."

Professor McGonagall listened intently to her explanation, and then smiled. "You were apparently correct, they were chizpurfles, and your suggestion of the ammonia and salt solution worked wonderfully. Twenty points to Ravenclaw for your assistance. Now, I have a few second years cleaning out the cages in my classroom; however, the animals need feeding." She rose from her chair and indicated that they all stand. "So if you four will follow me, I think it best you serve out the remainder of your detention with me."

~*~

Author's notes:

According to HP Lexicon:

Norvel Twonk, died in 1957 saving a Muggle child from a runaway manticore.

Almerick Sawbridge, (1602 - 1699) Famous for conquering the river troll that was terrorizing crossers of the Wye River. Appears on a Chocolate Frog card

Galatea Merrythought, Defense Against the Dark Arts professor from c. 1895 to c.1945; Retired after teaching for nearly fifty years.

As far as canon goes, I'm not sure if these renowned wizards ever wrote books about their exploits – but wouldn't it have been great if they had?

I want to thank both Lumiere and Music5 for proof reading this story and to Juliannanight and Charmed3 for their time and efforts in helping me shape this story up into something readable.