Crescendo

The Easter holidays were a welcomed reprieve. First the weather was turning, becoming breezier, brighter and warmer. Sunlight poured through the windows in pale, golden beams of light every morning, and in the courtyard, many of the plants were blooming. Out on the school grounds, flowers could be seen nearly everywhere. This was Dylan's favorite time of year at school; however, with all the revisions and essays the seventh years had to do, there just didn't seem to be enough time to enjoy it all. With the exception of the three weekends during the holidays when Dylan and Mary Ellen went to Eldrich's house, she and the rest of the fifth and seventh years were trapped inside, revising for their upcoming O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s respectively.

If it weren't for the fact that the entire wizarding side of Dylan's family was spending Easter holiday in Hogsmeade, she wouldn't have gotten her Easter packages from her parents, grandparents or brother for at least a week. It took nearly a week to get anything past the Toad's newest 'security' measures, the new screening process of the now infamous Inquisitorial Squad. Dylan was sure that members of the squad confiscated some of the more interesting, fun and expensive items being sent by loving parents, and any letter that mentioned He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was delivered instantly to the Toad for her inspection.

Dylan told her mum about the violation of mail, so her mum came up with an ingenious solution. When Dylan sprayed the back of her mum's and brother's letters with her new 'perfume,' hidden messages appeared, giving Dylan updates of what was happening in the world outside of school. Several of Dylan's housemates even asked for the secret, and her mum was selling both the ink and perfume to families she knew well.

For Easter, Eldrich gave Dylan a beautiful butterfly pin. He gave Mary Ellen an egg-shaped terrarium containing a white-eyed assassin bug, Platymerus biguttata, which made Mary Ellen so happy, her eyes fill up with tears.

Dylan felt sorry for Fred, still feeling guilty for getting Fred into detention with Professor Snape, knowing that he spent his Saturdays in the gloomy dungeons with the sourpuss professor. But somehow, he never seemed to mind and brushed off her apologies for landing him in detention nonchalantly as if it was non-consequential. Still, as an apology, she bought Fred a huge chocolate egg from Honeydukes both weekends. The first one was filled with Pepper Imps, Malt Balls, Wart-spot soap and Dungbombs packages, which truly amused him. The second egg was filled with Fizzing Whizbees, Whizzing Worms, Stink Pellets and Crackle-Snaps. He was quite impressed with her determination to make amends and finally convinced her that he didn't blame her at all.

During the week, Dylan, who'd always preferred small groups to crowds and generally kept to herself, began avoiding the library, preferring quieter surroundings. She generally sought secluded places hidden deep in the library or perched on one of the benches in the courtyard, or up on the open airy battlements, doing her revision, simply because it seemed like half the school was spending nearly every waking moment at the tables in the library.

Somehow, even when Dylan sought out the quietest corners of the castle or sat in the most secluded windowsills in an empty corridor, Fred always seemed to be able to find her. He would suddenly appear next to her, a friendly distraction with a mischievous grin. Several times, she was so engrossed in her revision that he startled her when he snuck up on her from behind, giving her a hug or a nibble on her neck. More than once, as she walked down a corridor, he would just suddenly appear or seemed to emerge out of the walls. And on occasion, she would turn a corner to find Fred leaning on the wall as if he were waiting for her. It seemed as if he had a crystal ball that showed him exactly where she was at any time of the day.

Frequently, he would try to get her to go off on an adventure, exploring the castle or to slip up to their special turret, but Dylan usually protested, often making him help her with spells instead. However, revision or practicing spells with Fred Weasley typically turned into snogging, leaving Dylan feeling like she was walking around on a cloud in a perpetual glow, but also growing slightly apprehensive about her N.E.W.T.s.

It didn't help that pamphlets, leaflets, and notices started showing up on the common room tables and in the library or tacked onto the notice boards, reminders that this was their last year of school and come June, they would all be applying for either apprenticeships or jobs. "Oh, look at all the career options for the fifth years to consider," Jolliet said as she tried pushing them aside to make room on a table in the library.

Dylan sat across from her friends and reluctantly picked up several colorful pamphlets and leaflets to shift them aside. "So you'd like to work in Muggle relations?" She read aloud a pale blue leaflet. "The department of Muggle relations.... Can you imagine what a difficult job that would be – I mean how can you have relations with Muggles and still keep them ignorant of our world? I wonder if they mean Muggle relatives of witches and wizards or just having to cover up accidental exposure."

"Probably both," Mary Ellen replied. She picked up some leaflets and pamphlets as she sat down next to Jolliet. "This one has a picture of a troll blocking the entrance of a bridge. Have you got what it takes to train security trolls?" she read, laughing. "Or how about this one – Do you love fantastic beasts? That must be for – yep, dragon keepers. I heard the Siberian Fields was hiring."

"Gringotts has two this year – Do you enjoy the thrill of discovery? Fancy a job with travel and adventure?" Jolliet read aloud. "Dylan, here are two for you. Do you enjoy being the first to read the next best seller? That's from Whizzhard Books. Be the first in the know of the latest in magic; this is from Obscurus Books. They are both hiring editors."

Mary Ellen leaned over to read the pamphlet in Jolliet's hand. "Says here you get to test out the spells and potions... That might be fun, Dylan. Oh, you'd need at least an Exceeds N.E.W.T. in each of the subjects listed – but you are taking them all."

"Thanks, I'll keep that one in mind – IF I pass everything," Dylan replied. "Keep our parks and trails safe for Wizard and Mugglekind – join the parks and recreation services..." she read softly to her friends from a purple and white pamphlet. "I didn't know that the Ministry of Magic has wizards in the forestry department?" she asked, turning the page. "Oh, it's to keep tabs on giants and trolls and keep them in line... No, thank you," she stated and set the pamphlet down.

"Are you a Quidditch enthusiast, but not so hot on a broom? Quidditch international mediwizards are needed – same course requirements as a Healer," Jolliet stated, examining two more booklets. "St. Mungo's has a full-color booklet this year. That's what I'm hoping for."

"Which, mediwitch or Healer?" Dylan asked.

"Tuh, mediwitch – Quidditch players! Need I say more?" Jolliet asked, grinning.

"I'd like to work here in Hogsmeade," Mary Ellen said softly, examining two leaflets from both the Hog's Head and from Gladrags Wizardwear. She picked up a yellow notice and a green leaflet. "You Too can Cultivate Fungus... Oh, that sounds delightful!" she said, scrunching her nose in disgust. "Make enchanted candles and illuminations... Oh, Illustrious Illuminaries is hiring."

"Mary Ellen, you should apply for that one, or at Gladrags," Dylan suggested with a knowing smirk. "At least until there is an opening at Avondale's for an entomologist." Mary Ellen blushed and then looked up at something across the room.

Jolliet looked up and grinned. "So, Dylan, what about you?" she asked with a twinkle in her eye. "Are you considering a vocation in a joke shop?"

"Well, considering that most of my marks come from my essays and not so much for my spell work – I always considered my vocation would be in research," Dylan replied. "Why?"

"I'm not so sure I'd agree with that," one of the twins said, standing behind her. "You do good in Transfiguration and Potions."

Dylan turned as both Fred and George sat down on either side of her. "You do fairly well in Charms, too," Fred stated.

George looked at Dylan, and then over to Fred with a sly smile. "'Course if you had your heart set on a job in a joke shop..."

"We might consider hiring a product production assistant," Fred said teasingly.

Jolliet looked at both guys, then looked questioningly at Dylan, cocking her eyebrow.

"So you're really going to open a joke shop?" Mary Ellen asked.

"Oh, I bet it will be grand! Where? Do you have a place in mind yet?" Jolliet asked.

"Yes, we're going to open a joke shop – in Diagon Alley," George said to Mary Ellen, laughing, then turned to Jolliet and Levitated her quill right out of her hand. "And thank you – we think we'll be smashing," he said as he made her quill brush against her face. Jolliet grabbed at her quill, laughing at his antics.

Dylan cocked her head, smiling at Fred. "With the marks I get from Professor Snape, I'm surprised you'd consider me."

"You must have gotten an Outstanding O.W.L. since you're in Potions," Fred countered.

George slid several leaflets and pamphlets aside as he set his books down. "From what I've seen – you're good at Transfiguration," he stated.

"But my best subjects seem to be Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures this year... and that's only because my professors like my essays!" Dylan said. "I just know I'm going to fail miserably at Defense this year – not to mention Potions."

"As much as you study?" Fred asked with an annoyed smirk. "I can hardly believe you." Both Jolliet and George chuckled while Mary Ellen rolled her eyes.

"I've noticed that you're not doing much lately. Um... I mean... you've been behaving yourself these last few days," Dylan stated, blushing at his comment, hoping to change the subject.

George smiled at her. "What's the point of disrupting leisure time?" He made Jolliet's quill tickle her nose.

"Besides we'd have messed up people's revision time, which would have been rude," Fred stated, making the book Mary Ellen was reading Levitate slightly.

George laughed. "I mean these are all potential customers," he said, sweeping his arm to indicate everyone sitting in the library. "They're going to need good jobs in order to buy our products, aren't they?"

"I miss your antics and our little adventures," Dylan said, shaking her head at him with a chuckle.

"Don't worry," Fred said, placing his arm across her shoulder. "It's business as usual after the holidays." He leaned close to her ear. "Of course we could go off for a bit of adventure now if you like... There are a few places, some secret passages that I haven't shown you."

"Oh – no – you – don't!" Mary Ellen admonished them, trying to force her book to lie on the table. "You promised to help me revise for Transfiguration, Dylan."

"Later," Dylan whispered to Fred and opened up her Transfiguration notes.

~o0o~

That evening after dinner, Dylan sat in a crenel of a west battlement, reading through Eldrich's Defense notes, determined that if she was doomed to fail her Defense N.E.W.T. practical, she was at least going to do exceptionally well on the theory part of the exam. If her brother's notes were any indication, Professor Larkin had been quite thorough with his N.E.W.T. level class, and Dylan was thankful that Eldrich had taken such assiduous and comprehensive notations during his lessons. She was so engrossed in the explanation of the Patronus Charm that she didn't even hear Fred approach her until he stood right next to the merlon she was leaning against. "What are you reading?" he asked, causing Dylan to jump as he leaned toward her to kiss her on her cheek.

"O-oh! You – you... Don't sneak up like that!" she said, playfully smacking him. "My brother's notes from his Defense Against the Dark Arts N.E.W.T. year. I just don't believe the Toad that we aren't going to need this stuff for our practical," she replied, setting the notebook on her knees. Fred cupped her face and placed a soft kiss on her lips. When the kiss ended, Dylan blushed and looked down at the notebook, then back at him, grinning.

He looked down at the page and smiled. "Patronus, huh? I'm quite certain that Umbridge would not approve of you learning that."

"But it might come up," Dylan protested. "Don't you remember that day in class when the Toad said that all we have to do to avoid a Dementor was to duck? I could've screamed. You remember what they were like; they were swarming around the school grounds our fifth year! They're terrible creatures."

"Must have missed that one," Fred said with a shake of his head and a chuckle. He leaned forward again and nuzzled her neck. "They were bothersome, cut down our excursions into the forest." He tried to kiss her, but Dylan pulled away.

"This is the only known defense against a Lethifold or Dementors," she stated, worried. "And, apparently, if you can distinguish the effects of a Pogrebin, you can also use the Patronus to escape their spell. I even found one case where the Patronus Charm was used against a vampire."

"And you think you're going to run into a Lethifold or a Pogrebin?" he asked. Dylan bit her lip and shrugged. "I could show you how – if you like," he offered, pointing at the notebook.

"Would you?" she asked and put the notebook on the stone next to her, then turned around to face him. "You know how to do a Patronus?"

"Yeah, sure." He shifted her legs on either side of him, slowly sliding his hands along her thighs. "What do I get if I show you?"

Dylan felt shivers as his hands trailed from her knees to her hips and his arms encircled her waist. "What do you want? You already have all the chemicals."

"How about a kiss," Fred said.

"Show me first – then I'll give you your kiss," she countered.

Fred feigned a look of indignation. "Don't you trust me?"

"You're too tempting a distraction," she said, running a hand along his arm. "You'll forget."

"Are you sure you're not a Slytherin?" he asked, grinning at her.

Dylan laughed, gave him a gentle push to back away and hopped down to her feet. "Nope, Ravenclaw – just like my mum."

"Okay then, draw your wand." He drew his and held it firm. "The wand movement is more of a point, than a swish. Just think of something happy and say, Expecto Patronum. Watch." He did the spell and a shapeless silvery mist whooshed from the tip of his wand, took the form of an orangutan that seemed to swing in the air, with its arms and legs flailing and brandishing about, and then faded.

Dylan was rightly impressed and laughed at the silver orangutan form before it vanished.

"All right then, your turn," he said, lowering his wand. She nodded and then looked at him for direction. "You have to think of something happy, a very happy memory. Hold onto the memory and the happy feeling in your mind, let it fill you up, and then say the incantation."

"All right then," Dylan said resolutely. She had many happy memories with her family and friends to choose from, but selected a happy memory of a time her mother took her flying, the day she received her first broom. "Expecto Patronum." A pale, silver mist flowed from her wand tip like thick smoke.

"Not bad, try again," Fred encouraged. "Think of something happier. That might help."

Dylan nodded and tried to think of something happier. When Dad took Eldrich, Charlie, Mary Ellen and me to a carnival – that was a fun day. That's a happy memory. She held on to the memory of the four of them laughing while they were spinning in a huge teacup and tried the incantation. The wispy, silver mist thickened forming swirls and ringlets from her wand.

Her next try produced a flare of bright, silvery-white light. "I'm not doing it right," she said with a scowl.

"You made a shield Patronus at least. Try to think of a really happy moment, or something you've done, that made you the happiest you have ever felt," Fred said, standing close behind her. "Personally, I chose our night in the turret."

Dylan blushed a deep pink. "And my sparkling pink pigs?" she asked before trying the spell again. However, it took many tries, and Fred's encouragement, before Dylan's silver projection began to take shape. A thick, silver mist burst from her wand, swirled and folded, then formed a shadowy, four-legged shape and dissipated. Dylan jumped up and down, turning to Fred, delighted. "Did you see it? I did it! Not as good as yours – but I did it!"

"Yes, I saw it," Fred replied and kissed her as a reward for nearly making a corporeal Patronus.

Dylan laughingly wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. "Thank you," she murmured. He deepened his kiss, pinning her to the stone and nearly bending her into the crenel space, effectively ending the lesson. Only when Fred's hands began to slide down her body did she push away from him, grinning. "You may want to rethink this... It's late, nearly sunset, and this is the first place Professor Snape comes to when he starts his patrol. He loves to catch couples that come up here to watch the sunset together. I'd hate for you to get more detentions with him on my account."

"Then either I Disillusion us, or I'm taking you up to our turret," he said lustily. "Because I have no intention of stopping."

"Oh, really?" she replied, wavering a bit on weakened knees, "How presumptious of you."

"Absolutely," he said, claiming her mouth in a demanding kiss, then stopped abruptly, pulled away from the wall, pausing only long enough for Dylan to grab her books, and dragged her with him. "Come on. We can watch the sunset from your favorite window."

Fred hardly gave Dylan time to catch her breath or set her books down when they entered the turret before he threw off his robe and swept Dylan up into his arms. "So now, where were we?" he asked, his eyes alight and a huge grin on his face.

"I believe you were showing me how to produce a Patronus, Mr. Weasley," she chided him, drawing circles on his chest with her finger.

He eased her robes from her shoulders as he nuzzled her neck. "You have to think of a very happy memory," he said, trailing kisses just below her ear, "a very strong..." he added as her blouse opened up and he kissed her collarbone, "vivid and powerful memory."

Dylan reached up to wrap her arms around his neck, and Fred grabbed her hips, lifting her up to straddle him as he pinned her to the wall next to the window that overlooked Hogsmeade. "It's hard to even think with you doing that," she purred as his kisses trailed up to her ear again.

"Good."

~o0o~

That night, sitting on her bed, Dylan tried to produce a corporeal Patronus, using the memory of Fred's interruption of her revision, and the silvery mist burst from her wand tip into a large, shimmering, silvery lynx, which bounded around the room. All six of her dorm mates sat up, amazed at the silvery phantom shape, and clambered over to Dylan's bed to find out how she learned to do the Patronus.

~o0o~

Dylan, her mum and dad, Eldrich and Mary Ellen were leaving Madame Puddifoot's tea shop on Sunday after lunch, having spent the last day of the Easter holidays shopping in Mrs. Avondale's favorite stores. Both Mary Ellen and Dylan carried bags with sweets from Honeydukes, new quills and ink from Scrivenshaft's, and bath and body products from Auntie Ett's. Dylan had shampoo and body wash for Fred that she intended to give him that night as a joke.

As they said good-bye to her parents at the train depot, Dylan could have sworn that she saw Fred and George, but dismissed it as wishful thinking. However, on the walk back to the castle Dylan was positive that she saw something in the trees along the path. "Oh, Dylan, what is that?" Mary Ellen whispered nervously, confirming Dylan's suspicions.

"I'm not sure... If you want, I can transform and see?" Dylan offered. Both girls pulled out their wands, as they continued uneasily toward the castle.

Mary Ellen began to panic and moved closer to Dylan. "Don't leave me! It could be anything, Dylan! Dark creatures... werewolves!" From beside them in the trees came a wolf howl, making Dylan shake her head and Mary Ellen jump.

The girls aimed in the direction of the wolf cry and fired two Stunning Spells into the trees, and Dylan added a Jelly-Legs curse. A loud yelp confirmed Dylan's suspicions. "I don't think we have to worry about werewolves, Mary Ellen. I have a feeling it's friendly."

"If you thought we were friendly, why'd you fire off hexes?" they heard George complain.

"I thought you liked us." Fred walked out of the trees, supporting George, who was walking with noticeable difficulty.

"Boy, you have good aim!" George exclaimed.

"What were you planning on doing?" Mary Ellen admonished him angrily, now that her fear had ebbed away.

"Jump out and surprise you, of course," Fred answered. George could barely stand without his support. "Why did you fire a curse at us?"

"Didn't know it was you," Dylan stated. "Besides, you were the one who helped me with the Stunning Spell." She smiled as she pointed her wand at George to do the counter curse. He flinched before the bolt of turquoise blue hit his leg. "I only used the Stunner and a Jelly-Legs – I could've picked something worse."

George stood up, shaking out his leg. "Thanks. Geeze, girl, you nearly took my legs off!"

Dylan shrugged apologetically. "Sorry. When you're good, you're good," she said, stowing her wand.

"But when you're bad – you're really good," Fred finished for her, grinning at Dylan.

"I thought that the saying was, 'Be good – or be really good at it?'" Dylan said flippantly, bending to pick up the packages she'd dropped. Fred retrieved a few of them for her.

"Same thing," they chorused as George reached down and picked up two packages Mary Ellen dropped.

"Just come back from shopping, I see?" George asked. Mary Ellen nodded shyly, but he shook his head when she reached to take them. "No, its okay, I got them. Heading back to the castle?"

"Yes. Hang on – you were waiting for us... You – were going to ambush us?" Mary Ellen asked.

"Nah, just coming to say hello," Fred replied, taking Dylan's free hand in his.

"By hiding in the trees?" asked Dylan as she looked up at him, stunned. Fred gave her hand a gentle pull as they started back to the castle. "I thought that you were laying off pranking people until after the holidays?"

"Well – we did," they chorused again.

"Besides, the holidays are over, so it's back to business as usual," George said with a mischievous grin.

"You cannot be serious!" Mary Ellen exclaimed, stopping and looking at the twins. "You're going to do more stuff to Umbridge? Dylan, I thought you were – that all that stuff was – that you were done?"

Fred turned to face her and asked, "Umbridge is still here, isn't she?"

"And she's still trying to take over the school, isn't she?" George asked.

Mary Ellen nodded to each question.

"So until Dumbledore comes back – she's fair game. Besides she is such an easy target," Fred stated. "Oh, by the way... We're doing it tomorrow... Something big – our crowning achievement – just after our lessons."

Dylan looked at Fred, then at George, her eyes wide. "Is this what all the chemicals were for?" she asked. Mary Ellen went slightly pale and her mouth gapped open.

"Ah, yeah, it is," they said in unison again, both with identical, wicked smiles.

"Are you going to tell me what it is?" Dylan asked, and Mary Ellen gaped at her friend, stunned.

George tried to give Mary Ellen a reassuring smile. "Let's just say you won't be able to miss it," he said proudly.

"It's going to be grand!" Fred added, equally as proud. "Oh! I'd stay out of the east wing tomorrow. Try to avoid Gregory the Smarmy's corridor around five o'clock, if you can."

"Then how will I get to see it?" Dylan asked. "I mean, if I'm to stay away from the corridor..."

"Don't worry," Fred said interrupting her. "It isn't something that will just happen – it's much better than that. You'll see. Just don't be in the corridor when we set it off."

Dylan nodded, still feeling let down. Dragon fire! I wanted to see it – I wanted to watch them.... "Okay," she said trying to hide her disappointment.

Fred gave her a hand a squeeze. "Don't worry – you'll see it. It will be great!"

~o0o~

Dylan was apprehensive all day. She really fought with her desire to be in the fifth floor corridor of the east wing. Still, she heeded Fred's warning, mostly because Mary Ellen refused to let Dylan go and spy on the twins when five o'clock approached. When the end of lesson bell sounded, Dylan regretfully left the library with her friends to head to their common room. However, as they began to ascend the stairs, there was a great commotion in the castle. There were several explosions from spells echoing from above her and doors slamming from both above and below in the castle. Students were yelling and several were running down the stairs, covered in mucky mire and mud with remnants of green algae and moss. A few also had remnants of grasses and twigs stuck in their hair and robes. Dylan was swept up in the crowd as they moved down to the Entrance Hall.

Standing on the stairs, Dylan could see students, teachers, even the ghosts, forming a large ring around Fred and George in the Entrance Hall. Umbridge stood in the center, bearing down on the twins, and the members of the Inquisitorial Squad stood in a circle, holding back the crowd. All around in the growing crowd, many students were still covered in mucky quagmire, algae and moss with varying expressions of anger, annoyance and stunned disbelief. Fred and George stood together; both with the unmistakable look of two people completely cornered, wands drawn, shoulder-to-shoulder, ready to defend themselves. Dylan's heart raced in her chest as she watched.

"So!" said Umbridge, triumphantly. "So – you think it amusing to turn a school corridor into a swamp, do you?"

Several girls standing near Dylan covered in mire and muck, began to ask those standing next to them, "They made the swamp?"

"Yeah, they made it – they must have," a boy answered.

"Pretty amusing, yeah," Fred said without the slightest sign of fear.

"How did they – it's huge!" a girl exclaimed, stunned. There were replies of assent from others. "It looks real – right in the middle of the corridor. It takes up the whole floor!" Dylan tried to block them out, trying to hear what would happen to Fred and George, wondering how the twins would get out of this mess.

They did it! They made a swamp? Dylan's mind raced, as she watched the twins. Well, I saw him create and demolish a tree – but a whole swamp! Galloping Gargoyles! 'Gregory the Smarmy's corridor... fifth floor... Just don't be in the corridor when we set it off,' he'd said.

Filch arrived, pushing his way through the gathering crowd. "I've got the form, Headmistress," he said hoarsely, with a huge smile on his face. For the first time ever as far as Dylan could recall, he actually looked happy! "I've got the form and I've got the whips waiting... Oh, let me do it – let me do it now," he said, wheezing obviously from running.

Dylan gasped, mortified.

"Very good, Argus," the Toad said, never taking her eyes off Fred and George. "You two are about to learn what happens to wrongdoers in my school." Several students inhaled loudly, and others started muttering. In Dylan's ears, their whispered talk sounded like billywigs.

"You know what?" Fred said defiantly. "I don't think we are." He turned to his twin and addressed him as if this were merely a poorly directed play. "George, I think we've outgrown full-time education."

George made a grand gesture of assent. "Yeah – I've been feeling that way myself."

Dylan sucked in her breath with apprehension, stunned by the twin's declaration. They couldn't mean that! Talk your way out of this...please! Filch can't – McGonagall wouldn't really let him...

"Time to test our talents in the real world, d'you reckon?" Fred stated dramatically.

"Definitely," George said, mimicking Fred's pose, and before Umbridge, Filch or the Toad's precious Inquisitorial Squad could react, Fred and George shouted, "Accio brooms!" Dylan almost thought that she could actually feel the surge of magic jet up the stairs past her.

Instantly a loud crash echoed from the next floor. Nearly everyone turned around just in time to see two brooms, iron rings still clamped tightly on the handles, and one broom trailing a heavy chain and iron bolt, came hurling down from above, sweeping down the stairs to the twins. Everyone ducked or dove out of the way to avoid the swinging chain and lethally swinging bolt and then scrambled back to their feet.

"We won't be seeing you," declared Fred defiantly to Umbridge as both Fred and George grabbed hold of their brooms when the matching Cleansweeps swept up in front of them, the iron bolt clanging loudly on the stone floor. Umbridge was slowly climbing back to her feet, and the members of the Inquisitorial Squad were shoving people off them as they tried to control the crowd.

"Yeah, don't bother to keep in touch," George challenged, and in one fluid movement they both mounted their brooms. The exhilaration on their faces was hard to miss.

"If anyone fancies buying a Portable Swamp, as demonstrated upstairs, come to number ninety-three, Diagon Alley – Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes," Fred announced in a loud voice. "Our new premises!"

Murmurs of wonderment and bewilderment spread throughout the students on the stairs around Dylan. The words 'Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes' repeated over and over as if by thousands of echoes. Dylan was awestruck! Portable Swamp? Swamp... the library... the books... the elements...

"Special discounts to Hogwarts students who swear they're going to use our products to get rid of this old bat!" George proclaimed pointing at Umbridge.

Oh my Goddess! They're going too far – she'll expel them for sure. Don't they realize? Dylan's mind raced as she watched the twins, slowly feeling a sense of panic. But they can't really mean to leave school – this close to N.E.W.T.s! They can't just LEAVE!

Suddenly Umbridge snapped out of her dumbfounded paralysis. "STOP THEM!" she screamed, causing Filch and the members of the Inquisitorial Squad to snap out of their similar stupefied trances, and they all dived for Fred and George, albeit too late; for Fred and George had already leapt into the air on their brooms, the iron peg swaying dangerously from George's broom.

"Fred! No – no – you can't!" Dylan didn't realize she'd screamed. Several students below did scream, some already beginning to applaud and cheer. But – but... You can't – not now... Fred! They are just going to... just leave.... "Oh, Merlin – no!"

They made a wide sweep of the Entrance Hall, making Umbridge, Filch and the Inquisitorial Squad fall on their faces, as well as all the students under them dive and duck again. "Give her hell from us, Peeves!" Fred shouted at the poltergeist on his last sweep if the room.

To Dylan's amazement, and probably to the amazement of every one watching, Peeves did the unthinkable. She was flabbergasted as she watched Peeves, who, instead of blowing raspberries or making some kind of rude retort or hand jester... Peeves, – who never did anything anyone ever asked him to do – let alone accept an order – from a student – swept his belled hat from his head and gave Fred a salute!

Every student in the hall, on the marble staircase and standing in the open doorway of the great oak doors, stood stunned. For a brief second of silence the world stopped. Then the students began to applaud. The noise of the cheers escalated and became tumultuous as applause, stomping feet, whistles, cheers, even some snaps and crackles literally reached a crescendo. The sound literally reverberated off the walls. Fred and George waved a final salute to the crowd and shot out of the open doors – literally flying off into a glorious sunset – and out of Dylan's life.

~~***~~

Author's notes:

You know that this cannot be the end... sorry, only one more chapter.

I want to thank both Lumiere and Musci5 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 and to Notsosainlty for making it presentable.

Quotes and some descriptions in the 'great escape' scene was taken directly from: JK Rowling, The Order Of The Phoenix, (Raincoast Publishing, Canada, 2004), p 567-568, simply for continuity of the story, and is thus borrowed. I don't mean to plagiarize JK's fabulous work, but if I knew her to ask her permission – I would. I just hope that she doesn't mind.

The timeline seems off here: On HP Lexicon, Easter Holidays is shown as starting April 2nd and going until the end of the month – either April 27th or May 4th. According to a UK calendar for 1995, Easter is on April 16th and Easter Monday is on the 17th, so if the students get two weeks off for Easter, they would return to lessons on May 1st. This makes better sense and fits my story better. Thus, for the story, Dylan has permission to visit her family at her brother's house on the weekends of: April 16-17, 23-24 and 30-31.

For those of us who grew up in America, in regards to terms used: the battlements are a walkway on the top walls of a castle and are decorated with defensive crenellations – the distinctive pattern of notches or regular rectangular spaces along the battlements of castle walls. The openings are called crenels, while the raised portions are the merlons.

I have no idea what form Fred's Patronus would take. However, if the animal form has anything to do with one's personality – an orangutan or chimpanzee just seemed a perfect fit: cute, mischievous, rather clever, fairly inventive, will cause mayhem and havoc when left unattended, and will usually give their keepers an innocent look when caught doing something naughty. Doesn't that just describe the twins?

Platymerus Biguttata is the white-eyed assassin bug. If you like bugs, it's a rather interesting looking beetle.