Hogwarts: From Little Wizard to White Lord

Vaughan witnessed an example two days later. It was a fifth-year Gryffindor student who suddenly broke into the classroom when Vaughan was waiting for the first-year students in Transfiguration class.

She held the book and breathlessly apologized to Professor McGonagall: "I'm sorry, Professor, I'm late."

Professor McGonagall, who was about to write on the blackboard, was a little surprised, but also understood. She pushed her glasses and said, "Ms. Dormer, this is a first-year class. The fifth-year class ended an hour ago. And as far as I remember, you are not late."

Miss Dormer was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into a loud cry, startling the bewildered first-grade students:

"No! I'm a first-year! Professor, I'm a first-year!"

She danced and hysterically pulled Neville up, trying desperately to prove that she was as tall as Neville and that she was 12 years old.

Neville was grabbed by the collar and lifted to the same height as her, and was almost strangled by the bow tie.

Seeing the scene becoming increasingly chaotic, Professor McGonagall had no choice but to cast a spell to knock her out. She explained to the first years, "It seems Miss Dormer has developed exam syndrome, a very peculiar disease that usually breaks out suddenly before an exam and then miraculously recovers suddenly after she gets sick leave."

"..."

The young wizards in the audience were speechless. Of course they understood what the professor meant - Miss Dormer was acting crazy in order to avoid class.

Moreover, her behavior is not an isolated case.

In the following time, the first-year students witnessed all kinds of strange "diseases". For example, one day in late March, a seventh-year student suddenly disappeared. The professors searched for him for most of the night before finding him in the Forbidden Forest.

He claimed that he was abducted by a UFO and that aliens subjected him to cruel magic experiments in an attempt to understand the Earth's magic system and prepare for invasion. He endured for 10 years before finally escaping.

As a result, he found himself back to the day when he was kidnapped 10 years ago. What was even more "unfortunate" was that the long 10 years in prison made him completely forget the knowledge he had learned.

So... he hoped that the professors would take his special situation into consideration and allow him to pass the NEWTs this year directly...

He was a Ravenclaw, so Professor Flitwick, the usually gentle and kind Head of Ravenclaw, gave him detention without hesitation.

Of course, such a genius at making up stories is still relatively rare. Most people just pretend to be crazy and stupid. Some of the more ruthless ones will even break their own hands and feet and try to stay in the school hospital and never come out.

It is in such an absurd environment that the twins' skipping school candy business is becoming more and more prosperous, with orders as thick as a foot.

On the 31st, Fred and George waited at the door of Slytherin, pretending to meet Vaughn by chance. They sighed and said that they had too many orders and were exhausted. They were almost tired of hearing the clinking of gold Galleons and silver Sickles every day.

Vaughan smiled but said nothing.

The twins thought he had nothing to say, and triumphantly high-fived him and left. Then, on April 4, April Fool's Day, when all the students and faculty gathered in the cafeteria as required, the twins heard a piece of news that struck them like thunder.

It was Professor McGonagall who read the message.

Every wrinkle on the vice-president's face expressed seriousness and absolute leniency.

"...I've noticed that the school is currently plagued by the unhealthy habit of selling fake potions and truancy tools. After careful consideration by all faculty, the following items will be confiscated: Buffy's Brain Stimulant—I'm deeply disappointed by the student who bought it. This is a top-notch potion, brewed only by Professor Snape and Mr. Vaughan Weasley. How could they possibly sell it to you for only one Sickle a bottle?"

"An automatic answering quill—this is a ridiculous lie. I thought even a first-year student could figure it out. How could Hogwarts allow you to bring such a thing into the examination room?"

The first-year students in the audience looked at each other in bewilderment. So magic cheating props are not allowed into the examination room?

Professor McGonagall took a deep breath after seeing this. To avoid getting angry to death, she quickly read the next list:

"Quick-acting candy for skipping classes..."

The twins couldn't help but stand up. "Today is April Fool's Day. You must be kidding, right?"

They looked at the podium expectantly, hoping to hear the answer they wanted.

Professor McGonagall could no longer control her temper. She glared at the twins and said sternly, "...Fred Weasley and George Weasley are examples of wasted talent and misguided behavior. They are rampantly producing and selling things that undermine school rules and classroom discipline in school. Their influence is extremely bad!"

"All professors have decided that not only will your skipping class candy products be confiscated, but you will also be forced to return the proceeds. As far as I know, you have detailed order records. I will personally supervise your execution!"

Finished!

Fred and George felt a sudden blackness in their vision.

April Fool's Day should have been a happy day, but they were shocked to find that fate had played a huge joke on them.

How can they have any money?

All the deposits I paid were used to buy raw materials...

April Fools' Day in 1992 passed slowly as Fred and George endured a torment that felt like a year. The twins, who had always been mischievous and unscrupulous at Hogwarts, experienced the reality of adulthood for the first time.

That day, their dormitory was surrounded by creditors!

"Fred, open the door quickly. I know you are in the dormitory. Give me back my deposit!" This is a rough and direct debt collection method.

"George, Professor McGonagall has told you to return the money according to the list. You don't want us to report you to the professor and say that you are going to default on your debt, right?" This was a threat.

Others took direct action: "The Alaho hole is open! Damn it, those two guys cast an anti-unlocking spell in there!"

Some people also tried to take a roundabout approach: "Lee Jordan, you've been sleeping with them for several years, hurry up and persuade them!"

Lee Jordan was in tears. He even invested 1 Galleon and was waiting outside the door, ready to ask for it to be opened to collect the debt!

All in all, Hogwarts' April Fool's Day operation was quite successful. Although there was no visible effect in the confiscation of other illegal potions and props, Fred and George had already tasted the iron fist of the school.

The next morning, the twins wrapped themselves tightly to make sure no one could tell it was them before they dared to leave the dormitory.

As soon as they went out, the twins were nauseated by the foul stench. They didn't know which wicked guy had bolted a few dung bombs on the door and cast a spell on it.

Just open the door and the dung bomb will detonate.

If the twins had not been so experienced in fighting that they had grabbed their wands early on, held their breath, and used their magic to clean themselves up, they would have probably vomited bile.

"Damn it, these bastards! They were all smiling when they were begging us to place an order a few days ago, but today they turned their backs on us!"

"Stop complaining and help me... Damn, what kind of glue is this? My shoes are stuck!"

"I'm stuck too... Oh, forget about the shoes, let's go first, so that no one will run into us if they wake up early."

"The Weasleys have never been so embarrassed!"

The two of them didn't even dare to complain loudly, just muttering a few curses. The twins finally cleared all the traps at the door and were already sweating profusely.

As a result, when he walked into the common room stealthily with a cloak on, he was frightened again.

A furry head popped out from behind the desk, glanced at them, and gloated: "Fred, George!"

The twins were so frightened that they almost ran away. Only when they saw that it was Hermione did they breathe a sigh of relief: "Damn it, how could you recognize it was us?"

Not only did they wear the hoods of their cloaks, but they also covered their heads and faces with scarves, making their appearance comparable to Professor Quirrell's.

Hermione snorted. "Who else in Gryffindor would dress like you guys?"

As she spoke, she took a few glances at their attire, raised her voice slightly, and asked suspiciously, "Are you planning to run away without paying?"

"Shhh-keep it down!"

"No one in the Weasley family is dishonest. We will definitely pay you back!"

"That's right!"

The twins answered decisively.

But Hermione didn't believe it at all: "Vaughn told me yesterday that all your money was used to buy raw materials and there is no money left to pay back!"

"So we have to go out and find a solution!"

"That's right, we're going to find Vaughn!"

"George, you don't have to say it..."

"But it's the truth, Fred."

That's right, no one in the Weasley family is untrustworthy. Even if Professor McGonagall hadn't asked them for a refund yesterday, the twins would have taken the initiative to refund when the fast-acting skipping candy series was banned by the school.

All their fears are because they have no money...

Fortunately, they have not been forced into a desperate situation, and there are people who can support them.

The twins discussed it overnight and decided to shamelessly ask their younger brother for help.

Hermione's face darkened. She had always been against the twins making props for skipping classes, and now when she heard that they still wanted to ask Vaughn for help, she became even more dissatisfied. It wasn't that she thought they shouldn't ask Vaughn for help, but she could tell that these two guys hadn't given up yet!

She pursed her lips and said, "So, you're planning to borrow some money from Vaughn, return the deposit, and keep the raw materials. So, you're planning to stay out of the spotlight and make a comeback after the exam?"

"clever!"

The twins gave her a thumbs-up. "We discussed it all night and decided it was just bad luck this time. We were preparing for the exams, so the school caught us as an example."

"That's right. Our products are actually very popular and the market demand is huge. It's impossible for the school to prohibit students from having normal needs forever..."

Hermione complained, "When did skipping classes become a normal need?"

The twins wouldn't listen. They winked at Hermione and said, "The difficulties are only temporary. After the exams, the ban will be lifted, and then we can launch our product. We've already figured it out. The name 'Quick Skip Class' is too narrow. It can actually be used to skip chores and homework... Anyway, as long as you're sick, you can do nothing. It's a must-have remedy for school and summer vacation!"

Hermione: "..."

Hermione found herself narrow-minded. She had thought that this blow would teach the twins a lesson and make them realize that evil ways could not last long...

The twins did learn a lesson, but because someone was backing them up, they were apparently fearless!

Hermione sighed. She had made a bet with Vaughan about this after the April Fool's Day dinner yesterday. At that time, she firmly believed that people would correct their mistakes after being punished.

But Vaughan remained noncommittal about her point of view: "My dear, perhaps you should read more Muggle philosophy books. There was a Muggle named Hegel who said it right: the only lesson mankind has learned from history is that it has learned no lessons from history."

It has to be said that Vaughn obviously understands his two older brothers better.

Therefore, the twins' reaction did not exceed his expectations.

Thinking of this, Hermione smiled slightly, and when Fred and George were about to leave Gryffindor Tower, she said:

"I don't think you need to waste your time, Fred, George."

The twins turned around in surprise: "What?"

They saw Hermione gloating and saying, "Vaughn had something urgent to do and has left Hogwarts. At least in the next few days, don't even think about finding him!"

The twins' lips trembled, and their faces turned visibly pale: "You...you are kidding, right?"

Hermione smiled but said nothing.

At this moment, someone yawned as they walked out of the corridor of the boys' dormitory. It was Lee Jordan, the twins' former best friend. The moment he stepped into the common room, he recognized them:

"Ha! Fred and George, are you planning to run away?"

"Damn it, how can anyone tell it's us? Li, we're good friends..."

Lee Jordan sneered through gritted teeth. He had said the same thing a few days ago, and George had ruthlessly rejected his request for credit.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the twins quickly called the fat lady who was guarding the door.

The Fat Lady, still sleepy, was about to open the door with a grumble when Lee Jordan called out, "Fat Lady, help me lock up these two guys. In exchange, I can listen to your opera all day long!"

The sleepy Fat Lady suddenly perked up, leaving the twins stunned.