With Wood's urging, the Gryffindors hurried back to their common room.
Seeing no more show, a drowsy Tiger brought Venom back to Slytherin.
However.
Hermione followed the Weasley twins. The three walked to the Great Hall.
Seeing the twins wanting to hang the female prefect on the wall beside the Slytherin table, she showed no resistance or outrage. Instead, she joined the prank with an almost playful look.
The Weasley twins were happy to have her participate. Having a girl help could avoid awkward situations.
Outside the windows.
Rain hammered violently against the glass, making "thump thump" sounds like dense drumbeats.
An elegant figure hung suspended beneath the window.
A wooden board made of stools supported her weight, preventing the rope from harming her body.
"Nicely done, George."
"Perfect, Fred."
The Weasley twins tied the rope securely, exchanged glances, and laughed in unison: "Like a great work of art, haha~"
"Too bad..."
"There's only one person in the painting." Hermione's meaningful voice sounded behind the brothers.
Unlike her usual seriousness.
She now sat sideways on the Slytherin table, legs crossed, her rosewood wand flipping at her fingertips, revealing a lazy yet elegant posture.
The Weasley twins weren't particularly familiar with Hermione. Most impressions came from their brother Ron and surrounding gossip.
A freak who memorized school rules.
A boring old nag.
A violent maniac who was savage and unreasonable.
A bookworm who practically lived in the library.
Ron's aggrieved complaints had nearly worn calluses on their ears...
Therefore, when Hermione appeared before them in an unprecedented manner, subtle ripples rose in the Weasley twins' hearts.
They vaguely felt that the Hermione before them seemed vastly different from her usually rigid image.
However, this sudden contrast didn't linger long in their minds.
Brother Ron had long said that Hermione always showed dissatisfied, indignant looks toward this female prefect.
They'd also seen this subtle emotion at the dining table.
In just an instant, Hermione's change before them seemed to have a reasonable explanation.
They even became curious about the hidden story between Hermione and the female prefect.
"Maybe we can go find Jordan?"
Fred crossed one arm, stroking his chin, tone slightly hesitant.
"Maybe..."
George was the same, looking like he wanted to keep secrets but couldn't stand the loneliness.
The moment the brothers' gazes met, they said in unison: "He's already caught those two fat snakes."
Though the topic was about Lee Jordan.
Hermione keenly caught that the Weasley brothers' eyes were talking about something else.
"You can find Jordan?"
"That would waste quite a bit of time..."
As if sensing something, the rosewood wand spinning at her fingertips suddenly vanished. Hermione straightened slightly, raising an eyebrow at the Weasley twins.
"Of course we can!"
"And immediately~"
The Weasley twins moved to Hermione's left and right sides, their teasing smiles carrying some pride.
They loved seeing that unexpected, even unbelievable surprised expression.
It gave them enormous satisfaction.
Hermione uncomfortably escaped the twins' encirclement, walking to face them. A barely perceptible flash of disgust and coldness passed through her eyes.
However.
The Weasley twins didn't care. The brothers performed like they were in a play.
George pulled out a yellowed, wrinkled parchment from his robes. Fred knelt on one knee, right hand on his chest, left hand gesturing toward the parchment.
Fred: "Allow us to introduce you to~" George: "This century's greatest invention~" The two sang in unison: "The Marauder's~ Map~"
"Uh..."
"Should I be clapping..." Hermione's expression nearly cracked with stiffness.
Pure-blood noble upbringing told her she should give thanks when seeing a performance.
But the performance's crudeness and awkwardness made her feel cheated, and particularly scratchy.
The Weasley twins' bounciness and jumping around made her very uncomfortable.
If they were Slytherins.
She would unhesitatingly cast two "Tarantallegra" spells to let them perform enough!
George lifted his head slightly: "Of course~" Fred looked somewhat dissatisfied: "You're the only audience~"
"Clap... clap... clap..."
Hermione clapped expressionlessly.
(?_?) (Forced performance)
"Watch closely, Miss Know-It-All~" George drew his wand, lightly touching the parchment.
Fred smiled meaningfully: "It knows far more than you do~"
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!"
As George softly chanted the incantation, the parchment slowly unfolded, revealing intricate pathways.
"A map of Hogwarts..."
Hermione's eyes flickered slightly.
"Exactly. It can also mark everyone's location within Hogwarts..."
Fred smiled broadly.
George put away his wand, pointing at the Great Hall's location on the map, lips curving upward with pride:
"Look, this is that female prefect's name, Gemma Farley, and me, Fred..."
"And Lee... Jordan?!"
As if suddenly realizing something.
The Weasley twins' smiles froze instantly.
The cheerful atmosphere vanished abruptly, leaving only unspoken tension and chill.
"Heh, so that's how it is..."
The suddenly ringing cold laughter seemed to touch some hidden switch. Both men lunged toward their wands at their waists, movements swift and coordinated.
However, the next second...
"Confringo!"
Blinding firelight and surging air waves raged out like a wild beast.
The Weasley twins were violently blown away, like two fallen leaves losing direction in a gale, tracing chaotic arcs before heavily crashing down nearby.
"Cough cough, Fred, are you okay?"
"Not okay, damn it..."
"We actually fell for it..."
The protective badges on their robes instantly dimmed. The Weasley twins staggered to their feet, the pain from hitting the ground making their faces twist.
"Wait..."
Fred seemed to think of something. He turned to look at Hermione walking slowly over, face looking rather ugly.
"Damn it, you cheated! Jordan lost his game qualification, yet you still attacked him!"
Hermione raised an eyebrow and sneered coldly:
"Who can prove it?"
"Besides... who am I?"
Just as Fred's eyes showed suspicion, Hermione suddenly raised her hand toward George, who was trying to sneak attack.
"Stupefy!"
Red light flashed instantly.
George, hiding behind the long table, crashed heavily to the ground, only managing to extend his right middle finger.
Wandless magic?!
Only then did Fred react.
Wandless magic meant Prior Incantato couldn't check, and Hogwarts would never use Veritaserum on students.
More importantly, there were no witnesses around. Even if he told Professor Flitwick, what could be done?
Thinking this far.
Fred sighed helplessly: "Please put me in a decent pose."
"As you wish~"
Hermione elegantly performed a hat-tipping bow, then backhandedly cast a Stunning Spell.
Fred collapsed.
"What a good thing..."
Crisp footsteps echoed in the Great Hall.
Hermione bent down and picked up the Marauder's Map, looking at the names on it, her lips curving in a sickly arc.
"You'll never escape my eyes."
"My dear..."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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