When Loren reached the Great Hall, the scene was spectacular.
Most of the boys and a good share of the girls weren't eating at the tables at all—they were packed in front of the staff dais, watching something. Only a scattering of girls sat at the house tables, picking at lunch.
Loren muttered a Levitation Charm on his robes and floated up for a look. In the center stood Fred and George Weasley, staging a mock proposal. Even Harry, Ron, and Neville were off to the side gawking.
After Potions, word had spread like Fiendfyre. The story had morphed into: Fred and George invented a prank trinket that turned Harry into "Holly," and Snape had fallen for her on the spot. Everyone believed the transformation; the bit about Snape being smitten sounded like exaggeration.
When the twins stepped into the hall, a roar went up. Every eye turned on them. For a moment they thought the gambling scheme with Peeves had been exposed and nearly bolted. But no—it was the bracelet. Students yanked them aside, demanding to know about the gender-swap prank.
Relief came quickly. They pieced together the story: Loren had dumped the credit on them. The Holly transformation was the hook, but Snape's reaction was the gold. Ron confirmed Loren was behind it, and the twins realized: Loren wanted them to shoulder the blame.
They didn't hesitate. They'd been making tidy piles of gold with their betting racket already. If they could pin a whole new line of prank items to their names, all the better. The castle was ripe for a joke shop.
Fred and George made their choice in unison. They would claim it.
They produced one of Loren's test rings. A live demo would settle doubts and put the Weasley brand on everyone's lips. "We've done it," they declared loudly. "We can make a product that turns boys into girls. It works. Once we perfect it, we'll sell it."
"Really?" a voice called. "We asked Harry—his only worked for him."
True: Harry had shown it off, and when others tried, nothing happened. But Fred and George were ready. Fred raised his voice: "We've got the prototype. Clear the floor!"
George led them to the open space in front of the teachers' table. Professors wouldn't arrive for another half hour—it was now or never.
Fred dropped to one knee, produced the ring, and proposed. George slid it on—and transformed into a curvy, striking woman. Whistles erupted.
Loren, sitting with Hermione at the Gryffindor table, cupped his hands around his mouth and bellowed, "Together! Together!"
The hall froze—then the chant caught like wildfire. "Together! Together! Together!" The thunder of voices rattled the rafters. Even the girls who'd tried to ignore the spectacle joined in, shrieking louder than the boys.
The twins never wasted a crowd. George—still in female form—embraced Fred and kissed him. The hall exploded in cheers.
When the noise ebbed, George raised his arms. "The gender-swap charm tool—every boy should own one! Soon, we'll have it for sale. Wait for our good news."
Applause followed them as they left the stage and sat beside Loren and Hermione. George kept the ring on, still a woman, drawing more hoots and whistles. Lee Jordan wolf-whistled the loudest.
The twins ignored the teasing and tucked into lunch like any couple. Loren saw their move for what it was: payback. Who would crack first?
He didn't blink. He picked up a forkful of food and offered it to Hermione. She caught on instantly and fed him in return. Their quiet display of affection was so cloying that several students set down their utensils and fled.
After lunch, Loren and Hermione headed for Gryffindor Tower. Fred and George tagged along, George slipping off the ring and shifting back as they walked. Loren promised them schematics that evening—two versions, not the real one. A "youth edition" for appearances only, and a "limited edition" that changed physiology but on a timer. The full design would stay in his hands.
Back in the Room of Requirement, Loren unpacked his alchemy workshop. He had promises to keep and too many projects: prepping data for the twins, advancing Peter's conditioning, reshaping his new spider pet.
He sighed. He couldn't deny the temptation: what if someone wore the complete ring, carried a child, and then reverted? The possibilities were maddening. But Peter was too useful—chief test subject, steward of his constructs—to risk on such an experiment.
"I really am too kind," Loren muttered, shaking the thought away and getting back to work.
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