Once they'd made up their minds, the two of them didn't mention anything related to the schedule again.
When Kael finished his meal and everyone gathered in the attic, Fred also took out a reading list full of Lockhart's books.
"All of Lockhart's books," he said. "The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher must be a fan... maybe a witch like mom."
"I see..." George said, pretending to hold an orange like a crystal ball that could foresee the future, "This year's Defense Against the Dark Arts class is bound to be a disaster."
"You don't need Divination for that."
Kael peeled his "crystal ball," broke off a segment, and popped it into his mouth. "Was there ever a year when the Defense Against the Dark Arts class wasn't a disaster?"
"Orion wasn't bad." Fred reflexively looked at Kael, "If he wasn't a Dark Wizard..."
"You do have a point." Kael shrugged.
In terms of teaching quality alone, Orion could arguably be the best Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts in the past twenty years.
But unfortunately, he was a Dark Wizard, and one who wasn't particularly fond of them... which wasn't exactly pleasant.
Thinking about the recent professors of Defense Against the Dark Arts, none of them felt like talking anymore. George placed the reading list aside and dug a rubber stick out of a box in the corner.
With no progress on their "Skiving Snackbox," Fred and George had been tinkering with another joke product in the attic lately... the Trick Wand.
This was an idea that hit George like a bolt of inspiration during Charm Class.
It looked exactly like a real wand, but if anyone tried to cast a spell with it, it would randomly turn into some sort of rubber product.
With Kael's help, they were close to making it work in the past few days.
The only issue now was how to maintain the fake wand's stability, ensuring it only transformed when someone attempted to cast a charm.
Kael wasn't helping with this part... after all, they were in it together; he couldn't take over everything. Fred and George needed to have something to work on.
Besides, when they're busy, he could enjoy a bit of peace and quiet.
The entire morning, Fred and George tried different methods to maintain the fake wand's transformation.
Kael, meanwhile, was researching a new Hogwarts Map.
After two years in the map business, others had spotted the opportunity and started to compete.
After all, it was easy to make, even first-year students could manage it.
Last year, Hermione drew a similar map. If she could do it, others surely could too.
Unlike other products, the map's audience was the newly admitted young wizards unfamiliar with Hogwarts.
With similar products in the market, even the "old brand" like theirs, Kael and the others, struggled to maintain an edge.
Everything else aside, they absolutely couldn't lose the Slytherin market.
So, it was time for a major update to the map.
What Nicolas saw earlier was the prototype of the new Hogwarts Map.
What he needed to do now was simplify the production method for mass production, then distribute it to others.
Even if it had fewer features, as long as it moved and displayed real-time routes, they could regain the upper hand.
The three of them worked on their tasks without bothering each other, creating a harmonious scene.
But the harmony lasted only through the morning.
Not long after lunch, a sudden loud commotion erupted outside.
A few minutes later, unable to concentrate, Fred stuck his head out the window and caught sight of Ron yelling.
"Can you be quiet!" he shouted.
Outside, holding a broomstick, Ron instantly stopped, staring blankly at Fred's face. That look was as if he'd seen Snape performing a ballet, full of shock and disbelief.
"Mom!"
Ron screamed and ran back to the Shabby Residence: "Come and see, Percy turned into George!"
Clearly, he'd mistaken Fred for George again.
"What are you talking about? What's wrong with me?"
But at that moment, the window on the third floor of the Shabby Residence creaked open, and Percy said impatiently, "Also, could you try to be a little quieter."
Ron stood there frozen, looking at Percy, then at Fred across, and his already confused brain utterly crashed.
"When will our little brother finally become a bit smarter, huh."
Fred sighed and said, "But George, I think I kind of understand how Percy felt before."
"Yeah." George chuckled, "With all the noise outside, it's hard to focus indeed."
"So in the future..."
"Hey, don't say that, it's Ron making all the noise, we're usually very quiet!"
"Exactly right!"
George glanced outside disdainfully at Ron and then seemed to have an idea, chuckling darkly:
"I've got an idea, do you remember what Ron's wand looks like?"
"Of course, it cost us seven Galleons." Fred raised his eyebrows, "So you're saying..."
"Exactly, I'm saying just that..."
"Where does he usually keep his wand..."
"In his robe pocket..."
"But he doesn't wear robes when playing Quidditch..."
"Heh, heh..."
The two exchanged a look, both sporting mischievous grins.
Kael shook his head and asked, "That fake wand isn't complete yet, right?"
"That's why we need someone to test it for us." Fred said almost justifiably.
"Only by knowing what's wrong can we improve it, right?" George winked.
With that in mind, they lost interest in what they were doing, and they dragged Kael out to the open space outside.
In front of the Shabby Residence, Mrs. Weasley was scolding Ron to lower his voice so as not to disturb Percy from his reading.
"I really want to know what he's up to!" Fred frowned, looking at the closed window on the third floor, "He got twelve O.W.L.s just recently, but he's not proud at all, and he's busier than ever."
"That's unusual." George mused, "Plus, I noticed before, the name on his letter was pink. Although he said he ran out of ink, I can't shake the feeling something's off."
...
They all made their way towards the Shabby Residence.
Fred used the excuse of taking the broomstick and squeezed himself into the house.
When he came back out, he subtly gave Kael and George a "mission accomplished" gesture.
To avoid suspicion, they didn't go back inside but instead headed to a field on the hill with Harry to play some Quidditch.
...