Chapter 45: Corridor Chaos
Before Professor McGonagall could finish her sentence, George and Fred answered eagerly:
"Professor, we're memorizing!"
"Yes, Professor! Professor Holmes told us to recite!"
Professor McGonagall frowned.
"Then keep your voices down. Shouting won't help you remember anything."
After saying that, she made a mental note that she absolutely needed to speak with Douglas tomorrow. Allowing students to stand in a corridor reciting lessons late at night was hardly appropriate.
September nights in the Scottish Highlands were already turning cold.
The twins lowered their voices obediently.
Partly out of respect—but mostly because their throats were already sore after their enthusiastic "high-note performance."
Professor McGonagall had just begun to turn away when Peeves suddenly reappeared, hovering behind her with a wicked grin.
Then, with exaggerated politeness, he addressed her.
"Oh, respected Vice Headmistress, you've been deceived by those two despicable brats."
"I heard everything. They were punished for cheating…"
Before Peeves could finish his gleeful accusation, Professor McGonagall's voice rang out sharply.
"Cheating?"
Her gaze snapped toward the twins.
"Mr. Weasley… is what Peeves says true?"
George and Fred froze.
They stared at Peeves in disbelief.
Why on earth would he betray them?
They had always considered themselves on fairly good terms with the poltergeist. After all, they had worked together against Filch more than once.
Then realization dawned.
Both twins grimaced.
"Dungbombs…"
Last semester they had promised to give Peeves several of their famous dungbombs after school started again.
Unfortunately, they had died—academically speaking—before fulfilling that promise. Their entire stash had been confiscated, and the matter had slipped their minds.
Professor McGonagall, seeing their silence, marched straight toward Douglas's office door as soon as the shifting staircase connecting the floors locked into place.
Behind her, Peeves floated gleefully, making faces at the twins.
Inside the Defense Against the Dark Arts Office
Ron crept cautiously toward Douglas and waved a hand in front of him.
Douglas removed the charm around his ears.
"What's going on?"
Ron whispered nervously,
"Professor… didn't you say to tell you if things got quiet outside?"
Douglas immediately realized George and Fred had probably stopped reciting again.
He waved Ron away and told him to continue copying.
Then he stood up, intending to go out and give the twins another lecture about becoming proper students.
Harry leaned over and whispered urgently.
"Ron… you're actually reporting your own brothers?"
Ron glanced toward Douglas, who was getting to his feet.
Then he whispered back,
"I think I just heard Professor McGonagall shouting. If we don't warn Professor Holmes now…"
"If she bursts in and finds George and Fred cheating—and we knew about it but didn't say anything…"
Harry imagined the consequences.
He immediately gave Ron a thumbs-up.
"Ron, that's brilliant."
Ron sniffed proudly.
If Harry had ever been punished multiple times by his own mother for not reporting something he knew about, he would have learned the same lesson.
Douglas Meets McGonagall
When Douglas opened the door, he found Professor McGonagall just stepping onto the final stair.
But the first thing Douglas noticed was Peeves floating behind her.
He smiled.
"Well, well. Peeves. Haven't seen you in a few years. Miss me?"
As he spoke, the wand hidden in his sleeve slid smoothly into his hand.
Peeves screamed in terror.
"Murder ghost! The ghost killer is back!"
Then he vanished with a loud bang.
Professor McGonagall sighed helplessly and turned to Mr. Filch and several prefects who had rushed over after hearing the commotion.
"I'll handle this. You may all return to your duties."
Once they left, she turned back to Douglas.
"Douglas, must you always scare Peeves like that?"
"He's actually rather respectful toward the professors… well—mostly. He's just an overly mischievous child."
Douglas chuckled and slipped his wand away.
"Sorry, Professor. Reflex."
"You know how Peeves is with me. Whenever he shows up near me, something unpleasant usually follows."
Professor McGonagall rolled her eyes.
"Douglas… remember that you're a professor now."
The Twins Realize Something
Pressed against the wall by Professor McGonagall's imposing presence, George and Fred whispered to each other in shock.
"Remember what Bill said?"
"Peeves isn't actually dangerous."
"And Charlie said…"
"Poor Peeves."
"We always thought Peeves was like us."
"Against hypocrisy!"
"Enemies of authority!"
"Well now…"
"The enemy of my enemy?"
Inside the Office
Harry and Ron had quietly opened the door a crack.
Each of them grabbed a handful of Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans and watched the unfolding drama like a stage play.
When they heard the conversation between Professor McGonagall and Professor Holmes, they exchanged wide-eyed looks.
Then the twins started whispering again.
Professor McGonagall's gaze snapped toward them.
It was like being hit by a full-body binding spell.
George and Fred froze instantly.
Harry and Ron saw that terrifying look through the door crack and dropped their beans in fright, burying their heads in their notebooks.
Professor McGonagall lifted her chin.
"Cheating, Mr. Weasley?"
"Would you care to explain?"
George and Fred instinctively glanced at Douglas for help.
But McGonagall cut them off.
"You needn't look at anyone else."
"Remember, I am the Head of Gryffindor."
The twins looked miserable.
"Yes, Professor."
"That's right, Professor."
McGonagall's voice sharpened.
"Why were you cheating?"
The twins leaned against the wall and answered in perfect unison:
"Because cheating isn't allowed during exams."
Even Douglas was stunned into silence.
Because cheating isn't allowed during exams?
So that meant cheating during dictation was acceptable?
Douglas was fairly certain the entire castle heard Professor McGonagall's next roar.
"Cheating!"
"And still shameless about it!"
"Gryffindor loses one hundred points!"
At that exact moment, the House hourglasses in the Entrance Hall reacted.
The rubies representing Gryffindor emptied dramatically.
Anyone paying attention would notice that Ravenclaw now led the standings, with Hufflepuff in second place.
Douglas hurried to intervene.
"Professor—perhaps that's a bit excessive—"
Professor McGonagall turned toward him sharply.
"Professor Holmes."
"Please remember that you are a professor."
"Next time something like this happens, deduct House points and punish them properly. Cheating will not be tolerated at Hogwarts."
Then she turned back to the twins.
"Mr. Weasley."
"Before the end of this school year, you will earn back every point you have lost."
Her voice became dangerously calm.
"If you fail to do so…"
"I regret to inform you that next year you will repeat the third year."
"As Head of Gryffindor, I believe I have that authority."
As she finished speaking, she glanced through the slightly open office door.
Inside, Harry and Ron were hunched over their notebooks, pretending to study very seriously—while secretly watching everything from the corner of their eyes.
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