In the evening, in an empty classroom at Hogwarts.
The flickering yellow lamplight cast the shadows of the three people present against the wall at an angle.
"I'm glad you came to us, Kyle, but we can't do this." Fred kept his head down, hiding in the shadows where the light couldn't reach.
"We've known each other for so many years, yet this is the first time you've come to us for help since arriving at Hogwarts. I can't even remember the last time we had a meal together."
"Last Wednesday." Kyle said, sitting across from him, "You wanted to sell my homework to the Gryffindor first-years."
"My friend, you refused quite decisively." George said coolly, "You don't even know how heartbroken we were when we left."
"I just didn't need detention from Professor McGonagall." Kyle said, "Selling homework in bulk? I can't believe you came up with that. Do you think Professor McGonagall is like Ron? That she wouldn't notice?"
"Ahem... well, even if you have a point." Fred raised his head to look directly at him, "Why aren't you worried about Professor McGonagall finding out today? This isn't difficult — you could do it yourself, or find anyone in Hufflepuff."
"Snape's watching us closely."
"I see, so you think of us for the dirty work..." George sighed, "You've found your place in Hufflepuff, you like it there, and the professors and students like you too. Let's be honest, you probably don't need our friendship — you won't even call us 'sir'!"
"Stop wasting time, are you in or not?" Kyle's mouth twitched impatiently, "Misters Weasley... I'll count to three, and if you don't answer, I'll find someone else. One!"
"..."
"Look George, he's actually threatening us."
"Indeed Fred, we don't fall for that."
"Two!"
"..."
"I think you could count faster."
Kyle said nothing, but reached into his pocket and pulled out a shining golden card, waving it in front of Fred and George.
"...Three."
"We're in!"
Fred and George appeared on either side of him, their faces instantly brightening with smiles.
"Kyle, was that card you just showed an Agrippa?"
"Mm-hmm..."
Fred eagerly asked, "Could I have another look? Just one look."
Kyle took out the rare card again, waving it in front of them.
Fred and George's eyes widened, their gaze following his arm as it moved back and forth.
After a few seconds, Kyle tucked the card away and addressed his eager onlookers, "You saw the Agrippa card? After this is done—"
Before he could finish, George exclaimed, "You'll give it to us?"
"Dream on." Kyle said, "After it's done, I'll let you look at it for ten minutes."
"Ten days!" Fred protested with a frown.
"Nine minutes..."
"No way, at least a week." George countered.
"Five minutes..."
"One day, that's our bottom line!" the twins declared in unison.
"Deal." Kyle extended his hand and high-fived them both.
With the deal made, it was time to discuss the specific plan.
"Actually, we weren't planning to refuse anyway." Fred patted his shoulder with a grin, "Truth is, we're always happy to help if it means making Slytherin miserable."
"But you'll need to provide the materials." George said, "Those things need to be custom-made and they're very expensive — we can't afford them."
"Of course, I've already prepared for that." Kyle placed a stack of gold Galleons on the table, "There's twenty Galleons here — should be enough to buy those two items, right?"
"More than enough." Fred picked up the Galleons from the table, running them through his fingers. He'd never seen so much money before.
Though he knew Kyle had made quite a profit selling maps recently, that was just speculation — seeing so many Galleons piled together was completely different.
Was selling maps really that profitable?
"Kyle, we..." George looked at the pile of gold Galleons before him, seeming to have something to say.
Kyle gave him a puzzled look.
"Never mind, we'll talk about it later." George said after a moment's thought, "With twenty Galleons, Zonko's will definitely deliver what you need on time."
Kyle didn't dwell on it, and after discussing some more specifics with them, prepared to leave.
"I can't wait." Fred said excitedly, "Slytherin's in for some real trouble now that they've crossed you."
Kyle glanced at him and warned, "Don't talk nonsense, what does this have to do with me? I don't know anything about it."
"Ha, clever Chopper."
"Heh, foolish Weasley."
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After saying goodbye to Fred and George, Kyle didn't return directly to the Hufflepuff common room. Instead, he wandered the third-floor corridor of the castle.
He was searching for a specific ghost — the Fat Friar had mentioned this one liked to linger near the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
After ten fruitless minutes of searching, just as Kyle was about to postpone his search until morning, a liquid-filled balloon whizzed toward the back of his head.
With a slight tilt of his head, Kyle dodged it. The balloon splattered on the floor, releasing a putrid stench.
"Hee hee hee, nasty little first-year, wandering around at night instead of sleeping, tsk tsk tsk, naughty, you'll get caught!"
A small man materialized in mid-air — evil black eyes and a wide mouth — floating cross-legged with two more balloons at the ready.
"Should I tell Filch? Big dummy and little brat, this is too much fun!"
Kyle stood firm, studying the figure with curiosity, "Are you Peeves?"
Confusion flickered in Peeves' small black eyes before transforming into rage.
The little brat wasn't fleeing — clearly looking down on him. How dare he!
He hurled both remaining balloons at Kyle, "That's right, I am the great Peeves. I'm going to tell Filch you're wandering at night, he'll lock you up! I'll tell him it's for your own good, you know?"
Kyle calmly drew his wand, deflecting the balloons aside, "I understand your point, but there are still five minutes until curfew. This hardly counts as wandering at night — and besides, I came specifically to find you."
"Specifically to find me?" Peeves was taken aback — at Hogwarts, young wizards rarely sought him out voluntarily.
"Yes." Kyle glanced around and lowered his voice, "I have an idea, and I wonder if you'd be interested in participating..."
✭✭✭
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