Magical Mugwort

After the incident at the Burrow, I had become determined to find a way to get back at both the twins. It had been such a lovely day there, too. Lunch had been amazing, Arthur and Molly Weasley had both been supremely interested in me and who I was, not to mention the fact that I got along with the twins so well. I suspected that Mrs. Weasley had her own suspicions about our relationship, but she had not mentioned anything to me.

Before I had left that day, Mrs. Weasley had told me to come back often and I was welcome anytime. It was very motherly of her. I had asked Fred and George if she doted on all her childrens' friends that way, and they just pointed at Harry and Hermione, who apparently came to stay with them before the school term started every year. And now, I had been assured, I had officially been welcomed into the clan, so I could expect invitations out to the Burrow quite often.

It had puzzled me for a little while how extraordinarily mischievous the twins really were, and yet from what Ron had told me, I still had no real idea. Obviously Ron nor any of the others had any idea what sort of possibilities they held in their hands, given they were both basically dating me. I could foresee a great many points where the identical twin issue could cause trouble. So, it was up to me to find a way to get back at them, and maybe, just maybe, find a way to tell them apart once and for all.

A few days after that, I had decided that the only person I could really turn to was someone with as mischievous a mind as Fred and George, or close enough. When I broached the idea to my brother, Andrew was positively giddy at the thought of trying to pull a prank on the Weasley twins. He assumed it as his personal responsibility to find a true prank that would be worthy of both his skill and of the Weasley boys. After all, he had been buying from them probably since they had started making products, thanks to his friend at Hogwarts. I found his excitement a little frightening, though it did give him something else to obsess over before he headed off for school. The first of September was fast approaching, and soon enough Andrew would be too busy to help.

I considered the possibility of turning to another member of the family, perhaps Ron or Ginny. From what I'd seen of Ginny, she had quite the mischievous side to her when she wanted to. I didn't know her very well yet, but I had a feeling that if I asked, she'd be willing to help pull one over on her big brothers.

I suddenly found myself very preoccupied. Between my job, my scheming, and finding the time to see both Fred and George, I was seriously overbooked, though I was not about to complain. I couldn't remember ever having as much fun as when I was with one or both of the twins. They made me laugh so hard I forgot anything that was troubling my mind. I didn't think I'd ever met anyone who could find the fun in absolutely anything, even in the dark tides that were rising in the world around us. They were quickly becoming a bright spot to my existence, as strange as it was to admit. I didn't become attached to anyone lightly.

After multiple conversations with Andrew, I decided to contact the youngest Weasley. I was able to send her an owl courtesy of Andrew, inviting her to my flat to discuss revenge on two of her brothers. Her response had been immediate and excited. Of course she was willing, she said. And thus, I found myself anticipating the other Weasley's entrance.

When the flames roared up in my fireplace, I turned to face Ginny stepping out, covered in the soot. It astounded me that apparently all the Weasley children had the same hair and eyes, and I swore each one had at least a twinkle of that mischief in their eyes. Some more than others, obviously.

“Hello, Ginny!” I greeted.

“Hi!” she grinned, brushing herself off and taking a look around my flat. “Wow. This place is beautiful, Maggie! You're so lucky to have a place of your own. I only wish I had one myself.”

As she came over to give me a quick hug, I chuckled. “I'm sure it's interesting living in a house with so many other people.”

She shrugged, fixing her hair into a ponytail. “Interesting is a good word. Let's just say I wouldn't know nearly as much as I do about plotting and running fast to get to the loo first without all of them.”

“Did you have any trouble getting here?” I asked, motioning towards the couch.

“Not at all. You described the place well enough, and mum was just fine with me coming. She said to tell you to come out again soon.”

I smiled as we both sat down. “Your parents are very nice. I like them a lot.”

“Well, they certainly like you well enough. Anyone who can get even a slight grip on Fred and George is bound to make the good list.”

“Yeah, thanks for coming, Ginny. I really appreciate it. Have something to eat or drink if you like,” I added, nodding the the tray of snacks and drinks on the coffee table.

Giggling, Ginny reached for a mini sandwich and replied, “Are you kidding? You ask me to come help you plan a prank on Fred and George, and you don't think I 'd jump at the chance? I can hold my own against them most of the time, but it's completely different staging something against them. So what's the plan?”

I sighed and reached for a drink. “Here's the deal so far. I've talked to my brother Andrew, and he's trying to come up with some ideas for me. But you're family. You know more about them than I do. I figure you can clue me into something.”

A sparkle came into her eyes and I was suddenly reminded that she was Fred and George's sister. “Not to worry there, I know loads about them. But I have to warn you, Maggie. No one's been able to pull a prank successfully on Fred and George before. So if you're going to have any hope of pulling this off, you're going to have to be seriously brass about it. Think of something no one else has.”

“That's what I figured. Somehow I don't think a simple enchanted candy box will do the trick.”

Ginny snorted. “They've been making those for ages. There's no way they'd fall for something like that.” She finished her sandwich and reached for a butterbeer. “Why are you so determined to get them for, anyway? What'd they do to you, give you a Nosebleed Nougat or something?”

I squirmed a little. I wasn't really prepared to divulge the situation between myself and her brothers. Granted, I wasn't even really sure what the situation was myself, but I figured it wasn't for her young ears. “Oh. Um, no, nothing like that. They just pulled a prank on me that was... inappropriate.”

Ginny eyed me for a few seconds, a calculating look on her face that was far too old for her being fifteen. Reminded me of myself, actually. “They pulled the old bait and switch on you, didn't they,” she smirked. “Tricked you into snogging one instead of the other.”

I damn near choked and snorted up the soda I'd just drank. Coughing explosively, I tried to get myself under control. After a few moments, I managed to choke out, “What?”

Laughing, Ginny said, “I knew it! I knew that you were more than just friends with them. It wouldn't be the first time they've pulled something like this.”

Finally regaining my breathing, I managed to raise an eyebrow. “Oh, really. Do that often, do they?”

Ginny shrugged. “Can't really say how often. But I know they've both dated their fair share of girls, and not a few of them were interested in the both of them. They like to have their fun in relationships as much as anything else.”

“Makes sense. They are definitely more of a handful than I could have imagined.” I chuckled, thinking of all the mischief that had occurred already and I barely knew them. “They're good guys, though. I've never laughed as hard as I do whenever I'm around them.”

“Oh, that's one thing they excel at. They've been getting in trouble and finding ways to make people laugh as long as I can remember,” Ginny said. “I don't think there's ever been a time when they weren't scheming. At the same time, though, they've always looked out for the rest of us. When you grow up in as big a family as ours, I suppose we've all learned to take care of each other.”

“Don't you find it hard being the only girl?” I asked.

She smirked. “Of course. No sisters to hang out with, so I had to learn how to fit in with all the boys.” Shrugging, she took a drink. “There's one thing to be said of that. It taught me how to think as sneakily as Fred and George. Charlie and Bill are the oldest, so they've always looked out for all of us.” She paused, as if looking over old memories. “You know what's funny. Every last one of my brothers is so overprotective of me. I just started seeing someone this summer, and Ron is completely mental over it. In some ways, it's nice that they all care so much, but sooner or later they're going to realize that I'm growing up just as much as they have.”

I nodded, thinking of my own brother. “It's tough watching siblings grow up. I'm still protective of my brother, and he's just a year ahead of you.”

“Yes, but you don't hover and tell him who he can or can't see, now do you?”

I snorted. “I make recommendations, but he's stayed out of my love life and I stay out of his. We watch out for each other.”

“And what does your brother think of my brothers?” she asked.

“Are you kidding? He adores them. If he were anyone other than who he is, I would imagine he half-fancies them himself.” I shook my head. “He's been buying Weasley Wheezes since before the actual shop came about. He loves their products, and now that the situation is different, he's more than happy to get in on this action.”

Ginny looked at me for another long minute, as if shrewdly assessing me. Finally she asked innocently, “So which one of them are you shagging?”

I stared at her, simultaneously happy I had not tried to ingest anything and mortified by her question. My mouth went instantly dry and I swear my heart stopped for a moment. “Excuse me?”

She pinned me with a knowing look. “I've seen the way they both act around you, Maggie, and I've seen the way you act with them. It's very careful, isn't it. I don't mind which one you're seeing. I think you're brilliant. Out of all the girls they've dated, you're the only one who's brought up the idea to get back at them. I like you. So which one is it?”

Frowning a little, I tried to summon my courage. It was a little strange to be questioned like this by Ginny, but she was a good kid. Choosing my words carefully, I said at last, “Ginny... it's a bit complicated. I don't know how to explain it properly.”

Pushing back her hair, Ginny just looked at me calmly. “I only ask because as much of a pain in the arse that Fred and George are, they are still my brothers, and every once in awhile I find I do care about them. I just like to make sure that neither one of them is going to wind up damaged. Do you understand?”

I stared at the fifteen year old who was gazing at me with a friendly but strangely in depth gaze. It struck me then how very mature she was, and how much she really understood about life. She cared about her family as fiercely as her mother did, and yet she had the potential to be as reckless as her older brothers. I liked the girl, I decided.

Smiling, I nodded. “Perfectly. Listen... Ginny. I don't know how to explain properly what it is with your brothers. I know that they're amazing guys that I am friends with. I haven't spent that much time with them, but I look forward to getting to know them each better. Each one of them has something special to offer, and it's nice. I'm not looking for a lifetime commitment. I like to have fun. So do they. Right now, that's all it's about. Having fun.”

Ginny regarded me with a guarded sort of approval. Nodding, she reached for a cookie. “But you won't tell me which one you're seeing.”

Grinning broadly, I shook my head. “Everyone needs their secrets, Ginny.”

The girl returned my grin. “Absolutely.”

Sitting up abruptly, Ginny said, “All right. Now, the first question to this whole scheme is, how badly do you want to get back at Fred and George?”

“Oh, quite enough.”

“And how far are you willing to go to do this?”

Tilting my head, I looked at her quizzically. “What do you mean?”

The mischievous look in her eyes was sparkling. “I mean, it's not a simple matter of tricking them into opening a can of snakes, understand? To really get Fred and George, to really surprise them, you have to think the way they do.”

“And that's where you come in.”

Ginny nodded. “The way I see it, you're going to need all the help you can get. I can only do so much, and I figure so can your brother. I think we're going to need more help.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Good grief, Ginny, I want to fool Fred and George, not stage the invasion of Normandy.”

She shrugged, finishing her cookie. “Well, quite frankly, finding a successful prank to pull on those to is rather a bit like the invasion.” Sitting back against the couch, she thought for a few moments.

As Ginny pondered silently, I asked, “Is there anything they're actually afraid of? Or anything that greatly annoys them?”

“Well, Percy annoys them, but I refuse to get into that. I don't they're really afraid of anything, not since... well, ever.” Ginny sighed, frowning slightly. “They've never even afraid of getting caught, really.”

I tried to think of any Muggle pranks I'd ever heard of that might work, but nothing valid came to mind. I wasn't about to spend a fortune just to get back at these guys. Of course, my mind was also running over what Ginny was saying and not saying. She was protective of her brothers, which was sweet. I couldn't be sure what she thought she knew. Hell, I wasn't even sure what there was to know. I didn't really consider myself dating either one.

Suddenly Ginny laughed.

Turning to face her, I asked, “What? Did you think of something?”

“I just had a thought. A horrible, horrible thought, and it might work,” she grinned.

“What is it?”

Ginny leaned forward and fixed me with a look. “Are you ready to go to some serious lengths to get back at them?”

Rolling my eyes, I answered, “Ginny, I already told you that I want to. And as to how far, it depends on what you're talking about.”

“Well, the way I figure, we have an opportunity for many people to try to out trick the tricksters,” she said. “I can think of a couple of other people who wouldn't mind helping out. Lee Jordan, for example.”

“Who?”

“Lee is their best friend. Has been for years. He's helped Fred and George on most of their stunts.”

“Then why would he help us?”

Ginny grinned even broader. “That's the beautiful part of it, really. Lee always loves a good prank, even on his best friends. Lee's always up for a good laugh. I think I can talk him into helping us.”

“Wait a minute,” I frowned. “If he's their best friend, wouldn't he let them know what's going on?”

“It's possible, but I think I can convince him to shut his mouth. Besides, he'd do it for the sake of the prank, if nothing else.”

I nodded slowly, a little doubtful, but so far it was sounding feasible. “Okay. So what's the plot?”

At that moment, the wicked gleam in Ginny's eyes sparkled so brightly it almost hurt to look at. “Ever heard of Polyjuice Potion?”