"I'm only interested in killing Riddle and getting that sociopath off my back," said Harry. "I've not even thought about what comes after that."
"Nor should you," agreed Daphne. "Let us worry about what comes next."
"And there will be a lot of 'nexts'," added Hermione.
Life at Hogwarts settled down again as the excitement of the approaching third task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament had people turning their attentions that way and away from the Order of Merlin. The perpetrators of the 'Great Magazine Subscription Prank' were never caught. However, the prevailing belief was it was the Weasley twins who were responsible. Their outright denials and exclamations they always admitted to a prank when caught were only believed by some.
Eventually, they approached the three in their apartment.
"You did it, didn't you?" accused one.
"The only one who would specifically target Malfoy is..." said the other.
"... Harry James Potter," they said in stereo.
"Now, that's not fair!" retaliated Harry. "Just because Ferret Boy was the victim does not automatically make me the perpetrator." "Then deny it," said one.
"We know you don't lie, Harry," said the other.
"Fine!" retorted Harry. "I did not come up with the prank that saw Malfoy be mail bombed by magazine subscriptions... There. Happy?"
The twins looked at each other for a moment before huddling their heads together and murmuring to one another. Harry just hoped they hadn't paid that much attention to exactly what he'd just said.
When they both looked back at Harry, one said, "But, you know who did!"
"Yes," he replied. "But, I'm not telling you who. You know what sort of a vindictive bastard Malfoy is. If he was to ever find out..."
Again, the twins huddled for a few seconds before they turned back. One said, "Then please inform the prankster we stand impressed!
"It was, as the Headmaster well-executed prank," said the other.
"And we'd never tell."
said,
a
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw his wives look at one another before they seemed to reach an agreement. Both then stood and turned to the twins before they curtsied and said, "Thank you."
Both twins goggled back before they then both grinned. "Who'd have thought?" one said.
"The bookworm of Gryffindor..." said the other.
"And the Ice Princess of Slytherin..." "Together, pranking the..."
"Amazing Bouncing Ferret!" they said in stereo. Then they both bowed back.
Both girls grinned.
"No wonder no one's been able to figure it out," said one.
"It boggles the mind!" said the other.
Harry sighed and said, "Take a seat, boys." As both quickly scrambled to sit, almost eagerly, Harry said, "Now that you know. Please don't go spreading it around. As I said, Malfoy's such a vindictive bastard he'll come after them. And, he'll do it with the intention to physically hurt them; considering how much he was embarrassed by this.
"I know the Headmaster has put his foot down regarding bullying in the school; but, Malfoy's always had it in his head that both his godfather and father will protect his arse no matter how much he gets into trouble. He'll do something to hurt, if not... heaven forbid... kill, these two no matter what threats he receives of consequences for his actions."
"We will not divulge their identities," said one.
"You have our word," said the other. "Good," said Harry. "Now, as payment for copping the fall, I give you the identities of your idols. The original Marauders, whom the two of you wish you were the equals of…"
Both boys eagerly leaned forward.
"… They were Sirius Black, also known as Padfoot; Remus Lupin, also known as Moony; James Potter, also known as Prongs; and the traitor, Peter Pettigrew, also known as Wormtail. There was also a fifth, secret, Marauder, Lily Evans, also known as Flower."
The two boys sat there, stunned.
"You alright, there, you two?" he asked.
"Professor Lupin was one of the original Marauders?" asked one. "Yes," replied Harry. "Considered the brains the team, until my mother joined them in their seventh year."
"And Pettigrew, the traitor of Gryffindor, was another?" asked the other.
"Yes," he replied, again. "However, never bring his name up when talking to either Padfoot or Moony. It makes them really angry."
"So, the Marauders were..."
"Your father..."
"Your godfather..."
"Your honourary uncle..."
"And the traitor." "With, the previous 'brightest witch of her age'..."
"Your mother..."
"A secret fifth Marauder."
"Yes," replied Harry. "And all of them, except the rat, kept their school marks in the top twenty percentile for their year group. Moony went on to become a Prefect. And, my Mum and Dad went on to become Head Boy and Girl."
"That's why we also happen to know you two," said Daphne, indicating the two of them, "Are deliberately fudging your marks in classes and exams. You can't be as good as you are at your pranks and still have low to average marks." "Yeah, you said that before," said one, sadly.
"Back when Ginny and Ronnikins... you know," said the other, just as sadly.
"But we didn't understand how you knew."
"Now, we know."
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