The last few weeks had been incredibly tiring but as January came to a close, Fred and George finally felt certain that the prank was the best it could have been. It had been bittersweet planning it, reminding Fred of a simpler time when they didn't have girlfriends or creepy classmates who were on weird terms with said girlfriends.

It may not have been as elaborate as some pranks but this one had flair and Fred liked a bit of flair here and there. The plan was like an onion with many layers dotted throughout the day to ensure the climax was well earned. First, they put Umbridge's plate at breakfast under time transfiguration, so it would become a tiny pink cat the moment she tried to place anything on it for just a few seconds. She was teaching First Years next and her ink pot was transfigured to do the same thing but for longer. This would happen throughout the day until they were popping up everywhere which was when the next phase could begin.

Curiosity would compel her to follow the cats which would lead her to the Quad. Once she stepped into the quad, she would not just be greeted by hundreds of mewling enchanted cats but also a dizzying array of pink fireworks that would form the shape of a giant one ... they had gone all out.

"It just feels like such a waste. Sure we managed to prank her a bit but this finale won't happen! A waste, I tell you!" Fred complained as they put up the Fireworks the night before, their hoods up so the darkness worked in their favour. George was holding the ladder whilst Fred tucked them away in the branches. Had their precision been better they probably could have done it magically but if they did, the trees would most likely end up destroyed. Besides, they were hands-on boys anyway.

"There, there, we can reuse these ideas," George replied, "A giant fireworks cat is too good to just forget. Maybe we make it a product ... animal shaped fireworks."

"I would buy that."

"Who wouldn't?"

"Yeah, making Lemons into Lemonade or whatever it was Aubrey used to say," Fred grinned, "But it would be awesome to actually do this to Umbridge, that stupid cow. She's been giving Harry hell apparently, forming some silly squad to track him down ... she lessened a bit as of late though."

"Yeah," George agreed, "It really would. Well, maybe we can at another time once Aubrey's managed to befriend her. From what Lexy said about their last encounter that could be sooner than thought."

Fred wobbled precariously on the ladder suddenly, grabbing the branch before George managed to secure the bottom, "Steady on, George, you trying to break my legs?"

"No," He grinned wryly, "That's Saskia's job..."

At last, they were done and left the prank there, hoping the enchantments would work as expected and some First Year wouldn't get a shock.

"Did you manage to do it?" Aubrey and Angela approached them the next day.

They didn't say anything at first other than raise their eyebrows, "Did we do it?"

"When have we ever - "

"Enough of this."

Aubrey smiled, "Ang, let them finish, I like it."

"Thank you, Aubrey," George replied, "When have we ever failed at a prank?"

"Never - "

"Well, there was that one time, but we don't talk about that."

"George!"

"Fred!" George shouted back, "Well, the simple answer is yes."

"You know after all these years, I still don't understand why you can't just give the simple answer," Angela replied.

"Well, where's the fun in that?" Fred winked making Aubrey giggle and Angela grumble under her breath, "Anyway..." He put his arm around in a swooping gesture which turned her around to face the staff table, "You should see it happen right about now..." 

They all watched intently as on cue, Umbridge suddenly shrieked 'Oh my!" as her plate changed into a little pink cat for a few moments before poofing back. Three of them sniggered whilst the teachers seemed apathetic; only Angela looked confused.

"Aubrey was meant to thwart it though..."

"And she will but we're getting a little bit pranking in there - call it a compromise," Angela frowned," Don't worry, it's all harmless, just cats popping up every now and then. Aubs can warn her about the finale."

"If you say so..." Then her gaze seemed to drift over to Kenny who'd just entered the Great Hall, "Well, I have to go. Even if you want to leave me in the dark, tell Aubrey so she knows when to stop it."

With that she walked away with Aubrey quickly apologising on her behalf, "She's just in a bad mood, I think her and Kenny aren't doing so great."

"He seems quite happy," George remarked, "That's a bit awkward..."

"Yeah, it is," Aubrey laughed, "Quick question though, when are you going to do it? I do need to know."

"After lessons are finished so you have a while," Fred assured her, "The kitten trail should appear right after her final one finishes and seeing as you have a free, it should be fine."

"You really planned this through, I like it," She replied impressed to which they both smiled, "Thank you so much for doing this again ... both of you. I do really appreciate it and Saskia should ensure you don't get out of detention. She told me she's got you covered."

"Any luck finding out if she's Gil or not?"

"I haven't really been trying," Aubrey admitted, "She's secretive, a bit of a dead end in terms of information so I've just been leaving it for now. Anyway, she seems quieter than usual too, keeps going for long walks on the grounds although she's assured me she won't try and fly without a broom again, she's figured out it won't work. It seems like something's on her mind ... I bet I know what... but that's to be confirmed once I know what Gil was actually like," She gave a small squeal, "Sorry, this is exciting. Is it normal to be this excited about thwarting a prank?"

"No," Fred laughed, "But in this case, I'd say it's understandable."

• • •

For the rest of the day, Aubrey could hardly sit still. Usually, she was an average student, not particularly enjoying much other than Herbology but following the rules and giving a solid 70% effort. Today, none of that mattered though and she had to be told off for talking with Lexy in Divination for the first time in her life.

It was suspicious to pace around so near to Umbridge's office the entire time but frankly pretending to do anything else would be worse. Instead, she chose to wander around the corridors, practising her cover story over and over again in the hopes that for the first time, her lie would be believable.

" - but Professor, I felt so bad knowing you'd get scared by a giant cat and it was ... no, I sound insincere," She muttered, "I know we haven't got along that well in the past through no fault of my own ... no, no, definitely no."

In hindsight, she definitely should have got the Twins to plan this for her as they were a lot better at it than her.

"Professor," She sighed earnestly, "I know it might seem odd but as a rule-abiding student, I felt it only right to tell you that ... no, this is wrong too!" The last part came out louder than intended and she became aware of shuffling footsteps behind her. Quickly, she whipped around, jumping with fright as Kenny stood there.

"Hello."

"Hello? Why did you jump on me like that?" She asked irritably. Now that she was dating Fred and he'd matured a little, she thought she'd be safe from jump scares and pranks like this but apparently not.

"I didn't," Kenny replied, "I did say your name but you were a little wrapped up in your thoughts so I guess you didn't hear me."

"Yeah, probably," She smiled although it didn't succeed in masking her stress, "What's up, hon?"

"Oh, not much. I was just going to the loo and heard you so thought I'd say hello," He laughed, "Wow, it's been a while! You think we'd see each more in the DA but it's intense, mostly working ..."

"Yeah," She agreed, pleased to see him but also wishing he'd go away during such a crucial time, "Weird that."

"Aubs, listen ... I don't have long, Professor Vector isn't too nice about breaks especially now but ... I never disagreed with you about Voldemort coming back. I just ... couldn't say but the DA, it's helped me get some more backbone which is why I'm saying it so late," He smiled, "I was worried for my parents and brother but now that I'm more prepared and stronger, the tic's stopped and I figured this was the final thing I wanted to clarify."

It was nice to hear him say it but truthfully, so much had happened, she'd practically forgotten Lord Voldemort was even a thing.

"What I'm trying to say is that being with Angela, even if she doesn't realise it, is like dating a brick ... that sounds awful, I just meant she's heavy as a person ... not in that way - "

"KENNY, HON, I'M BUSY!" It just came out but she gritted her teeth, smiling apologetically, "We can talk at the next meeting but right now, I have to talk to Umbridge and come up with an excuse - "

"I can help," Kenny cut in.

"But your break and Professor Vector..."

"Yeah, but you're rubbish at excuses and lies - no offence."

"None taken, it's true," She leant against the wall, "I need to come up with a speech, explaining why I chose to turn my boyfriend's prank in."

"You're turning Fred in?"

"No, not really ... I mean, he knows ... look, ask Ang later," She sighed, "I just can't make it sound believable because I just wouldn't do that normally..."

"No, you wouldn't," He agreed, leaning against the wall with her, "Well, come on, let me take a shot at it..."

Kenny turned out to be a great help, helping concoct the perfect sentence for her which might even move Aubrey to tears. If anything the experience felt odd though, a bittersweet memory of the friendship that had been ruined the year before, more so than when she was with Angela. Still, she had no time to be sentimental, that would have to wait ... although with Kenny's perfect sentence, sentimentality might just be inevitable.

She was promptly at Umbridge's door when the lesson ended, carefully standing aside as a bunch of Second Years filed out, eying her up warily. Aubrey was pretty average in height but felt like a giant right now, even more so when Umbridge came out after, looking surprised to see Aubrey stood there.

Without looking, she spoke to her, "Aubrey Jackson, what exactly do you want?"

"Um ... Professor Umbridge, in the past we got off on the wrong foot, I'll - "

"Please keep it short and to the point, if you please," Umbridge cut in stiffly, her voice choking up halfway, "I have a meeting to attend..."

"Um, Fred and George are planning to prank you - nothing malicious or anything but I just thought I should warn as you as it felt sort of morally wrong..." She looked up to see Umbridge finally having turned to her, "It's in the Quad and I just felt it my duty to warn you about it..."

"You're warning me?" Umbridge asked, looking suddenly stunned. There wasn't a hint of false sweetness in her voice, "Jasper Jackson's daughter is warning me..."

"Er, yes? I just felt it was my duty - "

"If this some elaborate double bluff, I assure you the consequences will be severe," She asked, her gaze hardening once more but Aubrey shook her head.

"No, go to the Quad and check if you want or ... or put me under truth serum and I'd say the same thing," Aubrey said quickly, "This is a genuine warning, Professor."

Umbridge said nothing, merely staring blankly, "Jasper Jackson's daughter - "

"I'm not my Father, Professor."

"No ... no, you're not," Umbridge said, her eyes glazed, "You warned me ... this isn't what he would do at all. Did you work on it with him? Day and night slaving away?"

"Er ... yes."

 She gave a shrill laugh, "But you warn me anyway, you'd rather a terrible person you shouldn't love is safe than allow your handiwork come through .. she would do this, but not him."

"My Mum? Mary?"

"I still can't believe he married her, that vile little Second year ... and no," The bitchiness returned to her voice momentarily, replaced by a curious look, "I believe you know who I'm talking about, my dear, don't you."

"Gil?"

"This is what she would do. It reminds me of her a lot," Umbridge scanned her up and down before jostling her books up a little higher as she turned to walk away, "Well, you were raised by Jasper and Mary so perhaps it was intentional..."