#2 : Gee, I Reckon We Need Reinforcements

[December the 23rd - 8 days to New Years]

The trio didn't have to wait long for an answer. As Fred and George had taken a few days off for Christmas, they were at the Burrow and therefore, had time to write. George's owl, Gred, brought a reply the next morning at breakfast.

The letter was very soggy because Gred (being quite a prankster for an owl) dropped it directly into Harry's porridge. Hermione pealed it apart and dried it with a wave of her wand. She handed it to Ron so he could read it (quietly) aloud. Quietly because there were only a few people in the Great Hall and some of them were Slytherins.

Ron, Harry and Hermione -
What are you three up to? I reckon you really shouldn't be planning anything at all. I don't think I ought to be a part of it either. But.....as I'm your big brother (Ron) I suppose I could offer you a bit of advice. Play to your strengths. I know you don't want to hear that, but some pranks (legendary ones included) have got to be planed by the actual pranksters. It works better that way. You don't think Fred and I asked for help, do you? I reckon you can do it yourself with a bit of planning. If you want something that is going to cause them trouble but not get you IN trouble, stay away from any potions and spells. They tend to blow up in your faces. Muggle tricks are the best especially if you're playing the prank on non-Muggleborns. They won't have any idea what's coming and they won't know it's not an original idea. I think probably Harry and Hermione know their share of Muggle pranks. While you work out your plan, Feorge will be dropping off some new and improved canary creams soon. Have a Happy Christmas!
-George

Sure enough, the second Ron had put the letter down, Fred's owl, Feorge, swooped down and dropped a small package on Harry's head. He dipped his beak briefly into Hermione's untouched porridge and was off again.

Since there were no classes and not a lot of other students, Harry, Ron and Hermione spent the day in the Gryffindor Common Room working out ideas.

"I wish George had been more help," Ron said, letting out a little sigh.

"He was right not to, you know,” Hermione said evenly. "The owl could have been intercepted and our plan would be foiled."

"Intercepted by who?"

"Whom," corrected Hermione.

"I hate when you do that," Ron retorted.

"I know," replied Hermione, smirking. It was obvious she only did it to make him angry.

Harry sighed, he was getting really sick of them constantly fighting. "Who'd have intercepted it, Hermione?"

As was her custom, she looked at the two of them as if they were very dim. "Percy, for one."

"Why would he do that?" Ron asked stubbornly.

"Well, you know how he is. Always checking up on Fred and George and watching their every move. I reckon he thinks if he catches them in some sort of illegal act he'll get promoted or something."

"I wouldn't put it past him,” Ron stated bitterly.

"Me either," agreed Harry. "But we still need ideas. Badly. We've only got a few more days."

"They'll be back on New Years," said Hermione, deep in thought. "We've got 8 days. So, let's see. 2 days to get an idea and stick to it. 3 days to plan, maybe 4. 1 day after that to gather everything we'll need and then just 1 day to actually do it. That adds up to 7 or 8 so that's our game plan."

She glanced around at Harry and Ron. They were looking off in space, apparently lost in thought. Either that or bored.

"You guys! Did you hear me?"

Ron and Harry came to life. "What? Huh?" They said at the same time.

"JINX!" Hermione yelled at them. "HA! This ought to be easy with you two jinxed!"

"Jinx? What are you talking about?" Ron asked.

Harry gasped inaudibly and put a hand to his mouth in horror. Ron had broken the cardinal rule of jinxing: he had spoken whilst being jinxed.

"You can't talk, Ron, you're jinxed." Hermione said, smiling.

"I can't talk? What do you mean?" Obviously, he really wasn't comprehending what was going on.

"It's a Muggle game. When two people say something at the same time, a third person can jinx them. Then, the person---or people---who are jinxed can't talk until someone says their name."

Ron made a face, but didn't respond.

"So you can't talk until I say your name," sang Hermione happily. "Now, let's see---"

Ron was tapping the table impatiently.

"Yes?" said Hermione.

Ron shook his head and pointed to his mouth.

"You want to play charades?"

Ron shook his head again. Harry rolled his eyes at his friend's antics and mimed yawning.

"Need a drink?"

Ron shook his head yet again, this time with a determined look on his face.

"Got an idea for the prank?"

Ron nodded vigorously. Hermione looked very happy at this news.

"Goodie!" She shouted happily. "Write it down!" She shoved a piece of parchment toward him and a quill. He looked at it disdainfully, and didn't attempt to write anything.

"I knew you were just using that as an excuse for me to say your name so you could talk. But it's not going to work. I played this game in Muggle school before I came here. I was a champion at it. You're not going to beat me, R----Not so fast." She'd almost slipped up there. She covered her mouth. "You're not going to beat me, so don't try. If you have something to say, use your wand or write it down."

Ron hit his head on the table, sighing. This was going to be a long planning session with only one of them talking.