The next morning, I did breakfast one last time with Sirius,
Remus, and the entire Weasley clan plus teenaged hangers-on.
Thanks to the Headmaster's visit the previous night it was no
secret that I was departing for Hogwarts that morning, so the
meal became something of an impromptu "bon voyage" party.
I even got a going-away present -- after the meal was over but
before I'd had a chance to return to my room to pack, Fred and
George cornered me in the hallway. While Sirius acted as a
lookout, they presented me with a plain cardboard box, marked
only with three interlocking, handwritten "W"s.
"Samples of our future wares," one explained.
"You seem to be the type who'd enjoy them," the other added.
"Even if you are a professor," the first amended.
"Well, geeze, guys, I don't know what to say." I studied the
box. "Unless it's 'how far away should I stand when opening
this?'"
The two of them grinned. "We're not stupid," number two said
piously. "We're not going to prank a professor."
"At least not this obviously," the other added with a shrug.
"When we prank you for real, you'll know it had to have been
us..."
"But you won't be able to prove it!" the first ended
triumphantly.
I raised an eyebrow at them. "Should I take that as a challenge,
boys?"
They traded glances. "If you like," the first replied.
I laughed. I had to admire these two and their chutzpah. "Tell
you what, guys. If you get me some time this year -- really get
me, with something innovative and new, nothing tired like buckets
over open doors -- I'll give you both extra credit A+'s ... um,
O's," I corrected myself, recalling the Hogwarts grading system
at the last moment. "One each."
"Deal!" they said together, and stuck out their right hands. I
shook both at the same time, one with my right hand and one with
my left, then let go, crossed my arms, and shook again. This got
me a pair of broad smiles, followed by a furtive disappearance
from the hallway.
A couple meters away at his post, Sirius was shaking his head and
chuckling. "You're in trouble now, Doug."
I shot him a wry smile. "I'm always in trouble," I said. "It's
a defining characteristic of my life.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.
Remus, and the entire Weasley clan plus teenaged hangers-on.
Thanks to the Headmaster's visit the previous night it was no
secret that I was departing for Hogwarts that morning, so the
meal became something of an impromptu "bon voyage" party.
I even got a going-away present -- after the meal was over but
before I'd had a chance to return to my room to pack, Fred and
George cornered me in the hallway. While Sirius acted as a
lookout, they presented me with a plain cardboard box, marked
only with three interlocking, handwritten "W"s.
"Samples of our future wares," one explained.
"You seem to be the type who'd enjoy them," the other added.
"Even if you are a professor," the first amended.
"Well, geeze, guys, I don't know what to say." I studied the
box. "Unless it's 'how far away should I stand when opening
this?'"
The two of them grinned. "We're not stupid," number two said
piously. "We're not going to prank a professor."
"At least not this obviously," the other added with a shrug.
"When we prank you for real, you'll know it had to have been
us..."
"But you won't be able to prove it!" the first ended
triumphantly.
I raised an eyebrow at them. "Should I take that as a challenge,
boys?"
They traded glances. "If you like," the first replied.
I laughed. I had to admire these two and their chutzpah. "Tell
you what, guys. If you get me some time this year -- really get
me, with something innovative and new, nothing tired like buckets
over open doors -- I'll give you both extra credit A+'s ... um,
O's," I corrected myself, recalling the Hogwarts grading system
at the last moment. "One each."
"Deal!" they said together, and stuck out their right hands. I
shook both at the same time, one with my right hand and one with
my left, then let go, crossed my arms, and shook again. This got
me a pair of broad smiles, followed by a furtive disappearance
from the hallway.
A couple meters away at his post, Sirius was shaking his head and
chuckling. "You're in trouble now, Doug."
I shot him a wry smile. "I'm always in trouble," I said. "It's
a defining characteristic of my life.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.
