As Fred and
George headed out to the Quidditch pitch for practice, they were abruptly
stopped by Gryffindor team captain, Oliver Wood. "Hold it!" Oliver commanded,
holding up a hand. "Practice has been cancelled today."
"Cancelled?"
Fred echoed concernedly. "Why's that?"
Rolling his
eyes, Oliver snapped back, "Oh, as if you didn't know."
Fred and
George exchanged looks.
Oliver, on
the other hand, turned his head and looked away. "hehhh-Ihhshhh! ehhh-HehShhhh!"
"Bless
you," both Fred and George chimed simultaneously.
They
watched Oliver sniff and rub hard at his nose. George narrowed his eyes. "You
all right Oliver?"
"Of course
I'm not!" Oliver laughed in annoyance. "Thanks to you two!"
Again, Fred
and George looked at each other, each hoping the other might have some clue as
to what was going on. Neither had been sick recently, so they couldn't see how
Oliver possibly could have caught a cold from them. "Oliver, we never--"
Oliver cut
Fred off. "It's one thing to have fun on April Fools Day but it's another
entirely to mess with your friends. I mean, just this morning every single
member of the team except for you two came down with this mysterious virus- did
you really think we'd just assume that was a... coincidence? April's too late in
the year for colds to be going around... so... Hehh-Uhshhh! Hurshhhh! Huhh-uhhHShhh!"
"Oliver..."
Fred was at a loss, unable to think of anything he could say. "I'm sorry but--"
"You're
sorry?" laughed Oliver, digging a handkerchief out of his pocket. "Fine lot of good that'll do me unless you have an antidote along
with that apology."
Fred and
George hadn't.
Still
looking angry, Oliver started on about it again, but immediately quieted and
began coughing. He seemed so out of breath when the fit had passed that both
twins reached out to him for fear their captain and friend might collapse.
Oliver pulled away with a grunt and a sniffle.
"Maybe you
should go up to bed, Olly," Fred suggested.
"I will,"
Oliver replied coldly. "Not that you care."
"Oliver..." started
George, taking his turn in trying to explain it wasn't their fault. He felt
terrible for his friend.
But sneezes
overtook Oliver this time. He leaned back against a wall to keep himself
upright during it. "ehhh-HEHSHhh! hehhChuhhh! huhhShuhh! hahrShhh!
Ehhh... ehhh-Huhshhhh! Hershhuhhh!" When they had passed, Oliver shot
them such accusatory looks that any apology would surely fall on deaf ears.
"Go to
bed," said George finally. "And feel better."
"No thanks
to you," Oliver sulked, sniffling and snuffling into his hanky as he headed
towards Gryffindor tower.
Fred and
George sighed. "Looks like this year the joke's on us," said Fred once they
were alone again. "How long do you think it'll be before they realize we had
nothing to do with making them sick?"
George
shrugged. "It won't be today, that's for sure. No one will believe us today of
all days. Hey, you're not getting sick are you?" He touched his twin's
forehead.
Fred shook
his head. "You?" And
George shook his as well.
With more
time to work on the plans they actually had for the rest of April Fool's day, they started back to the tower. They walked
along in silence for a while as they thought things over.
It was Fred
who broke the silence as they reached the hidden passage they used as a
shortcut upstairs. "You know, this gives me rather a good idea for a joke..."
George
punched his arm playfully. "Even you wouldn't go that far!"
Fred
shrugged. "Only where Slytherins are involved."
A grin
slowly spread across George's face. They headed up the passageway, scheming all
the way.