Humming a lighthearted tune as he returned to his office, Lorin was clearly in high spirits.
Having pranked two of Hogwarts’ resident prank masters, he felt a slight, smug satisfaction.
Keeping one eye on the magical projection on the wall while practicing the Knight’s Breathing Technique from *The Heavenly Scripture*, Lorin’s day was wonderfully productive.
Fortunately, for the rest of the morning, the young wizards behaved themselves, committing no serious infractions of the school rules.
The third-floor corridor on the right side was also completely quiet; it seemed Professor Quirrell didn’t have time to wander around during class hours.
But while Lorin enjoyed some peace, Hogwarts was buzzing with activity.
To the young Hogwarts students, this was a clear warning shot from the new caretaker, Mr.
Montmorency!
Swept up in the fine traditions of Hogwarts…
Before the morning was out, the news of Fred and George Weasley being frozen near the One-Eyed Witch statue spread like wildfire across the entire castle.
Students with free periods showed up during the second class, while those with classes rushed over as soon as their morning lessons ended, eager to catch a glimpse of this unusual “statue” exhibit.
It was worth noting that before Lorin left, he had closed the secret passage behind the One-Eyed Witch, keeping the entrance to Honeydukes hidden.
“Oh, Fred!
And George!
You guys—hahahaha!”
Lee Jordan stood nearby, clutching his stomach as he laughed uproariously at the completely immobilized Fred and George.
“I have to preserve this beautiful memory!
Oh, Merlin’s beard, this is the biggest joke I’ve seen since I started at Hogwarts!”
Harry and Ron also followed the crowd and spotted the frozen twins.
The two young wizards were always eager to watch a good spectacle.
“Oh, Ron, aren’t they your brothers?”
“They must have been up to no good and got sorted out by one of the teachers,” Ron muttered, clearly having no intention of helping his twin brothers.
“Hmph.
What a pointless farce.”
A young witch with bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth sniffed disdainfully.
Clearly displeased by the spectacle-seeking crowd, she tossed her hair and marched off.
Before long, Professor McGonagall arrived at the One-Eyed Witch statue.
“Oh, Merlin!
Fred, George, what on earth has happened to you?”
Looking at the twin brothers frozen in their ridiculous poses, Professor McGonagall’s stern face twitched with suppressed amusement.
But of course, with their jaws locked tight, Fred and George couldn’t answer.
They could only emit a series of muffled, unintelligible grunts.
“All right, stop this ridiculous display.
It is highly embarrassing.”
Professor McGonagall waved her wand, and two beams of white light shot out toward Fred and George.
*Whoosh!*
The white light was intercepted by a streak of black light, which was absorbed into a silvery-white wand.
“Good afternoon, Minerva.”
Lorin had materialized back by the One-Eyed Witch statue, smiling warmly as he looked at Fred and George.
“Actually, this whole affair started because the Messrs. This story is hosted at g.com.
Weasley attempted to sneak off to Hogsmeade, and I caught them in the act.”
Lorin picked up Fred’s fallen wand and slipped it back into his wizard’s robes.
“However, they then tried to run, and even attempted to play a rather crude prank on me.
I had no choice but to administer a minor punishment…”
“Ah, Mr.
Lorin.
I thought they had managed to backfire one of their own pranks,” Professor McGonagall said, lowering her wand with a slight smile.
“They are always getting into trouble.
If Argus Filch had seen them like this, I daresay his rheumatism would have cleared right up.”
“Haha, indeed.
But there’s no need to worry, Minerva.
The spell will wear off automatically at eleven-thirty.”
Hearing Lorin’s reassurance, Professor McGonagall didn’t question it.
She turned and began ushering the lingering students away.
“All right, disperse, everyone!
Unless you wish to be turned into statues by Mr.
Lorin, stop crowding around!”
At her words, the young wizards panicked and vanished from the corridor with astonishing speed.
“It’s getting late, Lorin.
Shall we go down to lunch together?”
Giving Fred and George one final look, Professor McGonagall offered them a sympathetic but helpless shrug.
“I would be delighted, Minerva.”
Lorin nodded, tapping Fred and George lightly with his wand.
“Phew…”
“Fred, I don’t think my arms belong to me anymore.”
“Oh, George, I can’t feel my legs!”
“Well, since Professor McGonagall is here today, I will let you off early,” Lorin said mildly, though it was currently 11:29:48 AM.
“Should there be a next time, I happen to know a few other tricks.”
Watching Lorin and Professor McGonagall walk away, Fred and George massaged their stiff limbs, grinning at each other.
“Oh, Fred!”
“Oh, George!”
“You go first!” both said at the same time.
“That was—”
“—bloody brilliant!”
Yes, they had been frozen like statues by Lorin all morning.
They had been gawked at like circus monkeys by half the school, including quite a few Slytherins they couldn’t stand.
Yet, instead of bearing a grudge against Lorin, Fred and George were buzzing with excitement.
“Merlin’s beard, Fred, Mr.
Montmorency must be a master of pranks!”
“Merlin’s pants, George, he’s got to be a genius inventor of practical jokes!”
“I’d love to see what kind of joke products Mr.
“And what was that spell?
Right, the Immobilizing Curse!”
“It’s absolutely brilliant!” both cheered.
As they made their way to the Great Hall for lunch, the twins excitedly discussed the new caretaker.
“What do you say we try to prank Mr.
Montmorency again, just like we do with Filch?”
“Hey, George, Mr.
Montmorency is not someone to be trifled with.
Have you forgotten what just happened?”
“Oh, Fred, don’t you see?
That’s exactly why it’s so much fun!”
“Maybe if we match wits with Mr.
Lorin enough, he’ll actually teach us some of his tricks.
I reckon his magic is far more useful than Defense Against the Dark Arts or Potions!”
“Spot on, George.
But we have a serious problem right now—we’re completely out of stock.”
The brothers exchanged a look and fell into a brief silence.
“Hogsmeade on Wednesday!” they said in unison, smiling as they quickened their pace toward the Great Hall.
They had Professor Snape’s class in the afternoon; they couldn’t afford to be late…
***
The Great Hall.
“Ron, who is this Mr.
Montmorency?
He seems really powerful,” Harry asked curiously.
After all, Ron was currently his primary source of information on the wizarding world.
“Just a show-off,” Ron said, scowling as he stabbed a steak on his plate.
“As soon as Professor McGonagall turned up, he had to play nice.”
“He is not a show-off!
That freezing magic is incredibly sophisticated; it’s nothing like what’s taught in our textbooks.
Mr.
Montmorency must have modified it himself!”
The bushy-haired young witch huffed as she passed them, tossing her hair disdainfully before sitting further down the Gryffindor table by herself.
“Blimey, Harry.
No wonder she hasn’t got any friends,” Ron muttered, his nose wrinkling, which made his freckles stand out even more.
Harry didn’t say anything, his mind still drifting back to their morning class.
It had been a marvelous class, almost like a dream!
“I’ll ask Fred and George later.
If all else fails, Percy should know…” Ron grumbled, finally turning his attention back to carving up his thoroughly mangled steak.
Meanwhile, at the staff table.
Lorin sat dressed in his elegant grey robes, the sun emblem embroidered on his chest, his hair tied back impeccably.