Fairy Cakes
The chill of the winter air had settled over Hogwarts, and the castle seemed to glow softly with festive cheer as Christmas drew closer. Snowflakes drifted lazily from the sky, their delicate crystals catching the light as they tumbled through the air, settling gently on the windowsills and coating the grounds in a sparkling white blanket. The courtyard outside looked like a scene straight from a Christmas card, with the towering spires of the castle rising against the backdrop of the pale blue sky, and the low-hanging branches of the trees weighed down with snow.
Inside the castle, the scent of cinnamon, pine, and gingerbread filled the halls, a fragrant reminder that the holiday season was well on its way. Tinsel and holly hung in the hallways, and the flickering glow of candlelight gave everything a soft, warm ambiance. Every corner of the castle seemed to be bursting with a quiet anticipation for the upcoming festivities, from the students buzzing about their holiday plans to the house-elves bustling in the kitchens, preparing for the Christmas feast.
In the Transfiguration classroom, Hermione Granger was busy preparing for the next lesson. The tables were neatly arranged, the chairs pushed in, and her books were laid out on the desk in front of her in perfect order, each one stacked neatly. Her notes for the day were spread out as well, crisp and well-organized, every detail accounted for. Today’s lesson was going to be a challenge—she had planned an ambitious exercise in transfiguration that involved turning fairy cakes into actual fairies. It was an advanced spell, one that required not only a steady hand and concentration but also an understanding of animating magic.
She had spent hours the night before, researching the finer details of the spell and ensuring that the enchanted cakes were just the right mix of ingredients and magic to make the transfiguration difficult but not impossible. She had set out trays of fairy cakes on the tables—each one sitting neatly, their golden brown tops lightly dusted with powdered sugar. The cakes glistened temptingly under the light, but Hermione knew better than to let herself be distracted. These were no ordinary cakes, of course. They had been subtly enchanted, their transformation potential carefully calibrated to make the task more difficult but still achievable for her students.
Hermione was just finishing up a few last-minute preparations when she heard the familiar sound of footsteps echoing down the corridor. The cadence was unmistakable, and she looked up, smiling softly to herself. It was Fred and George. But this time, there was something different—this time, they were early. There was no rushing through the door five minutes after the bell, no last-minute flurry of activity. Instead, the twins entered the room calmly, their footsteps measured and purposeful.
Fred walked in first, his usual grin plastered across his face, but there was a certain ease to his movements. He looked more composed than usual, as if the notion of being on time had genuinely been an effort made. His hair was just a touch ruffled, the unmistakable result of having run his hand through it in a half-hearted attempt to tidy himself, but there was a sharpness in his eyes today. He glanced toward Hermione, giving her a knowing wink as he entered, as though announcing, Look at us, we’re actually here on time.
George followed closely behind, his expression just as mischievous as ever, though today he seemed less preoccupied with mischief and more focused. His usual casual swagger was replaced by a subtle but purposeful stride. His robes swished around his ankles as he moved toward one of the seats, and his smile, though just as wide as Fred’s, seemed more subdued—more... controlled, as though he too was quietly pleased with their punctuality. Both of them carried a certain air of triumph, like they had just conquered a particularly elusive beast.
Hermione glanced at the clock, her brow raised in slight surprise as she noted that they had arrived two full minutes early. She couldn’t help but feel a small flicker of pride at their effort, even though the rest of her was already bracing for whatever banter was sure to follow.
"Good of you to show up on time for once," Hermione said, her tone teasing but with a hint of approval in her voice. She had grown accustomed to Fred and George’s usual late arrivals, but this time, they’d surprised her.
Fred gave her a wink, his usual mischievous grin firmly in place. "We were just making sure we weren’t fashionably late for this lesson," he said, his voice laced with playful charm. He gave a mock bow as he approached one of the desks, his hands flaring outward as if he were performing a grand entrance. "We wouldn’t want to disappoint you, Granger."
George, following closely behind, smirked and leaned in slightly as if sharing some private joke between them. "We’ve been practicing," he said, his eyes glinting. "You’d be surprised at how quickly we’ve mastered the art of punctuality."
Fred raised an eyebrow and glanced at George with a mock-serious look. "Maybe it’s all the cake we’ve been eating recently," he mused aloud, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Keeps us on schedule."
Hermione couldn’t suppress a slight smirk, her eyes flicking toward the trays of fairy cakes neatly arranged on the desk. "I’m sure it does," she replied dryly. "Just be careful with those, boys. They’re enchanted. You can’t just gobble them down. They’ve got to be treated with a bit of care. You’ll be turning yourselves into fairies if you’re not careful."
Fred and George exchanged a knowing look, both clearly entertained by the idea. Fred tapped his wand against his chin thoughtfully. "Wouldn’t that be something," he said, his voice trailing off as he considered the possibilities. "A fairy Fred. Could be quite handy for certain pranks."
George chuckled, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "Think of all the mischief we could cause from up high. A bit of flying here, a little glittering there," he said, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Fred nodded dramatically. "Not to mention the disappearing act," he added, as though the very idea of vanishing into thin air was one of his favorite things. He flicked his fingers as if to demonstrate his dramatic exit.
Hermione shook her head, fighting the urge to roll her eyes but failing to suppress a smile. "Alright, alright," she said, holding up a hand to regain control of the class. "You can goof off all you want later, but for now, we’re focusing on turning these cakes into real fairies." She took a breath and turned toward the class, her posture straightening. "Now, remember, this is a delicate transfiguration. Fairy cakes, though enchanted, are not alive. The process requires precision—one wrong move, and you could end up with a very different kind of fairy... or worse, a very different kind of cake."
Fred and George exchanged another sly look, clearly amused but ready to get to work. They both settled into their seats, their banter momentarily subsiding as they prepared themselves for the task ahead. Hermione couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pride. Despite their endless jokes and mischief, they were surprisingly focused when it came to their work. There was something about a challenge—particularly a magical one—that always seemed to ignite their competitive streak.
"Alright," Hermione said, clapping her hands together once to bring the class’s attention back to the task at hand. "Let’s get started. First, take your wands, focus on the fairy cake, and begin the incantation. It’s a bit of a challenge, but if you concentrate, it’s doable. The incantation is ‘Feycærra animam.’ Let’s try it out, one at a time, and see what happens."
She watched closely as Fred and George each picked up their wands with practiced ease. Their hands were steady as they examined the enchanted cakes, though the usual mischievous gleams in their eyes never fully disappeared. Hermione had long ago learned that the twins always seemed to have their own unique approach to magic—often more about the process and the fun they had in it than the end result.
Fred went first, the tip of his wand flicking with quick, confident movements as he muttered the incantation. There was a brief flash of light, and for a moment, Hermione thought he had succeeded. The fairy cake began to quiver on the plate, its golden brown surface shimmering as though something was shifting within. But then, with an unexpected pop, the cake sprouted two tiny, comically oversized wings and, to Hermione’s astonishment, a pair of oversized spectacles. The fairy cake gave a small flutter and the glasses zoomed off the plate, hovering right in front of Fred’s face.
Hermione fought the urge to laugh, her lips twitching despite herself. "Well, that’s… different," she said, eyeing the spectacle-wearing fairy that bobbed in front of Fred like a tiny, confused librarian. "Not quite the fairy I was expecting, but you’re on the right track."
Fred let out a loud laugh, clearly delighted by the result. "Guess I need to work on the details," he said, his grin widening as he waved his wand once more. The little creature blinked, shook its head, and then, with a soft shimmer, reformed into a more traditional fairy, though still wearing a distracted look in its tiny eyes. Fred shrugged with a carefree smile. "There we go. A little more refinement, but at least it’s no longer blind."
George, watching the spectacle with an almost parental level of indulgence, went next. His movements were more deliberate, a little more focused, and soon enough, the cake began to glow softly, radiating a warm, inviting light. With a gentle flutter, a delicate, translucent fairy emerged from the cake. The tiny figure hovered gracefully above the plate, its wings shimmering like gossamer, casting a soft glow throughout the room. The fairy spun in a tiny circle before landing lightly on the edge of the plate, giving George a satisfied, almost regal look as it perched.
"There," George said, stepping back with a satisfied nod. "That’s more like it."
Hermione beamed, her heart swelling with pride. "Well done, George," she said, her voice filled with genuine approval. "That’s exactly what we’re looking for."
She turned to Fred, who was still chasing his overly energetic fairy around the room. It had taken off again, zooming about like a rogue firework, leaving a trail of sparkles in its wake as it swerved through the air. "And Fred," Hermione said, her voice amused but warm, "that’s… unique."
Fred, not the slightest bit bothered by the extra work, flashed her a playful look. "Hey, who said fairies have to be all prim and proper?" he asked, his grin wide. "It’s about personality, Granger."
George nodded sagely, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. "A fairy with flair is a fairy worth having."
Hermione shook her head, a small, affectionate smile tugging at her lips. "Alright, I’ll admit it," she said with a sigh. "You two have a special kind of magic." Her gaze flicked to the still-exuberant fairy Fred had created, which was zipping through the air at an alarming rate, leaving behind a trail of glittering sparkles. "Just remember—concentration is key. Control the magic before it gets too out of hand."
Fred’s fairy, by now, was spinning in mid-air, gaining speed with each rotation, its wings buzzing loudly. "Fine, fine," Fred said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I’ll tone it down." He winked at Hermione. "Wouldn’t want to make a mess of the classroom before Christmas."
"Good idea," Hermione replied, eyeing the still-careening fairy. "And for next time, let’s try keeping the fairies from becoming too lively. We’ll have enough chaos around here soon enough with the holiday festivities."
The bell signalling the end of class rang, cutting off any further conversation. Fred and George gathered their things, their fairy still fluttering happily behind them, despite Fred’s attempts to keep it under control.
"Merry Christmas, Granger," George said, his tone light and teasing. "Don’t get too stressed out by the holiday prep—leave some of the chaos to us!"
Fred added with a wink, "We’ll keep things interesting for you."
Hermione couldn’t help but laugh as the twins sauntered out of the room, leaving behind a trail of laughter and lightness. It was moments like these—when she got to teach, really teach them—that made her feel like she was making a difference, however small.
As she gathered her own things and straightened the desks, Hermione smiled to herself. Christmas at Hogwarts was just around the corner, and for once, the twins had left her feeling surprisingly optimistic—perhaps even a little less stressed than she’d been when the lesson started. It was a bit of magic, indeed.