Chapter one
Hermione scans the parchment that one of the twins placed in her hands. "And you simply found it?"
"If you consider easy break into Filch's office and steal a few confiscated items, then yes, we simply found it," Fred tells her. That day he decides to wear the green sweater Molly sewed for him last Christmas.
The prefect closes her eyes and hands him the paper. "I consider it illegal."
"We might as well play it cool this time." Ron looks at her hopefully, "It's a treasure map, Hermione!"
"There really is a risk of taking home the most valuable thing in all of Hogwarts." Ginny, with her head resting on George's shoulder, shows off two big puppy eyes and bites her lip. She clearly needs some money again.
Luna, sitting between Harry and Neville, watches the prefect's expression grow even angrier: it's a sign that she's about to give in. "We might not even find anything," she says matter-of-factly, arranging a strand of her curly hair behind her ear.
"Then we'd just take a long walk around the castle." Lee smiles, before burying his lips in a mug of Butterbeer to take a sip. "And there's nothing illegal about walking."
George crosses his hands and clashes his left thumb with his right for a bit. "So, are you all in?" he asks then, when Hermione ends up slumped against the chair and Neville - he's never liked breaking the rules and the idea that the twins' behavior might endanger the points of Gryffindor House makes him unsure - has regained a rosy complexion. "Gentlemen, those who keep silent consent."
"And those who consent get a ninth of the treasure when we find it," Fred finished, folding the map and slipping it into his cloak pocket.
"If there's treasure." Hermione interrupts him, resting her chin in her palm. "And if we'll ever be able to find it."
Lee laughs and raises his mug towards the prefect, "A sip on your positivity, Granger."
"If you keep drinking you're going to be left here." Harry shoots it back, after giving her friend a wink. George raises an eyebrow, rather amused by the idea.
"Lee, if you want I'll gladly buy you another round." Ginny leans over the wooden table and smiles wickedly. She can afford to sacrifice two sickles if she doesn't have to share the prize with nine people.
"The twins really did a wonderful job on you." Jordan sustains the young woman's gaze until she averts it disconsolately. The boy's eyes, at that point, move a little higher and break into a flood of freckles.
"It was worth a shot, in the end business is always business," she mutters, retrieving the scarf abandoned on the seat of the chair. She twists it around her neck and follows at a brisk pace the others who are already leaving the Three Broomsticks.