Hogwarts: I'm Truly a Model Wizard

In the afternoon, Fred and George visited Ron in the Hospital Wing with a large bag full of sweets. Kyle went along with them.

Outside the Hospital Wing, two groups stood like guards flanking the doorway. On the left were the towering Gryffindors led by Oliver Wood, and on the right were the Slytherin Quidditch players led by Marcus Flint. Both teams had come to visit, but since they arrived in a noisy, rowdy manner, Madam Pomfrey had refused to let them in. Now they were stuck standing in the corridor, glaring at each other as if they could duel with just their eyes.

The arrival of Kyle and the others immediately drew attention, and under the intense scrutiny of a dozen pairs of eyes, they carefully knocked on the door to the Hospital Wing.

"Why are you still here!" Madam Pomfrey opened the door and, seeing the large crowd outside, glared disapprovingly at Wood and Flint.

Quidditch players were frequent visitors to the Hospital Wing due to injuries from games and training, so both Wood and Flint had a natural respect for Madam Pomfrey. After her scolding, they didn't dare linger any longer and quickly ushered their teammates out of the corridor.

As for Kyle and the Weasley twins, Madam Pomfrey finally allowed them in, citing their status as family.

"Don't speak loudly, and don't disturb the others..." she warned, "if you break any of these rules, you'll never be allowed back in here."

"Of course," Fred chuckled, "we're just here to visit our brother, and we promise to stay quiet."

"You'd better." Pomfrey pointed to a hospital bed against the wall on the left. "Weasley's over there."

"Thanks," they said.

Following her direction, the three lifted the curtain around Ron's bed and found him lying there. There were only two patients in the entire Hospital Wing; the other bed, with its curtain drawn, was presumably Malfoy's. Whether by design or coincidence, Ron and Malfoy had been placed right next to each other. If not for the curtain separating them, it was doubtful things would have been so peaceful.

In addition to Ron, Harry and Hermione were there as well, though they both seemed rather subdued, heads lowered as if deep in thought. Ron, lying in bed with a bandage wrapped around his head, was the one doing the comforting.

"It's fine, it's just a Horn-growing Jinx... No big deal."

"Malfoy had it way worse—he was throwing up snails all morning... Haha, it's actually the first time I've managed to cast a charm successfully! If this were an exam, I'd bet I'd score an 'O'!"

"Too bad Hogwarts doesn't have a jinx class," Fred commented, lifting the curtain as he walked in.

George followed with a grin. "You missed your one chance to get an 'O'."

"Fred, George..." Ron looked a bit surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"That's not very nice," Fred replied with mock disapproval. "Of course we had to visit our dear brother in the Hospital Wing."

"Yes, we came back from Hogsmeade as soon as we heard the news..."

"You don't think we can visit you?"

"No...," Ron quickly explained. "I didn't mean it like that... sorry."

"Wait, Hogsmeade?" At this, Harry suddenly looked up. "Didn't you say you were feeling unwell and were going to the Hospital Wing with Wood? I thought you'd already been discharged and were resting back in the dormitory!"

"Er..." Fred and George's expressions froze. They had actually forgotten about that little detail.

"Don't worry about the details," Fred quickly improvised. "We went to Hogsmeade after leaving the Hospital Wing."

"That's right," George added, pulling out the large bag of sweets. "These are all Honeydukes' best treats—we bought them especially for Ron."

"For me?" Ron looked even more surprised. But as he glanced at the large bag of colorful, delicious sweets, he hesitated, then shook his head. "I... I don't need them. You guys keep them."

Even as he said this, his throat tightened a bit. He had noticed some Tooth Splintering Strong Mints in the bag, which were his favorite. But... well, considering how often Fred and George's gifts tended to come with "side effects" since last year, he wasn't exactly eager to take the risk.

Fred seemed to pick up on Ron's suspicions and laughed. "Don't worry, this time there's definitely nothing odd about them—we promise. If you don't believe us, you can ask Kyle. He'll vouch for us."

Kyle nodded in agreement. These treats were a genuine reward for Ron's bravery in raising his wand against the Slytherins. But even if there were a few tricks involved, it wasn't anything Ron hadn't seen before!

Next to him, Harry frowned slightly, as if wanting to say something. But George cut in first, "Oh, by the way, Harry, I heard you're giving out signed photos. How come Fred and I haven't got any yet?"

"I'm not, and I haven't!" Harry snapped, momentarily forgetting about their questionable alibi. "Lockhart's just spreading rumors! I've never given out any signed photos!"

"Ha, what a shame," Fred said with a mischievous grin, winking.

Fred and George really did know how to lighten the mood. The gloom that had settled over the room since they'd arrived quickly lifted. Even Hermione, who had been sitting quietly, seemed intrigued when they pulled out a pair of "Banshee Detector Glass".

The glasses, bought from Dervish & Banges, were a glass bead about the size of a Golden Snidget and were meant to detect Banshees disguised as ordinary people. Hermione, always fascinated by unique magical items, was nearly defenseless against such novelties.

Kyle also brought out an automatic inkjet quill he'd prepared in advance. He had originally planned to give it to Hermione as a Christmas gift, but the timing felt right now, too.

And for Ron, he had a little extra surprise—an identical waterproof and moisture-proof badge to the one Harry had.

...

The group didn't stay long in the Hospital Wing. With the bursts of laughter coming from behind Ron's curtain, it wasn't long before they were reported.

"Malfoy has informed me that you're disturbing his rest," Madam Pomfrey said sternly. "So I must ask you all to leave!"

"Wait… it's even louder over there, isn't it!" Ron protested. "That Pansy Parkinson hasn't stopped yapping since I got here!"

"They'll be asked to leave soon as well," Madam Pomfrey replied firmly. "In fact, visiting hours are over. If you want to see him again, you'll have to come back later."

There was no arguing with Madam Pomfrey, so the group had no choice but to say their goodbyes to Ron and file out of the Hospital Wing.

As they made their way toward the courtyard by the clock tower, they happened to cross paths with Lucius Malfoy, who was just emerging from the castle. His expression was dark, and he looked as though his anger hadn't subsided in the slightest.

Lucius spotted them too and stopped in his tracks.

"Oh… Weasley." He looked down at Fred and George, drawing out his words in a slow, disdainful tone. "Your family may be a little clever, but believe me, the Weasleys won't be so lucky forever."

He didn't even attempt to hide his contempt this time. His eyes fixed on the twins with an openly malicious gleam, his previous hostility from the Flourish and Blotts incident simmering just beneath the surface.

"Thanks for the warning," Fred replied coldly, his usual grin gone.

"But maybe you should focus on your own family first," George added with a hard edge to his voice.

"I never knew the Malfoys' idea of education was so… rudimentary," Fred continued. "What an eye-opener."

Lucius's hand clenched instinctively around his cane. Kyle, sensing the tension, shifted his hand quietly toward his wand, ready to act in case Lucius lashed out at the twins.

But Lucius kept himself in check. He seemed to remember that this was Hogwarts, with Dumbledore possibly watching from some unseen corner, and that any outburst here would have consequences.

"Hmph… we'll see about that," he sneered, tossing a final, menacing look their way before turning on his heel and stalking off without a backward glance.