Geminus

"Ron was right - the Halloween feast is bloody brilliant."

"I know. I think I must have put on a stone just with the main course!"

Jenna rolled her eyes at her sister. All the students were in the Great Hall enjoying the Halloween feast.

"Tart! You'll burn it off during Quidditch anyway."

Before dessert was served, Dumbledore stood up and addressed the students.

"Welcome students. I have a brief announcement to make...."

Ron groaned loudly, causing everyone to laugh.

"Don't worry - it is only short and then you can go back to eating Mr Weasley!"

Ron blushed bright red as everyone looked at him.

"I hope you all had a good day and that the older students enjoyed Hogsmeade. Due to its popularity at the TriWizard Tournament, and the many female requests I have had, it has been decided that we will hold a Yule Ball this year."

Most of the female students gasped.

"I hope this gives everyone enough time to be sent their dress robes. Now I shall let you get back to the feast."

Dumbledore sat down with a wink at Ron. Kara turned to her sister and was not surprised to see an unimpressed look on her face.

"This means I have to wear a dress, doesn't it?"

"Yes dear sister, I don't know how you will cope."

The desserts appeared on the table so Jenna decided to save her moaning for later. Before she could tuck in, Hermione had got the gang's attention.

"Look."

They followed her gaze and saw Snape charging up the edge of the Great Hall and approaching Dumbledore. As they spoke quietly, Dumbledore looked over at the twins before turning back to Snape and nodding slightly. The gang looked at each other worriedly as Snape headed over to them.

"A word you two, outside now."

Kara looked at Jenna confusedly. She whispered quickly as they stood up.

"Did you do something?"

"No, I don't think so. You?"

"Not that I know of."

They quickly followed Snape out of the Hall, ignoring everyone's curious glances as they passed. As the door shut behind them, Jenna leapt to their defence.

"I didn't do it."

"Don't care what it was but I didn't do it either."

Snape sneered at the girls.

"Guilty conscience, girls? ... I called you out as I have the displeasure to inform you that your parents were attacked this evening."

"What?"

"Are they okay?"

"Yes. Our spies managed to pre-warn them of the Death Eater attack so they were able to escape with a few minor injuries."

Relief slowly flooded through the twins as Snape spoke. The word Death Eater, however, sparked their tempers - as usual Jenna spoke her mind first.

"Well that's just fucking fantastic!"

Kara's temper was, as always, slower to rise but she was currently struggling to remain calm.

"Let me guess, they were actually after us?"

"We suspect that, yes."

The twins looked at each other and then let rip at Snape. As usual when they were furious, they shouted together - each one finishing the other's sentences. The students in the Great Hall, who could hear every word, silently agreed with Ron that they wouldn't want to get on the twins' bad side.

"Fucking Voldy the weird...."

"... Arse psycho bastard with his...."

"... Holier then thou attitude and his pathetic Death Eater...."

"... Minions who couldn't even catch a fucking cold."

Snape was first shocked at their fury, but he soon recovered quickly.

"You two would do well to control your tempers and I'd show a bit more respect towards the Dark Lord if I were you."

"Control our tempers? You have...."

"... No idea what our tempers are like but if...."

"... Voldy keeps at it he soon will do."

"Do not call the Dark Lord...."

"He just attacked our fucking parents - we will say what we want. Well, actually he probably ordered his jumped up Death Eaters and their jumped up sons to do it."

A flicker of confusion appeared on Snape's face at Kara's rant. Jenna quickly nudged her and whispered quietly.

"Focus!"

Kara quickly changed the subject.

"Oh, and while we are on the subject of Death Eaters, did you enjoy the attack?"

"Well don't forget Kara, he's not actually a Death Eater."

Every word of Jenna's sentence was dripping with sarcasm, showing exactly what she thought of that idea.

"Oh yeah, what was the excuse? No evidence? I guess those Ministry idiots weren't even clever enough to check your bloody left arm!"

While Kara was yelling, Jenna quickly muttered "diffindo", casting a severing charm on Snape's left robe sleeve intent on showing the Dark Mark. However, Dumbledore's voice caused the twins to turn around so allowing Snape to grab his torn sleeve.

"I think that is quite enough - the rest of the students do not need to hear this conversation."

Kara had the good grace to look sheepish but Jenna just looked thoroughly annoyed at having her rant interrupted.

"If you two think you can control your tempers, I will allow you to return to the feast. I will speak to you tomorrow if you wish but your parents have assured us that they are fine and do not want you to miss school on their part ... I do suggest you change your robes before joining us, Professor."

Dumbledore inclined his head towards Snape who nodded and left quietly. Dumbledore then turned to the girls and gestured them back into the hall. As they re-entered, every pair of eyes were on them but Oliver and McGonagall were the first to approach.

"Jenna, are you okay?"

"Do I look fucking okay, Oliver? That prick and his jumped up minions has just attacked our parents - now just leave me the hell alone."

Oliver looked hurt as McGonagall turned sharply to the twins.

"I think it would be wise of you two returned to your dorms immediately."

"Fine, it's not like we were bloody going to enjoy ourselves now anyway."

Kara glanced over at the Gryffindor table and saw Harry attempting to stand up. Ron grabbed his shoulder and forced him back down.

"Leave it mate."

Kara looked away in disgust, allowing Draco to catch her eye. She sneered at him and turned to walk out with her sister. As they went to leave, Kara threw her arm up in the air causing a deafening crack of thunder followed by an almost blinding flash of lightening to fill the hall. Everybody gaped and some of the younger students screamed. Hermione sat there in shock, although she wasn't the only one to notice Kara did not have to use her wand to perform that magic. The twins stormed out of the Great Hall slamming the heavy doors behind them.

The twins fumed as they sat in the Gryffindor common room waiting for their friends to return. When the feast was over, the Gryffindors reluctantly returned to the common room sending Harry, Ron and Hermione in first to test the waters. Kara heard the portrait hole open and she turned to see who it was. When she spotted Harry enter first, she got up and went to vent her anger out on him.

"Cheers for your concern earlier!"

Harry looked slightly guilty and shot a filthy look at Ron as he entered behind him.

"I ... I was going to come over, but I assumed you wouldn't want me as Jenna didn't want Oliver."

Before Kara could reply, Jenna had come over to rescue Harry.

"Oh give the boy a break."

Kara rounded on her sister.

"Well at least your boyfriend cares enough to come over."

"He's not my boyfriend, remember? That git is too concerned with being a TA."

"Well don't take your boy issues out on me then."

"Boy issues? Don't get me started Kay, or I'll lay all your shit bare."

"My shit? What about your shit,that I'm sure Mum and Dad would be very interested in...."

Before the row could continue, a very brave Hermione stepped in between them.

"Come on you two, weren't you going to show these pure bloods what Muggle music is like?"

The twins gave a faint smile, both visibly calming down. As they went to get the music, Hermione gestured to the other Gryffindors that it was safe to come in. Soon the sound of Eminem was blasting round the common room. His lyrics amused most of the students, especially when the Muggle-borns attempted to sing along.

Kara was sitting staring into the fireplace when Harry slowly ventured over. He sat next to her and put his arm around her. She leaned into him and looked up apologetically.

"I'm sorry about earlier. I saw Ron pull you down so I know it wasn't your fault."

"It's okay, so what happened? We only heard your, quite amusing, side of it."

Kara gestured to Ron and Hermione to come over, who were followed by Jenna. The twins then told them what Snape had to say. The five of them stayed up to the early hours talking.

---------------------

The next few days saw Jenna and Kara remaining pretty quiet and the Gryffindors tiptoeing around them. It wasn't until Ron received a package from Fred and George on November fifth that any attempt was made to drag the twins out of their sulk. Ron and Harry ran out of the Great Hall, pulling Jenna and Kara with them. They left Hermione tutting loudly behind them.

"What?"

"Thought you girls would want to know the fireworks that we wanted have arrived."

A grin appeared on the girls' faces - their first real smile since Halloween. All problems were forgotten as 'Operation Dream Team' was underway again.

"Right, can you two spread the word to the rest of the students...."

"Except Slytherin," Kara added.

"... Right, except Slytherin, to meet out on the Quidditch pitch at 8pm tonight?"

Harry and Ron nodded eagerly.

"What are you two going to do?"

"We will set up the fireworks this evening just before everyone arrives."

By the end of the day, every teacher was fed up of docking house points for whispering amongst students. The Slytherins knew they were missing out on something but, much to their annoyance, they couldn't find out what it was. Draco decided to see if he could use Kara to find out but she managed to avoid him all day.

When the evening rolled round, Kara forgot about avoiding Draco as her and Jenna snuck out to the Quidditch pitch. Their school bags were filled with fireworks - especially Jenna's, who had the large ones poking out of the bag. Just before they reached the exit, Draco finally managed to corner them.

"Where are you two going?"

Kara stepped in front of Jenna, blocking Draco's potential view of the fireworks.

"For a stroll Is that okay?"

"Don't bother me. So, do you know what everyone had been whispering about today?"

Kara and Jenna smirked.

"Aww, has poor Draco missed out on the joke?"

Draco sneered at Jenna before turning to look questioningly at Kara.

"No we don't. Now is there anything else you want?"

"Yeah, I wanted to see if you were okay."

Jenna and Kara both raised their eyebrows and Draco quickly backtracked.

"I meant that I wanted to see if you had stopped sulking long enough to do your fair share of the potions work."

Kara put her hand on Jenna's arm which was currently reaching for her wand.

"Yes I'm fine. You should know bloody Death Eaters don't scare me. So, when do you want to meet up?"

"The evening after the Quidditch match?"

"Whatever, just don't take your foul mood out on me when you lose."

Before Draco could retort, the twins had turned and headed outside.

Eight o'clock came round and even Kara and Jenna were surprised at the amount of students who had turned up. Jenna turned to address everyone.

"Hi all, thanks for coming. Now as you Muggle-born will know, tonight is fireworks night. So we decided it was time Hogwarts joined in on the fun."

As Jenna finished talking, Ron, Harry and Kara flicked their wands causing the fireworks display to start. During the typical 'oohs' and 'aahs' of the students, Jenna nudged Kara who turned to see a herd of Slytherins arrive on the pitch. Draco raised an eyebrow as he passed the girls.

"Interesting stroll you two have."

Kara smiled slightly before heading over to sit with Harry. Before Jenna could join them, Oliver stepped out in front of her.

"Hey."

Jenna looked at the floor awkwardly.

"Can I ask if you are okay without getting my head bitten off this time?"

Jenna looked up, relived to see a slight smile on Oliver's face. She mumbled an apology but before they could join the others, Jenna spotted Snape striding onto the pitch - anger radiating from him. Jenna and Kara stepped forward to take the blame.

"What the hell is going on here?"

"A fine fireworks display by the looks of it Severus."

Snape spun round to see Dumbledore and the rest of the teachers standing behind him. Dumbledore turned and smiled at the girls, his blue eyes twinkling.

"I haven't been to a good fireworks display in decades."

He raised his voice to address all the students.

"I think this calls for hot chocolate and marshmallow.s"

As the students cheered, Snape walked back to the school in disgust. Kara turned and whispered to her sister.

"You noticed we aren't getting into trouble for this?"

"Yeah, how come?"

"Don't know, but I don't think we should complain."

Chucking to themselves, they headed over to others to watch the rest of the display.