Jigsaw Puzzle

Ron was once again reading in a corner of the library. It would have looked like he was doing homework if it weren't for the fact that he had paper and pencil instead of parchment and quill. There was also the fact that he was drawing on the paper instead of writing on it. Hermione was in a separate corner, as before, and Ron glanced over at her now and then.

"Whatcha doin', Ronniekins?"

Ron jumped at the sound of his brother Fred's voice. "Homework," he replied hastily, folding the drawing and putting both it and the book into his bag, "but I've just finished."

"Why you using that weird Muggle stuff?" asked George.

"Well...er..."

"And what's that book you were reading?" asked Fred. "Since when do you read, anyway?"

"I told you! It's for homework!" Ron snapped. He got up to leave. Fred grabbed his bag, reaching into it.

"Hey!" protested Ron, his ears turning red, but Fred had already found the book. "Give me that!" he snapped.

"A Step-by-Step Guide to Portrait Drawing?" said George, frowing at Ron, as Fred began to flip through the book.

"Give it back!" said Ron through gritted teeth, trying to grab the book. He was taller than Fred, so Fred couldn't hold it out of reach, but it was two against one.

Fred's eyebrows rose as he skimmed a few pages, then he laughed and handed Ron the book. "Ickle Ronniekins going to be a famous artist?"

"Shut up," Ron snapped, his ears red again.

"Shall we model for you?"

"I said, Shut up!"

"Can we see your beautiful artwork?" asked Fred, reaching for the piece of paper.

"NO!"

Ron reached to rescue the drawing from Fred's probing fingertips. He had to get it first, He had to...but he wasn't quick enough. Fred snatched it up, and Ron tried to tear it from his fingers, to rip it in two, even...but the efforts were futile. It was too late. He looked around fearfully, and spotted Hermione still there in her corner...

At first, Fred and George just looked puzzled when they saw the drawing, and then, slowly, their faces broke into identical evil grins. "Great," thought Ron. "They're going to tease me for the rest of my life..."

Fred opened his mouth. Before he could say anything, Ron began to push him and George towards the entrance to the library. They could have escaped easily, but they relented and began to walk towards the door.

As soon as they were in the hallway, Fred and George pulled Ron into an empty classroom. Ron snatched the drawing, and this time the twins let him. He ripped it into four pieces and threw it into a nearby trashcan, determinedly not looking at Fred and George.

"That won't help you now, bro," said George, he and Fred grinning evilly still.

"What are you talking about?" Ron replied, trying to keep a semblance of composure but failing quite miserably.

"You know what we're talking about."

"No, I don't know." Ron's ears went red.

"Okay, then...Why exactly did Hermione have wings and a halo in that drawing?" Ron's whole face turned red.

"I dunno...It's art! It doesn't have to make sense!" said Ron defiantly, but he knew that no matter what he said, it wouldn't change anything. They knew...and it was horrifying to think what they could do with such information.

"Ronnie and Hermione...What a cute couple you'll make..."

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

"I don't know why we didn't notice before..."

"What are you talking about?" Ron's heart was pounding, his face turning redder by the second.

"Let's just say this, Ronniekins...You...help us out a bit sometimes...and we won't tell anyone."

"You can't do that! That's blackmail!" said Ron angrily.

Fred and George's evil grins grew larger than ever. "Who's stopping us?" they said quietly.

"A memory charm!" thought Ron suddenly. "I could put a memory charm on them! It's that simple...They won't remember a thing!" He pulled his wand from his pocket...

but the twins were again too quick. "Expelliarmus!" they shouted, and Ron's wand flew out of his hand. His one hope was gone.

"Nice try," said Fred, smirking.

"I'll get you for this," said Ron through clenched teeth, glaring at his brothers.

"The first thing you can get, Ron," said George, "is some food from the kitchens. Fred and I are rather hungry."

"I'm not-"

"Shall we call Hermione?"

"What kind of food, sir?"