"Over here, over here!" Lee Jordan waved energetically as the Weasley twins entered the Great Hall. "You finally decided to show up."
"Why are all of you here?" George asked, sliding onto the bench beside Lee.
Lee rolled his eyes. "It's dinner time. Where else would we be?"
"Fair point. Pass the jam, would you?" Fred spread a thick layer across his bread, took a hearty bite, and asked, "So, what did we miss in Defense Against the Dark Arts this morning?"
Angelina Johnson, seated across from them, answered before Lee could. "Professor Broad lectured on Dark creatures for half the lesson, then had us practice red and green sparks. And I heard you two managed to lose Gryffindor thirty points—wiping out everything Albert earned recently."
Fred stabbed a potato with his fork. "It was only twenty."
"Ten more from History of Magic," Albert added dryly, glancing up from his plate. "Where did you vanish to this afternoon?"
"It's a secret," Fred and George said together, exchanging mischievous grins.
"Oh, right," Lee remembered suddenly. "Filch asked me to remind you—your detention's tomorrow night in the Trophy Room."
"Better than scrubbing bedpans," Albert remarked, dabbing his mouth with a handkerchief. "I ran into William earlier. He'd just finished cleaning the Hospital Wing's bedpans."
"Please don't talk about bedpans at dinner," Sanna complained, glaring at him. "You'll ruin everyone's appetite."
Alicia Spinnet quickly changed the subject. "I think we've Astronomy tonight. Has anyone been up to the Astronomy Tower yet?"
"Not me," Lee said, shaking his head. "What time does it start?"
"Half past nine," Albert replied, consulting his timetable.
"That late?" Angelina checked her own schedule. Sure enough, it was correct. Hogwarts' curfew was eleven, after all.
"Don't worry," George said. "We scouted the rooftop at noon."
"Perfect," Albert nodded. "You two can lead the way later. Don't forget your telescopes—and your Defense Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic notes." He pulled two books from his bag and set them on the table.
"Mine!" Lee lunged for them.
"Share," George said quickly, snatching one before Lee could. "We'll copy one subject each, then swap."
Albert's notes were far more reliable than anyone else's, especially in History of Magic.
Alicia cleared her throat. "How are your Lumos Charms coming along? We've got Transfiguration and Charms tomorrow." She sighed. "My match hasn't changed at all."
Angelina admitted the same. "I've barely practiced. And those sparks from Defense Against the Dark Arts… still shaky."
"I've only mastered Lumos," Sanna confessed, relieved to hear the others struggling too.
"Don't worry," Albert reassured them. "Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick will give us time in class. And weekends are for practice."
"Easy for you," Fred said dramatically. "Albert never worries about homework. It's unfair."
Albert rolled his eyes. Enviable my ass. Just practice harder.
"What about you, Lee?" George asked.
"I've got Lumos down," Lee admitted. "But Transfiguration's brutal."
Fred and George gaped. "When did you master Lumos?"
"Last night," Lee said irritably. "I've been practicing constantly."
"As expected," Alicia muttered. "Transfiguration's harder. Albert, any tricks?"
Albert sighed as Fred slung an arm around his neck. "There are no tricks. Concentrate, move your wand properly, pronounce the spell correctly. McGonagall's already told us."
Learning Transfiguration required effort—and Albert wasn't about to reveal his own secret advantage.
By seven o'clock, the group reconvened in the Great Hall to practice.
"Wait, we don't have matches," George realized. He snapped a twig from outside.
"You could transfigure it," Alicia suggested.
Albert sighed. "Vera Verto." He tapped the twig, transforming it neatly into a match. Then, with Geminio, he duplicated several more and handed them out.
Despite their efforts, no one managed to change their match before Astronomy.
"This isn't scientific!" Sanna groaned.
"Of course not," Albert muttered. "It's magic."
A Ravenclaw girl passing by overheard. She paused, addressing them calmly. "Transfiguration is difficult. Without days of practice, it's nearly impossible for beginners."
"Good evening, Katrina," Albert greeted.
She nodded curtly and walked on.
"I hope Astronomy isn't with Ravenclaw," Angelina muttered.
Albert checked his pocket watch. "It's with Hufflepuff. Now, let's go. We don't want to be late."