A Snake Deserves No Pity

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

How Do I Love Thee? a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

They were two weeks into there seventh and final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and so far Fred really wasn't enjoying it; mostly due to the fact that Ministry of Magic worker Dolores Umbridge was 'teaching' their Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons. Although it was fun making up new ways to create havoc for her, along with George and Lee, Hogwarts just wasn't the same with that slime of a toad walking the halls as if she owned the place. Causing grief to both students and teachers alike.

As she walked by their desk Fred quietly muttered a tripping charm, unfortunately, she managed to get her balance before falling flat on her face by gabbing a hold of the end of their desk.

Her fat round face now red with fury, she rounded on the three boys. "Who was that?!" She demanded with a slight hiss, girly tone completely gone for a nice change. Not waiting for an answer she rounded on George. "You! Weasley, detention at eight pm sharp, my office!"

"It wasn't him." Fred spoke up. "It was me." He finished, looking unconcerned, arms folded across his chest as he met Umbridge's snarling face with a cool gaze. If it had been anyone else, he'd have left them to it, but he wasn't going to let his twin be blamed.

An ugly smile formed on Umbridge's face, what was meant to be sweet, but ruined by her uneven teeth, large mouth and a predatory look in her small squinty eyes. "Very well, you shall both serve detention with me."

With that she continued on her way, but Fred jumped to his feet, hands curled into firsts by his side, his cool gaze having slipped into one of outrage. "You can't do that!" He snapped. "George didn't do anything!"

"Oops, two detentions, Mr Weasley." She giggled, right back to her revolting girly voice.

Before the more hot-headed twin could get himself into any more trouble, Lee pulled on his arm, forcing him back into his seat. He sat there, fuming silently for the next ten minutes until George leaned over to whisper something in his ear. At George's plan a grin slowly formed on Fred's face with each word. Giving his twin a nod he slouched back in his chair, taking out some notes of his and George's about a new invention they were planning. Zoning out of the lesson both red heads hunched over the parchment, talking quietly to each other about it, with a few odd suggestions from Lee every now and then.

000

Later on that evening Fred and George were walking down a brightly lit corridor to dinner, the warm raises of the setting sun streaming in threw the large windows which lined the walls, chatting about their soon-to-be joke shop in Diagon Ally, when they came across Ron, Harry and Hermione coming out of a classroom and talking amongst themselves. "Hey lil' Ronnykins." Fred cooed, ruffling his brother's hair a little too hard, interrupting the conversation.

"Get off!" Ron scoffed, moving out of his way.

"Headed for dinner?" George questioned, throwing an arm around Harry and Hermione each. Before either of them could answer George continued. "What do you guy's think about a sweet that turns you into a toad?"

"That charming young women Umbridge gave us the idea." Fred added in as he and Ron joined them. "So we-"

"Were thinking-"

"That she'd-"

"Like to be-"

"Are first test subject." They finished together, identical mischievous grins on their equally identical faces.

A snort came from Ron. "Guy's, all you'd have to do is turn her skin green and she's already there."

"Ronald," Hermione began. "do you really-"

"'Mione, you aren't seriously going to tell Ron not to insult her are you?" Harry said, looking at her in disbelief.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "If you'd yet me finish Harry, I was merely going to suggest that he not forget that hideous bow in her hair. If the twins managed to turn it into a giant fly or something, she'd be complete."

Fred gave a fake look of horror. "Do my ears deceive me, or did Hermione Granger just disrespect a teacher!"

George put a hand over his heart, a proud look on his face, he gave a loud sniff. "We have corrupted her to the path of trickery, all remember this faithful day."

Both twins then stepped in front of her and got on one knee. Hermione watched them with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "Hermione Jane Granger," Both said together. "We humbly grant you the honour of helping us in aid to rid this school of the funny looking pink creature that lurks about these once pure halls."

"Oh, get up." Hermione said rolling her eyes.

With the distraction of the twins, nobody noticed a group clad in black and green robes heading their way, lead by an all too familiar white-blond hair youth.

"Oh look at that, I didn't even think a Weasley would sink so low as to get down at a Mudbloods feet."

Both twins stood, scowls on their faces, and the group of Gyrffindor's turned to look at Draco Malfoy - who was flanked by Crabbe, Goyle, Parkinson, Zabini and Nott - walking down the hall towards them.

"Shove off Malfoy!" Ron snapped, the tip of his ears going red with anger.

"What do you want now?" Harry sighed; all ready tiered of seeing Malfoy's pale, pointed face and narrowed storm grey eyes after only a moment.

"Now now Potter, manners." Malfoy said looking amused. "Mind you, I don't suspect you learnt any growing up with filthy Muggles."

Parkinson giggled shrilly and latched onto Malfoy's arm. None of the Gyrffindor's missed the quick sneer on Malfoy's face at this. George grinned. "I bet Muggles are a right side better than having her hanging off of you, right Malfoy?"

For a few seconds there was silent's, then Parkinson turned to the blond looking mad. "Well defend me then!" She snapped. "Tell him how much you love me!"

For a spilt second Malfoy looked repulsed, but quickly composed himself. "Use that thing inside of your head that you call a brain for some reason Parkinson, and make your own response."

With that all the Slytherin's but Parkinson turned away, heading for the Great Hall, Zabini sniggering as he cast a look at the shocked Slytherin girl. Apparently it wasn't just the Gyrffindor's nerves Parkinson got on.

"Huh, I wasn't expecting that." George said with a shake of his head.

"What are you still doing here?" Fred questioned the Slytherin girl, clearly wanting her to leave.

For a few more seconds she stood there, looking on the verge of tears, then she turned and ran towards the dungeon, hands covering her face as she lost the battle and began to sob.

They watched her go, Hermione a bit anxious, she may not like the Slytherin, but she did feel slightly guilty about her crying. Seeing this on her face Ron shook his head. "It was Malfoy who made her cry Hermione, not us." She nodded and they once again headed for dinner. Reaching their house table the group spilt up.

"All right Lee?" Fred ginned as they both sat down on either side of him.

Lee didn't answer, he seemed to be studying something.

Both twins looked. It was a book. They looked heart broken.

"Oh, Lee." George said sadly, as though Lee had just told them he'd lost his mother. "What's happened to you?"

"How can you go behind our backs like this and, and study!" Fred said the word as wizards would speak Voldemort's name, with reluctance and horror.

Slowly Lee marked his page and put his book down on the table. He then took his time reaching for his bag, opening it, and placing the book inside.

The whole time he was doing that the twins seemed to be holding their breaths, not relaxing until it was zipped up and out of sight.

"If you haven't noticed boys, its NEWT year. And I don't want to leave school with all T's." Lee said. "Unlike you I don't already have money for my own shop; I need to get a decent job."

"Shush about the money Lee." Fred told him. "Remember you don't know."

Lee rolled his eyes. "Of course, I'll forget that I know what I don't know."

The twins just gave him a toothy grin each, and then began to pile up their plates with food. Chewing his way threw a rather large mouthful of beef Fred glanced up, his eyes landed on Malfoy at the Slytherin table; who seemed to be sat directly opposite him. As though sensing someone watching Malfoy looked up, he caught Fred's eye and sent the redhead a sneer. Fred glared in return before going back to his food. 'Bloody git.' He thought to himself as he rather violently stabbed a potato.

"What's up with you?" George asked with raised eyebrow's, cutting off from a conversation with Lee when he saw his brother attacking the innocent vegetable.

"Nothin'." Fred grunted.

Before anything more could be said by either of them Angelina and Alicia appeared, taking seats opposite the three boys. "Hey, what's up?" Angelina smiled.

"Fred's killing his food." Lee laughed as Fred slowly and purposely chopped up a peace of broccoli, pretending it was Malfoy. He then began to squash his potato's with his fork.

Alicia gave him a concerned look. "What's bothering you Fred?"

"Mashed potato!"

"… Erm, what?" Now all four of them were looking at him strangely. "Mashed potato is bothering you?"

Fred gave them an odd look. "Don't be stupid. I've just noticed that with squishing my fork on my potato's, I've made mash potato, and it's been ages since I've had that!"

A few seconds of silent's. "So, anyway, like I was saying Lee…" George got right back into his interrupted conversation and the girls began chatting to each other, leaving Fred to his strange thoughts.

For a few minutes Fred played with his now mashed potato's, humming a little song he'd made up on the spot in his head, and then he had the urge to look up again. He did and once again he met stormy grey eyes, only this time he didn't want to look away. For once there was no malice in Malfoy's expression, his eyes shone bright and clear, they seemed to be looking threw Fred, rather than at him. In that moment, something about Malfoy seemed so different, so out of place, for a change Malfoy's eyes were bright and looked like any young teenagers should, rather than full of disgust. Rather than a vicious storm, the grey was like a shining silver. Fred found himself never wanting to look away, transfixed at this new discovery, and he really wasn't planning on loosing that gaze, well, until he felt a push and he fell over backwards off of his seat. He gave a small yelp of surprise, just before he hit the floor with a thump. Blushing from embarrassment Fred got to his feet, glaring at George who he new was responsible. "What was that for?" He grumbled glancing around the Hall, everyone was laughing, everyone except him. While for the first time in his life people were laughing at him, and not with him, Malfoy was quite, his eyes not leaving Fred. No amusement was showing in those grey eyes, back to their stormy look once more. Fred blinked at the change.

"Because it is ten to eight dear brother of mine, and you weren't answering to your name." George replied easily. "I do believe we have a detention to attend."

Forcing himself to look away from the blond Fred nodded and followed his brother out of the Great Hall, although his thoughts was still there. 'Ugh. What is up with me.' Fred thought to himself as they walked threw the corridor's. 'Why am I suddenly obsessing over the ferret? Annoying evil little Death Eater in training that he is…Huh? Haha, imagine a Death Eater 'bring your kids to work day'! That'd be a laugh, Voldy could baby-sit the younger kids!' Fred snickered out loud at the mental image.

"Are you thinking of a Death Eater 'bring your kids to work day' Fred?" George questioned. Fred nodded, no need to ask how he new, they always know. Fred was fine with it to, so long as George didn't figure out his thoughts about Malfoy, even if they were as innocent thoughts as could be.

No matter what Fred told himself, he wasn't stupid, he new he was beginning to get a crush on the nasty ferret. That wasn't good, that really wasn't good. It was baaaad. Bad, bad, bad!

"Stupid ferret, with stupid eyes." He muttered harshly to himself under his breath.

They'd reached Umbridge's office at precisely 8 o'clock, and knocked on the door. "Come in!" Sounded the forced sweet voice.

Pushing open the door Fred entered first. "Remember what we said." George whispered in his brother's ear.

"Ah, yes, boys come in, take a seat."

There were two small desks at opposite sides of the room, both twins sat, their backs to each other. In front of Fred there was a window showing the grounds, the Quidditch pith visible off to one side. George just had a wall full of ugly kitten plates before him.

"Now, you both know why you're here?" Umbridge said in a voice as though daring them to disagree. The twins turned to face her as one, and croaked. Umbridge's eyes narrowed into slits. "What was that?!" She asked dangerously. Once again both boys croaked at her. "Another detention each! Now pick up your quills and write 'I shall not be disruptive'. No talking!"

Looking at the sheet of parchment Fred picked up the quill, no need to ask about ink, they'd had plenty of detentions in the past two weeks. "Hey George." Fred called across the room as Umbridge sat behind her desk. "What do you think it'd take to get her" He jabbed his thumb in Umbridge's direction "writing 'I shall not be a fat ugly toad'?"

Umbridge got up form her desk.

"Why, I don't know Fred. Perhaps if we show her her reflection." George suggested as Umbridge became level between them.

"What were you saying!"

They looked at her and croaked.

Fred was pretty sure that steam would being to flow from her ears anytime now. Her face was bright red, as red as their hair, and her chest was heaving with rage. Her eyes were narrowed so much it looked as though they were almost completely closed.

With a large yawn Fred turned to look out the window. "Hey George, Slytherin Quidditch tryouts is on." He leaned forwards further in his seat, catching a glimpse of white-blond in the light of the setting sun. He watched the figure fly round the pitch, completely ignoring Umbridge.

"You know Professor," George's voice cut threw his thoughts. "You really should change these kitten's. Want some help?" Without a seconds hesitation he pulled out his wand and a few moments latter, instead of kittens, there were frogs and toads hopping about the plates, some diving into swamps and some eating flies. "There, now that's more fitting for you."

"Weasley." Umbridge managed to hissed out, anger suppressing her ability to speak further.

George waved her off. "No need to thank me."

Turning away from the window Fred looked from Umbridge to his brother. Umbridge was shaking, reaching for her wand. "Time to go George!" Fred piped up, jumping to his feet, striding past Umbridge hurriedly, grabbing his brothers arm, pulling him up and dashing out of the room. They'd just got out in time as not a spilt second later a beam of red light hit the door. With a grin Fred poked his head back into the room. "Same time tomorrow then, Dolores?" He gave her a wink and quickly retreated as another beam of red light came his way.

- TBC -