"Secret passage? Nobody knows them better than George and I do," Fred said.
"Safe, reliable, convenient, and a first-class experience," George added.
"But..."
The twins spoke in unison. "You have to answer one question before we tell you how to get there."
"What question?" Tom asked, a little surprised.
They leaned closer and lowered their voices. "We noticed you've been doing especially well in Slytherin lately."
"And Dumbledore even called you to his office."
"What exactly happened?"
Tom thought it over, then answered honestly. "Last weekend, Malfoy got on the wrong side of Harry and wanted to make an example of me. Instead, I taught him a lesson and hung him on the wall for the whole night.
"Since then, my classmates have probably been afraid of me, so they've treated me a lot better."
He wasn't lying. He was just telling them part of the truth.
"Whoa..." The twins gasped in unison.
Tom was practically an honorary Gryffindor. He'd done what they'd always wanted to do but hadn't dared.
They had the tricks and the brains, but not the guts.
Hanging a Slytherin on the wall in plain sight—did he think Snape didn't exist?
The reason the twins could keep causing trouble without getting severely punished was that they knew exactly where to draw the line.
Only when Slytherins fought among themselves could Snape not openly take sides. All he could do was smooth things over.
For a moment, the two of them even considered transferring houses. The idea had barely crossed their minds before they dismissed it. Never mind whether Snape would take them—Professor McGonagall would tear them to pieces and mail them back to Mrs. Weasley first.
"Riddle, you're incredible." George looked impressed, and Fred nodded furiously beside him.
"Can you tell me about the passage now?"