Hermione hadn't heard a word Fred and George said afterward. The words "the boss's lady" had already made her blush scarlet.
Ron's reflexes were clearly a little too slow. By the time he turned in the direction his twin brothers were pointing, Fruit Tea had already caught a "mouse" and was having the time of her life.
Fred and George put down what they were holding. George slapped his forehead. "I knew it. Nothing good ever happens when that stupid cat shows up!"
Fred hung his head. "That was only a prototype, and we don't have a backup. We'll have to start all over again-"
The mouse wasn't real. It was a magical device, or rather, one of their Prank Products, but it looked remarkably lifelike as it scurried around the Shrieking Shack. Fruit Tea kept catching it and letting it go, apparently enjoying the process of toying with her prey.
"So you came here to find us?" George glanced at his dim-witted little brother, then at Hermione's flushed face.
He seriously wondered whether steam might come shooting out of Hermione's ears next, but restrained the urge to tease her or play a trick on her.
The first rule of the Weasley Alchemy Technology Company: never provoke Vaughn or his girlfriend!
At that moment, Ron showed an unusual talent for expressing himself, getting straight to the point. "We're going after Snape. He wants to help bring Voldemort back, and we need your help!"
Ron felt no pressure at all when dealing with his two unreliable brothers, nor did he need to explain the whole story.
The twins exchanged a look, each seeing shock and-excitement in the other's eyes! "Good heavens! What did I just hear?" Fred's expression was rather exaggerated.
George clutched his head with both hands. "You heard him