I Have a Way at Hogwarts

"We need to install the prop ahead of time this time, then trigger it after he finishes class..."

"I think the ceiling would be best. Have it come down from the ceiling, right at the back of his head."

When Silan found the Weasley twins, they were still enthusiastically discussing the prank prop. It made Silan feel that his money had truly been well spent.

His cousins were so dedicated!

The two of them were so immersed in their prank artistry that they had lost all awareness of the world around them. They did not notice Silan until he stood right in front of them.

"Oh, Silan. What is it?" George asked.

"Don't tell me you're already getting impatient?" Fred picked up where George left off, spreading his hands. "We haven't even bought the materials yet. Being anxious won't help."

Silan shook his head. "I came to see you about something else."

The twins exchanged a glance, then asked in unison, somewhat puzzled, "What is it?"

"When you go to buy materials, could you help me buy some parchment? Some of it needs to be fine parchment with gilded patterns. Not much—ten sheets will do."

He had prepared it specifically for the Slytherin students.

Those rich people insisted on using different parchment from everyone else. This kind of parchment suited their tastes and would make it easier to open up the market.

He was only buying ten sheets for hunger marketing.

Limited editions had always been easy to hype up. Compared to the price, wealthy Slytherins cared more about face and prestige.

"What do you need so much parchment for?"

"To make money."

Silan sat beside them and showed them the map he had tucked inside his robes.

"I have a way to make money at Hogwarts. There's a little risk, but the profit is high. If you're willing to help me, we'll split the earnings fifty-fifty."

"What do you say? Are you in?"

The Weasley twins exchanged surprised looks. Neither had expected their little cousin to bring this up.

Yet they did not hesitate at all, nodding together. "Of course. Why not?"

They were so straightforward that they did not even ask what kind of scheme it was.

Seeing how readily they agreed, Silan stopped keeping them in suspense and took out the maps.

"These are maps I made by copying the Marauder's Map with a Copying Charm. Some of the new students should want them."

George and Fred each took a map.

Being as clever as they were, they instantly understood Silan's idea and could not help praising him.

"I have to say, our cousin Prewett is really smart. We've had the Marauder's Map for so long, yet we never thought of this."

"Truly clever."

They were, in fact, very tempted.

Very few people knew that the two of them had wanted to open a magical joke shop for a long time.

They simply lacked the capital, and their family had no money, so they had no choice but to slowly save up on their own.

Now, a guaranteed profit was right before their eyes. How could they not be tempted?

Still, they said, "Thirty percent for us will be enough."

"Oh, you're being far too polite! We're family, so let's make it forty percent!"

With a grand wave of his hand, Silan still cut off ten percent.

When Fred and George heard the words "we're family," they felt no resistance whatsoever. Instead, they were touched, followed by a little regret.

Why couldn't Silan be our real little brother?!

"If the money isn't enough, I'll give you three more Sickles." Silan took out another three Sickles and handed them over.

George waved him off. "No need, no need. The money you gave us before was more than enough."

"It's almost been two weeks since term started, and everyone's already attended all their classes. Will they still buy these maps?" Fred was somewhat worried.

After all, parchment was not expensive, but it still cost money.

"You don't need to worry about that." Silan remained calm.

"The staircases in the main building move around. The little wizards who have suffered because of them are probably still shaken."

"It's fine if they do not get lost, but once they do, other professors' classes are one thing. But if it happens to be Professor Snape's class..."

"Even if it is only for peace of mind, they'll buy them."

"Besides, these maps only last three weeks. Even if we fail to sell them, once they turn into blank parchment, we can use them ourselves. It's a guaranteed-profit business."

"That's true." Fred quickly grasped the business logic and nodded before asking, "How much are you planning to sell them for?"

"Eight Sickles each."

"Eight Sickles?!" George cried softly. He glanced around before continuing, "Parchment worth a few Knuts and a spell that costs nothing, and you want eight Sickles?"

"Is that too much?"

"Not at all!" Fred and George grinned at the same time.

"Then it's settled. Take these to Gryffindor and sell them first. Once you've bought the parchment, I'll keep making more."

"Let's make it big and create another glorious success!"

Silan's words left George and Fred fired up.

They immediately decided to make a trip to Hogsmeade.

The two happily crossed the courtyard. After only a few steps, they spotted Harry and Ron sitting on the low railing by the corridor, reading.

Or rather, Ron looked more like he was "sleeping on a book."

He had his textbook draped over his face and leaned against a pillar, half asleep.

Fred glanced at George.

George immediately understood. Together, they carefully approached Ron.

After signaling Harry to stay quiet, Fred and George gently lifted the book. Each took one side and used the pages to clamp Ron's nose.

Still half asleep, Ron had his nose pinched by the book and struggled to breathe.

After frowning, he began grabbing wildly at the air with both hands, but he still did not wake up.

"He's still not awake?"

George and Fred were both speechless. They reached out together, grabbed the book, and smacked him on the head with it.

"Ah—ow!"

Ron clutched his head and looked blankly at his brothers.

"Honestly, I wish Silan were our real little brother!"

Seeing Ron's foolish expression, George and Fred shook their heads and sighed together.

"I am your real little brother!" Ron was furious at their words, his face instantly turning as red as his hair.

"Yes, yes, now go back to sleep."

Shaking his head, George placed the book back over Ron's face.

"I really wish we could trade Ron for Silan."

"Forget it. We'd need to copy Ron twelve times at the very least..."

Ron nearly choked on his breath. He had only just received Mum's letter—it had not even been a day!

And they already considered him their little brother?

Then what was I supposed to be?!

"Harry, tell me, what does Silan have that I don't? They're my real brothers! How can they treat me like this?!"

"Um..." Harry thought for a long time before finally forcing out, "You can eat more than him..."