Gerald recognized them almost the instant he saw their red hair.
It was unmistakable.
Of course.
It was the summer of 1989.
George and Fred were both eleven that year and would be starting their first year at Hogwarts, just like him.
Ron was only nine, still wearing his brothers' hand-me-downs and hiding behind his mother.
And The Boy Who Lived still knew nothing about the wizarding world.
"Oh, Merlin, it's Mrs. Weasley!"
Mrs. Winkle poked her head out from behind a clothes rack. When she spotted Molly, her smile grew even brighter.
"You're back! This year it's... let me see, these twins are starting school, aren't they?"
Molly smiled helplessly.
"Yes, Mrs. Winkle. Fred and George will be starting this September. They each need a set of everyday robes and a Winter Cloak... preferably something inexpensive. You know how many children we have."
As she spoke those last words, there was a barely perceptible trace of embarrassment in her voice.
Mrs. Winkle nodded repeatedly.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Weasley. I've just received a batch of Student Robes in very good condition. I'll be sure to find you a few that are both nice and affordable."
Just then, Mrs. Weasley spotted Professor McGonagall, and surprise spread across her face.
"Merlin's beard, is that Minerva?"
She hurriedly set Ginny down from her arms and walked briskly over to Professor McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall nodded politely, a rare hint of a smile appearing at the corners of her mouth.
"Molly, it's been a while. Are you here to get the children their school supplies?"
"Yes, yes."
Molly lowered her head and sighed, but soon looked up again, her smile returning.
"And who is this?" she asked, looking at Gerald.
"Gerald Green, a new student this year," McGonagall introduced him.
"Hello, Mrs. Weasley." Gerald nodded politely.
As Gerald looked at Mrs. Weasley, a question arose in his mind.
Surely a family with two wizard parents shouldn't have been this poor.
Even if they were, they could have applied for financial aid, just as he had.
It shouldn't have reached the point where Ron even had to use a secondhand wand, as he did in the original story.
"Oh, what a well-mannered boy. You're from a Muggle family, aren't you? Don't worry, Hogwarts will take good care of every student. George, Fred, come and say hello to your new classmate!"
The two identical red-haired boys emerged from beside the clothes rack.
They looked a little shorter than Gerald, with thin builds and naturally mischievous expressions.
Both grinned at Gerald at the same time, their smiles almost identical.
"Hello, I'm Fred," said the one on the left.
"I'm George," said the one on the right.
"I'm Gerald Green."
"Actually, I'm Fred, and he's George. We swap identities all the time."
Fred-or perhaps George-tilted his head.
"Green? A Muggle surname?"
"I suppose so."
"Cool," they said in unison.
Just then, the smaller red-haired boy poked his head out from behind Molly, gave Gerald a timid glance, then ducked back again.
"Ron, don't hide back there. Come and say hello."
Molly shifted Ginny to her other arm, freeing a hand to give Ron a gentle push forward.
This was Ron Weasley.
Gerald looked at the boy, who was half a head shorter than him.
At nine, Ron looked a little different from his film counterpart. He was thinner, with more freckles on his face.
Gerald crouched down to meet his eyes.
"Hello, Ron."
Ron looked up at him in slight surprise.
Probably very few people ever crouched down to speak to him seriously.
"Are... are you going to Hogwarts too?" Ron asked quietly.
"Yes, this September."
"Then will you be sorted into Gryffindor?"
Ron's eyes brightened a little.
"I'm going to be in Gryffindor too. Mum, Dad, and all my brothers were in Gryffindor!"
"Don't worry. You'll definitely be in Gryffindor."
"Really?"
"Ron, we don't get to decide which house we're sorted into."
Percy looked up from his book and spoke in a lecturing tone.
"But Fred and George said..."
"You'd do well not to believe everything Fred and George say," Percy interrupted flatly.
The twins immediately let out exaggerated cries of protest.
"But even Green said so."
Gerald smiled and was just about to speak when Mrs. Winkle's voice came from behind the clothes rack.
"Mr. Green, I've picked out all your robes. Would you like to come and see whether they fit?"
He stood, nodded to Ron, then walked over to the counter.
Mrs. Winkle had neatly folded three sets of everyday robes and a thick, dark gray Winter Cloak and placed them on the counter.
Gerald felt the fabric. It was soft and comfortable, and the colors were on the darker side too.
"These will do nicely. May I ask..."
Mrs. Winkle immediately understood and replied with a smile.
"That's twelve Galleons and six Sickles altogether. For Professor McGonagall's sake, just make it twelve Galleons."
That was considerably cheaper than Gerald had expected.
After all, he remembered that a single set of brand-new robes at Madam Malkin's might cost twelve Galleons.
After paying, Gerald asked Mrs. Winkle, "Sorry for the trouble, but could you pack all the clothes into the case for me?"
"Of course, of course!"
While Mrs. Winkle packed the Suitcase, Gerald turned around and found that Fred and George had sidled up behind him at some point.
"Hey, Green," said the one on the left.
"We overheard Professor McGonagall whispering to Mum. She said you're sort of an orphan," the one on the right continued.
"We're also... well, not orphans, but just about as poor."
Looking at these two characters who had left such a deep impression on him in the original story, Gerald felt a strong sense of warmth.
Although Fred and George Weasley were blunt, Gerald didn't find their words offensive.
In this life, he had lost both parents at a young age, but he had still received plenty of love and care.
And the two boys before him were among the finest Prank Masters in Hogwarts history, the founders of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
They were funny, clever, and loyal, yet in the original story's final battle, Fred had fallen in a corridor at Hogwarts.
At that thought, Gerald's heart sank a little.
But he didn't let the feeling show on his face.
"Good thing Hogwarts offers scholarships, right?"
George patted Gerald on the shoulder and continued.
"Shame our parents are both wizards, and both still alive. Otherwise, we could get that money and use it to do something big."
Something stirred in Gerald's mind at those words.
So that was it. Children from wizarding families couldn't apply for financial aid if both parents were still alive.
"The scholarship really helped a lot, but I'm still planning to find a way to make some money at Hogwarts once school starts."
Fred's and George's eyes lit up at the same time.
"Make money?"
"A way?"
They exchanged a glance, then both lowered their voices.
"Green, now you're speaking our language."
"We've been trying to figure out how to earn some pocket money so we can buy materials for our prank research."
"Like Dungbombs."
"Like Hiccough Sweets."
"Like..."
"That's enough, you two," Percy's voice came from behind them. "Don't lead Green astray. He looks like he'll be a good student."
Fred and George turned in perfect unison and glared at Percy.
"Lead him astray?"
"Percy, that really hurts."
"We're helping a new classmate."
"Become part of our great enterprise."
Percy rolled his eyes and couldn't be bothered with them anymore.
Gerald, however, couldn't help laughing.
The Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes these two would open was a money-making machine. Investing now was a sure thing!
"So you need some startup funds for your research?"
"Of course. We're certain we can make the most unexpected Magical Items anyone's ever seen."
"Here's ten Galleons. It's not much, but consider it my investment."
Fred and George stared at the ten gold Galleons in Gerald's hand, their mouths falling open in surprise.
"Well... you really do have money to spare. But that's a very smart choice."
"We like you, Green."
Just then, Mrs. Weasley's voice came from the other end of the shop.
"Fred, George. Come and try on your robes!"
The twins exchanged a glance, then both winked at Gerald.
"See you at school, Mr. Green, our new partner."
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