Chapter 4: The Weasley Twins
At the Gryffindor table, several enthusiastic seniors warmly greeted Zhang Dong as he arrived. They even moved a seat to the side so he could sit with the first-year Gryffindors.
“Thanks.”
Zhang Dong nodded with a smile and sat down.
“Hello, Hermione Granger.”
As soon as Zhang Dong sat down, the little girl next to him extended her small hand towards him.
“Zhang Dong.”
Zhang Dong also extended his hand and shook hers. Now they were acquainted.
Seeing Zhang Dong respond, young Hermione clearly brightened up. Being all new students, she, Zhang Dong, Ron, and Harry naturally sat together. However, due to Ron's dissing of Hermione in the live stream, she now understandably didn't want to talk to him.
Children, their emotions are so genuine and simple.
Naturally, Zhang Dong, sitting on the other side, became her subject of discussion. She wasn't usually talkative, but clearly, the sudden events of the day had made her excited.
Not just her, the volume of discussion around them had clearly surpassed their interest in enjoying the delicious food. Except for Ron, who was indulging in the feast, one chicken leg in one hand and a duck leg in the other, completely oblivious to his role as the video star, a carefree soul.
However, across from him, his two elder brothers were already ecstatic.
“Good heavens! I bet you! Anyone daring to do something like this at the Sorting Ceremony! Must be the greatest prankster of the century! This is truly…”
“Truly what?” Zhang Dong couldn't help but ask.
“Truly awesome!!” The other twin naturally shouted.
Then the two brothers exchanged glances, as if they had rehearsed, and one after the other, they said:
“To prank in front of everyone at Hogwarts, without anyone noticing! This prank is simply…”
“Perfect!”
“You think it's just a prank?” Zhang Dong looked at the Weasley twins with interest. He had heard others murmuring around him,
“It's a miracle from Merlin!”
“Maybe it's a Dark Wizard's provocation.”
“What kind of Dark Wizard would dare appear before Dumbledore? Maybe it's an inside job from Hogwarts!”
“Is it possible that it's all done by a magical creature?”
Perhaps due to the magical nature of the live stream, everyone had dismissed it as a prank except for the twins in front of him.
Hearing Zhang Dong's voice, the twins smiled and said to him:
“Hello, I'm George, George Weasley. This is my brother Fred. You must make sure you can tell us apart next time, otherwise, we'll be angry.” Fred winked at his brother.
This was their usual little joke, using their twin resemblance to confuse people. This trick was almost foolproof, for they were so alike. However…
“Okay, Fred. I'll write down your name on a piece of paper and secretly stick it on your back. That way, everyone in Hogwarts will be able to tell you apart.” Zhang Dong rolled his eyes, unceremoniously exposing their trick.
“Why! How did you recognize me!” Fred was stunned, clearly confused as to how he was exposed.
But Zhang Dong just smiled and replied, “Isn't this common sense? My friend?”
Come on, anyone who has seen Harry Potter knows their little routine. You really think no one can tell these two apart?
Someone did a count, throughout the whole Harry Potter series, George was mentioned 731 times while Fred was mentioned 900 times. The main reason is that Fred is a little more extroverted, and he basically "does" more. George usually waits for Fred to take the first step and then follows, using his own way to supplement and explain what his brother did.
So, basically, whoever speaks first is always Fred.
In addition to this method, George is a better Quidditch player, Fred prefers telling jokes and quips, George is more compassionate. Of course, this way of distinguishing them wouldn't be useful after a few years. It's not because they changed but because you wouldn't see Fred anymore.
At this time, the two brothers still didn't understand how they had exposed themselves.
But Zhang Dong still curiously asked: “So, you haven't told me why you think what happened just now is just a prank, instead of Merlin's prophecy or a Death Eater's conspiracy?”
Fred said matter-of-factly: “Of course, because I didn't feel any malice in the scene just now!”
George also nodded: “Of course, it didn't convey any useful information either.”
Fred: “Intentionally joking, teasing, or tricking someone to make them feel embarrassed and awkward.”
George: “But it didn't hurt anyone's feelings or bodies.”
“Isn't this the classic prank?” x2.
Listening to the twins, Zhang Dong couldn't help but smile. Indeed, the Sorting Ceremony just now didn't reveal any useful information, but who said that's all there was?
It seemed that next time he played a video, he would need to choose a more informative one.