Chapter 628: They’re Really Rich
"Oh, the esteemed Professor Diggory."
A few days later, on the way to Hogsmeade Village, Fred winked at Cedric and said, "Please allow me to greet you and offer you my humble respects."
George, suppressing a grin, looked at him seriously. "If it's possible, Professor, could you please exempt us from our homework?"
Cedric rubbed his forehead in mild distress.
Though he'd long since come to expect sarcasm from the twins, he still felt a headache brewing after seeing their grinning faces in the entrance hall that morning. They had managed to keep their mockery in check while inside the castle, likely out of fear someone might overhear them and report them to Umbridge. But today was Hogsmeade week, and the moment they were outside the school, the twins naturally loosened up. Like actors in a play, they heckled Cedric the entire way.
"Shut up, you two!" Cho snapped. "You didn't have to come at all."
"No, of course we want to come!" George replied.
"Yeah," Fred nodded. "We'll learn Defence Against the Dark Arts on our own... but I'd say you've got a pretty good idea of how it's done. I'm so sick of that hag, Umbridge!"
"No, it was Hermione's idea," Cedric corrected, "and I'm not even sure anyone will join."
"Don't you worry about that," Fred assured him. "We asked around last night—seventeen Gryffindors alone want to join."
"That many?" Cedric stopped in his tracks.