So that was it wasn’t it? Hermione was stuck going to Professor Slughorn’s Christmas Party with Cormac McLaggen. He was dreadful, no doubt. Harry and Luna were going as friends... why couldn’t Hermione just go with someone as a friend? Instead she caved, and now she was dressed up nicely about to embark on what would surely be an unpleasant night.
As Hermione made her way down to the Gryffindor common room, Cormac was nowhere to be found. Instead, none other than Fred and George Weasley awaited her.
“So we heard about your big date tonight, Granger.” Said Fred. Or George, not even Hermione knew who was who.
“Oh you heard?” She folded her arms and continued walking.
“Wait! We’ve got something for you.” The other twin said.
“Yeah! A new addition to the patented Weasley collection.”
Hermione stopped and hesitated. Then she turned around. “Is it an anti-love potion or something to make me appear repulsive?” She asked hastily, grasping at straws by this point.
“You’re not far off, Granger.” Fred- or, the one on the right held a bag of what appeared to be candies. He reached in and pulled one out, it was green and squishy. About the size of a button, it didn’t look all that appetizing.
“And what’s that supposed to do?” Hermione asked, skeptical.
“It’s a Decapitation Confection!” Said George. “It’ll make yer head fall off, Cormac’s gonna be the one who’s repulsed!”
Hermione cautiously took the candy. It was soft and sticky. “And how exactly does this work then?” She asked.
“It’s an invisibility charm, crossed with an undetectable extension charm, Floo dust, and some stuff from the headless hats I can’t remember.” Fred explained.
Hermione slowly put the confectionary in her mouth. It tasted like sour pumpkin juice, and it seemed to force its way down her throat without her chewing it. Then it dissolved.
“Oh!” Hermione put her hands to her neck. “That burns!”
“That’ll be the Floo powder.” Fred said.
Hermione’s neck felt funny, and then her head fell off. She caught it in her hands.
“Hey look at you! Now you can join the Headless Hunt!” Said George.
“Nick is gonna be so jealous.” Added Fred.
“This is quite impressive.” Hermione observed, turning her severed head around to see her headless body. “Especially considering I’m still talking, and I can move around!”
“Exactly! Now when Cormac sees you he’ll be repulsed!” Fred assured her. Hermione rotated her head to face them again. Maneuvering her own head in her hands as opposed to doing so with her neck was going to take some getting used to, but anything to avoid Cormac.
“Thanks you two, I think this will be sufficient enough.” Hermione told them.
And then he came. Cormac McLaggen walked down into the common room, spotting his date holding her own living severed head.
