"What are you going to do?!"
The Weasley twins shouted in unison, clearly alarmed. Had Ron seen his famously fearless brothers acting this way, he might have been shocked speechless.
Cedric, expression calm and resolute, gave a small flick of his wand and released the ropes that had bound them.
"Of course, I'll let you go," he said smoothly, brushing imaginary dust off his robes. "But since you've so clearly refused my generosity, from this moment on, I'll be handling things strictly by the book."
The twins blinked, clearly confused.
"I'll catch you," Cedric continued matter-of-factly. "And when I do, I'll punish you. Each time, the penalty will escalate—until the day Hogwarts sends your withdrawal notice to Mrs. Weasley."
His tone had shifted entirely—cool, professional, and unyielding. Gone was the warmth of a concerned peer; in its place stood an enforcer of school law.
"I sincerely hope you reach a point where this behavior ends altogether."
Fred looked horrified. "Oh Merlin…"
George, ever the strategist, attempted a peace offering. "How about we... talk this over?"
Cedric remained unmoved, gazing at them like a stern professor disappointed in two otherwise promising students.
In truth, Cedric was bluffing. Expelling students for sneaking out at night was hardly common practice—especially for harmless mischief—but in this tense moment, the twins couldn't possibly know that. And Cedric, with his cool demeanor and flawless reputation, always seemed deadly serious.
"What did you say just now?" Fred asked, blinking rapidly at George.
"I… I think I was actually moved by what he said," George admitted, trying to mimic Cedric's composed delivery.
Cedric's lips curved into the slightest smirk. "Oh? Is that so?"
"But—" Fred hesitated, a spark of rebellion still in his eyes.
"We have a condition," George began, but faltered midway through. He hadn't actually thought that part through.
Cedric had.
"Let's play a game," he proposed. "For the next seven nights, from ten to eleven, you two can hide anywhere within Hogwarts. I'll try to find you."
The twins perked up immediately. Hide-and-seek? Now that was a challenge they could get behind.
"If I don't find you even once," Cedric continued, "I lose. But if I find you—every time—you agree to my terms. I will sponsor you with one hundred Galleons per year. After you graduate, I'll fund your joke shop venture—but I'll hold sixty percent of the shares."
Fred and George exchanged a long look. Of all the things they prided themselves on at Hogwarts, their ability to evade Filch—and everyone else—was near the top.
"Not Filch," Fred clarified. "Just you."
"If you agree, it's a deal," George added, extending his hand with a lopsided grin.
"Deal," Cedric said, shaking both their hands firmly.
He had them.
The twins, while clever and mischievous, were transparent in their thoughts. Cedric didn't need Legilimency to read their faces—they were determined to win, but already nervous about what they might've signed up for.
And so the game began.
For seven nights, the castle became their playground—and Cedric's hunting ground.
But Cedric had a secret weapon.
The Marauder's Map.
Each night, using the enchanted parchment, Cedric found them in less than thirty minutes. Whether they were hiding in moving staircases, secret broom closets, or even attempting to disguise themselves magically, he was always one step ahead.
Their confidence began to crumble.
By the seventh night, desperation had taken over. The twins tried something bold—slipping out near the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
But Cedric was already there, standing by the gate with arms crossed.
"Surely you didn't think I'd let you leave school grounds," he said coolly. "The game is over."
Fred collapsed onto the ground, dramatically clutching his head. "No...!"
"You're a demon," George groaned, dropping beside him in surrender.
Cedric knelt between them, resting a hand on each shoulder. "Losing isn't the worst thing," he said gently. "You'll thank me someday. I'm going to protect you—and that includes protecting you from yourselves."
The twins didn't argue. Somewhere in their defiance, they had come to respect Cedric. Perhaps even admire him.
"You can keep reselling snacks," Cedric added with a wink. "But stay away from those stink bombs and trick toys—Mr. Filch has enough to deal with as it is."
He stood, brushing off his robes again. "I've convinced him to lighten up. Don't make me regret that."
Fred stood first. "Fine. We'll follow your lead."
George followed, clasping his brother's shoulder. "As soon as the funding comes through, we'll start planning."
Just then, a warm chime echoed in Cedric's ears.
> [Ding! You've inspired others to do good. Reward: 1 Talent Point, 2000 Experience Points!]
Cedric blinked.
That was unexpected.
He hadn't received such generous rewards even when helping Filch. Was it because the twins played a bigger role in the future? Did the importance of the person magnify the reward?
If Fred and George earned him this, what kind of reward would training Harry, Hermione, or Neville bring?
The thought made him smile. The future suddenly felt a lot brighter.
But first—sleep.
After seven consecutive nights of chasing the most elusive pranksters at Hogwarts, Cedric was beyond exhausted.
Once well-rested, he returned to his rigorous spell training routine. The days passed quietly until Filch summoned him again—this time with uncharacteristic excitement.
Inside the caretaker's cluttered office, Filch pulled out an old wand.
"Look!" he whispered, eyes gleaming.
He raised the wand and, on the third try, it emitted a faint but distinct Lumos.
"I did it!" Filch exclaimed, eyes brimming with tears. "It worked!"
Then, unexpectedly, he pulled Cedric into a tight hug.
"I have a confession," Filch said thickly. "I'm a Squib. Or—I was. But you… you changed everything!"
He stepped back, overwhelmed with emotion. "I thought I'd die a bitter, magicless man, forgotten in some dusty corridor of this castle. But you—Cedric—you brought light back into my life."
Cedric, surprised but touched, put a hand on his shoulder. "You did the work," he said with quiet pride. "I just helped light the way."
Another chime echoed in his mind:
> [Ding! Both wishes of Filch's character template have been fulfilled.]
[Reward: 300 Gold Galleons, +1 Legendary Value, 3000 Experience Points.]
[Pet Affinity raised to S-rank.]
[Card saved in card library—permanent bonus unlocked.]
Cedric's eyes widened.
The rewards were astounding—money, influence, experience, even magical affinity. But more than that, this confirmed something vital: helping characters with significance in the world brought tangible, powerful returns.
He was beginning to see the system's pattern.
The more important the person—and the greater the transformation— the bigger the reward.
What happens, Cedric wondered, when I help Harry? Or Hermione? Or even someone like Snape?
There was one last cherry on top.
When Cedric met with Professor Flitwick to ask about publishing his spell book, the Charms Master beamed with pride and offered an unexpected surprise.
But that… was
a story for another day.
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