Late on their birthday, Severus hugged the sleepy-eyed twins tightly, handed them ample funds, and returned to Hogwarts, rubbing his tired eyes.
Days later, Luis and Sofia tucked their Hogwarts acceptance letters into their bags, dressed in matching outfits, and used Floo Powder to arrive at Diagon Alley. Their father, tied up with classes, couldn't join them. But shopping alone was old hat for them—they didn't bother begging him to come along.
Before buying wands, robes, or uniforms, they made a beeline for Gambol and Japes' Joke Shop. To them, the most essential items for Hogwarts were found here—a glimpse into their mischievous natures.
Among the dazzling array of products, a flashing sign reading "New Arrivals!" caught their eye. They rushed over, inspecting the items with wide-eyed curiosity.
"Hiebie Bombs!" Luis exclaimed.
"And this one's… Meramera Bombs!" Sofia added.
"Hmm, which one's better…?" Luis mused.
Though Severus had given them plenty of money, they couldn't spend it all here. As they debated which prank was more fun, a shock of fiery red hair popped up behind them.
"Little witches and wizards! Need help?" one voice said.
"Our pick's the Hiebie Bomb!" another chimed.
Startled, Luis and Sofia spun around. Two redheaded twins grinned mischievously, but upon seeing Luis and Sofia's near-identical faces, all four paused, exchanging surprised looks.
"Are you two twins?" one asked.
"Yep! And judging by you, you're twins too, right? Otherwise, that'd be weird!" Sofia replied.
Despite their gender difference, Luis and Sofia looked strikingly similar. Their hair and eye colors varied, but their gleeful expressions were mirror-like—almost like a second-player palette swap in a Muggle video game. The redheaded twins, identical down to their fiery hair, were the quintessential twin duo.
"I'm George Weasley," one said.
"I'm Fred Weasley," the other added.
They ducked behind a shelf, reappearing with impish grins. "Now, who's who?" they asked, arms spread wide.
Luis and Sofia glanced at each other, then smirked. "Right's Fred, left's George!" they answered in unison, brimming with confidence.
Stunned by the instant—and correct—guess, Fred and George whooped, clapping the twins' shoulders.
"Wow! Even our parents mix us up sometimes!" Fred said.
"How'd you know? Gut feeling?" George asked.
"'Cause, George, you've got something on your nose!" Luis said, giggling and pointing.
George and Fred exchanged looks, shrugging dramatically.
"What're your names?" George asked, wiping his nose with his sleeve.
They'd have noticed twins like these before—probably first-years, like their brother.
"I'm Sofia Prince," Sofia said.
"I'm Luis Prince," Luis added.
Mimicking the Weasleys, they hid behind a shelf, reemerging with cheeky grins. "Now, who's who?" they asked, arms wide.
Though their faces were similar, Sofia's long, wavy hair reached her waist, while Luis's short, neat hair was distinctly boyish. No one could mistake them. Fred and George pointed confidently.
"You're Sofia," Fred said.
"And you're Luis," George added.
"Correct!" the twins cheered.
It was obvious, but Fred and George's baffled expressions sent Luis and Sofia into fits of laughter, clutching their sides.
Seeing their amusement, Fred and George realized they'd been teased but recognized the twins' sharp humor and prankster spirit. Laughing, they threw arms around Luis and Sofia's shoulders.
"You've got some serious mischief in you!" George said.
"Honored!" Sofia replied, puffing out her chest and flashing a defiant, devilish grin. George whistled, impressed.
"Can't wait for you to join Hogwarts!" Fred said.
"I wanna get there already!" Luis replied.
Fred ruffled Luis's soft, reddish hair, so like his own. Luis giggled, tickled but delighted, his eyes narrowing with joy.
The four roamed the shop, plotting pranks and dreaming of the chaos they'd unleash at Hogwarts. The Weasleys' hearts raced at the thought of a livelier school year, while Luis and Sofia's excitement for Hogwarts soared, fueled by meeting kindred pranksters.
A woman, likely their mother, called out. Fred and George sighed theatrically, reluctant to leave but wary of her wrath. Luis and Sofia parted with them, bought the recommended prank items, and, grinning ear to ear, finally headed to buy school supplies.
At Ollivanders, towering shelves lined with wand boxes stretched to the ceiling, some near the top draped in cobwebs, hinting at years without an owner. The shop, ancient since before the Common Era, housed wands waiting millennia for their match.
"Wow… so many," Luis murmured.
"Where's my wand…?" Sofia wondered.
Overwhelmed by the sheer number, they whispered in awe.
"Well, well… young witches and wizards, already shopping for wands?" Ollivander said, peering from behind a shelf, his large eyes studying them with interest.
They nodded proudly, beaming. "Yup, we're eleven now!" Luis said.
"Here for our wands!" Sofia added.
"Good, good. Let's start with the young lady," Ollivander said, descending a ladder. He tossed a measuring tape, which magically stretched to measure Sofia's body as she gaped.
"Wand arm?" he asked.
"Right!" Sofia said, raising her hand eagerly.
Ollivander nodded, pulling a box from a teetering stack—ignoring the avalanche it caused—and opened it to reveal a dark wand. "Thestral hair, oak, 23 centimeters. Versatile and easy to use. Give it a wave."
Sofia gripped it and flicked. Boxes toppled from the upper shelves with a clatter. Startled, she froze as Ollivander swiftly reclaimed the wand, handing her another.
"Not quite right. Sakura wood, unicorn horn, a bit rigid," he said.
She waved again. A vase on the desk exploded, shards scattering. Luis, nearby, yelped, brushing off water and debris. Ollivander, unfazed—broken furniture must be routine—took the wand and vanished to fetch another.
"…Will we find it?" Sofia asked.
"What if we have to try every wand in here?" Luis said.
"Hmm…" Sofia sighed, eyeing the endless shelves.
"We'd need sleeping bags," she quipped.
They tried wand after wand, but none suited Sofia. Ollivander's eyes gleamed with excitement, his grin almost sinister—he hadn't seen such a challenging match in ages. But as the shop took a beating with each failed wave, Luis and Sofia grew weary—and bored.
"Is this gonna take much longer?" Sofia asked, rubbing her tired arm.
Dusk was creeping in, and they hadn't bought robes or textbooks. They'd need another trip—especially since Luis's wand was still to come.
"Hmm… you're twins, yes?" Ollivander said.
"Yes, I'm Sofia, he's Luis," she replied.
"Aha!" Ollivander clapped, wading through scattered boxes to retrieve a larger one from the back. He dusted it off and opened it carefully.
"You, Luis, come here," he said.
"Me?" Luis, slumped in a chair, perked up and joined Sofia.
Ollivander handed Sofia a wand, then drew an identical one for Luis. "Now, wave them—together."
They locked eyes, then waved in sync. Silver light burst from the wands, swirling around them like joyful sparks celebrating their match.
"Oh! To meet these wands' chosen in my lifetime…" Ollivander said, beaming with awe.
The twins gazed at the glossy black wands, eyes shining.
"These are crafted from a cedar tree split at the root, forming twin branches—a rare feat," Ollivander said. "The lady's wand uses a Snallygaster heartstring core, 25 centimeters, quite whimsical. The boy's has a Snallygaster fang core, loyal only to its master. Brother wands from the same creature are rare, but twin wands from the same wood? Truly exceptional."
"Perfect for us!" Luis said, his face alight with pride at owning twin wands.
"If you knew we were twins, we might've found them sooner," Sofia teased.
Ollivander shook his head. "These twin wands are alike yet opposite, full of contradictions. Only exceptional twins can wield them. Many have tried and failed."
The twins tilted their heads, not fully grasping but thrilled to have their wands. Finally free, they paid, grabbed uniforms at Madam Malkin's just before closing, and returned home, collapsing on the sofa, exhausted.
"Ugh, I'm beat," Sofia groaned.
"Yeah, but meeting Fred and George was awesome!" Luis said.
"Totally! Hogwarts just got more exciting!" Sofia agreed.
They thought of the redheaded twins, exchanged glances, and giggled.