Help! The twins and the bet

[quigonginger]

No: HPFGUIDX 87777

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "kneazelkid" <afleitas at b...> 
wrote:
> I can't find the answer by searching the posts, so I was hoping 
> someone could help me. It's driving me bonkers.
> Question: In GoF, how did the twins know the outcome of the game? 
Has 
> this ever been decided? Did I just miss it?
> Thanks,
> Kneazelkid

Ginger chimes in with an off the wall suggestion:

Others have given some very sane observations.  I especially like 
those that base the winning on good old fashioned study of the game.

So here's an answer from left field that popped into my head:

We know the twins are gathering all kinds of interesting things for 
their joke shop products.  Doxy droppings, Venemous Tentacula seeds, 
and who knows what else.  They take these things and, with the 
addition of some pretty nifty charm work, make them into something 
else useful.

In the reading of responses, I have come across "bets" "wagers" 
and "speculative ventures" which, brought to mind the Mackled 
Malaclaw (FB p. 28 US).  To quote:

The Malaclaw's bite has the unusual side effect of making the victim 
unlucky for a period of up to a week after the injury.  If you are 
bitten by a Malaclaw, all bets, wagers, and speculative ventures 
should be cancelled, as they are sure to go against the victim.
End quote.

So, let's suppose that F&G have been tinkering with this and have 
found the antidote.  Then before the Big Match they dosed themselves 
with it.  (Or if you want ESE!F&G, they gave out sweets laced with 
Malaclaw drool to everyone else who was betting.  Although, that's a 
long shot.)  

They seem to have good luck throughout in their ventures.  The 
exception being expelled from Quidditch.  Maybe they thought taking 
it before a sporting event wasn't very sporting of them. :-)

Just throwing that out, Ginger