The story of Peeves
Chapter 2 -
Goderic Gryffindor had this beautiful sword, it was his great pride. All the great wizards in that time had their own sword, given to them from father to son. This was a custom going back centuries, and it represented the family's pride. For Goderic it also represented his own courage because he slayed a lot of dangerous beasts with it and blah blah blah. So when I was thinking about something that would hurt Goderic good, it was the obvious choice. Then I started thinking how I could use the sword to prank Gryffindor. And after a fun day of in the library (I was throwing all the books out of the shelves), I accidently found the answer. Some student (a Gryffindor nota bene) was studying about magical creatures and I heard her talking to her friend about goblins. It seemed that all those old swords were actually goblin masterpieces, but that the wizards (who see goblins as lesser creatures, despite their magical skills) stole those treasures and passed them through in their families. The goblins weren't pleased about that and sought revenge for their losses. I decided to go to the Owlery to write some invitations…
After a few days, my sneaky plan went into action. It was an cold morning and everybody was just going to the Great Hall for dinner when suddenly someone knocked on the front doors of the castle, just across the Great Hall. Perfect, the more students were there to see their great idol to be embarrassed, the better. And to my great pleasure, it was Helga Hufflepuff who opened the doors. I was casually floating above the big crystal chandelier, eager to see what was going to happen. Just like all the students who were about to enter the Great Hall or just left it. It was going to be one big scene.
I heard a unpleasant voice asking Hufflepuff if mister Gryffindor was around and she looked rather surprised by the unexpected visitors. Then she nodded and sent her patronus (a badger of course) to get Gryffindor. The goblins entered the hall. They were ugly creatures really, but I knew how mean and clever they could be. One of them saw me and I saluted politely, I saw Helga watching me doing that and I made an ugly face at her. Gryffindor arrived with his usual ego and I couldn't wait for him to be in trouble. The goblins glanced evil at him, I bet they saw the sword hanging at his waist belt. Gryffindor looked with suspicion at the goblins and asked why they were visiting Hogwarts. One of the goblins smirked and pointed his long, thin finger at the sword.
"That is why we are here." he said, " we are recollecting our stolen masterpieces and that sword of yours is a goblin sword, we would like to get it back.". Gryffindor was immediately in defence-mode, hiding the sword after his back. "I fear I cannot give you this sword…euhm…gentlemen." He stuttered. It was the first time I saw the great Goderic Gryffindor in panic. It was like watching a 6 year old when he has to give up in one of his favourite toys. It was so much fun! The goblin spoke again: " Then we see no other way than to take it by force!". At this he snapped his unnaturally long fingers and Helga and Goderic were unable to move or say something. I hoped the goblins had counted on the fact that Helga and Goderic were very skilled wizards who could use non-verbal magic. Apparently not because the goblin who was walking towards Gryffindor was thrown into the air and smacked against the front doors. The students who were watching screamed and were running in panic to the main staircase. "I love chaos", I thought to myself while adjusting my orange bowtie and I smiled satisfied.
Meanwhile Goderic and Helga were able to move again and they tried to curse the goblins. The goblin-magic allowed the creatures to apparate within the school grounds so they were gone before one curse hit its aim. But a fierce voice was sounding in the hall: "Be warned, Goderic Gryffindor! For now on, every time you leave this castle, we will try to get our sword back! And we will be with more and more outraged, because no filthy wizard should ever laid his hand upon one of OUR possessions!". After this it became quiet, leaving Gryffindor shaking in his shoes. He turned around and ran up the staircase to his chambers. I chuckled in my fist. Gryffindor was really scared someone would take away his precious sword and everyone in the hall had seen him almost wetting his pants for some 'lesser creatures'.
A few weeks later, I heard that he was locking himself up in his room, determinate of not leaving the castle before the Ministry of Magic had answered his letters of complaint. I also heard he didn't wore the sword anymore but that he had hidden it in some secret place in the school (I would find out centuries later that he had hidden it in the Sorting Hat). Gryffindor had other things on his mind than stopping me from pranking the students so I was save.
At least for a while… a year later something happened that would change my rule of chaos forever…
