Authoress' Note: Nothin' to say. Just put this in out of habit. Haha… Oh, wait. I thought of something. This chapter is in third person. Gah. Switching POV obsessively is a problem of mine… I'm even getting annoyed with it. Let me know in a review if it's just too much. The chapter just seemed to flow better in Narrator POV.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, settings, etc. I am not making any money off of this. (How would that even work? "I'll pay you if you write a fanfiction for me." What the heck? Who does that? That might be a cool job, though… Sorry. Getting distracted. Anyway… )

Chapter 3: Strike Back

Tuesday, shortly after dinnertime

Nalani smiled to herself. This was perfect. She could finally pay Malfoy back for all the nasty things he and all his stupid Slytherin friends had said yesterday about her family.

Nalani crept along the dungeon passageway. Ron and Harry apparently knew exactly where the Slytherin common room was. She shook her head. She had decided not to even bother asking just how they knew this. Chances were she was better off not knowing.

Nalani ducked into a small alcove and crouched down, carefully watching the corridor. She had timed it so that dinner was just ending. This way she could sneak down and spy on a Slytherin returning to their common room. She would get the password and come back tomorrow during lunch for the real plan to begin. She grinned again. This would be fun.

Just then she saw a pair of Slytherins walk past and pause in front of an empty wall. One of them said "Serpent." The hidden door slid open and the Slytherins disappeared.

Concealed in her shadowy corner, Nalani rolled her eyes. "Serpent". How original. She waited a few more minutes to make sure she wouldn't be caught, then slipped out of the alcove and headed back upstairs. She knew the password, now all she needed was a quick trip to Hagrid's…

Wednesday, during breakfast

Nalani and Hermione walked into the Great Hall and sat down next to Harry and Ron at the Gryffindor table.

Nalani leaned in, her hazel eyes looking gray in the dim light from the moody enchanted ceiling overhead. She kept her voice low, looking pleased. "Guess what. I got the password."

Hermione looked suspicious. "The password for what, exactly?"

Ron and Harry exchanged looks. "Nalani, didn't you tell her?"

Nalani shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "I was planning on it. Kinda."

Hermione's brown eyes narrowed. "Tell me what?"

"Well…I know how to get back at Malfoy." It still felt weird calling most people by their last names, but Nalani was starting to get used to it.

"Oh, no. Is this some kind of revenge plot?"

"Just a little one." Nalani sounded defensive. "He deserves it, trust me. You didn't even hear what he and his stupid friends said outside Transfiguration."

Hermione sighed. "Does this plan of yours at least follow the school rules?"

Nalani fidgeted. "Um…"

Ron spoke up. "Well, if you don't get caught, it's not breaking the rules."

Hermione shook her head. "That attitude explains so much."

Nalani somehow managed to make it through their morning lessons. She tapped her fingers impatiently all through History of Magic. Not that Professor Binns was ever interesting, but still. Today was even worse than usual. Then they had Defense Against the Dark Arts…

In Umbridge's classroom, Nalani slumped in her seat. "Someone needs to push her into the lake," she whispered to Harry.

"No talking, please! And Miss Montenegro, if you would be so kind as to sit up straight?" Umbridge chirped, in her sickeningly sweet voice.

Nalani glared but reluctantly complied.

"Thank you. Now, if you will all begin reading the next chapter in your books? There will be no need to talk."

Nalani sighed. Forty-five more minutes. Her revenge had better work, because so far today sucked.

Lunchtime

Nalani walked back up the lawn from Hagrid's hut, waited until everyone had gone into the Great Hall for lunch, then slipped back into the castle. She tugged lightly on the leather strap in her hand and quietly crept into the passage that led to the Slytherin common room.

She whispered the password and stepped into the room…and promptly wrinkled her nose. She wasn't a big fan of the whole dank-depressing-dungeon style. She looked around and spotted a pair of staircases. She started walking, then hesitated. Which was the boys'? Nalani shrugged. Might as well just try one. She climbed up one of the staircases until she saw a door marked "Fifth Years" and walked in. She glanced over and saw a school trunk with the name Malfoy engraved in fancy silver letters. She snorted. Well, she was definitely in the right dormitory. She smiled and carefully untied the makeshift leash from the collar, allowing the niffler to begin exploring the room.

Nalani hurried back upstairs to the Great Hall and grabbed a seat with her friends.

"Well?" Harry asked.

She shrugged. "The niffler's in the common room. The rest is up to him. I'm just glad Hagrid still had a niffler left from when you guys were in fourth year."

Hermione looked disapproving. "Harry, you shouldn't be encouraging Nalani to break the rules! Just because you and Malfoy are sworn enemies or something doesn't give you the right to get other people in trouble!"

"It wasn't my idea!" Harry said indignantly. "Why does everyone always assume it's me?"

Ron shrugged. "Because it usually is?"

Nalani snickered.

Hermione gave up. "Come on, we're going to be late for Potions."

Nalani stood up and grabbed her bag, smiling. For once she was looking forward to Potions class.

Potions class

Nalani sat down and watched the classroom door, forcing herself to act calm and not betray her excitement. It was a pity technology didn't work at Hogwarts; a video of this could be priceless. After only a few minutes, Draco Malfoy came storming into the classroom. Snape looked up.

Malfoy looked furious. "Professor! Someone snuck a niffler into the boys' dormitory!"

Snape raised his eyebrows. "When did this happen?"

"Lunchtime. No one was in the common room at the time so it wasn't noticed until we went back to pick up the books we needed, and the stupid thing destroyed everything in the room."

By this time the entire class was listening. Snape glanced around. "Very well. Sit down, it will be taken care of and the culprit punished."

Whispers started all around the classroom. Snape's black eyes glittered dangerously. "Enough. You will all begin the potion written up on the board, in silence."

Malfoy still didn't look satisfied, but he only scowled and took his seat. "I know it was you," he snapped.

Nalani looked at him. "What are you talking about?" she said innocently.

"Don't play dumb. Not that you aren't good at it," he sneered. "You realize you will probably be expelled. I know it was you or your stupid friends."

She shrugged. "Prove it."

Malfoy glared at her. "Don't worry, I will."

Authoress' Note: I think this is my longest chapter yet! Or at least close. I'm so proud of myself, haha. Please let me know in a review how you liked it. Constructive criticism is welcome. If you like it, please review and say what you liked. Next update should probably be by next weekend.

Oh, and I have no idea what Harry, Hermione, and Ron's schedule is for Friday mornings in their fifth year, so I just guessed. Sorry If anyone DOES know what it is, please let me know in a review, it is much appreciated!

Rosy-Fingered-Dawn