AN: I'm pretty sure this story has almost no readers, but to all of those (no matter how few of you there are), thanks for reading, and persisting.
'What are they?'
Padma pointed up at the luggage rack.
The inhabitants of the compartment looked up at her.
Anthony grinned sheepishly, while Ernie puffed out his chest proudly. Hannah blushed, as did Susan, while Justin fiddled with his wand.
Terry simply directed his gaze in the direction she indicated, before answering her question.
'To be honest, I'm not really sure. Ladies, gentlemen, any suggestions?'
Padma raised an eyebrow at him.
'Well, to me, they look like three engorged Flobberworms in school uniform, Slytherin uniforms, to be exact.'
'An excellent description, Miss Patil. Let's take a vote, then. All in favour of naming the aforementioned-'
'It's not funny, Boot!'
'Since when were we on a last-name basis? I'm hurt, Pad!'
'You started it! Someone, please, tell me...wait, could it be...no, you wouldn't dare!'
'Although I am relatively certain most people wouldn't understand what you just said, we did indeed hex and jinx Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. How we ended up with that effect, I don't know, but it may be worth investigating...'
Padma just stared at Terry and the others.
'What if you get into trouble? Did you think at all when you did that? You can't exactly turn people into goodness-knows-what without consequences!'
Anthony spoke up, fiddling with his Prefect Badge absentmindedly.
'Umm...to be honest, Padma, they started it.'
Hannah piped up.
'They attacked Harry!'
Ernie gave his account.
'So being the loyal D.A. members that we are, we went to his aid.'
Justin grinned.
'And the end result is on display in the luggage rack.'
'So therefore, Pad, you can relax, because we have a very good case in our defence.'
Padma sighed, and sat down between Anthony and Terry, who handed her a Chocolate Frog.
'You should go into Magical Law, Terry...but really, I leave you all here for only an hour to go talk to Vati, and return to find that you've jinxed three people beyond recognition! And Tony, Ernie, Hannah, you're Prefects!'
Susan smiled wryly.
'Considering all the school rules we've broken this year, I don't think you Prefects are the most rule-abiding anyway.'
Terry nodded.
'She's got a point, Pad.'
Padma huffed, biting into her Chocolate Frog.
'Well, at least you all did something interesting. I had to listen to Vati and Lavender go on and on about that new Divination teacher, Firenze.'
Justin leaned over to Terry, whispering conspiratorially.
'I don't know about you, but I'd take hexing Malfoy and company over giggling girls any day.'
