Chapter 13- Post-Birthday Pranks

The day of the dodgeball game I threw on some shorts, my converse and a sports bra, tying my hair in a messy bun as I ran down to the Quidditch Pitch.

Long story short, we lost. Bay, by some sort of magic, won it for Gryffindor. I was a teensy bit upset about our loss (okay, a lot upset), so after our picnic, I decided to eat the big cookie Bay had given me for my birthday and then went to bed.

When I first woke up, I felt fine. But I wasn't. I showered and got dressed like usual, met Draco in the common room and then we headed down to breakfast.

"Does my hair look okay?" He asked me as we walked.

"I think it looks dumb slicked back like that," I told him, the lie I had formulated in my head getting lost on the way to my mouth. I mean, I'd always thought that but I would never, ever, ever tell him that. Or so I thought.

"Good morning to you, too!" He stormed off in a rage. I had no idea what was happening, it was like the filter between my brain and my mouth had broken.

"Hey, Charlie? Care to join me for breakfast?" Blaise asked, falling in to step beside me.

"No," I told him bluntly, quickening my pace. He followed me.

"Why not? I'm hot." I let out a laugh.

"Because you are an insufferable, chauvinistic pig. Besides, I like..." Before I could finish, I shoved my fist into my mouth so all that came out was "Fuff Wubnub." And the truth telling didn't stop there.

"And I was like, am I really that ugly?" Oliver Wood had just finished telling a story as I sat down.

"No. I think you're sexy," I told him honestly, sitting down between Fred and Bay. As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I covered it with my hand as if that would stop the stupid from coming out.

"Um, thanks."

"Sorry about that, for some reason my brain has lost it's filter."

"It was me!" Bay blurted out. "I bought some Veritserum at the beginning of the year and put it in your cookie. I thought it would be a funny prank!" Now that I knew the problem, I could fix it. Sort of.

"Fred, silence me. Now." He did as I asked so I wouldn't say yet another thing I'd regret.

After breakfast, Bay and I went to Dumbledore. I motioned for Bay to explain our situation.

"Well, I was sick of Charlie pranking me all the time so I bought some Veritserum during the summer and put it in a cookie that I gave to Charlie for her birthday and then Fred silenced her so that she wouldn't say something stupid. I'm so so so so so so so sorry!" Bay said all in one breath. Dumbledore just chuckled.

"Seems, Miss Charlotte, that this could last around 48 hours, judging from how long it was sitting," he explained. I was screwed.

"Isn't there an antidote?" Bay's voice was feeble.

"I'm afraid you'll just have to wait it out."

"I'm so sorry, Charlie! The bottle said one hour!" Obviously, she didn't read the fine print. She was lucky I was still silenced and that we were in the presence of an adult.

"Charlotte, I'll excuse you from class if you would like." I shook my head vigorously. I did not need to miss more class than I already was, given my reading situation. "Very well. I will let you stay silenced, just present this note to your teachers." He scrawled a quick note and let Bay off with a warning, excusing us to class.

As soon as I was out of his office, I stalked away from my sister, ignoring her yells and continued to potions. After handing Sev my note, I took my seat with Marcus Flint.

"So is it true you have to answer every question you're asked?" he whispered to me, cutting up our Dirigible plums. I nodded against my will. A fourth year Hufflepuff next to us smirked and whispered to his friend, looking at us. I think his name was Timmy or something.

After class, him and his friends cornered me, taking advantage of the fact that I had to answer them.

"So, O'Reilly, hear you've gotta tell me the truth, that right?" he asked, crossing his arms. I nodded and tried to push past him to get to charms, but they followed me.

"You ever done serious damage to someone with a prank?" I nodded again. "Who?" I covered my mouth so he wouldn't see what I was saying. "Silenced, eh?" I nodded. "Guess we just have to ask yes or no questions." We reached Flitwick's room before he could ask me something else and I hurried in. "This isn't over, O'Reilly!" Without a word, I handed Flitwick my note. He nodded, gave it back and told me to take my seat. I plopped down in the desk next to Draco's.

"You okay?" he asked, momentarily forgetting this morning's drama. I handed him the note and he read it over. "I forgive you for this morning, by the way." He handed me the note back and gave me a sympathetic look before focusing on the lesson again.

Timmy, whose real name was actually Thomas, didn't bother me the rest of the day because Draco stayed by my side at all times. We had lessons with Snape that day, so we headed to his room after working on Transfiguration for a while.

The next day, a bajillion people flocked around me, asking questions. Thomas had done this, told everyone about my situation.

"Do you fancy anybody?" Pansy asked me, following Draco and I down to breakfast. I nodded.

"Is he a Slytherin?" I shook my head. "Ravenclaw?" I shook my head again. "...Hufflepuff?" I shook my head yet again. "Gryffindor?" I nodded reluctantly. "Older?" Again, I nodded. Before she could continue, Thomas came up to me.

"Having fun, O'Reilly?" he asked, a smug smile on his face. I shook my head. "Good." He gave me a lingering look before walking away.

"Hello, Charlie!" Fred said from behind me.

"We're here," George continued.

"To be,"

"Your personal,"

"Bodyguards!" they finished together. With that, they each grabbed one of my arms and one of my legs and carried me to charms. I couldn't do anything more than flail around in their tight grip, which did nothing. After every class, they were waiting for me.

While I was studying with Hermione after classes were done, Thomas asked me some inappropriate questions I'd rather not get into when I suddenly figured out I was able to lie again! I got so excited and ran to find the Twins to un-silence me. Afterwards, I gave them hugs and ran off to find Draco.

"Hey, Charlie!" he greeted me, looking up from the Wizard's chess game he was playing with Blaise.

"Draco, guess what?" I asked. Before he could reply, I continued. "I can lie again!" He jumped up and hugged me, knocking over the chess board in the process.

"Hello, I still exist!" Blaise yelled angrily.

"Wish you didn't!" I shouted at him as he walked away.

"Prove it to me," Draco demanded. "Lie. What's your name?"

"Agnes McFurgensnuffles. Now come on! We've got revenge to make!" I grabbed his wrist and dragged him behind me to an empty potions lab in the dungeons. I flitted around, singing and gathering ingredients, ordering Draco around.

"Put the flobberworms in! Now, before it turns yellow!" I shrieked, chipping up the Gurdyroot. He did as I said without a word. We stayed there the majority of the night, brewing and plotting until our trap was set.

The next morning, we walked confidently into the great hall and took our seats, waiting for the potion to take effect on my sister and Thomas.

I heard it about five minutes later, two girlish screams. The potion we had made caused their mouths to burn uncontrollably whenever they tried to speak. Bay was rather angry but me, but I found her anger amusing. And Thomas was furious.

All in all, t'was a good day. Until I got detention. (Even then it wasn't that bad)