Chapter 13: Valentine's Day

Isabella spent most of her vacation working on her assignments, which included a foot long essay for Herbology about crucial root developments in healing plants. She saw Al and Rosie once more before they returned home because they all had such hectic schedules, well, Al and Rosie did. When they got back to Hogwarts, it was as if they never left.

One late Thursday night, the trio was sitting in front of the common room fire working on a Potions essay due the next day.

"I told you guys at least 20 times to get this done in small sections so you wouldn't have to do it late the day before." said Rosie in a very matter-of-fact-ly voice.

"Oh shut it." said Isabella. "We had Quidditch practice all week and you just went to the library every night."

"Well, that isn't my fault that you all had Quidditch practice and I didn't." said Rosie.

"It's your fault you're so bloody clumsy." muttered Al.

"Hey!" snapped Rosie. "That is an unfair accusation!"

"I can't believe you just said 'unfair accusation!'" said Isabella, she rolled over in laughter. "That's priceless! Who says that?"

"Ugh, you need to be focusing!" said Rosie.

"No, I think you should be helping us with this paper!" said Al.

"Ask Isabella, she has the same grades I do." snapped Rosie.

"But Rosie." whined Isabella. "I don't want too." she dragged out each syllable.

"Iz, you should focus more if you want to become Head Girl one day or even a Prefect."

"Who said that I want to be walking around with a stick up my butt like some of the current Prefects do." said Isabella. "And besides, I break too many rules to be a good Prefect."
"You break rules?" asked Rosie.

"Yeah, yesterday me and Al set off dungbombs in Filch's office and blamed it on two third year Slytherins that hexed Elliot earlier in the week." explained Isabella. "And I've done other stuff too."

"Yeah, she can be a bit of a badass." said Al.

"I think what you called being a 'badass' was Isabella standing up for her friend." said Rosie. "All I see is Isabella and you being extremely loyal."

Al and Isabella looked to each other then said in unison, "Nah, just badass."

"Ugh, do you want me to help you or not?" asked Rosie.

"Yes please." Al and Isabella whined together.

The following Friday was Valentine's Day, and the entire week the whole castle was filled with pink and red frilly heart decorations.

"I hate Valentine's Day." said James as he angrily threw his books down on the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall the Thursday before Valentine's Day at lunch.

"Why?" asked Isabella, looking up from her Transfiguration notes.

"All these girls keep throwing themselves at me today." explained James. "Girls I don't even know are coming up to me and asking me out to Hogsmeade this weekend!"

"Aw, is the big bad Gryffindor boy scared of the little girlies?" Al said in a baby voice.

"Shut it, I don't even know what they see in me, well, besides my dashing good looks." said James.

"And your selfless personality." said Isabella. "Look, being honest, the girls just think that you are a rebel, good looking Quidditch player."

"So you think all that about me Evans?" asked James. "Should I be expecting your invitation soon?"

"Yes, an invitation to your funeral if you don't shut your mouth in the next five second." snapped Isabella.

"Ow, sensitive." said James.

"So are you saying yes to any of these girls or what?" asked Rosie.

"Probably not, no one that I really like has asked me, so I think I'll just go with Annie and Jason."

"Jason is that guy you set dungbombs off with right?" asked Isabella.

"Yup." said James. "He is my brotha form anotha motha." he tried to say in an American accent.

The others laughed. "Fail." mumbled Isabella.

"Any way, word of advice for tomorrow." said James. "Make sure you get to lunch on time tomorrow. We don't want anyone thinking that you were up too no good." then he got up and left.

"What's his problem?" Rosie.

"Prank." said Al.

"Really big one at that." finished Isabella.

"I swear, you two." Rosie pointed at the two of them who were sitting across from her. "And him." she pointed to James who was now talking to Annie right outside the Great Hall. "Will be the death of me."

"Don't be such a Drama Queen." said Isabella. "I'm sure that it won't be anything big."

The next day, Isabella, Al, and Rosie all arrived at lunch on time. So far the trio had managed to stay under the radar when it came to Valentine's. Each of them only got chocolates from each other and from Victoire that she got from admirers but they threw those out in case of them being spiked with a love potion.

They sat down at their usual seats with the other first year Gryffindors and at the time there was no sign of any major pranking plot. But if Isabella knew James, which she did, it was going to something elaborate and unexpected.

"When is it going to happen?" Isabella whispered to Al.

"I don't know, but it better happen soon, lunch is almost over." said Al.

Then, the plates all cleared themselves, and an unopened envelope appeared on each plate. Al and Isabella looked to each other and then to Rosie, they all knew what this was.

As everyone else in the Great Hall opened up the envelopes and while the trio opened theirs cautiously; then there was a massive explosion from the Slytherin table. Everyone seating there was now completely pink and had stream in the shape of hearts coming out of their ears. While at all the other tables, the envelopes were all mini explosions with little red and pink streamers.

Hogwarts was laughing at the fun little prank. Then all the streamers came together in the air and spelled out:

Happy Valentine's Day, Chaps! Sincerely Prongsie Jr. and Gang.

As the Hall laughed hysterically, Isabella watched out of the corner of her eye, James, Annie, and Jason sneaking back into the Great Hall. She cracked a smile.

"They really out done themselves." said Al.

"I didn't think James was smart enough to do that." said Isabella.

"Well, consider who my granddad and uncles are, I think it is quite possible." said Al. Isabella laughed.

McGonagall stormed into the Great Hall and everyone fell silent. She stuck her wand up in the air and there was a loud pop. She had vanished the streamers and she looked furious.

"Whoever is responsible for this or had any knowledge of who is, I ask them to come see me in my office anytime; it is always open." she said. "And whoever is responsible for this I ask them to say so now or face dyer consequences when we find out who did. Now for all Slytherin students, please report to the infirmary to get the counter-spell for the curse."

As the Slytherins left the Hall, Isabella leaned over the table to Rosie. "So are you going to go rat out your cousin tonight or in the morning?"

Al snickered and Rosie glared at him. "I don't know what you are talking about? I never said that I would do something like that."

"Oh come on, you'd do anything to help boost you chances to be Head Girl, even as a first year." said Al.

"That is so not true." snapped Rosie. "But I do think that we should tell Professor McGonagall."

"No, no we shouldn't." said Isabella. "If we do then James, Annie, and Jason could get into serious trouble."

"But they turned everyone in Slytherin pink!" said Rosie.

"So? McGonagall-"

"Professor McGonagall." said Rosie.

"McGonagall will probably suspend James from the team and Annie will probably not be a loud to commentate the matches anymore." said Al. "Do you really want that?"

"I guess not, but when I'm a Prefect, they won't be able to get away with that kind of stuff." said Rosie, and then she got up and left.

"I love how she said when instead of if." said Isabella.

"That's Rosie, she really wants to be just like her mum." explained Al. "My Uncle Ron says all the time that when Aunt Hermione was at school she add a stick up her butt like that too. Aunt Hermione was the top of her class, Rosie and you are tied. Aunt Hermione was a Prefect; Rosie wants to be a Prefect. Do you see the pattern?"

"How do you they are just very much alike?" asked Isabella. "That's what it seems like to me."

"Well, that's just a possibility but it's more than that, I'm afraid." said Al.

"You're ridiculous." said Isabella.

"Maybe so." said Al. "But, at least I'm not mental."

"You just don't hear me when I say that." joked Isabella.

"What?"

"I didn't say anything."

"Yes you did! I heard you say something!"
"Oh, c'mon, you're mental."

"That's what you said!"

"What did I say exactly?"

"Are you serious?"

"No I'm pretty sure that that's James' middle name not mine."

"Ugh, I give up!" said Al throwing his hands up in defeat.

"That's what I thought." said Isabella.

"Why must you use your brilliance for evil?"

"Because it gets you to admit I'm brilliant." Isabella cracked a smile and took a bug bite of her apple.

This Chapter is kinda random, I used to more as a chapter to show you more of each character's personality and the relationship between Al, Isabella, and Rose. I also really like how Isabella is a mix of a prankster, a bookworm, and a jock. She is definitely a well rounded character. I like Al and Rosie too because they are very much like their parents but at the same time they aren't... yeah... oh and Prongsie Jr. just kinda popped into my head one night while I was working on my trig homework soo I hope you like that reference! Review as always and thank you for reading! And sorry its such a short chapter, chapter 12 kinda makes up for it!

~Rachel 3