After her conversation with the twins and Lee about initiation, Beca had made her way back to the tower and up to bed. She couldn't help but think over all of her professors and which it would be best to prank. In the end, she crossed out a few. Quirrell was off the list as the man seemed to be enough of a stuttering mess without being pranked by students. McGonagall was definitely off the list. No student in their right mind would dare to face her wrath. Professor Sprout was off the list as well. She was far too kind to everyone to deserve such treatment. The only teacher she could think of that everyone would love to see pranked was Snape.

He was the perfect one. He had been mean to her and her friends all year round. No to mention to the other Gryffindors as well. She had no doubt that the twins had pranked him before, but she figured this just made it a sort of rite of passage if you could pull it off. Now all she needed was to find something funny but harmless to do.

# # #

It was Friday afternoon when Beca approached McGonagall. She had read about a spell that could change the appearance of something into something of your choosing. However, she didn't know the incantation properly and wanted McGonagall's expertise in transfiguration as a guidance. The class had just been dismissed and it was lunch time, so nobody was left in the room except for her and the professor. McGonagall was clearing papers on her desk and hadn't yet noticed that she was still in the room. Just as she went to speak and announce her presence, McGonagall turned around and was startled to find her there.

"Oh! Miss Jefferson," She said. "I didn't see you there. How may I help you?"

"Well, I was wondering," she started and it quickly turned into a mumbling rant, which the professor caught nothing. "…and so, um, I need help with it."

McGonagall stared for a couple of seconds before recovering herself enough to say something. She knew Rebecca was shy, and it was a first that her daughter had approached her. She was thrilled that she had come to her for help, not that she could freely show her contentment.

"I'm sorry, could you say that again," She asked. "Perhaps, a little slower."

Rebecca nodded and took a breath. Minerva, although happy, was disappointed that she was making Rebecca nervous. Not disappointed at Rebecca, but at herself, for having such a steel cold reputation amongst the students. Rebecca was probably afraid of her reaction.

"There was this spell," She started much slower and clearer. "It was one that allowed you to change the colour of an object of your choice."

"Ah, yes," She couldn't help but interrupt. "I know which one you mean, but don't you think that it's a little bit tricky for yourself?"

Rebecca flushed and looked at her feet, and mumbled out, "I almost had it last night, but I think my wand movements are wrong."

Minerva raised her eyebrows in surprise at her, some of her third-year classes still had trouble with that, and the second years that she introduced it to, certainly did. Although surprised, she was overjoyed that Rebecca could almost do it. She had to contain herself before she leapt on the poor girl with a hug because she was proud of her.

"I see." She responded with instead. "If you like, I would be more than willing to help you."

She watched as the younger witch's face lit up. She chuckled to herself and admired the way it made her daughter look.

"Yes please, Professor."

"Meet me here in my classroom, tomorrow after breakfast."

That being said, Rebecca nodded her head vigorously and rushed from the classroom. She was glad that she was enthused to learn magic, but something seemed off about the way she reacted. No one, in her very long teaching career, ever looked that enthusiastic about meeting with a teacher on a Saturday morning. It left her puzzled, but as long as Rebecca was happy then so was she.

# # #

It was the next morning and Becca was sat with Mione eating breakfast. Rebecca was on the look-out for the twins. She was hoping to brag a little about her help from McGonagall, but if she couldn't find them she supposed she could do without. Hermione and she had already discussed what they were doing today. Becca had lied a little and told Hermione that she was hanging out with the twins after breakfast. She was hoping to avoid rousing Hermione's suspicions that she was up to something. Hermione seemed to have a built-in mischief radar, and as much as Becca loved the girl, her strict rule following could annoy her sometimes. She needed to loosen up a bit.

When she finished eating, she downed the rest of her orange juice and left the hall. She had looked towards the top table to check that McGonagall had finished as well before she left. She made her way down the corridors to McGonagall's classrooms. Rebecca became nervous as she always does when she had to speak with teachers. Although these feelings seemed amplified when she had to talk to McGonagall. There was something about the woman that drew Rebecca to her. She had a feeling that she was going to be someone she could rely on.

She knocked as confidently as she could on the classroom door, which meant the knock was small and almost inaudible. The professor heard it though, and the door was opened. Rebecca smiled shyly at the professor; she was feeling embarrassed about her confidence in pointing out her professor's relationship. Now that she was faced with the professor alone for the first time, excluding their conversation Friday, she wasn't sure how she should act.

# # #

Hermione had been wondering all day about why Rebecca had lied to her this morning. She supposed that it had something to do with the twins, though she wasn't entirely sure. Rebecca had been looking for them at breakfast, but didn't seem too bothered about finding them. Hermione hadn't been able to quell her curiosity about what Becca was up to. She had followed her after she left breakfast, and had seen her going to Professor McGonagall. Since then she hadn't seen her all day. It wasn't quite tea time yet, and Hermione was hoping that her friend would reappear before then. She was too curious about what Beca had gone to McGonagall for. It certainly wasn't for help with school work. Rebecca was the top of the class along with herself.

She stood and dropped the book she had been trying to read on the bedside table. She stretched and walked to the door of the dorm. Just as she reached for the handle the door was opened from the other side. Hermione was faced with a smiling Rebecca who looked particularly mischievous.

"Oh, Mione!" She said as she realised who she almost walked into.

"What are you planning?" Hermione asked her.

"What?" Rebecca asked indigently. "Just because I'm happy doesn't mean I'm planning something."

Hermione hummed in disbelief, while raising her eyebrows at her friend, "So what's up with McGonagall then?". Hermione decided to try a different approach.

"What do you mean?" Rebecca asked sounding defensive.

Hermione huffed which was not something that Rebecca was used to being on the receiving end of. This action was usually saved for Harry and Ron, though it tended to be aimed at Ron more often than not.

"Why did you go and see her today? You said you were going to the library." Hermione looked at Rebecca with narrow eyes. It was almost as scary as Mrs Weasley's, but not quite.

"I, um…" Rebecca fumbled for something. She didn't want to tell Hermione that she had gone to learn a spell that wasn't on their syllabus; she had never bothered with those before. That and after Hermione learned what it was, she would probably figure out that she really was planning something.

"You don't have to answer that…" Hermione suddenly realised that maybe she had been too intrusive. It could have been about a personal matter. McGonagall was their head of year and the go to person for anything important. She cringed on the inside, now feeling guilty about having been trying to pry.

Seeing the guilty look on Hermione's face, Rebecca relaxed now that Hermione had stopped grilling her. She knew that she would also feel bad if she didn't tell her what happened, so she settled for a half truth.

"McGonagall and I had tea in her office. She was showing me some books on transfiguration which she thought I might like. She said you'd be welcome to ask her about any book she has, as well." It was true. All of this had happened. She just left out the fact that before this she had been teaching her the spell that she needed to complete her mission from the twins.

"Oh, that sounds wonderful." Hermione felt better knowing it hadn't been serious, and the mention of books helped a great deal too. "I bet she has loads!"

Rebecca nodded. McGonagall had indeed had lots and lots of books. The shelves in her office had contained a fair few, but McGonagall had also shown her her personal library. It was crammed with floor to ceiling bookshelves, and none of them had had space for any more books. Hermione would probably spend all day looking around it. Then she would probably need the whole year to read them all.

# # #

It was a Wednesday evening and she had finally plucked up the courage to complete her mission. The twins and Lee had been waiting patiently for her to complete her task, and by patiently she meant bugging her every chance they got to tell her to hurry up. The plan was all set-in place. She had told Hermione that she was going to the library to read, but not to study to read fictional books. Hermione had declined as she hoped when she learned that there wasn't much chance of having any practice of spells with her. She had then told Hermione to meet her halfway to the Great Hall for dinner. This would mean that she had an hour to complete her task.

She had also managed to convince Harry to lend her the invisibility cloak. It had taken her a lot of begging, to just trust her. Harry had held his ground, and she had had to tell him what she was doing, and then swore him to secrecy. He promised not to tell anyone or Hermione what she was planning. Not even Ron.

So here she was sneaking her way down to the dungeons under the invisibility cloak, checking regularly that no one was coming. When she made it to the door of the potions classroom she could hear two voices. Professor Snape and the other was…Dumbledore! She backed away from the door in slight panic. This had not been something she planned for. If Dumbledore caught her she was sure to get in trouble. He seemed like a kind man, but that didn't mean he wouldn't be stern when it was needed. She flattened herself against the wall opposite the door as much as possible. She would have to hope that neither of them noticed her. There was a chance that they would notice her, as they were both intelligent men used to spotting anything even remotely out of place.

Dumbledore came out of the classroom first with Snape stood in the doorway. For a moment Dumbledore paused in what he was saying and looked straight at her. Snape was suddenly on alert and looking at the wall she was stood in front of searching for her. She held her breath and stood as still as possible. It wasn't hard to stay still though, her limbs seemed to have locked in place from fear.

"What is it?" Snape demanded to know.

"I thought I saw…" Dumbledore was facing away from Snape as a look of realisation overtook his features. "Never mind, must have been Peeves."

Dumbledore then turned back to Snape and continued their conversation while starting to walk away, down the corridor. Snape followed Dumbledore as he went. When Dumbledore passed just in front of Rebecca who held her breath tighter than before, he winked discreetly in her direction. She had almost missed it, and would have sworn she was seeing things if it hadn't been for the lingering twinkle of mischief in his eyes.

A/N:

I'm really, really, really sorry for leaving this story for so long. I had exams which was why I didn't update in June, and then I kind of just lost my groove a little, but I'm back. Hopefully I will never leave a story update that long again.