Disclaimers: See Chapter 1 for more info.
Acknowledgements: To LOTCR, for inspiring me to write this story and its series. To DoctorWhovian18, for her ideas on pranking, ideas on other things about the story, her advice and helpfulness, and the list go on. Also, I'd like to thank DoctorWhovian18 for her ideas for the next two chapters and since it was becoming too long, I had to move some of her ideas for upcoming scenes, same day, to the next chapter. I'd also like to thank ValueMyHeart for reviewing, following, and favoriting this story. To all my readers who are favoriting, following, and reviewing this story.
Guest Reviews
LOTCR: I love playing LEGO The Lord of the Rings, too! I enjoy playing it so much that I'm doing a fanfic with the same title and a sub-title; I'm hoping my fanfic stays true to the spirit of LEGO. -Merry and Pippin dump a box of confetti on me and Frodo. Frodo charges after the two hobbits- Boy, Merry and Pippin sure are getting rowdy.
Frodo: I AM happy! –gives a wide, cheeky grin- Those two chapters were nice. –sighs peacefully-
Okay, Frodo. –Frodo looks at me weird.- What?
Frodo: -waves his hand around- Never mind.
Well, I would like romance better if it wasn't in the dark ages, like it is today. Yeah, I can only stand so much romance and then I've had my fill. Of course, lately I've been shipping my self-insert and Frodo, just because I think Frodo can handle these scenes better with me in them than other female characters.
Yes, happy belated birthday to you Frodo, for the previous chapter! -Frodo bows and shoos playfully at the crowd applauding him- *shakes head* I love all these sweets you're making. -Frodo saves the cake from Merry and Pippin, finding out they've eaten half of the cake- Well, be grateful there are still some pieces of cake left.
Yes, I suppose this is an official welcome to Fatty for joining Frodo and his friends. I think Frodo caught the Snitch a couple of times, last I checked the story. Yes he has, and at the same time he's grown as a character. Yes you are.
Oh and some piece of advice: I know you're haranguing DoctorWhovian18 about her pranking Legolas. But your last review for her story crossed the line. I know you're obsessed about Legolas, but you have no more control of him as I do. At least give DoctorWhovian18 a chance to work with Legolas. The way you wrote about her 'not' pranking Legolas stung because that means you would have all the control and not allow Legolas to do what he wants, and that's unfair to him, to you, and to DoctorWhovian18. So please, let DoctorWhovian18 prank Legolas and see what happens. And now for a question that has been nagging me and her: what gender are you? Male or female? Just curious is all.
I apologize for this, but LOTCR does give long reviews and since she's the only guest reviewer so far, this is the reason. I don't mind guest reviews, but make sure you choose your words carefully, readers, when you review, if you are guest and also if you are logged in. I like good reviews, but if anyone flames in their guest review, that review will be deleted. It's that simple.
One scene with Snape and the students is inspired by a scene in Season 1's Halloween episode "Boys II Mensa", from the ABC television show "Boy Meets World". As for Pippin's costume, that is based around a little amphibian I saw recently in the evening and made me jump. Pippin's costume is also based around a Harry Potter dream I had years ago, involving these little amphibious creatures. And no, it didn't have the color that's described in this chapter, but a natural color, of course.
The morning of October Thirty-First was filled with excitement, mainly about the feast that evening. All the students were looking forward to the feast, wondering what wicked desserts would fill their plates that year. Merry and Pippin were in an especially good mood. They had something special planned for Frodo.
Tired, with his mind still fresh on the nightmare he had before dawn, Frodo walked into the Great Hall. He didn't care where he sat, as long as someone stirred him out of his scared thoughts. It took him several seconds to recognize the voice that was calling him, which belonged to Merry. Frodo approached the Gryffindor table, glad to see him and Pippin. At least they were awake.
"Merry, Pippin, I hope you've had pleasant dreams," said Frodo, yawning loudly.
"You look tired, Frodo. Couldn't sleep?" asked Merry, as soon as Frodo stopped yawning.
"No. I will, once I've had breakfast," said Frodo, exhausted.
Merry whispered to Pippin, "Maybe we should wait until he wakes up."
Pippin made a gesture to Merry, and then faced Frodo. He passed to Frodo a party popper. "You should have this. It's something to wake you up. Fred and George gave it to me and Merry."
Merry waved with his hands at Pippin, trying to tell him silently to stop. Frodo was right away suspicious, waking up a little:
"Fred and George? You don't mean… it isn't dangerous, is it?" asked Frodo, wary.
Pippin shook his head. He recovered on his story, "No Frodo, just something to cheer you up. You look like you've been through a nightmare."
Frodo twisted open the top of the party popper. He spoke as he did this, "I did, and it was…" he was interrupted by blue fumes smacking his face. He had been sprayed by whatever was in the party popper. Checking his face, and coughing at the same time due to the strong smell, Frodo found it was blue powder. He could hear the Slytherins laughing at him, including a familiar cackle from Lotho. Frodo glared at Pippin, giving him a look that directly said Don't-Mess-With-Me-Pippin.
Pippin sat down, sheepish. Merry chuckled for a time, informing Frodo, "Don't worry, Frodo. It washes off."
Frodo corked the party popper and said, casually, "I'm sure it does. Or I can do this." He used his hand magic to swipe across his face, hair and clothes. He was clean and even smelled clean. Now, at least, he was awake, but determined to get Merry and Pippin back for this. Not showing his plotting, Frodo added, as he clasped a hand on Pippin's shoulder, "Next time, try not to smack blue powder in people's faces, all right? We're good." He walked off, returning to the Ravenclaw table.
A bad feeling fell into the pit of Pippin's stomach. Merry, on the other hand, reassured Pippin, "Relax, Pippin. Frodo's the best prankster in this school for a hobbit; Fred and George also rank in as the best pranksters of Men. I'm sure Frodo won't try anything on us."
"I don't know, Merry," said Pippin, worried now for Frodo. "What if you're right?"
"I know I'm right. Come on, let's eat," said Merry, digging into his food.
After breakfast, Merry and Pippin left the Great Hall. As they entered the Entrance Hall, Frodo sped up to them. He was panting and frightened for his life. Something must have happened to him, or else Merry and Pippin both wouldn't have been so fearful.
"Merry, Pippin, I'm glad I found you. There's a giant monster invading the empty classroom on the ground floor," said Frodo.
"Last we checked, Classroom 11 was disused," said Merry.
Pippin didn't believe him and told Merry, "I think he's bluffing."
Frodo quickly acted casual, "Yeah, you're right. There's no monster. But Fred and George have something to show you in Classroom 11. They wanted me to bring up that monster story just to see how panicked you were. Luckily, I took the only key to Classroom 11. It's locked now and no one's been in there for a few weeks." He asked, hoping that his story was true, "You haven't been to Classroom 11 in a few weeks, have you two?"
"No. Merry and I checked there last month," admitted Pippin.
"So this is Fred and George's doing, and not some trick set up by you," accused Merry, pointing an index finger at Frodo's chest.
Frodo spoke, truthfully, "Oh no. It's no trick. I promise you this because Fred and George laid out a special gift for you two, commemorating your beginner's luck with pranking."
"Beginner's luck? Fred and George said this? The nerve," said Pippin, annoyed.
Merry asked, trying to see through Frodo's story, "What's down in Classroom 11? Mice?"
"No. Just a bunch of chairs, pots and pans, and Bertie Botts' beans," said Frodo.
"Bertie Botts' beans, Merry," said Pippin, perking up.
"So there are sweets," said Merry, hoping this was true.
"Here, I'll show you. You really need to see this," said Frodo, excited.
"All right. Show us and we'll see if you're telling us the truth," said Merry.
"Would I lie to you?" asked Frodo.
Frodo was being honest with them. Maybe his words were true. Merry saw the giddy look on Pippin's face. Believing his story, Merry told Frodo, "Why don't you lead us there?"
"All right, but I won't be able to go in. Fred and George said so. So, I only get to lead you to the classroom," said Frodo, leading the way.
It was a short trip. When they reached the double-doors to Classroom 11, Merry checked the door knob. It was locked, exactly as Frodo said. Merry believed his story more now. Frodo passed the key to Merry.
"Here. You should have this," said Frodo.
Merry took the key. "Aren't you coming in?"
Frodo shook his head. "No. There are some things you need to see for yourself." He paused, and then said, "I'll see you two later." He took off at a dash, glad this part of the castle was empty.
Pippin wondered why Frodo took off at such a fast speed. Maybe there really was a monster lurking inside Classroom 11. He watched Merry unlock the doors, swing open one and enter the classroom. Pippin followed, leaving the door open. The classroom now looked dark and foreboding, and yet there was a squeaking sound… was it mice? No, it was…
"Bats!" cried Merry and Pippin in unison.
As the bats flew towards the two hobbits, Merry and Pippin zoomed out of Classroom 11. They did their best to evade the bats, but they swarmed all around them. Surely they were afraid of the bright light. No, it had to be… Frodo, of course. Merry turned towards one of the lit stone pillars. Frodo moved away from the pillar, laughing his head off. Merry was not amused, while Pippin was scared out of his wits.
"Get these bats off us!" cried Merry, hoping that Frodo would see reason.
Frodo shrugged. With a casual wave of his hand, the bats turned into plastic raven-colored toys, dropping to the stone floor like dead leaves. Merry glared at Frodo, but Frodo had a cunning smirk on his face.
Frodo told them, giddy with joy, "Next time you want to prank me, try for something more cunning, more unique. Right now, you two are in the nosebleed section, waiting for your chance to be cunning pranksters. Try again." He walked away from the sight, leaving a mess for Merry and Pippin to clean up, without an instruction manual.
Pippin admitted to Merry, "I think we should call it a truce, Merry."
"Pippin, I heartedly accept that," said Merry. He stopped Frodo in his tracks. "Frodo, why don't we call it evens? Seeing as we can't stop pranking each other, and you're the best out of any of us hobbits, why don't we work together? I mean, here it's All Hallows Eve. Doesn't that give us a chance to go on a pranking rampage? I say it does!"
Frodo faced Merry and Pippin, a calmer grin showing. "So, you want to work with me? You promise never to prank me again?"
Pippin started, "Well…"
"That's what I thought." Frodo walked away again.
Pippin recovered fast. "That is, if you want to accompany us on our pranking spree. We still don't know much about you, and I say it's high time we learn from an expert."
"Come on, Frodo. Give us a chance, at least," said Merry, hoping this would please Frodo.
Frodo thought it over. "Okay. But we do things by the book: no pranking teachers, except for certain ones and without them knowing it's us. As for pranking students, that's another matter. We can't just pick and choose at random. I'm sure there are plenty of students we've become acquainted with who we can prank."
"I'll go for that!" said Pippin, all too giddy.
A smirk crossed Frodo's face. "Good, because I have the perfect idea. I think Fredegar and Sam can pitch in, too."
o-o-o
"Sam!" cried Frodo, excited. He sat down on the same bench as Sam, who was clearly confused by all the action. "How are you?"
"Relieved, up until now. What's with all the screamin'?" asked Sam, confused and annoyed.
"Well, Merry, Pippin and myself have declared to wear costumes – living costumes – that should scare people. People need to be scared from time to time. So, I figure, why not? What say you, Sam?" asked Frodo. This was a brilliant idea.
"Mr. Frodo, you shouldn't go around scarin' people. It's not polite," said Sam.
"Sam, I'm surprised. Don't you find your sisters annoying and your brothers?" asked Frodo, hoping to pull the right strings.
Sam was stunned. He politely explained, though he was frustrated, "I do find my brothers and sisters quite annoying from time to time. But I don't want to scare nobody."
"Sam, what could it hurt? Don't you think they deserve to know how you feel?" asked Frodo, keeping his voice truthful and honest.
Sam looked about the corridor. Frodo's idea didn't sound half bad. He looked at Frodo again and said, convinced, "All right. So long as I take the costume off when I'm done."
"Don't worry, Sam. My hand magic will make sure all costumes come off. I'm about to put mine on as well, also using magic. What sort of monster – eh, creature do you want to be?" asked Frodo, curious.
Sam was worried when Frodo said 'monster', but he was relieved when Frodo thought better to use the word 'creature'. He was sure he could think of some creatures that frustrated gardeners and could also panic his sisters and stir up his brothers. Then the creature came to him. "I'd like to be a shrew. Those hole-digging rodents are nothing but pests, but they should be enough to scare my siblings. A gardener doesn't like shrews."
"That one's easy," said Frodo, standing up at the same time as Sam. Using his hand magic, Frodo was able to drape Sam in a Shrew costume, making the mask look real and specific to whoever Sam figured on scaring. Then Frodo used his hand magic to drape himself in a costume of his choosing…
o-o-o
Three knocks sounded on the door's wood surface. Snape did not want to be disturbed. He was too busy with working on grading homework assignments to answer his office door. The knocks rasped against the wood again. Knowing he should answer, being a reasonable wizard, Snape stood up. He fixed his black robe, before striding over to the door and opening it.
Standing before him, on the other side of the doorway, were three of his first-year students dressed in Halloween costumes. Their faces were covered by masks, so it was hard to tell who was who. The masks looked so real. Going from left to right, Snape's student on the left was dressed as a fiery Salamander; the student in the middle was dressed as a Vampyr Mosp; and the student to the right was dressed as a Jarvey. Snape was not amused.
"Students trick-or-treating I see. I'm afraid I have no treats. Now move along! You're blocking the door," ordered Snape.
Just then, the student in the Jarvey costume spoke, as did the mask, "Hey, you're Professor Snape! Aren't you?"
Now Snape was curious. "I am. Now speak before I deduct house points."
The student dressed as the Jarvey sounded familiar. "My friend Harry tells me that he enjoys your immense work in Potions. He says you're the greatest teacher since buttered toast."
At last! He found the victim. "Take that remark back, Potter!" He pulled up the mask as it became inanimate. He was staring at Draco Malfoy. This was odd. "Oh. I apologize, Draco." He pulled the mask down over his student's face, right as the Jarvey mask became animated once more. Embarrassed, Snape walked out of his office and into the Potions classroom.
The three students in the masks couldn't help but laugh. They continued their rampage through the Dungeons, scaring unsuspecting Slytherins.
o-o-o
Throughout the morning classes, the teachers became quizzical as to who was wearing the costumes. They let these five students wear their costumes, as long as they didn't disrupt the class, while they were teaching. The five students right away agreed, but Sam, still dressed in his shrew costume, had an itching to find his siblings and scare them.
After lunch, Sam headed into the Hufflepuff common room. There he found his four siblings, talking amongst themselves. It was time to scare them. When he approached, the Shrew mask automatically became animated and real, startling his brothers and scaring his sisters. Then the unexpected happened: Hamson and Halfred grabbed whatever sticks they could find and started smacking Sam silly. They made sure not to severely hurt whoever was wearing the mask, only to teach him or her a lesson that was sure not to be forgotten. Sam quickly tore off the mask, revealing who he was. He was defenseless and cowardly. His brothers looked like they wanted to kill him, and it showed.
"What were yah doing, scaring us like this?" asked Halfred.
"I'm sorry. I truly am. Please don't beat me up anymore," said Sam, apologizing over and over again.
Hamson said, acting like a mature eleven-year-old hobbit boy, "You deserve what you get for scarin' us, Sam. Father would be ashamed."
"You're not goin' to tell him," accused Sam, hoping this wasn't the case.
"I will," said Daisy, rushing to the Hufflepuff Girls' Dormitory, in search of a piece of parchment, a quill, and a filled-up ink bottle.
May added, following her sister, "You'll pay for this, Sam."
Sam looked down at the floor, shuffling his feet. This wasn't going well. Why did Mr. Frodo have to put him in this situation? His brothers and sisters didn't find it funny, so why should Mr. Frodo think scaring people was all right? He would have a sure thrashing on Mr. Frodo. That was certain. Maybe he could convince Mr. Frodo to stop with these pranks and other mischief. Tomorrow seemed better. For tonight, he would hold a grudge on Mr. Frodo, without letting him know.
o-o-o
Sometime after lunch Pearl Took and her younger sisters Pimpernel and Pervinca walked down one of the empty corridors. They had a lot to talk about concerning their houses. Pearl enjoyed being in Ravenclaw; it seemed to fit her nicely. Pimpernel loved Gryffindor for all the scarlet tapestries. Pervinca liked Hufflepuff because she felt it was closer to where the pretty flowers and plants grew. Each had their own unique qualities and yet they were willing to share them with each other on a daily basis. Things just seemed complete until…
A student, clearly a boy, was dressed in a purple-skinned Tree Frog costume. All three sisters freaked out, screaming and jumping as the boy drew closer to them. The costume looked so real, and Pearl and Pimpernel especially didn't like frogs, no matter what they were. The boy kept making realistic "ribbit" sounds, saying this mantra faster and faster and he drew closer to one of the girls. Eventually, all three sisters fled the scene down the next corridor. They wanted to avoid the boy at all costs. They had no idea who it really was behind the mask. Maybe that was a good thing, but then… oh, they were too cowardly to find out, not that they cared at the moment. It was nothing but a stupid scare and Pearl was convinced that the boy behind the mask, possibly Frodo Baggins, would be punished for this horrid act towards girls.
The boy kept his Purple Tree Frog mask on, laughing uncontrollably. Finally, he had scared these three Took sisters, just like he always wanted. He ran down the corridor, hoping to scare and chase them down. He succeeded.