More randomness from me and my friends on MSN Instant Messaging. To answer your questions, yes we're totally insane. No, we don't give a hooha.
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Roxanne West approached Katherine Frost silently, careful not alert her friend to her presence. Once she was positioned right behind her, she charmed the book on magical creatures to repeat the same line over and over. Still unaware of her friend, Frost kept reading the same line, over and over. Only fits of maniacal giggles clued her into the prank that had just been pulled.
"Rox! I am trying to study!" she whispered in anger. Rox deposited herself in the chair next to her. The others in the library didn't look up, but were cautious in the presence of the Slytherin sixth-years.
"Like you need to study for Care of Magical Creatures! That's like me studying for Charms or Potions!" Rox grabbed the nearest book, which happened to be a book on ancient underworld races, and opened to a random page. Looking up, her face broke out into a devious grin. "Hey Frost, there's Ducky…let's go say hi." Rox tossed the book onto the table and Frost looked up. Seeing their "favorite" Ravenclaw fifth-year, she too smiled and stood.
"Yes, let's." They sauntered over and sat on either side of him. "Whatcha doin' Ducky?" Christopher Duck looked up from his parchment and raised an eyebrow at them.
"I am studying for the History of Magic exam tomorrow." He looked back down and continued writing.
"Ya need some help?" Rox put in, "Because…Duck!" She swung for his head, but he looked up at his name, causing himself to be hit. "Dude, I said duck…which means don't look up." They laughed at him, and he merely shook his head. While they were still laughing, he stood and collected his things, walking away from them. Frost stopped laughing and tapped Rox with the back of her hand.
"Hey look…he's got spunk!" Rox nodded her head knowingly, and the two Slytherins jumped up and followed. "Hey wait up!"
"Yeah, you know, not a lot of people would have the pride to get up and walk away. Most people just sit and take it or fight back. But walking away? That takes attitude. You're alright in my book." She stuck out her hand while Frost stood smiling behind her. Duck looked at the hand, then took it. Rox wrapped an arm around his shoulder, guiding him over to their former table.
"Now, I've been studying charms for as long as I can remember. Specifically, conjuring and property charms. So, we've been planning on flooding the Gryffindor common room with small animals. Just for kicks, ya know? So, what we need from you is an alibi. If they come asking, just say me and Frost here were in here the whole time studying for our Transfiguration exam."
Duck shook his head, "I don't know. That sounds like—"
"Fun?" Frost put in. Duck sighed, knowing he was defeated, and rubbed his face.
"Alright, then how about frogs? No, they're so boring. Let's jazz them up a little, you know…like dire frogs or something."
"Dire?" Rox asked, but Frost merely rolled her eyes.
"It's basically a bigger, meaner version of the animal. They're dark creatures and all over the forest. Especially dire rats…ugh…those things are huge." Duck nodded in agreement.
"You don't seem to be getting the point here, Ducky. We're going for quantity, not quality. We want to overrun them with small, harmless animals. If we do anything serious, we could get expelled."
"Yeah, the worst they could do to us with this is tongue-lashing and chores," Frost added.
Duck's eyes lit up. "What about pinning it on another student. That will shift all suspicion away from us entirely. If they ask me anything in addition to the alibi, I can say I saw whoever sneaking out of the library."
"I like the way this man thinks," Rox smiled. Frost smiled evilly and looked around.
"Malfoy," she said finally. Rox broke out into a grin as well.
"Then it's settled. If they ask for any more info, you tell them Malfoy left the library thirty minutes ago. That would give him/us enough time to get there, summon the frogs, and get back before the Quidditch game is over. With Potter as Seeker, the game shouldn't last too long. I think we psyched Cho out yesterday." Rox and Frost shared a conspiratorial giggle and turned back to their Ravenclaw companion. He was playing with a small toad. "No wonder he has a fascination with frogs."
Duck looked up and smiled. "This is Daisy."
"Madam Pince is going to flip if she sees that thing in here." Duck placed Daisy back into his bag.
"What do you two have?" Rox sighed, going along for now.
"Frost here has a snow white cat named Malachi. I have a black eagle owl named Adrian. They wouldn't let me bring Slayer."
"While this is fascinating," Duck commented, "we have to study. We'll be in trouble for sure if we don't pass."
"Don't worry…all I need to study for is Transfiguration and History of Magic." Rox smiled. "Frost here helps me out with Care of Magical Creatures, and I help her in Potions and Charms."
"Specialists," Duck mumbled.
"Of course!" Rox yelled. "While you suck at everything, we're good at some things."
"I am good at everything," Duck commented, pulling his wand. He cast a hotfoot charm on Rox, who dispelled it easily.
"Seriously...weren't you paying attention? Charms is my best subject!" Duck looked thoughtful, as if contemplating a decision. Rox saw his thought and disarmed him with a word. "Don't even think about it." Duck pouted and huffed.
"Whatever…can I study now? I need to find a book on underworld races." Rox reached over and pulled a book out of the pile, handing it to him. She and Frost left the library, but not before whispering in his ear.
"Remember the alibi. And make sure Professor Snape hears you." They snuck out, making sure no one saw them, and bolted to the Gryffindor common room. Years ago, Rox had found an alternate entrance into the Gryffindor common room, away from the Fat Lady. After completing their task, they stood in the shadows waiting. The Gryffindors came up cheering and laughing. They had lifted Potter up on their shoulders and were chanting his name. Rox snickered.
"What's so funny?" Frost whispered.
"I just won 10 Galleons from Cho Chang." Frost snickered with her and they watched as they gave the password. Immediately, they were set upon by thousands of frogs. The girls screamed and the boys jumped out of the way. Rox and Frost bolted silently for the library, holding in peals of laughter. Once they were out of earshot, they burst out with laughter.
They snuck back in, sitting down next to Duck. "Don't worry, we got a picture." Frost held it up for him to see. Gryffindors dodged bouncing frogs by jumping out of the picture, or jumping on top of one another. Duck snorted and tucked the picture into his book bag.
"Thanks. I trust it went well."
"Perfectly," Rox laughed. She picked up a book on Herbology and started on her essay. Frost began scribbling down notes on Care of Magical Creatures for Rox to study later that night.
Thirty minutes later, the Headmaster burst in with Snape and McGonagall in tow. Everyone stopped and turned their attention to the unusual sight.
"There has been a most foul prank pulled on the Gryffindors in their common room. I'm not saying anyone in here is responsible, but I do ask that you pass the message along. If the responsible parties do not confess, Hogsmeade weekends will be cancelled." Groans were heard throughout the library. Rox watched the trio leave, and just before the door shut, she shouted as loud as she could.
"Thanks a lot Malfoy!" As expected, they came bursting back in and hauled Malfoy and his cronies to their feet, the three complaining the entire time that it wasn't them. McGonagall let go and turned to Rox.
"How do you know it was Mr. Malfoy?" she questioned.
"I don't, ma'am, but I did see him leaving earlier. He's the only one I can think of with the means, the motive, and the capability to pull off a prank on all the Gryffindors." Eyeing her suspiciously, she edged closer. Snape moved forward also, ready to defend his pupils.
"And where were you and Ms. Frost?"
"Here, studying for your exam tomorrow." Frost nodded. McGonagall eyed them both, then turned to Duck.
"Mr. Duck, is this true?"
"Ma'am, Frost, Rox, and I were all studying together. They never left the library," he said convincingly. McGonagall turned to Malfoy.
"Mr. Malfoy, do you have an alibi?" He turned to Crabbe and Goyle, who seemed to be snickering over nothing. Then he saw the photo. Dumbledore grabbed it and narrowed his eyes, showing the other teachers. "That settles it then. Come along boys," she huffed. They were hauled out of the library unceremoniously. Snape cast an approving smirk back at the girls, who turned back to their books. Once the doors were completely closed, they counted to ten, then let out huge laughs.
"That was great. You're a natural Ducky!" Frost clapped him on the back. He looked up at them.
"But how did those two oafs get the photo?" Rox pulled Duck's wand from behind her back. "That's my wand!" He snatched it back.
"Yep, and the magical core is the same as Malfoy's. So if they can trace it somehow, it can't be linked back to us. Well, me and Frost."
"Hey!"
"Don't worry, Duck-man, we'll cover for ya!" Frost clapped him on the back again.
"Can I study in peace now? I did my part!" He shoved his wand back into his robes and set back into the book.
Rox and Frost sat down as well, looking over each other's notes for the exams tomorrow. All in all, it was a pretty good day.