Chapter 11
A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in so long. Yes, I am aware that I am a crackhead because of this, for you few who enjoyed my story here. Well then, moving along.
As the members of Gryffindor House shuffled into breakfast the next morning, many of them complained of headaches. But they didn't seem to be doing anything, well, crazy. This puzzled Hermione, resident know-it-all. The way she had designed the powder to work, some kids should have been acting crazy already.
"Herm? Why isn't the powder working?" Ron asked Hermione. He was one of the many students who had drunk the spiked pumpkin juice, but one of the five who knew what was in it. Unfortunately, all five of them had drunk SOMETHING with the powder added.
"I think it's going to be a delayed reaction!" said George, imitating Hermione's high-pitched voice- even though she didn't have a high-pitched voice.
"Yes, I do believe you're correct, dear twin," said Fred. They all had basically finished their breakfast of eggs and kippers by then, and were about to go to their first classes of the day- Harry and Ron at Divination, Hermione at Arithmancy, and Fred and George in Transfiguration. But Dumbledore stood up and clapped his hands, silencing the entire hall.
"Students and faculty, I would like to make an announcement," and hundreds of faces stared at him expectantly, most of the Slytherins aside. "This day, the twentieth of September, marks the date that many of you students might not know about. On this day, one hundred and twenty-five years ago, a very foolish wizard did so many spells that went so badly wrong that he turned the entire wizarding community into Muggles for several hours! All of their magic was pulled out of them and ended up floating invisibly in the air," Harry heard Malfoy snicker at this. "So on this day we are celebrating Slow Down Magic Day- a day to remember to always be careful with your spells. Also remember that, since this is an important date, this is the first time Hogwarts is recognising it. Watch out for all the magic floating around today!" Dumbledore added with a wink to Fred and George at the Gryffindor table. "That said, have a wonderful school day!"
"Slow Down Magic Day," Hermione murmured as the group walked with her to drop her off at her Arithmancy class. "That's why the powder isn't working yet. The air is so potent today with magic being sucked off everything the powder isn't getting a chance to circulate correctly. I believe this is why it isn't working."
"Er, right, Hermione," said Harry with a confused, lopsided grin. Lopsided because he was staring at Hermione and all of the sudden her prim outfit for school that day was transformed into a hoochie Britney Spears catholic- schoolgirl look.
"Whoa!" all of the guy's eyes in the hallway surrounding the group bugged out at the sight of Miss Hermione Granger, know-it-all hoochie knockout (for the time, which lasted about five seconds, then she was transformed back into her normal self.)
"What? What is everyone staring at?" Hermione asked frantically. "Did I drop a book?" Harry laughed, and laughed, and continued laughing until they reached the Arithmancy room.
As the four remaining pranksters left on their way to their classes and Hermione walked in the door to her class, Harry's hair turned pink and Fred grew a large, puffy beard.
"Aha!" shouted Hermione as she turned back around. She quickly whispered to Fred, Harry, Ron and George, "The effect of all the magic in the air today changed the content of the powder in everyone's body. It pulled the powder out onto the skin-" she pulled up the sleeve of her robe and showed the boys a faint dusting of the clear powder- "but you can't get rid of it. So the appearance changes will be happening basically all day, and there may be some personality changes involved. Oh!" she cried, looking at a grandfather clock against the wall. "You boys had better run! Classes start in two minutes!" and the boys charged through the school to their classes, not even noticing Draco Malfoy's neon green hair and multiple piercings as they ran past him down a stairway.
