(7)Potion Pranks

The late morning sun cast its strong rays over the forest. With the exception of a bird's chirp here & there, all was quiet.

"OOOOUUUUUCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" A flock of Threstrals lifted out of the trees & flew away in confusion, neighing madly! A short pause of silence, then, "OW! Dammit Mystique! How many are left?!" Snape was leaning against a large boulder at the edge of the forest with his hands on its top & looked for all the world like a muggle arrestee with his hands up & his back towards a horse. He had several Porcupine leaves in his shoulder. The black mare chomped down on two at once & gave a yank with her head, popping the leaves out, enjoying Snape's torture to the utmost! Porcupine leaves could not be magiced out as magic would have the opposite affect & actually drive them in further. They had to be pulled out the hard way! Mystique finally managed to get the last one out in spite of Snape's wining & complaining!

"About time!" Snape retorted. "I'll take ten points from Gryfindor, simply because I'm in a bad mood!" Snape glared evilly at the horse & noticed that she also had a few Porcupine leaves in her neck. "HA!" he sneered. "Your turn! Just hold still!"

It was hard to find all the leaves against the black fur. Snape felt over Mystique's neck, looking for all of them but she was getting impatient. Suddenly, Snape was looking at a white unicorn. Mystique had changed her look! "What...?" Snape stepped back a bit. Then he remembered Dumbledore's words: I believe you can expect a few surprises from her.

"Call this a surprised?" Snape muttered. "It's total shock!" Against the whiteness, all opposing Porcupine leaves that had been hiding were now visible. Snape yanked them out! "Why didn't you change your look in the beginning?" he snapped as he got on. Mystique reverted to her usual Flaxen. Snape yelped! He wasn't expecting her to change so suddenly. "Please don't do that again!" Snape ordered, knowing it was useless. This horse had a mind of its own! He headed her up the hill to watch for Dumbledore's sign. The Headmaster would send up green sparks from his wand if it was safe to return & red sparks if it wasn't.

Despite having Umbridge in Potions Class, all went rather well! She didn't take any points or give out any detentions. Harry, however, kept one eye on her the whole time just in case! As he got up to leave, Umbridge finally spoke her first words. "You've been watching me, haven't you Mr. Potter?" she started. Harry rolled his eyes. Here we go! He turned to face Umbridge. "Well, I'm not taking points or giving you detention!" she sneered "Dumbledore made sure of that! I'm merely waiting for Professor Snape to return so can take him to Azkaban!"

Harry stared. "Azkaban? Why?" Even though Snape was a mean thing not worthy of anyone's love, Harry couldn't believe he deserved to go to that dreadful prison & he hated to admit it but Snape was much better to have instead of Umbridge!

"It's the law now!" Umbridge smiled sinisterly. "Anyone with the mark of a Death Eater must be taken to Azkaban until charged or pardoned!"

"Snape will be pardoned even if you yourself condem him!" Harry declared, surprising himself with his words! Defending Snape, are you? Harry scolded himself.

Umbridge eyed Harry. "Be thankful I can't give out detentions, Potter!" she said. "How's your hand?"

"It's fine!" Harry retorted. If Umbridge can't do anything, he would take advantage of it! "The scar is gone by now, or have you slept through your biology class?"

Umbridge glared at him before leaving the classroom. After a few moments, Harry also left & ran into Dumbledore. "You forbade her to take points or give detentions?" Harry laughed. "I'm quite sure she'll enjoy her stay this time! But for how long?"

"If she has her way, then forever!" Dumbledore started. "Severus won't return until it's save for him." Dumbledore looked down at Harry & smiled. "However, with you & your friends around, I'm quite sure she'll be gone by Saturday!" Dumbledore knew how mischievous some of Harry's friends could be, particularly the Weasley twins, Fred & George!

Harry smiled. "You won't mind if I got the DA to......practice.....during tomorrow's Potions, would you?"

Dumbledore lost his smile & eyed Harry. "Don't do anything Severus wouldn't!" he teased. "Just keep it in the classroom, OK?" he added as he left. Dumbledore liked Umbridge just as much as Harry did!

Umbridge was waiting for Dumbledore at the door of his office. "Just when do you think he'll return?" she asked as soon as he appeared.

"Oh I'm not sure, but not for a long time, I know that much!" Dumbledore started. "Are you sure you want to stay? You may be more comfortable in your own office."

"Professor Snape is going to Azkaban wether you like it or not!" Umbridge sneered. "I might leave after awhile but we'll be watching for him! If he ever returns....!" she threatened & left. Dumbledore understood. He went to the window facing the forest. He sent up red sparks. Snape saw them & turned Mystique to the only safe place for him now; Grimmauld.

It was Friday! Fred glanced to his twin who winked back. Fred raised his hand.

"What is it George Weasley?" Umbridge grumbled.

"Fred!" he corrected. "I think I've found something of yours. May I bring it forward?"

"Very well," Umbridge sighed. "But be quick about it!" she snapped.

George handed Fred a small book. Harry glanced around & saw that Neville was ready & Hermione had pushed her cauldron aside. He pulled out his wand.

"Are you sure this is mine?" Umbridge asked as Fred handed her the book.

"Yes!" Fred edged back to his desk. "It has your name inside the cover. Just look & see it!"

She did so, & in the midst of an explosion from a waterbomb hidden inside the box that had been made to look like a book, pandemonium broke loose! Hexes were sent all over the place. Neville pushed over everyone's cauldron to leave a mess for Umbridge to slip on. Draco, Crabbe & Goyle, of course, sided with her, but the four of them against the whole class was pathetic! Harry jinxed Draco with the leg-locker curse as Hermione & Ron did the same to Crabbe & Goyle.

"Stop this!" Umbridge shrieked. "Stop this at----!"

"Silencio!" Hermione waved her wand in Umbridge's direction. From then on, Umbridge could only mouth words. She ran out the classroom door, most of class following. Harry turned on Draco, Crabbe & Goyle who were now cowering in the corner & jinxed them with Scourgify. They began coughing up soap! Harry ran out to the others; Draco, Crabbe & Goyle hopping pitifully after with the leg-locker curse still in effect & bubbling with soap.

"Alright! ALRIGHT!!" Dumbledore suddenly appeared at the top of the stairs. "That is enough!"

Everyone stopped what they were doing & looked at Dumbledore. Umbridge pointed to several individuals & mouthed words. Silencio had yet to wear off!

"What?" Dumbledore asked. Umbridge's signing became more desperate! "Oh, I understand!" Dumbledore played along. "You wish to leave!" he hinted. Umbridge nodded & Dumbledore walked her to the door.

Finally, she found her voice. "Get that class under control, Albus!" Umbridge yelped. "And know this: we will get Severus!"

"I know & thank you for your visit, Doloros!" Dumbledore was getting the niceties over with! "Do come again!" Dumbledore closed the door behind her, pausing for a moment & then slamming the last open inch shut with a muffled bang!

"You.....thoroughly enjoyed that, didn't you?" Harry asked after a moment of silence.

Dumbledore stood up tall & tugged his cape straight. "You're dammned right!" he laughed softly & then bore into Harry's eyes. "But I thought it was supposed to stay in the classroom?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry!" Harry smiled nervously. "It kinda got out of hand!"

Dumbledore smiled softly & left, pausing a moment as Draco, Crabbe & Goyle finally managed to hop out into the hall. Dumbledore released them from their jinxes & headed for his office.

Harry ran after him. "Who'll do the Potions now?" he asked. Dumbledore didn't need to answer.

Clunk! Clunk! "Hi, Harry!" said Moody. Harry smiled back. Potions will be easy now!

"Harry, don't you have a Quidditch practice?" Dumbledore reminded him.

"Yes, sir!" Harry ran off to the Pitch, feeling better than he had been in a while since Merida's disappearance!