Switcheroo
"Harry!" Ron yelled, "Harry wake up! Bloody hell! We have five minutes before class! Damn, this means I have to miss breakfast, and it was oatmeal today!"
"Quit complaining, Ron," Harry said sleepily as he searched around for his glasses.
"I wonder if Moody will let us eat in class," Ron said optimistically
"Doubt it," Harry said, putting his glasses on, "We've got Moody for our first class?"
"Yep. And class starts in less than two minutes so we better go! Now." Harry and Ron bolted out of the common room and down a flight of stairs.
"Almost – there," Ron panted, scampering past the Great Hall, "Accio toast!" he said as two pieces of warm toast came flying towards them.
"Good one," Harry said as he stuffed the toast into his mouth and entered the classroom.
"Ah, there you are Potter, I was beginning to worry," Moody said, when he noticed Ron, "Oh, Weasley, you're here too. Good, good." Ron looked taken back as he looked at Harry, who shrugged and took a seat next to Hermione.
"Wands out," Moody grunted as everyone in the class exchanged excited looks. It had been a while since they had practiced using defensive spells.
Suddenly, a tabby cat with markings around its eyes, jumped up onto Moody's desk.
"Right on time, Minerva," Moody said as he gave the cat a toothy grin. "Now Professor McGonagall has kindly agreed to help out with our lesson. I am going to teach you the Aspecto spell. Does anyone know what it is used for?"
"Oh Professor," Hermione said, as she desperately waved her hand back and forth.
"Yes Miss Granger?"
"Well," Hermione said as she beamed at the class, "The word 'aspecto' is derived from the word 'appearance', and it is meant to be used on an Animangus," she paused, "If a wizard is in an Animangus form, it the spell would cause them to transform back to there original state."
"Very good," Moody said as he clapped his hands together, "ten points for Gryffindor. Now, this is a rather tricky spell because if the incantation is said incorrectly, the result may not be pretty. However, Professor McGonagall and I trust that you will not mess it up," Moody said as he smiled weakly at the cat, who looked rather tense.
"Right, so who would like to go first?" Moody asked, "Why don't you give it a try, Potter?"
"Alright," Harry said nervously as he grabbed his wand and walked up to the front on the class. I hope I don't screw this up, he thought, McGonagall would kill me...
Moody seemed to be thinking the exact same thing Harry was. "Don't worry kid," he said confidently," You'll do fine. Now I want you to clearly said 'aspecto' and picture the general physical change of a human in your mind. Can you do that?" Moody asked Harry, who nodded.
Harry pointed his wand so that it was level with McGonagall's head. He closed his eyes and began to do as Moody told him.
"Aspecto," Harry said shakily, as the classroom was suddenly silent. Oh no I don't want to look, he thought, I probably said it wrong. I hope she's not completely unrecognizable!
"You can open your eyes now, Potter," McGonagall said, sounding impressed, "Well done."
Harry returned to his seat as he wiped the sweat of his forehead with his sleeve. "Well done mate," Ron said as he patted him on the back.
"Excellent Potter, not many get it on their first try. Now who would like to go next?" Moody asked as Hermione began waving her hand furiously in the air.
"Miss Granger?" Moody said as she eagerly marched up to the front on the classroom. With one swift movement, she pointed her wand at the cat.
"Aspecto!" Hermione said with confidence as McGonagall once again changed into a human.
"Wow," Ron said in awe, "It looked like you really knew what you were doing."
"That's because I did," Hermione bragged, "I've known how to do that spell since my fourth year."
"You did?"
"Honestly Ron," Hermione said impatiently, "How did you think I found out Rita Skeeter was an Animangi?"
For the rest of the class, the students continued practicing the Aspecto spell. Almost everyone was able to perform it on his or her third or fourth attempt. Everyone, except Neville.
"Aspect – sorry – A – ass- Aspeto – no that's not right" Neville said, positively shaking. "I think I got it, Asspectio!"
"On no Neville," Hermione shouted, "That's the incantation to turn someone into –"
"An ass," Ron said, wide eyed
"A donkey," Hermione said as she gave Ron a filthy look. "Look at what he did to her!"
Professor McGonagall had a mule's head that was weighing down the rest of her body. She also had sprouted a tail that was swaying from side to side. Moody had ended class five minutes early, as he tried to reverse the spell.
"That was bloody hilarious!" Ron laughed
"Ron, it's not funny," Hermione said seriously, "That spell is for a permanent use only."
"Mme Pomfrey will sort her out," said Ron, though he didn't sound completely certain.
"Hey Granger get out of my way!" Malfoy commanded as he shoved Hermione into the wall, "Filthy mudblood."
"Shut it, Ferret," Hermione said angrily
"Hey look," Malfoy said as Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle all hooted with laughter, "One of the plants from Herbology got loose! It looks like this one is a walking, talking bush!'
Just then Peeves came popping out of one of the portraits, with a devilish smile spread across his face. "What do we have here?" Peeves asked mischievously, "A Gryffindor and Slytherin arguing? Tut tut tut..."
"Lets get out of here," Harry urged them, however Hermione wouldn't budge.
"Go away Peeves," Hermione said firmly
"Don't want me here eh?" Peeves jeered as he started chanting a song.
"Granger is rude,
But what can Peeves do?
Perhaps he should try
The old switcheroo!
Lets change your appearance
And personalities too!
Peeves will have fun
And make it hard to undo
So next time you'll think twice
For you should have always knew
That no matter who you are
Peeves is smarter than you!"
"Stop him! Stop him!" Fred yelled as he and George came running out from the Transfiguration classroom followed by Filch.
"Oh no! Peeves is in trouble now," Peeves snickered as he winked at Harry and vanished.
"Damn, he got away again!" Fred said hotly, "He's causing havoc all over the school."
"We just came back from the Kitchens," George informed them, "Peeves thought it was funny to put acid in the orange juice this morning. A truckload of people had to be sent to the Hospital Wing. It wasn't pretty."
Ron gulped. "Well then I guess it was a good thing we missed breakfast, Harry."
"Well, there seems to be nothing wrong here," George said sounding somewhat concerned.
All of a sudden Pansy let out a shriek. "Draco! What's wrong with your hair?"
Malfoy had grown shoulder length, brown, tangled hair that looked an awful lot like...
"Hermione!" Harry shouted as he saw that her brown locks were replaced by light blonde hair that was jelled back.
"What the hell did you do to me, Granger?" Malfoy demanded as he felt his lips, which were now plump, "Give me back my hair!"
"Oh please! I didn't do anything! As if I'm happy to have a jelly head," Hermione replied coldly as Malfoy looked as though he was about to faint.
"What's goin' on over here?" Filch hissed as he leapt back in horror, "Ah! This is beyond my reach, I'm getting the headmaster."
Just then Goyle whispered something to Malfoy, who smirked and looked down his shirt. "I've got a chest," he said sounding disgusted yet at the same time pleased.
"Congratulations Malfoy," Fred said smugly, "the day you've been waiting for has finally come."
"Don't you dare!" Hermione screamed as Malfoy tried to peak down his shirt.
"Don't worry Granger, there's nothing here," Malfoy said as Goyle attempted to see as well.
"Sorry Malfoy," Fred snickered, "but that is – er – abusing someone's – er – property. So," Fred said as he looked at George who nodded and pulled out a roll of Weasley's Super Stick Tape. They grabbed Malfoy on each side and taped his shirt to his body.
"How dare you!" Malfoy yipped as he tried to pull off the tape.
"Word of advise," George laughed, "Don't pull on the tape, or it just gets tighter."
"And besides," Fred added, "you can tug at it all you want, but its never going to come off," he said as Crabbe and Goyle joined Malfoy in trying to rip of the tape.
"Ah well," George sighed, "That gives them a new hobby."
Suddenly Filch came running around the corner with Dumbledore. "There they are Headmaster," Filch said as he looked at Hermione and Malfoy, and shook his head, "It's not right what Peeves did to 'em."
"You are quite correct, Argus," Dumbledore said quietly as he turned to Malfoy and gave him a long stare. "Miss Granger, can you tell me what provoked Peeves?"
Harry saw Malfoy's face redden to that point that he looked like he was about to explode. "Sir," Malfoy said taking a deep breath, "I'm not Granger, she is."
"Of course," Dumbledore chuckled, "my mistake."
"Sir," Hermione said politely, "I merely told Peeves to go away. I believe he found it offensive because he began singing a sort of riddle."
"Do you remember what he said?" Dumbledore asked
Hermione shook her head. "Not all of it. But one part did say he would try the old 'switcheroo'."
"I see," Dumbledore said as his eyes quickly flickered on Harry, "That is powerful magic. I am afraid that you will have to retain the appearance you have right now, until I am able to coax Peeves to reverse it. Although, as the time goes by you will turn more and more into each other so I must tend to this problem right away."
"But Sir," Malfoy said tensely, "People will make fun of me."
"No doubt you're use to it," Hermione said acidly, "Sorry Sir."
"Now Draco, I doubt anyone will make fun of you," Dumbledore said as a group of seventh years passed by and burst out laughing, "But if you feel that way, you have my permission to stay in the Hospital Wing until the feast."
Malfoy gave a loud sniff and muttered 'stupid Granger' before he left with Crabbe and Goyle who tried to shield him from the public eye.
"Miss Granger, if you feel the need to barricade yourself in the Hospital Wing like Mr. Malfoy, you may do so." Dumbledore said softly
Hermione looked hesitant. "Oh no Sir, I could never miss my classes, "she said as Dumbledore turned around before whispering, "And I could never put myself in the position where I'd be alone in a room with ferret boy."
Harry smirked, "Well c'mon we better get to Herbology."
"Hermione, are you sure you don't want to go to the Hospital Wing?" Ron asked as a bunch of pretty sixth years walked by and giggled, "It – er – could do you some good."
Hermione gave Ron a reproachful look. "I'm sure Ron."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
"Hosnestly," Ron huffed as he marched out of the greenhouse, "That class bloody stunk. Literally."
"I agree with you on that," Harry said, as he removed his gloves, which were covered in a silvery paste, "I definitely hate the smell of moonclaf manure."
"I don't think anyone likes the smell, Harry," Hermione said dryly, "And isn't this wonderful. By the minute I'm becoming more and more like Malfoy," she said as she examined her hands.
"Why couldn't you guys tell me what it was before a grabbed a bloody handful of that dung?" Ron asked, as he smelt his clothes.
"We did, Ronald," Hermione said smiling slightly, "Put you were like 'Wow Harry! Look it's silver!' before even listening to our warnings."
"Whatever," Ron cringed, "I'm going to the shower house. I can't go to the Halloween Feast smelling like this."
"Like you have something to worry about," Hermione said irritably, "I will be attracting all the stares. People probably won't smell anything. However," she said as she stepped away from Ron, "Maybe taking a shower isn't such a bad idea."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
At seven o'clock, everyone entered the Great Hall to see that it had been decorated for Halloween. The ceiling, which was usually supposed to appear as the night sky, now had floating Jack-o-lanterns glowering above. Professor Flitwick had also charmed a few bats to fly around in circles over people's heads.
"C'mon Hermione," Ron urged, "nobody will notice if you where that on your head." Harry and Ron had persuaded Hermione to go to the feast wearing a large, pointy hat. It covered the hair rather well, and Hermione was seemed satisfied with it, until Ron commented that she also looked bald.
"What if someone notices my feet look larger?" Hermione asked nervously
"Don't worry," Ron said, "People won't be looking at your feet. They'll be too busy looking at your face."
"Thank you for that, Ronald," Hermione said sourly as she sat down on the bench next to Harry.
"I wonder how Malfoy is coping with it," Harry said as he looked over at the Slytherin table. Malfoy was sitting in the middle of Crabbe and Goyle, with an extremely unpleasant expression. He wore a hood over his head to hide the hair, but that didn't stop people from noticing his new appearance.
All of a sudden, food appeared on all four tables. There were bowls filled with mash potatoes, platters holding pyramids of fruit, gourd and squash soup, and to Ron's delight an enormous turkey.
"This bird is massive," Ron declared as he ripped of a wing, "this has got to be the mother of all turkeys."
"That's nice Ron," Hermione said sarcastically
"And check out how crispy the skin is," Ron said as he clapped his hands together.
"You don't say," Harry said, helping himself to some pumpkin juice.
"And it's tender and cooked just right, too," Ron announced as he cut open the meat with his knife and examined it.
"Ron, are you going to actually eat it?" Hermione asked, rolling her eyes.
"You guys won't believe how delicious this is," Ron said as he ate the leg, "It's so moist and it takes like –"
"Hi Harry," Alex said as she sat down across from them.
"Crap!" Ron blurted out, "Where did she come from?"
Alex glared at him. "Don't mind Ron," Hermione reassured her, "he's just in a bad mood because at Herbology he played around with manure without knowing what it was."
"Well it was your fault," Ron said accusingly
"My fault? How is your own stupidity my fault?" Hermione snapped
"Well you should have told me before hand," Ron retorted, "It's not my fault I didn't know! It's not my fault I'm not a bloody know-it-all like you!"
Hermione dropped her fork and knife, and got up. "That's it. I'm leaving."
"Good," Ron snorted, "more for me."
"Go ahead, be the size of Goyle," she muttered before darting out of the Great Hall.
"I hope she does into a bathroom and gets the smithereens knocked out of her by a troll. It's a pity we actually saved her in the first year."
"You don't mean that, Ron," Harry said sternly
"Yeah I do."
Well there's chapter 8! I'm on a roll! lol well I hope you like it and please leave me a review! I've also just posted my other story about Fred and George, so please review that one too! Well here's what is going to happen in chapter 9:
Ron and Hermione are in a fight and refuse to talk to each (lol that's always fun)
All three of them find out something VERY important in the Daily Prophet (not telling!)
Harry and Ron have Divination and Ron has to prove he can mind read! Lol fun, fun
Everyone finds out that there is going to be a Christmas Ball
Hope you're interested! Please review!
- kim
