A/N: Sorry this was late. I don't get a lot of time on the computer. Ozalan: as to Falon, how did he get that way? You'll find out. And what makes you think their parents don't know what's going on? evil grin And can anyone guess what project Tania ia working on? There are clues in previous chapters and there will be more. If you can guess, I'l...name a character after you or something. And Ril, you can't.

A light breeze playfully danced through the open windows of the hallway and wove itself and leaves into Tania's hair. She had most of it free of any constrains and it fluttered as the wind touched it. Fall had come to Hogwarts and had brought a restless energy with it. It was harder and harder for most of the students to sit still in class. It was even more difficult to pay attention. Tania found that she was not as immune to it as she had thought. Now it was Friday and the temptation to be outside was too much. The leaves were all changing colors and the temperature was perfect.

Exiting the upper hallway, Tania expertly pushed past the other students and out into the Courtyard. The stone entryway was packed with more students, who had claimed benches to read or goof off on. Groups of Housemates stood huddled together, though from a desire not to be trampled on as opposed to cold. Laughter, teasing, and conversation made quite a commotion and Tania decided to move on. Perhaps down by the Lake would have fewer people.

Halfway to the shore a group of Slytherins caught her eye. Actually there was a group of Gryffindors, followed by the Slytherin. All seemed to be headed for the Quidditch Pitch. Before she really thought about it, Tania found herself trailing after the older students. She did recognize Hunter as one of the Slytherins. More than likely the others were his gang of marauding pranksters.

The Gryffindors all had brooms, apparently they intended to practice, even though Quidditch had been canceled this year. It looked like some others had joined them, beyond those actually on the team. She spotted several of Potter's Year-mates walking with them. Poor Gryffies, they weren't likely to get much done with the Slytherins around, but it would be hilarious to watch. Tania decided that she needed to laugh. Falon was such a pain and he had been is a horrible mood the last few days. Picking up her pace, she ran down the hill after her brother, enjoying the wind on her face.

Hunter turned and gave her a smile as she drew near, though he didn't draw attention to her. He always seemed to know when she was around, even if she didn't want him to. Motioning for her to join them, he didn't miss a beat giving Charlie a caustic retort in response to his latest joke. The boys laughed and finished their trek to the Pitch, not caring that the Gryffindors had taken to the sky. They had all the time in the world, since the Gryffies had no idea they were coming.

Once they had settled themselves on to seats in the Slytherin section of the stands, the gang pulled out their wands and began their pranks. Idly handing Tania a pair of binoculars, Hunter shot his first spell into the air. A firework of green and silver appeared near the Gryffindor Chaser, forcing her to veer to the left. Charlie and Ed followed Hunter with a burst of shooting stars and lightning. Tania watched as flowers, animals, trees, Professors, and all manner of other objects manifested in the Gryffindors' air-space.

Soon all hope of a practice was lost. They could only concentrate on not hitting each other or the strange people and things that were somehow in the air with them. Half the flyers almost collided as a glaring Professor Snape swooped at them. The shrieks of fright and shock were too much for the Slytherins and they let loose the bubbling laughter that they had struggled to keep silent.

Several Gryffindors, including Potter, focused on the new sound. They made a beeline for the Slytherins, fury evident in every movement. Her Housemates ignored them. They were too busy enjoying their joke and only other Slytherins were any threat to them. Potter stopped a few feet from the stands. He scanned the group, then settled his gaze on Hunter.

"What are you doing?" he demanded. "We're practicing." Hunter schooled his face into one of mock seriousness. He looked at his fellow Housemates before turning back to the irate Gryffindors. One of the others responded before Hunter could speak.

"Practicing? Is that what you call it? Well, you had better 'practice' some more, since you seem to keep running into each other." Miles interjected smoothly. All of the boys maintained an air of gravity. Weasley flew close enough to catch the last comment. His face turned as red as his hair, though that might have been because he almost overshot his target stopping point and nearly lost his balance. Several of the Slytherins fought to keep straight faces.

Time to take things in hand. Tania decided. They would stand there forever, trading insults. That was only fun for so long. Slipping away from the group, she went down the stairs just long enough to be unseen by both sides. Hunter noticed she left, but would say nothing to betray her presence. He continued to bait Potter and the Gryffindors, both for his own amusement and to give her time to do whatever it was she planned. Tania never slipped away just to leave in the middle of something, only when all the action was done.

Pulling a piece of chalk from an inside pocket, Tania knelt on a landing between two staircases. She needed the largest area possible. Quickly she traced runes for power, strength, and anchor points into a spell containment circle. The symbols she needed flew easily into her mind and on to the wood. Putting away the chalk, she brushed the handle of her dagger and paused. Considering adding blood magic to the mix, she decided against it. Potter and the others wouldn't be anticipating what she was going to do and, unlike the other illusions, this one was something one expected on the Quidditch Pitch.

Placing her hands in the center of the circle, Tania activated each rune in turn, from left to right. Soon she had a ring of blue light surrounding her and could feel the extra power flowing under her fingers. Standing, and pulling the energy up with her, Tania faced the Pitch. Lifting her wand, she aimed for the sky.

"Illusiona Bludgers Deca!" She summoned ten imaginary Bludgers speeding around the Pitch.

"Harry! Look out!" cried Weasley. Other shouts were heard as the players scrambled apart.

"Who released that many of them!"

"Watch out!"

"Behind you!" She smiled in victory, looking like a poster child for the Slytherin House. Deciding to stretch herself some, she added a second spell to her first one. Mindful to not loose control on the first one, she lifted her wand again.

"Isolatee targette Gryffindors." She commanded. She felt the change in her first spell and knew that her balls were now focused exclusively on the Gryffindors, instead of just flying around. The noise increased, both the crying from the Gryffindors and the laughter from the Slytherins. The critical first few moments passed and the drain of the spells became easier as the Gryffindors truly believed that the Bludgers were real. The laughter and teasing of Hunter's friends were worth any effort, even if they didn't know she had done it. For a moment or two, she felt connected to them, to her House. Right now, she believed that the Sorting Hat had put her in the right House.

Her triumph was cut short by a massive trembling of the earth and a brilliant light shooting in the sky. Dead silence fell as the world settled back to normal. Tania quickly ended her spells and smeared the chalk markings before scrambling up the stairs to see what was going on. Professor Moody was standing in the middle of the Pitch, his wand raised. All the Gryffindors were hurriedly landing. Her Housemates were watching all of the action without a word. Tania moved to Hunter's side.

"What's going on?" she whispered. He put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her back from Moody's gaze before she could be identified.

"He wants us all down on the Pitch." Miles answered as they began to file down the stairs. "He's insane enough that we'd at least go." No one else added anything as they made their way to the grass below.

"Stay here, Tania." Hunter commanded, as they hit the last landing, "You don't need to get caught up in our prank." She began to protest, when the others seconded her brother.

"He's right, you weren't involved."

"We're 5th Years, we can take it. You didn't do anything." They all rushed out before she could argue back. Moody was furious, so that even from her hiding place, she could hear him loud and clear.

"What is the meaning of this display? You are a disgrace, all of you! And you claim Slytherins are above the rest. You're nothing but bottom feeders, sucking enjoyment out of others pain. Don't think I don't know. You may fool the rest of the teachers, but I've marked you. I know what you're all about. You can't get away with anything. Detention! All of you, a months detention!" He ranted, waving his wand wildly. The boys said nothing. There was nothing to say.

"Get out of my sight! I don't want to see you until dinner." He roared as they refused to move or be cowed by his yelling. The gang calmly walked away from the Quidditch Pitch, though Tania was seething as she watched them go. She was tempted to go blast Moody. Who was he to call her brother such things? And the others? They were all decent guys...for all they were guys. They were purebloods and deserved some respect. She began to plot ways to get back at Mad-Man Moody. Once the Gryffindors had left and the Pitch was clear, did she venture from her shadow. Hurrying back to Common Room, she was already rifling through books in her mind on appropriate spells to defend her brother's honor.

A/N: I know Moody was a somewhat out of character, but...shrug I didn't have time to fix it and I didn't want to wait anymore.