"So, Nicci, do you want to get the boys back tonight?" Parker asked, a smile playing on her lips.

Veronica looked up from the book she was reading. "Tonight?"

"Well, it's been over a week, and I'm finally out of detention. We can do it late, around midnight."

"You are so lucky they let you only have a week instead of a month," Kylie said as she and Daniella entered the room.

"What can I say," Parker said grinning, "Beauty, brains, talent, and luck. I do have it all."

Kyle laughed. "And a big head to match," she said grinning,"So what were we doing at midnight?"

"I thought we should get the boys back tonight."

"Sounds good," Kylie said smiling back.

"You two are forgetting something," Veronica said, "We don't know what to do."

Parker smiled. "On the contrary, my dear Nicci," she said pulling something out of her dresser drawer, "I do have a plan and a good one too."

"Parker," Daniella said quietly.

"Don't worry, Dani. It won't do them any harm...not permanently anyways."

"So what's the plan, Parker," Kylie interrupted.

"Well, we just add a few drops of one of these to our lovely boys' hair and our work is done."

Veronica stared curiously at the four bottles Parker was holding. They were all different colors, but none had any labels on them. "What do they do?"

Parker smiled. "You'll see."


Veronica woke up tired the next morning, but she wasn't sure why. Then she remembered. Last night, she, Parker, Kylie, and Daniella (after a lot of persuasion) had snuck into the boys' room and poured something from Parker's mysterious bottles onto their heads. She smiled. The plan had gone on without a hitch.

"Glad to see you're up, Nicci," Parker said grinning. She was dressed and smiling, something very unusual for Parker in the morning. "Hurry up," she continued, "We want to be down there when the boys wake up."

Veronica smiled at her. She noticed Kylie and Daniella were up as well. Kylie's face mirrored Parker's, while Daniella was looking extremely nervous. Veronica felt she was somewhere in between. She was excited, but she was also worried. She shrugged off her thoughts quickly and got up to get ready.

The four girls were down in the common room half an hour later. Veronica had brought her book and was trying with all her might to read. Kylie and Daniella were in the middle of a game of chess. Daniella was beating Kylie badly. Parker was watching the game in amusement and laughing loudly every time one of Kylie's pieces got knocked off.

Veronica turned to look around the rest of the room. There were a lot of people. Everyone was standing around the message board. She wasn't sure why. She was about to get up to see when she heard loud shouting coming from the boys dormitories.

Parker smiled. "And so it begins."

Veronica quickly turned back to her book and tried to read. She didn't look up when she heard loud footsteps on the stairs, even though she was dying to know what Parker's bottles had done. Daniella and Kylie continued to play chess. Daniella was trying to seem as though she was absorbed in the game, but a deep blush was creeping up her face. Parker was staring at the chessboard.

"Keowen," Orion said angrily.

Parker looked up and gasped. "What happened to your hair?"

Veronica turned and looked over at the boys. It took all of her strength not to burst out laughing. Orion's hair was pink, James' was bright orange, Shane's was neon green, and Jeff's was blue with silver stripes. They were fuming. Out of the corner of her eye, Veronica saw Rob walk down the stairs. The girls had done nothing to his hair, considering he had done nothing to them.

Everyone in the common room was staring now. Most of them were laughing loudly as well.

"Like you don't know," James seethed.

"We know you did this," Shane said.

"Who me?" Parker asked innocently, "Where would you get an idea like that?"

"Who else would do it?" Jeff said furiously.

"Look what you did to my hair," Orion shouted.

"But pink is your color, Sunshine."

Orion stared at her icily. "That is not funny."

"I thought it was," Veronica said smiling. This was turning out to be a better experience than she thought.

"It won't be funny when it happens to you!" Shane shouted.

"They looked so much cuter when they were sleeping," Kylie said to Parker, just loud enough for the boys to hear.

"You were in on this too," James shouted, "My own sister!" Kylie smiled and winked at Veronica and Daniella.

"Wait a minute," Jeff said, "All of you?"

"Well, of course," Kylie said grinning, "We couldn't let you get away with covering us in mashed potatoes."

"We do owe the idea to Parker though," Veronica added, smiling sweetly.

"Yeah, well you had your fun," Orion said coldly, "Now how do we get it out?"

Parker looked at him confused. She pulled out one of the bottles and looked at it. "I don't know," she said looking back and smiling, "There aren't any directions."

"What!" The boys shouted in unison.

"Oops," Parker said smiling.

"I guess you'll just have to try washing it out," Kylie said.

The boys leaned in menacingly. "We are going to get you back for this," Jeff said.

"And it won't be pretty," James growled. With that, the boys turned and left, most likely to the showers.

Parker just burst out laughing, then turned back to the girls. "Wasn't that fun?" she asked.

Veronica smiled and so did Kylie. Daniella sighed. "It was terribly mean of you to do that," she said quietly, "They won't be able to get it out."

Parker groaned. "What am I going to do about you?"

"Nothing for now," Kylie said getting up, "It's breakfast time."

The girls got up. Most of the common room had cleared out after all the action was over. Veronica glanced over at the message board and noticed two new papers posted up. "Hey," she said pointing, "New messages. Let's go look."

Veronica walked over to the board and looked at the first message. It read:

QUIDDITCH TRYOUTS FOR HOUSE TEAM

Tryouts will be Friday September 17 at 4:00 out on the
Quidditch pitch. We have an open position for Seeker and one Beater.
Please bring your brooms. Second years and up please.

Signed,
Peter Baylen, Captain

"Wow, Quidditch tryouts. Shame it's only for second years. Not my position either."

"That sucks," Veronica muttered. She turned to look at the other paper. This one looked a lot more interesting to her. After all, she didn't plan on being on the house team anytime soon, or anytime at all for that matter..

INTERSCHOOL QUIDDITCH

Attention, all students, tryouts for the school team will
be Saturday September 18, at 1:00. To tryout you must be at least a
third year. Practice times will be announced as soon as the team is
picked.

The first game will be November 1st. We will be playing
Naisatchi Academy of Magic in Japan. It will be an away game for the
Ravenclaw house.

Signed,
Headmaster Sirius Black

Veronica groaned. "That sucks. I really wanted to go to one of the games soon."

"Relax, Nicci," Parker said as they headed down to the Great Hall, "Who wants to go to Japan anyways? It's stupid."

"Parker," Daniella said, "You shouldn't talk like that. Japan's culture is different, but not stupid. You shouldn't talk about something you don't understand."

Parker just rolled her eyes. "It's stupid. Trust me. I've been there. The food is just plain nasty."

Daniella made to say something, but Veronica interrupted, hoping to end the pointless argument. "Where do you think we'll get to go?"

"I don't know," Parker said. She looked at Kylie. "What other schools are there?"

"Well, there's Beauxbatons, Drumstrang, and Salem," Kylie said as they took seats, "Those are the main ones besides Hogwarts. I don't know the names of any others."

"Well, I want to go to..." Veronica began, but she was interrupted by the hooting of owls. The post had arrived. The first time this had happened, she almost had a heart attack, but she had grown used to it.

Veronica watched as a largebarn owl flew down and landed in front of Kylie. "Thank you," Kylie said as she pulled the paper from its leg. It was the Daily Prophet, a wizarding newspaper, which Kylie had delivered to her.

She opened it and began to read. The other girls began to eat. "Why does this name sound so familiar?" Kylie murmured more to herself.

"Who?" Veronica asked curiously, looking up from her food. Parker was staring at Kylie as well.

"Bellatrix Lestrange," Kylie said looking up over her paper, "I swear I've heard my dad talk about her before. It says she eluded capture during the Second War and was never found. However, looks like some old woman spotted her and recognized her about two weeks ago. "

"I wonder what's so great about her," Parker asked, "Front page status must mean she's big news."

"Don't tell me you don't know about Bellatrix Lestrange," a voice interrupted. It was Orion. James, Shane, Jeff and Rob were with him.

"No, I don't," Parker said annoyed, "Care to enlighten me?"

Orion smiled and took a seat next to Parker. James sat next to him and the other boys sat across from them. "I'm always glad to give a little knowledge to a blank and barbaric mind."

"You flatter me," Parker said tonelessly, "Get on with the story."

Orion smiled. "Well, Bellatrix Lestrange came from a pureblood family. Mine in fact. She's my grandfather's cousin. She was probably the evilest witch to ever come around. She was Voldemort's right hand. She killed dozens of people. Muggles, wizards, and plenty of aurors. She is at the top of the Most Wanted List. After the war, she was one of the only ones of Voldemort's followers that was never caught."

"Oh my," Daniella said quietly, looking very nervous, "You don't think she'll come here do you?"

The boys laughed. "She'd have to be nuts to try and take over Hogwarts," James said.

"Then again," Jeff said softly, "She is crazy, so who knows." The boys smiled as Daniella spilled her drink from nervousness.

"Don't worry," Kylie said as the boys left laughing, "They're just trying to scare you. Bellatrix definitely won't show up here."

"I don't know. She sounds like she's just crazy enough to try it to me."

Veronica gave Parker a hard kick. "Ouch," Parker said angrily.

Veronica smiled at Daniella. "Come on," she said, "Let's get to Defense Against the Dark Arts. We'll be fine."

"Whatever happened to 'honesty is the best policy'?" Parker grumbled as they walked.

She was still grumbling when the girls took their seats in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Potter smiled at the class as the bell rang.

"Today, we will be learning a very useful Guiding Spell," he said, "Many of you may not think this is really anything to do with defense, but it's actually a useful tool. It's helped me out many times. Guiding spells will not only point you in the direction you want to go, but the more powerful ones will also guide you away from danger.."

Professor Potter stopped. Veronica looked back at the door to see Orion. She hadn't even noticed he wasn't with his friends. "Mr. Black, that's the third time you've been late. I'm going to have to give you detention."

"But Uncle Harry, I mean Professor Potter," Orion started.

"I don't want to give it to you either," Professor Potter said sternly, "But some of the teachers have been complaining about my lack of discipline. You'll get the date at lunch."

Orion sighed and sat down. "Alright."

"Now, as I was saying," Professor Potter continued, "Guiding spells are very useful. We will be trying them today, so get out your wands."

Everyone did as they were told and waited. "Now, think hard of something you wish to find and say point me. Something that you know the direction of. For example, I'm looking for cookies, so my wand should point to my desk." There were a few snickers, that Professor Potter ignored. "Everyone understand? Now please begin. Ask if you have any questions."

Veronica laid her wand in the palm of her hand. She tried hard to think of something. Everyone else had started.

"Need some help," Professor Potter asked smiling.

Veronica blushed. "I can't think of anything to look for."

"How about your family," Professor Potter said, "It will point toward the closest one and your mother works here, so it will be quite easy."

Veronica smiled. "Okay," she said grinning as Professor Potter walked over to help Annabel. She closed her eyes and concentrated hard on family. "Point me."

Veronica opened her eyes when she felt the wand spinning in her hand. She watched as it slowly came to a stop. However, when it stopped, she frowned. It was pointing to her right. She knew her mother was in her classroom and it was to the left.

Veronica sighed and tried again. However, the wand pointed to the right again. She turned and glanced over at the people on her right. The only people there were Annabel, Levinia, Jeff and Rob. She frowned and tried again, but for the rest of the period her wand continued to point right.


Veronica sighed as the girls sat down in the common room that night. They were piled with homework. None of it was due until the following Monday, but Veronica knew she had to get started. She sighed loudly and grabbed her book for Transfiguration. Professor Weasley had assigned a two parchment essay on animagi which, while interesting, wasn't something she felt like doing.

"You're not doing homework, are you Nicci?" Parker asked.

"Yes, I am. We have three essays due on Monday."

"So? We can do them Sunday."

Veronica looked up from her paper. "I'd rather not be up all night," she said shaking her head.

Kylie groaned. "I better get started too," she said, grabbing her book with a look of disgust. Daniella was already writing.

Parker simply scowled. "You guys are such worriers. It won't take that long."

Veronica was about to say something, when she was interrupted by Orion. "Hello ladies," he said pleasantly.

"Nice evening," James said.

"What do you want, James?" Kylie asked without looking up.

"Just because I come to talk to my sister, it means I want something? That really hurts Kylie."

Kylie looked up at him, eyebrows raised. "Okay," Shane said, "So we do want something."

Kylie smirked. "I knew it, and the answer is no."

"But you don't even know what we're going to ask," Jeff said.

"It doesn't matter," Orion said, "We don't need her help." He turned to Parker. "Actually we need your help, Keowen."

"And what makes you think I'll help you?" Parker asked.

"Well," Orion said, "It just so happens that we plan on pranking a certain Potions Master and we think you might like to join us. However, if you can't I won't be able to go either."

Parker raised her eyebrows. "Why can't you go if I don't?" Veronica looked up from her essay. She was curious now.

"Well, as you guys know," Orion said, lowering his voice, "I received a detention in Defense Against the Dark Arts today. It is scheduled for Thursday night, which happens to be the very night we planned this prank for. It's the only night we know for sure that Professor Malfoy won't be in his office past seven and won't return until morning. Now, Professor Potter, was kind enough to give me a chance to get out of detention.. All I have to do is have a change in attitude, be a littler nicer. And what better person to be nicer to than the one I hate the most."

"How kind."

Orion smiled. "I just need you to pretend to like me for the rest of the week. We act nice around Professor Potter, and probably around the other professors too, since they'll be watching. I get out of detention and we're on for Thursday."

Parker smiled. "Well," she said slowly.

"How do we know you're not lying?" Veronica interrupted. She found anything they said very hard to believe, especially if it was Orion.

"Well," James said, "We can allow one other of you guys to come. Any more would be a bit too noticeable. We're pushing it as it is."

Veronica looked at Kylie, who nodded. "I'll go," Kylie said, "That is, if Parker is up to it."

The boys turned to look at Parker. "So Keowen," Orion said grinning, "Are you up to a little mischief making? I'll warn you now, it breaks about fifteen school rules."

Parker smiled. "The more the better. I'm in." Veronica sighed. This was not going to be good. She was just glad she didn't have to go. Pranks on the boys were okay, but on a professor, especially Professor Malfoy were something entirely different. He deserved it, yes, but he would kill whoever did it if he found out.