How To Correctly Break Rules
By NefariousImp
AN: The thing Peeves wants was an idea from my wonderful, beautiful, smart Step-daughter. Esther, you're a genius. And for the Killing Curse shield, I know that's a sucky spell for it, but I'm not really as smart as Hermione, no matter what you guys think.
Chapter Eleven: Testing, testing...
Dumbledore had talked Nearly-headless Nick into meeting them in a very secluded part of the castle. They were in a room that was bare of any furniture, waiting for Nick to arrive.
He came into the room behind Hermione, making her scream when he started talking.
"Ah, I see, you are all here. In that case, let us begin." Nick said floating in the middle of the room. "I have invited someone who would be more help, I thought we could use another 'hand' seeing as I have none."
They heard a wicked cackle bouncing off the walls.
"Nick! How could you invite him!" Ron yelled. A soft pop was heard.
"If you don't want my help, I'll just be on my way. I think that I'll find some Slytherins to wake up." Peeves said, appearing in the middle of the room, with an impish grin.
He headed for the wall.
"Who knows, I might tell them where to find some magic lessons."
"WAIT!" Hermione yelled.
Peeves stopped and turned to face her with an expectant look.
"I can definitly use your help. Whether the rest can or not." Ron and Harry looked at her like she'd lost her mind, but she held up her hand to them.
"And tell me, why, should I help you, Hermione Granger. You have nothing to offer me."
"I have alot to offer, if you could have something or do something, what would it be?" He grinned at her.
"And why should I tell you? Tisk, tisk, tisk. You are getting to big for your britches little Gryffindor."
"In the first place, I'm wearing a skirt. And in the second place, If you help us I will do my very best to get you what you want." He looked at her a moment before grinning widely.
"I will tell you, but I doubt you will agree." He sing-songed
"I made a promise. I will do my best, even if I never achieve it, I will never stop trying."
"I want to be the Headmaster." The others started laughing but Hermione looked at him curiously.
"Why would you want that?" He grinned slyly.
"I know it can't be permanant, but I want to be Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for ONE whole day." He said ignoring her question.
"On, one condition." Hermione said. "If you are Headmaster, you must act like a Headmaster, not a prankster-poltergeist. None of the students may be put into danger. And if their Headmaster is acting like a five year old hopped up on sugar, they will be in danger." He glared at her.
"Ruin all my fun why don't you." He gave a heavy put-upon sigh. "Fine, I agree."
"Good, just remember, if you mess up, you can be fired. Headmaster?" She turned to Dumbledore who was looking thoughtful.
"I believe it can be arranged, however, I cannot allow it until after Voldemort has been defeated. It is too dangerous."
"What if you never defeat him?" Peeves said testily.
"If you help us out tonight it will better our chances. And the sooner he is defeated the sooner you are Headmaster. Exactly one week after he is defeated you will be Headmaster for that day. And if he is never defeated, we will all be dead, nullifying our agreement."
Hermione looked at the poltergeist.
"Do we have a deal Peeves? Also, no one is to know about any of this. If it got out, then we would lose the war." He looked at the girl.
"I believe we do have a deal." He grinned at her and shook her hand.
"Okay, now can I ask why we need his help?" Ron asked. Ginny rolled her eyes and smacked him upside the head.
"Because he can make himself tangible enough to put the shield up on him. This way we can have a test for the person with the shield and to see what happens if another person touches the shield." She said gesturing to the two. "Course, personally I think we could trust the Bloody Baron more but, hey, beggars can't be choosers."
Peeves looked peeved. Ginny just winked at him and surprisingly he smiled fondly at her.
"I do like you." Peeves grinned at her. "You have great potential. Your are very similar to you brothers, the twin terrors. You should relax and have fun more."
"I think he's trying to coax you over to the Dark Side, Ginny." Hermione laughed. No one got her Star Wars reference. "Nevermind." She rolled her eyes.
"Okay," Hermione said. "I need everyone else against the wall. Peeves, you stand against the wall over here. I'm going to cast the shield. Headmaster, could you conjure up a concrete wall or something that the rest of us could hide behind?" Surprisingly he did.
"Alright, everybody ready?" She focused her wand on Peeves, who had fully corporated as much as possible. "Avada Protego Kadavra!" A flash of bright green light shot out of her wand and formed a dome made out of green magic over Peeves. He was thoroughly shocked.
"Merlin's big bottom! I didn't think it would really work!" Peeves yelled. He took a step forward and the dome moved with him.
"Of course it worked, if you are going to be Headmaster you've got to learn to have faith in your students. Are you ready? I'm going to send the curse at you."
"Miss Granger, I suggest you let me do that." Snape said coming up beside her. "It is still an unforgivable." She reluctantly nodded. He moved forward and yelled, "Avada Kedavra!" The beam of green light hit the dome and it flared brightly for a second before returning to its previous glow. "Imperio!" The spell hit the shield and it flashed orange in the spot where it hit but it didn't go through.
"It destroyed the spell! Does it just destroy Dark spells or any spell?" Draco asked.
"Only one way to find out." Hermione said. "Winguardium Leviosa!" Peeves started floating in the air, the dome turning into a full bubble surrounding him.
"Why did it let that spell through and not the other?" Harry asked.
"Why does the Dark spells shoot out light, but spells like that don't? Maybe it just recognizes the others because they are so abtrusive." Draco shrugged.
"Peeves, try to touch the shield." Hermione said.
Peeves reached out to the shieldbut it only repelled away from his touch. When he pulled his hand back it went back into the dome.
"Are you able to do magic Peeves? Something strong like an Unforgivable?"
"No, but now that you know it won't hurt the wielder you can do put it on yourself."
"Try to throw a water balloon or something through it." Draco said. Peeves frowned at him.
"I don't have any water in here to fill them up with."
"Well, just throw an empty balloon through." Peeves pulled a balloon out of his pocket and threw it at the shield. It went through.
"Alright, Nick, it's your turn." Hermione said to the snobby ghost. She recited the spell that she found that made ghost's tangible for a short period of time. He remained the pearly-grey color but he was no longer see-through or floating.
"I say, this is rather fun." Nick said picking up a rock. He looked over at Peeves. "I've been wanting to do this for quite some time." He said and hurled the rock at Peeves.
The rock was destroyed the second it touched the dome, turning to dust. Peeves looked at Nick with a triumphant smirk. Nick definitly looked like he'd just eaten something sour.
"Nick, can you charge the shield. We want to know what would happen if someone were to touch the shield." Hermione asked him.
Nick nodded and ran to the dome trying to tackle Peeves. He hit the shield and his body collapsed immediatly. They all watched as he became see-through again.
Suddenly, Nick sat up and grabbed his chest, looking at them in betrayl.
"You've killed me! I'm dead! How could you kill me?" He kept grabbing where his heart should be and he wore a terrified expression.
"Nick, you're already dead!" Harry yelled at him. Nick stopped and looked at him in confusion. "You are a ghost. Have been for like 500 years."
"Well, now that you mention it...I do recall it. Hmm. I believe I have been successfully knocked for a loop. And if none of you have further need of me, I shall be going." He said and floated through the wall.
"Uh, Hello?" Peeves got their attention. "Can we take this green thing off me now?"
Hermione said the spell that took it off. Only the spell caster can take the spell off.
"Thank you, Peeves, you have been a tremendous help. And one week after Voldemorts defeat you will be Headmaster." Peeves nodded and disappeared.
TBC...
AN: Sorry it's so short, but my husband is home today and I wrote this while he went to check on his mom in the hospital. Thanks for all the suggestions on what Peeves could want. Thanks for all the reviews. Keep em comin.