Hector and Ron were headed for the Halloween party. They were expecting a good night, Hector had let Ron in on, what would be happening. Hector was gloating, only he was so close to the headmaster, that he knew what was going down. He was also the only one, not even the older kids, who got to have private training with the headmaster. Sometimes he hated it, he wanted to be with his friends, but he understood. He was a hero, and one day he would be an auror like his father once was, and he would be world famous. He would never be a street auror, and he doubted they would ever need him to train, they'd beg him to take over the department. Moody better be retired by then, or he would find himself fired, to give Hector his job. Hector would spend the next seven years proving his bravery, Albus would ensure that, so the public would demand his appointment. Of course it would only be a stepping stone, he would one day be minister of magic, something Albus never managed.
Halloween had always been a favorite holiday for Hector. Last year his parents had taken him to the US, to have a proper Halloween there. Ron was happy to be at school, the twins always pulled pranks on him, at home. His mother was never able to catch them red handed.
Ron's stomach was grumbling. "Thank Merlin the party starts earlier than dinner."
Hector smirked but nodded. "The feast is supposed to be the best. Well Christmas, but no one except pathetic saps, stay for that."
Ron's face fell for a moment. "My parents are going to Romania this year. We'll be staying."
Hector shook his head. "No. Mum and dad will let you come with us, when they know."
Ron was so happy to hear that. "Your big Christmas eve parties are so cool."
Hector agreed. "Mum and dad hinted though we would not be having Christmas at home this year."
Ron was even happier. "The twins will be so jealous, if they have to stay at school, and I'm off with you."
Hector snorted. "If they weren't so pathetic, perhaps they'd make some friends to go home with."
Seamus was walking by with Neville and some others. "You're one to talk."
Hector looked at the kid. "Don't think I forgot what you pulled in class leprechaun. You'll pay, for defending your know it all girlfriend."
Ron laughed. "Only girl who would be desperate enough to date him."
Seamus looked at him. "She's not, but if she was, you'd just be jealous. The best you could get is Mrs. Norris."
Hector stopped Ron from hexing the kid. "We'll get back at him later. And at our other favorite target."
Ron was reminded of that night. "We need to get front row seats."
They had seen Hermione enter the girl's bathroom and Hector smiled. "Maybe some pre-dinner entertainment."
Hector used a spell, and blocked Hermione into the room. Someone could go in, but no one could leave the room, with the spell on the room. Hermione may think she knows all spells, but it was set, so it could only be removed from the outside. The little know it all was such a prat, she showed him up in class, and her and the leprechaun made him look the fool. She could spend Halloween on the toilet, and perhaps if the rest of the night worked, she may have some fun company as well. But even if not, well missing the party, was a start.
As they headed into the Great Hall, they didn't notice Ryan, Draco and the twins were with them. The three of them had their own Halloween surprise intended for those two twits. Unfortunately for Hermione, they hadn't seen what had happened to her, in the bathroom.
Ryan pointed to where Hector was approaching the hall. "If we are going to act, we need to act soon."
Fred picked out something from his bag of tricks. "It's ready."
George looked at Ryan. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Draco nodded. "You're the smallest, but not exactly the quickest….."
Ryan cut him off. "I can do this. I want to do this, I won't mess it up."
Fred clapped him on the back. "We know you won't. You know we trust you."
Draco didn't mean to upset or doubt his cousin. "Of course you can. Get at it."
Ryan took the item from Fred. "I'll do Uncle Siri proud."
Fred shook his head as they watched Ryan slip off. "If we get caught, his grandsire is going to kill us, isn't he?"
Draco shook his head. "His grandmother maybe. Great Uncle Orion might reward you."
They watched as Ryan went to work. Ryan had been the one to insist, that he get to do this. Uncle Siri taught him a trick, to remove his magical trace from the item, so no one could test him. Aurors used it, when they were doing things under cover. Besides it was a joke product, he didn't have to use any of their magic for it. The product was from a store, but the twins had adapted it, for their own purpose. They hoped to one day open their own store, and had been creating their own products, for the past two years.
Ryan was able to get just close enough to the prat, as they were going into the hall, to slip the item into his pocket, after activating it. He was about to get away, when he bumped into one of the other lions, headed to their table.
He looked up to see one of the older kids. "Sorry."
It was Oliver, who was a good friend of the twins. "No problem. Should I ask what you were doing?"
Ryan shook his head. "I need to get over to my table."
Katie was with Oliver. "What is the rush?"
Ryan knew it was about to happen. "You know I think the twins were looking for you."
Oliver understood the code well enough. "Maybe we should go find them. I guess they want to talk about the next game."
Suddenly Hector began shouting. "What the hell is happening? My arm is going to fall off. It's going to fall off."
Ron touched him to try and help and his arm started going green as well. "It's contagious."
Their arms, and the rest of their bodies as it began to spread, were going green and covered in warts of some kind. Originally the product was like a muggle itching powder, but it was meant to make someone look like they had the pox. The twins had added the green to it, for a better affect. Ryan was giggling, but he was not alone in it, everyone was. Albus came over, and helped stop, but by then several people had taken photos.
Hector looked at Ryan and pointed at him. "It was him. He did this to me."
Ryan shook his head. "I was on my way to the table."
Oliver stepped in and said. "The kid was nowhere near Hector when it began. He had come to tell me something."
Katie backed him up. "Hector was already screeching by then."
Albus shook his head. "You will have…."
Minerva spoke up. "You're not accusing members of my house, of lying for a Slytherin are you?"
Albus ground his teeth, but since no one had seen Ryan do it, he had no proof. The last thing he needed was Orion coming, and accusing him of setting up his grandson, over this. And other than the twins, he could see no reason, other lions would back up Ryan either. He had plans for tonight, and he couldn't allow them to be ruined, by a dumb prank like this. One day he would nail the Black brat, but not tonight it seems.
He looked at Ryan. "I'd be getting over to my own table now, before I change my mind."
Ryan and Draco were laughing, as they joined Blaise at the table. The twins had shot them a thumbs up before they sat down. Albus didn't know, but Ryan had hung out with the twins' friends on more than one occasion. Though Oliver was super competitive, he had not minded when Ryan came to practice, he knew he was not actually on the team. Besides though he would play pranks on Hector, he would never spy on the team. Oliver had been happy to help tonight, especially since the victim was Hector, and even his own house was fed up with him. If it wasn't all of his bragging, it was all the points he lost, because of his big mouth in class. Oliver was just relieved, he couldn't fly at all, and was not the new seeker for the team. The team could only groan with the thought of being stuck with him on the team.
Ryan was so happy. He wouldn't have minded really if he got caught, well he'd hate detention, but it was worth it. His Uncle always called him a mini marauder, and he never felt like one, he never thought he earned the title. He was sure he would now.
Draco was thinking the same thing. "You know the two of us and the twins should be the new marauders."
Ryan smiled a little. "New and improved. No rat traitor, and the false friend. Only Uncle Siri and Remus were true in the end."
Draco agreed. "We will be the new and improved. Maybe we can convince your Uncle to teach us, to you know transform."
Ryan smiled and whispered. "Uncle Siri promised he'd teach me and you, when we were fifteen."
Draco was not surprised. "Your dads both are, and my dad is. We should be naturals at it."
Ryan's smile faltered a bit. "I don't know, maybe Blaise would be better than me."
Draco shook his head. "Hey you just pulled off that prank for us."
Ryan cut in. "You were right to doubt me. Unless Oliver saved me, I'd have been caught."
Draco stopped. "You weren't caught. You could have been in another room, and you'd have been blamed still."
Ryan sighed. "But I am still not quick like you. Or can come up with pranks like the twins or…."
Draco pointed out. "You're like Moony. Uncle Sirius always said they needed the prefect in the bunch, to keep them in control."
Ryan laughed a little at that. "Uncle Siri did say I was a book worm like Moony."
Draco pointed out. "Considering how love sick he is, you know being compared to Remus is a huge compliment."
Ryan knew he was right. "I guess there is a lot worse people to like."
Blaise heard that part and shook his head. "Like the green troll over there for instance."
Feeling better, and happy to have pulled off his prank, Ryan finally turned to the feast. When their parents were in school, Hogsmeade had been more often, and seniors could leave campus all the time. There had also been more parties and social events for kids. The rules were starting to change for seniors, and this year, there would be some more parties too.
It seemed though, their prank which had the whole room laughing, would soon be forgotten. Well for a while at least, photos had been taken, but something else was about to have something else to think about.
Quirell came into the hall screaming. "Troll, there is a troll in the dungeons."
Albus could be heard as the hall broke into chaos. "Prefects take your houses back to their dorms. Teachers with me."
Horace was down near their table. "Slytherins go to the library, until we have the all clear for the dungeons."
Draco shook his head. "I have never wished our rooms were not in the dungeons as much as right now."
Ron could be heard as they filed out. "Too bad the snakes weren't down there. But the little know it all may still get a show."
Hector smirked. "Too bad we couldn't ensure the troll would go to the girl's bathroom."
Ryan looked at Draco. "Hermione, it must be Hermione. She won't know about the troll."
Draco nodded and grabbed him. "We have to go get her. It doesn't sound like she is in there by choice."
Fred popped up as they headed away from their house. "I didn't think our bookworm would forget his way to the library."
Ryan quickly explained what they had overheard. "We have to get her out of there."
The twins agreed, and came with them, avoiding the sight of the prefects as they went. They found the bathroom, but as they were bringing down the wards, they heard a scream from inside the room. Draco almost burst into the room, but they had to bring down the wards, or they would be stuck as well. They realized the troll was in there, and they had to hope Hector didn't really think this out, he trapped her in there.
They got into the room and found Hermione against a wall, screaming as a troll was swinging a club at her. "Help, please help."
Fred started throwing things at the troll. "Look over here, look over here."
George ground his teeth when the troll did. "Now what?"
Draco through a hex at a troll. "We haven't studied trolls yet in class."
Ryan felt his arm be sliced upon by a shard of glass as a sink broke. "We have to do something."
They were all throwing spells, but it was Ryan who finally managed to knock out the troll. He used the spell that they had learned in charms. He had barely been able to lift a feather, but with the adrenaline going, he managed to lift the club. The troll was knocked out, and Hermione threw herself into their arms, as the bathroom door burst open. Hector and Ron came in, wands drawn, having come to be the hero it seemed. They were soon followed by the teachers, and the headmaster, all shocked by this. Albus was irate,
Minerva though calmed it down. "I think the kids better be taken to the hospital wing, we can have explanations there."
The parents of all of the children involved were summoned to the school. Well Hermione's weren't, they were muggles, and it was hard to do. Muggles could come to the school, accompanied, for an emergency or something important. Their daughter was not hurt, just shaken badly, and she insisted they didn't need to be brought. The Potters, the Weasleys and Blacks came. Both of Ryan's dads came, and his grandsire too.
Though Albus was quick to look to the snakes, Minerva took control. Hermione told them how she got trapped, and how the others had come to her rescue. And having taken truth serum, just to prove Albus wrong, the boys explained what they had seen and heard.
Albus' teeth were grinding. The troll was meant to be for Hector. "The boys were meant to be with their houses. They will…"
Minerva cut him off. "They will each get ten points for their house. Their bravery saved this young woman."
Hermione nodded. "I would have been pulverized. I was stuck in the bathroom for hours, I couldn't get out."
Ryan looked over at Hector. "He was the one who trapped them in the room."
James growled. "There is no proof my son was involved. You are just trying to get him in trouble."
Albus looked at the boy. "After the prank you got away with…."
Orion looked at the truth serum. "It seems perhaps he should have to answer the same test as our boys."
Lily tried to defend her son. "He wouldn't have put a girl in danger like that."
Fred smirked. "He would if he would look the hero. How else did he know she was in the bathroom?"
Minerva agreed with them. "You demanded the boys take it, it only seems fair, Hector faces the same."
Hector looked at his parents. "This isn't fair, I went there to save the know it all."
Against all protests, Hector and Ron were both made to take it. The others hadn't though Ryan and his friends should have to, they had not given the others any reason to not believe them, but they had to. It had worked, it had proven not only they saved Hermione, but had heard Hector talk. Now Albus forcing them to, thinking they were lying, was going to come back to bite them for a second time in a row.
Hector of course couldn't help it, he admitted that he had been the one to lock Hermione in the bathroom. He had gone to confront the troll, to be a hero, and when he realized the troll was in with her, went to stop it. Saving Hermione had been an afterthought.
Orion thought to ask. "Did you know the troll was being let into the school?"
Albus cut in before Hector had to answer. "How would he know? You aren't accusing a student of allowing a troll in?"
James pointed out. "My son was in the hall, surrounded by all of the other kids."
Severus smirked. "No, we're not giving him that much credit, but he seemed to know ahead of time."
Lily went to take her son. "Of course not. He is just a natural hero, and he wanted to save someone."
Minerva stopped them. "Well he will spend another two weeks cleaning bathrooms, for his little stint with Hermione."
Hector was upset. "The little know it all showed me up in class. If she shut her mouth, it would never happen."
James knew his son had to leave, with the potion in him, before he said something else. "Come along Hector."
When Albus was gone too Hermione surprised them by hugging her saviors. "Thank you. I would have been killed, if not for you."
Ryan got the longest hug because he had been the one to knock the troll out. "We're just happy you're okay."
Orion and his son and son in law, accompanied the boys back down to the dungeons. Well the twins stayed with their parents, who were proud of what they had done. Orion had no doubt, that his grandson and Draco were involved, in the prank they were accused of. But he proved Draco right. Even if the troll hadn't happened, he would have been proud of the prank, that side of the boys.
Regulus ruffled his son's curls. "Your Uncle will be so proud."
Ryan smiled. "You can't tell him, I want to send him an owl myself."
Severus shook his head. "I don't know what he'll be more proud of, the prank you pulled, or saving Hermione from the troll."
Orion shook his head. "I am very proud of your bravery, and your skill tonight."
Marcus appeared in the door to their dorms. "The party has started down here. We need our guests of honor."
Regulus directed his son. "Go and enjoy the party. And I'll let you tell your Uncle."
Ryan and Draco headed in for the party, where they were toasted, twice. Once for their bravery, with the twins, in saving Hermione. Ryan especially, not just because he was the one to knock out the troll, but because of his lack of power sometimes. But also about the prank they had managed to pull as well. The Blacks left the school, very proud of Ryan, for both reasons as well.
Severus had to think though. "Ryan will have to be careful. Hector will be out for his blood even more, after showing him up twice today."
So please, please continue to review in support of this story continuing.
