Author's Note:

The Houses Competition (or THC) Round 2

House: Slytherin

Class: Astronomy

Category: Standard

Prompts: Zonko's Joke Shop (Location), Tea Leaves (Object)

Word Count: 1232

After a difficult first year, Professor McGonagall tries to get a step up on the Weasley twins. During her attempt, she catches up with one of her former students.

Pranks, Snakes and Thanks

During the last school year at Hogwarts, two new Gryffindors had been so mischievous that Professor McGonagall was left speechless. Young Fred and George Weasly had spent their first year terrorizing the staff, vandalizing school bathrooms and spent more time in detention than in class. Minerva had never encountered such a rambunctious duo. Even James Potter and his bunch would struggle to compete with these two little imps.

At the end of the year, after all the students had been sent home, McGonagall had called a meeting among the Hogwarts staff to discuss their plan to help ensure Fred and Geroge would be better behaved in the coming years. Unsurprisingly, the majority of the staff were unhelpful and chalked it up as the responsibility of the head of Gryffindor house. While the staff trickled out, an oddly sympathetic Trewlawny stopped and picked up Minerva's teacup.

"May I?" Sybil asked, swirling the dregs around.

Minerva nodded. She was at her wit's end, willing to accept any help, including what would most likely be nonsense from Sybil.

"Go find where they would thrive and next year you will survive," Sybil predicted while staring into the cup.

She left without another word, a self-satisfied grin on her face.

After her office was empty and the door was firmly shut, Minerva buried her face in her hands, feeling ten years older.

Suddenly, an idea dawned upon her. Maybe Sybil wasn't so wrong after all. McGonagall sat back and devised a plan to visit Zonko's Joke Shop. If she was able to immerse herself in their world and get a head start figuring out what sort of awful inventions Zonko's would be selling, she might be able to catch them by surprise and end her torment.

Days later, Minerva took a tentative step into Zonko's Joke Shop. She self consciously straightened her uncharacteristically youthful robes and shook her unbound hair from her face. Instead of her typical spectacles, she wore green-tinted glasses perched on the end of her nose. She hoped her unusual wardrobe would keep anyone from recognizing her while she perused the famous joke shop.

The shop was filled with loud noises and rambunctious laughter. Odd smells rose from various products on display; some even created plumes of colourful smoke. Children crowded the store but hardly glanced at her as she weaved her way through the throng of bodies. Minerva made her way to the back of the store, planning to work methodically through the shelves.

As she paced her way through them, shaking her head at all the wild creations for sale, a young employee approached her.

"Excuse me Ma'am, do you need any help looking for something today?"

"No thank you," McGonagall responded curtly, avoiding eye contact with the salesperson.

The employee cocked her head to the side.

"Professor McGonagall, is that you?"

The professor let out a heavy sigh. She had been recognized. The young employee's face lit up as Minerval glanced at her, trying to place them.

After a moment of awkward compilation, Minerva shook her head.

'I'm sorry my dear, I can't seem to figure out who you are."

Immediately, the woman's face broke into a grin.

"That should be a clue to who I am, professor."

McGonagall let out a small sigh. She was too stressed for games, but still, she took one last glance at the delighted individual and it dawned on her.

"Tonks?"

The salesperson squealed and nodded, embracing the professor in a sudden hug.

Feeling both stunned and honoured, Minerva gave her a quick squeeze before stepping back to admire Nymphadora's metamorphmagus skills.

"You've refined your skills quite nicely. Are you still training to be an Auror?"

Tonks nodded enthusiastically.

"I'm just here for a bit to make some extra money while I pass all my courses."

Minerva felt a small swell of pride in her chest. Nymphadora had been a smart student, but she, not unlike the two scoundrels Minerva was currently dealing with, enjoyed being a trickster. A career as an Auror would require her best behaviour and Minerva was excited to see where it led her former pupil.

"What brings you here of all places, Professor?"

"Two new troublemakers," McGonagall responded curtly. "I wanted to come here to try and get a few steps ahead of them next year."

Tonks let out a giggle. "Let me show you around."

For the next hour, McGonagall followed Tonks around the store, taking in all the information she could. She listened contently as Tonks added in personal anecdotes and how her life had changed since graduating from Hogwarts. It warmed Minerva's heart to see her doing so well.

As they finished up their walkthrough, Tonks asked about the quidditch season and McGonagall suddenly got an idea.

"Nymphadora, do you perhaps have a small item to purchase to perhaps give Severus a fright? All in the name of friendly competition, of course."

A small smile played on her lips as she pictured Severus startled in his office right before an integral quidditch match.

Tonks nodded, grinning ear to ear. She led Minerva down to a section of the shop called 'Muggle Jokes'. Halfway down the aisle, she paused and picked up a cylinder-shaped canister labeled 'Peanut Brittle.'

Handing it to Minerva, she explained, "It's a classic Muggle invention with a charm on it to make it a bit more impactful."

Minerva stared at the canister, uncertain.

"Go on, open it."

Bemused, McGonagall twisted the top off the canister and let out a yelp as a large snake sprung from the container. It slithered on the floor for a moment and then stilled. Tonks picked it up and showed the professor that it was nothing more than a charmed prop. McGonagall laughed, full of joy, and Tonks wrestled the snake back into the canister. She then showed Minerva the tag with the instructions on how to re-enchant the snake before using it on the next victim.

"I'll take it!" Minerva exclaimed, heading towards the checkout, Tonks by her side.

After handing her carefully counted change to the cashier, Minerva slipped her newly purchased joke item into her pocket and exited the store. Tonks slunk out after her and called out.

"Professor?"

Minerval hurried back to her former pupil.

"Yes?"

"Don't worry too much about those two wild ones. Treat them with kindness, and firmness and if ever they do something you find really funny…tell them that. After a proper scolding of course."

Minerva smiled at the young woman and pulled her into a parting embrace.

"I'm proud of you Nymphadora."

They pulled apart, Tonks blinking tears from her eyes.

"Have a good summer Professor."

"You too Nymphadora. Take care of yourself. Best of luck as you pursue your career."

Satisfied, Minerva stepped away and apparated out of Diagon Alley.

Back at the school, she reflected upon Nymphadora's advice and marvelled at the maturity she had gained. Despite her exhaustion, she was excited to welcome the two boisterous Gryffindors back for another semester and hopefully teach them something useful. From her robes, she pulled the 'snake in a can' and giggled to herself as she pictured Severus unsuspectingly opening it.

Pushing her chair back, she gave her office one final glance before closing the door and walking towards the sunny courtyard. She figured she better spend the summer relaxing; the next year was going to be a wild one.