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March 2008 AD: March of the War
March came and went is what Harry would have said if he was just messing with your head. The fact is March came, and so did the extravagant prank fest: a prank fest that almost eclipsed the events that will happen shortly this year. It all started so subtly with a flatulence potion in his drink, or a colour changing potion in hers.
The finger for such silly little pranks would always be aimed at the New Marauders, such as Ronald Weasley the instigator and sometimes strategist for those slightly more elaborate pranks, Hermione Granger, the brains, and Terry Potter, the one who somehow pulls off performing the prank. Though, giving Hermione credit she doesn't really want to go around pulling pranks when she could be studying for NEWTS.
However, the fact also remained that they weren't actually pulling the pranks, but Ronald and Terry just shrugged their shoulders and took credit anyway because they were quite funny, and no-one else took credit for them, so no harm done. They knew with Terry's hero status that they won't get into any trouble so lavished in the attention.
Some of the pranks after the first week were getting bigger though, and better, such as the one pulled on James Potter their latest Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. The prank made him fart, but that wasn't what made it funny. It was the squeaky little insane giggling that happened with his farts along with rude joking comments about such farts.
Terry was starting to worry because someone was pulling pranks that were better than any he had pulled lately. The one on his dad was simply the best he had seen in a long time. His dad had of course being a veteran pranker himself congratulated his son for the prank.
Terry… 'The Boy-Who-Lived' Potter was a little on edge as all four houses were under attack from an unknown pranker and his dad wanted him to lay off pranking Gryffindor and he agreed. However, the prankster made NO such agreement, so the pranking continued.
That is when he felt his dad was growing suspicious of him. If his dad finds out someone is secretly out-pranking him he isn't going to be too happy. Well, he would be unhappy that he and his friends aren't trying to outdo this secret prankster.
It was half way through March when Terry knew he wasn't going to have a good dinner when after he did a quick check for magic (just encase of a prank), he sat down at his usual seat and an explosive fart made his checks explode red, even Ron laughed. However, it was the small red thing that he pulled from under his butt that made the laughing in the hall louder.
"Potter sat on a whoopee cushion!" he heard Draco Malfoy holler from his table. "That's not even magic!"
Terry grit his teeth in embarrassment and anger as he threw the thing away cussing himself for not thinking of non-magic pranks when he makes it so obvious to everyone he always scans for magic around his food.
"I can't believe you were got with that," Ron hissed in disgust as the hall went back to what they were doing.
However, moments later everything stopped again as several cream pies exploded at the Hufflepuff table and the hall burst out laughing again. Terry took great satisfaction that Harry had gotten caught by most of the explosion and was covered in custard and cream pie. Though, he was furious because Harry was laughing along with everyone else.
Terry then watched Harry using magic to clean off a few more fortunate's before saying something about getting changed as he is covered in too much for simple cleaning spells to be very effective and he doesn't want to be sticky before he left.
The Boy-Who-Lived always hated pranking Harry as he just laughs them off. However, trying to prank Harry is like trying to prank a Saint. He performs the absolute miracle of avoiding them like its child's play, and it's infuriating. The few times Terry has pranked Harry it's almost like he let him. So this new pranker is really good to get Harry unaware!
It was a few minutes into finally settling down and eating, his thoughts running rampant through his mind with both annoyance and worry, annoyance at his brother, and worry about the prank pulled on him cluing people in to him having not pulled all the pranks this month that he noticed the pure white foggy smoke pouring into the hall.
He frowned as it only settled around waist level while sitting but it was very ominous. He looked around to see the hall had stopped quietened and darkened. Students were whispering hushed to each other, some looking and sounding worried about what kind of prank this might be.
Then it happened, music like from a TV report, (he had taken muggle studies because his mum wanted him to learn a little about muggles). Then in the air a huge floating window with grey, black and white fuzzy static appeared cackling softly with 'no' signal.
Words then appeared with a news reporter voice that muggle-borns would later say sounded like it should be from the late fifties to early sixties. The words were in black and white but looked as if they had colour to them and read: 'Nowhere to Hide News', with some kind of logo.
"We apologise for the lack of picture, we are experiencing some technical difficulties!" the 'news' reporter said crisply. Terry looked to Dumbledore to see him just staring in as much awe as all of the students. Someone was replicating a huge TV using magic.
"We bring you this special report!" the unseen news reporter continued, the hall now almost completely lit by the screen now captivating everyone's attention. "A Mass Pranker has escaped Fairytale Pranking Asylum and is currently on the loose! The last reported pranking was in a school known as Hogwarts! If you see him, run, run far away. I can not stress this enough. He will give you wedgies. They'll be whoopee cushions on every seat; you will not be safe…"
"I'll get you!" laughed a voice in Terry's ear as the screen went quiet. Terry gulped as the hall gasped and turned slowly to see him… the prankster crouched down on his table the fog now hiding it.
He had a wicked grin stretched over his black painted lips outlined red. His hair was the colour of blue flames, long down his back, wild and un-kept. He wore a mask over his pink eyes, bridging over his nose, white with a bunny-skull look to it. His coat hanging to his ankles is white down the centre with purple on the left and pink on the right with a high collar.
He was wearing baggie orange trousers that clashed brilliantly with his coat and a tee shirt under his coat of the same colour with a cartoon rabbit skull with the caption: "err… what's six feet under doc?"
His grin stretched wider as Terry in shock threw himself from his seat with a girlish squeal and crashed to the floor causing this stranger to giggle like a small girl might the fog falling away from where Terry landed so everyone could see him.
"W-who are you?" Terry near whimpered out.
"Who me?" he asked in a mocking posh voice as he stood to full height placing his right hand on his chest showing it to be gloved in tight orange leather while the other was purple. "I thought you knew me or something… after all, for the past two weeks you have been taking credit for my beautiful little titbits of fun!"
"Your what?" Ron blurted out, asking.
The stranger bent over, grinning in his face. "My pranks!" he answered making Ron flinch before standing up again. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Loki, prankster extraordinaire!" he said giving a mock bow to all of the nervous students and teachers. "The honour is all yours of course!" he added smugly as he casually side stepped a spell from the teachers table chuckling as he looked over.
"Professor Dumbledore," he said wiggling a finger with a mock disappointed expression. "Now now… what would the Board of Governors think if they discovered you of all people were attacking a student!" he said causing gasps to run through the hall. "Though really… they probably wouldn't do a thing!" he awaited no answer.
"W-what d-do you want?" Hermione Granger stuttered out.
Loki laughed as he looked down at her before stepping off the table and everyone gasped as he didn't fall to the floor but hovered before rising out of the fog on some kind of elongated flat platform in the shape of a playing card with the full colour Joker picture underneath as he floated round, hovering over the Slytherin's for a moment.
"I just wanted to stop…" he said slowly with a satisfied expression. "To stop Terry-boy," he continued adding boy making Terry flinch as he stood up. "From taking credit where credit is most certainly not due," he laughed as if he told the funniest joke on Earth before stopping abruptly. "If you want a War of the Prank Mr. Terry-boy… then I accept your challenge Mr. Terry-boy!
"Your calling cards!" he finished throwing him a pack of cards, he opened them to find all queens. "My card is… quite obvious. And it took me little time to realise. You act so much more like the diva than the king. So queen it is," he said laughingly, his grin just widening as Terry's face burnt red.
"T-the rules…?" Terry hissed out at the nutter.
"Don't kill anyone!" was all he said as the fog started obscuring the hall and Dumbledore having enough blast a spell through the hall clearing the fog, but Loki and the screen was gone.
0oo00oo0
Terry was furious as he stormed around the castle that week as he sat at the Gryffindor table. "I very much dislike the nice young Mr. Loki. He has somehow gotten me again, and it took me a while to realise why I was getting laughed at," he said with a polite nod to Hermione.
She raised her eyebrow and found it hard not to laugh. "He jinked you with being polite?"
"I believe so, yes Miss. Hermione," he agreed sadly. "It should wear off very soon."
"Well as pranks go this isn't too bad," she replied giving him a reassuring smile.
He just hung his head whimpering. "I was bleeding…" he began, unsure. "Well, I went to the nurse, and she told me… I was having my… my…"
Hermione's eyes first widened as she realised what he was too polite to say. Though, that might be embarrassment. Then she laughed, and laughed, and laughed. She just couldn't stop; she was holding her gut in pain she was laughing so hard.
"Loki!" she laughed out through her pain. "Made you start a menstrual cycle!" she laughed out loud and he had to duck his head too embarrassed when all of the girls burst out laughing and those boys clued in before telling the rest of the boys, and the whole hall was in a laughing fit. None of the other boys thought they could be next until the next morning, which made them silently decide not to speak of it again.
"To make matters worse," he hissed out a little while later after the hall quietened. "The nurse wouldn't let me skip off for the next week."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "We girls manage just fine," she told him. "Just think yourself lucky he didn't turn you into a girl!"
Terry quivered and glared at her. "Shut up! Don't give him any ideas. What the hell can I do? I'm losing this Prank War…"
"War of the Prank," she corrected getting a confused look from him she shrugged. "He named it that remember…?"
"I don't care what it's called," he said startled. "Well, at least the politeness hex has worn off like the nurse said it would," he said, pleased. "But I need help, and you, Ron, and dad just aren't brutal enough to match him. Even Dumbledore's ideas aren't as good!"
Hermione shrugged thoughtfully. "Maybe you should seek help from someone who knows how to be really brutal," she suggested in thought. "I hate to admit this but it has to be someone not really smarter than me, but someone who knows how to use magic differently from me as well as being smart. Someone who doesn't just think outside the box, but someone who also mocks the box."
"Who?" he demanded desperately shaking her.
She shrugged. "Your brother, Harry," she said simply.
"Never," he hissed out in reply.
0oo00oo0
Harry had been enjoying a conversation. Sure he was only wearing some swimming shorts with warming charms, and sat legs crossed in the Dark Lake up to his solid looking chest screeching to a cute young mergirl (wearing a merperson made bikini-ish top over her small breasts) in mermish. She was curled up in his arms seemingly in his lap as he stroked her green hair when they were disturbed by gasps.
Looking round they saw Terry Potter and Hermione Granger on shore, but Harry shrugged and told his friend that they're just a couple of morons, which caused her to giggle. Then they continued talking as if the other two weren't there, which bothered them as mermish out of water to those who don't understand it sounds terrible.
"Harry!" Terry suddenly called in annoyance as he had taken his shoes off, rolled up his trousers and wadded in to him. Harry looked up at him while the mergirl hissed angrily at him making him nervous but he spoke anyway. "I-I don't like this but… I… I need your help fighting Loki!" he blurted out quickly before he chickened out.
Harry's emerald eyes stared at Terry coolly for a moment before smirking. "Hmm… and if I assist you in this matter Terry, or should I say Terry-boy?" he asked causing Terry (as others that don't obey Dumbledore have started using that nickname) to flinch but continued. "What do I get out of it? After all I am evil… what with enjoying the company of mergirls and human-girls, I must want something…"
"W-whatever you want…" he said quickly in a rush.
"I want to watch Hermione kick you in the nuts ten times as hard as she can," he replied amused at how pale his brother got before laughing. "You should never throw around anything as a bargain. It could get you a kick to the nuts or ten," he said before turning to the mergirl as she giggle when he translated as he's been teaching her English she's not very fluent yet.
"O-ok, I'll leave you alone. I… I just need one major prank. That's it. I'll even get dad to lay off, deal?" he asked desperately.
"Well," Harry replied in thought as a smile came to his lips. "Ok, but… something that big has to be school wide," he said in thought while Terry eagerly nodded. "However, such a prank needs time. It can't be done spare of the moment. Something simple will need at least two weeks, but something spectacular would need, perhaps between six or eight weeks. Eight if you want it to be… S class…"
"S… I want it to be A," Terry interrupted, confused.
"S is the highest class," Hermione suddenly called out surprising Terry as he hadn't realised.
"Then I want an S class prank," he said to his brother quickly.
Harry smiled as he spoke to the mergirl for a moment, which caused her to pout but she was only too eager to except his kiss to her lips. This caused embarrassment in both Hermione and Terry as they quickly looked away, neither of them really having realised that Harry really does find mergirls attractive.
Moments later they pulled apart, said their good byes and she dived under the water and swam away. Harry's chuckle was what caused them to look back to see the mergirl gone as he stood. Hermione tried not to notice how good his body looks.
"This prank calls for some… sneaking," Harry spoke as he grabbed Terry's arm and dragged him back to shore. Terry had thought Harry didn't bring his wand but it was in a holster around his right calf or might have tried hexing him for it. "Lets just say what I'm thinking of, and any S rank prank for that matter is something even Dumbledore would disprove of his precious Boy-Who-Lived doing! Are you still in?"
"I'll get Loki good?" Terry asked while Hermione sighed rolling her eyes as they reached her on shore.
"The Ultimate prank," Harry agreed smirking. "It may take a while to set up, but when it's ready to blow… well, Loki…"
"Will bow down before me as Hogwarts' greatest prankster," Terry said giggling. "They'll call me a pranking legend. They'll be stories about my pranking for hundreds of years!"
"Yea… sure, and you're not crazy," Harry replied uncertainly.
Terry glared at him for that while Hermione snorted. "He just doesn't like to lose at this," she half defended him. "So what is your plan for getting back at Loki anyway?"
Harry smirked smugly. "An illusion of some kind as Loki is the master of illusion, it seems fitting that we beat him with one."
"But that sort of magic is easy isn't it Hermione?" Terry asked looking confused.
She nodded but her words burst his bubble. "Using your wand and creating a localised illusion isn't too hard, but it dose take a lot of mental power to hold the enchantment. However, he's talking more along the idea of seals and runes to make a school wide illusion."
"Oh," he said hanging his head. "But couldn't you do that Hermione?" he asked his friend.
She just shook her head sadly. "Sorry, Terry, but I may be able to create the runes, but I'm afraid I'm nowhere near as gifted as him at seals, and I'm afraid I don't have the imagination, and it will take a great imagination to create an S class illusion."
"What's the highest class Loki's created?" Terry asked in worry.
"High B to low A… which in normal ranking we would probably address as A class," Harry answered shrugging but Terry turned a questioning look to Hermione.
"He's right," she agreed nodding. "It was the thing with the fake TV news report and the fog the first day you met."
"But that wasn't a real prank," Terry said smugly.
Harry laughed. "No, but it shows you he has the talent to reach A class pranks, maybe higher," he said in amusement. "Our prank has to be bigger and better than his. But you'll also have to continue with lower level pranks or he'll beat you before this prank is even ready!"
Terry chewed on his lower lip worriedly. "B-but my side is running low on practical ideas," he said. "Plus, with this Prank War so public it's getting harder each day to not get caught as the other students find ways to protect them selves."
"Then you find new ways to prank them," he retorted shrugging. "I always thought you were more stubborn than that."
He glared at his 'brother'. "I… its not that easy you know… the kitchens are guarded by Prefects and the Head Boy and Girl so I can't recruit the House Elves to help me spike food and drink anymore. What the hell can I do to get some good pranks in?"
"Start pranking those who won't expect it from you," Harry replied with an amused shrug.
Terry looked at him in confusion. "But everyone expects me to prank them."
"Everyone but Gryffindor," Harry replied smugly causing Terry's eyes to widen in surprise. "Just think. You could hit them all in one go at dinner anytime you want. Remember, for it to count it has to be public domain."
"b-but I-I can't prank them," he said shakily. "If-if I do… I have to live with them. I may be the Boy-Who-Lived, but they'll lynch me."
"If they can't take a joke…" Harry said shrugging. "Well… it'll just show how petty your house is. I don't think you're giving them enough credit. They're mostly followers, and in their twisted minds you're like the second coming of Christ. To most of Gryffindor you can do NO wrong! To the rest… who cares? They're only a very small minority."
"A minority that sides with you," Hermione spoke suspiciously. "How do we know you're not trying to manipulate Terry into alienating them further?"
Harry laughed as they both waited for an answer. "You don't," he said shrugging. "But if you don't want to alienate them then Terry should ditch Ron!"
"Told you others think like that too," Hermione cut in smugly smiling at Terry. "You said it's just my imagination that Ron's a bad influence. That's why we don't hang out as much as we used too. He's holding you back. And that crap you and he pulled with Rose. What were you thinking?"
"But he's my best mate," Terry defended.
Harry snorted. "He'll be your dead best mate if he touches Rosie again!" he sneered causing both Gryffindor's to flinch at the red hue in his emerald eyes before it faded away. "Well, anyway, you two need to prank your house and leave your calling card, so get planning how to pull it off. I'll go and draw up some plans for the seal array. Oh, and Terry, keep your pet Ronald on a leash around me or I may change my mind."
Terry sighed and nodded his head. "I still don't get why I can't change my 'calling cards' to kings," he grumbled as Harry, still bare foot and only wearing shorts left for the castle. "And what's the deal with him and that mergirl. Is he really dating a mergirl?"
Hermione just shrugged. "I don't know, and honestly I don't much care."
"But… isn't that wrong?" he asked in confusion.
She sighed and shook her head. "My honest opinion on the matter is no. After all, Hagrids not human and he's our friend. Well… not Rons anymore after the whole thing with insulting Fleur and other, 'sub-humans'," she said rolling her eyes.
Terry sighed tiredly shaking his head. "Well, I'll admit I sometimes wonder whether Ron knows how to sensor his thoughts."
0oo00oo0
"So these things all over the school will prank everyone?" Ron hissed out sneering at Harry as they with Hermione and Terry looked down at the plans laid out on a large table with other Gryffindor friends of theirs eager to help with the prank. "I don't see why we need a filthy dark wizard like you helping us anyway!"
Harry sighed… for the most part Ron hadn't talked to him, but he does like to make some seriously snide comments. "Yea, yea, whatever dipshit…"
"Harry," Hermione interrupted quickly before he decks Ron. Though, honestly who could blame him? "Some of these seals seem unnecessary… well the ones I recognise," she said looking over the plans. "Like these ones. They're leech seals."
"They're to pull magic from the school to power the prank," he replied rolling his eyes. "None of us have the strength to continuously power the illusion for a prolonged period of time."
"Terry could," Ron said admiringly.
"Hermione pay up," Harry said smugly as she pulled out a ten pound note rather than magic money and handed it over. "I told you I could get him to say something gay about Terry," he said laughing as he put the money away in his pocket.
"What are you talking about?" Ron asked, confused, but the other boys laughed, except Terry as he went bright red. "What do you mean gay? I'm always happy!"
Harry couldn't help but laugh and take another ten pound note from Hermione. "I told you he wouldn't know the modern meaning for gay."
"That's the last time I'm betting against you," she replied sadly.
"Tell me what does it mean?" Ron demanded angrily.
Harry chuckled enjoying himself. "It means a person, normally male, but can mean female too that has a preference for same sex relationships."
"That's just sick!" Ron cried out in disgust.
Harry grimaced at how much hate he put into those words. "Yea… well… that's your opinion," he said feeling sorry for any gay or lesbian person Ron might know, holding his hand out to collect the last ten pound note Hermione had.
"I gave him way too much credit," she sighed rubbing her eyes.
0oo00oo0
"You want what?" James Potter asked wide eyed as Terry and Ron had gone to his office for some help.
"Your help pulling a huge prank during dinner on Gryffindor," Terry said with a sad sigh.
James shook his head looking baffled. "That's just stupid. I'll help you get the Slytherin's... why would you even think of pranking Gryffindor?"
"It was Harry's idea," Ron butted in getting a glare from Terry while James looked appalled Ron continued. "Hermione convinced Terry that to beat Loki he'll need the help of someone new… someone like Harry. Harry's made plans for a huge school wide seal array for one huge illusion to beat Loki with, but he also said if we don't up the pranking while we set it up we'll lose anyway…"
"I'm not loosing to that blue haired jerk!" Terry interrupted before his dad could. "Without Harry even with the plans I doubt anyone but mum could pull off this prank, and do you honestly think she would help us?"
"OK, I'll agree your mum wouldn't approve off something that grand," James replied thoughtfully. "I once tried to get Remus to help us create something spectacular during our final year but he wouldn't comply," he said rubbing his eyes. "But why does… he think you should prank your own house?"
"Because the other three houses are getting better at stopping us," Terry replied. "The Gryffindor's don't think we'll prank them."
"Loki manages to prank everyone still," James pointed out.
Terry sighed. "I hate to admit this but Loki's better at this than me, which is why I need all of the help I can get. Sorry dad, but its true," he added on the last as his dad was about to try disputing the comment. "Loki comes and goes blatantly flaunting his talent, and even Dumbledore can't catch him. The Daily Prophet has already printed a few freaking comic strips about Loki's pranks. It's starting to get humiliating. You know how split the magical world can be about me, and now they're trying to make Loki out to be the NEW Hogwarts Hero… or should I say from today's strip Hogwarts Superhero!"
"I see your point," James said sighing. "Well, Sirius will be here soon for that Order meeting. I say we rope him in to helping out. I would tell Remus if I thought he would help, but he's too much like Lily for him to agree to a major prank like that."
0oo00oo0
"Why would I want to help James and Terry pull pranks on Gryffindor?" Sirius asked; amused eyebrow rose at Harry as they walked along the walkway pier over the lake. "I think Loki's awesome. He challenged your brother, not me. Do you know Dumbledore has the whole Order hunting the school for Loki?"
"And you're bunking off?" Harry asked laughingly.
Sirius shrugged sheepishly. "Dumbledore's just pissed because Loki's been showing him up. James said Dumbledore whooped for joy when he thought he had gotten Loki when it was just another illusion goading Dumbledore into imprinting large doses of his magic into a runic stone to create a continuous mental illusion. Dumbledore keeps looking at something we can't see and glaring at it. He had even spoken to it a few times by mistake.
"The rune stone apparently turned to ink and marked his right arm with runes. Though, he says it will fade over time he still doesn't have a clue how a student could have created something so foolish. If you ask me, he was jealous that someone in this school, a student could be better than him."
Harry laughed rolling his eyes. "I wasn't there for that one," he said regrettably. "Anyway, why not help prank Gryffindor's…"
"Nope…"
"Come on, I have them eating out of my hands through desperation," Harry said causing Sirius to go wide-eyed. "I'm going to get them to do what even Loki hasn't done yet and prank the teachers, well other than Dumbledore, but he keeps walking right into them. Revenge is sweet when they literally ask for it."
"Oh…" Sirius said smirking. "Well, when you put it like that it seems so much more fun."
"So… what teacher deserves what?" Harry asked in thought.
"Wait a minute; aren't you supposed to be in detention with Snape?" Sirius suddenly said in surprise. "Or maybe its Hagrid today…?"
"Nah," he said shrugging. "Because of my new-found interest in helping Terry, all I have to do is grade all of Snape's first three years, and then I can leave."
"B-but…" he looked baffled. "Wouldn't it take more time?"
Harry shrugged. "I use an auto-correct quill with red ink… well several at once. Then based on how much red is on the paper is what I grade. As for potions I use a simple medical scan to make sure they're done right or wrong, and how well they are by colour. Actually, for none NEWT years and OWL years Snape copied my idea."
"Wow… Snape liking something a Potter thought up," he said shaking his head in wonder. "So… what were you thinking about for a prank on the teachers and Gryffindors? We have what, four hours to come up with something good, and then set it under their noses."
"Getting them together… I like the cut of your jib matey," Harry said with an evil grin. "Dumbledore is a 'royal' pain in the arse," Harry said with his grin turning wicked as Sirius caught on his grin matched.
"There you are Harry," Terry interrupted walking along the walkway with James, Ron, and Hermione. "We only have a few hours to set something up and seeing you two scheming I guess you thought of something?"
Harry chuckled at the thought. "Oh yes…" he agreed smilingly. "I believe this will be amusing."
Terry grinned in excitement; an evil grinning prankster means a brilliant prank. "Awesome, I can't wait, let's hear it then." So Harry started telling them the plan and how they could actually pull it off. Though, James was reasonably worried they'll have to get him too, but since Ron, Hermione, and Terry agreed to let the prank get them, though omitting certain bits he was in.
0oo00oo0
The Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in its usual splendour as Albus Dumbledore finally arrive on his throne like seat wearing regale red robes and an expensive looking crown upon his head.
He stood in front of his seat as all the teachers rose to their feet, including Sirius. The Gryffindor's stood too. The other three houses looked on in confusion as the Gryffindor's were all looking to the Headmaster in reverence and as one stood to attention with their right arm crossing their chests as one making a collective stamp.
"All hail, our Lord, King Albus Dumbledore the First!" McGonagall called out as she and the teachers copied the Gryffindor's leaving the other students either concerned, baffled or scared.
"Hail our Lord and King!" the Gryffindor's all chanted in unison before Dumbledore sat with a gesture for the Gryffindor's and teachers to sit.
However, Terry knew something was wrong the moment the world exploded into colours as if they were all moving fast and the Great Hall vastly changed in but a moment.
The four house tables were gone with the teachers table. There was now a huge red carpet leading from the closed hall doors up its centre to where Dumbledore sat in his throne with McGonagall now wearing elegant purple robes with a similar crown sitting to his left.
The teachers were standing in two neat rows opposite the red carpet facing each other in various styles of armour with swords at their sides. However, in between their cold gazes were the Slytherin's dressed in green rags and in chains whimpering and looking as if some might mess themselves.
Terry was quivering a little himself as all of Gryffindor were wearing beautiful modern red and black wizarding dress wear looking neat and tidy. He looked around to see the house tables lining each side of the hall with beautifully prepared food with Hufflepuffs dressed in yellow and black maid and butler costumes with trays with glasses upon them with drinks.
The Ravenclaws were wearing mostly blue and were standing beside them, all of them wearing snooty I'm better than you expressions, but they looked aware of what is going on just as the frightened Slytherins, but like the Hufflepuffs seemed unable to break free.
"My Lord…"
The voice sent a shiver up Terry's spine as he looked over. He saw his dad and Sirius were also free as they at least looked over at 'him'… Loki. That bastard was hijacking his prank! And to make matters worse doing a better job of it.
"Loki!" James hissed and went for his wand as he stepped forward. However, he stopped as Loki had moved too fast and the tip of a long rapier sword was at his throat.
"I see… we have a traitor My King!" Loki spoke crisply and Terry grits his teeth as he finally got a good look. The bastard was wearing an armour version of his usual outfit. "What shall I do with him My Lord?" he asked almost sounding bored.
"Sir Loki… I believe that he shall suffer the same fate as these…" Dumbledore spoke crisply and with unveiled loathing as he let his gaze linger on the Slytherin's. "Snakes… Sir Sirius… removed your brother's wand and sword and fell him to his knees!"
"Y-yes My Lord," Sirius said stepping forward and unclipped his 'brother' sword and wand in their holsters giving him an apologetic look he shoved him to his knees with the Slytherin.
Loki laughed as he rounded Sirius. "Being awake in my power is so much more fun, except for the poor Slytherin's, but this is what Dumbledore has always dreamed of… shackling those who think differently while preaching tolerance."
He chuckled as Sirius just eyed him for a moment. "Yes… I guess that could be true… but what about Voldemort?"
"He is but a man, and like all men can fall," he replied shrugging. "One moment you're on top of the world… then your not. If you don't think outside of the world… you'll never reach great heights, and if you do. It won't last long before the people start whispering… revolution!" he hissed the last word loudly, his grin wide.
"My Lord," he said turning to Dumbledore, no one but three of the four houses and those fully awake heard his conversation. "I wish a prize if I may?" he asked reasonably as he grabbed a blonde Slytherin girl and pulled her to her bare feet, her chain detaching from the rest but the shackles kept her wrists together.
"Yes very well Sir Loki she is yours to do with as you wish," he agreed nodding his head. "The rest shall perish," he said causing them all to quiver more.
"N-NO!" she yelled out suddenly pushing back away from him. "L-leave them a lone please!" she said standing protectively over her brown haired younger sister. She didn't even think about begging Dumbledore. She knew who had the power. "Y-you've had your fun. You've proven your point! Please… just stop it!"
Loki moved forward until he was up close in her face only she could see his expression soften or the red hue in his eyes that made hers widen, but looking further. It couldn't be. He just smirked at her before capturing her lips with his. She kissed back. Her first kiss; and it was with a nut bar that she just couldn't resist even if she wanted too.
He pulled back after a few moments grinning. "As you wish My Lady," he said laughing as she looked down to see she was wearing a beautiful emerald dress and free of her bonds before he pulled her into his arms. She felt her normal iciness tell her she shouldn't act this way as their lips touched again, her eyes drifted closed, she couldn't help it… secretly… she wanted it.
However, moments later she startled as her eyes flashed open. Her head was resting on her table and she sat up rubbing her tired eyes. She touched her lips with her fingertips, confused.
Looking around she could tell she wasn't the only one looking around in confusion. She wasn't the only one to fall asleep then, but no… looking up, that stupid but clever news report screen was floating above them all. That means… did Loki make them all share a dream that he controlled. It wasn't an illusion.
"This ends the test of the emergency pranking system!" the reporter voice said. "Have a good evening and pleasant dreams!" then it just popped away leaving her freaked.
He had freaking kissed her. Dream or not it felt so real. However, more importantly she kissed him back. This was not her day. She let her eyes scan her table and give them warning glares to not mention a thing.
"How was it?" Tracey made her jump whispering that in her ear and she glared at her friend she just smirked. It all being nothing but a dream made it easy to forget how scared they were. It was just like a nightmare, only they could remember it without it fading away.
She sighed and turned to her. "I-I'll tell you later," she hissed quietly as she knew Tracey wouldn't drop it until she gave her something.
0oo00oo0
Terry was sitting back at his table when Hermione looking pale leaned over. "That was S class," she said with a shiver of dread.
"Y-yeah… I kind of figured that," he replied shivering. "Loki must have been spying on us to hijack our prank," he hissed angrily through his teeth.
Though, before Hermione could reply Dumbledore stood up with his power booming over them all, now scaring them in the real world. He was still wearing his king outfit but he made no move to even remove the crown.
"Which one of you is he?" he roared out fiercely. "I will start throwing hexes and forcing truth potion down each of your throats if you don't tell me!"
"Albus calm down," McGonagall was quick to come to the children's aid. "You'll find yourself in Azkaban if you do either of those things."
"Nonsense!" he roared. "Greengrass knows…! They kissed!" he bellowed as he stormed off towards where Daphne sat rooted to her seat, now petrified.
The Old Man seemed seconds away from hitting her with a spell when a solid plate came flying across the hall crashing into his wand hand and felling his weapon.
"Hm…" Harry mumbled from where he now sat on his table holding several more plates as Dumbledore rubbed his hand trying not to cuss at how much that hurt. "Seems a little pathetic picking on a teenage girl just because some dipshit made you look like the arse you are!"
Dumbledore ground his teeth, his wand just jumping back into his hand, he pointed it at Harry. "Just stay out of this boy or you'll be next!" he hissed through his teeth. "This girl has information on a very dangerous individual."
"Everybody knows you Old Man, so I doubt you'll get much more than you already know," he retorted shrugging nonchalant. "Just put your wand away… after all she is the heir to an ancient family, and by the Laws of the Arcanum I suggest you put your wand away or I'll be forced to arrest you in the honour and name of the Greengrass family!"
Dumbledore sneered as he seemed to think of his options. "You couldn't arrest me, and even if you could, while she is unwed and her family stays neutral with no formal alliances or any betrothal do you think that the wizangamot would prosecute me?"
"Probably not," he agreed shrugging but smiled despite Dumbledore's smug demeanour. "I'll still be within my right to arrest you, which would be fun."
Dumbledore paused at that as he looked around at many people showing signs of doubt about him. However, these are mostly just children. If Harry did somehow beat him and take him before the council it would push ascent in his loyal supporters. He could lose man power and contributions.
"I'll let you off this time Harry, but mark my words, some day soon I will have you thrown out of this world in shackles!"
Dumbledore then just stormed out. "So I would presume Mr. Dumbledore," Harry muttered with narrowed eyes before he caught Daphne's eye he gave her a smirk and a wink as he hopped down from his table leaving the plates and leaving through the hall doors.
Daphne watched him go with wide eyes. She couldn't believe that he would use such an old system to protect her. She couldn't help the small smile as she turned back to her table. She has to give Harry credit. He is beyond her comprehension. Why does he provoke his own banishment so much?
Lily Potter had watched this weird interaction between Headmaster and student with a sad expression. She knew deep down it was too late to try fixing things, but at least Terry and Harry seemed to be… well co-existing better. She has a funny feeling she has screwed up and Harry will pay the price.
There was a time before the attack on Terry that she would have stood up for Harry. She would have even stood up for the Greengrass girl and damn the consequences. She had fallen prey to Dumbledore's words and she wondered whether she can ever escape.
To Be Continued…