The news that Colin Creevey had been attacked and had for the last couple of days been lying as though dead in the hospital wing had spread around the whole school by Monday morning.

Hearing that a new shipment of dried out Mandrakes came the night before, everyone was crowding around the hospital wing to try and see if Colin was going to be fine.

It got so bad, that Madam Pomfery banned everyone from the Hospital wing unless they absolutely needed to be there.

But even with this news and the fact that Colin would be fine, there was rumor and suspicion all over the school.

The first years were going around in tight-knit groups, as though scared something might attack them if they went off on their own.

Ginny Weasley who had sat with Colin in their classes was distraught, Annie Dale trying to comfort her but not getting very far.

"At least she's doing a better job than Fred and George," Harry said in a whisper to Jack who nodded as they saw once again, the twins hiding behind a corner, covered in fake fur and/or boils, and jumping out at Ginny she came along, making her scream.

"Yeah how exactly is that meant to make her feel any better?" Hermione asked rolling her eyes as they watched Percy firmly telling them to stop it or he'll write to Mrs Weasley to say Ginny and her friend, was having nightmares.

"My guess," Jack said in a thinking voice "Is that if they can make the first years not afraid of them, then any big scary monster shouldn't seem too scary either."

"Huh?" Ron asked not understanding him.

"You're afraid of spiders right?" Jack asked, getting a nod from a blushing Ron. "Is there anything else you're afraid of?"

"Not really?" Ron said shivering as he thought about spiders.

"So if you concur your fear of spiders, you'll have nothing to be scared of anymore right?"

"I guess." Ron said still unsure he understood but ending the conversation there.

o0o

Meanwhile hidden from the teachers, a roaring trade in talismans, amulets, and anything else that holds magic protective powers, was sweeping the school.

Neville Longbottom bought a large pile of these things spending almost a quarter of his money bag before the other Gryffindor boys pointed out that because he was a pureblood he wasn't in as much danger as Muggleborns were.

"They went for Filch first," Neville said fear on his face "And everyone knows I'm almost a Squib."

"You're only 'Almost a Squib', because you don't have your own wand," Jack said from his spot by the window where he was doing some homework, Baby Tooth keeping an eye on him to check he was actually doing it.

"What's that got to do with it" Neville asked confused.

"Wands and people are like socks," Jack said after a bit of thinking. "Eventually they all match up, but only one from each group can match the other to make a perfect pair. 'The wand chooses the wizard…' remember." he said imitating Olivander, to slight laughs and congrats at how perfect it was, before going back to what he was doing.

o0o

That night, Colin Creevey came back to the common room late where Jack was waiting for him.

"Um hi," he said unsure what he wanted.

"Hey Colin," Jack said offering him some food which he accepted "So, I have a feeling you have been asked this a lot already, but do you remember anything from what happened when you got petrified?"

"All I remember was hearing a noise and seeing the shadow of something big on the wall in front of me." Colin said slowly, thinking. "I hold up my camera getting it ready, then the thing came and before I could press the shutter, I was attacked. I don't remember anything else."

"Ok one more question." Jack said making mental notes about this for later "Why were you out of bed that night in the first place?"

"I was bringing you and Harry some food," Colin said blushing a little "You know how hospital food is."

Rolling his eyes Jack nodded and left it at that before taking the boy up to bed.

o0o

In the second week of December Professor McGonagall came around collecting names of those who would be staying over the holidays.

Jack, Harry, Ron and Hermione all signed up, along with Elisa and Annie. They had also heard that Malfoy was staying too something that caused Harry, Ron and Hermione to become quite suspicious about it.

"And why's that?" Jack asked wanting an answer as they headed to the Great Hall.

"You heard how proud he was about going home for Christmas last year," Ron said. "Why stay here unless it is to do something horrible to the other students?"

"Oh I don't know," Jack said sarcastically "Maybe to catch up on work he hasn't done because he's too busy spying on other people?"

"Hey I am all caught up on my homework, thank you very much" Ron said sitting down and piling up his breakfast.

"Then my I borrow your essay on 'How to spot if a Swelling Solution is ready or not' I need to do mine before Potions today."

"Wait that's meant to be handed in today?!" Ron asked nearly spitting out some juice he had just drunk.

"Yes. Yes it is." Jack said calmly.

"Um… You know I need to just go back to the dorms, I forgot something," Ron said getting up and running out the Hall.

"You've already done it haven't you?" Harry asked grinning as Hermione came over.

"Of course I have," Jack said rolling his eyes "I did it the night we got set the homework."

With that Jack enjoyed his breakfast as Hermione and Harry talked about the Polyjuice potion and the fact it still needed a few ingredients from Snape's private stock.

That afternoon Jack set up his cauldron along as far away from Harry and Hermione as possible.

It was nearing the end of class and Jack was about to add the last of the ingredients into his potion when the 'distraction' took place, and Goyle's potion started to spew all over the place hitting everyone within a 5 foot radius of it.

While the students were panicking and Snape was trying to calm everyone down, Jack saw Hermione sneak off and come back, her jumper slightly more lumpy than before.

"Silence! SILENCE!" Snape roared "Anyone who has been splashed, come here for a Deflating Draught. When I find out who did this…"

Once everyone was back to normal, Snape glided over to Goyle's cauldron and looked inside, using his wand he pulled out the remains of a Dr Filly-Buster firework.

Jack was surprised and couldn't believe Harry and Hermione would cause such a dangerous distraction.

He barley notices the patch of frost growing at his feet as he glared at them as Snape said "If I ever find out who threw this… I shall make sure that person is expelled."

o0o

Ten minutes later the bell rang and Jack grabbing his thing grabbed Harry and Hermione by the shoulders and took them to a free corridor.

"Are you two CRAZY!" he said his eyes flashing blue a bit because of his anger "Didn't your old science teachers, or normal teachers, teach you not to throw things in a class when dangerous things like those potions we were just making are being made?!"

"A Swelling Solution is not dangerous," Hermione said rolling her eyes and trying to get away from the wall Jack hat them pinned to.

"Oh yes it is!" Jack said slamming her back "What if someone had their mouth open and a bit of the potion got inside? Huh? Their tongue and throat and lips would start swelling up and make it so they couldn't breathe anymore Hermione!" he said firmly.

"And what if Goyle had gotten it wrong and it wasn't a Swelling Solution but something even MORE dangerous?" Jack asked firmly Baby Tooth on his shoulder, her arms crossed a dark look on her face and nodding to everything he said.

"Well how else were we meant to get these last two ingredients?" Harry asked as Hermione seemed a little too stunned, not having thought about what Jack had just said when she planned this out.

"I don't know, or care," Jack said backing off "But if you EVER try something like that again… I will tell the teacher in charge it was you who did it."

With that he headed up to the Room of Requirement to get his temper out.

As he did that Harry and Hermione caught up with Ron in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom where they added the ingredients to the potion.

"It… It will be ready in a fortnight," Hermione said before heading out and went to check, by observation, that everyone who got hit with the potion was in fact ok.

AN: Sorry this took so long.

I've been busy working on something for my sister for Christmas

Hopefully the next update will come sooner than this one did :)