CHAPTER 19: A FISH FRENZY
BLUE's timing was impeccable as RED and her raven-haired escort from their table walked up to her.
"You'll have to excuse us, boys." RED grinned.
"You see, we have a small matter that only the Muses can take care of." BLUE mirrored her companion's expression.
"The songs aren't the only thing you have planned for tonight, are they, Cinderella?" the fair-haired guy gave a knowing smirk.
Suddenly, BLUE's face became unreadable. Her eyes glazed over and she appeared to be lost in a distant thought. RED tapped her shoulder, pulling her back to reality.
"We'll be back, good sir." RED winked to her partner.
"I'll be waiting." he returned the gesture before leaning in to kiss the violinist's cheek gently. Underneath her shimmering mask, her face flushed a light pink.
"The Muses have more entertainment to provide for the evening." the girls turned from their preferred company for the evening. Two mischievous smirks played across their features. They were going to make sure that tonight would be one to never be forgotten for a certain trio of girls.
As predicted, three specific girls were 'dancing' with a trio of testosterone-driven teenage boys. All identities were unknown, the thirteen year old girls too incompetent to figure the face behind each mask.
These three Slytherin third years had spent several galleons on the scraps of fabric they called dresses. Half their night was spent avoiding possible accident. The snobby she-demons had steered clear of the refreshments table, the open doors to the garden had also not been visited. Nothing capable of destroying the expensive fabrics was anywhere near the owners.
'Revenge may be sweet, but not near as sweet as Ironic Revenge.' RED thought, her ocean eyes gleaming with a thirst for trouble. The two musicians had taken a fortunately clean secret passage up to one of the towers, where the final steps in their plans would be put together and sent on their mission.
"Don't forget the koi fish in the last one." BLUE smirked.
"I could never neglect my favorite part in this ingenious practical joke." the brunette called back to her friend.
"We have five minutes before this charm lifts." The pianist grinned eagerly. "We have to hurry if we plan on seeing it play out in person."
"Which we do, of course. Nothing quite like the smell of low tide." RED's expression was one of anticipation and glee. She couldn't wait to see the faces of the Muses' next victim.
"Alright, everything ready over there?" the blonde inquired.
"All set for lift off." The violinist sent a smirk over her shoulder.
"Let's do it." the two musicians flicked their wands and raced out the door.
After four and a half minutes of enjoyable banister riding and corridor sprinting, the Muses returned to the masquerade via the garden entrance.
A few quick spells, and the disheveled appearances vanished, making it appear as though the pair had never left the ball.
Oliver looked up as someone sat down beside him. His mystery musician's smile transformed into an uncharacteristic frown. The expression made his heart ache as if her happiness contributed to his own.
"I'll explain in a little bit, but I don't plan on leaving again until the ball is nearly over." BLUE stated quietly. "I could never leave a KEEPER like you unless absolutely necessary." she winked.
Oliver's eyes went wide at the last sentence, but before he could utter a syllable, a barn owl screeched from the garden.
This owl was followed by two more, each holding a envelope in it's beak. The birds flew over the dance area and swooped to land on three barely dressed girls. The three confused she-demons opened their letters, releasing bright blue sparks.
The glittering lights soared high above the Hall of teenagers and professors, spelling out a message for everyone to see.
'YOU MAY THINK YOU'RE REALLY COOL
YOU MAY THINK YOU'RE REALLY HOT
BUT WE HAVE GOT A NEWSFLASH
YOU'RE REALLY, TRULY NOT.
ASK ANY PERSON IN THIS ROOM
ASK ANY GHOST HAUNTING THIS PLACE
YOU'LL GET THE BASIC ANSWER-
TO GIRLS, YOU'RE A DISGRACE.
YOU CAN BELIEVE YOU'RE REALLY COOL
YOU CAN BELIEVE YOU'RE REALLY HOT
BUT THE MUSES HERE WOULD LIKE TO SHOW
WHAT'S REALITY AND WHAT'S NOT.'
The rhyme confused the crowd to no end, but an explanation came seconds later. Three more owls flew into the Great Hall, but didn't move to dive.
The group of school owls hovered in the air. The birds circled directly above the same three Slytherin girls who had received the first owls.
"Uh-oh," was muttered into the silence, triggering the drop.
Three green balloons materialized out of thin air, dropping from the talons of the three tawny owls. The girls' dance partners stepped out of the way just in time.
Upon impact of over-styled hair, the green latex punctured and released it's contents. The force of the convergence caused the three masks to fall from the girls' faces, revealing their true identities in an unexpected bonus.
Pansy 'Pug-face' Parkinson was covered in ocean water that reeked of the stench of low tide, a complimentary squid attached to her head. She screamed in terror and ran frantically, not to mention blindly around the room. Her ridiculous stiletto heels caused her to trip and end up covered in the uncut chocolate cake the house-elves had just sent up.
Kelly Berkes was drenched in the same water, but her gift was a rather large starfish. The five appendages covered the majority of her face. As she had a huge, unnatural phobia of the harmless creatures, her reaction resembles Parkinson's, but instead of cake, her high cost street-walking suit ended up coated with hot fudge and vanilla ice cream.
As she stood up, the girl standing closest to the salt-water sundae grabbed a cherry and put it on the tip of Berkes' nose. The Hall assumed that girl was one of the many students that the she-demons insulted on a daily basis.
And finally, Caroline Bick found herself in a similar situation. Along with the rancid smelling ocean water, her balloon had come with a quartet of koi fish. Much like Parkinson and Berkes, she was entirely frightened of the marine animals she had been pelted with. Her poor excuse for clothing became the tasty dessert of chocolate, butterscotch, and vanilla pudding.
The two masterminds behind the prank now stood on the table, wands out. Together, the girls waved their wands and a gigantic spark-drawn phoenix everyone knew so well appeared in the night sky that served as the ceiling of the Hall. The same symbol appeared on the left side of the dessert covered hooker outfits.
"Ain't payback a bitch." the Muses shouted, causing the masked population of Hogwarts, including plenty of professors, to erupt in fits of laughter.
"It's not enough that you can play an instrument." Fred stated, pride hidden behind the fake envy. "You have to be a bloody brilliant prankster as well."
As the mystery musicians/pranksters got down from the table, Oliver and Fred extended their hands to help.
"I believe a walk in the gardens is in schedule, my lady." Fred grinned at RED.
"I believe you are correct, good sir." she returned the gesture and waved back at her fellow Muse, her escort leading her to the doors.
As the pair reached the open doors, mistletoe appeared above them. Being Hogwarts, it was magical mistletoe, the kind you can't step from underneath unless you have actually kissed someone.
The couple didn't notice the sudden decoration addition and walked straight into the automatic barrier. The fair-haired couple watching them chuckled at the sight.
Fred moved to kiss the violinist, only to be met halfway there. The strange part was, there was no cliché fireworks or sparks. All it was, was just him kissing her, and her kissing him.
It was over in a moment, but it meant enough to them.
