CHAPTER 28: THE FLINT FINALE

Analese had a strong feeling that Flint was about to crack under the 'pranking-pressure', as she called it. According to her, all it would take to break his will would be one final, all-out prank. And the girls had the perfect plan.

The next day, Friday morning, the greatest prank of the year, if not the decade, was to take place. But first, some references were needed to be spoken with.

Analese and Ella went to see the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. He was looking out the window at the snow-covered grounds, his appearance at the peak of health. The redhead couldn't help but smile at his liveliness.

After a long day of horrible, prejudice Slytherins (as in, not with third years), he was eager for the friendly company.

"What can I help you with, girls?" Lupin inquired, checking, once again, on the creature, unknown to the girls, in the water tank in the corner of the room. Once assuring himself that it was fully fed, Lupin sat down.

"Do you mind telling us the story of the Marauders' first prank of fifth year?" Analese asked him sweetly.

"Of course," and with that, he began to tell the story of the time the Marauders welcomed the new year at Hogwarts by charming the Slytherins to break into a medley of songs from 'My Fair Lady', the musical.

"Pure genius, Professor." Ella grinned after her laughter had subsided back under her control.

"That was the Marauders, incredible friends and remarkable pranksters." her elder sister praised cheerfully.

"Yes, but the Muses are closing the gap." Lupin winked. "That pranking pair has one thing that the Marauders could never accomplish."

"Oh, really, Uncle Remus?" the redhead inquired, seemingly clueless. The sisters knew that Dumbledore had told only McGonagall of the Muses' identities, but no one else. Professor Lupin had figured it out on his own. Pride swelled in both girls at being complimented so highly by a professor, not to mention Marauder.

"What's that, sir?" Ella played dumb as well to keep the act up for eavesdroppers.

"Modesty, no matter what it's about." he replied. "The Marauders had to take credit for every prank they pulled. Which is why their detention count is in the record books."

The trio chuckled lightly just as the clock tower struck for curfew.

"You better go now." Lupin frowned as he stood up. "It's too bad the Muses didn't pull a prank today."

"They're probably planning something spectacular for tomorrow." Ella responded thoughtfully as the three headed for the door.

"I hope they never lose that special touch of originality." Lupin held open the door for the sisters politely.

"Good night, Professor Lupin. See you tomorrow." Ella waved as she turned for the staircases.

"By the way, we're not going to make this weekend's visit." Analese remembered.

"Quidditch practice, I understand." the man nodded.

"Well, see you at breakfast, sir." both girls bid Lupin good night and turned the corner, heading down the corridor.

"Good thinking, borrowing the Map from Harry, Pae." Ella grinned as her sister pulled out the blank parchment.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Analese stated clearly, her wand tip on the worn, yet valuable parchment.

The regular, extremely long way was blocked by Mrs. Norris, but the secret passageway was clear, as Filch didn't know about it. "Let's go." the siblings whispered and turned down the next corridor and up two flights of hidden stairs.

The pair had to dodge Percy, the Head Boy, by ducking behind the nearest suit of armor. The little nook it stood before was just big enough for them to fit comfortably while standing. A final left turn on the fourth floor, and the sisters had reached the correct portrait.

The frame, ironically surrounding St. Patrick of Ireland, swung open silently on its hinges. Having traveled it before, the sisters strategically placed a silencing charm on themselves before crossing the threshold.

Ella and Analese screamed with magically muted joy as they rode the twisting slide through floors of loops, flips, and turns. As usual, the sisters shared the same thought: THE FOUNDERS SURE KNEW HOW TO HAVE FUN.

Although disappointed, the girls were glad to have reached the dungeons. Ella felt the chilled sensation of a disillusionment charm and smiled at the redhead, who was disappearing as well.

Just as extra insurance the silencing charm remained cast. Now, no longer worried, the girls filed in between two groups of Slytherins as they entered the common room.

Unfortunately, to ensure the correct victim, a trip to Flint's dormitory was called for. The hidden siblings slipped into the fifth year boys' domain. Emerald green met honey brown in a shared gaze of extreme urgency.

The Ravenclaw playbook and Nimbus 2001visible from underneath one of the beds revealed the farthest as Flint's own. The girls quickly set the enchantment on the correct four-poster and raced out the door.

Getting out just in time, the girls took a deep, refreshing breath to rid their bodies of the toxic elements. Analese and Ella, two of the most tolerant girls in Hogwarts, had nearly fainted at the exposure to the rancid smell of Slytherin teenage boys.

The trip back up to Gryffindor tower was another hidden slide, charmed to go up through the castle. Not only was it almost twice as long, but it was also double the fun.

Once in the nearly empty common room, the girls were able to relax. The charms had been removed, but the sisters were too exhausted from the near passing out experience to utter a single syllable. When they had reached their makeshift beds in front of the fire, Analese and Ella fell asleep immediately. The twins stood from their couch and kneeled beside the resting girls.

"Who knew the over-powered energy balls would run out of it so soon." George joked as he covered the red-haired girl with her favorite blanket.

"It had to happen sometime." Fred placed a Chudley Cannons quilt on his girlfriend. "Just wait, tomorrow, they'll snap back and all will be right with the world." he then brushed the stray raven hair from Ella's face and gently kissed her forehead.

The girls stirred in their sleep, and the two Weasleys froze. With deep sighs, the 'Sleeping Beauties' returned to their peaceful dreams of randomness.

So as not to disturb them, the boys crept up the stairs and went to bed themselves.