Chapter Thirty-Two

Hogwarts, Scotland, 20 December, 1991

The past 24 hours had been some of the funniest and most chaotic in Hogwarts history.

Mr. Filch had been dosed with a love potion and had been found snogging a broom in the Great Hall. Professors Snape and Sinastra now sported magenta robes, orange skin, green and purple striped hair, and shockingly blue eyes. All of the plants in every greenhouse had been stolen from right under a hysterical Professor Sprout's nose, and Hagrid's dog Fang had been transfigured into a tiny kitten. Dumbledore's beard had been charmed so that it flashed 'Dumbledork' in neon pink letters, and in a move that far outshone the boldness of any House, Professor McGonagall was stuck in her animagus form and had been charmed to flash the Slytherin colors, silver and green, alternately.

This was not to mention the droves of students who suffered many ailments, ranging from uncontrollable vomiting to a rapidly spinning head. There was a line down the stairs for the Hospital wing, and Healers from St. Mungo's had been dispatched to assist Madame Pomfrey, who hadn't slept since the pranks had first started.

There was even an incident that involved an exploding toilet.

"Finite Incanatum!" Dumbledore cried pointing his wand at a decidedly pissed-looking green and silver cat who sat on the stairs nearby.

The charm worked and Professor McGonagall appeared, livid and shaking. "I want this to stop, Albus! I'm getting too old for this!" she cried. Her hair was a tangled mass of gray. "If it wasn't the day before Christmas holidays, I'd give every student in this school detention until they told us who is responsible for all of this!"

"Yes, it is getting a bit out of hand, isn't it?" Dumbledore asked, stroking his beard, ignoring the pink glare on his glasses.

"A bit?! This is the worst I have ever seen the school! I've been here for forty years, and even the incident with the Marauder's didn't cause such chaos!"

"Perhaps the culprits will tire of their game over the holidays," Albus suggested.

"Or they'll use the time off for time to plot to kill us all!" she screamed hysterically.

"Now, Professor, as I understand it, one of the rules is that they cannot kill anyone," Albus said, attempting to calm the normally stoic woman before him.

"Ha! Rules! Their rules are tricks! Tricks to lull us into a false sense of security so that they can get us when we least expect it!" she replied, gripping the front of the Headmaster's robes and shaking him violently.

"Professor, perhaps you should take a vacation," Albus suggested, straightening his robes and adjusting his glasses.

"Y-yes, I think that I will. I've never had a vacation," she said thoughtfully. "Somewhere with a beach…"

Albus nodded, happy that she seemed to have calmed down. "Yes, that's a good idea."

"professor?"

McGonagall yelped and jumped a foot into the air.

A second year Gryffindor stood before her holding a book over his face. "Which way is the Hospital wing?"

"You should know by now, MacLaggen," she said stiffly.

The boy sighed and moved the book, revealing that his face was on his head upside-down, his eyes where his chin should have been.

"Fix this, will you, Albus?" she said tightly as she led the boy to the Healers.

The Headmaster hoped fervently that the Healers would take a look at her as well.

Room of Requirement, Hogwarts, Scotland

Te room was ever changing now. There was still the giant fireplace and overstuffed chairs, but now there were also lavatories, secret passages, and even a greenhouse for all the plants that had been "borrowed".

Off to the left of the door was a supply closet with an infinite amount of prank merchandice, fanged Frisbees, dungbombs, and powerful fireworks, alon with many, many Tie-Dye balloons, a balloon that turned everything on the person in was dropped upon a different- and thus far clashing- color.

"Are you sure that you can't come, Hermione?" Adrian asked her sadly.

She shook her head. Her trunk was all packed and she'd even snuck some books out of the restricted section for further research. "I really can't I'm visiting my grandparents in France."

"Well, have fun. I have to stay with this idiot for the whole holiday!" Ron said, pointing over his shoulder at Henry, who threw a pillow half-heartedly at him.

Ron's parents were going to Romania to visit one of Ron's older brothers, and they'd given him permission to stay with the Potters, who were old friends of theirs.

"That sounds like more fun anyway. My Grandfather never lets me eat the gingerbread cookies!" she said, pulling on her hat. "He says they're bad for my teeth."

"So why make them?" Ron asked, bewildered.

"So he can eat them."

"They're just as bad for his teeth as a=they are for yours," Draco said indignantly.

"No they aren't."

"How come?" Ron asked.

"He hasn't got any teeth left."

They stared at her, gobsmacked.

"What?"

"Un-bloody-believable," Ron muttered, dragging his trunk out the door.

Hogsmead Station, Scotland

They boarded the train an hour later and spent the time plotting, joking, and theorizing about what the dog could be guarding. Adrian, Daphne, Draco, and Ron passed the time playing exploding snap, and eventually, they all fell asleep in a great heap in the crowded compartment.

When the train arrived in London, they said goodbye and hugs were given (Daphne and Hermione) and they parted ways. Ron left with Henry and his family, Hermione left the platform to meet her parents, Daphne was dragged off, laughing, by her younger sisters. Blaise sauntered off with his drop-dead gorgeous mother, and Neville left with a severe-looking elderly woman whom they assumed to be his infamous Gran.

Draco and Adrian were left alone, looking around worriedly. Their parents were never late.

"Boys!"

They turned, grinning. "Mum!" They ran into her open arms and crushed her with a monstrous hug.

"Oh, I've missed you! It's been far too quiet recently, even with- never mind, it's so good to see my babies!" she cried, giving them a monster hug of her own.

"Mum, you're embarrassing us," they laughed. "Where's Dad?"

"Marvela is teething, and she only stops crying if one of us is holding her," she said. "I can't believe how big you got!"

"I can't believe Vela is almost two!" Adrian said sadly. "I feel like we missed it."

"You didn't. She's a bit bigger, but still a brat," she laughed. "Your father spoils her rotten."

The family hurried off of the abandoned platform, talking and laughing in a most un-Malfoy-ish manner.

And if anyone else had been on that platform, they'd notice that none of the three seemed to care.