Chapter 16

Destruction, Mayhem, and Bottled Killing Curses

Even with getting only a few hours of sleep, Harry felt well rested. However, he was getting a bit tired of the rainbows and unicorns in his dreams. Now he definitely knew Death was behind them, and Harry was going to have a little talk with him. It was probably Death's own little joke.

Despite of all the cuteness of his dreams, or perhaps because of them, Harry was only in a semi-good mood when his eyes fluttered open, but that changed quickly when he groaned and rolled over. Luna's big, bright, silvery grey eyes were staring back at him, and she smiled as he groped for his glasses and shoved them on his face.

"Good morning sleepy head. Or should I say, good afternoon?" She said in her normal dreamy way.

"Luna!" Harry exclaimed, with a giant smile spreading across his face. "How are you? How do you feel? Are you ok?" He asked, trying to untangle himself from the lime green hammock that had been his bed. He fell out of it and landed on the floor with a loud thump, but thankfully he was only a few inches off the ground to begin with.

She looked at him curiously. "Are you ok? You hit your elbow you know."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." He replied, rubbing his elbow absentmindedly.

"Tom and the others are awake, but they haven't been awake for very long. They have already left for Gryffindor Tower. I didn't want to leave until you woke up." She informed him.

"Oh, ok. Thanks. I would have been worried. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. Fate is really nice, and I learned how to handle the gift. She is very pleased with it, and me. She said that I handled myself very well for my test run. Fate expected me to be a bit afraid, but I have a handle on it now, and I am very happy with it. So far this morning I have observed Cormac McLaggen bullying a 1st year, and I called him out on it. He stopped after that." She said with a shrug.

"A test run?" Harry asked with a frown.

"Yes, but its ok Harry. Fate said it had to be that way. I am really truly happy with my new gift. The twins call me a walking, talking Marauder's Map." She said with a smile. "Tom didn't like the words 'test run' either, but I think I have him calmed down a little bit. He was a bit upset too."

"I just don't like one of my best friends being used as a guinea pig." He said.

Luna laughed. "You and Tom really are like brothers. He said the same thing. I really am fine Harry."

"What is it like?"

"Well it's kind of weird really. 'Hogwarts' is like another subconscious in my brain." She said, tapping the side of her head. "I see everything through a very thin golden veil. I can see, hear, and smell everything around me, and I know where everyone is at any given time, but I cannot interact with them. That is the only drawback. So if some meanie is fixing to hex a 1st year, I can't physically stop it, but I can alert someone who can."

"Does it interfere with your life?"

"No." She answered, shaking her head. "It won't interfere with my studies or day to day activities. It's just there. It's always 'on', even if I'm sleeping, and I don't even have to wake up to become 'Hogwarts' like I have in the past. It truly is a remarkable gift Harry." She said with a smile. "You don't have to worry."

Harry finally relaxed and allowed himself to smile. Then he pulled her into a hug. "I just want you to be safe. I'm sorry for the barrage of questions." He mumbled into her hair. "I don't want anyone to get hurt this time because of me. I don't want anyone to die again because of me. I don't want anyone to die for me ever again, and I don't want anyone to suffer because of me."

She returned his hug with a warm one of her own. "I know Harry, but this time is different. This time you are informed. Your attention is focused where it should be, and you have real friends at your side. It will turn out all right."

"I hope so." He said, finally releasing her.

"It will be." She said with a smile. "Now, lunch is in a couple of hours. The others are waiting for you in Gryffindor Tower, and I need to change and shower myself. I'll see you at lunch. Oh, by the way, Fred and George want to run a prank by you. They were going to do it yesterday, but with everything that happened, they decided not to." She said with a mysterious smile. Then she turned and skipped out of the room.

As Harry watched her leave, a disturbing question ran across his mind.

Can she also see us when we are in the shower?

"Do you think she can?" Tom asked with alarm, as he quickly put his shirt on.

Harry shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe you should ask her."

"I'm not asking her!" He cried. "You ask her!"

Thankfully, Dean and Seamus were in the common room, and Ron was probably off with Hermione tattling to Umbridge that they weren't in the dorm room last night. Needless to say, when Harry got back he took a very quick shower. When he was done, he relayed his disturbing question to Neville and Tom. Tom was a little nervous about the idea, but Neville however, looked strangely unperturbed.

"Luna wouldn't use her gift to spy on either of you two gits while you're in the shower." He said, rolling his eyes and tossing a pillow in their direction.

"Well, if she did, at least I'm better looking than Harry." Tom said with a smug grin.

"According to Pansy Parkinson, you are better looking than me." Harry said with a grin of his own. "I over heard her talking to a group of 6th and 7th year Slytherin girls as I made my way here."

Tom visibly shivered and glared at his brother. "I hate you. I did not need to know that."

Harry grinned wickedly. "Oh The Dark Lord is so cute." He said in a mock high pitched girl's voice. "He's sooooo much more handsome than Harry Potter. Did you see him in those muggle clothes? I wonder if he is interested in having a girlfriend, or if…ACK!" He suddenly yelled, as Tom sent a stinging jinx at him.

Tom started laughing in a mock evil sort of way, but Harry grabbed his own wand, and sent a stinging jinx back at him, which Tom blocked just in the nick of time.

"Now you've gone and done it Potter." Tom grinned.

Neville yelped and dove to the floor as a jinx flew his way, but started laughing as Harry and Tom began to trade jinxes. Nagini, who had been coiled up on the end of Tom's bed, quickly dropped to the floor and made a beeline for Neville, and wrapped herself around him for her own protection. Needless to say, a friendly duel had just broken out. Harry, who was closest to the door, made a run for it down the stairs as a jinx flew over his head, but Tom was right behind him laughing loudly at his brother's 'cowardly escape'. Harry returned fire as Tom made his way down after him, but blocked them all. Harry suddenly realized that he was in a very bad position, and began to head for the common room, which probably wasn't a good idea either. As they both thundered down the stairs firing hex after hex at each other, people dove out of their way. Some were shrieking, some were laughing, but all of them were cheering for one, or the both, of them. The twins started laughing and, along with Neville and Nagini, followed them out of the common room.

Harry hadn't dueled his brother in months, and was consciously aware that he had never beaten the former supposed Dark Lord, but that didn't matter. He was just trying to hold his own, and possibly get a lucky shot in. Neither were using hexes and jinxes that could hurt the other, but it was funny to see people's faces as they passed various students on the stairs and in the corridors. As they rounded the corner of the 5th floor to descend to the 4th floor, Hermione and Ron came out of nowhere. Hermione started yelling that they weren't supposed to use magic in the corridors, and that she was going to dock points and assign them detention, but of course, they ignored her.

Spells cracked, popped, and ricocheted off of their shield charms as they made their way to the ground floor of the castle. Statues exploded, and holes were left in the walls as they fought their way down. Harry knew that they were going to get into big trouble for this, but at least it could all be repaired by the repairing charm. Thankfully most students heard them coming and, along with the help of Neville and the twins, were prepared with shield charms of their own. Thanks to Merlin and Salazar that was one of the first things the students had been taught. However, the younger years that hadn't been taught it had to rely on the older students to protect them, which they did, thankfully.

By the time they got to the second floor, they had attracted the attention of a lot of people. Ginny and a group of her friends were among those that were following them, and Tom noticed how Ginny kept giggling, pointing, and making doe eyes at Harry. Harry looked disgusted and annoyed by the obvious display of obsessiveness, so Tom took it upon himself to get a cheap shot in on Ginny. He knocked her on her arse with a tripping jinx, and Ginny fell hard to the ground. She started looking around, trying to figure out what had happened, but in the midst of her confusion Tom took another opportunity and nailed her with a bat bogey hex. She shrieked and started crying as bats started flying out of her nose, and she ran away, trying to avoid getting hit again. Tom was laughing hysterically, and Harry was silently cheering and thanking his brother. He was also grinning from ear to ear the whole time.

Unfortunately all of this commotion had attracted Peeves's attention, and he decided to join in on the 'fun' by flying through the crowd and knocking people over. He also had commandeered some discarded pieces of chalk, parchment, and ink bottles and were tossing them randomly at students, all the while cheering for blood to be spilled.

Peeves's wasn't the only one who they had attracted though. Harry could hear Umbridge shrieking at the top of her lungs, and he could see the top of McGonagall's hat in the massive crowd they had following them. He didn't know if they knew who was responsible for this disaster, but he was pretty sure they had a good guess. Especially because Tom and Harry both had cheering sections.

Amidst the cheers of 'Potter' and 'Ringo' the boys dueled their way into the entrance hall and out the front door. The blast of cold air felt good on both of their skins and it seemed to give them a second wind of sorts. Both of them were extreamly tired, sore, and out of breath from getting hit with stinging jinxes, dodging hexes, and diving behind statues. Not to mention the friendly insults they had been throwing at each other. They paused a moment to suck the cold air into their burning lungs as the massive throng of students spilled out onto the grounds behind them. It seemed like more than half the school was now outside, and they weren't the only ones.

All of the Professors had exited the castle and were making their way toward them. McGonagall looked ready to kill them both, and Umbridge was screaming that they were going to be expelled. Snape and Flitwick looked amused, Sprout kept giggling, laughing, and was talking to Merlin, who looked pleased. 'Voldemort', was laughing hysterically, but it was Godric and Salazar that shocked everyone.

Seeing that their Heir and 'descendent' were in a bit of trouble, they decided to join the fray. With loud cries of 'family' and 'brotherhood', they took their places beside their respective Heir.

"You aren't finished yet, are you lad?" Godric asked, as Harry tried to get over the shock of seeing Godric standing on his right hand side. "Because it isn't over yet!" He laughed. "We have to take down those sneaky Slytherins, or else our reputation is in trouble! Let's go!" He cried, laughing loudly as his eyes sparkled with mischief.

Harry grinned at his ancestor. "GRYFFINDOR!" He shouted, feeling the familiar surge of adrenalin course through his body.

Godric unsheathed his sword and his wand in one smooth motion. "GRYFFINDOR!" He also cried, waving his sword around his head, and grinning down at his young Heir.

With loud cries of "SLYTHERIN!" from Salazar and Tom, and with students from both houses cheering for their respective 'champions', the fight began anew.

Salazar fired the first spell at Godric, and Godric blocked it with his sword. A loud clang could be heard even over the cheers of the crowd as the spell connected with the goblin made blade. Both Harry and Tom stood rooted to the spot as they watched the two Founders, friends, and brothers battle each other. It wasn't until a stray spell almost hit Harry that he and his own brother snapped out of their awe inspired stupors, and began to take up their own fight again.

The dead winter grass crunched loudly under their feet as the pairs faced off in their friendly battle. They weren't out for blood, and that was plain for all to see, but still, the excitement of the duels brought out fierce pride for both sides. Harry was happy to see that even McGonagall didn't look so angry anymore as she cheered when Godric dodged one of Salazar's hexes.

For fifteen minutes the duelers battled until both Harry and Tom were clutching their sides in pain. They grinned at each other, bowed, and collapsed on the grass in laughter as their ancestors chided them for dropping out.

"Well what do you expect!?" Harry cried out with laughter. "We've been dueling for almost an hour straight!"

Tom laughed loudly. "Now it's time for you to take over!"

Using each other for support, Harry and Tom half crawled, half stumbled over toward Neville, Fred, George, Nagini, and most assuredly, an invisible Luna.

"You fought well." Nagini said, as she slithered over to Tom and Harry. "I am proud of you both."

"Thank you Nagini." They both said, as they collapsed to the ground again. She coiled up between them as they continued to watch the duel.

It lasted another fifteen minutes. Godric finally gained the upper hand when he conjured tree roots, which poked up out of the ground. Salazar tripped over one as he tried to side step them, but he fell to his knees. Godric conjured up ropes, and Salazar fell over with a loud thump.

The Gryffindors cheered at the victory, and the Slytherins groaned, knowing they were never going to hear the end of it, but both sides cheered none the less. Godric towered over his brother with a lopsided grin.

"Yield?"

"Yield." Salazar grinned.

"Victory!" Godric cried, waving his sword around his head, and the Gryffindors cheered even louder.

"Untie me you old fool!" Salazar cried between spurts of laughter, as Godric bowed and showed off for the crowd.

Godric did, and he helped Salazar to his feet. They both embraced in a brotherly hug, and then they both bowed to the still cheering crowd. Tom and Harry jumped up to join them, and all four of them were all laughing as they walked back toward the crowd. However, they stopped when they came face to face with one Minerva McGonagall.

The crowed hushed, and few cries of 'you're in for it now' came out of the sea of students as she stood in front of the two Founders and students with her hands on her hips.

"While I must admit I am pleased with the outcome, I must say that what started it must be dealt with."

"They started it!" Salazar and Godric cried as they pointed to the boys.

"And you finished it!" Harry and Tom shouted, as they grinned and pointed back at them.

"Well the castle from Gryffindor Tower all the way down is nearly in ruins!" She cried. "I think all four of you need to spend the rest of the day fixing it!"

Knowing when they were out matched, the four duelers hung their heads.

"Yes ma'am." They said together.

"May we eat lunch and dinner though?" Salazar asked in a mockingly sweet voice.

She leveled her gaze at him, but she couldn't keep a small smile from creeping to her lips. "I suppose that would be acceptable Professor Slytherin. However, I expect you all to get busy right after lunch." She said loudly, then she turned on her heel and began to walk away.

"You were right Godric!" He said loudly. "She's a feisty little lioness!" Salazar laughed, but McGonagall wheeled around, and walked right up to the both of them.

Harry and Tom clamped their jaws shut to keep from laughing, but they couldn't hold it in when McGonagall grabbed both Salazar and Godric, who were laughing, by their ear lobes and dragged them inside. Harry briefly wondered if he'd ever see them again.

Cornelius Fudge sat in his office with a glassy eyed expression as he listened to the green flamed head of his Undersecretary yell at him. She was rambling on about how Harry Potter and Tom Ringo nearly destroyed Hogwarts. Apparently they had dueled all the way from Gryffindor Tower out onto the grounds. The way she was going on about it, you'd think that the whole castle was nothing but a heap of rubble now.

"So expel them both Delores." He said tiredly, as he rubbed his forehead. "They obviously could have put many students in danger."

"I can't Cornelius." She said with a huff. "They own the castle, and can pretty much do as they please. If they want to level the whole building, they can."

"Well with Albus setting loose those three basilisks yesterday, maybe we can get the school shut down. That was the whole purpose of that little stunt. He said that he plucked out the eyes of those basilisks, so that they would hurt the students. He wants to discredit You-Know-Who, Potter, and that Ringo kid, since You-Know-Who already set the giant basilisk loose once before. Albus says that Potter has gone Dark, and that we must act quickly, and throw him into Azkaban. Albus is working on another plan to force the public to see reason, and capture You-Know-Who, Potter, and Ringo. He says that Merlin, Godric, and Salazar alone can't control the other three. Potter apparently has some kind of unknown power, and that it is dangerous."

"What kind of plan?" Umbridge asked.

"He won't say." The Minister said, shaking his head. "Only that it should work in our favor. Potter, Ringo, and You-Know-Who will take the fall for it though."

Even through the green flames of the floo, the Minister for Magic could see the eyes of his Undersecretary gleam triumphantly.

"Good. They are dangerous. Is there any news on Lucius Malfoy?" She asked.

"Albus and I believe that he may be under the Imperius curse. Albus says it is likely that You-Know-Who has placed him under it to throw off suspicion, but we can't prove it yet."

"Well this way of thinking is dangerous Cornelius!" She screeched. "It is a danger to our way of life! Pure Bloods won't stand for it, and we need to make sure it stops now!"

"I know. I know." He said with a sigh. "We will do what we can, but Lucius Malfoy is very influential. If anyone can rally the pure bloods to this new cause, it's him. However, Albus is working on a plan for that too."

"Good." She said with a nod. "Well I must go. My informants and I have a meeting soon."

"Very well Deloris." He said automatically. "Keep me apprised of the situation."

"I will." She answered, and her head disappeared from the fireplace.

Cornelius Fudge absentmindedly turned back to the papers on his desk, and began to fill out some paperwork.

Minerva McGonagall giggled to herself as she watched the grumbling Headmaster and the laughing Defense Professor leave her office. She knew that she couldn't really do anything to Harry and Tom, because after all, they owned the castle. They had taken some sort of precaution with the Weasley twins and Longbottom casting shields, and warning the rest of the students. The only student that got hit with anything was Ginny Weasley, but she already knew why. However, she couldn't let those two get away with the 'feisty' comment. Truthfully, she found the whole comment quite funny, but she wasn't about to let them know that. She was looking forward to seeing all the student's reactions to her 'punishment' for the Headmaster and the Defense Professor, and she 'ordered' them to get to the great hall for lunch.

She giggled again, stood up, and hurried after them. She wanted to see the reaction with her own eyes.

A very tired, but grinning Harry made his way into the great hall for lunch. Tom, Neville, and the twins followed behind him, and Luna whispered that she would be at the Ravenclaw table. She seemed to be giggling about something, but she wouldn't say what.

Lunch was being served, so Harry and the others plopped down at the Gryffindor table and began to pile food onto their plates, but they were interrupted by Hermione and Ron.

"That was very irresponsible of you Harry." She scolded. "Someone could have been hurt."

"Someone was hurt!" Ron cried. "Ginny is still hiding in the common room because she has bats flying out of her nose!"

"Well now she knows what it feels like." Harry answered.

"It was still very irresponsible of you." Hermione huffed.

"She should learn to keep her googley eyes to herself." George said.

"Nice hex though Tom." Fred added with a grin. "We couldn't have done better ourselves."

"Thanks." He grinned.

"Listen here you freaky-eyed git," Ron said, pulling out his wand. "If you ever hex my sister again…"

Ron didn't get to finish that threat, because Harry jumped up and snatched his wand out of his hand.

"Give me back my wand you tosspot!" Ron cried.

"Only when you can be a good little boy and stop threating my friends."

"I am your best friend! Not that freaky-eyed git!"

"Ron, you really are thick. You are not my best friend. You spied on me and stole money from me." Harry said slowly. Then he sighed. "I swear, you're worse than Crabbe and Goyle." He mumbled.

"Don't compare me to those idiots!"

"Well it's true." Harry said.

"You're…you're turning into Malfoy!" Ron shouted, pointing his finger at Harry. "You're no better than he is!"

"WEASLEY!" Draco yelled from the Slytherin table. He stood up and glared at Ron. "While I am sure Potter is flattered to be compared to me, I don't appreciate the comparison. However, even I must admit that Potter has come a long way this year. Especially since he's had the common sense to ditch you and Granger! If you are too stupid to see what is really happening here, than you are thicker than Crabbe and Goyle."

"And we are pretty thick!" Goyle yelled.

"Indeed." Draco said, rolling his eyes.

"What is going on here?" 'Voldemort' asked, as he walked up behind Ron and Hermione.

They both yelped and turned around quickly. "You…you stay away from us!" Hermione yelled. "We don't trust you!"

"Well that is your problem." He said with a sigh. "Now, I suggest you all sit down, and let the rest of us have a nice quiet lunch."

Draco smirked at Ron and Hermione as they glared at Harry and the others. Ron snatched his wand out of Harry's hand, and they both sat down at the far end of the table in a huff. Harry could almost imagine what they were grumbling about.

'Voldemort' winked at Harry, and took his place at what was quickly determined to be his guest seat at the head table, but suddenly the great hall burst out laughing as Godric and Salazar walked in. McGonagall was right behind them, shooing them further and further into the room. Godric's robes were Slytherin green with charmed snakes that slithered around, and Salazar's were Gryffindor red, with charmed lions that silently roared. Salazar was laughing, but Godric was grumbling.

"We have been told that this is part of our punishment." Salazar chuckled loudly, as Godric sat down in his seat with a grunt. "We should not have referred to Professor McGonagall as being 'feisty'."

Harry was laughing along with the rest of the student population, and the Professors all grinned at them. Sprout leaned over to talk with McGonagall, and they both appeared to be giggling. Umbridge was scowling as she walked in from who-knows-where, but narrowed her eyes as she caught sight of Godric and Salazar. Snape came in shortly after and stopped in his tracks, but shot Salazar a sympathetic look. Harry just shook his head, grinned, and turned back to his plate.

Ten minutes passed with the normal chattering, rustling, and general sounds of people eating, but it was interrupted when Fawkes appeared in a burst of flames. He soared around the great hall, and landed in front of Harry with an envelope in his beak.

"Is that a Howler?" Fred asked, as the bright red envelope started to smoke.

"Yeah." Harry answered, as his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Best take it Harry. Fawkes looks like he's about to drop it on your head." Tom said, as he also furrowed his brow in confusion.

Harry quickly took it from the phoenix, who quickly disappeared the same way he appeared. Harry carefully turned the vibrating and smoking envelope over, and broke the seal.

"Harry James Potter!" A male voice bellowed. "That was bloody brilliant!"

"James!" A scolding female voice cried. "Do you have to yell so loudly?"

"Well it is a Howler Lily. He's never received one from us, so I figured I'd do it right."

"Harry, ignore your father, he's being a toe rag." She said. "I'm so sorry we have to send this as a Howler, but seeing as we can't really hold a quill all that well, Sirius set up a recording quill. I tried to get him to do it on a regular piece of parchment, but Sirius wouldn't hear of it. Your father said it would be funny, and Remus said its revenge for calling him a pet werewolf. Anyway, we saw the duel between you and Tom, and I have to say, you did very well, but I don't think…"

"I think it was hysterical!" James broke in.

"Well they destroyed half the castle!"

"They did not Lily." James argued. "It's a prank worthy of a Marauder."

"I agree!" Sirius said. "And seeing as they didn't get into trouble…"

"Minerva, I know you must be shocked to hear our voices, but thank you for making them fix what was destroyed." Lily said, cutting Sirius off. "At least you have sense and a good head on your shoulders."

"I agree!" Remus said.

"Snape would have had them both…" James began.

"Leave Severus out of this!" Lily yelled. "He too has a good head on his shoulders, and would have done the same thing."

"Along with detention for the rest of the year." Sirius grumbled.

"Harry owns half the castle." Remus pointed out.

"Yeah, and Voldyshorts owns the other half." James said. "We have agreed that the destroyed parts now belong to Voldyshorts."

"James has a point." Sirius said.

"No he does not." Lily argued.

As they continued to argue, Harry and Tom began laughing. Neville, Fred, and George were grinning, and everyone else just stared at them in shock.

"Harry," Lily said. "The point is, you could have been hurt by a falling statue. Please don't do that again. I am your mother, and I'm allowed to say that."

"And I am your father and I say that was bloody brilliant!"

"I'm just glad Godric won." Sirius said.

"Agreed!" James shouted.

"Salazar put up a good fight too." Lily said.

"Lily, you don't have to always be fair." James said. "He's a Slytherin."

"That does not mean anything James Potter! Severus is a Slytherin too, and both he and Salazar are good men. Don't you agree Remus?"

There was a long pause of dead silence, and Harry and Tom glanced at each other.

"Yes."

"MOONY!" Sirius and James shouted, as Harry and Tom burst out laughing.

"Sorry but she is right." Remus said.

"How could you!" Sirius wailed in a clearly mocking tone.

"I've been dead for fifteen years, and Remus agrees that two Slytherins are good men! What has the world come too?!"

"Shut up James!" Lily said shouted. "And we have only been dead for fourteen years."

"Close enough." James grumbled.

"Speaking of being dead." Lily said. "We would like to officially let Tom Riddle know that we do not hold him responsible for our deaths. Yes, we died by his hand, but it was because of Albus Dumbledore. Since we are dead, we know the truth. Harry of course, knows this as well."

"Exactly." James said. "I can guarantee that all of us killed in the first wizarding war know the same thing because when you die, you know the truth about everything and everyone in your life. There are thousands of dead witches and wizards that know the truth, and we have spoken with many of them."

"Indeed." Lily said. "So, to the supporters of Albus Dumbledore know this. The dead know everything. We want you and Albus to heed our warning. We are coming for you."

"I hope that gets back to dear old Albus." Sirius said.

"That Umbridge woman is at Hogwarts, so it will." Remus said.

"True." Lily said. "Oh, and someone should alert someone at the Ministry. Fudge has been Imperiused by Albus. Umbridge doesn't count, seeing as she is working for Albus anyway."

"I've already sent Fawkes off with a letter." Remus said calmly.

"Good." James said. "Fudge is a bit of an idiot, but he is the Minister. It's not good to have an Imperiused Minister, no matter how useless he is."

"I agree." Lily said. "Harry, your father and I have to go. We have already stayed to long, and we feel the pull to return. I love you son, and I am much happier with your choice in friends this year. The ones you have had in the past weren't good for you. Even if one was a muggle born like me. I didn't like her."

"I didn't either." James said. "I love you son. We will talk to you next time."

"Bye Harry." Lily said. "I love you."

"Padfoot wait!" James said suddenly. "I have one more thing. Harry, the barn yard animals were my idea. I felt the need to prank Hogwarts from beyond the grave so you and your friends might want to take cover." James laughed. "Love you!"

"What are you talking about?" Lily demanded.

"Nice one Prongs!" Sirius yelled. "See you next time!"

"Wait! Sirius! Remus! What did…?" Lily yelled, but her voice suddenly cut out.

"Harry, James is right." Remus laughed. "Sorry Minnie, I couldn't stop him."

"Take cover Prongs Jr. and friends. Until next time!" Sirius laughed, and the Howler began ripping itself apart.

Harry sat there stunned for a moment, then a loud bang was heard when Snape's chair fell over as he dived under the head table. Harry looked at Tom, Neville, Fred, and George, and they all quickly followed suit.

Suddenly the great hall was filled with howlers. Pigs, horses, cows, goats, sheep, and all manner of other farm animals could be heard throughout the great hall. People dived under tables and covered their ears as the howlers shrieked and exploded.

"Inspiring!" The twins yelled in unison, as the noise continued.

"Simply marvelous!" Fred grinned. "This is better than the ones we had planned to send to Umbridge!"

It lasted for a few minutes, but finally the great hall became quiet. Everyone cautiously peeked out from under the tables. The floor and tables were littered with ripped up parchment, and Harry grinned at the scene. He couldn't believe his Dad had managed this. It was brilliant.

"My ears are still ringing from all those howlers." Tom said, as he fell face first onto his bed.

"So are mine." Harry said, doing the same.

They had spent the better part of the afternoon repairing the damage to the castle, and they were both dead on their feet. Neville and Nagini had followed them around, but Salazar and Godric both evaded the repairs. They were going to be sorry for that. Harry and Tom were already thinking about ways to prank them, and Fred and George said they were going to help.

"Master Harry?"

Harry tilted his head to the side and focused on the elf that had appeared beside his bed.

"Yes?"

"Master Sirius has a prank idea for you." He said, and snapped his fingers. Harry suddenly felt the end of his bed sag with a heavy weight. "Master Sirius said he wants to keep old Master James's momentum going, and asked me to bring this box to you. He has written you a letter." The elf continued. "It's in the box."

"Thank you Binny."

The elf grinned. "You're welcome Master Harry." He said bowing low. Then he disappeared.

Harry groaned and sat up. "I hope it doesn't involve a lot of moving around because I'm tired."

He pulled the very large box over toward him, and eyed it carefully. Tom and Neville glanced at each other and they both pulled their bed curtains closed.

"Let us know if it is safe." Tom laughed.

"Gits." Harry chuckled as he reached out to open it. He suddenly started to laugh. "It's alright." He said reaching for the letter.

Harry,

I wanted to keep James's momentum going today. I have actually been thinking about this one for a while, but never really got around to executing it. This is a good way of freaking Umbridge out, while letting the other Professors know that they are harmless. Remus and I think you can claim them to be 'Bottled Killing Curses' because honestly, they are the perfect color green. Anyway, we think if you use sticking charms to stick them to your clothes it would be perfect. Use your imagination for your story, but do this tonight at dinner.

Padfoot and Moony

"Bottled Killing Curses?" Tom asked, raising and eyebrow.

Harry pulled one of the objects out of the box and tossed it at his brother. Tom glanced at the thing in his hands and burst out laughing.

"Glow Sticks!" He cried.

Harry grinned at him. "Yeah. I told him about the Glow Stick thing awhile back. He must have been curious and went to find out what they were."

"What are Glow Sticks?" Neville asked.

Harry opened a package, cracked the Glow Stick, shook it, and threw it at Neville. He yelped and promptly dropped it as it began to glow a bright green.

"They are a muggle thing." Harry said with a laugh. "Most muggles use them for portable lights and to see each other in the dark, among other things. There are chemicals inside it, and when you crack and shake it, they mix. There are all kinds of different colors, but it looks like Sirius bought all the green ones he could find." Harry said, digging through the box.

"These are wicked!" Neville said. "I'm going to go find Fred and George. I'll be right back."

Harry dumped the box of Glow Sticks onto his bed and began to open and activate them. Neville came back with the twins, but they weren't alone.

"Why do you have Glow Sticks?" Dean asked as he caught sight of all the activated and inactivated ones laying on Harry's bed.

Harry shook his head. "Not Glow Sticks Dean. Bottled Killing Curses." He said with a grin. He picked up one of the inactivated ones and stuck his wand to the end of it. "Behold!" He said in a cheesy imitation of a kids magic show magician. "I shall turn this simple clear container into a killing curse receptacle to throw at my enemies if they try to harm me! Avada-bra Kedavra-bra!" He said, though it came out very slurred and sounded more like 'Abracadabra'. He non-verbally lit the tip of his wand, carefully cracked the Glow Stick, and tossed it from one hand to the other to mix the chemicals. Fred, George, and Seamus stared at it open mouthed as it turned green, but Dean laughed.

"That is too funny!"

Tom snorted. "We are going to stick them to our clothes and call them Bottled Killing Curses. That should freak Umbridge out."

"One problem though." Dean said. "Any muggle born will know what they really are. That means Hermione."

Harry leaned back and thought for a minute. "We can confund her. Though I don't know how to really do that curse."

"I'll do it." Tom said.

"Or we can get Voldyshorts to do it." Neville said knowingly. "It might be easier for him."

"That is a better idea Neville." Tom said. "But if he won't do it, then I will."

"Tom Riddle, your presence is requested in Gryffindor Tower."

Harry grinned and looked up. "Thank you Hogwarts!"

"You are very welcome Harry Potter."

Seamus left to go meet 'Voldemort' and to lead him into the room, while the others continued to plan. They were determined to get this done at dinner.

Dean laughed. "That will only make it seem more real. Voldyshorts knows the curse better than anyone."

"Oh I didn't think about that." Tom snorted.

When Seamus and 'Voldemort' came back, Harry quickly outlined the plan.

A few hours later, and with the exception of 'Voldemort', Harry, Neville, Tom, Fred, George, Dean, and Seamus had multiple Glow Sticks stuck to various parts of their muggle clothes. They were ready for dinner, and the looks that they were bound to get. They had told the others that eventually the Glow Sticks would fade out, but 'Voldemort' charmed them so that they wouldn't.

"Ok you lot, listen up." 'Voldemort' said. "The only thing I helped you all to do is 'fill the containers with the killing curse'. That is the extent of my roll in this, but I will confund Granger on the way out so that she won't realize what they truly are."

Harry knew it was a lot more involved than that, but since Seamus and Dean were around, he knew that Death wasn't about say anything more than that. That was fine though, Tom and the others also knew the extent of it all.

"Sounds good." Harry said with a grin. "Now, who is hungry?"

They all grinned at him, and made their way out of the dorm.

The trip from the common room was an interesting one. Nearly everyone looked at them funny, but no one said anything as they passed by. Once they reached the great hall though, Umbridge took the bait.

"Mr. Potter!" She yelled from her place at the head table. "What are those!?"

"Bottled Killing Curses." He answered back loudly, and internally laughed at the expression of shock and horror on her face. "I enlisted the help of Voldyshorts to help us fill these wonderful containers. You see, I have come to the conclusion that every year someone tries to kill me, so I have decided to take precaution for me and my friends here. If someone tries to hex or jinx us, these Bottled Killing Curses will explode and kill our attacker. They have been charmed to not harm us, or anyone around us who is innocent, but our attacker will surely die." He said as seriously as he could, given the look on Umbridge's face.

Harry could see several of the muggle borns and a few raised-by-muggles giggling and whispering to their friends, and he knew that soon everyone would know that they were not in danger, but the look of horror on Umbridge's face was priceless. All the Professors knew they weren't a danger either because anyone with any common sense would know that you cannot bottle a killing curse, but Harry also knew that Umbridge wasn't very bright. He knew that the Professors would demand answers soon though, which is why they left a number of the Glow Sticks inactivated and hidden away.

"Mr. Potter, I am afraid that I can not allow you to walk around this school…"

"Madam Umbridge." Harry said, cutting her off with a sigh. "You are forgetting that I own half of this castle, and my co-owner and I have agreed this is the best way to avoid us getting killed by you, Dumbledore, and/or Fudge. Well except that Fudge is under the imperius curse, but that is neither here nor there." He said dismissively. "To put it in a way that you would be able to comprehend, we own this castle and can do whatever we want!" He cried, flinging his arms wide open, making the Glow Sticks sway dangerously.

"I do not appreciate being talk to like that! I am the High Inquisitor and I am…"

"About as useful as a flobberworm!" Tom shouted, which caused the great hall to break out in giggles.

"Now see here Mr. Ringo! I…"

"Harry, as Headmaster, I must ask you to demonstrate the…method…in which you have bottled these…killing curses." Godric said, cutting her off. "To make sure that the…method…is a safe one."

"Oh, of course sir, but seeing as I am incapable of casting a killing curse, I will have to refer your request to my friend Voldyshorts."

The others snorted as Harry handed 'Voldemort' an inactivated Glow Stick, and just like Harry had done with the cheesy muggle magician act, 'Voldemort' stuck his wand to the tip of the Glow Stick, said a very slurred version of Avada Kedavra, and made it seem like the curse came out of the wand and into the container. Those who didn't already know what it was stared in awe, but those that did, giggled even louder.

"As you can see Godric, the method is a safe one." Harry said.

"Very well then." He said. "Thank you Harry and Mr. Riddle."

"You're welcome sir." They said together.

"Headmaster!" Umbridge yelled. "How can you possibly allow children to walk around with Bottled Killing Curses stuck to their clothes!?"

"Because I'm the Headmaster, that's why." He answered simply, which made Salazar, Merlin, Snape, and McGonagall snort loudly.

"Can I have one!?" Justin asked loudly.

"Sure!" Harry said. "You're a muggle born 'Elton', so I would assume you would be in danger as well. Here you can have this one that Voldyshorts just made. Use a sticking charm to attach it to your clothes."

He threw the Glow Stick at Justin who, just for laughs, decided to fumble the catch and make it clatter to the floor. This made Umbridge shriek in terror, but then Justin began to make a big production of 'testing the containers durability' by banging it on various surfaces to see if it would break or not. This action sent Umbridge into a fit of hysteria and she began yelling about how stupid it was to be playing around with a bottled killing curse.

"Well see for yourself then." Justin said, and tossed the Glow Stick at her.

She screamed bloody murder as the Glow Stick sailed in her direction. She stumbled backwards, fell over, and became silent.

"You killed her!?" Someone shouted.

"No she's fainted!" Someone else shouted, and the great hall started laughing.

"30 points to Hufflepuff for Justin silencing Madam Umbridge. Her voice was grating on my nerves. Mr. Ron Weasley and Miss Hermione Granger, please escort Madam Umbridge to the hospital wing." Godric stood up and said, and received glares from both Hermione and Ron. Not that he cared.

During Godric's announcement, Harry noticed Justin had darted forward and quickly grabbed the Glow Stick. He also saw Justin mutter a spell, though he didn't know what it was. When Hermione and Ron got to, and revived a groggy Umbridge, Justin quickly backed away and kept his back to them. Harry didn't realize what had happened until the great hall's doors closed behind the trio, but when Justin turned around, he grinned at Harry.

"I don't think your Bottled Killing Curse containers are very durable." He laughed. He held up his hands to reveal that the Glow Stick had broken and leaked it contents all over his robes and hands.

"Oh no! You're green!" Harry gasped, then started laughing. "Well at least it's non-toxic."

"True!" Justin laughed. "Nothing a quick cleaning spell can't handle. That's what I had to do on the floor. There was green liquid leaking out of the plastic. I didn't want Ron or Hermione to see it."

"Are you alright Mr. Finch-Fletchley?" McGonagall gasped.

"Oh yes ma'am." He laughed, turning toward her and holding up his green glowing hands. "I knew what this was right away. It's not harmful at all, but I can't believe Hermione doesn't recognize…"

"She's been confunded." Harry said sheepishly, which caused everyone to laugh loudly, and McGonagall to glare at him. "It's for a prank." Harry said.

"Well ten points from Gryffindor for confunding a fellow student, even for a prank."

"Yes ma'am." Harry said. "It was wrong, and I know that. I'm sorry."

"I thought it was funny." Godric laughed. "But yes I agree, no confunding other students please." He said seriously, when McGonagall glared at him.

"Yes sir."

Tom laughed. "For those of you who are still confused, these are a muggle invention called a Glow Stick." He said, and began explaining what they were in detail.

By the end of dinner, Harry had answered a ton of questions about the Glow Sticks. Snape had 'confiscated' the broken one, but Harry guessed that he wanted to study the chemicals inside it. Tom gave Draco and a few other Slytherins one, and showed them how they worked. McGonagall politely asked them all to not do anymore pranks for at least a few days. She told them all that between this morning, during lunch, and now dinner, she didn't know how much more she could take. They all agreed.

Harry knew that this week was going to be a busy one anyway with classes and lots of Quidditch practice. After all, next weekend is the first weekend in November, and with it comes the first Quidditch match of the season. Gryffindor vs. Slytherin.