Here's another chapter.
I'm not sure when I'll get enough internet to post it…so I apologize for letting you wait. I want to write more and get the chapters posted but with studying and the lack of online time it's difficult. Sorry for letting you wait, and thanks for being patient.
It might have been an innocently looking prank but next morning all of them woke up in different stages of color-change. Most of the students had more or less visible blotches of green over their faces and hands. Shades of green varied from one to another. The trick was that more you tried to remove it with magic, more visible and long-lasting it got.
The effect was designed to wear off with few washes with water and simple soap but most of the professors and older students relied on magic means and so half of the castle spent next few days looking like frogs dressed in habits.
"It was a nice one." Commented Jade casually Wednesday morning, sitting at the table next to Fred.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Said Fred with straight face and without even blinking continued spreading marmalade on his toast.
"The weather is nice today. Chilly, but pleasantly sunny, after the week of rain." Said George and poured himself a cup of warm cocoa.
"Next time, I'd add more color. You know, make it more… loyal to the school houses? It gets quite boring when half the castle sports Slytherin colors. Just saying." Added Jade as if she was commenting on the weather, but George noticed a little sparkle in her eye, the same one she had every little moment when she actually let go and was herself.
"Thanks for the tip, next time we'll discuss it with you first." Nodded Fred . " Now, let's talk about something else, shall we? I don't want to be the one McGonagall blames for her lovely greenish look."
First two weeks of November passed without any excitement. Mid-term exams were in full swing and no one had time for mischief. After the last exam, there was a free Friday for students to sleep-in after week of late night studying.
Jade woke up early, like always, but she didn't want to get up just yet. The air was freezing and she felt nicely warm under the covers. She contemplated about reading the last chapter of the dragon book Charlie lent her or maybe knitting the last rows of the yellow hat she started back in summer. She could use warm hat in cold days like this, that's why she pulled the knitting from her trunk and made her way through the row of stitches, then turned the work around and tried to remember how to cast off. After two mistakes and one panic attack when she thought she'll have to frog the whole thing, she found the right way, remembering how Molly taught her "two steps forward, one step back" and there it was, her very first hat. It was yellow, and thick, and it called for a pom-pom or two, but it'll have to wait for the next visit of Hagrid, when he could show her how to make them.
It was almost seven and Jade was getting bored.
Maybe she could wake up Fred and George and they could pull some prank, everyone deserved a little laugh after all the tests, plus there was this great idea she wanted to use…
Jade quickly pulled on old sweats and on top of them her new legwarmers. She buttoned one of her flannel shirts and pulled on Percy's old blue sweater. Ready for the day she sprinted down the staircase, stopping shortly in front of the giant fireplace with roaring fire. She had no idea where boys' room was and she wasn't about to go and knock on every door in dormitory at seven in the morning.
Jade turned around and run out of the common room, cutting through the freezing air of the corridors. If the weather gets any colder they'll have to wear hats and scarves to classes.
The idea was simple, cast a spell she perfected in the last couple of weeks. During Charms one of the Hufflepuff students messed up the spell which was supposed to produce a jet of clean water and instead of Aguamenti he said Agarmenti which resulted in a blob of jelly-like substance which landed on his desk.
Jade perfected it after a couple of tries, with the right hand movement she could make gallons of this and the best part was the substance was transparent, giving her the moment of surprise if she wanted people to step into it without noticing.
Last week, in the lesson after their exam from Herbiology, professor taught them a simple spell which she used for digging bigger holes while planting trees or bushes.
Jade used it to create waist-deep holes behind the doors, which she filled all the way to top with the goo produced by the spell she perfected.
She run through the castle, opening odd classrooms, which wouldn't be used until Monday, setting traps. When she was satisfied with the amount of traps she walked casually to the Great Hall, joining her roommates for breakfast.
"Where have you been?" asked Sue.
"You're terribly early riser right?" laughed Joyce and continued braiding the side of her hair.
Jade just shrugged and added one more spoon of scrambled eggs to her plate.
She wanted to tell someone, so badly, but she couldn't. One thing she learned from twins by observing their effective methods of pulling pranks was, that no matter what, you never talked about your plan or any part of the prank you did. Never.
And so she chewed on her buttered toast and smiled to herself.
It was grey day outside and no one felt any particular desire to go out and fight with the wind so common room was full of Gryffindor students. Jade was sitting around one of the small coffee tables with her friends when Fred and George walked in, covered in something that looked like jelly. Few of their friends joked about it and asked if one of their pranks didn't quite work out and twins answered with some clever remarks, not confirming neither refusing that it was indeed their doing.
"We'll just go wash. You all know to never try remove mess from pranks by magic right?" laughed Fred.
"Sure do! I'll remember that for the rest of my life!" yelled Lee. " I think I might still have a smudge of green behind my ear."
George nodded in his direction but as he was turning around he caught Jade's eye and winked. "that was a good one." He smiled and run after Fred up to their bathroom.
"What was a good one?" asked Maddie looking at Jade confused.
"Never mind." Smiled Jade mischievously and turned the page in her book.
It was almost dark outside when Fred and George sent one forth year girl to fetch Jade from her room. She was sitting on the rug with girls, all of them discussing Christmas holiday which was fast approaching.
Jade run down the stairs to find twins standing close to the entrance bundled in many hand knitted sweaters and vests.
"What'cha doing?" she asked suspiciously looking at Fred who was pulling a scarf away from his neck to relieve a bit of the heat which was accumulating under all the layers.
"No time to talk, we'll melt soon. Just go up and dress as warmly as you can, we'll meet you at the entrance." George rushed her and then turned around to pull a hat from his brother's head. He himself was wearing quite a attire, but he left all the buttons opened for now.
Jade hesitated a while, she didn't really feel like going outside, it was windy and freezing out there, not to mention the sun set down almost two hours ago, but when she saw expecting smiles of her brothers she reminded herself that this is her family and she has to enjoy every moment she has with them and sprinted up the staircase.
She pulled on two pairs of thick socks and few sweatshirts with the blue sweater on top, adding the hat she finished this morning.
"Jade it's almost dinner time, don't you think it's a bit late for any of the crazy things you're planning with your brothers?" asked Joyce, laughing at Jade who tried to put on her sneakers and button up the three buttons on the collar of her top sweater.
"Nah, it's fine, it's not that late." Jade answered, stuffing her shirt into her pants.
Maddie shook her head, looking out of the window at the ink blue night sky. She opened her mouth to say something but Jade was already gone, running down the corridors. She started to regret dressing so warmly but the second her face was hit by the blasting wind she pulled the collar of the sweater higher and looked around.
George was standing close to the entrance with Fred jumping up and down on the grass.
"Let's go!" he yelled and started to hop in the direction of Hagrid's hut.
Jade didn't have time to answer when George pulled her hand and hurried, following his brother.
"What's going on?" Jade tried to yell but the wind took her words and swished them away from George's ears.
They knocked on Hagrid's door and were soon greeted by warmth of dimly lit room and delicious scent of baked potatoes.
"What yer doin' out this late? C'm on in, quick." He greeted them and shut the door behind the group of three frozen kids.
"You said it will start tonight." Explained Fred and started the exhausting process of removing the layers of knitted clothes.
"But why d'you have to drag your sis out into the frost tis late?" Hagrid shook his head and pulled out the usual cups for tea.
"She has to see it. You know, first time here." Nodded George and helped Jade pull the last hoodie off.
"What are you talking about?" asked Jade but no one answered, they just pushed her down on the bench between Fang and Fred, and Hagrid handed her a cup full of strong tea and plate with huge baked potato topped with generous portion of cheddar and cream.
"You'll see, now eat up, we have quite some time before it starts." Smiled Hagrid and pushed the plate closer to her.
"I'm surprised to see you. Didn't have many students here since the cold days started." He continued, bringing plates for twins and finally sitting down himself.
"Before what starts?" Jade tried again but they ignored her and so she gave up and enjoyed the warmth radiating from the meal.
"Let's go you lot. You'll need to head out if you want to make it back before curfew and you want to be out when the first one hits the ground right?" Hagrid rushed them to put on their clothes.
"Thanks for the dinner, it was delicious." Jade complimented and suppressed a yawn.
"Yeah, thanks Hagrid! See you tomorrow." Fred and George yelled at the same time and pulled Jade out.
It was even colder now, with grass squeaking under their feet. They suddenly stopped in the middle of the field looking up, so Jade copied her brothers and looked into the sky.
At first nothing happened, but soon something small and very cold hit her nose.
Small fluffy snowflakes were flying from the sky, grey against the lights from castle windows, disappearing into the grass.
"Your very first Hogwarts snow." Laughed Fred and hugged Jade from one side, George doing the same from the other.
"It's nothing much now, but wait until the morning!" he said looking at Jade's surprised face. She was still looking up. Then she closed her eyes and let the snowflakes melt on her cheeks.
"It's beautiful." She said softly and pulled her brothers into group hug.
"Thanks for showing it to me."
"Well, you're welcome. And thanks for telling us not to go to transfiguration classroom." Said Fred sarcastically, pushing Jade's shoulder.
"Well, I wanted it to be a surprise. What were you doing in a classroom anyway? On a free day?" asked Jade as they slowly walked to the castle.
"Planning a surprise of our own. But we didn't quite finish it, thanks to that little swamp of goo you prepared for us." Laughed George.
"I'll help you with it tomorrow." Smiled Jade and pretended to lock her lips as they crossed the entrance door.