Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Happy Halloween
With Lord Flint on Buckbeak's case, October was almost over. The Halloween Feast was tonight and the castle was filled with anticipation for an abundance of sugar and dancing skeletons. The first Hogsmeade weekend of the school year also fell on this day. But as our mum had instructed, all Weasleys stayed in the castle. Fred, George, and I didn't even use the secret passageway to get our Zonkos fix. Believe it or not, as our friends left the common room that morning, we sat down to study. Despite their attitudes that OWL results would not affect their futures, Fred and George were not completely immune to all the talk and pressure fifth years must endure about our impending futures. So, with little to no activity happening elsewhere in the castle, we opened our books and started comparing notes.
Percy was very surprised when he entered the common room to see the three of us sitting at his favorite table with our heads bent together. "What are you three doing?" He asked with suspicion laced into his voice. Because as far as Percy is concerned, everything we do is suspect. Including reading.
"Plotting world domination", I said as I looked up from our potions textbook to blink innocently at our big brother. I had been assigned the very annoying task of copying down potion ingredients and their properties to be made into flashcards later. "There's eight of us and seven contents. Six if we exclude Antarctica. Percy, would you prefer to rule your own continent or share?"
Percy adjusted his glasses and decided not to respond. Too bad. I was going to offer him Australia. "Hey Perce, You're good at…. Everything school-related. How would you prune an alihotsy bush?" Fred asked as he looked up from our herbology text; a quill with red ink on its tip poised in his hand. His task was to make cheat sheets for some of the labs we've done in herbology. Specifically, the ones Sprout has been warning us that were most likely to occur during the practical portion of the exam. Not that we'd actually be able to use these cheat sheets during any exam, but it would simplify memorizing the steps.
Percy's mouth was slightly agape as he stared at us. Like he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. "You're studying", he stated after a moment.
"I knew you'd get there in the end, Perce", said George as he practiced the wand movement for the vanishing spell with the quill he was holding.
"You're actually studying". Percy expressed; astonished and not processing George's words at all. "What brought this on?" He asked as he slid into the seat between Fred and me.
The three of us shrugged in sync; something that unnerved most people, but Percy was so used to it that it didn't even regristrate. "Adrian makes me study all the time", I commented.
"We don't want Mum thinking we're completely thick", George added.
"We're bored", came Fred's input. And we were bored. With Lee out for the day, there was no willing participant for Fred and George to muck around with. Wood decided to go to Hogsmeade with everyone else, so he couldn't drop an unplanned practice on the team's plates. Adrian decided to take advantage of the weekend as well, so there was no one I could distract myself with. We could have hunted down Ron and Ginny, and bothered our younger siblings. But Ron had been in a mood since breakfast as Hermione and Harry had gone to Hogsmeade without him. So, we were letting him steam by himself. And Ginny…. Well, we just didn't want to make a trek down to Slytherin territory when it was warm and comfortable in the Gryffindor common room.
Percy adjusted his glasses with raised eyebrows and his mouth slightly agape. "Well, I'm impressed", he said after a moment. And then he promptly jumped into an explanation of exactly how one should go about pruning an alihotsy bush. And he didn't stop there. After helping Fred, Percy quizzed me on potion ingredients and had George practice vanishing different scraps of paper. A half-hour passed before Percy sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "I should be patrolling the halls. I'll leave you to it", he said, moving to stand up.
"No, Percy", George said with an uncharacteristic plea. "I need your help vanishing larger objects". Percy stilled as he stared at George in wonder. Like he couldn't quite believe the words coming out of George's mouth.
"But not before you help me with mandrake care", Fred broke in, causing Percy's eyes to widen.
"And I need help revising for the shrinking solution", I told our big brother trying not to react as a bashful and slightly giddy expression blossomed on Percy's normally stern face.
"But you're going to help me first, right?" Fred asked; really laying it on thick.
"Why should he help you first?" George asked. "I'm the one actually doing magic here. It's you two who can wait".
I opened my mouth to jump into the argument, but Percy held up his hands. "Alright, alright", he said in a placating manner. Although he sounded too flattered. Too charmed. If us triplets were truly bickering, Percy's tone of voice wouldn't have been effective. "No need to fight, I'll stay. Holly, get your notes on the shrinking solution out while I help George. And Fred, write down what you remember about mandrakes and we'll go over it in a second".
So, our studying session continued as we each worked on our own things with Percy checking in on us at different intervals. While he was busy with George working on vanishing whole sheets of parchment, I reached into my bookbag as if I was looking for something; pulling out a fancy piece of stationary in the process. I made sure it was right next to Percy's elbow as I returned to my notes on the shrinking solution and waited. I didn't have to wait long. "Holly, what is this?" Percy asked when he had turned back to me.
"Oh", I said as I looked up; acting like I had forgotten that I had put it there. "That's about some apprenticeship opportunity at Lord Flint's law firm. Lord Flint gave it to me the other day when he came to take Hagrid's case". So far, everything I said was the truth. Hmm…. How long can I keep that up, I wonder? "He said he was looking for a good student with an interest in politics". Still telling the truth. "I thought of you and said I'd pass it on", and now I was officially straying from the path of the honest truth.
Flushing a little, Percy self-soothed by pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. And Flint thought Percy would be good for this apprenticeship? He couldn't even hide his tells. But, whatever. It wasn't my law firm Percy would be applying to. "Thank you for thinking of me", he said as he continued to study the stationary. "But I am planning on applying to the ministry in the spring". Except, Percy didn't look away or let go of the stationary.
"But wouldn't an apprenticeship at a law firm help you get a job at the ministry?" Fred asked as he leaned over our herbology book.
"It would", Percy admitted in a slow pronunciation of his words as he pondered the opportunity we had discreetly handed to him.
"And isn't law and government stuff related?" George asked as he set his wand down on the tabletop now that Percy was completely distracted from our studying endeavors. "It'd probably make you stand out".
"Besides", I continued before Percy could think of any reason why he shouldn't take this opportunity. "Lord Flint's well-known. I bet an apprenticeship with him could land you any entry-level position in the ministry that you want".
Hook, line, and sinker were determined by Percy giving a deep nod. "Maybe you're right. I think I will apply". Percy stood up with the stationary in hand, and this time we didn't interject. "At most, it will be an opportunity to practice interviewing before I apply to the ministry".
"That's the spirit, Perce", Fred commented. But Percy paid him no mind as he started to leave the table; lost in thought. But before he left completely, Percy looked at each of us.
"Thanks", he said. And then to show just how big of a dork he truly is, Percy gave us a thumbs-up. "Keep up the good work you three".
Fred, George, and I sat in silence as Percy walked up the stairs to the boys' dormitories. When we could no longer see his back or hear his footsteps, George said, "Should we be worried about how easy that was? I mean, someone is really going to take advantage of him one of these days".
I shrugged as Fred shook his head. "He'll be fine", Fred assured his identical brother. "Messing with Percy's head is our job. We won't let just anyone do the same".
We made short work of packing up our books, quills, and parchment; officially done studying for the day and most likely for the next couple of weeks. "So", I started once the table was cleared. "What do you want to do now?"
"This is a prank", Ron gruffly commented as he walked next to me. Climbing the stairs, we headed for an unused classroom on the third floor. He had his hands shoved in his trouser pockets and was carrying his shoulders in a slumped position. His forehead was wrinkled and his lips were turned down in a frown. Both his posture and expression suggested Ron didn't want to be going to this unused classroom with me. Despite that, when I tracked him down in the kitchens Ron willingly left the pumpkin pie he had been eating and came with me to 'find Fred and George'. Just a sign of how truly bored he was.
"Ron, this isn't a prank", I said in my best anxious voice. I had mastered it after the year I spent in Lockhart's presence. "I don't know where they are. They were supposed to meet me in the great hall for lunch, but they never showed". To imitate self-soothing, I ran a hand through my hair. "They weren't in the common room, the owlery, at the quidditch pitch, or in the kitchens!" Which was where I had 'ran into' Ron. "And I always know where they are!" I was taking short breaths to express panic.
Ron rolled his eyes as we reached the third floor and took an immediate left. "If you don't know where they are, then it's a prank", he reiterated. "Think about it. It's Halloween. None of us could go to Hogsmeade. They're bored and Fred and George are right gits when they're bored".
It was a struggle not to laugh. Ron was right on the money, but still missing the most important part; who the target was. Coming to a halt in front of the closed door of the unused classroom that I knew Fred and George were in, I turned to face my little brother. "Ron, I'm scared", I whispered. "What if…. What if Pettigrew somehow got back into the castle? Or Lockhart?" I bit my bottom lip as I looked away from Ron to stare at the closed door in feigned distress. Sometimes, not saying anything speaks volumes.
Ron withdrew his hands from his pockets and allowed them to hang limply at his sides. "Fine", he caved with half the gruffness in his voice than he was using before.
I let a moment pass for Ron to see the relief wash over my face at his cooperation before opening the door. It swung open; its hinges creaked. I took the first step into the room. Ron followed right behind my shoulder.
"Why is it dark in here?" He asked as we paused at the threshold and observed the shadowed shapes of old desks and chairs. It was an astute observation because other than the classrooms in the dungeons, the windows allowed for plenty of natural light during the day.
Reaching into my pocket I slowly pulled out my wand. "Lumos", I said; instantly turning my wand into a flashlight. Starting on the left-hand side of the room, I pointed my wand away from my body. There were just desks and chairs. Slowly I turned, planning on revealing everything in the room, trusting Ron was watching. But I stopped when the light on my wand hit a sprawled-out form on the floor. Ron's breath hitched as I exclaimed, "George!". George laid on his back with one arm stretched away from him while the other was thrown over his chest. He had his head turned away from us and was lifelessly still.
Rushing forward, I dropped to my knees right next to George's side; taking my wand with me and leaving Ron in the shadows. "George!" I cried again as I made a show of trying to shake George awake.
Behind me, I heard Ron take out his wand and mutter, "Lumos".
"Ron", I said forebodingly as I twisted my spine to look at my little brother. I waited until Ron had his light pointed at me before slowly raising my wand free hand up with my palm pointed towards him so he could see that they were stained red. It was just tomato sauce, but in the current lighting it very much looked like something else. "He's covered in blood", I shared in a shaky voice.
The color drained from Ron's face as he took a step back. "Should we go for help?" He asked; his wand hand trembling and causing his wand light to bounce around the room.
"We can't leave him here", I argued.
Ron nodded once. "Right. You stay here. I'll go get a teacher". With that plan stated, Ron turned to make a hurried exit from the classroom. Glad to know what he would do if this situation was real; leaving his siblings alone in a room with a possible threat. But Ron never made it through the door. It swung shut before he could step through only inches away from his nose. Like a man running from debt collectors, Ron jiggled the door handle as if it was his last resort. But to no avail. Spinning back around to face me, Ron gulped loudly; forcing his Adam's apple to bob. "It's locked".
Trying to match his terrified face; I opened my eyes as wide as they could. "Alohomora?" I suggested.
"Uh…. Right", Ron agreed as he turned around again to do just that. But before he could get the incantation out of his mouth, Ron jerked sideways to his left; a choked scream escaping him.
"What is it?" I panicked…. Or tried to panic. It was too soon to break character after all.
"Something just ran across my foot", Ron said in a high-pitched voice and in one breath. It was reminiscent of a Ron who had just come across a spider. Taking loud and labored breaths through his nose, Ron managed to still his hand long enough to point his wand light to the right; where a dirty brown rat-like form sat on its back legs. It was staring at Ron with its beady little eyes and its nose twitching as it sat on its back legs. "S-Sc-Scabbers", Ron forced out; handshaking once more.
"Get him, Ron!" I yelled as the fake rat started to scurry away. "He hurt George. Don't let him get away".
Rigidly, Ron aimed his wand. But he never got the chance to cast any spells. Maniacal laughter filled the room and echoed off the walls as a Figure cloaked in a pure black robe stepped out of hiding behind Ron. With his hand, the figure reached out and grasped Ron's shoulders. Ron clammed up and I can only imagine the shiver that probably shot up his spine at the contact. "Weasleys", the figure croaked in a raspy and primal voice. "I'll get you. I'll get all of you".
"Ron, run!" I yelled just so he wouldn't have time to question or process what he was seeing.
Ron took hurried steps away from the figure until he was on the other side of the room; effectively forgetting about the rat. He whirled around so his back wasn't facing the figure. Despite his evident fear, Ron pointed his wand at the figure. "L-leave my f-family alone", Ron demanded in a stammer.
The figure remained where it was; pointing at Ron like the Grim Reaper claiming a life. "I'll start with you", the figure rasped. All the furniture in the room started to rattle and creak as an invisible force shook them. Then, the rat made a reappearance; jumping from one of the desks Ron was standing next to. It launched itself at Ron's face. Ron dropped his wand as he screamed bloody murder. I followed suit just to add to the ambiance of this experience.
But as Ron continued to scream and tried to rip the fake rat from his face, my screams quickly transformed into hysterical laughter. Next to me on the floor, George sat up; laughing as well as he took in the sight of our little brother hopping back and forth on his feet in blind terror. The figure pulled the hood of the robe off his head; revealing him to be Fred who was also laughing.
With a wave of my wand, I canceled Lumos and the charm we had used to darken the room. Now in natural light, the blood on my hand and George's clothes was clearly tomato sauce and the rat attacking Ron's face was clearly an animated old sock. In between bouts of laughter, Fred pulled out his own wand to cancel the spell we had placed on the sock. Once done, the sock fell harmlessly to the floor by Ron's feet.
Ron's shoulders were heaving as he first stared at the sock before staring at each of us in turn. "What is wrong with you?" Ron demanded to know with his hands rolled into fists (one wrapped around his wand) as his eyes rested on Fred.
"Happy Halloween!" Fred, George, and I cheered; completely satisfied with what we had accomplished today.