I want to point out a couple of things before I start this next chapter. First, DON'T BOTHER REVIEWING! I don't know how many times it needs to be said, but this is not a fantasy story! This is the truth! I'm a real person and I'm talking about my real life! So there is literally no point whatsoever in submitting a review, as I won't be reading them or acting upon what is said! If you don't like aspects of my real life, well, tough shit, either put up with it or stop reading! Secondly, if any horny males are reading this hoping to find out about my period at any point, then don't bother, because I'm not going to be describing it! It's a very unpleasant thing to go through, and really isn't important in the grand scheme of things! Now that I've said that, I'll continue with my story.
Everyone was talking non stop about the attack on Colin the next morning. I was obviously distraught, as I was the culprit. Fred and George however, were going about trying to cheer me up in the wrong way though. They were taking turns covering themselves with fur or boils and jumping out at me from behind statues. They only stopped when Percy, apoplectic with rage, told them he was going to write to Mum and tell her I was having nightmares.
Meanwhile, hidden from the teachers, a roaring trade in talismans, amulets, and other protective devices was sweeping the school. Neville Longbottom bought a large, evil-smelling green onion, a pointed purple crystal, and a rotting newt tail before the other Gryffindor boys pointed out that he was in no danger; he was a pureblood, and therefore unlikely to be attacked.
"They went for Filch first," Neville said, his round face fearful.
"And everyone knows I'm almost a Squib."
Demelza, Amy and I all saw through these protective devices as scams right away of course, and Luna said that her radish earrings would protect her anyway, so she wasn't worried.
December arrived. Professor McGonagall came around in the second week and asked those who would be staying at the castle in the Christmas holidays to sign her parchment. I did so. Although Mum and Dad were going to visit Charlie in Romania and wanted me to come along, I didn't fancy a long journey away, and certainly not by Portkey again, which I knew they were taking, so I decided to stay at Hogwarts. Demelza, Amy and Luna were all going home though, so I knew I'd be spending the time with Harry, Ron and Hermione.
That Friday, we would suffer a frustrating and embarrassing inconvenience. In Snape's class, we were making the Pompion Potion, which turns the person's head into a pumpkin upon contact with the skin. It was the most difficult Potion we had made so far, but Demelza did really well at it, far better than I or Amy. She did so well in fact that even Snape had nothing bad to say when he came round to her. Just after he had left however, Mulciber lobbed some spine of lionfish right into her cauldron, and it exploded, soaking both her and Amy, who was sat behind her.
Straight away, both of their heads turned into pumpkins, and the Slytherins howled with laughter. Snape returned to Demelza.
"Oh deary me, how could I have missed too much spine of lionfish? A rare mistake on my part, however for Gryffindors such as yourself, it certainly isn't. 20 points from your house for causing such a disruption to my class."
"Sir, Mulciber threw the spine of lionfish into Demelza's cauldron, if anyone should be punished, it's him!" I yelled.
"Be quiet Weasley, or I shall put you in detention again. We don't want any more Howlers from Mummy do we?"
The Slytherins laughed again, and Snape refused to remove the pumpkins, meaning Demelza and Amy looked absolutely ridiculous as we walked into the Great Hall for dinner.
Everyone pointed and laughed at us as we sat down at the Gryffindor table with Harry, Ron and Hermione. Hermione removed the pumpkins and Demelza and Amy's heads re-appeared, both of them panting.
"Bloody hell it's so hot inside those!" cried Demelza
Amy fist bumped Hermione
"Cheers mate, you're a lifesaver"
"How did this happen though?" asked Harry
"Mulciber" I said "He threw spine of lionfish into Demelza's cauldron when Snape wasn't looking. We were making Pompion Potion and it went all over the place. Of course, he took points off Gryffindor for this rather than giving Mulciber detention, and then he refused to remove the Pumpkins!
"The same thing happened to Neville in our class last year. Crabbe was the one who did it, though I removed his Pumpkin straight away!" said Hermione.
"So, how's the Polyjuice Potion going?" asked Demelza, dropping her voice.
Hermione shook her head.
"We're not discussing that here, not in public. I'll tell you later tonight ok?"
So that night, we found ourselves in Hermione's dormitory again for our weekly meeting.
"So?" said Demelza, as we got ourselves comfortable on Hermione's bed.
"The potion is only half finished, but thanks to our actions in Snape's class yesterday, we will have it ready in time for the holidays. It will be the perfect opportunity to use it, when almost everyone is at home. Malfoy is staying here too, which we think is pretty suspicious"
"What did you do in Snape's class?" I asked.
"Well, we needed to get some of the ingredients from his private stores, so when he was distracted bullying Neville, Harry threw one of those Filibuster Fireworks into Goyle's cauldron, which exploded, causing chaos, and in that time I was able to slip into his cupboard and get what we needed. Harry thinks Snape knew he threw the firework, but he has no proof"
"What potion did everyone get hit by? I hope it was worse than what Demelza and I had to go through!" said Amy
"Well mate, you'll be glad to hear it was a Swelling Solution!" replied Hermione
We all laughed at that
"You should have seen Malfoy! His nose was the size of a small melon by the time Snape was able to shrink it! And Goyle, his eyes were like dinner plates!"
We all laughed some more
"Brilliant!" said Demelza, wiping a tear from her eye "and Snape definitely didn't see Harry throw it?"
"Nope, Harry timed it perfectly, so I had a window just big enough to get the stuff we needed! So, Amy, Demelza, are you planning a revenge prank on Mulciber?"
"Well" said Amy "of course we want to, but we don't know how we'd get away with one. Got any ideas?"
Hermione bit her lip, thinking
"Actually, yes I do..."
The next morning, the 4 of us went down to breakfast with a plan in mind. We had the perfect cover. Demelza headed to the Ravenclaw table to talk to Luna, under the pretence of asking her to hang out with us that day, as it was a Saturday after all. Hermione, Amy and I sat down alongside Harry and Ron. We hadn't told them about our plan, nor that it was Hermione's idea.
They spoke for a couple minutes before Demelza pointed her wand behind her underneath her robes. Suddenly, Mulciber started singing a song called "A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love" an awful and very embarrassing romantic song, completely unsuited to Slytherin House!
Avery, Yaxley, and most of Slytherin House looked at Mulciber like she'd gone crazy, while everyone else laughed hysterically, including all the teachers, except for Snape. He made to get up to go and remove the spell, but found that he couldn't, as Hermione had placed a Sticking Hex on the bottom of his shoes. She'd done this discreetly at the same time Demelza was talking to Luna, when she went to the staff table to speak to Professor Flitwick about a recent homework assignment.
So Mulciber was stuck singing that song, and then various other stupid songs, for a whole hour, before Snape was finally able to free himself and remove the spell. That was what I overheard someone saying in the courtyard later that day. It was a moment of great embarrassment for all 3 of them, and a big triumph for us.
In the common room that evening, Demelza, Amy, Harry, Ron, Hermione and I were all sat together discussing the events of the day.
"I would sure love to know who came up with the idea for the Mulciber practical joke though" said Ron. "It was utterly brilliant!"
"Well, as a matter of fact, it was me" said Hermione coolly, smirking.
"Really?"
"Yep!"
"Who are you, and what have you done with Hermione Granger?" said Harry "First the Polyjuice, now this?"
"Harry, keep your voice down!" snapped Hermione "and yes, even I have a rebellious side that shows itself every once in a while!"
