THC, Round 6
Hufflepuff, DADA
Drabble: [Speech] "What homework?"
WC: 982/1000
"So," Rabastan asked as he sat down beside Regulus and pulled out his sixth-year Transfiguration textbook (which he had brought to class for once), "did you do your Charms homework?"
Barty, who was sitting in front of them, turned around in his seat, his eyes narrowed in confusion. "What homework?"
"The homework Flitwick gave us," Rabastan said pointedly. "Who else will give us Charms homework, Timmy?"
Barty's eyes were still narrowed. "Professor Flitwick didn't give us any homework."
"He did," Regulus said offhandedly, not bothering to look up from his textbook.
"No, he didn't! I would have remembered if he'd given us some homework. My planner had nothing listed in it!" Barty argued hotly, his face becoming red with worry.
Just then Professor McGonagall shushed them, so Barty turned around to face the front. Rabastan whistled merrily under his breath and flipped through his Transfiguration book absentmindedly.
A few minutes later, McGonagall had her back turned towards them. Barty took the opportunity to turn around and scowl at Rabastan. "You're joking with me, aren't you? There is no Charms homework."
Rabastan gawked at him and leaned back, crossing his arms. "There is too!"
"No, there isn't. I always update my planner—and you know it."
"I'll prove it to you," Rabastan said hotly. He bent down and rummaged through his bag before pulling out a few parchments. Handing them to Barty, he declared, "See! Even I did the assignment."
Barty yanked the papers towards him and bent his head, and his eyes grew wide as he scanned the content quickly. He shook his head fervently and stammered, "No, no, no, this can't be right! We studied the Disillusionment Charm two days ago, but I am certain Professor Flitwick didn't give any homework on it!"
Rabastan shrugged. "Sorry to tell you this, but I'm pretty certain you were daydreaming about You-Know-Who."
Regulus' head snapped up. "Why was Barty daydreaming about the Dark Lord?"
"What? Oh! No! I meant Evan—but I have to admit… Rossy's just as bad as the Dark Lord," Rabastan said with a grin.
Barty's face paled, and he smacked Rabastan's arm furiously and repeatedly.
McGonagall cleared her throat and said in a sharp, crisp tone, "Mr Lestrange, Mr Black, and Mr Crouch, I trust that whatever you're discussing is of utmost importance to your magical education. Perhaps you'd like to share your insights with the entire class?"
The boys immediately ducked their heads, Rabastan hiding a grin.
McGonagall raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp as she continued, "No? Then I suggest you focus your attention on the lesson at hand and save your chatter for a more appropriate time. If I catch any of you disrupting my class again, you'll find yourselves serving detention with Mr Filch—and I assure you, he won't be as forgiving as I am."
With that, she gave them one last piercing look before turning back to the blackboard, leaving no room for argument.
Barty tore a piece of parchment, scribbled on it, and tossed it over his shoulder at Rabastan.
I don't trust you. Ask Reg to show me his homework.
Regulus read the note over Rabastan's arm and sighed dramatically before pulling out a thick pile of parchments. "Tell him I went overboard."
Rabastan smirked and penned down Regulus' message; he then poked Barty's shoulder blade until Barty hissed and stuck his arm out behind him for the note and parchments.
Barty's shoulders stiffened as he glanced over Regulus' homework.
The Invisibility Incantation: Perfecting the Disillusionment Charm on Objects and People.
"Merlin's beard, I can't believe I missed an assignment! Professor Flitwick is going to be so disappointed in me!" Barty whisper-yelled at himself. He then pulled out a few empty parchments and muttered, "Don't worry, Barty. Just write 10-12 inches…Yes, 12 inches is doable before next period…"
"But you always write more than what every professor asks for," Rabastan said, kicking Barty's chair from beneath.
"Professor Flitwick is bound to question you for your extremely short essay," Regulus added solemnly.
Barty's eyes widened with horror and increasing panic as he gaped at them. "I—I'll copy your essay then and—"
"Your assignments are always different because you do more research, remember?" Rabastan pointed out. "Sorry, mate, but you'll have to work on your essay yourself."
As Barty frantically scrawled notes, his brow furrowed in concentration, Rabastan and Regulus shared a silent fist bump underneath the table.
Barty's quill raced across the parchment, his tongue sticking out the corner of his mouth. He mumbled intelligible phrases as he worked.
Rabastan and Regulus struggled to keep their laughter contained. The sight of Barty in a panic, his usually composed demeanor crumbling, was too much for them. Regulus discreetly nudged Rabastan with his elbow, and they exchanged a knowing glance.
Just as Barty muttered something about the nuances of the Disillusionment Charm and yanked on his hair, Rabastan couldn't resist any longer. "Timmy," he whispered, leaning forward with a mischievous grin, "you know there's no Charms homework, right?"
Barty froze mid-sentence, his quill hovering above the parchment. He slowly looked up at Rabastan, confusion and dawning realization mixing on his face. "What?"
Regulus finally let out a snicker. "It was a prank, Barty. There's no homework. You always know about it."
For a moment, Barty stared at them both, his expression shifting from disbelief to exasperation. "You—" he started, his face turning redder by the second.
Rabastan and Regulus could no longer hold back their laughter. "Sorry, mate," Rabastan said between chuckles, "but we just love seeing you panic."
Barty groaned and buried his face in his hands. "I hate you both. I'm going to get you back. You just wait and see."
"Ooh, I'm shaking in my custom dragonhide-leather boots," Regulus deadpanned, and Rabastan snorted loudly.
"My plan will be brilliant, you'll see…" Barty grumbled.
Neither Regulus nor Rabastan believed him. Barty was harmless…or so they thought.