Beta: Cloudy

(≖‿‿≖)ノ⌒●~*

"Hello my fellow twins," I greeted cheerfully. "Care to help me prank Lockhart? It'll be one to remember."

George and Fred paused on their way to class, turned to face me fully, and grinned.

"You have—"

"—our attention."

"We can't do it until after exams. Hogwarts doesn't have a replacement for him, so we need to keep him 'til then," I warned them sternly. "It'll be risky business, boys. Borderline illegal."

"Like last year's adventure?" Fred asked with both of his eyebrows raised.

"Yep," I answered, popping the p. "But if you agree, I'll give you what's left over."

"Left over?" George inquired.

I pulled out the bottle of veritaserum. "Veritaserum. I brewed it. I only need a few drops for Lockhart."

Their eyes bulged and they held out their hands to me. As I shook their hands they exclaimed in synch, "Deal!"

(≖‿‿≖)ノ⌒●~*

"Okay, Madam," I said as my boots crunched into the snow. "Here's the thing. You break another bone and we can't play anymore. Neither of us wants that, so let's try to stick to bruising."

The Whomping Willow waved her branches as if to say feh.

"Ready? Here I come!"

And at long, long last I played against the Whomping Willow without breaking a bone.

She did bruise the ever living hell out of me though.

(≖‿‿≖)ノ⌒●~*

Several weeks went by. Exams were trying, but not difficult. Everyone in our group felt they had done a decent job of it. Once exams were done and over with that meant that Professor Lockhart was no longer needed at Hogwarts.

Which meant only one thing: it was time to get rid of him.

Oh, it was such a lovely April morning, too. I got up out of bed, a skip in my step as I carried Iris with me down to breakfast. Even Tom was in a good mood—Professor Lockhart had rubbed him the wrong way since the start and it only worsened as the year went on.

I had a feeling that if Tom had a physical body he would have made Professor Snape and Daphne win their bets on how Lockhart would end his year. He had repeatedly muttered quietly that he knew a curse to fill his lungs with water.

George and Fed had been given the heads up, and early last night I sent a letter to Madam Bones.

Breakfast was served with toast, bacon, eggs, sausages, apples, and many other yummy things. I piled up my plate with one hand as I fed Iris bits of bacon with the other. My gaze was focused on the High Table where the professors sat.

The twins and I had studied Lockhart's routine. At exactly nine o'clock he enters with a flourish. By nine o'five he takes his first sip from his morning coffee.

At eight forty five that morning the twins started up a game of catch over at their table. It was harmless fun, nothing that would warrant a professor from stopping them. They tossed a ball back and forth between one another until they roped in their Gryffindor Chasers, then Harry joined in, then Ron, and then the ball ended up on the Slytherin side so of course they joined in.

As with every morning, Lockhart strode into the Great Hall, a dazzling smile on full blast as he greeted every swooning witch near him. He ducked underneath the chaotic ball, his cup of coffee clutched tightly in his hands.

I took that opportunity to run up to the professor—feigning to catch the ball—only to trip and oh with a slight of my hand—

When I bumped into Professor Lockhart I used that opportunity to tip a small amount of veritaserum into his coffee. I offered him a glare of annoyance, which he returned with a big fake smile, then excused myself back to my table.

I piled up more pieces of toast to reward myself as I eagerly awaited.

At nine twenty the front doors of the Great Hall swung open and Madam Bones stormed in with several aurors. Professor Dumbledore was at her side, and the two were talking quietly amongst each other.

"Good heavens!" exclaimed Professor McGonagall. "What's going on?"

"Gilderoy Lockhart, you are hereby charged with forced memory alteration, fraud, and a whole host of other things that you can listen to back at the Ministry," Madam Bones firmly stated when she reached the table.

"Wha—whatever do you mean?" Lockhart stammered.

"Did you or did you not Obliviate a man named Wilfred Snarlton after he defeated the Yeti then claim it as your own accomplishment?"

"I did!" Professor Lockhart exclaimed loudly, then paled considerably when he realized what he had just said. "I mean—I mean I did—I did—I mean—!"

The aurors had pounced upon the golden haired professor and proceeded to drag him away. Lockhart was shouting, "No! I did it! I did it! I Oblivated all of them—no—please—it's all a lie—everything—oh—no—!"

"How?" Draco asked me while I casually sipped my tea. "How could you possibly predict that?"

"My dear you should know by now: never underestimate me."

"Long live the queen," Theodore muttered.

(≖‿‿≖)ノ⌒●~*

We did it. Your last recipe worked.

Yours,

Anyo

I re-read that hurried note several times, my eyes growing bigger by the second.

That could only mean one thing.

Painless and instant transformations. If it was done by the last recipes too—

"That means that Lunar's Orchard can maintain its own brew supply without it dipping into our profit. We could give the potions out for free for its residents."

"That would be kind of you," Tom observed.

"It would be useful to make them fonder of me and the Orchard," I explained.

"What are you going to use them for?"

"Putting an end to this value of blood bullshit. The Ministry's going to get crazy overhauled by the time I graduate from Hogwarts."

"You are on the Light side?" His tone was warm, but his magic showed discomfort.

"I wouldn't go that far. People on the Light side aren't comfortable with murder and torture. I just feel we're too divided. Our resources should be put to advancing our community, not putting down a race. Imagine what we would uncover if we focused our money and efforts on bettering ourselves instead of lobbying for laws that put down a group of people. Imagine what we could learn without the stigma around those who are currently outcast.

"It's not just about werewolves or Muggleborn.

"It's about magic. There are types of magic that aren't even taught simply because people consider them Dark. Whole branches of magic tossed out the window and deemed illegal because of narrow minded prejudice.

"There's just—there's just so much more to this world than hate. I want everyone else to see that, and they won't until they have no other choice. I have to make them."

Tom quietly listened to my explanation. His magic and voice were thoughtful as he responded with, "There are a few points I would agree on. Hogwarts is severely limited in what it offers to teach students. The unrelenting prejudice against what is considered Dark is unjustified. Magic is magic. There is no evil, or good magic—it only depends on how the wizard uses it. To limit others to such a narrow field is insulting."

He was silent for a few minutes, but I felt like he had more to say so I waited.

"A united community endeavoring to improve themselves... that is an ideal ambition. I would like to see it come true."

"You will."

"How can you be so certain?"

"Because I'll make it happen, and I'll make sure you're with me when it does."

"What certainty."

"How can I not be? I get inspired everyday when I get to listen to your lovely voice," I teased.

His magic quivered in amusement.

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Our second year at Hogwarts concluded without fuss. The Chamber of Secrets was opened only long enough to greet the basilisk. No students were harmed that year—except Harry but that was to be expected. The power of Fate and Plot were too strong for him to spend a year at Hogwarts unscathed.

The House of Slytherin practiced insults every Friday night, and performed one good deed every week. There was still some resentment and stigma against the House—especially with the older students—but the professors were noticeably kinder.

I felt comfortable enough playing tennis with the Whomping Willow, but I didn't have faith anyone else would be able to keep up. Maybe another year of our group exercising would do the trick.

I did, however, feel comfortable enough with my knowledge of wards to move on to the next phase of my thieving career.

Targeting pure-blood politicians who weren't supportive of my werewolf army.

After all, where would their power be if they had no money left to buy out the press and allies?

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Bonus:

"Queen? You are the queen of Slytherin?" Tom inquired, his tone disbelieving.

It was hard not to smirk. I knew my tone must have sounded smug, though. "Yeah. Queen is higher than lord, after all."

He ignored me for the rest of the day after that remark.

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Bonus 2:

"Professor Snape?" Professor Flitwick called out to the greasy haired potions master. "A curious thing happened in my class today. A Slytherin held the door open for a Hufflepuff and it made the girl faint."

"Odd! That happened in my class, but no one fainted. The Ravenclaw student was very suspicious, though," Professor McGonagall added.

"Is something going on?" Professor Sprouts asked with concern.

Professor Snape's lips pursed. "Yes. It is Miss Potter's doing."

"Whatever do you mean, Severus?" Professor Dumbledore gently inquired.

"She is... she is requiring that all Slytherins perform one good deed each week," Professor Snape sighed, rubbing his temple. "They report back to her, and failure to comply results in punishments."

"Punishments?" echoed Professor Flitwick. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing that can be proven, but undoubtedly done by her," supplied the dry toned potions professor.

"What for?" Professor Sprouts was flabbergasted.

"She said it was to," Professor Snape sighed again, "redeem them for her... adopted grandfather."

For reasons the other professors did not understand, Professor Dumbledore started to laugh quite loudly.

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ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ

As we're moving from year two to year three that only means one thing: Double update.

Answer: Somnums.

Question: What would be your witch/wizard name?

Reviews are love!