The Spirited 13 Days of Halloween

Author's Note!!!! Please read!!!!! Okay. Few things that need mentioning. This is mostly canon from the seventh book. And yet, I changed others. Here they are: Snape was headmaster but didn't die, he was saved and given a second chance, hence his position as potion's professor; Fred never died; the students all have to repeat the last year, so there are two groups of first years--this I did because I'm sure the war and Voldemort's agenda disrupted the learning process. Now, I make a point to say all of this because I'm not going to mention it in the story. The story is about the prank war the twins created and not about how the students have to repeat the year or how the previous seventh years are now eighth years, etc. I just don't want to waste time that could be used for pranking for explaining all that I just said. Okay? *puppy dog eyes* IF there are any questions, leave a review and I'll explain it in the next chapter.

Onward!!


19 October

It was a normal day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry Potter was next to his best friend, Ronald Weasley, as they both attempted to finish the homework due the next morning. Hermione Granger sat with a book, smirking at the two boys, having finished her work ahead of time and therefore had free time now to relax. Ginny Weasley was in the library, skimming through book after book, determined to find a way to win her love, Harry Potter.

In an abandoned classroom, using old furniture as target practice, Cormac Mclaggen was wondering when the day would come that his secret love, Ginny Weasley, would realize they were meant for each other. In the Slytherin common room, Draco Malfoy ranted about how stupid Harry Potter was, all the while wishing that they could one day be together. Blaise Zabini tried to listen but instead his mind wandered, flitting over the female Hogwarts population, trying to find out who his next lay would be.

All in all, it was a rather unexciting day. Nothing out of the usual.

Until dinner time, that is.

As the last student entered the Great Hall for the meal, the doors slammed shut and the poor first year scrambled over to his table, wondering if he was going to get detention for that. Honestly, he knew he had nothing to do with that but he knew Professor Snape would try to find a way to blame it on him.

As Voldemort had been defeated and all the remained death eaters were either in prison or in hiding, Headmaster Dumbledore was unconcerned. His lack of attitude soothed the students and they all returned to their meals. However, they were disturbed once more.

All the lights went out--save the ghosts which, for most students was a rather odd phenominon given that they didn't wander out at night--and when the lights were on once more, there were thousands of bats flying around the cieling. Though unable to properly see, most students realized that there was something tied to the bats. Professor Snape, snarling, snatched one of the bats from the air and that was all it took for the students to do so as well.

The students started whispering excitedly while the professors started to argue.

Tied to the bats was a piece of parchment which thusly read:

Attention Students and Professors of Hogwarts!

We can't help but notice that ever since we've left the school to spread our humor across the continent, there has been a lack of a proper joke at our former educational institution. We had thought that there would be at least one student who would take up our mantle and continue this fine tradition. Sadly, it had not happened.

So, my brother and I decided that with there being 13 days until Halloween, we would make the holiday special.

This, being the first of these 13 scary days, is the start of a contest. From the doors to these bats, my brother and I have done the first prank. We now leave it to the students (and any daring professor) to follow our example.

From now until the 31 of Halloween (or not...we've got something special planned for that day) we challenge the entire school to create pranks so elaborate that they extend to the entire school. All students are able to participate and the winner gets a certificate to our store.

We wish you the best of luck!

Sincerely,

The Weasley Twins

"They can't be serious," Hermione said as she burned up the parchment Harry and Ron had snagged. "The professors won't allow this."

"I don't know," Harry said as he watched the head table, "Dumbledore seems the type to let it go on."

"But to allow it to interrupt classes!" Hermione said furiousy, "This is our NEWT year! We can't be focusing on pranking the school. We need to study!"

Ron sighed and shook his head. "Honestly, I don't know what you're worried about. You could take them right now and be all right. And, well, it's only the begining of the school year. There's still plenty of time yet to study."

Hermione huffed but before she could start in one some speech about how much they needed to study, Dumbledore called for silence.

"Despite how much my staff is protesting against this idea," here, Dumbledore smiled, "I am fully endorsing this contest. I encourage each of you to think his or her hardest and do this school proud. Also, if no students are harmed in a prank, there will be no punishments for any of them."

There was a loud cheer from the students as the other professors began yelling in outrage.

"I cannot honestly believe this!" Hermione said. Her eyes were wide and frantic.

"It's a good bloody idea," Harry said. "We've all been rather tense. And not just the seventh years. The first years look like a simple expelliarmus from the another first year would knock them out."

Hermione looked torn. "Well, okay. They do but still! This is going to interrupt classes!!"

Harry shrugged. "Lighten up, Hermione. We've lived through Umbridge just fine, right? And we got through out O.W.L.s fine. What's so different now? At least this will be over come Halloween."

"Harry's right," Ron agreed, "Besides, now that Dumbledore said it was okay, there's not much that can be done."

Hermione sighed. "I wonder if I can get a pass to study and take my classes in the library. At least I won't be interrupted there."

Harry caught Ron's eye as the red haired boy rolled his eye.

Meanwhile, at the Slytherin Table...

"Well, now," Blaise said, "This is going to be interesting."

Pansy smirked. "But not as interesting if the twins were actually here, dear."

Blaise shrugged. "No matter. We've got us three and I know for a fact that Potter over there has direct connections to the twins. He'll have something good, I'm sure."

"I'm sure it'll be better than whatever Weasley will try," Draco said. As much as he didn't want to say that Potter was good at anything, he knew the the youngest Weasley male was not a prankster.

"I think this will be the perfect thing for you, hon," Pansy pointed out.

Draco eyed his former girlfriend. He felt his leg start to twitch. "What do you mean?"

She smirked as she leaned close. "Don't be coy now. You talk in your sleep, dear. This will be the perfect time for you to use that spell your uncle gave you."

Draco huffed and put his nose in the air. "I honestly don't know what you're talking about."

Pansy caught Blaise's eye. They both knew that if they teamed up, they would be able to get Draco to do that prank.

Oh, yes. This was going to be fun.

TBC...

A/N Confused? If you are one of those people who didn't read the A/N at the begining, go read it. Otherwise, again, leave a review for me to answer ^^