Time to get the clown mask out again.

The Art of War

Dromeda

This was war!

Gryffindor had beaten Ravenclaw last week and we were dangerously close to losing the cup. And I was dangerously close to losing my mind. And Alice Maddison was dangerous close to losing her teeth by way of my fist.

It was no fun flicking beetles eyes into whatever she was brewing when dear Alic ewas busy treating the Gryffindor half of the classroom to a blow by blow account of how she personally saved them from the jaws of defeat by performing some complicated twist midair.

I could barely bring myself to crack a smile as yellow gloop exploded from her cauldron and coated the dungeon.

No, sabotaging Maddison's potions just wouldn't cut it. I needed something big.

Which is why I persuaded Lucius Malfoy and Rabastan Lestrange to join me in the Gryffindor changing room with two buckets of neon orange semi-permanent glowing paint, at a time when we really should have been at our own Quidditch practice

My eyes narrowed in determination. Rabastan's eyes darted in anticipation. And Lucius's eyes noted what we, too caught up in thoughts of revenge, had missed.

"Where's the girls changing room?"

"What?"

A quick glance around the room told me all I needed to know and my eyes met his in delighted horror.

"There isn't one." Rabastan's voice added to morbid glee.

"Those animals!"

I couldn't believe it. Their girls and boys got changed in the same room. No doubt if I had tried hard I could have found a different answer to this accusation. I'm sure their girls changing room had to be hidden behind a wall or something. But I didn't see one. And therefore I am contented to assume it doesn't exist and Gryffindor's really are disgusting animals!.

Slowly we spread out round the single sex changing room, pulling on gloves as we went. A giant Gryffindor banner had pride of place on the left wall. Giggling I swirled a paintbrush in one of the buckets and began my masterpiece. Various slogans appeared on either side of me as Lucius and Rabastan got to work, but I kept focused straight ahead. A very lifelike portrait of Maddison appeared before my eyes.

We didn't stop until every inch of wall, ceiling and a good portion of floor was adorned with orange swear words, decapitated lions and the names of the Gryffindor Quidditch team beside very flattering adjectives. It was beautiful.

As quickly as we started, we stopped. No time to admire our handiwork, we sped outside like a gang of dragons were after us. Leaning against the wall of the gamekeepers hut more giggles bubbled out of me. Lucius ran his hand continually over his head flattening his hair in nervous excitement. Rabastan piled the paint buckets in a pile and then jigged round the small bonfire he had created. Watching his jerky movements made me feel more exhilarated than before. Jerking Lucius towards him, he and I joined Rabastan in the victory dance. With muffled whoops we danced like the savage wizards of olden days until, all too soon, Rabastan's inadequate fire flickered into embers.

Sighing, and congratulating eachothers brilliance we made our way to the Quidditch pitch.

Rodolphus started in on us at once.

"Where the hell have you been? Practice started an hour ago! Don't you realise-"

I cut him off with a winning smile.

"We've been here the whole time Roddy." A wink to my partners in crime. "That's our alibi."

And I kicked off without a word, leaving his glare to dissolve into a resigned sigh.

Bella next. Promise ;)