Harry and Dean feared that they might have gone a bit too far this time... but they both agreed it was all Herminone's fault.

The weekend before

After a being made to mop multiple bathrooms due to Filch's mean side Harry, Dean and Hermione were recovering in the common room lazing in front of the warm fire. Harry was sitting on the edge of the fireplace, idly playing with the burning coals. He had almost caught fire several times before Ginny decided to solve the potential fire hazard by dowsing him with water.

Crookshanks apparently felt like his quota of stokes and pets had not yet been met that day had been batting Hermione for attention before she threw a cat toy him to pounce one. After five minutes of zoomies and general craziness he was also flopped in front of the fire purring up a storm.

"Hermione?" Neville asked, gaining the witch's attention.

"Neville?" Hermione responded.

"How come Crookshanks went slightly loopy when you chucked him a cat toy?" Neville asked.

"Catnip. Its a muggle herb which makes cats go..." Hermione was rudely interrupted before she could finish.

"Did you say catnip?" Harry and Dean chorused together, the beginning of their next chaos forming in their minds.

"Yes, Crookshanks demands his own supply..." Hermione started explaining, before she noticed the look of mischief on Harry and Dean's faces. "Don't you dare! Not Professor McGonagall!"

"Of Course not Hermione." Dean said sweetly.

"I'm insulted that you would even think we could do something like that." Harry joined in.

If not Professor McGonagall then maybe the Menace.

Crookshanks snoozed on not realising his personal supply of catnip had taken a sharp plummet.

15 minutes before Absolute 'Cat'astrophe.

BANG!

"Professor Dumbledore!" Filch was spitting mad."They've done it this time! I want them expelled"

"Argus, I'm sure it's nothing that can't be fixed. Now tell me what is wrong?" Professor Dumbledore was already moving to try and placate the delicate caretaker. Professor McGonagall was moving towards the Gryffindor table.

"Be fixed?" Filch wailed, tears rolling down his checks. He was clutching a brown bundle of fur to his chest. "She'll never be the same again, my p p poor innocent Mrs Norris is stoned!"

"Baked more like it." a student muttered.

Filch's sobbing was suddenly interrupted by an orange blur zooming past him and towards Harry.

"You did get rid of the evidence? Harry? That was Crookshanks' personal supply!" Dean whispered hurriedly.

"Ah." Was the only thing Harry got out before Crookshanks attacked his pocket.

Professor McGonagall arrived between Harry and Dean and cleared her throat just as a loud popping sound emanated from Harrys robes and the air around them was filled by a green cloud.

"Mister Potter, what on earth is going on here… Achoo!" Came the sneeze from Professor McGonagall.

Harry, Dean and Hermione only had time to spare each other a glance before the Professor sneezed again trying to keep her glare on the trouble makers.

"Mister Potter, please explai... Achooo!" The Professor steadied herself against the table and was trying to regain her senses. When she looked back up, the pupils of her eyes had dilated.

"Mister Potter..." Professor McGonagall tried one last time, before she inadvertently began transforming into a silver tabby cat.

Mrs Norris had sensed the presence of another cat, and struggled her way out of Filch's arms. She pounced on Mcgonagall, and the cats started rolling around on the floor of the great hall. An orange blur lept off Harry to join them and now there were 3 cats chasing each other under the benches and across the tables, sending plates and goblets flying.

The silver tabby had made a break for the main door, and the other 2 sped after her and out into the main entrance, followed by a couple of screams, and then the distant crashing sound of a suit of armour falling from its stand.

A sense of foreboding fell across the group as Neville asked "There is only so much trouble you two can get into right?" into the stunned silence that had fallen across the Great Hall

"Mr Potter, Mr Thomas and Miss Granger, I believe Professor Snape has some Cauldrons with your names on them." Professor Dumbledore sighed before leaving the Great Hall to track three cats down. He remembered when Professor McGonagall had last had some catnip some 20 years before. Best he calmed her down before she found her way into Snape's store cupboard.

With the faint ripping sound of one of the tapestries coming from outside, Professor Dumbledore hurries out of the hall, with a small crowd of students hot on his heels. He might have to arrange for a good scotch to be sent to McGonagall's room for when this was all over.

Colin Creevy's Insight into: 'The flying Catastrophe'

Location: The Great Hall and Hogwarts grounds.

Pranksters: Harry Potter, Dean Thomas and Hermione Granger

Photographer: Myself (Colin)

Health and Safety: No One is taking responsibility for that, more than a job's worth.

Result: 3 high cats playing tag before unsettling the Pegasus' by leaping on their backs and getting them to chase after birds.

Current known Punishment: Cleaning Cauldrons

Punishment awaiting approval:

- Cleaning out the Pegasus' field (Requested by Beauxbatons Headmistress)

- All the pets and more mice (Requested by Crookshanks for diminishing his supply)

- Thumb Screws and The Rack (Requested by Argus Flinch)

Unknown Punishment: Professor McGonagall was unavailable for comment answering only with a glare. The Pranksters refuse to say what her punishment for them was but the suits of armour have never looked so shiny.

Comment from unknown source 'I really wish my Godson had come to me for advice before commencing this prank, even though Minnie was not the planned target Prongs and I agreed to enforce the rule of never having Catnip anywhere near him during his school life in fear of Minnie carrying out her promise to Prongs.'