Chapter 84: "Dawn of a Prankster"

The next morning after his routine jog around the castle grounds, Harry decided to take a quick side trip to the Room of Requirements. He had a plan brewing in his mind, a way to add a little excitement and maybe even out the playing field against any bullies targeting his new friends at Hogwarts.

During the previous visit to the Room of Hidden Things in search of the Ravenclaw Diadem, Harry had noticed an assortment of abandoned wands scattered amongst the myriad of lost and forgotten treasures. Curious and hopeful, he ventured back to see if any of these discarded wands could be of use to him in his current quest for a bit of harmless mischief.

Diving into the chaos of the room, Harry sifted through countless wands, many of which were clearly past their prime, broken, or showing signs of significant wear and tear. After many tries, he finally discovered a wand that, despite its less-than-ideal appearance and unknown history, responded to him surprisingly well.

The wand's origin, including its maker and the core material, remained a mystery to Harry, but that mattered little. What was important was that it seemed to function well enough for the light-hearted pranks he had in mind, though he was under no illusion that it would serve well in a serious duel.

With a bit of careful cleaning and repair, the wand's performance improved to a satisfactory level, making it suitable for his prankster purposes. However, Harry knew that if he were to engage in any serious magical confrontations, he would need to invest in a custom-made wand tailored specifically to his needs. But that was a thought for another time; for now, he had just the tool he needed to bring a bit of unexpected joy and perhaps a touch of justice to Hogwarts.

Having secured a wand for his plans, Harry knew it was a step in the right direction, but his preparations couldn't stop there. Given Professor Snape's well-known bias against the Potters, Harry anticipated that his actions, especially any potential pranks, would be under close scrutiny. There was even the risk that his wand could be inspected for traces of magic linked to any mischief, adding an extra layer of challenge to his endeavors.

Magic, while wondrous, leaves behind a faint trail in the air immediately after a spell is cast. This magical residue could easily betray Harry's involvement in any pranks, as Hogwarts professors, with their keen senses and swift response times, could detect these traces at the scene of any magical hijinks. However, Harry was not one to be deterred by such obstacles.

In his arsenal of knowledge was a solution he had discovered within the vast collection of the Black Library—a runic structure capable of obscuring the magical signature of spells cast by a wand. Carving these runes onto a wand would scramble its magic trace, effectively concealing the caster's identity.

This technique, though highly effective, was also highly illegal and could lead to severe consequences if discovered. It was precisely for this reason that witches and wizards refrained from marking their primary wands with such runes.

But Harry, with his specific need for anonymity in his prankster endeavors, found the idea perfectly suited to his current predicament. After carefully carving the runes into his newly acquired wand and conducting several test spells to ensure effectiveness, he was satisfied with the results. The wand now had the ability to cast spells without leaving the usual trace, perfect for his plans.

Despite the thrill of successfully preparing his prankster's tool, Harry couldn't help but wish for a Hogwarts where such measures weren't necessary. He had enough challenges to deal with without adding the role of Hogwarts' clandestine prankster to the list. However, Harry was determined to guard his friends while also teaching the bullies of Hogwarts a lesson.

With his preparations complete, Harry hurried back to Ravenclaw's common room to prepare for the day's classes. His timing was perfect, allowing him to join his dormmates for breakfast in the Great Hall.

As Harry walked into the bustling Great Hall for breakfast, he immediately sensed something was off with Arabella and Elvinia. They weren't hurt, but the clear distance between them and the rest of the Slytherins spoke volumes. It seemed like the Slytherins had decided to ostracize them as punishment for fraternizing with students from other houses.

Harry couldn't help but feel a twinge of responsibility. It was clear that it was time for a bit of mischief—a distraction that might just help his friends. With a plan forming in his mind, he excused himself, stepping out of the Great Hall for a few moments to set things in motion.

Upon his return, he joined Reginald at the Ravenclaw table, where a spot had been saved for him. Harry couldn't help but notice how lively the Great Hall was today, a stark contrast to the past two days. The tables were filled with chatter and laughter, and even the staff table was occupied by all the professors. It seemed the start of a new week brought everyone together.

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Headmaster Dumbledore sat contentedly at the staff table, sipping his tea and observing the lively scene below. He found joy in watching the students engage in animated conversations and enjoy their breakfast.

His gaze often wandered to Gryffindor's table, where the antics of the newest members, Fred and George Weasley amused him. Their storytelling had their audience captivated, even causing their brother Percy some embarrassment. Although Dumbledore couldn't catch their words, the laughter and smiles of the surrounding students indicated it was all in good fun.

His attention then shifted to the Slytherin table, noting the stark contrast in demeanor. The Slytherins ate with a sense of order not present at the Gryffindor table. Many of these students came from families with dark affiliations, and Dumbledore believed it was part of his responsibility to guide them towards change, albeit a gradual one.

During his observation, Dumbledore couldn't help but notice two new girls being subtly ostracized by their Slytherin peers. This isolation suggested they had somehow upset the delicate balance within their house. Yet, Dumbledore saw these trials as essential for growth, believing that overcoming such challenges would make them stronger. He understood that each house had its dynamics and preferred not to interfere directly.

Finally, Dumbledore's gaze found Hadrian Potter, at the Ravenclaw table. The boy's indifferent, almost emotionless, look whenever their paths crossed signaled a lack of respect towards him which was expected.

Dumbledore lamented the growing distance between him and the Potter family after the truth of Hadrian's life was shown to James and Lily. The relationship had only become more strained over time and now he had only a few interactions with them, usually during his rare visits to train Charles.

Dumbledore saw potential in Harry to mend this rift, but he was under no illusions about the challenge ahead. Harry had been educated by Lord Black, indicating that winning the boy's trust would not be straightforward.

Over the last couple of days, Dumbledore had noted Harry's intelligence and his advancement beyond his peers, making it clear that he couldn't be easily swayed or manipulated as others might have been. Rebuilding a bridge to Harry and with his help, to the Potters, would require careful thought and strategy.

Out of nowhere, the Great Hall was suddenly filled with a loud "Bang!" that caught everyone's attention, including Dumbledore's. He turned his head just in time to witness a shower of balloons descending upon the Slytherin table. Before anyone could react, the balloons burst, splattering pink paint all over some of the students sitting there.

Dumbledore didn't need to look twice to recognize the students covered in paint. Among them were some of the most troublesome Slytherins, about whom he'd heard numerous complaints. Marcus Flint, a notorious third-year, and a fifth-year prefect, both well-known for their less-than-stellar behavior, stood out, visibly fuming and scanning the hall for the prankster responsible.

It was a scene reminiscent of the pranks pulled by the Marauders back in their day, mainly targeting the Slytherins. Dumbledore found himself momentarily suspecting Harry, given his lineage and potential for mischief. However, he had been observing the boy closely and had not witnessed any indication that he was behind the prank.

Laughter erupted from all around the hall, save for the Slytherin table, where frustration and anger were the prevailing emotions.

Snape, standing next to Dumbledore, was visibly seething with anger. "This has to be the Potter boy's doing. He's walking in his father's footsteps, I'm certain of it. This needs to be stopped," Snape insisted, barely containing his fury.

Dumbledore responded calmly, trying to temper Snape's bias. "Let's not jump to conclusions, Severus. I've been watching the boy, and there was no sign from him. We shouldn't make assumptions without evidence."

"But it must be a trick taught by Black," Snape countered, convinced of Harry's involvement.

Their conversation was interrupted by peals of laughter emanating from the first-year Slytherins' section of the table.

In the midst of the commotion, Snape's irritation grew as he watched two first-year Slytherins, Warrington and McDowell, laughing heartily. To Snape, a house was akin to a family that needed to stand united, especially during such incidents. The prank, clearly aimed at the Slytherin house, demanded a response, particularly towards those he deemed traitors for their lack of solidarity.

Before Snape could intervene, Flint, along with another Slytherin who had been targeted by the prank, charged at Warrington and McDowell. In a fit of rage, they delivered punches that sent the two laughing first-years crashing to the floor, unconscious. Still not appeased, Flint and his companion added a few kicks for good measure.

At this point, McGonagall stepped in, her voice stern, "Mr. Flint, I'm deducting ten points from Slytherin. While I understand your anger, resorting to violence against fellow students, especially in such a public setting, is unacceptable. Please, go change and calm down."

Snape, without further ado, directed the prefects to carry the unconscious boys to the hospital wing for medical attention. He then proceeded to investigate the scene, hoping to find any leads on who might have orchestrated the prank.

Meanwhile, Dumbledore rose to address the entire hall, his tone carrying a mix of reprimand and guidance, "A little humor now and then is perfectly acceptable, but let's try to keep things within bounds and not disrupt our meals. Those responsible for this prank, I urge you to come forward and speak with your Head of House for a chance at leniency; otherwise, be prepared for serious consequences. Let us now continue with our breakfast."

With that, the hall gradually returned to its usual buzz of conversation and laughter

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Back at the Ravenclaw table, Harry and his group couldn't contain their delight over the morning's events.

Reginald, unable to hide his satisfaction, remarked, "That was perfect. How I wish I could have added a kick of my own!"

Roger added, "And I would've loved to land a punch. His face was just asking for it!"

Harry, with a smile that hinted he knew more than he let on, kept his comments to himself. The prank had been a spur-of-the-moment plan, yet it unfolded exactly as he had envisioned. He prepared balloons, rendered them invisible and filled with durable paint, then levitated them to hover just beneath the ceiling right above where his targets usually sat. A timer was set to ensure they would burst precisely when needed. Now, those marked by the prank would be sporting pink stains for days, unless Dumbledore decided to intervene.

The whole point was to distract the Slytherins, shifting their focus from Arabella and Elvinia. Unable to aim directly at Warrington without drawing too much attention, Harry instead targeted the notorious bullies of Slytherin with his paint balloon surprise. And, as a bonus, Warrington and McDowell got a dose of laughter courtesy of Harry's jinx, making them the new objects of ridicule among their housemates.

Harry felt a sense of accomplishment watching his plan unfold. However, he couldn't shake off Snape's scrutinizing gaze. The professor's obsession with anyone bearing the Potter name was almost eerie. Knowing he had Potions class later that day, Harry prepared himself for an extra layer of caution.

The incident brightened the morning for everyone, except the drenched Slytherins, of course. With spirits lifted, the group finished their breakfast and headed off to their classes, ready for whatever the day might bring.