Chapter 30

I went through all of my classes with Salazar, and for a couple days, the Pride didn't come near me. I was glad that it helped. I had forgotten all about the potion that I was supposed to be working on for the Whomping Willow until I found my notes for it. Then I remembered all about it, and also that I had been given free reign in the Potions classroom. I also enchanted the door to only let me, Salazar, Tom, and the teachers in unless I gave them permission. It was great, and I didn't have to really worry about anyone interrupting me or the Pride coming in. I also grabbed the things that I would need from the Room of Requirement. So I started working on it. I was so focused on it that I might have forgotten to do anything else. But I didn't care. I was so excited to do this. And I finally got it done. When it was done, I brought it out to the tree. "Is this right?" I asked after slowly scooching up to the tree like I had before.  Yes, that Is right. Good job. Now, pour it anywhere by my roots. I did as he asked. "Is that better, Merlin?" I asked. Yes, it is so much better. Thank you, Ivy. And it does a little more then help my grow better. It also helps me grow mentally, so I am more aware of things and people around me. So thank you.  I smiled. "You are welcome, Merlin. But please don't do anything dumb and get me in trouble." I requested. He seemed to laugh. Don't worry Ivy, I won't. And you are always welcome here. Now, you probably should go. Goodbye for now, Ivy Henderson. "Goodbye for now, Merlin." Then I left. I didn't want to run into any of the Pride, but it didn't happen.

"Oi, Weed! What are you doing?" Harry asked. I glanced at him and felt Salazar stiffen a little. "Does it matter?" I asked. "It does to me. And what's with the snake?" He asked. "Why don't you ask him." I snapped. Harry glanced at his friends, smirking. "Alright. Why are you with Weed?" He asked. The other three looked at him strangely. Then Salazar answered him. "Because she is my friend, shuckface. I can be with who I want." Harry stepped back. The other three were staring at Harry very strange, like he had grown extra body parts. He hadn't.

I was not sure what a shuckface was, but it sure seemed like an insult. Harry spoke again. "How can you speak?" He asked. I laughed. "The same way that we can, shuckface. It isn't that hard." Then Hermione spoke up. "You're a Parslemouth, Harry." Then she answered Harry before he could ask his question. "It means that you can talk to snakes. It is most common among the descendants of Salazar Slytherin." She explained. "Which I'm not." He said. I shrugged. "I'm going to leave now." I said, and I did.

I was hoping for a relaxing evening, because I had a lot of homework to catch up on, but when I entered the Common Room, I knew it wasn't going to be that simple. There was a group of students gathered around a body. I pushed my way to the front and saw who it was.

It was Tom.

He was lying on the floor, beat up and bloody. He wasn't conscious. Nobody was doing anything, so I pulled my wand out. "Levicorpus." I started to the door with him floating behind me. "What are you doing?" Somebody asked. "Getting him to Madam Pomfrey." I said without looking back.

We got to the Hospital Wing without incident. "What happened?" Madam Pomfrey asked. I just shrugged. She nodded and started getting him cleaned up. 

I didn't want to leave him, but I had to get my work done. So I did my work while waiting for Tom to wake up. He didn't wake up during the night, and Madam Pomfrey told me that I should go to bed. I said no, because I wanted to be there when he woke up.

When it was breakfast time, she brought me food, but I told her that I wasn't hungry. It took Salazar telling me that it had been a while since I had had food to get me to eat. Then I realized that I really was hungry. I ate what she brought then kept watching Tom. 

I was starting to get worried. Then he opened his eyes. I smiled. "Morning, Tom." I said. He smiled. "What happened?" I asked him. He sighed. "I'd rather not say." He said. I sighed and nodded. "Alright." I conceded. Madam Pomfrey came over. "Alright, you were here when he woke up. It is almost time for class, so scoot." She made a shooing motion at me, then started helping Tom. I nodded and left, even though I really didn't want to. 

I didn't hear anything Professor Binns said, and I ignored Professor Quirrel. I hurried over to Tom at lunch. "She let you out? How are you feeling?" I asked. He nodded and said, "I am feeling much better, thanks, Ivy. Where you with me the whole night?" He asked. I nodded. "I wanted to make sure you were alright." I explained. He smiled. "Well, I am, so you can stop worrying, k?" I nodded and went back to my seat at the end of the table. The Pride was watching me the whole time, but I ignored them. They couldn't do anything here without repercussions. 

I finished eating then went to my next class, Transfiguration. I enjoyed the class as much as I could. After class, I went to to the Potions classroom, and made a few simple potions to help Madam Pomfrey. Then, I decided to make a fun potion, for pranking the Pride. This one would change some of their features, like, they might have elephant ears and a monkey tail, or  something, but they wouldn't know. It would be hilarious!

Then I remembered that I had bought a pranking kit for Christmas. I had the resources, but I needed somebody with experience. I had to consult the twins.

I found them hiding from an enraged Professor Quirrel, who was decked out in neon colors. It was funny. After he left, the twins came out of hiding. They started laughing. I walked up to them. "I need help." I said. They sobered up a little."With what?" One of them asked. "I need help with a prank." I told them. They got very excited when I said that.I told them my plan, and they didn't seem to mind that I was planning on pranking Harry Potter and their brother and their friends. We planned on doing it the next day during lunch. I gave them the potion, as well as my entire kit, and told them to use it the best way that they knew how. They were so excited,  I smiled with them a little. 

*The next day during lunch*

I was anxious to see what might happen to the Pride today, but I focused on my food. Suddenly, there was a loud commotion at the Gryffindor table. I looked over and saw Harry with antlers and fur, Ron with a weasel tail and paws, Hermione with swan wings and a beak, and Neville with warts and scales. Everybody started laughing, then the room exploded in smoke. Within seconds, nobody could see anything. What was laughter turned into screams. But as quick as the smoke appeared, it dissipated. 

Everybody had really weird hair colors and was laughing at everybody else. It was great!