Growing up Pureblooded

The Rules of Pranking

     Towards the end of breakfast, Remus came by passing out their course schedules. Most unusually for him, he was wearing a pointy wizard's hat that nearly covered all his hair. Aries looked more closely and realised that several red and gold hairs were poking out from underneath it.

     "What are you staring at, Mr Black?" Remus snapped as he handed Aries his schedule. "Nothing, Professor," Aries replied innocently. "Though it looks as though Dad's been busy this morning." Remus sighed. "Did he get you too?" Aries nodded. "Nothing too major, but it's the principle of the thing." His Head of House leaned over. "Don't tell anyone – except Draco, of course – but he also sent the Headmistress a new litter tray." Aries's eyes widened. "He really has no shame, has he?"
"Not one bit," Remus agreed, then resumed passing out the schedules.

     "What new classes are you two taking this year?" Dean asked the boys. Aries glanced over at Ron and Seamus before replying. Both of them were trying to look focussed on their breakfasts, but thought he could see their ears twitching as they strained to hear. "If it please my lord," Aries said in a low voice, "Draco and I thought we'd study Arithmancy and Ancient Runes." Draco nodded. "Of course, dread Dean, if you would prefer that we take something else, I'm certain that we could rearrange our schedules completely without too much difficulty." "No, those sound fine," Dean replied casually, glancing over at Ron and Seamus. "I have heard that both subjects are useful in the pursuit of...special magic." He sniffed. "I, of course, with my great gifts in that regard, have no need to study them. That's why I'm taking Divination and Care of Magical Creatures."

      "Naturally," Aries agreed. "Someone in your position would always be well-advised to know the future." "And who knows what Dark creatures you may be able to bring into your service?" Draco added. "My feelings precisely," Dean said. "I'll need all the help I can get when the time comes for me to fulfil my true destiny and take over the world." He turned around and glared at Ron and Seamus, who yelped as his eyes flashed red. "What are you staring at, Bilius and Finnegan?" "N-nothing," Seamus stammered. Ron was a bit braver.

     "You watch yourself, Thomas," he said. "We're onto you and your little gang." He cracked his knuckles. "You'd best be careful if you know what's good for you." Dean narrowed his eyes, and Aries shot a silent Stinging Hex at Ron beneath the table. The red-haired boy winced. "Perhaps you are the one who ought to be careful, Bilius," Dean said quietly. "You don't know the full extent of my powers."

     Ron glared at him angrily, but he and Seamus fell silent. As they left the Hall, Draco asked Dean about the red-eye effect. "That was brilliant!" he said. "How did you do it?" Dean shrugged. "They're Colour-Flashing Lenses," he explained. "Fred and George picked them up at Zonko's last year. You can decide what colour to flash and when." "Wicked!" Aries and Draco breathed in unison.

     Dean looked over his shoulders to make sure no one was listening, then spoke to the boys in a quiet voice. "Look, you two," he said. "I love a good prank as much as the next bloke, but I'm not sure how long we ought to keep this up. If we're not careful, we'll just wind up making Bilius and Finnegan really angry." "They deserve it," Draco spat. "After the way they've treated us ever since we started school? After telling on the twins?"

     "Not to mention what happened with Professor Quirrell," Aries added in a harsh whisper. "And Uncle Marius."?Dean and Draco exchanged nervous looks. Aries almost never brought up the horrible events of their first year. "I know," Dean replied hastily. "No one's saying they're angels. I just don't want things to get out of hand." "Don't worry," Aries said. "We have a set of rules to keep pranks from going overboard." "Really?" Dean was curious. "What sort of rules?"

     "We really need to be getting to class," Aries pointed out. "But the first one is 'No Unforgivables'." "The second is 'Nothing that causes more than a single night's stay in the infirmary'," Draco continued. Dean looked as though he was not precisely reassured by the limits his friends had set themselves, but said nothing about it. "Well, that's good to hear," he said in a rather dry voice. "See you later."

     The black boy went off to the North Tower for his first Divination lesson, whilst Aries and Draco went to Arithmancy.