Like taking candy from a Hufflepuff [Nat]

[Jenny Bay]

She tickled the pear.

By now, the route to the kitchens was like second nature. Her insomnia was the predominate cause of these midnight adventures but tonight she was here for a different reason. The excitement of the term's commencement had faded off and Jenny was bored. She wanted some entertainment. She had always had a mischievous streak - a love of pranks and jokes. It was what had drawn her to Zonko's Joke Shop all those weeks ago. It was what had encouraged her to buy the book of Potions for the Prankster. It was what had caused her to find a charm to change someone's skin colour for at least 24 hours. Her mind had then taken it up a notch. She was going to change the skin of every single Hufflepuff to green when they ate their breakfast at the Great Hall.

Stepping into the kitchen, she found it empty. Of course, it was. She had specifically chosen this time - the time when the house elves were resting - to conduct her prank. The key to her success lay in the apple cider. It was by far one of the most popular drinks among students at the feast. With it, she would be able to affect at least half of the Hufflepuff students. A smirk appeared on her lips as she pulled out the concoctions she had made using the book from Zonko's. There were several small vials, stored away in her robes. She was surprised at the simplicity of the potion. All the ingredients had been easy to acquire and the potion had only taken a few days to concoct. Jenny had not tested the potion though. Biting her lip and hoping for the best, she headed towards where the Apple Cider the elves had made was stored.

[Natalie Aurore Belle]

It was 12 o’clock. Right on the dot, Natalie swiftly hopped out of bed. She was already dressed in a black outfit - a hoodie and skinny jeans. With a whisper ‘lumos’, she had a light to guide her to the kitchens. Tonight, she was up to no good. She was only a third year, and had never tried pranking before, but she felt like trying out something new. So after a few days of thinking it over, Natalie had prepared a plan of attack. She would sneak into the kitchen at midnight, when there would be no-one there and she was going to raid the kitchen; Nat planned to hide all the food that was prepared for tomorrow morning's breakfast. Of course, the house elves had most likely spent hours preparing the food, but what fun was there if trouble wasn't stirred up?

With a mischievous grin and evil glint in her eye, Natalie came to the kitchen door. Time for action. Nat slowly opened the door and cursed inwardly when a loud squeak sounded. She couldn't see the entirety of the kitchen, but could make out about a metre or so around her from the light her wand provided. Natalie looked around cautiously to see if there was any sign of movement and listened for footsteps. She thought she heard a little shuffling from the other side of the kitchen. It was probably nothing, just a rat, but Natalie walked forward to tentatively. Weaving around a bench, she began to make her way to where she thought she'd heard the noise. Wait, is that another person? As she got closer, Natalie realised it was a girl. Another student. "Crap!" was Nat's automatic response, which came out extremely loud in the silent night.

She couldn't put her plan into action now.

[Jenny Bay]

Someone cursed. "Crap!" Jenny yelled in reply and whirled around, almost knocking over the pitchers of apple cider. Her heart raced. There was no way anyone else would be up now was there? She could get in so much trouble for this. But then again, it was not like she had actually been caught in the act of doing anything. A blinding globe of light, probably from a wand, caused Jenny to pull her hands over her eyes. She had gotten so used to the dim lighting that the other person's light had been too bright. After a few moments however, her eyes adjusted to the new light. Fumbling with her own wand she cast a light to illuminate the entire room ("Lumos maximus!") and could now clearly see the person who had almost given Jenny a heart attack.

"Nat!" she breathed in obvious relief. "What the hell are you doing? You don't just sneak up on somebody like that!" She dramatically placed one hand over her heart, "I almost died!" It was a feint of course (she would never have done something that cliché unless it was unavoidable), and it hid the action of her other hand slipping the potion back into her pocket. "I was just down her... eating! Yeah, there's some apple cider here - but this stuff's meant for the Huffies. I was just going to eat... an apple! Yes," she walked over to the fruit bowl and grabbed an apple (bright green) and took a bite out of it, "Mmmm... delicious. Do you want one?" she grabbed another apple and extended it towards the other girl. She realised how completely suspicious she was sounding and acting but, with her heart beating at the speed it was, she couldn't exactly concentrate on acting normal. She cautiously eyed the other girl, praying that she did not pick up on Jenny's lack of skill in lying.

[Natalie Aurore Belle]

The girl yelled back in reply, and Natalie paused for a moment unsure what to do. Subconsciously, she thought, wait, this voice sounds familiar, but a million thoughts were racing through her mind. She was completely worked up and was hardly thinking rationally. The girl began to turn around and fumbled for a moment. Phew Nat thought. It gave her time to adjust herself and try to come up with a good reason for being down at the kitchens at such an outrageous time of the night. Then she thought, wait, what's she doing here? Maybe we can compromise on keeping each other's secret.

Suddenly, the room was lit up with a bright light. Coming back to her senses, Nat realised that the other girl had responded quicker than her, and had brought out her own wand. In the light, Nat could see the girl's face. Jenny! Jenny had recognised her too as she called out her name. "Oh...hi Jen. I'm sorry for scaring you. I was just..umm.." she stumbled on her words, but before could finish the sentence, Jenny blurted out her own excuse.

Jenny was being overly dramatic about it, Natalie noticed, when Jenny said that she almost died. But she brushed it off. After all, if I was down here for a midnight snack and someone else had caught me, I'd probably be reacting in the exact same way. However, when Jen began to use eating apples as an excuse, Natalie became suspicious. Jenny had been clearly in the apple cider section of the kitchen, and seemed as though she'd been extremely busy focusing on something, which would be why she was so shocked when Nat had come in. I mean who sneaks into the kitchens at midnight to eat an APPLE? Maybe Jenny had an apple fetish, but judging from breakfast the other day, it was more likely to be a bacon fetish.

Natalie frowned when Jenny offered her an apple. "Sure," she replied, jumping at the opportunity for an excuse, "I was just coming down to eat an apple too!" Nat was almost positive that Jenny was hiding something, and Jenny probably knew that Natalie didn't come down all the way to the kitchens to eat apples, but she waited to see what Jenny would say.

[Jenny Bay]

"Catch," Jenny responded, chucking an apple towards Natalie. Her eyes narrowed slightly - Nat seemed just a little too eager to agree with Jenny. In fact, she was acting almost as suspiciously as Jenny herself. Perhaps Natalie's reasons for coming to the kitchen were not so innocent either. Perhaps, like Jenny, Natalie had come here with the itent to make trouble. Scanning the girl up and down, she doubted this. The girl did not look like a troublemaker; she was the picture of innocence - however that would make her an even better troublemaker. Jenny new that from experience. Many times, her wide-eyed face of innocence had saved her from being caught out. After pondering whether to come forward to the girl in the hope that she would do the same, Jenny decided on the best course of action.

"An apple? You really came here for an apple? In the middle of the night? I know I certainly didn't," Jenny began, "I came here to have some fun." Jenny's eyes flashed, "I get the feeling you just might have as well?" Biting down into the apple, she raised an inquisitive eyebrow at the younger Slytherin. Although she had revealed that she had not been in the kitchens to eat, she was not yet going to reveal her master plan until she was sure the other girl wouldn't rat on her. With a start, Jenny realised that she was wasting precious time talking to Natalie. If she waited too long, the house elves would begin their work and her plan would be ruined.

[Natalie Aurore Belle]

Natalie caught the apple as Jenny threw it to her. She held it in her hand, not particularly in the mood to eat, spinning it around quietly. Jenny then broke the silence. She began to question Nat's motives, and Natalie realised that Jenny had caught on. She wasn't sure whether she should tell Jenny the truth or not. If she came up with yet another excuse, Jenny would probably see straight through it. After a few moments of contemplation, as taking too long to respond would be far too suspicious, Natalie decided she'd just tell Jenny why she actually came down.

It's not like Jenny was completely innocent. Nat's suspicions were confirmed when Jenny said, "I came here to have some fun." They'd keep each other's plans a secret. Natalie placed the apple back down on a nearby bench and walked closer to Jenny. "Okay, well you see...I was planning a prank." After a moment's pause, Natalie continued, "I came down to hide the food that was prepared for tomorrow morning's breakfast, and raid the kitchen." She looked at Jenny, trying to analyse her expression. "Now it's your go. Why are you down here?"

[Jenny Bay]

Jenny almost choked on her laughter when she heard the younger girl's idea of a good prank. After she finished spluttering she surveyed the girl to see if she was serious. Apparently she was. "That has to be - the worst - idea for - a prank I have - ever - heard," Jenny managed to gasp as she laughed. "Did you think it through at all? There are so many things wrong with that plan. First off, where are you planning to hide the food that can't be found by the house elves? They're smarter than they look you know. Secondly, what on earth are you planning on eating come breakfast? You'll starve along with the rest of us. Thirdly, a good prank should benefit someone other than yourself so that everyone doesn't hate you when they find out it was you behind it," Jenny shook her head sadly, "I can see why you're not in Ravenclaw." However, weren't Slytherins supposed to be smart as well? At least, they were supposed to be cunning. Then again, there were exceptions in every house.

"I'm down here for the same reason you are - to play a prank. Only mine is a lot better than yours," Jenny commented smugly. "I'm going to..." she paused for dramatic effect, "Turn the Hufflepuffs green!" She couldn't help a triumphant smile from coming to her face as she said it. "It's a new potion I discovered how to make and I'm going to add it to the apple cider. Everyone loves apple cider. Of course, it has a delayed effect so no one will realise it was the apple cider. It's genius isn't it?" Pulling the small vial of potion out of her pocket she waggled it in front of the other girl's face. Jenny then promptly turned, threw her half-eaten apple in the bin, and headed back towards where the apple cider was stored. "This is where they put the cider for the Hufflepuff table. Don't -" she held up a hand, "Ask how I know that. Now, are you going to help with my prank or attempt to pull of your utterly idiotic prank?"

[Natalie Aurore Belle]

Nat was a little taken aback by Jenny's response to her prank. Well she'd thought it was a great idea. When Jenny continued on pointing out all the flaws in Nat's plan, Natalie began to get annoyed and slightly ashamed. Okay, her prank actually wasn't all that great, but she didn't really appreciate Jenny completely crushing it. She clenched her fists for a moment, then continued to look up at Jenny.

Jenny had begun to discuss her own prank. I knew it! Natalie thought. Jenny's plan was to turn all the Hufflepuff's green. Well, that actually sounds pretty fun, Nat thought. She was jealous of Jenny already, and this was the second time they'd met. Why can't I come up with something good like that? Well, Jenny was a fifth year. She'd had far more experience.

When Jenny asked her: "Are you going to help with my prank or attempt to pull of your utterly idiotic prank?", Natalie sighed. I guess I don't really have much of a choice do I? "Of course I'm helping you with your prank. What do you want me to do?"

[Jenny Bay]

((ugh... no muse AT ALL T_T))

Jenny grinned as the younger girl agreed to help. "Okay, take these," she gave the girl three of the vials, "And pour them into the cider over there," she pointed towards one of the other cupboards containing Hufflepuff beverages. Turing away from the other girl, she took out one of the phials she had in her pocket and uncorked one of them. She poured the contents into one of the cider pitchers and did the same to the other pitchers using the remaining phials. After she had completed her task she walked over to where Natalie was to observe the other girl's work.

It really was an interesting way to meet. She hadn't gotten to know Natalie very well upon their first meeting - probably because Christina had been there as well. Now though, it was just the two of them; it was the perfect opportunity to get to know someone. "So Nat, you're in third year right? How's life at Hogwarts?"

[Natalie Aurore Belle]

Natalie followed as Jenny began to instruct her. Jenny had given her three phials, and told her to pour them into the cider. Nat walked over to the cupboard. She was slightly hesitant. No, she wasn't backing out - she was perfectly content with turning the hufflepuffs green, but she didn't want to get anything wrong. She didn't want Jenny to get mad at her, or think any less of her than she probably already did (after hearing her prank).

"Jenny," Nat spoke. Her voice came out louder than she expected. "Jenny," she tried again in a slight whisper, turning around to talk to the other girl, "how much am I supposed to pour in?" Phials still safely held in her hand, she turned around to see what Jenny was doing. She was pouring one phial in per pitcher - she must have measured the ingredients for the potion that way.

So Natalie turned back around and began to do the same with her three. She realised what a stupid question she'd asked. Jenny had given her three phials. There were three pitchers. Nat had to refrain herself from facepalming. After a few moments, Jenny came over.

"Yeah, I'm in third year, " Nat replied to Jenny, "To be honest, I don't really have that many friends at Hogwarts. But I like it, and I like my classes."

{sorry about the crappy answer. I didn't really know what to say. :L}