#slytherinnetwork

Dominique was even less sure about pranking Penrose – but Penrose, her least favorite professor, always taking points and giving detentions for stupid reasons and just mean in general, was better than Professor McGonagall or Professor Vector, and they were the only professors who ever came down to the Great Hall for dinner before the students arrived.

But she was worried. She had only been at Hogwarts for a month; she couldn’t even image how she would feel if she was expelled already. She supposed Victoire was right – they wouldn’t expel them for a harmless prank. Dominique hoped it was true.

The prank Dominique had decided on was one she had done to Victoire before she went to Hogwarts, after she had realized her older sister couldn’t use magic to get her back, since she had started school. All she had to do was put a simple little charm on a bucket of water, dump it on the victim’s head, and their hair would turn bright pink by morning. It had taken a week and a half for their mother to figure out how to turn Victoire’s hair back to its slivery-blonde. Dominique was hoping it would take Penrose longer – but only if they weren’t caught.

Dominique’s prank had to be great – Victoire told her all about how her prank had been talked about for a month, though she hadn’t told her what she had done so Dominique couldn’t copy her. Dominique’s just had to be better – she wanted her prank to be talked about for two months.

“Come on, Dom, I hear footsteps. Penrose is coming.” Victoire whispered dramatically, inching father out so she could see past the armor.

“How d’you know it’s him?”

“This is the way to get to the Great Hall from that corridor near the dungeons, and that’s where Penrose’s office is. Don’t wimp out now, Dom.”

“I’m not wimping out,” Dominique said crossly. “I just want to make sure it’s him, not some student.”

Victoire poked her shoulder. “Liar. You’re wimping out. You have to do it, Dom. I dare you.”

“I’m gonna do it, now shut up, or he’ll hear you.”

Pulling out her wand, Dominique whispered, “Wingardium Leviosa.” The bucket she had left in the middle of the floor floated into the air, high enough so that Penrose wouldn’t see it, while Victoire covered them in the Invisibility Cloak Uncle Harry had lent them when Victoire wrote him about the prank last week. They walked to the other side of the corridor, behind a small alcove so they could see, Dominique still holding her wand out.

Dominique held her breath as Penrose rounded the corner, walking swiftly to the Great Hall. Dominique flicked her wand as he walked under the bucket and a great rush of water fell down on him. Penrose jerked to a stop, swearing, and kicked the bucket out of his way as he spun around to see who had done it.

Dominique pressed a hand to her mouth to muffle her giggles and Victoire laughed silently into Dominique’s hair. Penrose, still snarling and stalking down the corridor but not finding anyone, turned back down the way he came, sodden robes dripping behind him.

Victoire pulled the Cloak off when she was sure the coast was clear and laughed out loud. Throwing an arm around Dominique’s shoulders, she said, “Just so you know, Dom, they’re no such thing as a First Year Prank.”