Chapter 91: "A Marauder's Spectacular Show"

The journey back to Hogwarts was filled with laughter and stories, making the long train ride fly by. Upon arrival, Harry and his companions were escorted to the castle via the "self-running carriages," much to the amazement of Harry's friends. Harry chose not to spoil their wonder, thinking it might be a tale for another time.

The feast that evening was a grand affair, reminiscent of the start-of-term feast but without the Sorting Ceremony's songs and formalities.

As the end of the feast neared and Dumbledore was about to conclude the feast with his speech, Harry, feeling a mix of excitement and a bit of mischief, stood up. From his pocket, he produced the small box Sirius had given him and magically enlarged it. With a confident smile, Harry made his way to the front, aware of the curious glances following him.

Professor McGonagall, ever vigilant, noticed Harry's unusual behavior. "Mr. Potter, is everything alright? What do you have there?"

Harry explained, "This is a gift from my godfather, Professor. He instructed me to place it in front of the staff table as a present to Hogwarts."

Upon hearing it was from Sirius, McGonagall's expression turned one of concern, likely remembering the many shenanigans Sirius had been known for during his time at Hogwarts.

"Mr. Potter, perhaps it's best if you hand that over to me. We can't just place unknown items in the Great Hall," McGonagall suggested a hint of worry in her tone.

Harry, however, was determined to fulfill Sirius's request. With an apologetic yet mischievous grin, he said, "I'm really sorry, Professor, but Sirius was quite insistent. He even threatened he'd ground me this summer if I didn't go through with it."

Without waiting for a response, Harry swiftly placed the box where Sirius had instructed and made a hasty retreat from the scene.

McGonagall was left in a bit of a dilemma, caught between a curiosity for what mischief Sirius's gift might cause and her responsibility to maintain decorum during the feast.

Before Professor McGonagall could intervene, the box suddenly burst open, revealing a howler that transformed into a black dog. The hall was instantly filled with excitement as the dog began to speak, its voice booming through the Great Hall.

"Bravo! It seems Harry has perfectly executed his task. I always knew Minnie had a soft spot for me and wouldn't stand in the way of a good prank," the howler said, causing Professor McGonagall to shoot it a disapproving look, though she let the event unfold without interference.

The howler, introducing itself as Padfoot, a former student and notorious prankster, announced, "Good evening, young witches and wizards! I've heard all about the pranking renaissance happening here at Hogwarts, and it's inspired me to join in from afar. Consider this my contribution to your spirited mischief and also a gift to my beloved school."

With that, the magic of the box was unleashed. A catchy tune filled the air as countless firework animals, shining like patronuses but in brilliant gold, darted playfully around the hall. The students were mesmerized, watching in delight as these glowing creatures danced in the air, leaving behind a trail of glittering light.

Shortly after, four grander fireworks emerged, positioning themselves above each house table. The smaller firework-creatures soared up and collided with these, creating a breathtaking fireworks show above, lighting up the entire hall with vibrant colors.

But the magic wasn't done. As the last spark faded, students discovered their hair had transformed to match their house colors: Gryffindors had bright red, Hufflepuffs sunny yellow, Ravenclaws rich blue, and Slytherins, much to everyone's amusement, sported pink locks.

Confusion turned to laughter when a frustrated shout of "Black!" echoed through the hall. Snape's hair, too, had turned a shocking pink, prompting Harry to burst into laughter, a reaction quickly shared by the entire hall.

The howler's voice returned, "I hope you've all learned a thing or two about the art of pranking. Don't worry, your hair will return to normal by morning. Though, it seems there was a slight misfire with Snape's color change—my apologies, not really. I hope this little show brings as much joy to you as Hogwarts did to me. If you're all for making this an annual thing, let Harry know. I'm ready to kick off your school year with a bang next time. Until then, have a fantastic year!"

With that, the howler and the box vanished in a cloud of Gryffindor red, leaving everyone in awe.

As the magical display came to a close, the Great Hall erupted into applause and cheers. Many students gathered around Harry, eager to learn who had masterminded the unforgettable spectacle. Some were already expressing their hopes for a similar event next year, their voices filled with excitement.

However, not everyone was amused. The Slytherin boys sent cold glares in Harry's direction, their pink hair making them stand out even more. Harry made a mental note to be cautious of potential backlash from them. On the other hand, the Slytherin girls seemed less troubled by their new hair color, taking the prank in stride.

Aside from Snape, who was visibly irked by the event, and the grumbling Slytherin boys, the prank was a hit with the rest of the student body. Snape, however, wasted no time in magicking his hair back to its usual black, showcasing his skill at countering pranks. Harry couldn't help but think that Snape must have had plenty of practice dealing with pranks by the marauders over the years.

Choosing to keep his new Ravenclaw blue hair for a while, Harry didn't rush to change it back. The hall's atmosphere, now brimming with laughter and excitement, reassured him that the prank was well-received. Even amidst the potential for trouble, the shared laughter made everything worthwhile.

After the initial wave of excitement and laughter started to settle, Professor Flitwick, with a tone of both admiration and a touch of reprimand, remarked, "Truly, that was an impressive display of magical craftsmanship. It seems Mr. Black has continued to refine his skills in the magical arts. Nonetheless, despite the entertainment it provided, I find myself in the position of having to deduct 30 points from Ravenclaw, Mr. Potter, due to the introduction of an unauthorized magical object within the confines of Hogwarts."

Seizing the moment to enact some measure of retribution, Snape, with a gleam of satisfaction, declared, "And let's not overlook Gryffindor – a reduction of 30 points there as well. The mischief was masterminded by a member of Gryffindor, after all. It's only just that they share in the consequences." Snape seemed particularly pleased with this decision, anticipating the irritation it would cause Sirius upon hearing about the deduction.

The Gryffindor table erupted in protest, directing their frustration towards Snape, who, merely offered them a sneer, completely unfazed by their reactions.

Dumbledore, adding his voice to the conversation, stated, "Indeed, what a lively start to the latter half of our term. However, Mr. Potter, I must insist that such an occurrence remain a one-time event. We shall not entertain similar celebrations in future years." His announcement was met with boos from students all around the hall, yet Dumbledore, with his characteristic twinkle, sat back down, undisturbed by the response.

Harry had a feeling that this spectacular display might start a new trend at Hogwarts, with many students wanting to try their hand at creating similar or even bigger pranks. Unfortunately, he realized he'd probably have to sit out from participating in these pranks until his last year at Hogwarts. Given this night, he'd likely be the first person suspected if anything similar happened again, and he definitely didn't want to get into trouble for it.

Reflecting on the prank's success, Harry felt confident Sirius would be overjoyed with how things turned out, even though the magical display went unrecorded. Sirius hadn't mentioned capturing the moment, and Harry hadn't anticipated the need to prepare a camera for such a stunning performance.

Dumbledore then resumed the evening with his speech, followed by the Hogwarts school song, much to Harry's surprise, who had assumed such potentially embarrassing rituals were reserved solely for the start of the school year.

With spirits lifted and excitement in the air, the students gradually dispersed, heading towards their respective dormitories. They were ready to face whatever adventures and challenges the remaining school year had in store for them.