Wands and Wildflowers - J.S.Potter

Tricks and Treat

As October settled over Hogwarts, the atmosphere inside the castle grew even more enchanting. The leaves outside turned fiery shades of red and orange, and a crisp chill crept into the air. The halls of the school were filled with the scents of autumn—pumpkin spice, burning wood from the fireplaces, and the faint sweetness of caramelized apples that the house-elves occasionally sneaked into the students' meals. Halloween was just around the corner, and excitement buzzed through the corridors.

For James Sirius Potter, the impending holiday meant one thing above all: pranks. It was the perfect time to unleash his mischief-making talents, and he had his sights set on the most tantalizing target—Daisy Dawson.

Daisy, still finding her footing at Hogwarts, had started to feel more at ease with her new surroundings. She was doing well in her classes, and her group of friends had grown even closer. But despite this, one thing remained constant: James's relentless teasing and playful antics. It seemed that the closer they became as friends, the more determined James was to get under her skin.

It started innocently enough.

"Daisy!" James's voice called out as she entered the Great Hall for breakfast one morning. "Over here! I saved you a seat!"

Daisy walked over to the Gryffindor table with Chris, Bella, and Gwen. She glanced at James, who was grinning mischievously, and took the seat he had "saved" for her. The moment she sat down, a loud whoopee cushion noise erupted from the bench, echoing through the hall.

"James!" Daisy yelped, her cheeks flushing as students around them burst into laughter.

James doubled over, clutching his sides as he laughed. "Gotcha! Classic, isn't it?"

Gwen rolled her eyes, though she was suppressing a smile. "You're incorrigible, James. Poor Daisy didn't see it coming."

"I swear, one day I'll get you back for all of this," Daisy muttered, trying to keep a straight face but failing as her own laughter bubbled up.

"That's the spirit!" James said, still chuckling as he slid the whoopee cushion off the bench. "But good luck catching me off guard."

From that moment, the pranks only escalated.

One morning, Daisy woke up to find her school robes had been charmed to flash bright colors every time she tried to put them on. "James!" she groaned, holding up the rainbow-colored fabric as her roommates burst into giggles.

Later that week, during Potions class, Daisy reached for a bottle of armadillo bile, only to have it disappear from her hand and reappear on the other side of the room. "What the—" she started, before catching sight of James's smug grin. He gave her a cheeky wink, clearly pleased with his vanishing charm.

"Seriously, James?" Daisy said, her voice exasperated but laced with humor.

"Just keeping you on your toes, Daisy," James replied, feigning innocence. "You never know what's going to happen around here."

Despite her best efforts to remain annoyed, Daisy couldn't stay mad at James for long. His pranks, though frequent, were always harmless, and there was something infectious about his sense of fun. Still, she was determined to find a way to get back at him—just once.

Halloween was fast approaching, and the excitement in the castle was at an all-time high. The Great Hall was decorated with floating jack-o'-lanterns, fluttering bats, and a sea of orange and black streamers. The house-elves outdid themselves with a feast of spiced pumpkin pasties, cauldron cakes, and an array of sweets that filled the air with sugary aromas.

James, Chris, Ben, and the other Gryffindor boys were busy planning the ultimate Halloween prank. They spent every spare moment huddled together, whispering and sneaking suspicious items into their dormitory. Daisy couldn't help but feel a sense of impending doom.