Mischief Unmanageable

Chapter Four: Let The Games Begin

Even though classes were the reason people attended Hogwarts, actual work couldn't have been farther from Ari and Marlin's minds.

They had spent a few days trying to figure out how they were going to prank black hair and his boy band.

They had even gone to the extreme of making a list of potential pranks. They had their heads bent over the parchment every chance they got.

In Charms, Marlin hadn't even noticed the entire class staring at her and Ari, until her owl-Adalaide-bit her ear.

Slughorn had threatened to poison Buford, Ari's sparkling turtle, during Potions.

Now, in Transfiguration, they were acting just the same. They had finally agreed upon a prank and Ari was giggling very maniacally. Marlin couldn't help but laugh, as well.

"SMARTHERS AND WINKLES! IS MY TEACHING INTERRUPTING SOMETHING!?" McGonagall yelled. She looked fierce, and her eyes were filled with anger.

Ari and Marlin immediately stopped all noise. They stared at McGonagall. Marlin was the first to speak.

"No Professor. Ari just said something-uhh-amusing..." Marlin said quietly. Ari nodded frantically in agreement.

"My classroom is no place to talk about things that amuse you. Miss Winkles, you will move to a different seat. Now." McGonagall said.

Marlin looked down as Ari got up. Both girls flinched when McGonagall yelled again. At least this time it wasn't at them.

"MR. BLACK! IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY?" she yelled at Sirius. The boy only grinned.

"Nothing at all, Minnie," he said with a wink. McGonagall only glared.

"Very well, since you and Mr. Lupin can't seem to control yourselves either... Lupin, you will be taking Ari's seat. Ari, you will sit where he is." McGonagall said.

Marlin however, did not hear any of this. She was copying down notes, trying to ignore the laughter of the people around her. It wasn't until she felt a tap on her shoulder that she looked up.

"Could you... umm..." Remus said, gesturing to Marlin and Ari's Parchment of Pranks.

Marlin quickly snatched it and stuffed the list into her bag. Her ears were tomato red.

After a few awkward minutes of Marlin and Remus both taking notes, Remus broke the silence.

"Bubble Gum Fingers?" Remus questioned, looking at Marlin.

She, however, refused to meet his gaze.

"You weren't supposed to see that." Marlin said, laughing a little.

"That one was Ari's idea," she added, glancing at the boy sitting next to her.

"Don't worry, love, my lips are sealed." Remus said, smiling.

Marlin's turned impossibly redder at the name. She only nodded.

"I find that I quite like surprises anyway. But, if you want to make this even better, just know that the boys are seriously underestimating you." He said. Marlin laughed at his unintentional pun. She finally looked at him fully.

"God he's gorgeous," Marlin thought.
"NO NO NO NO.NO! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?! HE IS THE ENEMY! ....but he's still gorgeous..."

The pair continued to take notes, occasionally talking to one another.

Meanwhile, Ari was as red as red could be.