The fire had dwindled to glowing embers, casting long, soft shadows over the common room.
Dora yawned quietly from Hadrian's lap, stretching like a cat before sitting up, her hair a soft buttery yellow — the color of warm toast and trouble brewing.
Iris closed her book with a satisfied thump. "Well, that's the most peaceful moment we've had all week."
"Exactly," Dora said, glancing between them with a growing grin. "Too peaceful."
Hadrian tilted his head. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
"If you're thinking mischief, then yes," she said, bouncing slightly on the cushion.
Iris blinked, then slowly smirked. "I thought we were supposed to be the calm house."
"We are," Hadrian said with mock solemnity. "Which is why no one will see it coming."
The three shared a look — the kind that only siblings and conspirators understood. It said: It's time.
Dora leaned forward, whispering like a war general. "We need pranking spells."
"Discreet ones," Hadrian added. "Something clever. Not Fred-and-George loud — Hufflepuff sneaky."
"We need the library," Iris declared, already rising to her feet.
Hadrian grabbed his wand and slung an arm around each of their shoulders. "Tonight, we walk the path of the badgers... but slightly more chaotic."
The moment they stepped out of the common room's round door, the cool corridor air hit their cheeks. Dora's hair turned stealthy black as she crept forward with exaggerated steps. Hadrian pulled her back.
"Let's not get caught by Filch tonight. First week's too early to lose house points."
"Fine," she whispered. "But I am going to put stink-mist in his office one day."
"Put it on the list," Iris said dryly.
The trip to the library was uneventful — too uneventful. Almost as if the castle wanted them to succeed.
Madam Pince was off in a side aisle, scowling over a stack of mis-shelved tomes. The trio slipped in like shadows, ducking behind shelves until they found the section marked "Hexes and Minor Jinxes – Authorized for Dueling Clubs."
"Here we go," Hadrian said, sliding a few titles free. Harmless Hexes for a Hilarious Hogwarts, Trickster's Compendium, and one particularly aged-looking book: Subtle Magic: The Art of Gentle Mischief.
"Ooooh," Dora whispered reverently, running her hand over the last one. "That's the vibe."
Iris, already flipping pages, grinned. "Color-changing ink. Shoe-gluing charm. Charm to make cauldrons bubble over with whipped cream."
"Perfect," Hadrian said. "That'll teach Nevilla to stir counterclockwise and sing opera at the same time."
They quickly copied a few spells down onto spare parchment, careful not to damage the books. As they were about to leave, Dora nudged them both and pointed to a faded footnote in Subtle Magic.
"For tricksters who aim to amuse, not harm, intent is everything. Even magic likes a laugh — if it's shared."
They looked at each other again, this time with matching wicked smiles.
"Let's make Hufflepuff proud," Hadrian said.
"Let's make Hogwarts smile," Iris added.
"Let's prank Slughorn's chair to moo when he sits down," Dora finished.
The siblings slipped out of the library with parchment tucked under robes, steps light and hearts full.