Getting into Mischief

Melody was bored. She knew that school was meant for learning, but honestly - you couldn't learn all the time! She glanced around the common room. It was rather empty for a weekend. She wasn't sure where everyone was, as it was raining outside. Were they hiding somewhere?

She took out her wand and twirled it around her fingers for a little while. Then she pointed it in the air. "Avis!" Nothing happened. But Melody was nothing if not determined.

"Avis!" she shouted again, louder this time and more emphatically. She had no idea if that would help or not but she'd try it anyway. Again, nothing.

Melody pouted. Still, she wasn't one to give up. "Avis!" she yelled and this time birds sprouted from her wand. But whatever was causing havoc on their magic was obviously in affect because these birds looked...evil. They were black, their feathers molting, their eyes red and demonic. Melody shrieked.

'Incendio!' Anastasia cried, shooting bluebell flames into a jar and closing them in by twisting the lid tight. It was a cold day and Anastasia had been out on the Quidditch Pitch practicing her skills. Gryffindor were in need of a beater and Anastasia was hoping to fill that position. Of course the letter her brother had sent her saying how she'd never make the time along with another load of snide remarks had only fueled her to try and make the team even more. Too many times had she listened to her brother, belittling herself believing that his words were true. Never again was Anastasia going to let that happen and even if her flying skills weren't as good as Alexander's and even if they didn't impress her Father who cared. Anastasia had given up trying to be someone she wasn't for her family.

The jar of flames were not that great an idea it seemed as the Gryffindor made her way through the castle up to the Gryffindor Common Room, dripping slightly as she'd gotten caught in the rain towards the end of her practice ready for try-outs next weekend. Perhaps it was the fact magic seemed to be going haywire lately, not that Ana understood why nor read the daily prophet, but she was certain that had to be the reason. Why else would she not be able to perform a first year charm?

'Salamander Scales.' Ana sighed after finally climbing to the Fat Lady's Portrait before being granted entrance into the Gryffindor Common Room.

The Common Room was almost empty apart from a flock of birds and Melody Cooper, a girl Ana shared a dormitory with. Only at Hogwarts was it not weird to see a flock of birds flying around the castle, although the birds weren't exactly the normal canary colour you'd expect. They were black, their beaks were sharp and their eyes a vicious vermillion.

'Melody, what's happened?' Ana called rushing further into the common room and placing the useless jar on a nearby desk, her broom remaining fixed in one hand.

The sudden arrival of Anastasia seemed to displease the birds as they began to soar around the room squawking in rage. One of them began to tear at a portrait with it's talons - the occupier narrowly escaping into a neighboring painting, whilst two appeared to be fighting in midair whilst one continuing to zoom around the room, dark feathers falling ominously as the bird continued to grow in size.

'Ahh!' Anastasia ducked just in time as the bird had made a beeline towards her before changing course and soaring towards Melody.