Neville's POV
Neville was also excited, he rushed through his morning rituals and waited for the twins and Hermione to leave the tower. They all gathered and whispered excitedly to each other as they made their way to the portrait hole. Just like Luna their clothes were transformed into those from the 1820s. The boys had high waisted formfitting pants, waist coats, and ruffled shirts with ascots tied around their necks. They now sported tall hats, and the twins had walking canes. Hermione had a high waist pale blue dress with a bonnet and a matching parasol.
Since they were on the seventh floor, it was spring. Flowers were everywhere. The whole hall was an explosion of color and smell, good thing there was no pollen. The walls were now a huge meadow, with wildlife of all kinds. Baby unicorns, deer and rabbits could be seen jumping through the heather and grasses. In the distance they could make out tall looming trees for the start of the forest that made up the lower halls. The people from the portraits were having picnics and some were dancing silly dances. Their frames were on post that dotted the walkway. There were arches along the stone path that had creeping vines holding lanterns. The ceiling was much like the Great Hall in it depicted the morning sky. The sun was at the morning crest making the halls pink with color. A light breeze ruffled skirts, parasols and capes. Grassroots and vines would sneak out and tickle or poke the students at random times. It became a tradition to try and catch these mischievous plants. The same random clothes changing smoke was in various spots on the gravel walkway.
The gang turned back and noticed a large tree in the middle of the meadow. On it was the Fat Lady's portrait frame. She was frolicking in the flowers, laughing like she had not since she was alive. She never wandered far and would entertain guests on the wrought iron, umbrellaed table that sat near her frame. They wandered the halls looking at everything. They were amazed at how it turned out. They happily made their way down the stairs and when they hit the fifth floor their clothes transformed once again to lighter material and cooler hats.
As they ventured down the stairs, which had turned to wood, flowers and vine, the temperature got warmer. The scenes turned to the forest in summer. They met up with Luna and continued to see what wonders they had formed the castle into. The doors to classrooms were etched in trees with the name of the class listed on top. Like it had been burnt into the wood. By the time they hit the third floor the weather got colder as autumn set in. The tree grew colorful, in autumn browns, oranges, and reds. The leaves littered the forest floor, but not the halls. The first and ground floor were colder still, but not bitingly so. Their clothes continued to change with each floor they went down. The Great Hall was a winter wonderland, the decorated trees that had been brought in by the staff looked very much in place with the evergreens that lined the wall. Snowy scenes were everywhere, and the ceiling sky was a flurry of snowflakes.
"We did good," Neville said quietly, a huge smile on his face as he puffed up his ruffled shirt.
"Well, we did well," Hermione corrected absently, as she sat at the long Gryffindor table, which was looked like it was encased in ice, but was not cold to the touch.
"Shush, Hermione and enjoy the fun," Luna chastised, putting her folded parasol next to her.
"I can't wait to see," George started, as he ran his hand along the table. It was slick like ice and his face was a vintage of happiness for what was to come.
"what the professors think," Fred finished, also waiting for the food to arrive.
"Well, it looks like you won't have long to wait. Look at McGonagall," Neville whispered, glancing at the Head Table, trying to hold his mirth.
McGonagall's POV
McGonagall was dressed in a bodice-laced traveling coat, an overly large bonnet and huge white muff, which seemed to be stuck to her hands. She was attempting to free them, when one came loose it went flying, smacking Flitwick's hat off. The room exploded with laughter, when the poor man squeaked and fell backwards.
"Really, Minerva, that was quite uncalled for," he said, sitting upright and straightening his top hat.
"Sorry, Filius, this blasted muff has my hands stuck," she said sincerely, attempting once more to fee her other hand.
"Allow me," the tiny man said, waving his wand and unsticking her hand.
"Thank you," she breathed. "When I get my hands on that Potter boy," she started.
"Really, Minerva, Mr. Potter no longer resides in the castle, why ever would you think he had anything to do with all of this," Pomona asked, smiling at the wonderful transformation the Great Hall, and really all of Hogwarts, was under. "You are starting to sound like Severus," she added. She really didn't miss that man. Her Hufflepuff didn't cry when they left Potions anymore. Smellers was the one of the three teachers that Headmaster Murphy had hired. And she was doing wonderfully.
At that time Headmaster Murphy came in smiling in delight. "I did not know you decorated the castle in such a manner," he said jovially. "I've been from the top to the bottom and the scenes are amazing."
"We do not," McGonagall sniffed, finally banishing the muff. "It is a prank," she said, glaring at the Gryffindor table.
"Well, by Merlin, it is an excellent prank," he said, waiting for more children to arrive so he could call the meal. Unlike before meals started when most of the student body was attending and ended at a set time. It made for a better setting and gave the children a better grasp of responsibility.
"Headmaster, how can you say that? I passed no more than three students in nightclothes on my way here," Minerva stated, watching the foreign guests arrive. They too seems to think what was done to the castle was brilliant. Madam Maxime sat near Murphy, and Karkaroff sat next to her.
"Zis is bon magnifique," she praised the current Headmaster. "'owever did you preform such transformations?" she asked, waving her jeweled hand.
"I didn't," he said proudly. "It was some of the students, though I'm not sure who," he admitted, still smiling. "As you know I've just arrived, so I know little about them."
"It is wonderfully done. If you find out 'o, zen please let me know so I can get ze spells and charms zey used. I would like to see a wall or two in Beauxbatons. Not ze 'ole school, you mind, but a wall or two," she stated in awe. She knew nothing that could do this and would love to know how it was done.
Karkaroff sniffed, "It is good enough for Hogwarts, but Durmstrang would not appreciate such frivolity," he sniffed at the snowy sky. Though he did admit to himself is was wonderful spell work.
"I plan on putting my professors to work on trying to see how it was done. If we can, we'll share with everyone," Murphy stated as he stood. "Good morning, students" he said to the Hall in a loud voice. The whispering stopped at once. "I see we have some pranksters among us. I want to say that whoever did this deserves high praise, but until we find out who it was, enjoy your meal." And with that he clapped his hands a food appeared on all the tables.
Neville's POV
The gang sat and watched as the first person tried to grab some food, only for the plate to slide away. It didn't fall off the table, but it did quickly move to the edge, causing the girls sitting there to squeak. The more they tried to dish up their food, the more the plates slid. Until someone got the idea to grab the platter. Cautiously and carefully, everyone started to serve themselves, but for the few who liked to see the dishes careening down the table. One plate of rolls flew past the twins, who each reached out and grabbed one.
Lee came up and plopped himself down by his friends. "So, what else is planned?"
George who was closest, leaned over and said, "Well, there may be a few fireworks tonight. Here in the Great Hall."
Fred, leaning over his brother, said, "There could be a few snow birds loose in the castle."
"Did you guys to the classrooms. I noticed the dorms are untouched."
"Nay, we didn't want to interfere with studies," George said.
"That and Hermione would have a fit if we did," Fred stated, winking as said girl, who huffed.
"What else? I know you guys, and this is pretty tame, brilliant, but tame," Lee said, looking at all the gang. He really couldn't wait until they taught him to do this stuff.
"We might," whispered Luna, "have put a few more harmless traps around. Some color changing, gender changing, or even species changing things. They'll last five or so minutes."
"What happens when winter is over," Lee asked as he grabbed a plate of bacon that was sliding by.
"That's the beauty of it. This floor's scene will move to the next floor, the top levels will be here, and the rest will move up. It will always be the correct season in the Great Hall," Hermione stated in a low smug voice.
"How long will the clothing last?" the darker teen asked, eating some eggs that landed on his plate.
"Until the end of winter break," Neville answered. "They will change to a different era every few days."
"Good show, my friends, good show."
.....
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