A new week had just kicked off, and it started with a massive scare for Leon.
Monday morning, Leon headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast with Ginny and Colin, as usual. The moment they stepped inside, a familiar figure caught their eye, floating high above the tables.
There was Peeves, decked out in his red hat and green shoes, clutching a pile of moldy bread. He was lobbing it randomly at the students below, turning breakfast into a chaotic free-for-all. Students were scrambling, grabbing whatever clean pies, bread, or milk they could before dodging and dashing out of the hall.
"Haha! Bullseye! Ten points!" Peeves cackled, doing a midair somersault as a moldy loaf smacked a young Hufflepuff girl square on the head. She burst into tears and bolted.
Percy Weasley strode forward, glaring up at the poltergeist. "Peeves, leave the Great Hall at once, or I'll fetch the Bloody Baron!"
Peeves stuck out his tongue and pulled a hideous face at Percy. Then, out of nowhere, he yanked a rotten egg from his flowery trousers and hurled it with force. Percy, caught off guard without his wand ready, didn't stand a chance. The egg splattered across the back of his robes.
"Oh ho! Smacked your backside, nosy Weasley! Twenty points!" Peeves jeered.
Humiliated, Percy covered his face and fled. No one else dared to challenge Peeves after that.
The professors, off enjoying their weekend routines, rarely showed up for Monday breakfast, leaving the students to fend for themselves. And no one in their right mind would call for Filch to sort this out—he was the last person they'd turn to.
For a moment, it seemed no one could rein in Peeves as he wreaked havoc on the breakfast scene.
Leon blinked, thinking he must be seeing things. Just last night, in the Chamber of Secrets, he'd watched the Basilisk—charmed into submission—devour a cow and chase its own tail. The magical bindings on it were still rock-solid. Yet here was Peeves, not even twelve hours later, free and causing mayhem. Had he somehow broken loose?
"Ugh, Peeves is at the Gryffindor table now! There goes breakfast," Ron grumbled, trailing behind Leon's group.
Thanks to Percy's meddling, Peeves had zoomed over to the Gryffindor table for revenge, giggling maniacally as he pelted the little lions with rotten eggs. The stench was unbearable, and the food on the table was completely ruined.
"It's been days since Peeves pulled a stunt like this. I thought he'd turned over a new leaf or gone off to make trouble somewhere else," Harry said.
"No chance," Hermione piped up, ever the know-it-all. "According to *Hogwarts: A History*, Peeves came into being at the same time as the school. He's tied to Hogwarts—he can't leave, and as long as the castle stands, he'll be here."
Colin, snapping photos with his camera, was thrilled. It was his first time seeing Peeves since the term started. "You all keep talking about how much Peeves loves his pranks, but I've only seen him once in two weeks!"
Leon slipped in casually, "Hogwarts is massive. It's not like you bump into him every day."
Ginny, witnessing Peeves' chaos for the first time, had heard plenty of stories—especially from her twin brothers, who saw Peeves as a rival rather than just a nuisance. "Peeves isn't a ghost, right? Ghosts can't touch things, but he's holding all that bread and hiding rotten eggs in his pockets."
Hermione couldn't resist answering. "Peeves is a poltergeist, a chaotic embodiment of the mischievous thoughts of Hogwarts students. He's a unique kind of spirit—there's only one like him in all of Britain."
Leon nodded, piecing things together. Yesterday, half the school had been caught up in a wild chase through the castle, turning Hogwarts into a playground of reckless fun. All that chaotic energy must have swirled together, spawning a brand-new Peeves. But what did that mean for the old Peeves—now the Basilisk? Could this new one affect it somehow?
On the bright side, at least no one would notice the original Peeves was missing, which meant no investigations to worry about.
Just then, Filch stormed into the hall, cradling Mrs. Norris. He was late because he'd been fretting over his cat, who hadn't eaten or drunk all morning. Panicked, he'd rushed to Madam Pomfrey at the hospital wing to have her checked, which explained his delay.
As Filch passed Ron, Mrs. Norris suddenly perked up, craning her neck. Ron yelped, clutching his pocket to keep Scabbers from making a break for it and meeting a grim fate. "Oh no! That crazy cat's about to go berserk again!" he shouted, sprinting out of the hall with Harry and Hermione hot on his heels.
Filch didn't notice. His eyes were locked on Peeves. "Peeves! Stop throwing that filth! Are you trying to ruin the entire hall?" he roared, his sagging cheeks trembling with rage, his bloodshot eyes bulging.
Normally, Peeves spared the staff from his pranks, at most tossing a few rude remarks. But today was different. Floating above, Peeves eyed the furious Filch, listening to his curses grow nastier. Then, out of nowhere—*splat*—a rotten egg hit Filch square in the face.
Filch lost it. "Peeves, you filthy, wicked, prank-pulling menace! This time, I won't let you get away! I'll have you thrown out of Hogwarts!"
Peeves made another grotesque face, cackling as he zoomed out of the hall. Filch, so consumed by rage he didn't even notice Mrs. Norris slip from his arms, chased after him, panting and bellowing.
Even long after they were gone, Peeves' mocking laughter and Filch's furious roars echoed faintly through the hall.
Leon shrugged. This new Peeves seemed even more unhinged. The crisis was over, but the Gryffindor table was a no-go. He led Ginny and Colin to the Hufflepuff table, where they shamelessly helped themselves to what food was left.
A little later, a quiet stir rippled behind them. Leon turned and, to his surprise, spotted Draco Malfoy—*with hair*. For the past week, bald Draco had avoided the Great Hall, skulking to classes and through corridors with his face half-hidden, barely recognizable. Yet here he was, strutting in with Crabbe and Goyle flanking him like bodyguards, his old smug swagger fully restored.
When Draco's eyes met Leon's, there was a flicker of panic, but he quickly masked it, staring back boldly and jutting his chin in defiance. Leon noticed Draco's hair was real, not a charm or potion, and raised one eyebrow in surprise. When Draco had the nerve to challenge him with that look, Leon raised the other eyebrow.
Looked like today was going to be interesting after all.
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