Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf PV Colin McCoire & Alma Stoll Closed

Attire: Usual weekend kit: Slytherin pride, neck ring, kilt, no shoes. Nothing fancy!

Reducio

"Of course! She'll be along any minute now!" Colin pulled the watch from his pocket and checked the time. AloraCo --- pranksters extraordinaire --- were on the job again! Last time, they pranked the entire Gryffindor house so badly the poor lions had no idea what hit them! Colin smirked at the memory of himself and Alora, one of the many sisters he'd collected so far during his time in Hogwarts, sticking googly eyes all over the poor Fat Lady portrait! That was a complex and difficult prank, but the duo managed it quite well and didn't get caught!

This time their target was another first year friend of Colin's. None other than dear Alma Stoll. Apart from Bailey Glade, who was certainly the nicest girl in all of Hoggys, Alma was pretty close! "Just remember sis, Alma might be a Huff, but she's no push over! Honestly, that girl can give a lecture that'll make you want to give up pranking people for life and become a sweet Hufflepuff yourself! If she starts that, or if she gives us her puppy dog eyes ---" Colin imitated the expression of a cute but sad puppy making eyes at Alora "--- we have to work fast and get her into the potions closet! I'm telling you! Every time she does that to me, I can't help but give in!"

Colin reckoned that Alma would be heading towards the kitchens in just a few minutes. Probably go through boxes of hot choco and biscuits up there in the Hufflepuff common room! "We just have to play it cool and wait in the corridor. Then we nab her! Say we need her help in the potions classroom or something like that!"

Colin winked at Alora. "Say, Lora! Did you check to make sure there're spiders in the closet? This prank will be so much more fun for all of us if there are!"

@Alma Stoll | @Alora J. Graves

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Ah, the dungeons - arguably one of the creepiest places in Hogwarts, in Alma’s opinion. Potions class was really the only reason she ever went down here. But, this time, she was headed towards the kitchens. Thankfully, on the way was the familiar classroom in which she had brewed so many mixes and concoctions.

She saw two people standing near the potions classroom - one was a familiar face, none other than Colin McCoire himself. Their past endeavors didn’t exactly result how she’d expected them to, she’d have to admit, but it was still nice to see a friendly face. The other girl, she didn’t recognize. She seemed to be another Slytherin, first-year by the looks of it.

She timidly stepped into the classroom to walk towards Colin, offering a small smile and wave. “Hey! Haven’t seen you in a while! What’s up?” she said, looking around the familiar room. She couldn’t quite piece together why exactly he was here.

“I’m just headed to the kitchens. What are you doing in here?” She have a small wave and a smile to the girl standing suspiciously behind the closet door, but Alma was none the wiser and thought absolutely nothing of it.

@Colin McCoire @Alma Stoll

January, 4th, 2023

Spiders, it was a good thing she wasn't one of those squeamish kids that screamed at the sight of spiders. Once she'd touched a tarantula, and honestly, there was nothing softer in the world. She had meant to answer Colin, but their target was on the move and she merely smiled and nodded before making idle chat about broom racing. There was no point in arousing suspicion as the Hufflepuff was growing closer to them.

Alora took a step to the side to let Alma come towards Colin for a chat. He was a charismatic young man, it didn't surprise her so many girls seemed to gravitate around him. It was probably the kilt if she had to pick a reason. Though she had always been sent to bed when her sisters watched Outlander, she had sneaked a couple scenes of episodes in.

"Colin was helping me with Potions," she said with a soft expression, tucking a raven lock behind a pale ear. "And we started talking about broom racing," she added with a chuckle. "I was supposed to gather ingredients for tomorrow, but I'm vertically challenged, and apparently, Colin doesn't like the way the newts eyes look at him...You don't think..." she began and shook her head. "You're busy, I shouldn't try to enlist you in my problems..."

Alora had always had a way of just being open and genuine in her interactions. "I'm sorry I don't even know your name. I'm Alora, this is my first year," she grinned.

Colin heard footsteps in the corridor. He gave Alora a quick smirk. They chatted about broom racing, and Colin sorted through some potions ingredients he'd put on the table. He looked up and over towards the doorway. Alma. She really was quite a nice girl and Colin almost felt bad about pranking her. Not that bad, really. AloraCo, Purveyors of Pleasant Pranks could easily have hit the girl with a dancing feet or sneezing hex and left her be, but those were the sort of things one did to a Gryffinprat or Ravenclown. Alma really was nice, and a friend, so they'd come up with a nice animal focused prank!

And who didn't like animals!? Heheh. Well, some people didn't like the eight legged kind that inhabited the strange world that was the old potions cupboard! Who knows, perhaps Alma could make a friend or two!

Colin smiled as Alma greeted him. "Heyo lass! Just working on some potions fun?" he returned her greeting. Alora explained in more detail. He gave her a queer look when she said that he didn't like newts eyes. "---!" He almost protested, but he caught her eye and understood. "Oh! Yeah. Er. Newts eyes give me the willies, Alma! And it's such a lucky thing you happened to stop by!"

Colin gave Alora a side glance. This was their cue! They had their victim, and now they just needed to get her over into the closet!

@Alora J. Graves | @Alma Stoll

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She smiled and glanced down at the table where Colin was sorting through some potions ingredients. Then, the other girl spoke. Alma was glad she did; she may have turned more social when coming to Hogwarts, but she still shied away from starting conversations on her own. She seemed incredibly sweet, and Alma could see them being good friends in the future.

Alma’s smile faded as the girl explained their problems. Back and forth she looked between Colin and the girl. She could tell the younger slytherin was nervous to ask her for help. “Oh, don’t be silly!” she assured. “I can help you guys out, no problem!”

She smiled once again at the both of them and then turned to the girl who had now introduced herself as Alora. Alma held out her hand for a friendly handshake. “My names Alma, This is my first-year too. I’m surprised we haven’t met yet! A friend of Colin’s is a friend of mine.”

She smiled again and made her way over to the small closet where the ingredients were all gathered. Naive as ever, she walked inside with no questions asked. Most ingredients were still a bit tall for her, but she could reach them if she stood on her toes. “What ingredients did you say you needed again?”

@Colin McCoire @Alma Stoll

January, 4th, 2023

With the way Colin eyed her, Alora couldn't help but fear that the Hufflepuff before them introducing herself as Alma would be onto them. Anyone in their right might would surely doubt them, and on some level, she might even feel guilty. Later, for now, she was far too excited to prank a fellow student. It excited her to know she was about to do something like this, it had her stomach in coils, and her toes shifting inside her shoes to compensate for the desire her body had to give herself away. Small motions she had learned to do to avoid detection.

"I know that feeling," she beamed to Colin, glad to have that way to salvage what she had been certain was a dead giveaway.

As soon as the young brunette was in the cupboard, Alora moved closer. "It's Newt's eyes... on that shelf right there," she pointed to the box of spiders Colin had made her add it. "Back there, behind that purple vial,," she precised, knowing full well that box would fall and what havoc would ensue. Still, she couldn't close the door just yet.

It was all about timing. Alora did everything with purpose, and usually, that purpose was drama. She had a flair for dramatics. That said, she also didn't like being in the drama. More so a bystander, at times encouraging it into a more entertaining direction. This was one of those moments. With bait and hook placed, she felt that rush as her pale dainty hand closed the door with a shriek of a giggle before turning to Colin. Giving him a look that clearly said what her voice couldn't: I can't believe that worked!