Professor Emory Merriman was in rare form.
Standing on a makeshift "battlefield" made of levitating parchment cutouts and magically zooming figurines, he reenacted the Goblin Rebellion of 1612. His booming voice echoed off the walls as goblin figurines valiantly defended their enchanted stronghold—constructed entirely of stacked books and an upturned chair.
"—and it was at this point," he cried dramatically, "that Gurnag the Gold-Hearted launched his infamous cheese wheel offensive!"
Laughter erupted across the classroom as Merriman magicked a bright yellow disk of conjured cheddar to roll between rows of desks. The professor danced backward to avoid it, nearly knocking over his inkpot, but laughing just as loudly as the students.
No one noticed three Hufflepuffs near the back scribbling on a folded parchment, whispering furiously.
Hadrian tapped his wand lightly against his sleeve, murmuring under his breath. Dora, smiling sweetly, leaned her head sideways just enough to distract the students in front of her. Iris subtly traced her wand across the underside of the desk, leaving faint magical runes that pulsed once before fading from sight.
Operation: Classroom Time Swap had begun.
As the class ended and students filed out, Professor Merriman was still rhapsodizing about goblin-sorcerer diplomatic relations and flinging dramatic quotes like confetti.
The moment the last student left and the door closed, the enchantments the trio had embedded began to work.
The blackboard glowed softly before inverting entirely—writing backwards, as if seen in a mirror. The windows flickered and now showed the night sky, complete with stars and a silver moon.
Desks rearranged themselves in perfect, military rows. Candles along the walls brightened with a cold, silvery glow. Even the temperature shifted, just enough for a subtle chill to touch the air.
Then came the voice.
From nowhere and everywhere, in a dry, nasal tone: "Welcome to Professor Merriman's Midnight Lessons. Attendance is mandatory. Absence will result in a week of cleaning cauldrons without magic."
A moment of silence. Then, the voice cleared its throat and added, "Tonight's topic: 'Werewolf Reforms and the 1787 Dueling Edict.' Prepare your notes."
Students returned from lunch to find Professor Merriman outside his classroom, blinking at the door with equal parts admiration and confusion.
"I... never scheduled midnight lessons," he muttered.
Professor Flitwick arrived moments later and examined the spellwork with a delighted laugh. "Impressive layering of temporal perception charms. Quite whimsical."
"It's the Marauders," someone whispered in the crowd of amused students.
"Back from the past!"
"But wasn't that a Hogsmeade legend?"
Merriman rubbed his chin. "Whoever it was… they have a gift for tone and timing. I suppose it's only fair if I respond in kind."
He grinned. And for the first time, the trio realized they might have awakened more than just Hogwarts' mischief-loving spirit.
That evening, as they lounged in the Hufflepuff common room, Dora chuckled as she read a first-year's retelling of the "ghostly time-locked classroom." Iris sketched out a few runes she'd seen in the Marauder's trunk to test their utility. Hadrian, meanwhile, wrote down names of spells they hadn't tried yet.
"Next one should be even better," Iris grinned.
Hadrian smirked. "It will. But we need to be careful now. Merriman's awake."
Dora looked up. "You mean he suspects us?"
"No," said Hadrian. "I mean he's enjoying this, too much."
They all exchanged glances—and wicked grins.