A Bit of Holiday

Dungbombs

by IHaveASiriusObsession

Disclaimer: Harry Potter = JKR

A/N: Ahh holidays, how I hate thee. I'm not a big fan of 'tis the season, and neither is Lily, under certain circumstances. I'd love to know what you think, so please review. Enjoy : )

It was the winter holidays and the halls of Hogwarts were filled with the sweet aroma of pine, pumpkin pies, and.... dungbombs? Apparently so, since one hung directly above Lily Evans's head.

Lily, a Prefect, had been assigned to handle the last minute decor. She and Mary Macdonald were currently standing outside the teachers lounge hanging holly and a wreath on their door.

"Mary? Do you smell something?" Lily asked the blond haired girl just beside her, wrinkling her nose.

Mary Macdonald sniffed the air around her, brushing it in with her hand. "You're right. I think.... it smells like dung!"

Lily inhaled and admitted a gaging noise. "Do you think someone blew one off?"

"How could they? No one's walked by since we've been here. Unless...."

Lily raised an eyebrow at Mary, who was now smirking at her. "Unless what?"

Mary giggled. "Lily, there's only the both of us here, and I know it wasn't me-"

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that unless there's someone standing invisible across the way, you Lily, blew one off!"

"I did not!"

"Do you have any other explanation?"

"I-" At that moment, Lily had reached toward the door handle to the teachers lounge, turned it, and was saved from further explanation- for the door had triggered a dungbomb happily awaiting its victim on the ceiling, and she hadn't taken a step or two inside the lounge before it pelted her in the back of the head. Also at that moment, James Potter had decided to appear from seemingly nowhere and shout, "NO EVANS, DON'T-!" about a fraction of a second too late.

Lily closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. Nothing that included her head covered in an unknown substance and Potter could possibly turn out well.

"What have you done this time, Potter?" she asked turning around to face him menacingly. She was pleased to see that he looked genuinely embarrassed, though Sirius, who was stationed just behind him, was barking with laughter.

"Nice one- Prongs!" Sirius grinned.

Lily glared at him, then raised an eyebrow at James.

"N-now Lily, don't panic...." Mary said before James could speak.

But now, it was too late. Lily had momentarily let up on her blind hatred for James when she had caught a whiff of the foul dung scent once again, more powerful though it was this time.

When James caught the look she gave him on her face, he quickly ranted into explanation. "Evans- it wasn't meant for you, it was meant for-"

"Do you really want to finish that sentence, Potter?"

"What are you going to do? Put him in detention?" Sirius said as if it were the most unlikeliest thing in the world.

Lily crossed her arms, fuming. Her red-hair seemed to be admitting sparks.

"That would be thick, wouldn't it? Since you'd be going away over the holiday and have to serve it after that on one of my free nights?" she accused of James as though he had been the one to propose it.

James ran his hand through his hair. "If I had been going away on holiday, rather."

This was not part of her carefully laid out holiday plan. James Potter always went home for the holidays and Sirius Black always went with him, a fact she was sure of.

"Excuse me?" Lily said. She obviously must of heard wrong.

Sirius grinned. "Didn't you hear? I thought Moony might have told you- Prongs, Moony and I are staying over break."

Thankfully, Professor McGonnagall chose this moment to appear around the corner before Lily could make any rash actions.

"Ah! There you are Miss Evans, I- what is that you're covered in?" McGonnagall asked, eyeing Lily, then James and Sirius. "Oh for heaven's sake, you haven't- that isn't-"

"-dung?" Sirius supplied.

"Indeed. Who is responsible for this?" McGonnagall pursed her lips. "Oh, need I ask that question?" she said more to herself.

"I know what this looks like Professor, but I swear, we never intended to target Evans-" James began.

"That is quite enough. I hate to do this boys- even more so considering the season- but I'm afraid I have no choice but to give you both detention. Let's say the Monday after break." McGonnagall said firmly, though in a casual manner as though handing out detentions were an everyday occurrence. In the terms of Sirius Black and James Potter, they were.

"Could we possibly get it over with sooner- we'll be here over the holiday." Sirius charmed McGonnagall, winking at her.

"Although I do appreciate the gesture," McGonnagall said sharply (though her lips quivered for a moment as though she was about to smile), "I can think of no available teacher to accompany you at that time."

"Oh, I'm sure Evans wouldn't mind," Sirius said slyly.

McGonnagall raised an eyebrow at him. And before Lily could protest she had agreed.

"Very well. Just so I am aware, tomorrow evening at five o'clock. I suggest you go bathe, Miss Evans. If you aren't aware, the Prefects lavatory password has changed to 'mistletoe.'"

James and Sirius looked at McGonnagall incredulously.

"I fully expect you to have wormed it out of Mr Lupin by now," she told them, nearly grinning, and was off.

"I suppose we'll be seeing you then, Evans." Sirius said, winking at her and Mary and motioning to leave.

James stood there for a moment, and for once he looked speechless. "Y-yeah, see you...."

When they had disappeared around the corner, Lily broke into a rant.

"The nerve! Those bleeding arseholes! Those bloody, daft, dimwitted gits! Those cheeky, blasting, bullocks-eating prats! Those-!"

"-Might I remind you that you have dung in your hair?"

Lily shuddered. "Right- I almost forgot." she said sarcastically.

The two of them began down the corridor.

Mary fought laughter, and asked bemused, "Cheeky, blasting, bullocks-eating prats?"

"Shove it!"