House: Slytherin Category: Drabble Prompt: Naughty Word Count: 689

"James, I'm not sure that's a good idea. It might be counterproductive," Remus advised his friend.

"Nonsense! Once I prank Lily, she'll finally see how clever I am. Then she'll have to go out with me," James replied, grinning widely.

"I'm still not sure that placing dungbombs in the girls' dormitory will make her like you," Remus muttered.

"It's not like I'm going to put them on her stuff. I'll just do it to everybody else, and leave her place normal. That way, she'll see how much I favor her over everyone else," explained James.

"I'm in! When are we doing it?" asked Sirius.

"Now," said James with a smirk.

They stayed in Gryffindor tower during lunch, so they wouldn't raise suspicion. Then, because the stairs would turn into a slide if any boys tried to get up to the girls' dormitory, they grabbed their brooms and flew over the stairs.

"Wow. I never knew that girls were this organized," muttered Sirius as they peered into the spotless bathroom.

"Come on, we need to concentrate. They could be back any minute," James informed his friend.

They got to work, placing dungbombs under the pillows and inside trunks. They made sure to stay clear of Lily's stuff, and didn't place any within a few feet of her belongings.

That night, they heard screams coming from the girls' dormitory, and seconds later, a very annoyed Lily marched up to James and dragged him into the common room.

"Why on earth would you do that?" she yelled.

"I didn't touch your stuff, so why are you so mad?" asked a very confused James.

"Because my friends were affected too, stupid. If you want me to like you back, this is not the way to get me to! Now get out of my sight!" exclaimed Lily.

James stalked off to bed, where his partner in crime was waiting for him.

"Well?" Sirius inquired.

"She hates me," said James glumly, falling face-down onto his bed with a sigh.

"Oh well. Maybe she'll get over it," Sirius told his friend. They went to sleep thinking of how they could redeem James in the eyes of Lily.

"Hi James! I'm sorry for how I acted last night. Did you sleep well?" Lily asked the next morning.

"I thought you hated me! Why are you being so nice?" inquired a very puzzled James.

"Oh, I had a change of heart. Here, open this during lunch," Lily said as she handed him a letter.

"Alright! I have to go now, but let's talk later. Bye!" said James cheerfully.

He raced over to his friends to tell them the news.

"Sirius, Lily gave me a letter! She told me that she likes me!" James yelled.

"That's great. I told you it would work. Open it!" said Sirius excitedly.

"I can't, I'm supposed read it at lunch," explained James.

The morning passed in a blur. James couldn't wait to see what Lily had written.

At last, the time came. James tore open the letter, and then discovered the truth.

What he had thought was a love letter was actually a Howler, but it was already smoldering.

"HOW DARE YOU?! PUTTING DUNGBOMBS ON OTHER PEOPLE'S PROPERTY IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! IF YOU WANT ME TO LIKE YOU, THEN DON'T STINK UP MY DORMITORY! DID YOU ACTUALLY THINK I'D ADMIRE YOU FOR RUINING MY FRIENDS' STUFF? IF SO, YOU'RE JUST AS STUPID AS I THOUGHT!"

James was humiliated. His crush had just shamed him in front of the whole entire school, and everyone thought it was funny. People were staring at him and snickering, but the worst sight of all was seeing Severus and Lily laughing together.

"It's all right, James. Sure, people will be talking about you behind your back for the rest of the year, and Lily will never like you, but you'll still have me," said Sirius comfortingly.

"Don't say that she'll never like me. I'll make sure that someday, she writes me a real love letter. And as for Severus, I'll make sure to rub it in his face when Lily finally agrees to date me," vowed James.