Chapter 2:
Bambi woke up the next morning to his own personal welcoming comittee. His hair was neon green.
Now this did not surprise him at all, but it was mild compared to what the Marauders could do. That made him suspicious. In any case though he had to get revenge.
He had woken up later than usual that day and so had only a little time before breakfast would get over, he got dressed as quickly as possible and left his hair loose over one shoulder. He then grabbed a small potion vial from his trunk and made off for breakfast.
He entered with a flair, flicking his hair behind his shoulder causing the silky smooth mass to go flying in a wave, the laughter that had just begun bubbling on the surface was squashed with a sigh at how pretty his hair was. He coupled that with a smirk and wink, and he had won the audience. Now all he had to do was win the Marauders.
He strutted along the length of the Gryffindor table with the whole hall catcalling behind him, he did not care, his smirk did not falter. He slid into the space opposite the Marauders, the same place he sat the previous evening and flicked his hair one last time.
"Good morning gentlemen, I must say I love what you have done. Really suits me doesn't it?" he chirped grinning.
The four were smirking as well, they had least expected the boy from yesterday to strut down the hall with his hair, but they could appreciate the diva behind it. After all they would have done the same thing.
"You got that right, I am not sure how many people can pull of green hair like you do, you really have flair." Sirius mock complimented. He was the first victim Bambi decided.
"Oh yes Padfoot, Bambi really pulles off the colour, maybe he should keep it that way." James added, he was looking at Bambi even though he was talking to Sirius.
Bambi did not react, he simply picked up his toast and served himself some porridge. He took a bite and waited.
"What do you think Moony, does he look fabulous or what?" Sirius shot his next question at Remus. Remus politely nodded, "It does look nice but maybe a pink streak through the center next time?" and that set them off, the boys were laughing loudly catching the attention of everyone in the hall.
While they were suitably distracted Bambi carried out his revenge, he poured his potion into their pumpkin juice, they did not even notice. Bambi had finished his toast by the time they had finished giggling and laughing and was working his way through his porriage.
The potion had a delay on it, it would take about half an hour or maybe more, depending on body mass, after consumption to start working, plenty of time for them to go to their first class. He finished his breakfast and began walking towards their first class for the morning charms, Lily Evans' best class.
On his way out he caught Bella's eyes and gave her a smile in greeting,
"Hello Bellatrix, lovely morning." He greeted warmly. She smirked back happily, "Hey there little cutie." And once again, he was caught by how different his Bella and this Bella were.
"I love the hair... and the strut, I hope you got revenge?" she inquired running a finger down his face. He smirked and pushed her off, "My dear, wait till lunch, see for yourself."
They parted ways after that and went to their own classes. Bambi did not know what he was expecting from his charms class, but he realised about five minutes in that it was exactly the same as when he was in fifth year. How droll.
But the class was not over yet, his revenge would come out in force any minute now.. and there it was. Simultaniously the entire class doubled over in laughter, everyone but the Marauders.
They had rainbow afros on their head, and it even switched colours. It was hilarious.
"What the hell." Was the first thing out of Sirius' mouth when he found out what happened, "MY HAIR." He wailed, and yes that was totally worth it. It just made it sweeter that Sirius was the one to tell Bambi about this prank in the first place.
James was not in a better state, "Noooo my hhhaiirr, how could anyone do this." He was wailing as well. Infact the only one of the four not wailing was Remus who turned around and caught his eye and in the middle of everyone laughing and the wailing gave him a thumbs up and a nod.
It took the Professor forever to calm everyone down and by the time he was done the class was over. The boys got laughed at the entire way to Transfiguration and Bambi was sure that when lunch came they would be getting the welcome of their career.
He even caught Lily Evans laughing and smiled to himself.
"Hey Potter nice hair.."
"Hey Black get some colour to make up for how dark your life is.."
"Hey Black you and Potter really that close, getting matching hair and all."
The comments just kept coming some funny and some just weird but they all added up anyway. And the only response they got was "SHUT UP OR I'LL MESS YOU UP."
"Hey nice rhyming with your insult there." He said as he skipped past, flicking his hair for good measure. He actually got smiles in response, well they were sports, not even Snape could deny that.
The class after that was Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall. Now that class he liked it. They were doing the same thing that he had already done but while in Charms the Marauders more or less behaved themselves in Transfiguration they had no such quams.
They still got laughed at though, McGonagall had not said anything but the small quirk at the tips of her mouth was enough.
They were turning pens boxes into pin cushions, it was working out well. Bambi had already finished and added the final touches so he was watching what everyon else was still performing their task. James being the best at Transfigurstion was done as well and was helping out Peter.
By the end of class almost everyone had got it and the homework was given only to those who had not done the spell yet. Bambi was happy with that. He grabbed his stuff and made for the great hall, he had yet to make any friends but he was not worried, he was a newcomer and the Marauders were very close so expecting them to accept him was going to be difficult but he would get there.
He entered the great hall with the same flare as the morning and sat down to lunch in what he had deemed as his spot.
"Hey where are they?"
"Is the afro story true?"
Oh that was why people where staring at the door, they were waiting for the fabulous four and to be honest he was too, he could not wait for everyone's reaction. He was not dissapointed.
It was even better than the morning because basically the entire school was there and they were damn exited that some one actually pranked the pranking gods.
The four strutted down the hall to the laughter and teasing looking for all at world like rockstars and sat opposite him, maybe they had claimed those seats as well. But funnily enough only three out of the four were actually taking this in good humor, one of them was sending him dark looks when he thought the others were not watching. Three gueses who and the first two don't count.
"Hello boys, you kept the hair I see." He greeted. He was happily munching on his food, his hair still green but pulled back in a ponytail.
"Hey Bambi we see you have too." Tossed back Sirius one hand around James the other one piling food on his plate.
"Hey there morons," now who was this, the new girl with nice brown hair came and through her arms around James and Sirius and grinned from ear to ear.
"Hey Marlene." They chorused, huh this was Marlene McKinnon.
"Hey there newbie, hows it going, first day huh." She jumped over the table and sat next to him. Well this would be fun.
"It's been going well thanks, I have met some really interesting people." He replied, keeping it nuetral.
"And got a new hair do it seems, nice. Though I got to say I prefer the raven hair more." She deadpanned and bopped him on the head.
He grinned, "Well I have to disagree with you I like this hair, I think it brings out my eyes." He exclaimed running a hand through his hair and batting his lashes dramatically. She laughed, "You know what you are right, it does bring out your eyes. They are very green. Come to think of it, you have the same eyes as Lily."
She then turned and screamed, "HEY EVENS, GET YOUR BUTT OVER HERE." And she turned back and winked at McGonagall. He liked this girl.
Lily had stalked up by then and James had followed her move and was now mooning over her from where he was sat, he was making an effort to look cool though.
"Hey Evans.."
"No."
"Lily flower.."
"Shut up."
"..."
"What Marlene, did you have to scream?"
"Because my grumpy friend, Bambi here has the same eyes as you, which we thought was not possible." Marlene said grinning. Lily looked confused for a moment before she dipped her head and peered into his face.
She nodded her head, "Yeah, he does. Interesting." She straitened up and flipped her hair, "Okay I am going to the library quickly before the next class. See you guys." And she left.
"Lil-"
"No Potter."
"Oh the actual reason I came here, Quidditch tryouts are next week so be there, Captain plans to chuck a few people out." Marlene said standing up.
"Got it boss." James saluted and she left.
James and Sirius were the next to hightail off claiming they had something important to do. Remus just shook his head and waved them off, Peter continued eating. Bambi took the opportunity to observe the rest of the people in the hall.
He scanned the hall and made note of all the cliques and groups that he could spot. His eyes were passing over the Slytherin table when he caught Regulus' eyes. He smiled and waved, Regulus waved and back and indicated for him to come outside. He nodded and turned to grab his bag.
"Hey I am leaving as well, see you guys in potions." He said to Remus and left.
He walked quickly out of the great hall and saw that Regulus followed him out a few inutes later.
"Hey there cutie, how was your morning?" Regulus asked when he was withing talking distance.
Bambi glared at him playfully, " I am not cute," he growled out and flipped his hair behind his shoulder, "And my morning has been very colourful."
Regulus chuckled, "Very well ma petite mignonne," he got a glare for his efforts.
"Calling me cute in french does not mean I will accept it." Bambi bit out flipping him on the forehead causing him to laugh some more.
"Fine fine, I must say though, I preferred your hair raven." Regulus said softly running a hand through his hair.
Bambi blushed self conciously, "It wil be back to normal tomorrow." He stuttered out.
"Okay enough flirting," a loud voice called out causing them to jump apart. Bella came sauntering up and thumped Bambi on his back, "Loved the hairstyling little cutie, do it yourself?" she asked.
"No Bella I had help and I thought you already saw my hair." He replied pushing her off.
She snickered, "Technicalities..I approve of the retaliation, next time don't go so easy."
"Are you saying there will be a next time, I think not dearest." He said haughtily.
Bella outright laughed at that, "I like you more and more." she then thunmped him on the back again and strutted off to where her freinds were waiting.
"Well she is something else." Bambi commented. Regulus snorted, "That is an understatement if I ever heard one."
He then turned fully to his companion, "Ill see you later, ma beaute'. " and he left waving his hand.
Bambi stared after him for a little bit before leaving for his class, Potions.
He was late, not by much but he was late. He forgot that it was Slughorn taking the classes and that he did not use Snape's dank dungeons. So he ran all the way down and then had to backtrack to find Slughorn's class.
"Excuse me Professor, sorry I am late." He said wheezing from the doorway.
Slughorn just gave him a jovial smile, "Oh no problem at all my boy, it must be difficult to find your way around on your first day, come in come in."
Harry nodded and stumbled inside, everyone had already found their pairs, where should he sit.
"You can take the seat next to Mr Crouch." Slughorn pointed out, noticing his state.
Bambi nodded, he thought that Barty would be in fourth year with Regulus but apparently not. he took his seat next to a grinning Barty and Slughorn continued the class.
"Hey there cutie."
"Stop calling me cute, I am not cute." Bambi growled at Barty, ehy did people insist on calling him cute.
"Yes you are, very much actually." Barty teased. Bambi turned and glared at him with all the anger of a tiny kitten. Barty laughed, "Fine I will leave you be."
They both turned back to the lecture Slughorn was giving them on the owls. They both had different thoughts running in their mind though. Bambi wanted desperatly to get into the Slug Club, that was a way to get closer to Lily and three of the four Marauders, Peter wont be there.
The class was reletivly normal, Slughorn's classes were a lot easier that Snape's making the class very easy to handle. James and Sirius were also very good but the top for sure were Lily and Snape, they both were paired up and their potion was the best in class.
Speaking of Lily and Snape their friendship was set to go up in flames soon, infact it looked like he was pulling away then itself but the redhead was in denial. That was a horrible place to be in.
Bambi did not understand his Mother from another life, why the hell was she with Snape, Lady Magic had told him about them and their relationship and he just did not understand what she saw in him.
He was a horrible person, he was mean and nasty, he always picked something over Lily and he was a bully. But just because James got revenge on him for Remus, he was considered the bully by Lily.
Snape did not fight the bigots, he joined them, James fought till his last breath but for the fact that he bullied Snape and pulled a ton of pranks Lily decided that James was a horrible person. If he ever got the chance he would ask her what her problem was. No one in their right mind would choose Severus Snape over James Potter.
And Snape for that matter, he thought that he was entitled to Lily just because he was her childhood friend. Snape bullied him because he was James's son, that slimy git never treated him fairly. That bat from hell, that greesy dungeon..
"-ambi, Bambi.."
"Huh what." Bambi stuttered as he came back, he looked at Barty completaly lost.
"I have been calling you for so long now, what were you thinking about?" he asked as he continued talking notes.
"Nothing much, just observing." He replied successfully keeping most of what he was feeling earlier out of his voice, he could not afford to space out like that.
"Observing what?" Barty was not giving up it seems. Bambi shruged and smiled,
"The class as a whole, I am finally getting a chance to meet the Slytherins, I met the Ravenclaws earlier and I have met most of the Gryffindors. Now I get to meet the Slytherins."
"What do you mean, you met Bella and Basti already and you are well aquainted with Regulus." Barty asked curiously.
"Not like this, I have only seen you guys in the great hall and I have not spoken to Rabastan. I have spoken to Bella but she is not in our year. I wat to know about my year mates, especially Slytherin, you guys fascinate me." Bambi rambled on happily.
Barty chuckled, "Okay what do you want to know, Ill tell you if I know the answer." He said.
"Barty, what will you ask for in return? Slytherins never give up information unless there is something in it for them." Bambi responded cheekily.
"Well well, for a newbie, you certainly know us well. I am going to ask for something later but I have not decided what yet." Barty said rubbing his chin.
Bambi gave him a look, "An open boon Barty really? Do you think I am that dumb?"
This earned a full laugh, "Not at all my dear, I promise I hold you to very high regards." Bambi continud to look at him suspiciously causing another bout of laughter, "Very well, in exchange for information you will.. let me call you cute for the rest of the class. The entertainment I will get from that will more than suffice." He proposed leaning on his elbows.
Bambi's glare intensified, Barty did not budge though. Bambi sighed, there were only a few minutes left anyway, he may not get such a good offer again. He let out a grumpy huff and nodded.
Barty grinned, "Okay who should I tell you about, cutie." He asked grinning.
"The quiet fellow over there." Bambi replied pointing at Snape, he needed to know where Snape stood in the house, if he had a following then he would not be an easy target.
"Snape, why do you want to know about him cutie, there are so many more powerful ones in this class." Barty asked completaly floored that anyone would ask about Snape of all people. Yes he was amazing at potions but that was all, he had nothing else.
Unknown to him though, he had revealed the information that Bambi wanted through his reaction alone. Bambi saved it away for later and continued, "yes I want to know about him, why is he sitting with Lily Evans of all people and why does he look like some one put a dung bomb under his nose?"
Barty laughed again, he seemed to be doing a lot of that this hour, "Well my Dear, I don't know too much of the details but I can tell you that Severus and Evans live in the same neighbourhood in the muggle world, he is a half blood, mother is magical." He stopped to scribble something on his parchment and continued,
"Severus is the son of Eileen Prince and Tobias Snape.."
"Prince, as in the noble house?" Bambi interrupted. Barty nodded,
"Yes the noble house, his mother rebeled and ran away from home to marry a muggle, she had been disowned. The Prince property is currently held by the Goblins, they will auction it off in a few years if Severus does not buy it back."
"Interesting, tell me more." Bambi ordered, making himself comfortable on his stool. He finished taking the notes that were necessary and so was free now.
"Well, the only thing he has going for him is that he is a potions genius. In Slytherin you need to have backing, he does not have that. He is anti social and rude. We donlt normally mingle with him. The only person who actually likes him is Evans, and even that I don't think will last long at the rate things are going."
"Why do you say that?" Bambi asked, had there been a fight already?
"Well, Severus is not hanging out with a very good crowd and he is constantly the target of the Marauders making him even more cranky. He takes it out on Evans a lot and sends her away crying very often. This only agitates James Potter more making the cycle continue." Barty said exasperated.
He was about to continue his rant went the bell went signalling the end of class. It was his last class for the day so he could just relaz till dinner, he did not have homework having finished it in his classes.
"Well, we will continue this later?" he asked as he shoveled his things back into his bag.
Barty nodded, "Definitly, I need more excuses to call you cutie, I cannot miss opportunities." He said only to be punched on his arm by an irate Bambi.
"Ow ow okay fine. Crazy minx." He groaned.
Bambi giggled and they left, each going their seperate ways, Harry back to his dorm and Barty to wherever he was going next.
Bambi marched towards his dorm, he was going to get his hair back to normal, the green was funny for a while but now he wanted his raven mane back. He stomped up the stairs and into his dorm.
Up in his dorm, the four boys with their afros where there as well, trying to do the same thing he had been planning to do.
"Hey guys." He greeted, he was happy to see they were struggling a little bit.
"Bambi, hi." Remus greeted back, Peter just grunted. James and Sirius were too pre occupied.
"Bambi, how the hell did you manage this Afro?" Sirius burst out finally. He and James had been strugling for a while now and he was irritated. He appreciated the prank as a prankster but as the self proclaimed best hair guy, he was annoyed.
Bambi laughed, he waved his wand through his hair and before the four boys' eyes his hair went from bright green to his wavy raven locks, it flew glossily and came to rest just above his bum. Bamb then just to irritate them further gave his head a shake allowing his hair to flow and fly silkily. He coud hear Sirius fuming by the end of it.
"Why do you ask Sirius, having trouble, need help?" he asked faux shocked, his mouth open in an exagerated O.
James laughed at this, they could all take jokes, its just Sirius was more vain than the rest of them.
"Yes Bambi, we need help, we cannot figure out what you did, none of us." He admitted grinning.
"Fine fine, but I wont tell you how I did it." Bambi gave in and pulled out his wand again.
He walked up to where Remus was perched, "May I?" he asked pointing at his head.
Remus nodded and Bambi waved his wand while running his other hand Through Remus' hair. The afro disapeared laeving soft brown hair. "Thanks Bambi." He said running his hand through.
Bambi then moved over to James and repeated the process allowing the raven mess of the Potters to come back. Sirius was still pouting so he did Peter after that. He did not talk much to Peter and both of them were glad when it was over.
He then marched back to Sirius, "Hey what is wrong?" he asked softly. Sirius did not answer for a while, he just kept staring at Bambi and even sniffed once. James interfeared at this point, "Siri.. SIRIUS"
Sirius jerked back into reality, "Huh, yeah, go ahead Bambi." He said finally. And soon his wacy raven hair was also restored. "Thanks Bambi."
They went down to dinner soon after that, Bambi led with the others following him. They were planning something, he was exited. He vaugely remembered Sirius telling him about their back to school pranks, he hoped they were planning one of those.
He walked into the great hall and there were gasps again, this time because of how beautiful, his hair actually was and he even heard a few jealous comments, he did not care about them though. His eyes swept over the crowd once he had sat down, searching for one person in particular. And he met them, from across the hall, Regulus gave him an approving nod. He blushed and turned away.
His room mates sat opposite him as usual and they were extra cheerful making the people around them nervous, they were by this point legands so it was not really surprising. Bambi watched them closely as he piled his plate with food and took a bite.
It happened so fast, like they really wanted their audience to appreciate their work but at the same time have that effect. Like a wave, row after row of studenst diagnally turned their house colour. The Slytherins turned green, the Ravens turned blue and so on. As each row turned a set of fireworks got primed above their heads.
And finally when the last row of students in Gryffindor turned red, the firework set of.
There was a loud bang and all of them set of simultaniously, there were cheers all across the halls. The fireworks were amazing, each of them showcasing a house making the entire great hall glow, you could feel the magic in the air.
And finally four main fireworks set of and came to a bang right in the center showing of the entire logo large and proud. Framed by smaller power works the logo shifted into the words,
WELCOME BACK EVERYONE
DO NOT TICKLE A SLEEPING DRAGON
The hall exploded in cheers, even the teachers stood and cheered. Everyone knew who was responsibe for the show and it just became official when the Marauders stood on the Gryffindor table to take their bow.
Bambi clapped and cheered like everyone else, there was not a single soul who could not feel the energy in the hall. They could feel Hogwarts, all the sentient magic in the walls were singing.
It was a great end to a day.