Disclaimer: Not Mine, sorry.
A/N: Sorry it took so long. I noted on my profile that it might, although I listed a wrong clause. The truth is, well, I can partially dislocate my jaw and that was causing me migraines. Now I'm on painpills, which is why this chapter might have a few issues.
The end of September came to Harry as an utter surprise. His earlier belief that things would be boring with so little time spent in class had proven to be utterly false. There were corridors to explore, homework to write, and Quidditch to look forward to. However, even with so much to do, Harry was startled to realize something he'd never expected. Hunter and he weren't as close as they'd been before school. Oh, the pair lived in each other's pocket in class, particularly Potions, but Hunter had become close friends with Ron Weasley, while Harry found himself put off by the volatile redhead's garrulous nature and attitude. Instead, Harry turned to Neville for friendship, finding in the quiet boy a study partner. For while Harry had found himself to be quite good with Charms, and moderate in Transfiguration; Neville was not only leading the fray in Herbology, but had proved to have a mind for History as well. The two of them worked together to get their work done after the sun went down, trading off DADA, which, under Quirrel, was horrible, and Potions, where the two vied for Professor Snape's least favorite student. At least the Professor had started pairing them after Neville had managed to not only melt his cauldron, but to cause an explosion when it combined with the ingredients on the table waiting to be added in a mess that had sent half the class to the infirmary and the Potions Master himself into a quiet apoplexy.
Hunter, on the other hand, only did his homework at the last minute, spent his time playing Wizard Chess, and had become determined to either meet or beat the Marauder's detention record. With Ron as his sidekick, Hunter was always on the go, and rarely was it school related.
It was September 27 that marked the day that made it clear to Harry how different he was from Hunter. It was the day of their first flying lesson. Harry stood with Neville and Hermione, trying to keep the pair calm in face of the challenge before them while Hunter and Ron talked excitedly with Dean and Seamus about the prospect of flying. The only downside of the lessons were the Slytherins they shared it with. However, Harry's proactive actions early on had gone a long way to making a difference in how the Houses interacted. Draco Malfoy tended to avoid the Gryffindors if one of the Potter twins was around; their loud proclamations of his 'secret Hufflepuff leanings' unnerved him. Blaise was actually friendly with the pair, although he did avoid them when in large group in interest of surviving Slytherin House's dislike of Gryffindors. Theodore Nott didn't like Gryffindor, but with Draco keeping his distance, Nott did as well. After all, derogatory statements worked better around an appreciative audience. Crabbe and Goyle also stayed away, mostly because Malfoy did, and they often served double duty as Malfoy's shadows. If Hermione had any issues with the Slytherin girls, Harry hadn't heard, and he'd made sure to keep an eye on the girl, even if he preferred to stay away from her in her 'obsessive compulsive' research modes. He thought it alarming that she tended to sway between bewildered Muggleborn and consummate bookworm without warning.
"I need to relax," Hermione muttered, catching Harry's attention. "I haven't played since I got here?"
"Played what?" Harry asked, wondering with an idle wish, that Hermione might be a football fan.
"Piano," Hermione replied.
"You play?" Harry said, startled; "I mean, you never struck me as the type to play piano."
"I went to a school for the gifted," Hermione replied, "they believed that all students should have a physical and an artistic release. I played badminton and learned piano."
"I don't know if there is a place to play," Harry admitted as Madam Hooch finally arrived, "we'll have to ask McGonagall."
"All right," Hooch called, "Line up by your broom!"
The students jumped and moved; Harry made sure he was between Hermione and Neville. "Just relax," he hissed to the nearly hyperventilating Neville.
"Put your hand over your broom and say, 'up'." Hooch continued.
Harry did so and caught his broom easily, when Hermione looked at him, he said, "It's not a pet, its magic. Tell it what to do and mean it."
Hermione nodded and glared at the broom, "Up!" She said. The broom leapt to her hand with enough force to make her yelp.
Harry grinned to himself as he turned to Neville, who was also having trouble, "Look, Nev," Harry said, "just calm down. Tell me about that new plant that Professor Sprout has. Don't think about flying."
"Professor Sprout has a Devil's Snare," Neville said, calming down, "it's really dangerous if you don't know how to handle it. The most important thing to remember is that it doesn't like sunlight. A light or fire charm is most effective in getting it to back off."
"Nice," Harry said, "which Greenhouse is it in?"
"Greenhouse Six; Six is only for Seventh Year NEWT students, and only when Professor Sprout is present. It houses some of the most dangerous plants in the world." Neville replied.
"Impressive, now, tell your broom 'up'," Harry said.
"Up," Neville said, and the broom jumped to his hand.
"Impressive, Mr. Potter," Hooch said, "five points to Gryffindor for helping a friend."
Harry shrugged, "Uncle Remus told me that distracting people was good for pranks and for dealing with fears. It worked when Hunter made the floor become quicksand last year and I got stuck. They had to get me out before they could fix the floor, and that's what Uncle Remus did."
"Very well," Hooch turned to the class, "Mount your brooms, Mr. Potter, Mr. Longbottom."
The pair followed instructions and Hooch nodded, "Very good, Mr. Potter, your father is a fine instructor. Mr. Longbottom, relax your grip, grip it to tight, and the broom will be too sensitive to your instructions and could very well throw you off." Neville flushed and his grip eased. "Excellent," Hooch continued, "now, at the sound of my whistle, we will hover, when I blow again, lean forward and you will land."
Harry looked at Neville, who was white, and Hermione, who did not look at all happy at the prospect of leaving the ground. At the whistle, the trio pushed off and hovered. At least, Hermione and Harry did. Neville's tightly wound body just kept rising. Harry, with out thinking about it, followed him easily, until they were side by side, "Neville," he said, "look at me."
Neville turned his head and their eyes met, "Harry," Neville said.
"Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Potter," Madam Hooch said, arriving beside them, "Just what do you think you are doing?"
"Helping," Harry replied.
"I just want down," Neville said.
"Very well, Mr. Longbottom, look at me; Mr. Potter, both feet on the ground now."
"Yes Madam Hooch," Harry replied. He swung his broom handle away from Neville and Hooch and fell into a lazy dive, one that lead him over the Slytherins, who ducked, and then pulled up neatly before Hermione. "See, flying isn't so bad." He told her.
"That's all well and good, but you're going to get us in trouble for showing off." Hermione replied.
"I was doing the right thing," Harry retorted, "Gryffindors takes care of our own. I'm not going to abandon Neville because he's nervous about flying and makes mistakes. That's wrong. Going up there, even if I am going to get in trouble, and staying with him, that was right. We're Gryffindors, Hermione; we stick together no matter what."
"Thank you, Mr. Potter, for that thrilling piece of philosophy," Madam Hooch said. "Now, we are going to try hovering again." With a sigh, Harry mounted his broom again and turned back to the rather boring first flying lesson.
After the lesson, Harry found himself walking beside Hunter on the way back to the castle. Hermione had charged ahead to go to the library, and Neville was behind them. "Nice job with Neville," Hunter said, "should have figured the lump would mess up."
Harry's jaw dropped, "Hunter!" He said.
"What? He's a lump, round, quivering and he never stands up to anyone." Hunter said.
"Just because he's quiet doesn't give you the right to talk about him," Harry snapped.
"Of course, you'd stand up for him," Hunter said with a snort, "you're the one who faints whenever Snape starts yelling at you." Harry froze; he'd used his fainting trick once, that first day, so it was low for Hunter to be bringing it up now. Harry took a deep breath, wondering what he'd done to make Hunter so mad. "What, going to faint again?" Hunter asked him nastily.
Harry shook his head and bolted, heading into the castle and upwards, half leaping up the stairs and darting down a corridor at random. He flew through the halls and finally ending up in a nook in one corner of the castle with cushioned benches, windows and a curtain to block out the world. Harry curled up on a bench and stared out at the lake, wondering what he could have done to make Hunter so hurtful towards him. I know we haven't really spent time together, Harry thought, but he's always with Ron.
* * *
Hunter found Harry after nearly an hour of searching. "Harry?" He asked
Harry turned, "Hunter," he said, carefully. Hunter felt a twinge of something inside him at the woeful look that darkened his twin's vibrant green eyes.
"I-I'm sorry, Harry," Hunter said. "I shouldn't have said what I did." He closed the curtain and sat down across from his twin. "It's just, you always seem to be doing things with Neville and I was- was jealous."
Harry sniffed, "You're always with Ron, and I don't like him. He's, well, loud."
"Yeah, and Neville is pretty quiet," Hunter admitted.
"Hunter," Harry said, "We've never denied that we're different people." He drew himself up, "There is no reason for us to have the same friends. You're loud and outgoing, so you and Ron are good together. I'm quiet, and a bit studious, so Neville is more my speed. All we have to do is make sure we spend time together. We have the time for it, we just need to use that time."
Hunter reached over and poked Harry in the stomach, "Mooney's been scripting your speeches again," he accused.
Harry blew a raspberry at his twin and laughed, "Well, I did ask him for advice. He's good at advice."
"Why not just ask Mum?" Hunter asked.
"Padfoot says Mom and Papa are fighting again," Harry replied, "I didn't want to send a letter that would arrive in the middle of their fighting."
Hunter sighed, "I wish they'd stop fighting about Dumbledore all the time," he said.
"Yeah," Harry agreed, "or at least, that they'd stop using us as their catalyst for those fights. Did you get that questionnaire from Mom about what Dumbledore might be doing?"
"Yes," Hunter replied. "It's insane, like she expects him to attack me, us, or something."
Harry's stomach growled, "I'm hungry," he said, "let's go to dinner. Then we can tackle Hermione and pick her brain for that potions essay."
"I don't want to do homework," Hunter replied.
"I'll play Exploding Snap afterwards," Harry coaxed. "Come on, you'll be surprised how easy it is to look on the weekend and know you've gotten your homework done."
Hunter stood up, "That only works if all you have is a Potions essay," he grumbled.
"We'll work on it," Harry said, also standing up.
"So, we're good?" Hunter asked.
"We're perfection," Harry replied, pulling back the curtain.
"Where are we?" Hunter asked. Looking down the corridor, it turned a corner just outside the nook, and both sides looked old and unused. Neither had a landmark that would indicate the way to the Great Hall, or any other destination.
Harry and Hunter shared a look, and then Harry pointed, "That way," he declared.
The pair walked together down the corridor close together without actually touching. "There are no portraits," Hunter said, suddenly, "that isn't right; dad said there were portraits everywhere in Hogwarts."
Harry glanced around, "Let's go the other way," he began, looking behind them.
Mrs. Norris, the caretaker's stalker-cat, was watching them.
"On second thought," Hunter said, following his gaze, "run!"
The twins burst into a run, heading down the creepy corridor as fast as they could. It curved after a bit and dead ended at a door. They skidded to a stop and listened over their heavy breathing. "Where did they go, my sweet?" Filch asked, his voice echoing down the hall.
The twins shared a look and turned to the door and pulled, it was locked. Hunter looked over his shoulder, panicked, but Harry pulled his wand, remembering the work he'd down with Hermione and Neville with their text book. "Alohomora," He hissed. There was a click and the door popped open.
"Sweet," Hunter declared, pulling open the door.
Harry slipped in after him, "Standard Book of Spells, Chapter Seven," he told his twin smugly. "That's why I hang out with Hermione."
Hunter gave him a look and knelt to put his eye to the keyhole. "Ugh," he said, "gum." He pointed his wand at the door, "Waddiwasi," he said firmly. The gum shot out over their shoulders and Hunter grinned, "Asked Moony."
Harry rolled his eyes and bent to take a look in time to see Filch vanish back around the corner. "We're good," he began, and then noticed his brother's hand pushing at his shoulder. "What?" Harry asked, looking at his brother, who was staring behind them. Harry turned to look, and swallowed. "Go," he told Hunter, pulling the door open. Hunter didn't move, frozen in fear. Harry grabbed Hunter's robe and pulled him with him out the door, slamming it behind him sharply. A thud behind him told him that his actions had been none too soon. "Well," Harry said as he looked at the door, "Now we know why the third floor corridor on the left hand side is forbidden." Then he promptly collapsed in a quivering heap on the floor as his fear roared through him.
* * *
Once Harry and Hunter had recovered from their moment of hysteria, they crept back down the corridor and soon found their way back to the Great Hall in time to eat. Their friends were eating deserts as the twins collapsed on the bench between the two groups. Ron was talking with Dean and Seamus, his hands moving in support of his story, while Neville and Hermione were going over what looked to be flash cards, an idea of Hermione's to help with charms. "Where have you been?" Ron asked as the twins began to dish food on their plates.
"Talking," Harry replied, "it's a twin thing." He poured two glasses of pumpkin juice, "Veder bain," he told Hunter.
"Jos, kabal," Hunter agreed. "We did discover something, but we'll tell you later."
"The plates have ears," Harry agreed.
"It's little pitchers have big ears," Hunter corrected.
"No," Harry pointed at Hunter's plate, "the plates have ears!"
Hunter looked down, and realized with a yell that the food on his plate had been changed into ears. He shoved his plate away and looked at Harry who was regarding a human ear he'd stabbed with his fork. Snickers made the twins look down the table, where the stocky forms of Ron's twin brothers, Fred and George, sat, watching them and holding in laughter, "Oh Firsties," Fred managed.
"We heard that…"
"You two thought…"
"You could out prank…"
"The Weasley Twins!"
Harry looked at Hunter, who smirked and then the pair stood and bowed, first towards the Staff Table, and then to the twins, "Your challenge is accepted, Twins of the Weasleys," Harry intoned.
"May your names be remembered as the valiant forerunners of the Sons of Potter." Hunter added and the twins bowed again before they sat down.
Picking up the human ear, Harry turned down the table, "Let us meet after the meal to establish the rules of this challenge, Twins of the Weasleys." He lifted it to his mouth and bit down. Before anyone could make a noise, he spit the bite out and glared at the ear, which wiggled and became a stalk of broccoli. "That," he informed the whole of the table, "is so wrong." With a shrug, he popped the whole thing in his mouth and set to finishing the rest of his meal.
* * *
"Two questions," Ron said as he followed Hunter and Harry back to Gryffindor Tower, "you like broccoli, and how in the world did you know that wasn't a real ear?"
Harry tossed a grin over his shoulder, "When it changed, it didn't switch shape and color in one move, it was two. I watched it changed form, then color. There for it was more a color charm and a shape transfiguration than actually becoming a real ear. Second, I do like broccoli, although I prefer it with more cheese sauce, and I actually thought it was a sausage."
"I want to know what you were thinking," Hermione snapped, "You just started a prank war! You could get in a lot of trouble, and what if somebody gets hurt?"
"Relax," Hunter said, "we know the rules of prank wars, and we'll make sure the twins agree to follow."
"Yeah, you forget, Hermione, we've been trained by the best." Harry added as turned to walk backwards up a flight of stairs.
"And there they go," Neville muttered. While not a 'close childhood friend' of the twins, the Longbottom Heir had spent many long days trying to keep up with the pair and was well versed in their verbal quirks.
"We don't plan on getting anybody but the twins, therefore, our pranks will not be so preformed as to actually cause inconvenience to others." Hunter said as he stepped onto a rather spacious landing.
"Oh, there might be some distractions, charmed robes, or hair and what not, but nothing that will totally interrupt a class." Harry finished as he took up a spot against one wall.
"We've got a Marauders' Prank War Rule Book, which we'll loan to the Twins for this."
"And impose punishment for violation of the rules."
"As per rule number 63, we will each select neutral observers to serve as a tribune on the case."
"Hermione, we want you as one of them."
"Your ability to memorize and enforce the rules will be an asset, and you are slightly more neutral than others we might choose, because you are Muggleborn and haven't heard of us before you got your Letter."
"And because you are fair. You don't hold back when you have something to say, and you aren't afraid to turn to authority if you feel that you need it."
"Well," Hermione said, stunned, "I- I want to see this rule book of yours before I say anything, and you need to get the Weasleys on-board this plan too."
"Great," Harry and Hunter chimed together as they stepped forward. The railing they'd been standing beside slid back and an upward stair swung over before them. "Let's get to it, then. According to the rules, we only have so much time before we can't send for more supplies." They turned around and charged up the stairs before anyone could react.
"Are they always like that?" Dean asked as the rest of the group followed.
"No," Neville replied. "They're usually doing their own things. I've seen them get like this once or twice, and it's always about pranks. When it comes to pranks, they've got some weird mind-reading thing that creeps me out."
"How long have you known them?" Seamus asked.
"We met at our fourth birthday, actually." Neville replied, "Hunter blew out the candles on all the birthday cakes with accidental magic, Harry turned a bully into a bunny, and I got stuck in a tree by a dog that was bigger than I was."
* * *
Harry sat on his bed looking through his Marauders' Handbook; unlike the version that they would give to the twins, the Potters' Marauders' Handbook had been personalized by the Marauders, and then added into by Harry, including a list of pranks he'd been able to pull off. What Harry was interested in, however, was the list of rules for a Prank War. Not only were the rules presented on the pages, but their loopholes and exceptions, especially those that would bring extra benefit to a pair of Firsties with a handful of spells taught by their godfather. "Got it," he announced, turning to Hunter.
"What's up?" Hunter asked from under his bed. Harry thought that his twin was looking for his prank book, but he wasn't sure.
"Spy," Harry replied. "We've got enough; we can bribe someone, probably Jordan, into helping us out."
"What should our first prank be then? Will we need a Spy?" Hunter asked, and then sneezed.
"Gesundheite, I was thinking Emperor's New Clothes." Harry replied, "I've got the potion, and I'm sure there are plenty of third years that would love to help prank the Twins."
"What about When in Rome?" Hunter replied, "The Charms work is a bit advanced, but I think I can pull it off."
"That's signature," Harry pointed out, "everyone knows that was Uncle Remus's trademark. We can't just pull it out now; it will give away the game to those who know."
"But if we can pull it off, nobody will believe that we learned it from Moony. Actually, they won't believe that we could have done it at all." Hunter argued
"During a Prank War, that's not going to work. Look, Hunt, nobody thinks we're able to do much with Charms and Transfiguration, but we can get Potions from home if we really need it. Therefore, we need to choose pranks that reflect that. We can save the stuff that seems too advanced for us for later, when we want people to assume someone else did it. Besides, I wanted to use When in Rome on Malfoy."
"What are you planning with Malfoy? You're not a bully normally."
"I don't know, it's just, something that needs to be done."
"You always have a reason for doing something."
"Well, I'm not sure yet what I'm doing, I'm just following my instincts."
"We need to get back to work, we don't have much time."
"We don't have any time. Fred, George, stop eaves dropping, you'll never hear anything good!"
Harry grinned as the door swung open to reveal Fred, George, Ron, Neville and Hermione crowded on the landing. "Come in," Hunter said as he wiggled out from under the bed. He held up a bag, "Found it. I told you that I had a good place."
Harry grinned, "You're covered in dirt."
"Does it matter? I have a good hiding place," Hunter stood up and grinned at their friends. "Come in, you guys, come in. Grab bed space." He flopped down beside Harry, stealing one of Harry's pillows to prop his arms on.
"What's going on?" Neville asked.
"We asked you five up here to talk about the Prank War." Harry said, closing his book.
"We'll only go through with this, Fred and George, if you agree to abide by the Rules of the Marauders."
"We would love to…" One twin said, Harry mentally tagged him as Fred.
"If we knew what they were," the second twin finished, now tagged as George.
Harry and Hunter exchanged amused glances before they reached into Hunter's bag and produced a pair of books. "Well, we know the Marauders." Harry said, holding up his book.
"We're willing to give you Handbooks…"Hunter said.
"…With the understanding that we will tell you who Moony, Padfoot and Prongs are at a later date."
Fred and George looked at each other for a moment, and then Fred said, "What about Wormtail?"
The Potter twins stiffened, and in harsh, cold voices, they declared, "He who was so named is no longer a Marauder following his actions during and following the First War of Voldemort. He has been officially struck from the Marauder roles and from all Marauders items."
"Just out of curiosity," Harry continued, "Where did you hear of the Rat anyways, I doubt Filch or McGonagall would tell stories about the Marauders of old and they were the ones who saw the most of them outside of classes."
The Weasley Twins moved into a huddle while Ron, Hermione and Neville sat down on Hunter's bed. "So why are we here?" Hermione asked.
"Because, according to the Code, we need you three in the Prank War;" Hunter answered absently.
"We have decided," George announced.
"To identify yourselves?" Harry muttered, absently turning a page in his book.
"To dye your hair?" Hunter offered.
"We need to study up on color change charms," Harry said, turning to Hunter. "Especially if we want to pull of a 'Hail of Glory'."
"Not enough people," Hunter pointed out; "Beggar's Ride?"
"Not enough people," Harry replied, "an Incident?"
"After the Prank War," Hunter agreed.
"Excuse me!" Hermione cut in, "I believe that Fred and George had something to say."
"We accept," Fred and George announced, "conditional on our reading and understand of the rules."
Hunter tossed the books to the Weasleys who caught easily. "One rule," Harry added; "One not in the handbook."
"What?" One of the twins asked.
"Ron is neutral." Hunter said bluntly.
"He's our friend..."
"And your brother."
"We don't think it is fair…"
"That Ron should be asked be any of us…"
"To chose a side…"
"We won't ask him to spy on you…"
"You don't ask him to spy on us."
"It is to note that there are other boys in here…"
"I'm sure that you can bribe or bully any of them into spying."
"And some things that will make sense after you read your books."
"Hermione is the Third Judge."
"Either her or Percy, really."
"Neville is our Judge."
"Wait, we didn't ask," Hunter turned to Harry, frowning.
Harry rolled his eyes, "Neville, we'll explain in a moment, ok? If you change your mind I'm sure we can find someone else."
"Ok," Neville replied, shrugging.
"We agree to Ron," one of the Weasleys said.
"We'll get back to you after we read the book," the other added and the two headed back out the door quickly, already thumbing through their handbooks.
"Why'd you make me neutral?" Ron demanded.
"Like we said," Hunter replied, "it isn't fair of us to pressure you against your brothers, and we didn't want them to take advantage of us not wanting to pressure you."
"And there's a loophole in the rules," Harry added with a grin, "it's in the Code of Conduct, actually. 'All rules named for a Prank War are void at the end of the War unless all Marauders vote and place the rule on the list.' After the War, having seen what the twins can do, we will have no problem having you play spy."
"Or even run a prank on them." Hunter injected.
"We just need them to relegate you into harmlessness so that when we need your help later, they will never suspect you." Harry finished.
"Ah," Ron said.
Harry fished additional handbooks from Hunter's bag "Read these and get back to us, please."
"Sure," Neville said. "Once I know what I'm doing."
The twins grinned, "And so, the Prank War of First Year begins," they intoned.