James woke up earlier than usual, which was just as well, because it would give them more time to set up the prank before lots of people crowded into the great hall.
He took a quick shower and woke up the rest of the dormitory.
"Whassamatter with you? Waking me up so early!" Complained Sirius, rolling out of his bed and onto the floor.
James rolled his eyes and grabbed the plans, collecting a couple of things from the list Remus had scribbled in the corner of the parchment as the others slowly woke themselves up.
A short while later they were all ready, although Remus looked rather sick.
James put the parchment down next to the supplies he had gathered are you alright?
"Yeah. I ... Uh ... Got a letter last night ... My mum is sick and I've got to go home and stay with her for a couple of days, that's all,"
James nodded , looking doubtful but deciding not to press the matter.
Unfortunately, Sirius had made no such decision.
"So your mum's sick, why do you look so off then?"
"I don't. I'm just ... A bit shaken - my mum never gets sick, you see. And it must be bad if she wants me home with her, right? I'm just worried is all,"
Peter rubbed Remus' back comfortingly, telling him that everything would be okay.
"Anyway," said Sirius dramatically, "if we don't hurry up there will be people in the hall and our plan will never work,"
"Right," said Remus grimly.
They did a double check, picking up a few things they'd missed and made there way down to the great hall, almost getting lost several times.
When they arrived they checked to make sure no one was around and emptied one of the pitchers of pumpkin juice.
Remus pulled out the plan and read out the instructions, with James and Sirius following until there was a jug full of what appeared to be a crudely made, bubbling yellow potion.
Remus insisted on checking the potion before they commenced part two. The prank wasn't great, due to the fact that none of them could do magic that well, but it was fairly solid.
Once Remus was done they poured a little of the concoction into every jug of pumpkin juice in the hall, then they poured a little of the juice from each pitcher back into the one they'd made the potion in, placing it back in its spot so that no one would know that anyone had been there.
They packed up their things and ran all the way back to the common room. A couple of older students were already out, sitting on the couches and waiting for their friends to arrive or cramming in some unfinished holiday work, but they didn't pay the four any attention.
They walked straight back up to their dormitory, hoping beyond hope that they hadn't stuffed up in one way or another.
They waited a while before heading back downstairs, still managing to be some of the first people in the hall, although it wasn't long until a stampede of students entered, swarming into their spots and piling food on their plates.
James watched, trying not to grin for fear of giving them away, as they waited for it to take effect.
Suddenly there was a scream from the Ravenclaw table. There was havoc around the hall as students' skin turned a motley of colours and multicoloured bubbles poured from their ears.
It soon became clear that no one was hurt, some of the students were laughing, grinning as they discussed who they thought had done it. Most people suspected a couple of fifth year boys, Fabian and Gideon Prewett, but they seemed just as baffled as everyone else.
Some people didn't find it nearly as funny. A blonde third year girl from Slytherin stood up, wiping coloured bubbles out of her silky hair. She was fuming.
"You wait 'til my father hears about this!" She shrieked. Half the school rolled their eyes, clearly this wasn't the first time the girl had said something of the sort.
Soon enough the excitement died down and everyone rushed to cram some food in before they had to leave for their classes.
Looking down at his timetable, James realised that they had Herbology first, a class they hadn't had yet.
"Herbology?" Said Sirius, looking over James' shoulder, "that sounds like a waste of time and effort. What're we supposed to do – separate basil from thyme or something?"
James shrugged, standing up and almost knocking Sirius out of his seat.
"What was that for?" Yelled Sirius dramatically, "I thought you were my friend!"
James rolled his eyes, along with several of the older students.
"You don't care about meeee!" He whined, standing up and facing James, his arms crossed as he fake-sniffled.
You'll be fine, at least I care about you more than your mother does James signed.
"Well that's not saying very much, is it?" Replied Sirius, not missing a beat.
Perhaps not, but I care about you more than that blonde Slytherin girl cares about her hair!
"IMPOSSIBLE! My dear cousin Narcissa cares about her hair more than You-Know-Who cares about ridding the world of Muggles and Muggle-Borns!" Sirius exclaimed.
James held up his hands to signal defeat, but he was grinning, is there anyone in Slytherin you're NOT related to?
"I doubt it," said Sirius grimly.
"Come on, you two, we'll be late if we don't hurry,"
Sirius looked like he was about to retort, but at Remus' look he fell into step, his arm tossed casually over James' shoulder.
The Herbology teacher was a somewhat plump witch in her early twenties. She introduced herself as Professor Sprout and expressed how excited she was to be teaching them all.
After explaining a couple of things she had them all collecting some oddly shaped beans off some bushes that definitely did not want to be harvested, apparently they were for one of Professor Kettleburn's new creatures.
About halfway through the class she sought James out to have a chat.
"Hi," she had said chirpily, "you must be James Potter! Would you mind having a quick chat with me outside?"
James had shaken his head to indicate that he didn't mind, but only because he hadn't seen another option.
"So, James - I may call you that, right?'
James shrugged in reply.
"Right. I've heard about your little … Er … Issue, and I wanted to have a quick chat to make sure we're on the same page."
He nodded curtly for her to go on.
"Alright, as I'm aware, you communicate mainly using BWSL?"
James nodded affirmatively.
"So that's all in order, apart from that there are very few plants that you'll need to talk to use, and at any rate you'll be with a partner for almost everything. Do you have anything else you are confused about?"
James shook his head, not wanting the conversation to carry on any longer.
"Well, if you ever have any questions, feel free to ask." She said, finally allowing James back into the greenhouse.
"What was that all about?" asked Sirius, when James returned.
She wanted to have a chat about my – you know …
"Oh … right."
"Well," said Sirius, when the class was over and they were heading back up the lawns for Charms, "That class was just as boring as I thought it was going to be."
"I thought it was fun!" said Peter, digging dirt out from under his fingernails.
"That's 'cause you're boring, Petey." Sirius replied, hastily adding "just kidding!" at Peter's expression.
"Looks like the potion is wearing off already," noted Remus, nodding towards a group of fourth year Hufflepuffs making their way down to the greenhouses.
"Potion? Does that mean you four were responsible for what happened this morning at breakfast?" said a voice from behind them.
"I'd expect you're just jealous, Evans." said Sirius nonchalantly, turning around. Lily's face was a fading and rather odd combination of blue, yellow and pink – although the pink may have just been her angry flush showing through.
"I ought to tell Professor McGonagall!"
"But you have no proof, see, how are you going to convince anyone that a bunch of first years managed to do that to the majority of the school?"
Lily huffed and pushed past them, walking up to the castle as fast as she could.
"That went well," said Sirius, "c'mon, wouldn't want to be late! I think we're doing that levitating charm thing."
And here I was, thinking that you didn't care about your classes at all!
"I don't. I just want to see Evans' face when I levitate her homework into the fire."
James frowned, but quickly covered it up. Levitating someone's homework into the fire didn't seem right, but he figured it wasn't the worst thing that could happen to a person.
The thing James hated most about charms was the fact that they shared the class with the Slytherins. He mostly just tried to ignore them and focus on the lesson.
"I hope you all remember the wand movement we were learning last lesson," squeaked Professor Flitwick, "Say it with me: The swish-and-flick. Very good. The incantation is Wingardium Leviosa. I'd like you all to practice in your pairs, and try to levitate the feather. I'll be coming around and helping you."
The entire class got to work, waving their wands and saying the incantation.
You go first. James signed at Sirius, whom he was partnered with, If I go first we'll be here all lesson and you won't get a shot.
"Yeah, okay." Sirius raised his wand, swishing and flicking as he said, "Wingardium Leviosa."
The feather lifted about an inch of the desk before floating back down.
"Your turn," he said.
James gulped, picking up his wand. He tried to clear his mind but the classroom was too loud, making him feel trapped, as if the loud chatter was closing in, suffocating him.
Suddenly, someone was shaking his shoulder.
"-mes! Mate! What was that? You just sorta zoned out and then all but started hyperventilating!"
Sorry. Signed James, his hands shaking, I don't know what happened.
"Right." Sirius frowned, "So you're alright then?"
James nodded, his heart pounding loudly in his ears.
"What's going on over here?" asked Flitwick, who had apparently made his way over to their table while they were distracted.
Sirius glanced at James for a second before saying, "I was about to try the spell,"
"Alright then, let's see it."
He levelled his wand at the feather, saying the enchantment clearly and waving his wand. This time the feather lifted a couple inches higher than the last try before sinking back down to the table.
"Very good, but you must remember to stay focused, that way you'll be able to hold the spell for longer."
"Okay,"
"Mr Potter, before you try, I'd like to inquire as to whether or not you've made any progress on your non-verbal spellwork?"
James shook his head, staring down at his hands.
"No matter, after all, it is a rather complex branch of magic. Nevertheless, I'd still like you to attempt."
Lifting his wand, James pointed his wand at the feather and swished it, punctuating the swish with a flick and thinking the enchantment as hard as he could. The feather didn't move. James glared at it, feeling a lump forming in his throat.
"It's quite alright, Mr Potter." he said. He was about to continue when a letter flew into the room in the form of a small paper aeroplane.
Flitwick read the letter quickly, "I'll be right back," he squeaked, and ran from the classroom.
"What was that all about?" asked Remus, who was on Sirius' other side.
Sirius shrugged, but didn't get the chance to say anything.
"Oi Potty!" called someone from behind them, they spun around.
"Saw you're having a bit of trouble with your spellwork," sneered a thickset boy James was Fairly sure was called Avery, "you're positive you're not a squib?"
"Of course he isn't," snarled a voice from the left, Snape, "he's special. Potty claims he's disabled! We should all give him special treatment like the defective little daisy he is!"
James clenched his fist, knowing full well that signing would be no use.
"What happens when they finally realise you're a hopeless case, eh Potty? They'll kick you out so fast it'll make your head spin!"
"OI!" roared Sirius, "you leave him alone! He's a better wizard than the three of you combined!"
"How so? He can't even do a simple levitating charm! Face it, Black. He's hopeless."
Sirius launched himself at the three offending Slytherins, two of whom were bigger than he was, pummelling everywhere he could get, his eyes alight with fury.
"NEVER." he yelled, between punches and kicks, "TALK – ABOUT – ANY – OF – MY – FRIENDS – LIKE – THAT – AGAIN!"
"Or what? You'll tell on us?" Mulciber sneered, "I'm sure your little boyfriend there would really appreciate you using the pity card about his defect to get us in trouble."
James launched himself into the fight, although it was still pretty hopeless, Avery and Mulciber were like trolls – large, violent and always followed by a stench that made you want to throw up everything you'd eaten in the past decade of your life.
"What is going on here?" squeaked Flitwick, re-entering the classroom.
When the fight didn't break up he separated the five boys with magic.
"Twenty points each from your respective houses. I don't want to see this sort of behaviour in my class."
"But Professor -" James elbowed Sirius in the ribs to shut him up.
"What?" exclaimed Sirius, as they sat back down, "I was just going to say -"
No. You can't play that card. You can't use it as an excuse.
"But -"
No. You don't understand, Sirius. You'll never be the disabled friend. Nobody feels sorry for you or treats you differently just because of who you are. I don't want it to define me. It's part of me and that won't ever change but I'm more than just my disability and nobody seems to see that. No one will ever see it if I use it to get special treatment or sympathy. I want to be me; James. I want to be known for being me, not for being different. Please don't use it as an excuse.
Sirius looked sheepish, "Sorry, mate."
A/N – woah, this chapter is way longer than all the others. I want to apologise for the crappy chapter. I wrote it on my phone while following my family around some boring Australian History museum thing (I'm a very social person, you see), and my phone typing is really dodgy. Anyway, thanks to all of you people who have followed and favorited and especially my commenters because it makes me feel really special that you guys would not only take the time to read my story but you also took the time to give me your opinions and feedback (you don't understand how excited I get when I check my notifications and see that I got a new review. It really makes my day :) . Sorry for rambling. I'll see you next time!
