Remus P.O.V.
"Fifth year, O.W.L. year…. certainly not a joke. This is way too hectic and it's only November!" James whined for the nth time that evening. He tossed aside his Astronomy essay, which flew and landed neatly a few feet away from where we were sitting, and sprawled on the floor. "I need a break from all this."
"You've not even written four lines of the essay and you need a break? Mate, then you'll be receiving a great deal of surprise this coming year." I replied to him wearily without even looking up from my homework.
"I have a great idea!" Sirius exclaimed with his fist up in the air; he had given up on his homework long before James did, "…that would cheer you up." his sly grin slowly creeping on his mouth as he stood up from where he was sitting and beckoned Peter to join him. Peter who was already struggling with his essay, left his poorly attempted work on the floor and accepted Sirius' lead.
"You do remember that we have to finish these tonight, right? It has only been an hour after the dinner that we are here in the common room doing due assignments and you all are already way off our original aim." I tried to remind them what we originally decided. James and Sirius looked at me like I had sprouted wings from my back.
"Moony…" James put his hand on my shoulder, "Look at yourself! You look so worn out…. And with the moon approaching, you definitely need a relief. Now c'mon…."
I let James pull me from the ground; agreeing to him put a big smile on his face. "Okay… but what are you guys actually planning?" I asked Sirius as we head towards the portrait hole.
"Oh, It is awesome. My idea, that is." He stated as if it's a known fact. "I had this pranking idea for ages but we were so busy that I forgot to convey it to you all."
My eyes automatically moved to a certain group of girls as we passed them on our way towards the portrait hole. There she was, reading, her lips slightly moving with every word she read, and her fingers toying with a quill. Artemis Hale. At that very moment, she looked up from her book, straight into my eyes; it was like she heard her name called out.
(A/N: Just to make it clear, italic words are generally the thoughts of the person whose P.O.V. I mention at the top.)
My heart skipped a beat. Oh Merlin, I was gawking at her and she caught me red handed. It's embarrassing….. What should I do…We exchanged glances for few seconds; I saw a light blush crept on her face. 'Smile at her at least! Don't just stand there like a statue.' I gave her a fleeting smile and turned my head away from her as quickly as possible. In all this confusion, I forgot to duck at the portrait hole and got bumped into it with quite a force.
"Agh! Damn…" I groaned with pain as I left the common room.
'Served you right….Ogling at a girl… where are your manners, Remus.' I shook my head, being disappointed with myself. James, Sirius and Peter were already a few steps ahead so I increased my pace to match up with them. I heard Sirius talking about his plan to James, covering their faces with mischievous smiles. Soon we reached the 'starting point' that Sirius explained, would be the origin of his prank: the fourth floor corridor.
"Okay. So, this is how we will execute the plan. This corridor parts into four different direction. We each will take a direction and like I explained earlier, will be performing the spell on every alternate walls and floors. Adjacent walls will be affected by the spell automatically."
"What spell? I didn't heard you the last time you were explaining." I asked Sirius, feeling a bit foolish for not paying attention.
"It's written in here." And he gave me a piece of paper. I unfolded it and found spells scribbled on it.
attiguus tactus
perlucidulus mirage
"…wait, when did you write this? You have a quill on yourself –"
"What does it do? I have never heard of this spell before." Peter asked eagerly looking at Sirius.
I read the spells again, it was of an advanced level. "Padfoot, this spell is quite complicated for our level. It would be tricky to use this on such a big scale and that to on our first attempt. How do you think we'll be –"
"That's why it is combined with an illusion spell. It will just create an illusion of the actual spell activated by touch or pressure. Don't worry, I have all figured it out." Sirius said with a huge grin. "Now come on, let's do this…. Before we get discovered by the Professors."
We split up and spanned throughout the castle, casting the spell on every wall. It was a tedious work and risky and we were already past our in-time. Boy, we would be in serious trouble if we get found out by any teachers. 'I should've been resting instead of doing this. Hell, I should've been completing my assignments instead of doing this or resting. But somehow, I always gets wind up doing something crazy instead.' I continued to cast spells as I entered the last part of the castle that I hadn't touched. 'Ah.. the only corridor left… ' I increased my pace to complete the work quickly but stopped when I heard footsteps echoing from the other side of the corridor. I searched frantically for a place to hide but failed miserably.
'Shit… I'm in trouble. What do I do… what do I do.' The footsteps were getting closer and closer. I turned back and ran as fast as I can. I knew it made hell of a noise but I didn't had any choice.
"Whose there?" a voice called behind me, increasing its pace to catch up to mine.
I didn't wanted to get caught but my footsteps were giving me away.
"Muffliato!"
I turned around to see the spell caster. I saw a familiar figure with jet black waist length hair. "Cas! You are here…. Why are you here?" I was surprised to see Cas Marie outside, roaming in the castle, at this hour.
"Surprised to see me here? Well, be surprised later, now we have to get away from Filch. Follow me." Cas said, before she started running. I followed her without any question but inside, I was bursting with curiosity. 'What is Cas doing here? She is not one of those people who breaks school rules. She is one of the obedient students in our year…'
"Nice quick thinking there, with the spell, by the way." I complimented her, as we took a shortcut to the Gryffindor tower.
"Thanks. I'm surprised you didn't think of it before I did." She grinned at me before asking, "What were you even doing there at this time? It's almost midnight."
Dear lord… Did this little pranking arrangement took that much of my time? "I could ask you the same." I try to change the focus light to her.
"Me…" She scoffed, "I have a condition…. I walk in my sleep."
I got surprised by her carefree attitude towards her… condition. It was dangerous for her yet she was taking it so lightly. I wanted to ask her about it more but it might offend her, it would be invading her privacy after all.
"Don't worry, I take my potions. I just forgot to take tonight's." She laughed sheepishly at her mistake.
I blinked at her. I must be having that worried look on my face that James always points out. I quickly adjusted my expressions and gave her a weak smile, I just didn't know how to reply to her comment.
James, Sirius and Peter were waiting for their friend Remus at the common room which was now almost deserted given that it was past midnight.
"It's been almost 30 minutes since we came here. Where is Moony? He should have been here by now." James worded his concerns finally.
"Maybe he was caught by a patrolling teacher." Peter said.
"Stop being gloomy, he's fine." Sirius added, although he too was concerned a bit.
Five minutes later the portrait hole opened and two figures entered. The fire was almost out but the room was lit enough to know the presence of anybody in the vicinity.
" – see you tomorrow at the class then." Cas said to Remus as the portrait hole closed after them. After exchanging goodbyes, Cas went up the girls dormitory whereas Remus walked up to the couch where his friends were waiting for him.
"Ah… so, that is the reason you were late. And here we were thinking you got your first detention for this year." Sirius said, with a smirk working up his face.
"You were thinking right. I nearly got caught by Filch if it wasn't for Cas Marie. She helped me escape from him. Sorry I couldn't finish enchanting the last corridor." Remus said.
"It's alright. One measly corridor doesn't matter." Sirius added. "Now all there is left is to wait for the morning. I think this will be enough for a good distraction." And he started doing his evil laugh.
"When will it be activated?" Peter asked as the Marauders descended down the stairs of the boy's dormitory.
"The spell will get activated as soon as anyone applies pressure on the enchanted zones. In this case, if anyone touches the walls or step onto the floors." Sirius explained the process in a very poised way.
"Um…I think it is already activated." James said, pointing his finger towards the entrance of the common room where the Portrait was ajar and the students were crowding the way. Confusion was everywhere.
"What is happening?" Lily Evans asked as she too, had just stepped into the common room. "Let me through. I am a prefect." She commanded a group of second year girls. The authority in her voice easily made way for her to the Portrait hole. When she saw the sight her mouth fell open:
The stairs were as usual changing its destination every once in a while but they were completely hanging in the air. The corridor floor was vanished and so did the walls. The paintings on the walls were hanging in the midair. Everything was on its place except for the walls and the floors. Full outside view of sky, mountains, and lakes can be seen. Few students were there too, on the stairs, too afraid to step down from it.
"What in the name of –"
"How are we gonna go for breakfast?!"
"What about classes?" a few first years asked, sounding all panicky. Lily was herself confused, 'Who did this? This is clearly a prank. But who could have done such –' and she realized the answer to her questions. Only 'them' could have done pranks of this scale. "Potter!" She thundered as she turned around and walked straight up to him, "I know it's your doing. Fix it. Now."
"Why do you always accuse me? Why do you think it is always me whenever something out of ordinary happens?" James replied to her by returning her gaze of anger with equal passion, the only difference was that his gaze was full of warmth. He took a step closer to her, "Do you think about me that much that you need excuses to talk to me?"
"There he goes, all flirty." Sirius commented from behind. Marlene and Alice started to snigger at the scene that is unfolding in front of them.
"In your dreams Potter. I swear –"
"Hey look! We can walk here. The floor is not vanished, I think it only got transparent. And so did the walls." Artemis shouted from behind the crowd and pulled everybody's attention towards herself.
'…Figured out quite fast. Hmm…' thought Sirius, a smile flashed on his face. It took few minutes but the crowd slowly thinned out from the common room and trailed down towards the great hall.
"We should go to the breakfast too. I want to see the full effect of the prank." James chimed with excitement.
