When Inkpots Attack When Inkpots Attack

It had been several weeks since the attacking book incident. It was about 11:00 at night, and the common room was empty, except for James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter, who were getting ready to plan their next prank on Lily.

Lily had heard voices from the common room, as she was getting ready for bed. Because of her year spent with the future Marauders, her curiosity got the better of her, and she crept down to the door to the common room.

She heard her name said by James, and quietly sat down against the wall to listen.

"Since number 73 went so well," she heard James say, "I was thinking of trying number 74."

"Excellent!" Sirius said. "Another perfect one!"

"What is it?" Peter asked, to several groans.

Lily heard the rustling of papers, and then James said, "Prank number 74 is 'When Inkpots Attack.' The basics of it are charming inkpots to tip up and squirt ink on whoever's using them. The more advanced form is actually making the inkpot blow up on the user."

Lily took that in and thought to herself, 'How do they come up with stuff like that?'

Sirius started to talk, "What we're going to do is the first charm tomorrow, ironically in Charms class, and the second when Lily does her homework tomorrow night. Do we have the charm? Excellent! I'm off to bed, then."

Lily heard four pairs of footsteps disappear up the stairs, and headed up to her own bed, figuring out how to make the plan backfire.

As she found her solution, she smiled and fell asleep.

The next day, the boys entered Charms, again with faces aglow.

The glow soon faded as Professor Flitwick (by Lily's suggestion) said, "Today we're writing group essays on the Unlocking Charm, Alohamora. I'll be assigning groups…lets see. Black, Evans, and Potter. Lupin, Pettigrew, and Kane…"

James and Sirius moved over to where Lily was sitting, excited to be closer to her when she was inked.

Once again, their smiles faded as they saw that Lily had a bandage on her right hand, meaning that she couldn't write.

James and Sirius kept trading glances with each other and Lily, until Flitwick came over and looked at their blank parchment.

"Why is there nothing on your parchment?" he asked.

"I can't write, Sir," Lily said. "I've been telling them to write at least a title so we can start the actual essay."

James looked up and asked, "Uh, Professor? Can I go get my own ink?"

"Is there anything wrong with your ink, Miss Evans?"

"No, Sir," she answered. "It's brand new."

"Then, no, Mr. Potter, you will use this ink."

But, Professor-" Sirius began.

"You will use this ink unless you really, really want a detention. Now, please, start working."

"Write 'Alohamora' at the top of the page, please," Lily instructed.

Shaking his head, James unsealed the inkpot and stuck his quill into it.

Right after he finished writing, the inkpot levitated until it was about level with James' eyes, and sat there for a second.

James covered his eyes and ducked his head just as emerald ink was squirted all over him.

He took ink-covered hands away from his partially ink-covered face, and pushed his sopping hair back.

By this point, the whole class was staring at James, and Flitwick had come over.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Don't know, Sir," James said, spitting out a mouthful of ink.

"Miss Evans, it was your ink, did you know anything about it?"

"No, Sir," she said, motioning to the wax seal on the table. "Like I said, it was brand new, you even saw it with the seal on."

"I did, indeed. Well, anyone else who didn't finish their group essay now has to write his or her own. If your essay is finished, you have no homework. Mr. Potter, I suggest you take a shower to remove the green. Class dismissed."

Later that night, Lily was getting her homework ready for the next part of her plan, very pleased with how the first part had gone.

She had told Cali to go get James' owl (the snowy owl named Gidweh.)

The owl was to fly to the common room window with a package for James meant to distract him and his friends.

Lily was now in the common room, positioned fairly close to the boys' table.

As the owl flew to the window and the boys all went to receive it, Lily switched her inkpot with one of the boys'.

She was back in her seat as Sirius dipped his quill into the replaced ink.

In a bright flash of light, Sirius was covered in blue ink from head to foot.

By that time, Lily had already slipped upstairs.

James opened the empty package and read the attached letter.

'You really shouldn't plan your pranks in the common room anymore. As you can see, I can get back at you, Mr. I doubt it. Just because I quit Quidditch, I'm evidently not a lost case. Good luck getting the ink out or your hair and robes!'

Once again, the four boys were in their dormitory. This time, James' and Sirius' hair was slightly tinted and wet.

"Okay," Sirius said. "So that didn't work. I think I still have some ink in my ears."

"You definitely still have it in your hair," Peter said.

"Stuff it!" Sirius growled.

"So, we obviously need to back off of Evans," James said.

"I told you pranking her wasn't a good idea," Remus reminded them.

"Wait, James, you said you got a letter from her? I thought she hurt her hand," Peter said.

"Come one, Pete! Get with it!" Sirius said. "She staged the whole thing, even the partner assignment! We should definitely lay off Evans."

With that, their 'meeting' broke off and the boys went off to bed.