Chapter Eleven: Halloween

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon and James, Sirius, Remus and Peter were hanging out under their favorite tree. It was warm for the end of October. The castle and grounds were practically deserted. Everyone who wasn't a first or second year was taking advantage of the hogsmeade trip. However, there were upsides to having everyone gone. The silence gave James and Sirius the perfect opportunity to plan their future pranks on Snivellus.

They were planning on striking both him and Lily tonight at the Halloween feast. It would be the perfect opportunity to humiliate Snivellus and perfect Lily Evans. Lily deserved it for getting them in trouble, and Snivellus was a greasy git.

"That will be awesome. So we're not going to get caught right?" James whispered to Sirius who was still scribbling things down on a piece of parchment.

"Of course not…" He said looking up at James.

"Good. I can't wait." James smiled evilly. "Hey why don't we go visit Hagrid?" He said standing up. Sirius smiled and jumped up.

"Yeah let's go!" He said running off in the direction of Hagrid's cabin.

"Um…I'll catch up with you guys later…" Peter said glancing over to where Sally was sitting alone, reading. Remus smiled and hurried off after James and Sirius.

"Alright Peter," He called back.

"Yeah okay," James called. Sirius however was all ready out of sight.

James raced across the grounds chasing after Sirius, whose black hair was flowing freely behind him. The cool hair rushed past his face diminishing the sweat that was forming at his brow.

"I win!" Sirius panted as he collapsed in front of Hagrid's hut. James ran up and tripped over him sending his chin down into Hagrid's front step.

"OW!" James moaned as he rolled over on his back. Remus came to a stop looking down in shock at Sirius and James. James was holding his face in agony and Sirius was trying to pull himself up, still huffing loudly.

"Are…you…okay?" Sirius asked pulling himself up, using Remus' arm as a ladder.

"Get off!" Remus said pushing him away, causing Sirius to almost fall back down. "You…okay James?" Remus asked slightly out of breath.

"Don't…push...me…"Sirius spluttered.

"I'm not…a rope!" Remus spat. Sirius growled slightly still breathing hard.

"Yeah well—" But Sirius was cut off.

"Knock it owf!" James cried pulling himself up. He was holding his hand to his chin, which was bleeding profusely. Scarlet red drops were dribbling down his chin and through the cracks of his fingers. He walked over and used his other hand to knock on Hagrid's door. They waited and then the door flew open.

"'ello James, Sirius, Remus. What bring yeh 'ere?" He grinned down at them. "What 'appened to yer face?"

"I fell." He said glaring at Sirius.

"Come on in. I'll give yeh something for it." He said stepping aside to let them in. "But then yeh should go up to Madam Pomfrey." He grabbed a cloth and dumped it in a bucket. The boys took a seat at the table looking around the cabin in awe. There were a lot of amazing things in Hagrid's hut.

"'Ere you go James…" He said handing him the washcloth. James took it and pressed it to his chin, it stung momentarily but began to feel better.

"Hagrid what's that?" Sirius asked running over to a strange object, eyeing him from within a jar.

"Oh. Those are Flobberworms. Nothin' special 'bout them." Hagrid said clambering around in the kitchen. "Want some tea?"

"Sure…"Remus replied for all of them.

"I've made some treacle if yer want" James paled at thought of Hagrid's cooking.

"No thank you Hagrid. We have the feast to get to soon," Remus said thinking quickly.

"Oh, right. S'ppose yeh want to have lots of room for the feast." He said chuckling loudly. James, and Sirius laughed awkwardly. Hagrid came over and set three large mugs in front of them poured tea into them.

"Thanks," They replied in unison. James slurped his tea quickly. The pain in his chin was beginning to make him dizzy.

"Hagrid, James their looks like he's going to pass out we better get him to madam Pomfrey." Remus said quickly standing up. James looked up it had grown darker outside. He looked around confused. Their mugs were empty and the table was slightly wet, James' guess was Hagrid had been pounding the table.

"What time is it?" James asked rubbing his head.

"Almost time for the feast. We have about a half hour. WE better get you to Pomfrey." Remus grabbed one arm and Sirius grabbed the other, together the two boys hauled James up to the castle and to the hospital wing. Where madam Pomfrey was attending to a first year with an abnormally large head that seemed to be swelling.

"What are you three doing here? The feast will be starting soon." She looked at James and sighed angrily. "Set him down here." She said impatiently. Remus and Sirius dragged a nearly unconscious James over to the bed.

"He hit his chin running…" Sirius said.

"When, this boy looks like he's lost a lot of blood…"She said angrily waving her wand over James and muttering under her breath.

"It was about four hours ago…"Sirius said nervously.

"FOUR HOURS AGO!" She shrieked grabbing two thick black bottles. She poured the bottles into four cups and passed them to James. He fluttered his eyes to keep them open. He looked groggily at the liquid in front of him; it was thick reddish brown.

"I'm…not…drinking…. that," He gasped.

"DRINK!" James grabbed them and slugged them down gagging as the liquid slithered down his throat. It tasted like thick blood flavored molasses.

"That…disgusting…"He croaked.

"Keep drinking and maybe you can go to the feast—"

"He has to go to the feast!" Sirius interjected.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT HIM IN IMMEDIATELY! KEEP DRINKING!" She barked turning back to James. He downed the rest slowly trying not to be sick. When he was done, he didn't feel as light headed, but he did feel nauseous.

"Can I go now?" James asked.

"Yes…but come back after the feast.

"Aw man…." He muttered. But before Madam Pomfrey could say something the three boys were out of the hospital wing. They raced down the corridors and skidded to a halt in front of the beautifully decorated Great Hall. There were candles floating in midair all around the hall. Gigantic pumpkins illuminated with spells all along the walls. The boys raced down to their seats and whispered excitedly as they took a seat. Peter was already there.

"What took you guys?" He asked.

"Hospital wing." James said shortly. Gazing in awe around the room. Finally Dumbledore's burst from the crowd silencing everyone.

"Happy Halloween, Everyone!" He said smiling his blue eyes twinkling in the firelight. "The first term has begun well. Everyone has adjusted to Hogwarts and those who are not new have gone right back to their old ways. I do not want to befuddle our feast with to many words. So, tuck in." With that, row after row of plates filled with steaming hot food, watering the mouths of everyone in the room. James blinked and Sirius' plate was full to the brim with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, Potpie, treacle, bangers, and everything he could fit.

James began to fill his own plate and stomach. Before long everyone was feeling nice and full. James looked at Sirius who winked and pulled out his wand under the table.

"Step one…" He whispered out of the corner of his mouth. He muttered under his breath and flicked his wand. He shoved it back down his robes and both boys looked down the table.

At the end of the table, Lily Evan's plate had begun to fizz and shake. And before long there was a loud bang. The explosion caused everyone to gaze awkwardly around the hall. Sirius and James had to bite their tongues to keep from laughing. Lily Evans was staring blankly; mashed potatoes and gravy lined her hair, along with salad and sauce.

Once everyone had burst out laughing Sirius and James felt safe to laugh. Lily shot them a glare and stormed out of the hall. James and Sirius doubled over laughing. They were having difficulty staying in their seats.

They were laughing so hard they almost forgot about part two. Sirius grabbed James and dragged him out into the hall discreetly. They collapsed into fits of giggles until they could control their selves.

"All right part twoooo---ARGH!" Sirius yelled as he flew into the air. James ran to help and felt himself fly into the air.

"What the—" But he was cut off as his body began to swell. "ARGH!" James screamed as he puffed out into a balloon. He looked over at Sirius and saw him lolling back and forth in the air; his body puffed out a swell.

"ARGH!" They screamed. They could hear people beginning to leave the Great Hall. People began to file out and soon enough a wave of laughter erupted throughout the entrance hall as everyone filed out. Professor McGonagall hurried to the front.

"My word!" She gasped. "Help me get them to the hospital wing!" She shouted at a couple of prefects.

"Having fun…. hanging around?" Severus sniggered as he pushed his way to the front. Sirius and James glared at him, they knew it was his doing, but they couldn't speak as their cheeks had swelled to the size of apples. Severus had outsmarted them. He knew they would pull something and he had set his trap for them. This. Meant. War.

Author's Note: HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome to 2008! WOO HOO! Graduating class of '08! I know at least twenty teachers happy to see us graduate!

Hello everyones. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I have been dying to write a new chapter for this story! I hoep you liked it I have an idea for the next chapter But then I may skip ahead to Christmas in the story.

Up next: Letter's From Home