It was five in the morning, and no less than that. Snores and mumbles echoed throughout the Gryffindor dorms. Other than that, all was silent.
A patch of fiery red hair slipped out of the portrait hole.
Hitching a bag over her shoulder with a tremendous yawn, Lily Evans walked down the corridor, emanating a determined feel of purpose. She had a mission, and goddammit, she was going to complete it.
She passed the prankwar scoreboard, a smug smile flashing across her face as she saw that the Marauders and Marauderesses were evenly tied 325‑325. The whole school was so overjoyed by the previous pranks that the Marauderesses and Marauders' t-shirt sales had hit all time success. There wasn't a day that someone inn the school was wearing a shirt that read either 'Marauders for Life' or 'Silly boys, pranks are for girls' or some other clever slogan that the Marauders made up.
The prankwar was, without a doubt the most successful and exciting event in the year. At times it even seemed a more popular conversation subject than Quidditch, which was truly saying something.
Lily walked silently over to a painting of a bowel of fruit, sighing with relief before tickling the pair.
As the pear giggled and let her into the Hogwarts kitchens, Lily began to ponder her relationship with James. Well, if you could call it a relationship. Being best friends with the guy you swear you loathed the last six years or so is always a rather ironic concept. Lily smiled as she walked along the tables of food set out for breakfast, thinking of yesterday when James and her had stayed up till three in the morning finishing their NEWT prep homework, and how they celebrated the finish of it with a rather loud and messy pillow fight, covering the Head's dorm with white feathers.
The red head stopped upon reaching a giant pot of some sluggish white substance labeled, WAFFLE BATTER. With a glance around to make sure no one was looking, the Head Girl, the epitome of a responsible and mature student, pulled out a vial of purple liquid. Silently, almost hesitantly, she uncorked the bottle and poured the potion into the batter, mixing it in until the faint shade of lavender was no longer seen.
She traveled to other pots, some labeled, OATMEAL, others labeled PANCAKE BATTER. It took a half an hour to work her way around the whole colossal kitchen.
When the contents of the vial were completely disposed of, Lily slipped the bottle back into her bag and walked out of the glass tiled room.
She walked slowly back to the Head's dorm, letting out the smallest of giggles to find that the floor of the dorm was just as she had left it: covered in feathers.
Minutes later, the castle was silent, save for the occasional snores from various students.
"Good morning, young Evans." Gracie crooned, patting the seat next to her for her friend to sit at. "You're looking rather exhausted."
"I was up early." Lily said with a hint of a smile.
"What here can we eat without getting pranked?" Emma asked calmly, scanning the table's contents.
"Everything except pancakes, oatmeal, eggs and waffles." Lily answered before setting her head down on her shoulders and closing her eyes.
"Wow. You did well. I think the Marauders would be proud of you, Lils." Gracie said with a smile, patting Lily on the head.
"Proud of Lily for what?" Sirius asked, sliding in next to Emma with a wink at Gracie.
"I'm sorry Black, did you say something? I don't speak arrogant arse so you'll have to change your dialect if you want me to understand you." The brunette said, feigning deafness.
James sat on Lily's other side, nudging her in the ribs until she looked up at him with a glare. "Go away. I'm tired."
"I jut thought I'd let you know that I cleaned up the feathers, Miss Cranky-Pants."
"Thanks." Lily's grin softened. "Sorry for snapping."
James shrugged. "I don't mind. I'm used to it." He ducked as Lily slapped him on the shoulder. "Now, who wants waffles?"
"No thank you." The Marauderesses answered quickly, sharing a glance.
"Count me in!" Sirius said loudly, earning a frown from Gracie.
"Where are Remus and Peter?" Emma asked, eyeing the waffles James scooped onto his and Sirius's plates.
"Remus is um...with his uncle for a few days and Peter is still sleeping." Sirius answers, licking his lips as he poured syrup over his waffles.
"Lily, are you sure you don't want any?" James asked playfully, waving a fork in front of the red-head's face. "You love waffles!"
"I'd rather not." Lily answered with a small laugh. "I-um...I've heard that too many waffles can be bad for your heart."
"Too true." Sirius agreed, promptly shoving a bite the size of his fist into his mouth.
Emma crossed her fingers under the table, and Lily bit her lip. Gracie made a gagging noise at Sirius' habits.
"Now, is it me, or are these waffles actually sweeter than usual?" James asked, shoving bite after bite into his already full mouth.
The girls bit back a laugh and continued to pick at their simple and quaint breakfast: toast.
Lily was supposed to be taking notes. Lily was also supposed to be controlling her rampant thoughts about a certain boy. But clearly, that fruitless attempt at self control was impossible when said boy was passing notes to her in Charms.
Lily, I'm bored. -J
Hey, you know what you should do? TAKE NOTES THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE. -L
Yeah, but where's the fun in that?
It's not supposed to be fun, James. It's simply your duty as a seventh year student, Quidditch captain, AND head boy, might I add.
Don't ruin my mood.
Mood?
I'm feeling oddly giddy today. It must've been the waffles. Yep, definitely the waffles.
Oddly giddy? James, you're like that ALL the time.
No, today I feel really giddy.
Lily stared at the note with a smile, and then glanced across the classroom when she heard a shrill giggle erupt.
Did you just giggle, James Potter?
I think I just did. Hey, why are you laughing, Lily?
...
Lily? Why are you laughing?
...
LILY!
James...um...look at your hair please.
James reached over to the desk next to him and grabbed Polly Parkinson's hand held mirror, holding it in front of his face.
"Bloody hell!" He yelled loudly, leaping out of his seat.
His hair, once black, messy and short, was now green, curly and long, nearly passing his shoulder blades.
"Mr. Potter!" Chirped Professor Flitwick. "Would you kindly please take your seat?"
"Lily!" James yelped, dashing across the room to his friend. "What the hell is going on?!"
Lily didn't answer, she was currently clutching her desk to support herself as she laughed, tears leaking out of her eyes. The rest of the class soon followed suit as several students acquired oddly colored and styled hair.
"Lily." James said firmly, "What's going on?"
"If I knew, I would tell you." She answered, breaking out into another spasm of mirth.
"I..." James stopped and glanced at himself once more in the mirror, seconds later joining Lily in her never ending laughter. The situation WAS quite hilarious, even if he was the victim of it.
"I'm sure you didn't have anything to do with things." James whispered to Lily as Flitwick fought to control the classroom.
"You think I'd want to miss out on something like this?" She joked back, gesturing to James' hair.
He laughed, setting a friendly arm around Lily's shoulders as they beamed at each other.
"So, I'm guessing the Marauderesses are back at it again?" James asked wincing as Lily tugged at his hair.
"I guess so." Lily said, a hint of a blush gracing her cheeks. "Now hold still James, I want to get this braid perfect."
By lunchtime, it was known school wide that the Marauderesses had spiked most of the breakfast food with a potion that changed everyone's hair dramatically. Much to the teacher's dismay, the potion was irreversible, resulting in many distracted students and many wasted classes.
"Are the Marauders going to be planning something?" Lily asked Sirius, tugging James braid so he would not talk.
"We'll think of something once Moony gets back." Sirius shrugged, leaning against the table as he munched on a pear, his purple Mohawk standing out against the grey of his eyes.
"Wow. Get a load of you." Gracie cackled, walking up to the table with a camera. "Smile, Sirius."
Ever the model, Sirius gave it his best I'm-bad-and-I-know-it smile and Gracie snapped a picture.
"Oh yes," She said, "This is definitely going in my favorite memories book." Gracie said, rubbing her hands together like an evil mastermind.
"You only like it because I'm in it." Sirius answered suavely.
The brunette ignored him.
A couple of Hufflepuffs walked by, sporting bright pink hair that made them look like the top of a cupcake.
"Do you think the Marauders will be able to top the Marauderesses in the prankwar?" One of them whispered.
"I doubt it." The other answered. "The Marauderesses practically started a revolution. The girls are completely against the guys now. Did you here that Luann Shacklebolt broke up with her boyfriend just because she claimed he refused to treat her as a strong, independent woman?"
"No way! Well, honestly, I think it's a good thing. The boys here need to respect us more."
"Amen to that."
The two girls walked away, completely oblivious to the fact that Gracie, Sirius, James and Lily were all listening intently.
A group of guys walked by, all seventh years by the looks of it.
"Hey Evans!" One of them waved, ignoring his friends as they nudged him and made wolf-whistles.
"Hi Davies!" Lily called back, smiling brightly.
"Who is he?" James asked sharply, regarding the boy with perfectly normal colored hair, but no one answered him.
"Say, are you doing anything next Hogsmeade, Evans?"
James jaw dropped, still unnoticed. He turned to Lily, wincing as his hair pulled. "Lily, you are busy. We have to visit Harry. YOU. ARE. BUSY."
"Of course not." The red head answered, all but abandoning James as she let go of the half braid and faced Davies.
"Would you mind booking an appointment with me, say...for the whole day?"
Lily's eyes widened slightly and for a minute she was kind of speechless. "I-uh. Sure, Chase."
"Cool." Davies answered, his friends smirking behind him as he smiled at Lily.
"I'll er...meet you at the courtyard?" She asked hesitantly.
"No." James answered for her. "You're not meeting that slime ball anywhere. What do you even see in him, Lils?"
"Alright. See ya, Lily." Davies walked off with his group of friends.
Lily sank a little in her seat, looking dazed.
"Chase Davies?" Gracie asked, a grin on her face. "You hit the jackpot, Lily."
Sirius scoffed. "Good luck, Evans. Davies is a sod."
"Maybe," Gracie relented, nodding, "But he's also got that perfectly tame able brown hair and those clear blue eyes. I don't think there's a single girl in this castle that hasn't dreamt of those eyes at least once."
At this comparison, James reached up and felt his long curly hair with great hatred toward both the previous style and the present style.
"What happened to the no dating until you become Minister of Magic rule?" He asked exasperatedly, grabbing Lily by the shoulders and turning her to face him.
"Chase Davies." Lily said softly, her lips twitching upward in a smile.
This was good, she told herself. Maybe I can forget about pining over James and then I can move on. But...Chase Davies? Wow.
Lily shook her head, clearing her secret thoughts, "I'm sorry James, did you say something? I didn't hear you while I was talking to Dav-- I mean, Chase."
James just stared at her, open mouthed.
"I just wanted to say I'm happy for you." James said with a fake but convincing smile.
"Thanks so much, James!" Lily said, hugging him. "I appreciate your approval. Now, I've got to go find Emma and tell her." She hitched her bag over her shoulder and ran off.
James turned back to his macaroni and stabbed it viciously. He didn't even bother to eat it.
"Who is this Davies?" He asked Sirius, who shook his head.
"Seventh year Ravenclaw." Gracie filled him in. "Gorgeous, smart, good reputation. Basically, your worst enemy in the Battle for Lily Evans."
James said nothing, only continued to massacre his macaroni.
"And how does Lily know him?" He asked after a few more minutes of silence.
The brunette shrugged. "I think she had a bunch of prefect's rounds with him last year, and I know she danced with him at the ball."
"Which one was he?" James questioned, thinking of all the boys that danced with Lily.
"The one with the gold mask."
"He has funny looking ears." James pouted.
Gracie narrowed her eyes. "You'd better not interfere."
Sirius sat up and glared back at Gracie, "Why wouldn't we? If the guy's a prat, we'll take care of him."
"Look," Gracie began, rubbing her temples as she struggled to keep from kicking Sirius, "This is the first person Lily has ever said yes to for a date. She deserves to try this, do something new. If you screw this up, or turn Davies into a pumpkin, don't count on ever having children."
It wasn't a threat, it was a promise, James knew as he stared at Gracie's dark and currently menacing eyes.
So as long as he's still capable of moving and breathing, we can do whatever we want with him?" Sirius clarifies.
"Don't. Touch. Him." Gracie answers. She looks at James and gives a sympathetic smile. "James, you're her best friend besides Em and me, don't you want her to be happy?"
No. "Yes."
"And you want her to experience life before she becomes Minister of Magic?"
Not if it means dating some sod who she thinks has pretty eyes. "Yes."
Gracie nods. "Good, then stay out of Lily's business." She stood up and walked out of the Great Hall.
James continued to dice his macaroni, glaring for no reason.
"So..." Sirius starts, sitting up. "You know what would help you feel better about this whole Evans‑is‑dating‑a‑prick deal?"
James grunts as a way to show he's listening.
"I think we need to go upstairs to Moony and Wormtail and plan a lovely, novel, kick‑arse prank."
James' head snapped up and he gave a feral grin as he imagined a prank that involved Davies' head falling off.
"No harming Evans' date." He friend reminded him.
James' grin disappeared, but he still looked determined. "Yeah, let's prank. I need a distraction."
"You don't need to tell me that." Sirius muttered, eyeing James mush/macaroni with great revulsion.
Dinner time that night in the Great Hall was a tenser occasion than usual. Remus, Peter, Lily and Emma were completely baffled as to why James insisted on chopping his food up into little pieces and glaring occasionally at the Ravenclaw table.
"So James." Began Sirius bracingly, "Do you think we'll do well in our next Quidditch match? Against Ravenclaw?"
"We'll flatten him...I mean, them." James grunted, now working on dicing up his roast pork.
"I'm sure you will. You're team is superb enough." Lily added, giving a small but puzzled smile.
"The Marauders are paying a visit, I believe." Sirius said after a few minutes of awkward silencer. He nodded towards the teacher's table.
Professor McGonagall, who had previously been talking to Professor Dumbledore, suddenly emitted a loud screech, eyes widening in horror. Titters echoed through the hall as Professor Sinstra also let out a loud call, this one more bird like.
As if compelled by the Imperius Curse, the teachers all stood and promptly stumbled into the center of the hall, where they began to flap their arms in an upward motion like giant eagles. Hagrid stamped out a beat and the teachers all made numerous noises as they began to dance around in a circle, still flapping their arms, but in a faster motion.
It was an odd sight to see...so many rule-worshipping, orderly teachers suddenly engaging in what looked like a demented version of Cowboys and Indians.
The students, first fearing their teachers were breached with madness, began to laugh uproariously as they hitched their robes up and danced around in wild, abrasive movements that were definitely considered unruly.
James, happy for a distraction, stood and called, "The Marauders present to you a demonstration of the traditional war dance by one of the Southern Amazonian tribes. Vote for the Marauders!"
Cheers and screams of laughter responded to James' announcement as the teachers' dance picked up in tempo and their noises became more unearthly and crazy. Lily thought she would never see the day when McGonagall would actually perfectly imitate a scarlet macaw just for the hell of it.
Sirius clutched the table as he tried to steady himself, laughter rippling throughout him. "This..." He began, "Is pure geniusness. Well done, boys."
Even the Marauderesses, who were usually unimpressed by the boys' pranks, joined in their laughter.
"How did you DO this?" Emma asked through her giggles.
"It's simply a small potion you put into their evening mead." Remus answered, not sure whether he should be mortified or excited by the outcome of the prank.
"It is rather brilliant." Lily smiled, making James beam and blush at the same time.
The teachers suddenly stopped, looking wildly around. McGonagall immediately dropped her skirts and stood straight, a fury in her eyes that really could not be quelled. The Marauders shrank down in their seats as she turned in direction of the Gryffindor table.
"You boys are in so much trouble." She said, her lips thin line as ever as she glared hawk-like at them.
The boys nodded, knowing they were totally screwed.
"Wait a second, Minerva." Said a wizened voice.
Dumbledore, looking graceful and civilized once again, walked among the tables to the Marauders and Marauderesses.
"I believe," He began, "That the Marauders are not the only ones to blame for this incident."
"But Professor Dumbledore, surly they must be put in detention-" McGonagall started, but Dumbledore cut her off.
"Minerva, this prankwar has two teams, if my sources serve me well. Seeing as the Marauders and Marauderesses are both involved in this game of never ending tag, I think it is right that no punishment will be served until BOTH parties are caught."
The students, who had been silent throughout Dumbledore's statement, applauded at the lenient decision.
"Of course sir." James mumbled. "We're aware that we owe you a lifetime of detentions and house points."
"That settles that, then." Dumbledore said cheerily, looking down at the Marauders, Lily, Gracie and Emma. "Hopefully, in due time, the Marauderesses will see to it that their identities are revealed." At these words his eyes traveled over to Lily, twinkling with a knowing significance. The red head ignored the sudden feeling that Dumbledore knew everything about the Marauderesses.
With that, Dumbledore walked to the exit of the entrance hall, turning back with a small smile to say, "Oh, and Mr. Potter. I believe the war dance you had the staff perform was indeed from the Northern Amazonian tribes, not the Southern."
And with that, the Headmaster left the hall.
"I always said the man was off his rocker." Sirius yawned. "I think that detention will be ten times worse when we have to share it with our enemies."
"Be grateful we've been let off for a few months or so, Padfoot." James snapped, staring into the common room fire.
"What's got your knickers in a twist?" Lily asked. "You just displayed a kick arse prank, so what's to brood about?"
Before James could reply, a distraction in the form of Angelina White walked up to him.
"Hi baby!" She squealed, standing directly in front of him. "I loved the prank!"
James glanced warily at Lily for a minute, whose face remained passive and completely devoid of emotion. With a shrug, he pulled Angie into his lap and hungrily kissed her on the lips.
It was nice, having a distraction, he thought to himself. Hopefully, it would be enough to make all his friends get sick and leave.
Lily promptly got up and grabbed Emma and Gracie, muttering darkly as she dragged them up to the dormitory. She slammed the door behind her.
"Um...Lily?" Emma asked, her violet eyes riddled with concern. "Are you alright?"
"We are going to make a prank. The best Goddamn prank in the world. And we are going to win this prank war." Lily said through gritted teeth, reaching under her bed and pulling out her hidden text books on pranks.
"Lils," Gracie began uncertainly, "We just pranked today. Let's give it a few days. We deserve a break."
Lily glared furiously at her friends. Then she sagged a little where she stood. "You're right. I need to crash."
"We'll be down stairs if you need us, Lils." Emma whispered before they walked out.
Gracie walked into the common room and sat next to Sirius, who was staring with revulsion as James snogged Angie in plain view of the entire common room. He glanced over at Gracie as she sat, a small smirk flitting across his features.
"What is he doing?" Gracie asked, looking at James.
"Revenge snogs." Sirius explains. "When a bloke is under pressure or stress, they release it through snogging."
"That's disgusting."
Sirius shrugged, "You'd be surprised at how relaxing it can be sometimes."
The brunette laughed. "I give it two weeks before either her or James crack." She said disdainfully.
"Ten galleons say Lily cracks first." Sirius blurted, winking at Gracie.
"You're on." She agreed, shaking his hand and knowing that it was very likely that both Lily and James could crack at the same time.
She wouldn't even be surprised if that happened.
A/N: Please review and vote on the pranks! I'd really appreciate it! And check out my profile for polls and information on updates! I'm so sorry for not updating sooner, but school and life in general has been quite hectic so please don't stab me to death with pitch forks!