Year 7

James

"James… are you studying?" Lily asked, peering over my shoulder. I closed my book as we walked down the hall. I glared.

"No…" I smiled and tucked my book under my shoulder.

"You were studying!" She exclaimed, flinging her arms up in the air. I chuckled.

"Prongs! Come over here!" I heard Sirius yell across the hall. I saw him, Peter and Remus all huddled around something in Sirius' hand. I kissed Lily's cheek and told her I'd see her in class. She nodded and marched away to some of her friends. I rushed over to Sirius.

"What's going on? What are you all-" I cut myself off when I saw what was in Sirius' hand. He was holding a dragon egg that was completely green with little yellow spots on it.

I felt the corner of my lips slowly lift into a smile. "Where did you even get that?"

"The back alleys of Diagon Alley." Peter chuckled and goggled at the egg.

"Mates, this is not a dragon egg," Sirius stated. "But this is an egg that shoots out sparks… everywhere." A smirk appeared on his face.

"So, what are going to do?" Remus asked, examining all our faces. He looked a little disappointed but looked up for the idea anyways.

"Well, obviously, we're going to release it in the Great Hall." Sirius smirked and hid the egg in his robe. Peter cackled and nodded.

I had no idea what to make of this. Something could go wrong and either our prank would fail or someone would get hurt. I didn't want the trick to fail so we look like doofuses but I also didn't want it to work so well that it could potentially hurt someone.

"Potter! Black! Lupin!" I heard a strict, feminine voice bark at us from across the hall. Professor McGonagall marched up to us and Peter scampered away. I was about to point him out but then McGonagall had her eyes set on him.

"Pettigrew! Just because I didn't see you doesn't mean you can run away." She yelled. He scooted back to our huddle that was now facing her. I swore I heard her mumble "Coward… don't know why he's in Gryffindor…"

"You four need to get to class. 5 points from Gryffindor from the each of you." She huffed and marched off.

We all muttered our discouragement and walked off to our next class which was Care of Magical Creatures. When we got out to the edge of the forest, we saw that we had a substitute. It was a man who looked very fragile. He wasn't old, and neither was he young. He looked like a middle aged man that was very short. Not as short as Professor Flitwick.

"Boys and girls, gather around, gather around." He was holding something in front of his face that was concealed by his hand. Everyone moved closer to him.

"My name is Professor Tikli and I will be your professor for a few months. Your original professor has gone on a trip to…" He looked up at the sky. "You know, I can't remember!" He chuckled. "He'll be back soon, though. Anyhoo," Professor Tikli held out his hand so everyone could see the small creature.

"This is the first Golden Snitch. It's called the Golden Snidget." He stroked the back of the plump, round bird. It's wings were small and it's beak was long, like a hummingbird.

"Raise your hand if you play Quidditch." He asked, looking at each of us. I raised my hand as well as some of the other Gryffindors. We all raised it slowly.

"Ah, this is something you would be interested in, Quidditch players." He beamed and let the bird flutter it's too-small wings for it's body. It zoomed around very fast though and dated from student to student. He would stay on one student for a second and then fly on.

"This particular one is especially fast. Of course, the ball we use today is faster and much smaller." Professor stated, watching the bird rush around. Then, it returned to his hand and he concealed it by cupping his hands over it.

Lily raised her hand. Professor Tikli smiled and nodded his head towards her. "Yes, the redhead." He laughed.

"Lily Evans, sir." She said, clearly not liking the fact that he didn't ask her name. "And I was just wondering, how did you get ahold of one of these… they're supposed to be-"

"Miss Evans, where I got this creature is classified and you should not be shoving yourself into situations like this." He scowled. Lily looked taken aback. "Besides, how do you know this? Aren't you a girl?" He asked.

"Yes, I am, last I checked." She shot back. "What does that have to do with me knowing what a Golden Snidget is?"

"Girls, like yourself, should be seen and not heard." Professor Tikli said, cooly. Lily stared daggers into him. Almost all the girls did the same. "Girls shouldn't even be allowed to go to Hogwarts! Honestly, I don't know how Dumbledore allows this!"

"Fine, have it your way." Lily scowled and turned on her heel. She marched back to the castle. The girls looked at each other and then looked at Lily. They nodded their heads and ran after her. All of them.

The guys around me groaned. Professor Tikli stared at the girls, open mouthed. The Golden Snidget on his hand fluttered away and into the woods.

"Look at what you've done!" A short, skinny boy yelled. Sirius nudged me with his elbow.

"Remind me never to fight with your girlfriend." He said out of the corner of his mouth.

"Remind me as well," I said, staring at the girls as they all disappeared.