A/N: Need a few volunteers to help me decide if the pace is way too fast or not.
A/N: I will give you a snippet of the outline and a lovely dedication and a nice funny nonsensical scene each, because everyone loves those XD
A/N: They will be in a small fanfiction story titled 'Nonsensical Scenes'. They'll be a series one-shots, and you can even specify characters from the Harry Potter series ['fraid I don't know much else (well, that's a lie, but I'm not prepared to go and re-read other things or whatever)].
A/N: My limit is the first ten people, but five or less should do ^^
A/N: Also, let's all assume that there were more Quidditch matches played that James attended and all. I don't want to write a whole chapter about Quidditch match after Quidditch match. Do you get me? Good.
A/N: SHORT CHAPTER ZOMG. (Pretty much a fluffy chapter, but not all days in Hogwarts are mapped out XD. Plus, a subplot is finished~!)
Chapter Thirty-Eight
James reclined by the fire, enjoying the last week of its presence.
James knew that soon, outside the castle, flowers of every colour would be giving way slowly, the snow melting away from the grass and Hagrid would begin to bring out animals from the forest to roam around his hut freely – but sectioned off, of course.
However, currently, the grounds were blanketed in a thin layer of snow, the trees and plants as dead as Remus' relationship with Bridget.
James sighed. The problem hadn't been resolved and Bridget had taken to avoiding Remus whenever possible. Because KayCee and Sirius were attached to the hip, James found that Lily was likewise unavailable because Bridget needed someone to be there in case she felt an urge to snog Gabriel Zabini again.
"James Potter, right?" asked Li, the fourth year Gryffindor girl.
"That's me, Li. That rhymes."
Li rolled her eyes impatiently. "I'm here to report ill-behaved students."
James sat up straighter. "How fancy."
Li ignored that comment and continued on.
"There's a group of third years in the library and they frequently dump water on students when they least expect it. It's been happening for ages, but no one's reported it because they didn't know who did it. I do. It's a group of third years, but I can't very well reprimand them. I know of six people who have been drenched because of this, but I'm not sure if there are others."
Suddenly, James was catapulted back into the past.
"You are the most infuriating person I've ever had the misfortune to meet."
"What?" asked James, turning around. Lily's fists were clenched and she was shaking in anger – presumably.
"You heard me," she hissed.
"What did I do now?" asked James, bewildered and clueless. Then he realised. She was sopping wet.
How the hell can I just notice that she's soaked? thought James, mentally slapping himself.
"I didn't do that," said James.
"Yes you did," snarled Lily, "I turn my back for one second, one second, and suddenly I feel cold water being poured all over me."
"I didn't do it!"
"Yes you did. I saw you moving."
"I didn't do it!" said James, again, beginning to get angry.
"If I said I didn't do it, I didn't do it," he snarled, getting up from his chair.
"James?"
James shook his head, snapping out of his reverie.
"I'll get right onto that," said James. Li smiled at him briefly before marching off to some corner in the common room.
There goes my studying break… thought James, heading up to his dorm, a plan forming in his mind. He whisked his Invisibility Cloak from his trunk.
Heading back down the stairs, James practised a few wand movements and a few incantations for study, anyway.
He arrived at the library ten minutes later, and pulled a large, thick out from a shelf, and sat alone in a corner table, trying to make himself a target.
This book is really boring… thought James, checking his watch frequently. This is stupid. What if nothing happens? What a waste of time…
James was about to close the book and lea-
SPLASH!
James leapt up, and he heard giggles and running footsteps. He swung his Invisibility Cloak over his head and wrapped it around like a turban that covered his face. Then, he switched his school jumper with a revolting sweater and matching brown tracksuit pants he got from his great-aunt for his birthday last year. He unpinned his Head Boy badge and hurried into the direction he heard the footsteps, careful to make his feet land on the rugs instead of the wood. James could hear muffled and indistinct voices behind a few bookshelves and he carefully maneuvered himself to not be seen until he could hear the voices clearly.
"That was great!" laughed a student. "Did you see his face?"
Suddenly, James stepped out from behind the book shelf, his arms extended and shuffling his feet, the badge hidden in the back pocket of his pants. Immediately, the third year Slytherins threw their hands up in the air and screamed, running out of the library and down a corridor.
James hurried after them, ripping the Invisibility Cloak from his head and throwing it behind a statue, pinning his Head Boy badge to his sweater and finally switching his sweater and pants to his school sweater and pants.
He could still hear the students screaming and clattering into things that sounded like suits of armour and benches and even walls, and James grinned in spite of himself.
"HOLD IT!" yelled James once he reached the top of a staircase, the students making their way down. Suddenly, they stopped screaming and looked up at James' stern face.
"Come with me."
They glanced at each other with guilty faces and followed James into the library once more. He took them to his desk, water all over it, the chair and the book.
They all looked even guiltier as he gestured for them to take a closer look.
"Do you know what this is?" he asked. They shook their heads.
"This is just one example of the seven reported cases that have occurred since the start of the year. You have been caught at the scene of the crime, and of several others, therefore you shall withstand the punishments laid out. Seven weeks of detention for each of you is now assigned and twenty points from Slytherin are taken. Please make note of this and I shall talk to your Head of House to assign times, jobs and places," said James severely. The third years gulped and looked at each other guiltily.
"You may go."
They solemnly left the library, and James dried the desk and chair and book before retrieving his Invisibility Cloak.
He congratulated himself on a job well done and headed back into the common room. He found, to his surprise, Lily.
"Hey," said James.
"Hey," replied Lily, scooting over so he could sit down on the sofa.
"I've just made an exciting apprehension."
"An exciting feeling of dread?" asked Lily.
"No, an exciting arrest."
Lily laughed.
"No, seriously."
She sobered up a bit.
"Tell me more about it, then."
"This group of pranksters were in the library and apparently, they like to dump water on people. I gave them all seven weeks of detention and took away twenty points."
"Seven weeks!" said Lily incredulously. "That's a bit harsh!"
"They've been dumping water since the start of the year, and Li found six people who were victims of the water-dumping."
"So why not six weeks?"
"Because they dumped water on you earlier in the year."
It took a moment to register, but when it did, Lily started to laugh and laugh and laugh before apologizing for accusing him earlier.
James grinned and bumped her shoulders, which she bumped back.
"Team, we've trained hard for this," said James. "This is our second to last match. We need to win this one, otherwise we have to work double time in our last match to win the cup."
Everyone in the change rooms nodded curtly.
"That's all I really have to say. We're a fantastic team, and we should be able to nail this match easily. Daniel, make sure you catch the Snitch, alright?"
The Seeker nodded, gripping his broom tightly.
"I'm proud of the work you've all put in this year. Let's keep it up and WIN THIS CUP!" James roared at the end, the team joining in – it became a trademark at the end of each practise lately.
The team filed out as Matthew Jamerson, a sixth year Ravenclaw, announced who was who. James couldn't care less if she called him Professor Slughorn, he was so eager to win.
"Now, I want a fair game," said Madam Hooch, eyeing everyone half-heartedly – games between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor was always fair. "Captains, please shake hands."
Amos and James shook hands, Amos giving James the 'evil eye'. James smirked at Amos, and Madam Hooch blew the whistle.
"And they're off, starting with KayCee Williams of Gryffindor with the Quaffle."
Soon, however, the polite match turned into an almost war. It seemed as though Amos was determined to put James out of the game – or at least, Amos' team.
"And the score is 60 to 20, in Gryffindor's favour," said Matthew.
Yeah, thought James, that's because their Chasers aren't doing their job properly.
KayCee quickly passed James the Quaffle and he zoomed down the Pitch, dodging Bludgers and Hufflepuff's along the way.
"Look out!" KayCee shouted. James, who was already in the scoring field, had to roll upside down to dodge a speeding Bludger. James dropped the Quaffle, but Felicity Gold was underneath him and she shot upwards just as James flew out of the scoring area, and she pretended to toss the Quaffle to the left, but instead she tossed it to the right.
The game continued on in the manner, with Sirius and Chase furiously defending their team and Remus blocking as many goals as he could.
"And the score is 150 to 60 in Gryffindor's favour," announced Matthew halfway through the game. James was near the Gryffindor supporter's box and as he tossed the Quaffle to KayCee, he saw Amos hurtling towards him, Daniel close behind.
"Good morning, Amos," called Felicity in her flirtiest voice. She battered her eyelids to add to the effect.
James laughed and told Felicity off for 'cheating' and 'fraternizing with the enemy' before hurrying off down the Pitch once more. Amos' concentration wavered as he looked back at Felicity, and suddenly Daniel dived towards the ground.
Everyone gasped, and Amos swore, hurtling after Daniel. Amos was too late – Daniel pulled out of the dive, a few inches from the ground, victorious.
The team immediately piled themselves on top of Daniel.
"That was an awesome catch!" yelled Chase.
"Amos didn't even see it!"
"Calm down, everyone, we haven't got the cup yet," laughed James. His team didn't seem to hear him, they were so exhilarated.
"To the Seeker that knew what was going on!" announced Chase, standing atop the coffee table, two hours later amidst a party.
"Aye!" yelled everyone else. Daniel blushed bright red, and even more so when Chase pulled him up on the table as well. Everyone clinked their glasses and drank deeply.
"Now, let's get back to that party, shall we?" asked Sirius eagerly. Everyone cheered and the party was soon in full swing.
"Why is there a party again?" asked James, swallowing a pumpkin pasty.
"Because the score was 300 to 60," replied Sirius, pouring KayCee a drink of Butterbeer.
"Ah, I get it now. Well, I'm going to bed."
"What?!" yelped Sirius, spilling some Butterbeer on himself.
"Well, there's no real point. We haven't won the cup yet."
"Prongs, you're missing the point," said Sirius, putting down KayCee's cup. "Take every victory as a blessing, and soon, the cup will be in your hands."
"Since when were you so philosophical?" asked Remus, eyebrow raised.
"Since I read that book you gave me for my birthday in the fifth year."
"That was two years ago," exclaimed Remus, scandalized.
"I know."