It was clear Professor Slughorn had no idea what to do and neither did most of their class. It was pure chaos, amongst which James Potter kept shrinking.

Luckily, Narcissa Black had the presence of mind to charm a note to fly to the hospital wing asking for Madam Pomfrey to come to the classroom.

"Is Cousin James alright?" she asked Sirius.

"I don't know," Sirius replied, shaking James.

James Potter suddenly stopped shrinking and a blue light glowed around him. His eyes fluttered open just as Madam Pomfrey entered the classroom.

She froze at the sight of the younger version of James Potter who was staring around in confusion for a second before rushing towards her new patient and casting diagnostic spells.

James stared at her, too dazzled to say or do anything.

"I need to know which potion exploded, the potion that merged and any ingredients that may have come into contact with Mr Potter." Madam Pomfrey said as she scanned the results frowning.

Professor Slughorn nodded and looked at Lily expectantly. "Umm..." Lily tried to speak but her mind was completely blank out of shock.

Emilia Burke cut in smoothly, "Elixir to induce Euphoria with an unknown ingredient thrown into it during the third stage of brewing. The potion was incomplete. Snape threw the ingredient."

Narcissa added. "James made contact with our potion, a combination of the de-ageing potion and everlasting elixir on the second stage of brewing also incomplete. The following ingredients hissed as he made contact with them, finely chopped wormwood, diced knotgrass and a ground horn of bircorn."

Madam Pomfrey nodded, her quill jotting the list down. "Mr Snape, what did you throw?"

Snape frowned but muttered. "Fluxweed."

Madam Pomfrey looked at Professor Slughorn.

"I would like your opinion on the effects, Horace."

The professor nodded. "It's the combination of the de-ageing and everlasting elixir reacting with the fluxweed that worries me." The professor admitted.

"I will need to experiment and get back to you Poppy."

She nodded. "I'm afraid time is of the essence regarding this. Mr Lupin, please go inform Professor McGonagall and ask her to contact Mr Potter's parents as soon as possible."

Remus nodded and quickly left the classroom.

Madam Pomfrey resized James's clothes and smiled at him kindly. "Follow me, Mr Potter."

Eight-year-old James Potter crossed his arms across his chest, smiling widely. "No thank you."

Madam Pomfrey tried again. "Do you remember where you are?" She asked.

James nodded, his smile never leaving his face. "With her." He grinned and pointed at Lily.

Lily blinked and James ran towards her and stopped just in front of her.

"Fix me now please," He demanded happily.

Lily looked at Madam Pomfrey who then asked. "Do you remember who she is?"

James nodded smirking. "Mrs Potter," he declared.

Sirius burst out laughing along with Marlene. Alice had to bite her lip and Peter was still in shock. The rest of the class was either amused, assessing or in shock too.

"No, I'm not," Lily protested.

The miniature version of James nodded as if he was expecting that, his smile never leaving. "You will be," he replied.

Sirius fell to his feet laughing and drew James' attention to him. "Padfoot!" He exclaimed, running over to him.

Sirius stopped laughing. "How do you know I'm Padfoot? You should be calling me Siri James," he asked.

Madam Pomfrey grabbed James' shoulders and led him out of the room. "Professor Slughorn, please meet me in the Hospital Wing as soon as your class is dismissed.

10 minutes later, Madam Pomfrey asked a furious and sulking James. "Mr Potter, how old are you?" She asked.

James shrugged. "16! Why are you asking me silly questions?"

Madam Pomfrey stared at Professor Slughorn. "Is it possible for Mr Potter to have retained his knowledge but have the brain of an eight-year-old?" She asked.

Professor Slughorn frowned. "I do not know. The mood swings are most likely due to the incomplete euphoria elixir. The de-ageing component might have reacted with any of the chopped ingredients. With the quantities changed, I cannot say at this moment."

"Well, I would suggest that you find out Horace," said a furious Dorea Potter as she rushed into the room along with her husband and Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore. "No doubt, the Board will be most concerned when I report this incident,"

Horace Slughorn blanched, nodded and replied. "I will return to researching this and find an antidote." He quickly left the room.

"Now Dorea, my dear, accidents happen. There's no need to report such a trivial mistake," Professor Dumbledore tried to reassure.

"Make no mistake, Albus, this will be reported and I expect to see to a punishment," Dorea replied.

"Mum!" James exclaimed and ran to hug his mother. Dorea smoothed her son's hair, shocked to see her teenage son as an eight-year-old again.

"Do you remember what happened?" Charlus asked.

James nodded. "It was my turn to stir the potion and Lily, she'll be Mrs Potter y'know, saw Snivellus threw something into the potion so she ran towards me. I cast a shield over her and pushed her away and then boom! The potion exploded all over me." He explained happily.

Dorea and Charlus's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Is this Snivellus known as Mr Snape?" Dorea asked.

James nodded. "Are you going to tell him off, Mum? You have your telling people off face. Can I watch? I don't like him. He's mean and hurts little kids. He called Lily THE bad word last year, y'know and then Lily shouted at me even though I didn't really hurt him. Promise! I only wanted to tell him not to say bad things about you and Dad. And I prank him sometimes but only cos he deserves it for being mean." James gushed.

Dorea nodded. "I'm not going to tell him off, James."

James pouted and moved away from her to sit on the edge of a bed. "Why?" He yelled. "He's mean and you're scary when you tell people off! Tell him off!"

Dorea kneeled in front of her son, still somewhat in shock; she could feel Charlus' supportive hand on her shoulder. "I'm not his mum so I can't tell him off but I promise he won't get away with this. Okay? Now...James...is Snape good at Potions?" She asked.

James nodded excitedly. "Okay! Yeah...he's very good. Almost as good as Lily but she's better. You like Lily, don't you?"

Dorea nodded encouragingly. Pleased, James continued. "She's very pretty and so smart! She's also scary y'know. Sometimes she's scarier than you!" He giggled as if amused.

Madam Pomfrey came closer to them. "Mrs Potter, if I have your permission, I believe it would be best to give Mr Potter a sleeping drought."

Dorea nodded. "Whatever you believe is best." She replied.

The Potters along with the two Professors left the hospital wing and sat in Professor McGonagall's office which was closer than the Headmaster's.

"I expect that appropriate action will be taken Minerva," Charlus stated.

The Deputy Headmistress nodded firmly. "Mr Snape will be losing house points and spending two weeks in detention."

"I wish to take James home," Dorea added.

Dumbledore frowned. "I believe it would be best for James to stay here with his friends,"

Dorea stared at him unbelievingly. Charlus replied. "With James being Heir Potter, it would be foolish of us to expose him in such a vulnerable state to his peers."

Dumbledore smiled. "James can be excused from class alongside one other student to look after him. I must insist Charlus that James stays here; it would be much easier to find an antidote for him. Besides I'm sure no student would be cruel enough to collect blackmail material after such a tragic accident. "

"Why not let James stay in the hospital wing then?" Dorea asked.

Professor Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "I believe being around his friends would help Mr Potter recover even without an antidote."

Dorea and Charlus exchanged glances. "One week and I will expect to meet with my son every day," Dorea compromised.

"If an antidote is not found or we are not pleased with the situation. We will take him home, Albus." Charlus added before the couple stood up.

"I would like to meet whichever student you have in mind to look after James," Dorea said.

Professor McGonagall. "Mr Lupin is the 6th year Prefect -"

"Ah but Minerva, Mr Lupin has a family emergency soon. It wouldn't be right to increase the amount of work he would have to catch up on. Perhaps it would be more advisable for another prefect to look after Mr Potter?" Dumbledore interjected.

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Mr Longbottom -"

"Has too much on his plate with the NEWTs." Dumbledore interrupted again. "Perhaps, Miss Evans..."

"Nonsense!" Charlus exclaimed. "Miss Evans can hardly be expected to stay in the boys' dorms to look after James."

Professor Dumbledore just smiled, eyes twinkling. "Perhaps Miss Evans can look after him in the day and Mr Lupin or Mr Longbottom at night. Miss Evans will easily catch up on the missed lessons once the antidote is administered."

Dorea and Charlus Potter exchanged glances once again. "We would like to meet all three students in that case," Dorea said.

Professor McGonagall nodded.

Remus and Frank weren't as surprised as Lily to see Mr and Mrs Potter waiting for them in Professor McGonagall's office. Remus was surprised that they wanted to see him rather than Sirius though.

"Mrs Potter, is everything okay?" Frank asked.

Mrs Potter nodded. Professor Dumbledore was the one to reply.

"As Gryffindor prefects, until the antidote is created for Mr Potter, you three will be responsible for looking after him. Messers Lupin or Longbottom will be in charge of Mr Potter at night. Miss Evans, you will be required to miss lessons during the day."

Lily opened her mouth to protest but Professor McGonagall cut in. "This will only be the case for a week. If an antidote is not found then Mr and Mrs Potter will be taking James home."

Lily nodded, sensing she really didn't have any other choice.

The three students left the office and started walking towards the hospital wing. They entered and saw James sleeping soundly in bed with blankets tucked around him.

Frank explained that Professor Dumbledore had told them to look after James and handed over Professor McGonagall's note.

Madam Pomfrey sniffed disapprovingly but nodded. "Mr Potter will be waking up soon."

She left the three students to sit by James's bed and Frank looked at them nervously.

"Aren't you nervous?" He asked.

Lily and Remus shook their heads. "Should we be?" Lily asked.

"Surely James couldn't have gotten into more trouble as an eight-year-old than he does now?" Remus asked.

Frank smiled nostalgically. "Honestly, I don't know. If he did get into trouble then we all got into trouble. But an eight-year-old James that knows everything 16-year-old James knows..." He trailed off and Remus and Lily exchanged worried glances.

They were prevented from answering by James Potter himself waking up.

"Lilyflower" He exclaimed happily.

"Potter," Lily said neutrally, finding it weird talking to the bane of her existence as an eight-year-old.

"James not Potter. Can we find Padfoot now? We need to finish that stupid Defence essay." James gushed.

Without waiting for a reply, James got out of his bed and ran towards the door. "Bye Madam Pomfrey!" He yelled before exiting.

The three Gryffindors ran after him. Luckily, Remus caught him and immediately grabbed his hand.

James looked at him with a puzzled frown. "Why're you holding my hand Moony?"

Remus shrugged. "Pranking everyone...nobody will be able to figure out why."

James stared at him in disbelief, arching an eyebrow. "Your pranks are usually way better." He said before pulling his hand free.

Frank gestured for Lily to hold James's hand instead. Lily shook her head.

"Come on Lily, just hold his hand." Frank hissed. "We're meant to babysit him remember."

Lily glared at him but reluctantly grabbed James's small hand.

James stared at her in surprise before beaming at her in...what Lily hated to admit... was a very cute way. 'Not cute, Lily. He's not cute.' Lily told herself. 'Maybe it was a little cute...but since it was an eight-year-old version of him, it didn't count as finding Potter cute. All kids were cute right?'

"Lily...Lily?" a voice jolted Lily from her thoughts.

"Yes, sorry," Lily said looking at Remus. He gestured towards the portrait.

"The password's changed and we don't know it." He said.

Lily frowned. "I don't know it either."

James looked between the three prefects and then rolled his eyes.

Luckily for them, the portrait swung open as a first-year ran out.

As they entered the room, people started staring at them.

"James!" Sirius Black yelled from the couch near the fireplace. James let go of Lily's hand and ran to him.

Sirius's eyes widened comically large. "I thought Poppy would fix you."

James rolled his eyes. "Can't fix something if nothing's wrong Padfoot."

Sirius grinned. "Oh, you'll be singing another tune soon enough Jamie old boy."

James glared at him and waved his wand to banish a pillow towards him. James stared at his wand in horror. "Why isn't it working?" He shrieked, drawing the room's attention to them.

Nobody answered. So James Potter did what he used to do when he was eight. He threw a tantrum.

The prefects tried to calm him down but James was beyond hysterical at this point.

"Somebody stun him." Someone yelled from across the room.

"You can't stun an eight-year-old!" Alice yelled back, pinching the bridge of her nose between her fingers.

"I'M NOT EIGHT!" James yelled. Accidental magic creating thunder and rain.

The portrait swung open as a furious Professor McGonagall entered.

She took one look at a sobbing, hysterical James Potter and went straight to the middle of the room as she silenced James Potter and cast a drying charm.

"What happened here?" She asked, looking towards the prefects.

Frank was the one to answer. "James tried to cast a spell but his wand didn't work. So he threw a tantrum when none of us could tell him why."

Professor McGonagall pinched the bridge of her nose. "Come along, Mr Potter. I'm sure Madam Pomfrey will have an explanation. Mr Longbottom, if you'll come with us please."

Later that night, when the common was emptier and quieter, Lily looked towards the others as she sat on the sofa next to Sirius Black. "Why did this have to happen? Why? It was such a quiet year until this point too."

Black grinned. "And you missed the excitement, Evans."

Lily glared at him. "Did not!"

Black winked. "Did too!

Lily sighed, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. "Shut it Black." She retorted half-heartedly.

Marlene leaned over and patted Lily's hand. "Ah don't sulk, Lily. James will be back to normal soon enough and pestering you to go out with him."

Lily snatched her hand away, glaring at her so-called friend. "I'm not sulking over Potter, for Merlin's sake! Besides...I think he's finally understood I'm not interested in him. He hasn't asked me out once this year!"

Marlene narrowed her eyes. "Now that you mention it, he really hasn't. Oi Black! What's James up to?"

Black shrugged. "He won't tell us." He whined. "I know he's planned something but he won't tell us."

Remus smiled innocently. "Why not ask him now? James has been spilling his guts out all day after all."

Black grinned widely. Marlene stared at Remus for a second before shaking her head.

"Sometimes, I forget why you're friends with this lot," she said, pointing towards Black and Pettigrew. "And then you do stuff like this."

Remus kept his innocent smile.

Peter chipped in. "Do you reckon Snivellus will get away with this?"

Black looked murderous. "If he's not expelled then I swear I'll kill him." He spat.

"Padfoot! Don't say stuff like that." Remus exclaimed.

Lily fidgeted uncomfortably. Black looked at her expectantly. Lily sighed turning to stare at Black fully. "You know I'm not going to argue with you about this, Black."

Black smirked and held out his hand. "Now that you're not friends with Slytherin filth like Snivellus, we can torture Prongs together."

Lily rolled her eyes, eyeing his offer hand warily. "Oh come on Evans...you're friends with Remus and Peter! It'll drive Prongs crazy knowing you're friends with all of us apart from him."

The corner of Lily's mouth tugged upwards. She sighed loudly but shook his hand. "I suppose I can tolerate being friends with an idiot like you when I'm already friends with Marlene." She grinned.

"OI!" Marlene exclaimed, banishing a pillow towards Lily. Lily giggled and fell onto the floor in her attempt to dodge. Marlene had clearly anticipated this and banished another pillow onto her friend.

Lily sat up and was about to banish a pillow back when James Potter stumbled down the stairs.

Alice and Frank trailed down after him, yawning widely.

"Aww...is babysitting tiring?" Marlene teased.

Frank glared at her. "I'd like to see you babysit James while you're trying to finish off your homework."

Marlene grinned. "Ah but that's the benefit of being friends with Lily, Frankie. She nags you into finishing the homework well before the deadline."

James grinned. "Remus does that too! I pretend I hate his nagging but really its cos Moony gets all huffy and then pranks Padfoot and then there's a prank war and then Moony doesn't moan as much about how prefects don't prank!"

Remus stared at him. "You annoy me for fun?" He repeated incredulously.

James nodded. Remus smiled innocently. "Ja-mes...why aren't you asking Lily out this year?" He asked.

James looked at his feet. "No reason," he squeaked.

Sirius grinned at Remus."Come on Prongs...tell us! We tell each other everything!" He added.

James shook his head and folded his arms. "Nuh-uh. Lilyflower's here. And besides…It's a secret!"

Sirius made a shooing motion towards Lily. "Get out of here Evans!"

Lily huffed. "So you wish Black."

Sirius pouted. "Can't you tell us anyway? Secrets were made to be broken and Lily wouldn't stay here if she wasn't bothered by you not asking her!"

"MERLIN NO!" Lily yelled. "I'm glad Potter's stopped asking me out! I just want to know what on earth I did that made him stop." She protested.

James pouted sullenly. "You'll go out with me one day. I just have to believe in the Potter -" Frank silenced James who glared at him when he realised nobody could hear him.

"The Potter what?" Lily asked suspiciously, eyeing Frank.

Frank shrugged. "Trust me. You really don't want to know."

Marlene interrupted Lily before she could reply. "Why don't you admit the real reason you're so desperate to know why James's isn't asking you out?"

Lily raised her eyebrows. "If you're all going to talk about stupid things like imaginary reasons why I care then I'm off to bed."

"Lilyflower!" She heard Potter yell. Lily slowly turned to glare at him. "Did Minnie give you my wand? Poppy took it cos she's mean and Moony said he doesn't have it."

"Minnie?" Lily repeated incredulously before shaking her head. "Why do I even ask?" She muttered.

James grinned. "Cos you love me!" He exclaimed.

Lily rolled her eyes. "I don't have your wand Po- James and I do not love you." She said before turning on her heel.

"Good night!" Remus called out.

"Good night." Lily replied.

October 6th

Lily had completely forgotten about babysitting James Potter and she'd already ensured her bag was ready and was heading out the common room when Remus handed James over to her.

"Sorry, Lily! But I need to return a library book before breakfast or Madam Pince will ban me forever. Can you look- I mean accompany James to breakfast?" Remus didn't wait for a reply and rushed out the common room.

"Morning Lilypad!" James grinned.

Lily ignored him. She very quickly decided it wasn't worth having to listen to Potter whine about her ignoring him all the way to breakfast. She'd reply next time.

Severus Snape thought detention for two weeks was well worth making that potion explode. Maybe it wasn't the subtlest way of seeking revenge but it was Potter's own fault for brainwashing Lily into hating him.

He could only hope that Slughorn wouldn't find an antidote. He'd worked out last night that if an antidote wasn't found within a week then the effects would be permanent. Of course, he'd already thought of a possible antidote but Merlin knew Slughorn would find it much more difficult. After all, Snape was the genius in potions while Slughorn was...adequate at best.

Hearing Regulus choke on his toast next to him, Snape looked up to see Lily, beautiful Lily, enter with Potter. He sneered at the sight, clutching his fork more tightly.

"What happened to him?" Regulus asked, glaring at Potter. Snape smiled. "A potions accident."

Regulus looked at him questioningly. Snape nodded. "The reason I have detention." He added.

Regulus frowned. "It's not...permanent, is it?"

Snape looked at the teacher's table; Slughorn was reading something as he distractedly ate breakfast, not beaming like a lunatic for once. "Seems likely to be..." Snape said softly.

"Why are they here?" Regulus whispered ten minutes later.

"Who?"

Regulus inclined his head towards a regal looking couple entering the great hall with Professor McGonagall. The resemblance between them and Potter was obvious and more than a few curious faces stared at them.

"Bloody arrogant prat." Snape cursed. "Has to get the special treatment by having his parents visit too."

Snape's mood didn't improve over the next few days. Potter's parents visited him every day. No doubt Dumbledore had encouraged them to. He always laughed off their stupid pranks, giving points for no reason.

The only reason Snape smiled at all was the fact Slughorn looked paler and paler as he struggled to create an antidote. Potions lessons consisted of Slughorn making them brew the Elixir of Euphoria, everlasting elixir and de-ageing potions again and again as he kept running out of the damn potions with his endless experiments. Potter's chances of recovering didn't look good. Not all.

It was only a matter of time until Lily forgave him with Potter out of the way. Snape had never been happier.

A/N: I'd love to hear what you thought of this chapter! I'm not entirely happy with it but if I edit it any more then I'll go crazy. Please let me know if you spot any mistakes I've missed!

TEASER FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER:

"You mean you're actually agreeing to my plan? The plan you said was the stupidest plan you'd EVER heard."

"Yes," She muttered.

"Sorry what?"

"Yes," She repeated again, slightly louder.

"I didn't hear that."

"YES! Yes, I'm agreeing to your stupid plan. Are you happy now?"