Sunday 1st February 1976

Fifth Year Gryffindor Boys Dorm, 12:00

Sirius scrunched up his face as he furiously meditated. Not that that was a good way about going about it but he really needed to.

He had to get this Animagus Transformation down. He just had to. Peter had managed it! He had been the first one. Sirius was actually a bit jealous even though he was very proud of Peter. Of course, he was. Peter was his friend and he'd just managed something really difficult. Sirius had... well Sirius had just wanted to be the first. Who wouldn't? It was something to brag about.

Well, he wasn't the first. But he was going to be the second. He was. He just had to focus on this more. He had been getting lazy about it. Well, no more. Sirius Black was going to be a proper Animagus before Easter. He was.

It just needed a bit more work. A bit more focus. He already had the ears and tail down, after all. Even the nose that one time. And a bit of scruff around his neck. Which had felt odd but it had happened! Now all of it just needed to be put together. And then he would be a dog! An awesome one, he was sure.

The main problem was that he still couldn't completely visualise himself. None of the dog pictures he'd got looked like what he became that first time they all did the Animagus Transformation. According to his friends anyway. He knew his fur was a shaggy black and he had pointed ears that flopped over a bit (he'd managed to transform those often enough) and he knew all about his long tail. What he didn't know how was how big he was and he just knew that was holding him back.

How was he even supposed to know how big he was? Could he just guess? Was that dangerous? Sirius didn't think so. Surely if he got it wrong all that would happen was that the transformation wouldn't occur. Hopefully that's all that would happen anyway.

Okay, he would start small. Well, small-ish. He knew he was just under the height of a desk. Sort of. Maybe. It was hard to remember. So, he was going to try imagining a dog that was about half the height of a desk.

"Right, here goes nothing..."

A picture of a dog swam I to view behind his closed eyelids. The snout looked right and so did the ears. The tail was wagging because he was happy that he was going to do this transformation. Could dogs grin? Because he would do that too, if he could.

A now familiar tingling came over him and Sirius tried not to get too excited. Focus! He had to focus! Again, it went down his spine, right down to his tailbone. His face suddenly got a weird feeling, like it was melting. Woah! That had definitely never happened before. No! Concentrate, concentrate! Something was obviously happening and it had to continue. It just had to!

But it didn't. Of course, it didn't. Well, that was a disappointment. He didn't even feel a wagging tail this time. Hopefully he at least had his ears.

Sirius stepped over to his mirror, frowning when he realised, he still very much had human feet. Well, that sucked. But he had felt something change.

And something very much had. Sirius stared at himself in the mirror in complete disbelief. What the?

He had a nose. A very dog nose. And a snout. And whiskers. Did you know that dogs had whiskers? Because they did. Well, whatever dog he was did. Weird.

Hesitantly, Sirius put a hand to his face and almost immediately withdrew it. His nose was wet! Yuck! Why was his nose wet?

Then his nose twitched. Wow, that felt weird. It used muscles in his face that Sirius hadn't even known he had! Maybe they were from the transformation? His nose twitched again! Was he making that happen or was he doing that on his own?

Wow, this room stank. He sniffed the air and recoiled. Really stank. Was that the smell of concentrated sweat? It was disgusting. All of them showered every day, why did it smell so bad?

"Yuck!"

Is this what dogs smelled all the time? Poor them. Seriously? What was that awful smell? Kt had to go. Didn't the House Elves clean up around here?

As much as he was loathe to, Sirius tried to figure out where the smell was coming from. Maybe this way he could get rid of it.

But the only way he could do that was by finding it. And that was really hard. There were so many smells in here. Like, loads! But that horrible smell kind of rose above them all.

Sirius went left and then right. No. Not there. Over by James' bed then, his stuff was always in a mess. Sirius wouldn't be surprised to see something that caused that smell in that mess... but no, it actually got fainter there. Weird.

Surely not by his own bed? He was neat and tidy and actually used scented soap. A manly scented soap, mind you. All sandalwoody and musky. And yep, he was right. No horrible smell by his bed. That was a relief. So where was it coming from?

As much as he really didn't want to do it, Sirius took another big sniff. And immediately pulled a face. Yep, there was that horrible smell. And it was coming from... Remus' bed? No, it couldn't be. He just hadn't got the hang of this dog nose thing yet. But yet... yes, it was definitely coming from Remus' bed. Or, to be more precise... Sirius crouch down... under it.

Sirius spluttered as he raised Remus' bedcovers. The smell completely overwhelmed him. Pinching his weird, damp nose, Sirius tried to find what was causing that smell.

It wasn't hard, Remus kept his area completely spotless. There wasn't even any dust. Which made it extremely easy to discover that the thing causing this stink was...

A sock?

There was a single, grey sock with a thin red band and thin gold band around the top. A school sock. All this smell was from a school sock? Who would have thought? Just how badly did Remus' feet stink if an abandoned sock stank this much.

Sirius coughed as the smell overwhelmed him. No time to think of that now. What he had to think about was how to get rid of the smell now. He couldn't just put it in the laundry basket. That would mean the sock was still here. Sirius didn't know any cleaning spells. And there was no way he was going to hand wash it in the sink. That would mean he'd have to touch it. Maybe burn it? That would definitely get rid of it. No. The smoke would probably smell just as awful and then stick to his clothes. So, what could he do?

Sirius frowned. This should be so hard. Come on, he wasn't stupid. He just ended one, measly, little idea.

Then he saw it. The window! It opened; he could just throw the sock out there. Yeah! That was a good idea! But it meant he would have to touch it... Wait, no he wouldn't! Tugging free a shirt from his own laundry basket, Sirius covered his hand with it and carefully approached the demon sock. Kneeling down, he stretched an arm under Remus' bed - really not wanting to go under there with the concentrated smell again. It was ... just ... out of... reach.

"Yes!" he cheered to himself as he grabbed it.

With reflexes he hadn't been aware he had, Sirius all but flew across the room and swing open the window. Of course, he forgot that it was still winter in Scotland and a freezing gust of wind blew into the room, blowing the nasty sock smell right back into his face. Yuck.

With aim any Chaser would be proud of, Sirius threw the sock out of the window. Finally, it was gone. He dropped his now even dirtier shirt and leaned out it. No sign of the sock whatsoever. It must have made it all the way down. Perfect!

What would also be perfect would be for him not to freeze his nose off. Brr! February air was freezing.

The window slammed shut most satisfyingly and what was even more satisfying was that it kept that awful sock out of the dorm!

Of course, as soon as he turned around from the window, the door opened.

"What on earth?" James exclaimed as Sirius turned to face him. "Sirius, your nose!"

Ah, he had forgotten about that. Sirius gave him a sheepish look.

"Uh, woof?"

Wednesday 4th February 1976

Gryffindor Common Room, 17:00

Lily tried not to be too impatient when Potter decided to step right in front of her. Tried, she said, not succeeded. Did he take delight in frustrating her? She was starting to think that he did. A lot. Which was frustrating!

"Move, Potter," she said shortly.

Marlene said she snapped too much so she was trying to rectify that. Didn't mean she had to be nice, though.

Of course, Potter being the ignorant, annoying, infuriating buffoon that he was, completely disregarded her tone. See, this is why she was blunt and snappy. It was the only thing he understood.

"In a second," he replied.

"No. Now."

He was the one that got in her way, after all, so he should be the one to move. That and she couldn't edge around him. Potter had finally got his growth spurt this year and, although he wasn't exactly broad shouldered or chested, he was no longer that lanky preteen anymore that could probably have slipped down a gutter.

"Would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me?" Potter asked her, ignoring her order.

Lily couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Her? Go in a date with Potter? Over Valentine's weekend? No thank you. Never going to happen.

He was still looking at her expectantly. Oh, she hadn't said that out loud.

"No."

Marlene snorted next to her and shook her head. Potter's face fell.

"Oh, come on, Evans! It's even on Valentine's Day this year! The universe is telling everyone something!"

Lily rolled her eyes. Really? Now he was just being ridiculous. He had been before but even more so now.

"No!"

Could he not understand the word? Did she literally have to spell it out for him?

"Aw!"

But at least he accepted that a turned away. Finally.

Sunday 8th February 1976

Gryffindor Common Room, 14:00

"I can so do better," Sirius bragged.

Was it bragging if it was the truth though?

They were making fun of James again because of course they were. He was just so hopeless when it came to Evans it was hilarious. Well, Sirius thought so anyway.

Seriously, the girl had said no to him how many times exactly? Well, Sirius didn't know the exact number but it had to be loads. But James just kept on trying. Normally Sirius would have told him that that sort of persistence was exactly and admirable trait when it came to dealing with the fairer set but James was so bad at it that Sirius didn't think it counted.

"No, you can't," James said sulkily.

Oh, that was a lie and James knew it. Sirius smirked at him.

"Of course, I can."

"No, you can't."

"Yes. I. Can."

"Haven't you learnt your lesson on this?" Remus asked in exasperation. "Sirius managed to get himself a date the last time you tried this, remember?"

James scoffed. "I remember. But there's no way he could do it again."

"Of course, I could."

"Yeah right."

Sirius put his hands on his hips and flung his hair put of his face with a proud jerk of his head.

"I could!"

"It's harder now," James argued. "Girls know what they like and want now. They've had some dates at least. It's not like their curious about going on their first one and will go with just anyone."

"Well, I'm not just anyone," Sirius said confidently. "They want me."

"That's awfully cocky," Remus interjected.

"It's not cocky if it's true."

Because it was true and they all knew it. Or really should know it by now. How many girlfriends had he had since third year? At least ten. And what about them? Zero. A big fat zero. It was very obvious who was the best here.

"Well, you haven't had to ask someone who keeps saying no," James floundered for an excuse for himself.

"That's because no one wants to say no to me."

And no one ever had. So there!

"Well, you just ask girls who fancy you!" James declared, crossing his arms. "That's easy. Of course, they'll say yes."

"Isn't that the point of asking someone out?" Peter asked Remus quietly. "Because you both fancy each other?"

"Yes, but these two aren't exactly logical, are they?"

"Good point."

Sirius was insulted. He was definitely not being illogical here. James, on the other hand, very much was. Then he glanced around the Common Room and saw Evans and her friends. Some of them were pointing at them (James probably) and giggling. An idea came to him.

"Look, I'll prove that I can get any girl to go out with me," he declared.

"How are you going to do that?" Remus asked apprehensively.

Yes, what was he going to do? Good question.

"I'll, I'll ask McKinnon out!" he declared.

His friends stared at him before bursting out into laughter. He gave them an affronted look. What was so funny about that?

"Okay, go do that," James said, wiping tears from his eyes. "There's no way she'll say yes."

"I think there's a better chance than Evans."

That shut him up. Ha.

"Well? Go do it then," Remus said, giving him an oh-so-helpful shove.

"Are you really sure that's a good idea? I saw McKinnon punch a sixth hear once. And she was a third year!" Peter asked worriedly.

Sirius paled. He had forgotten about that incident. Oh, the guy deserved it but yeah, McKinnon was kind of terrifying.

"No," James shook his head. "Let him do it."

"I will."

"Go on then."

"I'm doing it."

With a dramatic turn on his heel (that almost unbalanced him) Sirius strode purposefully across the Common Room. He stopped just short of the gaggle of girls. Game plan. He needed a game plan. Couldn't do anything without a plan, after all. Did he compliment her? Be sweet and nice or suave? What would McKinnon prefer? She didn't take him to be the sickly-sweet type. But then again, he didn't exactly know her at all.

He looked at her and then realised that he couldn't very well string her along just because of a bet. He had done it before, way back for his first ever date, but he couldn't do that to McKinnon. Mainly because he was pretty sure if she ever found out she would punch him in the face. And he quite liked his face. It was too nice to have bruises on it. And a broken nose was just out of the question.

But he didn't want to lose the bet or lose face with his friends. So, what to do?

"Hey, McKinnon, got a minute?"

She looked at Evans and they both shrugged.

"Sure," she replied, stepping to one side. "What do you want?"

"Well," he rubbed the back of his head. How was he supposed to say this? "I was wondering if you wanted to go out on a sort of date to Hogsmeade?"

"A sort of date?"

Oh no, folded arms like that were never a good thing when a girl did that. That was one of the few sensible things father had taught him.

Sirius outlined what the Marauders had been talking about - leaving out his bragging, of course, because that was just poor taste. For her credit, McKinnon actually stayed and listened though her expression never changed. Hopefully that was a good thing. Either way he was going to carefully stay out of striking distance. He bruised easily.

"And that was my plan," he finished kind of lamely.

It really wasn't a good one, now that he thought about it. But it had to happen. There was just no way that he could turn back to his laughing friends and lose face. No way.

Why was there no expression on her face? There was no way that was normal.

"So, you want to ask me out because of a bet?" She asked slowly.

"Yes and no."

"Excuse you?"

She looked like she didn't know whether to be annoyed, confused or angry at him. It was kind of funny.

"I wouldn't mind going out on a date with you" he told her. "It would be fun."

Dates were always fun. And McKinnon was an alright sort of person.

"Uh, thanks?"

Whoops, she didn't look too flattered by that. His bad. This was not how he normally asked people out.

"You're pretty cool," he complimented, not sure of how saying she was pretty would go down. Though she was that too.

"I know," she said with a smirk.

"And I thought you would be down for this sort of thing? You get to mess with James and all?"

Sirius shook his head. This really was not coming out right at all. There was no way she was going to do it.

"I'm in."

"What?"

Sirius definitely hadn't been expecting that. His open mouth should attest to that. She shrugged.

"It will be fun to mess with your friends. I'll do it."

Sirius smirked at her. "A girl after my own heart."

"You can bet on it," and she gave him a wink!

They even shook out it, a proper deal needed to be sealed, after all. It was a very satisfying feeling.

"You're paying for lunch."

"Sure."

He was going to do that anyway. She was the one doing him a favour after all.

Wednesday 11th February 1976

Ravenclaw Common Room, 19:30

Chryssie couldn't help but sigh longingly. Yes, she was well aware of ridiculous she was being - especially since she was ignoring an important Transfiguration essay - but she couldn't help it. She just couldn't look away.

But she had to or else she would make a complete fool of herself. And quite possibly be the laughing stock of all her friends. Which would not be a good thing. It would be downright embarrassing actually.

Rosier was just so handsome. Effortlessly so. What with his dark hair and high cheekbones, ohhh, they were just lovely. Not to mention those deep, soulful brown eyes. She could look at him all day and not get bored.

Okay, yes, Chryssie was fully aware that she was being ridiculous but she couldn't help it. Hormones and puberty and all that. She knew the science behind it but that didn't help when the feelings came.

Feelings that were very much directed at the boy one year her senior. In her sister's year. Chryssie wondered whether or not Lily knew him well. Maybe she could ask her? No. Chryssie shook her head. Bad idea. Lily could read her far too well. She would know something was up and that would not be a good thing. She could practically hear the teasing now. No way. Not happening.

What also wasn't happening was her talking to him. She just couldn't bring herself to do it. Not even a "hi" in passing. It was too hard. Far too hard.

That didn't mean she couldn't admire from afar, however. Which she did a lot of. Probably an unhealthy amount of to be honest. But no one knew so no one was going to tell her off. She could do it in peace.

She frowned as the most obnoxious voice she had ever heard broke through her thoughts. That certainly wasn't peaceful.

"Of course, I'll only be able to take one lucky girl with me at the weekend."

She groaned and buried her head in her hands. It was Lockhart. Of course, it was Lockhart. That sort of obnoxious bragging was always Gilderoy (and she thought her name was bad) Lockhart.

"And she has already been chosen."

Seriously? Did he really think anyone cared? Sure, he always had a few giggling girls around him (mainly younger ones) but everyone else found him annoying. Chryssie, personally, was suspicious of his too white teeth. They practically glowed!

"Tilly here has the honour of being my date."

Despite herself, Chryssie looked over. Tilly, or Matilda Macmillan, was a pretty little thing with long, chestnut hair and an avid interest in unicorns and thestrals. And apparently who also had a crush on Lockhart if her pleased blush was anything to go by. Why would she like someone her talked about her like that? It was just pompous and disrespectful.

Chryssie tuned the boy out, really not wanting to hear him. She had much more pleasant things to think about after all.

Rosier fixed his hair and tucked a strand behind his ear. She sighed happily.

Saturday 14th February 1976

Fifth Year Gryffindor Girls Dorm, 08:00

Lily looked down in confusion at the card in her hand again. It was yet another card from her secret admirer, wishing her a 'Happy Valentine's Day' as usual. Though, this time there were five roses with it. Not real ones. Silk ones. Like the one from last year. She looked over to her bedside table. The one she still had. It was in her top drawer but she had it. She couldn't just throw it away.

Who was doing this? Why were they doing this? It had been three years now. Surely the person could come up to her and ask her out? Was it really that difficult? Maybe he was shy. Really shy. But surely, he would have given up after three years? But he hadn't. She kept on receiving gifts from him. And these little cards. Lily had to admit that she was now quite curious. But only to herself. There was no way she was bringing Marlene into this again.

"Hey, is that a rose?"

Lily jumped at Marlene's voice.

"Don't do that!"

"Don't walk around the dorm?" Marlene asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Scare me."

"Not my fault you're daydreaming about your secret admirer."

"I wasn't daydreaming about him!"

"Ha! So, it is from your secret admirer!"

Oh, darn it! Now she was going to get involved. Lily didn't think she could stick interrogating everyone again.

"Did you get another card from him too?" Marlene asked peering over her shoulder. "Is it from the same person as the last ones?"

"I think so," Lily replied, pulling a box out from her dresser.

It was where she kept all these cards and the other bits and pieces they came with.

"You keep them?" Marlene asked in amusement.

"Yes," Lily said defensively.

They were nice cards. That and even if she never figured out who they were from it was nice to have them. Maybe she would figure it out one day and it would be nice to show that she kept all of them if that day came.

"Okay then."

Lily didn't know why Marlene found it so funny but she supposed it was better than her interrogating everyone on them. Lily still blushed in second-hand embarrassment when she thought of that incident.

"Well, I'm going to go out with an actual person today. Sirius asked me."

"Black is your date?" Lily asked in amazement.

"Uh huh."

"Black?"

"He's funny," Marlene said defensively. "And he asked me."

Lily was about to say something derisive about Black but then stopped. One, she didn't find Black anywhere near as annoying as Potter and two, Marlene looked very, very defensive. She wasn't going to make fun of her best friend's Valentine!

"That's really nice," she said instead.

She could be supportive of this. She could. Sure, Black was a bit obnoxious but Lily had never seen him treat anyone cruelly. He was just very silly. And idiotic. And goofed around a lot. But Marlene did find characteristics like that attractive.

Marlene beamed at her, "Isn't it? It should be fun at least even if nothing really happens."

Well, that was certainly true. Hogsmeade was always fun and Lily supposed that it would be fun with a date as well.

"Sorry that I'm going to be abandoning you."

Lily shrugged. "You know I wasn't going to go into Hogsmeade today anyway."

Too much lovey dovey stuff going on. It was uncomfortable to watch. She'd be going in tomorrow instead. That would get her her usual supply of chocolate, she was running low - especially after last week. But she could last one more day. There would be an abundance of chocolate treats for desserts this weekend anyway - a nod to the holidays.

"Cool," Marlene replied and then looked up at the clock. "Oh, I better get ready."

"And I better get my books for my homework."

Tuesday 17th February 1976

Gryffindor Common Room, 16:00

Alice stretched and yawned. It felt like she had been hunched over her Ancient Runes homework for ages even though it had barely been twenty minutes. It had been a long sort of day. With OWLs creeping ever closer all Professors were putting more and more pressure on them each and every day.

"You're going to have a crooked back if you keep studying all hunched over like that," Mary scolded.

She was also doing homework, shocking - yes, because even Mary was starting to feel the pressure.

"It won't be for long," Alice dismissed. "Just for OWLs."

She worked better when she could spread out everything in front of her, you see. She couldn't help it. Even though her back was complaining.

"I forgot to ask," Alice said, suddenly remembering something. "How was your date?"

She couldn't believe she had forgotten to ask Mary about that. Her first Valentine's Day date! What kind of friend was she?

Mary had been asked out by Yaxley. Something she had been very excited about. They were betrothed, you see but they didn't have any such conditions like she and Frank had about actually liking each other. So Yaxley wasn't obliged to ask her on a date but he did anyway.

"Oh, it was so good!" Mary gushed, having obviously been holding back the past few days. "It was so much fun. He was so attentive and gentlemanly and handsome-"

That was a very important bit. Alice hid her grin at her friend's excitement. She wasn't going to ruin this for her. She remembered how excited she had been when she had come back from her first date with Frank. Mary had met her go on and on about so she could do the same.

"And then he brought me to Honeydukes and-"

Saturday 21st February 1976

Entrance Hall, 09:30

"We should have done this for Imbolc," Sirius criticised, looking up at the ceiling.

They had made a bunch of straw dolls float up there. It was for their next prank. When someone walked under one, a doll would follow you. The more you walked under, the greater the number that would follow you. The early risers (aka Ravenclaws) were going to have quite the crowd behind them. It would be funny, especially when if you stopped the doll (or dolls) would do a dance. Sirius had argued that they should do the waltz but he was overruled and they did this weird jazz routine instead.

"It's what inspired me," Remus admitted. "All those straw dolls being offered."

"They're kind of freaky looking," Peter observed.

"It's because they have no faces," James pointed out. "None of us were very good at that doll creating spell."

"The more you do it, the better the dolls get," Remus reminded him.

"But we did loads!"

"Actually, we just duplicated a bunch," Sirius pointed out. "That's not exactly creating them through the same process."

James pouted and folded his arms. "Whatever. At least we have enough."

"Hopefully."

"I still say we should have dressed the big one that's going to follow Dumbledore in robes," James continued. "That would be funny."

"It would be ridiculous," Sirius corrected him. "The doll would need a beard to pull that off."

"Because that wouldn't look ridiculous," Remus said sarcastically.

"Exactly, Moony! See, James?"

Tuesday 24th February 1976

Great Hall, 08:00

Okay, she couldn't stick it anymore. Chryssie slammed her cutlery down on the table and stood up. She got a few curious glances from her fellow Ravenclaws but most Wilfred smiling at her. And it certainly wasn't because of anything funny she had done. Actually, the thing that was causing them to smile was her problem. It wasn't a big problem, perse, but it was an annoying one.

"Lily," she said, tapping her sister on the shoulder.

"Morning, Chryssie," Lily turned to face her.

"Yeah, morning. Can you help me a second?"

"Of course."

Chryssie promptly pointed behind her. Lily's eyes widened and then she shook her head.

"Can you fix it?" she asked somewhat anxiously.

"No," Lily admitted reluctantly.

"Really?"

"Potter!" Lily barked, making Chryssie jump.

There was a scramble from a bit further down the Gryffindor Table and then no end of chuckles as James Potter finally made his way over to Lily.

"Yes, Evans?" he said eagerly with these ridiculously wide eyes. "Have you reconsidered-"

"No. You need to fix something."

Potter looked at her confused then followed where her fingers were pointing.

"Oh, hi, baby Evans," he greeted, apparently, she was just coming to his attention now.

"I'm only a year younger than you," Chryssie pointed out, amused. "Barely."

He ignored that comment, instead asking, "What's the problem that the marvellously talented Lily Evans couldn't fix?"

Lily was rolling her eyes at this compliment. Huh.

"Show him, Chryssie."

Chryssie blinked and then remembered why she was over here. "Oh, yeah."

She stepped to one side to display a little, dancing straw doll.

"Cool," said Potter, sounding impressed. "Did you reanimate it or something?"

Chryssie shook her head. "It never stopped."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Cool," he then proceeded to call down the table, "Guys, look at this!"

Suddenly she had all four of the boys surrounding her, which was a little disconcerting. Especially since they were eyeing her up like she was some sort of experiment. The comments they made certainly didn't help that.

"It was only supposed to last twelve hours, give or take."

"Everyone else's stopped."

"I saw Warrington still have one following him around the other day."

"Really? Where is it?"

"I think he set it on fire..."

"I'd rather not do that."

"Why do only a few do this then?"

"Mispronounced spell?"

"It didn't what it was supposed to do..."

"And then some."

"Maybe it was the wand movement..."

"Potter, can you fix it?" Lily interrupted their musings.

Potter's head snapped up as if he hadn't realised that she was still there.

"Um..."

"Well?"

"We can," Lupin interjected. "Hopefully. It was supposed to just wear off..."

"I thought you would have known this, Remus."

"Yeah, Moony!" Black jumped in.

Lily turned her glare to him. "You, Black, should know better to pull a prank without knowing to reverse it. All of you should."

Even Chryssie squirmed at that tone. How on earth did Lily manage to sound like an annoyed parent at only fifteen?

"But we do!" James said eagerly, raising his wand. "See?"

There was a jet of purple light and then suddenly her little straw doll flopped to the floor, unmoving.

Lily gave him an unamused look. "And you couldn't have done that at first?"

That was a bit harsh of her, Chryssie thought as she leaned down to pick the doll up.

"Do you want this?" she asked, offering it to them.

"Please," Lupin said. "That way we can figure out how it lasted so long."

Chryssie nodded, she could understand wanting to know that information. Ravenclaw and all.

"Longer lasting pranks would be more fun," Black mused.

"No, Black," Lily snapped.