Lily was still fuming from the business with the cauldrons, though it had been over a week ago. Her hands still stank of the potion fumes, though she had tried everything from muggle antibacterial gel to a potion that was supposed to make each individual finger smell like a different kind of flower.
However, there had been one advantage to scrubbing the cauldrons. While she had been down in the freezing dungeons, she had come across a loose stone. When she finally was able to pry it out, she had found several packets of Zonko's products, including things like itching powder and hair-growing lotion.
'Kind of like the opposite of Nair,' she'd thought. Then, she'd secretly taken a small sample of each to possibly use later.
'James will love this,' she'd thought evilly. Then, sighing, she'd resumed her Cinderella role once more.
***
Unfortunately, Lily didn't get to use any of her newfound treasures for over a month. Since they were in separate years, (something she was very thankful for,) she never saw James much except for at mealtimes. But he and his friends weren't around then, either. They spent all of their free time haunting the library, searching all the books on transfiguration, though Lily had no idea why. Transfiguration was James' best subject.
'He must have some ulterior motive,' she decided.
However, on the day before the Christmas holidays, James and his friends managed to show up for lunch. Lily jumped at this opportunity, knowing that she would not have another chance to get him back until after the holidays.
She had Kyla and Celeste distract the boys with annoying questions that a stupid 1st year might ask. Then, when she was sure nobody was looking, she dumped an entire packet of belching powder into a jug of pumpkin juice.
'Good thing that James sits at the Gryffindor table,' she thought, trying to hide her smile. 'Otherwise I'd have to go across the room to play tricks on him, and I'm not sure he's worth that.'
"Ah, great! Pumpkin juice! I was all out. Let me see that," Peter Pettigrew said, greedily reaching for Lily's jug.
Lily nearly shouted, "No!" but she managed to restrain herself.
"Why don't you try milk instead, Peter?" she coaxed. "I heard it's better for you than pumpkin juice, and it prevents osteoporosis too."
"Oh, yeah, whatever," said the very gullible boy.
"Well, since Lily probably doesn't care whether I get osteoporosis or not, I'm sure she won't mind giving me some of her pumpkin juice," said James in a gallant voice.
"Of course not," said Lily as sweetly as possible. Then, to James' amazement, she swiftly poured some juice into James' cup, nearly knocking it over.
"Uh, thanks," said James in a suspicious voice.
"No problem," said Lily with even more honey than before.
Still eyeing her warily, James started to joke around with Sirius. They were making up new lyrics to the Hogwarts song; lyrics that made fun of the teachers and of the Slytherins. They were singing quietly so that nobody could hear them, but Professor McGonagall with her bat's ears was able to pick out a few words that James was singing.
"Mr. Potter!" she shouted. James and Sirius stopped abruptly. The entire room went quiet.
"Yes?" asked James a bit sheepishly. Perhaps he shouldn't have put in that part about her beady eyes. Professor McGonagall had always been a bit sensitive about her eyes.
"Since you enjoy singing your little song so much," said Professor McGonagall sarcastically, "Perhaps you wouldn't mind standing up and singing one for us."
James grinned. He didn't mind this sort of thing. In fact, he enjoyed it. He stood up on his chair and took a big swig of pumpkin juice so his throat wouldn't be too dry.
Lily clapped a hand to her mouth. Celeste and Kyla followed suit. This was almost too hilarious. Not only would James have to cope with belching all day long, he'd have to do it with all of his classmates and teachers watching.
James took a deep breath, but before he could sing a note, a deep burp came out instead.
The entire school froze with horror. Then, little titters began to break out. Suddenly, somebody let out a big guffaw and the whole school was howling. Even the teachers were chuckling, except for a very angry Professor McGonagall who thought he had done it on purpose.
James sat down with a red face. He was obviously embarrassed but not too affected, which was good, because Lily would hated to imagine what he'd do to her if she had totally humiliated him.
Sirius was roaring with laughter. "Nice one!" he managed to gasp out to James. Professor McGonagall, however, didn't share Sirius' view.
"Come with me, Mr. Potter," said Professor McGonagall in her quietest, most dangerous voice.
James tried to explain, but the only thing that came out was an even bigger belch, which only made the students laugh harder, not to mention make Professor McGonagall even angrier.
He felt somebody slip something into his hand. Turning around, he saw it was Lily. He glanced at the wadded up piece of paper in his hand. He unfolded it just enough to reveal the words Belching Powder before he hastily shoved it into the pocket in his robes. He wisely decided to follow Professor McGonagall without opening his mouth.
Lily chuckled. She knew that James would not have a chance to get her back during the holidays, since she was going home for Christmas. He'd probably think up some elaborate hoax to play on her. In the meantime, however, she planned to think up some tricks of her own.