The Marauding Five : Year Four

Noelle – Hola!!! Name it "The Return Of The Yumis"?? No!! Definitely no no! dear little Castria and Kiara aren't back from their little vacation in the fourth year girl's dorm. Not yet. Anyway, it changed??? Again???? What WERE those Ministry of Magic people thinking? They do realize that Voldemort has to be demolished at this instant, don't they??? They're irresponsible! Mean! You know what? I just tried calling that number and guess what???? There's this odd gruff voice which says something. I could barely make out the words he was saying but I was sure it was something like 'Ze Miniszry of Magick has lost its voice! 'Oo-ow-'oo has started again!' Weird, huh? *sighz* I know what you mean… my parents were always that way. They just couldn't stick to one simply word! One moment I'll be commented as a five year old brat. The next minute you'll hear them screaming about being too quiet for my own good. Geez! And oh! Don't worry!!! I'm not planning any Voldemort yet! In year Five, most probably. One of those later chapters. And you'll get to see everyone's favourite dark wizard dressing like an old lady [namely Neville's Gran] and holding a statue of Liberty ^_^ I promise!

Lori Rhodes – You WHAT?! You LIKED my dream?? You most definitely wouldn't, because I sorta freaked out myself. I have weird things running in my head, you know… Flobberworms, Griffins, Hippogriffs… just to name a few. I don't think you'll enjoy it if you have my dream. My dreams are some sort of premonition to me. Like the time when Voldemort told me to take care of his fishes [refer Y4-C1]. Not long after that dream, my parents brought home eight carps and two goldfishes to be reared in the pond outside my home! It's not really a pond, just a huge pot, but those fishes live in there now. it's like a mini swimming pool. And yes, I know people will most probably skip my insane rantings over here ^^ they might miss a couple of hints I may give out at some time, but no one cares and neither do I! I hope you'll survive JP and the Unogua Board, if you DO read it. I had no idea how my friends survived that. They simply begged me to finish it, although I don't want to! Suffice to say, I got death threats. Death threats always work for me, however much I hate it. *groans* and I am NOT, I repeat, NOT TALENTED! And yes, ever since I started writing The Marauding Five – First Year, I had been dreaming loads of nonsense and weird things for this story so that it can last until here. About half belongs to my dreams and the other half? My concious self J

Someone2 – Sayonara was goodbye. Until I discovered it meant something like goodbye for a long period of time, I stopped using it. I rather say Ja matta Ne which just is a simple bye-bye ^_^ I forgot half my other Japanese terms though, after a long time of slacking in language. And sure, I'll read it for you! It's not much of a bother to me, as I'm really free now, after my mid-term examinations! Just hope I'll pass everything… if I fail even ONE subject, I'll be expelled before you can even say 'Sayonara' to me.

Jennifer Longbottom – But that was my dream!!!! Yep! I know there's a rule in Quidditch Through the Ages [I have that book!!!! Yippee!] but I couldn't control my dreams at all! I once tried to force my English marks from 68% to 89% but I couldn't. It just came that way and it'll stay that way. My English paper ended up gaining 68% of marks. That's premonition in dreams for you.

Lightning Starz – Okay, here's my reply to your stupendously long review ^_^ *grinz* I am really bored, thus always ends up replying to nearly every review I received. First, the story isn't great at all because it's a rather normal one. There's a whole heap of great stories out there and I had a bad feeling that mine isn't categorized in that J Second: Lily kidnapped you and turned you into a talking fish??? *gasps* that's a great one!!!!! I once had a dream [let's face it, I have MILLIONS of dreams!] and Voldemort was standing before me in this very dark room. He sniggered sinisterly at me and called out 'Avada Kedavra turn into Banana!!!' and poof! I was a yellow banana, struggling in the yellow skin. It felt funny, being turned into a fruit. And those pranks? Oh, I do have a lot in store. I had everything planned out, in fact! It's just that when I start writing new ideas came into my head and I ended up forgetting what I really plan to do. I'll email if I need a Beta-Reader, thanks for the offer!

AVK – what IS an AU? Anywayz, Lily and James are going to survive J I'd planned that for long because … [WARNING: CONFESSION AHEAD!] I did sooo many mistakes!!! I did too many to be qualified as a 'proper' story :P

lily girl – this is the only Harry Potter fic you read???? *blinks in amazement* *tears filling eyes* I feel so honoured!!!!! And I do like being mentioned in people's AN :P I like that, so I figured some people will like it, too! You do share the same opinion as I do *grin*

Well, that's all so far ^_^; I think I had almost everyone's name in here! And if anyone still wants to think I'm talented, or gifted, or genius, I think I'm more suitable with my favourite insult of the week: Moron. I am a little bit of a moron and insane, and if you call me that, I'll be grinning at you by then [as a spirit… wooo~ *eerie music and sound effects*]. Review more, kay? I'd love to hear from you as this is my last chapter of Year Four!! That's also the reason why I replied to almost every review I received :P I'm insane…

Disclaimer: When time eats me, I'm dead.

The Marauding Five : Year Four

Chapter 11: The Year End Ball

Lily grumpily stomped her way to McGonagall's office. If her fater ever hear of this, she'd most definitely get a raving of a lifetime. Probably worst than the ones on her first term holidays, as she's much older and wiser already. Lily snorted at that. She is never wiser.

Just as she was trying to guess what her parents would say to her in their "ravings," McGonagall yanked her door open.

'Evans! What took you so long?' she barked at Lily.

'It's a long story,' Lily answered casually. McGonagall raised her eye, as if asking Lily to go on with her excuses. 'You see, Peeves bomb me, Myrtle yelled at me, Nearly-Headless-Nick fainted, and—'

'I don't remember Peeves fighting with you. Nor Myrtle's loud sobs. Nor of a ghost that can faint. Those were mere rubbish talks, Evans,' McGonagall said.

'Well, they aren't, if you look at it at a different point. See, they're ingenius, actually, Minnie,' Lily said earnestly to the professor. McGonagall stared at the mad girl for a wild moment, her mouth gaping in amazement. Finally, she snapped back to reality world.

'Enough, Evans! You shall clean my office today, as your detention! And you, being a prefect, should take on the extra responsibilities! So you have to make it pin-point shiny WITHOUT A SINGLE MAGIC!!!' McGonagall yelled. Lily could feel the fire flaring from her nostrils, and imagining the funny comical picture she saw in her mind's eye, she laughed.

'EVANS!!!!!'

'S- so sorry, M- Minnie!! You look like a- a- a dragon!' Lily giggled uncontrollably.

'CLEAN MY OFFICE, NOW!!!!' McGonagall ordered sharply.

Lily took five minutes to recover from her fits and another five to register what the "dragon" had just said. Her face transformed into a sour expression and she went into the room. Her jaw fell in amazement. McGonagall's office was in total havoc. A great mess.

'You actually made this mess?' Lily gaped.

'Actually, no. Your very good friend, Poltergeist Peeves, decided to play space invaders in here last night,' McGonagall said severely, as if accusing Lily for being friends with the poltergeist who had just destroyed her room.

'Aaw… I thought we could award you with the best room havoc of the year award!' Lily sighed wistfully. 'But that can't be helped, I guess. That'll just have to go to Peeves. Try again next year, Minnie.'

'Shut up, Evans, and get this cleaned!' McGonagall snapped. Her patience had simply flew over its fence.

'Fine, whatever,' Lily said, shrugging carelessly.

'And no magic.'

'Do I look deaf?' Lily asked. McGonagall stared at her for a little while.

'I guess so. Your eardrums just burst, didn't they?' she replied.

'Sorry to disappoint you, but nope.'

'I'll leave you to clean up this mess then,' McGonagall said, leaving her office. No way she will stay in the same room as Lily Evans for more than half an hour, the time McGonagall predicted Lily will take to re-furnish her office. Goodness knows what she'll turn into by the time Lily had done!

Lily pulled a face at the retreating professor, doing odd stunts a clown usually does. She pulled out her wand and chanted a charm Professor Flitwick taught them a few days ago. The objects jumped back to their places neatly and Lily grinned to herself. McGonagall said MAGIC. Not CHARMS.

'Let's see… maybe I should sign my name here,' Lily said, looking at the stone wall with interest. She measured a little here and a little there. Finally, she did a sort of height measuring. 'Yep! Exactly!! Would do perfectly well!!!'

The girl magicked a paint brush and a bottle of bright red paint. Lily turned to draw a huge picture of a Super-Deformed sized devil (with two horns on their head and a pointy tail at its end) and wrote the letters 'Ha ha ha ha ha!' next to the neat picture. She magicked a new bottle of lavender paint and dipped her brush into it. Below the picture, she wrote, 'Courtesy of Lily R. Evans, super genius of the year.'

Lily took a step or two back to admire her fabulous work. Tilting her head a little, she neatly signed her name at the corner and drew a small flower next to it. She smiled in satisfaction. Deciding that her job is done, she carried the bottles and paint brush and walked out of the neat but splattered (with paint) office, humming a short catchy tune.

'Terrans!!!! What are you doing here in Romaniac?' Ripp said in amazement. He had a bow and an arrow in his hands and dragon hide covering all over his disguise sea creature of the day—a Hammer-Head shark. Lily rolled her eyes at him.

'I suppose you're hunting for dragons, but I doubt you will. Those Horntails can fry you with just a breath of flames. And I don't think being a shark can frighten them at all, since they can simply squash you with one foot,' Lily said sarcastically.

'Dragons!!! Oh no!! Where? Where???' Ripp cried, hiding behind a nearby armour.

'In your head,' Lily replied. Talking to this idiot professor was not worth it, she decided.

'Say, aren't you going to the ball? You ought to have a nicer costume,' Ripp said. Lily perked up at once.

'What ball?'

'The year end ball, of course! Dumbledore's holding one!' Ripp said.

'Oh, really?' Maybe talking to this idiot can help her spread some rumours. Life was getting quite boring these days.

'Yep!!! Aren't you going? Where's the Great Hall? I simply cannot be late for such an event!' Ripp said, turning his head in all directions. Lily grinned deviously and pointed him to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Ripp walked in casually and, as you'd all probably guessed, louds shrieks and hurt sobs were heard from the late crybaby.

**

'No, you're kidding!' Tally cried.

'Am not! It's a surprise party!' Adele said. 'At least, that's what Lily told me.'

'Really? Are we allowed to go?' Nina asked feverishly.

'All of us,' Sirius nodded.

'How did Lily know?' Sita asked. Somehow, Lily isn't one of those people whom you can trust straight off.

'Ask her. There she is, talking to the third years,' Remus said, pointing at the eager looking red head who was talking to a group of third years at the other end of the common room.

'No need! I'm asking Dan!' Tally said eagerly.

'I thought boys ask girls,' Pertsy said.

'Who called?' Dan asked, walking into the common room. 'Hey, I saw James just now, and he told me there's this ball at the end of the year. That true or just some silly rumour?'

'Adele here just told us the same,' Tally said.

'Us, too!' Sirius piped, jabbing at himself and Remus. Where credit is due, Sirius never misses a credit. Or a due.

'Hey!' Thomas called. 'James just told me—'

'We know,' Nina said boringly.

'It seemed like Gryffindors are the first to know, huh?' Pertsy said.

'Yep!' Adele, Sirius and Remus chorused.

'So… which of you boys is taking Lily? And who's taking Adele?' Tally asked.

'We're going with no one,' Remus said.

'No one?' Dan echoed.

'No one. We wanna be free, free, free!!!!! And free and free and free! Whoopie!!!!!!!' Sirius cried, jumping up and down and turning cartwheels rather dangerously.

'Well I think you're too free. That stupid Care For Magical Creatures project… it's driving me nuts! I don't even know what the heck a Kelpie is!' Pertsy sighed wistfully.

'I know, I know! It's this horse that—' Adele said eagerly.

'Stop it! We know you're a genius with those moron creatures, happy?' Pertsy snapped in annoyance. The only thing she hate about the five Marauders were the fact that each of them had a special talent and were awfully loud about it.

'Nope. If you need help, you can always asked,' Adele offered warmly.

Then again, Pertsy corrected herself, they are generous with it, too.

'Okay,' Pertsy said gratefully, thankful that her Magical Creatures project will at least be completed when the clock striked the eleventh hour.

'Howdy, mates!' James cried, jumping into the common room, Lily in tow.

'Howdy!' Sirius greeted.

'I just visited the ol' wise one, to confirm what Lily said,' James grinned.

'Liar. You were out telling the world about it,' Dan muttered.

'Yeah, so? Anyway, Dumbledore confirmed it with a couple of dungbombs for threats,' James said.

'You're coming with me, right Tal?' Dan said, turning to stare fondly at Tally.

'Of course!' Tally giggled.

'Oops! I forgot to add something,' James said, grinning deviously.


'This is a chosen date,' Lily grinned.

'What?!' Obviously, no one had ever heard of a "chosen date" ball before.

'She means that the names will be jumbled up in a box and you pick up the names,' Remus said, a know-it-all expression and tone clearly set on his face.

'By our years, I bet. It'll be your luck if you got a date,' Adele said.

'And if you don't get one!' Sirius cackled evilled. 'Cross your fingers, kiddos!!!'

'Or if you got paired with an enemy,' James added.

'Or worst, get a Slytherin,' Lily concluded.

'Nooo!!!!!!' the fourth years moaned.

'It's a yes,' Remus said.

'Nooo!!!!!!'

'Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! Yes!!' Adele chanted.

'No!'

'Face the fact, people!' Sirius snapped mercilessly. 'You'd better wish for someone. Or no one.'

**

'Please, Lily? Can we please use our Psychic?' Adele pleaded.

'No! We'll be playing fair this time, get it?' Lily said.

'You're not older than I am!' Adele scowled.

'Yeah, but I'm much taller than you. And I can stop you from using your Psychic, big sis,' Lily laughed carelessly. 'Try and die.'

'Hmph!' Adele pouted.

It was time for them to draw names for the ball and it's the fourth year's turn. Adele had a genius plan in which she'll use her Psychic powers so that no one will get her name, so she'll stay out of the dance. The girls waited patiently as James, Sirius and Remus queued up to draw their partner's names. Sirius came back first, muttering at his piece of parchment. He was about to burn it when Lily snatched it out of his hands.

'Who? Ravenclaw — Anna Hopkins. Serious??? You're going to go with her???' Lily cried, laughing. What would Anna think of it?

In case you'd forgotten, Anna Hopkins is a Ravenclaw who had sworn to outmatch the Marauders in their academics. Their past few years in school found Anna fighting tooth and nail for the number one spot. But unfortunately for her poor Potions, she seem to fall back…

'Shuddap Evans,' Sirius muttered, burning the parchment with the trained black magic. 'What happened to the old tradition where ladies goes first?'

'The practice died,' Adele said. 'Besides, we're teenage girls, not ladies!'

'Oh, look! Remus's back and he didn't seem glad either, with his parchment!' Lily said teasingly. True enough, Remus looked furious at his parchment piece.

'Who's the girl?' Adele asked curiously.

'Hufflepuff. Serena Tappers. That idiot that go around fawning at every single boy,' Remus groaned.

'You're complaining,' Sirius said. 'I got a stupid Ravenclaw idiot.'

'Who?'

'Anna Hopkins.'

Remus burst out laughing.

'I wonder what she'll thing, going out with one of her worst rivals!!!'

'Nothing, I hope,' Sirius muttered. He caught sight of a black seaweed, moving towards them. 'Oh, look! James's here!'

'So… who'd you get, Jimmy boy?' Lily asked. James stared hard at her face.

'You. Of all people, you!' James said.

'Don't lie, Jam! You know I can read minds!' Lily chided.

'So you tell me who I get,' James challenged.

'Er…' In truth, Lily couldn't get into James's minda t the moment.

'I know!!!!' Adele squealed intelligently.

'Who?'

'Milicent Dork!!!'

'Wrong!' James said.

'Annie Greens!' Sirius called.

'Nope.'

'Geraldine Googles!' Remus cried.

'Nada.'

'Ally McSapperston!' Lily guessed.

'No!!'

'Nellie Willikins!'

'Na-ah!'

'Rolent Ballstic!'

'Nope!'

'Camie Collost!'

'No way!!'

'Lisa Lylaster!'

'Definitely not!'

'Then whom?' Remus asked in exasperation.

'Adele?' Sirius guessed.

'No!' James said in annoyance.

'But we'd named every girl in our form!' Adele groaned.

'No.'

'Are you that idiot who went around saying "no"?' Lily asked.

'No.'

'Oh, so you are that idiot!!!! I was wondering whom it was!' Lily cried.

'I'm NOT!!!!!'

'Don't tell me your date it … her?' Remus said, jabbing a finger at Lily.

'Yep!' James chirped, showing his parchment. The four crowded over to see the proof with their own eyes.

'More of a no,' Lily grinned. 'The parchment's empty, Potter!!!'

James blinked. 'It is?'

'Of course it is! What a dolt!' Adele cried.

'Let's see… this looks suspicious,' Remus said slowly. And before James could even blink, Remus called out 'Revalio', tapping the parchment. A faint outline of a word formed slowly in the center of the parchment.

'No!!! Don't see it!' James cried, making a move to pull the parchment off. Adele snatched it violently, nearly ripping it.

'Ravenclaw — Annie Greens,' Adele read.

'Stupid snobby git,' James muttered, ripping the parchment into tiny shreds which seem impossible to glue back.

'Hey, looks like no one got out names, Adele!' Lily said happily, pulling Adele into a hug.

'You probably used your Psychic powers, eh?' Adele whispered.

'I didn't. Like I said…' Lily stopped.

'What?' Adele asked, wondering what make Lily stop abruptly.

'Hey! Who's Adele Varens?' a boy yelled out. 'Gryffindor kid.'

'Your luck, Adele,' Lily said, smiling sweetly at her companion. Adele glared sourly at Lily.

'It's me,' Adele said.

'Am Lucifer Greens. Ravenclaw,' Lucifer Greens said. He had green eyes like Lily's but his are a little darker in shade. He had wavy chestnut brown hair and perfectly even teeth. Adele groaned.

'Yeah, yeah, whatever you say,' Adele said, waving her hand dismissively.

'No one called for Lily!' Lily cried happily, jumping eagerly.

'Lily Evans!'

'Oops. I guess I spoke a teeny weeny just too soon,' Lily moaned. She turned to the caller. To her surprise, McGonagall was the caller. 'What?' Lily asked.

'You hadn't got a partner, so…' McGonagall started. She needn't finished. Lily had already skipped back happily to her friends.

'Yes!!! Now what do you call that?' Lily cried happily to her friends.

'Luck,' Adele muttered jealously.

'Bingo!!!! So pat me on my back and congratulate me! I'm the only date-less girl in my form at the ball!' Lily cried.

'I wish I'm in your shoes now, luck girl,' Adele sighed. 'I'm dating a nerd and his twin sister is with James.'

'Hmm… maybe that shows that you have destiny etwined with James instead of me! Bravo!' Lily said.

'No can do, flower! You're better off with him as he is with you,' Sirius said, pushing Lily to James.

'Na-ah,' Lily said, jumping off.

'Can you believe it???? Snape's taking ME to the ball!' Tally cried in annoyance, stomping towards the Marauders heavily.

'And?' Sirius asked.

'It's all Dan's fault! He actually got my name at first, and Snape told him – or gave him some sort of spell – and told him I was with him!!! He took the card from Dan and gave his to him! I confronted Dan about it, but he seemed in a daze, like a Memory Charm had been fired on him!!! I can't believe it!!!!' Tally cried, sniffing. Her eyes looked ready to spill the tears any moment.

'Well…' Remus said slowly, trying to register everything into his brain.

'So who's Dan going with, then?' James asked.

'This cute Hufflepuff chicken. Camie Collost,' Tally said bitterly, jabbing her finger at an attractive blonde girl with a very charming smile. Camie caught the Marauders staring at her and flashed them her even white teeth, her beautiful grey-blue eyes winking at them playfully.

'No comments,' Adele shrugged. 'I'm a girl myself, so I can't see what's so special about her.'

'Ditto,' Lily said. 'Ask the boys if you want comments.'

'Looks stupid to me,' Sirius commented. Sirius always thinks all Hufflepuffs are idiots that fawns over all attractive people, their brains fit into a tiny doll's teacup and they giggle like stupid gooses. But this IS Sirius we're talking about.

'I think she's, um, okay,' Remus said decidingly. It wasn't really him if he gave a straight answer, right? Right.

'I think that her teeth's too even to be real, her eyes are tinted contacts and her hair is charmed into that colour,' James said bluntly.

'Well she claims they're all real,' Tally said hatefully.

'Wanna bet with us?' Lily grinned, waving her wand carelessly. She pointed one end at Camie, who was busy entertaining Lucifer Greens at her corner. 'Finite incantatem,' Lily whispered.

A strong gust of wind suddenly blew from nowhere, heading at Camie rather harshly. The gorgeous locks of gold blew, gave a shimmer and voila! mud-brown hair was revealed!! Camie blinked her grey-blue eyes irritably and Tally caught glimpse of the brown eye when the dust was cleared.

'So what do you say?' Remus said in amusement, glancing at the very strange looking girl that was once one of the most beautiful girl in Hogwarts. Tally's only reply was her lower jaw moving up and down and up and down. It reminds Adele very much of a goldfish.

'Don't look that good,' Sirius grinned, snickering at the still flirting Hufflepuff.

'Lily? Adele? Is that your eye colour or did you charm it?' Tally asked, turning to the female counterparts of the Marauders.

'Why not?' Adele asked in puzzlement.

'I don't think green eyes are real now and violet seemed impossible,' Tally replied.

'Unfortunately, Tally dear, I'm not one of those few that can take out their eyeballs to be inspected. But mine are real,' Lily said. 'Contacts are a bother, so I prefer my glasses during lessons. So much more convenient.'

'Adele?'

'Do I look real to you?' Adele asked indignantly.

'Yes, why not?'

'There! There's my answer.'

'No one bothered why mine's a gorgeous brown?' James asked superiorly.

'No, it's a common brown,' Tally said in hopes to burst his blowing head.

'No it's not! Black's common, that's it! Like Sirius's!' James retorted.

'Black as the name, yep. My hair's black, my eyes are black, my heart is black – no, it's not, actually, but heck! – and my robes are black… They don't call me Sirius Black for nothing, eh?' Sirius said in reply.

'I'm going to get at Dan,' Tally muttered, ignoring Sirius's speech a while ago about his blacks.

'Lover's spat,' Remus shrugged. 'Normal things, huh?'

'First time, Remus Lupin, you got romance's terms in their places,' Tally said sarcastically. Remus bowed.

'Honoured.'

**

'Lily, I'm asking you for the hundredth time: Can you bring me to Hogsmeade?' Adele yelled shrilly.

'Adele, for the thousandth time, NO!' Lily cried in exasperation.

'Why? I need a new dress!' Adele whined.

'No you don't. Why do you?'

'Because, Miss Lucky, I'm going to that dratted ball!' Adele cried.

'Very lucky, dear,' Lily said, turning to her crystal ball. 'But if it's dratted, why dress nicely for it?'

'Good point, flower, but I want to look nice,' Adele said.

'Lily Evans don't go shopping! If I go, I'd be a laugh of the century!' Lily said in pure shock. Never had she expected Adele to enjoy balls and go shoppings.

'Adele Varens always goes shopping,' Adele retorted. Lily gave a little laugh.

'You asked the wrong girl, French Lady,' Lily said.

'Come on! Please, Li? Hogsmeade weekend is next week and by then, the dressmaker'd be busy!' Adele pleaded, turning her huge, violet eyes at Lily. Lily gazed at her crystal ball for a short moment and, after some ponderings, put it away. Just as Adele was about to celebrate the fact that Lily is bringing her to Hogsmeade, Lily pulled out a book.

'LILY!'

'What?' Lily asked blankly.

'Go with me!'

'Buzz off and bug those boys,' Lily advised, opening her book.

'James!' Adele cooed, calling to the boy at the other corner. He shuddered and looked up at Adele.

'What do you want?' James asked in annoyance. It hadn't escaped him the fact that Adele wants to go shopping. He was quite an observant boy.

'Bring me to Hogsmeade!'

'Nope. Am busy,' James said.

'Please!!!'

'No! I have to do some work!'

'What work?'

'Astronomy… Now, what is the nearest star?' James said, looking at the ceiling blankly. He quietly prayed in his heart that Adele would just eat up that whopper and leave him alone.

'The sun!' Lily called, grinning.

'Uh, I mean, what's the nearest galaxy! Yeah! That's it!' James said nervously. Somehow, he had trouble asking this as though he don't know it. He knew the answers without even blinking.

'I hate Astronomy,' Adele muttered, racking her brain furiously.

'Andromeda!!!' Sirius said.

'And, uh, which constellation – uh, I mean star – is named after a queen?' James said, racking his brain for more questions.

'Cassiopeia. Way too easy. I thought you knew, James,' Remus said in a boring tone.

'Can we go now?' Adele pleaded.

'Divination!' James said quickly. Never in his life had he ever been thankful for this subject. Now he is. 'Now, how do you count those numbers again?'

'Aha! I know this!' Adele said happily. 'It's chopping off a chunk of skin, right?'

'You're nuts!!!!' James exclaimed. Adele wasn't a very bright student. Not in Divination or Astronomy or Transfiguration.

'I hate nuts, but thanks,' Adele said.

'Um, Transfiguration after this. Why not ask Sirius? He's free,' James said. Adele sulked sourly and went to Sirius's corner.

'Yes?' Sirius asked blankly.

'Can you bring me to Hogsmeade?' Adele asked.

'Nope. Not with that long face,' Sirius said. and he quickly ran off, not eager to bring the small girl out when he can well raid the kitchens or go to bed.

'Get back here! Hey!' Adele cried. 'Stupid git. Remus?' Adele asked, turning to the final boy. He simply put down the book on stars he was reading and went to dreamland.

'Hey! Get up!' Adele demanded.

'Oh fine. I'll bring you there,' Remus winced, getting up.

'Hooray! You're the best!' Adele cried happily, doing a little dance.

'After five minutes, you'll be changing your mind,' Lily said suddenly.

'Why?'

'You'll see soon. It's your problem, anyway,' Lily said, shrugging.

'Well he's better than the rest of you!' Adele said, poking her pink tongue at them.

**

Suffice to say, Adele did change her mind about Remus being the best out of all the Marauders when they reached the cyclops witch. The statue and Remus had began their normal routine again: a fight.

'What? You're not letting me through??? You stupid hag!' Remus yelled.

The witch poked her stone tongue at him.

'Idiot!

'Moron!

'Hag!

'Troll!

'Cyclops!

'Hunchback!'

'Remus, why can't we use the other way? The buttercups way?' Adele asked.

'The reason why Sirius is not here. We're not stupid enough!' Remus said.

'We can try…'

'Fine.' He brought her to where the buttercup painting was.

'Question one, two, three and four; what is the time when you answer them all?' the buttercups sang. Adele stood there, jaws apart. She was stumped, alright. There was no other way to describe her.

'You're right. We're not stupid enough,' Adele muttered, pulling Remus back to the one-eyed witch. This time Remus's patient had crossed over its thick line. He kicked the witch furiously and when she's wincing in pain, he tapped her.

'Dissendium!' Remus said, quickly jumping into the hole that appeared. Adele followed hurriedly. They made it quite easily for bother were fairly small in their size.

**

The last day came and all the students (especially girls) dressed their best for the dance. The Marauders (all but Lily) was grumbling about the fact on why Lily's luck came on their most unappropriate day and Tally was making herself look almost horrid to eyes.

'Why should I dress nicely for a SLYTHERIN?' Tally grumbled, when asked why.

'Well, how about Dan?' Sita asked, pulling her short black curls into place.

'That goat had a Hufflepuff to fawn over,' Tally spat resentfully.

'I'm not caring, I'm not caring,' Lily sang happily, wearing her muggle dress.

'Course you aren't! You don't even have a date to worry about!' Tally retorted.

'You're seriously going out like that?' Pertsy said, eyeing Lily's blue muggle dress.

'Why, you have a problem?'

'Um, no, but—'

'I don't mind looking like a fruist bat, Nina, thanks,' Lily said dismissively.

'How do you like this?' Adele asked, wearing her dark red dress robes.

'How come yours is so nice? It even has frills!' Sita said jealously.

'Aha! It's super special!' Adele said happily, twirling around. 'What d'you think, Lily?'

'I have no fashion sense or whatsoever,' Lily announced.

'Yes, and I look like a cow,' the smaller girl said sarcastically.

'You look like a cow.'

'I detest that!'

'You were supposed to,' Lily shrugged. 'I'll check on the guys.' With that, Lily sped off.

'Lily!!!!' Adele cried furiously as she tried to burn some of Lily's long hair but missed.

'I'm smart! I'm smart!' Lily laughed, running down the stairs three at a time. Adele glared angrily at her friend.

'Hey Lily! Look what our moms sent,' James said, when Lily reached the common room.

'What?'

'This!' James said, thrusting the red Howler into her hands. Lily ripped it open and covered her ears hurriedly.

LILY, JAMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW DARE YOU—

Poof! It exploded into smokes. The little bits of ashes came tumbling onto the red carpet.

'Finished!' Lily cried triumphantly, wand in hand. She jumped around, crying 'I did it! I did it!' happily. James looked around for a glass of water, sensing his friend is being hyper. Finding none, he turned to Remus, who had just came down with Sirius.

'Remus! Have a glass of water?' James cried as Lily bombed the fireplace.

'Hadn't one! Ask Sirius!' Remus yelled. Sirius looked around in amusement.

'Nope!' he said. 'Why? Lily hyper again?'

'Sort of. Wonder what triggered it,' James said. Lily planted a little dinamite under the couch and lighted it.

'Run!' Remus yelled. They heeded in no time and ran for cover.

BOOM!!! The dinamite exploded. Lily squealed happily and ran out of the portrait hole.

'What in Merlin's name is going on in here?' McGonagall yelled, banging into the jumping Lily. 'Oof!'

'Wingardium Leviosa!' Lily cried, whipping her wand out. To McGonagall's surprise, Lily started floating and played 'Tarzan' with the imaginary strings again.

'Evans! Get down! You'll hurt yourself!' McGonagall cried in shock.

'You think she'll listen?' A seventh year who just came down pointed out.

'Oh. Right. Finite Incantatem!' McGonagall cried. Remus tapped her gingerly on the shoulder.

'Ahem. I believe that's a spell, Minnie?' Remus said.

'Of course!'

'Aren't you forgetting something?' Sirius said.

'Uh…'

'The wand, Minnie, the wand!' James cried in exasperation. The Transfiguration mistress seemed in a blur today.

'Oh. Yeah. Finite Incantatem!!!' McGonagall cried, brandishing her wand blindly.

'Aaah!' Lily shrieked, losing grip of the spell.

'Lily!' Adele gasped when she saw her dearest friend falling. But we have to remember that Lily IS Lily and Lily always have a quick reflex.

'Nebula!' Lily cried, waving her wand. A puff of cloud appeared and Lily fell on it, unharmed.

'What are you doing, Evans? And what's this you're wearing?' McGonagall cried to the girl.

'I'm flying, Minnie, or hadn't you noticed? Your glasses are here,' Lily said, innocently tapping McGonagall's glasses with her wand. It squirted water at McGonagall. The Marauders howled with laughter.

'Evans!'

'They're betraying you!' Lily said in amusement.

'To the Hall! And Evans?'

'Yes?' Lily said sweetly.

'What's that you're wearing?'

'It's called a dress, Minnie. Don't you know?'

'You're not allowed to wear this!'

'Ah-ah-ah! We may wear anything for the ball, remember?' Lily reminded before running off. McGonagall clenched her fist, shaking all over with rage.

**

The dance proved to be a pretty grumpy one to the fourth year Gryffindors, partly because Tally refused to meet Dan's eyes; James, Sirius, Remus and Adele kept trying to join Lily in making life miserable for Snape; Lily was pouring some Tickling Powder into Snape's goblet and the wind caught hold of some, spilling it on her; Dan was trying to make eye-contact with Tally; and Nina's date kept stepping on her feet.

'You could do well to stop tredding my feet,' Nina said, wincing at the tenth time he stepped on it.

'Sorry, uh, what's yourname again?' the boy said absent-mindedly.

'It's Nina. N-I-N-A, get it??? Ni-nah!' Nina said in annoyance.

'Yes, so sorry, Hannah,' the boy replied stupidly. Nina had a sudden urge to set a leg-binding curse on him.

'Move off!!!' Lily yelled, aiming a large cannon-look-alike thing directly at Snape. The students all jumped aside in fright as Lily fired it off. Snape hadn't seen it. He was too engrossed with Tally.

'Aaah! Help!' Snape cried as the cannonball hung him on one of the tall indoor trees Hagrid brought in.

'Lily! I don't know how can I thank you for saving me!' Tally said gratefully.

'Don't mention it,' Lily said breezily. She then turned to the hanging Snape. 'And that's for calling me an idiot, Severus Snape!'

'Let me down, Evans!' Snape yelled.

'You know what, Snape? A no has been reserved for you, so NO!!!!' Lily cried, laughing madly at Snape's stupid face.

'Poof!!! Pa da dah!!!' Peeves cried, suddenly appearing out of nowhere.

'Aaah! Peeves! Put me down!' Snape cried.

Peeves started whistling an eerie tune and juggled his eyeballs, making a disgusting expression on Snape. But what did the poltergeist care about the expressions he made on people? Nothing, particularly. He ignored Snape and went through him, freezing him dreadfully.

**

'That's the weirdest ball I'd been to,' Adele said, when they boarded the Hogwarts Express. 'How's everyone's day?'

'Menacing,' James muttered. 'I have blisters now.'

'Boring,' Remus said.

'Simply spiffing!!!' Sirius chirped.

'You're kidding!' Adele said in reply. 'What about you, Lily?'

'So long's someone's tortured – especially Snaky Snape – I'm always glad,' Lily said.

'You don't sound like it.'

'You want me to turn into Sirius or act like him, then? Well, har har,' Lily said sarcastically. Adele turned to Sirius, who was singing his own version of the Hogwarts school song ('Hogwarts, Eat verbs, Hoggy Warty Part Twerps…'), accompanied with a very odd looking dance.

'I totally agree with you,' James said, when Sirius turn to act like a dog, running on all fours.

'Full support,' Remus agreed.

'Definitely har har,' Adele said finally. 'No one should turn out like Sirius. Or act like him.'

AN: Has anyone realized that I've been getting a little more insane than ever? My friends are dubbing me stupid now. Westlife [the boy band…] is coming to my place some time on 26 May and I was taunting them. No, I'm not a fan, sorry. But I do know who they are, owing to the fact that a challenge fic my friend gave. They MUST be there, in the fic. I made them come out for a few paragraphs before turning them into hyenas… Nabilah [or Sarah_Michelle on ff.n] was really mad at me. She was chasing me all over the classroom when she came back from her Jawi classes! Worst, I made Sirius-Snuffles bite this Westlife she liked called Mark Feehily. She told me she couldn't decide whether she should kill me or laugh at the insane line I had. She wrote on my paper "I'M GOING TO MURDER YOU!!!" and, oh! Stress the murder, kayz? Yep! She wrote it so hard that it still has marks on it after I rubbed off the pencil's carbon words. And I remember there's someone mailing me about HP and the Golden Unicorn [those very interesting lines on my Profile? It's quoted from there] and asked me where can s/he find it. I daren't post it for one very small reason: I really don't want any Westlife fans coming after me. Already I have nearly all my friends who liked Westlife singing their praises in my class. I'm just thankful now that I'd completed that chapter and none of them knew I'm writing J well!! This must be one of the longest rants I have!! Anywayz, I'll stop now and let you rest ^^ Toodle-oo!

Note: I'm deciding to take a short break after this [again. Never had I written another year without a break. Tradition, I guess]. I guess I'll give you a break and learn how to improve my grammar first before I go on :P I really had to finish those school projects, as least one! See ya ^_^ review, kayz?