The Pranking Wars
Author's Note: Hey, there! To skimp on the confusion you may have at the beginning of the chapter, here is a little note. Since this story will cover the lives of Lily and James Potter until they die, I am not going to able to recount every single moment of their school years. This part is going to skip from around Halloween to Christmas time. So here ya' go.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me, no matter how many times I write J.K. pleading.
Chapter Seven
James looked at Remus from across the room. "Does he look ill to you?" he muttered to Sirius. Sirius glanced across the room and shook his head.
"He always does. What of it?"
"I don't know." James shrugged. "I just have a feeling there is something he isn't telling us. We're friends now...he should tell us things."
"Maybe he just doesn't trust us enough. We did do some pretty bad things to Loopy back then."
James sighed. "You're probably right. But why does he disappear like that? Last week was the fourth time he's gone away like that. Do you think there's something wrong with him?"
Sirius shook his head. "He looks more tired than anything."
Remus did in fact look tired. His eyes were half-shut and he continually appeared to be falling asleep, jerking back up just in time. Dark shadows appeared underneath his eyes.
In the past few months, after Lily's encounter with whatever odd thing had been in the forest, Lily, Cassy, and Remus had slowly bonded with James and Sirius. Grateful for James' concern, and Sirius' also, Cassy and Remus had reluctantly decided that perhaps, though they were troublemakers, they weren't as bad as they had at first seemed.
Lily, on the other hand, had quietly accepted James' kindness without a word. In the past months she had been quiet and had focused much on her schoolwork, nonchalantly letting James and Sirius help her in Transfiguration in return for her aid in charms work.
James looked up as she strode into the room and sat quietly beside Remus. They nodded at each other but said barely a word. "She looks almost as tired as Loopy does." James muttered to Sirius.
"I know. Why don't we go over and say something?" James, surprised by Sirius' idea, nodded. They stood and walked over. Lily looked up and smiled faintly when she saw them.
"Hi, guys. How are you?" She mumbled, stifling a yawn.
"Just fine. But how are you?" James said, catching her eyes. She blushed.
"Don't be like that. I'm just a little tired...I was studying until midnight."
"What for?" James said, rolling his eyes. "Trying to blow up your head?"
Lily frowned. "No. I was just making sure I was prepared for McGonagall's test Friday. Unlike some people, I actually have to work in that class." She snorted.
"Lily, come on..."
"We were just kidding!"
"Hey, guys! What's happening!" The four of them turned to the voice that had just spoken. Peter stood behind them, wringing his hands on his robes. "Hey!" he repeated, flushing. "I was just wondering...are you going to the quidditch match today? I want to go, but I don't really have anybody..."
James turned back to the group and shrugged. "Why not? It isn't like we're going to banish you from our presence."
"Yeah, he'll just curse you." Lily muttered.
Peter sputtered. "C-c-curse me? You wouldn't, would you? I mean..."
Sirius shook his head. "Too easy." He mumbled. "Listen, we won't curse you, Pettigrew. You're not a Slytherin, and you're not a complete dimwit, so we really don't find you that awful."
"Really?" he said brightly as he sat down next to the rest of them. "Thank you...thanks a lot!"
"Don't mention it..." Remus said, chuckling.
"So...as we were saying," James started, looking back at Lily, "You could really use some rest. You're going to come to the game tonight, and tomorrow, a Saturday, Sirius and I are going to make sure you don't go to the library or have any access to a book, text or otherwise."
Lily stared at them, mouth hanging open. "But...but..." she sputtered.
"Such a filthy mouth!" Sirius said in mock horror. "What would your mother think?"
"I don't know." She sneered. "Why don't you tell me, because it's obvious that you know everything."
"Lily, Lily..." James said, shaking his head. "How could you? I thought you were such a sweet, innocent..."
"Shove it, Potter." She sighed, leaning back. "I'm really not in the mood."
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Cassy met up with James, Sirius, Remus, Lily and, to her surprise, Peter, in the stands as the school gathered for the beginning of the Quidditch match. It was Slytherin against Gryffindor...the one reason Cassy could be forgiven for sitting with the Gryffindor's instead of her own Ravenclaw.
"How are you guys?" she said merrily, placing an arm around Lily's and Remus' shoulders.
"Just fine." James snorted, placing his own hand around Lily's other shoulder. "As long as Lily stops working for a moment. I swear, she's got books coming out her ar..."
"James!" Lily shrieked, warningly.
"Her armpits." He substituted, grinning widely. Lily shook her head and reluctantly sat down beside him. "What a comedian." She moaned. Sirius sat beside James and Pettigrew sat on the opposite side, beside Remus, looking nervously at James and Sirius---he still hadn't accepted that the curse idea had been a joke, and only a joke.
They looked down at the field as the players were announced.
"AND HERE'S THE GRYFFINDOR TEAM! IT'S WEASLEY, FINNIGAN, JACOBS, MCKKINON, GREEN, HOBBS, AND....BLACK!"
Sirius cheered loudly as his brother flew onto the field. He wasn't the only one...Donovan Black was the most popular boy in school, save among the Slytherin...and not all Slytherins, as it was well known he was dating the Slytherin Head Girl.
Donovan grinned up at the field, waving a hand at the crowd. Then they all turned as the Slytherin team was announced.
"FOR THE SLYTHERINS, IT'S MALFOY, CRABBE, GOYLE, PARKINSON, ZABINI, WRIGHT...AND SNAPE!"
Though the rest of the group was booed, Isabelle was cheered as she flew onto the field. Though a Slytherin, it was commonly believed that Isabelle's sorting had been the first time in history the sorting hat had made any type of mistake. She was just much too nice to be a Slytherin.
They watched as the players mounted their brooms. "I wish I was out there." James said sadly as he watched.
"Don't worry, James." Sirius said merrily. "You'll make the team next year, that's for sure...most of the good players are leaving."
Lily rolled her eyes as the quidditch banter continued and kept an eye on the game. It was a fast paced match, and neither the Gryffindor nor the Slytherin team appeared to be giving an inch. "Look!" she said excitedly. "Donovan almost got hit by the bludger!"
"Nah..." Sirius said, squinting his eyes. "Don's more agile than that...I can't say for sure what he's doing, though."
They watched, shouting along with the rest of the crowd. The match lasted awhile...it wasn't as nasty as many seen in Hogwarts history, mostly because the captains of the two teams seemed to fancy one another. However, it wasn't as tame as all that...at least five different members on both teams had been hit by either quaffle, bludger, or in one fine case another player whose broomstick had momentarily lost control...which wouldn't have been so bad if the injured party hadn't been a member of their own team.
However, it was only a moment before the end was clearly in sight. All leaned forward as Isabelle began racing forwards, eyes on the ground. Lily looked and saw quickly what everybody else had just noticed.
"The snitch! She's found it!"
"Come on, don't let her get it!" Sirius shouted to the Gryffindor team.
"I think it's too late...she's almost there!" Lily said excitedly, leaning forward. Isabelle's fingers had just clasped around the shining little ball when...
"Oh God..." Lily said hoarsely, turning her gaze slowly towards the sky.
"What?" James said after her, also glancing up. He paled.
A buzz of excitement slowly went over the crowd as people began looking up. Isabelle stood now on the ground, the snitch in her hand forgotten. Nobody even cared that she had just put Slytherin in first...except for the Slytherins, of course.
"Get into the castle! Now!" Dumbledore shouted. The teachers emerged from the stands and quickly began escorting the students back to their houses.
"Get on back with Ravenclaw! Hurry!" James shouted at Cassy. She nodded, her face pale under her bright red curls, as she ran back to the other Ravenclaws.
He felt the pounding in his heart as he ran alongside the others. And suddenly...
"Peter!" he turned, shouting at the boy. He stood frozen in the stands, his face turned to the sky.
James ran up to him and began tugging at the sleeve of his robe. "Pettigrew, come on! It isn't safe!"
"I...I..."
"Come on!" James grabbed him by the collar and dragged him towards the castle. After a moment, Peter's fright kicked in and he began running alongside James, his feet pounding into the dirt.
"Are you all right?" he said finally. Peter shook his head, not saying anything. After a long moment they reached the great hall and began walking quickly towards Gryffindor tower, past the groups of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs huddled in the halls.
"Did you see it?" one girl murmured, her eyes wide. "It was the most frightening thing..."
"How did...how did it get there?" said another. "I mean...I didn't know..."
They reached the tower. "Password?" asked the fat lady.
"Erm...erm..." Peter stuttered, turning white.
"Canis majoris." James said, shaking his head. The fat lady nodded and swung open. Peter pulled himself into the room, quivering all over. James hopped up after him and pulled the fat lady shut.
"James!" Lily rushed up to him, shocking him by throwing her arms around his neck. "I was so worried, you disappeared!"
"Yech..." he joked, pulling away. "I was just gone a moment...I had to get Peter."
Lily looked over at the shaking boy. "You think he'll be all right?" she said worriedly.
"Yeah...a bit of a shock, that was all."
"James...you know what that was, don't you? You saw it in the forest the night...the night that happened, didn't you?"
"Of course." James replied, darkly. "The dark mark."
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"Donovan, are you okay?" Donovan emerged from the infirmary with a large white bandage over his forehead.
"Yeah, pup, I'm fine." He said, ruffling Sirius' hair with his hand. "I just fell of the broom when that mark appeared...I'll be fine, thanks."
Lily looked up at him, wincing. "Just how hard did you hit your head?" she said nervously.
"Miss Evans, I fell from fifty-four feet...how hard do you think I hit it?"
"At least it couldn't do any lasting damage, huh?" James snorted. Donovan turned, laughingly shaking his finger.
"Pup, least you could do is teach your friend here some manners. Who said you had the right to be funny? I didn't say so...and I'm head boy."
"Look who's getting a complex." Cassy murmured, though she looked at Donovan with a shy smile.
"Hey, not much of one, Cassandra. And besides, I know if I start getting a swollen head you'll deflate it for me, won't you?" he winked at her, making her turn bright red.
"Donovan, don't start giving these youngsters my job." A voice warned from behind them. Isabelle strode up, smiling.
"Hello, Izzy. How are you?" he laughed.
"Fine, darling, just fine. How are you? Head still cracked?" he snorted as he leaned down to kiss her.
"Gross!" James said mockingly.
"Watch out for these brats." Donovan sighed. "They really know how to cut you down to size."
"Hmm..." she said, looking down at James and Sirius through her lashes. "I know these two at least...no more nasty pranks lately?"
"Of course not." James said defensively. She raised a brow, causing him to blush. "Well, only a couple." She laughed.
"Well, I'm not surprised. There are some things that never change."
"And what about you? Ready to lose at Quidditch so Gryffindor can get the cup we rightfully deserve?" Donovan snorted.
"Nope." She said, grinning. "I can promise you one thing...if I want something, I'm not letting anything stand in my way."
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Hiya! What do you think of this chapter? Scary, huh? Poor Hogwarts kids, they can never ever finish a Quidditch match without some problem or other.
Tell me what you think, please Read and Review. I love to hear your opinion! And, by the way, don't be afraid to criticize me...I will only send a thousand plagues to you by e-mail...
And be sure to read my other works, Harry Potter and the Curse of the Gypsy and my two stories and many poems on fictionpress.net, same penname.
Thanks!
Author's Note: Hey, there! To skimp on the confusion you may have at the beginning of the chapter, here is a little note. Since this story will cover the lives of Lily and James Potter until they die, I am not going to able to recount every single moment of their school years. This part is going to skip from around Halloween to Christmas time. So here ya' go.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me, no matter how many times I write J.K. pleading.
Chapter Seven
James looked at Remus from across the room. "Does he look ill to you?" he muttered to Sirius. Sirius glanced across the room and shook his head.
"He always does. What of it?"
"I don't know." James shrugged. "I just have a feeling there is something he isn't telling us. We're friends now...he should tell us things."
"Maybe he just doesn't trust us enough. We did do some pretty bad things to Loopy back then."
James sighed. "You're probably right. But why does he disappear like that? Last week was the fourth time he's gone away like that. Do you think there's something wrong with him?"
Sirius shook his head. "He looks more tired than anything."
Remus did in fact look tired. His eyes were half-shut and he continually appeared to be falling asleep, jerking back up just in time. Dark shadows appeared underneath his eyes.
In the past few months, after Lily's encounter with whatever odd thing had been in the forest, Lily, Cassy, and Remus had slowly bonded with James and Sirius. Grateful for James' concern, and Sirius' also, Cassy and Remus had reluctantly decided that perhaps, though they were troublemakers, they weren't as bad as they had at first seemed.
Lily, on the other hand, had quietly accepted James' kindness without a word. In the past months she had been quiet and had focused much on her schoolwork, nonchalantly letting James and Sirius help her in Transfiguration in return for her aid in charms work.
James looked up as she strode into the room and sat quietly beside Remus. They nodded at each other but said barely a word. "She looks almost as tired as Loopy does." James muttered to Sirius.
"I know. Why don't we go over and say something?" James, surprised by Sirius' idea, nodded. They stood and walked over. Lily looked up and smiled faintly when she saw them.
"Hi, guys. How are you?" She mumbled, stifling a yawn.
"Just fine. But how are you?" James said, catching her eyes. She blushed.
"Don't be like that. I'm just a little tired...I was studying until midnight."
"What for?" James said, rolling his eyes. "Trying to blow up your head?"
Lily frowned. "No. I was just making sure I was prepared for McGonagall's test Friday. Unlike some people, I actually have to work in that class." She snorted.
"Lily, come on..."
"We were just kidding!"
"Hey, guys! What's happening!" The four of them turned to the voice that had just spoken. Peter stood behind them, wringing his hands on his robes. "Hey!" he repeated, flushing. "I was just wondering...are you going to the quidditch match today? I want to go, but I don't really have anybody..."
James turned back to the group and shrugged. "Why not? It isn't like we're going to banish you from our presence."
"Yeah, he'll just curse you." Lily muttered.
Peter sputtered. "C-c-curse me? You wouldn't, would you? I mean..."
Sirius shook his head. "Too easy." He mumbled. "Listen, we won't curse you, Pettigrew. You're not a Slytherin, and you're not a complete dimwit, so we really don't find you that awful."
"Really?" he said brightly as he sat down next to the rest of them. "Thank you...thanks a lot!"
"Don't mention it..." Remus said, chuckling.
"So...as we were saying," James started, looking back at Lily, "You could really use some rest. You're going to come to the game tonight, and tomorrow, a Saturday, Sirius and I are going to make sure you don't go to the library or have any access to a book, text or otherwise."
Lily stared at them, mouth hanging open. "But...but..." she sputtered.
"Such a filthy mouth!" Sirius said in mock horror. "What would your mother think?"
"I don't know." She sneered. "Why don't you tell me, because it's obvious that you know everything."
"Lily, Lily..." James said, shaking his head. "How could you? I thought you were such a sweet, innocent..."
"Shove it, Potter." She sighed, leaning back. "I'm really not in the mood."
************************************************************************
Cassy met up with James, Sirius, Remus, Lily and, to her surprise, Peter, in the stands as the school gathered for the beginning of the Quidditch match. It was Slytherin against Gryffindor...the one reason Cassy could be forgiven for sitting with the Gryffindor's instead of her own Ravenclaw.
"How are you guys?" she said merrily, placing an arm around Lily's and Remus' shoulders.
"Just fine." James snorted, placing his own hand around Lily's other shoulder. "As long as Lily stops working for a moment. I swear, she's got books coming out her ar..."
"James!" Lily shrieked, warningly.
"Her armpits." He substituted, grinning widely. Lily shook her head and reluctantly sat down beside him. "What a comedian." She moaned. Sirius sat beside James and Pettigrew sat on the opposite side, beside Remus, looking nervously at James and Sirius---he still hadn't accepted that the curse idea had been a joke, and only a joke.
They looked down at the field as the players were announced.
"AND HERE'S THE GRYFFINDOR TEAM! IT'S WEASLEY, FINNIGAN, JACOBS, MCKKINON, GREEN, HOBBS, AND....BLACK!"
Sirius cheered loudly as his brother flew onto the field. He wasn't the only one...Donovan Black was the most popular boy in school, save among the Slytherin...and not all Slytherins, as it was well known he was dating the Slytherin Head Girl.
Donovan grinned up at the field, waving a hand at the crowd. Then they all turned as the Slytherin team was announced.
"FOR THE SLYTHERINS, IT'S MALFOY, CRABBE, GOYLE, PARKINSON, ZABINI, WRIGHT...AND SNAPE!"
Though the rest of the group was booed, Isabelle was cheered as she flew onto the field. Though a Slytherin, it was commonly believed that Isabelle's sorting had been the first time in history the sorting hat had made any type of mistake. She was just much too nice to be a Slytherin.
They watched as the players mounted their brooms. "I wish I was out there." James said sadly as he watched.
"Don't worry, James." Sirius said merrily. "You'll make the team next year, that's for sure...most of the good players are leaving."
Lily rolled her eyes as the quidditch banter continued and kept an eye on the game. It was a fast paced match, and neither the Gryffindor nor the Slytherin team appeared to be giving an inch. "Look!" she said excitedly. "Donovan almost got hit by the bludger!"
"Nah..." Sirius said, squinting his eyes. "Don's more agile than that...I can't say for sure what he's doing, though."
They watched, shouting along with the rest of the crowd. The match lasted awhile...it wasn't as nasty as many seen in Hogwarts history, mostly because the captains of the two teams seemed to fancy one another. However, it wasn't as tame as all that...at least five different members on both teams had been hit by either quaffle, bludger, or in one fine case another player whose broomstick had momentarily lost control...which wouldn't have been so bad if the injured party hadn't been a member of their own team.
However, it was only a moment before the end was clearly in sight. All leaned forward as Isabelle began racing forwards, eyes on the ground. Lily looked and saw quickly what everybody else had just noticed.
"The snitch! She's found it!"
"Come on, don't let her get it!" Sirius shouted to the Gryffindor team.
"I think it's too late...she's almost there!" Lily said excitedly, leaning forward. Isabelle's fingers had just clasped around the shining little ball when...
"Oh God..." Lily said hoarsely, turning her gaze slowly towards the sky.
"What?" James said after her, also glancing up. He paled.
A buzz of excitement slowly went over the crowd as people began looking up. Isabelle stood now on the ground, the snitch in her hand forgotten. Nobody even cared that she had just put Slytherin in first...except for the Slytherins, of course.
"Get into the castle! Now!" Dumbledore shouted. The teachers emerged from the stands and quickly began escorting the students back to their houses.
"Get on back with Ravenclaw! Hurry!" James shouted at Cassy. She nodded, her face pale under her bright red curls, as she ran back to the other Ravenclaws.
He felt the pounding in his heart as he ran alongside the others. And suddenly...
"Peter!" he turned, shouting at the boy. He stood frozen in the stands, his face turned to the sky.
James ran up to him and began tugging at the sleeve of his robe. "Pettigrew, come on! It isn't safe!"
"I...I..."
"Come on!" James grabbed him by the collar and dragged him towards the castle. After a moment, Peter's fright kicked in and he began running alongside James, his feet pounding into the dirt.
"Are you all right?" he said finally. Peter shook his head, not saying anything. After a long moment they reached the great hall and began walking quickly towards Gryffindor tower, past the groups of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs huddled in the halls.
"Did you see it?" one girl murmured, her eyes wide. "It was the most frightening thing..."
"How did...how did it get there?" said another. "I mean...I didn't know..."
They reached the tower. "Password?" asked the fat lady.
"Erm...erm..." Peter stuttered, turning white.
"Canis majoris." James said, shaking his head. The fat lady nodded and swung open. Peter pulled himself into the room, quivering all over. James hopped up after him and pulled the fat lady shut.
"James!" Lily rushed up to him, shocking him by throwing her arms around his neck. "I was so worried, you disappeared!"
"Yech..." he joked, pulling away. "I was just gone a moment...I had to get Peter."
Lily looked over at the shaking boy. "You think he'll be all right?" she said worriedly.
"Yeah...a bit of a shock, that was all."
"James...you know what that was, don't you? You saw it in the forest the night...the night that happened, didn't you?"
"Of course." James replied, darkly. "The dark mark."
************************************************************************
"Donovan, are you okay?" Donovan emerged from the infirmary with a large white bandage over his forehead.
"Yeah, pup, I'm fine." He said, ruffling Sirius' hair with his hand. "I just fell of the broom when that mark appeared...I'll be fine, thanks."
Lily looked up at him, wincing. "Just how hard did you hit your head?" she said nervously.
"Miss Evans, I fell from fifty-four feet...how hard do you think I hit it?"
"At least it couldn't do any lasting damage, huh?" James snorted. Donovan turned, laughingly shaking his finger.
"Pup, least you could do is teach your friend here some manners. Who said you had the right to be funny? I didn't say so...and I'm head boy."
"Look who's getting a complex." Cassy murmured, though she looked at Donovan with a shy smile.
"Hey, not much of one, Cassandra. And besides, I know if I start getting a swollen head you'll deflate it for me, won't you?" he winked at her, making her turn bright red.
"Donovan, don't start giving these youngsters my job." A voice warned from behind them. Isabelle strode up, smiling.
"Hello, Izzy. How are you?" he laughed.
"Fine, darling, just fine. How are you? Head still cracked?" he snorted as he leaned down to kiss her.
"Gross!" James said mockingly.
"Watch out for these brats." Donovan sighed. "They really know how to cut you down to size."
"Hmm..." she said, looking down at James and Sirius through her lashes. "I know these two at least...no more nasty pranks lately?"
"Of course not." James said defensively. She raised a brow, causing him to blush. "Well, only a couple." She laughed.
"Well, I'm not surprised. There are some things that never change."
"And what about you? Ready to lose at Quidditch so Gryffindor can get the cup we rightfully deserve?" Donovan snorted.
"Nope." She said, grinning. "I can promise you one thing...if I want something, I'm not letting anything stand in my way."
************************************************************************
Hiya! What do you think of this chapter? Scary, huh? Poor Hogwarts kids, they can never ever finish a Quidditch match without some problem or other.
Tell me what you think, please Read and Review. I love to hear your opinion! And, by the way, don't be afraid to criticize me...I will only send a thousand plagues to you by e-mail...
And be sure to read my other works, Harry Potter and the Curse of the Gypsy and my two stories and many poems on fictionpress.net, same penname.
Thanks!