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 Eight
"Merry Christmas!" James grinned as he ran down the wide, marble stairs. His mother was sitting next to his father on the sofa, both bleary-eyed and holding large mugs of tea.
"My, you're up early." Mrs. Potter said warily, glancing at the clock. "Couldn't you wait for an hour or two? To let your father and I gain our senses before you attack us?"
"Nope!" he grinned. He sat down next to the tree...several packages in shining foil paper gleamed at him through the branches. "So, which one first?"
"Why don't you open the one from your friends? Your mother and I have your presents elsewhere...we'll get it for you later." James grinned.
"Sounds good to me." He picked up a rather thick one addressed to him from Remus. "Wow, all those pranks and he still decided to give me something...must be my charm." Mrs. Potter snorted from the couch.
"My son, the comedian." She muttered. He smiled and ripped open the paper. A plain brown box sat in his lap.
"What do you think it is?" he asked. Both his parents shrugged. He popped open the top of the box and cried out in surprise when a large shadowy figure jumped out at him.
James,
Thought I'd let you off for all those years without seeking my revenge did you? What a mistake you made...tsk, tsk. But as you enjoy the new friend I sent you, I hope you also enjoy the chocolate frogs.
Merry Christmas!
Remus
He picked up a frog and bit it's head off as he turned to glance at the figure...to his amazement, it was Snape dressed in full Scottish uniform, kilt and all. He snickered as it faded away, to the slow dirge of bagpipes.
"Next!" he said loudly, pulling out another package, from Peter. "Perfect!" he said, tossing to his mother.
"One Hundred Ways to Befuddle Your Foe: New and Improved Hexes and Such to Prank Your Worse Enemy." She read aloud, moaning. "Now we'll never stop getting letters from his school, Andrew."
Mr. Potter grinned and raked a hand through his own messy hair, once raven black but now streaked with silver. "Now, Ellen, don't worry. I'm sure James won't use it unless it's absolutely necessary." He winked. "Is that right, son?"
"Uhm...sure dad." James said quickly---too quickly. His father laughed and his mother frowned. "Now, from Lily and Cassy..." He pulled the final package from his friends from under the tree and held it in his lap.
"That looks big, whatever it is." Mr. Potter called.
"Yeah...it is." James grunted. He pulled off the paper. "Wow..." he murmured. Underneath was a large wooden trunk, embellished with gold lettering. He opened the lid and a single piece of paper lay inside.
James,
We thought you might need this, we got one for all of us. It's just a regular trunk, but with a certain key you have a safe place to store all your thoughts. With the things that have been happening lately, we decided it would help to have someplace to store all the things running through our heads. It's like a pensieve, if you know what that is, except easier to use and not quite as strong...
Happy Holidays! Cassy and Lils
"Lils?" he muttered. "Cute..." Attached to the letter was a single silver key. He put it in the lock and turned it. When he opened the trunk again, there was no inside to it...just a mass of swirling darkness. He thought for a moment before putting his wand to his forehead and pulling away. A strand of silver came away and he let it fall in. He saw what they had meant...there were no images, only voices.
"Wow, James! If I didn't know any better, I'd say that was the third time this week you lost more than ten points at a time for Gryffindor!" Sirius' voice rang out through the room. James quickly closed it and blushed, ignoring his parent's laughter.
"Well...that's all of that. So what did you get me?" he asked. His parents looked at one another, grinning.
"Well, it isn't complete...it won't be until summer, really..." his father started. James felt his blood turn to ice and fire at the same time.
"What? You mean...you finally got it for me?" he said excitedly. Both his father and mother nodded. Whooping, he leapt up and ran to the spare bedroom, which wasn't a bedroom any longer. He slammed open the door and yelled out in excitement when he saw what was there.
"A STUDIO!" he cried, looking around. "You got me my very own studio!" He ran in and started sifting through the various drawers that lay around the room. "This is incredible! All my own stuff..."
"We got you paint, and some drawing ink...that other drawer will have an endless amount of parchment, when it's through, and we're going to have the canvas drawer in soon. Of course, we haven't gotten all the paint...we had to order a lot of that from France..."
"You...you got me actual Beuxbatons paint?" he said excitedly. "That's...that's the best in the world. Th-thanks!" he stammered. He ran a hand over a paintbrush. "Unicorn hairs...and look, a kit to make your own colors! With dragon scales!"
"Well, we thought we'd keep you busy this summer...rather you be a little artist than a little terror of the neighborhood."
"I can do both."
His father winked. "That's what we were afraid of."
He spent an hour rummaging through the skeleton of his new studio before dressing and heading down to the Black home. Mrs. Black answered, looking down at James.
"Haven't seen you in a while, boy." She said with jollity. "It's been boring without you two wreaking havoc."
Sirius emerged from behind her and grinned. "That's okay, we're here now. What do you want us to do first? Can we go and blow up something?"
Mrs. Black shook her head. "Lands sakes, you boys are going to be the death of me. James, have you had breakfast?"
"Yes."
"Well, you're going to have more." She led him into the kitchen, where Donovan was sitting, eating a plate of sausages.
"Hey, pup. Got your flea-ridden friend here with you?" he grinned.
"Shove it, Don." Sirius sneered. He sat beside James. "Did you get Cassy and Lily's present?"
"Yeah...it was kind of cool. I didn't expect that...surprise, Peter sent me a book."
"I know. I got Magical Explosions: When, Where, and How to Use Them. Mum wasn't that happy about that."
"I can imagine." James snorted. "Did Remus send you the prank."
"Snape in a kilt." Sirius grimaced. "Yeah, that was unpleasant. Sure has scrawny little legs, doesn't he?"
"His sister doesn't have scrawny legs." Donovan said from across the table.
"Hush you, talking about your Slytherin girlfriend." Sirius shook his head. "Talk about loyalty."
"Sorry, can't help you. She's pretty attractive, for a Slytherin."
"Yeah, well." Sirius blushed. "That's just great, for you." He shook his head. "Girl-crazy maniac."
Donovan smiled, shaking his head. "Trust me. With those Black genes, you're going to be quite the ladies man on campus when you get a bit older. Well, that is if James doesn't beat you to it."
"And why wouldn't I? I'm handsome, rich, charming, and I'm sensitive." He said happily.
"Oh, yes. An artist...what a loser."
"You'd be wise to take up such pursuits, Sirius." Mrs. Black said, placing a large platter of sausages on the table.
They ate and went back into the living room. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Here's your present." Sirius handed James a large unwrapped box.
"If it's another Snape, you're dead." He muttered.
"Just open it." Sirius grinned. James cracked open the package. It contained a single slip of paper.
'Open the window.' Looking at Sirius strangely, James crossed over and slid the window open. After a moment a gray owl of medium build fluttered in, landing on James' shoulder. It hooted and nipped him on the ear.
"Meet Eris."
************************************************************************
"Presents!" Lily sat down next to the tree, grinning widely. "This looks incredible."
"Honey, wait for your sister." Her mother called from the kitchen.
"I'm here." Lily came down the stairs, already dressed in her pristine white dress. She looked haughtily at Lily, who was still in her pajamas. "Why aren't you dressed yet?"
"It's just us, Petunia...lighten up." Lily grinned. "Can I start opening my presents now?" she called.
Her mother sighed. "Go ahead, darling. Not ours, though. I want to be there."
"Okay." Lily looked down the gifts. First up, something from Cassy, besides the trunk. She unwrapped the little package and grinned when out fell a little silver locket. She recognized it as something similar to the kind muggles wore...that said 'best' on one and 'friend' on the other. Except this one had been charmed...when the two wearers put the lockets together, the charm would allow them to hear what the other was thinking...quite the handy way to chat in class.
"Look...isn't that amazing?" Lily asked, holding up the locket. Petunia snorted.
"Stupid, if you ask me. I would feel ashamed wearing one of those things." Lily shrugged and slipped it around her neck.
The next gift was from Remus. She opened it up and found the complete three-volume series of Curses, Hexes, and Charms, of the Common Magic for Fun series.
From Peter, she received a simple silver bracelet, which identified her if something should happen. 'What, is he trying to tell me something?' she thought with amusement as she slipped it on.
Sirius sent her a box of various candies, both trick and edible kinds. And James...
Well, James just shocked her. She gasped when she pulled the parchment from the envelope. She saw herself waving, with the rest of their group standing on either side.
'Hello!' the picture Lily called out. 'How are you?' Lily smiled when she looked down at the signature in the corner...James Potter. It appeared she had found out something new about the clown.
Her mother and father strode in after a moment. "Here, honey." Her mother said, taking off her apron. "Why don't you open our present now?"
"Your mother and I picked this out for you. We know it isn't magic, like...well, like everything else you're used to now, but still..."
Lily opened up the package and started smiling. "Oh, mom..." she picked up the emerald ring and smiled. "It's...beautiful."
"It was your grandmother's. We thought it time we passed it on to you..."
"WHAT?!" Petunia screeched. "But...gram passed all her jewelry on to me!"
"Dear, don't be like that." Mrs. Evans frowned. "You have her pearl necklace...and besides, it was decided that we split everything half-in- half."
"You didn't split the money in half!" she said angrily. "It all went to her for that...that freak school!"
"Petunia!" Mr. Evans said. "Don't say things like that. Be proud of your sister. We are."
"I...I don't know." Petunia left the room in a huff, her presents forgotten. She paused and turned. "And by the way...be dressed before nine, will you? Vernon is coming over."
"Yech." Petunia made a face. 'What a creep.' She thought with irritation.
************************************************************************
Hey, there! What do you think? Sorry, I haven't updated in a while, I've been busy. I hope you read my new fic, Merlin's Portal and the Tales of Time, and my other, Harry Potter and the Curse of the Gypsy. I would also appreciate all reviews, just no flames! Criticism okay...just don't be mean!
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 Eight
"Merry Christmas!" James grinned as he ran down the wide, marble stairs. His mother was sitting next to his father on the sofa, both bleary-eyed and holding large mugs of tea.
"My, you're up early." Mrs. Potter said warily, glancing at the clock. "Couldn't you wait for an hour or two? To let your father and I gain our senses before you attack us?"
"Nope!" he grinned. He sat down next to the tree...several packages in shining foil paper gleamed at him through the branches. "So, which one first?"
"Why don't you open the one from your friends? Your mother and I have your presents elsewhere...we'll get it for you later." James grinned.
"Sounds good to me." He picked up a rather thick one addressed to him from Remus. "Wow, all those pranks and he still decided to give me something...must be my charm." Mrs. Potter snorted from the couch.
"My son, the comedian." She muttered. He smiled and ripped open the paper. A plain brown box sat in his lap.
"What do you think it is?" he asked. Both his parents shrugged. He popped open the top of the box and cried out in surprise when a large shadowy figure jumped out at him.
James,
Thought I'd let you off for all those years without seeking my revenge did you? What a mistake you made...tsk, tsk. But as you enjoy the new friend I sent you, I hope you also enjoy the chocolate frogs.
Merry Christmas!
Remus
He picked up a frog and bit it's head off as he turned to glance at the figure...to his amazement, it was Snape dressed in full Scottish uniform, kilt and all. He snickered as it faded away, to the slow dirge of bagpipes.
"Next!" he said loudly, pulling out another package, from Peter. "Perfect!" he said, tossing to his mother.
"One Hundred Ways to Befuddle Your Foe: New and Improved Hexes and Such to Prank Your Worse Enemy." She read aloud, moaning. "Now we'll never stop getting letters from his school, Andrew."
Mr. Potter grinned and raked a hand through his own messy hair, once raven black but now streaked with silver. "Now, Ellen, don't worry. I'm sure James won't use it unless it's absolutely necessary." He winked. "Is that right, son?"
"Uhm...sure dad." James said quickly---too quickly. His father laughed and his mother frowned. "Now, from Lily and Cassy..." He pulled the final package from his friends from under the tree and held it in his lap.
"That looks big, whatever it is." Mr. Potter called.
"Yeah...it is." James grunted. He pulled off the paper. "Wow..." he murmured. Underneath was a large wooden trunk, embellished with gold lettering. He opened the lid and a single piece of paper lay inside.
James,
We thought you might need this, we got one for all of us. It's just a regular trunk, but with a certain key you have a safe place to store all your thoughts. With the things that have been happening lately, we decided it would help to have someplace to store all the things running through our heads. It's like a pensieve, if you know what that is, except easier to use and not quite as strong...
Happy Holidays! Cassy and Lils
"Lils?" he muttered. "Cute..." Attached to the letter was a single silver key. He put it in the lock and turned it. When he opened the trunk again, there was no inside to it...just a mass of swirling darkness. He thought for a moment before putting his wand to his forehead and pulling away. A strand of silver came away and he let it fall in. He saw what they had meant...there were no images, only voices.
"Wow, James! If I didn't know any better, I'd say that was the third time this week you lost more than ten points at a time for Gryffindor!" Sirius' voice rang out through the room. James quickly closed it and blushed, ignoring his parent's laughter.
"Well...that's all of that. So what did you get me?" he asked. His parents looked at one another, grinning.
"Well, it isn't complete...it won't be until summer, really..." his father started. James felt his blood turn to ice and fire at the same time.
"What? You mean...you finally got it for me?" he said excitedly. Both his father and mother nodded. Whooping, he leapt up and ran to the spare bedroom, which wasn't a bedroom any longer. He slammed open the door and yelled out in excitement when he saw what was there.
"A STUDIO!" he cried, looking around. "You got me my very own studio!" He ran in and started sifting through the various drawers that lay around the room. "This is incredible! All my own stuff..."
"We got you paint, and some drawing ink...that other drawer will have an endless amount of parchment, when it's through, and we're going to have the canvas drawer in soon. Of course, we haven't gotten all the paint...we had to order a lot of that from France..."
"You...you got me actual Beuxbatons paint?" he said excitedly. "That's...that's the best in the world. Th-thanks!" he stammered. He ran a hand over a paintbrush. "Unicorn hairs...and look, a kit to make your own colors! With dragon scales!"
"Well, we thought we'd keep you busy this summer...rather you be a little artist than a little terror of the neighborhood."
"I can do both."
His father winked. "That's what we were afraid of."
He spent an hour rummaging through the skeleton of his new studio before dressing and heading down to the Black home. Mrs. Black answered, looking down at James.
"Haven't seen you in a while, boy." She said with jollity. "It's been boring without you two wreaking havoc."
Sirius emerged from behind her and grinned. "That's okay, we're here now. What do you want us to do first? Can we go and blow up something?"
Mrs. Black shook her head. "Lands sakes, you boys are going to be the death of me. James, have you had breakfast?"
"Yes."
"Well, you're going to have more." She led him into the kitchen, where Donovan was sitting, eating a plate of sausages.
"Hey, pup. Got your flea-ridden friend here with you?" he grinned.
"Shove it, Don." Sirius sneered. He sat beside James. "Did you get Cassy and Lily's present?"
"Yeah...it was kind of cool. I didn't expect that...surprise, Peter sent me a book."
"I know. I got Magical Explosions: When, Where, and How to Use Them. Mum wasn't that happy about that."
"I can imagine." James snorted. "Did Remus send you the prank."
"Snape in a kilt." Sirius grimaced. "Yeah, that was unpleasant. Sure has scrawny little legs, doesn't he?"
"His sister doesn't have scrawny legs." Donovan said from across the table.
"Hush you, talking about your Slytherin girlfriend." Sirius shook his head. "Talk about loyalty."
"Sorry, can't help you. She's pretty attractive, for a Slytherin."
"Yeah, well." Sirius blushed. "That's just great, for you." He shook his head. "Girl-crazy maniac."
Donovan smiled, shaking his head. "Trust me. With those Black genes, you're going to be quite the ladies man on campus when you get a bit older. Well, that is if James doesn't beat you to it."
"And why wouldn't I? I'm handsome, rich, charming, and I'm sensitive." He said happily.
"Oh, yes. An artist...what a loser."
"You'd be wise to take up such pursuits, Sirius." Mrs. Black said, placing a large platter of sausages on the table.
They ate and went back into the living room. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Here's your present." Sirius handed James a large unwrapped box.
"If it's another Snape, you're dead." He muttered.
"Just open it." Sirius grinned. James cracked open the package. It contained a single slip of paper.
'Open the window.' Looking at Sirius strangely, James crossed over and slid the window open. After a moment a gray owl of medium build fluttered in, landing on James' shoulder. It hooted and nipped him on the ear.
"Meet Eris."
************************************************************************
"Presents!" Lily sat down next to the tree, grinning widely. "This looks incredible."
"Honey, wait for your sister." Her mother called from the kitchen.
"I'm here." Lily came down the stairs, already dressed in her pristine white dress. She looked haughtily at Lily, who was still in her pajamas. "Why aren't you dressed yet?"
"It's just us, Petunia...lighten up." Lily grinned. "Can I start opening my presents now?" she called.
Her mother sighed. "Go ahead, darling. Not ours, though. I want to be there."
"Okay." Lily looked down the gifts. First up, something from Cassy, besides the trunk. She unwrapped the little package and grinned when out fell a little silver locket. She recognized it as something similar to the kind muggles wore...that said 'best' on one and 'friend' on the other. Except this one had been charmed...when the two wearers put the lockets together, the charm would allow them to hear what the other was thinking...quite the handy way to chat in class.
"Look...isn't that amazing?" Lily asked, holding up the locket. Petunia snorted.
"Stupid, if you ask me. I would feel ashamed wearing one of those things." Lily shrugged and slipped it around her neck.
The next gift was from Remus. She opened it up and found the complete three-volume series of Curses, Hexes, and Charms, of the Common Magic for Fun series.
From Peter, she received a simple silver bracelet, which identified her if something should happen. 'What, is he trying to tell me something?' she thought with amusement as she slipped it on.
Sirius sent her a box of various candies, both trick and edible kinds. And James...
Well, James just shocked her. She gasped when she pulled the parchment from the envelope. She saw herself waving, with the rest of their group standing on either side.
'Hello!' the picture Lily called out. 'How are you?' Lily smiled when she looked down at the signature in the corner...James Potter. It appeared she had found out something new about the clown.
Her mother and father strode in after a moment. "Here, honey." Her mother said, taking off her apron. "Why don't you open our present now?"
"Your mother and I picked this out for you. We know it isn't magic, like...well, like everything else you're used to now, but still..."
Lily opened up the package and started smiling. "Oh, mom..." she picked up the emerald ring and smiled. "It's...beautiful."
"It was your grandmother's. We thought it time we passed it on to you..."
"WHAT?!" Petunia screeched. "But...gram passed all her jewelry on to me!"
"Dear, don't be like that." Mrs. Evans frowned. "You have her pearl necklace...and besides, it was decided that we split everything half-in- half."
"You didn't split the money in half!" she said angrily. "It all went to her for that...that freak school!"
"Petunia!" Mr. Evans said. "Don't say things like that. Be proud of your sister. We are."
"I...I don't know." Petunia left the room in a huff, her presents forgotten. She paused and turned. "And by the way...be dressed before nine, will you? Vernon is coming over."
"Yech." Petunia made a face. 'What a creep.' She thought with irritation.
************************************************************************
Hey, there! What do you think? Sorry, I haven't updated in a while, I've been busy. I hope you read my new fic, Merlin's Portal and the Tales of Time, and my other, Harry Potter and the Curse of the Gypsy. I would also appreciate all reviews, just no flames! Criticism okay...just don't be mean!