Spells and Sparks ~ A James and Lily Story

By Silken Rose

Disclaimer: Thank you all for you're reviews, they make me truly HAPPY!!!!!!!! *sigh* but I still have to say I don't own Harry Potter...if I did, all seven books would be out by now *hint hint*

Chapter 3: "Make Them Scream And You're In!"

"It's no wonder these are rare! I mean, who'd be crazy enough to want one in their backyard?"

James, Sirius, Remus and Peter Pettigrew, a small, chubby boy with blond hair and pale blue eyes, stood in front of the Whomping Willow. Everyone was eager to take a look at the tree that had been important enough to be mentioned in the start-of-school announcements.

The tree's limbs thrashed out, sensing all the people there. Many of the students had already developed a game where you had to touch the tree's trunk without getting hit by the branches.

~*~

"The difficulty in Transfiguration can also depend on what is being Transfigured. For example, opposites are hard to Transfigure." said Professor McGonagall. "Now did everybody remember to bring something they can Transfigure into its opposite?" She looked around the classroom.

Lily Evans and Sarra Liwellan, two of her best students, were holding a stone; and she saw four boys clustered around two large bars of soap. Sighing, she went to inspect them. James Potter, Sirius Black, and their little gang were nothing but big trouble, as teachers had soon found out. Exceptionally brilliant, but a lot of trouble. Except for Pettigrew, she thought, shaking her head.

"Alright. Everyone ready? Repeat after me. "

All the students  repeated after her, concentrating on transfiguring whatever they had brought. McGonagall had put them in pairs. It was easier to transfigure with more people. Still, she assumed that most of the first years wouldn't be able to do it.

Suddenly, two bangs were made from opposite sides of the room. Two bangs and a very, very unpleasant smell. Lily and Sarra had successively turned their stone into a pillow, McGonagall saw, but those four boys, had turned their soap into -- Dungbombs! Chaos ensued.

Everyone was shouting and scurrying around. McGonagall, her face going red from anger, and strands of hair coming undone from her bun, raised her fist at them and shrieked, "Wait until the Headmaster hears of this, you filthy marauders!" The name stuck.

Remus, a brown-haired, hazel-eyed boy who had been sitting with them, tried to calm her down. "Professor, it was an accident. We're really sorry, and we'll clean it up. We didn't know this was going to happen."

Professor McGonagall shook her head wordlessly, idly wondering why this quiet, studious boy chose to befriend that pair of trouble-makers. " Just. Everybody please go back to their dorms for the rest of this lesson. Get cleaned up and rid of that smell." her lips pursed together, and her nostrils flared slightly. Everyone decided to get out a.s.a.p.

"Thanks, Remus, we owe you one." said James, as they went out of the classroom. Lily gave him a dirty look as she passed by. James looked as innocent as he could, which wasn't very.

Sirius though, was wearing a very melancholy expression on his face. James jabbed him in the ribs. "What's wrong?"

"At this rate, I'm never going to break the record." he said woefully.

"The record for what?"

"The most detentions ever handed out to a student."

By dinner, everyone in the whole school had heard about it. The four boys were infamous. Teachers shook their heads helplessly, and the lower school adored them. The upper school, though outwardly sniffed in contempt at such childish tricks, wished they were younger and able to play such pranks like that, instead of having to bear the weight of being dignified all the time.

"Cheer up, Si. We're rich, handsome, and now popular to boot. Plus, you're parents wouldn't like it if you got a detention, and only in the first month too!"

Sirius grumbled. "I doubt they'd hardly notice. Neither would yours." He added.

~*~

"What are they up to now?" asked Belinda, also a Gryffindor first year.

She, Lily, and Sarra were sitting in front of the fire, after a very trying day. After the disastrous Transfiguration lesson, everyone had rushed to get back to the tower to clean up. Unfortunately, things started to go out of hand when those infuriating boys had gotten them lost. On purpose, Lily suspected. That's the last time I follow the crowd, she thought.

Lily spared a  glance at one of the tables in the Common Room where four heads were bent together conspiratorially. "Who knows, and who really cares," she answered.

~*~

"Okay, tonight, we will make history in Hogwart's books." James said, looking around. "An oath dedicated to our friendship and to trouble-making pranks forever. Who's in?"

"Me! Me! This is like tooooootalyyyyyy exciting! I am soooooo in!!" Sirius shouted excitedly.

James rolled his eyes. "Be quiet. People are giving us weird looks already. Okay, what about you Remus? You in? We could use someone level-headed in this group of madcaps. And besides the fact that the teachers like you already."

Remus smiled wryly. "Well, I guess someone's got to keep you guys in check."

"What about me?" piped a voice. Three heads turned towards the source of the voice. Peter Pettigrew, the chubby boy with pale hair and watery blue eyes, had been trailing after them for weeks. He practically idol-worshipped them, which could also be said of the rest of the school, as Lily had pointed out in disgust. Now, Peter asked hopefully, "Can I be in too?"  

"Hmm...I don't know Peter. Sirius and I have been friends for a long time, and Remus has shown today that he could be a big help. What can you do for our...cause?"

Peter started to look nervous. "I know." continued James, grinning. "See those girls sitting there by the fire? I want you to make them scream. Loudly. Do that, and you're in. Remember, the louder, the better. Especially the pretty, red-haired one," he added maliciously.

Now Peter looked really nervous. "Al-Alright," he stammered. "S-Serpensortia."

~* ~

"My feet are killing me," complained Sarra.

"Oh, stop it," said Lily unsympathetically. "Use a spell or some--oh my god!"

"Some-?" Sarra prompted. Then she saw it. A big, black snake rose out of the fire and slithered out. There was panic in the crowd as everyone tried to make there way to their dorms. Lily turned around furiously. Spotting her targets rolling around on the floor helpless with mirth, she was not amused.

"Potter! Black! What the hell have you done?" she shouted.

They looked at each other, and managing to keep their faces straight, pointed at a scared looking Peter and chorused, "It was him!"

"Is that so?" Lily said menacingly, advancing to Peter, who had now cowardly hid behind one of the couches.

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Wow! Lily sure can be scary! :P Ooooo--kill him Lily!!! Oh, yeah, please review and make me happy!