The scream started deep within the school, in ones of its darkest dungeons. It spread throughout the Slytherin Common Room as the morning light crept in, waking those from their sleep and rousing them to meet their horrible fate. It spilled over into the corridors, this time punturced by laughter as Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs already on their way to breakfast spotted the hexed Slytherins, roaring with laughter. The scream merged into a roar of outrage as Lucius Malfoy and his git friends got the full realization of what attacking a Gryffindor when James and his cronies were around. It melted into a gleefully laughing whisper as the rumor passed throughout the school. " Have you heard? Potter and his friends hexed the Slytherins!"

It was picked up in the hallway right outside of the Gryffindor Common Room. High-pitched screams that can only be properly screeched by owls and teenaged girls managed to awake the rest of the castle as the Gryffindor Girls realized that pranking the boys was truly not worth it.

By the time James, Sirius, Remus and Peter had awoken, their legend had preceded them. But they didn't know that -- all they knew, was their first class was Potions and they had homework and it wasn't done.

James brushed his messy black hair out of his eyes and yawned. Sirius, who was already up and brushing his hair at James's mirror, since his own wouldn't stop flirting with him, groaned. "Ew, James -- save us. Brush your teeth."

James chucked a pillow at Sirius's head, but the eleven year old ducked deftly, and the pillow soared over, slapping Remus in the face. He responded with a particularly loud grunt.

James rolled his eyes, slipping out of his bed and stretching, his soon to be trademark grin spreading across his face. "Wonder if the Slytherins had a good morning." Sirius flashed him a smile. "I'm sure it's one their never going to forget." "What time is it?" Peter mumbled, half asleep, roused by the other boys talking. "Time to get up," James advised as he headed to the bathroom to take care of his minor -- er, right -- breath problem. Remus opened one eye. "Some of us are trying to sleep."

Sirius shot him a look. "Mate, if you don't move soon, we're gunna miss breakfast."

Remus picked his head up. "Is it good food today?"

James, ruffling his hair up as he re-entered the room, rolled his eyes. "It's always good Remus. Get your lazy arse out of bed."

Remus considered this, his body still burrowed in his blankets. "Good point," he allowed .

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In relatively quick time, for them anyways, the four boys were up and moving. Maybe it was anticipation to see how their pranks worked out; maybe they were just really hungry, but all four boys were particularly out of it as they walked down to the Great Hall. They ignored the flashing portraits, the high-fives and congratulatory pats on the back, even the death-threats from Lestrange as they ambled down to the Great Hall. Observers exchanged curious glances -- why weren't they taking their bows?

As Sirius leaned forward, the doors fell open. All four houses were standing, looking attentively at the door. As the four boys walked in, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw burst into applause, while Slytherin hissed. James and Sirius's heads shot up, surprised, before the boys exchanged mischievous grins, and slapped conspicuous highfives. Remus looked up wide-eyed, before grinning at James and Sirius, who beamed back happily. Peter just looked awed. As if they had planned it, Sirius, James and Remus all bowed low, grinning. Peter followed clumsily after, before all four boys, swagger in their stride, headed over to their table.

Professor Dumbledore stood up, smiling slightly though trying to hide it behind a firm scowl. "Ahem," he cleared his throat quietly, his blue eyes twinkling, and quickly the Hall quieted down. "Well," he said into the thoughtful silence that followed. "I do believe we have a lot to say this morning. It has come to my attention that someone" (his eyes darted towards the Gryffindor table but remained determinedly fixed forward) has been meddling with the school portraits." His tone became more serious, though the twinkle was still in his eye. "At this moment, we do not know who the culprit is. And, since this seems to be a first occurrence, we will let this slide when we catch the culprits with nothing more then a mere detention with Mr. Filch. But, rest assured, should something like this happen again, more serious actions will take place. I will say this," he continued, staring out into the Great Hall. "If the portraits are not restored to their original conditions by tomorrow morning--" Remus let out a relieved sigh - the spell faded at midnight tonight, as Dumbledore smirked, "--I would not like to be the culprit."

His eyes flickered towards the Slytherin table, where Snape and his slimy friends where still in the condition the Gryffindor's had left them in this morning. He hesitated, seeming to decide if he should say anything. To his left, Perkins let out the tiniest of coughs, and Dumbledore seemed to sigh. "On a lighter note," he began and Perkins and the Slytherins scowled, "it appears that some of the Slytherin first year students have accidently, I'm sure, been hexed. I would advise more caution in the future. Thank you for not letting your attention wander too freely. Enjoy your day."

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James grinned. "This," he said through a mouthful of porridge, "has got to be one of the best days at Hogwarts -- ever ."

"POTTER!"

James looked up, porridge at the edge of his mouth. "Yesh?"

It was Lily. Since he was sitting down, she towered over him, a thin, girl with flaming red hair and burning green eyes, her face flushed with anger and embarrassment.

" 'lo Evans."

"Potter--you--I--little--picture--MY MOTHER" She sputtered, so furious she couldn't even think straight. James smiled innocently. "What's that Evans? Didn't quite get that?"

"You," she snarled furiously, "are unspeakable!"

James smiled crookedly. "That bad?" Her mouth opened, and shut, and her eyes widened with fury, but since she couldn't think of anything remotely horrible enough to say to him, she simply growled and stalked off. The boys laughed, but James stared after her for a moment, before shaking his head. "Nutters," he muttered to himself. "Absolutely nutters."

Sirius nudged James with his elbow, his eyes locked on three approaching figures. "We've got company," he whispered.

James glanced up, his eyebrows raised as Snape, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle slithered towards them. His eyes flickered up towards Professor Dumbledore, whose blue eyes locked onto his. Dumbledore was watching them intently, James could see, but it gave him a strange sort of feeling. It seemed as though Dumbledore was..judging him..trying to see how he solved the situation. James took a glance over at Snape's slimy face and felt such a strong urge to hex him even further, it startled him. But another quick look at Dumbledore soothed the urge and something turned over inside of him. He could handle Snape.

"What do you want, Snape?" James asked, his voice low and calm. Sirius glanced over, surprised at the strength in his friend's voice, but he quickly mirrored James attitude when Snape didn't answer. "Speak now Snape, or move. You're polluting the air space."

"You did this," Lucius snarled, stepping in front of Snape who was too momentarily filled with hatred to be of much use, gesturing at himself and his friends. "I know it."

James rolled his eyes. "You can't prove anything."

Malfoy leaned closer, his voice soft and menacing so only Lupin, Potter, Black and Pettigew could hear. "I know you did this. And when I find proof, I'm going to make sure your expelled."

Lupin sighed slightly. "Shove off, Malfoy. You have no proof and you know it. And now, I do believe you have some red and gold streaks in your hair you might want to get rid of before Potions. See ya."

With the four Gryffindor's glaring into their backs, the Slytherin's shuffled off, with one last warning, directly especially at James from Snape. "You'll pay for this Potter!"

James rolled his eyes. "I look forward to it."

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Potter and his posse were walking down to the dungeons when Lily and her crew swept around the corner. Lily went on to shoot James a particularly nasty look as the portrait behind her flashed her baby picture, and she blushed bright red so that her hair blended in perfectly. But she skidded to a stop directly in front of Sirius, her back directly turned to James. She spoke in a clear voice as she sighed. "Alright. You guys got us back and you got us good. Now take your bow and stop your swaggering. Truce." Slowly, as if it pained her yet she knew it was right, she extended her hand.

Sirius's eyes widened, and over Lily's shoulder, he met James's eyes. The boy hesitated for a moment, his hazel eyes flickering with emotion. He thought about it for a moment, then shook his head slightly. Sirius got the message, and flashed Lily a smug smirk. "Sorry, Slytherin Eyes. No can do. You started it...now deal with it." Walking forward, he and James slapped fives as they headed into the dungeons. Lily stood, almost shaking with rage as they disappeared into the classroom, Peter trailing behind James. "I," she said slowly turning to her friends, "cannot stand them!"

Lupin watched this, and sighing reluctantly, he took a step forward as she turned away. He touched her gently on the shoulder, and Lily whirled around to face him. "What do you want, Lupin? Want to make fun of me some more?" Despite her harsh tone of voice, she sounded genuinely hurt that her efforts at reconciliation had been rebuffed, but Remus had known better than to expect Sirius and James to accept her apology. As far as Potter and Black were concerned, Lily and her friends had gone too far and one simple prank -- however embarrassing -- was not enough retribution. Lupin, however, was satisfied. "Look, Lily," he said, being the only one of his friends to address her by her name, Lily's eyes flickered into his, "You really went to far as far as James and Sirius are concerned. But, well, I think you got what you deserved today. I wish they would have just agreed to stop it, but um..I knew they wouldn't." Lily stared at him, blinking. "So what are you saying?" she asked, her voice calm and cool once again. "Well, I don't have a problem with you..with any of you, really. I don't want to be enemies," he said hesitantly, shrugging. In the back of his mind, he knew that he couldn't afford to make more enemies then he had already. When--if--he corrected, his classmates found out about..his..secret he could use all the allies he could get. Snape and his cronies were already one group of enemies already.

Lily stared at him, then sighed, as if very tired. "Alright." She said nodding, a tight smile on her seemingly innocent face as she extended her hand. "Truce," they agreed in unison. They let go of their hands quickly, smiling slightly at each other before rushing into class.

Sirius was staring, his mouth open, his face aghast as Lupin threw his things next to him. "What did you just do?" Sirius demanded. Lupin shrugged, his eyes on his cauldron. "What?"

"You just...made...peace with the enemy!" Sirius crowed angrily. "What were you thinking?"

Remus rolled his eyes. "Oh, shove it Sirius," he said, but his voice fell low was Perkins swept into the dungeon, accompanied by a cold, biting wind.