Author's Note: thanks again for all the reviews I've been getting. I'd
just like to tell you all that I'm writing another HP fanfic, and I'd love
it if you'd take the time to read it and tell me what you think, even if
you don't like it. Constructive flames are very welcome.
A few days later, the five of them got up early and went down to their chosen area. Harry cast the adapted spell. Nothing happened. He tried again, and to his very great relief, a lake appeared, going from wall to wall with no apparent way to get across without swimming. Sirius knelt down by the water and put a hand in, expecting to feel the floor within five centimeters. He rolled up his sleeve and dunked his whole arm in. Then he stood up, nodding in satisfaction.
"That'll do us great," he said. "Did you want to add anything, James?"
"Uh, yeah, if you don't mind."
James added some flowers to the otherwise bare lake. They were water lilies, and then normal lilies around the walls, just to add to the effect of course. He had no idea that these flowers happened to share the same name as the girl he fancied. Sirius gave a long suffering sigh and said, relieved when he finished.
"Just one last thing then. James, want to do the honors?"
"Any time, Padfoot."
He and James muttered a few words together, taking great care that Harry didn't see, and a huge white 'M' appeared, hovering over the middle of the water.
"Our trademark," James explained when Harry looked at him questioningly.
"Doesn't that kind of defeat the point?" Harry asked. "It looks like it just tells the teachers that you did."
"They always guess anyway, we do have a certain reputation, so we might as well be proud of things. No one else would dare to pull our sort of pranks. When we were in third year, the first years tried to copy us and make a group, so we started pranking them. They gave up within the week."
At breakfast later that morning, Lily Evans came up to them, her eyes twinkling with suppressed laughter. Of course, a prefect couldn't show amusement openly before the younger students because it would be bad for discipline.
"It was you that did the lake, wasn't it? It's brilliant, even if it did take an extra five minutes to get to breakfast! I kind of liked the lilies too, was that you, Remus?"
"No, sorry, it wasn't me."
"Oh, and I heard Dumbledore say that he wanted to leave it for a while because it was such a good piece of charm work - it looked like he was finding it hilarious. McGonagall wasn't, and she banished it like a shot. Shame, really, the Slytherins have Divination today, and you know how stressed Professor Marshwater gets if you're late. The only way they can get up to the tower would be to swim the lake!"
"It wasn't so hard really," James said negligently. "I'll show you if you want. Harry was the one who found the spell though."
"You did do the flowers," Harry reminded him. James blushed and glared at him.
"You did the flowers?" Lily asked, then, in mock astonishment, "Thanks, but wow! Potter's finally learned the meaning of modesty! Yeah, please, I'd love to learn. It might be really useful in charms, especially if you got the spell from the charm we learned in third year for making goldfish bowls."
"I did, actually, but it went through a stage as a swamp first, but that smells," Harry told her, impressed at how quickly she'd worked it out.
"How about this evening, then? I've got Quidditch, but after that?"
"Sure, see you."
"Bye Evans."
James stared after her, absolutely astonished by this response. Sirius and Harry were desperately trying to control their laughter - the dumbstruck look on his face was absolutely unbelievable. Peter was looking puzzled by this exchange, and Remus was grinning, but controlled it much better.
"She practically agreed to go out with me!" James said, astonished.
"Be serious, James," Remus warned him, squashing this idea as soon as it came. "All she agreed to was you helping her with homework after lessons."
"Homework!" James exclaimed incredulously. "This is purely an out of school commitment. How long is it until Valentine's Day." This comment sent Sirius and Harry into even more hysterics. Remus sighed.
"It's about six months, you twit. You've got to do better than that if you want to go out with Lily, because there's a Ravenclaw seventh year who likes her."
"Pessimist," James said, pulling a face at him. "Harry, what do you think?"
"Oh," Harry said, controlling himself. "You'll get her in the end, but it'll probably take another year or so, I should think from what I've seen."
"You're almost as bad as Remus, and I thought that was impossible. Peter?"
"I don't know, I've never had a girlfriend."
"Never had a girlfriend! We'll have to find you one before the end of term at least. What about you Sirius? You think I'll get her, don't you?"
"She's coming round all right, she'd never have agreed to spending five minutes with you last term if she had any other choice, even Snape was better in her opinion."
"At last," James said, somewhat surprised. "There is someone who believes in me. Okay, what do I do next?"
"Teach her the spell, dunce, and then I might have a few ideas you can use."
* * * * * *
That afternoon, in their last lesson of the day, James had a sudden thought.
"Harry, do you play Quidditch at all?"
"Yeah, of course, doesn't everybody?"
"What position?"
"Seeker."
"Great! Team tryouts are tonight - I'm the Gryffindor Quidditch captain, and we need a Seeker and a Beater."
"Well, how many people do you think will try out?"
"Oh a few, probably. Not many, most people prefer playing as Chaser to being the Seeker because you tend to get a bit more action. I was a Seeker until Johns left and we were desperate for a decent Chaser. I hope you do get in, because I know that there aren't really any other prospective players who I'd want to have in the team at all if there's any other choice."
"Well, I'll be there."
So, straight after the end of the lesson, Harry sprinted upstairs to fetch his prized Firebolt. Out on the Quidditch pitch, the broom received much admiration.
"Nice broom, Harry," James said. "Where did you get it?"
"The Quidditch master at my old school was a genius for making brooms. He made it especially for me, so it fits me perfectly. He calls it a Firebolt, and he's considering selling the design to one of the big companies."
"Well, if that's the sort of broom you're flying, I can see you being a real asset to the team. You're the only Seeker candidate who's turned up, actually. Sirius is taking a couple of Beaters down the other end, but I reckon that young Shacklebolt will get it. He's younger than I'd like for a Beater, and quite small, but he's got real style. So, let's see what you can do. I'll let the Snitch out, give it a minute's head start, then you go and get it."
"Sure."
Harry decided that now was the time to show off, so he circled high above the field, then he was released and dived straight down, catching the Snitch and pulling up from just five centimeters from the ground. James was impressed.
"You're on Harry. I think you're better than I was when I was a Seeker too. If the Beater's as good, we stand a good chance of winning the Quidditch Cup this year. Have you got robes?"
"Uh yes, I was on my old school's team, and I'll charm them to be the right colors."
"Great, well I'll see you this evening."
James sprinted inside after that, waving to Sirius to carry on. He had more important things to do - i.e. find Lily. By the time Harry got in, they'd gone and Peter told him that they'd gone to find somewhere private where they could practice. Harry doubted if that would be all they'd be doing, although Peter didn't seem to realize that they could have practiced in the common room if they wanted.
When they returned a few hours later, James looked inordinately smug and refused point blank to tell them anything about what had happened between them.
"Fine," said Harry irritably. He felt he had the right to know what his parents were doing together on their first date. "I won't tell you my idea for getting into the Slytherin common room, but since its so obvious that a new boy could work it out, I'm sure you'll find it out for yourself soon. Come on Sirius, let's go outside. I'm sure we can think of a few things to do."
"Please!" James begged desperately. "I'd like to tell you guys, but Lily swore me to secrecy and she'd kill me. Remus, you can talk to her if you want, but I bet she'll be keeping her mouth shut. I can't miss out on the biggest pranks of the century!"
"Shall we let him in, Sirius?" Harry asked doubtfully. James looked pathetic.
"Oh all right," Sirius said, melting at the look on his friend's face. "Although he doesn't really deserve it."
"Thank you Padfoot, I'm eternally in your debt."
"Yeah right - you'll have forgotten that by tomorrow."
"Well, it's the sentiment that counts."
"Shut up, or I won't tell either of you and I'll just be telling Remus and Peter. It honestly isn't anything you couldn't have worked out for yourselves if you'd been paying attention, of course."
"What?"
"That Dark Knight, that's the Slytherin portrait, has always had a crush on the Fat Lady. I think, but I'm not sure, that they were seeing each other before they agreed to guard the houses. The problem is that now they both have to stay where they are to guard the entrances and let us in and out."
"Meaning that if we start running, oh a messenger service or something, he might just let us through," James said eagerly, instantly catching on. "Hey, Peter, you look the sweetest. Go offer to run errands for the Fat Lady."
"Please," Remus prompted.
"Please Peter," James repeated obediently.
"Okay, but what do I do if she can't think of anything she wants done?"
"Ask if there are any other portraits that you could take a message to," Remus hinted.
Peter ran off, always glad to do something for James. A few minutes later he was back.
"You were right, she did send me to him," he said exuberantly. "He was practically crying when I told him."
"Well done Peter," Remus said. "You don't mind doing it, do you? The rest of us can take turns if you want a break from it, we're happy to."
"No, really, I'm fine," he said proudly, glad there was something that he could do better than them. "So, do I see if I can hear the Slytherins going in?"
"That's it, Pete. I'd actually thought of just sucking up so much that he told us, but your idea's better," James conceded. Peter beamed at this high praise.
"I'll get back to it then, the sooner I find out the better. It was really funny seeing the Slytherins' faces when they saw me comfortably chatting to their portrait. Some of them looked really suspicious of me though."
"Can't think why," said Harry. "Your conscience is practically non- existent compared to the number of gross misdeeds that James, Sirius and me have hanging over ours. You really don't get the trust you deserve, Peter."
A few days later, the five of them got up early and went down to their chosen area. Harry cast the adapted spell. Nothing happened. He tried again, and to his very great relief, a lake appeared, going from wall to wall with no apparent way to get across without swimming. Sirius knelt down by the water and put a hand in, expecting to feel the floor within five centimeters. He rolled up his sleeve and dunked his whole arm in. Then he stood up, nodding in satisfaction.
"That'll do us great," he said. "Did you want to add anything, James?"
"Uh, yeah, if you don't mind."
James added some flowers to the otherwise bare lake. They were water lilies, and then normal lilies around the walls, just to add to the effect of course. He had no idea that these flowers happened to share the same name as the girl he fancied. Sirius gave a long suffering sigh and said, relieved when he finished.
"Just one last thing then. James, want to do the honors?"
"Any time, Padfoot."
He and James muttered a few words together, taking great care that Harry didn't see, and a huge white 'M' appeared, hovering over the middle of the water.
"Our trademark," James explained when Harry looked at him questioningly.
"Doesn't that kind of defeat the point?" Harry asked. "It looks like it just tells the teachers that you did."
"They always guess anyway, we do have a certain reputation, so we might as well be proud of things. No one else would dare to pull our sort of pranks. When we were in third year, the first years tried to copy us and make a group, so we started pranking them. They gave up within the week."
At breakfast later that morning, Lily Evans came up to them, her eyes twinkling with suppressed laughter. Of course, a prefect couldn't show amusement openly before the younger students because it would be bad for discipline.
"It was you that did the lake, wasn't it? It's brilliant, even if it did take an extra five minutes to get to breakfast! I kind of liked the lilies too, was that you, Remus?"
"No, sorry, it wasn't me."
"Oh, and I heard Dumbledore say that he wanted to leave it for a while because it was such a good piece of charm work - it looked like he was finding it hilarious. McGonagall wasn't, and she banished it like a shot. Shame, really, the Slytherins have Divination today, and you know how stressed Professor Marshwater gets if you're late. The only way they can get up to the tower would be to swim the lake!"
"It wasn't so hard really," James said negligently. "I'll show you if you want. Harry was the one who found the spell though."
"You did do the flowers," Harry reminded him. James blushed and glared at him.
"You did the flowers?" Lily asked, then, in mock astonishment, "Thanks, but wow! Potter's finally learned the meaning of modesty! Yeah, please, I'd love to learn. It might be really useful in charms, especially if you got the spell from the charm we learned in third year for making goldfish bowls."
"I did, actually, but it went through a stage as a swamp first, but that smells," Harry told her, impressed at how quickly she'd worked it out.
"How about this evening, then? I've got Quidditch, but after that?"
"Sure, see you."
"Bye Evans."
James stared after her, absolutely astonished by this response. Sirius and Harry were desperately trying to control their laughter - the dumbstruck look on his face was absolutely unbelievable. Peter was looking puzzled by this exchange, and Remus was grinning, but controlled it much better.
"She practically agreed to go out with me!" James said, astonished.
"Be serious, James," Remus warned him, squashing this idea as soon as it came. "All she agreed to was you helping her with homework after lessons."
"Homework!" James exclaimed incredulously. "This is purely an out of school commitment. How long is it until Valentine's Day." This comment sent Sirius and Harry into even more hysterics. Remus sighed.
"It's about six months, you twit. You've got to do better than that if you want to go out with Lily, because there's a Ravenclaw seventh year who likes her."
"Pessimist," James said, pulling a face at him. "Harry, what do you think?"
"Oh," Harry said, controlling himself. "You'll get her in the end, but it'll probably take another year or so, I should think from what I've seen."
"You're almost as bad as Remus, and I thought that was impossible. Peter?"
"I don't know, I've never had a girlfriend."
"Never had a girlfriend! We'll have to find you one before the end of term at least. What about you Sirius? You think I'll get her, don't you?"
"She's coming round all right, she'd never have agreed to spending five minutes with you last term if she had any other choice, even Snape was better in her opinion."
"At last," James said, somewhat surprised. "There is someone who believes in me. Okay, what do I do next?"
"Teach her the spell, dunce, and then I might have a few ideas you can use."
* * * * * *
That afternoon, in their last lesson of the day, James had a sudden thought.
"Harry, do you play Quidditch at all?"
"Yeah, of course, doesn't everybody?"
"What position?"
"Seeker."
"Great! Team tryouts are tonight - I'm the Gryffindor Quidditch captain, and we need a Seeker and a Beater."
"Well, how many people do you think will try out?"
"Oh a few, probably. Not many, most people prefer playing as Chaser to being the Seeker because you tend to get a bit more action. I was a Seeker until Johns left and we were desperate for a decent Chaser. I hope you do get in, because I know that there aren't really any other prospective players who I'd want to have in the team at all if there's any other choice."
"Well, I'll be there."
So, straight after the end of the lesson, Harry sprinted upstairs to fetch his prized Firebolt. Out on the Quidditch pitch, the broom received much admiration.
"Nice broom, Harry," James said. "Where did you get it?"
"The Quidditch master at my old school was a genius for making brooms. He made it especially for me, so it fits me perfectly. He calls it a Firebolt, and he's considering selling the design to one of the big companies."
"Well, if that's the sort of broom you're flying, I can see you being a real asset to the team. You're the only Seeker candidate who's turned up, actually. Sirius is taking a couple of Beaters down the other end, but I reckon that young Shacklebolt will get it. He's younger than I'd like for a Beater, and quite small, but he's got real style. So, let's see what you can do. I'll let the Snitch out, give it a minute's head start, then you go and get it."
"Sure."
Harry decided that now was the time to show off, so he circled high above the field, then he was released and dived straight down, catching the Snitch and pulling up from just five centimeters from the ground. James was impressed.
"You're on Harry. I think you're better than I was when I was a Seeker too. If the Beater's as good, we stand a good chance of winning the Quidditch Cup this year. Have you got robes?"
"Uh yes, I was on my old school's team, and I'll charm them to be the right colors."
"Great, well I'll see you this evening."
James sprinted inside after that, waving to Sirius to carry on. He had more important things to do - i.e. find Lily. By the time Harry got in, they'd gone and Peter told him that they'd gone to find somewhere private where they could practice. Harry doubted if that would be all they'd be doing, although Peter didn't seem to realize that they could have practiced in the common room if they wanted.
When they returned a few hours later, James looked inordinately smug and refused point blank to tell them anything about what had happened between them.
"Fine," said Harry irritably. He felt he had the right to know what his parents were doing together on their first date. "I won't tell you my idea for getting into the Slytherin common room, but since its so obvious that a new boy could work it out, I'm sure you'll find it out for yourself soon. Come on Sirius, let's go outside. I'm sure we can think of a few things to do."
"Please!" James begged desperately. "I'd like to tell you guys, but Lily swore me to secrecy and she'd kill me. Remus, you can talk to her if you want, but I bet she'll be keeping her mouth shut. I can't miss out on the biggest pranks of the century!"
"Shall we let him in, Sirius?" Harry asked doubtfully. James looked pathetic.
"Oh all right," Sirius said, melting at the look on his friend's face. "Although he doesn't really deserve it."
"Thank you Padfoot, I'm eternally in your debt."
"Yeah right - you'll have forgotten that by tomorrow."
"Well, it's the sentiment that counts."
"Shut up, or I won't tell either of you and I'll just be telling Remus and Peter. It honestly isn't anything you couldn't have worked out for yourselves if you'd been paying attention, of course."
"What?"
"That Dark Knight, that's the Slytherin portrait, has always had a crush on the Fat Lady. I think, but I'm not sure, that they were seeing each other before they agreed to guard the houses. The problem is that now they both have to stay where they are to guard the entrances and let us in and out."
"Meaning that if we start running, oh a messenger service or something, he might just let us through," James said eagerly, instantly catching on. "Hey, Peter, you look the sweetest. Go offer to run errands for the Fat Lady."
"Please," Remus prompted.
"Please Peter," James repeated obediently.
"Okay, but what do I do if she can't think of anything she wants done?"
"Ask if there are any other portraits that you could take a message to," Remus hinted.
Peter ran off, always glad to do something for James. A few minutes later he was back.
"You were right, she did send me to him," he said exuberantly. "He was practically crying when I told him."
"Well done Peter," Remus said. "You don't mind doing it, do you? The rest of us can take turns if you want a break from it, we're happy to."
"No, really, I'm fine," he said proudly, glad there was something that he could do better than them. "So, do I see if I can hear the Slytherins going in?"
"That's it, Pete. I'd actually thought of just sucking up so much that he told us, but your idea's better," James conceded. Peter beamed at this high praise.
"I'll get back to it then, the sooner I find out the better. It was really funny seeing the Slytherins' faces when they saw me comfortably chatting to their portrait. Some of them looked really suspicious of me though."
"Can't think why," said Harry. "Your conscience is practically non- existent compared to the number of gross misdeeds that James, Sirius and me have hanging over ours. You really don't get the trust you deserve, Peter."