Chapter 2
"James..."
He knew that tone. That was the 'James-what-is-Snape-doing-hanging-by-a-toe- from-the-rafters-of-the-Gryffindor-common-room?' It was the 'James-I-just- saw-you-drinking-straight-from-the-pitcher-of-pumpkin-juice.' And that was the 'James-you-better-be-able-to-explain-why-there's-a-massive-hole-in-the- middle-of-my-kitchen-floor.'
He spun around. Lily's face was priceless. James had never seen her emerald eyes so huge.
"James," she repeated breathily, trying to compose herself, "that is disgusting."
"Awww, thanks, sweetheart," James replied sarcastically, grinning widely. Well, as widely as he could with lips swollen four times their normal size, six noses, and eight pairs of eyes.
The last bit was giving James some trouble. He swayed and staggered a bit towards Lily.
"Kiss me!" he lisped.
"No way. You're gross."
"Lily, would you want the last thing you ever said to me be," he put on a high-pitched voice, "'No, James, I refuse to kiss you because you're uglier than a goblin's backside?'"
He smirked.
Lily tried to keep a straight face.
"Oh, fine!" she squealed as she pecked him on the cheek before fleeing behind a chaise.
"Oh yeah..." James nodded coolly. "So," he turned back to the mirror, inspecting himself, "How do you think everyone will react?"
Lily snorted as she bent down into Harry's playpen and danced her fingers along his tummy, tickling him and making him shriek with laughter.
"Well, Sirius will probably say something along the lines of, 'Prongs! You gorgeous stag, you! Why'd it take so long to get it done? Poor Lily had been looking at your ugly mug for way too long.' Whilst Remus will shake his head morosely and go, 'Seven years at Hogwarts and this is what our Head Boy and Auror does with his magic.'"
"And Peter?"
"He'll most likely wet himself from fright," Lily finished.
"What do you think Nyphadora will do?"
"Oh, no way, James. I won't allow you! You'll terrify the poor thing! NO- BLOODY-WAY, JAMES!" Lily had put her foot down. She picked up Harry, who at the mere sight of his father's new face, blinked wide-eyed looking incredibly like his mother and then let out a huge howl and promptly started to bawl.
Lily was furious. "James! I have half a mind to charm your face to stay that way permanently!" she shouted over her shoulder as she carried Harry up the stairs. She looked down at her baby's adorable, tear-stained face, "Yes, Daddy's quite dreadful, isn't he?" she cooed, kissing Harry.
"Onfph again, Lily, I luff da way you luff me!" James shouted, his mouth full of pumpkin pasty.
"I refuse to stand by and see you terrorize small children...and Peter," Lily sniffed in a haughty tone, sticking her nose dramatically in the air.
"You're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter!" she finished airly, a la herself fifth year, before disappearing into Harry's nursery.
James laughed. "Ha! Famous last words, Evans!" he yelped at the foot of the stairs.
He hopped off the step and went back to the cauldron Lily had filled with treats for 'trick or treating' at the door.
"Muggles. What will they think of next? I swear they were channeling the Marauders when they invented Halloween. Free candy and pranks. Who could ask for anything more?" he reflected as he reached for a chocolate frog.
As if on cue, there were three knocks on the door. He waited.
Peter stood outside, shrouded in the cloak wizards up and down the country had learned to fear beyond all else. He looked back at his five companions hidden from view of the Potters' front door. He received a nod from the tallest figure of the group.
He wheezed a breath and proclaimed in a shaky voice:
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
And for the first time in his life, he truly meant it.
"James..."
He knew that tone. That was the 'James-what-is-Snape-doing-hanging-by-a-toe- from-the-rafters-of-the-Gryffindor-common-room?' It was the 'James-I-just- saw-you-drinking-straight-from-the-pitcher-of-pumpkin-juice.' And that was the 'James-you-better-be-able-to-explain-why-there's-a-massive-hole-in-the- middle-of-my-kitchen-floor.'
He spun around. Lily's face was priceless. James had never seen her emerald eyes so huge.
"James," she repeated breathily, trying to compose herself, "that is disgusting."
"Awww, thanks, sweetheart," James replied sarcastically, grinning widely. Well, as widely as he could with lips swollen four times their normal size, six noses, and eight pairs of eyes.
The last bit was giving James some trouble. He swayed and staggered a bit towards Lily.
"Kiss me!" he lisped.
"No way. You're gross."
"Lily, would you want the last thing you ever said to me be," he put on a high-pitched voice, "'No, James, I refuse to kiss you because you're uglier than a goblin's backside?'"
He smirked.
Lily tried to keep a straight face.
"Oh, fine!" she squealed as she pecked him on the cheek before fleeing behind a chaise.
"Oh yeah..." James nodded coolly. "So," he turned back to the mirror, inspecting himself, "How do you think everyone will react?"
Lily snorted as she bent down into Harry's playpen and danced her fingers along his tummy, tickling him and making him shriek with laughter.
"Well, Sirius will probably say something along the lines of, 'Prongs! You gorgeous stag, you! Why'd it take so long to get it done? Poor Lily had been looking at your ugly mug for way too long.' Whilst Remus will shake his head morosely and go, 'Seven years at Hogwarts and this is what our Head Boy and Auror does with his magic.'"
"And Peter?"
"He'll most likely wet himself from fright," Lily finished.
"What do you think Nyphadora will do?"
"Oh, no way, James. I won't allow you! You'll terrify the poor thing! NO- BLOODY-WAY, JAMES!" Lily had put her foot down. She picked up Harry, who at the mere sight of his father's new face, blinked wide-eyed looking incredibly like his mother and then let out a huge howl and promptly started to bawl.
Lily was furious. "James! I have half a mind to charm your face to stay that way permanently!" she shouted over her shoulder as she carried Harry up the stairs. She looked down at her baby's adorable, tear-stained face, "Yes, Daddy's quite dreadful, isn't he?" she cooed, kissing Harry.
"Onfph again, Lily, I luff da way you luff me!" James shouted, his mouth full of pumpkin pasty.
"I refuse to stand by and see you terrorize small children...and Peter," Lily sniffed in a haughty tone, sticking her nose dramatically in the air.
"You're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter!" she finished airly, a la herself fifth year, before disappearing into Harry's nursery.
James laughed. "Ha! Famous last words, Evans!" he yelped at the foot of the stairs.
He hopped off the step and went back to the cauldron Lily had filled with treats for 'trick or treating' at the door.
"Muggles. What will they think of next? I swear they were channeling the Marauders when they invented Halloween. Free candy and pranks. Who could ask for anything more?" he reflected as he reached for a chocolate frog.
As if on cue, there were three knocks on the door. He waited.
Peter stood outside, shrouded in the cloak wizards up and down the country had learned to fear beyond all else. He looked back at his five companions hidden from view of the Potters' front door. He received a nod from the tallest figure of the group.
He wheezed a breath and proclaimed in a shaky voice:
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
And for the first time in his life, he truly meant it.