Chapter 2—The Spanking Pranking Marauders.

'Hey I know you don't I?' asked a messy, raven haired boy.

The boy he was speaking to looked up and brushed back his semi-long black hair from his eyes with his right hand.

'I don't know. Do I know you?' he replied.

The two boys stared at each other solemnly for a few seconds.

'I think we should forget and start over.' Said the boy with the unruly hair.

If there were people listening to this conversation between these two boys they would have been totally confused, besides the fact that they didn't know who they were or which family they belonged to.

The eleven year old pushed back his hair again form his face before sticking out his hand again.

'Sirius Black.'

'James Potter.' Replied the other boy who stuck out his own hands and shook it.

The Blacks and the Potters were from a long line of wizarding families. More so than most.

The only thing was there was rivalry that dated back a generation or two, both families despised each other. Sirius and James fathers were always at war with one another.

The fact that the Blacks supported the dark areas of magic only made things worse. Its not that they were open about it but it was just known by some witches and wizards alike.

The reason that these two boys stood there outside Olivander's—the wand shop in Diagon Alley was because their parents were elsewhere.

And the reason that they were shaking hands was because they wanted the thing or relationship that was forming between them to be based to respect not hate like their fathers was.

James knew that Sirius was nothing like his father and Sirius knew that James's father was nothing like his own.

No one except the two of them and Harrison Potter—James's father— knew the reason why Sirius was the black sheep of the Black family. It occurred two years ago and it was then that the two of them met by chance in a forested area outside of London. Each of them didn't know who the other really was.

It seemed funny that the sons of two archenemies should meet like that.

When the boys were nine they had happened to come across garden gnomes obviously marching themselves to a poor new garden. The two of them had been following them for a few minutes before they had come upon each other.

They hadn't noticed each other until a few minutes had passed.

Thought the two boys had not known each other. It seemed like they were kindred sprits because they just had to look at each other to know what the other one was thinking.

With gleams in their eyes, they came together—two fun loving boys—one who wasn't allowed much fun and the other who was spoiled slightly by his parents and they sent the gnomes flying.

After thirty minutes of tormenting the miserable creatures that sat on the ground panting slightly while nursing dome of the bites they got.

'Hi.'

'Hello.'

They both said to each other.

'What's your name?' James asked.

Sirius who didn't want anyone to know about his miserable family – much less a strange boy who could possibly be a friend – caught himself in time when he answered.

'Sirius—uh—yeah just Sirius.'

James laughed a little.

'Well Just Sirius my name is James.' He said. He had felt that it was better that he didn't give out his last name since the other bloke wasn't giving out his.

Then he asked, 'what are you doing out here?'

'Nothing really just needed a break.'

'That's good.'

'I live there.' Sirius continued waving vaguely in the direction of his house. Of course it was a very hard house to find with all the security measures known to wizard kind that surrounds it.

He father was very touching about that.

'I live that way.' Said James pointing in the opposite direction.

'I needed to get to out of my house or else I'd have gone mad.' Commented Sirius suddenly.

'Yeah I know what that feels like.'

'Maybe you do, but you don't have parents nagging you day after day trying to make you something you're not though do you?'

'Well my dad has this idea that his only son should become a world-renowned healer.'

Sirius sighed. 'No I mean your personality, who you are.' He said trying to explain but not wanting to tell this boy about his parents and his none existent life.

'I guess not.'

'They want me to become like them, but I'm nothing like them. I don't want to be anything like them.'

'You have your own goals then?'

'Yeah I have these plans. I want to do so many things when I go off to school, away form my family.'

'Really?'

'Yeah because you see my house is a no fun zone.'

James laughed. 'Sorry about that mate but at my house we have fun all the time especially when my grandparents come over.'

Sirius shot James a dark look. 'Yeah well bully for you then.'

'Sorry mate.'

'It's okay; I mean the world should have some fun in it right? Even if I don't get any.'

'What school do you want to go to?' James asked changing the subject.

'My parents want me to go to Durmstrang.' The boy replied shuddering slightly.

'I hear there is a lot of support for the dark arts in that school.' James said raising an eyebrow but not pushing for an answer. He didn't get one.

'I want to go to Hogworts though.' Sirius said.

'I know me too.' Replied James in a wistful voice.

'Year I heard it's a great school but one thing is for sure I don't want to be in the same house as my cousin.'

'So what about these plans you have? I err have some of my own, though they may be different from yours.' James said hedging a little. He had his own ideas of what to do when he went away to school.

'Like I'd tell you. You may likely steal them for yourself.' He said grinning.

They had parted after an hour had passed. Each hoping to see the other again. And they did, rather unexpectedly too.

James and his dad were in Diagon Alley when he spotted Sirius for the first time in weeks.

'Father look it was the fellow I was telling you about.'

'Really? I would like to meet him.' Harrison Potter said in a half booming half curious voice.

James then hailed him.

Sirius looked up and smiled and he had nothing to smile about in a long while he had thought he might have forgotten how. He joined him and shook hands with James's father.

'How do you do lad?'

'Fine sir.'

'Strong handshake you have there son.'

Sirius grinned. 'Thank you sir.'

'Aren't you a little young to be wandering the streets by yourself? Where is your father?' Harrison said good-naturedly.

Sirius waved vaguely towards where his father was. Seeing him do that James recalled when he did it before and thought he was always doing that.

Sirius didn't want anyone to know that his father was in Knockturn Alley at the moment. Wouldn't that be swell? To show how evil his father was to a friend, his only friend mind you and his father.

'How about I buy you lad some ice cream?' Harrison asked and nodded towards Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, a newly opened establishment.

Getting to know Sirius after a while Harrison was very impressed.

Sirius was very much like James, telling jokes and laughing. And over the next few minutes Sirius began to wish that he had a father just like James had. It was obvious they had fun together.

They finished their ice creams and walked back towards the spot where Sirius had been standing to wait for his father.

'Potter!' said an angry voice.

Harrison whirled around to face Tomas Black.

'What do you think you're doing talking to my son?' he asked threateningly. 'And you,' he said rounding on Sirius. 'If I told you once I told you a hundred times do not consort with the antagonist.' Tomas finished angrily.

At the same time both boys were shocked.

Sirius was a Black?

James is a Potter?

Harrison was shocked as well.

'Listen Black I d—,' he started then faltered, how could this charismatic charming boy be the son of this man?

Sirius was so ready with a smirk and a smile and he only knew the boy for a little while and anyone could see that he was a very likable young lad.

He sighed. The chock in Sirius's face was enough to speak volumes. He would get into trouble if his father new it was more than a chance meeting.

He did the only thing he could in a situation like this he lied.

'Black why I Merlin's name would I be talking to your son? I just saw this boy standing here. I don't even know who the boy was or his name.' He said indignantly.

'See that you don't.'

Not wanting to start a fight in front of the two boys Harrison turned around, forcing to James to do so as well and walked away.

Walking away was regrettable but who knows what Tomas Black would have done to Sirius if he hadn't done what he did.

Black's son.

He still couldn't believe it. He then heard Tomas say to Sirius,

'Come on boy, we have to meet with your mother and brother but I'll deal with you later.'

After a while Harrison wondered what his son was thinking. He hadn't said a word since they met Sirius's father.

'James don' worry about Sirius, I can't believe that he is Black's son but I can tell that he is a good boy. I am certain he is not like his father.'

James nodded and Harrison continued.

'But I want to tell you that if you see him again, its best not to talk to him in public. It would draw too much attention which could possibly get back to his father.'

'But father, will Sirius turn out as bad as his father one day?

'I hope not son; I just expect or hope that he knows which side to be on. It seems like he does.'

'Yeah.' Said James as he turned back to look at the now Sirius-less street.

Harrison felt sorry for the young boy his son had befriended, having a father like that is never easy and he should know, he had one just like that for fifteen years of his life but even then he had his own reasons for disliking the Blacks although they are opposite from why his father hated them.'

So here the boys were two year later shaking hands.

Over the two years since they had met they had gotten only a couple glimpses of each other but they have never spoken a word. Or rather they never got a chance to.

Suddenly smirking Sirius looked straight into James's eyes.

'Uh I'm supposed to meet my stupid bloody bugger of a cousin Bellaire in the next three hours. After I finish my shopping for my supplies. Since we're starting over and since the only thing I have to do is get my wand what do you say we have a little fun afterwards?'

Smiling James matched his look with one of his own.

'What do you have in mind?'

'Well, partner I am thinking that since I can't have any fun at home, I'd like to have a little fun outside of it. How about playing a prank on my dear sweet cousin Belle?'

'Ah planning this a while have we?' James asked lifting an eyebrow.

'Only since I could think!'

'How old is she?'

'She's on to her 5th year at Hogworts.' He said then added, 'she's a slytherin.' With a disgusted look. 'You won't believe how much I don't want to be in slytherin. All of my family who has attended Hogworts was in slytherin, except for my cousin Andromeda, but we never talk about her. She is in Gryffindore, in her 3rd year.'

My father said a hundred times since I was born that I never "fit the mold" of this family. He always turns his nose up anytime Andromeda is around, which is never often. Te thing is I am hoping that since I don't fit the mould and Andy doesn't I am hoping I'll have the genes she used to get into Gryffindore.'

James laughed. 'But you'll glad if you're not there right?'

'Yeah, that's okay. I'll be happy to be in Hufflepuff.' Sirius finished gravely.

James laughed again.

'So you're going to Hogworts for sure then?'

'Yeah, what about you what school are you going to?'

'Same.'

'So I guess we'll be seeing each other there too.'

'Look's like.' James said ungrammatically. 'Anyways about your bugger of a cousin, what do you have in mind?'

'Well you see I've been planning this as I said since I could fathom what revenge was, so I have been saving whatever extra money I ended up with or whatever money my father felt like giving me. Mind you he doesn't give me often but its usually a lot, oh and whatever money I got out of the village kids.' Sirius said not bothering anymore to hide his family's actions

Besides James knew almost every bad thing about his family and most of them were true but if he hadn't known that he had the decency not to say a word about it.

'You stole from them?' James said not really believing it but had to ask. Just in case.

'Blimey no, but those blokes are easier to con that Duffy—our house elf, the only thing I can talk to in there really— and that's saying something.' He finished.

'Oh yeah?'

'Yeah I plan to get out of that house as soon as I can as well as try my best to free that elf.'

'Doesn't he belong to your family though? Only your father could free him and maybe your mother.'

'Don't worry I have that covered.'

James looked at his friend and gained some new respect for him.

'Really?' James asked interested. He couldn't help it he grinned. It was infectious. Somehow he knew that he and Sirius were going to be good if not great friends.

'Uh huh but never mind that now, although I am happy that my parents don't' care enough to get my first year supplies, they should know by now not to leave me to my own devices but they do it anyway. Lets o get my wand.'

James nodded in agreement but first he took out a hat he had found one day and learned that it was a muggle hat. He liked it because it kept his unruly hair out of trouble.

He stuffed it on his head then followed Sirius down the street to Olivanders.

First though at a shop just before their destination, they saw the most magnificent broom ever. The Molten X 2. James went into gaga mode for a few minutes before Sirius dragged him to Olivanders.

When they opened the door the string less bell above their heads chimed. Behind a shelf a grey haired man poked his head out.

'Ah Mister Black and Mister Potter. Good to see you. I've been wondering when I would see both of you at the same time.'

To James he said, 'I do hope you're keeping your wand nice and polished for the start of the new term.

'Yes sir.' James said smiling up at him.

James liked him and though he looked to be on the weird side he was very interesting to talk to.

'Sirius Black, you're the splitting image of your father I must say but a temper like your mother.'

Sirius growled a little not picking up on how Mr. Olivander knew his name at all because he was mad at being compared to his parents.

But the twinkle in Mr. Olivander's eye told James that he knew it was a sore subject for Sirius.

'Yes I imagine that wouldn't be too flattering to hear. Anyway, lads, what say I go and bring out a few wand for you to try?'

Fifteen minutes later Sirius exited the wand shop with a brand new wand.

'So are you ready to torment my cousin?'

'Are you sure you're not going to get into trouble for this?' James asked raising an eyebrow. He didn't wanted to be a Sirius's shoe if he got caught.

'Oh ye of little faith.'

'No not really, I'm all for it. I encourage it even. I was just wondering that if your dad wouldn't go ballistic on you.'

'My friend we aren't going to get caught.' Sirius said then went about telling his friend about his idea.

'But we'll need something to carry it in.' James replied.

'How about that thing on your head?'

'No way we are not using my muggle hat. What about that?' Asked James pointing to the jumbo bucket of Berty bott's every flavoured beans.

'Okay, just back off there buddy, where will I put all my beans, in my knickers? I am not throwing them away if that what you're getting at too. That there is my supply for the rest of the week.'

James noted that there was only one more day in the week, so that would finish in a day. 'Sirius you are so behind. Here, this is something you would never want to leave home with out.'

'And what's that?'

James blushed slightly.

'Well my mum uses it in the kitchen but I use it for other purposes that I might tell you one day.'

Sirius laughed. 'So you're using something form your kitchen. What am I supposed to do, put the entire bucket of bean into a pot?'

James scowled. He stuck his hand into his dark blue robes and produced a cylinder with a mixed colour tone of tan and red.

'It sort of looks like the thing those muggles use in the loo.' He said trying not to snicker.

'It does not. Look, okay my mum uses these things, which are called onyx's to store her herbs that she has in bulk. It basically has a long bottom and when you need the things you put into it, the onyx itself pushes up the thing '

'Hey so we can use that to put stuff in.'

'No,' James sighed. 'You can put your beans in here and we can use the bucket to put the material in. it would take forever to clean one of those.

'Okay, brilliant. Now let's go.'

The Directions:

1. Use a temporary hovering clasp that could be gotten anywhere. From the prank shop to the charm supply shop. All in all a great tool.

2. A dissolving plug. Also could be gotten form the prank shop.

3. Make a hole at the bottom of the bucket. Preferably of seven centimetres in diameter to fit the plug.

4. Liquid glue that dissolved into anything.

5. Disguises.

The Plan:

Sirius and James split up to get what they need to pull the ultimate revenge prank. All they had to do now when they met again was to figure out who will do it.

'I'll do it. It's your plan so I'll do it. Next time though, it will be my prank and you'll be the one to do it.' James proposed and Sirius grinned.

'Fair enough my friend.'

Five minutes later Sirius showed James his cousin. James had to admit she was okay looking, but you couldn't really tell from the back of her head while she sucking face with this odd looking to hair toned fellow.

James had never even wanted to go sit near a girl unless his mother forced him to so he for sure wasn't going there out of his own free will. What was wrong that bloke anyway?

Behind him he heard Sirius gag.

'That's River Donovan, her new boyfriend. She goes through them so fast I can't keep track but I think that him. Judging my the hair that is.'

James quickly looked around. He was thankful that there was a tree right next to them. Nodding to Sirius who followed him they hid behind behind the tree and pulled out everything they had.

They had already had the most important thing already mixed with the dissolving glue. They fixed everything in place and James scaled up and down the tree in a minute.

Sirius and James had to bite down the urge to stand right there and see the spectacle bit for now thought is better not to.

They were checking out the sweets shop across the street five minutes later when they heard a shriek.

James smirked at his new friend.

'Guess it worked huh?' and Sirius ginned.

Before they left the sweet shop they looked at each other. 'I'll owl you next month but um I think if it would be better if I put a different name. I'll think of one that you will recognise. Guess we'll see each other on the train then.' James said.

'You bet.' Sirius replied as he sauntered up to his cousin.

James lingered long enough to hear Sirius's sarcastic remark.

'Uh cousin, I don't think ice-cream is made for wearing.'

'Oh shut up Sirius. When I get my hands on the prat who did this, they'll be sorry.' Said what had to be Bellatrix angrily.

Knowing that because of that glue she wouldn't be able to wash out the chocolate caramel ice cream out of her hair for a week James laughed.

Yes indeed, he knew for a fact that he and Sirius were going to be good friends—that is if their families doesn't get in the way.

'It was come marauding children Edna, I swear they pulled a fast one on those young ones."

'I'd say it served them right Martha. Honestly, what is the world coming too? This is a public place, a family place. Those too had no right to be doing their dirty deeds in public.'

And as the two old witches commented some more the young boy took off his had and went to meet his uncle.