HA! I updated within a month of posting the last chapter! Thank you so much for the reviews. I know the last chapter wasn't very long, but it was the right place to stop the story, if you get my drift.
Special shout-out to my 'lil cousin Snez—this chapter is dedicated to her. I was gonna have more MWPP in the next chapter, but she wanted it now, so here ya go:
Disclaimer: *sigh* I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters.
Chapter 5
Lily could not understand how those girls could put up with the arrogant, stuck-up Marauders, and moreover, how they could play along; flirting and giggling like mindless idiots. Her eyes travelled around the room searching for Isabel, and Lily let out an audible gasp when she saw her chatting animatedly to Sirius Black. She was not going to let her best friend become a mindless idiot. She marched over, her eyes flashing dangerously.
"Isabel, could I have a quick word?" Lily hissed, whilst pulling her over to a corner of the room. "What are you doing with Sirius Black?"
"I was having a conversation with him, Lily. You know, when one person says something, and the other responds. Or maybe you're not familiar with the art of conversation yet."
"You know how I feel about the Marauders. Sirius is loud, rude and most of all he is a player. Please don't tell me you're interested in him or I may just have to gouge my eyes out with a spoon."
"Look, I don't understand why you have such a problem with them. Yeah, so James has played a prank or two on you, but that doesn't mean you have to hold it against the rest of them. Peter's as quiet as a mouse, and Remus is really sweet. And so is Sirius. Just because you have a problem with them, doesn't mean that I do."
"Fine! But don't come crying to me when you wake up one morning and your skin is bright orange with green splotches. Because that's what happens when you befriend the Marauders!" Lily exploded, and stalked out of the common room.
Isabel sighed. She was used to Lily's outbursts, but they always attracted attention and strange looks in the common room. She looked round, grinning half-heartedly at the people who were staring over. Sighing once more, she walked back over to Sirius, James, Remus and Peter.
"Sorry about that," she apologised, with a small smile on her face.
"It's okay. Lily's not too happy about you talking to us, huh? Tut tut, Isabel, fraternising with the enemy. Whatever will you do next?" Sirius asked, with a wicked grin.
Isabel laughed and told him to shut up.
"Hey, here's an idea! How would you like to be an accessory to crime? We're going to play a prank on the Slytherins—just to get everyone in the festive mood. You might be useful," Sirius mused.
"Sirius! What are you doing?! We don't let anyone help with our pranks, especially not a g…" James trailed off mid-sentence, looking very uncomfortable.
"It's okay, James. It's not a secret. You can say it: I'm a G-I-R-L. Nice to know sexism is alive and well, though." Isabel said, but with an amused look on her face.
"I didn't mean like that," James mumbled. "It's just that, how do we know that you're not going to run off and tell McGonagall—or worse (and probably more likely) Evans?"
"Don't worry I can keep a secret. And I can play a prank as well as the next guy."
"Everyone agrees that Isabel is helping us, right?" Sirius asked. All of them nodded, even James (although he was somewhat more reluctant to include Isabel than the others). "Right," said Sirius, turning to Isabel, "You're in."
*
Lily woke up bright and early the next morning. She lay in her bed, listening to the morning twitter of the birds outside. In her anger at Isabel, she had forgotten to arrange a tuition time with James, and he had been much too busy flirting with various Gryffindor girls to notice. Lily groaned loudly. As they had missed the tuition lesson the previous day, they would have to make up for it today, which would mean putting up with James for a whole hour. She was still bitter about the fact that James's personality had done a one-eighty degree turnaround during their first lesson—and then turned right back round again the following day.
She heaved herself out of bed and walked over to Isabel's bed. The pair had made up the night before, as Lily resolved not to be so interfering, and Isabel had forgiven her. The pair were prone to arguing, as they were both so opinionated and Lily had a very hot temper, but the arguments were never serious, and never lasted for longer than a day.
"Isabel, get up."
There was no reply from Isabel's bed. Lily sighed.
"Isabel. Okay, I'm going to give you until the count of three to get up, or I'll pull back the hangings. One…two…three!"
There was still silence. Lily pulled back the hangings to find the bed made and a note from Isabel saying:
Ha ha! Gotcha! You thought I was still in bed didn't you? I've got some stuff to do before breakfast so I'll see you in the Great Hall. Keep an eye out for the Slytherins. They shouldn't be that hard to spot—wink wink! See you at breakfast!
Lily frowned. There was definitely something going on. Isabel never got out of bed by herself; she always had to be woken up by Lily. And, what was all that stuff about the Slytherins? Most Gryffindors spent half their lives trying to ignore the Slytherins, so why was Isabel telling her to look out for them? Lily shrugged, and decided to wait until breakfast; it would probably all be explained then.
*
As she entered the Great Hall, she hurried towards the Gryffindor table, hoping to find Isabel sitting there with an explanation. But when she got there she only found some sixth years and Daisy Brown, one of the girls that shared Lily's dormitory. She sat down and started to butter some toast, hoping that Isabel would arrive soon.
The morning paper arrived, and Lily began to read it while drinking her pumpkin juice. A loud cheer and shouting caught her attention; she looked up, and promptly spat out a mouthful of pumpkin juice.
A group of Slytherins, including Snape, Avery, Nott and Lestrange had walked into the Great Hall, all wearing nothing but greying underwear. What's more, the underwear had been charmed to flash various neon signs such as "I'M JUST A LOVE MACHINE" on the rear. The Slytherins in question seemed unaware of their unusual apparel and simply stood by their House table with puzzled looks on their faces. Even members of their own House were too busy pointing and laughing to tell them that someone had played a cruel joke on them.
A fuming Professor McGonagall strode over from the High table, her lips pursed together in an angry line. She had spotted Sirius and Peter standing by the door with amused looks on their faces,
"Black! I suppose this is your doing? And Pettigrew as well?" she barked.
"Yes, Professor," Sirius answered with a smirk on his face. Peter nodded meekly.
"Well let's see if you look so smug after a week's worth of detentions. And 50 points from Gryffindor!"
"But, Professor!" Sirius exclaimed. He had no qualms about the detentions, for they were a regular occurrence. However, taking 50 points from Gryffindor seemed very harsh. But there was no use in arguing, for Professor McGonagall was already marching over to the Slytherins.
"Finite Incantatem!" she snapped. The neon signs stopped flashing, and the Invisibility Charm was lifted from the Slytherins' robes. They sat down, still undure of what had just happened.
Meanwhile, Lily had spotted Isabel coming into the Great Hall, and trying (unsuccessfully) to keep a straight face.
"Isabel! What the hell is going on?!"
"Wasn't it fantastic!" she sighed. "I helped James, Sirius, Remus and Peter pull a prank on the Slytherins! Sirius and Peter agreed to take the blame though, because James is Head Boy, and Remus is a Prefect so they can't afford to get into trouble."
"I can't believe you actually helped them with one of their ridiculous pranks! I know last night I said I wouldn't be so interfering but this is just dumb!"
"Hey! It was funny and you know it! I saw you laughing over here, behind your newspaper, so don't you pretend you didn't enjoy it! Did you see Snape's face? Priceless!
"We were going to charm their robes and their underwear to be invisible, so that they would have walked in wearing only their, ahem…birthday suits. But Remus thought that was taking it a bit too far."
"But—" Lily protested, but she was stopped short by Dumbledore signalling for attention. The chatter died down as Dumbledore began to speak,
"Now that we have enjoyed the morning's entertainment courtesy of Messrs. Black and Pettigrew, I have an announcement to make," he said with a twinkle in his eye.
"In light of the recent muggle killings by Lord Voldemort," he said, as people winced and grimaced, "Professor McGonagall and myself feel it would be beneficial to have a school event that unites the Houses and strengthens the bonds within the school. We have decided to hold the Yule Ball on Christmas Eve. The Yule Ball is the event that usually accompanies the Triwizard Tournament, but as this has not been held for many years, the Ball will be held as a school event in its own right. It will be open to all fourth years and above. The younger years will not be permitted to attend, unless invited by someone from an older year. There will also be a Hogsmeade trip the weekend before the Ball in order for pupils to purchase dress robes and Christmas shopping. Would the Head Boy and Girl please make their way up to the High table, as Professor McGongall would like to see you. That is all."
Dumbledore sat down, as Lily and James walked up to see Professor McGonagall, with curious looks on their faces. The silence in the Hall had been broken by excited chattering and murmuring. Lily and James reached the High table and made their way to Professor McGonagall.
"Potter. Evans. It is traditional for the champions of the Triwizard Tournament to lead the first dance at the Yule Ball. However, as we are not holding the Tournament, Professor Dumbledore and myself have decided that as Head Boy and Girl, you will lead the first dance—together."
~*~
Ta da! You likey? Even if you didn't please review!