James, Sirius, Remus and Peter

Chapter 10- The Seven Potions

As the pale sun set off its course towards the west, the burgundy sky melted into darkness and the world was covered in silence and shadow; alas night had come. But the black night had brought no moon or star but a soft breeze that blew through the window and stirred in the Gryffindor dormitory.

James lay on his bed, his hands behind his head gazing at the ceiling dressed in blue jeans and white t-shirt.

His best friend Sirius sat at the bottom his bed. Clothed in black jeans and t-shirt that he borrowed from James; he was leaning his back on James bed while his arms were resting on his knees and his face was buried in his arms.

Remus sat crossed legged on his bed dressed in a white t-shirt and navy tracksuit bottoms. He was reading a book that held spells and curses that he was hoping that might come in handy for tonight's events.

Peter however was the only person in the room moving; wearing brown trousers and a shabby lime jumper, he strolled in the room back and forth, and every now and then he would pause and gaze out of the open window whilst eating an éclair.

Two nights had passed when the boys had decided to perform their biggest prank yet so far. The boys had decided to wear muggle clothes seen as tonight's events will require some running and robes was not the suitable gear.

At last the time had come; trunks were opened and cloaks were put on, wands were pocketed and Peter nibbled his last éclair.

'Right men' said James. 'Sorry Sirius…and women. The time has come…you all know the plan…and remember if we come across a professor or filch we split. Let's go'

James, Sirius, Remus and Peter trooped out of their dormitory and climbed down the stairs into the deserted common room. The common room was dimly lit a by a small fire in the corner that waved merrily to the four. Before they scrambled out of the portrait hole the four boys concealed themselves with their hoods that were attached to their dark cloaks.  

Sirius by far looked the best, seen as his cloak blended well with his black jean and t-shirt; the others however looked odd in their bright muggle clothes.

'All the best guys' said James, who was the first to climb out of the common and was closely followed by Sirius, Remus and Peter.

Silently and very swiftly they began to make their way towards their destination. The four walked in a line with James at the front, Remus second, Peter third and Sirius last. Each was gazing around every now and then making sure they didn't see who they didn't want to come across. Some of the portraits who the four happened to pass noiselessly slept on while others awoke and those that were already awake gazed at them interestedly or frowningly.

Finally the boys had reached their destination: Professor Gilman's office. James had tried the door and wasn't surprised to find it locked but he did not wait any longer to perform the charm to unlock the room.

Once they were all in and the door was closed they threw off their hoods. They sighed in relaxation as though wearing their hoods prevented them from breathing properly when clearly they were holding their breaths for any signs of Filch.

Once they had finished getting used to breathing properly they began searching. They looked at drawers, sideboards, cabinet s, anything that held what they were looking for. When they had searched through nearly the whole room, James found a cupboard he tried to open and found it locked and just like before he used the same charm to unlock the cupboard.

The door opened with a creak, which attracted the other, three's attention and for a while they gazed at what was inside. Before them stood a column that went down in seven rows, which held seven potions that, the four knew too well what power they possessed.

'Whoa' said Sirius. 'The guy has got enough for the next ten years'

'Exactly' said James. 'This will be enough for the whole of the Slytherins to take'

'Can we get this over and done with' said Peter

'Ok, ok' said James. 'Just keep you trousers on'

'Yeah' said Sirius. 'We don't want to go through that experience again'

Silently the three chuckled whilst at the same time taking the potions they needed. They had filled it in with the small purple sacks they had brought with them.

'Why are you taking the Mist potions, Rem?' said James noticing Remus taking some Mist potions and pocketing them. 'We don't need them'

'Actually, Jamsie' said Remus earning a glare from James. 'We're going to need them if we're going to have to make an exit and unfriendly eyes are upon us'

'Good thinking' said Sirius taking a handful.

'But remember which pocket you put it in' said Remus warningly. 'It would be quite stupid if you throw the wrong potion and no mist would appear'

Finally, when the filled cupboard was left empty, James closed the doors and locked the cupboard with a locking charm.

'Right guys' he said turning to the three. 'Let's go'

'How many time are you going to say that?' said Sirius following him.

'Well, maybe I will stop if you three idiots would stop gawking at me' said James putting on his hood. 'Its like you're waiting for me to say it'

'Sssssh' said Remus.

And so with that they stayed in silence and began their hunt for the Slytherin common room. One of the reasons the four had to wait two days later to do the prank was finding the Slytherin common room. James and Sirius of course had tried following a Slytherin but apparently they were quite popular so they were always spotted a mile way. Hoping they wouldn't be noticed, James and Sirius sent Remus and Peter but unfortunately they were known as well, but eventually they had succeeded with Sirius following Bellatrix. He had followed her all they way to the dungeons and just before she disappeared he began a row about why she had to blabber he was in Gryffindor, and then moved on to saying things she never liked hearing; Andromeda is better than you and finally when Sirius had gotten Bellatrix so mad she had stormed off giving the password to the common room completely forgetting about Sirius finding out, which was part of Sirius plan all along.    

'Pure' whispered Sirius giving the password to the Slytherin common room.

They all entered; it was quite cold in the Slytherin and very similar to the Gryffindor common room, a dimly lit fire lay in the corner except it wasn't waving merrily.

'Ok, guys' said James. 'We're in…we're only hanging around for thirty minutes so have fun'

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Sirius began hurrying forward, he was just but to sprint up the spiral stairs when Remus had grabbed him and pulled him back.

'What are you doing?' said Sirius turning to face him.

'You can't go up these stairs' said Remus

'Why not?' said Sirius taken aback.

'Watch' said Remus before placing his right foot on the first stair; his foot was resting on the steps for a few seconds and suddenly there was a loud, wailing, klaxon-like sound and the steps melted together to make a long, smooth stone slide like a helter-skelter.

James, Sirius, Remus and Peter, all held their breath as the klaxon-like sound echoed dully in the common room. For a while they stood still, ears perked up and eyes wide open, waiting to hear a sound or see movement that meant the Slytherins had woken up.

The Slytherins slept on, completely not disturbed while the four sighed in relief.

'What'd you think you're doing?' hissed James

'I knew the stairs will melt' said Remus defensively. 'But I didn't think it would make that sound'

'How did you know?' questioned Sirius. 'And why does it do that?'

'It's in Hogwarts: History' answered Remus. 'Boys are not allowed'

'But I've seen the girls go up ours' protested Sirius. 'That's not fair'

'Why are you so eager to get the girls?' asked Remus

''Cause I want to get Bellatrix' said Sirius

'Unlucky mate' said James. 'But come on we got the whole Slytherin boys'

'No thanks' said Sirius. 'I'm still going to try'

'OK, see you in thirty minutes' said James silently darting up the stairs. Remus and Peter followed but not all the way; they decided to go after someone else. James walked in and out from dormitories and last he found the dormitory that held the person he was looking for.

'Evening, Snivellus…' said James crouching over the sleeping figure.

Half-hour later James came down the stair to meet the others. Not only did he get Snape but everyone else in the room and got a couple of other Slytherins on the way back.

When James entered the common room, he found it to be empty, Sirius was nowhere nearby. Looking around he saw the step on the staircase towards the girl's dormitory was no longer smooth. Looking closely he noticed there was a thick line ascending and looking more closely he was surprised to find it was hair.

James snorted as he realised what Sirius had done. It appeared that Sirius had poured some of the hair growing potion on the staircase; then using it as a rope he had pulled himself up.

'Whoa' said Remus joining James. 'He must really want to get Bellatrix'

'Yeah' said Peter after just joining the two and eyeing Sirius creation.

After few moments, Sirius appeared at the top of the staircase or what was a staircase thirty minutes ago. He had look of triumph all over his face as he beamed at the three gazing upwards at him. He then began slide down on the part where there was no hair.

'Had fun' asked James as Sirius joined them.

'You bet' was his only reply

'Ok, guys' said James, just before they scrambled out of the common room. 'We're done with the Slytherin common room, now it's time to give the kitchens the visit. Ok…'

'Let's go' said the three in union whilst rolling their eyes.

James climbed out of the Slytherin common room, closely followed by his three friends. The four quickly and quietly made their way to the kitchens, and because they were at the dungeons it did not take them very long to get to the kitchens.

When they had reached the entrance to the kitchen and tickled the green pear, and opened door they had found it be quite deserted. This did not surprise them, seen as it was well past midnight and the house-elves were probably doing some cleaning around the castle.

Entering the kitchens they began their work. James, Sirius and Peter began filling the golden goblets on the Slytherin table with some of the potion they had still left, as matter of fact they were even experimenting by mixing potions together. Remus on the other hand was finding a suitable place for the house-elves to read the letter he had in his hand. The letter contained a direct order that they must provide the Slytherins with these liquids for breakfast.

'There' said Remus finding a spot and placing it before off to join the others.

When at last every goblet was filled, the four trooped out of the kitchen and began making their way back to those nice comfy beds that awaited them in their dormitory.      

They were on the second landing when all four stopped dead on their tracks. A few moments ago they thought the night was over, how wrong they were. As long as they were outside the portrait of the fat lady the night was not over and to prove this, gazing at them was none other Mrs Norris.

Perched on the fourth landing with her tail in the air, Mrs Norris watched them beadingly. Her lamp like eyes, fixed upon their hidden faces as though trying to see through the dark hoods. After a few moments of staring she had given a very long meow and the four knew only too well she was calling for Filch, the Hogwarts caretaker.

No sooner the words had left her mouth; they heard Argus Filch's voice-

'What is it my love?' he said. 'Seen any nasty little brats that ought to be in bed?'

But Filch did not need for Mrs Norris to give him answer even if she could but he looked down where she was gazing at and there he saw the four.

James, Sirius, Remus and Peter did not waste any more time. Each placed their hands into their pockets and pulled the Mist potions out, while casting it at their feet.

Mist blossomed at James, Sirius and Remus feet, hiding them from Filch and Mrs Norris. Nothing happened for Peter, and Peter noticing looked down to see not Mist blossoming at his feet but hair. Peter groaned he had thrown the wrong Potion but there was no time to find the correct Potion and so he disappeared into Remus mist.

James was running as fast as he could, having no clue where he was going but just trying to put as much as distance between himself and Filch or Mrs Norris. His heart was beating furiously as he leapt on to a staircase, ascending to a long corridor, which he galloped at top speed. James may have not looked it but he was very fast and he had already left his friends, although he had a feeling they were following him using the sounds of his feet as a guide.

He thought angrily to himself as he reminded, constantly earlier on that if they were to come across Filch and Mrs Norris they would split and so far it looks like they had done the opposite.

James made a sharp turn to the left, sprinting up the narrow corridor; buried in his thoughts James hardly noticed he was running straight at a suite of armour at the end of the corridor and it was in the last minute that he noticed. Trying to stop, James skidded, flying towards the suit of armour he finally came to a halt only stopping a few feet from the suite of armour.

Gasping, James bent over his hands on his knees taking short shallow breathes as a sharp pain began in his side which meant in addition with his troubles he now had a stitch.

Finally getting his breath back James straighten up, it had seemed they had lost Filch the mist potion had given them a head start. James glanced to his left and saw a dead end, to his right he saw stairway descending into a landing where another suite of armour stood. 

James froze, he heard running feet and before he knew it the person running had ran into him reducing the space between him and the armour. The person turned out to be Sirius who had his hood covering his face preventing from visibility therefore running into James and before James could shout at him he heard another running pair of feet and a little skid. The person went into Sirius who knocked into James who was now only an inch away from the armour now. Not long after James close shave they heard the unmistakeable of Peter's running feet and because he was looking back to see if Filch was behind he did not try to come to a halt but carried on running at top speed.

The three braced themselves as they waited the impact moment from their chubby friend who was not paying attention. It was not long before Peter came with a huge bang sending his three friends forward into the cool metal.

James who knew this was going to happen from the beginning wrapped his arms around the upper body of the armour preventing more noise that might attract Filch; the legs however fell dully to the floor with an echoing clatter. James paused there was no other noise now and he turned to give his friends a relief-grin when the grin had vanished from his face.

Sirius stood there with the same expression on James face, watching as Remus and Peter were juggling between them selves the helmet of the armour and it was not long the helmet left their grasps and bounced its way down the flight of stairs. As the sound pounded in their ears, the helmet went cashing into the suite of armour on that landing sending it flying towards in another flight of stairs.  A clatter of the armour on the steps was loud enough to attract the house-elves let alone Filch

Feeling foolish clutching the armour in his arms James let it drop loudly and followed Sirius who was hurrying down the stairs. James dodged parts of the armour that lay on the steps and followed Sirius as fast as his legs would carry him.

As the four ran, they could hear a new pair of running feet, and it was getting closer; of course thought James, Filch knew his way around the castle with all the shortcuts and hidden passages he was going to find them.

Sirius must've thinking along the same lines because his pace had quickened, Remus pace had also had quickened and was alongside James; Peter however seemed to be trailing behind partly due to him falling all the time. Had the three been less occupied they would've notice that Peter had dropped more than seven times.

Pounding through the narrow corridor James could see the end of the corridor getting near. A small portrait hung at the end; James could not see its occupant but was pretty sure was watching them keenly; below the portrait stood a very large suite of armour.     

Sirius made a sharp turn to the right which shortly was mimicked by Remus. James was just about to do the same when someone from behind (obviously Peter he thought) had crashed into him sending him flying forward into the suite of armour making a deafening sound.

Sirius and Remus stopped running in their tracks whilst James removed the helmet that had fallen on his head. He looked furiously around at Peter who lay by, it's was quite dark and James could not make out his face.

'What the hell are you playing at?' he hissed angrily at Peter.

'Sorry' whimpered Peter. 'I slipped and I couldn't stop myself skidding to you'

'Come to think of it, you've been slipping a lot' said James. 'What's wrong with you?'

'It's these shoes' whined Peter. 'There's something wrong with them, if I run too fast I slip'

Remus, who had been listening, lit his wand and strode over holding above the beaming light above Peter's feet. They all looked at Peter's dirty, white trainers where hair was growing out at the bottom of his trainers.

'Of course, it must've been when you were supposed to use your mist potion but accidentally used the hair potion' sad Remus confirming James and Peter's thoughts. 'I suppose your going to have to run like this for tonight'

Wasting no time James and Remus grabbed Peter by the upper arms and pulled him to his feet and all three began following Sirius who had started to run at the sound of Filch's feet getting near.

Peter had unsurprisingly slipped again, Remus had hung back to help him up which James thought it was nice of him but at the same time thought it was pointless as Peter managed to get up himself before Remus could help. As a matter of fact James was quite impressed how Peter kept jumping back to his feet after every fall.

James could see the hem of Sirius cloak disappearing in every corner-turn that it made it hard for him to keep up. James looked back to see how far behind Remus and Peter but was stunned to see them not behind but Filch running at an alarming speed.

James turned to look forward, running he saw a dead end and came to halt. Sirius was no where to be seen; James looked right and saw another dead where beside it stood an average-sized window and to his left he saw very long, wide corridor that he was sure Sirius could never have completed unless he had super speed.

Hearing Filch's feet getting nearer James started to dash up the corridor as fast as he could. His feet thundered with every stride and his arms whistle as they moved back and forth. He was nearly there, he could see the end of the corridor, a suite of armour stood at the end (what was it with these damn suite of armour tonight he thought angrily), all he had to do was make a sharp left once the corridor was finished and lose Filch. James looked at Filch to see how far back and for some reason Filch started to shout –

'Grab him Professor, Grab him!'

James looked up to see six feet away from him, a bewildered man walking out from a classroom; and suddenly realising what was happening made a grab for James. James felt the man's hands finger tips brushing past his ribs and as James just about escaped, a loud triumph cry escaped his mouth.

Hurtling across the corridor he could see the end of it coming but the panting of the man told James told him that now not only Filch wanted to capture him. As James heart beat lively, his body was becoming weary. His strength and speed was leaving him as the man drew closer; James legs and arm became heavier costing him an effort to move them and the sharp pain increasing.

He wasn't going to make it, this man was fresh, he hadn't been running all night but doing God knows what he was doing in that classroom at this time of the night. Suddenly a thought came to his head. He had to do it, it was a bit risky but he didn't have any choice.

Mustering every bit energy he had left, he speeded up and in the last minute and then came to a halt, skidding a little. Unfortunately the man did not expect this and because he was going very fast he went flying forward trying to stop, smashing into the suite of armour.

James paused to get his breath back before running straight at Filch who was ready for him with arms stretched out in front of him but James already had a plan. Whipping out his wand and watching the colour drain from Filch's face he used the body binding curse on him. Filch fell to the floor, his eyes filled with rage as he watched James run past.

The hope of getting away brought new energy to James who ran he like never before. He turned right, left, right, left, left, up a staircase, down a staircase and right. When he could not run any longer he stopped; his hands clasped over his knees, panting and gasping as though a person who didn't know how to breathe properly. He looked around and found himself where he lost Sirius, suddenly he heard a noise behind him and groaned, he doubted he could walk let alone run-

'James!'

He looked back to see Sirius climbing out from the window and into the castle. James sighed in relief but was soon replaced by anger.

'Why did you ditch me?' he said marching up to him

'Hear me out' said Sirius calmly. 'By the time I got to the window, I looked to see you were far behind and if I told you where I was Filch would've seen and there would be no escape and besides you came out ok'

James really couldn't think of nothing to say so he proceeded on getting his breath back whilst at the same time looking around trying figure out where they are or if Filch was lurking by.

'Where's Remus and Peter?' asked Sirius

'No idea' shrugged James

Once James got his breath back, he and Sirius began walking there way back to the Gryffindor common room. On the way James filled Sirius in on what he had to go through on his own, how he nearly got caught by Filch and some other teacher. Sirius was actually a good listener not interrupting James at all who exaggerated a bit and building more tension. Sirius filled him on how cold it was out there, standing in the cold night even with his hood with nothing for company.

After walking sometime James and Sirius who had been walking in silence saw two dark figures running straight at them, only when they passed a dimly lit torch that James and Sirius realised it was Remus and Peter.

'Run, Run!' bellowed Remus pointing at the other direction.

Remus and Peter ran passed the bewildered James and Sirius, who immediately started following when they saw a flushed Filch running at them. Pelting through a dark corridor was no easy thing when the thought of tripping and your friend run all over you kept springing to mind. The first to drop however was Peter who immediately jumped to his feet but was not fast in enough to dodge Sirius who ran into him; both had fallen. James ran passed the two and dashed up the corridor but whipped round as he heard glass breaking; looking back he saw Sirius cast a Mist potion giving him and Peter some time.

They were nearly there, all they had to do was run up this staircase and dash through one more and they will be in front of the entrance to the Gryffindor common room. But the flight of steps were time consuming and by the time they reached the portrait and gave the password the fat lady was bombarding them with question but all they did was give the password (butterflies) and lowered their hoods. Finally giving up she submitted them in which they all began pushing it other aside for the first to scramble in to the empty common room.

Once inside the common room they all had collapsed into the nearest armchairs, removing their hoods and breathing freely. Though they would have wished to just stay in the comfortable armchairs all night they dragged themselves to their awaiting beds.

Breakfast next morning was hilarious as the Slytherins trooped in with their new features. James particularly enjoyed Snape's entrance; he walked in with hands and feet the size of dustbins, his hooked nose larger and longer than ever covered in boils. They could not tell his face since it was covered with a large quantity of greasy hair that was colour of shocking pink.

Sirius however was having the time of his life when Bellatrix Black had walked in with a very bushy moustache and beard; her dark eye brows were also bushy and joined making one very long fine line. But the very thing that sent most people howling was her new, very large bottom that looked very odd next to her slim body.

The Slytherins who looked untouched by the seven potions were absently were drinking the liquid from their goblets hardly noticing they were drinking the potions that their fellow Slytherins had a taste of. The hall burst in laughter as they watched the Slytherins who were quite fresh having boils popping all over their face hardly noticing it.

'What's going on?' asked Lily Evan who joined breakfast late that morning.

'Well' said her blonde haired friend, throwing some of it back. 'It looks like last night couple of pranksters broke into Gilman's office; nicked his potions and used it on the Slytherins'

'Really!' said Lily helping herself to breakfast while the four listened.

'Yep' said her friend. 'And Filch has been chasing them around all night around the castle but didn't catch them'

'How do you know this stuff?' questioned Lily

'I have my sources' she grinned mischievously.

James, Sirius, Remus and Peter walked out of the great hall quite pleased. The whole school had thought of them as heroes, even though they didn't know it was them and most thought the next group of first years were quite lucky since they weren't going to have to go through the testing of the seven potions.

The only people who were not happy about the prank were of course the Slytherins, Filch and Professor Gilman. He was in a very bad mood in potions that morning and was even more angry that he found James, Sirius, Remus and Peter kept drifting into naps every time he took his eyes of them.

The four were quite glad when the lesson was over, and were very desperate to catch up on their sleep in History of Magic. As they were leaving, a very moody Filch entered as the Slytherins and Gryffindor marched passed him.

James who was curious hung back a little walking slowly out of the dungeon while others hurried pass…

'I don't know if you know Professor' said Filch. 'But students have been…'

'Of course, I know' hissed Professor Gilman.

'Yes, yes' said Filch. 'There were four of them, probably second years…'

'Quiet' hissed Professor Gilman.

James kept telling himself to not look back but his curiosity was too strong; he looked back to see Professor Gilman's cold eyes giving him a calculating look. Gilman was putting two and two together as he can only put two and two together. He has the four most troublesome in his class, not to mention they were looking suspiciously very tired today as they were doing something very tiring the previous night.

'Gilman suspects us' James told the others

'Big deal' said Sirius while stretching. 'He can't prove it'

'I know' said James. 'I'm just giving you the heads up. I think we should lay low'

'Well thanks for the heads up James' said Remus also stretching. 'And now if you don't mind I'll have my nap'

With that Remus put a book in front of him and rested his head on the table falling asleep. James and Sirius did the same; Peter however was well ahead and snoring peacefully as Professor Binns continued the lesson hardly aware of anything going in the class.

Authors' Note: My longest chapter to match my longest delay. Don't forget to review and by the way have you noticed there is something wrong with fanfiction? It seems to be putting up stories that are a year or two old. And does anyone know who got picked to play Cho Chang in the HP film. Bye for now and don't forget to review.