Prank War
Once classes resumed after Christmas break, things returned to normal. The
Marauders began planning and pranking their fellow students. The posting
for mid year standings went up and the Marauders' lost their cool.
"That greasy little git. I can't believe that Snape's scores are higher." Sirius protested.
"I mean she's been so much better in potions this year." Remus replied. "I thought for sure she'd beat him out for top student in fifth year."
"I wish someone would." James said.
"Hey, look. Lily's in the top 10." Peter commented. "Wouldn't it be funny to see Snape actually fail?" The other three turned to look at him. He shyly mumbled, "I mean he thinks he's like so great. And that there is no completion for him in potion."
"Yeah!" James' face lit up. "It would be hilarious for Snape-y to blow up a potion. Mister perfect-potion-student have one of his potion go wrong."
Sirius and Remus smiled at the thought. Peter hesitantly smiled along with them as he realized that they weren't mad, and in fact they actually liked his idea. "Great idea." They agreed. They started to plan a prank.
By the 2nd week they had everything ready, but one tiny detail. "Okay, so how are we going to get to Snape's ingredients supple?" Peter asked not quite sure about the details.
"Pete, we've been over this." Remus replied sounding tired, but then the full-moon was coming up in the next week. "James and Sirius will get Lucius aside and start to a . . . problem.
"We know that he was behind the powder thing. Likely that slimy Snape too." Sirius added.
"As I was saying, when Snape goes to help him, I switch the stuff in his bag." Remus continued. Casting an annoyed glance at Sirius for interrupting. "Your job will be to keep watch for me. Make sure that nobody sees me. Got it?"
"Yeah!" Peter replied. "What if Snape doesn't go to help?"
They other looked confused at thought. "Why wouldn't he?" James replied. "Snape loves any excuse to get at us. Of course he'll help Malfoy."
"So, we're set then?" Remus asked. The others nodded. "So, Tuesday, in DADA we do this. He has Potions with Len and Maia first thing Wednesday. He shouldn't have time to notice the change. The resulting alterations, a small fire explosion and stink cloud. It'll be great."
Tuesday afternoon they set their plan into motion. After DADA, Sirius and James cornered Lucius. "We know it was you who sprinkled the itching powder on Lily, Len and Maia." James stated threateningly.
"W-what are you talking about?" Lucius replied. His voice gave nothing away. He knew that payback for his trick from them would be severe. After all the whole school knew how they fancied those girls.
"You know." Sirius growled. "I'm planning to take as much skin off you as you did to Len."
"You're out of your mind Black." Malfoy retorted. "Why would I waste my time on those mudbloods?!" A group of students was started to gather watching the situation, Snape included. Now he thought that Malfoy deserved the beating. Heck he'd thought of doing just that several times since, but hadn't. He quickly reasoned that he too deserved to get Malfoy's penance for not stopping him, besides he was supposed to be his friend.
Snape looked and noted that Lupin and Pettigrew were keeping watch. He left his bag at his seat, when he went to join Malfoy. "Potter, what are you going on about?"
"Piss off, grease ball," James snapped at him. "You do know that Maia, is a *pure* Witch right. That her family is as influential, if not more than yours right Malfoy?"
"If we want you're opinion, well hell will have frozen over, and the world will have stopped spinning." Sirius told him.
Remus reached into to Snape's bag and switched the Foxglove, with the doctored version that they had readied. They knew that it would be used in the potion that his classes were to do tomorrow. Remus had some skill at pick-pocketing/lifting things, and had no problems. Then moved away and let the confrontation play out. It ended with a hex flying from each of them, but no serious harm done. Phase one complete.
That night's tutoring session Snape set up the ingredients from his supplies. He was going to run threw tomorrow's potion with Lenore. He looked at the ingredients, something seemed off to him, but he wasn't sure what exactly. He was examining the ingredients when Len walked in.
"Hey! Sorry I'm late." Len replied. "Maia was having an Arith-crisis." Len moved to stand beside him. "So, great-wise-one what are we doing tonight?"
"Not to worry. Have you already researched the Fire Resistance potion for tomorrow?" He asked pleasantly. Len nodded *yes*, Snape smiled, he had already known she would have. "Any questions?"
"Don't think so." Len commented.
"Good. That's tonight's assignment." Snape told her. Len looked stunned, and slightly panicked.
"B-but I've never--" Len stammered.
"Think of it this way. You haven't blown it up. You haven't messed it up." He tried to assure her. She shook a little.
"Only because I haven't tried." Len replied. "This, it's too dangerous. I know I'll mess it up."
"If you continue to think that way, you will." Severus told her. "I have faith you can do this. You know your stuff. Besides, I'll be right here to ask if you have questions."
"If you're sure." Len sounded hesitant. She took out her book and turned to the potion. She started to follow the book, step by step.
Snape would occasionally give her encouragement like: "It's turning the right colour.", "Good, it's supposed to boil here." He corrected her once, by tut-tuting, she checked the book and switched to the correct ingredient.
The second last step was to add the Foxglove. Lenore measured it carefully out. That's when Snape noticed that slightest hint of purple tinting it. "Len Stop!" He yelled as she dropped it into the cauldron. She turned to look at him, she never saw the flames begin to sputter up. Snape grabbed her and pulled her away from the potion. He raised his wand with the other hand to contain the coming smoke cloud.
Unfortunately, to pull Len away from the flames he'd had to move closer. He cast the containing bubble, to trap the smoke, but it cost him. The flames greedily licked his wand arm, burning it. He bit back the yelp of pain as he blocked Len from any possible damage.
"Oh Merlin!!! What have I done!!!?" Len cried. Her eyes filled with tears. "Eri!!! Are you hurt?"
"Len stay back." Severus insisted. Pushing her toward the door of the room in case a hasty retreat was still needed. His eyes never leaving the flames jumping out of the cauldron. He found that he was having trouble holding his wand. He gritted his teeth, he'd felt worse before. This pain was minor comparatively to a Cruitsus curse.
The cauldron settled down to a nasty grey sludge. The smoke trapped in the bubble looked an odd reddish colour. -This has to be the work of the Marauders.- Snape thought. "Len, are you alright?" He asked concerned.
"I'm fine, thanks to you." She replied shakily. "You'd think after all the potions I've wrecked that I'd be used to it." She tried to joke, Severus smiled as he looked her over to ensure that she was fine. "Merlin!!! Your arm!!!"
"I'll be fine. I'll go see Pomfrey, after we're done." He assured her. He tried very hard to downplay the injury. He saw no reason to upset her anymore, and that included him not telling her that the Marauders had pranked him. "If I remember we need to wait until the cloud is a steel-grey colour to dispose of it. Which should take about 10 - 20 minutes."
Len nodded, the tears in her eyes threatened to fall. "Okay, what about that?" She pointed to the sledge. Snape looked over at the cooling mess.
"It should be disposed of before it solidifies." He said. He took her chin (with his good arm) so she would look into his eyes. "This wasn't your fault. Don't blame yourself." She nodded to appease him, and the both knew it. She went about cleaning up, refusing to let him help.
She insisted that she should take him to see Pomfrey. He adamantly refused, he really didn't want her to hear how bad Pomfrey would say it was. But argued, "Then how are we going to explain you being with me?"
"Fine." She finally conceded. Snape believed that the only reason she gave in was because she felt guilty about what had happened. "Be careful." She insisted then kissed his cheek. "I'm sooo sorry!" She started to cry and ran off to the Ravenclaw dorms before he could speak.
Poppy clucked at the state of his arm. He'd told her that it was a result of spoiled potion ingredients and that Prof. Drake had allowed him to work on advanced potions after hours. Snape had to spend much of his night in the hospital to have the worst of the burns healed. A glamour spell was cast to hide the bandages so he wouldn't have to miss any class, Severus insisted upon this. Pomfrey grudgingly complied. He had two reasons for insisting this, 1) He didn't want Len to feel any worse, and 2) He didn't want the Marauders to know what happened.
Wednesday - Lunch in the great Hall The Marauders were anxiously waiting tell of Snape's screw-up. However they heard nothing about that potions class. They decided to ask Maia and Len about it. After lunch the meet up with them in the hall. "Hey, How was Potions this morning?" Remus asked casually.
Len just looked away. Maia noted her friend's behaviour but turned to Remus and replied, "Pretty boring. Why?"
"Boring???" The boys chimed.
"Yeah, why?" Maia shrugged. "Nothing much happened."
"But we switched Snape's potion ingredient so his potion would be ruined." Sirius said proudly.
"You what!!!" Len demanded in a quietly calm voice. Maia knew what this voice meant and took a step out of Lens's direct firing range.
"We switched some of his ingredients so that his potion would mess up and he'd look like a fool." James replied. "That greasy little brat must have noticed."
"That's sooo cruel!!!" Len's voice was a calm near whisper. "Why would you think that to be funny? Sirius shut your mouth, I'm not done! Do you lot ever think before you act? That was not a prank. Someone could have got hurt. Besides how would you feel, if somebody tricked you to make you look like a fool doing something that you were good at???" Lenore's voice had crescendoed throughout her lecture. She looked furious.
"Len, you're too soft." Sirius said. "That greasy git had it coming to him. I'm sure he was involved with the itching powder."
"Show me the proof?" She stated in a deadly voice.
"I - um - we don't have any." He admitted, his voice loosing some of its usual force.
"No. Then you shouldn't have done anything." Len stated. "Errr!. . . Leave me alone."
Len was furious with them. She told Maia everything that happened the night before. Maia agreed, it was time that the Marauders got some of their own medicine. They put their heads together and potted their revenge.
That Saturday - Quidditch Game Ravenclaw was playing Gryffindor. All the Marauders were on the team. James the seeker, Sirius a beater, Remus played Keeper, and Peter was a chaser. Len and Maia, cheerleaders for Ravenclaw were extra excited this game.
From the moment they kicked off the ground. It appeared that the Marauders had come to the game drunk. Their flying was completely erratic. They would wobbly in flight. Remus seemed to be having trouble maintaining altitude. Their movements were jerk, and opposite what they wanted. After 5 minutes the Gryffindor team captain called a time.
"What the hell is wrong with you four?" He demanded. Red Wood, team captain was usually a nice guy, except if you messed with his quidditch strategies. He wanted them to win, but the honest way.
"It's not my fault, the Broomstick is like possessed." Sirius replied. The light dawned on James. The girl's must have enchanted the brooms to act strangely.
"I think that it's somebody's idea of a joke." James said, he caught the eye of the two Ravenclaw girls. -Yep! It was them.- His suspicions were confirmed, Maia and Lenore were laughing hysterically. He looked back to his broom and noticed that it wasn't really his broom. It was a school broom, one that had been put away for maintenance. He noted the same was true for the other three. "Can we get 5 minutes to get replacement brooms? As these aren't out real ones?"
Mister Hawk agreed and the game resumed after they hanged. Just as he suspected their brooms had been left in the maintenances closet. The rest of the game proceeded without incident. Gryffindor however lost, 180:160. The Ravenclaw seeker caught the snitch, because the Gryffindor chasers were just too good for their keeper.
The Marauders caught Maia and Len outside of the Great Hall. "Why for the love of Merlin did you do that to our brooms for?" Sirius demanded. His temper soften when he looked at Len, but he was still pissed.
"You are aware that was a cheap win? You guys cheated." James insisted.
"Some body could have got hurt." Remus added.
The two Ravenclaws looked at each other. "It was just a joke." They chimed innocently together. They smiled and walked away.
"Boys, I think that they just challenged us." James sounded angry, but logical.
"Let the war begin!" Sirius stated.
!*!*! Len and Maia were actually enjoyed the reaction of the Marauders. They were congratulated by many members from their house. They tried to shrug off the prank to others, it had been meant to teach the boys a lesson, not get them anything.
By dinner they were starting to regret having done it. "Maia, I think we should apologise." Len told her as they went to dinner. "I can't believe how this got out of hand. It was supposed to be forgotten by now."
"Yeah, I know. But it's not like the Marauders get successfully pranked everyday. " Maia returned. "We'll apologise after dinner. I mean it's not worth fighting over. Besides we didn't really want to challenge their prankster crown." They sat down to a spaghetti dinner.
The Marauders watched from the Gryffindor table. Lily noted the interest across their faces. "What's going on?" She asked carefully. "You aren't still mad about this morning are you? I mean yeah, we lost but really."
"No, we aren't mad." James said with a spark in his eyes. Lily knew what that meant.
"What did you four do?" Lily asked quietly. She leaned in, she didn't want the recipient of the prank to have advanced warning.
"Wait and watch." Sirius replied from her other side.
Shortly after the hall was full to capacity, Len and Maia screamed and jumped up from their table. Everyone turned to look at them. They looked as it they were going to retch. The Marauders, had their, not-laughing faces on, which meant that this was their work, however only those close to them knew this.
"What?" Carly one of their Ravenclaw friends asked. She had been sitting next to the pair.
"W-worms!!!" Len managed to get out between gages. Maia had taken on an unusual colour of green. The Ravenclaw that had been closest to them looked at their plates. They looked at each other confused.
"Len what are you talking about?" One of the older boys asked. "There aren't any worms."
"What?" Maia and Len coughed together. They rushed back to look. Just as the others said. No worms, just spaghetti noodles. The rest of the hall burst out laughing. Len and Maia looked over at the Marauders, who were in their not-us form. The girls stormed out of the room.
Once back safely in their dorm. "So much for an apology." Lenore huffed. "That, that was sick."
"Agreed, and why worms???" Maia shivered. Little known was Maia's particular fear of worms. Her cousins had terrorised her with them when she was young and it stuck. She had spent almost an hour vomiting. She was now very pale and shook slightly when she thought about it. "This means war."
"Agreed, but I'm no good at pranks." Lenore sat beside her friend. "Maybe I could ask Bas, for suggestions. He was a little terror around here." Just then a knock sounded on their door. Len went to answer it.
"Ummm, Lily's down at the pothole. She wants to talk to you two. You going to come down?" One of their dorm-mates asked quietly. Len nodded and followed her down. Maia close behind them. Maia and Len stepped into the hallway and closed the door, they really didn't want spectators or witnesses.
"What can we do for you Lily?" Len asked a little more edge than she really meant to her voice.
"Are you two alright?" She asked quietly. "I swear that I didn't know about the prank." Lily was one of the few people that Maia had admitted her fear to.
"Fine now." Maia said somewhat hoarsely. She stayed back a bit. She was still a little nauseous and dizzy, she really didn't want to be in the line of fire.
"You two started it." Lily replied. "I mean what the boys did was wrong but- -"
"No, they started it!" Len replied. Lily gave her a sideways glance.
"I don't remember them pranking you, before." Lily said. Len looked at Maia.
"That's because you weren't there when they told us about what they tried to do to Snape." Len replied. Lily shook her head.
"How has that got anything to do with you?" Lily questioned. "And since when do you give a crap about him."
Len couldn't tell her the truth, that she and Snape were friends and that he was really not a bad guy. Her mind quickly jumped to a more plausible excuse. "I know what it's like to have potions blow up in my face. I know what it's like to have every one teasing you for it. That's cruel to inflict on someone, especially when that's one of the few things that he doesn't get bugged about." Len insisted. "Besides it was dangerous. And I feel bad because he's like always the brunt of their jokes."
"You know that the itching powder was him and Malfoy, right?" Lily said, still not convinced.
"Maybe, But there is no proof." Maia replied.
Lily thought for a second. The boys didn't know about Maia's fear, so although that made it worse, and she was upset on Maia's behalf, the Marauders really shouldn't be held for that one. However the prank that Len and Maia did caused Gryffindor to lose the game, so she was a little mad at them. But she had felt sympathy for Snape after the way Len had explained it, could see why she would try to show the boys what it felt like to be embarrassed. But now she had to decide if she would stay neutral (and get caught in the war as a bystander), join/support the boys (being under appreciated for her talents) or join the girls (meant being against the boys, but she knew their style).
"I can tell from your faces that this isn't over." Lily replied. "Heck, I know that the boys don't consider it over. I don't suppose that I could talk you two out of this war?"
"We had planned to apologise for the broom thing after dinner." Len said. "However, now we're going to get even."
"We don't expect you to join with us. We just ask that you stay out of the way." Maia said her voice distant and soft. "We don't have a problem with you."
"You two will need some help." Lily replied, breaking into a smile. "I think I might be able to provide some." The Ravenclaw girls smiled.
Lily spent much of her time the next few days in the library with Maia and Lenore. Tuesday afternoon, Len found what they'd been looking for. It had taken 2 days of looking, today's search was almost over, as dinner was in 20 minutes. "We fight illusion with illusion." Lenore smiled.
"This is prefect." Lily smiled. She read other what was needed for the spell. "Now let's see, to enact it remotely. Okay, I have the picture. Need treasured item, Maia?" Maia nodded. "And crud, we need a dragon's tears for each pile, four drops."
Lenore knew were it was kept, unlike most of the fifth years. She also knew that Snape knew how to get into Drake's supply cupboard. "I'll get that." Lily looked at her. "I saw it once after I blew up the wall and the side of the cabinet."
"You sure? I mean you'll get in the most shit if you get caught." Lily replied. Len shrugged.
"I'll just tell Drake that I had a question if I'm caught down there. Besides I'm good with wards, just not the actual potion thingy."
"Alright, tomorrow. We will invoke the spell. It should take about an hour to start working and last about 24." Lily read. The others nodded. "Will that be enough time for everyone?" They nodded, and headed off to dinner.
That night Len went for her tutorial as usual. Snape was already there, he was always early. She smiled as she went in. "Hey, Eri!" she called. He looked up at him.
"Hello." He replied. "That was a horrid thing that Black and the others did to you." She smiled shyly. "Although the broomstick switch was hilarious."
"Thanks. I should have expected retaliation." She commented shyly. "How's your arm?"
"Fine thanks." It was true. M. Pomfrey had completely fixed it by now. The new skin was a little sensitive to temperature, but nothing to be concerned with. "Are you ready to for tonight's lesson?"
"Do I have to?" Len asked quietly. She was afraid to hurt him again. Any confidence she had in her skill had gone up in the flames of last weeks potion. Severus noted this of course, he'd planned on an easy potion this week to try to re-establish Len's shaky confidence. He nodded. "Alright, Wise-one teach me."
"Okay. Open your book to the Petrifaction potion." Snape had chosen this one because it looked rather complex, but there was only one step that could be messed up, and he would ensure that she did not mess that one up. The other ingredients could be put in any order without explosions and the potion would still work.
"I - I can't do this." Len told him, after glancing at the long list of ingredients. "It's too hard, and I've never looked at it before."
"Len, remember when we started, how you agreed to do everything I asked?" Len nodded *yes*, while staring frightened at the book. "Well, I asked you to do this potion." His voice was stern but not sharp. She looked to him.
"But - I'll hurt you again." She pleaded. "I don't want that to happen."
"It wasn't your fault." He assured her. "Besides, I've already checked to make sure that no one has switched ingredients on me. Let's begin."
Snape watched her very closely. She tried extremely hard to follow the book. He tried to encourage her, as usual. She was extremely hesitant. Severus already knew that it would work, although it needed to simmer for 20 minute. The one step that could possible go wrong, Len had managed without his help. He hoped that this would restore some of her confidence.
"Alright, we have ummm. . . "Len checked the book again. "Twenty minute. Eri? I have a favour to ask. I know that there is no reason you should do anything for me. I was just hoping that maybe, since you know where Drake keeps his personal supplies that you could help me get something."
Snape looked at her questioning. Len wasn't the type to need to get restricted potions ingredients, after all she was scared enough to use the ones she was allowed to. Which meant that whatever she was after was for someone else? "Why?" He asked cautiously.
"It's . . . for a prank that . . . Maia, Lily and I were going to play on the Marauders." Lenore told him honestly.
He thought for a second. "I know that you would never agree to brew a potion for a prank on anyone, so why would you need something from his stores?"
Len looked at her feet. Then up into his eyes shyly. "We, were going to cast the spell remotely, and part of the incantation requires that we have, Dragon tears."
Snape was all for pranking the Marauders. He could think of none that deserved it more. However, he was extremely cautious about remote casting, he'd read to many tales of the wrong target getting hit. Besides he didn't want her to get into trouble.
"I'm asking you because, well I know that Drake lets you in there sometimes. So you know about all of the wards. Although I could likely get threw them by myself. I just thought that it would be safer if you helped me." Len finished. She watched him curiously.
"Alright." He smiled. "Only because I want to see them get theirs. After the worms they deserve payback." He led her over to Drake's office. Because there was a silence on the door he motioned Lenore to the side and opened the door. Drake was sitting at his desk. Snape motioned for Len to stay in the shadows.
When Drake finally noticed Snape in the door he motioned him in. Snape entered the office. It was crowded but organized. "Sir, good evening. I'm a little surprised to see you up this late."
"I had marking to do." Drake knew that Snape liked to work in the potions lab every Tuesday night, and had given him permission to do so. "What can I help you with? You haven't destroyed my lab have you?"
"No sir, just who do you think I am?" Snape asked in his normal harsh annoyed tone. "I was wondering if I might get some ingredients for one of the potions that I'm working on? It calls for some things that are not in the student cupboard."
"Certainly. Just don't reorganize my store." Drake replied stretching. "Oh and if you observe one is low leave me a note." Snape nodded and went to the cupboard. "Mr. Snape, perhaps I should check on your progress."
Snape flew into a near panic. What could he tell Drake to dissuade this line of thought? "Sir, I'm sure that you have much more important things to do. I will be happy to write a report about all my activities that you could peruse at your leisure. Besides this one won't be ready for at least a month. I would be happy to show it to you then."
"Yes, that sounds agreeable." Drake replied. Snape measured out the tears that Len wanted. He took a few ingredients for a senior potion that he knew would impress Drake then turned to leave. "Oh, Mr. Snape do not worry about that report."
"Good-night sir." Snape replied. "Thank you." He closed the door tightly behind him as he returned to the lab. Lenore waited until he called. "It's safe to come out now."
"I almost had a panic attack, when I saw him. Thank you sooo much Eri!!!" She hugged him. "I didn't get you into trouble or anything, did I?"
"No, not at all." He replied. "Here" He handed her the vile containing the tears. "Use them well, I hope to enjoy the prank." He teased. "Do promise to be careful. They have a bad temper."
"Don't worry. They would never do anything that would hurt us. We're friends after all, even if we're mad at each other." Lenore replied all smiles. "Eri, I really hope that you don't think I take advantage of you. I really do appreciate all your help."
"I know." He replied. He suddenly felt shy, and warm and happy. It was strange, how one little comment could make him feel, well like he actually had a friend. "Could I ask you something?"
"Sure what?" Lenore replied. Then looked at the time. "It's time right?"
"Yes." Snape nodded. He watched her remove the potion from the heat. "Alright, let's test it." He handed her a flower. Actually it was a blue rose. "Now careful, not to spill any on yourself."
Lenore dipped the rose into the potion. Then pulled it out. The rose still held its blue colour, but was solid. "Congratulation. Miss Nightshade, it's perfect."
She squealed delighted and hugged him. "You are so great!" She kissed his cheek. "What were you going to ask me?"
"Ahhh . . . never mind. It wasn't important." Severus replied, he tried to resume his normal cold persona, for he was sure that his mask was failing and true self would show threw to her. He did not need to ask the reason that she had pranked the Marauders. He feared that the answer would make him falter. But that same answer was what he wanted to hear, that it had been partially on his behalf.
They met with Lily instead of going to breakfast the next morning. Lily didn't bother to ask how each person had gotten their part. They enacted the spell, it took all three of them for it to work, and about 10 minutes to set up and cast completely. "Alright, this should be working by second period. I'll see you in transfig." Lily told them rushing off to class.
Lily ran beside Maia and Len who were waiting for her in the hall. James was talking to Sirius, as he was headed into the classroom, he smacked into the wall. The girls tried to hide their smiles. James looked confused.
"Prongs, you should watch where you're going." Sirius said. Then he went to enter the room and hit the wall. "What the--" Remus, perhaps the most observant of the Marauders noted the girls reaction to these events.
"Have you boys forgotten how to get into class?" Lily replied causally as she went in.
"I mean you can't walk through walls, do you think that you're ghost or something?" Maia commented, she was the third threw the door. Perhaps it was a slightly cruel comment but she was still bitter about the worms.
"I think we were just pranked." Remus said. He carefully felt for the door, then motioned them threw. "I say let the games begin." He was smiling brightly. Lily, Maia and Len shuddered at this pleasant smile, they knew it mean that he was plotting. "That was a nice one, ladies."
"Glad you like it." Len replied equally sweetly. The rest of the students had expected yelling, curses, hexing not a compliment. The girls quickly gathered their books at the end of class, and ran from the room.
Sirius was the first to bounce off the wall on his way out. Then Remus walked into the wall. They chuckled at the creativity of the girls. That is until Peter and James had the same thing happen at the entry of the Great Hall. "What the . . ." James demanded, he was rubbing his head, it had hit the wall. "Crap, I think that they must have put the curse on us. Not the doorway."
"I'm impressed. Annoyed, but impressed." Remus replied lightly after helping Peter back to his feet. "How long do you think that this will last?"
"Don't know." James replied. "I've never seen one of like this before. I think that Lily's in with them."
"I think that you're right." Sirius said. "I think that someone should check before we go threw doorways. I nominate Peter. All in favour?"
"Eye!" James, Remus and Sirius chimed together, only Peters whining, soft voice went up "No!"
"Sorry, Peter! You're out voted." James said. "I'd suggest you walk slowly, it'll hurt less." Peter huffed a few times before heading threw the door after feeling the wall. They all followed, very carefully. Every time they went into or out of a room, they had to move along the wall about a foot or so to find the door. To everyone else in the school it looked hilarious. They would walk up to the wall then inch their way toward to door.
The students got quiet a laugh out of this. The girls, especially Lily, who got to watch them all day, were in hysterics. "Are you guys alright? You're acting odd. Maybe you need your eyes checked." She said nicely as they headed into last period.
"I'm sure it's just a phase Lily. We'll grow out of it in time." James teased back. He was actually very amused by the trick. He'd have to ask her about it later.
The boy went straight to their dorm after dinner, sick to death of walking into walls all day. "Okay, suggestions for payback?" James replied. He had decided to sit on the floor, at least he knew it was where he thought it was.
Nothing happened for a few days. The girls grew more nervous by the day. The longer it took the bigger the prank likely was. It was the fourth night after the skewed walls, that's Lily screamed when taking a shower.
All the girls in the Gryffindor common room bounded up the stairs to see what was happening. The Marauders bust out laughing. The remaining students looked at them curiously, hoping for an explanation. They were relieved to know that it was a prank that meant that Lily wasn't hurt.
A furious Lily came down the next morning. Her hair was filthy, looked like it hadn't been washed in months. It hung in dirty, tangled clumps. Her skin looked little better, with dried mud patches, and visible dirt smudges, especially on her face and hands.
"Geese, Lily looks like you could use a shower." James replied. She scowled at him.
"I would, but I seem to be allergic to soap." She commented. Although her voice was light and playful, there was an edge to it. Lily found that Lenore and Maia were in the same state, when she saw them in class.
It took 2 days before the girl could clean up. Most of which they spent in the Library. They were frustrated, not finding anything that would work for what they wanted. Friday, Len got a note from her brother.
Hey Squirt:
Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. They've been keeping me
busy around here. How's you're prank war going? I hope it's not over
yet.
You asked if I had any ideas. Well yeah, I'm a sucker for the
classics. Three little words: Buckets over doorways!!! Maybe modify it
or something. It's an oldie but always a goody.
We're going out on a trail run with our mentors, next week. Remember
to think happy thoughts for me.
Hugs!!!!
Always your big brother. Bas
Len smiled, then worried her lip. She hoped desperately that Bas' field trial run would be boring and he would come back slightly depressed, but safe and in one piece. Maia poked her in the arm to get her attention. Len passed her the letter from Bas.
Maia was in thought. "That's a great idea." She said after a few moments. Len looked at her. "I know what we can do!"
The there girls spent much of the weekend organizing and plotting for their next prank. Sunday afternoon the Marauders came over to sit, on/around their table. "Hey girls." James greeted friendly. "You haven't forgotten about us have you?"
"As much as we may try, I'm afraid that simple isn't possible." Lenore replied sweetly to them. She yanked her book away from Sirius, who had been reading it.
"Ohhh, don't you want to play with us no more?" Sirius pouted.
"Actually, we were waiting until Remus felt better." Maia replied. Remus was again on his *off* days. "We didn't want him to feel left out."
"How very thoughtful of you three." James commented. "How is your *studying* going?"
"Very boring really." Lily replied. To the casual observe, they didn't look like two warring groups. They were pleasant to each other, and appeared rather thoughtful of their friends' need.
"We just got a little concerned when we didn't see you at lunch." Sirius replied. "You do plan to come to dinner right?"
"Well, yeah." Len commented sarcastically. "I like to try to eat at least once a day."
"Good," Sirius said, jumping off the desk, and offered Len his hand. "It starts in like twenty minutes."
"Ladies, we'd be glad to escort you." James smiled at Lily.
"Oh, but I think that we should get cleaned up first." Lily replied. She knew that it would be admitting defeat if they went with them. It was a subtle thing, like the look in James eyes that told her this. "It's a girl thing."
"If you're sure. We'll see you there." James smiled. He was glad that the girls had not conceded the prank war to them yet. He'd thought that Lily might be upset by the soap, but things seemed to be alright. They headed cautiously to the Great Hall. Peter was still being sent threw the doors first. "Isn't that thoughtful them waiting for Remus?"
"Here I just thought that they were waiting for him, because Maia wants to impress him." Sirius teased. "Do you think he's noticed yet?"
"Hope so. He notices everything else. Except it seems the way she looks at him." James teased back. "What do you think that they've got planned for us?"
"Not sure." Sirius smiled. "I'm sure it'll be great." He shook his head. "I never thought I'd have so much fun getting pranked."
"It's only because it's them doing the pranks. Face it, we'd have gone ballistic if it had been anyone else." James commented. "Seeing's how it's them, it's like. . . a game."
The boys waited anxiously the day Remus returned. They told him that the girls claimed to be waiting for him. However nothing happened. During double Care of Magical Creatures, the watched Len, Maia and Lily very carefully.
"Good you see you back Remus. How are you feeling?" Maia asked kindly, at the end of class.
"Much better that you." He replied. He looked very tired and worn out.
"Really!!! I hope you don't take offence, but you look exhausted." Len replied. "I think you need to get more sleep."
"I think I might try." He replied stretching. "However, I have a lot of work to catch up on first."
In the Marauder's dorm that night. "Do you think that they were covering?" Sirius asked.
"Not sure." James replied. "If they weren't, this is going to be a good one."
"I can't believe that you two are excited about an impending prank that is looming over us." Remus laughed. "Usually, you only get like this when we're doing the prank."
"I know, isn't it bazaar?" Sirius commented. "Prongs it's your turn to think up the next prank."
The next morning came, they headed down to the Gryffindor common room. Lily was already there speaking with some of her other friends. As the Marauder's, well Peter, walked into the common room, a bucket of honey fell on him, followed by blue and white flower petals. Lily giggled and quickly ran out.
"What a mess!" James commented. "You alright?"
"Fine, just a little embarrassed." Peter replied from under the mound of petals. "This was the oldest trick in the book."
"Yeap, a classic." Remus commented. "You have time, Why don't you try to clean it off?"
They found that it wouldn't wash off. No surprise really, they had expected it to be enchanted. Remus was volun-told (aka volunteered/told) to go next threw into the common room. Nothing happened to him, Sirius and James followed. Peter started to complain that it wasn't fair, quietly. They Rock, Paper, Scissors to see who went threw the pothole first. Sirius lost, so he went first.
As he stepped out of the Gryffindor tower, nothing happened for a second. He was about to call that it was safe, then he was hit. Honey and petal covered him from head to foot. He heard giggling and three sets of feet running off. "Two down. Come on, hurry up and get it over with."
Again, neither of the uncovered two were dosed as they went threw then as they headed to the Great Hall, the next two door way, they were covered. They were amused, until the freezing cold water hit them as they were about to enter the Great Hall, then a flash dry as they walked in.
They got covered each time they went threw doorways, and instantly cleaned (Frozen but cleaned) when a teacher approached. This continued all day. By lunch they were getting annoyed. By dinner they were frustrated. By the end of the day, they were pissed.
"Prongs, what's the plan." Sirius demanded. He shivered, having been flash cleaned only seconds before. "We got to get them for this."
"A-agreed." James had also been on the receiving end on the last clean up. "W-we'll head to the Librar-ry tomorrow. I-I just want to take a shower to get warm and curl up by the fire, however if I do, I know that I'll only get hit again." He shook his head. "This. . . this one was good."
It took about a week and a half for the boys to retaliate on the girls. Maia and Lenore woke the late that morning as usual. They were cautious with their clothes, and soaps, although they doubted that the Marauders would ever try the same prank twice on the same person. It was better to be safe. They noticed nothing amiss so once ready they headed to class, double Transfiguration with Gryffindor first.
Maia and Lenore didn't understand why the other students laughed as they walked by. They checked each other in an empty side hallway, nothing. "Maia, I don't get it." Len replied.
"Me neither. We'll ask Lily. Maybe it was a rumour or something?" She suggested. They hurried to class, trying to avoid the busiest route until they could figure out what was going on. They found Lily trying to hide in a dark corner of the classroom. "Lily do you know what's going on?" Maia whispered.
"Only because I went to breakfast." She whispered back. "It seems that the boy decided to give use magic makeovers."
"I didn't notice anything." Lenore replied. "Are you sure?"
"Ruby may be a little flaky, but she doesn't tend to lie." Lily returned.
"They must have enchanted us so that we can't see it." Lenore replied. "Well what fun is that?!"
"From what I was told you don't want to." Lily informed them. "Ruby said that I looked a cross between a punk, and a hooker."
"They wouldn't do that. The teachers would freak!" Maia insisted. Then it occurred to her. "They likely made it so that the teachers can't see it either, or we switch back when in class. You know like the ice water."
"Probably." Lily replied, she still was trying to draw as little attention as she could. "I don't know about you two, but I'm cool enough to be in like a mini and crop top."
"I haven't noticed yet." Len saw the boys on the other side of the room. "Do you think that they'd let me see, if I asked?"
"Maybe, if you ask Sirius." Maia smiled. Len cast her an evil look. Len headed over to the boys.
"So, I take it that this is your work?" Len asked sweetly.
"What?" James asked innocently.
"I'm not sure, seems the school is sharing a joke, but I don't get it." Len replied.
"Are you sure that you should dress like that for class?" Sirius whispered in her ear.
"Like what?" Len turned to look at him.
"Well . . ." Sirius looked slyly at her. Then leaned in then whispered, "Like a character out of one of your comics. (Actually like Leia in Star Wars - Jaba's slave Girl) Not that I'm complaining."
"Oh really!?? Funny I don't remember putting that in this morning. Heck I don't even own suck a thing." Len sounded coldly reasonable. It was the best way she knew to cover her embarrassment. "Are we going to be let it on this smutty joke, or just objectified?" The edge was undeniable.
"Don't get mad." Peter smiled. "It's just a joke."
"Just wait and see." James replied. "Hope you don't get cold."
Len stacked back to the girls. "That's it. They've gone too far. I'm not walking around, indefinitely, in goodness knows what, being stared at by everyone." Len huffed quietly. Outwardly she looked calm, but both the other girls knew better.
"So what are we going to do? Skip classes?" Maia asked quietly. Just then McGonagall walked in. The three girls shuddered to hear the lecture she'd likely give them. But she did not comment, on their attire, for which the girls were grateful.
As they left the room, Maia noticed her reflection in the window in the door. Her hair, was bright pink, and her outfit looked like that of an anime girls-uniform, complete with overlarge endowments. The skirt was very short blue in colour, she had a white blouse stretched tight over he chest (for certainly it was not her own) (think sailor moon style). Maia squeaked in embarrassment.
"I feel suddenly sick. Let's call it a day." Maia whispered to Len and Lily.
"Ohhh! What did they do to you?" They asked.
"I just saw, a reflection in the window." Maia whimpered. "I'm in a mini, and was well amplified." She motioned to her chest subtly.
"You saw?" They said. They rushed over to the window, and saw what everyone else had that morning. They looked horrified, when they saw the skimpy outfits.
"You like it?" James said from behind them.
"NO!" They said in unison.
"Ahhh, we put so much work into it." Remus replied.
"Have you figured it out yet?" Peter asked.
"Shhh!!!" Sirius commented. "No couching." Then to the girls. "I liked it. Think that Dumbledore will let them dress like that normally?"
"Sirius!!!" The girls yelled. This of course got them quiet a bit of unwanted attention.
"James, this isn't funny. Take off the spell." Lily demanded.
"But Lily, you kind of look cute bald." James replied then ran. Lily screamed, and turned to look again in the window, she hadn't remembered being bald. The rest of the Marauders were gone, out of range before the girls had a chance.
Lily's reflection had changed. Now she was bald, and looked like an inbred farmer. "At least this time I have clothes on." She huffed. Lenore noticed that her look to had shifted, she looked like a Limey (old sailor) complete with lime green hair. Maia was now looking like a mechanic, covered in grease and dirt, her hair remained pink but looked tangled and filthy.
"Why do they keep messing with my hair?" She whined.
"Because it's one of the things that annoys you most." Lily replied. "I can live with this. At least I won't freeze."
"What do you think Peter meant by figure it out?" Maia asked as they headed off to their second class waving goodbye to Lily.
"I don't know." Len said. "Why are we getting leered at again?"
By lunch the girls had realised that, each time they saw what they looked like the image shifted. In fact, Len through a few question to friends, revealed that each year saw something different. Len, Maia and Lily sat in a nice secluded spot, were they could talk without being stared at. "Very impressive." Len commented to the others after telling them about how it worked. "I'm still going to claw Sirius' eyes out."
"So what about pay back?" Lily asked. "I swear, if one more guy pinches my ass, I'm going to start cursing, and we aren't talking about swearing."
"Personally, I'm getting mighty sick of the cat-calls" Maia replied. "I mean that flower petals were embarrassing, but at least they knew. Hey, why don't we block it so that they can't enjoy their handy work?"
"That sounds great." Len and Lily chimed. They cast a counter spell so the boys could only see them as they really were, not how their fractured image looked.
"It's not pay back. But at least I know that they won't get to enjoy it" Lily replied.
"I'm thinking out raiding the kitchen and going straight to bed. I don't think that I could stand eating in the great hall. Hell, who know what I'll look like." Len pouted. "Do you think that hair thing will change back to normal?"
"I hope so." Maia pouted.
"At least you two still have hair." Lily added.
That night was Lenore's potion tutorial. She took a deep breath before walking in. "Hey! I'm sorry for the way I look, I've been pranked. Hopefully the enchantment will be wearing off soon. Otherwise I'm going to kill Sirius." Lenore blurted out. "And no, I really would rather not know what you see. How are you Severus? How was your weekend?"
"Fine thank you, to both." He smiled. "I ummm like the hair, green suits you."
She giggled, "Yeah, I was thinking about keeping it like this. But then I'd have to change houses. Think there's enough room in Slytherin for me?"
He knew she was joking. He smiled that she would be comfortable enough to tease about such a thing. "I could make room, but just because it's you. So long as you promise not to brew any potions in the dorm."
Lenore looked thoughtful for a second. "Hmm, guess the deals off then."
"To bad!" Severus replied. Lenore now appeared to be wearing a black gown, no sleeves, with leather corset. He thought that she looked absolutely stunning. "Have you planned payback yet?"
"We've got an idea." She evasively answered.
"I really liked the buckets." He told her. "A great take on a classic."
"Thanks! So what do you have for me tonight oh wise-one?" Lenore asked.
Snape had her work on a preserving potion. He'd read the worst that could happen with this was a small smoke puff, and it not working. He again watched her carefully, still trying to determine why Lenore so regularly messed up her potions. Tonight, however it worked.
As they were headed to their respective dorms. Snape turned and called back to her. "Lenore?" She turned to look at him from the other end of the hall. "Of all the outfits today, that one is my favourite. Good Luck on your war."
"Thanks." Len replied hesitantly. Her curiosity got the better of her once she entered her dorm. She looked in the window. She saw the black gown, flowing softly around her, except were the corset held it tight. She noted that her figure was actually hers, and that this particular visage looked quiet beautiful.
"Hell, if I knew that I was in this, I would have gone to dinner." Len mumbled.
"What are you mumbling about?" Maia asked from her bed. Len motioned her other to take a look without looking away, not wanting to lose this incarnation. Maia grudgingly complied. "Ohhh! That one's beautiful. Think of it in a blue, with your normal hair."
"That would look great! So which one do you think put this outfit in the rotation?" Len asked.
"Hmm, it's stylish . . . might have been James." Maia replied. "But then it notes all your . . . assets and flatters them while hiding the flaws. That sounds like Sirius."
"However, it's nice and simple like a break. Which sounds like Remus, he seems to be the *calm* one of the group." Len commented.
"That's not saying much." Maia looked at her reflection. "At least my body, is back to being MY body. Who do you think gave me the boob-job?"
"Sirius!" Len replied without a moments thought. They giggled. "I'm surprised that he didn't give me one."
"I'm not." Maia smiled as she returned to bed. "I think he likes your figure the way it is."
"Maia?" Len asked quietly. *hmmm* came back from a sleepy Maia. "What do you think about giving the boys pig noses and tails?" Len heard a small chuckle. She drifted off to sleep with that thought in her head.
Len woke up to a scream the next morning. She bolted up right, pulling the curtains back to see what was happening. She saw pink-haired, anime- breasted Maia. "Oh Merlin! Maia?"
"What am I going to do? I don't have any shirts that will fit. It was one thing when it was an illusion, but--" Maia was extremely upset. "And look at my hair!"
Len crawled out of bed to help assess the damage. "It's not so bad. I think that I can fix the - Umm physical alteration." Len retrieved her wand and Maia's body returned to normal. Much to her relief. "The hair, that could be any number of spells, I guess the wrong one, and well. . ."
Maia went pail. "We'll get them to tell us, even if I have to beat it out of them." Then Maia turned Len to the mirror in the bathroom. "You're going to need it too." Sure enough Len's hair was still Lime green.
They headed down to see a very annoyed and still bald Lily. They moved to her side. "I take it they haven't shown themselves yet?" Maia asked.
"No. When I find them . . . They're going to get it." Lily replied.
"One of them has to be able to tell us how to undo what they did to our hair." Maia reminded.
!*!*!*!*!*! Meanwhile the Marauders plotted. "Could you believe that they cast a counter so we couldn't ever enjoy the fashion show?" Sirius complained.
"I think that was highly rude of them yes." James agreed. "At least they got to watch us get humiliated. I think we should have gotten to watch them."
"You don't think you went a little far with those. . . sexy ones?" Remus asked quietly. They cast him sideways glances. "Fine, I'm not arguing with you two. I take it you want revenge now. You aren't going to wait for their next prank?"
"Darn tooting'!" Sirius replied. He shrugged at the looks he got from the others. "Something I heard a firsty say, I like it."
"Whatever. We're not waiting." James replied. "I've had enough of this illusion crap."
"What are you purposing that we actually curse them?" Sirius said shocked. "Prongs, they're still our friends. I don't want to hurt them."
"No, nothing like that." James replied. "I was thinking that we could transfig. them into prissy-hissy catgirls."
Remus and Sirius chuckled. "Dude, don't you think that could be a little dangerous? I mean what if I like wolf out or something?" Remus asked, trying to sound serious, but failing.
"I thought you said that you liked cats?" James teased.
"Yeah, for dinner!" Sirius joked. They all laughed.
"Catgirls it is. Watch out for the claws. 'cause I got odds they'll be ticked." Lupin laughed.
They boys had managed to avoid the girls, while no teachers were present, until lunch. Then somehow the girls managed to surround them. "Fix it!" Maia demanded.
"Pardon?!!" The Marauders asked innocently.
"Our hair! Fix it now!" Lily demanded.
"Ohhh! That!" James replied. "You mean you don't like it?"
"Love to, but can't." Sirius smiled. "It'll wear off in a couple days."
Of course this caused the girls to freak, the raised their wands to transfig the boy's to a decidedly piggish look. While at the exact same time the boy's thought it the perfect time to transfig the girls into the hissy little cats they were acting like.
The spells went at the exact same moment. A bright light and loud explosion followed, the hall filled with smoke.
"That greasy little git. I can't believe that Snape's scores are higher." Sirius protested.
"I mean she's been so much better in potions this year." Remus replied. "I thought for sure she'd beat him out for top student in fifth year."
"I wish someone would." James said.
"Hey, look. Lily's in the top 10." Peter commented. "Wouldn't it be funny to see Snape actually fail?" The other three turned to look at him. He shyly mumbled, "I mean he thinks he's like so great. And that there is no completion for him in potion."
"Yeah!" James' face lit up. "It would be hilarious for Snape-y to blow up a potion. Mister perfect-potion-student have one of his potion go wrong."
Sirius and Remus smiled at the thought. Peter hesitantly smiled along with them as he realized that they weren't mad, and in fact they actually liked his idea. "Great idea." They agreed. They started to plan a prank.
By the 2nd week they had everything ready, but one tiny detail. "Okay, so how are we going to get to Snape's ingredients supple?" Peter asked not quite sure about the details.
"Pete, we've been over this." Remus replied sounding tired, but then the full-moon was coming up in the next week. "James and Sirius will get Lucius aside and start to a . . . problem.
"We know that he was behind the powder thing. Likely that slimy Snape too." Sirius added.
"As I was saying, when Snape goes to help him, I switch the stuff in his bag." Remus continued. Casting an annoyed glance at Sirius for interrupting. "Your job will be to keep watch for me. Make sure that nobody sees me. Got it?"
"Yeah!" Peter replied. "What if Snape doesn't go to help?"
They other looked confused at thought. "Why wouldn't he?" James replied. "Snape loves any excuse to get at us. Of course he'll help Malfoy."
"So, we're set then?" Remus asked. The others nodded. "So, Tuesday, in DADA we do this. He has Potions with Len and Maia first thing Wednesday. He shouldn't have time to notice the change. The resulting alterations, a small fire explosion and stink cloud. It'll be great."
Tuesday afternoon they set their plan into motion. After DADA, Sirius and James cornered Lucius. "We know it was you who sprinkled the itching powder on Lily, Len and Maia." James stated threateningly.
"W-what are you talking about?" Lucius replied. His voice gave nothing away. He knew that payback for his trick from them would be severe. After all the whole school knew how they fancied those girls.
"You know." Sirius growled. "I'm planning to take as much skin off you as you did to Len."
"You're out of your mind Black." Malfoy retorted. "Why would I waste my time on those mudbloods?!" A group of students was started to gather watching the situation, Snape included. Now he thought that Malfoy deserved the beating. Heck he'd thought of doing just that several times since, but hadn't. He quickly reasoned that he too deserved to get Malfoy's penance for not stopping him, besides he was supposed to be his friend.
Snape looked and noted that Lupin and Pettigrew were keeping watch. He left his bag at his seat, when he went to join Malfoy. "Potter, what are you going on about?"
"Piss off, grease ball," James snapped at him. "You do know that Maia, is a *pure* Witch right. That her family is as influential, if not more than yours right Malfoy?"
"If we want you're opinion, well hell will have frozen over, and the world will have stopped spinning." Sirius told him.
Remus reached into to Snape's bag and switched the Foxglove, with the doctored version that they had readied. They knew that it would be used in the potion that his classes were to do tomorrow. Remus had some skill at pick-pocketing/lifting things, and had no problems. Then moved away and let the confrontation play out. It ended with a hex flying from each of them, but no serious harm done. Phase one complete.
That night's tutoring session Snape set up the ingredients from his supplies. He was going to run threw tomorrow's potion with Lenore. He looked at the ingredients, something seemed off to him, but he wasn't sure what exactly. He was examining the ingredients when Len walked in.
"Hey! Sorry I'm late." Len replied. "Maia was having an Arith-crisis." Len moved to stand beside him. "So, great-wise-one what are we doing tonight?"
"Not to worry. Have you already researched the Fire Resistance potion for tomorrow?" He asked pleasantly. Len nodded *yes*, Snape smiled, he had already known she would have. "Any questions?"
"Don't think so." Len commented.
"Good. That's tonight's assignment." Snape told her. Len looked stunned, and slightly panicked.
"B-but I've never--" Len stammered.
"Think of it this way. You haven't blown it up. You haven't messed it up." He tried to assure her. She shook a little.
"Only because I haven't tried." Len replied. "This, it's too dangerous. I know I'll mess it up."
"If you continue to think that way, you will." Severus told her. "I have faith you can do this. You know your stuff. Besides, I'll be right here to ask if you have questions."
"If you're sure." Len sounded hesitant. She took out her book and turned to the potion. She started to follow the book, step by step.
Snape would occasionally give her encouragement like: "It's turning the right colour.", "Good, it's supposed to boil here." He corrected her once, by tut-tuting, she checked the book and switched to the correct ingredient.
The second last step was to add the Foxglove. Lenore measured it carefully out. That's when Snape noticed that slightest hint of purple tinting it. "Len Stop!" He yelled as she dropped it into the cauldron. She turned to look at him, she never saw the flames begin to sputter up. Snape grabbed her and pulled her away from the potion. He raised his wand with the other hand to contain the coming smoke cloud.
Unfortunately, to pull Len away from the flames he'd had to move closer. He cast the containing bubble, to trap the smoke, but it cost him. The flames greedily licked his wand arm, burning it. He bit back the yelp of pain as he blocked Len from any possible damage.
"Oh Merlin!!! What have I done!!!?" Len cried. Her eyes filled with tears. "Eri!!! Are you hurt?"
"Len stay back." Severus insisted. Pushing her toward the door of the room in case a hasty retreat was still needed. His eyes never leaving the flames jumping out of the cauldron. He found that he was having trouble holding his wand. He gritted his teeth, he'd felt worse before. This pain was minor comparatively to a Cruitsus curse.
The cauldron settled down to a nasty grey sludge. The smoke trapped in the bubble looked an odd reddish colour. -This has to be the work of the Marauders.- Snape thought. "Len, are you alright?" He asked concerned.
"I'm fine, thanks to you." She replied shakily. "You'd think after all the potions I've wrecked that I'd be used to it." She tried to joke, Severus smiled as he looked her over to ensure that she was fine. "Merlin!!! Your arm!!!"
"I'll be fine. I'll go see Pomfrey, after we're done." He assured her. He tried very hard to downplay the injury. He saw no reason to upset her anymore, and that included him not telling her that the Marauders had pranked him. "If I remember we need to wait until the cloud is a steel-grey colour to dispose of it. Which should take about 10 - 20 minutes."
Len nodded, the tears in her eyes threatened to fall. "Okay, what about that?" She pointed to the sledge. Snape looked over at the cooling mess.
"It should be disposed of before it solidifies." He said. He took her chin (with his good arm) so she would look into his eyes. "This wasn't your fault. Don't blame yourself." She nodded to appease him, and the both knew it. She went about cleaning up, refusing to let him help.
She insisted that she should take him to see Pomfrey. He adamantly refused, he really didn't want her to hear how bad Pomfrey would say it was. But argued, "Then how are we going to explain you being with me?"
"Fine." She finally conceded. Snape believed that the only reason she gave in was because she felt guilty about what had happened. "Be careful." She insisted then kissed his cheek. "I'm sooo sorry!" She started to cry and ran off to the Ravenclaw dorms before he could speak.
Poppy clucked at the state of his arm. He'd told her that it was a result of spoiled potion ingredients and that Prof. Drake had allowed him to work on advanced potions after hours. Snape had to spend much of his night in the hospital to have the worst of the burns healed. A glamour spell was cast to hide the bandages so he wouldn't have to miss any class, Severus insisted upon this. Pomfrey grudgingly complied. He had two reasons for insisting this, 1) He didn't want Len to feel any worse, and 2) He didn't want the Marauders to know what happened.
Wednesday - Lunch in the great Hall The Marauders were anxiously waiting tell of Snape's screw-up. However they heard nothing about that potions class. They decided to ask Maia and Len about it. After lunch the meet up with them in the hall. "Hey, How was Potions this morning?" Remus asked casually.
Len just looked away. Maia noted her friend's behaviour but turned to Remus and replied, "Pretty boring. Why?"
"Boring???" The boys chimed.
"Yeah, why?" Maia shrugged. "Nothing much happened."
"But we switched Snape's potion ingredient so his potion would be ruined." Sirius said proudly.
"You what!!!" Len demanded in a quietly calm voice. Maia knew what this voice meant and took a step out of Lens's direct firing range.
"We switched some of his ingredients so that his potion would mess up and he'd look like a fool." James replied. "That greasy little brat must have noticed."
"That's sooo cruel!!!" Len's voice was a calm near whisper. "Why would you think that to be funny? Sirius shut your mouth, I'm not done! Do you lot ever think before you act? That was not a prank. Someone could have got hurt. Besides how would you feel, if somebody tricked you to make you look like a fool doing something that you were good at???" Lenore's voice had crescendoed throughout her lecture. She looked furious.
"Len, you're too soft." Sirius said. "That greasy git had it coming to him. I'm sure he was involved with the itching powder."
"Show me the proof?" She stated in a deadly voice.
"I - um - we don't have any." He admitted, his voice loosing some of its usual force.
"No. Then you shouldn't have done anything." Len stated. "Errr!. . . Leave me alone."
Len was furious with them. She told Maia everything that happened the night before. Maia agreed, it was time that the Marauders got some of their own medicine. They put their heads together and potted their revenge.
That Saturday - Quidditch Game Ravenclaw was playing Gryffindor. All the Marauders were on the team. James the seeker, Sirius a beater, Remus played Keeper, and Peter was a chaser. Len and Maia, cheerleaders for Ravenclaw were extra excited this game.
From the moment they kicked off the ground. It appeared that the Marauders had come to the game drunk. Their flying was completely erratic. They would wobbly in flight. Remus seemed to be having trouble maintaining altitude. Their movements were jerk, and opposite what they wanted. After 5 minutes the Gryffindor team captain called a time.
"What the hell is wrong with you four?" He demanded. Red Wood, team captain was usually a nice guy, except if you messed with his quidditch strategies. He wanted them to win, but the honest way.
"It's not my fault, the Broomstick is like possessed." Sirius replied. The light dawned on James. The girl's must have enchanted the brooms to act strangely.
"I think that it's somebody's idea of a joke." James said, he caught the eye of the two Ravenclaw girls. -Yep! It was them.- His suspicions were confirmed, Maia and Lenore were laughing hysterically. He looked back to his broom and noticed that it wasn't really his broom. It was a school broom, one that had been put away for maintenance. He noted the same was true for the other three. "Can we get 5 minutes to get replacement brooms? As these aren't out real ones?"
Mister Hawk agreed and the game resumed after they hanged. Just as he suspected their brooms had been left in the maintenances closet. The rest of the game proceeded without incident. Gryffindor however lost, 180:160. The Ravenclaw seeker caught the snitch, because the Gryffindor chasers were just too good for their keeper.
The Marauders caught Maia and Len outside of the Great Hall. "Why for the love of Merlin did you do that to our brooms for?" Sirius demanded. His temper soften when he looked at Len, but he was still pissed.
"You are aware that was a cheap win? You guys cheated." James insisted.
"Some body could have got hurt." Remus added.
The two Ravenclaws looked at each other. "It was just a joke." They chimed innocently together. They smiled and walked away.
"Boys, I think that they just challenged us." James sounded angry, but logical.
"Let the war begin!" Sirius stated.
!*!*! Len and Maia were actually enjoyed the reaction of the Marauders. They were congratulated by many members from their house. They tried to shrug off the prank to others, it had been meant to teach the boys a lesson, not get them anything.
By dinner they were starting to regret having done it. "Maia, I think we should apologise." Len told her as they went to dinner. "I can't believe how this got out of hand. It was supposed to be forgotten by now."
"Yeah, I know. But it's not like the Marauders get successfully pranked everyday. " Maia returned. "We'll apologise after dinner. I mean it's not worth fighting over. Besides we didn't really want to challenge their prankster crown." They sat down to a spaghetti dinner.
The Marauders watched from the Gryffindor table. Lily noted the interest across their faces. "What's going on?" She asked carefully. "You aren't still mad about this morning are you? I mean yeah, we lost but really."
"No, we aren't mad." James said with a spark in his eyes. Lily knew what that meant.
"What did you four do?" Lily asked quietly. She leaned in, she didn't want the recipient of the prank to have advanced warning.
"Wait and watch." Sirius replied from her other side.
Shortly after the hall was full to capacity, Len and Maia screamed and jumped up from their table. Everyone turned to look at them. They looked as it they were going to retch. The Marauders, had their, not-laughing faces on, which meant that this was their work, however only those close to them knew this.
"What?" Carly one of their Ravenclaw friends asked. She had been sitting next to the pair.
"W-worms!!!" Len managed to get out between gages. Maia had taken on an unusual colour of green. The Ravenclaw that had been closest to them looked at their plates. They looked at each other confused.
"Len what are you talking about?" One of the older boys asked. "There aren't any worms."
"What?" Maia and Len coughed together. They rushed back to look. Just as the others said. No worms, just spaghetti noodles. The rest of the hall burst out laughing. Len and Maia looked over at the Marauders, who were in their not-us form. The girls stormed out of the room.
Once back safely in their dorm. "So much for an apology." Lenore huffed. "That, that was sick."
"Agreed, and why worms???" Maia shivered. Little known was Maia's particular fear of worms. Her cousins had terrorised her with them when she was young and it stuck. She had spent almost an hour vomiting. She was now very pale and shook slightly when she thought about it. "This means war."
"Agreed, but I'm no good at pranks." Lenore sat beside her friend. "Maybe I could ask Bas, for suggestions. He was a little terror around here." Just then a knock sounded on their door. Len went to answer it.
"Ummm, Lily's down at the pothole. She wants to talk to you two. You going to come down?" One of their dorm-mates asked quietly. Len nodded and followed her down. Maia close behind them. Maia and Len stepped into the hallway and closed the door, they really didn't want spectators or witnesses.
"What can we do for you Lily?" Len asked a little more edge than she really meant to her voice.
"Are you two alright?" She asked quietly. "I swear that I didn't know about the prank." Lily was one of the few people that Maia had admitted her fear to.
"Fine now." Maia said somewhat hoarsely. She stayed back a bit. She was still a little nauseous and dizzy, she really didn't want to be in the line of fire.
"You two started it." Lily replied. "I mean what the boys did was wrong but- -"
"No, they started it!" Len replied. Lily gave her a sideways glance.
"I don't remember them pranking you, before." Lily said. Len looked at Maia.
"That's because you weren't there when they told us about what they tried to do to Snape." Len replied. Lily shook her head.
"How has that got anything to do with you?" Lily questioned. "And since when do you give a crap about him."
Len couldn't tell her the truth, that she and Snape were friends and that he was really not a bad guy. Her mind quickly jumped to a more plausible excuse. "I know what it's like to have potions blow up in my face. I know what it's like to have every one teasing you for it. That's cruel to inflict on someone, especially when that's one of the few things that he doesn't get bugged about." Len insisted. "Besides it was dangerous. And I feel bad because he's like always the brunt of their jokes."
"You know that the itching powder was him and Malfoy, right?" Lily said, still not convinced.
"Maybe, But there is no proof." Maia replied.
Lily thought for a second. The boys didn't know about Maia's fear, so although that made it worse, and she was upset on Maia's behalf, the Marauders really shouldn't be held for that one. However the prank that Len and Maia did caused Gryffindor to lose the game, so she was a little mad at them. But she had felt sympathy for Snape after the way Len had explained it, could see why she would try to show the boys what it felt like to be embarrassed. But now she had to decide if she would stay neutral (and get caught in the war as a bystander), join/support the boys (being under appreciated for her talents) or join the girls (meant being against the boys, but she knew their style).
"I can tell from your faces that this isn't over." Lily replied. "Heck, I know that the boys don't consider it over. I don't suppose that I could talk you two out of this war?"
"We had planned to apologise for the broom thing after dinner." Len said. "However, now we're going to get even."
"We don't expect you to join with us. We just ask that you stay out of the way." Maia said her voice distant and soft. "We don't have a problem with you."
"You two will need some help." Lily replied, breaking into a smile. "I think I might be able to provide some." The Ravenclaw girls smiled.
Lily spent much of her time the next few days in the library with Maia and Lenore. Tuesday afternoon, Len found what they'd been looking for. It had taken 2 days of looking, today's search was almost over, as dinner was in 20 minutes. "We fight illusion with illusion." Lenore smiled.
"This is prefect." Lily smiled. She read other what was needed for the spell. "Now let's see, to enact it remotely. Okay, I have the picture. Need treasured item, Maia?" Maia nodded. "And crud, we need a dragon's tears for each pile, four drops."
Lenore knew were it was kept, unlike most of the fifth years. She also knew that Snape knew how to get into Drake's supply cupboard. "I'll get that." Lily looked at her. "I saw it once after I blew up the wall and the side of the cabinet."
"You sure? I mean you'll get in the most shit if you get caught." Lily replied. Len shrugged.
"I'll just tell Drake that I had a question if I'm caught down there. Besides I'm good with wards, just not the actual potion thingy."
"Alright, tomorrow. We will invoke the spell. It should take about an hour to start working and last about 24." Lily read. The others nodded. "Will that be enough time for everyone?" They nodded, and headed off to dinner.
That night Len went for her tutorial as usual. Snape was already there, he was always early. She smiled as she went in. "Hey, Eri!" she called. He looked up at him.
"Hello." He replied. "That was a horrid thing that Black and the others did to you." She smiled shyly. "Although the broomstick switch was hilarious."
"Thanks. I should have expected retaliation." She commented shyly. "How's your arm?"
"Fine thanks." It was true. M. Pomfrey had completely fixed it by now. The new skin was a little sensitive to temperature, but nothing to be concerned with. "Are you ready to for tonight's lesson?"
"Do I have to?" Len asked quietly. She was afraid to hurt him again. Any confidence she had in her skill had gone up in the flames of last weeks potion. Severus noted this of course, he'd planned on an easy potion this week to try to re-establish Len's shaky confidence. He nodded. "Alright, Wise-one teach me."
"Okay. Open your book to the Petrifaction potion." Snape had chosen this one because it looked rather complex, but there was only one step that could be messed up, and he would ensure that she did not mess that one up. The other ingredients could be put in any order without explosions and the potion would still work.
"I - I can't do this." Len told him, after glancing at the long list of ingredients. "It's too hard, and I've never looked at it before."
"Len, remember when we started, how you agreed to do everything I asked?" Len nodded *yes*, while staring frightened at the book. "Well, I asked you to do this potion." His voice was stern but not sharp. She looked to him.
"But - I'll hurt you again." She pleaded. "I don't want that to happen."
"It wasn't your fault." He assured her. "Besides, I've already checked to make sure that no one has switched ingredients on me. Let's begin."
Snape watched her very closely. She tried extremely hard to follow the book. He tried to encourage her, as usual. She was extremely hesitant. Severus already knew that it would work, although it needed to simmer for 20 minute. The one step that could possible go wrong, Len had managed without his help. He hoped that this would restore some of her confidence.
"Alright, we have ummm. . . "Len checked the book again. "Twenty minute. Eri? I have a favour to ask. I know that there is no reason you should do anything for me. I was just hoping that maybe, since you know where Drake keeps his personal supplies that you could help me get something."
Snape looked at her questioning. Len wasn't the type to need to get restricted potions ingredients, after all she was scared enough to use the ones she was allowed to. Which meant that whatever she was after was for someone else? "Why?" He asked cautiously.
"It's . . . for a prank that . . . Maia, Lily and I were going to play on the Marauders." Lenore told him honestly.
He thought for a second. "I know that you would never agree to brew a potion for a prank on anyone, so why would you need something from his stores?"
Len looked at her feet. Then up into his eyes shyly. "We, were going to cast the spell remotely, and part of the incantation requires that we have, Dragon tears."
Snape was all for pranking the Marauders. He could think of none that deserved it more. However, he was extremely cautious about remote casting, he'd read to many tales of the wrong target getting hit. Besides he didn't want her to get into trouble.
"I'm asking you because, well I know that Drake lets you in there sometimes. So you know about all of the wards. Although I could likely get threw them by myself. I just thought that it would be safer if you helped me." Len finished. She watched him curiously.
"Alright." He smiled. "Only because I want to see them get theirs. After the worms they deserve payback." He led her over to Drake's office. Because there was a silence on the door he motioned Lenore to the side and opened the door. Drake was sitting at his desk. Snape motioned for Len to stay in the shadows.
When Drake finally noticed Snape in the door he motioned him in. Snape entered the office. It was crowded but organized. "Sir, good evening. I'm a little surprised to see you up this late."
"I had marking to do." Drake knew that Snape liked to work in the potions lab every Tuesday night, and had given him permission to do so. "What can I help you with? You haven't destroyed my lab have you?"
"No sir, just who do you think I am?" Snape asked in his normal harsh annoyed tone. "I was wondering if I might get some ingredients for one of the potions that I'm working on? It calls for some things that are not in the student cupboard."
"Certainly. Just don't reorganize my store." Drake replied stretching. "Oh and if you observe one is low leave me a note." Snape nodded and went to the cupboard. "Mr. Snape, perhaps I should check on your progress."
Snape flew into a near panic. What could he tell Drake to dissuade this line of thought? "Sir, I'm sure that you have much more important things to do. I will be happy to write a report about all my activities that you could peruse at your leisure. Besides this one won't be ready for at least a month. I would be happy to show it to you then."
"Yes, that sounds agreeable." Drake replied. Snape measured out the tears that Len wanted. He took a few ingredients for a senior potion that he knew would impress Drake then turned to leave. "Oh, Mr. Snape do not worry about that report."
"Good-night sir." Snape replied. "Thank you." He closed the door tightly behind him as he returned to the lab. Lenore waited until he called. "It's safe to come out now."
"I almost had a panic attack, when I saw him. Thank you sooo much Eri!!!" She hugged him. "I didn't get you into trouble or anything, did I?"
"No, not at all." He replied. "Here" He handed her the vile containing the tears. "Use them well, I hope to enjoy the prank." He teased. "Do promise to be careful. They have a bad temper."
"Don't worry. They would never do anything that would hurt us. We're friends after all, even if we're mad at each other." Lenore replied all smiles. "Eri, I really hope that you don't think I take advantage of you. I really do appreciate all your help."
"I know." He replied. He suddenly felt shy, and warm and happy. It was strange, how one little comment could make him feel, well like he actually had a friend. "Could I ask you something?"
"Sure what?" Lenore replied. Then looked at the time. "It's time right?"
"Yes." Snape nodded. He watched her remove the potion from the heat. "Alright, let's test it." He handed her a flower. Actually it was a blue rose. "Now careful, not to spill any on yourself."
Lenore dipped the rose into the potion. Then pulled it out. The rose still held its blue colour, but was solid. "Congratulation. Miss Nightshade, it's perfect."
She squealed delighted and hugged him. "You are so great!" She kissed his cheek. "What were you going to ask me?"
"Ahhh . . . never mind. It wasn't important." Severus replied, he tried to resume his normal cold persona, for he was sure that his mask was failing and true self would show threw to her. He did not need to ask the reason that she had pranked the Marauders. He feared that the answer would make him falter. But that same answer was what he wanted to hear, that it had been partially on his behalf.
They met with Lily instead of going to breakfast the next morning. Lily didn't bother to ask how each person had gotten their part. They enacted the spell, it took all three of them for it to work, and about 10 minutes to set up and cast completely. "Alright, this should be working by second period. I'll see you in transfig." Lily told them rushing off to class.
Lily ran beside Maia and Len who were waiting for her in the hall. James was talking to Sirius, as he was headed into the classroom, he smacked into the wall. The girls tried to hide their smiles. James looked confused.
"Prongs, you should watch where you're going." Sirius said. Then he went to enter the room and hit the wall. "What the--" Remus, perhaps the most observant of the Marauders noted the girls reaction to these events.
"Have you boys forgotten how to get into class?" Lily replied causally as she went in.
"I mean you can't walk through walls, do you think that you're ghost or something?" Maia commented, she was the third threw the door. Perhaps it was a slightly cruel comment but she was still bitter about the worms.
"I think we were just pranked." Remus said. He carefully felt for the door, then motioned them threw. "I say let the games begin." He was smiling brightly. Lily, Maia and Len shuddered at this pleasant smile, they knew it mean that he was plotting. "That was a nice one, ladies."
"Glad you like it." Len replied equally sweetly. The rest of the students had expected yelling, curses, hexing not a compliment. The girls quickly gathered their books at the end of class, and ran from the room.
Sirius was the first to bounce off the wall on his way out. Then Remus walked into the wall. They chuckled at the creativity of the girls. That is until Peter and James had the same thing happen at the entry of the Great Hall. "What the . . ." James demanded, he was rubbing his head, it had hit the wall. "Crap, I think that they must have put the curse on us. Not the doorway."
"I'm impressed. Annoyed, but impressed." Remus replied lightly after helping Peter back to his feet. "How long do you think that this will last?"
"Don't know." James replied. "I've never seen one of like this before. I think that Lily's in with them."
"I think that you're right." Sirius said. "I think that someone should check before we go threw doorways. I nominate Peter. All in favour?"
"Eye!" James, Remus and Sirius chimed together, only Peters whining, soft voice went up "No!"
"Sorry, Peter! You're out voted." James said. "I'd suggest you walk slowly, it'll hurt less." Peter huffed a few times before heading threw the door after feeling the wall. They all followed, very carefully. Every time they went into or out of a room, they had to move along the wall about a foot or so to find the door. To everyone else in the school it looked hilarious. They would walk up to the wall then inch their way toward to door.
The students got quiet a laugh out of this. The girls, especially Lily, who got to watch them all day, were in hysterics. "Are you guys alright? You're acting odd. Maybe you need your eyes checked." She said nicely as they headed into last period.
"I'm sure it's just a phase Lily. We'll grow out of it in time." James teased back. He was actually very amused by the trick. He'd have to ask her about it later.
The boy went straight to their dorm after dinner, sick to death of walking into walls all day. "Okay, suggestions for payback?" James replied. He had decided to sit on the floor, at least he knew it was where he thought it was.
Nothing happened for a few days. The girls grew more nervous by the day. The longer it took the bigger the prank likely was. It was the fourth night after the skewed walls, that's Lily screamed when taking a shower.
All the girls in the Gryffindor common room bounded up the stairs to see what was happening. The Marauders bust out laughing. The remaining students looked at them curiously, hoping for an explanation. They were relieved to know that it was a prank that meant that Lily wasn't hurt.
A furious Lily came down the next morning. Her hair was filthy, looked like it hadn't been washed in months. It hung in dirty, tangled clumps. Her skin looked little better, with dried mud patches, and visible dirt smudges, especially on her face and hands.
"Geese, Lily looks like you could use a shower." James replied. She scowled at him.
"I would, but I seem to be allergic to soap." She commented. Although her voice was light and playful, there was an edge to it. Lily found that Lenore and Maia were in the same state, when she saw them in class.
It took 2 days before the girl could clean up. Most of which they spent in the Library. They were frustrated, not finding anything that would work for what they wanted. Friday, Len got a note from her brother.
Hey Squirt:
Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. They've been keeping me
busy around here. How's you're prank war going? I hope it's not over
yet.
You asked if I had any ideas. Well yeah, I'm a sucker for the
classics. Three little words: Buckets over doorways!!! Maybe modify it
or something. It's an oldie but always a goody.
We're going out on a trail run with our mentors, next week. Remember
to think happy thoughts for me.
Hugs!!!!
Always your big brother. Bas
Len smiled, then worried her lip. She hoped desperately that Bas' field trial run would be boring and he would come back slightly depressed, but safe and in one piece. Maia poked her in the arm to get her attention. Len passed her the letter from Bas.
Maia was in thought. "That's a great idea." She said after a few moments. Len looked at her. "I know what we can do!"
The there girls spent much of the weekend organizing and plotting for their next prank. Sunday afternoon the Marauders came over to sit, on/around their table. "Hey girls." James greeted friendly. "You haven't forgotten about us have you?"
"As much as we may try, I'm afraid that simple isn't possible." Lenore replied sweetly to them. She yanked her book away from Sirius, who had been reading it.
"Ohhh, don't you want to play with us no more?" Sirius pouted.
"Actually, we were waiting until Remus felt better." Maia replied. Remus was again on his *off* days. "We didn't want him to feel left out."
"How very thoughtful of you three." James commented. "How is your *studying* going?"
"Very boring really." Lily replied. To the casual observe, they didn't look like two warring groups. They were pleasant to each other, and appeared rather thoughtful of their friends' need.
"We just got a little concerned when we didn't see you at lunch." Sirius replied. "You do plan to come to dinner right?"
"Well, yeah." Len commented sarcastically. "I like to try to eat at least once a day."
"Good," Sirius said, jumping off the desk, and offered Len his hand. "It starts in like twenty minutes."
"Ladies, we'd be glad to escort you." James smiled at Lily.
"Oh, but I think that we should get cleaned up first." Lily replied. She knew that it would be admitting defeat if they went with them. It was a subtle thing, like the look in James eyes that told her this. "It's a girl thing."
"If you're sure. We'll see you there." James smiled. He was glad that the girls had not conceded the prank war to them yet. He'd thought that Lily might be upset by the soap, but things seemed to be alright. They headed cautiously to the Great Hall. Peter was still being sent threw the doors first. "Isn't that thoughtful them waiting for Remus?"
"Here I just thought that they were waiting for him, because Maia wants to impress him." Sirius teased. "Do you think he's noticed yet?"
"Hope so. He notices everything else. Except it seems the way she looks at him." James teased back. "What do you think that they've got planned for us?"
"Not sure." Sirius smiled. "I'm sure it'll be great." He shook his head. "I never thought I'd have so much fun getting pranked."
"It's only because it's them doing the pranks. Face it, we'd have gone ballistic if it had been anyone else." James commented. "Seeing's how it's them, it's like. . . a game."
The boys waited anxiously the day Remus returned. They told him that the girls claimed to be waiting for him. However nothing happened. During double Care of Magical Creatures, the watched Len, Maia and Lily very carefully.
"Good you see you back Remus. How are you feeling?" Maia asked kindly, at the end of class.
"Much better that you." He replied. He looked very tired and worn out.
"Really!!! I hope you don't take offence, but you look exhausted." Len replied. "I think you need to get more sleep."
"I think I might try." He replied stretching. "However, I have a lot of work to catch up on first."
In the Marauder's dorm that night. "Do you think that they were covering?" Sirius asked.
"Not sure." James replied. "If they weren't, this is going to be a good one."
"I can't believe that you two are excited about an impending prank that is looming over us." Remus laughed. "Usually, you only get like this when we're doing the prank."
"I know, isn't it bazaar?" Sirius commented. "Prongs it's your turn to think up the next prank."
The next morning came, they headed down to the Gryffindor common room. Lily was already there speaking with some of her other friends. As the Marauder's, well Peter, walked into the common room, a bucket of honey fell on him, followed by blue and white flower petals. Lily giggled and quickly ran out.
"What a mess!" James commented. "You alright?"
"Fine, just a little embarrassed." Peter replied from under the mound of petals. "This was the oldest trick in the book."
"Yeap, a classic." Remus commented. "You have time, Why don't you try to clean it off?"
They found that it wouldn't wash off. No surprise really, they had expected it to be enchanted. Remus was volun-told (aka volunteered/told) to go next threw into the common room. Nothing happened to him, Sirius and James followed. Peter started to complain that it wasn't fair, quietly. They Rock, Paper, Scissors to see who went threw the pothole first. Sirius lost, so he went first.
As he stepped out of the Gryffindor tower, nothing happened for a second. He was about to call that it was safe, then he was hit. Honey and petal covered him from head to foot. He heard giggling and three sets of feet running off. "Two down. Come on, hurry up and get it over with."
Again, neither of the uncovered two were dosed as they went threw then as they headed to the Great Hall, the next two door way, they were covered. They were amused, until the freezing cold water hit them as they were about to enter the Great Hall, then a flash dry as they walked in.
They got covered each time they went threw doorways, and instantly cleaned (Frozen but cleaned) when a teacher approached. This continued all day. By lunch they were getting annoyed. By dinner they were frustrated. By the end of the day, they were pissed.
"Prongs, what's the plan." Sirius demanded. He shivered, having been flash cleaned only seconds before. "We got to get them for this."
"A-agreed." James had also been on the receiving end on the last clean up. "W-we'll head to the Librar-ry tomorrow. I-I just want to take a shower to get warm and curl up by the fire, however if I do, I know that I'll only get hit again." He shook his head. "This. . . this one was good."
It took about a week and a half for the boys to retaliate on the girls. Maia and Lenore woke the late that morning as usual. They were cautious with their clothes, and soaps, although they doubted that the Marauders would ever try the same prank twice on the same person. It was better to be safe. They noticed nothing amiss so once ready they headed to class, double Transfiguration with Gryffindor first.
Maia and Lenore didn't understand why the other students laughed as they walked by. They checked each other in an empty side hallway, nothing. "Maia, I don't get it." Len replied.
"Me neither. We'll ask Lily. Maybe it was a rumour or something?" She suggested. They hurried to class, trying to avoid the busiest route until they could figure out what was going on. They found Lily trying to hide in a dark corner of the classroom. "Lily do you know what's going on?" Maia whispered.
"Only because I went to breakfast." She whispered back. "It seems that the boy decided to give use magic makeovers."
"I didn't notice anything." Lenore replied. "Are you sure?"
"Ruby may be a little flaky, but she doesn't tend to lie." Lily returned.
"They must have enchanted us so that we can't see it." Lenore replied. "Well what fun is that?!"
"From what I was told you don't want to." Lily informed them. "Ruby said that I looked a cross between a punk, and a hooker."
"They wouldn't do that. The teachers would freak!" Maia insisted. Then it occurred to her. "They likely made it so that the teachers can't see it either, or we switch back when in class. You know like the ice water."
"Probably." Lily replied, she still was trying to draw as little attention as she could. "I don't know about you two, but I'm cool enough to be in like a mini and crop top."
"I haven't noticed yet." Len saw the boys on the other side of the room. "Do you think that they'd let me see, if I asked?"
"Maybe, if you ask Sirius." Maia smiled. Len cast her an evil look. Len headed over to the boys.
"So, I take it that this is your work?" Len asked sweetly.
"What?" James asked innocently.
"I'm not sure, seems the school is sharing a joke, but I don't get it." Len replied.
"Are you sure that you should dress like that for class?" Sirius whispered in her ear.
"Like what?" Len turned to look at him.
"Well . . ." Sirius looked slyly at her. Then leaned in then whispered, "Like a character out of one of your comics. (Actually like Leia in Star Wars - Jaba's slave Girl) Not that I'm complaining."
"Oh really!?? Funny I don't remember putting that in this morning. Heck I don't even own suck a thing." Len sounded coldly reasonable. It was the best way she knew to cover her embarrassment. "Are we going to be let it on this smutty joke, or just objectified?" The edge was undeniable.
"Don't get mad." Peter smiled. "It's just a joke."
"Just wait and see." James replied. "Hope you don't get cold."
Len stacked back to the girls. "That's it. They've gone too far. I'm not walking around, indefinitely, in goodness knows what, being stared at by everyone." Len huffed quietly. Outwardly she looked calm, but both the other girls knew better.
"So what are we going to do? Skip classes?" Maia asked quietly. Just then McGonagall walked in. The three girls shuddered to hear the lecture she'd likely give them. But she did not comment, on their attire, for which the girls were grateful.
As they left the room, Maia noticed her reflection in the window in the door. Her hair, was bright pink, and her outfit looked like that of an anime girls-uniform, complete with overlarge endowments. The skirt was very short blue in colour, she had a white blouse stretched tight over he chest (for certainly it was not her own) (think sailor moon style). Maia squeaked in embarrassment.
"I feel suddenly sick. Let's call it a day." Maia whispered to Len and Lily.
"Ohhh! What did they do to you?" They asked.
"I just saw, a reflection in the window." Maia whimpered. "I'm in a mini, and was well amplified." She motioned to her chest subtly.
"You saw?" They said. They rushed over to the window, and saw what everyone else had that morning. They looked horrified, when they saw the skimpy outfits.
"You like it?" James said from behind them.
"NO!" They said in unison.
"Ahhh, we put so much work into it." Remus replied.
"Have you figured it out yet?" Peter asked.
"Shhh!!!" Sirius commented. "No couching." Then to the girls. "I liked it. Think that Dumbledore will let them dress like that normally?"
"Sirius!!!" The girls yelled. This of course got them quiet a bit of unwanted attention.
"James, this isn't funny. Take off the spell." Lily demanded.
"But Lily, you kind of look cute bald." James replied then ran. Lily screamed, and turned to look again in the window, she hadn't remembered being bald. The rest of the Marauders were gone, out of range before the girls had a chance.
Lily's reflection had changed. Now she was bald, and looked like an inbred farmer. "At least this time I have clothes on." She huffed. Lenore noticed that her look to had shifted, she looked like a Limey (old sailor) complete with lime green hair. Maia was now looking like a mechanic, covered in grease and dirt, her hair remained pink but looked tangled and filthy.
"Why do they keep messing with my hair?" She whined.
"Because it's one of the things that annoys you most." Lily replied. "I can live with this. At least I won't freeze."
"What do you think Peter meant by figure it out?" Maia asked as they headed off to their second class waving goodbye to Lily.
"I don't know." Len said. "Why are we getting leered at again?"
By lunch the girls had realised that, each time they saw what they looked like the image shifted. In fact, Len through a few question to friends, revealed that each year saw something different. Len, Maia and Lily sat in a nice secluded spot, were they could talk without being stared at. "Very impressive." Len commented to the others after telling them about how it worked. "I'm still going to claw Sirius' eyes out."
"So what about pay back?" Lily asked. "I swear, if one more guy pinches my ass, I'm going to start cursing, and we aren't talking about swearing."
"Personally, I'm getting mighty sick of the cat-calls" Maia replied. "I mean that flower petals were embarrassing, but at least they knew. Hey, why don't we block it so that they can't enjoy their handy work?"
"That sounds great." Len and Lily chimed. They cast a counter spell so the boys could only see them as they really were, not how their fractured image looked.
"It's not pay back. But at least I know that they won't get to enjoy it" Lily replied.
"I'm thinking out raiding the kitchen and going straight to bed. I don't think that I could stand eating in the great hall. Hell, who know what I'll look like." Len pouted. "Do you think that hair thing will change back to normal?"
"I hope so." Maia pouted.
"At least you two still have hair." Lily added.
That night was Lenore's potion tutorial. She took a deep breath before walking in. "Hey! I'm sorry for the way I look, I've been pranked. Hopefully the enchantment will be wearing off soon. Otherwise I'm going to kill Sirius." Lenore blurted out. "And no, I really would rather not know what you see. How are you Severus? How was your weekend?"
"Fine thank you, to both." He smiled. "I ummm like the hair, green suits you."
She giggled, "Yeah, I was thinking about keeping it like this. But then I'd have to change houses. Think there's enough room in Slytherin for me?"
He knew she was joking. He smiled that she would be comfortable enough to tease about such a thing. "I could make room, but just because it's you. So long as you promise not to brew any potions in the dorm."
Lenore looked thoughtful for a second. "Hmm, guess the deals off then."
"To bad!" Severus replied. Lenore now appeared to be wearing a black gown, no sleeves, with leather corset. He thought that she looked absolutely stunning. "Have you planned payback yet?"
"We've got an idea." She evasively answered.
"I really liked the buckets." He told her. "A great take on a classic."
"Thanks! So what do you have for me tonight oh wise-one?" Lenore asked.
Snape had her work on a preserving potion. He'd read the worst that could happen with this was a small smoke puff, and it not working. He again watched her carefully, still trying to determine why Lenore so regularly messed up her potions. Tonight, however it worked.
As they were headed to their respective dorms. Snape turned and called back to her. "Lenore?" She turned to look at him from the other end of the hall. "Of all the outfits today, that one is my favourite. Good Luck on your war."
"Thanks." Len replied hesitantly. Her curiosity got the better of her once she entered her dorm. She looked in the window. She saw the black gown, flowing softly around her, except were the corset held it tight. She noted that her figure was actually hers, and that this particular visage looked quiet beautiful.
"Hell, if I knew that I was in this, I would have gone to dinner." Len mumbled.
"What are you mumbling about?" Maia asked from her bed. Len motioned her other to take a look without looking away, not wanting to lose this incarnation. Maia grudgingly complied. "Ohhh! That one's beautiful. Think of it in a blue, with your normal hair."
"That would look great! So which one do you think put this outfit in the rotation?" Len asked.
"Hmm, it's stylish . . . might have been James." Maia replied. "But then it notes all your . . . assets and flatters them while hiding the flaws. That sounds like Sirius."
"However, it's nice and simple like a break. Which sounds like Remus, he seems to be the *calm* one of the group." Len commented.
"That's not saying much." Maia looked at her reflection. "At least my body, is back to being MY body. Who do you think gave me the boob-job?"
"Sirius!" Len replied without a moments thought. They giggled. "I'm surprised that he didn't give me one."
"I'm not." Maia smiled as she returned to bed. "I think he likes your figure the way it is."
"Maia?" Len asked quietly. *hmmm* came back from a sleepy Maia. "What do you think about giving the boys pig noses and tails?" Len heard a small chuckle. She drifted off to sleep with that thought in her head.
Len woke up to a scream the next morning. She bolted up right, pulling the curtains back to see what was happening. She saw pink-haired, anime- breasted Maia. "Oh Merlin! Maia?"
"What am I going to do? I don't have any shirts that will fit. It was one thing when it was an illusion, but--" Maia was extremely upset. "And look at my hair!"
Len crawled out of bed to help assess the damage. "It's not so bad. I think that I can fix the - Umm physical alteration." Len retrieved her wand and Maia's body returned to normal. Much to her relief. "The hair, that could be any number of spells, I guess the wrong one, and well. . ."
Maia went pail. "We'll get them to tell us, even if I have to beat it out of them." Then Maia turned Len to the mirror in the bathroom. "You're going to need it too." Sure enough Len's hair was still Lime green.
They headed down to see a very annoyed and still bald Lily. They moved to her side. "I take it they haven't shown themselves yet?" Maia asked.
"No. When I find them . . . They're going to get it." Lily replied.
"One of them has to be able to tell us how to undo what they did to our hair." Maia reminded.
!*!*!*!*!*! Meanwhile the Marauders plotted. "Could you believe that they cast a counter so we couldn't ever enjoy the fashion show?" Sirius complained.
"I think that was highly rude of them yes." James agreed. "At least they got to watch us get humiliated. I think we should have gotten to watch them."
"You don't think you went a little far with those. . . sexy ones?" Remus asked quietly. They cast him sideways glances. "Fine, I'm not arguing with you two. I take it you want revenge now. You aren't going to wait for their next prank?"
"Darn tooting'!" Sirius replied. He shrugged at the looks he got from the others. "Something I heard a firsty say, I like it."
"Whatever. We're not waiting." James replied. "I've had enough of this illusion crap."
"What are you purposing that we actually curse them?" Sirius said shocked. "Prongs, they're still our friends. I don't want to hurt them."
"No, nothing like that." James replied. "I was thinking that we could transfig. them into prissy-hissy catgirls."
Remus and Sirius chuckled. "Dude, don't you think that could be a little dangerous? I mean what if I like wolf out or something?" Remus asked, trying to sound serious, but failing.
"I thought you said that you liked cats?" James teased.
"Yeah, for dinner!" Sirius joked. They all laughed.
"Catgirls it is. Watch out for the claws. 'cause I got odds they'll be ticked." Lupin laughed.
They boys had managed to avoid the girls, while no teachers were present, until lunch. Then somehow the girls managed to surround them. "Fix it!" Maia demanded.
"Pardon?!!" The Marauders asked innocently.
"Our hair! Fix it now!" Lily demanded.
"Ohhh! That!" James replied. "You mean you don't like it?"
"Love to, but can't." Sirius smiled. "It'll wear off in a couple days."
Of course this caused the girls to freak, the raised their wands to transfig the boy's to a decidedly piggish look. While at the exact same time the boy's thought it the perfect time to transfig the girls into the hissy little cats they were acting like.
The spells went at the exact same moment. A bright light and loud explosion followed, the hall filled with smoke.