Disclaimer: I do not own HP, JKR does, I only own plot and secondary
characters.
Thank you to you those who reviewed. Hope you like what is coming next.
Chapter 6 ~ The Planning Committee
The boys did create a stir just as the girls predicted. Giggles filled the air as girls noticed the Marauders' unusual attire. Professor McGonagall was not amused, even though Professor Dumbledore thought otherwise.
"Well, I think it would be best if you explained the reason for this unusual display." Asked Professor Dumbledore when he asked them to come to the front to the Staff Table.
"We are the victims of a trick sir, and the charm will last for at least 12 hours, doesn't matter if we change clothes." Replied James.
"Why can't you put something on, Mr. Potter, this is highly irregular." Said Professor McGonagall.
"Our clothing is invisible professor." Responded Remus.
"Couldn't you wait until an elf could bring you a tray to the tower, did you have to make fools of yourselves?" Professor McGonagall was clearly losing her temper.
"But we're hungry Professor. I say, are you going to eat that?" Asked Sirius as he pointed to a piece of chicken left on Professor Dumbledore's plate. Dumbledore smiled as he passed the plate to him.
"We'll let it pass this time, but I recommend that you four stay in your dormitories for the rest of the day, or until the charm wears off." Said Professor Dumbledore.
"Yes sir." The four boys said and walked to the Gryffindor House. As the boys made their way to their table, girls all over the Hall craned their necks to take a better look, some were openly gaping at them.
"Really Vivianne, close your mouth unless you want an insect to fly into it." Snapped Lily to a sixth year sitting next to her.
"Louise please control yourself, you look like a gaping fish with your mouth open." Replied Katie to a girl sitting in front of them.
"Oh, honestly!" Exclaimed Emma as she noticed that even though the boys were sitting piling food onto their plates, girls from all tables were still looking toward them.
The boys were teased constantly by all their male peers for next couple of weeks, especially Sirius after it was found out that he wasn't wearing any undergarments the day the trick was done. But the trick served to bring the groups closer together, it became a common sight to see the Marauders and the Sirens working and spending their free time together. They were now on their second week of school, the Quidditch season was finally starting, the professors had started piling loads of work to the seventh graders in preparation to the N.E.W.T.S., and the Head Boy and Girl had finally settled into the hectic and stressful life that awaited them this year.
The boys found out that the girls had great sense of humor and the girls found out the boys knew more about charms and hexes than anybody could imagine.
"Do you mean to say, that you lot have known how to do this for a while now?" Asked Emma as the group sat at a table in the common room working.
"Yes, it was very useful for a prank we played on the Slytherins." Said Remus.
"You must help me with it then, I don't seem to be getting it right." She said looking back at her work missing the quick glance Remus threw her way.
"Sure, it is very easy." He replied, smiling as he continued with his work.
"Do you think we should hold the meeting this Friday or the next?" Asked Lily to James as she was making notes on her pocket calendar.
"It's going to have to be this Friday, the next is the third Friday of the month and we have the meeting with the prefects and the professors." Responded James, as he looked through a pocket notebook where he was writing his notes.
"Hmmm.you're right. This Friday it is then. We need a notice posted today if we want enough people to see it on time.
"I can get a prefect from each house to post it on each of the common rooms' bulletin boards, and a copy of the notice could also be posted on the board outside the Great Hall."
"That would work, we just need to write this notice then."
"Here, you write it you have a nicer handwriting than mine."
"Very well, what should it say?"
"What about, hmmm.I got it! 7th years interested in joining the Graduation Ball Planning Committee must take note that the first meeting will take place this Friday October 18 at 9:00 p.m. in the . hmmm.where should we meet?"
"I can ask Professor McGonagall if we can use the Transfiguration room, I'm sure that she will let us."
"Ok, Transfiguration room it is then."
"All right, that's done!" And with a flick of her wand Lily replicated the parchment.
"Do you think this looks good, or will this one work better?" Asked Katie to Sirius as they worked together on their Divination work.
"Hmm. this one. Why are you using colors for this chart? It doesn't matter what it looks like."
"But I care, I like my work to look nice, there has to be something fun in this class."
"Hmm.well I don't care, I can't even understand that this is supposed to be on."
"That's because you were sleeping the whole time Professor Mysticity was explaining it."
"Something good has to come out of this class."
The notice for the planning committee appeared on all bulletin boards throughout the castle, making all seventh years buzz with excitement at the thought of the Ball that awaited them at the end of the year. Friday finally arrived and a small group of seventh years convened after dinner in the empty Transfiguration classroom.
"Very well, if there is no one else we must wait for, I believe it's time to bring this session to order." Said Lily above the excited whispers of the occupants in the room.
"First thing we must do is decide on the date for the Ball, any suggestions?" Asked James.
"I propose that it should take place the week after the N.E.W.T.S., I don't want any distractions before those." Said a Hufflepuff boy.
"I second that motion, if I get distracted before the N.E.W.T.S. I will not get enough and I know my parents will not be happy about that." Responded Katie.
"If you agree say aye."
"Aye" Several voices said.
"If you disagree say nay."
"Very well, everybody agrees. Let's make it the Saturday of the week following the N.E.W.T.S. that will give the girls enough time to get ready." Said James as he made notes, the boys nodded while the girls threw him angry looks.
"Next question, should we make it formal of semi-formal?" Asked Lily.
"I think formal will be better." Said a Ravenclaw girl. "I second that, but maybe not dress robes." Said Sirius.
"I second that." Responded a Hufflepuf girl.
"If not dress robes, then what?" Asked James.
"Muggle clothing." Replied Katie.
"Any ayes?"
"Aye."
"Nays?"
"Nay." Said two Slytherins.
"The majority voted for formal, no dress robes but muggle clothing." Said James as he continued to take notes.
"Now we must decide if we should use the Great Hall or any other room in the castle." Said Lily looking up from her notes.
"The garden would be nice."
"Yes, that would be nice, but there is also the chance of rain or wind."
"But by then it would be almost summer, the weather should be nice."
"Why don't we use both, the dancing and dinner in the Great Hall with some tables out in the garden for those who prefer to have an al fresco dinner." Said Sirius.
"And the gardens could be open for those would like to stroll and take some fresh air. Who would've thought that you can actually get a good idea now and then Sirius." Laughed Katie.
"Hey!" Exclaimed Sirius while the rest of the group laughed with Katie.
"It does sound nice." Said Lily trying to get the attention of the group.
"All right, those who agree to use both the Great Hall and the gardens say aye."
"Aye."
"Any nays?"
"Very well the Great Hall and the gardens it is." Said James returning to his notes.
"Ok, it's getting late, let's decide on the date for the next meeting." Said Lily as she looked up from her watch.
"Second Friday of each month sounds good."
"Everybody agrees?"
"Aye."
"Very well, let's reserve the second Friday of each month for the Planning Committee meetings." Replied James turning back to his notes.
"Now let's do an outline of what we want to discuss for in our next meeting." Said Lily.
"I reckon the next thing would be decorations."
"I agree, we need to begin early on decorations in case we cannot get what we planned and we need to change it at a later date."
"We would need to talk about entertainment as well."
"Yes, that will give us time to hold auditions or to look for bands."
"Very well next meeting come prepared with ideas on decorations and entertainment." Said Lily.
"We will give you copies of the notes from this meeting next week, please make sure that you do not leave it in plain sight of anybody else and do not discuss this with anybody that is not part of the committee, we want to keep this a surprise to our fellow seventh years." Urged James.
"All right."
"You can count on us."
"I'll keep it in mind."
"Very well, good night, and if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask me or James."
"Good night."
"Night!"
"See you."
"Bye."
As everybody stood up and got ready to leave the room, Lily turned to James to compare notes.
"That went well." Said James as they were left alone in the empty Transfiguration class.
"I thought so. Do you reckon it will continue to be like this?"
"I hope so otherwise we'll have trouble getting this ball ready."
"Well what we have so far is enough. I'm glad they agreed to do it after the N.E.W.T.S. I was worried about that."
"Yes, so was I, my parents are expecting them to be better than my O.W.L.s."
"But they weren't so bad."
"My parents expect perfection."
"I'm glad my parents are muggle then, they don't understand anything about N.E.W.T.S or O.W.L.S or anything magical for that matter."
"You're lucky, mine are perfectionists."
Lily and James left the classroom behind as they made their way to Gryffindor tower.
~~~~~ I know, not too exciting, but I wanted to write this little scene. : )
Thank you to you those who reviewed. Hope you like what is coming next.
Chapter 6 ~ The Planning Committee
The boys did create a stir just as the girls predicted. Giggles filled the air as girls noticed the Marauders' unusual attire. Professor McGonagall was not amused, even though Professor Dumbledore thought otherwise.
"Well, I think it would be best if you explained the reason for this unusual display." Asked Professor Dumbledore when he asked them to come to the front to the Staff Table.
"We are the victims of a trick sir, and the charm will last for at least 12 hours, doesn't matter if we change clothes." Replied James.
"Why can't you put something on, Mr. Potter, this is highly irregular." Said Professor McGonagall.
"Our clothing is invisible professor." Responded Remus.
"Couldn't you wait until an elf could bring you a tray to the tower, did you have to make fools of yourselves?" Professor McGonagall was clearly losing her temper.
"But we're hungry Professor. I say, are you going to eat that?" Asked Sirius as he pointed to a piece of chicken left on Professor Dumbledore's plate. Dumbledore smiled as he passed the plate to him.
"We'll let it pass this time, but I recommend that you four stay in your dormitories for the rest of the day, or until the charm wears off." Said Professor Dumbledore.
"Yes sir." The four boys said and walked to the Gryffindor House. As the boys made their way to their table, girls all over the Hall craned their necks to take a better look, some were openly gaping at them.
"Really Vivianne, close your mouth unless you want an insect to fly into it." Snapped Lily to a sixth year sitting next to her.
"Louise please control yourself, you look like a gaping fish with your mouth open." Replied Katie to a girl sitting in front of them.
"Oh, honestly!" Exclaimed Emma as she noticed that even though the boys were sitting piling food onto their plates, girls from all tables were still looking toward them.
The boys were teased constantly by all their male peers for next couple of weeks, especially Sirius after it was found out that he wasn't wearing any undergarments the day the trick was done. But the trick served to bring the groups closer together, it became a common sight to see the Marauders and the Sirens working and spending their free time together. They were now on their second week of school, the Quidditch season was finally starting, the professors had started piling loads of work to the seventh graders in preparation to the N.E.W.T.S., and the Head Boy and Girl had finally settled into the hectic and stressful life that awaited them this year.
The boys found out that the girls had great sense of humor and the girls found out the boys knew more about charms and hexes than anybody could imagine.
"Do you mean to say, that you lot have known how to do this for a while now?" Asked Emma as the group sat at a table in the common room working.
"Yes, it was very useful for a prank we played on the Slytherins." Said Remus.
"You must help me with it then, I don't seem to be getting it right." She said looking back at her work missing the quick glance Remus threw her way.
"Sure, it is very easy." He replied, smiling as he continued with his work.
"Do you think we should hold the meeting this Friday or the next?" Asked Lily to James as she was making notes on her pocket calendar.
"It's going to have to be this Friday, the next is the third Friday of the month and we have the meeting with the prefects and the professors." Responded James, as he looked through a pocket notebook where he was writing his notes.
"Hmmm.you're right. This Friday it is then. We need a notice posted today if we want enough people to see it on time.
"I can get a prefect from each house to post it on each of the common rooms' bulletin boards, and a copy of the notice could also be posted on the board outside the Great Hall."
"That would work, we just need to write this notice then."
"Here, you write it you have a nicer handwriting than mine."
"Very well, what should it say?"
"What about, hmmm.I got it! 7th years interested in joining the Graduation Ball Planning Committee must take note that the first meeting will take place this Friday October 18 at 9:00 p.m. in the . hmmm.where should we meet?"
"I can ask Professor McGonagall if we can use the Transfiguration room, I'm sure that she will let us."
"Ok, Transfiguration room it is then."
"All right, that's done!" And with a flick of her wand Lily replicated the parchment.
"Do you think this looks good, or will this one work better?" Asked Katie to Sirius as they worked together on their Divination work.
"Hmm. this one. Why are you using colors for this chart? It doesn't matter what it looks like."
"But I care, I like my work to look nice, there has to be something fun in this class."
"Hmm.well I don't care, I can't even understand that this is supposed to be on."
"That's because you were sleeping the whole time Professor Mysticity was explaining it."
"Something good has to come out of this class."
The notice for the planning committee appeared on all bulletin boards throughout the castle, making all seventh years buzz with excitement at the thought of the Ball that awaited them at the end of the year. Friday finally arrived and a small group of seventh years convened after dinner in the empty Transfiguration classroom.
"Very well, if there is no one else we must wait for, I believe it's time to bring this session to order." Said Lily above the excited whispers of the occupants in the room.
"First thing we must do is decide on the date for the Ball, any suggestions?" Asked James.
"I propose that it should take place the week after the N.E.W.T.S., I don't want any distractions before those." Said a Hufflepuff boy.
"I second that motion, if I get distracted before the N.E.W.T.S. I will not get enough and I know my parents will not be happy about that." Responded Katie.
"If you agree say aye."
"Aye" Several voices said.
"If you disagree say nay."
"Very well, everybody agrees. Let's make it the Saturday of the week following the N.E.W.T.S. that will give the girls enough time to get ready." Said James as he made notes, the boys nodded while the girls threw him angry looks.
"Next question, should we make it formal of semi-formal?" Asked Lily.
"I think formal will be better." Said a Ravenclaw girl. "I second that, but maybe not dress robes." Said Sirius.
"I second that." Responded a Hufflepuf girl.
"If not dress robes, then what?" Asked James.
"Muggle clothing." Replied Katie.
"Any ayes?"
"Aye."
"Nays?"
"Nay." Said two Slytherins.
"The majority voted for formal, no dress robes but muggle clothing." Said James as he continued to take notes.
"Now we must decide if we should use the Great Hall or any other room in the castle." Said Lily looking up from her notes.
"The garden would be nice."
"Yes, that would be nice, but there is also the chance of rain or wind."
"But by then it would be almost summer, the weather should be nice."
"Why don't we use both, the dancing and dinner in the Great Hall with some tables out in the garden for those who prefer to have an al fresco dinner." Said Sirius.
"And the gardens could be open for those would like to stroll and take some fresh air. Who would've thought that you can actually get a good idea now and then Sirius." Laughed Katie.
"Hey!" Exclaimed Sirius while the rest of the group laughed with Katie.
"It does sound nice." Said Lily trying to get the attention of the group.
"All right, those who agree to use both the Great Hall and the gardens say aye."
"Aye."
"Any nays?"
"Very well the Great Hall and the gardens it is." Said James returning to his notes.
"Ok, it's getting late, let's decide on the date for the next meeting." Said Lily as she looked up from her watch.
"Second Friday of each month sounds good."
"Everybody agrees?"
"Aye."
"Very well, let's reserve the second Friday of each month for the Planning Committee meetings." Replied James turning back to his notes.
"Now let's do an outline of what we want to discuss for in our next meeting." Said Lily.
"I reckon the next thing would be decorations."
"I agree, we need to begin early on decorations in case we cannot get what we planned and we need to change it at a later date."
"We would need to talk about entertainment as well."
"Yes, that will give us time to hold auditions or to look for bands."
"Very well next meeting come prepared with ideas on decorations and entertainment." Said Lily.
"We will give you copies of the notes from this meeting next week, please make sure that you do not leave it in plain sight of anybody else and do not discuss this with anybody that is not part of the committee, we want to keep this a surprise to our fellow seventh years." Urged James.
"All right."
"You can count on us."
"I'll keep it in mind."
"Very well, good night, and if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask me or James."
"Good night."
"Night!"
"See you."
"Bye."
As everybody stood up and got ready to leave the room, Lily turned to James to compare notes.
"That went well." Said James as they were left alone in the empty Transfiguration class.
"I thought so. Do you reckon it will continue to be like this?"
"I hope so otherwise we'll have trouble getting this ball ready."
"Well what we have so far is enough. I'm glad they agreed to do it after the N.E.W.T.S. I was worried about that."
"Yes, so was I, my parents are expecting them to be better than my O.W.L.s."
"But they weren't so bad."
"My parents expect perfection."
"I'm glad my parents are muggle then, they don't understand anything about N.E.W.T.S or O.W.L.S or anything magical for that matter."
"You're lucky, mine are perfectionists."
Lily and James left the classroom behind as they made their way to Gryffindor tower.
~~~~~ I know, not too exciting, but I wanted to write this little scene. : )