Hey reviewers! Special thanks for the reviews on the last three chapters!!! This chapter will be rife with drama (good phrase, no?!!) . The long awaited prank will eventually be pulled off! And loads more ahead!

Note: If it's a bit ridiculous don't blame me, blame ' Stacey's Mom ' which my brother is blasting out of his room!! It's thumping through my head.

Lucius grinned widely at Narcissa. She laughed darkly in return, fastening her mask to her cloak. Tonight would be a wild night. Muggle- torture was always fun.

Lily arrived at the breakfast table wearing a weak smile. The dark rings under her almond shaped eyes were the result of a sleepless night.

Her circle of chirpy friends greeted her warmly. Lily collapsed into her chair, tiredly buttering some toast.
As Julie launched into conversation concerning the adventures of the previous day, a fleet of tawny, copper and brown owls soared into the Great Hall, brandishing the day's post.

What appeared to be an obese owl flapped jerkily over to Lily and dropped ' The Daily Prophet ' into her lap before swooping, at a weird angle, away.
Lily unfurled the tightly rolled newspaper. The terrifying words splashed across the front page gripped her attention like a vice.

' MUGGLES TORTURED BY MASKED GROUP '

Minister for Magic, Lodema Fudds, announced this morning that an unknown branch of hooded witches and wizards launched several unprovoked attacks on innocent muggles in the early hours of the morning.

No less than twelve muggles of separate origins, ranging in ages from fifteen to forty-three, were continuously tortured with powerful spells after being violently roused from sleep.

Junius Dale, 36, of Rochdeen, London, speaks of her attack: '' They...this masked band of people....dragged me from my bed..I found myself spinning through the air...they skinned my dog, Beeny, and boiled him in water.... ''.

At this point Miss Dale broke down, unable to continue. Miss Dale became an unfortunate victim of the cowled group at three a.m. this morning. The twelve muggles are currently being treated in St. Mungo's Hospital for severe burns and caustic stab wounds. It has been verified that two Unforgivable Curses were used on the muggles; the Imperius Curse and the Cruciatus Curse.

The twelve muggles will have their memories wiped when they recover from this horrific ordeal.
The disguised witches and wizards who carried out this vile act escaped from the scene of the crime. It is likely torture would have continued unless aghast neighbours had alerted muggle police.

A torn fragment of black cloth was discovered at the scene. It has been established that it belonged to one of the shawled gang. The Ministry are witholding this as evidence. Investigations into the identities of the group continue.

Obelia Reading,

Journalist.

Lily exhaled slowly, her face stricken. She was muggle-born. Her parents were muggles. This fate could easily have befallen them.
She felt sick. Lily lowered the paper slowly. Bailey, who was gazing down the table, a glazed look in her eyes, caught sight of Lily when she pinched her on the arm.

'' Ow! What's wrong? '' she added at Lily's ashen complexion. She tapped the paper. Bailey scanned the article quickly. A deep frown line appeared between her eyebrows and her lips tightened grimly.
'' They....Any money Bitch Black and Dolohov had something to do with it,'' she muttered darkly.

Bellatrix Black and Antonin Dolohov, a sixth-year Slytherin, made no secret of their intense dislike of muggles.
As Bailey thrust the paper over at Julie and Adalia to read, Bellatrix Black stood up dramatically and casually made her way over to the Gryffindor table, grinning banefully. She paused as she was passing the four girls.

Leaning in toward Lily, she bared her teeth. '' You...Evans. This is exactly what will happen to you, you filthy mudblood! '' she hissed.
'' Oh yeah? Who's going to do it? You? '' Lily laughed acidly.
'' Well, since you can barely hold a wand I sincerely doubt it,''
Bellatrix clenched her hands in anger.

'' You'll see, Mudblood. And you too, Green,''
Bailey chuckled. '' Go back to the Slytherin table, Black, before I really hurt you,''
Before Bellatrix could reply, Sirius Black made his way down the table and stood menacingly behind Bailey. James Potter was right behind him.

'' Hey, Bella! '' Sirius goaded. '' You'd better leave cos we don't appreciate mental bitches hanging all over our table,''
'' Yeah,'' agreed James loudly. '' That sort of filth just isn't welcomed,''

Bellatrix tightened her lips, grinding her teeth. '' So it's the Brave Brigade down for a fight is it? Poor baby Potter wants to protect his dirty mudblood! ''
Sirius and James whipped out their wands. James jabbed the tip of his threateningly at her chest.

Lily stood, levelling her wand against the seventh-year. '' I don't need anyone to protect me. I can curse deranged lowlifes for myself,''
Bellatrix shrieked in disbelief.

'' Me? You, a mudblood, curse me? You filthy...besmirching the name of witch with your dir...''
'' Do you really want to finish that sentence, dear cousin? '' enquired Sirius conversationally, as if they were discussing the weather.

'' Mudbloods and muggle-huggers! '' she sneered. Bailey rose to stand next to Sirius.
'' I suppose you had something to do with the muggle attacks last night, Bella? It would suit you. Hunting at night, like the ugly bat you are! ''
Bellatrix screeched indignantly as Sirius and James burst into laughter.

At last, the professors seemed to notice the verbal battle taking place and Professor McGonagall hurried down to where they were all congregated.
'' What is going on here? '' '' Just a friendly chat between houses,'' Bellatrix said sweetly, her voice dripping with syrup.

'' I'm sure that was cause for four Gryffindors to point their wands at you, Black. Return to your table. Lower your wands. Potter, Black! Lower them! ''
'' But Professor...'' began James earnestly. '' Potter, I do not wish to hear it. ''

Bellatrix grinned evilly at them from behind McGonagall's back. '' You'll pay,'' she mouthed, before sauntering over to the Slytherin table.
'' Any more of this and you all receive detentions,'' said the Professor briskly before striding away.

The news of Bellatrix's faceoff with the Gryffindors had spread like wildfire over the school. Everywhere James went, he heard students whispering about how he, Sirius, Bailey and Lily had stood up to the cruelest girl in Slytherin.

He also heard all about Rosier's attack on Lily in Hogsmeade. He hadn't noticed before, but when he observed her closely, Lily did seem to be nursing her right arm with bandages under her robes and a foul-smelling medicine she took every few hours.

Bellatrix was strolling about the castle wearing a smug expression and laughing psychotically whenever anyone mentioned the tortured muggles of the night before. Rosier and Dolohov were her constant companions, flanking her possessively whenever Sirius, James or Remus crossed her path.

'' Ah, dear cousin. Followed by your usual cronies I see. '' she chuckled meanly when Sirius drew his wand.
'' Oh no. Not now. I have a special surprise for you...Potter, Evans – '' she grinned at the murderous look on James's face, '' Well, Potty, if ickle Mudbloods wanna play with fire, they get scorched. ''

James drew his wand intimidatingly. '' Don't-you-dare-call-her-a-mudblood,'' he said through gritted teeth.
'' Green and Prewett,'' Bellatrix continued listing the victims of her surprise. '' Oh and Lupin too,''
Remus fixed her with a disarming stare.

Bellatrix continued talking, oblivious to the Gryffindors.
'' And I suppose Markson too since I just plain don't like her,'' Sirius glowered at her.
'' Why don't you like her? Cos she hexed you last year? I mean, you can't blame her for it. You're a crazy bitch and you deserve eveything you get. '' he said nonchalantly.

Bellatrix smiled slowly. '' You wait, Sirius. You just wait,''

James clenched his fists as Bellatrix ambled away. '' Well. '' said Sirius, his eyes gleaming. '' If she has a surprise for us, it's only fair we return the favour,''

James studied him, than a slow grin spread across his face. '' How about a special delivery? '' he suggested wickedly.
'' Just what I was thinking, Prongs. Just what I was thinking,''

The four Marauders sat down to dinner in the Great Hall, eagerly waiting in anticipation. Their incredible prank would be executed after the meal. They didn't want to waste good food!

It was almost an hour before all three courses had been consumed. James winked at Sirius, who grinned cockily back. Remus whispered the incantation under his breath.

The ceiling, reflecting the sky outside, immediately began to shimmer. The clouds greyed and droplets of rain began to flutter downwards. Halfway down, they dissolved into nothingness, as usual.
'' Ahh, man! It's raining cats and dogs! How can we play Quidditch in this? '' groaned Cadence Neysa, the Gryffindor Captain, as the rain spattered against the windows.

James grin widened. He knew Cadence's trademark phrase would jump into the conversation. And everyone would hear it.
'' Hey!!! It really is raining cats and dogs! '' a skinny Hufflepuff shouted, pointing at the ceiling.

All four houses glanced up at the roof. There, tiny cats streaked in orange were balanced on tiny broomsticks. Long, billowing black cloaks were clasped around their necks, fastened to their collars.

An equal number of tiny terrier dogs were astride similar broomsticks, wearing white capes. The two teams began to fly, circling the ceiling. The students gaped in awe.

The dark storm clouds scudded across the roof. As the pupils and professors watched avidly, two bludgers popped out of a cloud. A tiny Snitch followed the red Quaffle.

The cats and dogs split into groups. The students could see two terriers wielding clubs and two cats following suit. Beaters.
But that was not all. As James mumbled a spell, a flying pig exploded from a cloud, flapping pink wings. One of it's feet clasped a silver whistle. He blew this suddenly, snorting and sniffling. The game was on.

The two teams flew for ten minutes, ducking diving and scoring. Two clouds had transformed into wispy hoops at either side. The students cheered and the professors, entranced, gazed upwards in amazement.

Finally, a cat spotted the fluttering, struggling Snitch. It dived and soared in the opposite direction. The dog Seeker, thinking the cat was speeding towards the Snitch, tore after it. Just as the dog closed on the cat's tail, it pulled up before it could hit a hovering cloud. The dog pelted head first into the grey mass. The cat had performed a Wronski Feint! Then it wheeled around and whizzed after the Snitch as the dog Seeker still struggled within the cloud's clammy body. It was to thunderous cheers from the students that the cat closed it's hand around the Snitch.

The pig blew it's whistle. The cats had won. As the flying pig circled the room, James, who was sitting quite near to Lily and her friends, leaned across the table to her.
'' Hey Evans! Well, look at that! A flying pig! Guess you'll have to go out with me after all...''

Lily turned slowly to stare at him. Her mouth had dropped open.
'' How...how...how...how did you do it? '' she spluttered incoherently.

He just grinned cheekily at her. '' Go out with me and all my magical secrets are yours,''
She blinked twice as the cat/dog Quidditch team dissolved into nothingness.
'' But...that's incredible magic! How....? '' her eyes glazed over in shock.

'' So, Evans? How about it? '' Lily blinked again.
'' What? No. Let's see you make the Giant Squid dance on the lawns first,'' her lips twitched. Her eyes lit up, amused, as James sighed.

'' I'll have you some day Evans,'' he muttered to himself as she broke into peals of laughter.
'' I can't believe you made pigs fly! ''