Disclaimer: I only own the plot and the characters that I make up. The rest belongs to J.K. Rowling. I'm not making any money off this.
Mischief Managed
Chapter One
"Return"
"James!"
The shout rang through the house
Bleary-eyed, James Potter rolled over to look at his clock.
"Oh, bugger. Damn!" he muttered, leaping from his bed. H reached over to the open dresser drawer to grab a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. He yanked the jeans on one leg at a time. While doing this, he hopped across the room to his desk. He gathered half a dozen spell books into his arms and returned to his bed. He dumped the books onto his bed and finished putting on his jeans. Turning to return to his desk for the rest of his books, he caught his mother, Elaina, in the doorway, laughing silently. He glared at her, and she stopped.
"I'm sorry James, dear," she said, laughter remaining in her eyes. "It's just so funny to watch you try to multi-task"
"I can multi-task just fine, mum," James replied, trying to feed his gray owl, Storm, and gather the remaining few books. After a few attempts, he admitted defeat, and fed his Storm before attempting to gather the books. He turned to return to his bed once again.
"Let me pack for you James," Elaina said. "You have to eat something before you get on the train. I don't want you filling up on sweets and getting sick."
"Yes mum," James said dropping the books on his bed. He left the room and descended the stairs, hearing his mother's summoning charms go to work at his packing.
"Thanks!" he called over his shoulder before going into the kitchen. He grabbed a few slices of toast, buttered them, and sat down to eat. Just as James finished his first slice of toast, his father, Henry, walked into the kitchen.
"Hurry up son!" Henry teasingly nagged. "The Hogwarts Express leaves in ten minutes!"
"I know Dad," James responded. "If you recall, I passed my apparition test two weeks ago."
"Oh, yes...Of course."
"You did remember, right Dad?"
"Hmm? Yes son, of course"
James shook his head laughing to himself. He finished his second piece of toast just as his mother came down from his bedroom, prodding James's trunk along.
"What did your father forget this time?" she asked, grinning at James.
"He forgot that I'm of age, and passed my apparition test two weeks ago," James answered. "You've forgotten something too, I see."
"No I haven't!" Elaina replied.
"Actually you have," James said, grinning. "Unless you've put Storm in my trunk."
"Oh dear, I suppose you're right." Elaina sighed.
"Don't worry about it. I'll get him," James said, leaving the kitchen.
James returned to his bedroom, and grinned at Storm, who glared at him and hooted indignantly.
"I'm sorry mum forgot you. Don't worry about it though, you know I wouldn't go to Hogwarts without you," James told the owl.
"James…James!"
That's odd. James thought. Why would someone be calling me from the dresser?
"James, it's Sirius"
James shook his head. He felt like an idiot. Of course Sirius would check on him. He had since their fifth year. He removed the mirror from his dresser, and looked into it.
"What is it Padfoot?"
"Just making sure you were going to make it to the train on time. Wouldn't want to repeat fourth year, would we?"
"Sure, I make one little, tiny mistake, and I never hear the end of it. Did you really think I'd miss the train this year? I am Head Boy this year, after all."
"You never know, mate." Sirius grinned. "I have to go. I'll see you on the train."
"Yeah, bye." James said before placing the mirror in Storm's cage. His parents didn't know about this mirror, and though he doubted they would care, he just had a feeling that it was better of kept a secret.
"James, time to go!" Elaina called from downstairs.
"Coming! James called back before leaving his room, Storm's cage in hand.
Moments later, James found himself hugging his parents good-bye before boarding the Hogwarts express. With a final wave, he entered the car and found the compartment where Dumbledore was waiting for him. Also seated in the compartment was a pretty girl with dark red hair. James grinned.
"Good morning Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said. "First, I would like to congratulate you and Miss Evans on becoming this year's heads. I trust both of you will not abuse your position and will do your best to keep order on the train ride as well as during the school year. The password to your common room is 'Phoenix Feather.' Miss Evans, you're bedroom is up the stairs to the right and Mr. Potter, up the stairs to the left, just as in Gryffindor common room. Now, you will both need to change into your school robes and begin the meeting with this year's prefects. Here is the list of who's who," a piece of parchment appeared in his hand, "and here is the schedule for patrolling the train," another piece of parchment appeared in his hand. "Good luck."
"Thank you, Professor," the girl said as Dumbledore rose from his seat to leave.
"You are very welcome Miss Evans," Dumbledore replied before exiting the compartment.
As soon as Dumbledore had shut the compartment door behind him, James' grin widened.
"Lily!" He said gleefully.
"Potter," the girl said glaring.
"Now Lily, we're co-heads. We really should be friends. And friends call each other by their first names."
"Potter, you seem to be under the impression that I will ever consider you a friend, I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but I don't believe that will happen.
Ouch thought James.
"Anyway, we have to go change and begin the prefects meeting. See you there, Potter." With that, Lily left the compartment, leaving James alone.
Five minutes later, James and Lily were in the magically enlarged prefect's compartment. In front of them were the year's prefects. Lily and James glanced at each other for a moment. Realizing what they were doing, they both quickly looked away.
"Hello everyone," Lily said authoritatively. "I'm this year's head girl, Lily Evans, and this is this year's head boy Ja.."
"James Potter," the prefects chorused.
Of course. Lily thought. Everyone knows Potter. Hell, everyone worships Potter. She looked over at James for a moment. He was grinning.
"Yes, well…anyway," she continued. "This year's rules are pretty much the same as every year's. The Forbidden Forest is, well, forbidden. Fifth and sixth years are aloud to be outside their common room until nine, and seventh years are allowed out until ten. You will be patrolling the halls at night until eleven on certain nights. On the first of every month, the patrol schedule, along with any new or changed rules, will be posted in the prefects common room, which can be accessed by tapping the portrait of Ernald the Excitable with your wand and saying "Alaissi." The password for the prefects restrooms is "peppermint." If these have to be changed, you will be notified by Professor Dumbledore or your head of house. Are there any questions?"
A small girl in Hufflepuff robes raised her hand tentatively. Her prefect's badge had a small number five on it, indicating her to be a fifth year prefect.
"Yes…Emily Walsh?" James asked, checking the list Dumbledore had given them.
"Umm…" Emily said quietly "How do I get the other students to listen to me? Nobody's ever listened to me before…"
"Don't worry about it," Lily said kindly, before James could answer. "That badge means you can take away house points. They'll listen."
"And if they don't," James added, "Talk to Dumbledore or Lily or me."
"Alright, anymore questions?" Lily asked. Seeing no more hands, she continued. "Alright, if there are no more questions, here is the schedule for who is patrolling during the train ride. Meet here when your shift starts and the previous patrollers will give you this checklist," she held up the list as she spoke. "Find whoever is not checked off and make sure they are here. If it is done, just make sure everyone is obeying all school rules. When you are not on patrol, you may visit with your friends." She handed out the schedule, and finished with, "Okay, Potter and I patrol first. Next patrollers, see you soon."
The prefects streamed out of the compartment to go visit their friends. When everyone had left, James rounded on Lily.
"You could at least have attempted to be courteous. They're all going to think I'm useless if you don't let me get a word in."
"Maybe because you are useless James Potter!" Lily retorted. "All you're good for is being the arrogant git you are. We have to patrol, and I'm not getting in trouble because you want to argue. Now come on!" With that, Lily walked out on James for the second time that day. Speechless, James followed, angry and embarrassed.
Authors Note: Okay, I started this before HBP came out, so if parts are wrong, they're wrong. Don't tell me in reviews, because I already know. Please R&R.
