Apology not excepted
Thanx to Cassie93, The Guardian of Elements, Aussiechick249, and Rangers Apprentice for the reviews.
Sirius turned to look at what James was laughing at. He knew that it couldn't be the prank because that wasn't suppose to happen for at least another half hour. He audibly sighed with relief when he saw what James was looking at. Someone had put a silence spell on Flitwick. He was waving his arms and talking just as energetically as before so he obviously thought that everyone could hear him. That wasn't the best part though. Katy was putting her wand away and looking very guilty. Lily had noticed about the same time as James and she turned angrily towards Katy. James saw her arms moving and eventually he saw he lean back with an expression of conquest on her face. Katy waved her wand.
"Therefore." Everyone, well the 7 people who qualified for the class heard Flitwick say. He stopped again and Lily turned back to Katy. This time Katy just held up her wand. As if that would prove that she hadn't done it. James knew better then to suspect Katy. He turned to look at Sirius and Remus. This time Remus turned out to be the guilty one. James raised his wand and reversed the spell.
"Study harder," Flitwick managed to get out two words before someone put a charm on him. This time Sirius was the guilty party. James against raised his wand and countered the charm. He looked over at Lily, hoping that she had noticed that he had at least tried to be more responsible. Self-consciously he put his right hand up and ruffled his hair. Lily looked over at him and scowled. James immediately dropped his hand and looked down.
"The NEWT's are not all as easy as your-," This time Flitwick had to stop because of the much anticipated prank. He looked up and the class followed his gaze. At the top of the classroom pieces of parchment were appearing everywhere. In different handwriting on each one were the words: Lily, will you go out with me. By now everyone had grabbed one. The notes weren't signed but everyone had turned to stare at James and Lily. Lily face was slowly turning bright red. All though, whether it was from anger or embarrassment, no one could guess. Not even Katy and Jen. James had turned to stare at Sirius.
"You have lost your touch Padfoot. This isn't anything great or out of the ordinary. Although you were right about Lily being mad."
Sirius laughed. "You think this is it? Look up again." James and Remus looked up on pure reflex. More pieces of parchment had appeared. James reached out and grabbed one out of the air expecting the same message to appear. Instead there were pictures of little kids. One baby had red hair and black eyes. The other looked like James except instead of black hair he had red hair. This is what our children would look like. At this point with the exception of Lily and James and the professor, of course, everyone was cracking up. James looked like he could murder Sirius. He had his wand in hand and was just about to open his mouth when Sirius pointed up again.
This time Lily had noticed them first. James had just managed to grab one when they all vanished. One look had been enough for both Lily and James. It was a picture of a wedding. And they were the bride and groom. Sirius was the best man and Jen was the maid of honour. Lily waved her wand and the rest of the parchments disappeared.
Sirius had managed to stop laughing by this time. He turned to Remus, "And now for the grand finale." Remus was still laughing and couldn't stop long enough to answer. Sirius looked at the ceiling expectantly. Hundreds of lilies started streaming down. Soon they were joined by mini brooms. Before they could reach the ground Lily tried to vanish all of them. Instead of vanishing they doubled. James pulled out his wand and tried to transfigure them into more parchment. Instead the original ones stayed the same and the ones that had appeared when Lily tried to vanish them blew up. Professor Flitwick choose that time to take charge of that situation and pulled out his wand. Immediately all of them vanished and after much effort the class stopped talking. The professor stood on his pile of books and started to talk; this time free of charms.
"Black, Potter, Lupin, and Prewett (Katy) report to your head of house." A series of protests and why's rang out. "Black, Lupin, and Prewett for casting the silence charms, nice spell casting by the way, and Potter for the colourful decorations. Any other questions?" The protests died down to murmurs and eventually nothing. The bell rang and they filed out of the classroom. The four of them headed towards McGonagall's while the rest went outside for their free period. Jen cast Katy a sympathetic look. Katy looked like she was heading to certain death.
James turned to look at Sirius, "I guess you haven't lost your touch after all." he commended.
"You aren't mad?"
"Of course I'm mad. But I am also glad that I'm not best mates with an idiot who can't come up with a practical joke. Now remind me again why I'm in trouble as well."
"I'll plead in your defence."
"And that'll work?"
"I owe you big."
"You'll apologize to Lily since I have to live with her."
At this point Katy decided to join the conversation. "You mean you had nothing to do with that. Somehow I don't believe you." James didn't even bother to look offended. "How did the professor and for that matter you and Lily know about the charm anyway?"
"The professor probably knew because of the laughing and James knew because of the look on your face. As for Lily, she knows everything." Remus chimed in. They stopped talking as they reached McGonagall's office.
The three Marauders walked in as if they owned the place and Katy followed hesitantly. There were four chairs in which they sat down. McGonagall sat on the other side of her oak desk. "Well this is a surprise," McGonagall said, "Normally Pettigrew accompanies the fourth seat. What was it this time?"
"A silence charm." Remus admitted.
"All four of you?" McGonagall questioned.
"Not James." Katy answered.
"So what is James in here for."
"Padfoot." James muttered.
Sirius took that as his cue so he started attempting to explain. "I thought it would be funny to prank both Prongs and Lily. So I had pieces of parchment appear." Sirius continued on to explain what he had done. When he finished McGonagall had not moved.
"And you expect to believe that Potter had nothing to do with this?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Let's see. Detentions for all of you. Black you may serve two since you want to be a part of Potter's prank. I will tell you what they will be tomorrow. And twenty points off Gryffindor. Potter and Black please stay after." Remus shot them a sympathetic glance and left to find Peter. Katy followed him on her way to find Lily and prevent her from committing murder. James and Sirius leaned back in their chairs, preparing for a lecture. It never came.
"Potter we are missing a beater and a seeker this year. When do you want to hold tryouts?"
"Next week." Potter said, expecting there to be more.
"You may go." The two marauders stood up and left.
"So much for the no involvement. Still three detentions in the first two days. That had to be a new record for me."
"Nah, you got four in third year."
"Oh yeah. So who are you thinking of for the Quidditch team."
"Well I was thinking of Fergal for the beater position but I don't know of anyone to fill the seeker position. I hope they is some undiscovered talent out there or our team is screwed."
"Hope for the best. Hey what do we have next?"
"Slughorn." James answered.
"I hate his class. Let's skip. Besides do you want to be facing Lily so soon?"
"Good point. Kitchens?"
"I was thinking Quidditch, but that works too. Where do you think Moony and Wormtail are?"
"I have no idea. Marauders' map?"
Instead of responding Sirius raised his wand arm. Ten minutes later the four were sitting in the kitchens stuffing their faces. The house elves had been only to happy to help. As usual. And they were talking about the current prank. As usual. Wormtail was wishing that he had been a part of it. As usual. And about a five minute walk away Lily was complaining about them. As usual.
Jen and Katy were walking on either side of Lily. They had tried to tell her that this wasn't so bad. That everyone would eventually forget about it when Potter and Black did the next stupid thing. That approached had been tried and failed several times. After fifteen minutes Jen and Katy gave up and just listened. Lily had ranted all the way to Slughorn's classroom and showed no signs of stopping. Finally when Slughorn told them all to make their potion she realized how much she had exhausted the subject that she stopped. Well either that or she had to stop and look at what she was doing.
"What am I supposed to do now Lily?" Jen asked. Potions was not one of her better subjects and Lily was second to only Snape.
"Umm." Lily consulted her book. "You were supposed to take the cauldron off the fire two minutes ago. Try a cooling spell to get it to the right temperature."
"Thanks Lil." Jen said turning back to her cauldron. "I noticed the Marauders didn't show up." she commented in a sly voice.
"Probably didn't want to have to bear Lily's wrath." Katy added before adding more herbs to her potion.
"Well he'll have to bear it tonight. I have to patrol with him after he serves the first of his two detentions."
"You know how many girls would do almost anything to be in the position your in now?" Jen asked.
"I hope neither of you are one of them." They both put on a betrayed expression. As if what did Lily think they were, idiots? "But sadly, yes, I know. That is probably the only reason why he keeps on going after me. I'm one of the only girls who wouldn't go out with him. And the first girl who said no. That's for sure. For him it's just a matter of pride." Lily said angrily.
"You know that's not true." Jen tried to comfort her. "Every other guy in the school had asked you out. And I'm sure it's not just pride for-" She had stopped because her potion had just blown up in her face. "Oops." she offered weakly.
Slughorn had noticed and walked up in front of them. "Too much wonga spice." he said, peering over the edge of Jen's cauldron. He vanished the contents and told her to try again. Then he walked over to Lily's cauldron. "Perfect as always Miss Evans." Slughorn walked away to help a Ravenclaw boy.
"He favours you." Katy accused, staring at Lily.
"How can I help it if I'm perfect in potions." Lily bantered back good naturedly.
"Oh, little miss perfect can you get over here and help me." Jen commanded.
"Well that had got to be the millionth time we've gotten that lecture today." Katy complained, walking out of their last class of the day, transfiguration.
"At least it's over." Lily gave a sigh of relief.
"What are you talking about?" Jen joined the conversation. "You loved it. You are the teacher's pet."
"Am not."
"Am to. Katy back me up here."
"Hate to admit it Lily, but you are." Katy said.
"I really don't like you guys right now."
"Aw, you know you don't mean that Lily. Anyway Katy look at the bright side. No homework." Jen told them.
"Evans, wait up." Lily heard a voice behind her that sounded vaguely familiar. She turned around and immediately groaned. James was standing there. The only thing that struck Lily as odd was that the other three were not next to him.
"You guys go ahead." Lily said. "I'll catch up in a second. 'Cause that is all it's going to take to get rid of him." Her two friends continued on to the Great Hall and Lily turned to address Potter. "What do you want Potter?" she said, hate dripping off every word.
"What time do we patrol?" James asked innocently.
"We start at ten. Is that it?" Lily pivoted on her heel and turned away.
"No it's not." James said from behind her. She paused but didn't turn around. "I wanted to explain. I didn't have anything to do with that prank. It was all Sirius. I was just as embarrassed as you. I'm sorry."
"The great James Potter said sorry." Lily said in a mocking tone. "What am I supposed to do now. Do we kiss and make-up." She started walking towards her friends.
James ran forward and put a hand on her shoulder. He spun Lily around so that she faced him. Lily grabbed his hand and pulled it off her. She made as if to move again when James started talking.
"Lily, wait. I really mean it. I didn't have anything to do with it, but I am sorry. Let me make it up to you."
"How?" Lily's voice was just as indifferent and cruel as before.
"Whatever you want."
"Fine make it up to me by leaving." Lily was again left. This time James just stared at her departing figure with a sad look in his eye. As soon as she turned the corner Sirius came up behind him.
"Bad luck Prongs." Sirius said, hitting him on the back.
"You do realize that this is all your fault?"
"Yeah. Sorry. I can try apologizing next."
"Don't bother. She won't listen. You going to dinner?"
"Nah. I figured I would grab something after hours."
"Even without the invisibility cloak and Lily and I on patrol."
"Oh. Yeah. Right." The duo started walking towards the main hall. Not soon after they sat down Remus and Wormtail sat next to them. A minute later they were joined by Katy.
James was the first one to recover from shock. "Does Lily know your over here?"
"Why would she care? I'm just over here to ask when Quidditch tryouts are."
"Next Monday." Sirius answered for James. Katy stood up and walked about ten seats down to where Lily and Jen were sitting.
"When did he say?" Lily asked.
"Monday. Why?"
"I thought I would go see you practice."
"Since when do you go to practice?" Jen asked.
"Why do you care?"
"Just asking. Chill." Jen was only half-way hurt by Lily's tone. Anything that had anything to do with Potter and Lily went defensive. They resumed eating dinner. They talked about the things they always talked about. Boys, class, Quidditch, what was recent in the news. Ten seats up four boys were also doing what they had always done. And three tables over a seventh year boy was staring at Lily. It was a usual day that was about to be followed by an unusual night. Secrets would be revealed and one heart would be crushed forever. A grudge would form as well as a new love. Things would change and not all would argue for that they changed for the better.
"Do you believe me now that I had nothing to do with it." James asked.
"No," Lily replied honestly.
"Why not?" James asked.
"Because you were behind each and every other prank. So what should make me think that you weren't behind that."
"Hey I wasn't behind every prank." James argued. They would have kept arguing but at that moment Harry was crying in the background. It was Lily's turn to attend to him as James pointed out. Lily sighed and put down the quill. She walked over to Harry 's crib and began to rock it and sing softly. James picked up the quill and continued on where she had left off. He didn't like this night but he had to write it anyway. It was a part of the story for better or worse.
"Harry go to bed." Ron commanded. It was almost eleven and they had to wake up early the next day. They had to get fitted for their dress robes. Something neither of them was looking forward to. Harry put down the notebook and turned to look a picture on his bed stand.
"Night mom and dad," Harry whispered. He rolled over and promptly fell asleep.
A/N
Sorry for the late update. My internet was messed up. So who do you think the secret teller, person with grudge, and new love will be?