The Almost Prank

chp. 2 Revelations

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I claim to.

a/n: Sorry about the delay in getting chapter 2 out. Originally I was not planning on this being a multi chapter story but so many have requested more that I have decided to add on. I hope you like it. I have had the idea that I will be using in the coming chapters for some time. Although as I said before I was not planning on using it here. But since this is a popular story I will use the idea. I hope you enjoy this and future chapters. We should be seeing more of Peter Petigrew, he was serving a months worth of detentions last time.

Warning: Sorry but this is going to be a sad chapter, however future chapters will be happier. After all James Potter does not like to be a downer.

"Hey, Padfoot," Peter called coming into the the common room. "Where is Prongs?"

"I have no idea," Sirius said. "He was gone when I got up. He is probable somewhere with Evans. You now how he is."

"Actually, he and Lily are out at the Quiditch pit," Remus explained coming through the portrait hole. "He finally talked her into watching him during one of his private practices. Of course he had to make some concessions."

"Like what?" Peter asked. "No more snagging in the dressing room." This statement had all three friends laughing because they all knew that the Quiditch dressing room was one of James' favorite snagging spots.

"That was great, Wormtail," Sirius exclaimed. "However I think it would take more then just watching an early morning practice to get him to agree to that."

"Honestly," Remus stated. "He had to agree to do his charms homework."

"Poor, Moony," Peter wined. "Evans is moving in on his territory. Now he isn't the only one getting Prongs to do his homework."

"Speaking of homework, Wormtail," Remus started. "Did you get yours done?"

"Almost," Peter answered. "Come on I'm hungry. Lets get breakfast." With that the three friends went to the Great Hall for breakfast joking all the way.

"Lil, can't we eat first," James asked coming out of the Griffindore dressing room. He had just gotten done with his morning flying practice.

"No," Lily said. "You promised you'd do your Charms homework if I watched you fly."

"But I'm hungry," James murmured grabbing Lily's hand. "I can't study on an empty stomach."

"Well then it is lucky for you that grabbed us some food," Lily exclaimed. "You would have thought of that too, if you ever thought ahead. Or are you trying to get out of doing your homework." It seemed every time they were suppose to do homework James tried to find a way out of it. Today Lily was determined that he wouldn't. The homework was due by the end of the day. James had already spent to much time in detention for not doing homework for Lily's liking.

"Guilty as charged," James responded dropping on the ground beside Lily with a twinkle in his eye and throwing up his hands. "On both counts."

"Can't you take anything seriously?" Lily asked laughing.

"No, I can't," James answered. "Well, nothing except you that is."

"Why did I ever agree to go out with you?"

"Because, I wore you down after six years. You like the way I kiss. And I agreed to leave Snivilous a lone. Although I'll never understand that one. Need I go on."

"Alright, that's enough," Lily exclaimed leaning into James. "Lets get that charms homework done.

After James finished his charms he pulled Lily onto his lap. "You know you are beautiful," James said before lowering his lips onto Lily's.

"He says that to all the girls," Sirius stated.

"This isn't exactly a good place for snagging," Remus broke in. "Evans, I am surprised at you."

"Prongs just couldn't wait to get to the dressing room is all," Peter interjected.

"What are you guys doing her?" James asked looking at his three friends. "You're not spying on us are you?"

"Actually, we came to tell you that McGonigalle is looking for you," Peter said.

"Oh, great," James exploded smacking himself on the forehead. "I stay out of trouble and I still get the blame."

"What did you do, James," Lily asked.

"Nothing, honest," James defended himself. "I was with you all morning. Last night I was with these guys. I have no idea what she wants. Unless..." At these words James started running to the castle hoping it wasn't what he thought, but what other explanation could there be.

"Unless what?" Lily asked running to catch up to James.

"Bloody hell no," Sirius muttered joining the race to the castle.

"What has gotten into them," Peter murmured very confused by his friends odd behavior.

"I have no idea," Remus returned. "But we should probably see if we can help. Come on, Wormtail."

"I was told that you wanted to see me, Professor," James said entering Professor McGonigalles office.

"Yes, Mr. Potter," Professor McGonigale stated. By the tone of the Professor's voice James was sure that he would not like what he was going to hear. "I received an owl from your parents this morning. I am sorry to be the one to tell you this. But your parents asked me to let you know that Jacci died last night."

"No," James exploded. "Not her. She was so..."

"Mr. Potter, I realize that this must be very hard on you," Professor McGonigalle sypathetically said. "Is there anyone else that knew."

"Sirius did," James sobbed. "He has been staying with us for the past year. I couldn't hide it from him."

"I understand. You and Mr. Black are excused from classes today. If you think of anyone else that you would like excused please let me know or have Mr. Black let me know. In a time like this you need your friends."

"If I think of anyone I will let you know."

"Very well, Mr. Potter. You may go. Please send Mr. Black in when you see him."

"Yes, ma'am," James said getting up and moving to leave.

"Mr. Potter, if you need anything concerning this matter please let me or another teacher know. We will all work together to help you through this."

"Thank you," James said opening the door. As James exited the professor's office he spotted Lily and Sirius lounging against the wall. "She wants to see you next, Sirius." James muttered. "I'll be in Griffindore somewhere when you are done."

"James," Lily said pushing off the wall and going over to James. "What happened? Why are you so upset? I heard you yell."

"I just need to ..." James started before he dissolved into tears as Lily drew him to her body. "It isn't fair."

"Hey, Prongs," Remus exclaimed coming up to the pair. "What's going on? Why are you so upset?"

"Moony you and Wormtail better get to class," Sirius muttered coming out of Professor McGonigalle's office. "If it is alright with James I will explain what is going in later. Evans, lets take our boy to the Common Room. We have the day off to take care of him. I thought he might need you so I asked the Professor to excuse you."

"What happened," Lily asked stroking James hair.

"I think he should be the one to tell you," Sirius said starting to guide a very distraught James toward the Griffindore tower. "For nowjust accept that he has received some very bad news." The three walked on in a mutual silence until they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. Lily gave the password and the they walked in.

"I need to be a lone," James said going on to his dormitory. "Please tell everyone to leave me a lone for a while."

"Sirius, is it good to leave him a lone," Lily asked following James with her eyes. "He seems pretty upset. What if he does something? I would never forgive myself. After all the Professor told us to take care of him."

"Give him a little while," Sirius answered. "Then we can go check on him. You want to play a game of Exploding Snap. It will help pass the time."

:I guess," Lily replied. "I just wish I knew what was going on. I feel so helpless."

"James will tell you when he is ready," Sirius reasoned. He then got out the cards and they played for half an hour.

"I am getting hungry," Sirius muttered. "I think I'll go see if I can get some food. Is there anything that you would like.

"No," Lily murmured watching the stairs for any sign of James.

"You can go talk to him if you want," Sirius said. "He might be ready to talk now."

"No. I'll wait until you get back. It wouldn't do any good to have someone come in unexpectedly looking for you or me."

"That makes sense," Sirius said stepping out of the portrait hole.

"James, I brought you some food," Lily said as she entered the boys dorm. Sirius had just returned with pockets full of food and a tray full of pumpkin juice. Apparently Professor McGonigalle had told the kitchen to be expecting Sirius and to give him what he asked for.

"I'm not hungry," James exclaimed from his bed. He was sitting on the bed with a photograph in his hands and rocking back and forth with tears running down his face.

"You not hungry," Lily whispered to lighten the mood. "You must really be upset."

"I think you should leave the jokes to me,Lil," James said. "You are not very good at them. But thanks for trying."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Lily asked going over and sitting on the bed next to James. "Sometimes it helps to talk about things that are bothering you."

"Why Jacci?" James sobbed bringing a fresh tide of tears. "She wasn't even one yet? I'm the one that screwed up not her. That's all I've done in my life is screw up."

"Who is Jacci?" Lily asked.

"This is," James said handing Lily the photo. The picture was of James holding a little baby with a giant smile on his face. "She was my daughter. About two years ago. I hooked up with a muggle girl. Just before I left for school I found out she was pregnant."

"James I'm so sorry," Lily said patting James on the back and wishing he would turn towards her.

"I found out she was pregnant a bout two months after I got to school last year. She didn't want the baby so I said I would take it and raise it. After Jacci was born Mum and Dad said that they would raise her until I finished my schooling. I should've dropped out of school and stayed with her." As James finished saying this he turned and started crying again into the comfort that Lily's arms gave.

"James don't," Lily exclaimed. She couldn't bear to see James like this. He looked so beaten and sad. When he usually was the first to have a smile and he was always so confident and had some wisecrack to make. "You can't blame yourself. It wouldn't have made a difference if you were there or not. Besides how would you have supported Jacci without an education."

Suddenly James stopped crying and looked Lily in the eye. You sound just like my mum. James said through the tears. "She used the same arguments in the summer when I told her that I would drop out. She would have nothing to do with me dropping out of school. She said Jacci needed me to get an education." On an impulse James leaned towards Lily and brushed his lips on hers. As James started to pull a way Lily pulled him towards her to deepen the kiss and let her hands start to pull at James shirt, he had discarded his school robes when he came up to his room. James responded to this by pulling Lily's robes up and joined her hands in exploration. Suddenly James came to his senses and pulled a way from Lily. "We better go to the Common Room before we do something that you might regret"-

"Are you sure you want to go to the Common Room," Lily asked the hurt apparent in her voice.

"Lil, it's not that I don't want to go further with you, because I do. I want our first time together to be special. I want it to be something we both want. Not just you trying to comfort me. I don't want it to be something that will be refereed to as a mistake. I don't want to have to worry about getting you pregnant. I know what it is like to have to take on the responsibility of another life. I am not ready for that responsibility again. At least not right now. I want to get to know you more. I made that mistake once before. I don't want to make it with you. Please understand. I love you to much to do that to you. I have loved you since the day I saw you. I have loved you for six years. It is not a question of not loving you. I love you to much to force you into this."

"I understand," Lily said meeting James lips with her own. "Lets go join Sirius. HE is probably wondering what happened to us."

Please read and review. I like my critics.

a/n: Thank you to all those that reviewed last chapter. Hope you like this one as much. This story draws on a lot of personal experiences so bear with me. This should be the saddest chapter. The rest will be more up beat.