The Almost Prank

Chapter 8

The sun was just starting to rise in the sky to eliminate the lone black messy haired figure on a broomstick over the Quidditch Pitch. James had risen earlier then usual because he had so much on his mind. Other then the night of the full moon he and Lily had been spending the night together either in the boys dormitory or the Gryffindor Common Room. Lily was still unable to enter the girls dorm and had even started wearing James shirts. This however was not what was bothering James at the time. If anything this arrangement had served to strengthen the relationship and take it to a new level. This is what brought James out so early this morning. He had needed to clear his head to figure out exactly what he wanted. That was not completely correct James knew what he wanted to do he just didn't know if it was what Lily wanted. This was what was bothering him this morning. From James vantage point on the broom ha spotted Sirius heading to the Quidditch Pitch so he put his broom into a dive and landed just as Sirius was entering the Quidditch Pitch arena.

"Thought I might find you here," Sirius said. "I went down to the Common Room and you weren't there so I decided to come look for you."

"What's up?" James asked his friend.

"I wanted to talk to you a lone," Sirius commented following James into the dressing room. "You have seemed a little distracted the past couple of days. I thought you might want to talk about it."

"I just don't know what to do," James began as he entered the dressing room. "Lily is the best thing to happen to me. I don't want to let her go."

"Everyone can see that, Prongs," Sirius muttered sitting on one of the dressing room benches. "So what is the problem? You have to have something weighing heavy on your mind. You did come out to fly earlier then usual."

"What if she doesn't feel the same way about me?" James moaned pulling on a t-shirt. "I love her and want her to be happy."

"I can't believe we are having this conversation," Siruis muttered with a disbelieving look on his face. "Everyone can see that she loves you. So what is the problem?"

"I want to ask her to marry me," James replied. "I just don't know if she will say yes. What if she thinks I am pressuring her or something?"

"The two of you have been inseparable for the past month," Sirius stated going over to James. "If that isn't love I don't know what is."

"But is it enough," James worried. "Is it enough to make her want to marry me?"

"You'll never know unless you ask her," Sirius answered.

"But how do I that?" James moaned. "I have no idea what to do or what to say."

"That mate is us to you," Sirius said draping his arm over his friends shoulder.

"Gee, you are a lot of help," James stated sarcastically.

"Glad to be of some help," Sirius said as they walked towards the castle. "Listen. Just be your self and it'll work out."

"Wait a minute," James said looking around. "When did you start sounding like Remus? That is something he would say. Unless you have him hiding under my invisibility cloak."

"I don't know. And no he is not here. He is up doing his homework for next week. You now how he is. So do you have your homework done for Potions yet?"

"Are you kidding," James exclaimed turning on Sirius. "We don't have potions until the last class of the day. I can do it during lunch. That is when I usually do it."

Lily, Remus and Peter had decided to go and look for James and Sirius seeing how it was taking them so long. As the three were rounding the castle towards the Qudditich stadium Lily spotted them and ran up to James. "You two are slower then molasses in bloody January," Lily exclaimed hugging James.

"Glad to see you to, Love," James murmured into Lily's hair. "So what brings you guys out here?"

"We were looking for you," Remus replied. "Lily was getting worried about you. Judging from the pace you guys were setting I would be willing to bet that in a race Wormtail could hit a target five meters a way before you guys could reach the castle from the Quidditch stadium."

"Gee thanks," Peter exclaimed at the complement.

"A bet, Moony," James said as he walks up to them. "James Harry Potter never turns down a bet."

"But what are the wagers?" Sirius piped in.

"Simple," James started with an evil smile on his face. "The loser has to buy Lily some clothes at the next Hogsmead weekend and wear them for the a whole day."

"James Harry Potter, how dare you," Lily screamed. "I will not wear clothes after Black or Pettigrew wear them."

"Fine whoever comes in third has to wear them," Remus broke in. "You can pick them out."

"Fine, but no enlarging or shrinking them," Lily said with an evil grin. "And no robes. You have to follow me every where, except the girls bathroom."

"Agreed," the three boys said at once.

"Perfect, I get my clothes back," James mumbled.

At this Lily whispers into James ear, "I think your going to enjoy this too much."

"Who me?" James muttered in an innocent voice.

"OK you three brave fallows to your mark," Lily yelled conjuring up a target. The three boys took up their position. James and Sirius back down to the Quidditch stadium and Peter five meters from the conjured target with wand out. "Ready," Lily yelled. "Set," Lily held up her wand. "And by the way I like mini skirts. Go." At go Lily shot up a few sparks.

Peter's first shot hit the ground barely two meters in front of him. James and Sirius were running as fast as they could with James in the lead. Sirius got mad and cast a leg lock curse on James which missed but succeeded in slowing James down. Peter wasn't having any luck hitting the target either the furthest he got was four meters and that was by pure luck. Peter got so mad he started casting every spell he knew and blew up the target with a simple spark spell. By this time Sirius and James were almost nose to nose. About ten meters from the steps Sirius tripped James and won.

James and Sirius joined Lily by the side of the steps and the three went to meet Peter and Remus by the Quidditch Pitch to find out who won and who has to wear Lily's clothes. Unnoticed by the five friends a group of ten death eaters were sneaking towards them. "So who won?" James demanded.

"Surprisingly Peter," Remus answered.

"And you, darling," Lily broke in sweetly. "Have to wear my clothes. And buy them next weekend."

"Does this mean your panties too?" James asked hopefully.

"Of course not," Lily yelled smacking James along side the head. "You sicko. You have to buy your own."

By now the Death eaters had come within casting range of the five friends. As dark blue beam came flying at James as Lily and he were discussing the clothes she would be getting all five friends noticed the arrival of the death eaters. "Oh, great not again," James muttered pulling out his wand. "I thought we already dealt with these guys. Peter, please try to hit them and not us." The remaining four friends also pulled out their wands and started to form a small circle well casting spells and counter spells at the Death Eaters.

As the battle continued McGonagal who was in her office having already finished breakfast noticed the flashing lights out her window. When she looked out the window she noticed the group of Death Eaters attacking the students. She runs to the Great Hall to find Dumbledore and quickly explained what was happening at the Quidditch Pitch. When Dumbledore heard this he told the students, "Everyone go to your houses. All teachers to the Quidditch Pitch."

Back at the Quidditch Field Lily suffered another Cruciatis Curse and James did too when he tried to cast a shied to block the curse. "What do we have to have these battles out in the open," Sirius yelled over the screams Lily and James. "There is nothing to hide behind. We have to fight these guys as well as shield ourselves. Last time we at least had the help of wild bludgers."

"Shut up," Remus stated casting a shielding spell and pushing James and Lily out of the way of the curses.

"Stupefy," Peter yelled freezing one of the Deatheaters.

"Good job," James called throwing the same spell at another of the Deatheaters who also fell. By the time that the teachers reached the stadium there were three stunned deatheaters, three suffering the jelly-leg curse and four in the leg lock curse.

"About time you got here," James said in pain as he was supporting Lily.

"How do you attract so much trouble?" McGonagall snapped.

"But," Remus started.

"Save your energy," McGonagall yelled. "Up to the hospital wing all five of you. Someone will be up to talk to you shortly. Now go."

Supporting James and Lily the five slowly made their way to the hospital wing. "Now, Minerva, dear don't be to hard on them," Dumbledore said watching the five friends struggling to get up the stairs. "They did take out ten death eaters. Horace, put these slim balls in a containment field. Minerva, please go and floo Alastor at the ministry. Tell him we have ten more death eaters for him. He'll know what to do."

"Right away, Albus," McGonagall stated walking towards the castle. "Will you go and talk to the five."

"Those five are full of surprises," Dumbledore muttered to himself as he was walking to the castle. "How do they get themselves into so much trouble. They are going to be the death of me. But at least they are taking out some of Voldemorts men in the process. Maybe I can talk to them again about joining. They certainly have the guts and skills for it. The Sorting Hat definitely knew what it was doing when it sorted them. Not a cowardly bone in their body's."

In the hospital wing Madam Pomfrey had pushed together and curtained off five beds and instructed the five friends to lay in them. Lily could tell by the look on her face that Madam Pomfrey was a little worried by the fact that she had seen three of the five in the hospital wing only a month before. She also noticed that Madam Pomfrey was not exactly thrilled by the fact that they could all be difficult patient's.

"Miss Evans, what are you smirking about," Madam Pomfrey exclaimed.

"I was just thinking about the last time I was here," Lily replied.

"Well if you would stop attracting trouble you wouldn't have to be here all the time would you," Madam Pomfrey muttered.

"It is not our fault that the Death eaters seem to have it in for us," Sirius murmured from his bed. He was sitting up on the bed and had a smile on his face. "You would think they would bother someone else for a while. Poor Lily was just recovering from the last run in. And they give her more of the same. Only this time they gave her a bigger dose."
"Shut up, Black," Lily said through gritted teeth realizing exactly how much pain she really was in. That was the strange thing about adrenaline, it could mask pain but for only so long. Lily chanced a glance at James to make sure that he was not in as much pain. To her great relief he was smiling and joking with Remus at the moment.

"So, how are you five doing?" Dumbledore asked coming in to the hospital wing with his eyes twinkling. "I trust that none of you will be asking to leave today."

"Actually," Lily replied from her bed. "I have several N.E.W.T.S. to study for. I do not have time to sit here in bed."

"Miss Evans, you and your friends need your rest," Dumbledore replied. "Besides if you do not know everything you need to know by now a few days rest is not going to make a difference. It is very clear to me that you guys know quite enough already."

"Professor, what about the last Quidditch game," James broke in. "I am the captain. I have to be there."

"Mr. Potter, the game is not for another few days," Dumbledore murmured. "Now tell me about what happened today." The five friends all looked at each other before they all started to explain what had happened at the same time. They only stopped when Dumbledore held up his hand and told them to go one at a time. Finally he got the whole story out including the bet. When the friends told him about the bet he couldn't help laughing. "I was wondering why Miss Evans has been wearing Mr. Potters shirts for the past month. I figured it had to do with her experience with the boggart. So Miss Evans if you haven't been sleeping in your dorm where have you been sleeping?"

"All over," Lily replied trying to keep her eyes open.

"I see," Dumbledore stated with a knowing glint in his eyes. "I think you should get a little sleep. Remus, Sirius and Peter, I would like to speak to the three of you in the hall for a minute."

Lily did not know how long she had been sleeping before she sat bolt upright in the bed. Seeing Lily get up James got off the bed he had been laying on and rushed over to Lily. "Was it another bad one?" James asked pulling Lily towards him. This was the reason that Lily was not getting a lot of sleep. When Lily nodded her head James pulled her closer into him. "It might help if you talk about it," James murmured into Lily's hair while he rubbed her back. "This has something to do with the boggart doesn't it. You have been having these dreams ever since you had the run in."

"It started out alright," Lily sobbed into James chest. "It then turned into my uncle and friends. When I was younger they started to assault me and have been doing it every summer since I started school. I haven't trusted them since then. I'm sorry for being such a little girl."

"Your not," James replied leaning down on the bed and pulling Lily down with him. "Sh. Go back to sleep. I'm here. I won't leave you. Just relax. It will be alright." After a short time Lily was sleeping peacefully again against James. James was just about to doze off when Remus, Sirius and Peter came back to the hospital wing with a deck of Exploding Snap cards and a bunch of candy.

"Wow she's passed out and the two of you are still sleeping together," Sirius exclaimed seeing the pair of them. "So when is the baby coming."

"You just wish you could," James replied.

"Baby..." Lily murmured in her sleep. "Summer... Late..." Everybody just stared at Lily in disbelieve. There was no way that could be Lily talking.

"As I was saying," James interrupted calling every ones attention to himself again. "There is no baby. Anyone for a game of Exploding Snap."

"Sure ," Sirius muttered handing the deck of cards to James who combined them with the Marauders special deck of Exploding Snap deck which was in his pocket. Peter meanwhile had dumped the candy next to Lily and Remus had conjured up a solid service for them to play on.

"Stop..." Lily started murmuring in her sleep. "I won't let you... I will fight you..." James slowly laid her back an her pillow whispering words that no one else could hear into her ear.

After he had laid her back down he ran out of the room to go find Dumbledore. He ran right past Madam Pomfrey who yelled, "You get back here, Potter. Where do you think you are running off to in your condition? Dumbledore told you Quidditch could wait." As soon as James was out of ear shot Madam Pomfrey mumbled to herself, "I'm going to have to strap him down when he gets back." She looked over at the three boys who were trying not to laugh at what they were seeing. "What are you three laughing at? You are to be relaxing so relax."

With that the three boys looked at each other and meekly sat down on the farthest bed to Lily's and started a whispered conversation. "Moony, did you hear what she whispered?" Sirius asked knowing that Remus lupine ears often heard things the others couldn't.

"She said she was going to strap him down when he came back," Remus muttered. "I wonder where James went in such a hurry."

"Left, no right... man I wish I had the map right now," James was thinking to himself while he was running down the hall. "Oh, wait a minute it is right here in my pocket." James whipped out a lump of parchment then wiped out his wand and touching it to the parchment whispered, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." With that a map slowly appeared with dots racing all over it including into each other. "Now where is that old man," James thought to himself scanning the map. Suddenly he saw Snape coming up behind him so James turned around hiding the map behind him. "Oh, it is the grease ball," James stated in a soft voice. "What are you doing here?"

"I was heading to the bathroom," Snape replied. "What are you doing here, Potter."

"What does it look like, Grease ball," James replied with a smirk. "I was just running blindly around the castle looking for you. I wanted to have a little fun and exercise. So what curse do you want today, Snivillus? We're having a special on the leg lock. Two for the price of one."

"Wow. You're actually giving me a choice. I feel honored. But I have to pass today I really have to use the bathroom. If you don't want the house-elves to clean up the mess I suggest you move."

James thought about it for a second then said, "Alright. Just remember I owe you one." With that he stepped a way and watched Snape run down the corridor on the map. Snape was in such a rush and James could hear a lot of girls screaming then Snape screaming in pain. "I got Snivillus without even trying," James said with a smile. Feeling more fear when he had faced the deatheaters James slowly walked to the girls bathroom getting a plan formulized in his head. When he reached the girls bathroom he opened the door slightly and stuck his wand in and muttered a spell that extinguished all the candles for five minutes. He then ran in and grabbed Snape and dragged him out and around the corner.

The girls ran out of the bathroom with wands out ready to cast spells and ran right past the two boys without noticing the two boys. "Where is that grease ball?" One of the girls yelled.

"Thanks, Potter," Snape gasped. "You saved... my life."

"That's twice," James replied with a smirk. "I think we need to call that house-elf. I might have stepped in your puddle. By the way how much did you see?"

Snape turns around and smacked James upside the head. "I was to busy being cursed by those crazy girls to notice," Snape snapped.

"Ah shot. Maybe next time I won't be here to rescue you."

"That'll be the day. The famous James Potter not being around to rescue somebody."

"I would really like to hang around and exchange insults but I have to find the old man of the school."

Just then Dumbledore came up behind them and surprised them by saying, "So that is what the kids call me."

"Professor Dumbledore, sir," James shuttered. "I-"

"Relax, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore muttered. "I thought I told you to stay in the hospital wing. From the looks of things Mr. Snape should be there too."

"But I..." James started.

"He just saved me," Snape jumped in.

"I assume those yelling girls I just passed were part of this," Dumbledore stated calmly.

"Yes, sir," Snape said.

"Mr. Snape, I am going to inform all your professors that you will be in your house on Monday. And I'll talk to the house-elves about putting bathrooms in all the dormitories. You may go." With that Snape ran off. "Now, James. What can this old man do for you?"

"Sir, Lily has been talking in her sleep again. Do you think you can do something about it? That is the only reason I am out of the hospital wing."

"Very well Mr. Potter. Follow me please." Dumbledore turned a corner while James quickly cleared the map before running after Dumbledore.

Back in the hospital wing, the three boys were wrestling over who was going to deal the cards when Madam Pomfrey came bursting out of her office yelling at the boys to stop fighting. "First Potter runs out now you three are fighting. Do I have to toe you three to a bed too?"

All three boys looked at Madam Pompfrey and said together, "No." They then went back to fighting. Then Dumbledore and James came bursting in.

"This is a hospital wing not the Great Hall," Madam Pompfrey yelled. "Unless you have a valid reason to be here get out." With that James tried to leave. "Not you, Potter," Madam Pompfrey exclaimed. "Get back here."

"But I don't have a valid reason," James whined. "I only got hit with a small curse." Madam Pompfrey shock her head walking to a bed and flicked her wand flying James onto the bed where magical straps held him down.

"I swear," Madam Pompfrey roared. "If you ever, ever have a child I will feel sorry for them. Having you as their father. You can not even spend five minutes laying in a simple bed."

As soon as Madam Pomfrey was done Lily a woke with a fright and screamed, "No." With James half way free from his magical bindings started to comfort Lily as best he could. When Lily screamed the other three finally stopped fighting and looked at Lily who was sweating and laying on James crying. "James, it was horrible."

"I brought Dumbledore to help you," James whispered. "Why do you think I am strapped to the bed?"

"Madam Pompfrey, may I use your office?" Dumbledore asked. "I would like to talk to Lily and James privately for a minute."

"Does that mean I have to unstrap him or can I strap him to a chair?" Madam Pomfrey asked hopefully.

"No my dear I need him unstrapped," Dumbledore replied. "I assure you he will not go anywhere. We do not strap students to beds here. Unless it is an extreme case and Mr. Potter here is not an extreme case." With that Madam Pomfrey unstrapped James who carried a very distraught Lily to Madam Pomfrey's office.

"Now, Miss Evans, please tell me exactly when these dreams started and where you have been when you had them?" Dumbledore asked kindly.

"It all started when I first ran into the boggart," Lily stated softly.

"And what did the boggart turn into?" Dumbledore pressed in a calm voice.

"You see," Lily started clinging to James harder. "It turned into Uncle and his friends."

"Why are you afraid of them?" Dumbledore asked gently.

"I... I..." Lily tried to explain but burst into tears and clung harder to James who tried to comfort her.

"Would you like something to drink, Miss Evans," Dumbledore asked calmly. Lily who was still short on breath just nodded her head. Dumbledore waved his wand and three cups appeared. "Here you go Lily," Dumbledore said handing the first cup to Lily. The second cup he handed to James and the third he kept for himself. Lifting his goblet he simply said, "Drink up you two." Lily drank hers all at once while James drank his in sips. "Now, Lily, can you please continue?"

Lily who was still clinging onto James started again, " When I was younger they started to assault me and have been doing it every summer since I started school. I haven't trusted them since then. They never did anything to my sister they just left her a lone. They got drunk every day and they made me strip slowly." She stopped for a second and hugged James harder. "They would make me do this dance. And every time, they would get they got more people to make me dance in front of. And every time, they would drink and I would strip. They threw pebbles at me if I did a poor dance. They would make me strip and dance, even when I was sick."

"I see," Dumbledore replied. "Where have you been sleeping since these dreams started?'

"When ever James and I were cuddling at night," Lily stated loosening her grip on James who was starting to turn blue. "He offered my so much comfort and protection that I was comfortable enough to sleep."

There was a moment of silence before Dumbledore asked, "Did they rape you?"

"Yes," Lily whispered softly.

"That is it." James stormed causing Dumbledore and Lily to jump slightly. "You are staying with my family. I will not have you going back to that hell hole. Sorry, sir."

"James," Dumbledore exclaimed. "That is not completely it. I still have more questions."

"How many more are there, Professor?" James asked seeing that Lily was starting to fall asleep.

"Not that many," Dumbledore replied. "Lily was it just your uncle and his friends?"

"No, he would get complete strangers off the street, as long as they had money. The rate was £10 for the first hour, and £7 for an extra hour. Some nights I didn't get any sleep. But every night, my uncle was first. He never used a condom. And one time, I got pregnant one school break, and he smacked me for it. And he still didn't stop, he didn't care about anything except money and his own pleasure. The baby came at the end of the summer, and my baby was given up for adoption. He made me strip and dance for everybody that paid." Lilly said before she fell asleep.

"James, what you just heard, you must never tell. Lily will not remember anything that we said." Dumbledore said in a calm voice. "You better bring her to bed, and don't worry, she won't have any dreams tonight. Although if it makes you more comfortable you may stay with her."

"Thank you, sir," James said standing up. "Do you still want us to stay in the hospital or may we all go back to Gryffindor?"

"No, not tonight," Dumbledore replied. "I want to make sure the potion wears off completely."

"Potion, what potion?" James asked in disbelieve.

"The drink that I gave Lily is a very simple potion," Dumbledore stated in his still calm voice. "You see, James, it slowly calms a person until they fall a sleep. When the person wakes up they will have no memory of what happened."

"I see," James said yawning.

"You, James, were given a simple sleeping potion. The effects are slowly setting in. You will remember what was said. I do however expect you not to say anything. You will guard this secret as you guard Remus' secret. You also will not have any dreams tonight. You should be falling a sleep..." Before Dumbledore could finish James fell into a deep sleep like Lily's. Dumbledore flicked his wand and both Lily and James were levitated to the bed. Where Dumbledore let them stay cuddling together. Madam Pompfoy sighed seeing that finally all five of the friends were sound a sleep. Madam Pompfrey had given the other three boys a sleeping drought so they would settle down and fall a sleep.

Read and review. Why are my old faithful not reviewing. Was the last chapter that bad. I don't care if you send flames just please review. Or did I update to soon. Tell me how I am doing. I like in put good or bad I do not care. The next chapter will only be posted if I get six reviews. Ideas are always welcome.

Preview: Next chapter we will find out what James will wear of Lily's. And how much he will spend. The joys of clothes shopping. The Bet and Surprise. Stay tuned.

EboniteEvans: Thanks for the review. Glad you like the longer chapter

Lily and James Love 4 ever : Only if you want more singing and if I can think of a good song. I borrow the tune and change the words. Shame on me.

Weasleygrlz07 : Sorry for the lack of smacking this chapter. Maybe there will be more next chapter if they get out of the hospital.

a/n: If you like the drugging of the drinks let me know. Maybe James will take a page out of Dumbledore's book.