The Almost Prank
Chapter. 9
a/n: I know I said that in last chapter I said I wanted six reviews before I posted again, but due what was in last chapter I could not leave it that way. So even though I did not get six reviews I have decided to update anyway. For all of you that got freaked out by last chapter I am sorry. When I write I delve into a lot of human experience. however I can promise that there will only be slight references to it in future chapters if any. Again I am sorry.
The sun shined through the stain glass windows of the hospital wings where five beds were in use. One of these beds had two occupants in them that, although you could not tell that there were two people in the bed unless you took a close look then you would notice that an untidy black haired boy's head was laying on the pillow and a blondish red haired girl's head was laying on his chest. The two occupants of this bed were cuddling that close that it was hard to determine were one ended and the other began. As the sunbeams slowly crept across the floor and landed on this bed the boy slowly opened his eyes against the bright colors filtering through the stained-glass windows. Noticing that Lily was intertwined so closely with him James looked around the room not wanting to disturb the girl that was in arms. James slowly and softly starts to laugh at the sight of his three sleeping friends in three of the other beds. At James laugh Lily slightly loosened her hold on him. When Lily loosened her hold James was able to wiggle out of her grasp and stretch has legs'
As James wondered around not paying attention to where he was going, still feeling tired from the potion, he ran into a metal cart that had not been there the night before. Looking down at the cart he saw that there were six pairs of clothes. He was a little confused as to why there were six pairs of clothes until he noticed that Snape was in a bed also. "Poor, Snivelous," James thought to himself. "I save him from the girl's and he still gets himself hexed." Slowly James picked up Lily's clothes and held them up to himself realizing that they were several sizes to small for him. "Man what did I get myself into," he thought. "At least she has good taste in colors. This shade of pink isn't that bad. I'll at least be pretty. I wonder if she'll let me pick out some of the clothes. I have to remember to floo mum and dad and ask for some more money. I am almost out." Slowly and quietly so he didn't wake anyone in the room he refolded the clothes and took them over to the bed he had just left and placed them on the bed. James went and did the same with the clothes for his friends. However when he got to Snapes he smiled evilly and cast a silent spell changing the grey t-shirt into bright pink and the black jeans to white. He then left a note on top of the clothes. The note simple said, "The next time you decide to use the girls bathroom these should make things easier on you."
When his clothes were the only ones left James looked around for a private place to change. Not finding one he pulled a few of the curtained partitions into a makeshift dressing room. As soon as James had stripped his shirt off Lily started mumbling and crying. At the sound of her crying James forgot about his shirt and ran to her. Sitting on the bed next to her he pulled Lily to him and started rubbing her back whispering words of comfort to her. After Lily had calmed down James helped her out of bed and grabbed her clothes as he started leading her over to the makeshift dressing room.
When they reached the makeshift dressing room James left Lily behind the curtains and stepped out. "I'll be right on the other side," James told her. "You'll be alright. Don't worry." Seeing James clean shirt Lily slipped it on, she had started to depend on the comfort and security that James shirts offered. As she stepped out from behind the curtains James smiled seeing that she was wearing shirt. Then realization set in as he remembered that dirty clothes got magiced a way as soon as you took them off and he would have to wear her shirt which would barely reach his belly button and was pink. At least it was a light pink and he had already put on his black jeans. so unlike Snape the pink in the shirt would not be as noticeable. Although he would have preferred the shirt to go down further. With a resolve gained from years of strict but loving upper class upbringing he stepped back behind the curtains and slipped Lily's shirt on.
As he stepped back out from behind the curtain Remus burst out laughing at the sight of James in the much to short pink shirt. "Just stuff it, Moony," James exclaimed smiling at his friend. "I could have used your shirt and made you wear Lily's."
"No I would steal Padfoot's and make him wear it," Remus said as he threw his empty goblet at him.
Just then Sirius woke up and looked at James and muttered sleepily, "Nice shirt, Potter. Are you sure it isn't Lily's."
"Actually it is," James said with a smirk. "Do you like it, because I was thinking." With this he flicked his wand and every bodies shirts became the same color. "It could be a Marauders thing. See now we all have the same shirt."
"That is low," Sirius muttered picking up his shirt.
"You should see grease balls outfit," James said laughing.
"James," Lily exclaimed smacking him.
"But, Dearest Lily," James explained as fast as he could. "He went into the girls bathroom. So I just had to help him a little. So I changed the color of his clothes. Next time maybe he won't get hexed as much and maybe he'll be able to see more." At this the other Marauders burst out laughing. "I do not fancy having to save him all the time. I do have a reputation to up hold."
"At least you didn't hex him," Lily relented, "Or did you?"
"Of course not, darling," James replied.
"How much did you see?" Sirius asked with a smile on his face.
"Nothing, but a couple dozen half naked girls," James replied starting to back a way as Lily advanced on him. "When I went in they completely ignored Grease ball over there and started flirting with me."
"You what?" Lily stormed. "I thought you loved me. Instead you go running off. Flirting with half naked girls in the girls bathroom no less. How dare you go in the girls bathroom. Next your going to tell me you snogged them."
"Let me explain," James started seeing that Lily had taken out her wand and was pointing it at him.
"I am not amused," Lily said as she kept her wand pointed at him. "I am not your property. I am not something to be used and thrown away."
"James mate, you are a dead man," Sirius muttered diving behind the nearest bed. "Remus, you better take cover too. This is too good to miss."
"Gee thanks for the support you two," James mumbled as he backed into a corner.
"Your welcome," Remus said from under neath the bed that Siruis was hiding behind.
"Lily, now please let me explain," James pleaded as fast as he could.
Lily thought about it for a second before demanding, "Then explain. But if your story doesn't match with Snapes I'll hex you so bad you will be stuck in here for the rest of the year."
"I ran to get Dumbledore because you were talking in your sleep," James explained as fast as he could. "When I ran into Snape. He was in a rush to get to the bathroom. We talked for a couple minutes. Then he ran off and went into the girls bathroom. The girls started screaming. So I went to save him. I went to the door and cast a spell to put out the candles. I rushed in there and pulled him out. Then we ran into Dumbledore. That's the truth. Please don't hex me. I love you." After he finished his explanation James burst out crying at Lily's feet. seeing how upset James was Lily lowered her wand and comforted him.
"Lupin, go wake Snape up," Lily demanded as she rose and pointed her wand at Remus. "Lets see if their stories match up. James is not out of the clear yet. Sirius, get up of the floor and act like the man you claim to be."
Remus walked over to Snape who was still sleeping. "Grease ball, Grease ball, Lily wants to make out with you," Remus whispered thankful that Lily and James didn't hear. Snape didn't move so Remus tried again. "Grease ball, Grease ball, WAKE UP!"
Snape bolted up stating, "Where is Lily and has she dumped Potter yet?"
"Not yet," Sirius yelled still underneath the bed. "We need your side of the story on what happened yesterday. Then she might just dump him."
"Sirius, you are not helping matters," Lily murmured turning her wand onto Sirius. "Severus, tell me what happened yesterday. Tell me now." Lily started turning to face Snape with her wand pointed at him.
"OK," Snape replied sitting on his bed. "I was in a rush to use the bathroom. I ran into Potter. HE offered me the choose of curses that he would use on me. I told him none that day and ran off around the corner. I accidently took a wrong turn into the girls bathroom. A couple girls came out of their stalls with wands out and ready to hex. When suddenly the lights went out. I wet myself thinking one of the girls did so they could secretly hex me. I felt myself being dragged out into the hall. I realized it was Potter was saving me when we were in the hall. Dumbledore came and told me to go to my house. Then he and Potter walked off." Snape looked around and saw Potter. "Ah the high and mighty James Potter reduced to a whimpering baby on the floor." Snape burst out laughing at the sight.
Sirius finally getting out from under the bed exclaimed, "You better be thankful James was there. Who know what the girls would do to you." Snape looked shocked for he never heard Sirius talk like that to him. "And by the way," Sirius continued. "How much did you see?"
"I-" Snape started.
"Don't you dare finish." Lily demanded as she pointed her wand more warningly at Snape. "And You." She pointed her wand at Sirius as he dived under the bed. "Should know-" Lilly started but was cut off.
"James Potter! Get in to bed now!" A voice rang through the wing.
"Mmm. Me sleep you quiet. Don't make me hex you." Peter mumbled in his sleep.
"And you Miss Evans, put that wand a way," Madam Pomfrey yelled. "All of you go back to bed and go to sleep. This is a hospital not a Common Room. I would expect better out of you, Evans. Being head Girl and all. And to think you wanting to be a healer. I will pity your patients if do become one. I don't want to hear another word out of any of you until breakfast. Potter, why are you wearing Miss Evans shirt?"
"I stole his shirt," Lily answered for James who had fallen back to sleep as soon as his head had hit the pillow. She then cuddled back into James and fell asleep clutching onto her shirt that James was wearing.
Later that morning in the Gryffindor Common Room the five friends were greeted by applause and then laughter from the rest of the Gryffindors. One of the boys yelled across the Common Room, "Hey, James, what is up with the pink?"
James walked over to the boy swiftly but calmly. Looked the boy straight in the eyes and said, "Keep laughing. This is your girlfriends shirt."
"Hey, James I thought that was my shirt," Lily yelled half way across the room. "Are you calling me a cheater?" The Common Room died down instantly as Lily stalked across the room.
"No," James replied. "But he did mumble something under his breath a bout you."
"He did did he," Lily stormed turning on the other boy. So quickly that no one had time to stop her Lily grabbed the other boy and started smacking him. As soon as Lily stopped smacking him the boy made a shot for the entrance hole. The boy ran out of the tower and no one saw him until launch.
The next day all the Gryffindors were in high spirits because of the Quidditch final which they were favored to win. If they won this match they would win the Quidditch Cup for the second year in a row. The whole of Gryffindor had donned red apparel in support of their team. To no ones surprise Lily was wearing one of James old uniform shirts that she had found at the very bottom of his trunk, she was also carrying a red blanket with a gold lion on it.
All classes had been cancelled for the last Quidditch match. Shortly before the match James left Lily at the breakfast table in the very capable hands of his friends and headed to the Gryffindor dressing room where he was busily trying to gather his thoughts when Remus walked in to the great surprise of James. "So, Prongs, spill it," Remus started.
"What are you talking about?" James asked absent mindedly from the bench he was sitting on. He was surprised that Remus had come into the locker room which he had never done before even though he never missed a game.
"Why have you been so distanct the past couple days?" Remus asked going over and sitting next to James and draping an arm over James shoulder.
"I have just had a lot on my mind," James muttered. "This is the last match I will be playing in. I'm going to miss it. Now stop answering a question with a question."
"There is more to it then that," Remus pressed.
"Your not going to let it go until I tell you what you want to hear," James muttered more as a statement then a question.
"That is pretty much how it is. So spill it."
"Please tell me how to propose to Lily," James begged from his spot on the bench.
"Is that all," Remus replied trying not to laugh. "Just ask her."
"But what if she doesn't want to marry me."
"You'll never know the answer until you ask her. Tell you what. Ask her after the match. We'll provide every thing else."
"Will you be with me for support?"
"Do you want me to be under the invisibility cloak to kick you in the butt if you chicken out?"
"That and I might need help if she says no. She has an incredible temper. She scares even Dumbledore when she gets started."
"Alright. Good luck," Remus said giving James a brotherly hug before he got up to leave. "I thought we were all goners in the hospital wing and there were five of us. I would never leave you a lone to face that by yourself."
As Remus exited the dressing room the rest of the Gryffindor players started drifting in one by one. All of the players were in very high spirts knowing that this year they had a good chance of getting the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup, something that they had not done for years. "This is the last game of the season," James started. "The last game that I will ever play with you. We've built a pretty good team and have pretty good strategies. We even got a few cheerleaders. We have not come this far to loss. We have not come this far to head up to the Gryffindor tower as losers. We have two great beaters."
"Ah shucks you shouldn't have," both beaters mumbled at once.
"We have three excellent chasers," James continued. "One of the best keepers that this team has ever had. All of which will be returning next year. All of use together make one extremely great team. This is our day. Not Slytherin. But ours. As soon as we step out these doors we will be playing in wind cold and what looks like rain. We have played through worse conditions and still survived. We have to be a head by 50 points before I can catch the Snitch. And I will catch it. I will do everything in my power to stop Slytherins seeker. Lets get out there and kick butt."
The Gryffindor locker room broke into cheering as the whole team started yelling, "G-R-Y-F-F-I-N-D-O-R." The team then left the dressing room and headed onto the Quidditch field where they meet the Slytherin team who was coming from the opposite end of the field. Both teams meet in the center of the field and the captains shook hands before the teams mounted their brooms and at Madam Cheery's whistle took flight. James soared above the other players looking for the little Golden Snitch. Down below hundreds of students were screaming either for Gryffindor or Slytherin not paying attention to the two Seekers flying high above the other players. Suddenly one of the Slytherin beaters hit a Bludger towards James who was racing towards one end of the field. Seeing the Bludger James lashed out with his foot and kicked it in a random direction.
After the kick James heard loud cheering because Gryffindor had just scored the first goal of the game. The game went on pretty uneventful with quite a few penalty shots against Slytherin. When Gryffindor was 60 points ahead James spotted the Snitch right by Lily's head as he started to dive towards the Snitch the Slytherin Seeker also noticed it. One of the Gryffindor beaters hit a Bludger towards the Slytherin Seeker which distracts him and James continues his dive towards Lily.
"James, get back up there and find the Snitch," Lily yelled not realizing that the Snitch is only inches from her left ear. James almost right in front off Lily at this point reached toward Lily's left ear and grabbed the Snitch effortlessly. However James had leaned to far forward and fell off his broom and onto Lily who had fallen backward into the next row.
Taking advantage of the fact that he was on top of Lily James leaned towards her and gave her a kiss. "We won." James said pulling a way from Lily's lips and looking into her eyes. "You know you are beautiful, Love. Will you marry me?"
Not believing her ears Lily simply stared into James eyes at a last for words. "Way to go, mate," Sirius muttered from the side of the two of them. "You rendered the great Lily Evans speechless.
Remus who was sitting on the other side of the pair simple shook his head in disbelief. This was not what they had had planned at all. "Sirius, shut your mouth," Remus scolded getting up and dragging a reluctant Peter and Sirius with him to join the rest of the Gryffindor on the field who were already celebrating. "We'll see the two of you on the field," Remus threw over his shoulder.
As the three friends left James looked into Lily's eyes and with a smile and another kiss asked, "Shall we join them?" James grabbed his broom which was still hovering above Lily's head mounting it he held out his hand to Lily.
"Yes," Lily replied finally finding her voice. Lily took the hand that James held out to her and let him pull her onto his broom with him. The two of them fly down to join the rest of their house mates in the celebration. As soon as they landed Dumbledore called from the teachers stands for the Gryffindor team to come and get the Quidditch Cup.
James smiled down at Lily and mounted his broom while the rest of his teammates did the same. He then held out his hand to Lily and again pulled onto his broom with him. The Gryffindore team flew up to Dumbledore with James in the lead with Lily on the back of his broom. After James took the large silver cup from a smiling Dumbledore he lead his team in a victory lap before he handed the cup to a surprised McGonagalle. James then directed his broom towards the castle. As he flew up to the castle he could just make out McGonagalle saying, "That Potter can never stay in one spot for very long. He always has to be on the go."
As James landed the broom on one of the castle towers Lily sobbed looking a way from James, "You should know the truth. About my past. About the baggage that I have."
"The day I went to get Dumbledore," James started in a genital tone. "You were talking in your sleep. I was worried about you. When Dumbledore came he took us into Madam Pomfrey's office. There he gave you something and you told us what happened."
"Then you know," Lily sobbed still not looking at James. "You know everything."
"Yes. It doesn't matter. I still want to be with you. I want to protect you. I never want to let you go. I'll help you find your baby if you want to find it. I still want to marry you Lil. I want you to come and live with me and my parents at the end of term. You don't have to go back to that house. I want you to be happy. I will do any thing to make you happy Lil." Lily who still wasn't looking at James started to cry in earnest at James word. When Lily started crying James pulled her into him and said, "Lily, please look at me."
As Lily turned her face to James he brushed the tears from her face and smiled down into her eyes. "It will be alright, Lil. I promise. Everything is going to be alright. They will never hurt you again."
"Who else knows?" Lily asked burying her head into James shoulder.
"I haven't told anyone. No one knows besides Dumbledore and myself. I haven't even told Sirius. This is something that is up to you to share with whomever you choose."
"Why, James? Why?"
"Why what?"
"Knowing all you know about me. Why do you still want to marry me?"
"Because I love you and want to be with you. I figured on Saturday we could take a detour into a jewelry shop and pick out a ring."
"Yes, James. I'll marry you. I would love to stay with you and your family." When Lily said this, James brushed his lips on top of her head marveling in her smell and letting her cry until she was done. He knew from his recent experience that it was always better to let someone cry themselves out and be there for them instead of pushing them not to cry. Lily had taught him that and he was glad that she was letting him return the favor. When Lily started shivering in James arms he decided that they should probably go in before she caught a cold. How anyone could wear a skirt in this weather was beyond James but that was what Lily was wearing. "Lil, we should go in now," James muttered softly. "It's getting a little cool and I don't think you want to get sick. Besides we should probably get to the party before someone starts missing us."
"I suppose," Lily replied through red eyes. Although she had stopped crying a little bit a go James could still detect a trace of sadness in her eyes. After James had climbed onto his broomstick he held out his hand and helped Lily on behind him.
"I could really get used to this," James thought to himself. He liked the feel of the wind rushing through his hair and having Lily's arm wrapped around him. The ride was over to quickly as all they had to do was fly off the castle tower and to the bottom of the steps. "If you want I can take you up some other time," James muttered rapidly when they landed. "We have a big backyard. That is where I first learned how to fly."
Lily couldn't help it so started laughing. He was so cute when he got nervous. James would start talking real fast and then start rambling. It was one of the things that had finally won her over. She remembered how infuriating it had been at first. She still got upset when he would do it to get out of trouble for being late but there was something endearing about the way he did it when he was nervous. It showed his vulnerable side. The side that he did not let a lot of people see. "I would like that," Lily replied with a smile.
a/n: Sorry this is so long and we didn't even get to Hogsmead. Please please please review. I was so upset that only one person reviewed last chapter. However I can not totally blame those of you that did not review. Last chapter did deal with a very difficult subject. I am begging you this time to review. Even if you don't like it. Let me know. I am at an impasse. Should I finish the story? Leave the story where it is? Or remove it entirely? Please let me know. I was hoping to at least hear from my faithful reviews but some of them did not even review. Again I am sorry for last chapter.