The Almost Prank
Chapter 10
The Saturday after the Quidditch match James, Sirius, Remus, Peter and Lily were witting at the Gryffindor table enjoying a quick breakfast before they went out for the last Hogsmead trip. As the owls started to arrive Peter noticed the Potter families Snowy owl carrying a red envelope. "Watch out, Potter," Peter said ducking underneath the table.
Not realizing what was coming James who had been deep in conversation with Remus looked up at the sound of Peter's voice noticed the owl and grimaced. By this time most of the Great Hall had covered their ears and were cowering under the table. Knowing that he had to face the inevitable James waited for the owl and meekly opened it. He was used to getting howlers from his mum at school. His mum tended to go a little overboard with howlers and would send one about every other week. James however had no idea what this one was about. As he opened the howler he cringed as his mothers magnified voice rang through the Great Hall, "James Harry Potter, what are you thinking? Asking a girl to marry you before we have even meet her. How dare you? Where are your manners? You should be ashamed of yourself. I can't believe you did this. We will be coming up on Sunday to meet this girl."
James smiled as the howler started tearing itself up and burst into flame. "That wasn't so bad," James muttered with a smile. "Come out, Peter, it is all over. I can't say I was surprised. I was kind of expecting it. Mum was getting bored, having no howlers to send. Lil, I'm sorry you had to witness that."
"Come on, Peter, get out from under the table," Sirius muttered dragging Peter out from under the table. "It is all done with. You can be such a git. We have to get going. We have a lot to do and if your going to hide all day you can just stay here." With that the friends left dragging Peter behind them who was screaming in fright.
As they entered Hogsmead they wandered down the busy main street and around a corner at the end of town. While this street was deserted it contained many very expensive shops all glittering in the morning sun. Walking to the end of this road James lead his friends into a very classy Jewelry story which was lined with display cases of rings. There were at least a thousand different types. "I don't believe you are forcing all of us to go with you, mate," Peter groaned.
"If you don't like it go," Remus said turning on Peter. "We are not forcing you to stay."
"James," Lily muttered looking around the shop in wonder. "The cheapest thing in this place would cost a fortune. We should go somewhere else."
"You can be a silly one," James muttered into Lily's ear. "Look her comes Hattie. She'll help you pick out the perfect ring."
"Hattie," James called to a very attractive older slender witch. "Lily needs help picking out a ring. I trust you will know the ring that we need."
"Oh yes, Mr. Potter," the woman replied coming up to James. "How are your parents anyway? Haven't seen them for a while."
"They are fine," James said with a smile. "They will be up tomorrow."
The woman smiled as she headed to the back room. After a little while the woman returned carrying five ring boxes. "I think that one of these should work," The woman said setting the ring boxes down on the table that Lily was sitting at. As the woman opened the first box Lily gasped. The ring inside was gorgeous. There was a diamond in the middle of no less then seven red rubies. The band was nothing but breath taking. It was both white and yellow gold twisted together making a smooth rope.
"You have out done yourself, Hattie," James exclaimed seeing Lily's face. "I believe you have found the one she wants. We'll take it."
"She ain't even tried it on yet," Hattie admonished. "Your mum and dad would be very upset if you didn't let her try it on." With this she handed the ring to Lily who slipped it on her finger and gasped. It was perfect The red rubies set the diamond off to perfection. The white and yellow gold complemented the rubies and made them shine brightly.
"See it is perfect for her," James replied. "I believe we will take it now."
"Shall I put it on your families account then?" Hattie asked with a smile. "Or will you be paying for it now?"
"I am paying now," James replied. "Don't need anymore problems with mum and dad. Not with them coming up tomorrow. By the way is there anything that needs to be picked up. Dad said something about needing a package picked up."
"Yeah right," Remus said into his hand.
"Wants to calm your mum down," Sirius added with a smirk.
"There is a package that your dad asked me to hold onto him," Hattie said reflectively. "Said you would be coming in for it sometime. I'll get it just a minute."
As the sales witch left Lily looked James square in the eye. "She knows you pretty well," Lily muttered. "What do you bring all your dates here?"
"She is an old family friend," James said with a smile. "We buy all our jewelry from her. If you need anything Hattie is the one to find it."
"Here you go James," Hattie interrupted handing James a large square box. "Don't let this one get a way. The two of you were made for each other. You might want to check out the store around the corner next. I believe they have what you are looking for."
"That was weird," Lily said under her breath as the five friends left the jewelry store.
As the friends entered the shop that Hattie had told them about Lily noticed that it was full of muggle clothing by all the expensive designers. As Lily walked around looking at all the clothes James and the rest of the Marauders went and sat in a couple of chairs against the wall. As Lily was looking at the clothes was unaware that everything she showed great interest in was being levitated to the cash register by James. After about an hour Lily went over to the boys with a downtrodden expression on her face. "What's wrong, sweety?" James asked when he saw her excretion.
"I always wanted this kind of stuff," Lily muttered. "But it is so expensive. I can't possible let you buy any of it and I can't afford it."
"Nonsense," James replied. "Wait here for a minute. I have to go pay. I'll be right back." As James got up to go to the register Lily was numb. She hadn't brought anything over but when she followed James with her eyes she noticed a huge pile of boxes at the register. They were already wrapped and Lily had no idea what was in any of them. "So," James said when he rejoined the group. "You ready to go. They are sending the
to the castle. They'll be waiting when we get there."
As the friends walked back to the main road Lily was totally stumped. What was James playing at? Those things weren't there before they came into the shop yet they were at the counter when James went to pay. "I think," James started. "That you need new school robes. Plus you will need some dress she robes. Mum and dad always have parties. If I know them the only reason they are coming up tomorrow is to start making arrangements for the engagement ball. Come on we have one more shop to go to."
"James," Sirius started. "We should probable leave the two of you a lone. The three of us will go and get supplies. We'll meet you at the three broom sticks in a hour."
"Sure thing," James replied taking Lily's hand. The two groups broke up and Lily allowed James to lead her from one shop to another picking up one thing after another. She had no idea what James parents were like or what they thought was appropriate dress apparel for a party. Much less a ball. She had never been to a ball in her live and did not know what to expect.
The next morning dawned bright and warm. To say that Lily was nervous was an understatement. She had no idea what to expect from James parents. She had a pretty good idea that they were fairly well of from the way that James carried himself and the fact that James had thrown money around the previous night. She wanted to make a good impression on them but had no idea what to expect. "What should I expect," Lily asked Remus as she sat next to him with her Ruins book. "I want to make a good impression on them. What are they like?"
"Be yourself," Remus muttered pouring over his Arithmacy book. "They'll love you. Not an unaccepting bone in their bodies."
"Lil, din't worry about my parents," muttered James coming down from the boys dormitory. "You'll be fine. They will love you because I love you."
"You should be studying for our Ruins test on Monday," Lily exclaimed.
"And you should go change out of my shirt," James countered. "It isn't like I didn't buy you your own shirts yesterday. Come to think about it. I do believe I almost bought one of everything in the store."
"Fine," Lily exclaimed throwing her Ruins book down and stalking up to the boys dorm to get changed. At the door she turned on James and snapped, "Not all of us can get our homework done in twenty minutes like you and Sirius."
"What is her problem?" James asked Remus who was smirking behind his book.
"If you have to ask me, mate." Remus murmured. "You are not as smart as we all thought you were. Think about it. You ask her to marry you. Your parents are coming up. We have exams starting monday. She is nervous and you are not helping. She wants to make a good impression on them. She was down here using me as a sounding board."
"Well they aren't going to be here for another hour," James muttered getting up. "I'll go talk to her and see what I can do."
"That is about the smartest thing you have said so far today," Remus exclaimed.
"James do something about that woman," Sirius yelled running down into the Common Room followed closely by Peter. "You know what she is doing up there. She is actually cleaning the room. She threw us out and all of the clothes that were on the floor."
"She has gone mad," Peter added.
"She is worse then your mum before a party." Sirius continued.
James couldn't help it. The look on his two friends faces wad priceless, he started laughing, "You two can;t be serious. It can't be that bad."
As James finished his sentence he was interrupted by a shrill voice that yelled. "James Potter, get up here right now. Why do you have candy wrappers all over the floor? Get up here right now."
"To think you get to live with that for ever now," Sirius muttered.
"She is just nervous," Remus reminded James. "After she meets your parents it will all settle down."
"I'll go talk to her," James said trying to sound courages when in all honesty he was scared out of his mind. What was that old saying. Something about men marrying women that reminded them of their mothers. If that was how things worked James had found the right person for him. Lily had a temper just like his mum's and wasn't afraid to show it.
"Sirius Black, what is the meaning of all these vials under the bed," Lily yelled out. "And Peter Petigrew, your books are spread all over the floor under your bed. Honestly."
"Watch out Remus your the only one left," Sirius mumbled from the floor. "She has been staying in our room for the past month. Oh great. She is having a menstrual moment. We are doomed for the next three days or so."
"I heard that, Black," Lily muttered coming down the stairs with her arms full of books. "Look at this. Just look at it. Most of these books belong in the library. Where do you think I find them? I find them stuffed under Peter's bed. I find it very hard to believe that Peter would be getting all these books. So Remus that leaves you. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Ah..." Remus stammered.
"that's where that book got to,"Sirius exclaimed grabbing a book off the top of the pile. "I was looking for it. Thanks for finding it."
"Since I am not going to get a straight answer from any of you I will just take them to the library," Lily muttered turning to go into the corridor.
"No we'll take them," all four boys said hurriedly. They had hidden certain things inside the books that they didn't Lily to find. "She has gone off the deep end," Peter muttered while all four walked to the library. "That was close. If she looked inside them.."
"She would have killed us, if your parents found them. And i thought it was your ideal to hide them in the books." Sirius said, as the four boys took a detour to a empty class room.
"She has gone completely mental," Peter added taking Wonderful World of Witches. "How many magazines are there? And how are we going to sneak them back?"
"...This girl is.." Sirius started but was stopped by Peeves.
Peeves looked around and saw the four friends and broke out in song. "Four friends in a room. Four friends are looking at nudes. One friend is looking at a dumb blond. One is looking at a red head. Maybe he wants Evens. Wolf boy is looking at... Um what are you looking at...Oh. Wolf boy is looking at a brunettes. And the dead man over there," Peeves continued pointing at James. "If Evens the future Potty ever saw, you can't run fast fast enough to live." Peeves saw that the four boys were too interested in the magazines to really care, so he floated by 'Wolf Boy' and looked over his shoulder to watch the moving pictures.
"You sure the boys are in here?" Lily asked Nearly Headless Nick.
"Yes, Miss. Evens, they were carrying a pile of books each." Nearly Headless Nick replied as he fixed his head.
"Thanks." Lily said as she walked to the door, as Nearly Headless Nick followed. She opened the door and started to talk. "I thought I.." But stopped as she saw what they were looking at. "What do the bloody hell do you think you are doing? Remus I can understand it from you. Seeing how you are so depressed and don't think you will ever get a girl friend. But I know different. Black! Just a couple of nights ago didn't you say you wanted to sleep with me before I smacked you upside the head," Lily screamed.
"Why do you think he was looking at redheads?" Peeves asked knowing that he would get his head bitten off.
"Peeves," Lily screamed even louder. "You were in on it to. I'll tell Dumbledore. He'll have you thrown out of here so fast you won't be able to pack a single magazine. Nearly Headless Nick, what are you doing you can go into the girls dorm when ever you want. And I don't really care now."
"Yes, Miss Evens," Nearly Headless Nick mumbled floating out of the door. "I wonder what dorm I should go to?"
"Try Slytherin," Lily screamed at the door which Dumbledore and Mr. and Mrs. Potter had just stepped through.
There was a moment of awkward silence before Mr. Potter saw the magazines and exclaimed, "That is where my magazines went to."
"Richard Charlie Warrick Potter," a feminine voice screamed. "You had those all along."
"But, dear, I only had them for the articles," Mr. Potter exclaimed.
"Yeah good one dad," James said smiling. "I was reading the articles, Lil. I wasn't looking at the pictures."
"Boys will be boys," Dumbledore stated picking up a magazine and flipping through it.
"Shut up," the two women screamed pointing their wands at all six of the men and Peeves who was still looking at a picture. "You u should all be ashamed of yourselves," Lily yelled advancing on the men. "I can't believe you guys."
"Lil, please," James muttered backing up with his hands raised as if to protect himself. Seeing the look on both of the women's faces the rest of the men decided to follow James example and they all started backing towards the wall. "Don't be mad."
"Don't be mad," Lily screamed. "Don't be mad he says. I am not mad. I am furious. Don't be mad, why shouldn't I be mad. Explain that to me, James Harry Potter." Lily now had her wand right against James.
"In here, James my boy," Mr. Potter said from inside a broom closet as he and Remus pulled James in with them. As they shut the door all of the magazines flew under the door.
They could just make out the whispered "Lumos," and they knew that the men were looking at the magazines again. So Lily decided to lock them all in.
"So you most be Lily Evens," Mrs. Potter said pulling up a seat to the door and sitting down. "We might as well have a sit down. They will be done in a little while. At least I know that you are more then capable of keeping James and his friends in line."
"Sorry," Lily started staring at the elegantly dressed women next to her. "Yes, I'm Lily. Sorry about this. They were suppose to be taking some books to the library. Obviously they got side tracked."
"Obviously," Mrs. Evens replied with a smirk. "So it was the old hide the magazines in the books trick. Remind me to smack Richard and Albus for that. I wonder if they are getting hungry. It is almost lunchtime. Should we let them out or not."
"I think we should make them apologize first," Lily exclaimed with a gleam in here eyes. "If they don't apologize then they can just stay in there."
"First we have to get the magazines," Mrs. Potter muttered pointing her wand at the door. "On three. Ready?"
"Ready," said Lily following Mrs. Potter's lead.
"One... two... three," Mrs. Potter murmured. On three both women called out, "Accio magazines." About a hundred magazines zoomed into the room from the under the closet door.
"Hey, I was reading that," Dumbledore muttered.
"Sure you were, Albus," Mrs. Potter exclaimed in disbelief. " And I'm the Head Mistress. Are you guys ready to come out and have lunch like civilized men?"
"Linda, come on," Dumbledore pleaded.
""Now, Albus," Mrs. Potter began. "You must set a good example for the young. By hiding in a broom closet with my son and his friends looking at these magazines you are not doing it. I think I should just go and talk to granmere."
"You wouldn't," Dumbledore said in a low voice.
"Try me," Linda Potter said with a smile. "Now Lily and I have a deal for all of you. You all apologize and we let you out to eat. If you don't we will keep you in there and have tea and cakes. What do you say?'
"I was only readingthe articles," James mutterd. "Honest I was."
"Likely story, James," Linda Potter said. "You are not only dealing with Lily now. You are also dealing with your mother. Apologize now or sit until you do."
"I could always use Ligilamancy on you guys," Lily supplied. "It could be fun to find out what is inside your dirty little minds. You would still have to apologize though."
"Hear that, Linda," Mr. Potter supplied sounding very impressed. "All we have to do is let her look in our minds and you will know the truth."
"Fine," Linda Potter replied. "The deal is this. You let Lily look into your minds and apologize then we all go to lunch. That sounds fair to me. How about you Lily, does it sound fair to you?"
Read and review. Please please review. I love to know what you think.
a/n: Also we are holding a contest. In a review please let me know who you think would have the worst thoughts. The candidates are the ones that are in the closet. They are: Dumbledore, Mr. Potter(aka:Richard Charlie Warrick Potter), James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. The ones that guess right will get chapter 11 e-mailed to them. I do have chapter 11 almodst totally written already so it shouldn't take long once you get review in if you are the winner.
Rules:
1. Registered member.
2. E-mail address included in review. The address that FF gives is not a derict e-mail. If I respoond with that one it gets put on for everyone. Which would defeat the purpose.
3. Only allowed one guess.
4. No asking a-full-metal-war.
Hint: It may not be who you think.
Contest runs through March 14, 2006.
Good Luck. Have fun. We have never done this so bear with up. Chapter 11 will be posted on March 16 for those that do not win. Everyone is a winner. We mention names in the a/n at end of chapter if you review.
moonys-witch : Thanks for the wonderful review. I thought I had lost all my readers after chapter 8. Hope you have fun with the contest. If you chose to review.
Miss Kaylee Potter : Thank you for the review. As long as atleast one person wants more I will keep writing. Have fun with the contest if you chose to enter.