The Almost Prank

Chapter 15

Sorry about the delay in the update.

"That it should come to this!". - (Act I, Scene II Hamlet).

"I still wish..." Madam Pomfrey started. "They would behave themselves. I mean what do I have to do around here reserve a spot for them from now on."

"But, Poppy, if the hospital wing wasn't busy I would have to cut your pay in half," Dumbledore exclaimed with that ever present twinkle in his eye. It had come back on the walk to the hospital wing from the Quidditch stadium. The marvels of being a slightly mad although brillant old man. "Besides we at least know the beds are comfortable if they keep coming back."

"Fine," Madam Pomfrey stormed. "From now on I will make sure the beds are uncomfortable. If any of them. I do mean any of them come back again before the end of the year. For any reason at all. I will make them stay here until the end of the year. Even if it is for a simple headache remedy."

"Now, Pomfrey, don't go to that extreme," Dumbledore replied soothingly trying not to laugh at the absurdity of the medi-witches faery. "It is not their fault that they keep getting attacked. Now I will leave them in your capable hands. I will see you later."

After the three friends were settled in their beds and Madam Pomfrey had indeed in Dumbledore's word given them all a quick once over it was agreed that Remus would be staying the night. True he had received the least amount of damage but to be on the safe side Madam Pomfrey had felt it necesary to keep him over night. Rather this was to teach them all a lesson or because she was truly concerned about him was unclear. Shortly after Pomfrey had finished her exam James mother and father came into the hospital wing. As soon as Mrs. Potter spotted James leaning against the headboard with Lily in his arms she ran up to him. "What happened?" Linda Potter asked her son with tears in her hazel eyes. "Dumbledore said you and your friends were here. We came as soon as we heard."

"We had a little run in," James replied stroking Lily's dark red hair. "Nothing to worry about. It seems Voldemort thought it necessary to come and take care of us himself. Nothing big really."

"From the looks of Lily I would have to disagree," Richard Potter said putting his hand on the small of his wife's back. "It looks as if she has been run over by the Hogwarts Express a few times."

"It was nothing, Mr. Potter," Lily murmured turning her head to look at Mr. And Mrs. Potter and grimacing at the pain the action had caused. "Moldybutt was easily taken care of. Although it is getting rather old getting attacked by him and is followers every couple of weeks."

"Did you take a pain potion, dear?" Linda Potter asked Lily seeing the grimace of pain. "I would have thought that Poppy would have given you one already."

Lily looked at the kind women and nodded her head before she closed her eyes at the pain even this slight action had caused her. Madam Pomfrey had indeed given her a pain potion but that only had served to dull the pain that the combination of the cutting and Cruciatice curses. Lily could not wait for the sleeping potion to take affect although she was fighting sleep right now, she felt that it would be bad manners to fall a sleep in front of James parents. Seeing Lily's fight with sleep James looked at his parents and muttered, "Lily needs some sleep. She was given a sleeping potion to help her sleep. I really enjoy the fact that you came to check up on us but as you can see we are alright."

"Yes," Richard broke in. "I can see she is very tired. We will stop in in the morning. Take care of her son. Come on Linda. We'll just go pop in and check on Sirius and Remus before we leave."

James a woke the next morning with the sun to notice that Remus and Sirius were already up and sitting on Remus bed. Slowly James eased out of bed as not to wake Lily. Once he was out of bed he walked over to his two friends and sat on the foot of Remus bed. The three friends started going over their schedule and the notes that Remus had in his bag. Someone must have brought the bag up to the hospital wing from the Quidditch field sometime during the night. "I hope we get out of here before breakfast," Sirius muttered as James sat down on the end of the bed. "They can not possible expect us to take our exams on empty stomachs."

"We are probable the only ones up," James exclaimed looking through some of Remus' potions notes. "Besides we only have the practcales today. Plus mum and dad would have a fit if we didn't get breakfast."

"James," Lily muttered from the bed that she and James had shared during the night. Lily's hand was frantically searching the bed for James. "James, where are you? I need you."

"James," Sirius whispered nudging James in the side to get his attention. Sirius had looked up from the notes that he had been studying. "I think someone needs you." Slowly James followed Sirius eyes and let them rest on Lily.

"I'll be back," James muttered distractedly as he rose and went to Lily's side. When he reached the bed he sat down and drew Lily into his arms. "It is alright, Lil," James murmured rubbing his hand down Lily's back. "I'm here. Don't worry. I'll protect you."

"Make it stop," Lily mumbled. "Please make it stop. I can't take it anymore."

"Your alright, Lil," James muttered pulling Lily onto his lap. He hated seeing Lily like this. He felt so helpless. He had no idea what to do. "Please wake up, love. It's all over. You are safe. We are all here. We are all safe. It's alright." By now James had tears glistening in his eyes. "It is only a dream. We won't let anyone hurt you." By this time Remus and Sirius had wondered over to the bed and were standing at the foot of the bed.

"Should one of us go get someone?" Remus asked in an effort to help.

"No," James responded. "It is just a dream. She'll be alright in a little while. She has been having these a lot. I am surprised that you haven't noticed. See she has already calmed down." It was true Lily had in fact stopped shaking and was now snuggling more comfortably into James lap. "I think we should probable continue our studying here. Accio notes." James muttered waving his wand which he had removed from the bedside table and the notes that he and the others had been studying coming floating to him. "Now I believe that you two need your wands."

"James," Lily muttered with her eyes now open. "What is going on? Why am I on your lap and why are Siruis and Remus an the bed?"

"You had a dream," James said dropping a kiss onto Lily's forehead. "We were just going to do some studying. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Lily responded running her hand threw James hair. "So what subjects are we studying." Lily had picked up some of the notes that were laying on the bed next to her. "Remus have you figured out Ruins yet. I have a sneaking suspicion that the one you were having problems with will be on the N.E.W.T."

"I figured it out," Remus murmured turning a little pink.

The four friends spent the better part of the next hour studying for their exams before Madam Pomfrey grudgingly dismissed them to the Great Hall for breakfast with a firm warning to stay out of trouble.

That evening Lily and James were sitting under the oak tree by the lake getting ready for a nice romantic picnic dinner. "I would have preferred the Quidditch field," James whispered into Lily's hair. Lily was leaning against James chest watching the giant squid skim the surface of the lake. "But I figured after yesterday this would be better. Besides Mum and Dad would have had a fit if they even thought we were going down there again."

"I like the lake better," Lily murmured turning her head up to look into James eyes. "It is so peaceful here." The two sat for a while eating the picnic dinner James had aquired from the kitchen when their picnic was soon interrupted by joyous singing.

"Who's there?" James yelled jumping to his feet and pulling out his wand. "Show yourselves. Are you friend or foe."

It only took a few moments for Lily to notice the voice as Dumbledore's. Although she had to admit that it was a little slurred at the moment. "James," Lily exclaimed jumping up and pushing James arm down. "It is Dumbledore. I think he had a little to much to drink. We should get him back to the castle. Hopefully we can get him to his rooms without anyone noticing."
"Fat chance of that," James said. "With the way he is singing I would hazard a guess that everyone will know that he is coming before we even get to the stairs leading into the castle. We should probable get him to HAgrids. That would be safer. Then we go find mum or Madam Pomfrey. They can take care of him from there." by now the two could make out the words that Dumbledore was singing.

"I'll take the high road,

You'll take the low road.

I'll get to Scotland before ye."

"Well whatever we do we better do it fast," Lily muttered. "At this rate he'll have everyone wondering what is going on. We'll take him to Hagrid." With that decided they each took one of Dumbledore's arms and lead him to Hagrid's cabin where Hagrid greeted them with a huge smile.

"What b'ings ya her?" Hagrid exclaimed. " 'T ain't good ya be wond'rin 'round ya know. Mr. and Mrs. Potter right 'ave a hippogreff the' know."

"We found Professor Dumbledore stumbling around," James explained dragging Dumbledore in the cabin. "We thought we would leave him here until we could get some help."

"We didn't think he would want the rest of the school seeing him like this," Lily added.

"We need a drink," Dumbledore muttered drunkenly. "Hagrid you got any brandy? James and Lily will be joining us."

"Right a way, sir," Hagrid replied getting a bottle of amber liquor out of a cupboard.

"Actually, I think James and I have to go," Lily piped in pulling James out the door. "We have exams to study for. Don't we, dear?"

"Yeah," James said with a look of relief on his face. "We have to go and study." As James shut the door he whispered down to Lily's ear, "That was fast thinking. You would make a great prankster you know that."

"Possibly," Lily agreed. "However we should probably find your mum. I just didn't want to tell Hagrid that in case he got the wrong idea."

"I figured that out," James replied. The two were now halfway to the castle. "I have never seen him this far gone." The two continued the rest of the way to the castle in silence. As they were climbing the stairs to the fifth floor they ran into Linda Potter. "Mum," James muttered. "We have a big problem. Albus has gotten himself a little drunk. We left him at Hagrid's. I was hoping you could help him."

"Sure thing," Linda Potter said. "The two of you should get to the Gryffindor tower. I'll find you two there later. Or you could go to our rooms. You know where they are, James."

"Yes, mum." James replied pulling Lily down a secret passageway to his parents quarters. "I wonder what dad is going to say when he sees us."

"That is not important right now," Lily admonished. "Besides the only way we will know is to go and find out."

As they entered the Potter's guest quarters Richard Potter looked up from the Daily Prophet he had been reading. "So what have you two been up to?" He exclaimed seeing that the two of them had slightly guilty looks on their face. "I hope you haven't been up to no good."

"Mum's taking care of it," James supplied sitting on the couch next to his father. "So what is in the news?"

"Not much," Richard Potter muttered. "Just the attack last night. It sounds like they want to close the school down. Although I can't see that happening."

"By the way," Richard continued. "I fire called Andrew last night. He is making some inquiries into what we talked about. It is proving a little difficult. Apparently there are no records of the child's birth."

"What are you talking about?" Lily asked a little confused. Lily always hated it when she was confused. "The birth of what child?"

"Dad and I are looking for your baby," James replied a little guiltily. "Andrew is one of the best investigators. He'll find the baby if anyone can."

"There wouldn't be any record," Lily muttered. "The baby wasn't born in a hospital. She was born in my room. The only ones there were my uncle and one of his friends. As soon as she was born they whisked her away. I only registered that the baby was a girl because the other man said that his son would have a little sister now." As Lily was saying these things James had pulled Lily down onto his lap.

"That does complicate matters a little," Richard reflected. "However we do have more information then we had before. Could you tell me the date?"
"August 20th," Lily muttered tensing up a little. She did not want to have to relive these memories.

Feeling Lily tensing up James implored his father, "If we are going to be asking these questions shouldn't Andrew be here. I do not want to have to put Lil through this again."

"Yes I believe you are right," Richard muttered going over to the fireplace to fire call Andrew. "Take Lily up to the free room. It looks like she might benefit from a little rest. I believe I will talk to Minnie about the two of you spending the night. I will then go and have Horse give me a calming drought."

"That sounds like a good idea," James replied raising with Lily still in his arms and carrying her up the stairs to the second bedroom. "You will come and get us when mum or Andrew gets here won't you?"

"Of course," Richard replied. "I will try and give you an hour. It will probably take that long for Andrew to get her anyway."

An hour later Linda Potter went into the second bedroom to find Lily curled in to James who was leaning against the headboard of the queen sized four poster bed tapping his right foot in time to the 4-1-3-2 tapping of his right fingers. James could never stay completely still. "James, we are ready," Linda smiled down to her son. "I'm sorry but it is time. Tour dad has been able to get some droughts for Lily if she needs them, of course if you feel the need for one you may have it."

"Thanks, mum," James muttered gentle rousing Lily. "We'll be down in a minute." James knew that this was going to be hard on Lily and he hated it. If there was any way that he could take the pain a way from her he would, he wanted to help her but did not know how. At least they wouldn't have to go back to the dorm tonight. James just hoped that they would get enough information to make this worth while. He couldn't bear the thought that this all might be for nothing. He couldn't do that to his Lily.

"Here they are," Linda Potter exclaimed as they entered the sitting room. "We should probable get this over with."

"How is Professor Dumbledore?" Lily asked Linda with concern on her face. She wanted to delay the questions that this man was going to ask.

"HE is just fine," Linda responded. "He is staying at Hagrids tonight. By morning he will be up and ready to go."

Lily sat and answered the questions that Andrew threw at her for an hour before she was so upset that she could answer no more. "Well, we now more know then we did before," Andrew muttered rolling up the parchment he had been writing on. "I should have some leads for you in a couple of days. Feel free to call me if you have any questions."
"What exactly do we know?" James asked holding a drained Lily. "From what I gathered we are at a crossroads. There is no record of the baby being born. I just don't see how we know more then we knew an hour ago."

"James, we know a lot," Andrew replied with a smile. "For one thing we know what the uncles name is, we know the birthday. Yes I have a lot more information then I had before. Now, I believe that the two of you have exams in the morning. You should probable go and get some rest." As Lily and James got up to go to the spare room Linda stopped them and handed Lily the calming drought knowing that this would be a long night for her.

a/n: Thank you so much for the reviews. We are so pleased to get them. We are still wondering if you want Peter's betrayal or Snapes Revenge. Tell us what you would like. Or what you want us to put in. Both should be good.

Serephina21: Glad to like it. Your wish is our command.

mywayornoway and a-full-metal-war: A toast for bup loadseing the first reviewer.( glasses clink)

EboniteEvans: Thanks for reviewing. So we haven't lost or touch yet.

a-full-metal-war: A toast for felling sorry for Lily.

harry-an-ginny : Of course he is not going to win. By the way it is moldy not voldie.

mywayornoway: A toast for mentioning old moldybutt, even if they got the name wrong.

Lily and James Love 4 ever: Thanks for the review. You will find out soon enough what happened to the child.

mywayornoway and a-full-metal-war : Toast for curiasity, even though it killed the cat.

moonys-witch : thanks for toasting us and for the asume review.

mywayornoway: A toast for toasting us.

WhiteTiger1992 : Thanks for review.

a-full-metal-war: A toast to luving it.

Scott Adams : Thanks for review.

mywayornoway and a-full-metal-war: A toast to the newly hooked. We love you guys. Please keep reading and reviewing. Updates will vary in length between uploads. We are presently working on a new story called "Mother's Love" it is a story about Mrs. Weasley and Harry. Will Harry accept Molly's motherly love for him? Read and find out. We will let you our faithful readers know when it is up. Only if you promise to review after you read. You can always tell us it is crap, in which case we will flush it down the toilet. We enjoy flamers as much as good reviewers. No hard feelings unless you do not review.

a/n: Dumbledore's song is a drinking song. Sorry can't remember the name.
Poll time! Actually we have two polls going.

1) Which story do we work on next:

"Snapes Revenge" : Snape has a secret that could destroy Lily or bring her closer to him. Whatever the result the relationship between Snape and the Marauders will never be the same.

"Peter's Betrayal": What lead Peter to betray the rest of the Marauders? Was it one event or the combination of events.

2) Should I replace a-full-metal-war with a big bowl of popcorn?

Let us know what you think. We enjoy your input. Also we are not done with this story yet so keep reading. I will write migraine be damned.

"Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't.". - (Act II, Scene II Hamlet).