The Almost Prank

Chapter 18

a/n: Sorry about the update taking so long. We had a bad bout of writers block coupled withthe fact that we only got one review after a week. We had a vieled reguest for Remus and Sirius to get girlfriends so here they are. This chapter is dedicated to Ms. Kaylee Potter our only reviewer.

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so". - (Act II, Scene II Hamlet).

The Almost Prank

Chapter 18

The next morning Lily was sitting in the small dining room absent mildly eating a piece of toast while reading "The Prophet" with a look of pure disgust on her face. Suddenly she burst out, "I can not believe this. I simply can not believe''

"What can you not believe, Lily," Remus Lupin asked entering the room with his ever present smile. Remus had spent the night since the ball had lasted well into the morning hours.

"This," Lily muttered shoving the paper at Remus. "It is unbelievable." As Remus read the article his eyes began to twinkle and he actually started to laugh which only served to infuriate Lily further. "What is so funny?" Lily stormed.

"This is just so funny," Remus exclaimed. "You are marrying into one of the most powerful families in the wizarding world so you have to expect them to make a story about everything you and James do."

"But to publish this," Lily yelled. Her temper was now fully up. "It is nothing but filth."

"What is filth, Love?" James asked entering the room and coming to the table.

"The paper," Lily replied settling down a little and grabbing the paper from Remus. "Listen to this." Lily looked down at the paper and began reading the article.

Rumble at the Potter Party

Last night the honorable Potter's held a party to announce the engagement of their son James Harry Potter to Lily Elizabeth Evans. Ms. Evans and Mr. Potter are friends from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The two have not announced the date of the wedding yet.

The ball was going uneventfully until an un expecting drunken muggle walked into the ball. It appeared to this reporter that said muggle said something to Ms. Evans which caused Mr. Potter to engage the muggle in a fight. It is unclear rather any charges will come from said incident or not.

Auror Alastor Moody, who was present at the Ball refused to comment on the events of the evening other then the fact that the muggle had been escorted off the grounds.

One Witch stated "The (sob) muggle came in and said something to MY best friend (sob) and then I heard my boyfriend yelling something about a flea color as the muggle and James were (sob) were on the floor fighting." Weather or not Lilly is Eileen's best friend is not for us to say.

Here is another withes side of the story. "See here I was talking to MY best friend Lily when my gorgeous, handsome, one of a kind boyfriend Remus (sigh) came up to us. He asked if I would like to dance. We were dancing when Remus stopped and ran off to the corner where we had left Lily. I was just getting ready to follower my boyfriend when he ran back to me and started dragging me with him to find Auror Moody. I still had no idea what was going on. After a little while we ran into Sirius (Black) and Peter (Petigrew). Remus asked Peter to go and find Moody. Then he and Sirius went back to the fight. I followed to see if I could do anything. Remus is such a brave hero. (Sigh)" Again it is not for us to say rather or not Morna and Lily are best friends. However both Morna and Eileen seemed very upset.

"Can you believe this?" Lily stormed after reading the paper to James. "It is disgusting."

"Calm down, Lil's," James muttered hugging her. "They had nothing better to write about. So when they have nothing better to report on they resort to anything that the Potter's, Malfoy's and Black's do. It is something that comes from being one of the most powerful wizarding families."

"I can't believe this," Sirius muttered shaking his head. "Moony, they both got in and we didn't. What are we going to do with them?"

"No idea, Padfoot," Remus replied with a playful twinkle in his eyes. "I think we should go pick them up before we do anything."

"Sure so you can snog them ," James added feeling left out. "Just remember we have plans for today. If you forget I for one will not stand in Lily's way. You will have to face her by yourselves."

"We won't forget," Remus muttered.

"Our little Prongs is growing up," Sirius murmured pretending to wipe a tear out of his eye. "Come on, Moony, the chicks await."

"Oh no you don't," Lily scolded grinning at their antics."At least you both where mentioned. After all you did get you fifteen seconds of fame. Even if it was indirectly. Not like you guys need any more fame then you already have after school. I would have thought your heads were already big enough. Besides we still have things to discuss. Now both of you sit back down this instant."

"She has that tone," Sirius muttered turning to Remus. Both of them knew better then to ignore Lily's commands when she used that tone.

"I believe, Padfoot, that we better sit and listen to what she has to say," Remus exclaimed. "We can pick them up after Lily is done."

"Now, Lily," James broke in good naturedly.

"How can two girls, that barely talked to me in school let a lone at the party, clam to be my best friends?" Lily asked James. "I have nothing against them mind you," Lily added glancing at both Remus and Sirius. "So who is Peter bringing along? It would not do for him to be the proverbial third wheel. Of course in this case it would be the seventh wheel."

"What are you talking about?" James asked not recognizing the muggle phrase.

"It is just a saying," Lily replied with a smile. "Well there will be three couples and then Peter. He will be the odd man out."

"Lil, stop talking in circles," Sirius muttered. "You are hurting my head."

"Seriously, Lil," Remus added. "Just come out and say what you are thinking."

"Just answer my question," Lily demanded. "Who is Peter bringing?"

"He isn't bringing anyone," James supplied.

"He has to bring someone," Lily muttered. "It just isn't right. He can not be the eighth player on the Quidditch team."

"Lily, there are only seven players on the team," James admonished.

"I would have thought she would know how many players were on a team by now," Sirius exclaimed. "Women."

Several owls chose this moment to come swooping in to deposit several letters for the four friends. One of the letters happened to be from Peter who regretted to inform them that he would be unable to join them that night but perhaps another night they could get together. "See, Lil," James said. "Problem solved. Now lets get going. We have lots to do and very little time to do it in."

The four friends all went to there respective rooms to get change, they had a lot to do and very little time to do it in. James and Lily had decided that the wedding would take place in two weeks. (a/n: I know this is really fast. But then again we are talking about the Potters. The more money you have the faster things get done.) There were the flowers and the dresses not to mention the tuxes. They were in for a long day.

It was night before everything had been settled. Lily was thankful that it was going to be a small wedding. Yeah, right small as if that would happen. Nothing that the Marauders did was ever small. As it was getting late the six friends, Eileen and Morna had arrived at Potter Mansion to accompany the others just as they were getting ready to leave, decided to go Pub hopping. After all they needed some relaxation after their busy day.

The smell of stall beer and smoke filled the air as the three couples entered the muggle Pub. It had been Lily's idea to have a completely muggle day which brought them to this particular Pub. The sound of music drifted to the group as they walked around to find an empty table to sit at. Suddenly a loud crash was heard and the three boys all pulled the girls behind them while their hands went to their wands. "Would you guys relax," Lily demanded with a smile. "That was only someone playing pool. Now go sit down at that empty table while I go and get some drinks. Care to join me James? You never know when some poor bloke is going to hit another cue ball. Besides I can't have you hexing everyone in the joint."

"Sure," James muttered turning red. "We'll be right back." As James and Lily walked to the bar the other four went to the table that Lily had pointed out.

"Moony, look at that," Sirius said to his friend. "Look at what those muggles are doing. Throwing quills at a board. They can be so weird sometimes."

"If you would have taken Muggle Studies you would know that they are playing darts." Remus replied. "It is a game. I have always wanted to try it out, but have never been able to."

"Here you guys go," Lily muttered walking up to the table carrying four bottles of beer James trailing behind her with two bottles. "We have some chips and rings coming along with burgers. So who wants to dance while we wait."

"Actually I was thinking about playing some darts," Remus exclaimed getting out of his chair. "If anyone would be interested in joining me."

"Sounds like fun," Marna replied. "You will show me how to play won't you?"

'If I can," Remus replied with a pleading look at Lily. "I only read about it in the books."
"I guess I can show you," Lily muttered. "Coming James. We need four players. Besides Eileen and Sirius can have some a lone time."

The four friends went over to the dart board that was in sight and played an enjoyable although poorly played game of darts. Which is understandable since Lily was the only one of them that had ever played before. After the bugers came James and Sirius decided to play for a little while. With in ten minutes a muggle came over and challenged Sirius to a game so that he would win the game. The muggle also asked to putt a bet on the game. However the poor muggle did not notice that James had charmed Sirius darts so that he would win the game.

In the meantime Lily, Remus, Marna and Eileen were playing a game of pool. It seemed that Remus was better at pool then he was at darts. When James noticed that they were also attracting a crowd he decided to go over and watch them. True they were not as good as the others but that could be changed. "Hey, Moony," James called as he got within hearing distance. "Your suppose to hit the balls with the stick not the other way around."

"Really, Prongs," Remus yelled back. "Lily already told us that. Since you think you know best why don't you show us."

"Sounds like a bet," James replied. "Come on Lil, You and I against Remus and one of the girls. His choose." Just as the dart game had drawn a crowd the pool also drew one. As soon as they finished the first game James was challenged to a game. It was a lot easier to get the pool balls to do what was desired then darts. James had noticed that because of the cue sticks he could get the pool balls to do what he wanted them to do by hexing the balls and was winning the bets that were placed on him.

It was a very enjoyable few hours because Remus, James and Sirius decided that they would make the bartenders life difficult and sent several pool balls off the nearby tables at him well he was serving some of the costumers causing the poor bartender to duck and spill the drinks all over him. After they did this several times and then doubled over laughing Lily decided that they should go. As the friends left a very confused bar tender Lily turned on the three Marauders, "I hope you are happy with yourselves. That poor guy is never going to be the same. You are just lucky the ministry doesn't come after us."

"Calm down, Lil," James whispered landing a kiss on her head. "No one got hurt, and everything was done so no one saw. They never knew what hurt them."

"Will you guy's ever grow up?" Lily asked shaking her head. "Although I don't think we would have nearly as much fun if you did."

"Can one desire too much of a good thing?". - (Act IV, Scene I).

Eileen means light from Helen.

Morna means afection, beloved.

mywayornoway: There another chapter done. (sob) Please please please review. My ego is so fragile it can not take another blow.

a-full-metal-war: We are debateing ending this and going on to "Snapes Revenge". However we would atleast like to get these guys married. It all depends on you guys.

mywayornoway: I've lost my touch. ( runs out of room crying.)

a-full-metal-war: Just review. She is impossible to live with like this. Actually we have started "Snape's Revenge" . However we are not aboning this story unless we do not get any reviews. Again please review.