Chapter 11

The owls followed their routine of swooping in to deliver mail during breakfast. One lone Gryffindor flinched, and ducked. His friends found delight in his predicament.

"You wouldn't find it so amusing," he said, "if you'd had my detention."

Rueful smiles replied. Left out of last night's explanations Lily opened her mouth to ask, but someone interrupted.

"Hi, Harry." Priya halted beside him. "Oh hello, Lily, Hermione," she added. Her eyes lingered on Harry.

Unsure of what else to say since she instigated the conversation Harry said, "Morning."

She smiled at him. He waited. Apparently, she was as unsure as he was, because her smile faded. She blushed under the curious stares. "See you around, I guess." She finger waved as she walked away.

"How do you know her?" Sirius asked.

"She had detention too."

"Don't look so worried," James intervened. "Old Padfoot here has been trying to get her to go out with him ever since her boyfriend graduated. She isn't interested."

Sirius glared. He threw a piece of bacon at James, but hit Remus by mistake.

"Watch it, mutt."

"Or what?" dared Sirius.

The challenge accepted Remus snarled as he hurled a piece of toast. Sirius dodged easily. The bread slapped the bench beside him. He sadly shook his head.

"Come on, you can do —" Smack! Scrambled eggs in the face. He rubbed the offending particles off. Remus wore a smug look.

James smirked. He edged away from Remus. He bumped Hermione causing her to fling jam.

"Ugh," George said. He swiped at the sticky mess on his neck.

"Oh, George, I'm sorry." Hermione rushed to apologize over James's laughter.

"No worries," George replied. He speared a sausage as if to carry on with his breakfast. Hermione ducked. James didn't. George's grin disappeared at the spoonful of gravy.

Seeing an armed James Potter, and knowing this would get out of hand Lily prepared to put a stop to it. She leaned forward.

Sternly she said, "I don't think —" Splat. The gravy struck her chin. A few drops found their way into her mouth.

Horror struck James froze. As did everyone in the vicinity. All eyes were on the red head.

"Potter," she uttered low and fierce. She used her napkin to clean her face.

"Lily, I'm sorry." He spoke hurriedly. He was afraid to look at her. If he had, he might have spotted the incoming jam. It smacked into his forehead splashing his glasses.

A collective gasp. Lily Evans would never do anything that could lose house points, or put her in detention. Using the distraction of the Head Girl Sirius spied the one person who had yet to participate.

Harry, an innocent bystander, watched the drama. The missed targets, the intended targets, and the accidental targets played their parts exceedingly well. Stunned by Lily's behavior, he felt more shock at the slow smirk forming on her lips.

Sirius loaded ammunition for attack. Priya having finished her breakfast decided to try again to talk to Harry. She remembered why she stopped the first time.

Sirius launched. Distracted by Priya Harry dodged the missile. Splat. The gravy splattered upon impact across Priya's chest.

"Sirius Black!" she screeched. She grabbed Harry's plate. She flung its contents. Taken aback Sirius barely managed to get out of the way. Peter had the unfortunate pleasure of sitting next to him. The flying food landed in chunks. Several people including Harry, and Priya laughed at his bewildered expression.

Cottoning on he returned fire. Harry and Priya avoided the attack. The glob of jam landed in blonde hair. The girl beside Harry narrowed her eyes. Sirius laughed the loudest, and he looked guilty. She hurled her toast straight at his head. This action witnessed by others sparked a…

"FOOD FIGHT!"

Gryffindor rose to the challenge. All along their table the students pelted each other with flying food. The Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and Slytherins watched in fascination and horror. Chuckles, and giggles melded with shrieks and screeches.

"My word," Professor Sprout said.

Dumbledore chuckled. "Minerva, you should attend to this."

Professor McGonagall did not respond. Her lips thinned into an impossibly tight line. Disgraceful. With a flick of her wand the food disappeared. Students stopped their frantic movements. Some came out from behind their plates, books, or bags that served as shields. Others popped up from underneath the table. The rest dropped their hands. The Gryffindors turned to stare at their displeased Head of House.

The thin lips, flared nostrils, and rigid stance promised swift terrible justice. Tremors, and quakes traveled the line of students.

"One hundred points shall be taken from Gryffindor for this abominable behavior. Potter, Black, Lupin, Pettigrew, Evans, Barnes, Granger, Walker, and Shinde my office now."

Slowly, but not daring to dawdle they went to McGonagall's office. Hollow pits opened in their stomachs. The punishment would be severe, the chastisement would be worse.

"I am disappointed. You have disgraced your houses. As Head Boy, and Girl you set an example. While Mr. Potter's behavior is expected, yours, Miss Evans, is outrageous. I hold you to a higher standard."

Lily wilted. James stood stalwart. Priya, and Remus fidgeted when McGonagall turned to glare on them.

"Prefects do not participate in shenanigans. They put a stop to them."

Harry, Hermione, and George repressed shudders as their turn came. "I had hoped for better students. It seems I have gotten another pack of trouble makers. Mr. Black, wipe that hideous smirk from your face at once," she barked. "One-week detention." Relieved sighs spurred her on. "Make no mistake here, as further punishment you will spend the day in those robes. You will not change, nor remove the stains." She placed a sticking spell to keep the food exactly where it was. "Go to class." They fled.

The second week of class, and Harry had detention once again for something he didn't do. He had not thrown an ounce of food, nor had he instigated it. He turned to Priya with an apology on his lips. She waved, and headed in the opposite direction.

"You know boys," James said as he slung an arm around Sirius and Remus, "this is our first Gryffindor food fight. Next time we should try to include the other houses."

Sirius was on the verge of voicing his agreement when Lily whirled on them. "If you even think it, I will deduct two hundred points from Gryffindor myself. Am I clear?" Her glare impaled their frivolity.

Only Remus had been privy to this kind of anger. He capitulated quickly. "Yes." James and Sirius nodded.

#

"This is ridiculous," George complained. He flicked a piece of egg. It stayed glued to his robes.

"She allowed everyone else to clean up," James said.

"Not everyone else started the childish display," Lily admonished.

"At least not willingly," Hermione added.

"We deserved detention," Remus said, "but making us wear the food is a bit much." He pointedly ignored the Slytherins who were engaging in a rousing game of taunt the smelly Gryffindors.

Slughorn entered the dungeon putting an end to the game. "The blood replenishing potion is on page 147. Begin."

Sirius whispered to James, "Next time we just chuck all our food at the Slytherins."

"That is brilliant."

#

McGonagall paced in front of the nine students. "I took the liberty of requesting your transcripts from the Headmaster. I am surprised that students so highly regarded would be in this predicament. A head boy and girl, prefect as well. No complaints lodged against you, Mr. Walker. I must ask why you participated in such disturbing behavior? No doubt, the answer lies in your association with Mr. Potter, and Mr. Black. However, if you continue with these juvenile exploits the consequences will be worse than detention. I do not wish to see you under these circumstances again. Understood?"

A chorus of, "Yes Professor," answered.

"Very well. You will be assisting in the cleaning of all paintings, and portraits in Hogwarts under the supervision of Mr. Filch. Since magic is not allowed this should take the entire week. If you manage to complete the task, the suits of armor need polishing. Mr. Filch is waiting in the entrance hall. Off you go."

"Clean all the portraits," Hermione said. Had McGonagall actually said that?

"There must be hundreds," Lupin grumbled.

"No magic." Sirius couldn't believe it.

"With Filch." James grimaced.

"Nothing more than we deserve," declared Lily causing the others to stop and stare.

"It's harsh," stated Priya.

Disappointment rang through Lily. She took McGonagall's chastisement to heart. She looked at her disbelieving friends and refused to concede. She continued trudging to Filch.

A brief hesitation and the others followed. Keeping Filch waiting was not wise. He would do everything he could to make this detention unbearable, and the slightest misstep would give him the excuse to extend it.

"About time." Filch grunted. "You'll be split into pairs with one group of three. You will be assigned to different areas of the castle. No funny business. I'll be checking on you. It'll be straight to the headmaster if there is any trouble."

"Yes sir," they all replied.

"Shinde and Barnes; Granger and Potter; Evans and Black; Lupin, Pettigrew, and Walker." Each pair got their cleaning supplies, and list of paintings.

"Wait," he said as they started to disburse. "I need to confiscate your wands. No magic."

#

"We need to stop meeting this way," Priya teased.

"Detention, and Muggle cleaning is not a nice way to socialize," Harry retorted. They were assigned to the seventh floor.

"Look on the bright side." She smiled. "Nothing will be falling on us."

"True."

#

"I am warning you now, Sirius, if you do anything to get us into more trouble, I will hex you into next week."

"Got it," huffed Sirius. Why did he have to be paired with Lily? She was still sore at him for the prank. He knew Filch had done it on purpose just as he'd placed James with Hermione. The troublemakers with the goody two shoes. He wished they could switch. He'd work with Hermione, and James could have Lily.

#

George sprayed a painting. He detested cleaning. He'd gotten enough of it that summer in Grimmauld Place. At least then he'd liked the company. Lupin wasn't so bad, but Pettigrew, why did he have to be partnered with the rat?

He'd love to have his wand. He'd hex Pettigrew into next year. He couldn't hide the disgust. He focused on the painting before he did something stupid.

Remus discreetly observed George. The hateful glances directed toward Peter baffled him. He didn't know where this mutual animosity sprung from. They'd hardly interacted, not even speaking in full sentences. None of the transfer students seemed keen on Peter.

In fact, Wormtail caused an odd reaction. They tensed when he came near, and the conversation hit a bump, or worse. If they happened to be talking about personal things, they'd change the subject. A mystery. He liked solving mysteries.

#

Filch hadn't allowed them to stop until midnight. Then he'd made them walk all the way to the entrance hall to collect their wands. The muscles in their arms, and legs ached. Their hands stung from exposure to the cleaning products. Priya hastily disengaged from the group.

"Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Yeah?"

"How do you know Priya?"

"She's in my Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy classes. And she's in Charms with us, Harry."

"Is she really?" He hadn't noticed.

"Yes." Hermione said. "She's nice."

"I guess."

Hermione smiled at his indifferent tone.

"She's got a good sense of humor," he said.

Hermione's smiled faded. What did that mean? What about Ginny? She made a mental note to observe Harry, and Priya's interactions.

Sirius scowled. He watched, and listened to their quiet exchange. Hermione brightened when she thought Harry wasn't interested in Priya, and then came the disappointment. Was she jealous? Were they just friends?

He remembered how he and James had found them on the bed. Hermione curled into Harry, and his fingers in her hair. Unless he misread the signals there was something more than friendship between them. And last night. It looked like they kissed. Jealousy flared hot and fast. He growled.

"Padfoot?" James was by his side in an instant.

"It's nothing."

James watched Sirius watch Hermione. Interesting.

#

Hermione yawned, and stretched still sleepy even though she'd already showered. She unrolled her parchment, opened her book, and inked her quill. She'd hoped to get the essay finished before breakfast, but she had no motivation. She was on the verge of being behind in school work. Not since her overload of classes in her third year had this happened. Even so she couldn't force her mind to focus.

"I don't know how we're supposed to keep up," Lily said. She set next to Hermione. The professors piled the homework on the seventh years in preparation for their N.E.W.T.s. Yet another resemblance to fifth year.

"Getting up early seems to be a popular solution," Remus responded as he joined them.

Harry caught sight of the working students. A stab of guilt. He should have gotten up earlier, but he'd been so tired. Filch drove them like mad to finish with the paintings so they could start polishing the suits of armor. But there were so many portraits, and not all of them cooperated in being shined up.

"Morning," he said.

Faint mumbles and grunts testified to how deeply involved they were in their homework. Taking this as a sign he slumped into a comfy chair to wait for George. He didn't feel like going to breakfast alone.

Fifteen minutes later the school books, and papers were tidied up and George was ready to start the day. Breakfast was a sullen affair. No one had the energy to spare for mundane things like conversation. Except for Sirius and James. They bounded into the Great Hall with matching Cheshire cat grins. They bounced in their seats unable to sit still.

"What?" Lily asked. She changed her mind. "On second thought, I don't want to know." Everyone, but Remus agreed. He threw his friends a questioning look.

"Nothing to fret about, Moony," confided Sirius. He winked. The unease ratcheted a notch. A conspiratorial look was exchanged. The giddiness of their plan buoyed the boys' spirits. Not even the dreaded detention deflated them.

#

The Ravenclaws joined the que of Gryffindors outside the Charms classroom.

"Hi, Priya," Harry said upon seeing his cleaning partner.

"Hey." She moved to stand beside him. "Only three more nights after tonight." She could have said four, but it depressed her. "I'll be glad when it's over."

"Won't we all," Harry admitted. "Although it hasn't been all bad."

Priya smiled shyly. Hermione's mood darkened. Harry had not intended a hidden message. He simply meant that he'd had worse detentions, and at least this time the experience was shared. He had someone to talk to, and commiserate with.

Hermione was about to mention Harry's girlfriend to clear any confusion when a group of chittering students pushed through their group. A garbled version of "has a girlfriend" made it past her lips, but into only one set of ears.

Those ears belonged to Sirius. His spirits dimmed at the confession. He quickly donned the buoyant mask to fool James. He would not spoil the good mood of his friend. He dislodged the bothersome thoughts. He was Sirius Black. And Sirius Black did not have girl problems.


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