Chapter 20

"James, since Remus is unavailable someone needs to cover his patrol."

"Oh," he replied. "I'll take it." He had no choice. The set of her jaw told him that.

They walked the passages, and corridors alert to transgressions that warranted their attention. She rounded on him in an empty hallway. No portraits, or suits of armor as witnesses.

"What is going on?" she demanded.

"Huh?"

"What is going on?" she repeated.

"Lily, I don't —"

"Don't you dare, Potter. I know something is up. I've watched the lot of you today. I'm surprised Harry doesn't have icicles hanging from his robes." Cold shoulder was an understatement. She paused allowing him a grace period to explain. He waited her out.

"I gather it is related to Sirius's crush on Hermione."

James cursed Lily's perception. "Yes," he grumbled. He outlined the gist of their morning activities. A spark. "Hey," he said glibly, "perhaps you could help."

"How?" she asked. Pinpricks of warning stung her arms. She rubbed them to banish the feeling.

"Talk to Hermione. Get to the bottom of this. Ask her what's really between her, and Harry. They say they are just friends, but her overnight visits, and this morning says otherwise."

"Why do you care?"

"I'm worried about Sirius."

"He likes her," Lily commented. She thawed a little.

"Yeah," he agreed. He likes her a lot." He clipped the t.

Lily balked. There was a simple solution. One that didn't involve her. "Why don't you ask Harry?"

"Sirius isn't in the mood to talk. Besides what we saw speaks louder than their denials."

"Why would Sirius believe me?"

"You're a girl."

"And?" she snapped.

"Girls tell other girls their secrets."

The thaw stopped. She walked away reminded of why she normally steered clear of him. She's talk to Hermione, because she was worried about her, not because Potter asked her to.

"Hermione?"

"Yes?" she replied in a tone barring further communication.

A lesser person would have given it up as a bad job. "Would you like to talk about what's bothering you?" Lily barged ahead.

"Who said anything is bothering me?" Hermione shot back. She pasted on a nasty smile.

Lily sat uninvited. She arched a sly brow at Hermione. "I do," she declared. "James told me about this morning. I'm here for the truth."

"Ugh, those boys are bigger gossips than half the portraits here." Her eyes narrowed to crinkled slits. "It was an accident."

"Excuse me?" Lily asked.

"It's their fault. James and Sirius," Hermione said contemptuously. "They jinxed Harry's curtains. They attacked him if he tried to get out of bed." Hermione was about to tell Lily how Harry called for her, but she stopped just in time. "Harry is stubborn. He tried again this morning. He was thrown onto me. It looked like something else, but it was completely innocent." She exhaled sharply through her nose. "He's my best friend. Nothing more. We'd never do that, especially not to Ginny."

"Who's Ginny?"

"Harry's girlfriend."

Lily remembered Hermione mentioning Harry's girlfriend the last time they had a conversation about bed sharing habits.

"She's my friend too," Hermione said. "I would never jeopardize either relationship. Besides, Harry is like my brother, and I know he thinks of me like a sister." Ron explained his jealousy. How the locket had twisted it. He told her how Harry felt about her. "They should have been teasing. Making jokes. But they didn't. I can't figure out why it wasn't funny."

"It's scandalous," Lily offered. She skirted the details of Sirius's crush. It wasn't her place to tell Hermione. "If that's all there is to it, I wouldn't let it upset me. Nothing happened?" Hermione nodded. "Then don't act guilty."

"I'm not," Hermione said hotly.

"You blush every time they look at you. You've barely said two words. And the worst, you've acted guilty."

"But…but…" Hermione spluttered.

"Tell them what's what."

"I thought they knew us well enough to know. At the very least Harry, or George should have set it straight."

"You're dealing with Potter, and Black. They need it explained in simple terms."

Hermione laughed.

Lily lowered her voice. She leaned in. "And I heard it was quite a scene." Lily wiggled her eyebrows in imitation of George.

#

George struggled through the day to not let this morning's events plague him. He failed. Harry, and Hermione refused to discuss it. Yes, he was privy to the whole sordid mess. And yes, he knew the facts. However, his imagination wandered. He was appalled at the conjured revelations. It bothered him that neither Harry, nor Hermione offered an explanation. The Weasley temper simmered. He would ask. No, he would demand an answer. He was entitled to it.

George interrupted a staring contest between Harry, and Sirius in their room. Daggers flew.

"All right, Harry?" George questioned automatically.

"Yeah."

George shifted from foot to foot. Harry developed a six sense for the Weasley temper. The warning signs were present.

"What's up?" Harry asked.

"You tell me."

"Not you too," complained Harry. He stifled the urge to throw his hands in the air.

"An explanation is in order."

Disbelief clouded Harry's expression. He squared his shoulders. George towered over him.

"I do not have to explain this to you," Harry said stubbornly. His temper flared. George was supposed to be on his side. He was the one person here Harry depended on to know the truth. To know they were innocent.

"Harry, mate," George cajoled, "it didn't look good."

Sirius paid close attention. He'd either get the full story, or he'd watch Harry get his arse kicked. George was none too happy. James picked this time to enter. Sirius motioned him to be quiet. James slouched into the doorway blocking entry, or exit. He tuned in to the impending argument.

"What are you implying?" Harry asked angrily. He stood toe to toe with George.

"I'm not implying anything," George protested, "but you can't claim it was normal."

"You think Hermione, and I would," he broke off. His hands flew in a wild gesture. "Do that?" He stressed the last word intoning a double meaning.

"I don't know what to think, you haven't said." George's calm slipped. "How could you do that to my sister? What about Ginny?" George demanded. His voice raised.

"I cannot believe you," Harry jabbed his finger into George's chest, "would think so little of me." Harry's voice rose with every word. Hurt resounded. "I love Ginny," he yelled. He pinched the bridge of his nose. He lowered his voice. "I wouldn't do that to Ron." The deadly calm in which he spoke sent shivers down George's spine.

An inappropriate laugh shattered the tension. James pursed his lips. Harry, and George turned their glares to him.

"What are you laughing at?" spat Harry. "It's your bloody fault."

"Huh?" James asked inelegantly.

"You, and your stupid prank. The curtains," Harry elaborated, "tossed me onto Hermione. Sirius had the misfortune of opening the curtains before we could right ourselves."

"That's it?" George asked deflated. A tinge of guilt.

"Yeah," Harry said curtly.

"Really?" Sirius spoke for the first time.

"Yes. It must have looked awful, but Hermione and I are like brother and sister. It was a case of bad timing, and a ridiculous joke."

"Oh man," George said. "I should have known."

"Yes, you should have," Harry relied coldly. His anger not gone.

"How embarrassing," remarked James. The hilarity.

Sirius still looked doubtful. Harry muttered some choice words then said, "It's not any of your business anyway. Our personal lives are our personal lives."

"Thanks a lot," Harry railed at George. He was miffed at his friend, but also himself for not using this bond to communicate in the first place.

"What did I do?" George asked.

"Messed everything up." His plan to mislead Sirius was ruined.

"Who's Ginny?" James asked. He accepted the clarification, but not the wish for privacy. Sirius deserved the details. If those details distracted Sirius from determining James was responsible for the debacle, so be it.

"My girlfriend," disclosed Harry.

"My sister," George said. Their mental sparring put on hold.

"You have a girlfriend?" James asked incredulously.

"Don't sound so surprised."

"I mean…" James struggled.

Harry tilted his head.

"It's just…" James rifled for a tactful way of bringing up the bed sharing without starting a fight.

"If you have a girlfriend," Sirius said, "why do you spend the night with Hermione?" He was determined to get to the bottom of this.

"This again," groaned Harry. "I have nightmares," he confessed. "Hermione helps them go away." He fell back onto his bed. He grabbed a pillow. He covered his face. He mumbled something else. George tapped his knee. He removed the pillow. "I have no romantic feelings for her, nor does she have any for me. We're close in a platonic way." Déjà vu.

George fidgeted feeling his own idiocy. He checked Sirius. The black-haired lothario seemed appeased. Sirius's countenance turned thoughtful.

"It's a strange relationship," James noted.

"I know, but…" He broke off before he divulged more than necessary. "We're both only children. She's the closest thing to a sister I have."

"It is awful to be an only child," James said. A connection formed. James too was an only child. He'd found a brother in Sirius. However, they didn't share a bed. But Sirius wasn't a girl either. A cute girl at that.

"What's Ginny like?"

Harry latched on to the new topic. "She's beautiful, smart, and fierce."

"A pest with a terrifying bat bogey hex," George added.

The admiration shone in Harry. It was obvious he was head over heels for George's sister. But there was one more thing.

"Who's Ron?"

"My brother," said George in a way that was more question than answer. He didn't remember Ron being mentioned.

Harry could have smacked himself. "He's a friend."

"What has he to do with Hermione?" Sirius pushed.

"We're all friends," Harry replied dodging.

"But you said you wouldn't do that to Ginny, or Ron," James interjected.

Lying was off the table. Hermione would set them straight. Harry had no choice but to say, "He was her boyfriend."

"Was?" Sirius pounced.

"Yep."

Hermione had an ex-boyfriend. Not an active boyfriend. Sirius's sour mood evaporated. He had a clear field.

#

Lily fell in step with James. "I talked to Hermione."

"That's settled." He ran to catch Sirius.

"Boys," she grumbled. She ground her teeth as she glowered at James. No, Potter, she corrected.

Spotting Lily's perturbed state George snuck in beside her. "I know a way to fix that," he said mischievously.

"Ah." He startled her. "Fix what?"

"Whatever it is that Potter's done to get a bee in your bonnet."

"He hasn't done anything the ungrateful git."

"I see." George grinned knowingly.

"He's being a toe rag."

"Pesky things." George commiserated. Lily looked at him. "Lily," he placated. His charm ramped. "You want to get even." He mesmerized, and seduced her with his words. "You were infuriated by their little stunt. Now, he's slighted you again." He tsked.

"If anyone should be holding a grudge, it's you and Harry," Lily said.

"You've heard about this morning." He nodded sagely.

She smiled sweetly. "How humiliating to have your bed clothes confine you."

"Ah. I see what you're doing, but it isn't going to work. Do not attempt to distract me with my own vendetta. At least they had the decency to commit the prank in privacy. But the trick you suffered was done in front of the whole school. And," he purred, "let's face it. People's memories are not that short."

Blast him. He was persuasive and manipulative and suave. The gleam in his eye betrayed his innocence. He knew exactly what he was doing to her.

"I don't have a problem with revenge," Lily said. "I do, however have a problem going into the boy's showers."

"I've explained that."

"And yet it is still a glitch in the plan."

"What glitch?" Hermione asked joining them.

"The shower," George said dismissively.

"We've been over this," Harry said.

"It makes sense," agreed Hermione. A look of astonishment met her assent. "What?" she asked.

"You don't see a problem going into the boy's shower?"

"No. The game is the perfect opportunity. They will be occupied. They won't catch us. And it diverts suspicion from Harry, and George."

Lily fought a losing battle. She opted for a new track, "Isn't it mean to do it after the game?"

"No," they replied in unison.

"I'd do it during," confessed Hermione. Slytherins continued to taunt her. They spewed random goat trivia along with vile insults. "But it might be construed as cheating. Unsportsman like conduct. I'd hate to forfeit the match."

"Thanks for that," Harry said.

"That makes after the game perfect," she continued. "We'll knock their egos down a notch." The vindictive zeal zinged.

George wiped a fake tear. "I'm so proud."

"What if we lose?" Lily asked. Their prank would pour salt in the wound.

"Not win?" George asked dubiously.

"They'll win," boasted Hermione.

Harry simply nodded. The Gryffindor team was a well-oiled machine. It was the finest team he'd played on. Their first match was against Slytherin. There was no way he was going to let them win. He was playing Quidditch with his dad, and his godfather. He would not disappoint them.

"I should give up," Lily said.

"Wise choice," George said. "We applaud your bravery in trying to defy us, but no you will not succeed." George's tone was full of trouble.

Lily sulked. She consoled herself with the thought of the match being a month away. That was plenty of time to change their minds.

"Don't count on it," whispered Harry. Her face telegraphed her thoughts. Green eyes stared disbelievingly at him. "You're easy to read," he said.

"Since that's settled," George said, "let's get the finer details nailed down. This is going to be epic!" He grinned madly.

"I'm scared," Lily confessed to Hermione. Her voice low.

Hermione agreed. George's fanaticism spiked a warning, but the marauders deserved it.

#

"They're up to something," James muttered.

"Hhmm?" Remus asked absently. He glanced in the direction Prong's indicated.

"I'm sure of it, Moony," James said firmly. Remus looked again putting more effort into the action.

"They're talking."

"Scheming."

"Homework."

"Deviousness."

"Innocent conversation."

"Meticulous conniving."

"Is this a private game, or can anyone join?" Sirius produced his trademark half-smile.

"Look," James demanded. "They're perfecting their revenge as we speak."

Remus shook his head. Sirius appraised the foursome. "Looks innocent to me."

"Do you not see what I am seeing?" James's hand spread in a flourish at George. "That is not an innocent face," he stressed.

"Padfoot, I think he's lost it."

"Nah, Moony, it's just a bit of paranoia." The mutt chuckled.

Prongs scowled. He curled his lip at his two best mates. "If you aren't going to take this seriously —"

"Relax, Prongs." Sirius soothed. "It's harmless."

"How can you say that?"

"It won't even compare to what we did to them," Sirius announced smugly.

Remus dropped his head. The conversation wandered into dangerous territory.

"Besides," whispered Sirius conspiratorially, "the Quidditch captain can certainly keep them busy."

"Clever."

"I know."

Remus permitted his head to hit the table with a dull thud. This was going to end badly.

"No worries, Moony." Sirius clapped the werewolf on the back misinterpreting his histrionics.

#

The rain poured across the castle grounds. It pelted the windows. Pounded the stone. The deluge darkened the late afternoon sky. A roaring fire provided light, and warmth to the occupants of the Gryffindor common room.

"It's horrible out there," observed Hermione.

"What is Potter thinking having a practice in that?" Lily asked. The wind battered the glass panes emphasizing her question.

"He wants to win," Remus said. "It's his last year. His last chance for the Quidditch Cup."

"He's never scheduled this many practices," protested Lily. "The game isn't for another month, yet they've practiced every spare moment. One rescheduled practice isn't a catastrophe."

Seven sopping wet players entered cutting off further rationalizations. Three of the seven grimaced. They sliced James with savage looks. They dripped, and shivered, but were relatively clean. Harry, and George, however, were covered in mud.

Hermione looked askance at them. Harry shook his head. He glanced at James and Sirius. Those two were grinning broadly. Harry dashed upstairs. George glowered at the guilty party, then followed. It would take an applied effort to scrub the caked muck from his hair.

"Why are you preening like a cat that ate a canary?" Lily asked. Those grins screamed mischief.

"Wonderful practice," James replied. "Harry's flying." He sighed happily. "His moves in this wind." Awe tinted his words.

Lily did a double take. "But…"

"Yes?" James prompted.

"Why are they coated in mud?" Hermione asked delicately.

"It's raining," supplied Sirius. "When dirt gets wet it turns into mud," he continued explaining. He plied her with his roguish smile coupled with a devilish wink.

Hermione and Lily exchanged knowing looks. "But you're not dirty and mucky," Lily purred at James. She shifted her undivided attention to him.

"Some people are clumsier than others," Sirius interrupted. He prevented James from speaking. "Come on, Prongs, we need to get cleaned up."

They retreated upstairs. "Why do I feel like there's more going on than what they're telling?" Lily asked Remus.

"I don't know." Blasted women's intuition. Why can't those gits stay out of trouble?

"You know we'll find out," Hermione said. She inserted a bored quality to her voice.

"I don't know why you are looking at me like that. I wasn't even there. I was here with you doing homework."

"As if you don't know what your best friends are up to," Lily accused.

"Why did they have to do anything?" he whined. "The weather is awful."

Lily and Hermione smiled pityingly at Remus. They dropped the subject.

"About Ancient Runes," Lily began. She sketched a rune drawing them back to their work. Hermione cast a fleeting look to the boy's staircase.

#

Harry finished drying his hair. He lobbed the towel into the hamper by the bathroom door. George layered a Weasley sweater on top of his T-shirt. He pulled on a pair of thick wool socks.

"You said you brought some products," Harry said. "Which ones exactly?"

"Why, Harry, what have you concocted in that treacherous mind of yours?" George smirked dangerously.

"Mud doesn't fly up to pelt people."

"No, it doesn't," George agreed. "I've got some sweets. Some canary creams, ton tongue toffees."

Harry and George left their room a few minutes later. Lily and Hermione were surprised by the change in their moods.

"How was practice?" Hermione asked skeptically.

"Good," Harry said.

"Don't eat the candy." Harry looked pointedly at Lily. Hermione understood.

"No need for that," admonished George. "I'm a nice person. There are safe pieces. Perfectly ordinary." His declaration met distrust. "Honest," he assured. "These." He displaced a handful of brightly wrapped sweets. "Are not Wheezes."

"Would anyone like a candy?" he politely inquired. He offered the colorful treats as Sirius and James joined them.

"Yes, thank you." Lily smiled taking one. Hermione tentatively took one as well. George gave her an encouraging nod. He handed Harry the last one.

"I have more," he said reaching into his pocket. He deposited the trick candy on the table.

James and Sirius plucked two pieces from the pile without hesitation. The empty wrappings in front of the girls enticed them. Remus watched Harry pop his into his mouth before selecting a yellow confection. They were enjoying the taste of their sweets when…

POP! POP! Shrieks and laughter.

Two large canaries perched where Remus, and Sirius had been.

"What the —" James exclaimed. An odd tingling bombarded his tongue. His mouth was full. His tongue swelled. He opened his mouth. His tongue unfurled. It grew, and grew.

Lily screeched. She jumped onto the seat of her chair. "What is that?"

George, Harry, and Hermione laughed uproariously. Lily's widened eyes looked from them to James, and then the canaries. She smiled slowly. One of the canaries shook shedding his feathers. Lily giggled at the befuddled expression on Remus's face. Remus studied the other yellow bird as it molted. Sirius appeared.

"What was that?" Remus asked.

A grating, gasping sound. James's tongue was enormous. It lolled on the table.

"That's disgusting," Sirius said. His face screwed into distaste. Remus pulled his wand. He raked his memory for engorgement charms. An unexpected cough. James's tongue shrunk. It rolled up into his mouth.

"Improved them a bit since Dudley," George boasted to Harry.

The unfettered laughter dissolved into hiccups with a stray giggle mixed in. Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes. Lily reclaimed her seat.

"What were those?" asked Lily. She picked up a sweet to examine it. On the outside it was quite ordinary.

"Candy," George said.

"Where'd you get it?" James asked eagerly.

"I've never seen candy do that before," mused Sirius.

George smirked at the inquiring students. "I can't go giving away my secrets, now, can I?"

"But those are amazing."

George's chest puffed at the admiration of his heroes. "I'm not telling."

"Why not?" Sirius pouted.

"If I have to tell you then that's just sad."

"It's not as if we could use them on you," Remus said. He too studied the candy. A faint WWW was watermarked on the edge of the wrapper.

"Smart man," Hermione said. "If you're done fooling about, we still have homework."

"You're a hard woman, Hermione."

She turned to James. "Do you have any idea how close N.E.W.T.s are?"

Harry snorted. "There's the Hermione we know and love."

"They're ages away," James cried.

"What's the fuss?" Peter asked. He'd been absent after classes.

"Candy?' George offered. Remus was too late with his objection. Peter already had the sweet in his mouth. He clamped his lips shut. His eyes widened. He covered his mouth. He tried to hold his tongue inside.

"Better let it out, Wormtail," James advised.

"That's even more disgusting," observed Sirius.

There wasn't as much laughter this time. People were used to seeing tricks played on Peter.

"An engorgement charm?" Remus prodded.

"A simple one," George answered.

"Bloody brilliant," remarked James. "If we could find some more of those the snakes would be in for a nasty shock."

An evil glint manifested. Sirius begged. "George, tell us. Where did you get them?"

"The Slytherins wouldn't know what hit them," James added.

Interested George, and Harry leaned in. A conspiracy brewed.

"As Head Girl, I am not taking part in this conversation. Remember, I'll know exactly who committed the prank." Lily warned gathering her things.

"It's harmless, Evans. A bit of fun," James said.

Gurgling and gasping Peter panicked. The poor boy danced frantically waving his hands back and forth. His tongue had grown at an alarming rate. It was longer than James's had been, and it wasn't stopping. First, and second years dodged the slimy protuberance as it slid on the ground.

"George!" Hermione yelped.

A violent spasm rocked Peter's body. A faint cough. His tongue slithered its way back to him. Red faced he rushed up the stairs. Pitying stares followed him.

"Being a prefect, I'm not sure you'll want to hear the rest of this," James told Remus in a bad imitation of Lily's voice.

"You being Head Boy should preclude your involvement," Remus retorted.

James smirked. "Going to snitch on us?"

George consulted Harry, and Hermione with a look. "We…I…I…made them," he stuttered. A sharp jab struck him at the half truth.

"Pardon?" Sirius said.

"My brother, and I made them," confessed George. "Part of our plan to open a joke shop."

"What else you got?" James inquired excitedly.

An impish grin denied James his answer. "What would you do with these?" George asked. He showed them an assortment of wrapped sweets.

"I'm sure we'll think of something," Sirius said.

Apprehension crawled curling into Hermione as she watched the boys surrounding her. The Slytherins were in for a real treat.

"I'd hold off if I were you," she counseled.

"Why?" Sirius tilted his face in her direction.

"So, you don't get caught. Lily will turn the lot of you in. But if you were to wait. She might be persuaded not to."

"If we don't make a move soon, the snakes will," James informed.

"Let them."

"Pardon?" Remus asked doubtfully.

"If it's in retaliation Lily will be sympathetic. I'd wait. Do it when I'd be least suspected. Besides, the Slytherins are hardly going to accept sweets from you. How would you convince them to eat the candy?"

George assessed Hermione. "What's going on in that pretty head of yours?"

"If it's at a feast, for instance, when treats are already present, then you could slip those in unnoticed."

"Why, Miss Granger, how devious," James complimented. "A wicked idea, but the next feast isn't until Halloween."

"More time to plan," she said. She packed her books. "Night boys." She left them to their schemes.

Sirius watched her walk away. A new admiration shone in his eyes. He marveled at how saucy she was.

"Padfoot," James called sternly. Sirius returned his attention to the conversation.

"Are we going to work with this lot, or what?" James asked.

"The real question isn't whether you'll work with us, but will we work with you," Harry said.

"Considering we have the products," George noted.

"And the brains," added Harry.

"Yeah, I don't see why we need to include you," George said. He stood. "Come on, Harry." They left the dumbfounded marauders to stew.

"I think," Remus drawled, "you two have finally met your matches." He got up as well. "Night."

Sirius and James exchanged mystified looks. One moment they were hatching a brilliant plan. The next they were outfoxed.

#

"Are you sure about this?" Harry asked nervously.

"It'll be fine," George assured. "Flitwick won't be too harsh."

"What are you two on about?" Hermione interjected.

"You'll see," George answered.

Charms passed in a blur. Flitwick gave them copious pages of notes. The bell rang before they could practice the new charm. Transfiguration was a different story.

"Take out your wands," McGonagall instructed.

"George," Harry pleaded.

"Too late now."


Thanks for reading. I'd really like to know what you think so any and all reviews are appreciated.