A/N: Hello Hello! Back again, trying to hit the 10 000 word mark. We'll see, I guess. Oh man! How about the new ratings confused me really really badly! I think I have them figured out now, though. Well, anyway, on to comments.
Elephant Wings: Thanks again for your amazing reviews. You've been so incredibly dedicated to my first fic, and I really appreciate it!
On to the next chappie!
Interesting Wagers
The next day, the entire populace of Hogwarts was shocked to see Lilly Evans and James Potter walk into the Great Hall together, sit down, and proceed to eat breakfast as if they ate together every morning.
Professor McGonagall set down the teapot she was holding quickly as she realized her teacup was overflowing.
"I never thought I'd see the day . . "
Dumbledore smiled quietly to himself, and took more kippers for his plate.
"So we sneak downstairs while my mother is talking to my Dad in the foyer, and we see these amazing biscuits my mum makes. They've got cinnamon, sugar, all kinds of great stuff, they're incredible. Next to them is a note saying "James, Sirius-don't even think about it! Love, Mum Potter" So, Sirius grabs the cookies, and makes a break for it, as my mum comes into the kitchen. Mum comes running after him, 'accio'ing the cookies, and he's holding onto them for dear life screaming 'Never give up! Never surrender!' it was classic."
Lilly smiled as they sat down, saying
"I never thought of Sirius as someone who would be that crazy"
"eh, Sirius can get pretty nuts, he just feels he has a reputation to uphold here, so it's harder to catch him."
"So, why does he live with you?"
James' mind suddenly flashed back to the summer after 5th year. He and his family were sitting at the dinner table, when there was a sudden knock at the door. The rain was pouring down as James ran to answer the door.
Standing on the front step was a drenched Sirius Black, his normally elegant hair dripping in strings in front of his face. One eye was swollen shut, the area around it a mottled purple and black color. His broomstick in one hand, his trunk in the other, he looked at James sullenly. James had known that Sirius' home life wasn't great, but he had never seen his best mate looking this bad before. He had never seemed this weak, unguarded before.
"Mate, I can't do it. I tried. I tried to love them in spite of their views but I can't! I can't put up with it anymore."
Sirius looked James straight in the eye, then down at his own feet and the puddle of water around him.
"I . . . I didn't know where else to go."
Sirius had immediately been engulfed in a hug by Mrs. Potter, who would become known to Sirius as Mum Potter, or Mum P. Sirius had never gone back to his old home, and was now a Potter in every sense, save name and blood.
"James?" Lilly asked, jolting James back to the present.
"Oh! Yea, Sirius' didn't-doesn't really like his family too much, so he lives with us."
They were interrupted by the Marauders and the girls sitting down to eat with them as well.
"So, when are Quidditch try-outs?" Lilly asked.
"We actually already had them, we've kept our players underwraps this year." James replied, grinning mysteriously.
"Oh, Jam-sie! When are we gonna work on the you-know-what for you-know-when?" Sirius asked.
"Wow, Sirius. It's so not easy to tell you're talking about a prank." Gretchen said sarcastically.
"oh, shut up Gretchen, you're just jealous that you could never outprank the Marauders!" Sirius said teasingly.
"You wanna bet?"
"Hey retchin' Gretchen! How's it feel to be a blood-traitor?" a Slytherin girl shouted.
"Hey Narcissa! How's it feel to look like you're smelling shit all the time?" Lilly yelled back. Narcissa glared at Lilly before turning and walking out the Great Hall.
"Honestly. You throw up in potions once, just once! And you're branded your life!" Gretchen grumbled.
"Anyway, if someone pranks you and we mean, really pranks you within a week, then . . ." Alice trailed off.
"You have to tell us your deepest, darkest Marauder secret." Tabitha finished.
"The most dangerous-" Gretchen agreed.
"Something no one else knows" Lilly concluded.
"And if they don't we'll do the same."
"You're on!" Sirius cried, shaking Gretchen's hand.
Breakfast ended, sending the Gryffindors to Transfiguration. The Marauders hung back as the girls went forward, chatting easily amongst themselves.
"You idiot! You know what we'll have to tell them!" Remus whispered fiercely.
"Relax, Moony. Come on. Who is going to prank us?" Sirius replied.
A/N: Review please! You know you want to!
