Chapter Twelve: Spring Break

All the houses were gathered in the Great Hall Sunday morning, when Professor Dumbledore suddenly stood up.

"I would like to make an announcement."

The chatter in the great hall stopped.

"In a mere one and a half weeks, our two new seventh years, Pearly Puff and Luhrmalleen Delware, have made great progress. However, without our help, they cannot catch up fast enough. For this reason, all Seventh Years will be given a four day holiday!"

The cheer that erupted in the Great Hall soon erupted into a deafening roar.

In the Gryffindor boy's dormitory, James and Remus are examining the footage from the previous Hogsmeade trip. Using Remus' new "software" and Magical Photoshop, they reduce the footage to a 22 minute television pilot.

"What are we going to do with it, Moony?"

"We're going to sell it to Muggle Television."

James got a confused look on his face.

"What's Tele…thingy?"

Remus shook his head patronizingly.

"You'll see. We're going to America."

James, who had never been to America, goes and stupidly buys two airline tickets to New York. That very morning, Remus and James leave London/Heathrow airport and arrive in New York six hours later. Remus hails a cab.

"Where are we going, Moony?"

"ABC."

"I already know my letters, Remmy, now where are we going?"

"The American Broadcasting Corporation."

"Why?"

"To sell our show."

James looks at Remus with a touch of awe, and they pile into the yellow cab. They arrive at ABC and initially have trouble getting through security.

"You're going to need an appointment to see the executives," said the annoying secretary. Remus waved his hand around happily,

"We will need no appointment. You will let us in."

The secretary's eyes grew blank, and she repeated,

"You will need no appointment. We let you in. Please, move along."

"Announce us as Misters James Potter and Remus Lupin."

The weak-minded secretary seized the intercom and spoke,

"Sirs, a Mister James Potter and a Mister Remus Lupin will be in to see you shortly."

The two executives are initially very surprised to see the two teenagers walk up the stairs. Remus nudges James and pulls out two black sunglasses from his pockets (they have donned Muggle clothes for the trip). James and Remus put the sunglasses on, and lean back into the leather chairs. Remus speaks first, holding out his hand for a handshake,

"Gentlemen, I would be honored if you would view this television pilot."

The executives gave a little laugh, and one scoffed,

"I highly doubt that two teenagers would be able to show us something that we could add to our fall line-up."

"Actually, gentlemen, when you see this masterpiece, you will be forced to add it to your spring line-up. Which, as I have noticed, is a little lacking in the comedy category, and losing viewers in the 18-45 demographic."

The two executives appeared impressed against their will at Remus' knowledge. James stood up and put the DVD disc into the player at the front of the suite.

After twenty-two minutes, Remus looks expectantly at the two executives, who have been laughing for the past twenty minutes. One of them stands up and shakes Remus and James's hands repeatedly.

"In all my years, I have never seen such wonderful work from novices. It is ready to play on television – fully formed! And from two teenagers, imagine!" The other, more serious executive, pulled out a contract,

"I would like you, Mister James Potter and Mister Remus Lupin, to sign this contract. We are going to begin the show in three days, and it will run for the remainder of the season. Congratulations."

Remus and James couldn't believe their luck. After they signed the deal with ABC, the two stood up to leave, but the executives held up a hand.

"We need your actors and actresses to sign a contract as well."

Remus and James looked at each other nervously. Fortunately, Remus spoke up before the executives recognized that there was anything wrong,

"Well, the actors and actresses have already signed an iron-clad contract with our agency. Potter-Lupin enterprises. We thereby hold full legal responsibility for whatever they do, so long as we receive a full fifty percent of the profits from this show. Thank you sirs."

And with that Remus and James swept out of the executive's office, rode down the elevator, and Apparated back to England. They spend the remaining two days of their break pranking Diagon Alley with Sirius, who has been moping in his apartment since the beginning of break.

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Will it be a hit? Lather, review, repeat.