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Chapter 11

Planning

"So these things all over the school will prank everyone?" Ron hissed out sneering at Harry as they with Hermione and Terry looked down at the plans laid out on a large table with other Gryffindor friends of theirs eager to help with the prank. "I don't see why we need a filthy dark wizard like you helping us anyway!"

Harry sighed - for the most part Ron hadn't talked to him, but he did like to make some seriously snide comments. "Yea, yea, whatever dipshit…"

"Harry," Hermione interrupted quickly before he decked Ron. Though, honestly who could blame him? If she had Harry's power, she didn't think she had the will or patience not to accidently kill him. "Some of these seals seem unnecessary… well the ones I recognise," she said looking over the plans. "Like these ones. They're leech seals."

"They're to pull magic from the school to power the prank," he replied rolling his eyes. "None of us have the strength to continuously power the illusion for a prolonged period of time, but they will leech some energy from the 'lay line' the school happily molests to power its defences and wards."

"I see," Hermione said nodding her head as she finally saw what he meant. That made a lot of sense, since they had an unlimited well of mystical energy to pull from, it made sense to do that rather than exhausted their own power.

"Terry could, power it alone," Ron said adamantly with an admiring grin Terry's way as he wasn't listening.

"Hermione pay up," Harry said smugly as she pulled out a crisp ten-pound note rather than magic money and handed it over. "I told you I could get him to say something gay about Terry," he said laughing as he put the money away in his pocket.

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked, confused, but the other boys laughed, except Terry as he went bright red, but he knew Hermione was likely going to be losing more money in a moment. "What do you mean gay? I'm always happy!"

Harry couldn't help but laugh and take another ten-pound note from Hermione. "I told you he wouldn't know the modern meaning for gay."

"That's the last time I'm betting against you," she replied sadly.

"Tell me what does it mean?" Ron demanded angrily.

Harry chuckled enjoying himself. "It means a person, normally male, but can mean female too that has a preference for same sex relationships, instead of boyfriend girlfriend, boyfriend, boyfriend, or girlfriend, girlfriend."

"That's just sick!" Ron cried out in disgust.

Harry grimaced at how much hate he put into those words. "Yea… well… that's your opinion," he said feeling sorry for any gay or lesbian person Ron might know, and Harry was ninety-nine point – well, okay, one hundred per cent sure Ron knew one non-straight person, but he was sure there were a few more around. However, Harry internally shrugged and held his hand out to collect the last ten-pound note Hermione had.

"I gave him way too much credit," she sighed rubbing her eyes sadly

Later that day at the quidditch stadium where James Potter had a small shed for an office for quidditch business, but he also preferred it over his defence office as it was less stuffy. "You want what?" James Potter asked wide eyed as Terry and Ron had gone to his office for some help.

"Your help pulling a huge prank during dinner on Gryffindor… and well, the other houses too," Terry said with a sad sigh.

James shook his head looking baffled. "That's just stupid. I'll help you get the Slytherin's, and even Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff... but why would you even think of pranking Gryffindor?"

"It was Harry's idea," Ron butted in getting a glare from Terry while James looked appalled Ron continued. "Hermione convinced Terry that to beat Joker he'll need the help of someone new… someone like Harry. Harry's made plans for a huge school wide seal array for one huge illusion to beat Joker with, but he also said if we don't up the pranking while we set it up, we'll lose anyway…"

"I'm not losing to that blue haired jerk!" Terry interrupted before his dad could. "Without Harry even with the plans I doubt anyone, but mum could pull off this prank, and do you honestly think she would help us?"

"Okay, I'll agree your mum wouldn't approve off something that grand," James replied nervously but shield that with thoughtfulness. "I once tried to get Remus to help us create something spectacular during our final year, but he wouldn't comply," he said rubbing his eyes. "But why does… he think you should prank your own house too?"

"Because the other three houses are getting better at stopping us," Terry replied. "The Gryffindor's don't think we'll prank them, and with that we should be able to get them all."

"Joker manages to prank everyone still," James pointed out.

Terry sighed. "I hate to admit this but Joker's better at this than me, which is why I need all of the help I can get. Sorry dad, but it's true," he added on the last as his dad was about to try disputing the comment. "Joker comes and goes blatantly flaunting his talent, and even Dumbledore can't catch him. The Daily Prophet has already printed a few freaking comic strips about Joker's pranks. It's starting to get humiliating. You know how split the magical world can be about me sometimes, and now they're trying to make Joker out to be the NEW Hogwarts Hero… or should I say from today's strip Hogwarts Pranking-hero!"

"I see your point," James said sighing. "Well, Sirius will be here soon for that Order meeting. I say we rope him in to helping out. I would tell Remus if I thought he would help, but he's too much like Lily for him to agree to a major prank like that."

Meanwhile, Sirius Black had already arrived at the school and was speaking with Harry. "Why would I want to help James and Terry pull pranks on Gryffindor?" Sirius asked; amused eyebrow rose at Harry as they walked along the walkway pier over the lake. "I think Joker's awesome. He challenged your brother, not me. Do you know Dumbledore has the whole Order hunting the school for Joker?"

"And you're bunking off?" Harry asked laughingly.

Sirius shrugged sheepishly. "Dumbledore's just pissed because Joker's been showing him up. James said Dumbledore whooped for joy when he thought he had gotten Joker when it was just another illusion goading Dumbledore into imprinting large doses of his magic into a runic stone to create a continuous mental illusion. Dumbledore keeps looking at something we can't see and glaring at it. He had even spoken to it a few times by mistake.

"The rune stone apparently turned to ink and marked his right arm with runes. Though, he says it will fade over time he still doesn't have a clue how a student could have created something so foolish. If you ask me, he was jealous that someone in this school, a student could be better than him at something."

Harry laughed while rolling his eyes. "I wasn't there for that one," he said regrettably, but Sirius just rolled his eyes and Harry grinned in amusement. "Anyway, why not help prank Gryffindor's…"

"Nope…"

"Come on, I have them eating out of my hands through desperation," Harry said causing Sirius to go wide-eyed. "I'm going to get them to do what even Joker hasn't done yet and prank the teachers - well other than Dumbledore and my… father, but they keep walking right into them. Revenge is sweet when they literally ask for it."

"Oh…" Sirius said smirking. "Well, when you put it like that it seems so much more fun."

"So… what teacher deserves what?" Harry asked in thought.

"Wait a minute; aren't you supposed to be in detention with Snape?" Sirius suddenly said in surprise. "Or maybe its Hagrid today…?"

"Nah," he said shrugging. "Because of my new-found interest in helping Terry, all I have to do is grade all of Snape's first three years, and then I can leave."

"B-but…" he looked baffled. "Wouldn't it take more time?"

Harry shrugged. "I use an auto-correct quill with red ink… well several at once. Then based on how much red is on the paper is what I grade. As for potions I use a simple medical scan to make sure they're done right or wrong, and how well they are by colour. Actually, for non-NEWT and OWL years Snape copied my idea."

"Wow… Snape liking something a Potter thought up," he said shaking his head in wonder. "So… what were you thinking about for a prank on the teachers and school? We have what, four hours to come up with something good, and then set it under their noses."

"Getting them together… I like the cut of your jib matey," Harry said with an evil grin. "Dumbledore is a 'royal' pain in the arse," Harry said with his grin turning wicked as Sirius caught on his grin matched.

"There you are Harry," Terry interrupted walking along the walkway with James, Ron, and Hermione. "We only have a few hours to set something up and seeing you two scheming I guess you thought of something?"

Harry chuckled at the thought. "Oh yes…" he agreed smilingly. "I believe this will be amusing."

Terry grinned in excitement; an evil grinning prankster means a brilliant prank. "Awesome, I can't wait, let's hear it then." So Harry started telling them the plan and how they could actually pull it off. Though, James was reasonably worried they'll have to get him too, but since Ron, Hermione, and Terry agreed to let the prank get them, though omitting certain bits he was in, only because Terry wanted it so bad.

To Be Continued…