Chapter Seventeen: Prongs Turns Seventeen
Excitement flooded through the school throughout the month. Everyone, well almost everyone, held much anticipation for the final week of the month. It was a well known tradition that starting the day before James's birthday through April Fool's Day was the Marauders' prank week. Anyone and everyone was fair game for a prank. People usually placed bets on how many of them would land on Lily Evans and Severus Snape. There was the addition of Colin Smith to the pool this year for obvious reasons. And despite her best attempts, McGonagall was never able to curtail them. She was convinced that Dumbledore even encouraged them just to pull on her tail.
This year had the added excitement of James turning seventeen. Sirius couldn't stop ribbing him, asking if Lily was gonna help turn him in to a real man. Remus took a page out of Lily's book and took to silencing Sirius every so often. The attack on Fleamont Potter had not been forgotten. It had taken many owls between father and sons before the boys could move past it.
Lily had gone back to actively steering clear of James and the Marauders. Mostly avoiding James and Sirius. Sirius was just being downright annoying and it was hard to avoid Remus given they did so much of their extra work together. People thought Lily must using an invisibility cloak when not in class if James was around. He had scarcely seen her since the Hufflepuff-Gryffindor match. She was not keen on becoming a target again this year. A little piece hope Marlene and Alice were right and that he was growing up. She still remembered the feeling of the slime that had oozed down her back in third year. The memory caused her to shudder.
Marlene sank down into a seat next to Lily at breakfast the morning of April 26th. Her eyes darted up and down the table. "They're not down here yet."
"Keeping an eye on them are you?" Marlene snorted and poured herself a cup of coffee.
"It's prank week. Of course I'm keeping my eye on them." Lily was a little tense herself. Again, this was not historically a good week for her.
Peter and Remus entered the hall. Peter had that innocent look about him. Remus looked annoyed. They sat down a little ways down the table from Lily and Marlene. Both girls watched them skeptically. They kept looking for the other half the Marauders' party of four.
"I have a pit in my stomach about this. Can we go back to the Common Room? I don't trust them not to involve us in some dirty prank." Marlene nodded her head and refilled her cup with coffee. Together they kept alert for anything amiss as they made their way out of the Great Hall. They weren't the only ones either. Some of the older students from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw saw the boys and took their leave, wary of the day.
The girls were turning the corner from a fourth-floor corridor and smacked straight into none other than Sirius Black.
"Oy! McKinnon! What have I said about watching where you're walking!" Sirius rubbed his shoulder. The girls looked a little nervous. "I'm not going to bite you, we have bigger targets in our sight for today."
James and Sirius moved along, their heads together whispering. She let out a breath of relief. She was hoping that Sirius's comment meant that she and Marlene would not be the butt of a joke or prank today. Just to be safe, they decided today might be a good day to hide out in their dormitory. It was the only place that they were positive the boys could not get to.
Alice threw open the dormitory door. "You two are hopeless! There's a party going on downstairs and it is a lot of fun and you're up here hiding!"
Marlene and Lily froze in a very Marauders-caught-in-the-act fashion. They had been dancing around the dormitory to the Wizard Wireless. A new song came on and Marlene began to shimmy. Lily pulled Alice into the room and started to dance with her. The trio giggled and jumped around the room. When the song ended, Alice plopped down onto Marlene's bed.
"Really, you'll have fun down in the Common Room. Davies is even turning a blind eye to the firewhiskey that's down there in honour of James's birthday." Alice grew annoyed with her friends. "Marlene, I would expect better of you. It's your brother's birthday and you're hiding up here just because you're afraid the boys may pull a harmless prank on you."
Marlene at least looked a little ashamed. Granny Winnie would not be pleased to hear that she had not celebrated with James on his birthday. Lily mumbled something darkly under her breath.
"Honestly, Lily! Grow up. Put some clothes on and come downstairs. I'm not asking you to snog Potter on his birthday. You've been working and worrying yourself to death the past few weeks and you need to let loose."
"Who are you and what have you done with Alice King?" Marlene looked in awe at the petite brunette. Alice started digging through Marlene's trunk until she found the purple top she'd been thinking of. She threw it balled up at Marlene's head.
"Lily Evans! Get dressed, let's go." Alice pulled her wand out and trained it on her friend.
Lily smirked, "Are you going to hex me if I don't?" Alice sent sparks flying from her wand at Lily. She was satisfied with the response it triggered.
Marlene and Lily quickly dressed and followed their friend out. Marlene murmured something about Alice being on her way to making a brilliant auror. The music got louder the further down the stairs they got. Once at the bottom, they saw the party in full swing. Alice deserted the two girls she had pulled from the dormitory as soon as she saw Frank by the drink table.
"Think we could get away with going back up?" Lily asked Marlene as they watched Alice plant a kiss on Frank.
"Definitely not, Alice might actually hex us. She's turning into quite the confident little broad, isn't she?"
Sirius sauntered over to them and threw an arm over each of their shoulders. "Well if it isn't my two favourite ladies? Can I interest either of you in a drink?" Sirius walked them over to the table where there was an assortment of drinks. Alice was not lying when she said that there was firewhiskey openly available. Lily did notice the age line around the handful of bottles. Clearly Aubrey was trying a little to uphold her Head Girl duties. Lily caught a glimpse of her in the corner snogging with Aiden. She nudged Marlene and gave a head nod to the corner.
Marlene let out a giggle and picked up one of the bottles of whiskey. She offered some to Lily who shook her head. "Worried about ending up in someone else's bed tonight?"
Lily kicked Sirius hard in the shin. "That bed is empty." She whispered viciously before grabbing a bottle of butterbeer. "So shut it."
She stormed across the room, darting around people until she came to stand near Mary and Dorcas. They greeted her warmly. Sirius elbowed Marlene and pointed at James who was standing not far from Lily. He was listening, or at least trying to listen, to the conversation the Remus and Peter were trying to have with him. Sirius and Marlene watched the comical affair of Lily and James sending what could only be described as pining looks at each other. As soon as one looked away the other would turn to look.
"McKinnon, I think they need a bit of a push." Sirius took a swig from his bottle of firewhiskey. Marlene grinned and clanked her bottle against his. She could not agree more. Sirius pulled her out onto the dance floor and spun her around.
Marlene caught Remus's eye as she twirled. She cocked her head to the side and her eyebrows knit together. Remus sighed raised his cup to her and nodded his head. Sirius twirled her back to face him and her smile spread across her face. They bumped into other couples and groups dancing. Alice waggled her eyebrows and then winked at Marlene when they made eye contact.
"Now that you've caught yourself a black-haired Marauder, we need to help Lily follow." Alice cackled as she hip bumped Marlene.
"Alice, are you trying to set me up with Black?" Marlene laughed as Sirius pulled her away again.
Alice clutched her chest and pretended to look scandalized. "I would never." She only cackled again and then tumbled into Frank's chest. Marlene couldn't help but wonder if little Alice had been at the firewhiskey tonight.
"Here's the plan," Marlene shouted into Sirius's ear over the din of the music and crowd. "You get Lily onto the dance floor, I'll get James. And then we swap partners!"
Sirius nodded and danced around the groups of people. There were so many people in the room that it was impossible not to bump someone as he tried to get over to Lily. He mumbled an apology when he knocked someone a little hard, spilling their drink.
Colin wanted to trip Sirius but before he could get his foot out the bastard was gone. Firewhiskey ran down his trouser leg. He glared as he watched Sirius halt in front of Lily and hold out the bottle he carried. Lily shook her head and crossed her arms. One of the girls she was laughed and gave her a friendly nudge. She pursed her lips and eyed Sirius. She peered over his shoulder to where she could spot Alice dancing with Frank. There was a small hesitation before she took the bottle from him and gave it a good swig. Sirius patted her on the back as she coughed. He grabbed her hand and pulled her back through the crowd.
Sirius handed Lily the bottle again once they got into the crowd. He whispered something in her ear and then laughed when she swatted him. Alice raised Lily's arm with the bottle in it.
"Alice King! Are you encouraging me to drink?" Lily looked aghast.
"Don't be such a prude, Evans!" Alice shouted back, a smug smile danced across her face as Lily raised the bottle.
Lily looked to the corner where Aubrey Davies still had her mouth glued to Aiden's. If the Head Girl was letting her hair down, then so could Lily. She took a deep swig and then handed the bottle back to Sirius. He grinned at her and pulled her in close again. He muttered things in her ear to make her laugh. At some point he caught Colin watching them from near the fire. He gave Lily the bottle again. She didn't even need to be nudged, she took another deep swig and stumbled into Sirius. The boy hadn't taken his eye away from Colin's. Sirius gave him a wink before turning back to Lily.
Marlene arrived with James at that moment. She took a look at Lily and then to Sirius, who just shrugged his shoulders. At this point Lily took the bottle from him and grinned. She took another swig, handed the bottle back to Sirius and then wrapped an arm around Marlene. The two girls giggled. Frank spun Alice into her friends without letting going of her hand. He yanked and spun her back into him.
Marlene gave Lily a little shove towards James. She stumbled into his arms and giggled. James steadied her and then gave Marlene a warning look. She just winked at him and wrapped her own arms around Sirius.
James knew Lily was a little sloshed at this point. And he knew that taking advantage of this situation was wrong. But a piece him flew high with the warmth of Lily's body touching his chest.
"C'mon, Potter! I was told that you're a good dancer!" Lily grabbed James's hand and tugged him into the group of their friends. She might be a little tipsy but she wasn't slurring her words. A little dancing never hurt anybody, right?
Colin smirked as his friend led Aubrey past him towards the portrait hole. He gave him a pat on the back. Not half an hour ago, he'd watched Frank and Alice sneak out too. Colin hadn't moved an inch all night. He was watching Lily make a fool of herself in the middle of the room. It was nearing midnight and the party was not letting up though the room had cleared out some of the younger students by this point. He had watched the Marauders pass around Marlene and Lily for the past hour on the dance floor. They passed bottles of whiskey around too. This irked him.
A thought occurred to him and a darkness crossed his face. If Lily wanted to shag the Marauders then he would give her a hand. He summoned himself a bottle of whiskey and settled in to watch.
Lily grinned as Remus twirled her back over to James. She pressed up against his chest, her face flush from the dancing. She laughed and tilted her chin upwards towards James. Maybe it was the whiskey or the dancing but there was something the gave him the confidence to do it. James tilted his head down to Lily's and gently kissed her.
Sirius and Marlene caught them and let out a little cheer. James wrapped his arms around Lily. She shivered. The music softened and whispers raced around the room. One moment James was kissing Lily, the next her clothes were missing and she was in naught but brassiere and underwear. She let out a squeak of horror and looked up at James. Marlene, Sirius, and Remus surrounded her on the other three sides.
Lily's face was a panic and her eyes were deer caught in the headlights big. "James, did you-?"
James shook his head furiously and looked around, or at least tried to. He did not want to step away from her, afraid of exposing her further. He and Sirius both caught Colin watching, a funny little smirk on his face. He winked at the two of them. Sirius growled and went to step away from the group but Remus grabbed him.
"Accio cloak!" James murmured. Moments later the dormitory door opened and a bundle of fabric came flying at him. Sirius and Remus saw it. They were of one mind with James. It was so smooth that people thought this had been some type of rehearsed prank. One moment they were shielding Lily, the next both Lily and James vanished out of thin air.
Marlene was confused and smacked Sirius. She was just as convinced as the rest of the room that the boys had orchestrated some type of prank. For what it's worth, Sirius had been making suggestive comments about Lily and James shagging on his birthday. Sirius forgot his wand and charged at Colin. Two seventh-year boys stepped in beside him. Remus and Marlene were right behind Sirius, wands out.
"Lily, do you trust me?" James whispered to her. She stood stock still and didn't say a word. James watched the fight break out over her head but he knew he needed to get Lily somewhere. He carefully picked her up, making sure not to let the cloak slip. He slowly carried her towards the dormitory doors and up to his dormitory.
Again, just like last term, this was something he had dreamed about and it was not playing out the way he had imagined. He tugged off the cloak and gently set her on his bed. He yanked open his trunk and rummaged for some clothes for her. He pulled out a pair of golden snitch boxers and a Puddlemere United shirt.
James tried to avert his eyes as he handed her the clothes. She didn't move to take them. Her skin was was covered in gooseflesh and she continued to shiver. James realized she must be in shock. He took a deep breath and sat on the edge of the bed. He cautiously took on of arms, half expecting her to smack him and scream. She didn't. He helped pull the shirt on over her head. Her legs were still bare but the shirt was quite large and covered most her. He didn't dare try to pull the boxers onto her.
"Lily? Do you want some tea?" James asked. "Can I get you anything?" She stared blankly at the wall behind Remus's bed. Running sounded on the stairs and James whipped around as Marlene came charging through the door. Peter was just behind her. Remus and Sirius brought up the rear. Remus was half carrying his friend.
"What in Merlin's name did you do!" Marlene shrieked at James, wand out. She disarmed him then shoved past him to Lily. "Lil, talk to me."
Marlene sat down on the bed and wrapped her arms around her best friend. Remus helped Sirius to his bed. He had a nasty cut on the side of his arm. Remus was trying to convince him that they should go to the hospital wing.
"No. James's birthday is in three minutes. I haven't missed the start of his birthday in the last six years and I'm not going to miss it this year because Colin bloody Smith is a tosser. Tis a flesh wound!" Sirius sat up on the bed and gave Remus a shove. He looked over at the next bed where Lily sat with Marlene. "We'll get him back, Lilyflower. We'll get that tosser back."
Marlene shot him a scathing look. James ruffled up his hair and shook his head. This birthday was not starting out too good. Remus sank into a chair. Peter squeaked about going to the loo and fled the room. A bit of confetti popped out of Sirius's wand. "Happy birthday, mate."
Lily hiccuped, the whole affair had sobered her up some. "Is this my fault? Did I do something to deserve this?" She looked up, her eyes greener than ever.
The room was silent. Remus stood up and knelt next to James's bed. He summoned a blanket from his bed and settled it around her shoulders. "Lily, you did not do anything. You are a kind and brilliant with her toes care of her friends. James, can you pass me some of the chocolate."
James opened Remus's trunk and rifled around through the stash looking for Lily's favourite. He found half a bar left and tossed it to Remus. Lily reached out a shaky hand and took a piece that Remus broke off. She popped it in her mouth and savored the sweetness of the Honeyduke's chocolate.
"Lily, do you want to head back to our dormitory?" Marlene asked slowly. "You'll sleep better in your own bed."
Lily looked at the door. She was certain that there were still people in the common room. She was too embarrassed to go back down there. There was also a piece of her that thought she'd kill Colin for this. Anger boiled up through her and she pushed it back down. She shook her head and leaned backwards. Marlene scowled. "Well I'm not letting you sleep here alone with this lot. I'm staying too."
The blonde scooted to the end of the bed and rummage through James's trunk until she pulled out a second Puddlemere United shirt. She also grabbed the pair of golden snitch boxers that had been sitting on the end of the bed. They were folded so she assumed they were clean. She waved her wand and snapped the curtains closed before she shimmied out of her jeans. She reopened the curtains. Lily had snuggled down under the covers while Marlene changed.
"Budge up, Evans. And don't hog all the blankets." Marlene slipped underneath the covers. "Sorry, James. You'll have to sleep next to Remus tonight. This bed is full."
James scowled. Sirius couldn't but laugh and even Remus cracked a smile. "McKinnon, if you snore I'm going to kick you out."
"Sod off, Black." Marlene smiled and rolled onto her side. The lights went out and then five minutes later Remus grumbled and lit his wand after Peter tripped over all the things on floor.
James was sitting on the bed watching the bed across from him. Marlene of course was asleep and snoring right away. He could tell Lily was still awake. It seemed like the two stared into nothingness for most of the night. James had to find a way to fix this. He felt responsible for this. He finally nodded off sometime in the early hours of the morning. By the time he woke, Marlene and Lily had gone.
James, Remus, and Sirius sat at the Gryffindor table when the post arrived. Stella landed in front of James with a parcel. She nipped at his finger affectionately. He stroked the crown of her head in return. She gave low chirp and then took off. James had a good idea of what was inside the package and when he opened it he was right. His parents had gifted him his father's watch for his seventeenth birthday. It was a beautiful wristwatch, not flashy but certainly a work of art. He didn't miss Sirius's brief frown. James placed it back in the package.
"So, I feel like we need to rethink prank week, lads." James murmured. He nodded his head towards where Colin and Aiden were strutting into the Great Hall. Murmurs buzzed all round them. The three boys put their heads down to think.
By Monday morning, the whole school knew about the Gryffindor party mishap. Everyone waited to see what the Marauders would do in retaliation but Monday passed without consequence. Tuesday and Wednesday were much the same. By lunch Wednesday, everyone including McGonagall was on edge. Naturally, she knew all about the goings on from Saturday night and she was worried. James had shown much growth this year and had managed to pull Sirius Black along with him.
Thursday dawned and still no retaliation. Not even a little side prank to speak of. The Slytherins had decided that the Marauders had gone soft and started causing trouble themselves. Lily gave everyone but Marlene and Alice the silence treatment, and she was a little cold to Alice. She wouldn't even speak to Frank. The only time other people heard her speak was if she was answering a question in class and even that happened rarely now.
April Fool's Day was Friday. People had placed bets that today would be the day. It was the Marauder's holiday!
Students stopped in their tracks in the entry hall on their way to breakfast that morning. The Marauders had outdone themselves with this bit of magic. They waited until breakfast was in full swing until they made their way down. It had taken them the entire week to figure out how the magic would work but it was well worth it.
In the entry hall an exhibit of sorts had ben set up. The had transported the entirety of the seventh-year Gryffindor boys' dormitory and set it up, students included in the hall. It was partitioned off with a red velvet rope fence like the kind found in fancy museums. And while all of their furniture had been transported seemingly none of their clothes had made the trip. All eight boys were in whatever they had worn to bed the night before. A handful had t-shirts, Frank Longbottom being one. Colin on the other hand must like sleeping in the nude. The real icing on the cake was that none of the professors seemed to be able to break the spell that kept the group of boys in a box. A little bronze plaque was next to the exhibit that read 'Seventh-Year Wankers.'
Sirius wiggled his fingers in a tootle-loo like manner as the Marauders made their way in to breakfast. Remus let out a wolf-whistle. James looked Colin dead in the eye and winked. Peter scurried along behind them.
The spell wore off sometime around noon. McGonagall didn't even try to corner the four of them. She didn't even know where to start. Nor would a punishment stick. Easter Break would start tomorrow with many students headed home on the train. Something Dumbledore had said before stuck in her mind, 'let them be boys for just a little longer.'