Chapter 7 : The 'Accidental' Prank

The four boys along with Frank made their way into the Great Hall trying to look as innocent as possible and jumping at every little noise.

"Ouch! Oh no, I didn't do it, I swear I didn't..." yelled Peter as a group of several burly sixth years thundered down the stairs beside them

Remus, James and Sirius glared at him as Frank asked, "What did you didn't do, Peter?"

"Well, you see, if he didn't do it, Frank..."

Sirius said, trying to cover up, but he was silenced by a look from Remus.

The Great Hall looked magnificent with the huge pumpkins and the floating candles. The first years sat in a group at the centre of the table to watch the early victims of the tickling solution. They were entertained by a series of fireworks which burst into vivid skull images. The boys filled their plates carefully avoiding the gravy. The girls were busy cracking jokes and eating the feast merrily. So when Lily Evans passed James a plate of chicken legs, laughing all the time, he gave her a thoroughly doubtful look, silently contemplating whether Lily was behaving nicely of her own accord or the tickling solution was taking effect. He considered the latter.

"I think, Sirius," James said quietly, "it has begun."

"Brilliant!" Exclaimed Sirius, clapping his hands gleefully. "Why don't you try the gravy, Frank? Here," he said passing the bowl of gravy to him.

Peter, Remus and James looked at each other in alarm. Sirius winked at them.

"What do you think you are doing Sirius?" Said Remus through gritted teeth.

" Enjoying this excellent feast, Remus." Sirius promptly said. "James," he coaxed his friend, "don't you see? Everyone's laughing. That's completely harmless!"

"And wriggling." James added and Frank chose that moment to topple off his seat in laughter.

All accusations forgotten, the boys looked around them to find people in nearly similar state. The Great Hall was in splits of laughter. A first year Ravenclaw's fork kept missing his mouth and he seemed to be amused by it. Bits of food were flying from the Hufflepuff table.

"It seems that the Hufflepuffs are having a food fight!" Peter exclaimed.

The Gryffindor girls were in peals of laughter too. James watched as Lily Evans brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes and continued to laugh and wriggle her feet. He didn't know why but he thought that the gesture suited her. Sirius played with his hair a lot and it looked rather stupid on him. With Lily, though, it was... nice. Simply nice. He beheld her sight for moment, grinning inconspicuously, and turned his head when Sirius nudged him.

"Look at Snivellus," he pointed out, shouting over the laughter that filled the Great Hall. Snape had pursed his lips so as not to let the laughter escape and was twitching madly in his seat. The other three turned their heads and doubled over with laughter.

Even the Head Table was not spared from the gravy. Hagrid guffawed rocking the whole table by thumping his fists on it. Professor Flitwick was dancing on his chair while Professor Slughorn was booming with laughter. Professor McGonagall's lips were stretched wide in a smile and she looked torn between an attempt to scowl and a desire to laugh. Professor Dumbledore rose to dismiss the students. He was somehow immune to the tickling solution, but even he chuckled once during the speech. James didn't know if it was because of the tickling solution or his general amusement.

The students rose to leave. Even then there was great commotion outside the hall. The students were pushing and pulling and punching, some accidentally, some deliberately. Some students got caught on the trick step, many of them the older ones who had been aware of that particular trap for years now. Some flinched violently time and again, and there was a lot of jumping too. All in all the school was in good spirits.

The Gryffindor first year boys reached their dormitories giggling feverishly after hearing Gidgeon Prewett squeak loudly.

The sight of Frank struggling to get into his pyjamas sent them into a fresh bout of chuckles. Remus took pity on him and helped him out. It took Frank another ten minutes to draw the hangings around his four poster bed shut, and go to sleep.

The remaining four settled on Sirius' bed still discussing the disaster of the evening.

"But this was grand!" said James, "This was the best Halloween I ever had."

"What exactly was grand, James?" Asked Remus, "We could get into detention for this."

"But nobody would ever know, Remus," said Sirius earnestly, "everybody was busy laughing their heads off."

"And this was accidental. James pointed out. "What if it had been planned? We could have done better than this!"

"We can do better than this!" exclaimed Sirius, his eyes shining with anticipation.

"We can plan pranks like these!"

"Oh, go on, Remus," Peter coaxed upon seeing his friend frown, "it'll be fun!"

"I don't want to get into trouble." Remus stated.

"What if we get caught the next time?"

"Oh you prefect in the making, we have your brains after all for that very thing." said Sirius jovially, "I know you'll make sure that we don't get caught."

"Can't keep you out of the fun, can we?" James winked.

- Explicaturus Mysterium