Chapter Eleven

Snakes

I'm like a snake sleeping on a rock. I won't bother you unless you poke a stick at me

~Harlan Ellison

James was on a high. He had never felt so alive. Watching Snape careen around the Quidditch pitch with Karl Broadmoor chasing after him had been by far the most exhilarating thing James had ever taken part in. He was so keyed up that he hadn't even been able to sit still and eat dinner that evening. Instead, he had told his friends that he would meet them back in the common room in an hour and had gone off to explore the castle. He figured if he wandered around for long enough, he could wear off some of the excess energy that was coursing through his veins.

He had been wandering around for about twenty minutes, but all he had managed to do was find a hidden passageway and make himself more excited, if that was even possible. With each step he took, he had replayed the events of that afternoon over and over again. If he was going to calm down, he would need to distract his thoughts as well as moving his body.

'I wonder when Quidditch try outs will be. Is there even an open position? I haven't heard anything about Gryffindor being short a man, so there probably won't be any try outs this year. I'll just have to kick butt at flying lessons and hope that someone graduates next year.' James thought as he paced through the hallway with the charms classroom.

'Sirius and I should definitely make this havoc wreaking a regular habit. It is great fun and a pretty decent way to practice the magic we are being taught. I know Dumbledore said that we weren't allowed to practice magic in the hallways, but if we're careful and people don't know that it is us that is doing it, we shouldn't get too many detentions. Though detention would be worth it if I could feel this exhilarated again,' James mused as he wandered past Transfiguration. As he walked passed the door to McGonagall's office, even though he wasn't breaking any rules, he tiptoed extra carefully in case McGonagall was alerted to his presence.

'Hopefully Lily won't stay mad at me for too long. I don't know why she's even friends with Snivellus. She can obviously do so much better. She'll eventually see just how slimy he is and then, I'm sure, she'll thank me for putting Snape in his place,' James imagined as he strolled along the Defense Against the Dark Arts corridor. He was starting to feel calmer and was considering returning to the Gryffindor common room and discussing making pranking regular with Sirius when the sound of whispered voices reached his ears.

James quickly and quietly crept up the hallway to the corner. As inconspicuously as possible, he peaked around the wall. He saw Professor Strinkley, his expensive robes billowing around him as he animatedly discussed something with an older looking Slytherin student. James couldn't hear what the pair was saying because he was too far away, and he didn't want to risk moving any closer. There wasn't any coverage between where James was standing and the pair. However, the way that both Strinkley and the other student kept surveying the hallway made James suspect that they didn't want anyone coming upon them. It was all highly suspicious behaviour.

The young Gryffindor would have loved to listen in for longer, but something seemed to spook Strinkley and he quickly grabbed the student's arm and pulled him through a door into what James assumed was either Strinkley's private quarters or an empty classroom that would provide them more secrecy. As soon as the door shut on the pair, James turned on his heel and ran towards the Gryffindor common room.

He burst through the portrait hole and into the common room. His less than graceful entrance caused quite a few heads to snap in his direction. James ignored all the others and went straight to his friends collected in a corner.

"You guys are not going to believe what I just saw!" he exclaimed as he plopped down next to Sirius. Sirius and Peter had been flipping through a Quidditch magazine, Sirius enthusiastically instructing Peter on the different aspects of each broom and what made one better than another. Remus had his nose buried in a textbook, reading up on what they would be learning in their next charms class. However, at James' exclamation, all three looked up from what they were doing and turned to their friend.

"I was wandering the hallways, you know, trying to blow off some steam. I was walking through the Defence Against the Dark Arts hallways when I saw Strinkley talking to some upper-class Slytherin. It was a little strange because they were being super secretive, though there wasn't any need really. And then, when I came up, I hid but it was like they could still sense me or something and Strinkley quickly pulled the Slytherin into his office."

Sirius and Remus were looking a little less than convinced. A professor talking to a student, even late in the evening and in a hallway, was not a strange occurrence in and of itself. However, the whole thing, with how they were acting, the general atmosphere, and the quiet, barely about a whisper, volume they were talking at, combined to create a sense that they were trying to hide it all.

"Look. You had to be there, but it was totally suspicious. I think if we can figure out what is going on, then maybe Professor McGonagall will take our complaints about Strinkley seriously. He's a bad teacher and now he's doing something really shady," James continued, trying to convince his friend.

"So, you want us to keep an eye on Strinkley?" Sirius asked. He still didn't sound convinced, but James was sensing that he might be willing to go along with it. There was a slight air of adventure and mystery surrounding it and that might be enough to persuade his friends to help him.

"Yeah. We can pretend we're wandering the hallways like I was today and see if we can't catch Strinkley doing something again. If we get confronted by a prefect, we can just say we're going for a walk. They can't say we're breaking in rules, as long as we aren't spotted after curfew."

"And maybe," Sirius spoke, his tone suddenly sounding more animated. "Instead of just wandering the hallways, we can practice some jinxes and hexes. The hallways are usually empty, but we might also be able to find someone to practice on, besides each other. It would be like getting two snidgets with one seeker." James liked his friends train of thought and agreed that they would do both things, spy on Strinkley and illicitly practice magic while they did it.

"Maybe we'll even catch Snivellus while we're watching Strinkley as well. It wouldn't surprise me if those two slimy snakes are working together, even though I didn't see Snape tonight. Both of them are no good," James added, imaging the revenge he could continue to inflict on Snape.

"Did you see the look on his face? Almost looked like he was going to start crying or something!" James exclaimed; his voice filled with mirth. Peter eagerly nodded, looking up at James with pure admiration. James was standing on his chair, his chest puffed out with his hands on his hips. Sirius stood next to him in a similar pose.

"I'd say this was the best one yet. Definitely got the best results!" Sirius chimed in. The four Gryffindor first years were gathered around a table in the library. They were supposed to be working on a paper for Charms, but James and Sirius had quickly gotten distracted.

"Awesome!" Peter squeaked out. He shot a look across the library towards an empty table. Only moments before, Snape had been seated at that table. His presence had distracted James and Sirius, and they quickly decided to play a prank on the solitary Slytherin.

They'd first discussed amongst themselves the focus that Snape had towards his work, mostly said he might set his work on fire because of it. That had acted as their spark of inspiration and a plan quickly followed. As inconspicuously as possible, James pulled out his wand and aimed it at Snape and his table. He then cast a spell that set his work on fire.

Immediately, it brought the librarian upon the boy who had been startled by the sudden appearance of flames at his table. The librarian put out the flames, then yelled at Snape for practicing such dangerous magic in the library. Snape was kicked out and left with his head hung low, his lip quivering.

James and Sirius dissolved into uncontrollable laughter at the plight of Snivellus. It had been two weeks since their first prank against Snape and, in that time, James and Sirius had continued to antagonize him. They'd sent his books flying through the halls. They'd jinxed his hair to drip grease. In Potions, James had switched Snape's crushed leeches for lacewing causing his potion to emit a dark, pungent smoke.

"Maybe next time you'd like to try something, Peter. Or maybe even you, Remus?" James spoke, trying to goad his friends into playing a larger role in their pranks. Peter paled. James knew that his friend wasn't as naturally talented at magic as Sirius and he were, but he still believed that Peter could prank just as well. All he needed was a confidence boost and an opportunity to show his skill.

"I think I'll pass. It all seems a little – cruel. What did he ever do to you?" Remus responded. A few minutes passed in which James noticed Peter staring down Remus. Then, the quiet, mousy boy spoke.

"What did you have in mind for our next prank?" Peter asked, trying to quash his trepidation.

A few mornings later, the four Gryffindor first years sat at the table. It was early morning and the rest of the Great Hall was eagerly consuming breakfast. Peter appeared too be far too nervous about what was about to happen, and could only stare at the warm, good smelling food. James felt dismayed for the boy and tried to make him feel better, tried to help him settle his nerves.

"Relax, Pete," James whispered in his ear. "It's a simple tripping jinx. Not difficult magic at all. And you've already nailed it in practice." James nodded in the direction of Sirius. They boy was sitting across from them, shovelling food eagerly into his mouth. His right eye was a dark shade of purple, a result of tripping into the corner of his bed during a practice session.

"Ready, Pete?" James asked, removing his hand from Peter's leg and turning to the entrance of the Great Hall. Snape had just entered. It was now Peter's time to shine.

He pulled out his wand and pointed it in Snape's directions. Peter then waited for his target to draw closer. He tried to conceal his wand, to not draw suspicion to himself. James and Sirius were experts at it, but Peter was nowhere near their skill level in concealing their wands and their illicit spell work.

Finally, when Snape was close enough, Peter cast his jinx. Snape's legs became jelly, causing him to topple forwards. His face landed in a large vat of scrambled eggs. When he righted himself, he had eggs sticking to his face and in his hair. The students around him began to chuckle and laugh at the Slytherin's predicament.

Peter, Sirius, and James quickly joined in, knowing that it wouldn't draw any unwanted attention to them after others had laughed first.

"Ehhem, Mr. Pettigrew," a stern voice spoke over his left shoulder. Peter turned; his wand still clutched in his hand. Standing behind him, looking at him in such a way that let him know he was caught, was Professor McGonagall. "A word, if you would."

Peter had his detention after classes that day. He had been called to Professor McGonagall's office. James, who had already experienced two detentions with the Transfiguration professor, was pretty sure that Peter's detention would consist of writing lines about the importance of rules and not practicing magic outside of the classroom.

Finally, after being gone for about an hour, Peter slunk out of Professor McGonagall's office. His head was hung low and he looked dejected. James wasn't sure why he looked so sullen; detention was annoying, but it really wasn't that terrible to write lines. James made a mental note to ask Peter about it later, but for now he was focused on raising Peter's spirits.

"For he's a jolly good felon! For he's a jolly good felon! For he's a jolly good felon, which nobody can deny." As soon as Peter walked into the hallway, James and Sirius belted out the song. Extremely off key. Peter flushed red at the attention.

James and Sirius quickly embraced Peter in a friendly hug and began patting him on the back. They showered Peter with praise and adoration as they dragged him of down the hallway. Peter only continued to flush.

By the time the trio had arrived back at Gryffindor common room, Pete's head was held high. James had succeed in raising the boys spirits and making him feel proud about serving detention. Detentions were the mark of a true prankster and if Peter wanted to be a part of it, he would need to get used to detention. Both James and Sirius had already received detentions for their pranking; it was a rite of passage.

As soon as the trio walked into the common room, they were accosted by an angry, young, red haired girl. Lily Evans. She'd marched over to the foursome (Remus had been sitting at a table in the common room when James, Sirius, and Peter had arrived). Her facial muscles were taut, and her brow was pinched together in a truly terrifying expression.

"Really now Peter!" Lily exclaimed as she drew close enough to be heard. She spoke just above a whisper, a result of her clenched teeth. "I'd come to expect this asinine behaviour from James and Sirius, but I thought you were better than this! Severus has never done anything to you, expect maybe best the 'great' James in Potions. Leave him alone!"

Peter's face flushed. James had been on the receiving end of quite a few angry rants from the fiery Lily, but Peter was not used to such assaults. He slunk back down, negating all of the work James and Sirius had done to build him up only moments before.

"Oh, it's all in good fun. I'm sure Snivellus is busy working up a way to get back at us as we speak, Lily. Trust me, he's not as innocent as you think he is," James responded confidently. "Besides, that was some really stellar magic that Peter conducted, and he should be proud of what he was able to accomplish!" James clapped the other boy on the back.

Lily huffed in annoyance and then turned on her heel and stormed up to the girls' dormitory. Marlene, Lily's friend and another of the first year Gryffindor girls, levelled Peter, and James, Sirius, and Remus as well he suspected, with a withering glance before following as well. Marlene and Lily hadn't known each other outside of Hogwarts but, much like James and the other boys, the two girls, as well as the other girls in Gryffindor, had all bonded. It looked like Marlene would now be backing Lily up on all her fights.

However, the prospect of having multiple girls yelling at him would not be enough to deter James from pranking Snape. That was something that James would not voluntarily remove from his ever growing to do list.