Chapter 18 FOOD FIGHT! (Aka Dare or Dare pt2)
The Great Hall was full of not only Gryffindor students, but students from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin as well. It was rare for the Great Hall to be this full, it usually only happened three times a year: the feast, Halloween, and the last meal. The Head of Houses were pacing up and down the aisles waiting for the rest of their students to arrive.
James held the mirror between the three of them as the huddled closely around trying to hear Remus over the noise. They told him all about the dares they had already faced and the ones they were planning. Remus gave them a few ideas. Sirius complained repeatedly about his hair.
"At least you don't look completely mental," Peter told him as Cresswell finally joined them. Frank went off looking for Alice.
"He can only get out of the dress if Alice sees him in it," Sirius explained.
Marlene was chatting with a group of girls not far from them. Adrian had run off to the toilets again, finally sobering up. Gabe was sitting with his girlfriend at the opposite end of the table.
"Alright, boys? Remus?" Cresswell greeted, peering into the mirror. Remus responded politely. "Brilliant piece of magic you did," Cresswell said, referring to the mirrors.
"Er… thanks," Remus said awkwardly. James cleared his throat and shot a warning look to Cresswell.
"So, who's turn is it?" Cresswell said, casually changing the subject.
"Well, after you left, Frank dared me, then I dared Gabe, Gabe dared Adrian, Adrian dared Sirius, then Marlene joined and dared Sirius, Sirius dared Adrian…. I think that's it. So Adrian's turn?" Peter answered.
"But I dared Cresswell last and he hasn't gone," James said.
"And Adrian's not here," Sirius pointed out.
"I can't hear you guys!" Remus called.
"We're just deciding who goes next!" Peter told him.
"And it's me, so James, truth or dare?" Cresswell asked.
"Err, dare," James answered, answered handing the mirror off to Peter.
"Go get that red head you fancy and tell her you love her... then kiss her," Cresswell dared.
"Ooo, nice one," Remus complimented. Peter and Sirius smirked as James grew bright red.
"She'll kill me" he mumbled.
"What'd he say?" Remus asked.
"That she'll kill him," Peter answered as Sirius laughed while trying to hide it from James.
"It'll be alright," Sirius said after he gained control of himself. "Just do it quick."
"Didn't you have a thing for her in your first year?" Gabe asked after Cresswell caught him up, making James's blush deeper.
"I'll be right back," James said, slipping out of his seat and walking slowly towards Lily. Sirius, Cresswell, and Gabe watched.
"Peter, truth or dare?" Remus asked, knowing he wouldn't be able to see what happened.
"Er, truth," Peter answered, looking back and forth between the mirror and James. James tapped Lily nervously on the shoulder and she spun around.
"Lame!" Remus shouted, loud enough for a student sitting next to them jump in surprise.
Lily got to her feet and James pulled her by the hand into the aisle between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables.
"Okay, if you had to kiss one of your - no - anyone on the staff who would it be?"
James looked pointedly at them then back at Lily and mouthed the words 'I love you.'
"Err… M-madam Hooch," Peter said now looking directly at James and a flustered Lily Evans.
James grabbed her by the shoulders, looked as if he was going to lean in for a kiss but pulled back. Instead, he took her hand again, kissed it, and ran back to the table, leaving Lily blushing and confused in the middle of the aisle. They all laughed at him - all except Remus who had no idea what was going on. James jumped back into his seat and slammed his head onto the table.
"I think that went well," Sirius said seriously causing Peter to start laughing again.
"Oh, shove off!" James groaned, snatching the mirror back. "Remus, truth or dare?"
"Er… truth," Remus answered.
"Ah surprise, surprise," James laughed. Remus was notorious for picking truths but giving out horribly good dares.
"Did you cry when the ginger picked up your books for you?" Peter asked. This had been an ongoing debate with the boys since second year. Remus thoroughly denied it ever happened but Sirius insisted he saw tears when Remus turned around and James swore his eyes were red later on. Remus growled at Peter.
"Just pretend I said that," James said, laughing again.
"Yes," he hissed. The other three laughed triumphantly but Cresswell looked confused.
"Why would that make you cry?" Gabe asked.
"I was having a bad day," Remus muttered sheepishly.
"Lupin, your turn," James said.
"Sirius."
"Yes."
"Truth or Dare?"
Sirius grinned wickedly at Remus. He was the only one who ever enjoyed Remus's dares.
"Do you really have to ask?" Sirius answered.
"We'll start off simple," Remus said, smiling. "Write a friendly letter to Slughorn telling him how your day is going. Notice I said friendly, not even a hint of dislike in that letter. Peter will proofread before you send it," Remus said. Peter nodded dutifully. James's grin looked like his face was split in two. Cresswell chuckled heartily.
"He's here in the Great Hall with us," Sirius told him.
"Even better," Remus shrugged.
"We're not allowed out of the Great Hall, how will I send it to him?" Sirius countered.
"Just pass it down to him," Remus answered. Sirius sighed defeated. He looked down the table for anyone who had parchment and a quill. He dashed off down the hall noticing a seventh year studying for his NEWTs. Marlene came up as Sirius disappeared.
"What'd I miss," Marlene asked brightly, throwing herself into Sirius's old seat.
"James professed his love to Lily Evans and kissed her. On her hand. It was very romantic," Gabe told her. James glared at him.
"Remus dared Sirius to write a letter to Slughorn," Cresswell continued.
"Remus?" Marlene asked. They gestured towards the mirror and Marlene saw Remus staring back at her. "Oh! Hey, Remus!"
"Hello miss," Remus said politely.
"It's Marlene," Marlene reminded. Marlene and Remus sometimes studied together in the library (Sirius never had the patience to teach Remus anything, James hated studying, and Peter never wanted to miss out on what Sirius and James were planning,) so she was a little confused about why he didn't remember her.
"Right! I knew that. I did. I'm just… not at my best right now," Remus assured her, looking apologetic.
"You do look a little under the weather," Marlene admitted, looking concerned.
"I'll be fine in a few days," Remus smiled.
"I guess that means we'll need to have a study session when you get out?" Marlene offered.
"That would be lovely, thank you, Marlene," Remus answered.
"Uh, our tutoring starts when you get out so they'll be no study sessions for you two on that day!" James ordered.
"It feels so good to be in normal clothes again!" Frank announced as he took his seat across from the other four, now dressed in his usual clothes. "I don't know how you girls do it all the time."
"Who's that?" Remus asked, having heard the new voice.
"Frank Longbottom," Marlene answered, nudging James so he would turn the mirror.
"Blimey! Hey, Remus!" Frank said, looking impressed.
"Hello Frank," Remus responded. Frank took the mirror out of James's hand and examined it from all angles.
"Where did you get this?" Frank asked.
"Convenience store," Remus answered, facing the stormy ceiling.
"What'd ya mean you got it from a convenience store? You told me you made it," James questioned as Sirius came back with a fresh piece of parchment and a quill. He climbed over the table and took a seat next to Frank having noticed that Marlene was in his previous one. Marlene was talking avidly with Peter. Gabe and Cresswell had gone to talk to the Ravenclaw captain about him potentially beating the Slytherins and winning the cup.
"I bought the mirror from a convenience store and accidently charmed it when I was flipping through one of my dad's old books," Remus explained.
"You did this accidentally!" Frank yelled looking into the mirror at Remus. Remus looked shocked at his tone.
"Not exactly. Dad had written a spell in the margins and I tried it out. I was aiming for one of my old toys but hit the mirror instead," Remus shrugged.
"How did you figure out what it did?" Sirius asked.
"Well when I hit it, it broke and one of the pieces fell behind the shelf and I couldn't reach it, so I took the one that I could reach out to the trash. But then my mum came in with my laundry while I was out and I caught her face in the mirror, so yeah," Remus told them. James chuckled and shook his head. Sirius arch a brow at him. Frank was still examining the mirror.
"What was the spell?" Frank asked.
"Don't remember," Remus answered. "If I find it again I'll write you but Dad took the book after I told him about it."
"You told him!" Sirius said.
"Well, yeah. It was a spell I knew nothing about, it could have been dangerous," Remus answered. Sirius shook his head in disbelief. James chuckled knowing Sirius didn't understand why anyone would tell their parents anything.
"Aren't you supposed to be writing?" James reminded Sirius before he could say anything more.
"Right," Sirius jumped, taking the quill in hand and began to scribble on the parchment. "Dear fat old slug."
"I said friendly! James tell him not to write that!" Remus protested.
"Relax Lupin, he's just joshing you," James laughed.
Adrian came striding up, looking pale and dehydrated but otherwise better. Professor McGonagall wrapped her wand against the staff table calling for attention and the other Head of Houses hushed the crowd. Sirius passed his letter to Peter who began to read with interest. James waved goodbye to Remus and shoved the mirror back into his pocket. The Hall fell silent with every set of eyes turned toward their Deputy Headmistress.
"I'm sure by now you've all been wondering why we've called you here," she started, earning a few sarcastic remarks and scattered affirmations. McGonagall waited once again for silence. "It has not gone unnoticed that there has been a rivalry going on between the four houses that has been less than friendly." Once again the Great Hall broke out in scattered comments, even some laughs. James and Sirius stared straight ahead eyeing their professor suspiciously. The room settled once again and McGonagall continued. "In order to remedy this, Professor Dumbledore and the rest of the staff has decided to throw a little mixer." McGonagall paused expecting her students to erupt again but an icy silence had fallen as the houses glared at each other. McGonagall cleared her throat and the teachers nodded to her supportively. "When I say go, you will all get up and make a new group of at least four. Each house has to be present in your group. Is that understood?" McGonagall asked, waiting for a response but again none came. She looked around the Hall catching James's and Sirius's eye. They nodded to her, trying to keep the anger out of their stares. They understood what she was trying to do but couldn't fully support it, not knowing what they knew. "Alright, go!"
There was a very long pause. Eilidh Nicnevin and Lily Evans were the first to stand. Lily strode straight over to the Slytherin table. Eilidh stopped by the Ravenclaws to grab her brother by the hand and drag him over to join Lily with Severus. Regulus Black stood next and walked over to the Ravenclaws sitting next to a group he was often seen with. Wilkes and Cassie from Hufflepuff stood and walked to the Slytherins to sit next to Malfoy and Narcissa.
"Alright, let's stick together," James said to his friends. Marlene looked apprehensively at the Slytherins. She may not have remembered who attacked her but she knew it was one of them.
"Hey," Sirius said, taking Marlene's hand, "we'll sit next to my brother, he's only a first year." Marlene nodded looking relieved. She gave Sirius's hand a grateful squeeze before letting go and following the boys over to the Ravenclaws. "Alright, Reggie?" Sirius greeted with a smile. Regulus sighed heavily at the sight of his brother but moved over all the same. "You know I don't think we've talked since I had detention with 'the Great Slug,'" Sirius remarked.
"Perhaps there was a reason for it," Regulus commented. Sirius laughed heartily, throwing his head back. James smiled at Regulus who scowled back at him. "Nice one, Regulus. Anyway, you already know James. He's a half-blood and the biggest muggle supported who's ever walked the halls of Hogwarts." James grinned proudly. "Oh and that's Marlene Mckinnon. You might know her because one of your house mates put her in the hospital wing a couple months back. She's a half-blood, I do believe." Marlene nodded her affirmation.
"Also a muggle supporter," she added.
"And that's Peter Pettigrew muggle born, obviously a big muggle supporter," Sirius continued.
"Rumour has it he's in love with Madam Hooch," James muttered. Peter elbowed him as a blush crept up his face.
"Frank and Adrian Longbottom, purebloods but I dare say bigger blood traitors than even I," Sirius said.
"Nonsense Sirius, it doesn't count when all their family are blood traitors," Regulus told him with mocking comfort.
"Hear that? Guess I'm better than you after all," Sirius said proudly, grinning at the Longbottoms. They shared an awkward glance but didn't respond. "So who are these lovely children?" Sirius asked, waving a hand at his brother's friends.
"Jordan Fawley, Mikael Nott, Astraeus Shafiq - we usually call her Star- and Stephanie Travers, all purebloods," Regulus said proudly, gesturing to each of his friends.
"Weren't you at my Aunt's party last summer?" Sirius asked Jordan Fawley who looked extremely affronted about being addressed.
"Yes, I was," he said proudly. The rest of the group scowled at the newcomers as Sirius attempted to make friendly conversation with Fawley.
"Isn't Astraeus a boy name?" James asked, irritably. The girl stared blankly back at him. "I mean that's gotta suck being a girl with a boys name. I once met a bloke named Maurice, and the other guys…." James trailed off laughing at the memory. She continued to stare looking angrier as James continued on. "Though it can't be that bad being a girl with a guys name. Most girl names sound pretty but guys names just sound like names. Like your name -Astraeus- it's pretty cool. Sounds almost warrior-ish." James finished and waited for an answer. She was glaring at him now and gritting her teeth. Meanwhile, Sirius was doing the same. Talking none stop, seeming to expect an answer but receiving none. Slughorn came over, clutching Sirius's letter in his hand, beaming. He expressed his immense gratitude for the letter and once again invited him to join the Slug Club.
"So what's it like being in Ravenclaw?" Marlene asked Travers who jumped when she asked.
"Er fine, I guess," she answered nervously, staring at the people around her.
"It seems pretty cool," Marlene continued, "though I don't think I could keep up with all those riddles. I tried to get up there one time in my second year, don't remember why, but I was stuck in front of the door for a good thirty minutes because I couldn't guess the answer. Still, can't. I think it was… 'marking mortal privation, when firmly in place. An enduring summation, inscribed on my face." Marlene chanted, screwing her face up trying to remember correctly.
"It's a tombstone," Travers answered condescendingly.
"Oh, that makes sense! But see what I mean you got that instantly and I've been trying to understand it for a year," Marlene laughed.
"Yeah, the sorting hat certainly knows what it's doing," Travers said, turning her body away from Marlene. Marlene sighed and turned back to the other Gryffindors. Food had appeared at the table. Small sandwiches and cakes with a steaming teapot and teacups each with a different house emblem on them. The Hufflepuff's Head of House, Professor Kettleburn came striding up to them with a group of Hufflepuff's shyly trailing behind. Peter squirmed and averted his eyes. Professor Kettleburn was missing half of his left arm and half of his right hand's fingers, it never failed to make Peter queasy.
"Looks like you lot could use a few badgers," Kettleburn said grinning toothily at them. He waved the Hufflepuffs forward. The Gryffindors forced the Ravenclaws to make room for them, some a little more aggressively than others. "This is Fae Archer, Tina Davis, and Brian Cutler. Please make them feel welcome," Kettleburn said, giving them one last toothy grin before striding off across the hall. Sirius and Regulus had dropped the fake courtesies and were now at each others throats. The Hufflepuffs looked rather concerned for the two.
"Are you Josie Archer's sister?" James asked, trying to divert their attention.
"Er… yeah. I'm Fae, a fourth year," Fae answered in a soft voice. James nodded and smiled as welcomingly as he could with Regulus shouting insults at his best friend. He decided not to get involved unless one of the Ravenclaws decided to join in.
"What about you two?" James asked.
"Second year," Tina answered, smiling shyly.
"Fifth," Brian said, glaring around the room.
"Well, at least I don't kiss Mum's arse every chance I get!" Sirius yelled, gaining the attention of half the hall. Regulus gasped before erupting into a string of swears, throwing food at his brother with every word he spoke. Sirius took hit after hit before finally drawing out his wand, deflecting the food as he would a hex. Regulus threw his teacup at him which crashed to the floor after Sirius ducked out of its way, catching the rest of the Halls attention. Regulus and Sirius didn't seem to notice as they continued their argument. McGonagall and Slughorn swiftly walked through the hall towards the pair. James tried to warn them, shaking Sirius's arm trying to get his attention. "Stay out of this James!" Sirius yelled, his attention finally leaving his brother as he turned towards James. McGonagall came to a stop directly behind Sirius and having felt her presence the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. He saw her stern expression reflected in James's glasses before he turned slowly around to face it head on.
"Mr Black, I don't believe a food fight is ever allowed in the Great Hall," McGonagall said, eyeing a piece of lettuce dangling from Sirius's still ridiculous hair style.
"This is not a food fight!" Sirius said, his anger raising his voice.
"Mr Black quiet down, this is supposed to be peaceful," McGonagall warned.
"I! Will not! Be! Silenced!" Sirius yelled, jumping to his feet. Sirius paled realising what he had done.
"Nor will I!" James yelled, jumping up to his feet. He hit Peter's arm and he too stood with them.
"Me neither!" Peter said firmly though looked confused.
"Enough!" McGonagall ordered. The three of them gulped. James stood on his chair.
"It's not enough Maggie!" James said. Sirius and Peter stared up at him in disbelief. Sirius and Peter stood up on the chairs next to him.
"If it's silence you want then its silence you'll get!" Sirius said. James looked at him. This was not the direction he was going in. Sirius shot him a look telling him to go along with it.
"Yeah!" Peter called, supportively.
"From henceforth James, Peter, and I will be taking a vow of silence!" Sirius announce to the entire Great Hall.
"You three out now!" McGonagall yelled.
"She doesn't think we can do it," Sirius told them, smirking.
"I bet we could do it for an entire month," James scoffed.
"10 galleons says that we can stay silent for an entire month, what say you, Professor?" Peter smirked.
"I say you're already failing," McGonagall said. "Now into the corridor this very second!"
"Don't you want to take the bet, Professor?" Sirius smiled innocently. "No? Anyone else? Either want to join us in our vow or take our bet talk to Frank Longbottom!"
"Anyone who moves from their seats will receive a detention," McGonagall said, sending a threatening look throughout the Hall. "You three out. Now!"
"Can't Professor, you said not to move from our seats," James said innocently, the three of them having jumped into a sitting position at her threat. McGonagall's nostrils flared and her lips were so thin they were almost nonexistent.
"Our vow starts now by the way," Sirius said and the three of them shut their mouths tightly. James was trying to hide a smirk and Peter was trying to calm his breathing. What had he gotten himself into? Sirius stared blankly ahead, ignoring his brother completely. Regulus was staring incredulously at him. Regulus had only received one detention for causing a disturbance. But with the new disturbance, Sirius was bound to be expelled.
"P-professor. It was only a friendly food fight," Regulus said meekly.
"Mr Black I suggest you stay out of this," McGonagall warned.
"But we were all in on it, weren't we Frank?" Marlene said. Frank nodded.
"Yeah, it was fun," Fae said, having taken a liking to James Potter in the short time she knew him.
"That's right. It was just a friendly food fight, right Adrian?" Frank smiled, taking a piece of cake and crushing it onto his chest. Adrian gasped in horror.
"Yeah," Adrian laughed manically over McGonagall's protest," Yeah that's right, all for fun!" Adrian smashed a cucumber sandwich onto Marlene's head who shrieked and threw another piece of cake at him but missed and hit Tina instead. Tina threw food at Brian who returned in kind. Soon the Ravenclaws and Regulus joined in, extending the fight further along the table. Then the Slytherin table behind them erupted into chaos, followed by the Hufflepuff's table on the other side, lastly the Gryffindor's table.
The Head of Houses were desperately trying to restore order, using magic to stop flying food from hitting students. Many students had taken refuge under the tables, covering their head protectively with their arms. Lily Evans had thrown a whole cake at Evan Rosier making James's grin impossible to hide. James, Sirius, and Peter dared not move. McGonagall stood directly in front of them staring them down. James and Sirius stared around the room proud of the chaos that they had practically caused. Peter seemed on the verge of tears, especially when McGonagall announce that the three of them would be having detention for a month. Just as the chaos seemed to have no end and the teachers had just about given up, someone threw a cake across the hall, hitting a tall man in bright blue wizard robes who had entered the Great Hall unnoticed. The Hall fell silent. The cake fell with a loud, echoing splat at his feet. The man took out his wand, waved it in front of his face and the remaining frosting disappeared revealing him to be whom they all fear it was: Albus Dumbledore.
The students lurched into action, scuffling back to their seats, drawing their chairs out loudly, sitting, then staring, terrified, at the person across from them. Dumbledore walked calmly down the aisle, stepping over the food that littered the floor, smiling at the few students who dared look at him.
"It would seem that my rendezvous was more eventful that I originally planned," Dumbledore smiled at his students. Some laughed nervously, others bowed their head in shame, others were still too afraid to move, most couldn't believe that Dumbledore had made a joke out of this situation. "Professor Slughorn!" Dumbledore called. Slughorn stood abruptly upright having taken refuge behind the staff table.
"Yes, sir!" Slughorn spoke, his expression unreadable.
"You seem to have had the best seat in the house. Did it appear to you that the students were enjoying themselves?" Dumbledore questioned.
"Well, yes. Yes, I dare say they did," Slughorn answered merrily, glancing around the room at his slowly relaxing students. He caught Lily's eye and winked at her.
"And they were mixing quite nicely with the other houses?" Dumbledore asked, taking note of the integrated house colours. They're were Slytherins even at the Gryffindor table. Dumbledore smiled broadly at them.
"Yes, of course," Slughorn laughed, allowing others to do the same.
"Then I suppose we can consider today a success. You are dismissed. Please clean yourselves up and prepare for dinner," Dumbledore said, waving a hand at his students. The Hall erupted into motion once again with students scurrying to leave. McGonagall motioned for James, Peter, and Sirius to stay, so they smiled reassuringly at their friends and watched them leave.
"This wasn't at all a success," Professor Flitwick squeaked after the last of the students were gone.
"Actually Professor, I think you'll soon find it was an immense success," Dumbledore said, walking over to McGonagall and the three boys. "Hello gentlemen, Minerva," Dumbledore greeted.
"Albus," McGonagall answered, while the boys nodded and waved bound to silence by their vow.
"I take it you three were the cause of all this?" Dumbledore asked. His tone was not stern or friendly, just mildly curious. Peter bowed his head, Sirius gave a half smile, and James shrugged.
"They have taken a vow of silence," McGonagall explained, her exasperation clear in her voice.
"I see," Dumbledore said, his beard twitching. James and Sirius looked innocently back at him. Peter had tears streaming down his face. It was hard to say whether Dumbledore was amused by their mischief or by their appearance. Peter still wore underpants on his head, Sirius still had rubber bands in his hair, though most had fallen out by now, and James was covered in condiments and frosting. Lily and Severus had taken advantage of a brief moment when McGonagall had turned away from James to attack the poor boy.
"I've given them a month's detention each, they were… defiant when I tried addressing the issue," McGonagall continued.
"It is well deserved then," Dumbledore said, not taking his eyes off the trio. "I think Poppy might like some assistance…. Cleaning bedpans and such. You never know, they might learn some helpful healing charms." Sirius groaned and sank in his seat, hearing only bedpans. Peter sobbed thinking only of a month's worth of detention and what his mother was bound to say when she found out. James, however, perked up catching onto Dumbledore's subtle hint. James caught his eye and he winked at him before striding out of the Great Hall. "Broken mirrors always have sharp edges, do try to be careful," Dumbledore said before disappearing through the doors.
James, Sirius, and Peter had no idea how he knew about the mirrors but that odd comment could only mean one thing. They talked it over as they washed their Mandrake leaves in their basin. Remus later explained to them that he had accidently cut himself on one of the edges. Madam Pomfrey got nervous and thought he was turning early so she called Dumbledore in for assistance. Remus was forced to explain that they knew about his condition and was fine with it. In fact, they were enthusiastic about it and were willing to help in any way they could. He assured them that he didn't tell their Headmaster about their ludicrous plans to become animagi, even though Dumbledore would probably put a stop to it faster than either of them could say quidditch.
As for their vow of silence. The next day many of the students tried to make the three of them slip up but failed miserably. Frank did catch them once, whispering to each other in the Gryffindor common room, lisping and gagging like they had something in their mouths, but promised not to say anything. All was going to plan but the real test would be at tomorrow's tutoring session.
***I know it was long. Sorry. It was really fun to write so I may have gotten carried away. Thank you, thank you, thank you! for reading it. I'd love to know what you thought of it so leave a review. (pretty please?)
XOXO***