Chapter 16 of Year 4: Halloween 1974

I. A bit of Lily's internal conflict

All day Potter kept looking at her over his book or behind the teachers' backs. At first, it was funny, maybe even a little endearing but now it annoyed the hell out of her. How they ever got away with anything was beyond Lily's comprehension.

To say she was nervous would be a massive understatement (her stomach was in knots by the time it was first mentioned at breakfast) but there was something wonderful about the way her nerves were edged with excitement. It made her hands shake and the hair on the back of her neck stand on end, she was hopelessly distracted for the entire day, but she never felt more alive. Besides, there was no way for anyone to ever find out… unless they got caught.

And there was Severus to think about. They didn't lie to each other and they didn't keep secrets but she was working with James Potter. Lily had the slightest inclination that Sev knew. Especially because Potter kept looking at her and she was avoiding his comments on the matter. There was no need for him to ever really find out. It was an innocent prank. Anyway, the feud between Sev and Potter seemed to be at an all time low since Hogsmeade. It wasn't so bad that she was hanging out with him if things were settled between them.

That made her feel a little better and told herself that she only lied about helping to set up a Gryffindor Halloween party instead of going to the feast for the sake of the prank, not because of Potter.

By the time she reached the boys' dormitory, her nerves and all thoughts of Severus were flushed out by a rush of excitement. Their door was already open. Through it, she could see Remus sitting on the edge of his bed replacing his school books with an obscene amount of Dungbombs. Eilidh and Black were sniggering together, sitting on a trunk on the opposite side of the room. Peter was helping a shirtless Potter pin up a sheet over the far wall, probably covering up some kind of damage.

She walked though cautiously, knocking on the door as she did. Eilidh and Black burst into a fit of giggles and Potter spun around. Too scared to look any further than his nose, Lily stared into his eyes, her face feeling warmer than usual.

"You're late, Evans!" He thrust his chest out and put his hands on his hips looking hilariously like Peter Pan.

"I was almost abducted by aliens," Lily said seriously, plopping herself down on Remus's trunk. Potter shook his head looking stern for a second then snorted. "I'm serious. You should get dressed. I heard they prefer their victims half naked."

He looked down at his bare chest, shocked and blushing a little like he hadn't realised he forgot to put on a shirt, and scurried to his trunk.

Eilidh turned to look at her, trying not to laugh. "James was too distracted trying to get the place looking presentable for you."

"It always looks like this!" Potter said, pushing his head through a jumper with a bit of a red tinge on his cheeks.

"When I first got here the floor didn't exist." Eilidh rolled her eyes at Potter who turned around and seemed to not be listening.

"Jamie's cleaning is nothing compared to what he did at practice." Black grinned, watching Potter out of the corner of his eye. Potter threw a pillow at him. He caught it and held it up creating a barrier between his face and Potter. "He would not shut up about y-"

Potter charged Black and tackled him onto his bed. Black thrashed, trying to wiggle himself out from under Potter. Eilidh had to move lest she'd be hit by Black's violently flailing limbs. Potter caught Black's arms and pinned them down.

"Look under that sheet if you get a chance. It's hilarious," Eilidh whispered as she took a seat next to Lily. Lily smiled in response but kept her eyes on the wrestling match on the bed. It looked quite dangerous. Black was able to lift Potter almost two inches before he forced himself back down again.

"Okay, does everyone have all the supplies they need," Potter began with Black still fighting to break free. Remus nodded and held up his rucksack now full of Dungbombs.

"What happens if I run out of inkwells?" Peter asked, holding a small parcel they had filled with inkwells they had "found" around the castle.

"Then take off your clothes and do the chicken dance," Eilidh smirked causing Peter to blush.

"That certainly would be distracting," Remus chuckled, eyes dancing with mirth.

"Peeves is more than likely to join you before you run out," Lily said with a reassuring smile.

"Nah, Peeves is pranking Filch tonight," Potter told her. He suddenly let out a yelp and jumped off of Black, rubbing his side. Black sat up gasping for breath.

"You fat oaf, you could have killed me!" Black yelled and pushed Potter off the bed. Potter caught himself before hitting the floor, whipped out his wand and spun around only to be faced with Black's ready wand.

"Oy!" Lily called, halting Potter and Black mid-action. A duel between the two was the last thing they needed at the moment. "Peter has an issue."

They both dropped their hands with a slight groan of irritation.

"He'll get caught before he runs out," Black said, waving his hand dismissively.

"As long as he uses them sparingly," Potter added as an afterthought.

"So, you're just gonna let your friend take the fall for you?" Lily asked said, indignantly, standing as if in protest.

"That's the point of having someone in Point Position, Evans," Potter explained nonchalantly.

"We usually find a way to get each other out of trouble, Lily," Remus said when Lily continued to look disdainful. "Right, Pete?"

"Right," Peter nodded half heartedly, suggesting that their plans didn't always work.

"So you do have a plan to help Peter?" Lily asked, looking at Potter.

"I fully intend on rescuing Peter, yes," Potter answered.

"That doesn't sound like you have a plan," Lily said, crossing her arms. She raised her eyebrows as Potter rolled his eyes.

"I plan on coming to Peter's rescue and using my brilliance to get him out of trouble," Potter said triumphantly.

"You're an idiot," Lily decided, shaking her head.

"Fine. I plan on using my idiocy to get Peter out of trouble," he returned, looking a little deflated.

"Excuse me, Mr and Mrs Potter, I hate to break up the love fest but we're running on a schedule," Black said, quickly. Lily scoffed, they would destroy each other if they ever were to marry.

"Right." Potter clapped his hands together returning his full attention to the task at hand. "Does everyone remember how to get into their Houses"

"Yes. And everyone remembers what they're supposed to do and that we're supposed to meet back here when we're done," Black said irritably. He counted the things to remember on his fingers then slumped against one of the posts of the bed.

"Fine," Potter said, glaring at Black, "but if something goes wrong -"

"- you're blaming me. Got it. Let's go." Black stood, stuffed his wand into the waistband of his jeans, and led everyone out the door.

***J woohooo! Mischievous Lily is the best Lily. Who knows what those clever boys were planning? Hopefully, we'll get to see it one day :)

***Hello and welcome to the new followers/favoriters

So, I know a few of you said that you prefer longer chapters but the next few chapters are gonna be really short like this one sorry to disappoint.

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