Ch 16 Easter Holidays

The few months passed in silence. James and his friends didn't get in trouble for the prank because there was no evidence on the matter. Lily was furious about this but there was nothing she could do. One reason she was mad though was because of the potion that was spilt on her. It was supposed to cause the wearer to have greasy hair. It was Snape's way of getting back at Sirius, make one of the most handsome boys have greasy hair and become unattractive but it backfired and now Lily had greasy hair. The potion wouldn't wear off for a while. She got a lot of snips about this, most of them were from James and Sirius, who she hasn't talked to since that day.

"Evans, fashion yourself like Snivellus have you? You two going to be Greece mates?" James would ask every time he saw the two of them together. Lily would ignore it and walk past quickly with Snape.

"James, you did good." Sirius said.

"Thanks mate. Couldn't have done it without you." James was pleased that something worked out.

"And the best part is we can't be blamed for it because there was no evidence."

And it was true. During those few months leading up to Easter break the boys didn't try anything too big. A couple body binds here and there in the halls but nothing anyone could pin point it back to them. The only one they tried to do something more to was Snape but he seemed to be avoiding them where ever he went.

"Easter break starts this weekend. I think we should plan something big again."

"James my old friend, are you suggesting we get into more trouble I thought you were trying to slow down on it since your mom sent that howler."

"Well, I don't seem to be doing that do I?" he asked.

"True, mate, true. So, what were you thinking we could do?"

"Well, lean in close. This can't be over heard."

"Does it involve house elf help?"

"Well, no. It's not smart to get them involved again. I have a feeling they told Dumbledore about us. He is their master after all and if he demanded them to tell him something they would've."

"You have a point there mate, he didn't seem as surprised as I thought he's be when we told him it was us."

"Well James, what's this brilliant plan you have?" Remus asked.

"Maybe Easter isn't the best time to pull it. Only most of the school stays here studying for exams. Maybe we should do it next year at Halloween. Plus, it gives us time to plan it perfectly over the summer."

"Well at least tell us what it is."

"Not now, but I still want to do something. On second thought, maybe we could plan something for the end of the year feast."

"James, we can't loose anymore house points. We are in third place. Ravenclaw is winning and Slytherin is in second. If anything we should be doing stuff to gain points and win the cup."

"Well, the final Quidditch battle is Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. How they are in last and we are in third yet we are leading Quidditch I'll never know, but as long as we win, I'm sure we'll make it above them."

"James," Remus said slowly. "We can't go to the games and I don't think we should pull a prank that'll get us in trouble at the end of the year. I need to study and get good marks. OWL's are only four years away now and-."

"Remus, now OWL talk. We aren't even done first year. You need to relax. You are top of every class except potions. Relax."

"Sirius, if I don't get my marks better-."

"You are top of every class, sure you can study but you're going to do fine."

"Are we pulling a prank or not?" Sirius asked. He got jumpy whenever James brings up 'prank' talk.

"I guess we aren't. Remus wants to worry about his studies."

"Fine, but in the name of Merlin we need to pull one final prank before the year is out."

"Agreed. Remus, Peter, what say you?"

"That sounds good." Peter said.

"Well, as long as we plan on times when I'm not studying and it doesn't affect our house."

"What about a good prank?"

"James, what are you on about?"

"A prank that'll leave everyone laughing and will send the school year out in style?" everyone looked curious and excited about this.

"Sounds like a plan but you two need to figure out the details while I study"

The Easter holidays started and James and Sirius were sitting in the common room with Remus and Peter.

"Remus, put the book down. Exams are a month and a half away."

"Yes but I want to do good. Look around, the fifth and seventh years have been studying for a fortnight."

"But they have OWL's and NEWT's. More important then first year exams."

"You realize if we don't pass we can't move on right?"

"Remus we'll pass. They aren't that tough. Besides we have a week of holidays. I'm going to relax for the first few days."

"Whatever stirs your cauldron." Remus said and went back to his book.

"Come Sirius, we have plans to make." James said and got up and walked out of the common room. Peter decided to stay and learn a process in transfiguration he didn't understand for the exam.

"Is it just me or is some or Remus's study behaviour affecting the way Peter behaves.'

"Well, I think little Peter just doesn't like being around us without Remus because we intimidate him."

"Makes sense but we aren't that bad are we?"

"Course not, so any ideas?" Sirius asked.

"Am I that good at coming up with ideas or is it because you have none?"

"Well, a little of each. But I do have an idea and I was thinking with both our brilliant minds, we could mix out ideas and pull off a bloody brilliant prank." Sirius said.

"Couldn't agree more." James said enthusiastically.

The boys sat under their normal tree and started to work. They jotted down notes on their ideas and discussed how to pull each off.

"Are you sure if we did something like this Dumbledore wouldn't care?"

"Perfectly sure. I think he'd give us smiles and clap for us for making the feast a lot more interesting."

"Fair point. So, how do you think-." Sirius said but stopped. It seems he noticed something across the grounds.

"How do I think what?" James asked. He was looking at a map and when he looked up he noticed what Sirius was looking at, Snape.

"Sirius, what would we do?"

"Well, the fact that he hasn't noticed us yet is a sign we need to do something to him. It's the perfect time."

"Well, Petrificus Totalus may work and then we could raise his wand into the air with Wingardium Leviosa."

"It'll have to work for now. I'll Totalus him you get the wand."

James put the notes into his bag and put his wand at the ready.

"Go," James said and Sirius muttered, "Petrificus Totalus." And pointed his wand at Snape. Immediately Snape fell hard to the ground. Lily spun around, noticed James and Sirius and went to jinx them when James said, "Wingardium Leviosa." And had Snapes wand fly up into the air. Lily tried to hex James when he had an idea and performed the leg locker curse on Lily, She feel forwards and James made Snapes wand fly up into a tree and then levitated Lily's wand to do the same thing.

"Let's go Sirius." James said and they ran out of there and to the common room. There was no one who saw James and Sirius attack Lily and Snape so James figured they were safe as long as Remus and Peter would cover for them.

"Back are you?" Remus asked.

"What do you mean back? We've been here all along/" James said.

"Right Peter?" asked Sirius.

"Er? Right, I think. Remus am I right?" he asked.

"Yea, they have been here studying. Take these." He said and handed James and Sirius both text books. They sat on the chairs around a table studying. James was actually reading so if McGonagall walked in and questioned them he could say he was studying it. Sirius seemed to be ding the same thing, at least that was what it looked like to James, he could have been mistaken.

Not fifteen minutes passed when McGonagall walked in with Lily Evans.

"Potter, Black. Miss Evans believes you attacked her about twenty minutes ago."

"That's impossible Professor. We've been studying here all along." James stated innocently.

"Is that true Lupin, Pettigrew?"

"professor, you can't ask them. Even if they weren't they'd say they were because he's their friend."

"you have a point Miss. Evans. Well, Koffer, has Black and Potter been here all this time?"

A third year girl by the name of Marlene looked up. She was sitting at the next table talking and laughing with her friends.

"As far as I know professor, those first years have been sitting there for at least an hour." She said.

"Thank you Miss Koffer." McGonagall said. Lily looked shocked and annoyed.

"Professor, do you have my wand?" she asked.

"Yes Miss Evans. It's right here. Next time, learn to walk away then try to save Mr. Snape. I know that sounds surprising coming from a professor but he is a Slytherin and therefore he's after the house cup this year. Slytherin house hasn't won the cup in ten years, Gryffindor hasn't won in five. I would like to see the cup in my office so be careful Miss. Evans." And McGonagall walked away.

Lily glared at James and Sirius then walked up to the girl's dorm.

"Marlene, we owe you big."

"As long as you share what you did this time."

"Oh, we Totalused Snivellus and leg locked Evans then flew their wand up a tree."

Several people laughed. Marlene grinned.

"Not your best work, but still funny." She said and turned back to her friends.

"So, did you guys get details yet?" Remus whispered to them.

"Well a bit, before we were distracted by Snivellus and Evans but there's plenty of time. Next Saturday is the final Quidditch match and I guess we can work out more details then." James said.

"Well, since the rest of the school will be at the match we won't be disturbed." Remus said.

"Remus, it's not disturbance we're worried about. It's being faulted and not able to pull it off. We want to bring the school year out in style."

"So, when are you going to share some of your brilliant plans with us?" Peter asked. It seemed we was sucking up for some reason.

"When there aren't so many people around." Sirius and James said together.

The holidays were over, James and Sirius didn't get much studying done. They were too concerned with the prank they wanted to pull, but they got two hours in a day. James never studied. Even when his dad was helping him before he turned eleven.

They were eating breakfast when the mail arrived. Remus got the daily profit and unrolled it and started to read. Once glance at the front page made him gasp. James and Sirius were reading a note from James mom when he gasped and they quickly looked at him.

"What's the matter Remus?" asked James.

"It's horrible. You-Know-Who did an attack on a muggle family because they were related to an disloyal death eater. The death eater's family was wiped out and so was the muggle family."

James reached over and pulled the paper towards him. Sure enough the article was titled You-Know-Who gaining strength and below that was an article discussing an unfaithful nameless death eater found dead in his home. His neighbours, the death eaters cousins were found dead as well. Muggle police were confused but the Ministry and Aurors knew it was it was the killing curse and who was behind it.

James read over the article and then looked over at the Slytherin table. If it was a death eater then there was a chance that a Slytherin student was related to him. He didn't see anyone reacting to it in a disappointed way. All along the table the Slytherins were laughing at the article as if it was funny that disloyalty be punished in a way that can not be reversed.

James felt sick. He looked at Sirius who was still staring at the article.

"I can not believe he killed innocent muggles because they were related to a disloyal death eater. That is sick on so many levels."

"Sirius, I'm with you mate. It's terrible. I can not believe it. What if it was my family?" James asked himself.

"Is your family death eaters?"

"Well no, but all pure bloods are inter-related in some way."

"I see your point mate, but I think my family has more to fear then yours."

"Are you saying you are having feelings for your family?"

"I may hate them but they still are my family. Where would I go if my parents were killed and my little brother may be annoying and have an abnormal liking of You-Know-Who but I'd still miss him if he was murdered?"

"Well to answer your question you'd come and live with my family and anyone would miss family if they were killed no matter how much they dislike them."

"Well James, I guess the potters will always welcome me, not mater the trouble."

"They still take me back don't they?" asked James jokingly.

Sirius grinned and went back to his food. James achieved what he was hoping to lighten the air after the article. The truth however was that James was scared. If He who must not be named was attacking innocent muggles then what chance did innocent witches and wizards have. Or worse, those who are trying to fight him. James sat in silence for the whole meal.

"James, hello? Can you hear me?" Sirius was speaking to him.

"Sorry, lost in thought."

"Well I see that. And do you realize we forgot today is the final Quidditch match."

James did forget. The article moved everything out of his mind but the fear of his family. His parents helped Dumbledore with fighting the evil wizard and was worried he'd come for his family.

"Well, that means Gryffindor may win the house cup!!" Sirius stated, James couldn't help but smile.

"We will, we have an amazing team. We'll wipe Hufflepuff off the pitch. I just wish we could watch it." James said,

"But I thought we were going to plan the prank?"

"I guess that's important to." James sat in thought.

"Well, if we win there will be a celebration party." James said.

"So that means the dorm room will be empty and we can plan there." Sirius finished. The two minds were like one sometimes.

"So, all we have to do is ask McGonagall if we can go. We've stayed out of trouble. I don't see her saying no."

"You have a point." Sirius said and he got up from the table and grabbed James.

"Let's ask now."

James looked at the staff table to see McGonagall walking towards the Quidditch team.

"Now, I'm hoping you win, but if you don't its fine. We may still be in the lead. We are beating Hufflepuff by 50 points, so as long as you stay above that and they win by 40 points or less from us, we'll still be above them." The team agreed and got up from the table and walked to the change rooms.

James and Sirius walked over to McGonagall.

"Professor," James said.

"Yes potter, Black, what it is?" she asked. James had a feeling she already knew what he was going to ask.

"We were hoping we could watch the final match." Sirius said,

"Well, you've managed to stay out of trouble to my knowledge." She said. By this James suspected she knew they haven't been as innocent as they appear to be and that they have been behind many pranks pulled.

"But unfortunately a punishment is a punishment. You boys will have to miss the match." And she walked back to the staff table.

"We tried." James said. So they decided they'd just plan the prank.

Two hours after the game started James, Sirius, Peter and Remus could hear voices coming from the corridor. The Portrait hole opened and in came a storming crowd cheering and laughing and carrying the Quidditch cup. They had won.

James was talking to seeker Mary McGonagall and found out she caught the snitch from right under Cory Caine's nose, the Hufflepuff seeker. It seemed sixth year Ludo Bagman, a beater on the Hufflepuff team knocked his own team mate off his broom with a bludger and it caused a penalty shot. Gryffindor won by two hundred points, 210-10. Gryffindor was now in the lead for the house cup.

A/N: We're getting closer and closer to the end. Only 4 more chapter left… hard to believe but I'm actually quiet excited for it cuz that means I can post the sequel… which actually I should be working on still but my other stories are getting me excited and I neglect it but as soon as I start posting it I'll writer some more of it. Anyways, I hope you liked it and please review!