Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Chapter 14: A prank and a fight

Lily's POV

It was dark and raining outside when the train pulled up at Hogsmeade Station.

Everyone piled out, anticipating a delicious feast and a warm, comfortable bed.

The first year students went with Hagrid, while the rest of us followed the path to the carriages. I was in one with the Marauders, still trying to avoid Miranda and Megan. Tina was with her Hufflepuff friends.

The whole ride up to the castle, James was glaring at Sirius and Sirius was laughing to himself, looking at the pictures he had taken. Peter and Remus were grinning, watching their friends.

In about ten minutes we reached the end of our ride. I started opening the door to get out of the carriage when James held me back. He wasn't glaring at Sirius anymore. In fact, all four boys were looking at their watches and smiling evilly.

"Crap," I whispered. Of course, it had to be a prank.

"3….2….1!" James said. As soon as he got to one, I heard screaming. I looked out the window and saw that a couple of the carriages had gone crazy. They were moving really fast and knocking students over. This lasted for a minute before the carriages went off in the direction of the lake.

James grabbed me as they got out of our carriage and ran to the Hogwarts doors, pretending to be completely innocent and as scared as the rest of the students. Of course the only students who weren't at the doors were the Slytherins…the ones in the carriages.

"What's going on?" whispered Miranda, appearing at my shoulder.

"I dunno," I lied. Suddenly we heard a splash. The Marauders and I burst out laughing. Everyone looked at us strangely, but then started laughing as well when they saw the Slytherin House running up the driveway, dripping wet and being followed by an enormous Godzilla-like monster. The laughter stopped, and everyone screamed, along with me, and ran into the castle.

We watched from the windows as the Slytherins tried to make it up the driveway in time. They were almost there when Snape tripped and fell. The monster advanced on him, emitting loud and terrifying roars. Snape started crying like a little girl.

"Please don't hurt me!" he squeaked. The Marauders started snapping pictures. By that time, Hagrid and the first years had gathered a little way behind the monster. Except for Hagrid, they all started screaming.

James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter started leaving the castle.

"James!" I called. "Where are you guys going?"

"You'll see!" Sirius shouted and they disappeared through the doors. We saw them appear in front of Snape.

"Get up, Snivelly," said James. "Don't be such a baby."

"B-but i-it's a m-m-monster!" Snape stuttered.

James rolled his eyes and walked over to the monster. He tapped his wand on it twice and it deflated like a balloon.

"Wow, Snivellus, afraid of an inflate-a-monster?" said Sirius, holding a tube in front of Snape's face.

Everyone was laughing and the Marauders were grinning. Their start of the year prank had gone perfectly…well, almost.

As the laughter died, the Marauders looked confusedly at the crowd. Making her way to the front of the group was Professor McGonagall.

"Now, who did this?" asked James sternly, looking at the students. McGonagall frowned.

"Come with me, Potter," she said.

"Good luck, mate," whispered Sirius, patting James on the back and trying to make his escape.

"You too, Black," said McGonagall.

"Aww, man," groaned Sirius.

"Come on, Moony," said James, grabbing Remus' arm.

"Wait, what? I had nothing to do with this!" said Remus innocently.

"Yeah, unless you count coming up with how to do this whole prank," said Peter sarcastically, as he was grabbed by Sirius.

And so Peter and Remus were dragged off with Sirius and James as the rest of us were ushered into the Great Hall.

James' POV

We had expected McGonagall to be furious, but she wasn't that mad. She sat us down in the chairs in front of her desk and stood behind the desk with her palms face down on the top.

"As we haven't even had the feast yet, I will not give you four detentions. Needless to say, the inflate-a-monster did no real harm, except for damage on Mr. Snape's nerves. Potter, stop smirking. You may go to the feast now."

And that was it! No detention, no deduction of points, no screaming at the top of her lungs…just a small speech.

We entered the Hall and were met by clapping. The Slytherins weren't applauding and were just looking sour, but who cares about them?

We seated ourselves down next to Lily, Miranda, Megan, and Tina. Miranda and Megan were fighting again ("I had the salt first!" "Well I have it now!" "God, how much salt do you need?") and Lily was literally grinding her fork into her plate.

"Lil?" I said. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," she said, gritting her teeth.

"Oookay," I said and took the fork away from her. "Enough of destroying these beautiful plates."

She looked down at the small indentations in her plate.

"Oops," she smiled. I grinned and started eating.

About ten minutes later, Miranda asked for the gravy.

"Get your own gravy, lazy ass." I bet you know who said that. Megan, of course. And that was when Mt. Lily erupted.

"Just give her the damn gravy, Megan," Lily growled. Everyone around her looked shocked. Whispers were going around and soon the whole Gryffindor table was in a silent hush.

"Lil? You okay?" Sirius asked, repeating my words.

"No! I'm NOT okay! Maybe I would be if these two could jut get along for ONCE in their lives, but they can't because they are too upset over some stupid crush they both had on you!"

"What are you talking about?" Miranda asked. "I only hate her because she's a bitch!"

"You're the bitch!" replied Megan.

"Oh my God, that's exactly what I'm talking about! Just because you're both head over heels in love with Sirius Black, you hate each other! Can't you just forget about him and be nice to each other? I'm forced to avoid both of you now because whenever you see each other you start throwing hexes and swearing!

"Seriously, Megan, it's your own fault you lost Sirius! You don't have to take it out on Miranda!"

Miranda smirked at Megan but Lily rounded on her.

"And you! It's your fault you didn't get Sirius before Megan did! Don't take it out on Megan! I can't stand either of you! You're acting so stupid!"

"Lily-" Miranda started, but Lily interrupted her.

"No! Just stay away from me! Both of you!" Lily stormed out of the Great Hall, causing everyone who hadn't noticed what was going on to turn and look.

Miranda and Megan looked at each other and ran after Lily.