Mischief Managed Chapter 4, a harry potter fanfic

Disclaimer: I'm not claiming a thing except for my plot (yes, mine). Hence, credit where it is due (in bucket loads, as the case may be) to JKR

A/N: Just a little FYI before you read this chappy, because i've had a few people comment on it... JKR has actually confirmed that James was a Chaser in Quidditch. Chris Columbus made him a seeker in the first HP movie, and nothing at all has been said in the books - so i am going with JKR on ths one (as she should know these things!

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Chapter Four: In which Gryffindor beat Ravenclaw

Artemis Scamander II was a desperately good-looking seventeen-year-old boy, with blonde curls and wonderfully deep brown eyes. On many occasions, the Marauders had been known to laugh about Scamander's "muddy" eyes, but Lily believed that they, and particularly James Potter, were jealous of Art's handsomeness. In fact, the only student in the school who surpassed Art in attractiveness was Sirius Black himself, and as Sirius Black was arrogant and vain, this did not count for much. Not to mention the fact that Sirius never had time for girls, unless it was convenient for him. He was much too busy causing mischief with his friends. Art on the other hand was a true lady's man. He was warm and generous and considerate… so much so that in their sixth year, Lily had fallen deeply in like with him.

"Good morning, Beautiful," Art smiled winningly, kissing Lily on the cheek as she sat down beside him.

"Art," Lily said slowly, gazing up at the teacher's table. "Is that what I think it is?"

She heard Art sniff behind her. "I'm afraid so, Flower. How distasteful. Some of us are trying to eat, you know!"

He had raised his voice, so that the last sentence drifted across the hall to the Gryffindor table, making four seventh year boys laugh even harder.

For above the teacher's table, in the place of the usual Hogwarts banner, was an enlarged wizarding photograph of the Seventh year Slytherin, Severus Snape, picking his nose.

Lily turned back to Art, preferring to look at him rather than the hideous photograph.

This was not the first time this week that something strange had happened. In fact, in the weeks after Mrs Norris had been found in the Astronomy Tower, there had been a marked increase in Marauder-like pranks. Only the morning before, everybody in the Ravenclaw tower had awoken to discover the word "swot" scrawled across their foreheads. Thankfully for Art, he had managed to hide his with his fringe.

Now, Lily hadn't found the "swot" joke particularly humorous for several reasons: namely, that Sirius Black had called her a swot many times, and secondly because her boyfriend's ego had taken a massive blow that morning. However, she could not help but find Snape's photograph slightly amusing, a fact that her boyfriend did not approve of.

"What are you smiling about?" he demanded grumpily, as she gazed back to the Head table, where Dumbledore, McGonagall and Slughorn were now deep in discussion, staring up at the towering monstrosity with mixed reactions. Dumbledore seemed mildly impressed, while Slughorn was rather concerned and McGonagall was seething.

Lily bit her lip, unwilling to provoke Art's touchy mood further. He never had been a morning person, after all.

"Nothing," she murmured absently, unable to stop herself from gazing over to the Gryffindor table.

James Potter caught her eye, and his laugh froze mid-way across his lips in shock. Lily quirked her eyebrows at him, which was code for: nice photo, Potter, glad to see such a wonderful display of maturity and integrity from the Head Boy. This made James shrug simply in reply, as if to say: Glad you thought so.

Art was talking to her again, Lily realised. Tearing herself away from James' eyes, she smiled politely and turned back to her boyfriend.

"I couldn't believe my luck when I walked into the bathroom!" Sirius was boasting for the fifth time that morning. "There was Snivelly peering into the mirror with a finger jabbed up his snoz! He didn't see me, well of course he didn't, I was invisible… so anyway I went over and stuck the camera in front of him. You should have seen him jump at the flash!"

Lily massaged her temples. It had been a mistake sitting near the Marauders in Charms; she knew that now. Not only was she forced to listen to Black's boasting, but she could feel Potter's eyes boring into the back of her head, apparently hopeful of a continuance of their staring contest.

Finally snapping, Lily turned.

"Yes, yes, Black, you're very clever, congratulations and all that… but can you please pay attention now?"

Without waiting for a reply, she turned back to the front of the room to find Emmy looking at her curiously. Lily shrugged, and as she did so, she heard the unmistakeable slap of a high five.

"She liked our prank!" James voice rang out across the room, a little louder than he had perhaps intended.

"Mr Potter!" Professor Flitwick's voice rang out even louder. The teacher looked halfway between amusement and dismay. "Let me assume that you did not just confess to the unfortunate display in the Great Hall this morning, and shall we proceed with the lesson?"

"It was definitely the Marauders," Lily told Art cheerfully as he walked her to Arithmancy. Her normally jovial boyfriend merely frowned.

"Is that so," he replied vaguely, looking past her toward Felicity Faust. She smiled and waved.

Unusually for Art, he did not return the gesture, and instead looked again at Lily, deep in thought.

"I thought it was a particularly amusing prank," Lily persevered, more to fill Art's awkward silence than anything else. Lily had the horrible suspicion that Art had actually winked at Felicity.

"Well why don't you just go and faun over the Marauders then," Art suggested, suddenly bitter. "I'm sure they'd love the attention, especially Potter," he spat.

Lily stopped dead still. "What on earth do you mean to say, Art?"

"I don't see you any more because you're always off with Potter being busy," Art told her brutally. "I think you need to take a good hard look at what you want from us, because I don't think I can stand waiting for you much longer."

Lily stood in the corridor, stunned, as students milled around her, watching Art's golden hair disappear into the crowd. What on earth had that been about?

"Art!" she called, and disregarding that she was Head Girl and should behave in a dignified manner.

He didn't stop as she raced after him, and when she grasped at his arm, he shook her off again.

"What on earth is wrong with you, Art?"

He turned to her then, scowling. "Nothing's wrong with me, Lily. It's you. You ignore me and you're selfish and inconsiderate and stupid, Lily. I've had enough. I'm finished."

"Finished what?" she asked, not caring that her voice was wavering.

"I'm finished waiting for you, Lily Evans."

She let him walk away then, unable to cope with more rejection.

Muscled arms snaked around her shoulders, and a small hand gripped her. Lily blushed with shame. It was bad enough that Art had yelled at her in front of everyone, but it seemed that both Emmeline and Potter had heard. They steered her away gently, Emmy squeezing her hand reassuringly as Potter gripped her shoulder.

"If it makes you feel any better, Lil, we're planning on smashing him at Quidditch on Saturday."

"Aaand it's Potter with the Quaffle, throws it to Jordan, who catches it, just. It's Jordan up the field, Jordan – Jordan – Williams – and Ravenclaw captain Scamander intercepts- ouch! That must have hurt. Gryffindor Captain Black pelts a bludger at Scamander, again, he best be careful else we suspect he has a personal problem with Ravenclaw!"

Lying in her bed in the Head's Dorm, Lily could listen to the match as Remus' commentary floated up across the grounds. Her heart panged every time he mentioned Art's name, but Lily figured she'd have to get used to that.

"And it's Gryffindor back in possession, excellent intercept by Potter, passes to Vance, back to Jordan and what's this? Is that the Snitch?"

Lily imagined everyone craning around looking for the fluttering gold speck.

"Ah, I seem to have distracted – Potter scores! Well done, James! That's Gryffindor 180-20, ladies and gentleman, excellent goal if I say so myself. Sorry, Professor. Anyway, Potter's victory lap has ended as – yes, I knew I'd seen it, Gryffindor Seeker Wood is racing toward the Hufflepuff stand now, and Ravenclaw Seeker Hank seems to have caught on – Scamander grabs the Quaffle from Potter – Oh! Scamander again takes a bludger to the stomach courtesy of Black, and it's Wood and Hank neck and neck, Wood, Hank, Wood – youch, Hank disabled by Reaser's bludger, it's Wood all the way, and YES!"

A great cheer went up from the crowd as presumably Thomas Wood plucked the Snitch from the air.

"And Gryffindor wins! 330-20!"

Lily smiled. Potter had scored the winning goal, and Thomas, a second year in his first year as a seeker, had won the game. It was really quite extraordinary. She was glad, in a way more glad than usual, that Gryffindor had won, that Potter and Emmy and Black had beaten Art together.

"Lily!" James yelled, entering through the carved witch. "We won! Party in the Gryffindor Common room! Oh, and there's some wanker out here wanting to apologize, too. I told him to go away."

Lily sat up very quickly, then cautiously stuck her head out of her room. "Art wants to apologize?" she asked, smiling.

James was downstairs by the fire, frowning. "Oh come on, Lily. Tell me you're not going to fall for that!"

Lily stepped out of her bedroom and closed the door, smoothing her skirt to hide her shaking hands. "I'm miserable without him, Potter," she confessed brutally. "Would you rather me be miserable without him, or happy with him?"

"I'd prefer for you to be happy without him, to be frank, Lily. But it's your choice, as always. I'm off to the party but I'll wait for you, if you like?"

Lily descended the stairs and shook her head. "No thanks, Potter. I might see you there later."

James looked at her searchingly for a moment before nodding. "All right. Password's rex dionis, ok?"

"Lily! – oh, it's you," Art's voice sounded ugly as he addressed James, poison dripping from his lips as he spat. "Did you get my girlfriend, Potter?"

James stood firm. "She'll come when she's ready, Scamander. And I swear, if you do anyth-"

"Potter? Art!"

Lily tried her best to sound surprised. The sneer on Art's face instantly transformed into a smile, and he stepped toward her questioningly.

James looked between them both, clearly unhappy, but Lily's look told him to get lost, quickly, and so he obeyed, silently cursing Scamander for ruining his evening. Scummy Art Scamander.

A/N: Poor James but he's such a gentleman

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, all comments, especially constructive criticism, are deeply appreciated! its amazing what effect a few small words can have on an author (remember this) so i have a request to make... if you're reading my story, PLEASE review even if its just "hey, i like this" or whatever. anything is most welcome! PurpleArmadillo, u are a champ!!