Chapter 4

Hexing Snivellus

"What's up, Prongs? Why are you looking so pleased with yourself?" Sirius asked, looking up from his Charms manual as James entered the common room, eyes gleaming and a smug smile on his face.

"Well, Sirius, several things in fact," he replied, dropping his book bag on the ground and throwing himself into one of the armchairs.

"Like what?"

"Well, first off, I just got done hexing Snivellus…I must say, it gets more fun every time…and it's a nice way to relieve my stress." Sirius roared with laughter.

"How come you didn't wait for me?"

"I couldn't, mate," James replied, holding up his hands, "it was the perfect moment. In fact, it was so perfect, he's in the hospital wing with tentacles for arms and a tail." Sirius shook his head in amazement.

"What the heck did you do to him?"

"Ah well, you see, there are some new spells I learned that-" But James was cut off at the sound of the portrait hole opening and loud footsteps on the floor. Flinching inwardly, he turned in his chair and wasn't surprised to see Lily striding towards him, her wand out, and her eyes ablaze with anger.

"You!" she cried as she drew nearer. "You! You are, without a doubt, the world's-biggest-prat, Potter!" All the words came out in one breath, rather mechanically, and she put a large emphasis on the last four words.

"Ah, Evans…now, don't make me take offense at that," James replied, leaning as far back in his chair as possible.

"Oh you will, Potter," Lily hissed, placing her hands on the arms of the chair and bearing down on him like a lion. "Mark my words. You can think of them during the two week detention you earned from Professor McGonagall."

"What?" James asked, aghast. "How did she find out? No one was there when I hexed him…I made sure of that!" Lily let out a loud, barking laugh that sound uncannily like Sirius'.

"You think that would help you stay out of trouble? Making sure no one was around when you hexed him? Oh no, Potter, you are quite mistaken, because there is no other student in this school who would take the time and effort to hex Severus like you did…it wasn't that hard to figure out." James stared up in disbelief at Lily, whose face was surprisingly close to his; so close, in fact, he could've kissed her. Her eyes were emitting green sparks, her hair was a mass of red around her shoulders, and her cheeks were red with anger.

She's so hot when she's angry…James thought, and he was tempted to tell her so, when he remembered the conversation he'd had with Sirius a couple night's ago:

"Try to be nicer…sweeter…" So James bit his tongue and replied,

"So, erm, what do you want me to do?"

"Report to Professor McGonagall's office tomorrow night at 8:00," Lily answered.

"But-"

"Oh yes, she knows about Quidditch practice, but she doesn't care, Potter. Perhaps it will give you some time to deflate your big head so your broom will actually be able to take off and you can catch the snitch." With that, she turned around and strode quickly towards the stairway leading to the dormitories. But it wasn't over yet…Lily's last comment had really gotten to James.

"But why'd you tell her, Evans?" James yelled at her; she turned around to face him once again.

"Tell who what, Potter?" she spat.

"Tell McGonagall about Severus? I thought you didn't like him much…seeing how he calls you a Mudblood and everything. What you gonna do now? Dump Parkinson and start going out with him instead?" James knew it was the wrong thing to say as soon as the words left his mouth. Lily's eyes widened for a moment in shock, but then she hitched a glare back on her face and pointed her wand threateningly at James.

"Watch it, Potter," she hissed, before turning, with a flurry of black robes and a soft cry, up the stairs to her dormitory.

The next evening at 8:45, James sat in Professor McGonagall's classroom serving his detention: writing I Shall Not Hex Severus Snape 100 times. His hand was cramping and he flexed it and winced as his fingers cramped.

"I'll be back in a moment, Potter," Professor McGonagall said, rising from her desk with a stack of papers in her hands. "I must take these to the headmaster. Keep writing and don't you dare think of leaving, otherwise it will be an extra week of this."

"Yes, Professor," James replied dully, looking away from her beady stare and instead glaring at the piece of parchment in front of him. She swept out of the classroom and as soon as her footsteps had died away, James plunged his hand into his pocket and drew out his two-way mirror.

"Sirius!" he said softly into the mirror, and after a few seconds, Sirius' face materialized and James breathed a sigh of relief; finally, someone to talk to.

"Hey, Prongs!" Sirius said brightly. "How's it going?"

"Great…just great," James replied.

"What's she making you do?"

"Write I Will Not Hex Severus Snape 100 times." Sirius laughed and James glared at him.

"Sorry, mate," he apologized, "couldn't resist." He smiled sheepishly and James shook his head.

"Whatever, Padfoot, so what are you up to?"

"The usual," Sirius replied, "raiding Filch's office."

"What?" Sirius laughed again and nodded.

"Yep! See, look!" He waved the mirror hastily around Filch's office and he caught a glimpse of Peter before he was forced to look away.

"Stop! You're making me dizzy!"

"Sorry, Prongs," Sirius answered, bringing the mirror to a stop in front of his face. "Oi! Peter…we're looking for the Marauder's Map, not food!"

"Sorry, Sirius," Peter muttered, and James heard a drawer slam.

"What? You're looking for the map?"

"Erm…uh, yeah, we are," Sirius replied absentmindedly, turning away from the mirror and rummaging through a drawer in Filch's desk. He pulled out a small piece of paper, glanced at it, shrugged, and then pocketed it quickly.

"Why are you looking for the map?" James asked warily, fingering his quill.

"Well, you see mate, Peter and I were looking at it in the common room after dinner-"

"Why?" Sirius shrugged.

"Just for fun…to see where everyone was." James nodded.

"Go on."

"And well, like I said, we were looking at it and then, out of the blue, Lily comes up and snatches it."

"WHAT!" James yelled. Sirius let out a shaky laugh.

"Yeah…I managed to clear it before she could find out what it was, but she gave it to Filch anyways. But no need to worry, I'll find it!" James put his head in his hands and sighed deeply.

"Sirius…Sirius…Sirius…"

"Sorry Prongs!"

"Hey, Padfoot! I found it!" Sirius turned his head quickly and a smile spread across his face.

"Excellent, Wormtail!" he said, reaching across Filch's desk. A piece of parchment appeared in the mirror's view and James breathed a sigh of relief.

"Nice job, guys," he said. "Nice job."

"Thanks," Sirius replied, stuffing the Marauder's Map in his pocket before looking back into the mirror. "See, Prongs? I told you I'd-"

"Padfoot! It's Mrs. Norris!" Wormtail cried.

"Oh crap," Sirius muttered. "See you later, Prongs."

"See you, Padfoot." And moments later, the mirror went blank. James leaned back in his chair, and ran his fingers through his already tousled hair. It'd been an eventful past two days, that was for sure…James had never seen Lily so angry…perhaps she really did have feelings for Severus! He shuddered at the thought and jumped at the sound of Professor McGonagall's heels click clacking down the aisle towards James. She reached him and glanced at his parchment.

"You've only written it 65 times, Potter?" she asked, fixing him with her notorious beady stare.

"Yes, Professor," James replied.

"I would've expected more in the hour that you've received Potter. You shall stay here until you are finished."

"But-"

"No buts Potter!" Professor McGonagall cried, her voice ringing throughout the classroom. "If it need be, you shall be here until the wee hours of the morning-"

"Writing something that will never come true." The words were out of James' mouth before he could stop himself. Professor McGonagall's mouth tightened noticeably and her nostrils flared.

"Another smart comment like that Potter, and you will have landed yourself another week of detention. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Professor," James replied between clenched teeth; it was definitely going to be a tough year.