Chapter Two: A Prank Filled Birthday Part Two

Song: Hit Me With Your Best Shot

By: Pat Benatar

-Sirius' POV-

That evening, the Marauders were reading in the sitting room at Potter Manor. Sirius was looking at James and thinking about how part one of his plan had gone perfectly. Lily's visit was so thoroughly effective, now he was distracted from the current proceedings of the rest of the world by thoughts of her. James was completely unaware of part two, which was about to begin.

Sirius began a countdown in his head for the start of part two. 5…4…3…2…1…

Sirius nodded to Remus and Peter, James didn't notice because he was still daydreaming. Remus cast a charm on James that produced a small storm cloud over his head that would only rain on him and only when he was thinking about a certain red-head. The cloud was, of course, invisible. This was thanks to Peter, it made it so that James couldn't determine the true cause of the rain and reverse the spell. It immediately began to rain on James. Sirius quickly cast a spell to make warming and drying charms ineffective for the next day, irreversibly so.

James jumped as soon as the rain began to hit him. Just as he began spluttering, it ceased to rain. 'Curious' Sirius thought to himself 'he must have stopped thinking about Lily to focus on this new development.' By the time James had looked up, his three friends had returned to their reading. "What was that?" James asked no-one in particular.

"What was what Prongs?" Sirius asked this with a mock confused look on his face, all the while trying not to laugh. "Did something happen?"

"Yes, I was…thinking and it started to rain on me!"

"I think you're being paranoid mate," Remus stated, "how could it rain on you in here? It's not even raining outside."

"I don't know, but it did! Look, I'm even wet!"

"You're just being paranoid James." Peter added, "Moony is right, how's it even possible? You're probably just sweating…it's hot out."

"Whatever," James said, his vice slightly suspicious. He returned to his quiet contemplations and was immediately rained upon again. This time his friends couldn't hide their snickers behind their books. "What the hell did you do?"

"Why James, just a simple thought activated rain charm," Remus said with a grin stretching from ear to ear.

"Yup," Peter said, "every time you think of Lily, a slight downpour shall remind you of the real world."

"So," Sirius summed up, "you should be completely soaked in about ten minutes." He said this last looking immensely proud of his brilliant plan.

-James' POV-

The rest of the summer passed much the same way with only a few changes and occurrences. Pranks continued to plague the Potter Manor, as did the owl belonging to one Lily Evans. This plight of owls was being reciprocated by James upon the Evans' residence.

The 30th of August brought Sirius' and James' Hogwarts letters. James was made Head Boy and Quidditch Captain for Gryffindor House. His letter also said Lily Evans had been made Head Girl, this didn't really surprise James in the least, however it did make him smile non-stop for hours on end.

-Remus' POV-

Walking around Diagon Alley the next day, Remus, Sirius, and Peter were dragged all over by James, who was excited to get to Hogwarts and see Lily. After getting their supplies they all returned to Potter Manor where they spent their last night before school eating and joking around.

­­­-James' POV-

The following morning on the train, James immediately sought the compartment where Lily was sitting talking to her friends. James went up and gave Lily a hello kiss all the while hearing their friends jeering and making cat-calls. "How are you?" He asked ignoring his friends.

"Fine, you?"

"Fine."

"Oh come on James," Sirius started, "be honest…"

"…He's been fretting all morning long about you 'do you think she'll talk to me still?'" Remus cut in mocking James in a high falsetto voice. "It was all we could do to keep him from hexing everyone in the halls while he was trying to find you."

"Hi Rose," Sirius said, "how was your summer?"

"It was fine, boring for the most part. How about you? Anything interesting?"

"Nah, just the usual. Prank wars and so on."

"Sounds fun." She said nodding.

"Hello Remus," said a shy voice, belonging to Rina, from the corner. "How was your summer?"

"F-fine Rina. How about you?" Remus replied.

"Oh, it was fairly good," Rina said, now with a smile and a slightly more confident voice. "I traveled a lot with my parents."

"That sounds great."

"Where's Holly?" Peter asked, attempting to change the topic of conversation.

"She's with her new boyfriend," cough, cough, "Regulus." Rina answered.

"Oh, him." Sirius said with a snarl. "I guess it could be worse, but why him? He's a Slytherin for Merlin's sake!"

"He's also your brother. Just let it go Padfoot. It'll be alright." Remus said.

"Alright, alright."

"I'm gonna go talk to Frank and Alice for awhile." Peter declare, seeing that the room was about to get awkward for him. "See you guys later."

-GENERAL POV-

That particular compartment, second from the last, was where Lily and James snogged for several hours that train ride. It was also where two new couples came about, the first was Remus and Rina. The second was Sirius and Rose. That day the Marauders decided that the second to the last compartment on the Hogwarts Express was their favorite train compartment in existence.

A/N: Okay, so was that any better? I hope so anyway. The next chapter will be moving VERY quickly as I want to get past the Marauders Hogwarts years and into the War and eventually to Harry and the others. Hope you enjoyed it.