"Did you see that? You did see that, right?"
The Gryffindors were in a horrible mood after the game, especially the team. They came back to the common room later than usual, each player throwing himself unceremoniously onto a couch or rug.
"We've been talking with McGonagall," James explained grumpily, "and she says she can't do a thing about it!"
As everyone else made faces and cursed the Slytherins, Sirius looked thoughtful.
"Well, someone's got to put them in their place," he said in a low voice to James, Remus, and Peter, "and we haven't pulled a prank all year..."
Remus cast a wary glance around the room before saying, "Yeah, but what can we do?"
I was a little surprised that the Head Boy was planning to participate, but somehow it made me admire him even more...
Sirius lowered his voice even more. "We'll just need to ask my cousin for a bit of help..."
I don't know how or why I got mixed up in the plan, but late one Sunday evening I was to be found in front of the common room fire, Sirius, Remus, James, and Peter all shielding me from view.
"Perfect," James hissed in triumph. "Not even McGonagall will be able to tell..."
Once again I peered into the small, compact mirror in my hand. I was not greeted by my own reflection, but by that of an older, aggressive-looking seventh year. His eyebrows were thicker than normal, and were so close together they were almost touching...
"Right, so you remember exactly what you're going to do?"
I nodded nervously. Sure, I knew what I had to do---impersonate the Slytherin Quidditch captain and pretend to bewitch the balls, while Remus ran off to fetch McGonagall. Once she saw what I was doing, I was to run and lead her to the Slytherin common room entrance then morph once again where she couldn't see me. McGonagall would enter and Slytherin would get what they deserved. But simply knowing this did not make the task seem any less difficult.
The portrait door swung open as another student walked in.
"He's in his common room now but I don't know how long he'll be staying," she reported. "You've got to do this fast."
Sirius nodded, then gave me a gentle push towards the door, barely concealing a grin. "Good luck then."
When the coast was clear, I sidled into the hall and made my way outside, heart hammering faster than ever. No one was around, which was just as well---the only witness we really needed was Professor McGonagall.
I was focusing in a nearby hedge, trying to recall the charm, when Remus poked suddenly from inside it and gave a thumbs up. Then he put on a falsely panicky face and started running.
At the cue I had taken out my wand and opened each of the ball crates. I took careful aim, about to perform the spell when
"WHAT ON EARTH DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"
Professor McGonagall was charging towards me, looking far angrier than I had seen her all year.
For a few seconds I stood rooted to the spot, but Remus mouthed frantically "Go!" from behind McGonagall and I quickly regained my senses.
I spun around and ran faster than I had ever run in my life. I wasn't about to mess this up, not with a whole House counting on my, and not to mention Remus...
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw McGonagall yards behind. And just when I needed it the least, I tripped over my shoelace, toppling over and slamming heavily to the ground.
Even now, in such a desperate situation, I had managed to make a complete fool of myself in front of a certain someone, who was trying to hide a smile.
Professor McGonagall picked up her pace as scrambled around the corner...
She stopped, panting heavily, in front of the Slytherin common room entrance. "Wh-where...where'd he..." she asked a tall third year who was standing outside.
I pointed inside, amazed at how smoothly the plan had worked.
McGonagall stormed inside, twice as angry for having to sprint through the whole castle. I could hear her raging from inside and I laughed---now that it was all over, the whole thing seemed far more amusing...