A/n: Chapter 8. Wherein the boys are bored, pranks are planned and friendships are developing.
Disclaimer: is it really nessicary to repeat myself every chapter? I only own Simone.
Chapter 8 – Holiday Fun
It was the first day of holidays. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter were all lounging around on the couches in the Gryffindor Common room.
"I am so bored!" Exclaimed James.
"This can't be happening. It's the first day of the holidays, we should be out somewhere, doing something…something." Replied Sirius, desperately.
"Well, we could do those essays Professor Binns set us -" Started Remus.
"NO!" Came the collective cry of his friends.
"There is no way I am spending the first day of my holidays doing work. Work is to be delayed until the last days of the holidays, and then rushed on the last night before we go back to classes, not before. Shame on you Remus for thinking of such a thing." Concluded Sirius, dramatically.
"It was just as suggestion…"
"How about we talk?" suggested Peter.
"Good idea. What shall we talk about?" Said James.
"What about? Why we are still here and not at home with our families like the majority of the school?"
"Okay, I'll go first. I am here because Iggy and my dad tell me that Christmases at Hogwarts are the best and I didn't want to miss it, especially not my first one." Said James.
"I hate my pure blood family and all they stand for. I would stay here during the summer holidays too if I could. Anything would be better than going back to them. Especially now they know I'm in Gryffindor, thank you very much Bellatrix!" Said Sirius, angrily.
"I've decided to give my parents a break. Because I get…sick…often, they have had to look after my all the time when I was younger and I feel that they deserve a break." Said Remus, feeling even more guilty that he was keeping his biggest secret from them.
"I don't like our family gatherings. All those aunties that pinch my face all the time, all my cousins stealing or breaking my stuff, and then there is Grandma Tootie." Said Peter.
"What's up with Grandma Tootie?" asked James.
"Nothing…if you like bats…" Said Peter.
"Bats?" Remarked Sirius.
"Yeah, she has this obsession with vampires. She keeps tons of bats in her house and spends all her time trying to meet vampires so they can make her one."
"Vampires can make other people vampires?" Asked Sirius, bemused.
"Of course they can Sirius, how else would they expand their numbers. Vampires are technically the Un-dead, and how can dead creatures give birth the normal way." Said Remus, recalling the knowledge from a book he once read.
"Oh, good point."
"Anyway, there is no way I am going home for the holidays." Concluded Peter.
There was an awkward silence.
"Well," started Sirius, "What now?"
"We could prank someone…" trailed James.
"Who? We've pranked almost everyone I the school!" Pointed out Peter.
Over the last four months, the boys had indeed pranked almost everyone. The teachers, the ghosts, other students, the poltergeist and of course, Severus "Snivellus" Snape. Snape had become more frequent in his abuse of Sirius, and each time, Sirius and his friends retaliated with a carefully planned and executed prank.
"I know, we can prank Snivellus. Today, he bumped me in the hallway and made me drop my books." Said Sirius.
"But then you tripped him with a spell and almost got detention." Reminded James.
"Oh yeah… But then today, at lunch, he hexed me and made me spill my pumpkin juice."
"Hmmm, I don't think you have gotten him back for that. Okay, let's prank Snape. But what shall we do?"
"I know!" Called out Peter, "Remember that potion Professor Slughorn was telling us about in Potions last week? The one that makes people bleat like a goat? We should get some of that, slip it into Snape's pumpkin juice one morning and have him bleating for a week!"
"That is a fantastic idea mate, I can't believe that little head of yours came up with something so brilliant!" Exclaimed Sirius.
"You're right, that is absolutely brilliant!" Agreed James.
"Wait a minute, the Porytree potion, which is what you are talking about, is really difficult to make and has many exotic and hard-to-get ingredients. How do you propose we make one?" asked Remus, bringing all their little plans unceremoniously crashing back to the ground.
"Well…didn't Slughorn say something about keeping a vile in his potions cupboard? We could just steal it." Suggested Sirius.
"STEAL IT!" cried Remus, "My God Sirius, we can't just steal an expensive potion, you could get suspended for months, or even expelled! You are not stealing anything, especially not to simply prank Snape."
"Well what else do you think we should do? I say steal it."
"Look, you are clearly too stupid to see the consequence behind this. If I promise to get you a Porytree Potion, will you wait and not rush off and do something stupid?"
"Fine, but we're not going to wait any longer than after dinner."
"Fine."
Remus got up and ran out of the common room.
"If he was really that desperate to steal it himself, he could've told us." Said Peter.
"I don't think he will steal one, it's against his morals. But if he does get one, he's a genius." Said James.
"Either way, saves me from a months suspension." Said Sirius.
Meanwhile, in the Library, Simone, Lily and two other girls from their History Of Magic class were all working on an assignment.
"Hey Simone, did you know that Merlin was an actual wizard. Not just some muggle mythology?" Asked Lily.
"Yes, I did know that, and aren't we supposed to be looking up Witch Burnings?" Replied Simone.
"Oh yeah, right. I just got distracted."
Suddenly the door slammed open and in came Remus, panting as if he had run a marathon.
"Remus, you look like you've run a marathon," said Simone.
"Did he win?" Asked one of the girls next to her, not really paying attention.
"Simone…need…talk…you…now…really…important." Remus said through gasps of air.
Simone got up and pulled Remus into an empty aisle.
"What is it?"
"Sirius, James and Peter are planning to steal a rare and expensive potion to prank Snape."
"What do you want me to do? Snape is an arse. This morning, he called me a muggle-born freak."
"No, it's not that, it's just, if they steal the Porytree potion, they'll get suspended, or expelled! We can't let them do that."
"Remus, listen to me. Sirius, James and Peter are not going to get expelled for stealing a potion. You'd be surprised how lenient the teachers are here and Uncle Albus is very reasonable. But, I will help because I don't want to see them in detention when it is unnecessary. I can help you."
"How?"
"I can easily make you a Porytree potion, in fact, if you want to embarrass Snape, I can make it even more effective than the old one in Slughorn's office. Give me until tonight, and I'll have your potion. Tell the guys to meet me in the common room after dinner."
"Thanks Simone."
"No problem, I'm always in when it comes to pranking Snape."
Remus left relieved, and Simone came out afterwards.
"What was that all about?" Asked Lily.
"Did he snog you?" Asked on of the other girls.
"Nah, snogging happens in broom closets, not library aisles," said the other.
"I was NOT snogging Remus, thank you very much Penny. He is not the type to do that. Sirius, maybe, but not Remus. And you are right Mel; the broom closet is the place for snogging. But what does all this have to do with Witch Burnings? Let's get on with the research." Simone lectured the annoying girls.
"So, what was that about?" Lily repeated, but this time, only for Simone to hear.
"Oh, just some problem with the guys. But everything is sorted."
"Care to tell?"
"No, I don't think you would really want to know."
"You know, Simone, I don't get it. You're smart and mature and all that, but you're still friends with those boys. How can you stand it?"
"I don't know, I guess I'm a people person. If you got all my friends and put them all in the same place, the only thing they would have in common would be that they are my friends. They are very contrasted in comparison to each other. And that is how I like them."
"Okay, but still, how do you put up with all their…quirks?"
"I guess I like to embrace the sides of me that most people keep hidden. Like the side that loves to pull pranks and act like a child. And then, with you, I embrace my sensible, logical and other sides of that nature. Do you understand?"
"Kind of. But I guess as your friend, I should respect your choice of friends… Am I starting to should like some kind of Psychology text book?"
"A little. Don't worry. I know you think the boys are just childish and all that, but once you get to know them, they can really be nice and caring. Not to mention loyal. Good friends. It can just be harder to find than in others."
"Whatever you say Simone," said Lily, skeptical.
Seeing that the argument was clearly a lost cause, their attentions went back to Witch Burnings.
The Grandfather clock in the Gryffindor Common room struck 10 o'clock. The boys were lounging on the couches, once again, waiting.
"Are you sure she's coming?" asked Sirius, lying upside down on the armchair.
"If Simone said she was meeting us here after dinner, I trust her to meet us here after dinner." Replied Remus, slumped sideways over the other armchair.
"Tomorrow, can we build snowmen?" Asked Peter, sitting up against the couch.
"Good idea Pete, we can get a carrot from the kitchens. Maybe they'll have some Christmas pudding." Said James, sitting cross-legged on his portion of the couch.
The portrait swung open and in entered the blonde.
"Sorry I was late," started Simone, "Filch kept asking me about ways to keep mice and rats out of his office."
"Did you bring it?" Asked Sirius, impatiently.
"Yes, and a thank you would be much appreciated."
Sirius leapt up.
"Thank you ever so much Simone." Said Sirius, like a schoolboy being forced to be polite.
"Your welcome." Simone rolled her eyes and smiled. She could never be mad at Sirius.
"How did you do it?" Asked James.
"Easy, I got heaps of potions back home. Including the odd Porytree potion. I was saving that one for my brother's birthday, but I can easily make another."
"You have a brother?" Said Sirius, surprised.
"Yeah, he's about three years younger than me and a muggle. I'm the only one in my immediate family with magic."
"What about Dumbledore?"
"Oh, he's way down the line."
"Okay, then. I suppose Remus told you of our plans to prank Snape." Said James.
"You're not going to tell us off or something, are you?" Asked Peter.
"What do I look like, your mother? Of course I'm not going to tell you off. Snape is an arse and I will happily sit back and watch him bleat like a goat for a week. Just so you know, that potion is special. It's more powerful than the usual recipe so the professors won't be able to reverse it."
"Brilliant!" exclaimed Sirius.
"Wait a minute, won't we get caught?" Asked Peter.
"That's really something you should have considered beforehand." Said James.
"You guys won't get caught. So many people dislike him; it could have been anyone. And just remember, he deserves it."
"Nice way to justify our actions Simone, I believe there is room for you yet." Said James.
"Room where?" Asked Sirius.
"In our group."
"Wait, who said anything about that?" Said Sirius, defensively.
"Look at it this way: Sirius, if you want my help in your pranks, including getting you rare potions and such, it might help not to be so defensive around me. I won't bite, hard, but I prefer my friendships to be a two-way thing."
Sirius looked at her with judging eyes. "Okay!" He said, lightening up suddenly.
'There are more sides to this girl than I first imagined.' He thought, and then smiled one of his classic goofy grins
And here we are, at the end of another chapter. Perhaps i should make these things longer, it seems that we go through them at an alarming rate. So, i give you the question: Yea or Nea. Like or Didn't like. Good or Evil. Whatever. And, also, please, pretty please with a cherry on top and ice cream and sprinkles, review. Reviews are wonderful and it's nice to appreciate any feedback, even if it is just as simple as "good" or "Bad" or "great" or "(insert other one word description)" whatever you feel like writing.
Ok, well, until the next chapter, see ya people, and have a fantastic Christmas, or other religious celebration and a trully wonderful and healthy New Year.