Ch 6 Quidditch and pranks

James had eaten breakfast and his friends were just finishing up.

"Well, I better get down to the pitch, but before I go Sirius can you hold on to this for me?" James asked handing him the mirror.

"Sure thing mate, we'll be down to watch you're try-out." Sirius replied.

James nodded and grabbed his broom and walked down to the pitch. On his way down he met up with his fellow Gryffindor Fredrick Boolman.

"Hey James, trying out for Quidditch as well?"

"Yea, Bradley was an excellent chaser and I'm hoping, if I make the team to do his part well."

"How long have you been playing?"

"Years, since I was a kid."

"Well that's pretty good; you probably have a better chance then me of getting on the team."

"Why how long have you been playing?"

"Only a few years, so what are you riding?"

"Nimbus 500,"

"That's bloody amazing! I'm stuck on a clean sweep one."

"Those things aren't that bad."

"They're slow compared to a Nimbus,"

"Well that may be but it doesn't always depend on the speed of your broom but your skills."

"Well I guess that's true. So best of luck." And he walked faster towards the pitch.

James continued to walk at a normal pace. He was confident he'd do well, even if he didn't make the team. There were about twenty people who turned out for Chaser tryouts. Most of them were second and third years but there was a few fourth, fifth and sixth years, along with one seventh year.

"Well, this is a nice turn out. For one position there are many of you. We have a few spectators but don't let that worry you; it can only help your playing." James looked over at the stands and saw the Marauders. They were waving at him. James nodded at them and turned back to Ryan.

"First off let me sort you into groups by age. Then we'll do some flying to test and see who can fly and how much skill you have. Now, would the second years please step up."

James, Mary, Sally, Sammy, McMillan and Hernot all stepped forwards. James and Sally were the only ones with brooms.

"Would the other four please grab a school broom located over there?" Ryan pointed towards a pile of brooms. McMillan and the three girls walked to the pile and picked up some brooms. James knew the brooms were slow and old which is why his dad bought him one.

"Now, would you mount your broom and fly up. Michael and Destiny will go around with you. On my count, 3, 2, 1," They flew off. James was a good flyer and instantly took the lead. Sammy was right behind him. McMillan was having troubles. He was able to mount and kick off but wasn't doing to well staying steady on his broom.

The other girls weren't doing too badly, except for the fact that they were afraid to fly as high as James and Sally.

After a few minutes Ryan called them down again.

"Good, now would James and Sally stand over there, the rest of you, I'm sorry but I'm afraid you won't be making the team." The three girls and McMillan walked to the stands and sat to watch.

"Third years, your turn." The five third years, two females and three males, walked over. Fredrick was among them. He flew pretty well, but he was the only one to make it to the circle containing James and Sally.

The fourth years also flew and so did the fifth years. Only two of them joined the group and none of the sixth or the seventh year made it.

"I know you're disappointed but I'm hoping for younger players who will be able to stay longer on the team. Now then, would James, Sally, Fredrick, Marlene and Igor please come over here?" The five of them walked over.

"As you know I am the keeper of the team. Each of you will fly up with our two chasers Michael and Destiny and shoot on me. I'll be watching technique and skill. Whoever does the best will be on the team. I will be looking for one or two backups as well. So try your best, now, Fredrick you are up first."

James stood and watched as Fredrick flew up with the two chasers. He wasn't too bad. He was able to score four of the ten goals shot. He was applauded as he landed.

"Very good, next Sally." She wasn't as good at scoring as she was at flying. Sally was able to score two goals of the nine made.

"Not bad, Marlene, you're next." Marlene was a fourth year. She was pretty good. She scored five of eleven goals.

"Excellent, next is Igor." Igor was only able to score one goal.

"Igor, you may be a good flyer but you seem to watch and concentrate too much on your goals. I'm sorry, but I don't think you'll be on the team. Finally, James."

Sirius, Peter and Remus cheered as James mounted his Nimbus. James smiled to himself and kicked off. He flew up to the air and was in possession of the Quaffle. He scored the first goal. Destiny then scored a goal but James made a terrific pass to her. James then scored another three goals and Michael was able to get one in as well.

"Well," Ryan said as he landed. "We have had many wonderful people try out. I am going to discuss with the team quickly but I think I know who's going to be our new chaser." Ryan and the other member of the Quidditch team walked off while Sirius ran down to meet James.

"Bloody brilliant. You weren't lying when you said you could play." James laughed.

"Well, like I said I've been playing since I was a child."

"I'm positive you got it mate," Remus said. After a few minutes the team re-emerged from the change rooms.

"Well, we have made a decision. Back up number one will be Fredrick Boolman." There was polite applause at this.

"Yes, well I've decided on a minor back up as well, Marlene Koffer will be our second." More applause at this "And I am proud to acknowledge James Potter as our new Chaser!" James got cheers and applause at this and Sirius ad Remus lifted him up in the air. It was as if they won the cup.

"Yes, James was wonderful and fully deserving of the position. First practice is Tuesday at six. Don't be late." The crowd started to descend.

"Congratulations mate knew you could do it." Sirius said.

"You were the best. Maybe we will win!"

"I know we will!" James said confidentially.

"Well, let's make sure we have everything for that prank ready, Monday is only two days away." Sirius replied and James, who was rather hungry but also excited, followed him.

Monday approached fast and the boys were excited to finally be able to pull their newest prank. Remus had gone and transfigured some of the ingredients needed for the shrinking potion they'd be making in Potions and they had a plan ready. James was so excited to finally be able to start pranking again that he woke up before anyone else, but Sirius wasn't that far after.

"James mate, isn't it a little early to be up?" he yawned.

"Well, I'm excited that today's the day." James said smiling.

"Yea, we get Snivels but it's only six thirty in the morning."

"I couldn't sleep anymore. I'm going to shower." James said and he grabbed some robes and walked towards the bathrooms. Ten minutes later he was emerging from the showers washed and clothed. Sirius was still lying in bed awake.

"Sirius mate, I'm surprised you're not sleeping."

"Thanks to you mate I can't get back to sleep." Sirius glared at his friend and then broke into a huge grin and started laughing.

"What's so funny?" asked James.

"You look way different with your hair wet. It actually looks neat and in place."

James turned and looked in his mirror, he realized Sirius was right.

"You know mate, use a little product in it and maybe the girls would fall for you."

James laughed at this. "Nah, not when I'm around you. Girls are always staring at you. I'm sure you could get any girl from first to third year."

Sirius shook his head, "No, I prefer to look rather then touch." He swung his legs off his bed. "But I supposed I better shower as well."

James sat on his bed looking over their final plans. His part was simple, he and Sirius were to distract Evans and Snivy while Remus switched the stuff. As James at on his bed Remus woke up.

"Rem, it's early, you can go back to sleep."

"I would but you two," Remus said indicating Sirius and James, "were making so much noise that now I'm awake as well." James decided, since everyone else was awake that Peter might as well be awake too. As James picked up a pillow and threw it at him he realized something for the first time.

"I thought I saw McMillan at try outs,"

"You did," Remus said as he found something to wear.

"Well, I just noticed he doesn't share a room with us. His bed has been removed and everything." Remus didn't even look up.

"He failed first year. He was aloud to try out for Quidditch because of his age but basically he's a first year." James laughed at this. "It's not funny James, he was a brilliant student but then he started to slack off near the end of last year, failed all his exams and now he's a first year and has to do everything over again." James was still laughing as Peter groaned.

"Who threw a pillow at me?" he asked. James laughed some more.

"Wakey, wakey, Peter. Today's the big day!"

"It's a prank James, get over it." Remus said as he grabbed his robes and headed to the showers.

"Remus I don't want that attitude. This is important!" James exclaimed as Sirius walked out of the bathrooms.

"Everyone's awake I see,"

"Thanks to you," Remus shouted, Sirius just laughed.

"Everything ready?" he asked James.

"Yea, I have every ingredient here transfigured and charmed."

"Good, so they will create a potion that'll-."

"It'll make his nose longer then it already is, if that's even possible, his hair turn pink and he will grown pink facial hair as well. Remus made sure it was perfect, he even tested it on a frog he found by the lake. It worked fine." Sirius nodded.

"I just hope Sluggy doesn't pin it on us,"

"He won't, Remus and you are in his little club thing."

"Well, I'm not; I think I'll stick with Quidditch."

"What did I tell you, we need you as a spy? Remus is too worried about staying in the club that he doesn't spy unlike you who I know will get inside information on Snivy."

"Fine, but I'm not joining until next class, we need this class to prank Snivellus."

"Fine with me, but let's go get some food."

"Are you forgetting food doesn't start to be served until about seven thirty?" Sirius stared at James.

"Well then let's wait in the common room," James and Sirius walked down as Peter got changed into his robes.

About ten minutes later Remus and Peter joined James and Sirius in the common room.

"I think we can go down now. Food will be served soon anyways." Remus said as he joined them. Sirius jumped up and practically ran towards the portrait hole. James laughed as he tripped on his way out the door and Sirius glared at him but started laughing as well.

"Come on mates, hurry up I'm hungry!" Sirius said and his friends followed him down to the great hall.

When they reached the hall they found a few students there and three teachers, Dumbledore, McGonagall and Slughorn. James was surprised to see Slughorn up, he thought he was one to sleep in.

"Well, we have potions first so we can eat and then go up and get our things and then we can go down early and set up. Sniv is always there early because he's a goody potions maker."

The others laughed at this. Finally, more people began to arrive and the Marauders finished eating and went to get their things.

"Don't forget the cloak James," Sirius said.

"Would I ever?" James asked with a smirk tucking the cloak in his robes.

"Come on, we need to hurry," Remus said and the boys rushed out the dorm and through the common room. They were the first to arrive by the potions door.

"Well, we are fifteen minutes early," Remus said.

"That's fine; we can go over the plan."

"Over here, if this map is correct there should be a little crack in the wall that leads to a small room we can discuss it in," James said looking at a piece of parchment.

"That what Johnny gave you?" Sirius asked.

"Yes, now come on, quickly before anyone sees." The boys followed James and sure enough there was the secret room.

"Good, now let's get this straight. Remember we changed a few things earlier. I will be under the cloak with the things to switch. Remus will ask Lily for her knife stating his is to dull to use. Lily likes Remus, he's hard working and cares about school, and she's even on first name basis with him so it should work. After that he'll accidentally knock something over. Lily, Sniv and Remus will picks it up, I'll switch the stuff and brush Remus and he'll get up and walk back to his table. We have to make sure to duck or we may get hit. I'll take the cloak off under the table so I don't get caught."

"Sounds good, we should be able to pull it off."

"Alright let's go," The boys got out of the spot they were hiding in and walked back to the potions door. People were already starting to gather around outside the class now. After a few minutes the doors opened and everyone filed in.

"Class, we will continue our potions from last day. They should be a light blue colour by now. Instructions on the board continue," Slughorn said.

"We should execute the plan midway through class. We add the worm and horn in about half an hour so we can do it then,"

The others agreed and continued working. Twenty minutes later Sirius announced it was time to put their plan into action.

"Go Remus," he said. Remus nodded and James ducked under the table and put the cloak on. He watched as Remus walked up to Lily and Snivellus's table.

"Lily, can I burrow your knife? Mine's dull and I need to cut my worm,"

"Sure Remus," Lily said. Even though Remus hung out with an arrogant boy like James and that trouble maker Sirius she liked Remus.

"Thanks," Remus said taking the knife. He turned and his hand brushed Snape's jar of beetle eyes and it fell over.

"You insolent little…"

"I'm sorry, it was an accident,"

"Likely," Snape spat.

"Sev, it's alright he didn't mean to. Let's just clean them up." Lily bent down and started picking the eyes up. Snape and Remus also stared to help. James, hidden under the cloak, quickly switched Snape's worm and unicorn horn for the jinxed one and tapped Remus on the head as he walked by.

"I'm sorry again," Remus said standing up. He walked back to his partner Peter Pettigrew.

"Well?" Sirius asked as James bent down and removed the cloak.

"All set, we better get under the table, looks like they'll add the stuff now." The boys ducked down and watched as Snape added the horn and worm to his potion. One turn clockwise, one counter-clockwise, one clockwise and BOOM! The potion exploded. Everyone screamed and ducked for cover. The four Marauders laughed as they emerged to see Snape covered in Potion. James's face fell when he saw that Lily was also covered.

"You really did it this time mate," Sirius said laughing.

"Settle down, it's easy to reverse, oh but maybe not." Slughorn said. He had noticed something was wrong.

"I don't know what you did but this potion is not what you were supposed to be making. What you've made will permanently change your features for a month. As you can see it's already working. Lily's hair is going pink while Severus's is going blue." Everyone in the class laughed at the appearance of the two kids. James and Sirius were laughing loudest of them all.

"But, you have also started sprouting boils and, well Miss Evans, you may not want to look in the mirror, but you're nose is extending. You both should go to the hospital wing," Snape and Lily glared at the class and got up and walked away.

"I know it was them," Lily snarled angrily.

"Come on Lils, we'll get them back," Snape said and they walked out the class room.

"That was still great though, they can't pin it on us," Sirius said.

"Yea it was awesome, did you see Sniv's face when Sluggy said his hair was blue." James said and laughed even more. "I guess it depends on the person and features for what their appearance changes to."

"Alright class, settle down and get back to work."

"Well, our potion will be done in a few minutes. It just has to simmer for another five." Remus said.

"Is it supposed to be that orange color?"

"Actually, I think your colour is more accurate then ours is,"

James and Sirius beamed at each other. It seemed this year was going to be better then last year.

A/N: Yet another chapter up! I've started to show James and Sirius's brains more in this story then in JPATMSB… I kinda had them a little dense in that one so I'm trying to make them a little smarter. Anyways I hope you liked it and please review!