MISCHIEF MANAGED
Chapter Nine – Slytherin's Folly
Once back at school, the Marauders gathered in their dorm. James carefully removed the Invisibility Cloak from his trunk and they all admired it. 'Let's make some plans,' he stated. 'Some really good plans.'
'Well,' Peter started. 'I'd really like to find the kitchens! Just imagine the feasts we could throw!'
'Good idea, mate,' Sirius cut in. 'But I think it'd be way more fun to prank the other houses. Let's decorate the Slytherin common room in scarlet and gold!'
'That sounds brilliant!' James grinned. 'Vote we do that one first.'
'I've always been interested in Rowena Ravenclaw,' Remus muttered, as if he didn't really want to be heard. 'I'd love to see their common room!'
'While we're at it, we may as well see them all,' James said, while putting the cloak away. 'Hufflepuff too!'
At that precise moment, Ben entered the dormitory. Sirius, James and Peter ignored him but Remus gave him a weak smile. 'We'll discuss this later,' Sirius whispered, while glaring at the intruder.
Midnight appeared to be the 'later' Sirius had in mind. He woke the other Marauders and they began to assemble their next mischievous outing. All four had agreed that decorating the Slytherin common room should be first, as it seemed most fun. Their plans formulated, they climbed back into bed, barely able to contain their excitement at what they would do at this time tomorrow.
After breakfast the next morning, Sirius began Part One of their prank. 'Andromeda, my favourite cousin,' Sirius began.
'Merlin's pants, Sirius. What do you want?' she snapped. 'I have no time for your silly comments. I have a class test in Transfiguration today and want to study before class starts.'
'Come on, Meda, you'll ace it. And I just want to chat.' Andromeda was already walking towards her common room subconsciously, Sirius in tow. For no reason that Andromeda could see, Sirius made a thumbs-up gesture.
'Sirius, go away. You're a pest.'
'Don't miss me too much!' he called as he turned back the way he had come.
As she walked towards the Slytherin common room, Andromeda couldn't shake the feeling that someone was following her. She reached the common room entrance, whispered 'Serpentia' and entered.
A prefect walking down the corridor shook his head to clear it. He could swear he had heard somebody running up the stairs but when he looked, there was nothing.
James turned the corner, pulled off the Invisibility Cloak and stuffed it into his bag. Sirius pounced. 'Did you get the password? Do you know where the common room is? This is going to be one hell of a prank!'
James divulged this vital information to one very happy Sirius Black. 'It's all set then,' Sirius finished for him. 'Tonight Slytherin will be getting a Sirius shock.'
The day couldn't have passed any slower. By the time dinner came around, the Marauders were finding it difficult not to inform Gryffindor house of their brilliance. They ate as quickly as possible then hurried back to their dormitory to prepare for their biggest prank yet.
By ten o'clock, the common room began to empty. Lily Evans, while putting her books away, spied the Marauders still slaving away at their homework. 'You should be getting to bed, you know,' she scolded. 'You'll regret staying up late in the morning.'
'Sorry, Lily,' Remus yawned. 'These idiots haven't finished their essays for McGonagall and I stupidly told them I would read over them when they were finished.'
The instant the last person left the common room, the Marauders leapt up, leaving their homework incomplete and snuck through the portrait hole, the cloak thrown haphazardly over all of them. Although difficult with four, the cloak managed to hide all the boys, disregarding the occasional glimpses of sneakers.
Under James' instructions, the Marauders slowly and carefully made their way to the Slytherin common room. Sirius whispered, 'Serpentia,' and a stone door concealed in the wall slid open.
The Slytherin common room was a long, low underground room with rough stone walls and ceiling, from which round, greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling under an elaborately carved mantelpiece ahead of them. Peter looked around him in awe. Although the Gryffindor common room was very homely, it was nowhere near as elegant as this.
Sirius glanced at his surroundings and grinned excitedly, before turning to the other three and nodding. All four raised their wands and muttered, 'Muto Ornamentum.' The effect was immediate. Almost before the words had left their mouths the Slytherin serpents were morphing into golden Gryffindor lions. The silver and green of the common room was also changing swiftly to scarlet and gold.
James surveyed their work proudly. 'I think our work here is done,' he whispered and began to make his way to the door.
'Wait,' Remus called quietly. 'Just one last touch.' He mumbled an incantation no one else heard which enabled him to write on the wall with his wand.
'T-H-E-M-A-R-A-U-D-E-R-S,' Peter spelled.
'Perfect Remus,' Sirius said approvingly. 'Now let's skedaddle.'
They raced back to their own common room without any mishaps. The Fat Lady was not pleased with their late arrival. When she finally let them through they walked to their dormitory, where they fell into their beds delighted with their night's adventure.
Next morning the Great Hall was in uproar. The whole school had heard the news that the Slytherin common room had changed colours overnight. No one seemed more angry about this invasion than Bellatrix Black.
Already suspecting Sirius and his "little friends", the smug looks she saw on their faces gave Bellatrix a reason to attack. She leapt over the Slytherin table, knocking peoples' breakfasts into their laps. She landed in a crouch and launched herself towards the four Gryffindor first years standing at the door.
Sirius watched in horror as his mental cousin strode towards them. Bellatrix moved like a blur – one minute she was too far away to cause harm, and the next her wand was pointed directly at Sirius' heart.
'Hey Trixie,' Sirius said cheerfully to mask the nervousness in his voice. 'What's up?'
'YOU KNOW WHAT'S UP YOU LITTLE BLOOD TRAITOR!' Bellatrix began in a voice louder than anyone had ever thought possible. 'IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO BETRAY THE FAMILY, BUT YOU HAD TO DISHONOUR THE ENTIRE SLYTHERIN HOUSE WITH YOUR GRYFFINDOR FILTH!'
The entire hall was entranced by this scene. Slowly, so as not to be noticed, the teachers were moving into a rough circle around the group.
'I HATE YOU!' Bellatrix roared. 'YOU AND ALL THE LITTLE IDIOTS AND BLOOD TRAITORS YOU BEFRIEND! WHAT KIND OF A BLACK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? AFTER I CURSE YOU INTO OBLIVION, I'LL WRITE TO AUNT WALBURGA AND MAKE SURE PERSONALLY THAT SHE BLASTS YOU OFF THE FAMILY TREE!'
The teachers were moving closer. Sirius could see the form of Dumbledore behind his cousin and felt slightly reassured.
Bellatrix leaned towards Sirius' face. 'I'm going to hurt you. Just to prove that Gryffindors aren't as untouchable as they think they are.' Sirius gulped. Who knew what atrocities Bellatrix had learnt from her pure-blood parents and their friends?
'Cru-,' she whispered, but her incantation was interrupted when her wand flew from her grasp and into the Headmaster's waiting hand.
'Bellatrix Black, that behaviour is unacceptable. Please report to my office at eight o'clock this evening for the detention that shall ensue,' Dumbledore said calmly to the angry girl. 'Minerva,' he turned towards Professor McGonagall. 'Please take Miss Black to the Hospital Wing. I think one of Madame Pomfrey's Calming Draughts will do this girl wonders.'
The crowd of people in the Great Hall dispersed, leaving the stunned Marauders by themselves. Their silence was broken by Peter, 'Wow, she's crazy. Are the rest of them that bad?'
'You have no idea,' Sirius replied, a trace of fear still in his voice.