Disclaimer: We acknowledge that the riddle taken from 'The Hobbit' does not belong to us.
MISCHIEF MANAGED
Chapter Eleven – End of Term Surprise
Since they had spent the holidays studying under Remus' guidance, the boys passed their exams with flying colours, even Peter. 'Quills down,' Professor Flitwick squeaked at the end of the First Year's last exam. As they breathed a sigh of relief, Flitwick called, 'Accio parchment.' The rest of the students already gone, the Marauders watched in amusement as the exam papers hit Flitwick too exuberantly and he toppled over with the force.
Laughing heartily, the four made their way to a large tree next to the lake. They threw themselves onto the grass and, to the surprise of the other boys, Remus pulled out a book.
'Really Remus? Exams have just finished, and you're choosing to read?' James was completely flabbergasted. 'We need to be celebrating!'
'It's time to finish what we started,' Sirius exclaimed ostentatiously. 'Time to invade Ravenclaw,' he added with a cheeky grin.
As they were making their plans, James noticed a particular red-haired girl listening to their conversation. James saw in Lily Evans' face that she knew she had been caught in the act of eavesdropping. He smiled mischievously, prompting her to march over to their group.
'Lily, to what can we owe the pleasure of your company,' Sirius said sarcastically.
'You can't break into Ravenclaw!' Lily began her tirade. 'Imagine how many House Points we'll lose if you get caught. And we really can't afford to lose any more with Slytherin in the lead.'
'But we don't get caught,' James joked.
'Merlin's beard, there have been other times?' Lily gasped 'You were the ones who decorated the Slytherin common room, weren't you?'
'Yep, that was us!' Peter said proudly while the others averted their eyes. They looked up when he spoke and glared.
Lily looked furious. 'I should go straight to McGonagall!'
'We can't afford to lose any more House Points, remember, Evans,' James said in a mocking tone.
Lily gave James a dirty look and turned on her heel.
When Lily was out of sight, they began to make their way to their dormitory, away from less Gryffindor-friendly eavesdroppers.
After they had finished perfecting their plans, they went to dinner, the Invisibility Cloak tucked under James' robes. They gobbled their food and followed the first Ravenclaw they saw leave the Hall. To avoid suspicion, they didn't put the Invisibility Cloak on until the first turn.
Hurriedly, James threw the Cloak over the four of them. 'Ouch!' Peter moaned as they struggled forward together, hobbling for a few steps because of the foot Sirius had stepped on. 'That really hurt!'
They pursued the Ravenclaw, crouched over to avoid surprise glimpses of trainers walking of their own accord, to the fifth floor. The student looked over her shoulder and started walking faster. She took so many sharp turns that they had a difficult time keeping up with her. Eventually she approached a spiral staircase, the Marauders close behind and still invisible.
They took the staircase, which consisted of many tight, dizzying circles, and at last they reached a door. The door was nothing but a plain stretch of aged wood. There was no handle and no keyhole, only a bronze knocker in the shape of an eagle. The Ravenclaw knocked once and the eagle opened its beak to say in a musical voice:
'Alive without breath,
As cold as death;
Never thirsty, ever drinking,
All in mail never clinking.'
Without thinking, Remus blurted the answer. 'A fish!' Sirius placed his own hand over Remus' mouth, hoping in vain that the sound wouldn't carry. The knocker offered congratulations to the confused student and the door swung open. She glanced around before entering. The boys only just made it through the door before it closed.
'How the hell did you know that?' Peter said in wonder. 'I had no idea!'
'I've heard the riddle before. It was in a Muggle book Lily lent me,' Remus whispered back.
James scowled and flushed slightly.
'Come on then,' Sirius said excitedly. 'We've got work to do!'
They glanced around the wide, circular room in search of their first victim. Remus noticed the graceful arched windows, hung with blue and bronze silks. He looked in awe at the domed ceiling painted with stars, which were echoed in the midnight blue carpet. He was shaken out of his reverie when Sirius spied a third year with long blond hair hunched over her work. He gestured restrainedly and they sidled over in silent agreement of pulling her hair.
The Ravenclaw jumped out of her seat and turned angrily to see whom the culprit was. When she found that there was no one to blame, she sat down, confused, and continued her work. Getting no enjoyment from her lack of response, James pulled her hair again. She seemed to ignore this annoyance.
'Third time lucky,' Sirius whispered to the others. Instead of grabbing her entire ponytail, he pulled at a single hair. The girl screamed in pain, bringing attention to herself.
Another Ravenclaw asked with concern, 'Cassie, are you alright?'
'Something has been pulling my hair,' Cassie replied in frustration.
Her friend looked around, only to observe that there was nobody near Cassie. 'Do you want me to take you to the Hospital Wing?' she asked alarmed. At this remark, Cassie turned red, and ran out of the room, trying to hold back her tears.
The Marauders then proceeded to cause as much confusion as they could among the Ravenclaws. They used Wedgius Maximus, tickling charms and Tarantallegra on as many unsuspecting victims as they could.
As a grand finale, once all the visible Ravenclaws were either pulling their underpants from their buttocks, laughing hysterically or dancing uncontrollably, Remus pulled Dr. Filibuster's Fabulous Wet-Start, No-Heat Fireworks out from under his robe. 'Aguamenti,' he whispered, and rolled them as far across the room as he could before they exploded. The distraction in place, the Marauders ducked out of the Ravenclaw common room and back to their own.
They returned breathless and quickly packed their belongings so they would be prepared for the early start. 'What a great end to the term,' Peter sighed as they were falling asleep that night.
Bright and early the boys lugged their trunks to the Entrance Hall for transport to the train. After breakfast, they made their way to Hogsmeade Station. They pushed their way through the crowd of students and jumped aboard with enormous enthusiasm. They somehow managed, amidst all the kafuffle, to find a compartment to themselves.
The whistle sounded and the Marauders began their long trip back to London. When the trolley lady came calling, they bought as many sweets as they could afford. Shortly after, when they were stuffing Pumpkin Pasties into their mouths, Lily entered their compartment. She smiled at Remus and reminded him to write her over the summer. Before leaving, she shot the others a filthy scowl.
'I don't think she's too happy with you lot,' Remus commented unnecessarily. James went a brilliant shade of scarlet and bowed his head. Sirius mocked James' embarrassment. Seeing his friend's discomfort, Remus quickly changed the subject. 'Too bad Slytherin won the House Cup. And with us only forty points behind them! We'll have to do better next year.'
'With me on the Quidditch team, that'll be no problem!' James exclaimed, his embarrassment gone at the idea.
Soon after, the train pulled into King's Cross Station. The Potters were the first to reach them, wearing huge smiles on their faces. 'It's so lovely to see you, boys,' Dorea said in a motherly way. She pulled James into a hug and whispered just to him, 'I've missed having you around.'
Just then Peter apologized and ran over to his mother who was beckoning sternly. Sirius, too, noticed his parents with the Slytherin crowd. He said sadly, 'I'd introduce you to my parents but I don't think they'd appreciate it.'
Dorea smiled kindly and shooed him, calling, 'send us an owl if you want to drop by.' Soon after, Remus spotted his parents waving to him from over near the barrier. He said his goodbyes to all three Potters and, with a huge grin stretched across his face, made his way towards his parents. 'Your parents are lovely people, by the way Remus. We met them earlier,' Dorea said to him, almost as a passing thought.
Once all four boys were through the barrier and back onto the station surrounded by Muggles, they turned to each other for one last goodbye. 'Mischief managed,' James mouthed to his three best friends, glad to know that they would be together again soon to wreak more havoc.