Author's Notes: So here's the deal. Some days I don't go into work until the evenings, so I'll be using that time and my free days off (hey, a girl can't stay inside all the time! And I have those fabulous adult responsibilities, too, like cleaning, laundry, taking care of my little black cat, etc... things I can't do from my job) to work on this. There will be time between updates, I'm not going to lie. It won't be like it used to be. But I won't give up on this! I hit more brick walls in my other in-progress story (the Twilight one) than I do with this one, but this one also seems to get significantly more love.

So the moment you've been waiting for... the Marauder's Annual Halloween Prank chapter. I've been planning this for a while, with help from my sister, Lolita Minako (who gave me a few ideas for things to happen). I told her my prank idea and she helped me refine it. I came up with this in the end, and I can't wait to begin (yes, I write these notes before I start the chapter).

As it is in my Muggle life, Halloween is sneaking up on us quickly! All the stores are decked out and that familiar smell of sweets is in the air. LOVE IT!

Chapter 27: The Great Halloween Caper
Monday, October 31, 1977 - Halloween

"It's quiet," Marlene observed, looking around.

"Too quiet," Dorcas added, also sweeping her eyes around the Great Hall.

"The quiet is deafening," Emmeline commented, staring at her sausage and eggs.

"It's making me nervous," I added, scooping more strawberries onto my chocolate-chip pancakes.

"We've noticed," Dorcas said, chuckling a little under her breath and staring at my choice in breakfast.

"Wish the guys would show up already," Marlene said to no one in particular, still looking around the Great Hall as she ate her toast with plum jam.

The Great Hall wasn't entirely quiet. Just more quiet than we like to admit to, considering our normal company. There was a lot of talk about the previous Saturday's unexpected Quidditch match, where Hufflepuff beat Slytherin 190 to 150. Slytherin was winning by a landslide, but the Hufflepuff Seeker grabbed the Snitch before the Slytherin Seeker even realized they were in pursuit, resulting in the win. Then everyone was excited about the holiday today, especially after Dumbledore announced that he decided to let us have a free day to celebrate. We all were convinced it was because of what was happening outside Hogwarts, but we weren't about to argue a free day.

We were already celebrating, courtesy of yours truly and a request from my wonderful parents. The package arrived Friday morning and I brought it to the girls' dorm before breakfast. They tore into the Muggle goodies like little children on Christmas morning tearing into their gifts from Mr. Kringle.

Dorcas was wearing black cat ears and a tail was peeking out under her skirt. Whiskers were painted on her face and she finished the look with a bell the size of a giant strawberry around her neck. Marlene was wearing white bunny ears and a fluffy tail, with a pink nose and black whiskers painted on her face. She finished the look with carrot earrings she transfigured. Being the smallest of our group, Emmeline and I opted for the bug sets. We each had antennae on our head (topped with sparkly, black pompoms) that were accented with a four-inch wide plush daisy. We both wore wings, arm, and leg warmers to match. The difference between our costumes were mostly found the colors of the wings, arm, and leg warmers. Mine were red with black spots and hers was yellow and black stripes. To spruce things up a little, I painted black spots on my face like freckles. My parents even sent an extra costume set for Alice, who was currently sporting great mouse ears, a long, curled tail under her skirt, and painted whiskers. We spent the rest of the time before coming to breakfast taking photos with Marlene's camera.

We weren't the only ones wearing something in the Great Hall, but we were definitely the only ones really working it.

"Remind me to write a letter to your parents, Lily," Alice said, sitting in James's usual spot next to me. "And I think Frank approves, too."

Sure enough, about ten spaces down was one Frank Longbottom, looking mighty flustered. Alice would wiggle her nose cutely and smirk at him, which only made him blush more.

Boys are so easily impressed. And even easier than that when they're in love, if that's even possible.

"These costumes are great, and easy to wear with our uniforms," Emmeline said, shaking her head so the antennae bounce around.

"Not like we really needed to wear them," Dorcas mumbled from my other side as she took a bite of her French toast.

"We didn't know Dumbledore would cancel classes!" Emmeline said in his defense.

We all glanced at our eccentric Headmaster, currently sporting a Pirate hat and eyepatch under his half-moon spectacles. He noticed us looking and raised his goblet up to us, and we returned the gesture with smiles plastered on our faces. We all laughed happily as we turned back to each other.

"Excuse me, Squeakers, but I think that's my seat," we heard from behind me and Alice.

James.

"About bloody time you show up!" I told him. "And 'Squeakers,' James? Really?"

"She's a mouse, isn't she?" he said with a shrug as she laughed and moved over enough for him to sit.

"It's okay, Lily," she assured me, taking her plate from in front of James and giving him a clean one. "I did choose the mouse costume, after all."

The others came in shortly after, all smiling at our choice of attire. Peter stared wide-eyed at Alice's get up from her other side and didn't snap out of it until Sirius threw a grape at him, hitting him square in the forehead.

"So, is it done?" Marlene asked Remus, quickly giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Define 'done,' Marlene," Sirius asked from Remus's other side. Emmeline was practically on his lap as he served himself some scrambled eggs.

"Will it happen soon?" she restated.

"Not yet. Prep is done, so to speak. The execution will be after lunch," Remus told her, his eyes shining with anticipation. It was rare to see Remus so excited over a prank, but Halloween was the exception. I think it had to do with it being the celebration of Sirius's birthday.

We all hung out and celebrated in the Heads' Common Room last night to celebrate, with Emmeline insisting on acquiring a cake for him. So we chilled while eating cake from the kitchen (red velvet with chocolate frosting) and drinking Butterbeers courtesy Remus and Marlene. We didn't go too late or (much to Sirius's dismay) drink the Firewhiskey I knew was hiding in not only Sirius's trunk, but James's as well.

Of course, this was before we found out we wouldn't have to get up for Defense.

"So, who's ready for Robertson to attempt to ruin our holiday?" Sirius asked, stretching and taking a bite of bacon.

Well, before the girls found out we wouldn't have to get up for Defense.

"Sirius, about that," Emmeline said gently. The other Marauders eyed her in their confusion.

"Dumbledore canceled classes," Dorcas said flatly. I glared at her.

"You mean I could have gotten perschnickered last night?" Sirius exclaimed. "I feel cheated."

And here we go.

Lunchtime.

And we are alone.

Again.

Boyless.

Nervous.

Unsettled in the silence.

"I don't know how much more of this I can take," I admitted, taking a bite of my pizza.

As if on cue, the Marauders all walked in, heads held high.

"It is done," Sirius proclaimed, grinning.

Dorcas, Emmeline, Marlene, Alice, and I looked around.

Nothing was out of place, running amuck, smoking, nothing.

Things were normal.

At least as normal as a school for witches and wizards can get.

"Wow, guys, you really outdid yourselves this year," Dorcas said, her voice dripping in sarcasm.

"Give it time, non-believer," Sirius replied.

I leaned closer to James's ear to whisper. "What did you do?"

"You'll see. It's brilliant," he whispered back, then kissed my temple.

After about twenty minutes of eating, we were finishing up and about stand up from the table when it all began.

"EVANS!"

I froze, half standing above the bench I was recently occupying at the Gryffindor table. I knew that voice. Only one person had that sneer. I turned towards the voice, not ignoring the smirks on the faces of the Marauders from them suppressing their laughter.

"What is it, Sev?" I asked, trying to stay calm.

He stopped when he saw me, since I was still dressed like a ladybug. "You're a bug..." he said.

"Um, thanks?" I replied, continuing to climb over the bench so we could go out on the grounds to enjoy our free holiday.

He shook his head. "No, that's not why I'm here, Lil- erm, Evans," he said, annoyance taking over his features. "What in Merlin's name is that?" he asked, pointing behind him.

I looked behind him. Sitting on the floor was a small, furry creature that looked like your standard Muggle house cat. It had a speckled ginger coat, large ears, and a plumed tail. It was sitting there, twitching his tail and glaring at Severus. I had to snort a laugh. It was so irritated with Severus for some reason, but it was adorable. It also had a flashing orange-and-black "3" tied around its neck.

"A Kneazle," I replied, trying to hold back my giggles.

"I got that much," he replied, getting more annoyed. "Why is it here, why was it in the dungeons, why is it numbered, and why is it following me?"

"How should I know, Sev?" I answered honestly. Well, almost totally honest. I had a feeling this had something to do with the Marauder's disappearances throughout the day.

"You hang out with them, after all. You should know," he snapped at me.

"I will not keep tags on my friends. They can do what they want," I snapped back, walking past Severus to the fluffy Kneazle. I bent down and picked it up and it instantly started purring into my neck, nuzzling my chin. "It's so cute!" I said, giggling as its whiskers tickled my neck. It licked my chin and I giggled more. As I started to walk past Severus to return to my friends, it swatted at him and hissed, leaving three small slashes across his nose. He glared at me and the Kneazle.

"You know, Snape, they can detect untrustworthy people. Maybe you should re-evouluate your life," Dorcas said with a grin.

"Shut it, Meadowes. I have to find the others," he grumbled, turning on his heel.

"Others?" I asked.

"See the '3' on that... thing's... neck? We found another one, and that one had the number '1' on its neck. Slughorn grew attached to that one and has it in his office. We're guessing there's at least one more," he answered then left the Great Hall.

I turned to the others, still snuggling the Kneazle.

Everyone burst out laughing at once.

"That was your plan?" Emmeline asked them as soon as she could speak in coherent sentences, her antennae still bouncing from her laughter.

"We'll let you all figure out the rest of it as everyone else does," James said with a grin.

"So Slughorn claimed the black and white one, huh?" Peter said.

"Looks like it," Remus replied. "I remember putting the '1' on that one."

"Of course the ginger one finds Snivellus and attaches itself to Lily," Sirius said, staring at me and the Kneazle in my arms.

"I'm keeping it," I said, not skipping a beat. "I think it likes me."

"No doubting that," James said, laughing at the site of ginger Kneazle nuzzling up with his ginger girlfriend.

"It's like a duel purpose," Marlene said, the wheels in her head obviously turning rapidly. "They drive the Slytherins crazy while sniffing out the possible Death Eaters. It is bloody fucking brilliant!" We all laughed at her enthusiasm.

"Lets go see if they found the others," James said, standing up to join me. The rest followed suit.

"How many are there?" Alice asked.

"Not telling," Peter said, smiling.

"No more than five, I'll assure you that," James told us quietly.

We entered the great hall to find Filch holding one that was grey and flecked with black, looking into its eyes as if he found a long-lost love. I saw a flashing number "5" on its neck.

"Lets leave them alone in their moment," Dorcas said, walking towards the entrance to the dungeons.

"So Slug has '1,' Lily has '3,' and Filch is making goo-goo eyes at '5,'" Emmeline counted off on her fingers. "So that leaves two Kneazles unaccounted for?"

"And that's where this plan gets brilliant," Sirius said with a grin.

"Oh?" I asked. "It gets better?"

"Oh, yes," James answered as we all looked into the dungeons towards a yell. Regulus Black was walking towards us, looking as annoyed as Sev did earlier. A small, brown, speckled Kneazle was on his heels, looking pissed. The number "2" was flashing on its neck.

"SIRIUS!" he exclaimed when he saw us all standing there. He looked at the ginger Kneazle in my arms. "That's the one that Sev found. Take care of this one!" he ordered Sirius, pointing at the glaring furball.

"Why? I think it likes you, Reg," Sirius said, smirking.

"I know it was you lot," he said, pointing his finger at us.

"What's your proof?" Sirius asked, calmly, his grin never leaving his face.

Regulus groaned in frustration as Avery and Mulciber walked up behind him. They had scratches all over them. At least the Kneazles knew who were the least trustworthy of the lot. Regulus didn't have any marks on him, and Severus didn't until he got too close to the sharp claws of the one in my arms.

Mulciber pointed his wand at little Number 2 on the floor and fired a Stunning Spell. Emmeline screamed, but the spell bounced off an invisible barrier and hit Mulciber between the eyes. He fell to the floor in a heap and the Kneazle added more scratches to his face with a hiss before walking up to Avery, glaring.

It took all my self control to not burst out laughing.

Emmeline went over and picked up Number 2 and it started nuzzling into her like mine was, causing her to giggle. "I'm happy you're okay, little one!" she cooed. We walked back into the Entrance Hall away from the irritated Slytherins so we could talk in peace.

"You really think we didn't think that the Slytherins wouldn't try to curse these little guys?" he asked Emmeline, stroking the Kneazle in her arms. I could hear him purring from where I stood (although it may be the ginger one that was dozing off in my arms). "We cast special protection spells on all four."

"Well, that was smart of y- wait, all four?" she asked him, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Yeah, that was the brilliant part of our plan," he said with pride.

"We only released four Kneazles into the dungeons," Remus exclaimed.

"Numbering them 1, 2, 3, and 5," added James.

"So they're going to be looking for Number 4 for hours," Peter explained with a grin.

"While the whole time," Sirius continued.

"There is none!" Marlene, Emmeline, Dorcas, Alice, and I finished, laughing.

"Just keep it down, will you?" Sirius said. "No ruining my birthday prank, or you two can't keep the furballs," he said, pointing to me and Emmeline.

"Who said I was going to keep it?" Emmeline asked.

"Do you see yourself?" he replied.

"Yeah, I want to keep it," she squealed, kissing his cheek.

"Why is it everyone else is getting gifts for my birthday?" he exclaimed.

"We're not," I told him. "Your birthday was yesterday."

"Which reminds me. Where's the Firewhiskey?" he asked, heading to the stairs.

It was about eleven o'clock in the evening of Halloween. I was laying on the couch in the Heads' Common room, a sleeping ginger Kneazle on my belly and my ladybug costume pieces in the armchair. James was sitting on the floor next to me, his chin on my hip while stroking the sleeping Kneazle.

We were able to keep Sirius sober until after the Halloween feast, and after we went back to Gryffindor Tower for a Halloween celebration. I got tired around quarter of eleven and decided to return to our own Common Room. James reminded Remus of a Sobering Draught that Sirius kept in his trunk and returned with me. Neither James or I were drunk, although we were a little buzzed. Nothing that will impair us in the morning. Same with the majority of the rest of the group.

Sirius and Peter on the other hand were in for a rough morning. I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't in Binn's class in the morning.

The Kneazle met me at the door, meowing sweetly and rubbing against my ankles.

I found the second love of my life, definitely.

"So you think of a name, yet?" he asked me.

"You're going to laugh," I told him honestly.

"I promise I won't," he assured me, smiling as the Kneazle meowed and rolled over on his back on my belly, stretching out his paws.

"Well, I wanted to name him the French word for 'ginger.' Like how I'm a ginger," I admitted, looking at him shyly.

"Rouquin," he told me, smiling. "I think it would work."

"I like it," I said, scratching Rouquin behind the ear. "You're now Rouquin." He purred sleepily in response.

He took out his wand and transfigured the flashing '3' into a deep green collar with "Rouquin" spelled out in white letters. It was finished with a little white bell.

I picked up the limp Kneazle and let him dangle in front of me so I can admire the collar. "It's perfect!" I exclaimed, beaming. "You're so handsome!" I cooed to Rouquin.

"And I suddenly feel like I've taken a back seat," James grumbled, his smile giving him away.

"You're always be my number two man in my life," I told him with a wink.

"Yeah, that makes me feel so much better."

"No, I'm a Daddy's girl. Always have been. He's my number one. Rouquin here is my number three."

"Don't tell Sirius or Remus that," he teased.

"What a day," I said, yawning. "Time for bed. Care to join me? Or you want to sleep alone for the first time in weeks?"

"I never want to sleep alone again," he said, kissing me.

Rouquin woke up at this and walked up my chest to nudge James's ear gently with his nose. James laughed into the kiss.

"I have a feeling I have competition," he said, staring at the kitty-like creature yawning on my chest.

I took him off my chest and laid him on the couch so I could get up. "To bed," I said, stretching.

James took my hand and lead me to the stairs to the dorms, the little ginger following with a meow not too far behind.

Author's Note Part 2: KNEAZLES! This is based of something that one of the girls wanted to do senior year in high school, except with pigs. The plan went from Blast-Ended Skrewts, to Fire Crabs (Lolita Minako's idea), to Kneazles. Little Rouquin is based off my kitty, except a ginger and has a tail. And yes, totally wrote in the beginning of Filch's love for cats, although Mrs. Norris isn't a Kneazle (she's a Maine Coon in the films).

I wish my art of humans was better than it is. I'd totally draw the scene when Snape approaches a Ladybug-clad Lily and pointing to the little ginger Kneazle. It just seems so... absurd.