I'm back!!! And dear God has it been a looooong time.

I don't even have a good explanation for my absence apart from a loss of interest and the pressures of growing up =/

But any how, I re read my story and decided it needed to be at least updated, if not finished. So here I am, a little rusty, so please be genital with what you have to say about my work. Thanks =) x

P.S. I noticed I made some mistakes in past chapters, I apologise if it's confused you at all. Also, I wrote "Chapter 3" instead of "Chapter 5", which confused the hell out of me when I re read, so sorry again =P


Chapter 12- Operation Tea Party

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Peter whispered

"Of course it is, dummy! It's Harry's idea!" James hissed back

The four first years were sneaking down to the kitchens where the House elves were busy putting the finishing touches to the extravagant Halloween feast that was due to start very soon. Their pockets were bulging with bags and bags of Honeydukes' sweets and Zonkos' products given to them by James' older brother so they could pull off "the best Halloween prank ever done by a first year… except mine of course". When they reached the painting of the fruit bowl James paused.

"Right then guys, remember the plan?" The three young boys in front of him nodded. James continued "Good. So Remus and Peter, you stand guard by the entrance, while Sirius and I put Operation Tea Party into action. If anyone tries to get in, remember what you've got to do?"

At this, Peter burst into fake tears.

"P…please h…h…help" He sniffed, while Remus put a comforting arm around his friends shoulder. "W…we got lllost on the w…way to the G…G…Great Hall"

"Very good!" James grinned. He turned to the painting behind him and tickled the pear until in turned into a giant doorknob. "See you soon"

80)

"You're late"

James, Sirius, Remus and Peter had run up the aisles between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables and came skidding to a halt in front of Professor McGonagall.

"Sorry… Professor" Sirius panted "Got…lost…"

Professor McGonagall pursed her lips. "Really, Mr Black? Well, you're here now, just get into your positions and get ready, Professor Dumbledore is about to give his speech."

The four boys hurried to their positions in the newly formed first year choir. With one last dirty look towards James, who had gotten his friends into this mess, Sirius lined up at the front with the rest of the A, B, C's and D's. Only a couple of rows behind him, Remus stood trying his best to hide behind the tall first year who was lined up in front of him. A couple of rows behind him were James and Peter standing side by side. Peter, like the others, was trying his best not to be seen. James, on the other hand, stood proudly in his place, looking around for small red haired girl.

"I don't see Lily" He hissed towards Peter.

"I do" said a sneering voice behind them. The two boys turned to find themselves face to face with Severus Snape, who pointed down towards the Gryffindor table. "Unfortunately Lily Evans had to pull out of the choir at the last minute due to a sore throat, most likely brought on from shouting at you. But it's okay Potter, now she'll have a better view of you and your little friends making fools of yourselves."

James snarled, ready to retaliate, but was elbowed sharply in the ribs by the small boy beside him

"Ssssh, Dumbledore's about to speak. We'll deal with Snape later."

Dumbledore had stood up from his great chair at the front of the hall and, once everyone had gone quiet, launching into a small speech saying how he hoped everyone was getting on well, explaining the reasons behind the Halloween feast and, all too soon, he introduced the choir. Professor Flitwick, the tiny Charms professor, ran forward to the very front of the choir and began to wave his wand like a conductor's baton. As rehearsed, the first years started to sing the Halloween song they had been practicing all lunch.

"Do you think Lily can see me?" James whispered to Peter during the girls' only section of the song. He stood up on his tiptoes and grasped his friends shoulder for support "Maybe if I stand up like this she could see me"

"James, get off me!" Peter hissed through gritted teeth before continuing with the song.

"But if I let go I'll…" James wobbled on his toes, tipping over into Peter, who fell into the person next to him until the whole of their row had collapsed with a loud crash.

"WELL SHE'S CERTAINTLY SEEN YOU NOW!" Peter yelled at the raven haired boy as the whole school erupted into fits of laughter. "NICE GOING JAMES!"

A hand wrapped around James' arm and Professor McGonagall dragged him to his feet. "Haven't you caused enough trouble today Potter?" She sighed.

"I'm sorry Professor" James muttered, blushing bright red. He glanced around at the many laughing students and finally caught Lily's eye, she looked torn between amusement and annoyance. "It was an accident. I'm sorry."

"Detention Potter. Once the feast is over you will repost to my office immediately. So help you if you cause anymore trouble tonight" The Transfiguration teacher growled.

"Yes Professor"

The first years got to their feet and made their way down to their own house tables, many of them pushing James or else glaring at him like something nasty they just spotted on their shoe. Once they had all returned to their seats, Professor Dumbledore stood up.

"Settle down everyone! Settle down!" he called causing the room to fall silent "Well, thank you very much first years, that was certainly… entertaining." He smiled at James, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "And now time for the feast!"

Dumbledore clapped his hands and immediately food appeared on the tables in front of them. For a moment James looked relieved to finally be eating and have the attention taken away from him, until a loud shriek sounded from the other end of the hall. The Slytherins, who had all greedily grabbed at their feast the second it appeared, all leaped up from their seats, some of them steaming from their ears, some shivering and sneezing, while others pulled and tugged at tea cups that had firmly attached themselves to the victims' noses. The few who had managed to take a sip of their drinks were now belching loudly or else hiccupping violently. Snape, James was pleased to see, was charging around the table trying to yank a teacup from his extraordinarily long nose whist a thick cloud of steam poured continuously from his ears that hidden beneath the curtains of greasy hair. After a second of stunned silence, the other three houses burst into fits of laughter. From the very end of the top table, Harry grinned and gave his little brother the thumbs up.

"QUIET!" Dumbledore roared over the noise, once again silencing the hall, all except for the belching, sneezing and hiccupping students. With a wave of his wand the Slytherins misfortunes were gone instantly. Then, without another word, he walked out of the room.

The whole school, even the teachers, sat perfectly still, watching and waiting for his return. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter looked at each other guiltily.

"We're in for it now" Peter hissed.

"I think you'll be okay" said Sirius softly. "It was me and James in the kitchen."

James gulped "I'm in deep-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Professor Dumbledore marched back into the room.

"Mr James Potter and Mr Sirius Black, I would like a word with you in my office. The rest of you are dismissed. Food will be sent up to your common rooms shortly."