Days in Avalon
Chapter Five: Let the Torture Begin
It had been nearly three weeks since James, Sirius, Peter, and Remus pulled the prank on Andy. After the threat she made to them in the Great Hall that day, they were expecting her to retaliate at any moment. But after a while they slowly started to let their guard down. By the middle of October, they came to the conclusion that the blond haired witch was just making an empty threat. 'Oh how wrong they were' thought the group of girls as they continued on planning and preparing the boys for a taste of their own medicine. Finally, a week before the Halloween feast the girls were ready to begin an event Hogwarts would never forget.
On Friday morning, the notorious gang of pranksters came down to breakfast as they usually did each morning. They were greeted with the sights and sounds of every Hogwarts students eagerly waiting for the great feast that would be held next week. Rumors had been spread throughout the school that Dumbledore had hired 'The Fang-toothed Vamps' to come and play at the feast. When they sat down to the newly appeared bowls full of sausages, eggs, toast, bacon, and other breakfast items, they were startled by the cheerful voice that came from behind were James and Remus sat.
"Hey guys!" said Andy.
"Uh…hi…Andy," stuttered James. "H-how are you?" he asked somewhat surprised and worried about the way she was acting.
"I'm alright," said Andy brightly as she poured a glass of orange juice for herself. "Gods, can you believe how much homework McGonagall and Portview gave us?"
"Uh, yeah…" said James still slightly on his guard.
"Yeah, I know its murder," chuckled Sirius. James and Remus both looked at their friend with widen eyes. They were in utter shock at their friend's response and petrified as to what Andy's response would be.
"Yeah, I don't know how I'm ever going to get through potions, let alone transfiguration," said Andy as she continued on with her breakfast. James, Peter, and Remus all let out a sigh of relieve that didn't go unnoticed by Andy, as a small evil grin started to form across her face. "I just hope that I can get it all done before the big Quidditch game tomorrow. I'm kinda hoping to get on the team someday," said Andy merrily.
"All right woman, what's wrong with you?" roared Sirius not able to contain his frustration anymore. He was inwardly hoping that his little comment would send her over the edge and hopefully put an end to the state of apprehension that had been put on all of them since they pulled that prank on her.
"What are you talking about Blackie?" said Andy innocently and sweetly.
"Wasn't it just a couple of weeks ago that you were madder than a hippogriff at us? OW!" groan Sirius as he received a hard kick in the shin from his best mate.
"Oh, that? Neh. Just having a little fun is all," said Andy modestly.
"Right," said Sirius giving Andy an eye over. 'What is she planning?'
"Hey, uh Andy? If you need any help with that potions essay, I could probably give you a hand," piped Remus, eager to steer the conversation out of dangerous waters.
"Thanks Remus. That's so nice of you," said Andy cheerfully as she noticed the time on James's watch. "Oh, would you look at the time. I forgot I was supposed to go talk to Professor Flitwick. See you guys later," she said as she got up and gave a wave good-bye at the four bewildered Gryffindors.
"Bye," said all four boys.
"Ow!" cried Remus as he received a slap in the back on his head from James.
"Are you daft man?" roared James.
"Have you completely gone wanker?" bellowed Sirius.
"What?" said Remus as he rubbed the back of his head.
"You know what. 'I'll help you with that potions essay if you want, Andy!' Please!" said Sirius as he rolled his eyes.
"What were you thinking?" said a bewildered James.
"I was just being nice!" said Remus in defense.
"Oh, you hear the James? Rem here was 'just being nice'," said Sirius in a mocking tone.
"Why do I even bother?" sighed Remus as he rolled his eyes.
"Ah, come on Remy we were just messing with you," chuckled James. "Right Sirius?"
"Yeah. Just don't come crying to us when little Ms. Star there turns you into a shrub or something like that," said Sirius jokingly.
The four friends continued on with their breakfast unaware that two second-year students, one from Hufflepuff, the other a blond Gryffindor, were watching them from outside the doors to the Great Hall. When Andy and Karen saw the four delinquents getting up from the Gryffindor table and heading toward their hiding spot, they quickly and quietly ran to the nearby courtyard that the 'Prank Pact' had been known to hang out at until the start of classes. When they arrived at the courtyard, they found their other three friends ready and eager to hear what they had to say.
"There on the move," gasped Karen as she tried to catch her breath.
"Okay. Everyone get into position," ordered Felicia.
"Hey gals, go easy on Remus a bit. Kay?" said Andy. The four girls all nodded their head in agreement and then went to their respective hiding places. Karen went and hid behind a nearby bush that was just put in by Hagrid a couple of days ago, while Felicia and Kelly hid behind a couple of stone pillars that led back into another part of the castle. Lily and Andy quickly ran up a flight of stairs to the second floor that overlooked the courtyard and the entrance to where the boys would be coming through. After a couple of minutes, they could hear the sounds of the four soon to be victims coming their way.
Lily and Andy mouthed the word 'Ready' to each other and nodded their heads in agreement as they both pulled out their wands.
"Wingardium Leviosa," they both muttered. Suddenly the two massive jars of dust that were on the floor next to them began to float in midair. They then directed the floating jars to the middle of the courtyard where the boys were now standing and talking among themselves.
"Urgh…do we really have to go to potions? I'm not sure if I can stomach another session with Snivellus," groaned James.
"Know the feeling. The bloody prat thinks he's so much better than everyone just because he gets a couple of lousy good marks," said Sirius.
"Hey do you guys get the feeling that were being watched," said Remus as he looked around his surroundings suspiciously.
"What feeling?" asked Peter who wasn't really listening to what his friend said.
"Nothing, I guess," said Remus as he dismissed the thought from his mind.
"Now?" whispered Andy.
"No not yet. Wait a sec," said Lily who was slightly curious as to what the four of them were discussing about. 'Hey how often to do you get an opportunity to gather up some dirt on your enemy?' she thought to herself.
"You know Remus, you're starting to worry me a bit," said Sirius as he crossed his arms in a mock father-like figure.
"What do you mean," said Remus slightly hesitat to answer.
"Well I mean the way you are with that Star girl and her friend Karen. Always so nice and sweet to them," said Sirius with a look someone who had just taken a bite out of a very juicy lemon.
"How many time do I have to tell you that I was just being polite? It's not my fault my mother raised me that way," said Remus now fully tired of having the same discussion with his friend. Suddenly an idea came to him that would take some of the heat off him for a bit. "What's up with you anyway?" he said to Sirius.
"Nothing. Why do you ask?" said Sirius not fully sure what his friend was getting at.
"Because lately it seems that all you ever talk about now is Andy and the rest of them," said Remus cheekily.
"That's not true!" screamed Sirius as he quickly turned a shade of pink.
"Yes it is. Last year it was the same thing with Felicia," retorted Remus.
"Awww…our little Sirius is smitten with a Star," chuckled James in a mock-baby voice.
"Nock it off, James," said Sirius in harsh tone.
"They grow up so fast don't they?' said James to Remus completely ignoring the fact that his friend was getting highly annoyed with him.
"Yeah it only seemed like yesterday that he was hexing and pranking people, and thinking he was God's gift to women," said Remus as placed his hand on James's shoulder reminiscing about all the pranks they had pulled so far and pretending to wipe a tear from his eye.
"Oh what are you talking about, Rem? He still thinks he is," said James in a matter-of-fact tone. During this whole display of mock emotions, Peter was laughing so hard that he was now grabbing his sides and bending over gasping for breath.
"If you two don't shut up I'll throttle you!" growled a seething Sirius.
"Hey, come on mate. We're just having a bit of fun," sniggered James.
"Yeah well…just knock it off alright. I get enough of that sort of crap at home," said Sirius.
"What are you talking about?" said Remus.
"It's nothing. Never mind," sighed Sirius wanting to change the subject. James was the only one out of the three that knew what Sirius was talking about. Over the summer he had gotten a lecture from his mother about how he should stop acting like a child and should be looking for a pureblood witch that could one day produce another Black heir.
"What's he…" started Remus as he turned to talk to James.
"Issues. He's not really getting along with his mum right now," said James in a whisper hoping that Remus wouldn't press for details and that Sirius wouldn't hear. Oops…to late…
"Oy, would you stuff it James! You know you're suppose to be my best mate!" yelled Sirius.
"I am!" screeched James in his defense.
"Now!" whispered Lily to which Andy simply nodded. The two girls then directed the jars to tip over and spill their contents onto the unaware group below.
"Well you could have fooled…me," said Sirius as his gray and blue eyes began to widen with fear as he gazed behind his three friends. James, Remus, and Peter couldn't make out what caused their friend's sudden actions. He was trembling slightly and was slowly backing away from them.
"Sirius what's wrong?" said James with concern.
"G…Gr…G," stuttered Sirius as he continued to back away.
"What are you mumbling about?" said Remus not sure if he was just playing a joke on them or not.
"Gri..gri…" stuttered Sirius again.
"I think he's finally lost it," whispered Remus to James. James's couldn't help but chuckle a bit at his friend's remark.
"GRIFFIN!" shouted Sirius as he finally found his voice.
"Huh?" said all three boys.
"Sirius what are you talking about?" said Peter with a hit of worry in his voice.
"Behind you!" screamed Sirius.
"Sirius there's nothing…" said James as he started to turn around to look behind him, "there?" James had to blink twice to make sure his eyes were deceiving him, for right behind him was an enormous Griffin. The creature had the body of a lion covered in bright gold fur and the head of an eagle with stunning white feathers. But the scariest features of the creature were its massive claws attached to the gigantic paws, the razor sharp beak, and the piercing green eyes that look as if they could see right through a person's very soul. James glanced over in Remus's direction and could see out of the corner of his eye that the same thing he was seeing stunned him. 'Oh………crap!' thought James.
Lily and Andy sat on the floor of the balcony listening to what the boys were saying until suddenly all was quiet.
"Three……two……one" whispered Andy as she pointed her finger up into the air as if she were a director.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" screeched the four boys standing in the courtyard.
At the sight of the griffin, the four pals started to run out of the courtyard until they realized that there was another griffin just as scary as the other standing right at the exit. Soon they realized that not only were there two massive griffins in the courtyard, but four. It seemed like no matter where they turned there would be another massive beast behind them or circling them.
Andy and Lily were literally rolling on the floor at the sight of the 'Prank Pack' running around the courtyard like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off. They both wished that they had a camera to capture the moment of the great pranksters running around the courtyard as if something were chasing them, when in reality there was nothing there. After having a few more moments of enjoying the show, the two witches gave the signal to their friends to start up the next phase of their plan.
From behind a couple of pillars and the newly placed bush, Lily and Andy could see jets of sparks fly and hit their targets. They saw all four of them being hit with the jelly leg curse and fall to the ground with their legs still moving. Then suddenly saw James and Sirius's dark hairs turn to nice bright shade of neon pink, while Remus and Peter's hairs turned neon orange. They could also that the effects of the powder were now taking effect as all for of them started to grow little twigs and leaves in their hair and on arms. Feathers and fur started to appear on each boy as Felicia, Kelly, and Karen continued on with the attack. After all the curses and hexes that the girls had planed were performed, Andy then took out a small container of red pixy powder that she had picked up at a shop in Diagon Ally.
"Let's see how they react to this," said Andy as she performed the levitation charm again and spilled the contents of the container onto the four of them. Suddenly little spits of fire started to pop up on each boy's clothes.
"Relax, it's unburnable cool fire. It looks like real fire, but it doesn't cause object to burn. All they're going to feel is a slight tingling sensation," said Andy when she noticed the worried look on Lily's face.
"Rem you're on fire!" screamed James.
"Ahh…so are you, James!" shouted Sirius as he tried to help his friend put out the fire on his robes.
"We're all on fire!" declared Remus as he tried desperately to get his robes off. One by one each boy pulled and yanked off their robes, shirts, and pants until they were stripped down into nothing but their boxers. When they were finally free of their so called burning clothes, they ran from the courtyard back into the castle, right when everyone was coming out of the great hall from breakfast.
"Well look what we have here," cackled Lucius Malfoy.
"Looks like some people don't know how to get dressed in the morning," chuckled Severus at the sight of seeing his arch nemesis in his underwear in front of the whole school.
From seeing the look on everyone's faces and the jokes that were being made, the realization of what just happened to them started to sink in. They had been had.
"POTTER! BLACK! LUPIN! PETTIGREW! What is the meaning of this?" shouted Professor McGonagall as she pushed her way through the crowd of students.
"It's not our fault!" said James and Sirius in unison.
"We've been had!" said Remus.
"Honest Professor!" pleaded Peter.
"Very well then, who did this?" roared Professor McGonagall as she looked at the crowd of students that had gathered around the four boys. Everyone had looked at each other and asked inwardly 'Who had finally been able to prank the up and coming kings of pranks?' By this time, Lily, Andy, Kelly, Felicia, and Karen had managed to mingle into the crowd undetected. They too looked around innocently to try and see any guilty faces among the crowd.
"No one will come forward then? Fine, have it your way then. I will wait until this evening for the culprit or culprits to turn his or herself in. If no one has done so then I will take this matter to the headmaster himself," said Professor McGonagall as she glared at several people in the crowd, none of which were the real culprits. "Well don't just stand there, everyone to their classes now! As for you lot, I will inform Professor Portview that you will be late to class. Now will you please go and put on your uniforms."
"Yes Professor," said all four boys in a drone tone. As everyone departed from the Entrance Hall, they couldn't help but laugh or make jokes of the misfortune of the Gryffindors, including Professor McGonagall. (Although she would never admit it, even if they were from her own house.) Soon the only ones left in the hall were 'Prank Pack' in their boxers and their adversaries.
"Oh look gals, a little show," said Lily.
"Oh my it must really be cold without any clothes on," said Kelly. All four of the boys timidly tried to cover themselves up but to no avail.
"Yeah, I'll say," added Karen as she joined in the mockery.
"Hey nice boxers by the way," chuckled Andy as she glanced at the colorful arrangement of solid gray, red and green flannel, and…little flying hippogriff knickers.
"Yes, mashing knickers boys," giggled Felicia. At that moment James, Sirius, and Remus realized exactly who pulled the great prank on them. The last people they would have thought…
"YOU!" yelled James, Sirius, and Remus at the same time as they pointed their fingers at the group of girls before them.
"What?" said Lily.
"You did this! Didn't you?" said James in a livid and slightly impressed tone.
"Well…not me personally. I did have some help," said Lily as she glanced at her four friends.
"I told you it was a bad idea," whispered Remus to Sirius.
"Shut up, Rem," hissed Sirius.
"Awwwww…what? Did little Sirius and James not like a taste of their own medicine," said Andy in a mock baby tone.
"Nah, I think that Blackie's just embarrassed because the girl he fancies had to see him in his knickers," said Felicia in a matter of fact tone.
"Oh, don't you mean girls he fancies?" added Andy. With those remarks Sirius suddenly turned, if at all possible, not one by six shades of red.
"You're going to pay for this Evans!" yelled a frustrated James. "And I thought you were such a goody goodie."
"I still am," said Lily simply.
"Not until McGonagall catches you," said James with a triumphant smirk on his face.
"Now how would she when the stuff we used on you is untraceable," said Lily grinning at the fact that she had finally beat the great James Potter at his own game.
"Untraceable? How?" said a perplexed James, Remus, and Sirius.
"Don't mess with the masters, boys," said Andy as she pointed a finger to herself.
"Come on girls, lets leave these boys to dressing themselves," giggled Lily as she lead the way to the their first class.
"Oh, loved the stripteases by the way," said Felicia as an after mark while passed the bewildered group who's mouths were now hanging open in shock.
"Oh this is far from over," said James in dark tone as he glared at the group of girls.
A/N Well there you have it, chapter five. Not really one of my better chapters but still okay. The next chapter will start up during the groups fifth year.
Disclaimer: I own nothing! Seriously I own nothing, not even a car or a cell phone. Well okay, I do own this story and the characters that I created. Everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling.