Chapter 18: Christmas vacation part 2
"Are you ready yet? We're going to miss the feast," yelled Triss from outside of James's door.
"I'm coming," said James opening the door. Over the past couple of days James had more or less stayed to himself. Almost all of the students had left for the holidays so the Hunter's prank was being rescheduled, no sense in doing a prank when no one was around to see it.
Because the prank had been postponed James put together another type of entertainment. Entering the hall with Triss he saw very few students. All of the Hunters, Percy, Molly, Arthur, Charlie and Bill Weasley, Penny Clearwater, Snape, Evans, Lockhart, Potter, Sara and Holly, and Dumbledore were the only people present for the holidays and were seated at one large table.
James walked into the hall under the glare of Dumbledore, Potter, Lockhart, Percy, Penny, Arthur, and Molly. No one else really cared that he was a parseltongue because they either already knew about it or trusted him enough not to care. Sitting between Kat and Triss he leaned over to Kat and asked, "What's your favorite Christmas movie?"
"How the Grinch stole Christmas, why?" she asked.
James didn't answer. With a small wave of his wand a muggle big screen T.V. appeared. Slowly the opening song of 'How the Grinch stole Christmas' started. "The twins will like this one Professor Evans," said James leaning back in the chair to watch the movie.
Almost everyone looked at James in astonishment. "How did you get your hands on a Television that would work on Hogwarts grounds Mr. Cage?" Evans asked.
James pulled a Sabetha crystal out of his pocket and tossed it to Evans. "A present from my guardian. It will revert magic into electricity, kind of handy for occasions like these," said James.
"I'm afraid I'll have to confiscate this Mr. Cage," said Lockhart plucking it out of Evan's hand. James caught a rouge thought of Lockhart, 'I'll just erase their memories and present this as my invention, I'll make millions.' Evans made a move to protest but James beat her to it.
"I'm afraid not Professor. There is no rule against them and I haven't copy righted them yet," said James as Evans snatched the crystal out of Lockhart's stunned hands. After inspecting it for a few more minutes Evans handed it back to him and turned to watch the movie.
Several minutes later 'You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch' came on and strangely several people looked at Snape who scowled. When the movie was over James took another request.
" 'Patrick Stewart's, A Christmas carol'" said Triss. James nodded and with a wave of his wand the movie started. (I have no idea what Christmas movies were out in 1992-93 so I'll just use the current ones)
An hour and half later the movie came to an end along with the feast. Mr. Weasley looked intrigued by the T.V. but didn't ask any questions after his wife glared at him. Dumbledore seemed to have enjoyed the movies along with everyone but Lockhart who was sulking about not being able to get his hands on one of the crystals.
"If anyone is interested the movies will continue in the Slytherin common room," said James standing and making the T.V. disappear. The Hunters followed him out of the hall along with Bill and Charlie, Percy, to the insistence of his girlfriend Penny, Dumbledore, Potter, Evans, the twins, and Snape.
"What do you guys want next?" asked James after everyone was gathered around the T.V.
"How about 'The Santa Clause'?" asked Mel.
"Coming right up," said James waving his wand again.
A few hours and several movies later almost everyone had left. Only the Hunters, Bill, and Charlie were left. "Now that the Professors have left I say it's time to start the party," said Triss taking the top off of a footrest. Inside were several gallons of butterbeer and to Bill and Charlie's surprise, Fire whiskey and Tequila.
"How did you get this? You're underage," said Bill picking up on of the whiskey bottles and two shot glasses.
"We are but some of the older Slytherins aren't," said Triss grapping two more glasses and the bottle of Tequila.
Bill smirked. "I like you two already," he said motioning to James and Triss before throwing back a shot of whiskey. "Burns," he said pouring himself another one.
James gave everyone his or her choice of drinks. Even though no one mentioned it butterbeer was almost as alcoholic as any other alcoholic drink in the wizarding world, it just depended how much of it you drank. With a wave of James's hand Anne Rice's 'Interview with a Vampire' came to life on the screen.
Sometime during the party Snape had returned and was surprised to find several smashed teenagers and two adults watching another movie while still drinking. Going against his better judgment Snape joined into the festivities instead of reporting them. By two in the morning everything had clamed down a bit.
Ginny and Dray were off making out in a corner, Bill and Charlie had gone to bed, no one knew where Kat and Snape had gone, Mel had followed Bill and Charlie example by going to sleep it off, Fred and George were still watching a movie, Michael Crichton's 'Jurassic Park' last time anyone checked. Triss was curled up with James on the sofa totally smashed watching the movie sipping on a butterbeer. James was even more out of it then she was but was still aware enough to change the moves every few hours.
Around 4 a.m. James stood up. "I think it's time to get to bed," said James waving his hand to clear away any mess they had made and turn off the T.V. Fred and George wearily crawled up to the dorm they were sharing with Bill and Charlie. James picked up Triss, who was too smashed to do anything but stare up at him.
He looked around and saw that Dray and Gin were no longer making out in the corner and had probably gone to bed. 'I hope no one did anything. They will probably get a rather unpleasant surprise tomorrow morning when they wake up with someone and don't remember how they got there or what they did,' James thought laying Triss down on his bed.
With a wave of James's hand both he and Triss were dressed on comfortable nightclothes. James expanded his bed a bit before crawling in with Triss who snuggled up to him.
The next morning James woke up refreshed. He looked down at Triss who was snuggled deep into his chest unconsciously trying to block out the light coming from James's personalized artificial sky light. With a wave of his hand the skylight showed how the sky had looked the previous night.
"Triss wake up," said James nudging his friend. Triss grunted and buried herself deeper under the covers and into his chest. "Come on Triss, time to wake up," said James pulling the pillow off her head.
Triss looked up at him and glared. "Look Shadow dear, not all of us have healing powers that prevent us from getting hangovers," she said pulling the pillow back over her head. James rolled his eyes before summoning the most powerful hangover relief potion he had. Triss smelled it's strawberry flavor and gulped it down before he even had a chance to put it in her hand. "I sleep. You go give potion to others suffering horrible hangover," said Triss sinking back into a deep slumber.
James rolled his eyes before getting up and getting dressed. After gathering enough potions for everyone James sought the most likely to have a hangover first. He found Bill, Charlie, Fred and George first, all buried deep in their pillows. "Rise and shine!" said James. They all cursed as James's voice echoed threw their heads. "Drink this and get up before people start getting suspicious," said James handing each of the Weasley boys a potion that they gulped down gratefully before going right back to dream land. James didn't even bother to try and make them get up; it was only 7:30 anyway.
He followed the same pattern with Mel, Ginny and Dray, who had stayed the night in Gin's bed, as well as Snape and Kat who he found sprawled across sofas in the common room. When everyone was cured of any hangover they might have had James got rid of the T.V. and went back to bed himself.
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All too soon the Holidays were over. Bill and Charlie had left after James's little New Year's eve party which was just as good as the Christmas party but without all of the hangovers.
The twins had polished off the last pieces of the 'DP&L bashing prank' as it had sportingly had been called.
"Ready?" asked James sitting down next to Fred at the Slytherin table.
"Ready when you are O' Slytherin prank master," said Fred.
"Wait for my signal," said James standing up and moving to sit with Triss.
"Is the music ready?" James asked.
"Yep," said Triss.
"Let's get the ball rolling then," said James. With a small wave of James's hand all the lights in the hall went out leaving them in total darkness. Suddenly the hall lit up in pink, purple, and red lights. In the center of the hall on a make shift stage were Dumbledore, Potter, and Lockhart dressed in skimpy torn red and green robes.
Some of the older girls gave wolf whistles at the sight of Lockhart and Potter's exposed chests. Thankfully the twins had opted to put the Headmaster in something less exposing.
On either side of the stage were twin bass reflex speakers. With another wave of James's hand 'Lady Marmalade' from Moulin Rouge started up. The three professors looked horrified as their bodies started moving to the song.
The hall rolled with laughter as the three professors started to sing, off tone, 'Lady Marmalade'. Potter and Dumbledore looked ready to kill but Lockhart seemed to be enjoying the catcalls and wolf whistles being sent his way.
James was fighting really hard not to roll around on the floor laughing with Triss and Mel. Around the hall quite a few people had fallen out of their chairs they were laughing so hard. Snape looked as if he were trying to figure out if he should just look on and sneer or drop his little façade and join Triss, Kat, Gin and Mel on the floor.
Eventually he compromised and looked at Potter, Dumbledore, and Lockhart in high amusement. When the song was over several fireworks went off before everything went black once again.
When the lights came back on the make shift stage was gone and Dumbledore, Potter, and Lockhart were sitting back at the head table in their normal robes looking pissed. "Will Mr. Cage, Ms. Summers, Ms. Crew, Both Mr. Weasleys, Ms. Weasley, Ms. Granger, and Mr. Malfoy go to my office please," said the Headmaster standing up.
"Why are we the first to be pointed at?" asked Dray pulling Ginny up off the floor.
"Who better to blame it on then someone they already don't like?" said James standing from his seat.
"Do you know where Dumbledore's office is Jimmy?" asked Kat.
"Yeah," said James. When the group reached the Gargoyle to Dumbledore's office Potter was out side waiting for them.
"Milky way," said Potter walking up the steps to the office. Sitting inside Dumbledore's office was Dumbledore himself, Mr. And Mrs. Weasley, Lockhart, and Snape. While Snape looked rather amused everyone else looked ready to kill.
Mrs. Weasley stood and walked over to her sons and daughter. "WHAT HAS GOTTEN INTO YOU THREE??? I THOUGHT YOU HAD MORE SENSE THAN THIS! I'VE COME TO EXPECT THIS FROM YOU TWO BUT YOU VIRGINIA??? FIRST GETTING SORTED INTO THAT RETCHED SLYTHERIN HOUSE, NOW PLAYING PRANKS ON YOUR PROFESSORS AND HEADMASTER! MAYBE THAT DAMN THING IN THE CHAMBER SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN YOU INSTEAD!" she screeched.
Ginny's mouth nearly hit the floor and her eyes filled up with tears. With a muffled sob she ran from the office at full speed.
"What the hell is your problem?" demanded a very pissed off Dray. Mrs. Weasley just stood there fuming. "You just practically told your only daughter you wished her to be dead. You think my family is horrible? Never, in all the history of the Malfoys have we ever cast off one of our own. You are just as bad as Voldemort himself!" Dray growled, storming out of the room, probably to go look for Gin.
Everyone else just stared at Mrs. Weasley in shock or glared at her. The twins looked ready to kill. Unlike Percy and Ron they were very protective of their baby sister, and always would be. To hear their own mother say such a thing to her only daughter caught them by surprise.
"I think we agree with what Dray said," the two coursed before exiting the office.
The Headmaster didn't even try to stop them. James and Triss looked around impassively. Both of their mental powers were going haywire. James could hear everyone's thoughts and Triss felt everyone's emotions.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Back to the original topic," Dumbledore said uncomfortably. "Did any of you have anything to do with tonight's rather embarrassing prank?" he asked.
James quickly put barriers up on everyone's minds so Dumbledore could not use Legilimency to tell if they were lying. "No," they all said together. Dumbledore nodded, satisfied with their answers and let them leave.
"Hey Mel! Can you go check on Gin and let her brothers into the common room?" asked James.
"Yeah," said Mel before walking off leaving only James, Triss, and Kat standing in the hallway.
"What the hell was Mrs. Weasley's problem?" asked Triss silently fuming.
"I've no idea but I don't like it. It's incredible how badly families can treat one of their own. I guess that is one of the upside to not having our parents," said James nodding to Triss.
"Actually you do have both of your parents but only one of them knows you are here, or even alive for that matter," said Triss.
"True, but I meant growing up in families. Sure, we had each other and Dragon, but he is more like a Grandfather than anything else. It's not the same as blood," said James.
"Basically living with family has its upsides but it has downsides as well. Same with living with friends," said Kat.
"Pretty much. I still wonder what would have happened had my mother covered up my real appearance and passed me as her husbands son, or given me to my father. It's a damn good thing Alex and Emma adopted me. Had they not they may have had another Tom Riddle on their hands. I don't even want to think about what Tom would with my powers," said James shaking his head sadly.
"It's not like your mom could have known Shadow," said Triss.
"I know, but sti- why am even dwelling on the past anyway? As the saying goes, 'What will come, will come and I'll face it when it does'," said James.
"Very well put Jimmy," said Kat.
"Well now I have solved the great mystery of whether you could every be selfish or not. And the answer is, not. I swear you need to go take a vacation in Tahiti or some place like that and indulge. You spend far too much time thinking about everyone else's welfare. Your blood pressure must be through the roof," said Triss.
"Not like it can kill me," said James.
"Your impossible," said Triss.
"What's your point?" 'SMACK!' "Hey that hurt you know!"
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"Oh my God! What in holy hell did he do?" asked Triss as she and James walked into the hall. Instead of the normal tables and house banners there was pink. Lots of pink. Lots of sickeningly bright pink.
"I think I'm going to be sick," said Dray walking up behind them.
James pulled a pair of dark sunglasses out of his robes and but them on as he sat down at the Slytherin table. "Does anyone happen to know what day to day is?" James asked with dread.
"Valentine's day," said Triss smacking her head on the table.
"Shit," said James.
"I think this is the stupidest think Gilderoy has ever done," said a voice from behind them.
"I fully agree Professor Snape," said James without turning around. Pink heart shaped confetti started falling from the ceiling on to the people below. "I think we may have to turn this around on him."
"You have my full support," said Snape before he stalked off to the head table.
Within the hour the rest of the Hunters had shown up to breakfast not looking happy. "What's the game plan?" asked the twins.
"Lets see what else he comes up with before we plan anything," said James.
A few minutes later Lockhart burst into the hall with two rows of pissed off looking midgets in cupid costumes. "Hello dear students. On this special day I would like to present you with a treat. These are my card carrying cupids." All of the midgets made some rude gesture or another at Lockhart but he seemed on fazed.
"On this most wonderful day my cupids will deliver singing messages to whom ever you wish," said Lockhart before sitting down. The midgets grumbled at stomped out of the hall.
"I think that we should bring the midgets in on what ever we do," said Fred.
"Yeah, I think I have a good idea too," said George.
"Well, I'll leave the planning to you too. Call if you need any help," said James.
(A/N: Wow! Over 100 reviews, I'm impressed. I know it's late but I've been sick and my mom won't let me with in 5 feet of a computer when I'm ill so I couldn't type, Sorry! Chapter 19 should be up soon.)
Review responses:
Athenakitty: More or less.
ZeonReborn: What is it with everyone wanting to rule the world? I think I'll stay in nice warm Florida. I don't think I'd live threw a Canadian winter, bur! As it is right now James and Triss will get together. I think they will be a solid couple by 6th year, you'll see why later. They did grow up like brother and sister though.
Lunawolf: Thanks. Any kind of conjured animal doesn't have a soul, so to speak, and there for will only really listen to the one that created it. Speaking to an animal in that state may distract it but not much else. Triss and James will get together but not until around 6th year for reasons you will see later.
Pingpong5: I'll see what I can do. Dueling isn't my specialty but I guess I'm not completely hopeless. Thanks for telling me about the spell list; I plan on having a rather large battle scene in the chamber so that will be helpful.
ER: No, James wasn't using wandless magic. I think that would have attracted more attention the James being a Parseltongue.
Acacia Jules: Sorry I didn't get back to you in the last chapter; I didn't get your review till today for some reason. Anyway, yes James is the heir to the four founders.
Kathy stgqvk: As you can see everyone pretty much leaves James alone. I hope you were satisfied with the prank.
Wonderingwolf: Thanks. I pride my self on being different and I'm glad you like the elements of the story.
Shdurrani: Thanks. Yes, Lily will find out about James come the end of 4th year.
Gaul1: I'm still trying to figure out what to do with the whole scar thing. I don't think it would fit well with James mental abilities for Voldemort to be able to gain control of him but I still want him to have the visions.
Kata Malfoy: Thank you and your welcome. Mrs. Weasley will get better later; she is just a bit stressed about her son.
Insanechildfanfic: Yes, poor Gin.
BladeLiger786: In 6th year, you'll see why later.
Maxennce: Thanks. I'm not 100% about what I'm going to do with Gin yet but it will probably happen in the next chapter.
Howling wolf1: Everything I do is interesting, whether it be a good thing or a bad thing.