Forewords: Ok I realised that I didn't do a disclaimer so here it is for the remainder of my story. Harry Potter and all things related belong to JK Rowling, not me … no matter how much it pains me to say it *sob*. He he just kidding. Anyway, only Sionell and some other pitiful original characters I have yet to write about belong to me.
CHAPTER TWO
~ Pranks and payback a coming! ~
A couple of weeks passed without incident between the Marauders and Lily, because of Sirius's help in her astronomy homework, which she surprisingly received an A for. For her part, she kept her conversations with them civil, choosing to ignore their outrageous pranks that were popping up every so often, instead of taking away points. It wasn't until the Hogsmeade weekend that things took a turn for the worse.
Lily hadn't planned on going to Hogsmeade that weekend, but her friends, more specifically Bella, had managed to rope her into going with them. So it was near noon, and Lily was found sitting in the Three Broomsticks, sipping a butterbeer and listening to Arabella talking about her latest conquest Amos Diggory.
"You wouldn't believe how arrogant he is about his Quidditch. I swear if he had mentioned Quidditch one more time, I was going to ram that damn snitch up his-" Bella was saying.
Lily choked on her drink and cut Bella off before she could continue.
"Bella!" she exclaimed, horrified at the very thought of something like that happening.
Bella laughed, and patted her arm reassuringly.
"Don't worry, he didn't, I think he got the picture." Sionell snorted in an unladylike manner.
"It would have been the only way for him to actually catch the snitch though." Sionell said unexpectedly. Lily, who had just taken a sip of her drink, choked again, and Arabella had to thump Lily on the back between her laughter.
After finally catching her breath, Lily glanced up through watery eyes to stare accusingly at the two girls in front of her, who were sporting very innocent expressions.
"This is why I didn't want to come today." Said Lily, irritably, although she couldn't help but smile.
Bella laughed, "We got a smile out of you though, which is something that you need. All you seem to be doing lately is work."
Lily sighed. "I know, I just want to do well …"
She was interrupted by an irate Bella.
"Well? You're already doing bloody brilliant. You don't need to do any better."
"Alright, I'm sorry, I promise I'll work less." promised Lily, finally able to successfully drink the remains of her butterbeer.
Arabella seemed satisfied by Lily's response, and leant back in her chair with a grunt.
"Fine, that will do for now."
Sionell let out a sigh of relief, and was about to say something, before three shadows appeared over her shoulder.
Lily frowned slightly, but politely acknowledged three of the Marauders presence.
"Good afternoon, may I ask what you are doing here?"
James chose to answer for them all, by swiftly sliding in to sit beside Lily.
"Just thought we could spend some time with our fellow 5th year Gryffindor girls." He said charmingly, flashing them a grin. The girls weren't impressed, as they each shared the same dislike for James that Lily did, but nonetheless allowed the other two boys to sit next to them.
Sionell raised an eyebrow as she noticed the absence of Sirius.
"Where is your sidekick, Potter?"
"Right behind you my fair lady." Sionell jumped at the voice behind her, and turned around to narrow her eyes at Sirius, who was carrying a tray of butterbeers.
"Don't kill me, I have a peace offering." he objected, carefully placing the tray onto the table and handing everyone another drink.
After looking suspiciously at the butterbeer in front of her, and weighing her previous luck with the drink today, Lily decided to push the drink away.
"No thanks, I've had enough today." she declined.
James raised an eyebrow, and pushed the drink back to her.
"Come on, it's just a butterbeer, surely your pride can accept something." he protested.
"Since when do you care?" retorted Lily, and the others inwardly groaned. Once again, the two had found something to argue about.
"We're just trying to be nice."
"How do I know you haven't done something to this drink?" Lily continued on, pointing towards her drink as if it was something poisonous. James followed her direction and smiled.
"Look I promise you that we have done nothing to that drink." He said, guessing Lily's thoughts correctly and comically pointing at the mug.
Lily crossed her arms over her chest, but her face softened slightly.
"Fine, why don't you have my drink then if you're so stubborn." James offered, swapping his drink for hers.
They all waited for a reaction, and Lily finally relented.
"Alright, thank you Potter - I mean James." she hastily added, picking up the mug and taking a small sip.
Almost immediately a weird sensation went down her throat, and Lily knew that something was up. She couldn't help but gasp aloud and the boys cracked up laughing, Remus though was noticeably subdued. Lily desperately turned to her friends for help, who were looking less than amused.
"What on earth have you done to her?" Bella demanded furiously, grabbing James by the collar of his robes.
"What?" Lily tried to say, but all that would come out was a distinct and loud meow.
This didn't help her situation as the boys started laughing even harder, and soon enough they had the attention of the whole place. Everybody except Lily, Bella and Sionell were laughing, and by then Sionell had reluctantly handed over a pocket mirror.
Lily shrieked ("Meoow") at her appearance. The only familiar part of her face she could recognise was her green eyes, everything else had been transformed into a … cat's face!
"Thought you might want another pet cat for your collection, Arabella." James finally managed to wheeze, before tears began to roll down his face.
Not wanting to or able to say anything without needing translation, Lily abruptly stood up from her seat and fiercely pushed James onto the ground so she could walk away. Tears were pricking the corner of her eyes and it was taking all of her strength to hold them back as she ran out of the Three Broomsticks and up to Hogwarts, without her friends.
The worst part was definitely the trip back; everyone would stop and laugh at her as she came running past, a tail that had appeared flying behind her with the breeze.
It seemed like hours before she finally made it to the doors at Hogwarts, and if possible even longer to reach the hospital wing. By then, she had managed to keep her tears at bay, and all that remained on her face was a determined expression.
Potter and his goons would get their payback and soon was all that flew across her mind as Madam Pomfrey fussed over her 'state'.
~*~
Lily was released from the hospital wing a week later, and needless to say, she was less than pleased at missing so many classes.
It was that very night that Lily was brooding in her dorm with Bella and Sionell. The event still hadn't left the minds of many Gryffindors so she decided to spend it away from their jibes and laughs.
Whilst Arabella and Sionell were playing a game of exploding snap, Lily was lying flat on her back beside them, staring up at the ceiling. She stood up suddenly, throwing Arabella and Sionell off balance.
"I've got it!" she exclaimed excitedly. Bella and Sionell shared a look before Arabella spoke up.
"What is it this time?" Lily fumbled with her hands as she unsuccessfully fought to hold back a maniacal grin.
"We stoop down to their level, and play the most memorable and spectacular prank that Hogwarts has ever seen!" she replied.
Sionell buried her head in her hands, smiling ruefully and replied.
"Oh no, Lily Evans prank extraordinaire has finally submerged, and is on the rampage. It's going to be bad when the smartest witch at Hogwarts uses her power for pranks and not schoolwork."
Lily chose to ignore the comment and paced up and down the dorm, madly trying to think of a suitable prank that would make James fall to his knees begging for mercy.
"Any more pacing and your going to fall down to the next floor." Arabella commented impatiently, breaking into Lily's thoughts. "Let me guess, right now you're at the stage where you're murdering Potter?"
Lily shook her head and chuckled. "No, even better, begging." she replied smirking. Sionell tutted disapprovingly.
"Since when have you been the irrational one in the group?" she asked.
Lily glanced up as if it was obvious. "Since Potter has humiliated me and insulted me in every way possible. I will not tolerate it any longer," she announced, before wryly adding, "Besides, I don't appreciate the fact of having a tail and fur for the past week."
Nell giggled, but then stopped as a pillow was suddenly thrown in her direction.
"Alright, sorry it's funny now that you think about it." she protested, wiping away a fake tear.
Bella snorted impatiently, but then turned to Lily.
"Well out with it already. What's the plan?" Lily smiled deviously as a plan began to form in her mind.
"Ladies, it starts with their beds …" she began softly, leaning in so that only the girls would be able to hear.
~*~
Lily crept up quietly to the boy's 6th year dorms, Bella and Sionell closely behind, only armed with their wands. They had comically smeared black paint over their faces ("muggle camouflage" Lily had explained rationally - to which Arabella had grumpily replied, "I think you've just gone barmy."), which contradicted their slipper-clad feet.
It was past midnight and for once nobody was up and about, mainly because the girls had planted a dozen dungbombs in the common room an hour earlier.
Bella chuckled as she remembered how the Marauders had been accused of doing it and had been chased up to their dorm by Professor McGonagall who had unfortunately walked in as one of the dungbombs exploded over her head.
Lily spun around and placed a finger to her lips.
"Shhh." Lily scolded sternly and she would have pulled it off if she hadn't been grinning maniacally, the same grin that had been planted on there since last night.
Arabella threw both hands in the air in mock surrender.
"Sorry." whispered Arabella, conjuring a white flag from the tip of her wand and waving it fruitlessly in the air. Sionell fought back a snort, and even Lily couldn't contain a chuckle.
Finally taking control of herself, Lily straightened up and whacked Bella on the upside of the head.
"Ow." Bella protested indignantly, rubbing her head.
"Jokes later, but right now we have a prank to pull." She stated, in a business-like tone, pointing her wand to the door and whispering "Alohamora."
Bella mock saluted and Sionell giggled again, earning herself a disapproving glare from Lily.
Lily sighed inwardly, there was no hope of Bella acting serious in this kind of situation. Naturally, it was quite serious for Lily, it was all a matter of principle, and there was no way that she would stand around watching Potter upstage her in everything.
He would pay.
Opening the door slowly and cautiously, they finally all entered into the boys dorm, only to be met by a chorus of snores.
This time it was Lily's turn to giggle as she caught sight of James' sleeping attire.
"We won't even need to cast any clothing charms on them, by the looks of it." she whispered in glee, as she walked closer to James bed.
"Although, it wouldn't hurt to add a few things …" she added slowly, another ingenious idea creeping into her head.
Muttering a few charms, Lily and the other girls quietly charmed the boys pyjamas to sport different looks.
Arabella grinned wickedly as she conjured a teddy bear and some matching teddy bear boxers for Sirius. Sionell had a similar look as she changed the pattern of Peter' blue pyjamas to little red hearts and added a cute little Santa-like pom pom hat.
Remus had been previously declared not to be involved in the prank, partly because he wasn't at fault and in Lily's opinion, which she supplied to Bella, was partly because Bella had a crush on him. (This later resulted in an all out pillow war and Lily almost being smothered).
Lily's creation for James definitely topped them all though. Somehow, Lily managed to make her pattern move, quite like wizard photos do. But that wasn't the best part. The actual pattern consisted of figures of actual witches residing at Hogwarts who James had snogged …in rather bizarre looking outfits.
Suffice to say, there were quite a few witches present (who weren't on the girls' good sides) on his boxers, which pleased Lily to some extent.
Speaking of seeing them, Lily whacked her forehead with the palm of her hand and cursed her stupidity. Bella turned to look quizzically at Lily before Lily finally cast a sleeping charm on the four boys.
"I can't believe I didn't do that sooner." Said Lily, whispering no longer but keeping her voice down nonetheless.
Bella nodded in understanding, amusement evident in her voice as she replied,
"Me too …"
Sionell let out a loud breath, and started to laugh uncontrollably, her words hardly decipherable between the laughter.
"You … funny … flag … couldn't stop … he he." Sionell clutched her stomach, falling to the ground and it wasn't long before both Lily and Bella joined her.
Bella was the first one to recover this time. Her voice was strained as she fought back the bubble of laughter threatening to emerge again.
"Time to proceed with Part 2 of the prank." she finally managed to gasp, grabbing Lily's wrist to glimpse at her watch.
"We're running on schedule." Lily noted with satisfaction.
Sionell grunted in reply.
"I think I've got a stomach ache." she complained, her knees protesting as she picked herself up from the ground in a very un-lady-like manner.
The sides of Lily's mouth twitched upwards, as she mock frowned.
"You young people these days, always getting yourself into trouble" she reprimanded, wagging her finger at Sionell, and imitating Madam Pomfrey's voice.
Bella let out a snort, bringing Lily back to reality.
"Alright, sorry." Lily cleared her throat. "Wands at the ready then girls?" she observed. Bella and Sionell nodded in reply.
"Ok, then, activate part 2 of operation BFM … Beg For Mercy … Honestly!" she exclaimed, as she saw the blank looks that Bella and Sionell threw at her.
Lily pointedly ignored their cheesy grins, and pointed her wand once more at James bed, except this time it was also pointed at his bed …
~*~
The three girls purposely woke up earlier than usual to view the result of their prank down in the Great Hall. Granted their eyes were still half-closed and they were yawning non-stop, but nonetheless they were eager.
"Oh this is going to be so good!" Lily exclaimed, attempting to jump in excitement, but failing miserably as she tripped over her shoes.
Bella sleepily grunted and nudged Sionell who had fallen asleep on her shoulder as they walked.
"Haven't seen her this excited since they invented those frog-spawn teacups!" she remarked.
Lily sighed as her mind recalled the incident where Petunia had begun to drink from a tea-cup, only for it to change into frog-spawn. Priceless. Those were the days where she could flaunt her magical ties instead of having to hide them from her sister, like it was now.
"Ow!" Lily cried, rubbing her head and glaring at the doors that she had collided with. Without realising it, the three girls had already made it to the Great Hall doors. Sharing a sly look, they entered the Hall together.
The sight that greeted them first wasn't anything unusual. People were starting to come in for breakfast, conversing with friends, and what not. Actually the only difference was three rather unusual objects in the aisles of the House tables and a caution sign pointing towards each of them.
Each of the objects were miniature beds, each with a little doll, quite similar to the muggle barbie and ken dolls. The only difference was that they were snoring and quite alive.
Waiting for the majority of the school to arrive, Lily, Arabella and Sionell finally pointed their wands discreetly over to the beds and muttered the counter curse to the shrinking charm.
Simultaneously three beds sprung to their original size and it now became apparent to the school exactly who occupied these beds. Snoring loudly were three of the infamous Marauders; James, Sirius and Peter.
The whole school erupted into laughter, but as the Marauders were still under the effect of the sleeping charm, Lily decided to give them a hand at waking up. Still concealing her wand under the table, she cleverly managed to levitate three cups of water and simultaneously pour them over each of three boys.
Spluttering, the three boys shot up in their beds, struggling wildly with their sheets. Unluckily for them, it hadn't yet hit the boys where they were.
James thought the laughing in his head was from a pounding headache until he managed to free himself from the sheets and roll onto his side.
"Ahhhhhh!" he screamed as he caught sight of all the students hysterically laughing and pointing to him.
After hearing the scream, Sirius jumped out of bed, and accidentally onto the Slytherin table, the teddy bear still glued to his arms. Peter followed suit, with a little red pom pom hat on his head.
If it was possible the laughter became even louder, and pretty much the whole school were crying.
But the best was yet to come, and Lily personally couldn't wait. She watched in anticipation as James sprung out of his bed.
To her surprise the Hall grew silent as James' full attire came into view. James looked on helplessly, until he followed everyone's gaze down to his shorts.
… Then the Hall roared with laughter again. Lily was almost hyperventilating from laughing so much, and she thought it was even remotely possible that she had managed to break a rib.
It was definitely worth the look on James' face, as he turned red with embarrassment … and the stunned looks on all the girls who had appeared on his boxers.
But what was really priceless was the look on McGonagall's face. Steam was practically coming out of her nose and her lips had never been pursed tighter than that moment.
"POTTER. BLACK. PETTIGREW" McGonagall screeched hysterically as she transfigured the beds back into a miniature size and handed them back to the boys.
Even under pressure, James managed a weak, innocent smile.
"Yes, Professor?"
McGonagall was at a loss for words. "You three … never have I seen … get out NOW!"
The boys sheepishly nodded and silently walked out, but not before James caught the smug look on Lily's face. He silently fumed and glared fiercely at her, who merely shrugged and mouthed back 'nice boxers'. A sudden thought came to him that Lily was behind this, but the absurdity of Lily pulling a prank was just that, absurd, so he diverted his attention over to the Slytherins as he walked out. One of those slimy gits had managed to prank them … and they would not get away it. Imagine people thinking they could successfully prank the Marauder's and not expect something in return for Merlin's sake.
After they left, Lily turned back and let out a contented sight. As Arabella went to speak, Lily put up her hand.
"Don't. say. Anything." She smiled wistfully. "I'm never going to forget that moment as long as I live … the Marauders … uncovered."
Sionell let out a shrill giggle, as Lily stood up with a dazed expression.
"I think I need to take a walk. I'm not hungry anymore."
Arabella voiced her concern.
"Lily, you really should eat." Lily shook her head in reply.
"I'm fine … I'll see you guys later alright?"
Without a reply, Lily sauntered out of the Hall, only to be greeted by a confused Remus.
"Lily, what the hell happened?" he blurted out, "I woke up to find out that I'm the only guy in the dorm, not to mention bed. And then on the way down here, I meet the guys clad in nothing but boxers … Lily?"
Lily couldn't reply; she was too busy laughing again. All she could do was point towards Bella and Sionell and say breathlessly,
"Ask … them." before stumbling out of the Great Hall.
Lily felt oddly content as she walked out to the Great Lake. At that moment, she felt on cloud nine. Never again could Potter intimidate her to the point of hysteria. She could give just as good as she got and there was no way possible he would be able to forget this moment.
How right she was.
It wasn't until Lily had completed a circle around the lake that someone came up to meet her. To her dismay it was a very, very fuming (and fully clad) James Potter who strode over to her.
Lily decided to play it cool and tried to shove past him. No such luck. James roughly grabbed her arm and spun her around.
"Thought that was funny, did you?" snarled James, the intensity of his voice more noticeable than ever.
Lily flinched and tried to wrench her arm away from him.
"What's funny?" she asked innocently. "Your boxers, or the girls you have chosen to go with?"
James let out a growl before gruffly answering, "Don't patronise me Evans. I don't appreciate being laughed at."
Lily shrugged.
"Tough, it happens to everyone." she replied indifferently, finally pulling herself away from him as he loosened his grip. "Don't see why you should be so vexed at me, anyway. I wasn't the only one laughing at you."
James snorted angrily. "Your not worth it Evans … you really aren't." he hissed, physically shoving her away from him as he stalked back to the Great Hall.
Lily rubbed her arm, glaring at James' back. Oh how she wished right now that she could just strangle him. He was supposed to be begging for mercy, not act like this.
She sighed as she looked at the time. Class would be starting soon and she didn't have her bag yet.
~*~