One Last Try [HP Jamione fanfic]

21. This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

A/N: I've just finished writing chapter 46, and I've only graduation left to write and then they're done with Hogwarts :O So only a couple years left to write, holy shit!

2nd June 1975

Hermione and Lily let the Marauders think they were safe, lulling them into a false sense of security while they planned the perfect revenge for the prank on Severus to a T. They gave nothing away as the month passed, looking like butter wouldn't melt in their mouths.

The calm quiet of the Gryffindor common room was rent that morning by a loud, high-pitched scream coming from the boys' dormitories. The few students still in the common room and not yet at breakfast jolted and exchanged mildly horrified looks at the sound, though admittedly having both the Marauders and the Prewett twins in their House led to quite a lot of dramatic screams and terror along with laughter rather often.

The source of the screaming was revealed rather quickly when a bald and blue-skinned Sirius Black came running, shrieking, down the stairs. He was followed by an incredibly hairy James Potter, his normally unruly hair hanging to his knees, still just as messy, and flying out behind him as he ran after Sirius. He was also sporting unnaturally hairy arms and hands (and what was visible of his legs showed hair at least four inches long and still growing).

The students in the common room watched them rush past with wide eyes, unable to even laugh through their shock yet. Remus and Peter were not so hindered and were crying with laughter as they followed them out of the common room - presumably to the hospital wing - trying to get advice out past their hysterical laughter.

Lily and Hermione, yet to go down to breakfast, watched with satisfaction as the four left.

"Job well done, I'd say." Lily said with a mischievous grin no one would expect to see on her normally kind face.

Hermione cackled, settling back into the sofa where the panicking Marauders hadn't even noticed them, "Four more mornings and I think they'll get the message, don't you?"

Lily joined her in her mirth, "I was thinking no eyebrows for them both tomorrow." She managed to get out past her laughter, waggling her own. Hermione grinned evilly, plotting out further misery for the boys who'd hexed their friend.

6th June 1975

"Oww, geroff!"

"Shhh!"

"Bend down, or our feet are gonna show!"

"All of you shut up. I hear Filch."

The Marauders froze as one, eyes wide as the caretaker shuffled past them, keen eyes looking for troublemakers. The four boys were hunched over to try and fit under James' cloak, their feet peeking out if they moved too fast. After Filch had disappeared around the corner and started up the stairs to the entrance hall, the boys started shuffling further down their current corridor of choice.

"Wormtail, you should shift." James muttered.

Peter nodded in agreement, and shifted down into Wormtail, scampering ahead of them down the rest of the stairs. They caught up with him quickly, laughing quietly when he squeaked in fear as a large fluffy black and white cat ran past them that they all vaguely recognised. Peter shifted back quickly, shaking a little, while hidden in an alcove to the side of the large hallway.

For the last month they'd been mapping Hogwarts out, and Peter had suggested that for his birthday they should try and find the kitchens. They'd heard from the Prewett twins a year before that they were near the Hufflepuff dorms and in the basement. Their previous plans had been waylaid by the horrifying turn of events that the last week had been, though the pranks had stopped as soon as they started and Sirius and James were still none the wiser as to whom had actually hexed them five mornings in a row.