Class of 1978

Chapter 4: Much Ado About Pranking

Long live the reckless and the brave,

I don't think I wanna be saved

My song has not been sung

So long live us!

(The Reckless and The Brave- All Time Low)

It was a fine quiet Saturday morning.

True to daily routine, James was tucking into a healthy serving of eggs, bacon and hash browns with only Hestia for company in the long Gryffindor table. Only a handful of students were scattered here and there in the hall, an observation which would raise no questioning eyebrows for it was one of those ungodly early hours in the morning when most of mankind chose to sleep in.

However James believed in his own self made expression, 'The early bloke catches the best food.'

And while Sirius was the type to start salivating at the thought of food, he would not vacate his bed at 6 am on a Saturday for all the riches the world had to offer.

Hestia was another of the increasingly rare early birds in Hogwarts. So every morning the two sat opposite each other and had breakfast together.

"The Wasps will kick arse in tomorrow's match," James predicted, waving his fork energetically. "Mark my words. Bagman's a hell of a beater and his bat is what's practically helping them win."

"Then it'll be the semifinal with the Harpies." Hestia mulled over her sausages. "My cousin Gwenog's a reserve with them. I hope she gets to play."

"Position?"

"Chaser."

"I remember her. She was on the Hufflepuff team when we were in our first year." James nodded in approval. "She was real good."

"I know."

"You're as good too you know." James pointed his fork at her, which was now speared with a rather of bacon. "Your shooting's ace. You just have to work on your defense."

Hestia groaned. "I hate playing with Slytherin! Avery the arse keeps elbowing me in the face. Broke my bloody nose last time," she rubbed the aforementioned organ darkly, as she recalled the memory.

"And hence he deserved every one of those boils that Sirius gave him."

She cracked a wicked grin. "That was absolutely stellar."

James shrugged. "The bloke has his moments."

She laughed, pushing her plate away. "Well I need to go," she excused herself, climbing out of her seat. "Letters to send or else Mum may be tempted to just apparate here to check on me. Later Potter."

"Bye Jones."

Not five minutes had passed when the door opened again but this time with a loud bang. Everyone's eyes darted to the figure responsible and then widened as they put a name to the face. Even James thought he was hallucinating for surely not...?

"I have an idea!" Sirius sang as he plopped down on the seat opposite his friend. His chin length hair was windswept as if he had run all the way. "Prongs!"

James stated at him. "Mate are you okay? Did you hit your head somewhere? Do you have a fever?"

Sirius shook his head impatiently. "You're not listening. Prongs!"

"You learnt a new word?" James said slowly.

"You're so daft." Sirius pulled a face. "Look," he explained. "We gave Remus his nickname because of his problem right? So I was thinking that the three of us should have some too but based on our Animagi forms. So you're Prongs!"