the secret of Erised {s.b.}

chapter 8: trick

"And what will I get in return ?"

"Peeves, c'mon !" James exclaimed, "When have we asked you to help us ?"

"There was this one time when your short friend over there got lost and I helped him find you," the poltergeist explained as he pointed at Peter quickly.

James and Sirius glared at Peter. The Marauders hadn't explained their plan to Peeves, but given that Peter had already asked him for help once, they didn't know if he was going to agree. Getting the poltergeist to help you was extremely difficult since only Dumbledore and the Bloody Baron were able to control him.

"Look," Sirius said, "Help us with this one thing and you get our help for whatever prank you want to do. All four of us will help. It doesn't matter if it's today or in five years... we'll help you"

James, Remus, and Peter looked at Sirius widening their eyes. Sirius gave them a reassuring look.

"Really ?"

"Really."

The poltergeist grinned at the four boys.

"What do you want me to do ?"

The Marauders with the rest of the Gryffindors as well as the Ravenclaw fourth years were sitting in Transfiguration taking notes. Professor McGonagall was on her desk in her Animagus form making sure that everyone was doing the assignment she had given them.

A knock was heard and everyone's heads shot up. Everyone looked at the door except the Marauders, they were looking at each other because they knew what was about to happen. McGonagall shifted from her Animagus form into herself and stood still in front of her desk.

"Come in !"

The door didn't move, but another knock was heard. The rest of the Gryffindors and the Ravenclaws had no idea what was happening and were looking at each other in confusion. McGonagall sighed and moved to the door in a very direct way. She opened the door but no one was there.

Peeves' laughter was heard as McGonagall got pushed aside by the invisible poltergeist. In his invisible form, Peeves began to dance on top of the students' desks, kicking their books and papers to the floor. Everyone stood up in fear that Peeves would grab them and do something to them. He then ran to McGonagall's desk and began doing the same. Obsidiana woke up and flew to the nearest window. Peeves made himself visible as he was kicking his legs around and moving his arms frantically.

"Peeves ! Get out of here !" McGonagall yelled, "And back to your seats all of you !"

"Oh, alright Professor," Peeves said, "But let me do one last thing."

He became invisible once again and flew towards McGonagall's head. He snatched her hat from her head and her glasses from her face. Peeves then opened the door and began to juggle with the two stolen items while flying in the air.

Everyone ran outside the classroom behind McGonagall who was shouting at Peeves. She scoffed and left to get Dumbledore. The rest of the students stayed outside of the classroom laughing at the poltergeist while James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter looked for the Animagus book.

"All right," Sirius began, "Esmeralda said that McGonagall must have a book on Animagi since she gave her one. Try to not make a mess."

Remus stayed with Sirius looking through McGonagall's desk while James and Peter went to her office that was in the back of her classroom to look for the book. Remus was looking through the drawers and Sirius was going through the books that had been knocked over by Peeves.