Accio Evans

Chapter 4 - The Feast

"Is that good Sirius?" James teased. Sirius nodded enthusiastically, holding a chicken leg in each hand, he took bites from them alternately, moaning in satisfaction. Remus laughed and took a bite of the pie he'd just cut into, steaming pastry filled his mouth as he flicked his sandy coloured hair from his face. Conversation ceased as the group tucked into the feast, different meats, breads and other favourites lined the table, all lovingly prepared by the in castle House Elves.

"When's the prank going to start?" Peter whispered across the table to Sirius, who instantly looked in his direction furiously.

"Sshhh Wormtail! You'll give the game away!" Sirius urged his mouth now thankfully empty of chicken leg. Peter looked sheepish.

"Sorry..." he mumbled, stuffing another bread roll into his mouth. James looked around warily, suddenly very aware of the eyes from members of his own table, and those from others, staring at him.

"Beginning of dessert Pete." Remus answered, slightly more sympathetic. Peter nodded, more relaxed. James was suddenly hit with a feeling of anxiety, should he really be doing this? He was Head Boy after all, and what would Lily think? Surely she wouldn't mind one last back to school prank, and to be honest it wasn't a prank really, a back to school show, yes, that settled James slightly, she wouldn't mind if it was a show...

It was customary for the Marauders to pull a prank of some sorts at the Welcome Feast; every year since they'd started at Hogwarts they'd pulled one. It had started when in their first year when Sirius had accidentally sat on his wand and managed to blow up half the Great Hall; since then it had become Hogwarts tradition, the welcome feast just wasn't complete with a Marauders prank. Every year the Marauders' pranks had become more elaborate and difficult, complicated spell work, transfiguration knowledge and Charms expertise was needed to pull of the extravagant feats of magic, but this year they had stripped it back. The prank, well it wasn't a prank, more like a plan, their plan was one of their most simple ones, nevertheless the spell work was still incredibly difficult. Peter had come up with the idea half way through their fifth year, but they'd been waiting for the right opportunity to use it, now the time was right. They'd spent all summer at Potter Manor perfectly their skills to pull it off successfully. The four boys were aware of eyes from all directions sneaking glances in their directions, somewhat nervously. Some of the older students looked nervous, they knew a prank of sorts was coming, they seemed to be suspecting just about everything around them, in previous year the Marauders had put potions in the pumpkin juice to make everyone sing soprano for a week and enchanted the Christmas turkey's to dance up and down the tables, throwing vegetables at students and teachers alike, they had every right to fear their goblets of pumpkin juice and to eye the sausage rolls suspiciously.

Eventually everyone was full, Remus complained he was carrying a food baby, which Sirius had named Nigel and Doris - convinced Remus was carrying food baby twins - and Peter was complaining of stomach ache.

"Can I be godfather?" Sirius asked as the plates were cleared away and left over food disappeared from the tables.

"What?" Remus asked, his brain whirring from the anticipation of their plan.

"To your food babies? Can I be the Godfather?" Sirius asked again, his tone teasing.

"You? Godfather?" Remus chuckled. "That'd be a sight!" he added to which Sirius pouted.

"You'd make an awful Godfather Padfoot! You'd want to feed to poor kid fire whiskey at three and would find it funny if their first word was a swear word!" James added before ruffling his raven coloured hair. Sirius seemed to consider the idea for a few moments, then nodded in agreement, that sounded like something he'd do! It was only then that Sirius realised students were still watching them, waiting for the inevitable, he flashed them a grin and a cheesy thumbs up, to which two fourth year Hufflepuff girls blushed and giggled to each other. James looked uneasy, Remus sensed his friend's unease.