Disclaimer: I own nothing except for the plot and the few random characters that get mentioned that were never in canon. Everything else belongs to JK Rowling because she's the one who came up with these people.
James Potter looked down glumly at his unfinished Transfiguration essay on Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration and its exceptions. Recently being made Head Boy, James found his life to be a lot more boring than it used to be. Sure there was the occasional joke of massive proportions and hexing Snivellus whenever he showed his greasy mop but lately his life seemed dull. Then again with the badge comes the territory and the responsibilities, he thought bitterly, why couldn’t Moony have been made Head Boy? He got the badge during fifth year, what made Dumbledore change his mind? With his mind on other things it wasn’t until Sirius jinxed paper balls to pelt him repeatedly did James notice that his best friend was looking at him rather strangely.
“Prongs mate it’s about time you noticed. I’ve been trying to get your attention for five minuets. What’s with you? Either way, doesn’t your shift start in a couple of minuets?” Sirius was still gazing rather intently at his best friend. Considering that James was having patrol with Lily, it was rather unusual for him to space like this. Normally he would be making a fool out of himself whenever she was around.
“Nah, Head’s duty starts five minuets after the prefects begin but last a hell of a lot longer than theirs. Look we need to do something soon, being Head Boy is a royal pain. Sure there are the obvious benefits of spending a lot more time with Lily but I want things to go back to the way they were. Listen, I say we go all out during the full moon. It’s only three days away. Talk to Moony about where we’ll go, I still can’t believe we haven’t done any of our usual planning.” James walked over and kicked his trunk open and began scouring the contents of it. Robes, quills, empty ink bottles, scraps of parchment, and other rubbish began flying everywhere until he finally found what he was devouring his trunk for. Pulling out a silver badge, he grimaced ruefully as he pinned it onto his chest. “Well off to suffering…I mean Head’s Patrol. Honestly, what does Filch expect to find- horned toads stuck to the ceiling of his office and leeches on the trophies?” James added as an afterthought, “now that I’m thinking of it that does sound like a pretty amusing joke.”
“Yeah mate there’s only problem with that,” Sirius chortled.
“Oh yeah, what’s that?” James replied rather confused. Normally Sirius was game for making Filch jump out of his skin.
“I reckon you need to see Madam Pomfrey or something Prongs- we did that last week, don’t you remember Filch going on and on with his usual speech. “DISEMBOWLEMENT, VANDALISM, FILTH! YOU BRATS THINK YOU CAN DO THIS!? DUMBLEDORE I WANT TO SEE SOME PUNISHMENT HERE!” Sirius was basking in the memory of Filch’s explosion. It was a miracle that he hasn’t had an aneurism yet.
James was clutching his ribs laughing at this point. Barely breathing he sputtered, “You know Padfoot it’s hard to tell all the times we’ve been to Filch’s office apart. The only places where we spent more time would be detention or the Shrieking Shack. Either way nice imitation of Filch except you forgot a key part in his usual ranting and ravings.”
“Oh yeah, what’s that?” Sirius was relieved to see James was more normal again. “I had a feeling I left something out…”
“Yeah, you forgot his threats of hoisting us by our ankles in chains and whipping us raw. “DUMBLEDORE JUST LET ME WHIP THEM RAW. I HAVE THE CHAINS AND WHIP WELL OILED SO THAT I CAN HOIST THEM UP BY THEIR ANKLES FROM THE CEILINGS AND TEACH THEM A THING OR TWO ABOUT RESPECT. THOSE LITTLE BRATS WONT BE SO EAGER TO DROP DUNGBOMBS OR THROW FANGED FRISBEES IN THE CORRIDORS IF YOU’LL JUST LET ME PUNISH THEM PROPERLY!”
Both friends were roaring with laughter. How many times they’ve heard that speech they could only guess. Suddenly the door to the boy’s dormitory opened and a haggard looking Remus walked in. Being this close to the full moon took its toll on him. By tomorrow night Madam Pomfrey would be taking him to the Shrieking Shack so he could transform safely. Looking at his two best friends Remus interjected the fond reminiscing.
“Obviously you two heard a good joke or you’re basking in the glory of what you two have done in the past.” Lupin turned towards James and began to open his mouth only to have Sirius interrupt him.
“Yeah Moony look who’s talking. I believe it was you that convinced Peeves to put tarantulas in McGonagall’s desk, plus not to mention you were involved in most of our happenings. If it wasn’t for the fact that you were a prefect you also would have been in on pushing Yaxley into that vanishing cabinet on the first floor and that incident when Prongs jinxed Flitwick’s blackboard to change what was supposed to be theory of Substantive Charms into crude writings that jibed Snivellus- the greasy git.” Sirius and James were once again grinning broadly at the memories of what they had done in their six years. Why they were so sedate now was beyond them. While they were basking in the memories Remus turned back to James and began once again before Sirius could interrupt again.
“Prongs, Lily is looking for you- Head’s Patrol started ten minuets ago. Ohh and she mentioned she would hex you into oblivion if you don’t turn up this time.” Seeing the angered look on James’ face he quickly added, “Don’t kill the messenger. But seriously though, I would go…and fast.”
“I don’t believe her. Snape obliterates my broomstick into a thousand little pieces during Quidditch practice and I fall 35 ft down to the ground breaking my leg for whom to turn up? The oh so helpful Snape who so graciously decided to help me by removing all the bones in my right leg. And Lily thinks that’s not a good enough excuse for missing Head’s Patrol? Either way, it’s only once a week for five hours of listening to Filch. How can she stand that? Tell me Moony; was she always this hardcore when it came to prefect duties?” Instead of waiting for his response James ran down to the common room and out into the seventh floor corridor when he bumped into a rather irate, yet stunningly beautiful James thought dreamily, Lily Evans.
“It’s about time you showed up. I thought that this would be last week all over again. Filch is going to meet us on the fourth floor to tell us where he wants us to patrol. Oh and Snape told me that you were with Sirius and Remus the entire time you were supposed to be on patrol duty with me. How Dumbledore ever let you become Head…” Before Lily could finish James quickly cut in, the anger on his face was all too obvious.
“Snape told you WHAT!? Do you know where I was last week? I was regrowing all 26 bones in my right leg because dear old Snivellus used a Blasting Curse on my broom that caused me to fall from it then he decided to ‘help’ by removing the bones in my right leg. So don’t even try to make me feel guilty over what Lupin did to him when you probably found the slimy git out of bounds in the library looking up a counterjinx. Good luck to him though; Tom Kennedy invented that jinx by the way Moony was telling me. I swear that kid is like a walking library. Too bad he has no personality and everyone thinks he’s a freak though. Moony sometimes asks the oddest people for spells sometimes. Not that I’m complaining though, it was brilliant to say the least.”
Lily for once was stricken dumb with silence. She always knew that Snape and James hated each other, but still she felt sorry for Snape when she kicked him out of the library with his entire body erupted in purple pustules spelling out horrid things. The jinx had completely disfigured him. Even though they had a nasty falling out during their fifth year, she still felt bad for the completely disfigured Snape. But still, a nagging voice in her head was saying, Snape removed all the bones in James’ right leg…But how do I know that he’s telling the truth? Come on, Snape HATES James, how could I have been so thick? I should have realized that Snape was covered in purple pustules for a reason other than his undying fascination for the Dark Arts. Also, you know Snape is a master at jinxing people; no way would a spell backfire on him.
Dragging her thoughts away from the rather startling news Lily Evans did something she never thought she would do. “James…I’m sorry for rounding on you like that. You know Sev and I used to be real good friends. He always seemed different but I guess he is just like Yaxley and Dolohov. Look, let’s just go and get this over with. McGonagall’s essay is killing me and I would rather be in the library doing research than wandering the halls so that Filch’s manic obsessive ways can be fulfilled.”
James and Lily stared at each other quietly for a few moments. This was one of those rare occasions when Lily wasn’t riding him about what he’s done. Feeling uncomfortable in the silence, James whispered, “Lily, I’ve already finished the Transfiguration essay. Look, I owe you one for last week- I’ll do the shift alone and you can go finish your work.” Sure James was lying through his teeth-he hadn’t finished that beastly essay McGonagall had set, the only person who had was Remus but he was busy helping Peter with his Potions homework.
Instead of Lily taking James up on his offer, she gave him a look so resolute that it would have been foolish for him to suggest it again. Although it was nice of him to offer. Who would think that I would be nice to James Potter? This coming from the girl who called him an arrogant little toe-rag. Yet he has deflated his head quite a bit this year, the nagging voice in her head certainly wasn’t helping her to not turn down James’ offer. Before any more distractions could take place Lily finally spoke. “James it’s nice of you to offer but I know for a fact that Remus is the only one who has finished that essay. Look, let’s just go and do our rounds. Filch is annoying enough without having to worry about a nasty essay.”
Walking silently down the seventh floor corridor they stopped at a door that was concealed behind a tapestry. Lily instinctively reached under the tapestry and began to tickle the door which swung inward immediately upon laughing to reveal a most sickening sight. Floating eerily a foot off the ground was the lifeless body of Tom Kennedy- suspended by rope that coiled elegantly around his neck.
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