mischief in the great hall
The four of them sat at their usual spot in the Great Hall, the long dining tables buzzing with chatter and the clatter of cutlery. As per tradition, James and Sirius were up to no good, flinging peas across the hall like tiny green missiles. James’s aim was particularly on point today, and a pea sailed cleanly across the room to smack Snape square on the head at the Slytherin table.
Snape turned with a menacing growl, his face contorted in fury as he scanned the hall for the culprits. James and Sirius, of course, were already deep in mock-conversation, exaggeratedly acting as though they were discussing the finer points of wizarding literature. Remus, seated across from them, watched the scene unfold with an amused smile, shaking his head but doing nothing to stop them.
“Well, that’s one way to brighten up a meal,” Sirius said, smirking.
“Brighten? You mean ruin Snivellus’s day,” James added, grinning like he’d just won a trophy.
As the bell rang for the next class, the boys stood to leave. James groaned dramatically as he remembered his fate. “Merlin’s beard, I’ve got Potions with Snape next. Say a prayer for me.”
“Good luck, mate,” Sirius said, clapping him on the shoulder with mock sympathy. “You’ll need it.”
“Don’t get hexed,” Remus added, his tone half-joking, half-serious. With a wave, James and Peter headed off in one direction, while Sirius and Remus set off toward the Charms classroom.
Charms was Sirius’s favourite class, not because he had a particular talent for the subject, but because it meant sitting next to Remus. They always partnered up, and it had become a routine they both silently appreciated.
As they slid into their usual seats, Professor Flitwick was already organizing his stack of parchment at the front of the room. Sirius leaned back in his chair, twirling his quill between his fingers, a mischievous glint in his eye.
“You know, Moony,” he began in a low voice, “if James doesn’t make it out of Potions alive, I say we raid the Slytherin common room in his honor.”
Remus smirked as he opened his textbook. “Because that’s what he’d want, is it?”
“Absolutely. A full-scale chocolate frog heist. His last wish,” Sirius said with a solemn nod.
The lesson began, but Sirius had no intention of focusing. As Flitwick demonstrated a complex wand movement, Sirius quietly tore a corner off his parchment and scribbled a quick note: Fancy a raid on Honeydukes this weekend?
He slid the note over to Remus, who glanced at it, raised an eyebrow, and scribbled back: We’ll get caught. Again.
Sirius grinned as he read it, then replied: Worth it.
This silent exchange continued throughout the class. They passed notes back and forth under the desk, the content ranging from jokes about Flitwick’s tiny stature to Sirius sketching what he swore was Snape’s “real face.” It was a poor drawing of a troll with greasy hair, and Remus had to stifle a laugh when he saw it.
By the end of the class, Sirius had completely abandoned his notes in favor of doodling a miniature Marauder’s Map, labeling himself and Remus as “the geniuses” while James and Peter were marked as “the troublemakers.” Remus shook his head, but he couldn’t help the smile tugging at his lips.
When the bell rang, Sirius turned to Remus as they packed up their things. “So, Moony, what’s the verdict on Honeydukes? Yes or yes?”
Remus sighed. “Fine, but if we get detention, you’re taking the blame.”
“Deal,” Sirius said, slinging an arm around Remus’s shoulder as they exited the classroom. Breaking rules or the jokes they shared. It was something more—a sense of closeness he rarely felt with anyone else.
As they walked back toward the common room, Sirius caught himself smiling. It wasn’t just the thrill of anyone else. And, for now, that was more than enough.
James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Mary and Lily lounged in the Gryffindor common room, the fire crackling warmly as they sat scattered across the mismatched chairs and sofas. Mary seemed to be practically vibrating with energy, her excitement lighting up her face.
“Wait, you all know about Emily—the Hufflepuff in our year—right?” she blurted out, leaning forward eagerly.
The others exchanged blank looks, their confusion spreading like a silent wave. Mary’s face fell dramatically, her excitement dimming into a look of sheer disappointment.
“James, she’s in your Charms class,” she pressed, turning her hopeful gaze to him. “Surely you must know her.”
James furrowed his brow, thinking hard. “Oh! That Emily!” he exclaimed after a moment of silence, sitting up and resting his elbows on his knees. “Yeah, what about her?”
Mary’s grin returned in full force. “So, apparently, she had a boyfriend in sixth year, and they broke up last week,” she began, lowering her voice like she was about to reveal the juiciest piece of gossip imaginable.
James raised an eyebrow. “Yeah? And?”
“Well,” Mary continued, now mock-biting her nails for dramatic effect, “the next morning at breakfast, she begged him to take her back—right there in the Great Hall!”
Lily, who had been half-listening while flipping through a book, turned sharply to Mary. Her expression was a mix of concern and disbelief. “Wait, what? Is she okay? That doesn’t sound like her,” she said, her voice tinged with genuine worry.
Mary’s grin widened mischievously. “Oh, it gets better,” she said, glancing around the group to make sure she had everyone’s attention. “When he said no, she started sending him letter after letter. Like, obsessively.”
Sirius, who had been slouched back in an armchair with his legs draped over one armrest, let out a low whistle. “Merlin's beard,” he muttered, his gray eyes glinting with amusement. “Talk about not taking a hint.”
“Sounds... intense,” Remus said, frowning slightly as he leaned forward to grab a chocolate frog from the table. “I hope she’s alright, though. That doesn’t sound like healthy behavior.”
Mary waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, she’s fine. Honestly, she seems to have moved on already. But can you imagine? The poor bloke must have been terrified every time an owl showed up with another one of her letters.”
James let out a bark of laughter. “Bet he was checking his food for love potions after that.”
“Oh, James, that’s horrible!” Lily scolded, though the corners of her mouth twitched with suppressed laughter.
“Am I wrong, though?” James said, throwing his hands up in mock defense.
“Still, that’s sad,” Lily said, shaking her head. “Breakups are hard enough without adding public humiliation to the mix.”
“Public humiliation makes everything better,” Sirius chimed in with a wicked grin. “Adds a bit of flair to an otherwise boring situation.”
“You’re awful,” Lily shot back, though her tone was more exasperated than angry.
“It’s why you love me,” Sirius quipped, earning an eye roll from both Lily and Mary.
As the group’s laughter faded, Remus glanced at Sirius, who was now dramatically reenacting Emily’s supposed begging with over-the-top gestures and a high-pitched voice. He couldn’t help but chuckle, despite himself.
“Well, I hope she’s okay now,” Remus said quietly, always the voice of reason in the chaos.
“She’s fine,” Mary assured him with a shrug. “Apparently, she’s already chatting up someone from Ravenclaw.”
“Good for her,” Sirius said, flopping back into his chair. “Now, anyone fancy another round of chocolate frogs?”
“Only if you’re sharing,” James said, grinning as he reached for the stash.