Chapter 4
You've got to be kidding me, James," Sirius Black said, his voice echoing through the empty corridor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His friend James Potter grinned back at him, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
James leaned against the dusty tapestry, his wand playing idly with the tassels. "Come on, Padfoot," he said, "It'll be a laugh, you know it will."
Sirius folded his arms, his expression skeptical. "And what exactly is this grand idea of yours?"
James' grin grew wider. "I dare you to sneak into the Slytherin common room."
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Why would I want to do that?"
"Because it's there," James shrugged, his voice low . "And because it's the last week of term. We've got to do something to shake things up before we go home to boring old reality."
Sirius considered it for a moment, the challenge sparking something within him. He'd been feeling restless all week, and the idea of breaking into enemy territory had a certain allure. "Alright, Prongs," he said finally, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You've got a deal. But only if we can get in without being caught."
The two friends spent the next few hours plotting and planning, their heads bent over a map of Hogwarts. They discussed the various spells they could use to avoid detection and the best path to take to the Slytherin common room. Lily Evans, their mutual friend and fellow Gryffindor, walked by and rolled her eyes at their antics.
"What are you two up to now?" she asked, curiosity piqued despite her attempt at disapproval.
Sirius looked up, his smirk deepening. "Just a little end-of-term project, Lils. Care to join?"
Lily's eyes narrowed slightly. "What kind of project?" she inquired, already knowing it wasn't going to be something as innocent as studying for their final exams.
"Oh, just a bit of... exploration," James said, his voice dripping with fake innocence.
Lily stopped in her tracks, her curiosity outweighing her skepticism. "Exploration?"
Sirius couldn't help but chuckle at James' attempt at evasion. "We're just planning a little... adventure. You know, for the thrill."
Lily crossed her arms, eyeing them both. She knew all too well that when James talked about "adventures," it usually meant trouble.
"Fine," she said with a sigh. "But if you're going to pull something stupid, I’m talking ten Points from both of you "
The boys exchanged a look of mock horror. "Would we do something stupid?" James replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Sirius chuckled. "Come on, Lily, don't you ever get tired of being the responsible one?"
Her expression was neutral . "Someone's got to keep you two in check."
James' eyes widened in mock surprise. "But Lily, we're not that bad!"
Without looking back, she called over her shoulder, "Keep telling yourself that." Her footsteps grew softer as she walked away, leaving the two boys alone in the dimly lit corridor.
James watched her retreating figure, feeling a strange mix of amusement and something he couldn't quite put his finger on. It was a feeling that had been growing stronger over the past year, something that made his heart race whenever she was near. He shook his head, clearing his thoughts, and turned back to Sirius .
"Alright," he said, slapping his hand on the map. "Let's do this."
The next night, under the inky cloak of darkness, Sirius and James waited for the perfect moment. The castle was quiet, the only sounds echoing through the halls were distant footsteps and the occasional hoot of an owl.
Under the invisibility cloak “Alright, Padfoot," James whispered, "The coast is clear."
hey approached the entrance to the Slytherin common room.
"Ready?" James murmured, his heart racing beneath his school robes.
Sirius nodded, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let's go."
They tiptoed down the corridor, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. The painting of Salazar Slytherin loomed over the entrance to his house's common room, his eyes seemingly following their every move. James took a deep breath and whispered the password they'd overheard earlier that day. The stone wall slid open, revealing the dimly lit staircase leading down to the dungeons.
They descended the steps, their eyes adjusting to the flickering torchlight. The air grew colder, heavy with the scent of mildew and secrets. When they reached the bottom, the Slytherin common room lay before them, a sea of green and silver. A few students ha Fullan to sleep by the fire studying theirs heads on the pages that they were studying.oblivious to the two Gryffindors hiding beneath their invisibility cloak.
"Now," James whispered, his wand at the ready, "the color change charm."
Sirius nodded, his own wand in hand. They'd agreed that turning the Slytherin common room bright orange was a suitably bold move to leave their mark. In unison, they pointed their wands and murmured the incantation, "Colovaria!"
The room exploded with color, the once-dim space now vibrant and unmistakable.
"Merlin's beard, it worked!" James his voice hushed but filled with glee. The usually stoic Slytherin common room looked like a pumpkin patch had been teleported into the castle.
Sirius "This will give them something to talk about over the summer," he said, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of movement.
James couldn't help but laugh softly. "It's a good thing we're not doing this for House points."
Sirius nodded, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Can you imagine Professor Slughorn face if he sees this?"
They took a moment to revel in their handiwork, the orange glow bouncing off the cold stone walls, before quickly retreating up the staircase. Their hearts thumped in their chests, a mix of excitement and fear. The silence of the castle was their ally as they made their way back to Gryffindor Tower.