The Scheme
James opens the curtains, ignoring his roommates’ groans of annoyance. “Rise and shine!”
He has a good feeling about today. Although he thinks that most days, today he is especially feeling it. Something in the air makes his stomach squirm with excitement. Or maybe he just wants breakfast. Either way, today would be good. Party planning with his friends is one of his favorite pastimes.
The room remains quiet, the only sound being soft snores from Peter’s bed. How he fell asleep that fast, he doesn’t know. Maybe he’s been sleeping the entire time. James sighs and loudly says, “Get off your asses!”
Remus is the first to make an appearance, cursing James as he takes some fresh clothes from his trunk. He tosses his jeans over his shoulder and gives James a middle finger, making his way to the bathroom.
Peter stumbles out of bed a few seconds later, leaning to stretch his back. After four or five cracks, he gives a satisfied sigh. “Morning, James.”
To no one’s surprise, Sirius is not awake after Remus and Peter are finished getting ready. This poses the problem of waking him.
“Not it!” James calls when no one makes a move toward Sirius.
Remus echoes him just before Peter does.
“Why am I always the one who has to do this?” he grumbles, dragging his feet to Sirius’ bed. He tentatively pulls back the curtain and softly says, “Wakey, wakey Sirius!” No response. “Sirius.” Peter sings the name, flinching when the man stirs in his sleep. Poor Pete never forgot the time he got bit. “Remus will give you a kiss if you wake up!”
Remus looks up at that. “What?!”
Sirius sits up, groaning as he rubs the sleep from his eyes. “What?”
Pete looks behind him. “What?”
James suddenly takes a sudden interest in the ceiling of their dorm and whistles a Christmas tune to himself.
Sirius does get out of bed this time, and thirty minutes later- no one could get him to speed up his morning routine- they make their way down to breakfast.
“I’ve already got some ideas for the party,” James says, eying his friends. He tries to keep his voice low, but his excitement gets the best of him. “We’re going to need a tree which I can take care of, and lots of booze-”
Mary Macdonald lifts her head at this. She snakes into their conversation, folding her hands delicately underneath her chin. “Booze?” she asks with a smile. “Planning a party?”
James scoffs. “Party? Who said anything about a party?” he lies, cringing as it doesn’t deliver as smoothly as he’d hoped.
Mary raises her brow, sipping her pumpkin juice. “I guess I’ll stay out of it then…”
After a few seconds, James caves. “Okay, we’re planning the most epic Christmas party Hogwarts has ever seen so I can impress Regulus,” he says in one breath. “And I desperately need your help.”
Mary nods as if she came prepared, and launches into a few ideas that astound James. Honestly, how does he never think of any of these? That’s probably because Mary is a genius.
At the end of breakfast, the number of people on the party planning committee has doubled, extending to Mary, Lily, Marlene, and of course, a person from the inside, her girlfriend, Dorcas. No one leaves the table without a task.
James stops by the dorm for his coat, gloves, a saw, hat, and scarf. He trudges through the snow to the edge of the forest, taking in the scent of all the trees. After a few long minutes of inspection, he sees the perfect tree. It’s a little bigger than expected, but they have room for it. Right?
James shrugs and starts to cut into the trunk. He huffs a sigh when it isn’t as easy as it seems. “Come on,” he mutters under his breath. Back and forth, back and forth. “Come on!”
“Potter?” Barty Crouch Jr walks up to him, a skeptical look on his face, and two steps behind him is Evan Rosier. “What are you doing there?”
He hides the saw behind his back, wiping sweat from his brow. “Nothing!” he says a little too quickly. “You two?”
He observes their slightly flustered state as if they've run away from trouble or something. Evan perches his arm on Crouch’s shoulder, looking around their surroundings. “This and that.”
James nods. “Ah. Not getting into trouble are we?” he asks.
“Going to give me detention, Head Boy?” Crouch asks as the pair walk closer to him.
“Not if you help me with something.”
“Oh, Potter, you’re stealing the fucking tree? Stooped that low have we?” Evan tuts, noticing the saw in James’ hand and the marks on the tree. “I have to say, I was not expecting this.” And after a few moments of silence from everyone: “Well, good luck with that.”
The two turn to walk away, but James ducks in front of them. “Please, help me?” He flashes another smile, the only thing he can think of to help his case. It may not work on Regulus, but it might on his friends.
“What’s it for?”
“A party,” he admits, truthfully. “You two are welcome to come, of course.”
Evan gives Crouch a look that seems to sway his decision. “I’ll help you, but keep in mind Regulus doesn’t like parties. Or surprises.”
“This is a good surprise!”
“Regulus doesn’t like surprises,” Evan echoes.
They leave it at that, focusing on the tree. Half an hour of bickering and sawing later, the tree falls to the ground. James lets out a content sigh.
Evan takes in the tree sprawled in the snow, all fourteen feet of it. “Fucking hell, Potter, where are you going to fit a tree that big?”
Crouch beats James to a reply. “Bend over and I’ll show you, Rosier.”
Evan throws an impressive amount of curses at his friend and shoves him into the snow. James watches as Crouch lands under Evan, an ungodly yelp escaping his lips when his back hits the floor.
Evan demands he take it back, and Crouch tries to flirt his way out.
“Take it back.”
“You’re so pretty, Evan, did anyone ever tell you that? I’m getting lost in your- ow!”
About five rounds later, Crouch gives, a moment of weakness when Evan flirts back with him, and the three get back to the tree.
“I was thinking we should levitate it, and then…” James pauses, the logistics of his plan crashing down on him. “That’s as far as my plan goes.”
Crouch pulls a cigarette- James tries to hide his shock when it appears to have come out of thin air- and hands one to Evan. He offers James one, but he declines. Lighting up both their smokes, he looks at the tree again. “I expected more from you, yet I’m not surprised you forgot to think this plan through. We’ll put a charm on it, and sneak it through the halls to your common room, I’m guessing?”
Wow. “Good idea.”
Evan places a charm on the tree after they levitate it, turning it invisible for the time being. James shakes his head. These two were smarter than they let on.
Upon entering the common room, James is astounded by the transformation undergone. The room has never looked better. He tries not to let the decorations covering every inch of the room distract him, instead focusing on an obvious space for the tree.
“Thank you for your help,” James says.
Evan nods, but Crouch is still observing the room’s interior with a wondrous look in his eyes. “Not bad at all.” He places his cigarette in his mouth, slinging an arm around Evan’s shoulder.
“Evan. Crouch. What brings you here?” Sirius asks, coming up to James. He stuffs his hands in his pockets, nodding curtly at the pair.
“Why is he Evan, and I’m just Crouch?”
“Because you’re a bitch,” Evan answers.
They launch into another argument identical to the one earlier.
“Place looks great, Sirius!” James says. “Oh, I got the tree!” He removes the charm. From the tip to the trunk, the tree is absolutely stunning. Great branches, great pine needles, great everything. He loves this tree and hopes Regulus does too. “Pete, get a load of this tree!” he calls to his herbology-loving friend across the room.
Sirius’ jaw drops. “How are we going to… never mind, the tree is great, James, nice job.”
The next hour is spent setting up the tree, a pain James never could’ve anticipated. The top scrapes the ceiling, but with a little help from Marlene, a star rests upon the top despite the lack of room for it.
“The party’s coming along nicely!” James exclaims, rubbing his hands together. “Last step, Regulus…”
The planning committee agreed to host the party tomorrow evening, leaving last-minute decorations for tomorrow. James can’t wait. Next mission: invite Regulus Black.