Chapter 13
James and Remus were hanging out in their bedroom after class when Sirius appeared.
"Mornin' guys." He approached them.
"It's hardly morning, Sirius." muttered Remus staring at his Herbology textbook.
"I know, Moony! I just thought I would start the day over." Smirked Sirius and started to search in his suitcase. "So try again." He tried again. "What a lovely morning, isn't it?"
"Good Morning, Padfoot." James played along. "Thank you Prongs." Sirius smiled still searching his belongings. "You guys know what is a great start to a day is?"
"A cup of pumpkin juice, a good warm-up and maybe a game of Quidditch?"
"SEE- that's where you're wrong James." Sirius said teasingly as he winningly held something above his head.
"Holy shit you haven't!" Started Remus enthusiastically. Sirius smirked. "The best morning starts with a cup of coffee and a cigarette."
"I could fuckin' kiss ya right now, Padfoot." Remus shut his book closed and rushed to Sirius. "Ya don't even fuckin' know how much I need one right now, that I even leave out the part, where I ask you where you got em'."
Sirius laughed as Remus practically lunged at him with excitement. He handed Remus a cigarette and pulled out his own pack of coffee beans, ready to brew a fresh cup of coffee.
James raised an eyebrow at the exchange. "You guys do know that smoking is bad for you, right?" he said with a chuckle.
Remus rolled his eyes, but didn't seem to care as he eagerly lit the cigarette and took a long drag, exhaling with a satisfied sigh. "I know, Prongs, but sometimes you just need a little indulgence," he said, blowing out a puff of smoke right at Sirius's face.
Sirius nodded, unfazed, in agreement as he started grinding the coffee beans, the rich aroma filling the room. "Exactly, Moony. It's a guilty pleasure, but it's just so damn good." He snatched the cigarette from his friend's hand and took a long drag himself.
James shook his head, but couldn't help but smile at his friends' enthusiasm. "Well, just don't let McGonagall catch you smoking in the dorms."
Sirius grinned mischievously. "Ah, but that's the fun part, isn't it?" he said, "Living on the edge?"
Remus chuckled and took another drag from the cigarette, savoring the moment. The combination of the caffeine and nicotine seemed to awaken his senses, and he felt a surge of energy.
James shook his head, but couldn't resist the temptation any longer. He reached out and took a drag as well coughing slightly as he did so.
Sirius laughed. "Not a natural smoker, are you, Prongs?"
James shook his head, handing the cigarette back. "Definitely not."
Remus nodded, taking another drag from his own cigarette. "It's just one of those little indulgences that make life a little more enjoyable," he said, exhaling a plume of smoke.
"Coffee, James?" asked Sirius.
"Sure, I can do coffee." confirmed James.
"Hey, guys." started quietly Sirius as the colours of sunset filled the room. "I'm sorry I was a bit of a dick, earlier today. I really didn't mean it James." he took a pause as he took the cigarette from Remus. "To you as well, Moony. I just had one shitshow of a Summer. You wouldn't believe the half of it." He exhaled the smoke with a sigh. "Point is, If I'm being a dick. I'm sorry. It doesn't really excuse me, BUT you three thig-wicks wouldn't- ah, whatever I'll stop whining."
"Nah, you're good Sirius." James slapped his shoulder. "Remember how forgiving I am, alright- for the future."
"Just what are you planning, Prongs!-" Sirius teased.
Pete rushed through the door to their shared room. "Guys! The Ravenclaws are throwing a p- holy smokes!" he walked out the door before he even set a foot in properly. "Open a fucking window you twats I can't breath in there!"
"Sorry Pete!" shouted Sirius. "Won't happen again." he paused for a bit "That's not a promise by the way!"
"Shut it! Sirius!" shouted Peter back. "Anyways I've been thinking. What if we pull our first prank at the party?"
"I actually like that!" confirmed Sirius opening a window. "Come in now!" He made a symbolic gestures of pushing the smoke out the window.
"That's not a good idea. We might ruin someone else's hard work. You know Ravenclaws- they won't forgive us." Prostested James.
"Fine, you're right. So that means we are on a deadline." concluded Sirius. "When is that party, Pete?"
"Friday evening. Ravenclaw common room."
"Fine, so we have to plan something big before that." said James deep in thoughts. "We can't let the Ravenclaws start the year! It has to be us, right! We cannot let them outshine us!"
"Absolutely!" agreed Sirius enthusiastically. "We need to come up with a prank that will leave the Ravenclaws in awe and establish dominance!"
Sirius grinned mischievously. "Of course, Prongs! No one gets hurt on our watch. But it's gotta be clever, you know? Something that will leave them scratching their heads, wondering how we pulled it off."
"You guys are so lucky you have my guys." chipped in Remus. "Clever is my middle name!"
"Right! So then we can enjoy the party!" danced happily Peter.
"No, WE can't, Dumbass." Remus rolled his eyes. "It's the full moon?" he smiled sarcastically.
"OHH- so that's why you have been acting like a real pain in the ass?" smirked Sirius.
"I'll show you pain in the ass, Sirius." threatened Remus.
Sirius winked at him. "Oh~ please do."
James chuckled at the playful banter between his friends Sirius, Remus, and Peter. As the Marauders, they were known for their mischievous pranks and clever antics at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Alright, alright," James said, grinning. "Let's focus on the task at hand. We need a prank that will go down in Hogwarts history."
"I've got an idea," Sirius said, rubbing his hands together eagerly. "What if we enchanted all the staircases in the castle to move in random directions for an entire day? Imagine the chaos!"
"That's a good one. It'll definitely leave everyone scratching their heads" Remus nodded in agreement. "But everyone will forget that or be pissed of for the rest of the day, love." He spat out. "I've got an idea." he paused. "Do you remember Gigglewater from our History class?"
The rest of the boys shook their heads. It was a stupid question, they all slept through all of them and Remus knew it.
"It was alcoholic beverage, that circulated in the United States during the prohibition. True to its name, it may have caused the drinkers to laugh out loud when consumed. One known ingredient included Chortle extract, and it appeared to be colourless. Pinnock was one brand of Gigglewater sold in the 1920s? Well. basically. We could replicate that, by using the extract, putting it in the pumpkin juice in the morning, which would make some people burst out laughing, which would make it almost untraceable." Finished Remus with a smirk.
"You are a Genius, Moony!" James happily agreed with Remus's plan.
"I dunno, guys." Pete spoke up. "Isn't it kind of short-lived? They laugh like once- and then it's over. Besides if we made an amplifier how to we make sure we made the right formula for it? There is no way to test it."
"Oh-oh- It's getting even better all of working together! It's perfect. Just imagine Snivilus laughing involunteerly during a class. Oh- I would PAY to see his face!" James dramatically put his hand on his forehead pretending to faint. "Remus came up with the plan, Pete pointed out the flaws." He paused. "Now it's time for us to fix them, Sirius."
"You are forgetting one crucial thing, Prongs." Laughed Remus. "The two of you are idiots, and I'm pretty sure horrible at potions."
"WHATEVER DUDE- YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUIN IT!" whined James.