The Marauders: Prongs

Mischief and Merriment

December arrived at Hogwarts, a season of magic and wonder within the ancient castle. The castle itself seemed to come alive with enchantment, as twinkling fairy lights adorned the towering Christmas trees that graced the Great Hall. The scent of evergreen pine and freshly fallen snow filled the air, and the students couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation for the upcoming holiday season.

The ghosts of Hogwarts seemed to revel in the holiday spirit as well, their translucent figures donning festive attire and floating through the hallways with an extra bounce in their step. Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, sported a dashing top hat adorned with a sprig of mistletoe.

On one particularly cheerful evening in the Gryffindor common room, the four friends were feeling mischievous. As laughter and music filled the air, they decided to add a touch of enchantment to the festivities. In a sly and secret operation, they discreetly conjured a sprig of mistletoe, charmed to hover just above the heads of Frank Longbottom and Alice Fortescue.

Slowly, it descended until it hung directly over their heads.

"You bunch of gits!" Frank exclaimed with a grin, looking around for something to throw at the bunch of boys, who were grinning at each other proudly.

He reached for a nearby decorative ornament—an oversized, fluffy snowball—that had been part of the holiday decorations in the common room. With a deft toss, he sent the faux snowball sailing through the air, aiming it squarely at James, the ringleader of the group.

The fluffy snowball, though seemingly harmless, exploded into a flurry of confetti as it made contact with James. Colourful paper snowflakes and streamers burst forth, enveloping him in a shimmering, festive cloud. The common room erupted in laughter and applause as James, momentarily taken aback, shook off the confetti with a theatrical flourish. He ruffled his black hair and sat back down, his cheeks glowing pink. 

The awaited Hogsmeade trip finally arrived, and students flooded the village, eager to be free of the confines of the castle for the first time since arriving in September. 

The village of Hogsmeade was icy cold, its quaint streets lined with magical shops and cosy establishments. Students bustled about wrapped in thick coats and scarves. It felt as though it could snow, although it was only the start of December. 

Sirius couldn't resist a mischievous grin when they passed a sign that read "No Dogs Allowed" as the four boys made their way into the Three Broomsticks.  He gave a knowing smirk to his friends, and with a chuckle, they ventured on.

Inside, they found the inn full of other Hogwarts students, all seeking refuge from the cold. 

James looked around for some seats and spotted three spare chairs near Lily, Marlene and Alice. They ordered their drinks and made their way over to the girls.

"Evans, you're going to have to sit on my lap." James teased, nodding at the lack of seats.

"You wish, Potter." Lily retorted, taking a sip of her butterbeer.

"Sirius?" Remus asked, sitting down and patting his lap.

Sirius gave him a sarcastic wink and sat on his lap. James and Peter chuckled and occupied the other two seats. 

As the group of friends settled into their crowded corner of the Three Broomsticks, the atmosphere was filled with lively conversation and the clinking of butterbeer mugs.

James thought about telling Lily about their encounter in the woods, but he realised that this would raise a lot of questions about him being an unregistered animagus, and would also put his friends at risk too. 

James was lost in thought about that day in the woods, when Lily's voice broke him out of it.

"Remus, do you want to come to Slughorn's Christmas party with me?" She asked.

James's eyes widened. He knew that Lily and Remus spent a lot of time in the library studying together, but he couldn't help feel a little surprised that she would ask Remus, rather than Marlene or Alice, her two best friends.

As Lily and Remus chatted excitedly about the upcoming party, James Potter couldn't help but feel a twinge of something. He told himself that it was just surprise. He masked his emotions with a forced smile and playful banter, but beneath the surface, something ached inside him. 

After a couple of hours at the Three Broomsticks, the group of friends spilled out into the streets of Hogsmeade. They all gasped at the sight of the snow-covered cobblestones glistened in the soft, ethereal light of the streetlamps.

As they walked through the quaint streets, laughter and chatter filling the air, it didn't take long for the first enchanted snowball to be conjured. Sirius, always ready for a bit of mischief, playfully sent one hurtling toward Remus. With a deft flick of his wand, the snowball transformed into a shower of sparkles, eliciting laughter and cheers from the group.

With a mischievous glint in his eye, James conjured an enchanted snowball and aimed it carefully at Lily. Time seemed to slow as the snowball sailed through the air, its glittering trail blazing behind it. Lily's eyes widened in surprise as it connected with her, bursting into a cascade of sparkles. The entire group erupted into laughter at the sight.

Lily shot him a playful and determined look. With a flick of her wand, she conjured an enchanted snowball of her own. It arched gracefully through the night, heading straight for James. The snowball exploded into a brilliant display of colours and light as it struck him.

In no time, a full-blown enchanted snowball fight was underway. Snowballs zipped through the air, leaving trails of glittering light as they were conjured and counteracted. The snowy battlefield became a canvas of colour and light, the enchanted snowballs creating a dazzling spectacle in the winter night. Laughter echoed through the streets as the friends dodged each others snowballs.

They all returned to the castle with huge grins, and bright pink cheeks from the cold. The rest of the evening was spent in front of the warm fire in the Gryffindor common room.

The following morning dawned with the castle and its surroundings blanketed in pristine white. James put on his thickest Quidditch robes ready for practice. Their upcoming match against Ravenclaw loomed on the horizon, the final and crucial game of the season.

James was determined to make the most of this unique practice opportunity. He gathered his teammates on the Quidditch pitch, their breath visible in the crisp morning air.

With enthusiasm and grit, they mounted their brooms and took to the sky. The cold wind stung their cheeks, and the snowflakes danced around them as they soared higher, their broomsticks slicing through the frosty air. James set the pace, leading the team through a series of drills designed to sharpen their skills and adapt to the wintry conditions.

The Gryffindor team practiced in earnest, their determination unwavering despite the challenging weather. They knew that their final match against Ravenclaw would be no easy feat, but they were fuelled by the thought of potentially winning the Quidditch cup.