Sunlight beamed through the window panes into the Transfiguration classroom on this Monday morning, signalling a bright new day and new week was beginning. Ophelia had headed to the class a little early because Lily wanted to speak with Minnie about how she could go more in depth with her most recent homework. Whilst they spoke, Ophelia pulled out her workbook only to be suddenly interrupted by a body flopping down beside her. Looking up, she was surprised to say the least by who had turned up early.

"James? Are you feeling ok? Why are you early?"

"Needed to get this seat." James patted the desk around him looking rather out of breath.

"This seat? Next to me?"

"Yep, you see I was planning on asking you if I could sit here again cause somehow I actually learnt something last lesson whilst still having fun."

"Right, ok, but that doesn't explain why you're early? No one sits here normally?" Ophelia tried to hide the smile that was forcing itself onto her face, she was secretly happy to hear that James wanted to sit with her.

"Well I may have informed Sirius of my decision and he wasn't too happy, he was planning on stealing the seat so I had to get here whilst he was still, uh, occupied." A smirk appeared on James' face.

"Occupied?"

"Yeh, I may have cast a sticking charm to his bum on the bench in the great hall." You could clearly see James was holding back his laugh but that soon ended when Ophelia started laughing.

"That's brilliant."

The lesson begun a few minutes after, Sirius arriving a few minutes late with Peter and Remus who both looked thoroughly amused. Ophelia enjoyed the lesson again with James, it was a theory lesson so there was no practical but it gave them more time to get to know each other or rather Ophelia get to know more about James as she ensured the topic steered away from her life. Something she was pleasantly surprised to learn was James was a big family person, he utterly adored his parents explaining with lots of pride in his voice how his dad Fleamont was the creator of the Sleekeazy potion and how his mum was an excellent baker and knitter. It was lovely to see the softer side to James and loved how naturally they got on with each other.

"Class dismissed." The lesson passed by unbelievably fast.

"Ophelia, would you mind if I sit here in the future?" James asked whilst Ophelia packed her bags.

"Strangely James, I'd love that."

"HA! SEE SIRIUS I KNEW SHE WASN'T BEING NICE TO ME BECAUSE SHE FELT SORRY FOR ME." James yelled causing the remaining students to look over. "Uh, thanks Ophelia."

"No problem. See you later." Ophelia stood up and turned to head out the classroom only to be greeted by a strong chest. "Shit, sorry." Ophelia looked up to see Remus' chocolate eyes glistening down at her.

"No, its my fault, I shouldn't have stood behind you." Remus remained glued to the spot, reaching his hand to the back of his neck giving it a nervous scratch.

"Doesn't matter." Ophelia took a step back noticing how close they were still standing. "Are you ok?"

"Yeh yeh fine, I was just wondering if you were uh, free this week to study."

"Oh yes that would be great! I have an afternoon of frees on Thursday if you're about?"

"Actually I do have a free period last thing, shall we meet in the Library?"

"Sounds good, I've got to go. Promised I'd spend the free with Marlene but I'll see you in potions." Ophelia grabbed her dropped bag and headed to the door, shocked to find Marlene still inside the classroom leaning against the wall with a cheeky smile on her face. When Ophelia reached her Marlene hooked her arm around Ophelia's arm and pulled her out the classroom.

"I don't want a boyfriend, my arse."

"What?"

"Come on you can't deny you and Lupin."

"He asked me to study, I said yes. Simple. Nothing more."

"Right, if you say so."

Meanwhile on the other side of the classroom Remus was having a similar conversation with James.

"You got yourself a date then Moony?"

"What? No its just studying, you know I don't date."

"Hm, just never seen you so nervous before."

"I wasn't nervous."

"Was."

"Wasn't."

"WAS"

"WASN'T"

"BOYS" A new voice appearing made the boys stop. "As amusing as this argument is, I must ask you to leave my classroom so I can enjoy some peace and quiet before my Year One class."

"Sorry Professor." Remus replied with his best student voice.

"Yeh sorry Minnie." James' use of the nickname earned him a glare which he knew meant run, so he hurled his bag over his shoulder and ran out the classroom. Not forgetting to shout "Bye Minnie" as one final blow.

Little did they know Minerva wasn't bothered by this, in fact she was too busy thinking the same as James and Marlene. She had never seen Remus act so shyly, he wasn't an overbearing extrovert in the slightest but he certainly wasn't shy. It made her think that maybe she could place one more bet for this year.

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Thursday came rather quickly. Ophelia found her lessons in Transfiguration really helped build an unexpected friendship with James. James was really intelligent but he seemed to try and mask that by being the comedian. As the week went on Ophelia could see James feeling more confident to share his knowledge rather than just joke around. When with James, Ophelia too felt herself becoming more comfortable. He easily made her laugh and she found herself less jumpy each day. They also shared something in common, they were very protective of their friends. Beyond a shadow of a doubt this was a friendship that would continue to blossom.

Currently Ophelia was sat in the library, she had spent her first free period studying the development of a Hippogriff chick. The bell had rang signalling that the final lesson of the day was due to start, which meant Remus would be heading down for his free period in the library too. And not a moment after the second bell rang, Remus was sitting down opposite Ophelia.

"Hey Remus, good lesson?"

"Not really, muggle studies is so boring yet so interesting and complicated." Remus rested his heads in his hands.

"I'm glad I didn't take it then." Ophelia smiled, even though she knew it would have been strange to take a subject that she knew everything about.

"Hm, yeh you made a good choice but didn't you take Arithmancy. That's meant to be insanely hard."

"I like the numbers, numbers are the same in every country. It's like the constant in our world." Ophelia explained noticing that Remus was staring rather deeply at her. "God, that was cheesy sorry."

"No, it was interesting."

"Thanks." Ophelia tried to hide her face and the blush that was creeping on her cheeks. "Anyway, let's look at D.A.D.A."

"Yeh, shall we look at the imperius curse?"

"Perfect."

Just as they went to begin James had plonked himself on the table between them.

"Moony we need you."

"I'm busy."

"This can wait, you can study anytime. This prank needs doing now. Ophelia you don't mind do you?"

"No, it's ok Remus. Go with them."

Really Remus didn't want to go, he wanted to spend some one to one time with Ophelia but he knew he wouldn't be able to get out of this.

"See Moony, come on."

"Moony?" Ophelia asked, this wasn't the first time she had heard the nickname.

"Oh it's just some stupid nickname the boys gave me." Remus replied but looking up to James with piercing eyes that were screaming for some help.

"Yeh, it's because he always pulls moonies after a few drinks." Ophelia spat out the drink she in her mouth with that explanation.

"Well I wasn't expecting that."

"You got your answer now shoo." James started to swat his hands like he was ushering a dog away. "Let us prank kings get to work."

"Idiots." Ophelia grabbed her things and headed to a different table. But then an idea popped into her head, an idea to bring them all down a notch. She just needed a plan and a little help.

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"Girls, I need your help." Ophelia plopped herself on Marlene's bed, who in return pushed her body closer to Ophelia and laid her head across Ophelia's legs.

"You need our help with a boy." Marlene looked ecstatic.

"God no, I don't want a boyfriend ever." Ophelia scoffed.

"Why not?" Alice had now joined them on Marlene's bed. "Is it a previous bad relationship putting you off?"

"Yeh, kinda." Ophelia didn't want to talk about this, in fact she had no idea how she could explain why she didn't want a boyfriend or about her previous 'relationship'. "Anyway that's besides the point, like I said I need your help." Excitement had started to fill Ophelia again and you could practically feel the happiness bouncing from her.

"Tell us then!" Lily had set down the book she was reading and now was eager to here, Ophelia always came across a bubbly girl but this energy seemed new and Lily was interested to know why.

"I want to prank the Marauders."

"WHAT?" Lily and Alice responded instantly at the same time.

"This is bloody brilliant." Marlene was looking up at Ophelia with a smirk on her face.

"Ophelia why on Merlin's beard do you want to that?" Alice asked but with a hint of excitement lacing the question.

"Well I heard them planning a prank today, to be honest it was pretty lame. I've only been here two months and have already seen them use a dungbomb at least five times. So, I think they just need reminding what a good prank is." Ophelia explained. "Plus it can be my revenge for the Hogwarts express encounter even if we've kind of made up."

"I love it, I didn't know you had this mischievous side to you Ophelia."

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me Marls." Ophelia sent Marlene a cheeky wink before feeling an unsettling ball appear in her stomach. What she said was nothing more than a joke but she couldn't help but think how it was also the truth. In reality her whole time at Hogwarts was living a fake life, what would these girls think if they knew she'd lied to them? Would they only be friends with her because she's famous? Surely not, they're not interested in the muggle world as much. Maybe they'd not want anything to do with her anymore?

"Ophelia." Lily's voice broke Ophelia out of her thoughts.

"Sorry, what were you saying?"

"I was just asking how are you going to do it? They are known as the Marauders for a reason, they're practically prank royalty. Even if I hate to admit it, they're the best of the best."

"Not to worry I thought about that and I'm going to play a card I don't think they'll be expecting."

"Tell us then!" Alice seemed so invested in this conversation and was now resting her head on the palm of her hand.

"I will use some muggle pranks, I know quite a few of them you see because-" Ophelia stopped herself before going further, how did she know so much? She couldn't tell them. "-because I've read a lot about them and tried some. Most witches or wizard don't expect them so it will work a treat I think."

"What happens if not?" Lily asked, she was clearly trying to think the plan through but even she was liking the idea a bit too much to try and put a stop to it.

"If not, then I'll deal with it then! No point worrying about something that might not happen."

"Hear hear. Now how do we help Ophelia." Marls was now sat upright facing Ophelia.

"I need you to distract them tonight, Marls isn't it tonight anyway you normally meet with Sirius?"

"Yep!" Marlene winked.

"Perfect, don't change that plan. Maybe enjoy his company a bit longer if you know what I mean."

"No problem there." Marlene saluted jokingly in response.

"Alice, how well do you get on with either Remus or Peter?"

"Remus is lovely, I can easily chat with him. Peter I only ever speak to if he's with Remus but I have no issues with him. Why?"

"How would you like to distract them tonight? I dunno maybe study or something? In fact you could study with them and Dorcas."

"I'll think of something don't worry! How long do you need?"

"For the first part only around an hour. Lily I need your help to start with, I want you to make sure I cast my disillusionment charm correctly. I've never tried it on myself so want to make sure I'm camouflaged enough to get from here to their dormitory. Then if you can, pretty please can you just distract James."

"What's in it for me?"

"You get to see James look an utter fool by tomorrow morning."

"He's already one, but deal."

"Amazing! Once I've done the first part I just have to do one last thing once they're in bed. Then the rest will be done at breakfast tomorrow."

"Oh this is going to be good." Marlene was clapping over enthusiastically beside Ophelia. "I've always wanted to see the Marauders be pranked."

"No ones ever done it before?" Ophelia lifted an eyebrow in question.

"Not successfully." Alice saw Ophelia's face turn a little less excited. "It's ok though, yours is going to work though."

"How do you know that?

"Because it's you Ophelia, I just get this air about you." Alice shrugged. A large grumble filled the room.

"Looks like baby Marlene is hungry." Marlene rubbed her belly mimicking how a pregnant lady would. "Let's go get dinner."

"What time are we doing this Ophelia?" Lily asked whilst packing away the books she left across her bed.

"7:30pm."

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I'm back!! Had a lovely birthday weekend and feel super refreshed!!
Firstly did anyone notice my movie reference to maths?? 😉

QOTC - if you could prank the marauders what would you do?

My Answer - you'll see in the next chapter 😉