mischief managed

Mary raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smirk as she crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. “You thrive in chaos? I’d never have guessed, Black,” she quipped, her tone dripping with playful sarcasm. “And here I was thinking you were the poster boy for order and discipline.”

Her gaze flicked over to the window where the moonlight spilled in, painting the room in silvery hues. “As for me,” she continued, fixing him with an amused look, “I was actually enjoying the quiet—something you seem determined to disrupt. But I suppose it’s hard to expect peace when Sirius Black is on the prowl, keeping lonely ghosts company and all.”

She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin in her hand, her smirk deepening. “Skipping essays for mayhem, though? Tempting offer. Care to elaborate on the mayhem, or is it the type of thing one just needs to go with the flow?” Her eyes sparkled with intrigue.

He tilted his head, studying her with mock seriousness. “As for your serene little bubble of quietude, let’s be honest. It’s a lovely thought, but you and I both know that peace is terribly overrated. Besides, don't you ever get bored? Life’s too thrilling to sit around, even under the glow of the moonlight. The ghosts can keep each other company; I’d rather stir up a bit of fun.”

Sirius's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, clearly relishing the idea. “As for the mayhem, well, it’s a bit of a delicate art, really. A spontaneous escapade here, a cheeky prank there—one mustn’t detail the formula too much, as that tends to spoil the surprise! But I can promise you, whatever we end up doing will be a brilliant story for the ages. And if that means skipping essays… well, consider it an added bonus.”

Having been on the receiving end of many a lecture over the years - and many from Lily herself, James felt he might have been able to join in on her little speech. He managed to refrain and let her finish. "Yes, it's terribly irresponsible of me. And I'm incredibly lucky you turned up to reprimand me." The grin on his face wasn't quite what you'd expect after being on the receiving end of one of Lily Evans' lectures. However, James found himself miraculously impervious to them. Well, at least when they weren't too personal for comfort. Those he couldn't burn from his brain if he tried. This one didn't quite seem to have quite the same spice as usual, however. "And, of course, to ensure I don't put myself in grave danger flying without supervision."

James had been sure that the redhead would disagree. In fact, perhaps everyone in their year would have bet on her disagreeing to join him. But, she took his hand. She actually took his hand! For a moment, he forgot how to breathe. The touch sent a thrill through his body that apparently had short-circuited his brain and he hoped she didn't catch the absolute shock and complete awe he felt. He met her gaze. A vivid, mesmerising green looked back - like the first burst of spring after a barren winter. His smile softened for a moment and he nodded. "Alright," he repeated her word before catching up with himself.

“Good at outrunning Filch, huh?” she repeated, arching an eyebrow as she took a step closer. “And just how many detentions do you think that’s going to earn you this time? You know he’s practically got a magical tracking device on you and your little bunch of misfits.”

The way he looked at her made her heart race—for a moment, her lecture about responsibility slipped her mind. “You really think this is a good idea?” She took a deep breath, looking up at him, the sunlight dancing in the treetops above them.

But as she stood there with her hand still in his, she felt that familiar pull of adventure beckoning. Maybe, just this once, she could let the rules slide and enjoy the moment. “Fine, but if you get us caught, you can consider yourself on my permanent lecture list,” she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she squeezed his hand.

“Now, if you can promise me we won’t crash and burn, then I suppose I’ll just have to trust you,” she added, stepping closer to the broom and preparing herself for take-off. “Just try not to scare me too much, Potter. Remember that I have a very sharp wand and I know how to use it.”

With a shared laugh, she climbed onto the broom behind him, her heart pounding faster than it ever had during one of her lectures. She could feel the warmth radiating from him, and as they took off into the air, the worries of the world melted away. Maybe this wasn’t such a terrible idea after all. “Ready when you are, oh great and mighty seeker.” She teased with a roll of her eyes, as if to hide how nervous she was.

McGonagall: Really? Can you now?

"Yes, how tragically scandalous." Regulus didn't have time for his brother's theatrics. In fact, he would rather be subtle about his current condition - he'd been on the way to his room to do just that. One small potion and he'd look good as new. Nothing to worry about. But then, Sirius was anything but subtle. They all knew that, but Regulus was the one who had paid for it. “It’s nothing," is all he said back, hushed and secretly begging him not to prod.

“What happened to you?” The weight of his words hung in the air, heavy with the underlying worry that Sirius could never fully mask. “Forgive me for being dramatic, but have you seen yourself? You don’t get to just sweep this under the rug, Regulus. I won’t let you.”

Sirius clenched his jaw, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. It was always this way with Regulus; the stubbornness, the pride, the refusal to open up. “Which assholes and why? I want names Reg.”

James looked down, bringing his head down to his hands so he was almost lying on the broom, considering her for a moment. That grin on his lips grew larger as she warned him to get down. Always looking out for him, was Evans. Or, always nagging him anyway. Was that an important distinction? Probably not. But, he saw the moment that second thought glanced across her eyes before she'd even spoken it. Whizzing down so he was almost at eye level. "You can go fetch McGee if that's what your heart desires," he began, slowing to a stop in the air.

When he leaned closer, she couldn’t help but laugh softly, despite the sternness in her voice. "You know, I really should be the one nagging you about being responsible around here. You’re not supposed to fly this early without a proper plan—rules exist for a reason. And just because the view is nice doesn’t mean we should be up here like this."

But there was something undeniably tempting about the view he was offering — the sunrise spilling colours across the sky, and the thrill of actually joining him in breaking the rules for once. She chewed her lip, as she thought about his offer and sighed, pretending to weigh her options, but the corners of her lips were starting to twitch.

“Alright,” she relented, a mischievous glint in her eye at the thought of surprising him with her answer. “Just this once, let’s see what kind of trouble you can get me into.” She reached out for his hand, feeling a flutter of excitement beneath her irritation as she grasped the warmth of his palm. “But if Filch catches us, you’re the one explaining it. And I’ll be sure to remember that this ‘gorgeous sunrise’ was all your idea.”

Where: The Hogwarts University library Who: Open to all

Leaning back in her chair, her thoughts far away from anything to do with the pile of coursework in front of her, Mary sat up when she became aware of another person approaching the table she was sitting at. A quick glance at the clock told her that it was long past clocking out time for most.

"What are you still doing here?" She asked with a small smile. "Everyone's usually gone by now."

He glanced around the dimly lit room, then returned his attention to her, his eyes glinting with mischief. “And what about you? Lost in the depths of coursework or just enjoying the quiet? I’d like to think it’s the latter, but then again, I’ve never been one for schoolwork. How about we skip the essays and cause a bit of mayhem instead?”

The smell of old, stale beer and dusty wooden beams wafted around the two young men as they sat at the corner table in the pub they'd newly deemed theirs. It'd only been about two weeks since they'd discovered the little muggle hideaway. It was barely big enough to fit the entirety of their year of Gryffindors, but that was perfect.

Lifting a pint to his lips and prepared to savour the admittedly not-so-sweet taste of whatever it was he'd ended up ordering today, he saw the poster on the wall. A muggle band they'd gone to see in sixth year was doing a low-key concert in a venue nearby. Forgoing the beer and allowing the liquid to slosh around, threatening to break over the rim, as he dropped it back to the hardwood table - missing the coaster, of course.

He picked up his own pint, taking a hearty swig, the taste somewhat less grim than he’d expected. "And as for us, I say we should make it a night to remember. I mean, look at us—two strapping wizards, taking on muggle concerts like it's the most normal thing in the world. We should show them how it’s done!" Sirius nodded at the poster, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Definitely more exciting than being holed up in the Gryffindor common room playing exploding snap for the rest of our lives."

Hovering some five feet the air, the wooden broom shot through the air. The wind blew through his bedhead hair, somehow making more of a mess of it than before. At least, he had to assume. The canopy of trees above him allowed for some privacy from the prying eyes of the faculty. For, apparently, it was too much to ask for flying broomsticks on campus to be permitted. One would have thought, upon graduating school, those in University would be afforded more freedom and responsibility. Alas, it was not to be. Something about it being dangerous, campus being too crowded, and other things that James hadn't bothered to listen to or read.

Still, given that the pink tinge of morning still clung to the candy floss clouds that streaked the sky, James was willing to bet he was safe in his morning ride. Merlin knows Hogwarts was no place for early risers. In fact, he'd left his own dorm mates so fast asleep that even the bonk of his broomstick on the doorframe hadn't been enough to rouse them.

But, that confidence was short lived, for appearing in his path and through the trees was a familiar flash of red. It took his sharp reflexes, at the speed he was going, to pull the broom up and narrowly miss colliding with one Lily Evans. Instead, he darted high into the sky, peering down at her in awe.

“Shouldn’t you be in bed, Potter?” she called out, her voice carrying just enough to reach him despite the wind. “Or is your bedhead a style choice for this morning’s aerial adventures?”

She planted her hands on her hips, pretending to scold him while suppressing a laugh. The truth was, she envied him a little. The freedom of zooming through the air without a care in the world was a feeling she hadn’t experienced.

james: yo, what, sirius -

sirius: i just finished watching bambi, james.

james: …

sirius: i’m fucking sad now, james!

james: for fuck’s-