Of Deer and Flowers

Chapter nine

Detention

Noveber7,

Dear Kate,

Stanton Black is furious! It's one thing to prank an entire house but to go directly after a prefect! Any way he called a meeting this afternoon. We all know who did it, even if all the evidence does point to the Poltergeist!

'Non of us Raven claws have missed the evidence! We are going to catch these . . .these . . Marauders in the act! We are going to prove to this school that Ravenclaw house is not to be messed with!'

At least that's what Stanton says.

Lily sat in the Ravenclaw Common room, Her back to the giant window. The entire house had turned out for this meeting, and every one's tempers were high. Everyone knew what had happened that morning. It had been told in great detail by those who had seen the actual event.

Early that morning Stanton Black had opened the curtains of his bed to have a bucket of slime drop strait onto his head. Dungbombs had gone of in his slippers, and Fireworks were whizzing about the room. But it was the silly string which told them that their culprit was alive. It was the Muggle silly string draped over the bead that had sent the full force of Ravenclaw house's anger against four boys in Gryffindor.

Many of the items used in the event would have been easily attainable within the castle, but there was no way Peeves could have gotten that one item with out outside help. Stanton's younger brother was the only possibility ( the Ravenclaws decide) who could possibly have had reason to do this! Now the question was could they catch the pranksters in the act?

"I say we issue a challenge!" Marisa Clearwater, the Head girl said, 'We dare them to do this again, with me as their target!"

"But you've got patrol duty all this week!"

"That's the point!"

~*~*~*~*~*~

The four Gryffindor boys received the Challenge. After much deliberation it was decided that Sirius would be the one to answer. No use in all of them getting caught! Besides, as the others pointed out, it was his brother's fault.

Peter still had homework (having put it off till the last minute) and Remuse had agreed to help. James, being a reserve had Quidditch practice as their Chaser had twisted her wrist. That left Sirius the only one free.

That was why late Friday night Sirius had been caught trying to place a 'kick me I'm head girl' sign on the back of Marisa Clearwater.

"Detention Mr. Black!" McGonagall roared, "trying to prank the Head Girl! Of all the things I never thought I'd see!"

"But the Ravenclaws issued a challenge!"

"And you were caught out of bounds after hours."

It was a cold day near the end of the month when Sirius got the letter informing him his detention would be served with Hagrid. Disappointed that his entire Saturday would be taken up by chores, Sirius headed down to the gamekeeper's hut.

The day was actually rather fun. Sirius spent it helping Hagrid choose Christmas Trees and for a full hour was taken in to the forest to help look for Holly and Mistletoe. Hagrid nearly lost his head when they came out again to find a group of first years gathered around the Walloping Willow.

"How many times der I have ter tell ya! Stay away from that Tree!"

It was dusk when Hagrid began walking him back to the castle, and they were halfway across the grounds, when through the front door came two figures. One of the was unmistakably Madam Pomfrey the other . . .

"Hagrid what are . . ."

"Oh that'll be Madam Pomfrey, she mentioned somethin' about picking Knotgrass. Stuff has ter be picked at a full moon. The other 'll be some Chap 'o got 'imself Detention."

Sirius didn't say anything. The other figure, he had been so sure was Remus, but Remus never got detention. So who was it?