The Marauding Five - Year One

The Marauding Five : Year One

Chapter 7: The Giant Squid

The days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Soon, the cold November greeted Hogwarts with its chilling cold air and students were packing back. The Marauders had stayed back because the Evans, Blacks, Potters and Lupins had decided to take a trip to the east, a break and a peaceful change from their mischievous kids. Only them and a couple of other seventh years who were studying for their NEWTs and need some peace were left behind. The Marauders had chosen that time to find the secrets of the school, as there were no students left, save the seventh years, but they didn't care whatever the Marauders did as long as they were out of it.

Now that the Marauders had no Snape to go after (he went back, to get away from them and go to his darling mother), they (the seventh years) should have their peaceful time to study, but no, the mischief-makers had targeted them for their Christmas fun. Dungbombs, stink pellets, Filibuster's Fireworks and Rocketing Rashes were planted in common rooms, the Great Hall and their dorms. Every now and then, an Ever-Bashing Boomerang or a Fanged Frisbee would come crashing onto their head and Jumping Beanstalks are planted just everywhere in the castle, leaving no peace. Nose-biting Teacups were always biting their noses when they tried drinking from them every morning in the breakfast and Ton-tongue Toffee were planted in their food, giving them a shock when their tongues shot out of their mouth, a few feet longer than normal. Lily had taken interest in drawing and had drawn on their robes with the Invisible Paint, leaving their robes full of 'holey' paintings. The seventh years were experiencing the worst time of their lives, simply by staying back in the holidays instead of joining their families at home.

The Marauders, however, were having the time of their lives, sending the castles in fits. Teachers were frightened out of their wits and the seventh years were thinking of living in a coffin than stay with them. The four had found them very interesting, as they gave them full response to all of their pranks and had decided to continue teasing them. Sirius who was teaching Lily how to paint enjoyed pulling robes from the seventh year dorms and leaving a few Dungbombs behind as a 'thank you for borrowing your robes' sign. James had transfigured all the comfy couches in the Gryffindor Common Room into huge, meat-eating and very hungry Polar Bears from South Pole. Remus practised hexes on almost everyone he saw, leaving them with Madam Pomfrey, who is the school nurse in the Hospital Wing.

Professor McGonagall had issued them more detentions than everyone in the school put together, and had ran out of ideas on what to send them off with in their next detention. She'd asked them to scrub the Great Hall with tiny toothbrushes, wash all the castle windows, made them help all the professors think of new lessons to teach to the fifth years, clean the trophies, restore the Fat Lady (Mrs Norris scratched her), clean the corridors and had even sent them to the Forbidden Forest for a day. They had done all of it eagerly and had managed them fabulously. The Great Hall was now bright, the castle windows shone like stars when the sun rises, the professors all had ways to make the classes interesting whilst teaching along with new lessons ideas, the trophies had glistened and is painful to look at, the Fat Lady was restored beautifully in a new canvas, the corridors are dust-free and the Forbidden Forest had seemed to have no effect, as they were more than eager to return again. McGonagall was now stuck at what else to issue them for their next few detentions. She hadn't even thought of another before they started their pranks again.

'Y'know, McGonagall's taking the time of her life to issue us our detentions. I can't wait for the next one!' James said eagerly as he dropped on a polar bear who in turn, tried to snap his head off. James merely pushed a Dungbomb into his opening mouth as it burst, the white bear shocked as it turned black at that very moment, the side effect of the Dungbomb.

'I bet she'd forgotten all about them,' Sirius said gloomily.

'Well, I think she ran out of ideas,' Remus pointed out.

'I think she need our help. C'mon, it's already our 387^th detention slip and she hadn't told us what our 258^th one was! Come to think of it, it's already 129 times since she'd forgotten our detention!' Lily wailed, plopping down next to James. This time, the bear did nothing but cower uncomfortably.

'Don't you think it's time to pay her another visit?'

'Naah! No point unless she issues another detention.'

'Well, there's always a prank that we can pull.'

'Such as? Lily, all our tricks were used and McGonagall had already ransacked the castle for the hidden ones in the pots, corridors and all! Hello - just where had you been fifteen years ago?'

'I hadn't existed yet.'

'Right. So explain, what prank can we pull?'

'Gram sent me Something.'

'What?'

'Something.'

'Yea, but what is this "something"?'

'It's a Something!'

'Lil', mind telling us what this something is?'

'No, James. Of course I'll be telling, idiot! Like I'd said, it's a boxful of Something!'

'Okay Lily, this is one stupid question: What is this something?'

'At least Remus understands.'

'Understand what? I'm just as clueless as James and Sirius.'

'You never heard of Something?'

'NO! Tell us, Lily.'

'Can a no do?'

'No no can do.'

'Well, I won't tell you what Something is, but Gram says that I can only show. She just refer to it as a Something as it's always a different thing.'

'Okay...'

'And she'd sent me a few boxes of them. Says will be good for the whole school.'

'You didn't say your Gram was a Mischief-Maker.'

'Did I not? I remembered saying it on September the fifteenth, at about four in the evening. 'Course, you boys were too busy pigging in to listen.'

'Sorry.'

'Sorry? Sorry? That's all you can say for not listening to me? What sort of Marauder are you, Remus? We don't say sorry!' Lily screeched loudly as the seventh years frowned inwardly, but say nothing. James had a handful of Dungbombs by his side and Lily was carrying what seem like packets of powders. Sirius always had a pocketful of Screeching Spiders and Remus had his wand, giving him a good chance to use a hex on them.

'Well, what are we supposed to say then?'

'Try "I'm just too important to listen to your talking, Lily the smartest of the Hogwarts Marauders, the most cunning of them and the brains of the group." It isn't an exact lie, too, as I am the brains of Marauders and I'm quite cunning, too. Besides, I wouldn't be offended if a Marauder say this. We need our dignity, you know.'

'Right. Mind taking out that "most cunning" section? You're cunning, yes, but not the most. Sirius is.'

Sirius bowed happily.

Remus started memorizing the line. Very straight, Lily said to herself. Remus had memorized almost all when James said to Lily, 'Don't you think you could spare him on that? It'd pass, so why not let it be?' Lily gave it a thought and decided that Remus shouldn't have to say it, as she'd known what she'd hear anyway. Remus groaned.

'Next time, decide earlier so as your friend here will not have to suffer.'

'Pardon, Remus? Friend?'

'Then what am I?'

'Well, I'd always thought you were one of my best friends, but if you want it changed, I could always do-'

'Okay okay, best friend.'

'Lily's hard to please, don't you think?'

'Naah. Lupin, she's just too bored.'

'I vote we go see whatever that something is.'

'Point taken. Let's go!'

Sirius pulled Lily and James up as the four rushed from the common room and into the girls' dorm. The seventh years heave a sigh of relief as they went back to studying. Only Billy and Elley grinned, glad to have a - wait, it's four - mischief-maker to brighten the school up. The others merely shove them the title 'Out-Of-Mind'.

The first year girls' dorm was no difference from the boys', except that only Lily is sleeping in it alone. Despite that fact, the dorm looked almost like the boys'. Clothes, robes, and several socks were flying on their own, playing a game of catch when Lily opened the door. Lily waved her wand and they fell down, silent. Hair brushes were strewn everywhere as scrunchies and ribbons lay on the dressing table. Lily's books were scattered around in odd places and rolls of parchments sat on them, a few quills lay on them with spilled inkbottles. Her room is certainly full even if she lived there alone.

Lily shoved away some of her things off her bed as she muttered something to her bed. The boys looked on as the bed turned over, revealing a big trunk under it. Lily bent over as she unlocked it, throwing many tricks out of it. Dungbombs, fireworks, yo-yos, teacups, several unused Howlers, packets of glimmering powder - everything joined Lily's things on the floor. Lily emptied the trunk (it seemed bottomless) until she pulled out a few boxes from right underneath. She shove everything back in except for one box. Proudly holding it after locking her trunk of tricks, she grinned at the boys.

'THIS, is the Something Gram called. She said she doesn't know it's name, but she reckons they'd got one for it now,' Lily said happily. She went to a dark corner in her cupboard, opened it quickly before pulling one (they were unsure), placed it in the cupboard before pulling out quickly and closing it tight, the box closed again, held firmly in her hands. 'Now, who'd like the honor to try it out?' Lily grinned.

'We'll go together,' Sirius shrugged.

'But oh, we're supposed to go alone!'

'Then I'll go.'

James stepped up and faced the cupboard.

'Well, you boys can stand farther away,' Lily grinned as Sirius as Remus moved behind her. James stood facing the cupboard as if he's in a duel, trembling nervously. Sweat was already wetting his face. Lily pulled the cupboard doors open as a McGonagall came out saying, 'Oh, how sweet! Another prank! I just simply loved pranks! You're awarded with a trophy!'

'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

James looked terrified.

'McGonagall? LOVE pranks? TROPHY FOR PULLING A PRANK?? What's she doing there anyway???' James exclaimed, shock written in his face.

'Uh, James? Y'okay?'

'Yes, I'm really fine; McGonagall had always loved pranks and will award us with a trophy for every prank pulled. Are you nuts?? Of course I'm not okay! Why's she there anyway?' James demanded impatiently.

'Geez, James, I think you should rest,' Sirius said as he led him to Lily's bed (it's without any junk). He sat down, looking terrified for a moment before calming down.

'Just what is it anyway? Why's she there?'

'I don't know, James. I think it's a boggart.'

'A what? Gram didn't know it's name.'

'A boggart. Dark places, frighten people. Some of it's traits.'

'You're good, Remus.'

'Thank you.'

'How about Sirius facing it? I'm eager to know what he's afraid of!'

'Dream on, James.'

'But I want to know too!'

'Not a chance, Lily.'

'Vote given.'

'Sorry Remus.'

'Too bad. Do it or I'll turn you into a boggart yourself.'

Sirius gulped and walked to the cupboard. Lily opened it again.

This time, a black haired woman walked out of it, her brown eyes gleaming through it's softness as her hair wafted around her face like Sirius'. She walked towards Sirius - no, stomp toward Sirius, as she pointed a finger at him. 'SIRIUS BLACK! WHAT HAD YOU DONE AGAIN, BURSTING MRS THOMPSON'S GARDEN INTO TINY SHREDS! I INSIST YOU RESTORE THAT THIS INSTANCE! IN THE MEANTIME, YOU WILL GET NO LUNCH AND DINNER TODAY!'

James, Remus and Lily stared on.

'You're afraid of your mother?'

'No.'

'You're afraid of getting no food?'

'Bingo. My stomach's bottomless, and if anyone starve me, I'd die straight off.'

'Sirius, afraid of getting no food? Wow, we'd to tell the school to starve you!'

'Shut up, Lily. It's Remus' turn.'

'Oh, right.'

'Remus?'

'Fine, I get your message.'

Lily turned the boggart to Remus who sat on Lily's bed, calm and collected. The boggart turned into a hanging white orb in the sky.

'Yep. Just as I'd thought. The moon. Hey Remus, how'd you managed to transform these days?'

'Dumbledore got me a place.'

'That's good. I hope that you hadn't been biting yourself,' Lily raised an eye on him.

Remus shook his head quickly.

'Good.'

'Lily's turn.'

'Right, but don't be disappointed, kay?'

'What's there to be disappointed? I mean, surely you don't have a fear? Everyone has.'

'Just don't.'

'Fine.'

They threw the white orb at Lily, which burst with a pop and turned into nothing.

'Where's it?' Sirius asked as he looked around the room.

'Gone. Disappeared.'

'Lily, what's your fear?'

'Told you not to get disappointed.'

'Okay, so what is it?'

'I was afraid of boggarts extinct. He simply just did that.'

'Interesting.'

'Hey, who'd want boggarts to extinct? I mean, just look at it's effect on you guys! It was simply just too much fun!'

'Point taken.'

'What about the plan on planting this in McGonagall's office?'

'Time to start the mission!'

The four walked out of the girls' dorm, surprising a couple of seventh years who were on their way to their dorms. Lily was carrying a box, and they'd assumed that it was surely a box of tricks and never ran off to complain.

The Marauders threw open the doors to McGonagall's office, not caring whether the teacher is there or not. She is not.

Lily went to her cupboard (which is a glass one) and planted a boggart there, careful not to let the boys or herself linger too long with it. But then again, they were in groups, so the boggart couldn't do anything. They hid themselves in the shadows behind the cupboard, just as McGonagall walked in, muttering something about detention ideas. The professor turned to her cupboard to retrieve a book, and when she opened it, she went berserk and start screaming loudly. The Marauders, curious at what it is, ran from their hiding place to look at the boggart. It had turned into a woman. A banshee, in fact. Just as she was about to let out her howls, McGonagall had cried, 'Riddikulus!' at it, changing it into small spider. Sirius yelped at this.

The Marauders howled over with laughter. McGonagall stared bitterly at them. She turned to her door. To her horror, the whole school had stood there with an amused look on their faces. Albus Dumblemore was looking at the running spider with a high interest, amusement clearly written on his face. McGonagall turned pink with embarassment and soon, purple with anger. The Marauders laughed at the change of her face and doubled over. The school, satisfied, had left, leaving Dumbledore and the Marauders.

'Now, Minerva, if a boggart's bugging, I don't see the reason of screaming loudly,' the old wizard started, staring at the Marauders with amusement as they roll on the floor, clutching tightly at their sides. 'Professor. The boggart. Banshee. Frightened. Potter. Evans. Black. Lupin. Detention,' McGonagall managed to stutter. The Marauders had now calmed down and were looking at their teacher eagerly.

'Now, now, Minnie, you'd given us too much detentions. 129 of them hadn't been punished yet. Are you adding to that amount? It'll make a total of 130 detentions to think of for us!' James said as he tutted. 'Twenty points from Gryffindor,' McGonagall snapped.

'Well, actually we're just paying you a visit as you owed us detentions. C'mon, Minnie, you surely hadn't forgotten us? Not with the detentions you'd issued these days and those pranks,' Lily tutted as she shook her head in disappointment, ignoring the fuming woman.

'Minnie, you can take as many points as you want from Gryffindor. All, if you want, but us kids want detentions! When are you giving us our 130 ones?' Sirius whined.

'That's right, Minnie. You were grumbling about detentions for us before screaming at the boggart. So, what do we do? Help the professors again? Go into the Forbidden Forest? That'll be cool, as there are loads of fun stuff in there! Unicorns came to us and helped us,' Remus stated eagerly. Unicorns were rarely seen by wizards and witches, and if a unicorn ever came near, it's even rarer. McGonagall stared at them, her eyes boring into their mischievous ones. Dumbledore looked on with a very amused face.

'Do NOT call me "Minnie",' McGonagall snapped coldly at them.

'Now, now, Minnie,' Dumbledore started.

McGonagall glared.

'You should have given them their detentions, than just slips. No points will be taken off Gryffindor.'

The Marauders nodded in agreement.

'And maybe we should send them off with just one detention, in place of the rest? It shall save you from thinking of 130.'

The Marauders groaned.

'But Albus-'

'We don't-'

'Want one-'

'Only!'

'We want-'

'All-'

'Hundred and-'

'Thirty!'

'I didn't know you could finish each other's sentence.'

'A sort of-'

'Talent as-'

'We knew each other-'

'Ever since we were one.'

'Interesting.'

'Thank you.'

The Marauders bowed humbly to the old wizard. McGonagall sniffed.

'Very well, you stay in the Forest for 130 seconds-'

'Days!' McGonagall snapped.

'But they can't lack their lessons.'

'Fine, hours!' McGonagal seemed eager to rid of the Marauders.

'That, will not do. I insist on minutes, then, Minnie.'

McGonagall glared at that; name and detention.

The Marauders groaned. They were looking forward to skipping class, but accept it. A detention is better than none. Happily, they scooped the boggart into Lily's box, just as Dumbledore stopped them again.

'What's in that box?'

'Oh, a thousand of boggarts,' Lily replied simply.

'Who sent it to you?'

'Gram did. She was a mischief-maker in her days. Said mother doesn't like being one, so she passed it to me.'

'Turner, isn't it? Well, she sure was one. She fought with Snape's grandfather. Your mother? She rivaled intelligence with Snape's father. A sort of tradition going on there, isn't it?'

'Right.'

'Can you ask her to send me some? I'm in need for them.'

They looked at Dumbledore in shock.

'Professor, how could that be?' McGonagall started.

'I see you want answers. Well, see, I want something very badly and I'm afraid of it being extinct-' he chuckled softly as Sirius think him something like Lily: afraid of it being extinct. '-but it seems like no one liked it. I wouldn't want to destroy my work, but if a boggart turned into that and let it be extinct, it's just as well as people would think it.'

What he said made no sense to his audience, but Lily gave her word that she'll write to Gram about it. The four ran towards the forest in a hurry, not bothering to pack their things as they ran to the Forbidden Forest after keeping the boggarts.

***

After Five Days...

***

The Marauders walked into the Gryffindor common room, ignoring looks from McGonagall and the seventh years. Despite their stay at the forest without preparing anything - no food, robes or drinks - they were spotless, slightly plump and well cared for. McGonagall seemed shock at that. She'd expected them to burst into the castle (well, they did this) and run straight to the Great Hall for food, looking thin and frail, robes torn and dirt all over, from their days in the forest. She had also expected them to look sorry for themselves, but there they were, giggling and laughing happily as they told the seventh years their experience in the forest. She shook her head. 'Now what am I to give them for detention if not even the forest can stop them?' McGonagall moaned to herself.

True to what they'd said, the unicorns and the forest creatures had helped them, though the centaurs were a little confusing at first. Remus had managed to capture their attention with his interest in stars and they'd chatted for a long time. The owls brought them food, the unicorns find them shelter in a small cave, and elves and pixies had stuffed them fully each midnight feast. The four enjoyed themselves and after that, had constantly begged McGonagall to send them to the forest as detentions.

Maybe it was them being out-going and friendly, or their mysterious aura to attract these magical creatures and fairy folk, the school had not known. The Marauders kept it a secret among themselves and acted as if they knew all about it, but it's actually the other way round.

They were sure that no magical creatures, especially unicorns, would come near someone, unless that person had a very strong aura to attract them and gain their confidence. They were puzzled at it, but shook it off as they were always together and it would be really hard to find out who was that person.

Each day after, McGonagall and the seventh years suffered the torture of the Marauders, as they kept collecting more and more detention slips. Very soon, they had a thousand. They threw a party, celebrating it in the Great Hall. Fireworks were set and the Great Hall was decorated one morning in breakfast. A scarlet ribbon with gold sides formed a banner stating 'The Marauders Had A Thousand Detentions!'. Lily had called the house-elves to cook a huge feast, as they kiss the ground she walked on and danced in happiness.

The seventh years and teachers were pleased at this. Well, all but McGonagall, but she ate her food with a smile on her face. Dumbledore had added to the celebration by sending glimmering stars everywhere. Sirius, over-excited, cladded everyone in elves' robes with his wand. Everyone celebrated happily in their leafy robes with a huge lily flower as a hat. Lily used a charm to make their food and themselves hover in the air, sending glees of delights and a very happy squeal from Flitwick. James had transfigured some stones into small, squealing pixies and they dance around the Hall in delight. Remus did a simple spell to produce music as Dumbledore conducted it, much to everyone's delight and amusement.

The day passed with more excitements, more pranks, more feasts and more - well, everything. The castle - even Filch - went to bed, happy at the day's events.

The next morning, Lily awoke with Lotus hooting excitedly from the window. She got up and pulled her owl in, wishing it a merry christmas. Lotus nibbled her affectionately in response before flying off. Lily look at the foot of her bed, expecting to find presents. But to her disappointment, there were none. Lily sighed. Maybe everyone had forgotten about her. She said something about tricks to pull to let off her disappointment when a bundle of presents knocked her from the ceiling.

Lily scrambled out of them as she looked up at the ceiling, wondering if the boys were there. No one. Nothing. Gram must've put a charm on all her presents, Lily say to herself as she sorted them out. One from Gram, from the Blacks, from her parents, from the Potters, from the Lupins, James, Sirius, Remus, Billy, Elley, Petunia (it's just a letter), Gram, James, Sirius and Remus again.

Lily'd decided to open her sister's one first. She found a small note stating Have a bad Christmas, Freak. Lily's relation with her horse-faced sister isn't good. Finding out that she's a squib sure is the worst thing that could happen to her. She threw the note away. She hadn't anything for Petunia either, as she'd sent her a cursed Howler. Lily giggled at what will she think of about it. She turned to Billy's present. Deciding that she should open it with the boys, she ran out and to the opposite, towards the boys' dorm before flinging the door open. The three were still asleep. James' mop of hair was visible at the top of his covers, Sirius is hugging his teddy - Seriously Sirius. Remus was just sleeping peacefully. Lily started bouncing, first on Remus' bed as it's the nearest. When he woke up, they proceeded to Sirius'. Sirius rubbed his eyes and mumbled 'No, not the pudding. Anything but the pudding. Wait - not the roast chicken either. Nor the steam pork. Definitely not the turkey, too. Anything but them. I can't let you have my roasted marshmallows, too!'

Lily and Remus laughed at that before shaking him awake.

Seeing his friends laughing helplessly on the ground, Sirius asked groggily, 'Whaddya want?'

Sirius awake, Lily started jumping on James' bed. She jumped and jumped, receiving no response. Sirius joined her soon, so did Remus. James slept through it all. Lily then heard him mutter something in his sleep, as she motioned the other two to stop jumping. They lean forward to listen, straining their ears. They made out a few words as most were too blurred.

'What does he mean by "Would whatever me whatever whatever live whatever me whatever for whatever?"' Lily asked Sirius and Remus, who looked equally puzzled at their friend - wait. BEST friend's behaviour.

'No idea.'

'Just like you.'

'Forget this. Get him up and we'll open our presents.'

'But how? You saw him, he slept through everything!'

'Try shaking. It worked for me.'

They shook him vigorously. No response. He just slept through everything.

'Let's try fairy tale way,' Remus suggested.

'Uh-uh. It's the other way round,' Sirius replied gloomily.

'Well, we'll just do the other way round then,' Remus replied brightly.

'Nah. Just skip the idea,' Lily shook it off, not eager about kissing him up.

'We need him up,' Sirius pointed out.

'Yea, should have other way, right?' Lily asked hopefully.

'Okay, if they didn't work, you'll have to do it as you're the only girl,' Remus said as he dug for Dungbombs.

They threw them at him. They fired fireworks, work the yo-yos.

No response.

Lily groaned as she leant over to kiss him, Sirius and Remus looking on. She winced a little as she gave him a quick peck on his cheeks. Sirius and Remus cheered on, holding little pom-poms Sirius had just transfigured. James rubbed his eyes groggily.

'G'morning!' he said cheerfully. He saw Lily next to him, looking ready to hang herself as she hung a knotted rope on the ceiling.

'Whatcha doing?'

'Trying to commit suicide. I'd just done the dumbest thing in my life, thanks to Sirius and Remus.'

Sirius and Remus were grinning broadly as Lily placed her head in the rope, James still confused.

'Hey, it worked! Whaddya know, Remus. I must say, it must be really pleasant to wake up that way,' Sirius said dreamily.

Lily was saying her prayers.

'Well, I'm honored by the praise, Sirius.'

Lily closed her eyes.

'Hello? Lily, you aren't saying samething here. What happened?'

'I'd done the dumbest thing anyone would in my whole life, Potter.'

'And just what is it?'

'What do you think?'

'...'

'See?'

'Aaw, Lily, he doesn't mean that!'

'And it ain't the dumbest thing in your life.'

'Just what happened???'

'How do you come to wake?'

'Huh?'

'How did you wake up?'

'No idea. I can never wake up on Christmas mornings. I always wake in the noon.'

'And, may I know, what time is it?'

'Noon?'

'No, moron! The clock's here and it's stated clearly: Eight in the morning!'

'Wow! This must be a record! Mum could never get me up!'

'No idiot, because Evans had just wake you up!'

'That dumb?'

'Okay, unless someone can convince me it isn't the dumbest thing in my life, I'll die now. Prayers said, everything ready, now all that's left is just saying goodbye.'

'Okay Evans. It isn't the dumbest thing.'

'No? And you think that'll convince me?'

'What's so dumb in waking me up? That'll be a record set in history! No one ever manages to wake me up on Christmas morning!'

'The dumb thing's me, happy? Now I'd better hang myself quick. I don't want unfinished buisness and remain as a ghost. If you can tell me why it isn't the dumbest thing in my life and why mustn't I die, I might forget the idea.'

'Sirius? Remus?'

'Okay Lily, it's just a simple thing! We won't tease you!'

'You want me to believe that?'

'When did we tease you for doing any dumb things in your life?'

'...'

'There, I got a point there.'

'Fine. Point taken. Any others?'

'If you hang yourself, Potter'll be lonely as he'd be the only one with brains in our group.'

'Another point taken. One more and I'll go, that is, if you can ever.'

'You're the only one in this group that can play good chess besides me. You have nice strategies and you plan most of our raids and pranks. Also, Sirius'll be lonely as you're the only one who can joke as much as he can,' James put in helpfully.

Sighing in resignation, Lily pulled her head from the rope and remove it from the ceiling.

'Good points, boys. Now tell me why it isn't the dumbest thing in my life.'

'Because we forced you?'

'Can be accepted.'

'There! It's done,' Remus said happily.

'Now, can I know what this dumb thing is? I think that those who managed to wake me up - which is none, but Lily - is those whose name must be in the record books. And I don't see anything dumb about it.'

'Forget that, James, just forget it.'

'Why, Lily?'

'You wouldn't want to know.'

'I want to.'

'Will a no do?'

'No.'

'Too bad. No.'

'Hey!'

'Present's waiting.'

'Oh, right.'

They sorted out their presents as the boys start ripping off the papers. Lily turned Billy's present curiously as James drew out a set of quills, Remus thick books and Sirius, a large family rulebook from their parents. Lily tore open Billy and Elley's presents, only to uncover a very big book of advance charms and a bracelet with a long string of charms to choose from. She turn to unwrap her parents', which turned out to be a whole set of quills, parchments, additional potions ingredients, new robes, new bag, inkbottles and some books. The Potters sent her a new load of Dungbombs, stink pellets - every trick in Zonko's. The Blacks had decided to send her a book on advanced spells. The Lupins gave her sweets and treats of all kinds. Gram had sent her more loads of boggarts, powders, strings of charms, hexes, counter-curses, and some money with an additional note telling her to use them well. James had sent her a whole new load of tricks and a necklace with little lilies stringed in. Sirius sent her also another load of Zonko's products and food of all sorts. Must be really sad for him to give them to me, Lily smirked to herself, remembering Sirius' fear of having no food. Remus considered giving her books, but shook it off and gave her a new watch (hers broke down) and another load of tricks.

Lily glanced happily at her presents and sort the tricks from the others. Most of her presents were tricks and stuff from Zonko's. Some, were made especially for her by her old Gram. Lily went back to her dorm and kept her tricks in the trunk. She keep the food in another trunk (she magicked it) and proceed to fill her potions set.

In breakfast, they had a feast and Remus got a silver sickle embedded in his Christmas pudding. His teeth had nearly fallen off as he bit into the sickle hard and had also nearly swallowed it in surprise. The Marauders had to thump it out as the boy gasped for breath, looking paler than ever. Dumbledore appeared, holding his load of presents and began opening them. In one of his presents, he pulled out four pairs of brightly colored socks and turned the card over to see who sent them. 'Merry Christmas, Dumbledore! From, The Marauders of Hogwarts.' They had sent him pairs of socks as a joke. To their surprise and glee, he smile at them before calling thank you to them. They went up to bow as the school laughed at them. They had wore a holly each on their robes and Lily had one on her hair. Their robes, instead of black, were charmed into green and red to celebrate the holiday.

The day passed by peacefully.

Snowballs. Flying on broomsticks. Playing with Peeves. Eat the feast again. Snowballing. Hit McGonagall on the face. Detentions. Ice-skating on the frozen lake. Snowballing. Feast again. Dungbombs. And snowballs.

Thus, was the end of their Christmas day.

The days passed by as the Marauders kept on and on earning more detentions and giving McGonagall and the other students more headaches.

Soon, the holidays had ended and students come streaming back into the castle. Things went back to normal; well, normal as it is in their way. Tricks were pulled at Snape, Howlers, once again, boomed every morning from the Slytherin table. Lessons continued and the Marauders managed to get past Professor Binns as they snoozed their lost sleep in his class. Students at the back were usually woke up, feeling like drenched with cold water when Binns tooks points off. The Marauders were envied by them, as they sat in the front row, sleeping without disturbance.

Astronomy with Sinistra were fine, until they started practical work. The first years find it annoying to have their astronomy classes in the middle of the night, as they were missing their sleep. Remus didn't complain at all, and soon, is a favorite with the professor as he knew all about Astronomy.

Everything went just as casually as they could.

One fine Sunday, as the Marauders were having a picnic just by the lake, the giant squid had appeared from the lake, trying to grab hold on the nearest student it could. The squid looked angrily around, as he grabbed the nearest student, a pudgy, fat boy, who stood rooted to the ground at the sight of the squid. The squid eyed menacingly at him as the other students gaped in shock. The Marauders wasted no time in gaping or staring at the squid, but quickly pulled out their wands, point it at the squid before yelling 'Mimosa Niestosa' at it. It hit the squid right in the eye as it dropped the boy it was clutching with it's tentacles on to. Wasting no time, Sirius dived in and swam strongly towards him and pulled him to the bank. Lily dried him with a simple charm as James and Remus check for pulse.

'He's still alive.'

'We can see that.'

'He's a stupid boy.'

'The most interesting specimen I'd come across. What's his IQ?'

'Very low from average.'

'Poor soul.'

'A coward.'

'Suits him.'

'A Slytherin.'

'Should've left the squid to gobble him for dinner.'

'No more poor soul.'

'Sirius...'

'Fine, whatever.'

'Okay, he's still goners.'

'What? But the pulse's still beating, James!'

'Huh? Oh, I mean he's still here, but we should have left this Slytherin to that squid. Less one enemy from the Slytherin house.'

'Yep!'

'That's the spirit, Lily.'

'C'mon, we just saved a Slytherin from being roasted as a squid's dinner.'

'I know that squid.'

'How, Lily?'

'In the book. Says it only comes out once in every ten years to eat. Must be pretty hungry, with all those Grindylows there and the merpeople to compete for food.'

'Anyone'd think we deserved points for saving this idiot.'

'Sirius-'

'He's a Slytherin, Remus!'

'James-'

'Don't "Lily" me, but we still deserve them. I mean, no one's helping and only the four of us. We saved our rival house's student! Hello! Earth to Remus! Had an alien taken over your head?'

'Lily-'

'I said "don't", Remus. And I still think-'

Lily was cut off by Dumbledore. He hurried over to them, an anxious look on his face as his beard flew behind him.

'Is he fine?'

'Yes, Professor. Well, still shock though.'

'Good. It is brave of you to save him from that squid. Must be a strong magic to get rid of him.'

'Yep! Gram taught me that. Said she'd accidentally found it when trying to pronounce some very complicated charm.'

'Very well, Evans. Fifty points to Gryffindor for your bravery.'

'Only fifty?' That, was Sirius.

'I think if Godric's here, he would've given us a hundred.'

'I see you'd done some reading.'

'Definitely. Our brains here told us that.'

Sirius waved to Lily and James, who bowed graciously.

'Well, fifty points each, since the each of you contributed to saving him, even if he's from Slytherin. Couldn't be better than that.'

The Marauders whooped with joy.

The boy woke up and started squealing franticly. He sounded like Flitwick, Lily mused.

'Pettigrew, you're save from the squid, as the Marauders had saved you from them.'

They turned bitter at him. A Slytherin deserves no better than Severus, even if they didn't know him.

'Oh, thank you! I couldn't well thank you more. Thank you thank you thank you!'

He whimpered up to them.

'No need for that,' Lily said in a cold voice.

'We'd to do it as no one else will,' James replied, equally cold.

'You'd better be thankful 'cause the squid was deciding to roast you,' Sirius said in a colder voice.

'And we don't want to see you anymore,' Remus finished in a cold voice that sent chills to Pettigrew's spines. Remus didn't trust the boy and neither did any of the Marauders.

Pettigrew shrivelled like a shrivelfig and ran off to his house.

The Gryffindors sighed in relief. It wasn't easy to muster a cold voice. Dumbledore watched on.

'I see you don't trust him? He'll be kissing the ground you walk on pretty soon.'

'Well, that'll take him years, professor, if he thinks of getting along with us.'

'Yep. Professor, you couldn't blame us. We'd seriously tried to drown him back after we found out that he's a Slytherin.'

'I understand, James, I understand.'

They sighed again.

'Guess we'd better be packing. A sherbet lemon, professor?' Lily offered, holding out the muggle sweet.

'What is it?'

'Muggle sweet. It's nice. Wanna try it? Don't worry, I didn't poison the sour powder in it.'

'Thank you.'

And that, is how Albus Dumbledore, the principal of Hogwarts, came to like sherbet lemons.