The Change

Time went by pretty quickly after our first prank. Before the end of September everyone in the school knew who we were. We were the coolest kids in first year. Of course, the Slytherins didn't lay off, but neither did we. Whenever the Slytherins would attack us we would get our revenge. By October when people saw the Slytherins and us in the hallway together they ran in the other direction. Try as they might, the teachers simple couldn't stop the rivalry that had already developed between us.

It was the beginning of November and I was in my dorm alone, lying on my bed. I was exhausted, having just finished a detention I had with Professor McGongall. James and Remus also had detention but weren't back yet. Peter was sleeping after having been studying for hours for a Transfigurations test we had the next class. I couldn't fall asleep though. I was thinking about how right Dumbledore was. How close I had become to my three new friends. Each of them played a major role in our friendship and I had never felt so close and comfortable around anyone before. Peter was the quiet and needy one. He was always asking us for help with homework and tended to stay in the background when we got into any kind of trouble. But Peter came in useful, too. He was quiet and sneaky, he had the ability to blend in with his surroundings, and he could find out information that we needed to know. Sometimes he even came up with good pranks. Remus, on the other hand, was shy and smart. I knew Remus felt uncomfortable around people he didn't know. In the beginning he had been quiet around James, Peter and I, but we quickly broke him out of his shell. He was very smart, as were James and I, but Remus actually cared about school. He studied and worried about it. When we needed a spell or a way to do something he was the one who would come up with it. But Remus's most important role in our friendship was that he kept us in line. He knew when a prank would be going too far and kept us out of serious trouble countless times. By the end of Hogwarts he had even managed to safe us from expulsion. He was the even-headed one, the one who looked before he leapt.

Then there was James. James was something special and I knew it from the beginning. I felt like I had known him forever, like he was my twin brother. Our minds thought the same way and frequently I found him finishing my sentences or saying what I was thinking. Together we made a pranking machine. Of the four of us people always noticed James and I. We were the loud attention-seeking people of the group, the natural born leaders. We had an arrogance and cockiness about us from the first day of school that no one could ever beat out of us. We were Hogwarts's worst nightmare. The four of us together made the Mauraders.

The Mauraders. My greatest memories in life are with them. How did we get that name, you ask? Well, it was that fateful night of November in my first year. I was shaken out of my reverie when the door flew open and Remus and James fell into the room. I sat up quickly, looking at them questioningly. Peter had jumped out bed when they came in the room and looked slightly scared as James and Remus tried to catch their breath. "What happened," I asked, unable to contain my curiosity.

"You'll never believe what those rotten Slytherins just did," James said, "We were heading back up here when I heard shuffling coming from a nearby room. We went to what it was, but no one was there. So we walked inside the room and the door locked behind us. The lights came on suddenly and we were in the trophy room. I tried to open the door but heard someone laughing at me so I turned around and Bellatrix was standing there with Snape. Remus and I took out our wands quickly but Snape hit Remus with some spell before we could stop him. Then I shot one at Bellatrix, Remus shot one at Snape and we fought for a while. When we heard Filch coming we went to go run but Bellatrix and Snape got out first and locked the door behind them so we were stuck in there! Now Remus and I have detention again and we didn't even do anything!"

I looked at the both of them and said, "Well, are you both ok?"

James nodded and said, "I'm fine. Bella couldn't get me. I was too fast for her."

Remus said, "I'll be fine. Just that first spell hit me. I got a cut on my face but it's nothing."

"Good," I said, smiling as an idea hit me. I saw James smile, too, and Remus looked scared.

"Oh no, Sirius, I hate it when you smile like that! It always ends in something dangerous," Remus replied.

"Not dangerous, Remus, just fun. This is my plan let's sneak down to the dungeons and wait for some Slytherins to come out and then sneak inside, under the invisibility cloak of course. We can find Snape and Bella's dorms and fill them with spiders!"

James frowned, "Sirius, I think you're losing your touch. Where are we going to get enough spiders for that?"

I looked at Remus expectantly and he smiled a little, "Do they need to be real spiders?"

James looked at him confused but I smiled widely. "No. What's your plan?" I asked.

He smiled slyly and said, "Well, I just found a new spell in a book that lets you display illusions that will last for hours. We can use that to show a room full of spiders and the best part will be, they won't even be real."

"Why would that be better?" Peter asked.

"Because if they aren't real there can be as many as we want and they won't die even if they hit them. More will just keep reappearing. Plus we'll probably get in less trouble if were caught."

"You're a genius, Remus," James said smiling.

"Let's go then," I said getting up from my bed.

"What?" Remus said, "But Sirius, it's really late. We can just do it tomorrow."

"I can't wait that long."

"Neither can I," James put in.

"Well, alright. Only because we don't have classes tomorrow," Remus said as Peter put on his shoes. James was rummaging through his trunk and took out the invisibility cloak. He pulled it over himself and waved for us to join him underneath it and we were on our way.

We reached the dungeons with no problem but quickly found ourselves lost. "I told you that it was the other way, James," I said angrily.

James didn't say anything but kept walking in the same direction. "James! We're going the wrong way! Let's just turn around."

"No, this is the right way."

"No, it isn't."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No"

"Guys, shut it for a minute, will you? I see something," Remus hissed. We quieted down and looked ahead.

"How can you see anything? It's really dark," I asked.

"See right there," Remus said, pointing to one of the walls. I looked over and pointed my lit wand at the wall. A large painting of fruits was there and I looked at Remus stunned.

"So? Who cares? It's just some fruits."

"Why would there be a portrait of fruits in the dungeons?" he asked walking out from under the cloak and towards the painting.

"Remus. You're going to get us caught," Peter said nervously. Remus ignored him though and looked curiously at the painting. He took out his wand and started poking it.

"Remus," I said loudly, "This is ridiculous! You're wasting time!"

"There is something strange about this portrait," he said, looking at it some more.

I walked out from under the cloak to and James followed me. "What do you expect it to be, Remus, a secret passageway? Maybe it'll open if you poke the banana," I said and poked the banana, "Oh no, nothing happened. Maybe if I scratch the apple? Sorry no, luck again. I know! I bet it's tickling the pear!" I reached out and tickled the pear. I almost screamed when the portrait opened and led into a dark room. I turned and looked at Remus, who was laughing with James.

"You should have seen your face," James laughed.

"Classic," Remus put in.

"Shut up," I said walking into the darkened room. As soon as I set foot inside the lights came on and I heard Remus and James gasp behind me.

"Wow," Peter said bringing up the rear and finally taking off the cloak. We were standing in the kitchens and a house elf was already in front of me.

"May I help you, sir?" he said happily.

"Wow, a house elf," Remus said from behind me.

"Yeah," I said uncertainly, "Can you get me some butterbeer maybe?"

"Certainly, sir." He was gone in a second and I turned to my three friends.

"This is awesome," I said simply.

"Definitely. Imagine how much trouble we can get into now," James said.

The elf was back and handed us all a butter beer. "Thank you," I said. "Do Hogwarts students come down here a lot?"

"No, sir. I have never seen a Hogwarts student down here before now."

"Wicked," James said loudly.

"Well, I'm hungry, guys. Can you get me some pumpkin pie?" I said eagerly.

"I want some chocolate cake, "Remus added.

"I want some more butterbeer," James said.

The elf bowed deeply and in a second ten more house elves had appeared preparing our food. One house elf hurriedly handed James six more bottles of butter beer and two elves gave Remus his chocolate cake. Last came my pumpkin pie and when they handed it to me, they all smiled and one of them said, "Can we get you anything else, sirs?"

"No, that's fine, thanks," I said and walked out of the kitchen.

"That is so cool," James said once we were outside, "We're the only Hogwarts students who know how to get into the kitchens!"

"I'm guessing that we'll prank the Slytherins some other night," Remus said.

"I guess so. I don't think we could sneak in there without being noticed now," I said. We walked back to the Tower quietly and carefully and we were almost there when Filch's nasty cat stuck her neck out and meowed loudly.

"Bloody hell," I said loudly.

"Run," James said. We ran all the way up another flight of steps but Peter started to slow down. "Come on, Pete," James pleaded look back at Peter.

"I can't run anymore. Can't we just hide under the cloak?"

"We'll never fit," Remus said.

"Move, Peter," I yelled. I could see Filch coming up the stairs quickly behind us. We were caught and I knew it.

"Mr. Potter, Black, Lupin and Pettigrew I knew you were still lurking around. Back to my office now," Filch said when he reached us. We shuffled back to his office quietly and sat down in four chairs once we got inside. He glared at us and said, "You've been caught twice in one night out after curfew. Hopefully you'll be suspended. I'll call Dumbledore," he started to turn away when he noticed the pies and butter beer we had. "I can't believe it. You're bloody thieves, pirates, marauders! You wait until the Headmaster finds out about this! You'll be expelled."

I wasn't listening to him anymore as he ranted. All I could think about was what he had just called us. Marauders. It was perfect; it was what I had been waiting for. Filch told us that we had a week's detention each and that 100 points would be taken from Gryffindor, but I didn't care. As soon as we were out of his office I said, "That's it."

My three friends turned and looked at me startled and I said, "I got it! We can call ourselves the Marauders."

They all smiled widely and James said, "That's great. The Marauders terrorize Hogwarts. I can see it now. We'll be infamous."

Remus and Peter nodded and I smiled, "So, who's our first victim?"

"The Slytherins," we all said together.

Early the next morning we wandered down to the dungeons and snuck into the Slytherins' common room. James and Peter went up to the boys' dorm while Remus and I went to the girls' dorm. Remus did the spell, making sure most of the spiders were around Bella's bed, and then I hung up a banner we had made the previous night. It changed colors and flashed brightly. I smiled, reading the sign one last time before leaving the room. "Good Night, don't let the bed bugs bite! Courtesy of The Marauders."

We were eating breakfast in the Great Hall when Bella came running in, screaming, and said her dorm was full of spiders. We tried not to laugh too hard at her terrified face. I noticed Dumbledore look over at the four of us as he left the room, going to the Slytherins' dorms. Once he was gone we broke into hysterical laughter. James was practically crying and Remus looked liked he was trying to keep his composure. "We have to do another prank again, tonight," James said.

Remus suddenly stopped laughing and said, "I can't."

"Why not?" I asked.

Remus looked nervous for a second and then said, "I have to visit my mum. She's sick."

"Dumbledore will let you leave? She must be really sick," James said.

"Yeah, she's in St. Mungo's. My dad sent me a letter yesterday telling me."

"What 's wrong with her?" I asked.

"Ummm, I don't really know. My dad didn't say."

"Oh, ok. I hope she gets better soon," I said. I gave James a questioning look and he shook his head. Remus was obviously hiding something from us. I was distracted quickly though when the owl post came and I saw my father's owl coming towards me. It dropped a letter on my lap and flew away. I opened and read:

Dear Sirius,

I hope your school year is going well so far. I am writing to say your mother and I will not be able to pick you up at King's Cross for Christmas break. Your Aunt will be picking you up along with your cousins and bringing you home. We will talk once you get here.

Sincerely,

Your father

P.S: I am aware of all the trouble you have been getting into with your mudblood and blood traitor friends and I am not pleased. We will talk more about this problem.

"Damn," I said.

What," James asked and I handed him the letter. Peter and Remus read it over his shoulder and James looked up at me sadly. "Tough luck, mate."

"I don't know what's worse, the fact I have to go home with Bella and Narcissa or that my dad says we have to 'talk,'" I said sadly.

"Oh well, we don't have to worry about that yet. It's still November. Maybe you can come and visit James, Peter and I so that you don't have to be in your house so much," Remus said looking sympathetically at me.

"Yeah, maybe," I said miserably.

James was about to say something but was cut off as Professor McGongall came up behind him. "The Mauraders, I presume," she said, her voice laced with sarcasm.

James gave her his most innocent smile and said, "May we help you, Professor?"