Well, here it is. The not-waited-for-at-all sequel to my semi-classic stories, Secrets of Hogwarts and Secrets of Hogwarts 2: The Marauders Return. I've decided to forgo the Secrets of Hogwarts bit when titling this one. Enjoy!

The Next Generation: Marauders ^3

Chapter 1: Prologue

            Twenty-year-old Harry Potter walked slowly up the path to Hogwarts. It had been three years since he graduated, and while various things had kept him away for a while, something had finally happened that required him to return.

            "Let's see if I remember," he thought to himself as he avoided the front doors and instead walked to a slightly secluded area below the greenhouses. Kneeling down beside the wall, he pulled out his wand. A quick "Lumos Rutilus", and a red light shone from the tip of his wand. Harry played the light over the lower half of the wall until it revealed a hidden picture on one of the stones: the Gryffindor lion. Harry tapped the stone and stepped back as the lion roared softly.  The stone grew until it was a few inches taller than Harry, then split in two. Harry walked confidently through the gap and soon found himself just outside Headmaster Dumbledore's office.

            "Come in, Harry" Dumbledore said before Harry even knocked. Harry could only shake his head in surprise. In the nine years he had known Albus Dumbledore, the man had never seemed to lose his powers in any way. Despite his appearance, he didn't even seem to age.

            Harry pushed open the door and stepped into Dumbledore's office.  The pictures of past headmasters and headmistresses all smiled at him, as did Dumbledore. Harry smiled as he walked up to Dumbledore's desk and shook his hand.

            "Harry! It's so good to see you…and I see you haven't forgotten any of the secret passages in this castle." His eyes, slightly faded from age, still managed a passable twinkle as Harry smiled.

            "Professor, I have a favor to ask you…" Harry's voice faltered slightly, but Dumbledore knew exactly what he wanted to ask.

            "I assume this has something to do with young Richard? I remember seeing him in the hospital…he has your eyes." Harry smiled.

            "Yes sir, I know. Besides the fact that I'd like his name to be down for Hogwarts when he's old enough, there's the…other thing. You know, the thing my father set up for me?" Dumbledore became silent for a few seconds.

            "Of course his name is down…I made sure to do it as soon as he was born.  And as much as your second idea intrigues me, Harry, I am not entirely sure that it would be proper." Harry's face immediately fell.

            "However," and at this Harry looked up hopefully, "It would be rather amusing to see another generation of Marauders at Hogwarts. Of course I must never let on that I know. I also assume that he will become an Animagus, correct?"

            "Well sir, it's his choice…I'll certainly encourage it, considering the positive side effects it's had for me, Ron, and Hermione." Harry considered for a second. "Speaking of which, I've got to go get them! I'm going to need help setting these charms in place." A thought seemed to occur to him. "Professor? How did my parents know I would be a Gryffindor, and therefore know which bedpost to put the Marauder crest on?"

            It was the only time Harry ever saw Professor Dumbledore look confused. Ever.

            "Believe it or not, Harry, I don't know. It may be that your parents simply assumed that the son of two Gryffindors would be a Gryffindor. That's the only viable solution I can think of. If it was just a guess, it was an extremely lucky one."  Harry nodded.

            "Well, I guess we'll just have to assume the same, since all four of us are Gryffindors.  Professor, I can't thank you enough!" Harry shook Dumbledore's hand happily. "Shall we all meet here, say tomorrow?"

            Dumbledore nodded. "Tomorrow will do fine, Harry." He smiled as Harry walked out, turning to Fawkes with a slightly ashamed expression on his face.

            "Another generation of prank-pulling, troublemaking Marauders…Tell me, old friend, why do I keep allowing this kind of thing at Hogwarts?" Fawkes seemed more preoccupied with not falling off his perch than answering the question. Dumbledore swiveled around slowly in his seat, laughing softly to himself.

            "Still, it will be fun to watch…I can only imagine who will be pranked first."

            He found out eleven years later…

(A/N: Well, that's the beginning. It took me like three weeks to write too. I was preoccupied with a lot of other stuff. Anyway, read and review!)