On Friday the ninth of April, Lily Evans fell asleep with her shoes besides the bed. It wasn't because she was planning on a midnight stroll through the dark halls of Hogwarts, but rather because she knew that at some point throughout the next two weeks of the Easter holidays, she would be unceremoniously dragged out of the comfort of her bed. The reason for this came in the form of four over-excited boys who enjoyed tormenting her. So Lily wasn't overly surprised when she woke up early Sunday morning to see James Potter hovering over her bed, sporting terribly messy bed hair and a tired grin.

'Potter?' She asked thickly as she blearily peered up at the enthusiastic boy on the broom above her. She found she was too tired to be self-conscious of her own bedhead, especially since James was unconcerned with his. 'What are you—oh! Is it time?'

'You know it Evans,' James whispered back, reminding her of her roommates sleeping in the other beds. 'Now hurry up and get that perky little ass downstairs so we can get this over with and go back to sleep.'

Lily tiredly flipped him off before sitting up to slip on her shoes and grabbed her oversized jumper off the end of her bed. When she was ready Potter gestured for her to lead the way and she walked down the stair with James flying silently behind her. Entering the common room she saw the three other boys squished onto the couch in front of the fire, facing a single armchair.

'Well lads,' said James flying over to them, 'the guest of honour is here, so I say we get started with. The sooner we get it over with, the sooner I can go back to bed.' He smoothly dismounted the broom and jumped onto the small couch, wedging himself between Remus and a very uncomfortable looking Peter who was pushed up against the side of the couch.

'Yes Lilykins, come, sit and get excited,' said Sirius, enthusiastically gesturing to the chair opposite them. Out of all the boys, he seemed the most awake, grinning at Lily like a madman. She rolled her eyes and sat in the chair, feeling completely unimpressed with the three am wake up call.

'Right,' started Sirius, 'as you know Lily, we are gathered here to organise the annual game of Fetch. Remus the paper please.'

'I don't have it.'

'What do you mean you don't have it? I told you to bring it down.'

'Yes and I thought I did, but as you can see, it's not here.'

'Well where is it?'

'I don't know.'

'Well-'

'If you two are quite done bickering like an old married couple, then you might want to check under your asses, I think I can see some paper underneath Peter,' said Lily exasperated with the knobs sitting across from her. Peter blushed and jumped up quickly, jostling James who had been sleeping on Remus' shoulder. Muttering an apology, Peter quickly grabbed the parchment that had been shoved down the side of the couch and handed it to Sirius.

'Oh,' said Sirius. 'There it is.'

'Yes, sounds like someone owes me an ap-'

'Okay!' said Lily, interrupting the impending argument. 'Can we get on with this? I'd like to get some sleep in the next century.'

'I second Evans' statement; hurry the fuck up,' said James sleepily as he slouched on the couch with his head in his hands. Lily glared at James yet didn't comment on his filthy mouth.

Sirius cleared his throat and unscrolled the parchment. 'Right. So yeah, we're here to plan Fetch. As stated in the contract "Fetch is a game whereby the objective of the four players is to have possession of the baton for the longest amount of time. Only one player is able to possess said baton at any time. The game must be played within the Easter holidays, and the beginning of said game, as well as the running time, is monitored by a game keeper and is unknown to the players. Players are awarded sixty points for every hour spent with the baton, and one hundred and fifty points if they are in possession of the baton when the game ends. Essentially it is a game of hide and seek, whereby whoever hides with the baton the longest, wins." And that my lads and lady, is Fetch,' he ended with a dramatic flourish.

There was a pregnant pause before Remus sat forward, knocking James' arm, whose head once again fell and woke him up. 'Sirius,' started Remus. 'You do realise that we've played this game for four years right? Don't you think we already know the rules?'

'Well yes but-'

'Also could we please stop referring to me as the baton?' Interrupted Lily.

'But that's what you are!'

'It makes me sound like an inanimate object.'

'Well if the shoe fits.'

'Guys!' Growled James. 'I'm not sure if you're doing this just because you want to torture me, but I would really like to get some sleep tonight, so if you could shut your cakeholes and get on with it, that would be fantastic.'

'Well someone isn't a morning person,' grumbled Lily.

'That's because it's three-fucking-thirty in the morning and someone won't let us do this in the boys dormitory,' bit back James.

'Well excuse me for not wanting to spend time in that filth-ridden-'

'Guys!' Remus shouted, suddenly on his feet. 'Arguing is not going to get this over with any faster. James, we get that you're tired, we all are. Suck it up. Lily, stop complaining. Like James said, the sooner we get this done the better.' Having said his bit, Remus sat back down, ignoring the glares that he was receiving from James and Lily.

'I don't see why we have to do this in the first place,' piped up Peter.

'Because it's tradition Pete, we've done it like this every year,' replied Sirius, who was not at all impressed with the lack of enthusiasm.

'Every year except the first one, when you ambushed me,' said Lily.

'Oh right, I forgot about that one.'

'Lucky you,' replied Lily coolly as she remembered how she'd been unwillingly dragged around the castle in her second year.

'Right, ah well, moving on. Pete do you want to give us the tally?' Sirius asked, avoiding Lily's stink eye and handing the worn scroll to Peter.

'Oh yeah, sure. Just… hang on,' he nervously fiddled with the parchment. 'Oh right, there it is. Okay, the tally stands as; myself with zero games-'

'Good effort there Wormy,' mumbled James.

'Oh piss off Prongs. So I'm on zero, Remus and James, you both have one game each. And our current leader is Sirius, with two games.'

'Whoop whoop! Damn right bitches, Sirius Black is smoking your arses!' Lily watched in amusement as Sirius jumped up and started enthusiastically waving his bum in front of his unfortunate friends.

'Oh sod off Padfoot,' said Remus with a laugh before shoving him back on the couch. 'It's only by one game, and I'm pretty sure you cheated last year.'

'I did not! There was no rule that said I wasn't allowed to hide in the room of requirement.'

'That's because we didn't know the room existed until then.'

'Oh hush, you're just mad because you didn't think of it yourself.'

'Speaking of rules, we've got to read out the new ones. Moony, wanna take it away?' Asked Peter, handing the scroll to Remus.

'Alright. Just the usual rules; no intentionally seriously hurting or maiming anyone, including the baton and other students. No leaving school grounds, no conspiring with one another to win, no damaging the school and no bribing the game keeper to reveal information about the time frame. Lily must be kept comfortable; pretty much if she needs something, you get it for her. Every other rule pretty much falls under all that. If you want to know more, look at the parchment yourself. Right! New rules; no going into the room of requirement, no dressing up house elves – no matter how willing they are – and no hiding in Dumbledore's office, and that goes for you too Sirius.'

'Please, like I'll do that again, I had to clean Myrtle's toilets without magic for detention!'

'Serves you right. Now, Lily, before you go any further, we need you to solemnly swear that any marauder secrets you currently know and may find out will be kept secret.'

'Seriously? I do this every year, and I've never told a soul about the map, the cloak or your furry little problem Remus,' huffed Lily, slightly offended that they still didn't trust her, despite her willingly going along with the whole ridiculous game every year.

'Sorry Lilykins,' said Sirius. 'We just have to absolutely sure.'

'Fine. I solemnly swear that I will not reveal any marauder secrets. I also solemnly swear to obey all rules of Fetch.'

'Fantastic. Now one more thing, then we can all go back to bed.'

'Thank Merlin,' muttered Peter. Lily looked over at him to see that James had nodded off on his shoulder and appeared to be drooling on Peter's pyjama shirt.

'Okay,' began Sirius. 'As per usual, every gets one object to help them in the game. Peter, since you lost in the last game, you get to choose first.'

'Oh right. Umm… I'll take the cloak thanks.'

"Ah,' said Sirius. 'I wanted the cloak you little rat, Pete.' If Lily had of been more awake, she would have wondered why the three boys (minus James who was still asleep) were giggling at what Sirius said. 'Anyways, Remus. You're next. What do you want?'

'I'll take the polyjuice potion.'

'Oh good choice Moony. So that must mean it's James next,' he looked over to the sleeping boy, pulling a face when he saw the pool of drool on Peter's shoulder. 'James! Hey!' He shook his arm roughly, waking him.

'What the fuck do you want Padfoot?' James growled, sitting up and wiping his chin with as much dignity as possible. Next to him Peter attempted to peel his wet shirt away from his skin.

'Wow and I thought Remus was the beast,' said Lily sarcastically.

'Oh he is,' replied Sirius. 'But James is the beast in bed,' he said, giving an over exaggerated wink to Lily. She rolled her eyes in return, not bothering to dignify that statement with a reply. 'Anyway, James, it's your turn to pick your item. Two way mirrors or magical knife?'

'Mirrors.'

'Fantastic. Are we done now?' Asked Sirius.

'I think so!' Remus jumped up. 'Oh wait, I almost forgot.' He fished around in his pocket before producing four brightly coloured bracelets. 'As always, don't lose these. They will heat up at the beginning of the game and whenever the baton…' he glanced at Lily, '- passes hands. It will grow cold to signal the end of Fetch. I suggest you put them on now as the game could start at any time within the next week.'

'Are we done now?' Asked Peter.

'I think so.'

'Thank fuck,' said James, standing up abruptly and stretching, not caring that half his stomach muscles were showing as he did so. Not that Lily was looking. He grabbed his broom and stalked up to the sixths years' dormitory without looking back.

'Not really a morning person is he?' snorted Lily as she too got up and walked towards the dormitory stairs.

'Mmm,' groaned Sirius, slowly getting up from the couch. 'He probably won't even remember this by tomorrow.'

'Ha, have fun with that. Well, this has been fun boys – well not really – but I'm gonna hit the sack and try to get a few more hours sleep. Goodnight.'

'Want some company?' Grinned Sirius. Lily laughed and flipped him off, her thoughts already on her warm four poster bed upstairs.