Marauder means friends for life

Chapter 1

Painting the Dungeons Red…

The Marauders had been trying to render Minerva McGonagall speechless since their first meeting with her, and she knew it. But nothing can silence the infamous bellow that is McGonagall catching pupils out after hours. And this is where our story begins…

Our four mischief makers (also known as the Marauders) had been caught red handed. No really, McGonagall had caught them painting the corridor leading up to the Slytherin common room crimson and gold.

As Sirius had said good-naturedly to their head of house when she had finished her longwinded lecture, they were simply 'showing house cheer - by painting the town red…' with paint that only stayed Red and Gold when Gryffindor won. If they lost, then it turned pink with white polka dots…

They had been given two nights detentions with McGonagall to be held on Thursday and Friday. James had asked vaguely if this was because the Gryffindor vs. Slytherin Quidditch match was on Saturday. He suspected that she didn't want to ruin their chances at the Quidditch cup. But they all knew the real reason. The full moon was this Sunday… and that of course meant that Remus would be 'busy' that night. McGonagall didn't want to give anything away, in case the three other Marauders didn't know about their friends… condition.

So enough of an authors raving… on with the story…

The Marauders were in their second detention on Friday, and it was BORING! It would've been more fun to watch the paint down in the dungeons dry.

James Potter sighed as he wrote lines on a piece of parchment.

I will not paint the Dungeon corridors Red and Gold… or pink with white polka dots.

That had been a pure stroke of genius on Remus' part. He glanced at his watch… only four more minutes to go. Three… two… one…

"YES!!!" Sirius jumped up out of his seat and ran to the front of the Transfiguration classroom and knelt down before McGonagall's desk. "Please oh great one! I humbly beg your forgiveness and, if I should be unsuccessful, I shall wear my uniform backwards for the rest of the week!"

This had become a sort of ritual for the Marauders, and (much to her disliking) McGonagall. When ever Sirius had detention with the head of Gryffindor, it always ended like this. Sirius would beg for forgiveness, and proclaimed that he would do something extremely strange for the remainder of the week if he did not receive it. Each time as Sirius left the detention McGonagall would say "you're forgiven Black. And please don't do…" what ever it was he was going to do that week. It was quite entertaining when McGonagall purposely didn't say he was forgiven, just to see Sirius walk around in a magenta uniform and pink bunny slippers for a week. She had even gotten pictures put in the school newsletter.

Remus shook his head and grabbed Sirius by the collar and pulled him towards the exit still screaming "do you forgive me Minnie?"

James chuckled as McGonagall sighed and called back. "I forgive you Black, for the one thousand and thirty sixth time, might I add."

"One thousand and Thirty seventh" corrected James as he and Peter made their way after the two melodramatics' in front of them. He shook his head and decided to put an end to the drama. "So how are we going to celebrate Gryffindors success tomorrow?"

"You're very confident Prongs" Remus stated.

"Of course I am; it's only Slytherin we're playing. So Padfoot, Moony, Wormtail? Got any ideas?" this line got their attention quick and they were fast to see through James' false sentence.

"What have you got planned Prongsie?" Sirius questioned happily.

"Oh, I was thinking something along the lines of-" James stopped quite abruptly and Remus turned his attention from his friend to the person in front of them.

"Potter" glared the dark haired, pale Slytherin in front of them. "I hope you and your pathetic cronies are ready to cry over your defeat tomorrow?"

"Snape, I'm not in the mood, ok? Listen, on Saturday come see me. I'll have time to kick your arse then." James said, sounding exasperated. He had been trying to cool down a touch on the Snape beatings, so that Evans would like him. (of course that didn't include pranks)

"Why you little son of a..." said Snape, drawing his wand, but Sirius already had his out.

"Stupefy!" he called out and Snape fell to the ground unconscious. Sirius then proceeded to lock him in a broom closet, and then he and the rest of the Marauders continued to their common room, as though nothing strange had happened, which it hadn't. That was what they would call normal, at least as normal as Sirius could get.

Saturday morning dawned bright and early for two of the quartet. Sirius was awoken by something heavy sitting on his head. Sirius only realized this when he lost the ability to breathe. He pushed the suffocation device that was James' arse off of his face and dragged him self out of bed and into his Quidditch robes, as Remus and Peter began to stir. Sirius picked up his beaters bat and followed James out to the common room. They waited for quarter of an hour before Remus came down the stairs, followed by Peter, who tripped a few stairs from the bottom and landed at James' feet. "I'm ok" he mumbled as James helped him up whilst Sirius and Remus chuckled. The Marauders made their way down to the Great hall, intent on getting some breakfast.

James and Sirius were greeted by cheers from all but the Slytherins. The two waved and smiled cockily and bowed before they sat down with the rest of the Gryffindor team.

After around twenty minutes of trying to eat without puking from nerves, the Gryffindor team stood up and made their way down to the Quidditch pitch.

"Good luck guys!" shouted Remus and Peter as the other two Marauders made their way out of the castle.

Hey this is my first ever MWPP fic, hope you like. I have done a prequel to this called 'Figuring it out' but it is set in 2nd year, 4 years prior to this story. R & R!!! I love you all!