I followed Alice and Naomi down the crowded corridor. Dinner had just ended so the entirety of the Hogwarts population was mulling around the castle. It had been a long day and my back was aching, however they wouldn't let me go to bed. Alice said that we had "important business" to take care of tonight. I tried to fight her but it was useless because she grabbed me by the arm and forced me to follow.

"Where are we going?" I whined.

"I told you tonight is the night, Emily. We can't afford to waste time. Pick up your feet!" Naomi smiled and forged ahead. She nearly mowed over a tiny first year.

"Watch out," I said to her but she didn't listen.

"You've got to promise not to tell anyone about this, you hear?" Alice replied.

"That won't be a problem. I don't know what 'this' is! You guys are being mean and refusing to tell me anythi-"

Naomi suddenly dissapeared around a corner and I was jerked around that same corner into an empty hallway. Alice slapped her hands over my face and Naomi signaled me to shut up. I didn't know what was going on except that Alice's hands were sweaty, it was dark and I was scared. I tried to verbalize these thoughts but Alice just pushed her sweaty palms further into my flesh.

Naomi started down the desolate corridor as Alice began to inch backwards, forcing me along with her. About halfway down the hall shifted from dark to pitch black and I figured that it was safe to assume that they were going to murder me. I whispered through her hands, "Are you guys going to kill me-"

"Shhh!" they hissed and flung their bodies against the wall thus carrying mine with them. Alice removed one hand from my face and reached into her robes for her wand. I heard voices coming from the other side of the hall. They must have realized we were there because after a moment they fell silent as well.

And we were both silent for a good thirty seconds. I was wondering who would speak first until Naomi answer my question.

"Neptune, Teacup and Mistletoe! Reveal yourselves!" she whispered loud enough for them to hear.

"Boomslang, Oxford, King Arthur and Walnut!" came a voice from the end of the hall.

"I said my name was Dragonheart!" came another voice.

"What's going on? What's Mistletoe? And where are we going?!"

"Shut up, Walnut," the first voice said. "Ladies, please proceed down the corridor." Alice and Naomi each grabbed one of my arms and dragged me down the pitch black hall towards.

"I don't want to go guys! They're gonna kill me! You're trying to kill me-"

"Don's worry Emily, it's just us," said a new voice that I could now identify as Remus Lupin.

"Lumos," the other, unknown voice whispered, now standing right in front of me. Light poured out of the stranger's wand so that I could now identify the stranger as none other than Sirius Black and beside him stood the rest of the Marauders; James Potter, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew.

"You've got to be kidding me! Sirius, what are you doing-"

"Hush, dearest Emily. All will be explained soon, I promise." A mischievous smile danced on his lips. "Tonight my name is King Arthur and yours is Mistletoe. It is important that you use the proper code names tonight. Our mission is top secret. Do you understand? Good. We've got Alice as Neptune and Naomi as Teacup, respectively. Peter is Boomslang, Remus is Oxford and James is Walnut."

"Dragonheart!" James demanded.

"Call yourself whatever you like, Walnut," Sirius said. He turned back to me, "Sorry to scare you before but your friends were afraid if we told you that you wouldn't come. And what a shame that would be, love." He winked at me. I felt my cheeks turn red. "But now you're here and I can promise that if you are murdered tonight it will not be by me."

"What are you talking about?" I cried.

"He's just being an idiot Emily, don't listen to him." Remus Lupin gave me a comforting smile.

"Hurtful, Remus. Hurtful." Sirius shook his head.

"Its almost time, Sirius." Naomi demanded.

"Time for what!?" I demanded. No one answered.

"Alright, let us forge ahead my dear friends." Sirius turned right and we all followed him down another dark corridor. By now my eyes had adjusted enough to somewhat see where we were headed. As we crept deeper into the castle the walls were looking less and less familiar. I find it strange that after seven years in this castle there are still corners of it I have never seen. However, I had a feeling that would change tonight.

The seven of us arrived in an empty classroom I had never seen before about ten minutes later. In the room were a bunch of other familiar-looking seven years. My friend Elisa from Hufflepuff was sitting in the corner with a very pretty blonde girl I didn't know. A girl who was sometimes my lab partner was chatting excitedly with a few Ravenclaw boys. And among them was John Wiley. My heart fluttered a little.

"Did you know he would be here?" I asked Alice quietly while nodding to John. Alice and Naomi were the only two people in Hogwarts who knew of my crush.

"No I did not," Alice said with a smile. I bit my tongue to keep from smiling.

"Um, once again...WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE!?" I yelled and everyone's heads turned towards me.

"Ah yes, excellent question Emily or should I say Mistletoe!" Sirius was standing on a chair in the center of the room. Everyone's attention shifted from me to him. "Friends, familiar faces, fine ladies, please lend me your ears-"

"Filch!" James whisper-shouted from the door. He had a pair of Transparascopes that allowed him to see through the wooden door without opening it.

"No one move!" Remus replied as he quickly shut off the lights. Everyone stayed perfectly still and silent until James gave the all-clear. Sirius resumed his position atop the chair.

"We have gathered here tonight to take part in a secret Hogwarts tradition as old as the castle itself." Remus snorted. I thought it was funny too. That is, we both knew the school had been built over two thousand years ago. It says so in Hogwarts, A History. "Don't be a smart-ass Remus. I mean...Oxford. As I was saying, I was appointed to choose the finest seventh year students this school knows. And looking at all you mischievous little monsters I do not think I could have done a better job." I followed his eyes to the very pretty blonde girl Elisa had been talking to before.

"Can you just get on with it, Black!" Naomi shouted angrily.

"Right! My friends tonight is the infamous secret Hogwarts scavenger hunt!" He cried. And at this point I was still very confused. All of that abuse from my friends before had been about some silly game? "Now the tradition goes that one student is chosen from the prior year of students to assemble a group of worthy scavengers. That part has been taken care of already," I looked around the room again, this time noticing that there were no representatives from Slytherin. "And from there we are to split into teams of two."

"Sirius-"

"King Arthur."

"This doesn't sound like a good idea. We're going to get caught," I said. Filch almost caught us about five minutes ago! What is he thinking?

"Emily, have no fear. This game has been happening for years and have you ever heard a word about it?" Sirius raised his dark eyebrows at me.

"Well, no...but all the more reason to-"

"Exactly. Now Boomslang, do you have the names?" he motioned to Peter Pettigrew who had been setting awkwardly in the corner.

"Everyone pick one and find you're partner," he said quickly as he pulled a bag from his pocket. I know its rude to say, but Peter was strange. And even though I still wasn't sold sold on the idea of the scavenger hunt I really hoped he wouldn't be on my team. I walked forward and waited beside Alice and Naomi.

"Excited, Emily?" Naomi was clearly excited. She was almost bouncing on her toes.

"How long did you know about this? Why didn't you guys tell me?" I demanded.

"Sirius told us last week," Naomi answered.

"And we didn't think you'd come if we told you about it," Alice gave a small smile.

"You're right," I said, somewhat annoyed. I'm not a fan of getting in trouble. Had I known that I was being dragged to what is apparently 'the biggest mess of trouble of the year', I wouldn't have allowed it.

"Well, now you're here and we're gonna have fun! You'll see," Alice squealed. "And besides, Sirius really wanted you to come," she added.

"Why?"

"He didn't say," she replied.

"He probably thinks you're hot," Naomi smiled.

"Ew, that's ridiculous." The thought of being with Sirius Black was enough to make one sick. Sure, he was attractive and athletic and bright and all, but he was the biggest player I had ever known. He'd flirt with any girl who had a beating heart.

"What would she care anyways?" Alice teased, "She's only got eyes for-"

"John!" came a loud squawk. "You're my partner!" My head whipped around in horror. Olivia Dashling was skipping over to John Wiley and my heart sunk.

Olivia Dashling was my 'worst enemy' I suppose. She was a fellow Ravenclaw and we had been competing ever since our first day in Hogwarts. Competing with everything that is; grades, quidditch, who could hang off a tree branch longer (that did happen, actually. I won.) But lately our feud had turned to boys. And one boy in particular; John Wiley.

I had liked John ever since I made it on to the quidditch team last year. He had been the Ravenclaw Keeper since fourth year and I was a Chaser (the only female on the team, I might mention, until stupid Olivia Dashling made this year...). We became friends and started studying together and he'd even eat with my friends and I at lunch sometimes. He was perfect; smart, cute, talented, charming and more. Then, he was appointed the Ravenclaw prefect and much to my anger Olivia beat me for the girl position. And then they started hanging out too, and she'd rub it in my face whenever she got the chance and uggghhh!

"Emily, your turn," Peter refused to make eye contact. I reached my hand into the bag. I was sad because now John couldn't be my partner. But at least I wouldn't have to deal with Olivia. I hoped I wouldn't be with Peter, or Sirius. Oh, this is just going to be horrible! I know it! I picked out a piece of paper and read the name.

"Oxford?" I said. "Who's that again?"

"Emily," I turned to see Remus Lupin smiling next to me.

"Oh, right!" I said, slightly comforted. Remus was smart, and not as much of a jerk as Sirius or James. If I had to be paired with any of the Marauders, I'm glad it was him.

"Great! All the pairs have been made!" Sirius cried. I looked around the room to see the other pairs. Sirius was standing next to the pretty, blonde girl. Quite a coincidence I suppose. Naomi was paired with James Potter, while Alice stood next to some Hufflepuff whose name I didn't know. My friend, Elisa was paired with Peter Pettigrew. My heart fell once again when I was Olivia standing much to close to John on the other side of the room. And other than that there were about four other pairs of familiar faces. I began to wonder if this was a contest.