Chapter Two:
"And as most of you already know, the forbidden forest is forbidden to all students." Dumbledore was giving his usual after dinner speech, but the marauders were scarcely paying attention.
"Now?" asked Peter nervously.
"Almost." James replied. "In five, four, three, two, one, go!" At that moment, Dumbledore sprouted feathers and a beak. Not only that, but he rapidly changed shape into a flamingo.
Dumbledore was not the only person changing. All of the Professors had become birds of various types. Windol had becom a raven, Flitwick a kiwi (the bird, not the fruit). And McGonagal a chicken.
Tons of fireworks went off, the Slytherins turned gold and red and began dancing ballet, the Hufflepuffs turned into rabbits, the Ravenclaws burst into a moving rendition of the song Henry the Eighth, various Gryffindors turned into monkeys, and a light snowfall began. Scrawled across the ceiling were the words, MARAUDERS STRIKE AGAIN! The floor had also been changed into a trampoline, and the chairs into bean bags. The tables were levitating ten feet off the ground, and food, students and animals were bouncing everywhere.
The marauders had seated themselves in bean bag chairs, and managed to keep from hysterics, when a particularly enraged chicken flew their way and started squawking angrily at them. Moony alone seemed unfazed.
"But Professor McGonagal, there is no way we could have done this. There was not enough time to do something of this magnitude, even if we wanted to put the necessary amount of effort into pulling this off." He asked seriously. "And even if it was us, which it wasn't, you don't actually have any proof. And I don't know why you always throw me in the same category as those three any way, we may be friends, but I certainly don't do these kind of things."
She squawked indignantly.
"Yes, Professor." He said, then, magnifying his voice addressed the school. "Professor McGonagal would like me to all students should report to their respective dorms and stay there, including misters Potter, Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew. As this will likely take time to reverse, classes are canceled until further notice. Prefects may lead the way to the common rooms. Also, whoever is responsible will be given a week of detention when caught. That is all."
It took several weeks for things to return to normal, considering that the infamous marauders would pull another prank as soon as things began to settle down. In fact, the sorting had been three weeks ago, and classes had still not yet started.
"Perhaps we should hold off for a while." Suggested Moony one evening.
"Why?" James wanted to know.
"Well, it is rather disruptive of our learning."
"So?"
"Some of us come to school to learn. Not to mention the fact that with rumours of the Dark Lord multiplying it would be wise to gather as much knowledge as possible in case of the worst happening."
"I guess you're right, even if you are a worrywort and a party pooper."
"At any rate, we're running short of ideas."
"I hate it when you're right." Scowled James.
"So we stop." Said Sirius. "At least until we have a new list of ideas."
"You think He-who-must-not-be-named is causing trouble again?" Peter worried.
"There have been a lot of attacks on muggles lately." Moony pointed out.
"And dad's been awfully busy and cheerful." Sirius added thoughtfully. "He's only cheerful when he's been torturing muggles.
"Oh that's nice." Said James sarcastically.
"No it isn't," said Sirius, "but it's the truth."
"I hope Voldemort isn't up to something." James said. His dad was an Auror, so if Voldemort was up to something, his dad could be in danger.
"Me too." Agreed Peter.
