A/N: Hello again all. Sorry it took so long, but along with the stories I have under my name, I am also working along side knightblazer85 on two YuGiOh! fics. Not to mention that he, I, and another author named Padawan Lynn are working on a Harry Potter/Star Wars crossover called Jedi Wizard. That and the rekindling of my other HP story, Harry Potter and the Hidden War, and this story was unfortunately put on the back burner. Now that everything is going smoothly, its back, with Chapter Three. Enjoy!

!CHALLENGE! I made a mistake. I had meant to change the wording of the last challenge, but forgot to. It was not the potion, but rather an ingredient in it that was important. That is why I am holding that challenge over. The FIRST, and only the first, to tell me what the significance is of Abraxan feathers will receive the chapter a day early.

Peace and Out,

Pwn Master Paladin

Chapter Three: Marauders Reborn

Sometimes Harry wondered why he had agreed to go back to school. The war had been over, hell; the good guys had WON for God's sake. But nnnnnnnnnnoooooooooo. He had to play the hero again and go back to "fix the future." Now that was all well and good, but he had forgotten. Going back in time meant going back to school. Once again, that shouldn't have been a problem. If he had wanted, Harry would have been able to take his N.E.W.T.s the day he had come back, probably gotten EE or O on all of them. But of course, he hadn't. He wanted to stay with his friends and make sure they were safe. And the classes weren't even hard. No, the real problem was that he was bored out of his mind.

"AHH! I can't take it anymore!" Harry closed the book and got up. "I'm going for a fly, anybody want to join me?"

"Of course we do! Anything to get away from these blasted books."

"Ron! We need to study. The exams are coming up soon and-"

"Bloody hell woman. The exams aren't for ages. Come on, give us a break."

"Oh…fine. But if you're up all night the day before it is due, you aren't even going to get a LOOK at my work."

"Yes Hermione." Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Neville chorused. As Ron went to grab the twins, Harry turned to Hermione. "Besides, I'm already done; I was working on something else."

"What?"

"Now that would be telling." Seeing Hermione about to start a rant, Harry stuck his wand out of a window. "Accio Firebolt!" When the broom was waiting, Harry turned back to Hermione. "Bye!"

"HARRY JAMES POTTER!"

As Harry flew off to the pitch, he smiled. "That's why I came back."

HPHPHPHPHP

Time went on for the Marauders. Severus had finished the potion and now was the time to get the newest generation of pranksters their names. That was how Harry and his friends found themselves sitting in the potions classroom, waiting for the potion to take effect. Unlike Harry, who had already known what his forms where, this potion changed the people into their animal forms for an hour. Then it all it required was practice. When Sirius, James, and Peter had done it, they had taken three years, but that was without help. After all, you don't go to a teacher to ask them to help you when you are doing something illegal. With the help of three adults, two of which were an Animagus (Snape was a snake); they should be done within a month.

"Harry, how long does the potion take to work?"

"About five minutes."

"But shouldn't I already…" with a small pop, Ron Weasley was no longer sitting there. In his place was a red-furred fox, tail flipping in the wind. Its blue eyes stared around, before he began running around in joy.

The rest of the group soon followed. In the twins' place where two twin raccoons, red furs just like the fox. Hermione, who had decided that she didn't care if it broke the rules; she wanted to do it, landed on the top of the potions cabinet. A brown feathered owl, she found that she did enjoy flying, just not with a broom.

Neville was perhaps the most shocking. In his place was a panther. Its skin was so black that it seemed to melt into the shadows. A low growl escaped his throat, and then he began slinking around the room, chasing after the twins and Ron. He kept control of the animal, but it was fun to scare them a little.

Last but not least was Ginny. That she was a flying animal, no one doubted would occur. The only person that loved flying more than she did was Harry. But the majestic form she took stole the breath of the others, even Harry, who had known what to expect. A brilliant red and brown feathered Royal Eagle, wingspan stretching about 6 meters total, sat on the desk where Ginny had been. Sever opened the window, and she jumped out, spreading her wings and giving a screech in delight. Hermione joined her, hooting all the while.

Harry decided to join them, and transformed into his second of three forms. He had the Tiger shape for travel and fighting on land, but for travel in the air, he had his Phoenix form. With a burst of song, Harry transformed. The Phoenix stretched his wings, his red and gold feathers with streaks of black casting a sharp relief against the dungeons. With a burst of flame he disappeared outside of the walls and reappeared between the other two. A second burst of flame and Fawkes appeared. He spoke to Harry in the language of the Phoenix.

"Hello hatchling. It has been a long time since we last spoke."

"Indeed it has Fawkes. Now that I can say it properly, thank you."

"For what, hatchling?"

"For bringing the hat to me and helping me in the Chamber of Secrets."

"It is nothing, my friend. You needed my help, so I was there, simple as that."

For the next half hour was spent flying and singing, enjoying the feel of the air. Then the group split up, Hermione and Ginny both flying back through the window and into the dungeons, and Harry and Fawkes flaming away. The flare travel was brilliant, but it consumed a lot of energy. Luckily for Harry, he had plenty to spare. Once everyone was back, Harry changed into a human form again.

"Well Mr. Padfoot, Mr. Moony, have you thought of any names for the rest?"

"A few. Since Snape over there is now on the Marauder side, we decided to give him a name as well. How does "Mr. Slick" sound to you?"

"Are you going by his animagus form or his hair, Moony?"

"Shut up, Black. I like it." Said greasy haired potions master transformed and joined the others on the floor, slithering around.

"Sounds good to me, Moony." Harry picked up the list they had made and turned back to the group. "Hum…Talon for Ginny and Wise for Hermione." Twin screeches answered this. "Those are approved. Then for Neville…Sneak?"

"He blends so well into the shadows that it seemed appropriate." Sirius decided that he wanted to have some fun too and the Grim-like dog went chasing after the panther.

"Mangy mutt. Any ideas for the others, Moony?"

"Not really. What about you?" Moony, of course, knew that Harry already knew what the names were, but this way it looked like it was on the spot.

"Well…" Harry turned to the twin raccoons that were sitting together on the desk. "How about Para and Dox for the twins?" Fred and George showed their agreement by jumping up and scampering around the table. "And for Ron, how about Sly? He is a fox after all."

"Mr. Moony agrees with Mr. Hunter on the names, and if Mr. Padfoot and Mr. Slick would quit making idiots of themselves on the floor, could hear their opinions."

"Mr. Padfoot also agrees and would like to point out that he can still kick Mr. Moony's arse any day of the week."

"Mr. Slick highly doubts that Mr. Padfoot could ever kick anyone's butt, let alone Mr. Moony's. And he agrees with Mr. Hunter."

"Mr. Hunter agrees with the new names chosen by the others and suggests they plan a way to inaugurate these new Marauders."

With another pop, Harry realized that the hour was up, and turned to see the twins with a malicious glint in their eye. He shivered, remembering just where he had learned "the look" from before.

"Mr. Para-"

"And Mr. Dox-"

"Quite right, would like to suggest-"

"We prank the teachers-"And so it went. The new Marauders planned the day out, and began the enchantments and potions that would be required. Tomorrow morning would be…interesting.

HPHPHPHPHP

Harry sat down with the Weasleys, Hermione, and Neville the next morning, eagerly awaiting the prank. A low rumble of thunder sounded again, and the students and teachers, seeing the sky was clear outside again, turned their heads to the enchanted ceiling, awaiting the next proclamation from the Marauders. Sure enough, they were not disappointed.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! We, the Marauders, would like to begin our new reign on the right foot."

"Because the left one is just awkward."

"Thank you, Mr. Dox. As I was saying, we are proud to present, the first ever MARAUDER WAR!"

"What might that be Mr. Hunter?"

"That Mr. Para, is what I was about to say."

"So shut up and let him get to it would you?"

"Thank you, Mr. Sly. Anyway, as I was saying. The Marauder War is the Prank War to end all Prank Wars, but it is not us who shall be doing the pranking."

"It's not?"

"Alas, Mr. Padfoot, it is not."

"Then who is it?"

"Mr. Moony, that is the brilliance of this. It is the students!"

"Indeed Mr. Slick, it is. That is right Hogwarts. You, the students are being encouraged to pull pranks on each other and the teachers, in an effort to gain glory and prestige!"

"But won't the teachers punish them for that Mr. Sneak?"

"Quite right Ms Talon. I wonder how we shall get around that."

"Why with a prize of course!"

"Ms. Wise is indeed correct. Students, this prank war shall last for one month, from today. The winner/winners will receive a grand prize of 100 Galleons, to use as they see fit."

"There are a few rules in this war however. Quidditch teams are off-limits during practices and games. Now, all other times they are fair game."

"The hospital wing is strictly off-limits, as Madam Pomfrey will probably need to reverse a lot of hexes and curses."

"Lastly, but most importantly, we are not looking for quantity. If one team pulls off one hundred average pranks, and one person pulls off one amazing one, the one prank will win.

"So get planning pranksters. And to the teachers..."

"Get ready for the most hair-pulling month of your life."

The Marauders.

As the words finished scrolling across the ceiling and things returned to normal, the students were stunned, then the whispers started. It seemed that the groups were already being formed, and Hogwarts was in for quite a month.

A/N Mark 2: The prank war has begun, any I could use ideas. I have a few decided for the students to pull, but the one who gives me the best prank will receive a cameo appearance in the fic.

Peace and Out,

Pwn Master Paladin