Sirius' POV:

"That's great Katie. And I think we should be the Marauders!" Remus announced.

"Most Excellent Moony!" I laughed. "Don't you think Prongs?"

"I do Padfoot old pal. What about you Foxy?" James chuckled.

"Honestly Moony, I really wonder how you've made it this far without being a household name!" Katie declared.

Remus blushed.

"It came to me in a dream!" he snickered.

"Merlin's Beard! Moony, you're a GOD!" I hooted.

"You know what? Now we have code names and a crew, I think it's time we got down to what friends do best…. Pranking!" James broadcasted


The next morning we were sat at the breakfast table when a pair of boxer shorts came flying into the great hall.

"HELLO EVERYBODY! I'M LUCIUS MALFOY'S BOXERS! ARENT I SEXY!" They boomed at the top of their pompous voice, perfectly matching said snob.

"Oh my Merlin! Katie you didn't!" I snorted.

"I did!" she howled as a humungous pair of Boys Briefs flew in.

"HELLO! I'M SLUGHORN'S PANTS! WHAT A TURN ON I AM!" They shouted.

The great hall was in uproar. Everyone was crying with laughter.

Malfoy and Slughorn were mortified!

It couldn't have been more hilarious!

"Katie! You're a true genius! This is such a great start to the Slytherin's next 6 years of hell!" James whooped.

"Thank you! Thank you very much!" Katie sniggered as she took her bow.

She didn't even have to worry about being seen by teachers, as it would have been a dead giveaway, as hundreds of students were now on their feet clapping like mad!

"Quieten down! Quieten down please! The culprit will be caught I assure you. And they will be punished most severely!" Dumbledore announced.

As he sat down he threw a knowing wink in our direction.

Good old Dumbledore!


James' POV:

After the uproar in the hall, we were given Potions (Which was first period) off, as Professor Slughorn was so furious, he was considered a danger to students!

The four of us were sitting in our Marauder tree getting into full scheming of our next prank.

"I'm sorry Katie, but I think it has to be Snivilus!" Sirius stated.

Katie sighed. "Oh Padfoot. Couldn't you just try to make an effort with Sev?"

"NO!" us three boys chorused.

Katie heaved another sigh then threw us an impish grin.

"Very well, I know just what to do!" she giggled.

It was the day of the prank! We were all in position.

Just then, as planned, Katie, who had Snivilus in conversation, brought him round the corner.

Sirius hit him with a stunner and hexed him so that he was covered in pink boils! He then stole all his clothes except his boxers and had him under a do-my-bidding hex.

Sniv was then led into the Great Hall where lunch was taking place. The do-my-bidding hex was removed and Sniv suddenly realized what the hell was going on.

He tried to run for the door but I clicked my fingers and it was barred.

Remus then muttered. "Strathlem hippiscus!" and the cameras which had been placed in every angle of the room went off!

The thousands of photographs then fell into the hands of the laughing students.

I clicked my fingers again and Sniv ran back out at full speed!

Hilarious!

Well worth the week of detention from McGonagall!

Great prank!


Remus' POV:

I think Sirius was definitely having the most trouble with all the chilling out and meditation! He just couldn't keep still! He was constantly moving around, getting bored and starting a conversation.

The only thing that was making him persevere and not go insane doing it was the pleading look on Katie's face each time he complained or started muttering.

"Remus! I've done it!" Katie exclaimed jumping to her feet one night. "I can't believe I've done it! I've completed step 3! I can start transforming! Merlin's Beard! Merlin's Beard!"

"Gryffindor's Hat! Katie, you're incredible!" James declared summoning a pack of butter beer in celebration.

Sirius ran up and threw her onto his shoulders and began doing a lap of honor around the dormitory.

"Katie's a genius! Katie's a genius! She's NEWT level Transfig! Katie's a genius!" he chanted.

Katie blushed. "Padfoot put me down!" she hissed.

I chuckled and James grabbed her down and began tangoing with her.

After dancing with Prongs she leaped on top of me and engulfed me in one of her bear hugs.

"Are you proud of me Moony? It was flipping hard, but who cares!" she mumbled into my ear.

"Of course I'm proud of you! I knew you'd out do these numbskulls!" I laughed hugging her back.

We spent the rest of that night celebrating Katie's achievement.

About 10 days later James too graduated from Level 3 to level 4!

Katie insisted that we had another party for him. James' party went on longer into the night as he did it on a Saturday and Katie had done it Wednesday.

By now Sirius was getting frustrated that he hadn't done it yet.

However, within 4 days he too had managed it!

I couldn't have been happier, knowing that my friends cared so much that they were working this hard on something for me.

It was the day before the summer holidays when everyone had finally been able to complete their Animagi training! Just as Katie had predicted, they completed the training in the quickest time ever recorded! They would have been in The Daily Prophet for the youngest, fastest animagi's ever; if they weren't doing something illegal!


Sirius' POV:

After we all completed training I noticed a distinct change in Katie's behavior. I guess it became real to her that tomorrow we'd be returning to the hell of our parent's houses. I knew better than James and Remus that there was a chance that Katie simply wouldn't survive the summer.

It became my mission to protect her to the best of my ability this summer. I knew that Andromedra would help me with my mission. She had known firsthand the pain inflicted on girls who broke the house rule. It would be a great help that she had decided to take up healing as an extra lesson, with Madam Pomfrey as her mentor. It was a great honor to be made a Pomfrey's protégée!

We were on the train home the next morning and I noticed that Katie was shaking violently. I put my arms around her and she leaned into my chest and I could hear her hyperventilating. I rubbed her back soothingly and she soon calmed down.

As soon as I was sure she was ok I indicated for the boys to go outside and we made up some lame excuse to leave briefly.

"What's wrong with Katie?" Remus asked urgently.

"She's just scared! What you guys have to appreciate is that there is a possibility that she'll die this summer. Our parents aren't like any you've ever known. They just don't care! They'll kill her without tossing their heads. Her life is useless to them, especially since she's been placed in Gryffindor. She is seen as an embarrassment to be disposed of. That is all. They are inhumane." I explained.

James' jaw dropped and Remus looked like I'd just punched him.

"We can't let her go there!" James growled.

"We've no choice! They'll hunt her down and kill her for sure if you intervene. I'll just have to try and do what I can." I sighed.

"Merlin's Beard!" Remus hissed. "How can people be like that with their children? What about you Sirius, aren't you in danger?"

"No." I admitted. "My family needs me for the blood line. I'm the first born son of the first born son of my grandfather. If I die, the family dies with me. Because of some ridiculous contract it cannot be passed down to Regulus, my brother."

"I think we should go back in. if this is the last time we see her, I want to make the most of it." James decided.

After we returned we talked about all the stuff we'd done this year; the full moons, the lessons, the nicknames, the pranks, the animagi training. One hell of a first year!


As we pulled into Kings Cross Station, Katie hugged us all close. She then nodded to us, picked up her trunk and Midnight's cage and led us of the train. She caught sight of her parents and nodded to us before walking over to her family.

The three of us lingered to see as her Father tossed Snivilus' trunk and owl cage to her to carry and then took a firm grip on her shoulder and threw her through the barrier.

I saw James and Remus' shocked expressions and sighed.

"Sirius! Hurry up!" I heard my mother hiss.

I nodded to them and marched off and tried to look bold.