Hello! Sorry I haven't updated for so long, I was away skiing with family. I swear every year a lift tries to kill me... Anywho...

In the letter, italics is Remus, bold is Sirius.

On the map, Bold italics is James, italics is Remus, bold is Sirius and underline is Peter (filthy rat! DIE!)

I don't own Harry Potter, all but Lorcan, Harry O'Connor, and Theo goes to JK

Peace,

Ciara xxx

The next day was a Saturday, and for the foursome, that meant relaxing. Ginny and Liz, too hungry to wait for the boys, dashed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. They were starting on their second helpings when Lorcan and Seamus finally arrived. Suddenly, hooting and the sound of rushing wind filled the air.

"Mail!" someone shouted and owls were flying overhead, dropping packages into waiting hands. Seamus caught his Daily Prophet, which he placed beside his plate. Ginny got a letter from her mum, via Errol the loco coco owl, as Ginny called it; when reading it, she laughed and showed it to Liz. Mrs Weasley had asked why Ron was going on about Ginny knowing the Girl Who Lived. Meanwhile, Seamus was talking to Dean Thomas about his West Ham poster which he'd received.

Just as Liz was eating her final piece of bacon, there was a familiar screech from up above. She turned her head to see a tawny owl flying towards the Gryffindor table, struggling with an oddly shaped package, and an envelope in his beak. Errol flapped up to meet his fellow bird and together, they dropped the package in front of Liz with a thump, and the envelope (seeming very deliberate) landed in Liz's ketchup.

"What in the…?" Seamus looked in surprise at the owl which perched on the table.

Liz sighed, as if she was used to this, and picked the envelope up by the corner. "Seamus, Ginny, Lorcan- meet Grouch. Grouch- Seamus, Ginny, Lorcan." Grouch surveyed them for a minute, then screeched, slightly startling the other three. "Yeah, he does that a lot. Doesn't half make me want to pluck his feathers out." The owl, to the others' great surprise, gave Liz the evil eye. Even stranger, she glared back. "Oi, I'm the only reason Sirius didn't boil you in a pot and serve you as dinner; don't you give me that face." The bird screeched in defiance. "Yeah, yeah, I know you hate this job, but it's the reason we still have you!"

The three first years looked on in befuddlement as girl and owl conversed. It seemed that this happened quite regularly. You see, Grouch had been the Potter's family owl for generations; apparently Liz's great uncle or something had put an age-lasting spell on him- he would keep on living until the Potters relieved him of his duty. Ginny leaned forwards. "He's quite beautiful, don't you think?"

The bird's head whipped round, but the redhead didn't flinch. He sort of hopped his way over to her, and cocked his head to the side. Then, to even Liz's surprise, he head-butted her shoulder. And Ginny giggled.

"He likes you," Liz stated in awe. "Apparently he'd only do that to my grandmother."

"I like animals," Ginny said simply, as if that explained it all. Grouch gave a less loud screech, and flew off. "Anyway, aren't you going to read the letter?"

Liz obliged, wiping the ketchup away with a napkin, and opened the envelope, which said OPEN BEFORE PACKAGE. She unfolded the letter.

Dear Liz,
Firstly, this is on the subject of Houses. Well done, Liz, we couldn't be more proud. Though we'd never be upset if you went anywhere else, we are a tad biased to our own House.

YES! YOU GO LIZZIE! BEAT UP THOSE SNAKES!

Binns died of old age, probably; he was a professor and fell asleep by the staff fire. Apparently he just got up the next day and left his body behind.

No, Moony, someone had enough of him and gave him a poison. He woke up and just carried on. He's weird, old Binns. But his lesson's good for quick kips.

Shut up, Sirius. Well done with the Quidditch, by the way. But a first year, isn't it a bit danger

Here, the last word swerved off.

Shut up Moony, this is brilliant! Our Lizzie's the youngest seeker of the century! Are you sure it was McGonagall, Lizzie? Was it

Once again, there was a long line of ink veering off the page.

Thank you, Padfoot. Don't grab the quill. Anyway, we know about the school broomsticks, and they won't last two minutes in a Hogwart's Quidditch match. So, here's something for you; think of it as a well done present.

Don't open it in the Hall! Go up to your dorm and do it there; who knows how many Slytherins could be sticking their greasy noses into your business!

Hope you're good, and we're happy you made some firm friends.

Remus! We forgot about the map! Lizzie, we need you to look out for a large, blank sheet of parchment. It was taken from us by Filch just before we left Hogwart's. We believe it will help you with your pranks. When you have it, tap it with your wand and say "Prongslet has found their father and uncles' map". It will give you instructions from there. Make us proud, pup!

With our lov what? What are we, saps? Miss you loads, Lizzie!

Shut up, Padfoot.
Uncle Moony and Uncle Padfoot.
P.S. Who's the Potions professor? Bet it's Snivellous!

Seamus laughed as he looked over Liz's shoulder. "Those two sound like a right laugh."

"Oh, they are." Liz glanced around, and saw McGonagall at the Staff Table, smiling secretively at them. She smiled back. "Let's go unwrap it." they got up and were hurrying out of the hall and up the steps, Liz slightly behind, when she had to run into two great thugs and a blonde boy she'd rather not see.

"Well, well, well!" Malfoy sneered. "What have we here, Potter? Why aren't you on a train back to London yet?" The other three glared at the Slytherins' backs.

"None of your business, Malfoy," Liz snapped. Suddenly, a beefy hand shot out and grabbed the long, thin package. "Hey!"

Goyle passed it to Malfoy; the blonde boy's eyes widened. "Oh, Potter; breaking rules, are we?"

"Give it back!"

Just then, Professor Flitwick passed the group. "What's going on here?"

"Sir, Potter's got a broom!" Malfoy was almost bobbing with excitement at the thought of landing the foursome in trouble.

"Oh, yes!" Professor Flitwick beamed up at Liz. "I heard it all from Professor McGonagall; well done, Miss Potter, well done! Now, Mr Malfoy, would you please hand Miss Potter back her broom? Thank you, and good day!"

Liz smirked at a stunned Malfoy and sauntered past him with her package slung across her shoulder; she joined the other three and they ran off, laughing.

Upon reaching Gryffindor Tower, they raced to a secluded corner of the room. They began untying the strings and ripping away the brown paper. When the final sheet was off, the eleven year olds stepped back in awe, glad no one else was around.

"A racing broom..." Lorcan said.

Seamus and Ginny simultaneously looked at the handle.

"A Nimbus 2000!" Seamus was almost dancing around the room.

Ginny surprisingly grabbed Lorcan's collar and shook him back and forth. "Just a racing broom?! It's the best broom out there to date!"

"It's beautiful," Liz murmured, running a hand along the smooth wood.

Seamus snorted. "Ooh, there's sentiment in this thing?" He poked Liz's shoulder. "I only thought it did laughter and sarcasm!"

"Now, now, Seamus," Liz said as if chiding a child. "Don't you know what happens when you poke at a Potter such as myself? I'm sure Fred and George would be happy to tell you."

"Hey, guys?" Lorcan was standing over Seamus' Daily Prophet. "Check this out."

The others peered over his shoulder. "On the 1st of August, there was a break-in at Gringott's Bank, Diagon Alley," Ginny read out loud in astonishment. "Vault seven hundred and thirteen was opened, but nothing was stolen, for the vault had been emptied that same day."

Liz jolted as if her finger were stuck in a Muggle socket. "Vault seven hundred and thirteen?"

"Yeah, why? Do you know that vault?"

Oh she knew it alright. She had been there when the vault was emptied.

As the weeks went on, Seamus, Ginny, Lorcan and Liz immersed themselves in the everyday life of Hogwart's. Ginny, Liz, and Seamus were soon known to have a laugh in class; Lorcan never participated in any of this, but you could often see his secret smile as his best friends caused giggles to erupt in every lesson. But they'd agreed on one thing: no big pranks until they got the map.

One day, after lessons, Lorcan and Liz were walking across the common room, trying to figure out where Filch must've put her uncles' map. But something caught her eye; Fred and George, sitting in a corner of the room, sniggering to themselves. Looking at a very big piece of parchment.

In a flash, Liz was in front of them. "What's that?"

One of the boys stood up in front of Liz, while the other muttered something under his breath. "Fire girl! How are you this fine day?"

"George, what's that?"

"How do you-"

"Ginny told me. Now, let me see."

Smirking, Fred handed over the big piece of parchment. Liz examined it, and forced herself not to squeal. "How did you get this?"

"What do you mean, Lizzie?"

"Don't call me Lizzie."

"What do you mean, Liz?"

"It's just a blank piece of-"

"Shut up, Weasleys." Liz whipped out her wand and tapped the parchment with it. "Prongslet has found their father and uncles' map."

The twins started; they obviously knew the Prongs reference. "Liz, even if there really was something on the parchment-"

"Would it really show itself to some..." Fred trailed off as writing appeared on the parchment. Liz tilted it so the twins couldn't read it.

YAY! Prongslet found it!

Shut up, Padfoot. Hey, Prongslet, Daddy Prongs here, with Uncle Padfoot, Uncle Moony, and Uncle Wormtail.

Hello, Prongslet.

Hi, Prongslet.

So, for the map, say "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good" and to make it vanish say "mischief managed".

We're warning you now that some of the passages aren't in working order-

Understatement.

Shut up, Padfoot.

And Filch knows about four of them.

Filch hates us.

Understatement.

Shut up Padfoot.

We hope the map helps you.

It took us most of fourth year to get it working.

Me. It took me most of fourth year.

Details.

Shut up Padfoot.

Tell me again why we used a Quick Quotes Quill for this? It's writing all this down! Ugh. So anyway, good luck, Prongslet!

The writing vanished and Liz tapped the paper once again. "I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good," she muttered. The twins watched in amazement as the map of Hogwarts slowly faded into existence. At the top, was a coat of arms bearing a stag, a wolf-like figure- a werewolf, Liz thought to herself- an enormous dog, and a rat. Underneath, were the words "Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs are proud to present the Marauders' Map".

"How do you-"
"Know about-"

"The map?"

"It's my heritage!" Liz proclaimed dramatically, tapping the map and saying "mischief managed." The ink disappeared.

"Uh..." Fred blinked.

"Fire girl's gone lo-co!" George said in a sing-song voice.

"Basically, boys, this belongs to me," Liz waved the parchment around.

"You're taking it from us?" Fred said, surprisingly calm.

"Oh, well," George grinned. "We've memorised all the passages by now anyway. So-"

"Keep the map and-"

"If you don't mind-"

"We'll be on our way." The twins grinned and were off running through the portrait hole.

Liz blinked. Well. That had been easy. She called the others and, in what was becoming a usual place for them (unless older kids were sitting there) placed the parchment in front of them.

"Is that…" Seamus looked at the parchment in awe.

Liz nodded.

"Finally!" Ginny did a fist pump. "The big pranks begin. Hogwart's, you're no longer safe!"