Harry was awoken the next morning to a pillow being thrown at him. He
opened his eyes and blearily peered around, grabbing his glasses as he
went. When he put them on, standing in front of him was: James, Lily, Lupin
and Sirius, who were all grinning madly. Harry yawned and looked at the
time to find it was seven thirty in the morning.
"Why'd you have to wake me up so early? It's Saturday!" Harry said, stifling a yawn.
"Oh, that's nice, isn't it? We wake you up to tell you some really good news and that's all we receive? A "why'd you wake me up?" charming" James said, sarcastically.
"Well, what's the good news?" Harry asked, looking curious.
"No, we're not going to tell you now, seeing as you don't want to know" Lupin said, folding his arms and smirking. Lily was giggling at Sirius who was dancing on the balls of his feet.
"Come on guys! Just tell me!" Harry said, looking even more curious now.
James sighed, then grinned.
"Well, if you must know-"
"I'M FREE!" Sirius yelled happily. Harry blinked for a few minutes, not quite believing what he was hearing. When the information of what Sirius had just told him had sunk in, Harry grinned.
"Seriously! You're free!"
"YEAH! I'M FREE! I'M FREE! I'M FREE!" Sirius said, jumping up and down excitedly, looking like a little boy. Harry immediately started jumping on his bed.
"You're free! YOU'RE FREE! WA-HOO!" Harry shouted happily. He then jumped off his bed and hugged Sirius round the waist, who grabbed hold of Harry and swung him round in a circle, then they both started doing a little dance, which made Lily, James and Lupin laugh.
"Uhn" came a moan from Ron's bed. Harry grinned and grabbed hold of his pillow before smacking Ron over the head with it several times. Ron sat bolt upright and tried to avoid the blows being dealt to his head, but failing miserably.
"Harry! STOP IT! CAN'T YOU SEE I'M TRYING TO SLEEP?" Ron shouted, then grabbed hold of his duvet and pulled it over his head. Harry took no notice and grabbed hold of Ron's duvet and pulled it off him, leaving Ron to lay there in his paisley pajamas. Ron shivered, then sat up.
"Harry, what is it? Why'd you wake me up?" Ron said, rubbing his eyes.
"SIRIUS IS FREE!" Harry shouted in his ear. This time, Ron seemed much more awake.
"Sirius is free? Really?" Harry nodded and started jumping on his bed again. Ron let out a great whoop of "YAHOO" before doing the same as Harry. Lupin, by this time was in hysterics, along with James and Lily, who were crying with laughter at Sirius. Sirius was doing cartwheels and screaming loudly.
Neville, Dean, Seamus, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter let out moans and shouts of "SHUT UP!" Harry and Ron couldn't seem to contain their excitement. In the end, Harry was crying with happiness as he kept hugging Sirius around the waist. Eventually, Lily, James, Sirius, Lupin, Harry and Ron went down to the Gryffindor common room. Harry, Ron and Sirius couldn't sit down because they were so excited, so they stood and carried on doing little dances here and there.
"So-So, when was Sirius freed?" Harry questioned his mother and father.
"Last night" James replied "Lily and I went to the Ministry and explained. At first they refused to believe it was us because we were supposedly dead, but after revealing a few things that only *we* would know, we told them about Sirius' innocence and Peter's betrayal and thankfully, they believed us"
Harry jumped up and down, hugging Ron at the same time. Suddenly, a yawn and a whisper could be heard coming from the girls' dormitories.
"Crookshanks, what is it? It's seven thirty in the morning!" Hermione's voice floated down into the common room.
"HERMIONE! IT'S HARRY! COME DOWN HERE! WE'VE GOT GOOD NEWS!" Harry shouted. Hermione quickly made her way into the common room and stared at everyone around her with wide eyes.
"What is it?" Hermione asked, breathlessly.
"It's Sirius! HE'S FREE!" Harry yelled, while jumping up and down and giving Sirius a hug at the same time. Hermione let out an audible gasp, then burst into tears of happiness. She then enveloped Harry in a hug.
"Oh Harry! This is wonderful! You've got your parents and your godfather!" Hermione cried. Harry hugged her back and then grinned happily at Ron.
Suddenly, everyone went quiet on hearing someone coming down the stairs in the boys' side. Everyone looked to see Neville rubbing his eyes and looking around. His jaw dropped open in shock on seeing Lily and James, then he let out a squeak of terror on seeing Sirius. He was just about to start screaming, when Harry put a hand over his mouth.
"It's okay, we can explain" Harry whispered. Neville nodded, while Harry took his hand away from Neville's mouth. After explaining everything to Neville, Neville smiled and looked rather happy.
"Oh Harry, I'm sure you must be thrilled to bits now that you have a family" Harry nodded vigorously.
"So, you believe us?" Ron asked, looking at Neville curiously. Neville nodded.
"Of course I believe you, you're my friends, why would you lie to me? Anyway, if Sirius really was a murderer, wouldn't he have tried killing you by now?" Neville questioned, looking at Harry. Harry nodded.
"Exactly what I'm talking about, Sirius is innocent" Neville smiled, then looked to Lupin.
"Uh . . . Professor, I know that now probably isn't a good time to bring it up, but that essay you set us on Patronuses, I'm finding it rather difficult to find information, would-would it be possible if I had a bit more time on it?" Neville questioned, looking hopeful.
Lupin nodded and smiled.
"Why don't you ask Hermione to help you? I'm sure she'd help you if you were really stuck, after all she is one of my best students" Hermione flushed a crimson colour, before muttering "I'd love to help you Neville"
Ron and Harry grinned at each other. Ron held out his hand, whilst smirking.
"Pay up! I TOLD you Hermione fancied Lupin! That's ten galleons to me!"
Hermione flushed even redder, but this time she had an angry expression on her face.
"I do NOT fancy Professor Lupin!" She shrieked.
"Well, it's either Lupin or Sirius, one or the other" Harry shrugged.
"What?"
"We know that you like one of those two, we heard you talking about it with Ginny at the HQ" Ron told her. Hermione narrowed her eyes at them.
"You-were-listening-in-on-our-private-conversation!" Hermione said through gritted teeth, while reaching for her wand. Ron's eyes widened, while Harry looked apprehensive.
"Now Hermione, it was just a little bet, you don't need to get all-"
"All WHAT?!" Hermione's eyes were bulging out of her sockets, while Harry and Ron looked at her in alarm. Neville was looking worried, while Lupin and Sirius couldn't help sniggering. Lily and James just watched the scene with interest.
"You don't need to-to get all offended!" Ron said.
"Oh really?" Hermione said, looking clearly annoyed.
"So, who *do* you like? Lupin or Sirius? I bet it's Sirius" Harry said.
"You would say that cos he's your godfather" Ron said, grinning. Harry shrugged.
"I DO *NOT* FANCY SIRIUS! GINNY DOES!" As soon as Hermione shouted this, she quickly clapped her hands to her mouth in horror, while Harry, Neville and Ron stared at her in disbelief. Sirius' eyes widened in amazement, while Lupin was still sniggering. Lily clapped a hand to her forehead, while James looked at her in concern.
"Ginny fancies Sirius? Really?" Harry said, looking interested. Hermione swore under her breath, then glared at Harry and Ron.
"You will *not* tell Ginny that I told you! She trusted me not to tell anyone!" Harry nodded and smiled.
"Hermione, when have I not managed to keep a secret?" Hermione pondered that question for a while, then looked back at Harry, uncertainly.
"Well, I don't think you've ever blabbed a secret that either Ron or I have told you"
"There ya go then, I'm a good friend to you all, I wouldn't tell Ginny" Harry reassured her.
Sirius laughed, then muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "Never trust a Potter"
"So?" Neville said, quickly changing the subject "Have you guys got dates for the Ball at Christmas?"
Harry, Ron and Hermione nodded. Neville let out a sigh.
"I was gonna ask you again Hermione, but I guess you're already taken" Hermione nodded and gave him an apologetic face. Lily looked at him sympathetically. Harry quickly nudged Ron in the stomach to prevent him from bursting out laughing.
"So, who are you going with?" Neville questioned, looking curious.
"Well" Hermione suddenly went bright red "I-I'm going with Ron"
Neville's eyes widened in shock and amazement.
"Ron?! Seriously?!"
Hermione looked at him, taken aback.
"Why, what's the problem with me going with Ron?" Hermione asked.
"Well" Neville looked around uneasily "It's just the fact that you and him are always fighting, for instance: In third year, when he had a go at you because your cat attacked his rat and he didn't forgive you for over five months"
Everyone in the room tensed when he mentioned the word "rat". Neville looked around uncertainly.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No, no, it's nothing, well actually, we might as well tell you"
"What?"
"Well, you know Peter Pettigrew?" Neville nodded.
"Well, he was Ron's rat, he was an unregistered Animagus" Neville's eyes widened in shock.
"That would explain why he had a finger missing, I heard about that story of what happened, I thought it was a bit weird that Ron's rat had a finger missing too"
"You suspected him?" Hermione said, looking amazed.
"Well, sort of, but I just waved it away, I thought I was being stupid"
"Neville, you're smarter than you look" Harry told him, to which Neville beamed.
"Thanks Harry!"
"Anyway, we're getting off track, I just hope that you two don't start yelling half-way through at the top of your lungs so everyone stops and stares at you" Neville said, putting his hands together and pretending to pray.
Harry laughed, while Ron and Hermione looked at each other uneasily.
"Who are you going with Harry? Are you going with Lavender again?"
"No, I'm going with Cho Chang" Harry replied. Neville looked at him in amazement.
"Cho Chang? The sixth year Ravenclaw?" Harry nodded "The Ravenclaw Seeker?" Harry's heart dropped.
"Yeah, her"
"Hey, that reminds me! Harry, you're looking at the new Gryffindor Keeper" Ron said, puffing his chest out and looking proud. Harry stared at him, obviously lost for words.
"When was this then?" Harry questioned.
"Last night at seven. I thought you might want some time alone with your parents, so I told the rest of the Gryffindor team that you were ill and they believed me"
"My god! Three Weasley's on one Quidditch team! Someone help us!" Harry said, pretending to be terrified, but only ending with laughter.
Ron grinned.
"Fred and George were proud of me for making the team and I sent mum and dad a letter telling them"
"Gosh! A prefect *and* the Gryffindor Keeper! There's no stopping you, is there?"
James looked at Ron with wide eyes.
"You're a prefect?" Ron shifted around uneasily and nodded.
"I still think that Harry should have been made a prefect, not me because I mean he's faced loads of Dark stuff and he's had better grades than me and- "
"Ron, shut up! You deserve it" Harry told him "Anyway, a Potter being made a prefect? I don't think so! I'm either too busy in detention or playing Quidditch" James grinned.
"I was made Head-Boy, but I wasn't made a prefect" Harry grinned.
"What do you mean; you're too busy in detention. I don't recall ever seeing you in detention" Lupin said, looking curious.
"Snape" Harry said simply.
"Ah" Lupin then grinned "That would explain it then"
"Snivellus?" James said, looking curious.
"He teaches here Prongs, Potions master" Lupin told him. James grinned.
"He picks on me all the time! He's horrible and he's always saying I'm just like you" Harry pulled a face "I hate him!"
"He says that you're just like me? Are you?"
Harry was about to shake his head, when he considered it.
"I do break a lot of rules, for instance: Being out of bed late at night. I normally take the Invisibility cloak and the Marauders map" Harry explained "But, I can't think of anything-"
"What about in third year?" Hermione said, suddenly. Harry looked at her confused.
"What?"
"When you got a hold of the Marauders map and you kept going through that tunnel to get to Hogsmeade because you didn't have permission" Hermione told him. Harry grinned.
"Oh yeah"
"Actually, you've just reminded me of something Hermione" Lupin said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a piece of parchment.
"What's that?" Ron asked.
"Well, when Harry was caught by Snape, he was told to empty his pockets. When Harry did, he picked up the Marauders map and said something like: Professor Severus Snape, master of this school, commands you to yield the information you conceal"
"Yeah, so?" Ron raised an eyebrow.
"Well, when this happened, I assume that Mr. Prongs, Padfoot, Moony and Wormtail had something to say, didn't they?"
"Yeah" Harry said curiously, he still didn't know where this was going.
"So, Harry, did you actually get a chance to read what we said?" Lupin asked. Harry shook his head. Lupin grinned.
"It's a good thing I wrote it down then" Harry's, Ron's, Hermione's and Neville's jaws dropped. Harry quickly grabbed hold of the parchment and scanned through it before grinning and bursting into hysterical laughter.
"What does it say?" Hermione asked, looking curious.
"It says: Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape and begs him to keep his ab-abnormally-" Ron immediately burst out laughing and sunk to the floor. Neville walked over to the piece of parchment that was on the floor, scanned through it and started laughing as well.
Hermione sighed.
"Can someone just read it already?"
"I will" Neville volunteered, before clearing his throat.
"Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business"
James, Sirius and Lily started laughing loudly.
"Good one Moony!" Sirius said, through tears of laughter.
"What's going on?" A voice grumbled. Everyone turned to see the younger James, Sirius, Remus and Peter walking into the common room.
"Just reading something that you guys wrote to Professor Snape" Ron said, still laughing.
The younger James immediately looked intrigued.
"Really? What did we write?"
"Wait, they'd better know the whole story" Hermione pointed out "Otherwise they won't know what we're on about"
Before Harry could start explaining to them, Lily and Ginny walked out of the girls' dormitories, both rubbing their eyes.
"Your laughing woke us up" Ginny said, looking miserable.
"This'll cheer you up then" Harry said and he quickly told them about what had happened to him in third year.
"This is what you guys put" Harry said, starting to read it.
"Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape and begs him to keep his ab-abnormally-" Like what Ron had done, Harry sunk to the floor, crying with laughter. Ginny watched Harry worriedly.
"Here, I'll read it" Neville told them "Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business"
Lily started laughing, while Ginny giggled.
"Professor Lupin, I never knew you to be so rude" Lupin laughed, then gestured for Neville to carry on. Neville cleared his throat.
"Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony, and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git" Again, there was laughter echoing around the room, while some were crying with laughter at what was being said.
"Mr. Padfoot-"
"This should be interesting" Lupin muttered. Neville glared at him.
"Excuse me Professor, but I am trying to read!" Lupin looked at him, taken aback, then chuckled.
"Sorry Neville, carry on"
"Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a Professor" Everyone, by this time was crying with laughter, except Neville, who was just laughing a lot.
"And finally, Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day and advises him to wash his hair, the slimeball"
At the last sentence, almost everyone was on the floor, clutching the stomachs from laughing so much.
Finally, when everyone quietened down, Ron said, even though he was still chuckling.
"If Fred and George were down here and if they knew that you were the Marauders, they would so love you guys"
"What? Who're the Marauders?" Fred's head popped out from behind the boys' door.
Ron grinned at Harry and they both shook their heads.
"We have absolutely no idea"
Fred and George appeared in scarlet pajamas, looking at Harry and Ron curiously.
George folded his arms and grinned.
"Ronald Weasley, if you don't tell us who the Marauders are, we will prank you for the rest of your life!"
"Starting from now" Fred grinned and made his way towards Ron, who backed away from them in fear.
"Okay OKAY! I'll tell you!" Ron shouted, looking terrified.
"Well, who are they?"
"Well, they're in this room, that's all I'm saying"
Fred and George looked around and their eyes landed on the older James, Sirius and Lupin, who all three started grinning.
Fred and George's eyes both widened in shock.
"No way!"
Sirius grinned and said "Yes way"
They both just stood, too shocked to move.
"Does-Does that mean, that Professor Lupin-?" George questioned, looking to Lupin, who nodded.
"AAAAAHHHH! Professor Lupin's a Marauder!" Fred yelled.
Fred and George quickly got down on their knees and started flapping their arms up and down.
"All hail the Great Marauders!" James, Sirius and Lupin all burst out laughing, while Ron and Harry couldn't help sniggering.
Suddenly, George jumped up. He pointed straight at Lupin.
"You're Moony, aren't you?" Lupin nodded. George looked rather triumphant at this.
Fred couldn't help staring.
"You mean to tell me that WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS WITH TWO OF THE MARAUDERS FOR TWO WHOLE YEARS?!" Lupin and Sirius looked at each other, then looked back to the twins, and nodded.
"AAAAAHHH! THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE! Could you help us with our pranks, they need a teeny bit of help" Fred said, but then yelped when George smacked him round the head.
"You don't ask them just like that you idiot!"
"Oh right!" Fred and George quickly got back down on the ground.
"Oh, great Marauders, please help us with our pranks! We know that we aren't worthy, but we are the next generation of law-breakers and in desperate need of expert help"
Everyone burst out laughing, while James, through his tears of laughter said.
"Get up young law-breakers, we will teach you, do not fear"
Fred and George both leapt to their feet.
"We're just quickly gonna go and get changed *then* we're gonna play a prank on the Slytherins" and with that, they dashed up the boys' dormitories.
When everyone had finally quietened down again, Ron turned to Ginny.
"So?" He said, casually "Have *you* got a date for the ball?"
Harry looked at him in amazement.
"I can't believe you're still going on about dates for the ball!"
Ginny went bright red and nodded.
"Who is it?" Ron questioned "And you might as well tell me because I'll find out sooner or later"
Ginny went even redder and pointed over to the four young Marauders. She was pointing right at Sirius, who was looking at the ceiling as if he was fascinated by it.
Ron's, Harry's, Hermione's, Lupin's and Sirius's jaws dropped open in shock.
"You're going with Sirius?!" Harry said, incredulously. Ginny nodded. Ron narrowed his eyes and looked to the young Sirius.
"Black, I want a word with you! Now!" Sirius looked at Ron with raised eyebrows, but complied, they both left the Gryffindor common room. The older Sirius looked absolutely dumbstruck.
"Oh god! I hope Ron doesn't bite my head off"
"No, he'll probably just threaten you with the usual, 'don't mess with my sister unless you want to die' and also, he'll probably throw in Fred and George's protection and pulling pranks on him for the rest of his life for good measure" Harry explained, while Ginny blushed bright red.
Suddenly, James stood up and looked to Harry.
"I'm going down to get myself something to eat, I'm starving! If you get dressed, I'll carry you to the Great Hall if you want" Harry felt himself go hot round the face.
"Uh, I don't really want people making fun of me"
"Don't worry, because if they do, I'll hex them" James said, reassuringly. Harry shrugged.
"Aright then, I take it that Dumbledore's going to announce to everyone about yours and mum's revival this morning, along with Sirius being innocent at breakfast right?" Harry questioned. James nodded.
"Right, well, I'm gonna go get changed then" and with that, he dashed out of the Gryffindor common room and quickly threw on his robes.
"Why'd you have to wake me up so early? It's Saturday!" Harry said, stifling a yawn.
"Oh, that's nice, isn't it? We wake you up to tell you some really good news and that's all we receive? A "why'd you wake me up?" charming" James said, sarcastically.
"Well, what's the good news?" Harry asked, looking curious.
"No, we're not going to tell you now, seeing as you don't want to know" Lupin said, folding his arms and smirking. Lily was giggling at Sirius who was dancing on the balls of his feet.
"Come on guys! Just tell me!" Harry said, looking even more curious now.
James sighed, then grinned.
"Well, if you must know-"
"I'M FREE!" Sirius yelled happily. Harry blinked for a few minutes, not quite believing what he was hearing. When the information of what Sirius had just told him had sunk in, Harry grinned.
"Seriously! You're free!"
"YEAH! I'M FREE! I'M FREE! I'M FREE!" Sirius said, jumping up and down excitedly, looking like a little boy. Harry immediately started jumping on his bed.
"You're free! YOU'RE FREE! WA-HOO!" Harry shouted happily. He then jumped off his bed and hugged Sirius round the waist, who grabbed hold of Harry and swung him round in a circle, then they both started doing a little dance, which made Lily, James and Lupin laugh.
"Uhn" came a moan from Ron's bed. Harry grinned and grabbed hold of his pillow before smacking Ron over the head with it several times. Ron sat bolt upright and tried to avoid the blows being dealt to his head, but failing miserably.
"Harry! STOP IT! CAN'T YOU SEE I'M TRYING TO SLEEP?" Ron shouted, then grabbed hold of his duvet and pulled it over his head. Harry took no notice and grabbed hold of Ron's duvet and pulled it off him, leaving Ron to lay there in his paisley pajamas. Ron shivered, then sat up.
"Harry, what is it? Why'd you wake me up?" Ron said, rubbing his eyes.
"SIRIUS IS FREE!" Harry shouted in his ear. This time, Ron seemed much more awake.
"Sirius is free? Really?" Harry nodded and started jumping on his bed again. Ron let out a great whoop of "YAHOO" before doing the same as Harry. Lupin, by this time was in hysterics, along with James and Lily, who were crying with laughter at Sirius. Sirius was doing cartwheels and screaming loudly.
Neville, Dean, Seamus, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter let out moans and shouts of "SHUT UP!" Harry and Ron couldn't seem to contain their excitement. In the end, Harry was crying with happiness as he kept hugging Sirius around the waist. Eventually, Lily, James, Sirius, Lupin, Harry and Ron went down to the Gryffindor common room. Harry, Ron and Sirius couldn't sit down because they were so excited, so they stood and carried on doing little dances here and there.
"So-So, when was Sirius freed?" Harry questioned his mother and father.
"Last night" James replied "Lily and I went to the Ministry and explained. At first they refused to believe it was us because we were supposedly dead, but after revealing a few things that only *we* would know, we told them about Sirius' innocence and Peter's betrayal and thankfully, they believed us"
Harry jumped up and down, hugging Ron at the same time. Suddenly, a yawn and a whisper could be heard coming from the girls' dormitories.
"Crookshanks, what is it? It's seven thirty in the morning!" Hermione's voice floated down into the common room.
"HERMIONE! IT'S HARRY! COME DOWN HERE! WE'VE GOT GOOD NEWS!" Harry shouted. Hermione quickly made her way into the common room and stared at everyone around her with wide eyes.
"What is it?" Hermione asked, breathlessly.
"It's Sirius! HE'S FREE!" Harry yelled, while jumping up and down and giving Sirius a hug at the same time. Hermione let out an audible gasp, then burst into tears of happiness. She then enveloped Harry in a hug.
"Oh Harry! This is wonderful! You've got your parents and your godfather!" Hermione cried. Harry hugged her back and then grinned happily at Ron.
Suddenly, everyone went quiet on hearing someone coming down the stairs in the boys' side. Everyone looked to see Neville rubbing his eyes and looking around. His jaw dropped open in shock on seeing Lily and James, then he let out a squeak of terror on seeing Sirius. He was just about to start screaming, when Harry put a hand over his mouth.
"It's okay, we can explain" Harry whispered. Neville nodded, while Harry took his hand away from Neville's mouth. After explaining everything to Neville, Neville smiled and looked rather happy.
"Oh Harry, I'm sure you must be thrilled to bits now that you have a family" Harry nodded vigorously.
"So, you believe us?" Ron asked, looking at Neville curiously. Neville nodded.
"Of course I believe you, you're my friends, why would you lie to me? Anyway, if Sirius really was a murderer, wouldn't he have tried killing you by now?" Neville questioned, looking at Harry. Harry nodded.
"Exactly what I'm talking about, Sirius is innocent" Neville smiled, then looked to Lupin.
"Uh . . . Professor, I know that now probably isn't a good time to bring it up, but that essay you set us on Patronuses, I'm finding it rather difficult to find information, would-would it be possible if I had a bit more time on it?" Neville questioned, looking hopeful.
Lupin nodded and smiled.
"Why don't you ask Hermione to help you? I'm sure she'd help you if you were really stuck, after all she is one of my best students" Hermione flushed a crimson colour, before muttering "I'd love to help you Neville"
Ron and Harry grinned at each other. Ron held out his hand, whilst smirking.
"Pay up! I TOLD you Hermione fancied Lupin! That's ten galleons to me!"
Hermione flushed even redder, but this time she had an angry expression on her face.
"I do NOT fancy Professor Lupin!" She shrieked.
"Well, it's either Lupin or Sirius, one or the other" Harry shrugged.
"What?"
"We know that you like one of those two, we heard you talking about it with Ginny at the HQ" Ron told her. Hermione narrowed her eyes at them.
"You-were-listening-in-on-our-private-conversation!" Hermione said through gritted teeth, while reaching for her wand. Ron's eyes widened, while Harry looked apprehensive.
"Now Hermione, it was just a little bet, you don't need to get all-"
"All WHAT?!" Hermione's eyes were bulging out of her sockets, while Harry and Ron looked at her in alarm. Neville was looking worried, while Lupin and Sirius couldn't help sniggering. Lily and James just watched the scene with interest.
"You don't need to-to get all offended!" Ron said.
"Oh really?" Hermione said, looking clearly annoyed.
"So, who *do* you like? Lupin or Sirius? I bet it's Sirius" Harry said.
"You would say that cos he's your godfather" Ron said, grinning. Harry shrugged.
"I DO *NOT* FANCY SIRIUS! GINNY DOES!" As soon as Hermione shouted this, she quickly clapped her hands to her mouth in horror, while Harry, Neville and Ron stared at her in disbelief. Sirius' eyes widened in amazement, while Lupin was still sniggering. Lily clapped a hand to her forehead, while James looked at her in concern.
"Ginny fancies Sirius? Really?" Harry said, looking interested. Hermione swore under her breath, then glared at Harry and Ron.
"You will *not* tell Ginny that I told you! She trusted me not to tell anyone!" Harry nodded and smiled.
"Hermione, when have I not managed to keep a secret?" Hermione pondered that question for a while, then looked back at Harry, uncertainly.
"Well, I don't think you've ever blabbed a secret that either Ron or I have told you"
"There ya go then, I'm a good friend to you all, I wouldn't tell Ginny" Harry reassured her.
Sirius laughed, then muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "Never trust a Potter"
"So?" Neville said, quickly changing the subject "Have you guys got dates for the Ball at Christmas?"
Harry, Ron and Hermione nodded. Neville let out a sigh.
"I was gonna ask you again Hermione, but I guess you're already taken" Hermione nodded and gave him an apologetic face. Lily looked at him sympathetically. Harry quickly nudged Ron in the stomach to prevent him from bursting out laughing.
"So, who are you going with?" Neville questioned, looking curious.
"Well" Hermione suddenly went bright red "I-I'm going with Ron"
Neville's eyes widened in shock and amazement.
"Ron?! Seriously?!"
Hermione looked at him, taken aback.
"Why, what's the problem with me going with Ron?" Hermione asked.
"Well" Neville looked around uneasily "It's just the fact that you and him are always fighting, for instance: In third year, when he had a go at you because your cat attacked his rat and he didn't forgive you for over five months"
Everyone in the room tensed when he mentioned the word "rat". Neville looked around uncertainly.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No, no, it's nothing, well actually, we might as well tell you"
"What?"
"Well, you know Peter Pettigrew?" Neville nodded.
"Well, he was Ron's rat, he was an unregistered Animagus" Neville's eyes widened in shock.
"That would explain why he had a finger missing, I heard about that story of what happened, I thought it was a bit weird that Ron's rat had a finger missing too"
"You suspected him?" Hermione said, looking amazed.
"Well, sort of, but I just waved it away, I thought I was being stupid"
"Neville, you're smarter than you look" Harry told him, to which Neville beamed.
"Thanks Harry!"
"Anyway, we're getting off track, I just hope that you two don't start yelling half-way through at the top of your lungs so everyone stops and stares at you" Neville said, putting his hands together and pretending to pray.
Harry laughed, while Ron and Hermione looked at each other uneasily.
"Who are you going with Harry? Are you going with Lavender again?"
"No, I'm going with Cho Chang" Harry replied. Neville looked at him in amazement.
"Cho Chang? The sixth year Ravenclaw?" Harry nodded "The Ravenclaw Seeker?" Harry's heart dropped.
"Yeah, her"
"Hey, that reminds me! Harry, you're looking at the new Gryffindor Keeper" Ron said, puffing his chest out and looking proud. Harry stared at him, obviously lost for words.
"When was this then?" Harry questioned.
"Last night at seven. I thought you might want some time alone with your parents, so I told the rest of the Gryffindor team that you were ill and they believed me"
"My god! Three Weasley's on one Quidditch team! Someone help us!" Harry said, pretending to be terrified, but only ending with laughter.
Ron grinned.
"Fred and George were proud of me for making the team and I sent mum and dad a letter telling them"
"Gosh! A prefect *and* the Gryffindor Keeper! There's no stopping you, is there?"
James looked at Ron with wide eyes.
"You're a prefect?" Ron shifted around uneasily and nodded.
"I still think that Harry should have been made a prefect, not me because I mean he's faced loads of Dark stuff and he's had better grades than me and- "
"Ron, shut up! You deserve it" Harry told him "Anyway, a Potter being made a prefect? I don't think so! I'm either too busy in detention or playing Quidditch" James grinned.
"I was made Head-Boy, but I wasn't made a prefect" Harry grinned.
"What do you mean; you're too busy in detention. I don't recall ever seeing you in detention" Lupin said, looking curious.
"Snape" Harry said simply.
"Ah" Lupin then grinned "That would explain it then"
"Snivellus?" James said, looking curious.
"He teaches here Prongs, Potions master" Lupin told him. James grinned.
"He picks on me all the time! He's horrible and he's always saying I'm just like you" Harry pulled a face "I hate him!"
"He says that you're just like me? Are you?"
Harry was about to shake his head, when he considered it.
"I do break a lot of rules, for instance: Being out of bed late at night. I normally take the Invisibility cloak and the Marauders map" Harry explained "But, I can't think of anything-"
"What about in third year?" Hermione said, suddenly. Harry looked at her confused.
"What?"
"When you got a hold of the Marauders map and you kept going through that tunnel to get to Hogsmeade because you didn't have permission" Hermione told him. Harry grinned.
"Oh yeah"
"Actually, you've just reminded me of something Hermione" Lupin said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a piece of parchment.
"What's that?" Ron asked.
"Well, when Harry was caught by Snape, he was told to empty his pockets. When Harry did, he picked up the Marauders map and said something like: Professor Severus Snape, master of this school, commands you to yield the information you conceal"
"Yeah, so?" Ron raised an eyebrow.
"Well, when this happened, I assume that Mr. Prongs, Padfoot, Moony and Wormtail had something to say, didn't they?"
"Yeah" Harry said curiously, he still didn't know where this was going.
"So, Harry, did you actually get a chance to read what we said?" Lupin asked. Harry shook his head. Lupin grinned.
"It's a good thing I wrote it down then" Harry's, Ron's, Hermione's and Neville's jaws dropped. Harry quickly grabbed hold of the parchment and scanned through it before grinning and bursting into hysterical laughter.
"What does it say?" Hermione asked, looking curious.
"It says: Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape and begs him to keep his ab-abnormally-" Ron immediately burst out laughing and sunk to the floor. Neville walked over to the piece of parchment that was on the floor, scanned through it and started laughing as well.
Hermione sighed.
"Can someone just read it already?"
"I will" Neville volunteered, before clearing his throat.
"Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business"
James, Sirius and Lily started laughing loudly.
"Good one Moony!" Sirius said, through tears of laughter.
"What's going on?" A voice grumbled. Everyone turned to see the younger James, Sirius, Remus and Peter walking into the common room.
"Just reading something that you guys wrote to Professor Snape" Ron said, still laughing.
The younger James immediately looked intrigued.
"Really? What did we write?"
"Wait, they'd better know the whole story" Hermione pointed out "Otherwise they won't know what we're on about"
Before Harry could start explaining to them, Lily and Ginny walked out of the girls' dormitories, both rubbing their eyes.
"Your laughing woke us up" Ginny said, looking miserable.
"This'll cheer you up then" Harry said and he quickly told them about what had happened to him in third year.
"This is what you guys put" Harry said, starting to read it.
"Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape and begs him to keep his ab-abnormally-" Like what Ron had done, Harry sunk to the floor, crying with laughter. Ginny watched Harry worriedly.
"Here, I'll read it" Neville told them "Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business"
Lily started laughing, while Ginny giggled.
"Professor Lupin, I never knew you to be so rude" Lupin laughed, then gestured for Neville to carry on. Neville cleared his throat.
"Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony, and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git" Again, there was laughter echoing around the room, while some were crying with laughter at what was being said.
"Mr. Padfoot-"
"This should be interesting" Lupin muttered. Neville glared at him.
"Excuse me Professor, but I am trying to read!" Lupin looked at him, taken aback, then chuckled.
"Sorry Neville, carry on"
"Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a Professor" Everyone, by this time was crying with laughter, except Neville, who was just laughing a lot.
"And finally, Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day and advises him to wash his hair, the slimeball"
At the last sentence, almost everyone was on the floor, clutching the stomachs from laughing so much.
Finally, when everyone quietened down, Ron said, even though he was still chuckling.
"If Fred and George were down here and if they knew that you were the Marauders, they would so love you guys"
"What? Who're the Marauders?" Fred's head popped out from behind the boys' door.
Ron grinned at Harry and they both shook their heads.
"We have absolutely no idea"
Fred and George appeared in scarlet pajamas, looking at Harry and Ron curiously.
George folded his arms and grinned.
"Ronald Weasley, if you don't tell us who the Marauders are, we will prank you for the rest of your life!"
"Starting from now" Fred grinned and made his way towards Ron, who backed away from them in fear.
"Okay OKAY! I'll tell you!" Ron shouted, looking terrified.
"Well, who are they?"
"Well, they're in this room, that's all I'm saying"
Fred and George looked around and their eyes landed on the older James, Sirius and Lupin, who all three started grinning.
Fred and George's eyes both widened in shock.
"No way!"
Sirius grinned and said "Yes way"
They both just stood, too shocked to move.
"Does-Does that mean, that Professor Lupin-?" George questioned, looking to Lupin, who nodded.
"AAAAAHHHH! Professor Lupin's a Marauder!" Fred yelled.
Fred and George quickly got down on their knees and started flapping their arms up and down.
"All hail the Great Marauders!" James, Sirius and Lupin all burst out laughing, while Ron and Harry couldn't help sniggering.
Suddenly, George jumped up. He pointed straight at Lupin.
"You're Moony, aren't you?" Lupin nodded. George looked rather triumphant at this.
Fred couldn't help staring.
"You mean to tell me that WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS WITH TWO OF THE MARAUDERS FOR TWO WHOLE YEARS?!" Lupin and Sirius looked at each other, then looked back to the twins, and nodded.
"AAAAAHHH! THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE! Could you help us with our pranks, they need a teeny bit of help" Fred said, but then yelped when George smacked him round the head.
"You don't ask them just like that you idiot!"
"Oh right!" Fred and George quickly got back down on the ground.
"Oh, great Marauders, please help us with our pranks! We know that we aren't worthy, but we are the next generation of law-breakers and in desperate need of expert help"
Everyone burst out laughing, while James, through his tears of laughter said.
"Get up young law-breakers, we will teach you, do not fear"
Fred and George both leapt to their feet.
"We're just quickly gonna go and get changed *then* we're gonna play a prank on the Slytherins" and with that, they dashed up the boys' dormitories.
When everyone had finally quietened down again, Ron turned to Ginny.
"So?" He said, casually "Have *you* got a date for the ball?"
Harry looked at him in amazement.
"I can't believe you're still going on about dates for the ball!"
Ginny went bright red and nodded.
"Who is it?" Ron questioned "And you might as well tell me because I'll find out sooner or later"
Ginny went even redder and pointed over to the four young Marauders. She was pointing right at Sirius, who was looking at the ceiling as if he was fascinated by it.
Ron's, Harry's, Hermione's, Lupin's and Sirius's jaws dropped open in shock.
"You're going with Sirius?!" Harry said, incredulously. Ginny nodded. Ron narrowed his eyes and looked to the young Sirius.
"Black, I want a word with you! Now!" Sirius looked at Ron with raised eyebrows, but complied, they both left the Gryffindor common room. The older Sirius looked absolutely dumbstruck.
"Oh god! I hope Ron doesn't bite my head off"
"No, he'll probably just threaten you with the usual, 'don't mess with my sister unless you want to die' and also, he'll probably throw in Fred and George's protection and pulling pranks on him for the rest of his life for good measure" Harry explained, while Ginny blushed bright red.
Suddenly, James stood up and looked to Harry.
"I'm going down to get myself something to eat, I'm starving! If you get dressed, I'll carry you to the Great Hall if you want" Harry felt himself go hot round the face.
"Uh, I don't really want people making fun of me"
"Don't worry, because if they do, I'll hex them" James said, reassuringly. Harry shrugged.
"Aright then, I take it that Dumbledore's going to announce to everyone about yours and mum's revival this morning, along with Sirius being innocent at breakfast right?" Harry questioned. James nodded.
"Right, well, I'm gonna go get changed then" and with that, he dashed out of the Gryffindor common room and quickly threw on his robes.
