"Just go!'' yelled a furious Professor McGonagall.
"But we—'' began Sirius.
"Go!''
Sighing James and Sirius stood up joining Harry and Remus, who hadn't even had the chance to sit down yet.
"Wrongfully accused as always,'' James sighed sarcastically, but loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear.
With Snape still spluttering nonsense behind them the Marauders and Harry made their way out of the room and into the hallway.
"You could have at least waited till Harry and I had something to eat before you got us in trouble,'' grumbled Remus.
"Stop complaining Moony,'' said Sirius as they made their way to Professor McGonagall's office, "what kind of friend would I be if I didn't think of you? I grabbed you and Harry some food. Can't have you guys dying of starvation now can I?'' Saying so he pulled out some food and held it out to them.
Harry and Remus stopped and glanced at the food that was being offered and grimaced. It was nothing that resembled food mixed with some lent.
Seeing their faces Sirius said, "Picky, picky, picky. We can always go down to the kitchens later and get some more food before we start.'' Having said this Sirius flicked his hand, the one with the food, and the mesh ended up hitting a portrait, whose occupant immediately woke up and started scolding him. Sirius was to busy trying to clean off his hands on his robes to notice.
"Come on you guys,'' said James, "The faster McGonagall sees us the faster she'll realize she can't pin this one on us. We've just gotten to good at this.''
"You've got that right mate,'' Sirius said while giving James a slap on the back.
Upon reaching Professor McGonagall's office they went in and sat down to wait for her. Which wasn't long. She soon stormed in and swiftly moved to stand in front of them, glaring at them.
"You haven't even been here three days, and already you should have been expelled for a couple of things,'' Professor McGonagall practically hissed.
"We didn't do it this time,'' said James, "you saw us, I mean the whole room was watching us when we came in, and we weren't here the whole day. It must have been some other incredibly brilliant, good-looking people.''
"No I'm positive it wasn't some other students Mr. Potter, because I know other students wouldn't be stupid enough to repeatedly provoke a teacher.''
"Yes, but we haven't repeatedly provoked him. Not yet at least,'' said James, "Just because all fingers point to us doesn't mean we did it. When did we have time to do it? We barely walk through the door and already you're accusing us of crimes, that although we wouldn't have mind committing, we did not commit.''
"You barely walk through the door everything seems to go wrong,'' Professor McGonagall said mockingly.
"Personally, professor, I think he did it to himself. In order to get us expelled you know the slime-ball is always trying to do that.'' Sirius stated.
Turning her sharp gaze to Sirius, Professor McGonagall said, "He did not do it to himself, Black, and furthermore unlike you his only goal in life is no longer trying to get you in trouble.''
At this point in her oh-so-lovely speech both of the Potters currently sitting before her gave a rather loud snort.
This caused her attention to turn to Harry.
"Mr. Potter I am very disappointed in you, I had expected more from you. Most of the students here look up to you, even if you may not think so, they do. Especially now when everyone knows that Voldemort is alive again. People will be watching you more then ever. What will people think when they hear about you starting to act this way?''
"I doubt it will be worse then when they heard I was mentally unstable, a dark lord or when they heard I was an attention seeker.'' said Harry angrily.
"They shouldn't be looking up to him anyway, he's only sixteen after all.'' said James.
"So….dark lord? I hadn't heard that before, but after spending some time with you I can totally believe it.'' Sirius said conversationally.
"Sirius.'' Said both James and Remus.
Ignoring them Professor McGonagall said, "I don't know how you did it but I know you did it and because I know you did it I'm going to give you a month of detention.''
"But Professor—'' all four started. Two because they were actually innocent and the other two because it just wasn't…..right.
"Quiet I don't want to hear it. Now leave.'' Professor McGonagall finished.
All four of them got up without complaint and headed out the door. When it was firmly closed behind them James turned to the rest and said, "Who's ready for some good, clean fun?''
"Me, me, pick me.'' Said Sirius while waving around his hand and bouncing on the soles of his feet.
*****************************************************************
*On the way to the Gryffindor common room, after stopping by the kitchens. *
They met up with no one in the hallways because it was currently after they were aloud to be out and about. But when did that ever stop them? They were all currently content with the way the day turned out well not so much with the month of detention, but on the bright side they were the first students to get detention that year.
"O.k. first off were going to split into pairs,'' began James, "Remus and I will do the charms to protect the Gryffindors, jinx the Slytherinys, and Snape. Sirius you go with Harry and his friend Ron jinx the doors, put an exploding timer on the toilets so they wont start till morning and then meet me and Moony at the forest, where we will call the gnomes. Everyone got it? Good.''
"People please remember that if you are caught any knowledge of us having known you will be terminated and if you speak we will find you and you will be disemboweled. Thank you.'' Sirius said with a smile.
Reaching the portrait of the fat lady Harry said the password and they climbed in and were immediately assailed with the sound of clapping. Apparently most of them had stayed up to congratulate them on their brilliance.
"Thank you, thank you. I love you.'' Said Sirius while waving his hand as if he had just won a pageant.
"I'd like to thank my loyal fans, the one-eyed git with the ball, and I'd also like to thank my new found son.'' Said James while grabbing Harry and giving him a one-armed hug.
Braking away from James Harry made his way to his friends. Ron looked rather exited but Hermione on the other hand looked ready to strangle Harry.
"How could you?'' she said rather angrily as Harry came closer.
"It was surprisingly easy.'' Said Sirius, who had followed Harry.
"I can't believe you. You're all so—''
"Oh, come on Hermione it was hilarious!'' said Ron with a big smile.
Giving them all an evil glare Hermione stormed off to the girl's dormitory.
"What a stiff,'' Sirius said while he watched Hermione storm off.
"Hey watch it,'' Ron said going rather stern.
Sirius turned to Ron and shrugged.
"She's usually not that bad,'' said Harry.
"Let's hope not,'' said James who had made his way to them along with Remus, "She might come in handy with one of the more difficult pranks. You said she was the top witch of your class, right Harry?''
In response Harry nodded.
"Let's go see your broom Harry,'' said Remus.
The Marauders had wanted to have a peek at Harry's broom ever since they passed the Quidditch supply store, and Harry had proudly told them that Sirius had given him a firebolt. Which had made this Sirius think that he partly had dibs on it, after all the money had come from his vault.
So distracted with Quidditch the boys passed the hours rather quickly, waiting till everyone had left the common room, talking about which teams were better. And sometimes scribbling down the outcomes of some world cups. The also talked about some games they had been in and the strategies that had been used. They were so distracted that it took them a half hour, after the last person had left, to realize that they were alone.
"O.k. people it looks like it's time,'' said James as he stood up and stretched.
"Time for what?'' asked Ron who still hadn't been filled in.
Sighing Sirius filled him in, in under then three minuets. Which left Ron and Harry a little dazed, they had never heard anyone talk so fast and understand them. Remus and James just smiled at them.
"So are we ready now?'' asked Remus after Sirius had filled them in.
Ron nodded his head.
"Good,'' said James, "Harry do you have the cloak? Good. I have mine, was planning to use it for a late night adventure the first day back. And you have our map right Sirius? O.k. give it here and you can use Harry's. Ready everyone?''
Having agreed everyone got under the invisibility cloaks and started towards the portal.
When the were out side Ron, Harry, and Sirius went their own way while James and Remus stayed, starting to cast a spell over the entry way.
**************************************************************
* Three hours later. *
"O.k. that was the last door.'' Said Sirius.
"Thank god,'' said Ron.
Which was pretty much the feeling everyone was having. It had been hard to find all the doors, and they doubt that they found them all; they had also charmed the toilets while on their door hunting expedition.
"So let's go meet the others in the forest.'' Said Harry.
Consulting the map Ron said, "We'd better run because Filch is coming this way.''
Letting out a groan Sirius and Harry began jogging to the main door. They didn't stop till they were some ways past the doors.
Stretching out his arms Harry stretched, the cool night breeze felt good to him.
"Come on Prongslit,'' said Sirius while giving Harry a push, "were not done yet.''
Making their way to the forest Sirius guided them to a spot a little ways away from the willow, claiming that, that was were Remus and James would be. He turned out to be right.
"What took you guys so long?'' said both James and Remus.
"Well there are a lot of doors at this place,'' said Sirius lazily as he flopped down on the ground.
"What are you doing sitting down? We're not done yet,'' said James.
Groaning Sirius stood up and pulled out his wand.
"O.k. James and Harry you guys do the summoning spell and the rest of us can do the stunning spell. Then were can mess with their minds,'' said Remus.
Pulling out their wands Harry and James looked to the others to make sure that they were ready and then said, "Accio Gnomes!''
Nothing happened for a while and then there was a huge rumbling. All of a sudden all you could see were millions of gnomes coming directly their way.
"Oh, my—'' was all Ron got out before one of them hit him in the head.
The rest of them had gotten over their shock and were now stunning the gnomes. About twenty minuets later them five of them stood in the middle of what looked like millions of potatoes.
"O.k. do your stuff Moony.'' panted James.
It took Remus about ten minuets to spell the gnomes.
"Done.'' Said a rather tired looking Remus.
"Just think about the bigger picture,'' said Sirius as he placed an arm around Moony's shoulder and looked out over the gnomes.
"Where are we going to put them all?'' asked Ron.
Everyone stopped and pondered this for a moment.
"We could put them in the room of requirement,'' said Harry.
"Lead the way said,'' James said as he started to float some of the gnomes back towards the castle.
They didn't have any trouble getting the gnomes into the room of requirement or setting a realizing charm on the door, which would open, at breakfast.
*********************************************************
Closing the portal behind him, Harry slumped against it.
"That was probably the most demanding preparation for a prank we ever did,'' said James.
"Yeah,'' said Remus with a yawn.
"Well sleep tight everyone, tomorrows going to be a big day,'' said Sirius.