Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter characters.

Chapter 2- Failure Six

March 31, 1979

James and Sirius had been preparing everything for months. Not just that, but they had Peter ratting around to see what everyone else was doing to get the Goofster. The Goofster was the prize given to the best practical joke on April Fool's Day. The prize was an oversized Goody doll donated by the founder of the competition and idol to the Marauders, Arthur Weasley.

Legend had it that on a family trip to Disneyland the infamous Arthur enchanted the toy alive and scared the owner so badly that they gave it to him for free. the best part was that Arthur never got caught by the Ministry, though his mum was a force to be reckoned with.

Ever since, the Goofster was a highly coveted award among the students. The winner got to keep the stuffed toy until the following year's competition. James, Sirius, and Peter had kept it for the last five year, and it wasn't going to change if they had anything to say about it. Remus had been involved in the first year, but took over as judge in his second year. They all, however, helped build a shrine for the toy.

Sign-ups were today and James was the first in like. "do you have a sickle and three knuts?" Ludo asked.

"What for?" Sirius asked.

"It's been decided that winner of the Goofster should get another prize," Ludo informed them.

"All right," James said, "I'll be getting it back tomorrow anyways. Here's our list of people." The judging was done with enchanted cameras, both invisible and hovering, and when a prank was pulled the proof was in the picture. The picture would be given to the prankster, if it succeeded, or to the foiler of the plan, if the plan failed. The list given would provide a camera to follow each person listed.

"Hey," Ludo said in a whisper. "I'm taking bets on the winners for each category, if you're interested."

"Sure," James got out three more galleons. "All of it on us getting the Goofster again."

"Alright," Ludo said.

The rest of the afternoon James and Sirius watched who was signing up. They left as Ludo was closing up the books. When they were gone, one more came in.

"Uh," Ludo's eyes got very wide. "It isn't what you've heard."

"Don't worry," the person said. "I'm here to sign up. I heard the list isn't posted until after breakfast. Is that correct?"

"Right," Ludo said, making one last quick entry. "So then, who are you pranking?"

The newest entry passed a note rather than saying anything.

"You've gotta be out of your bloody mind! No one ever succeeds with th-"

"I will."

"Alright then, but you know that even your failure is caught on camera. Most people going for these guys have others as well, are you sure-"

"I'm sure."

Ludo finished writing things down, collected the money, and packed things up. "Good luck, Lily. I hope you know what you're doing."

April 1, 1979

James stretched and thought about the day's routine. Every year there were five or six kids, usually muggle borns, who would try and pull amature stunts on the Marauders. First James wiped his hands of whipped cream on the sheets, knowing the house elves would clean it up later. Flash Failure one.

Next he pointed his wand at the doorknob, lazily stating 'scourgify', clearing the Vaseline easily. Flash Failure two. By the end of the day James and Sirius would have a box of these pictures to go through. They would usually pick the three or four they looked best in and destroy the rest.

James made his way to the bathroom, removed the saran wrap from around the toliet Flash, the gum directing th water upward Flash, and replace the poison oak soap with his own Flash. Failures three, four, and five. James got into the shower thinking of what he needed to do. Sirius was probably down in the kitchens taking care of their top plan; the one that would win them the Goofster, six years and running. "This is going to be good," he said to himself, as he shampooed his hair. Flash James wondered what that one had been for, but brushed it off as him stopping something else. "This is getting easier every year," he said shaking his head. "Oh well, failure six."

When James got out of the shower he dressed, towel dried his hair and left for breakfast without even a glance in the mirrir. As he walked down the corridor, James noticed people whispering to each other and looking toward him. That's right, he thought, King of pranks coming through. All bow to the King.

As James opened the doors to the Great Hall, there was a burst of laughter. James looked around to see what prank had been pulled, but saw nothing. Remus was off, judging no doubt, Peter was hopefully getting things ready for some of the smaller pranks, but Sirius should have been there. James sat down next to Lily. "Anything interesting happen yet?"

"No," she replied. Lily was reading a book and had a note pad with a quill sitting idly on top. "What about you?"

"Just the same lame stuff, like Vaseline and gummed up faucets.

"Oh," Lily said with a look of disappointment. "I thought for sure the gum would work."

"That was you?" James scoffed. "Sorry, Lily, but that was pretty pathetic attempt for someone who's supposedly so clever."

Lily shrugged while picking up her quill, dipping it in red ink and writing something before going back to her book. A minute or so later there was a flash going off somewhere behind James and an eruption of laughter. "What'd I miss?" James asked looking around.

"I don't know," Lily said, not even looking up.

"James," said a voice from nowhere.

James pulled out his two way communication mirror to see a frantic Sirius's face. "What is it Padfoot?"

"Code red! Get back here now!" Sirius left and James grabbed some toast, stood up and started walking out.

As James made his way he heard someone shout, "hey cue ball!" As much as James wanted to look back, he resisted.

A/N: Okay, another chapter. I think I can keep it down to just one more, so look out for it!

Thank you:

JamieBell: I hope more people read this one, but oh well, once again this is for you. You've never heard the phrase 'whatever blows your skirt up'? It's like 'whatever tickles your fancy' or 'whatever floats your boat', but it can have a perverted meaning, which works here. Oh yes, they have this coming. Any guesses to what she's done??? Hope you like this chapter...