Usual Disclaimer: This world does not belong to me. I just borrowed it along with its inhabitants. Thanks J.K. for lending me your ready made world of magic.

A/N: Hope this chapter doesn't disappoint after the last one, which was my fave so far! Although I quite like this one too.

*Thanks to Siriusforeva - My sentiments exactly! Thanks for reading and reviewing.

*Thanks to Galagirl for her welcomed consistent reviews. Luv ya!

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Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs

Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers

Are Proud to Present

The Ultimate Marauders Guidebook

~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~* ~

Welcome Marauders of New Generation

You have been selected by the Mentor of Marauders

as worthy candidates for the continuation of Hogwarts Marauders.

It is now your responsibility to add to and pass on this book

to carry on our traditions and notorious tricks of the trade.

Remember - A Good Marauder Never Gets Caught!

Congratulations, Good Luck and Happy Mischief Making!

Harry grinned at his three friends who were now reading the words over his shoulder and knew that the rest of this year was going to be fun for sure.

"Wow." Harry whispered as the pages of the book filled with words. He flicked through the pages. Some were covered in a neat curly script that Harry recognised from the notes they had taken from the board in Professor Lupin's classroom. Others an untidy scrawl that Harry knew had belonged to Sirius. There was a page or two that contained some childish scribbled writing. Lastly, there were pages filled with neat slanted characters that Harry could have sworn belonged to his own hand.

"Wow Harry, that must have been your dad's handwriting. It looks exactly like yours." Ron commented as they huddled around the book on Harry's lap.

'Wow' seemed to be the general opinion of the book as they flicked through pages and pages of various spells, potions, and practical jokes. Many of the pages were annotated by the marauders with silly notes to each other, much like Harry's copy of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' which he had shared with Ron. Harry enjoyed reading these the most. They radiated the sense of mischievous fun that had passed between the Marauders.

Time, in it's nasty habit of doing so, passed far too quickly for the new Marauders and before they knew it, it was late morning and they were still in their nightwear.

Alerted to the time by a rather large grumble from Ron's stomach, they trooped upstairs to change before meeting back up in the common room again minutes later.

They headed to the kitchens, knowing that the breakfast in the great hall would be over and the next meal would be their Christmas dinner, which was usually served around four in the afternoon.

When they reached the kitchens they were greeted with the most amazing sounds, sights and smells. The air was full of the noise of hundreds of house elves busily bustling about, preparing the meal for that afternoon. The smells of turkeys cooking and potatoes roasting drifted up their nostrils making their stomachs grumble hungrily.

As always, Dobby was there in a flash, bowing to them.

"Sorry to disturb you Dobby, we know you're busy but we missed breakfast and we were wondering if there was any chance of a quick sandwich?" Hermione asked politely.

"Anything for Harry Potter's Granger!" He nodded feverishly and rushed off.

"I'm your Granger now am I?" Hermione raised her eyebrows at Harry.

"Of course! According to Dobby you all belong to me. My Wheezy's and My Granger." He joked, grinning happily.

"Just what I always wanted!" Ron said sarcastically. "To be the prized possession of The Harry Potter!" He joked back. They joked about this between themselves for a few minutes before a grumpy and harassed house elf brought them a pitcher of pumpkin juice then hurried away. Dobby appeared moments later with an unnecessarily large tray of assorted sandwiches, grinning happily.

"Thanks Dobby." Harry smiled and they headed back to Gryffindor tower with their provisions.

"How is he always happy? The rest of them look stressed and tired but Dobby is always grinning and he always has time for us. It's so nice of him." Ginny commented as they tucked into sandwiches. (The second and third years helping themselves too after being invited to share the enormous platter).

"Dobby's one of a kind." Harry agreed.

"You know, Ginny's right." Hermione agreed thoughtfully.

"Care to expand on that comment?" Ron asked when she didn't continue.

"The other house elves did look pretty stressed. Maybe it's time to restart..."

"Hermione!" Came the response from Harry, Ron and Ginny in unison.

"Well they're unhappy!"

"No they're not." Ron comforted his girlfriend. "They're just busy today that's all."

"Ron's right, Hermione." Harry agreed. "It's just the same as a busy stressful day in any other job."

"Okay, okay." Hermione reluctantly conceded but it was obvious that she was still churning over these thoughts in her head.

"So when can we start trying out some of the things in that book?" Ron asked, his eyes shining mischievously.

"As soon as, I say." Ginny grinned.

"Nothing too dangerous." Hermione warned, but her eyes too were shining like marauders eyes should. Harry however, was already halfway across the room to fetch the book from upstairs.

~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~

They headed down for Christmas dinner that night, their heads full of tricks and jokes. They had already tricked one of the third years into believing they had grown an extra head with an illusion charm. Hermione had laughed subtly with the others but then made up for it by apologising profusely to the boy afterwards. They had tested a few small practical jokes but were saving the extreme for when they would have an audience. (Otherwise what would be the point? Ron contributed).

They had eventually found a spell they were very much interested in but, as per usual, that unpredictable element of time slipped from under them and they found themselves heading down to the Great Hall for their Christmas dinner.

There were two tables this year as there were very few pupils staying over the holidays but there were too many for just one table. The Marauders seated themselves at the same table as Dumbledore and McGonagall who were already wearing their custom ridiculous hats. Dumbledore smiled at them as they took their seats, his eyes twinkling merrily as he offered them crackers.

As soon as they had adorned their own weird and wonderful hats, they began helping themselves to the usual magnificent Hogwarts Christmas feast.

~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~

At around midnight that night, the Marauders had headed to bed, happy and contented. Harry climbed into bed and closed the hangings. He sat cross-legged in the centre of the bed, the Marauders guidebook in front of him. He had waited for this, they had skimmed through it earlier but he had longed for a better look and now he could spend as long as he wanted reading it properly. He drank in every detail, possible. Smiling at some of the silly notes his father and Sirius had written to each other. He came began reading in detail the spell they had been looking at before dinner and began to realise it was a lot more complicated than he had originally thought. In spite of the difficulty and illegality, he vowed that this would be one spell they would definitely be trying.

The page was headed:

ANIMAGUS

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Extra A/N: I have a story floating about my head in its early stages of planning and I wanted to put out a feeler and see what the response might be to it. How do you feel about a 'Hermione lets loose' story? Just a bit of fun - i.e. probably no plot. Mainly based on Hermione having a bit of fun after the trio finish their NEWT's. Would be a H/G pairing and eventually R/H. Anyway it's not planned or anything, it's just hanging about and refusing to leave me alone. If I were to type and post it would you be interested in reading? Let me know in a review if you'd be interested! R & R please!