Chapter 07: Welcoming Feast

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The next three days past quite quickly. The other Marauders decided to get a head start on their training, convincing Harry to begin teaching them muggle self-defense techniques. Harry was pleasantly suprised at how quickly they picked up on the Karate techniques he was teaching them. He also began teaching them the muggle warfighting strategies he had read about in books by Sun Tzu and Von Clauswitz. They also joined in on Harry's morning workout routine. The rest of their time was spent planning practical jokes or playing Quidditch. Harry, Fred and George were all disappointed that they would not have time to play for the house team this year.

In the evenings the group usually hung out in the common room. Fred, George, and Neville usually took turns play chess, while the two couples in the group, Ron and Hermione and Harry and Ginny would go off to some corner of the room and kiss.

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The night of the Welcoming Feast was dark and stormy. Ron, Harry and Neville were in their dorm getting ready.

"I'm sure glad I'm not one of the 1st years. Can you imagine coming across the lake tonight?" Ron said, as a loud clap of thunder sounded outside. Neville shuddered.

"I wonder what Malfoy's reaction was when we weren't on the train?" Harry mused, referring to Draco Malfoy, his long time nemesis at Hogwarts.

"Hopefully the slimy git didn't have the guts to come back after what you did to his father over the summer." Neville said, referring to the showdown in Diagon Alley. Soon they were dressed in their school robes. The exited their dorm and met Fred and George on the stairs. Nodding to each other, the five descended the stairs into the common room, where Ginny and Hermonie were already waiting. Ron went over to Hermonie and pulled her into an embrace and kissed her.

"Hmm." Hermonie moaned. "What was that for?"

"I missed you." Ron replied. George, Fred and Neville snickered.

"Ugh. Please don't do that in front of us. It's disgusting. Right Harry?" Fred said. "Harry?" But Harry was not paying attention. He and Ginny were in their own embrace. After a few awkward moments the couple parted.

"Everybody ready?" Harry asked, blushing. Everyone nodded. "Now remember, when the fun starts, we have to act normal. We don't want anyone figuring out it was us."

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The Great Hall was a loud and boisterous. The students of the four Hogwart's houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin were all gathered at their tables, excitingly talking about the events of the past summer. The primary topic was the article that appeared in the Daily Prophet two days ago, recounting the details of the attack on Diagon Alley. Smack on the front page of the paper was a picture of Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, George, and Neville, bravely standing up to thirty Deatheaters.

When the great doors opened and the Marauders entered the hall, a hushed silence fell over all assembled. Harry could feel every eye in the hall looking at them.

God what I wouldn't give to have a normal life. Harry thought, sadly. Ginny seemed to sense his uncomfortableness and gave his had a gentle, reassuring squeeze. He looked over at her and smiled.

As they made their way over to the Gryffindor table, Harry noticed Draco Malfoy sitting at the Slytherin table. His all too familiar sneer was firmly in place. Just as they had sat down at the table, the doors to the Great Hall opened once again and Professor McGonnagall strode in, leading a line of 1st year students in. As they drew near the front of the hall they stopped and waited. One by one they were called forward to sit on a stool and have the sorting hat placed on their head. After a few moments, the hat would shout out their house. Gryffindor got 12 new students, Hufflepuff 15, Ravenclaw 14, and Slytherin 8. The Professor Dumbledore arose to give his welcoming speech.

"Welcome to you all. Before we begin, I have a few start of term announcements. Due to the return of Lord Voldemort," many of the students gasped at the mention of the Dark Lord's name, "we have been forced to place additional restrictions on all students. No student will be allowed to roam the corridors alone after 8pm. Members of the Order of Phoenix, as well as the Hogwarts teaching staff will be patrolling the halls and the grounds. Quidditch will be allowed to continue, with extra supervision. As usual, the Dark Forest is off limits. Additionally, the third floor corridor on the right hand side is once again off limits to all but members of the Order. Due to recent attacks by Lord Voldemort's followers, I regret to say that Hogsmeade visits will be canceled. In their place, the staff has decided to schedule three dances to take place on Halloween, Christmas, and at the end of the term. And now, let the feast begin." With that the house tables filled with food and the students began eating.

"So Ron, Hermonie" Harry asked with a twinkle in his eye, "Who are you going to take to the dance?" Ron and Hermonie looked at Harry, then each other and blushed. Harry smiled to himself. Even though they had been together for three months now his two best friends still acted like shy schoolchildren anytime anyone hinted at their relationship. Turning back to his plate, Harry caught Ginny looking at him.

"How about you Harry?" she asked, smirking, "Whose the luckly lady you're going to take?" Her eyes danced with mischief.

"Well, there is this one girl." Harry said. "She's a real fox. Or should I say unicorn." Ginny blushed, while the rest of the table watched the exchange in amusement.

About twenty minutes later, as the feast was drawing to a close, a loud popping sound was heard. Heads all around the hall turned towards the Slytherin table where the sound seemed to becoming from. Almost at once the other three houses burst into laughter. Seated at the Slytherin table in the exact spot which moments before had contained Slytherin students were pink chimpanzees dressed in white ballerina outfits. After a few moments, the chimpanzees turned back into Slytherins, however the ballerina outfits remained. More laughter roared through the hall. Professor Snape, the head of Slytherin looked furious. Then another pop sounded, this time coming from the head table. The students turned and once again roared with laughter. Snape was now wearing a pink ballerina outfit and a sign around his neck that read WILL DANCE FOR SHAMPOO. Most of the staff table was chuckling under their breath, including Professor Dumbledore. Snape looked livid, his eyes whirling around the room, trying to decide who was responsible. After a few more seconds another pop sounded and a message appeared in smoke above the Great Hall.

THIS PRANK WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NEW MARAUDERS - FLAME, WISE, SLY, PRECIOUS, PAWS, MANE, AND FANGS.

It took all of Harry's concentration to maintain an appearance of normal amusement. The Marauders first prank had been a success. The nicknames had been Ron's suggestion and were based on their animagus forms. Harry was Flame, Hermonie was Wise, Ron was Sly, Ginny was Precious (alluding to the fact that unicorn blood and horns were considered precious), Fred was Paws, George was Mane, and Neville was Fangs.

Snape is going to be livid when he finally figures it out. Harry thought.