Hello everyone, this is J.K. Rowling, coming to you live from an assumed name to continue the story I've created here. And if you believe that, then I don't think you're college-bound.

(God, I'm so mean at 2 in the morning.)

Marauders^3: The Next Generation

Chapter 7: Time for School

"Got all your books?" Richard asked. Eddie rolled his eyes.

"I think I've had them since I was born, Richie. You know my mom." The two shared a laugh.

Breakfast in the Great Hall of Hogwarts was oddly quiet, considering the screeches of owls delivering mail clashed horribly with a hundred different conversations. Even the rather large number of students that had arrived over the past few years (the result of an end-of-war population boom) didn't do much to raise the overall decibel level. Richard assumed it had something to do with magic. Everything else did, after all.

"So what class have we got first?" Henry asked, having joined the two a few seconds before. Eddie consulted the schedule.

"Let's see...we first year Gryffindors have Transfiguration, then lunch, then Defense Against the Dark Arts. Seems like a light day to me."

"Who knows...maybe they don't want to overtax us yet? Not like they could overtax you, Mr. I've got an IQ of like a million." Eddie gave Richard a withering look.

"Ok then" Henry said, "where's our Transfiguration class?" Richard and Eddie looked at each other, stricken.

"Um, how many times have we visited this school? And we don't know where everything is yet?"

"Richie, don't worry! We can always get help from a guide" Eddie said, raising his eyebrows expressively. Richard didn't quite get it.

"Huh?" Eddie rolled his eyes.

"A sort of ghostly guide?" He stared at Richard to make his point.

"Oh! Right!" Richard looked around to make sure no one was looking, and pulled out his wand. Tapping it on the tiny Marauders crest crafted into the seat between himself and Eddie, he spoke. "Beaky, Lionheart."

Harry and Ron appeared, standing in the middle of the table.

"Morning boys!"

"What's up?" Richard and Eddie looked at each other sheepishly.

"Dad...Dads...as much as we hate to admit it, we just can't remember where our Transfiguration class is." Harry and Ron looked at each other in confusion.

"You don't even have to say it, Beaky" Ron said. "The fact that our eleven-year-old sons can perform a perfect Brain-Switching Spell but can't remember how to find a classroom?"

"Exactly what I was thinking, Lionheart. Do you think there's been some Obliviating going on? Maybe they've got some sort of Alzheimer's that affects children..."

Richard and Eddie, long used to their fathers' teasing, didn't bat an eye.

"So are you going to help us? Or will it be known that the sons of the great and powerful Harry Potter and Ron Weasley are...hopeless failures?" Richard intoned dramatically.

"They'll be expelled from Hogwarts on their first day...Oh, the shame of it!" Eddie cried.

"Whatever will their mothers say? Or think?" Richard added, pretending to wipe away tears. Harry and Ron watched, almost in boredom.

"Are you two quite done? You're making a little bit of a scene since you're apparently talking TO YOURSELVES" Ron said. Richard and Eddie froze in the middle of what looked like a very convincing crying jag.

"Whoops" Eddie said as the boys let go of each other and smiled nervously at the people around them.

"Now" Harry said, smiling, "as for getting to your Transfiguration class...well, if it's where it was when we were first years, it's quite simple. Go out of the Hall and up the staircase on the right. Turn right at the top, and look behind the third tapestry on your left for a dark green door. It opens into the hallway just across from the classroom."

"Thanks, Dad" Richard said. "Care to join us at our first class?" The two apparitions smiled and nodded. Richard smiled in return before peering through the two of them a little worriedly. A rather confused Henry Longbottom, still sitting across from Richard and Eddie, was looking at them like they were insane.

"Er...who are you guys talking to?" he asked. For the second time in about two minutes, Richard and Eddie felt like idiots.

"We'll have to explain on the way, Henry. Class starts soon" Eddie said as he got up.

"Ten minutes isn't soon!" Richard protested. "I bet your mother was just like this when she was a student!"

"Sometimes worse" Harry and Ron responded in unison. Ron grimaced.

"Remember those homework planners? 'Don't leave it till later, you big second-rater!'"

"Do it today or later you'll pay!" Harry replied. "It's not like we never did our homework. It just took us longer than her."

"Which was no surprise, considering she was usually done five minutes after it was assigned" Ron said.

"Anyway, Eddie...and confused young man who can't see or hear us" Harry said, smiling at both Eddie and Henry, "the door's right where I said it is, and it won't take you ten minutes to get there. Cross my heart and force me to duel with a chimera if I'm wrong."

"Yeah, you can at least finish your breakfast, son." Ron said.

"No, I want to see if this'll work now!" Eddie said, and stood up, running out of the Hall. Richard and Henry followed him.

"Richie?" Henry asked. "Would you please tell me what's going on now?"

"We didn't tell you last night?" Richard said, nearly tripping on his way up the steps. "Along with knowledge of all the secret passages, we can communicate with apparitional images of our parents that only we can see and hear. Of course, if you want to become a Marauder, there's a spell we can use that will enable you to see them too." At the top of the stairs just ahead of them, Eddie turned around.

"And we still really want you to join, Henry. The Marauders could use a good powerful Gesturiat around."

"Are you kidding? I told you I was in last night, remember?" Henry replied.

"Oh yeah, I forgot" Eddie said. Richard smiled and put on a look of fake shock.

"You FORGOT? The great Eddie Weasley forgot something? Someone call the Daily Prophet! This is front-page news!" Eddie rolled his eyes.

"When you're quite finished..." he said, pulling back the third tapestry and finding the dark green door.

"See! Told you!" Harry said as he and Ron floated up. "Didn't take nearly ten minutes, did it?"

"Nope" Richard replied. "Not even if you count the fact that we all left our bookbags in the Great Hall." The three boys headed back down the staircase as Harry and Ron started laughing.

-----------------------------------------------------time jump-----------------------------------------

"Bet you ten Galleons Eddie and I are the top students in the class" Richard said to Henry as they waited for Transfiguration to start.

"Oh yeah?" Henry smirked. "Why do you say that? Cause your aunt's the teacher?"

"No" Eddie chimed in, "my mum teaches Potions, remember?"

(A/N: I wanted to put that in later, but I need it to explain what's coming up next. And where's Snape, you ask?)

"Ok, fine, she's the Potions professor. What's your point?"

"The point, Henry," Richard said, "is that for the past few years, aunt Hermione's been bringing us to Hogwarts during the summer and teaching us on her own, where we can perform magic without the Ministry punishing us. Not to mention all the reading we've been doing in subjects like Herbology and Potions." Henry's eyes got real big and wide.

"That is so unfair..." He didn't get the rest of the sentence out before the professor walked into the classroom. Richard and Eddie knew him as well as they knew their own names. They'd seen him both at Hogwarts every summer, and around their houses during the winter holidays.

"Good morning, first year Gryffindors." The man's voice was slightly hoarse, a mildly unpleasant side effect to the full moon the previous night. "I am your Transfiguration teacher. My name is Professor Remus Lupin, and as you already know, I am Head of Gryffindor House. It was my both my pleasure and sorrow to assume this position twelve years ago, after the tragic passing of Minerva McGonagall in the war." He paused for a second, as he always did with this particular speech.

"Now, some of you may be wondering what Transfiguration is. Well, perhaps I can give you a few examples." So saying, he drew his wand and pointed it at an apple that was on his desk, changing it into a rock. The class gasped appreciatively. With another wave of his wand, the rock disappeared. Yet another, and the rock reappeared, and a glass of what looked like pumpkin juice appeared beside it.

"Can anyone tell me specifically what I just did?" Remus asked. A number of hands went up. Remus selected a dark-haired boy in the back with prominent front teeth.

"Well...first you turned the apple into a rock, then you made it disappear, and then you brought it back with a glass of pumpkin juice.

"Yes, but what does that mean?" Remus asked. The boy's eyebrows furrowed.

"That you...um...Transfigured it?"

"Well, technically, yes. What is your name?" The boy fidgeted slightly.

"Ryan, sir. Ryan O'Hara." Remus smiled.

"Ok, Ryan. I'm sure you noticed how I changed the apple, and then the rock, and then even the glass of juice? By altering them physically?" Ryan nodded.

"Well, that's what Transfiguration is! It involves changing an object or person physically. First I Transfigured the apple into a rock. Then I Vanished the rock. Finally, I Unvanished it, and Conjured a glass of pumpkin juice."

"Now" Remus said as he turned to the blackboard and started writing, "it should be noted that none of you would be able to perform magic of that particular level yet. We'll be starting small today. Please copy these notes down..."

After that, it was quiet for a while except for quills scratching on parchment. Henry was in the middle of copying when Richard slid a small piece of parchment over to him. Henry picked it up slowly and read it.

Bet you ten more Galleons Eddie and I could do all the stuff Professor Lupin just did. Richard + Eddie = #1!

Henry smiled to himself and scribbled something back, passing it surreptitiously to Richard.

So? I bet I could do it too. Remember? One little hand wave = mute dog and broomstick attack.

Richard smiled and showed the note to Eddie. "He's got a point, you know" he muttered under his breath.

About a minute later, Remus flicked his wand. A matchstick appeared in front of each student.

"Now...using the notes you've been copying so diligently, I would like each of you to attempt to turn your match into a needle."

"Gee, that sounds familiar" said a voice over Richard's shoulder. Harry and Ron had decided to join the class.

"Wasn't McGonagall more strict than Moony?"

"Yeah. Lucky kids, huh?"

"Oh yeah." The two of them watched as their sons worked at Transfiguring the matches. As predicted, Richard and Eddie had it done within a couple of minutes. Henry spent most of that time trying to work with his wand. When it became apparent that he wouldn't be able to do it right off, he simply put his wand down at pointed at his match. It almost immediately turned silver and thinned down to a sharp point on one end.

"Excellent, Henry!" Richard whispered. Harry and Ron were surprised.

"Is he...a Gesturiat?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, so?" Eddie replied.

"He needs special teaching! Boys, you've got to tell Dumbledore." Harry said.

"No!" Richard and Eddie said, loud enough to attract attention. Remus looked up at them, showing a brief expression of shock that no one could figure out, before he relaxed slightly.

"Is there a problem, Mr. Potter? Mr. Weasley?" he asked mildly.

"Uh, no, sir" Richard replied. "We've Transfigured our matches, though." Remus smiled.

"Excellent! Shall we say, five points apiece to Gryffindor?" The boys smiled amongst themselves as he added, "Now, if you three could just bring your needles up here, so I can check on your work?" The boys nodded and stood up, walking to the front of the room. Harry and Ron floated behind them.

"We have to go too. Moony can see us, you know" Harry explained. "I'm sure he's wondering if we helped you at all, or why we're even here." Richard, Eddie, and Henry stood in front of Remus' desk, blocking him from the other students' view. As he bent over, seemingly examining the needles, he spoke quietly.

"Hello, Beaky and Lionheart. Come to see your sons' first days at Hogwarts, I take it?" Harry and Ron smiled sheepishly.

"Something like that...and we didn't help them, if that's what you're thinking." Remus smiled.

"No, not at all...if I remember correctly from Professor McGonagall's notes, you two weren't the quickest when it came to beginner's Transfiguration." The boys chuckled quietly as Harry and Ron blushed. Henry kept looking back and forth between the boys and Remus in confusion.

"I really don't like missing the conversation like this!" he hissed. Remus looked to Richard and Eddie in surprise.

"You haven't already made a Gesturiat one of the Marauders? Shame, boys. Prongs and Padfoot would be disappointed." The boys' jaws dropped.

"You know he's a Gesturiat?" Remus smiled.

"Well, his father's had an inkling for a while, and he wrote to Dumbledore and told him so. Dumbledore, of course, told all the teachers...but I didn't believe it for myself until I happened to look up and see you Transfiguring your match without the use of your wand. I'm afraid" he said, with a tone that all three boys knew couldn't be any good, "that your prank training shall have to wait a while, Henry. You need special training for your gift."

"But why?" Eddie asked. "Dad and Uncle Harry already said that!"

"Because," Remus replied, "if Gesturiats aren't properly trained when they're young, their powers can grow out of control. There's an entire wing at St. Mungo's for Gesturiats who didn't know about their gifts until it was too late. They just lay there, Stunned, because even the slightest movement on their part makes things explode." All three of the boys looked shocked.

"Well...what kind of training does he need?" Richard asked. Remus' brow furrowed.

"Let's see...Gesturiat training...as I recall, Henry will need to attend a new class in Wandless Magic. It's designed specifically for Gesturiats...there are lessons in technique, control, magical focus, and so on. It'll be a very small class, I think...there are never more than four or five Gesturiats a year at Hogwarts. You'll have to go and ask the headmaster when it is, exactly."

"And now would seem to be the perfect opportunity!" he remarked as the lunch bell rang. Standing up, he addressed the rest of the class as Harry, Ron, Richard, Edie, and Henry left.

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"So how did it go?" Richard asked when Henry returned from his meeting with Dumbledore. He was smiling like his birthday had come early.

"Well, the whole Wandless Magic thing does mean I can't help you guys with pranks for a while...but on the upside, I don't have to take History of Magic! Nice little trade-off, I'd say."

"I would too...I've been wondering why anyone ever has to take it" Eddie said. "Seems pointless to me..."

"Well, anyway, Henry" Richard cut in, "eat up. It'll take about ten minutes to get to the DADA classroom."

-------------------------------another time jump-------------------------------------

"Ok, that took five minutes at the most" Eddie said. "I'm beginning to wonder if the great Mr. Potter here can tell time."

"Shut up" Richard said, smiling. "It's better to be early than late, you know."

"Yeah, but you're always early. You're never right on time, or just a few minutes early...it's always five at least!"

"So?" Richard asked as the rest of the students started filing in. "I see no problem with being early and prepared." Eddie rolled his eyes.

"You know, sometimes I wonder if you're my cousin or my brother...there are times when you act more like my mother than I do." Richard wasn't able to come up with a decent reply to that before a voice rang out.

"Locomotor Mortis!" A young girl who had just walked into the room shrieked as she fell to the floor. Ryan O'Hara spun around and caught her before she hit.

"Rictusempra!" Ryan had barely finished putting the girl down before he hit the floor himself, laughing his head off thanks to the Tickling Charm that got him.

Several more curses were shouted. Henry fell to the floor in the Full-Body Bind. Richard and Eddie were Stunned. The entire class was incapacitated in one way or another. The voice called out again, but not to utter a curse.

"I believe this is why Gryffindors are known for bravery, not cleverness." The owner of said voice stepped out of the shadowy area in the corner.

"I'm sure you all realize that none of the curses I just used on you are technically Dark Arts...or at least I hope some of you do..." He smiled slightly, even though it was a horrid effect on his pale face.

"My name is Severus Snape, and I am your Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."

(A/N: As someone who's done plenty to Snape in this series already, I felt it was necessary to give him something he's wanted. And if he gets over the random hexing of his students, he should be a fine professor. The other surprise (Remus as Transfiguration teacher) was a little less planned out. It just kind of came to me. Besides, this is really just some filler until I can think of a good new prank. Please review!)