Chapter 9- Rotten Cockroach Clusters and the Criminal they speak of…

The Hogwarts kitchen was filled with house elves and food during day but at midnight it was eerie and empty and not to mention quiet and a normal Tuesday night was no exception.

"Okay! I think were here already… What are you twits waiting for? Let's go!" and did I say quiet?

"We'd love to Prongs but you see, you're gigantic foot is pulverizing our delicate toes!"

"Oh Yeah… I meant to do that…" and with a swish of a cloak four boys appeared in the middle of the kitchen.

"Sure you did…" Sirius said sarcastically.

"Of Course…" James said missing the heavy sarcasm, "Okay! Same drill boys! Duke Padfoot, the cupboards, Adviser Moony, the fridge and Juggler Wormtail take watch!" James said quickly and the boys scrambled to their assigned position.

"Okay! I've got some peppermint toads, cakes, pastries and EEEW!"

"What has happened Adviser Moony?" James looked over to Remus side and Remus held out a rotten Cockroach Cluster.

"Cool! Put it in the bag, Adviser Moony!" Sirius said excitedly.

"What?" The three marauders excluding Sirius shouted in disgust.

"Have you lost your marbles?" the three chorused again.

"Stop saying things together! It's freaky!" Sirius complained.

"And he calls us freaky…" Peter said, "What about that Cockroach Cluster?"

"We could use this for the big Prank Tournament!" Sirius said his eyes gleaming with delight.

"Yeah…I guess… Who do you have in mind?" asked Remus.

"For something that preciously disgusting we need someone like…." Sirius smiled evilly at James and James smiled at him the same way.

"Snivellus…" They both said slowly.

"And he complains about the freakiness of saying things together..." Peter said helplessly.

"But I'm not touching that…" Remus complained.

"Well then… Juggler Wormtail pick it up!" James ordered.

"But I'm a juggler! Jugglers don't do things that disgusting!" Peter protested.

"Fine! Juggler Wormtail you are demoted to be the Royal Garbage Picker! Now pick that up!" James said impatiently.

"Garbage Picker a.k.a. Janitor! Now get moving Peter…" Sirius added.

"Good friends you lot are…" Peter grumbled as he placed the cockroach cluster in the pile of goodies.

"Filch is coming to check the kitchens!" Sirius waved a map in the air, 'the Marauders Map'

"Okay! Duke Padfoot, Adviser Moony, Royal Garbage Picker Wormtail assemble inside the Invisibility cloak!' James announced. The four of them scrambled into the Invisibility cloak just in time and managed to slip past Filch.

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"Okay! Can I have some of those Peppermint Toads now?" James reached for a Peppermint Toad but Sirius slapped his hand.

"Ow! What did you do that for?' James hissed.

"We still have a meeting to tend to!" Sirius said impatiently.

"Fine, I the hungry Prince Prongs announce the meeting to start!" James announced. "Why have you called this meeting, Duke Padfoot?"

"Thank You Prince Prongs… I wish to discuss to you about the supercallifragillisticexpialidocious marvelous, superb, flabbergasting, amazing, and wonderful hmph?"

"We get it, Duke Padfoot!" Peter clapped his hand to Sirius' mouth.

"How dare you disrupt me, I"

"Duke Padfoot what do you wish to discuss? And kindly lessen the adjectives…" Remus interrupted before Peter was beheaded.

"I am asking you for your help in the upcoming Prank Tournament!" Sirius said proudly.

"We will help you! Meeting adjourned! Please pass the Peppermint Toads!" James announced.

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Back in the Girls Dormitories Lily and Alexa were having a meeting of their own and there was orange light waving around.

"Stop with the Lumos already! I know you can do the spell so quit showing it off!" Lily said irritably.

"WHOA! I'm sensing bad vibes here why don't we try to relax?" Alexa said imitating a mystic voice, "Ohm…Ohm…"

Lily repeated and she felt her body relax.

"Okay!" Alexa screeched causing Lily's relaxed nerves to almost pop out of her.

"Alexa, I am this close to clobbering you!" Lily made a sign with her fingers that indicated how close she was to breaking down.

"Fine, why did you call on this Conference Princess Lily?" Alexa said importantly.

"Well, Duchess Alexa, I wish to discuss about a stubborn criminal…" Lily replied. "Criminal P-O-T-T-E-R"

"Mmm… what about him?" asked Alexa.

"He just won't leave me alone! I want him to give up on me or just make him lose the bet!" Lily whined.

"That is difficult… Very difficult…" Alexa scratched her chin thoughtfully, "Let me think…"

"Hope you don't hurt yourself…" Lily said and Alexa glared at her.

"Give me more of those chocolates and I may just find a way!"

"Here and your plan better be good…" Lily handed Alexa a large chunk of chocolate.

"Never doubt a Genius ma'dear Princess" Alexa said.

"I never did but this is you were talking about isn't it?"

"Never mind…" Alexa grumbled. "Well you've tried shouting and running away from him… Why don't you chase him?"

"I don't want to look like I like him after I have established the fact that I despise the mere memory of him and I, Princess Lily will never chase a boy for as long as I need my dignity!" Lily announced stubbornly.

"Well… Maybe if you busy yourself with stuff you can avoid him better…" Alexa suggested.

"What do you mean?" Lily asked.

"Well if you busy yourself and not strain yourself from looking for him the entire time-just let me finish- if you become busy then he may have a harder time looking for you…" Alexa explained.

"I guess… but there has to be something really big to keep my mind off watching my back all the time…" Lily said and the two started to think.

"I know!" Alexa finally exclaimed.

"What is it?" Lily urged.

"The Prank Tournament." Alexa said slowly. Lily's face then glowed in delight.

"You're a Genius Alexa!" Lily squealed.

"Finally, My Genius is noticed!" Alexa then suddenly frowned, "But we don't know any pranks…"

"'Hey you're a genius and I'm talented we'll figure that out eventually…" Lily said carelessly. "I dismiss the hearing of criminal P-O-T-T-E-R! Oooohhh! Pass the Pumpkin Pasties!"

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James bribed Peeves to chase Lily and bump into him and Lily's book magically flew away and as she was running she bumped into James and something exploded in the girls loo and the Charms Classroom in the span of 2 days so:

Bump Countdown: 31 Bumps to Go! The 2nd Week is not over yet….