Disclaimer: I'm not lucky enough to own Harry Potter & the gang—they all belong to the incomparable JK Rowling!

Mischief Managed: Ch. 1

What happens when your boyfriend's 'spare bit of parchment' takes you and your arch-nemesis twenty years back in time? With the Marauders involved, things can get pretty interesting. ..

4:00 PM, the Dursley Household

"Out of the bathroom!" Dudley snapped irritably, shoving past Harry and slamming the door behind him. Harry really was past his cousin's rudeness, in fact, he preferred this new Dudley. The 'new' Dudley was slimmer, healthier, and cared more about how he looked then about using Harry as a punching bag—quite a welcome change. Besides, the Dursleys had been nicer than usual for the two weeks he had been home; even feeding him normal sized meals instead of the leftovers he was accustomed to. They had even sanctioned his plans to go to the Weird Sisters concert in London with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny—without too much of a fuss.

So here he was, almost sixteen years old and going to his first ever rock concert. Ron and Ginny were due any minute—he wondered how exactly they would arrive—not by broom obviously, or by car…Harry hastily examined his reflection in the hallway mirror, patting down his messy hair, which seemed, to his immense pleasure, a little flatter than usual. He was still skinny, but he was slowly noticing that he filled out his shirts more than before, and that his jeans didn't look so incredibly baggy—he wasn't a bad-looking kid, if he did say so.

"Now I want those freaky friends of yours here and gone," Aunt Petunia said snappily as she loaded the film into the Polaroid camera. "I want to make sure Duddy has plenty of time to look smart for his date tonight."

Harry fought back the temptation to laugh at Dudley's 'date'. He had been going out with Rosemary Mason for about 3 weeks, a feat that was causing Uncle Vernon to puff up with pride and Aunt Petunia to start crying whenever Dudley took her out.

Harry privately was surprised that any female would be willing to spend more than a few moments with Dudley, who still weighed roughly the amount of a baby killer whale.

At promptly five o'clock, Harry bounded down the stairs to answer the doorbell.

"Hey gorgeous!" Ginny Weasley said playfully, enveloping Harry in a huge hug. Harry's first impression was that of shock—Ginny was gorgeous—little Ginny! Ron's baby sister had suddenly transformed. Her red hair was cut into a trendy bob and flipped at the ends, and her athletic body was accented by her tight white pants and black halter top. She was a vision—and a welcome distraction for Harry James Potter.

"Sorry we're so late," she said, "Ron wasn't paying attention and took us half-way to Bristol and back."

"Where's Dean then?" Harry grinned mischievously.

"Oh him," Ginny said absentmindedly, "I got rid of him right after school got out."

The evening was getting better and better for Harry.

Without even saying goodbye to the Dursleys, Harry stuffed his wallet and a change of clothes into his backpack and followed Ginny out the door.

"Where's Ron?" he asked confusedly, "Where's the car?"

"You'll see," Ginny grinned, "Fred and George got Ron a little present for winning the Quidditch Cup—he's been dying to show you all summer."

Harry could not believe his eyes. It was Ron Weasley all right—his best friend of six years—but this Ron Weasley was…well…cool. He had let his hair get almost as long as Bill's, and was wearing dragon-hide boots definitely inspired by the eldest Weasley brother. His white shirt was unbuttoned to the chest, showing off his newly defined physique.

"Harry!" Ron said with his same old grin, "Check this baby out!"

Harry was now at a complete loss for words. Ron was the proud owner of a motorbike—a magically enhanced motorbike, complements of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, Inc.

"She can do anything," Ron said as he lovingly stroked the bike's handle, "she can fly, go invisible—you name it, she can do it."

"It's wicked!" Harry said, smiling indulgently at his best mate.

"Climb aboard," Ron said happily as he pulled on a helmet that matched his boots, "our first stop will be Hermione's house."

It would be fair to say that Harry was shocked to see Ron, but nothing could have prepared him for seeing Hermione. Curves had appeared suddenly—or had he just never noticed? Her hair was straight as a stick—probably from a Hair Straightening Potion. She was also looking very brown indeed. Ron's actions were as surprising as Hermione's appearance. He rushed to her door, grabbed her tightly and planted a passionate kiss on her mouth.

"Where the hell did that come from?" Harry whispered to Ginny, causing her to giggle as she snuggled close to him.

"They've been going on dates at least every weekend for the past month—I think Ron's finally getting used to it all."

"What are you two goggling at?" Ron said with a slight blush.

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed as she seized him in a tight hug, "Ronald didn't mention that you were coming too."

"Easy Hermione, you have a boyfriend now—" Ginny glared at her friend with a not so subtle trace of jealousy in her voice, "—we don't have long to get to London!"