Authoress's Note: Hi! Here's a nice sized chapter for ya'll! E.D.J.
AngelofTears- Thank you! I'm glad people recognize when I'm trying to add humor to the story!
Professor Drusilla W.L. Silvers- Thank you so much for all your reviews!
ShadowFire2- NO! I will not make it slash! That is ugh... to nasty for words!
Ch. 9- Becoming the Marauders
Everyone except the four pranksters reached into their bags and began rummaging through for the things they needed.
"Oy! I can't find anything!" shouted Ravenclaw Mundungus Fletcher, brushing straggly ginger hair from his eyes. "I was sure I 'ad some. I put a new inkwell in 'ere this morning!"
Frantic calls such as "My new quill!" and "Where is everything?" soon began inside the greenhouse. Stirrings of barely contained fury and confusion began around the room as students turned to the neighbors and demanded their things be returned at once.
The foursome watched the scene somewhat smugly, and Sirius whispered, "Excellent! I was worried our charms might not be strong enough to get 'em all!"
"What? You worried?" asked James, grinning.
Around them the greenhouse started getting more chaotic, and chairs clattered and fell over as the accusing students continued to turn on each other.
"First years!" called Professor Sprout angrily over the din. "Does anyone have anything to take notes with? Anyone? Raise your hand!"
No one raised their hands as they continued to look suspiciously at their neighbors out of the corners of their eyes, and Professor Sprout muttered something that sounded like, "First years."
"I suppose I have some spare parchment and some quills somewhere," Professor Sprout murmured, a exasperated note to her voice, as she walked over to her extremely cluttered desk. "Mind you you'll have to share the quills," she added.
Professor Sprout rummaged through her very messy desk for nearly ten minutes before she finally said, "Merlin's beard! I have nothing either, and I could have sworn I had a whole stack of parchment here yesterday!"
"Perhaps we could just have a free hour until you figure this all out, Professor," Sirius suggested innocently, shooting a secretive smirk at his three friends.
"Fine, fine. Do whatever you like ... just stay away from the plants!" shrieked Professor Sprout, and two boys scuttled back to their seats, away from an extremely large potted plant that twitched menacingly, as if daring some student to go nearer.
"First lesson: success!" hissed James, pumping his fist in the air.
"Now, boys, let's enjoy a well-earned break!" said Remus, smiling and leaning back in his chair.
The rest of the day was much the same with none of the teachers being able to locate any spare supplies and ending up giving their students free periods. It seemed they'd even ventured into some of the more 'unsavory' rooms of the school in search of supplies, judging by the various burns, cuts, and general look of dislevelment many of the professors were now sporting.
"Ah! Bliss!" Sirius said brightly as he, Peter, James, and Remus trotted into the Great Hall for dinner.
"That was the best prank!" James said a bit too loudly, grinning widely like one of the carved pumpkins decorating the Hall.
Just then, a cold, angry voice behind them that belonged to no other but their head of house Professor McGonagall sounded: "Mr. Potter! You four are responsible for the mishaps we've been having all day?"
"Damn, she must have heard me!" James muttered under his breath before yelling, "Run!"
James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter ran for it, but they were hit with spells, causing them to be dragged back to a red-faced Professor McGonagall.
"Hello, Professor!" Sirius said, plastering on a smile. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"
"My office! Now!" Professor McGonagall snarled, releasing them from the spell, and the four boys walked grudgingly into her office on the first floor.
"Wait here while I get the Headmaster," she snapped, her voice low and dangerousl and she left the office, shooting the lot of them an evil glare as she exited the room.
Professor McGonagall soon returned with Professor Dumbledore, much to the boys' dismay.
"Well, Misters Potter, Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew, this is a most interesting situation," said Professor Dumbledore, his tone light. "Professor McGonagall tells me that you four are responsible for our unfortunate problems today."
"Yes, Professor," they said quietly, knowing only a fool would think to lie to someone such as Dumbledore.
"Tell me," said Professor Dumbledore, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly, "How did you accomplish this?"
"Summoning charms, Headmaster," said Sirius.
"Summoning charms?" said Professor Dumbledore, more than a hint of surprise in his voice. "Fourth year magic. Could you give me a demonstration as proof?"
"I suppose," James said, a little begrudgingly, pulling out his wand and motioning to Remus and Sirius. "Accio all inkwells in Hogwarts!"
"Accio all parchment in Hogwarts!"
"Accio all quills in Hogwarts!"
Soon the three huge piles were back and making more than a bit of mess in Professor McGonagall's office.
"Impressive," said Professor Dumbledore admiringly.
"Headmaster! Don't encourage them!" hissed Professor McGonagall angrily.
"I am merely commenting on the fact that these three, James, Sirius, and Remus, seem to be well above their year's abilities," said Professor Dumbledore, "You should be proud, Minerva, to have such excellent wizards in your House."
Sirius smirked cheekily at Professor McGonagall, who sniffed and muttered, "Not if they use that experience to pull pranks."
"How did you hide these?" asked Professor Dumbledore, motioning at the three piles of parchment, inkwells, and quills. "I would think they would be very conspicuous."
"I ... I put a Disillusionment Charm on them, Headmaster," Remus stammered, ducking his head as his face turned pink.
"Disillusionment Charms as well? Also well above first year magic."
They sat in silence for a few moments before Professor Dumbledore said with a smile, "I would hope that you would use your talents wisely and not foolishly. Though at times one simply needs a break from the regular routine, wouldn't you say so?"
"Yes Professor," James nodded vigorously. "We only wanted a break for the Halloween holiday."
"You do not decide when there are breaks from schoolwork," said Professor Dumbledore gently. "Now I believe Professsor McGonagall will decide on the punishment for your actions. See you at the Halloween feast, boys. But I'd better return these things to their owners first."
With a flick of his wand, the piles of quills, inkwells, and parchment were gone and so was Professor Dumbledore.
Professor McGonagall stood slowly and glared at them, but she was interrupted before she could even open her mouth.
"Professor," said Sirius in a loud charm-filled voice. "You are looking ravishing today, may I call you Minerva?"
"No, Mr. Black, you may not!" she snapped.
"You really do look stunning, Professor!" said James, nodding along earnestly.
"Dazzling!" added Peter.
"Enough with the compliments!" said Professor McGonagal,l scowling darkly. "It still won't get you out of two weeks' detention! And don't let me catch you four marauders again!"
"Aww ... two weeks?" moaned James.
"Yes Mr. Potter, two weeks!" snarled Professor McGonagall, "Now get to the Halloween feast!"
"But, Professor," began Sirius.
"Would you like me to extend your detention to three weeks, Mr. Black?" Professor McGongall said icily.
"No," Sirius said quickly.
The four boys quickly exited the office and slouched down to the Great Hall, which was decorated with giant pumpkins and live swarms of bats for Halloween.
"And don't let me catch you four marauders again!" James scoffed, mimicking Professor McGonagall as they sat down at the Gryffindor house table.
"Wait! Hold on!" said Sirius excitedly. "That's excellent! We should call ourselves the Marauders! I've been trying since September to think of a name to call the four of us and here it is!"
"The Marauders," said Remus in an announcer's voice. "Stirring up mischief wherever they go. I like it!"
"Me too!" said Peter excitedly.
"James?" said Sirius. "Your opinion?"
"We are the Marauders!" said James with a grin.
"Excellent," said Sirius quietly, "We have the name. Now we just need to add to the reputation."
"The Marauders!" whispered Bella as she, Emmeline, and Lily listened to the boys' conversation.
"What does that mean?" asked Emmeline, confusion apparent on her face.
"A marauder wanders around looking to plunder or steal," said Lily quietly.
"Always the one with the answers aren't you?" said Bella dryly.
"Of course!" replied Lily with a grin. "Someone has to do it!"
"Do you think they were the ones responsible for everyone's school things being gone?" asked Emmeline as they began eating.
"Why don't one of you just ask them?" said Lily sarcastically.
"Why not you?" asked Emmeline, examining a forkful of roast beef before placing it in her mouth.
"Because I don't want to talk to those prats!" Lily snarled, slamming her fork against the table and causing the dishes to rattle ominously.
"More like you don't want to talk one of the stupid prats, Lils," Bella murmured and then she shouted, "Hey, Black!"
Sirius whirled around and grinned when he saw Bella meant him. "You rang, Meadows?" he said smugly, unable to wipe the stupid grin from his face.
"Did you four marauders hide everyone's things today?" asked Bella coolly.
"Damn right we did!" James cut in, barely able to hold in his laughter caused by the strange look on Sirius's face. "And you have Sirius to thank for your wonderful school-free holiday!"
He clapped Sirius on the back, who hissed, "What are you doing? It wasn't just me!"
"Just trying to make you look good in front of the girls, mate," James muttered cheekily.
"Oh, shove it!" Sirius whispered, kicking James under the table.
Bella took this all in, barely unable to hold in her own laughter. "So, Black, how'd you do it?"
Sirius quickly spun around from whispering to James and said in a light, offhandish voice, "Oh, a few summoning charms."
"Well, thanks for the chat, Black! We should really talk again some time!" said Bella cheerily, turning back to Lily and Emmeline."I think that would answer your question," she murmured, as all three of them started giggling.
"Ten Galleons says they're giggling over how charming and handsome I am," Sirius said with a satisfied sigh.
"Sighing, Sirius?" said Remus, quirking an eyebrow. "Miss Meadows strike your fancy?"
"Dunno," Sirius mumbled, his cheeks turning a bit pink. "She's pretty."
"So what are you going to do, Sirius?" Peter asked, anticipation evident in his voice.
"Let the old Black charm work a bit more magic?" Sirius said, sounding more smug than he actually felt, as they left their House table and headed up the stairs.
"A Galleon says he's told to buzz off in a week," James muttered to Remus as the Marauders made their way up to Gryffindor Tower.
"Always the optimistic one, aren't you James?" said Remus dryly. "You're on."