I hope you've all read the previous chapter, Rainbow Notes, it's not necessary for this chapter, but it's a very important chapter so it'd be good if you have. I only make sure because I replaced the "chapter" that it was (a note from me), so I'm not sure if you all realised a chapter was there or not…Anyway, shutting up now so you can enjoy the next bit…

One month until the end of the year, two weeks until the end of year tests and one day until the selection of subjects for the next 5 years was due in. And what were our four boys doing? Lying on their beds trying to thinking of a prank to celebrate the end of their second year, well, sort of. That thought was in all four of the Marauders' minds, but there were others there that were taking precedent. Peter was more concerned with ways to avoid taking the tests, Sirius was thinking of girls he had yet to meet, James was trying to think of ways to help Remus with his wolfishness (as well as ways to convince him to tell Peter and Sirius about his condition), while Remus was sorting everyone's lessons.

All four had decided they wanted subjects together but they couldn't seem to agree on which to take. James and Sirius wanted to randomly pick them, Remus wanted to use a more systematic approach, choose them based on interest and ability, while Peter would just go along with all of them. These systems didn't gel wall for the four boys. Remus took over the selection, leading to this point.

"Have you got anything?" James asked.

Peter shook his head, Sirius and Remus answered at the same time.

"A thin brunette with blue eyes," was Sirius' grinning reply.

"Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures," Remus'.

"Stop!" James cried. "I meant pranks."

"Oh," they said collectively. "No."

James rolled his eyes, stood up and walked away.

"What's he so desperate for a prank for?" Peter asked when he was out of the room.

Sirius shrugged. "Who knows? But he's going to wish he hadn't left so quickly."

"Why?"

"He's got no pants on under his robes," Sirius commented with a smirk as he threw the trousers at Peter.

-

James walked down the corridors heading to a place he never thought he'd set foot in again; the library. The place scared him. It was deathly silent, the librarian looked, and sounded, remarkably like an Augurey, the only difference being that no one died when they heard her and, worst of all, there were books. He shuddered at the thought. What got him the most though, was that despite all this, people still went in, as though there was nothing else they could do. Sure he was about to go in himself, but he had important reasons to. He needed books he didn't have access to, these people though, they just seemed too live in there. It was creepy.

He arrived at the library and cautiously pushed open the door, expecting something to jump out at him. When it didn't he continued in, heading straight for the Magical Creatures section. Some might question how, if he rarely went in the library, he knew where to look, well, the simple answer is that, when it comes to something boys are truly interested in, they get a sense of the direction, like a tracking system, or a homing device, this is true for this occasion too.

He grabbed every book relevant to lycanthropy and headed for a table. He wasn't sure how long he was there, but it was a while until anyone interrupted him.

"Where's Sirius?" a high voice squeaked at him.

James lifted his head and saw Tacea standing before him. "Common room?" he suggested. "I don't know. I haven't seen him for…" he looked at his watch. "Three hours? Holy Merlin!"

It was then, as he looked back up at the girl, he saw she was paying little attention to him; in fact, her attention was focussed on the book he had been reading. He slammed it shut quickly.

"Tacea, what do you want? I've already told you I don't know where Sirius is, and even if I did, he doesn't want to see you."

Tacea pouted then sat on the chair next to James. "Why not?"

James shrugged, "You're not his type."

"Of course I am!" she cried. "I like him, I'm gorgeous and we make a perfect couple."

"And you're not the tiniest bit conceited," James remarked quietly.

If she heard him, she ignored him. "Something else is going on here. He wouldn't just stop wanting to go out with me like he did. You turned him against me didn't you?"

"No," James said defensively. "You did that all on your own." He said it without meaning to, but the response to his words was instantaneous.

Tacea's eyes narrowed. "What's that meant to mean."
"Well," James answered. "He's not a big fan of self-obsessed spoilt little girls."

Tacea squealed in anger. "I'm not a little girl!"

James rolled his eyes, how could that be the one thing she shoots down as being possible?

"Whatever," he muttered. "If you like Sirius so much, why has it taken you six months to try and get him back?"

Tacea looked almost thoughtful for a minute. "Because he was going out with that stupid frizzy-haired red-head."

"You mean Evans?"
"Yeah, her."

James began laughing; he knew that wasn't the reason just as much as she did. Tacea, angry at his disbelief, kicked him hard in the shin and stormed out of the library.

"Ow," James winced as he bent over to rub his leg. It was then, as he felt raw skin, he realised he was missing a pair of trousers. "Damn it," was his only comment.

-

At eight o'clock, James was thrown out of the library and, arms full of books, headed back up to the common room.

"Panem et circenses," James said to the Fat Lady portrait when he arrived.

"Is that really James?" she asked, astounded. "It can't be, James doesn't read…Or walk around trouser-less," she giggled as she opened up.

Grumbling James trudged up the stairs to his dormitory.

"James, are you feeling ok?" Remus remarked in shock when he saw his friend.

"Yes," James snapped, dropping all the books on his bed and rubbing his arms. "Where are the others?"

Remus shrugged. "Sirius got accosted by Tacea and Peter's off with Anita somewhere. Why?"
James dropped his angry act as a wide grin split across his face. "I found the perfect prank."

"Oh, what?"

"Later," James instructed. "First I need to tell you something."

"What?"

"You need to tell the guys."

Remus frowned, "Tell the guys what?"

"Where you go every month."

"No."

"Remus…"

"I said no, James."

"But…"

"No! Now, do you want to see the subjects we're taking next year?"

James sighed. "Fine."

He glanced over the list and nodded. "Great…Tell them Re, they'll be fine with it, better than I was."
He said it so fast that Remus didn't have time to interject.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to lose them."

James just shot him an 'Oh, please' look. "Think about who this is, Sirius and Peter. Peter won't tell a soul and Sirius…He'll love it. Please? I hate lying to them, and it's not good for us to keep secrets from each other."

Remus let out a huffy sigh. "Fine, but I hate you."

"Ok," James grinned.

There was silence for a few minutes and then Frank burst into the room. "Sorry guys, I'll just be a minute."

"No problem."

An hour later both Sirius and Peter had arrived.

"Guys, we have something to tell you," James said, meaning himself and Remus. "Remus is going to start."

So Remus told, and there was a moments silence until Sirius dived at him. "This means you can bite anyone and they'll become one too, right?"

Remus nodded solemnly.

"Great, bit Snape. The little git tried to get me with some weird feather charm before, I shoved Tacea in the way."

The boys shared laughter but it soon died away when they realised Peter had yet to say, or do, anything.

"Pete…" Remus started.

"You…you're…Does it hurt?"

Relief lit Remus' face and after a half hour question and answer session, it was James' turn.

"So while I was looking for a way to help Remus before, I came across the perfect prank."

"Oh?"

"Yep," and so, with light-hearted spirits, the prank was retold and accepted until Frank came up to sleep and the four boys, seeing no point in the continuance of the conversation when it was so late, also went to bed.

-

So the month passed, Sirius was all but being stalked by Tacea. Everywhere he went she seemed to be there, he actually found his lessons to be a sanctuary as he had very few lessons with Slytherin. The ruder and more unwilling to be around her he got, the more she seemed to want to be around him, the whole situation was ludicrous to him. He tried being welcoming and she just lapped that up too. All Sirius wanted to do was distance himself from "serious" relationships so that he could concentrate on flings with the opposite sex, Tacea wouldn't let him. He wouldn't have minded but she didn't have that spark that his other two relationships had had. Alex had been fun to be around and balanced her me, me, me-ness with time for him to talk or whatever too. And Lily, well that hadn't been a proper relationship, but her ability to be her usual cold self while masking flirting, he'd loved it. Tacea was just too boring for him, he didn't like the obvious type - they were too self-absorbed. He needed to find a way to get away from her; he was just stuck on how to do it.

Peter's attention was more focused on his tests than the others realised. He was happy to play up with the boys, and it was true that he didn't really pay attention in lessons, but when it came to these tests he worried. So, when the others went to bed, he would stay up and revise. When the tests were over he spent his time with the boys or Anita but there was always nagging doubts at the back of his head; 'Did you revise enough? What if you were too tired from the late-night revision sessions? Why didn't you just revise with Remus? You know he'd have helped you.'

This last question was a very valid one since Remus was the only Marauder to do obvious revision. He spent over a month revising, and had no problem reminding the other three that the tests were approaching fast and they'd fail if they didn't do at least some revision. "So?" was their response. Remus just sighed and now that they were over took the moral high ground in the knowledge that he had worked hard to pass his tests. Now they were over he was helping James with what was now known as "The Prank" (note the capital 'P').

The Prank was James' pride and joy. Every minute was spent on it, some said he needed to get himself a life, but he didn't care, when they saw it they would take back their words, he could feel it. It was to go as follows; everyone would sit for the meal that commemorated the end another school year. When it was over and Dumbledore stood to give his speech he would be unable to speak. Instead a sound would come out that was very much like whichever animal Dumbledore most connected with. When the other professors tried to talk the same would happen to them, and then it would spread through to the pupils. Some might even show other aspects of the animal; their skin might change colour, or they might grow to suit the animals shape. It would wear off after a few hours, but the fun it would cause James and the other Marauders would last a lifetime.

The reason it required so much of James' time was that it involved not only perfecting a spell, but creating a particularly difficult potion. It normally took six weeks to create, but with James' limited time, he strived to have it ready in the month he had. It was ready for the night, but whether it would be effective remained to be seen.

-

The day arrived and, half an hour before the feast was due to start, the boys crept down to the kitchens where they proceeded to distract the house elves while Sirius poured the potion into the pumpkin juice that would be served that evening. The final evening of their second year was, in itself, a bittersweet triumph. The annual feast was as delicious as usual and not one person had a complaint about it, except Lily who got stuck next James and vice versa, and then Dumbledore stood up.

Dumbledore coughed to get peoples attention, as he did Remus cast the spell. When Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak a long mooing sound came out of his mouth.

Students and professors alike began laughing at their head's antics but as five minutes past and Dumbledore let out more of the mooing sounds, people began to worry. People turned to face each other, the intention of sharing panicked whispers, resulting in a room of chaos as more animal noises sounded. Barks, meows, neighs, shrill cries, squeaks, hisses, baas, moos, quacks, tweets, chirps, screeches, roars and other noises sounded.

The four Marauders sat in laughter as they heard the noises come from each other. James let out the groaning sound, Remus a screech, Sirius let out a deep bark and Peter a squeak. James wasn't at all surprised to hear Lily roar beside him. He knew she was vicious.

Enjoying their success, they didn't notice at first that people were changing, then it began happening to them. Very slowly they were becoming the animal they sounded like. James was turning into a stag, Remus a hawk, Sirius a black dog and Peter a rat. Others in the room changed too. Dumbledore became a giraffe, students and professors became birds, dogs, cats, wild animals, all running rampant in the Great Hall.

Suffice to say that when the prank finally wore off people were not happy. Everyone was sent to their dormitories, but not before seeing the utter destruction in the room. The house tables were broken into little pieces and spread across the floor, house banners ripped to shreds and the ancient stone walls chipped and cracked more than usual. People looked more than a little bit worse for wear too, bruises and scratches littered almost everyone's bodies and clothes were torn and ripped. How no one had got seriously hurt Dumbledore didn't question, he was just thankful they hadn't been.

As the Marauders went to leave they were called back.

"Just when we think you're starting to learn…" Dumbledore scolded. "And nothing we seem to do has any effect on you does it?"
The boys stayed silent as every single professor turned angry but weary eyes to the boys.

"You boys really need to grow up," McGonagall told them.

Dumbledore nodded. "Which is why, starting next year, you will be mentoring first years. If even one of them gets into trouble you four are out, you understand? And there will be no trips to Hogsmeade."

The boys groaned. "Sir…"

"Bed, and have good holidays boys. Make sure you're nice and relaxed, you're going to have your work cut out for you."

So, hoping the punishment would be forgotten in the coming six weeks, the boys went to bed. The next morning there was the rush to pack everything and then they left Hogwarts, looking forward to the summer ahead.

What do you think? It's long, and I quite like it, except for the end, but I can change that if the rest of you don't. Hope you're all well.

Rae.