AN: I orginally wrote this as a scene in Twin Rift, my first fanfic. I managed to salavge this for a one-shot after J.K. Rowling destroyed the main plotline of Twin Rift.
Disclaimer: If I was as good a writer as J.K. Rowling, I wouldn't be writing here. Most of the ideas shown here belong to J.K. Rowling.
Slightly edited as of Nov 18/17.
A Splash of Mischief
One dark night four young wizards arrived at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. These four would one day change the world in ways that cannot be comprehended. But first, they changed Hogwarts.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" called a voice. Sirius Black, James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew followed the voice to a huge man holding a lantern.
They followed him to the edge of a lake. On the opposite bank, they could see the castle, large and magnificent, its lights glittering over the water. At the near shore were several boats.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid told them.
Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter all climbed into the same boat.
As the castle drew nearer, Sirius slipped his wand out of his pocket. "Watch this," he whispered. He pointed the wand at a nearby boat, which was carrying four future Slytherins. "Mobilarbus!" he muttered, making a circular motion.
With four surprised shouts, the boat rolled over. Sirius, James, Peter, and Remus burst out laughing. Fortunately, so did everyone else, so they didn't stand out too much. Or at least they didn't until Peter actually did stand - up. Then their boat turned over.
"STOP!" yelled Hagrid, and the boats stopped.
"Peter!" spluttered James, who had not been expecting this sudden wetting.
"I can't swim!" Peter panicked.
"Hang onto the boat then," instructed Remus.
"He wouldn't have to if he hadn't dumped us all in," grumbled James.
"He didn't mean to," Remus defended him.
It took fifteen minutes for Hagrid to right the boats and fish everyone out of the water. It was with relief that they reached dry land. They walked up the path, eight of them wringing out their robes.
A witch with her hair in a tight bun was waiting for them at the top of the steps. "You're late, Hagrid," she commented.
"Had a problem crossin' the lake, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid explained.
Professor McGonagall glanced at them in their dripping robes, then heaved a sigh and pulled out her wand. One wave and everyone was dry. Then she pulled open the door and led them inside.
The Marauders had arrived at Hogwarts – with a splash.