#6 T'was the night before the challenge.

"Hide and seek?" echoed Remus as he followed Peter down the stairway to the dark common room. For once both James and Sirius had nothing to say. Fortunately the room was empty. Everyone was asleep as it was nearly one in the morning. 'Everyone that is, except us' grumbled Remus under his breath. Thankfully over the years of being a Marauder Remus had perfected the talent of surviving classes (yes even McGonagall's) with a bare minimum of sleeping hours and had also mastered the art of sleeping with his eyes open and yawning with his mouth closed. Skills that were absolutely vital if you shared a room with Sirius Black. Sirius had an uncanny ability to keep others awake when he was awake, with planning and scheming and when he was asleep, through his loud snoring.

"So Pete; what's the brilliant idea? Sirius threw himself onto an arm chair and settled his legs on the coffee table in one fluid movement. He aimed his wand over his shoulder and without turning muttered: "Incendio". Fire sprang up in the grate. James stepped over Sirius's outstretched legs and settled into the sofa. "Hide – and – seek? Like the Slytherins scum hide under the table and we pour boiling porridge on them and when they come running out screaming bloody murder we say; GOTCHA?" he grinned evilly. "Just imagine pretty boy Lucius with a perfect porridge perm!"

"Ha Ha Ha." Sirius and Peter dissolved in laughter. Remus, who was used to James's random bouts of randomness, hushed them. "Settled down guys. We don't want Longbottom to lose his beauty sleep do we? Please explain Peter."

Peter squared his shoulders and paced in front of the fire place like a general readying for his pep talk.

"Yup. Remus wanted a simple concept. It doesn't get simpler than plain old Hide and Seek. Then add whatever modifications James comes up with, to make it as you said: Masterful. Insert any fancy title to satisfy Padfoot's ego and Voila."

Silence

While the Marauders could on occasion, almost accept Sirius being serious, James being jealous and Remus being rakish, Peter being intellectual took them several minutes to get used to.

"Well well well." grinned Sirius with a hint of admiration in his tone. "Maybe there's hope left for you after all."

"Nice one Pete" James got down to business, his hazel eyes flashing with excitement. "What if we organize some kind of an obstacle course along side the hunt?" He suggested.

"Definitely or better yet let's make it a maze with all sorts of obstacles to get past. So the Slytherins will have some...uh...complications while trying to track us down." interjected Sirius with a nasty smile.

"Exactly" James seconded. "Cool" Peter pumped his fist in the air.

"Uh guys! Hate to be the voice of reason and all but unless you're carrying around an expandable maze in your pocket; WHERE IS THIS WONDERFUL OBSTACLE COURSE OF YOUR DREAMS?" Remus just loved to burst pointless bubbles of undue excitement.

"Oh!" Peter deflated visibly.

"Keep your shirt on Moony." laughed James, exchanging a quick glance with Sirius. "You thinking what I'm thinking Pads?"

"You betcha" winked Sirius flashing Remus his most disarming smile. "We know the exact place for ournecessities"

"Well?" Remus's tone was dangerously polite. It simply stated: Don't mess with me pal.

"The house elves told us some where back in fifth year. Its one of the special rooms which converts into and includes anything that you want at that moment. It's on the seventh floor. Apparently called The Room of Requirement"

"Ri...ight! And when were you going to inform me about the existence of this room?" Remus snapped irritably.

"Aww Moony" James began but Sirius cut in jauntily. "It kinda slipped our minds and it's not like you need the room any way. Me on the other hand, being a man of many needs put the room to good use."

"Like what?" asked Remus suspiciously not exactly wanting to know the answer.

"Dates mainly. Mmmm…" Sirius licked his lips at the memory. "Who ever invented that room deserved a toast. I was never disappointed."

"So there was more than one time?" drawled James sardonically.

"Yup. Always had what ever I wanted. Candles, flowers, music, wine, beds, whips, hand cuffs…."

"Eww" squealed Peter.

"GROSS" roared James and Remus.

"Enough of Sirius's sick sexual scenarios." James began. "Nice alliteration" smirked Sirius.

James continues ignoring the interruption. "We've got the location and the means to create the maze. Now we need to think up the obstacles."

"Not forgetting outsmarting the See-All potion." put in Remus.

"Right! So the maze would be divided by hedges but lets put in a solid brick wall inside each hedge."

"That way the Slyths can't see through them" exclaimed Peter.

"Marvelous deduction Captain obvious!" laughed Sirius pretending to pat Peter's head.

"Shut up Sirius!" James ordered. "If you want to make your self useful, why don't you write up some sort of invitation to the Slytherins?"

"Invitation? barked Sirius. "What is this? A wedding? I suggest we hex them unconscious and drag them to the room, and when they wake up give them a choice of participation or certain death…uh… I mean hex"

"No" forced out James between laughs. "Peter you help him. Draw some sort of picture or something but make sure to get the point across that we mean business. Now go and leave the adults to plan"