Christmas Holidays were over but they brought a new surprise with them. New uniforms. The Ministry had passed a law that said all students must wear uniforms - before it was just optional and no one chose to wear them. The new uniform consisted of a white blouse or shirt, grey trousers for boys and a grey skirt for girls which had to be a certain length below the knee, a tie, white socks and black shoes. Parents thought that this idea was a brilliant one, it was just the students and some teachers that disapproved of the new law.
Sitting in the Gryffindor Common room, the seven friends were having a major discussion in relation to them.
"How can anyone do this?" Lily fumed, "You'd think they'd have brought it in when the new year starts in September but no they have to make us wear them now!"
"I don't see how anyone can pull this off!" Carolyn added, "This uniform is vile, we can't accessorise, and our skirts have to be below the knee. No one and I repeat no one can make this uniform look good."
"I know." Sirius said, "Even I can't make this look good and that's saying something."
Lily turned and grinned at Hannah, as if reading her mind
"I am gonna love this come Monday morning when you have to wear that skirt, it is gonna be hilariously funny."
"Enough about this uniform." said James, "How was everyone's Christmas?"
They got into a conversation about Christmas's which was a welcome break from the uniforms.
"I am lovin' the book you gave me Claz." Lily laughed, "Sirius wanted to use it but I kinda put my foot down on it."
"Why's that?" Everyone asked
"Who would he use it on?" Lily asked, aiming her question at James and Remus
"Ah."
"Yeah," Lily rolled her eyes, "I'd quite like my boyfriend to be in one piece and alive when we leave and not be killed by Carolyn."
Carolyn laughed
"Now why would I kill him? I'd like to stay out of Azkaban."
"Talking of him, how is he?" Hannah asked
"He's fine, although not happy at what I've said." Carolyn answered
"Which is?"
"Not to keep us a secret anymore, that didn't really go down well."
"You're seriously going public?" Lily asked
Sirius and James cut in
"Do you intentionally cut us out of conversations?"
"We are still here you know." Remus added
"Yeah." The girls said, "But you hate the guy we talking about so why add you into the conversation?"
The girls giggled and the Marauders just stared at them. They got into a conversation about Quidditch and who they thought would win the league.
"The Tornados are gonna win it!" James said, "They have been the best team by far so far this season."
"Yeah, but Prongs, it's only January!" Sirius pointed out, "They still have time to slip up. Wimbourne Wasps are gonna do it last game of the season, they've just got that new player haven't they. What's his name again?"
"Ludo Bagman?" James asked
"Yeah, him."
"Neither of them are gonna do it, so why bother arguing?" Remus asked, "Chudley Cannons are the best - live with it!"
Every year they would get into this argument because all three of them supported different teams. For the past three years James had been right but they hoped that this year was different.
"Hannah!" Sirius shouted, "Who do you think is gonna win?"
Hannah rolled her eyes. She always got dragged into the Quidditch argument and it really annoyed her.
"Tornados may have won the last three years but even you know that luck runs in threes, Wimbourne Wasps have that new player, who might I add is very cute." Hannah grinned and the girls giggled again "And Chudley Cannons have no hope of winning, so I don't know why anyone bothers supporting them. My money is on the Wasps and it is not because I fancy the beater."
"Is he a beater?" Sirius asked,
"Don't know, don't care. He's still cute and he got a nice ass as well." Hannah answered
"Looks like you got some competition Moony." James and Sirius joked
"I may fancy him, but no one will ever compare to Remus," Hannah responded and kissed him.
"Anyway Sirius." Clare said, "Girls fantasise all the time, it's a fact of life. Just like the fact that Marauders prank people."
"What's wrong with Chudley Cannons anyway?" Remus asked Hannah
"Everything!" Hannah retorted, "And none of you even argue with me over this because I know more about Quidditch than all you three put together and I'm better than the three of you. And that is a fact!"
The Marauders muttered to themselves in agreement. They weren't going to disagree with her - she was lethal when angry and they needed her to pass Potions so they'd like to stay on her good side.
"Oh I had an idea over Christmas." Lily said suddenly, "I think we should go back to the way we used to do homework because I found it so much easier just doing a few essays than a load of them."
"Yeah, I was thinking that." Clare added
"Same here." Carolyn and Hannah said
"The boys looked confused
"What you lot talking about?"
"We used to do each others homework in effect. I'd do any Charms, Hannah would do Potions, Clare did Defence and Carolyn did History. Basically we'd write it then use a spell that would transfer it onto different pieces of parchment but to the style of that persons writing and ability of the subject. It worked quite well until we stopped doing it because we all had free time when we did that."
"Okaaaay."
"What?" They asked, "It was so much easier doing it that way and we didn't have as much homework to do. Have you any idea how stressful it was doing three essays in one night?"
"Well yeah, cause we had them as well."
"Well too bad, cause we had a plan and it worked. How about we do it but include the guys as well?" Clare asked
They nodded
"Yeah, because that way James can do Transfiguration and Remus can do Arithmacy for us."
"What about me?" Sirius asked, "And what about Muggle Studies?"
"What are you good at that we haven't already mentioned?" Lily answered
"Good point."
"And you can do your own Muggle Studies unless me or Lily decide to help you." Carolyn said
"When's Quidditch start James?" Hannah asked, completly changing the subject
"Next week probably."
"Okay."
They sighed
"I'm gonna miss it here." Remus said sadly
"Yeah, I think we all will." Sirius said, "I mean we spent the best part of seven years here and it's like home to us."
"We made our friends here, and there's so many memories here." Lily and Carolyn said
"I'll never forget anything I've done here - even though we'd all probably like to forget some things." Hannah added
"I say we pull our biggest prank, make our mark so that everyone can remember us and you girls included in this."
"Wouldn't have it any other way." They responded, "It's not like we can get expelled."
They laughed and began to plan what they could do.
"I say we involve Severus." Hannah said
"Why!" The Marauders asked
"Because he knows more about spells to keep things permanent than anyone else also I'll need someone for the Potions part for help since you lot are totally useless when it comes to Potions."
"Hey!"
"It's true!"
"All in favour?"
The girls raised their hands
"Sorry boys, but you're outvoted."
"Do we have to?" Sirius asked
"Yeah." Lily and Hannah said
"What you got against him anyway?" Carolyn asked
"Caz, he's a greasy-haired freak who knows more about the Dark Arts than anyone else in this school and that includes the teachers. Plus he's better at Potions. He sneaks around a lot and has tried to get us expelled on countless number of occasions. He's a bastard."
Carolyn slapped him across the head.
"Don't, not in front of me." She looked at the three Marauders, "Now if you'll excuse me I have a boyfriend to see."
And with that Carolyn left.
"So what are we gonna do then?" Lily asked
"I don't know." James said, "But it's gonna be big and unforgettable."