Do I really need to say this again? J K Rowling IS Harry Potter. If you recognise anything from any movie, TV show, book or whatever else, it's probably because it is from them. If you want my 'full' warning, you can check out either 'Dormant Power' or 'Beginning of the End'.

If you've read both those fics, then you know how my version of it ends…but how did it begin? Again, only some names are mine, everything else is not! I've based this from the Marauders perspective so…well you'll know the story when something happens to a certain someone, even though I don't write about it in this one! Also check out 'The Apprentice', it has some info you won't find in my other two stories (wink, wink!).

I have no idea what Auror robes look like. I just imagine that they'd have some easily recognisable symbol on them so people know what they are (just like policemen). Yup, you're right about the code, Necro…I say that in my notes at the top.

Yes, I know I'm being quite mean to Remus. I only do it for one reason; to make his 'story' even more tragic; being bitten at a young age, having to go through those horrendous transformations each month, Sirius betraying his trust in fifth year…do I really need to go on? Besides, if you've read my other stories, you know I try to make it up to him!

Quite right, super…I also found it better to read second time round! Looks like this story is not as popular as the others (maybe it's a tad early to say that though)...shame really, I reckon this one is quite a bit better.

Oh, my Potions Professor's name pronunciation; Tw – where – row (if anyone likes F1 as much as me, you might remember an Argentine driver with that same surname in 1998). You'll find out his first name later on.

Chapter 3 – Password, What Password?

The train finally slowed to a halt, and everyone got off and made their way to the boats that would take them across the lake to Hogwarts. As the enormous castle came into their sight, the four young wizards smiled. This had been their home for the last six years, and they'd be sad to see the back of it in little under ten months time. While they made their way to the castle doors, James got a glint in his eye and faced his friends.

"I've just had a most excellent idea!"

"Great, here we go again…"

"Shut up, Padfoot. Since we weren't able to come up with any adventures, I think the first prank we play should be on that Auror."

"WHAT! Are you insane, James!" Remus hissed.

"Not at all, Moony. He cost us quality Marauder time, and that deserves a prank."

The other three cast nervous glances at each other before Sirius next spoke. "I think you've lost your mind completely! But I agree. We should do something to him…"

"But he's an Auror! He won't see the funny side!"

"He won't know it was us, Peter. Here's what we're going to do…"

James then whispered to his friends whose faces all lit up as James explained his idea. They made their way inside the castle and towards the Great Hall for the opening feast, and anyone who knew what they were capable of, would be highly wary of the grins each of them were wearing. They settled into their usual seats at Gryffindor table, and after swapping glares with Severus and the rest of the Slytherins, waited for the sorting to finish.

After Albus Dumbledore had welcomed everyone back, reminding them not to go into the forbidden forest (whilst looking directly at the four Gryffindors all the way through it), he then announced that several Aurors were being placed around the school for additional security. The Headmaster then clapped his hands once and the tables filled up with all kinds of food. Sirius looked like all his Christmas' had come at once, and began to shovel as much as he could into his mouth.

"Jeez, Sirius, has anyone ever told you how disgusting you are?"

Sirius was about to answer, but had the good grace to swallow first before doing so. "Well, sorry if I like eating…"

"You don't eat, you consume!"

"Shut up, Remus!"

"At least he swallowed first this time" muttered Peter under his breath, but Sirius heard him.

"Would you care to repeat that, Peter?"

"You know darn well what I said!"

"True, now if you'll kindly excuse me, I must get back to eating."

"Consuming!" his three friends said at the same time. Sirius just rolled his eyes and went back to the feast in front of him.

After dinner had finished, or rather while everyone else waited for Sirius to finish, Dumbledore clapped his hands again, and dessert appeared. Again, Sirius took to it with gusto, his three friends shaking their heads in disbelief. Before Sirius could completely stuff himself though, James nudged him and nodded his head towards the staff table.

Sirius glanced up, and saw what James was looking at. The Auror from the train was standing to one side. Sirius nodded in silent agreement, it was time to put their first prank of the year into action. Remus and Peter caught on to what the other two were doing, and knew their role was to distract anyone from realising that James had pulled his wand out from his robes, pointed it at the staff table and muttered a few words.

Trent was calmly watching the students (he was also amazed at the amount of food a certain someone had eaten), and was caught unawares when a blob of potato hit him in the face. Silence filled the Great Hall as Trent glanced around in the direction it came from and found himself looking directly at Albus Dumbledore.

'Hmm, I don't think he did that somehow. But who else…'

Trent was brought from his thoughts when Sirius shouted "FOOD FIGHT!", grabbed a piece of chocolate cake in front of him and splattered it all over a somewhat shocked Remus. He didn't take all too kindly to that, and he quickly emptied his goblet of pumpkin juice down the back of Sirius' robe, whose face froze as the cold liquid trickled down his back. James and Peter started laughing, until they too got caught in the crossfire.

Soon, most of the Gryffindor table were involved in a full scale food fight, while the other tables looked on in differing moods. Most of the staff found it to be rather amusing, as did the Hufflepuffs. Over at Ravenclaw table, they didn't really know what to think. Not many of them knew what a food fight was, but agreed that this certainly was better than the normal opening feast. The Slytherin table however, were disgusted by how their house rivals was getting this much attention so early in the year. Severus Snape wasn't the only one who was glaring daggers at the Gryffindors.

In the end, the fight only lasted a matter of minutes, during which time Remus, Peter, Sirius and James had taken the brunt of the Gryffindor attacks. Professor McGonagall had stood up and announced that those four would wait at the doors and clean off everyone who had been involved. She also gave the four of them two nights detention for interrupting the opening feast.

"I still say it was worth it" Sirius said as they made their way back to the dorms from cleaning up.

"Right, at least we didn't lose any points" James added.

"That's because we didn't have any points to start with!" Remus exclaimed.

"Oh quit worrying about it, Moony. Let's just try to enjoy our last year in this place."

"Why Padfoot, that was almost profound" James replied and he wiped away an imaginary tear.

"Thanks Prongs, how nice of you to…"

"I said almost, Sirius. Don't forget that" James interrupted with a grin.

Sirius just glared at him but said nothing more as they came up to where James had to branch off towards the Head Students dorm.

"Well, I'll see you three tomorrow then. Don't know if I'll get much sleep actually. Girlfriend and all that, I'm sure you know how it is" he said with a fake yawn.

"What was in her reply to your letter from two years ago? Oh yes, that's right; James Potter, the proctologist called and they found your head!"

James stopped mid-yawn and glared back at Sirius who had a large grin on his face.

"I'm surprised they actually did manage to find it" Remus added, a smile creeping across his face also.

"Shut up, both of you! You're just jealous that me and Lily are finally together!"

"Does Lily know about this arrangement? Maybe we should ask her about it tomorrow" Peter answered.

"You three are so very dead tomorrow" James growled.

"Oooh, we'd better watch out guys. Prongs is going to take on all three of us!"

"I just might you know. See how much you guys can take."

Sirius smirked. "Don't embarrass yourself, James. You don't stand a chance against all of us."

"Just you wait until Potions, Padfoot. In fact, I believe that's our first class after lunch."

He smirked as he saw Sirius' eyes widen before heading off to enter into his dorm.

After he'd gone, Sirius started to laugh.

"Um, Padfoot? Why are you laughing?"

"Maybe he knows what James has planned for him tomorrow?" Peter suggested.

Remus looked at him in disbelief, while Sirius was still laughing.

"This is Padfoot we're talking about!"

"Oh right, good point" Peter replied with a grin.

"Hey, that's not nice you two!" Sirius said after hearing that. "Besides, do you really think Prongs will try to do something in Potions? Think who the Professor is."

The other two shuddered slightly. Professor Tuero was not a wizard to be trifled with. Despite being an ex-Slytherin, he was fair to everyone in his classes, but he certainly didn't take interruptions kindly. That was the reason both Remus and Peter dropped potions for their final two years. James and Sirius only continued it, since both wanted to be Aurors.

"You've got a point. But it wouldn't surprise me if he tried" Remus mused.

"Let him try! I still have to get him back for last year!"

"That's right, I'd forgotten about that! You were in the hospital wing for a week weren't you?"

"I most certainly was not! I was only in there for two days, Wormtail!"

"Well, it was your own fault for teasing him" Remus reminded Sirius.

"Yeah, well…it was worth it to see his face!"

The three of them burst out laughing as they arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady who asked the question she does best.

"Password?"

Silence reigned before Sirius nudged Remus.

"C'mon Remus, what's the password?"

"I um…don't know it, Sirius."

"What? What did you discuss during the prefect meeting then?"

"Patrol roster. We normally let the fifth year prefects choose the passwords."

"You mean…"

"We're stuck here? I'm afraid so, Peter" Remus cut in.

After a long moment of silence, where the three of them were lost in their thoughts, Peter finally spoke.

"Use your charm, Sirius. You're good with girls, maybe you can talk her into opening for us."

"Absolutely not! He tried that two years ago. No password, no entry" the portrait snapped back.

Remus was struck with a sudden idea.

"Hang on a minute. Sirius, didn't James tell you what password he and Lily were going to use for their room?"

"Yeah, they decided on 'Lions Forever'. Why? You're not suggesting…"

"No. I meant that we can get to the Gryffindor common room from there. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History. The Head Boy and Girl have access to their respective house common rooms from their personal bedroom. It's a one-way passage."

"Remus, you're a genius! Let's go!"

With that, the three of them jumped up and hurried off to James' room.