Disclaimer: Sadly, right now, all I own is green nail polish, dirty glasses, and a ticket stub from Superman. (Very good movie by the way! Go check it out!) So don't go thinking that I won the world of Harry Potter, I am simply making some astute guesses of what the past might hold.

Miscreants

Chapter 1- Humble Beginnings

Before the Gryffindor Golden Trio, there was just a boy with a lightening bolt scar. Before the tell-tale scar, there was a Stag and a Lily. And before the antlers and petals, there were four friends. The Marauders- claimed to be the worst set of troublemakers that Hogwarts has ever seen, followed by the Weasley twins coming in at a close second. Hogwarts had never seen the likes of the Marauders before. Oh, but how wrong the history books can be… For before the infamous Marauders there existed something far worse. There existed another group of four, four girls to be precise. History would remember them for the men they married and the lives they forged. But Hogwarts remembers them as something more. Hogwarts will forever remember the Miscreants.

Whereas the identity of the Marauders was widely known and acknowledges, the Miscreant's identities remain a secret to this very day. Perhaps that is why they have almost faded from memory…turned long ago into myth, and written down as supposed Hogwarts lore. Very few even remember the days that the Miscreants walked the halls of Hogwarts, and fewer know the truly deep impact that the Miscreants left upon the soul of Hogwarts. For it was because of those four girls that Hogwarts changed. The change was subtle, barely noticeable, but it affected generations of students to come. For the soul of Hogwarts resides in one man, a man that found out the secret of the Miscreants, the only man to know the identities of the Miscreants, besides the Miscreants themselves. Unfortunately he was sworn to secrecy by four wide-eyed girls, a pact that he swore he would never break. And to this day, the pact remains true. Perhaps if he had told someone, then the Miscreants wouldn't be on the verge of fading from legend to myth. However, Mr. Albus Dumbledore prides himself on his secret-keeping abilities, an ability that the four teenage girls weren't sure they could trust. But trust they did, for there was no other option. The secrecy vow only came after Albus Dumbledore figured out the secret of the mysterious Miscreants. But that was no small matter at all. Because, after all, who would ever begin to suspect the four brightest bulbs of Ravenclaw?

A thousand years or more ago

When I was newly sewn

I was just a plan black hat

Atop a head that shown

Gray hairs of old

Gryffindor was his name known

A dilemma he faced

For how was Hogwarts to continue fast-paced

When the Founders Four were nothing more that dust and bone?

But quickly came a thought

And I became a thinking hat

To sort those to be taught

To shrewd Slytherin go those sly

And ambitious to a fault

Royal Ravenclaw gets those few

who prize knowledge and thought

In sweet Hufflepuff good character

Hard work and honesty are sought

Gryffindor claims the brave

Bold courageous lot

So I will put you where you need to go

Unless Fate says no

But no matter where you end up

True friends you will find

And things to fill your mind

So put me upon your ears

And I'll find you a spot among your peers!

"Cahill, Jocelyn." A young man with golden hair and twinkling blue eyes called. Joce was the fourth to be called. Abefont, Billius; Alton, Elisa; Bell, Martin; and Beaufort, Beauregard had already been sorted. A tall girl, well, tall for eleven-year-olds anyways, with dark curly brown hair and mischievous hazel eyes stepped out of the line. She eyes the hat with determination and strode forward confidently. The blue-eyed man smiled as he dropped the hat on her head. This one was a Gryffindor for sure. Joce tapped her foot as she waited for the hat; she had never had much patience.

Oh what do we have here? Jocelyn Cahill, hmm? The Minister of Magic's daughter? And a Cahill to boot! But my aren't you tricky.

Joce resisted the urge to roller here eyes, but as the hat was reading her mind, it didn't go unnoticed.

Don't roll your eyes at me young lady! It's unimaginably rude! A lady of your breeding should know better. The hat chided and Joce rolled her eyes for real this time.

"Oh just put me in Gryffindor and be done with it!" Joce thought at the hat in exasperation. The hat was getting on her nerves.

No. I don't believe I will. The hat said sticking its nose up in the air and smirking. Joce glared at the black material in front of her eyes. This wasn't going according to plan.

"What? Why not?" She asked desperately. The hat sighed.

You have spunk…I'll give you that. Oh and you have courage too, but Gryffindor is not right for you! The hat proclaimed merrily, and Joce fought the urge to gag.

"Do you have to rhyme everything? And Gryffindor is right for me! I'll show you!" She said shaking her head in determination.

Ambition is a Slytherin trait that you seem to have in abundance, my dear. The hat said wickedly, secretly enjoying his conversation. It wasn't often that he got someone that would argue with him.

"I am not a Slytherin!" Joce said hotly.

I never said you were, besides, fate has something else in mind for you.

"Don't tell me it involves Hufflepuff…" Joce groaned.

No you are much too lazy to be a Hufflepuff, you have always been smart, and never had to work for anything. But I should put you in Hufflepuff to teach you a lesson.

"But you won't!" Joce grinned and the hat groaned.

Unfortunately, you are right. Alas you are destined for RAVENCLAW!

Joce took off the hat amid cheers from the blue table. A smile was plastered on her face, but the Transfiguration professor didn't miss the puzzlement in her eyes as she headed for the table as Casanova, Myrtle was sorted into Hufflepuff.

Adelaide Morrigan eyes the sorting hat warily as she stood by her place in line. She had straight black hair, and normally smiling brown eyes. But at the moment, her eyes were worried. Her best friend in the entire world had been sorted into Ravenclaw. And Jocelyn Eloise Cahill was just not Ravenclaw material, or so Adelaide thought. Joce was a perfect Gryffindor. She was brave, and bold, she always stood up for the underdog, and Joce had a never-fail knack for getting into trouble. Everyone had always known that Joce would go into Gryffindor; there really was no other option. Addi privately thought that Jocelyn wouldn't have faired to bad as a Slytherin, because man could that girl talk her way out of anything. She was a sly as they came. But Addi would have never told Joce this; Jocelyn was firmly against anything that had to do with snakes. Jocelyn had always been smart, Adelaide mused… But she had never craved knowledge like Ravenclaws were supposed to. It just didn't make sense to put her in Ravenclaw. But Adelaide had to face reality… if Joce was a Ravenclaw, then there was no telling where she would end up.

It had always been Addi's and Joce's master plan to end up in Gryffindor together and cause loads of trouble. Well Joce would cause loads of trouble and Addi would sympathize when she came back fuming from a detention. Plus Joce's friends Min and Ev were destined to end up in Gryffindor too, and everything would be perfect. It was practically destiny for them all to be in Gryffindor, plus it was a sure thing. But with Jocelyn stuck in Ravenclaw, the master plan was ruined. Jocelyn was all by herself so far too. Well not totally, Fletcher, Mundungus, and Dodge, Elphias had gone into Ravenclaw too, but so far there weren't any other girls besides Joce. Addi was snapped out of her thoughts as McGonagall, Odearius was sorted into Gryffindor, she grimaced as the far table exploded into cheers. She was next.

The tall Transfiguration professor smiled at the chocolate eyes girl that stepped out of line as she called "Morrigan, Adelaide." She looked a tiny bit frightened as he dropped the sorting hat on her head.

Oooh! Another Morrigan! I do love a good challenge, and your sisters did certainly prove to be a challenge! Well lookee here! IT seems as if you had the sorting all worked out in you head. I'll give you some advice, even the best of plans go amiss. And such devotion to your friends! You would make a great Hufflepuff, if I don't say so myself. But you wouldn't really be a bad Gryffindor either. You have true courage, not something that you often see anymore. And if you really wanted to, you wouldn't make a bad Slytherin. You have an ambition that others only dream about. Now where to put you? The sorting hat mused, shifting through her thoughts. Adelaide listened patiently, but finally decided that it was better to ask, then to suffer 7 years in a house without Jocelyn.

"What about Ravenclaw? Couldn't I go in there, Mr. Hat, sir?" Adelaide asked politely, remembering her mother's lessons. It was always better to be polite; people will be more inclined to listen to you that way.

And just why would you want to be in Ravenclaw, Miss Morrigan? You are certainly smart enough, but I doubt you would enjoy studying as the rest of that house does. The hat asked, slyly probing for more information.

"Because of Jocelyn. You see, she is my very best friend. And begging your pardon, but she isn't much for studying either, and I don't think she would fit in. Plus there aren't any other girls in Ravenclaw as of yet, and Jocelyn would be terribly lonely. So would I sir, I couldn't very well abandon my best friend! What kind of person would I be if I didn't at least try to be put in Ravenclaw?" Adelaide explained desperately hoping that the hat would see her point.

I'll say it again; you would make an amazing Hufflepuff. But unfortunately Fate has other plans. Merlin help me for putting a Hufflepuff in RAVENCLAW!

Adelaide Morrigan broke into a wide grin as she ran for the blue table where Jocelyn Cahill was cheering the loudest of all. The master plan wasn't totally ruined after all. Now if only Ev and Min could somehow end up in Ravenclaw, then it would be pure and slightly crazy bliss.

Evelyn Prewitt stood between her identical twin brother Jonas, and his best friend Andy Potter. She was trying to watch the sorting, but it was somewhat difficult as Jonas and Andy were discussing the likelihood of getting into Gryffindor with Ode McGonagall and Noah Jones, who they had met on the train. Ev clenched her fists into balls in irritation. Minerva Stanton, who had been her best friend for almost forever, well her best friend besides Addi and Joce, rolled her eyes at the two boys from her place next to Andy.

Andy and Min were practically brother and sister. They even looked like twins! But there were really only second cousins, barely related in the wizarding world. However, Min's mum and Andy's dad had always been closer than cousins, so Andy and Min grew up right alongside each other. And as Andy and Jonas had decided early on in life that they were going to be best friends, Min and Ev had been forced together until they too had a friendship to rival Jonas and Andy's.

But that didn't stop blonde-haired, blue-eyed Evelyn Prewitt from worrying. Jocelyn Cahill, her partner in crime since they were two, had gone into Ravenclaw. And Joce Cahill was as much a Ravenclaw as Andy Potter was a Slytherin. Joce was a Gryffindor to the bone, or so Ev and Min thought. The three of them had decided early on that they wanted to be Gryffindor Girls, and Addi had naturally been added into the plan when she moved here from France when there were all six. However, Ev had always thought that Addi had always been more of a Hufflepuff type, simply because she was so sweet. And Min was a Ravenclaw if there ever was one, you could barely pull her away from the library, and she was way too into the rulebook for Joce and Ev's liking. But Addi had gone into Ravenclaw too. It just didn't fit, Ev thought stubbornly. Well at least Addi and Joce were together. Should she dare to hope to end up in Ravenclaw too? Evelyn was shoved roughly out of her thoughts as Jonas pushed her out of the line of first years. She twirled to face him angrily.

"What was that for?" She asked hotly, and Jonas smirked at her.

"Maybe due to the fact that Professor Dumbledore has called your name twice already." Jonas rolled his eyes as the stupidity of his sister. Evelyn glared at him as she walked stubbornly up to the hat. Brothers could be so mean sometimes. Honestly!

Oh I wouldn't worry about your brother, Miss Prewitt. You'll find that you like him soon enough.

"Who said that?" Ev asked as she opened her eyes and tried to look around, seeing nothing but the dark inside of the hat.

Why me! The Sorting Hat of course! The hat proclaimed proudly.

"Oh… Can I ask you a question, Mr. Hat?" Ev asked sweetly.

Well you just did, but of couse, ask away.

"What are you thinking? Are you sure you can even thing properly? Didn't you even look at Jocelyn and Adelaide's personality?Joce is no more a Ravenclaw then a Potter is a Slytherin!" Ev ranted some of her worries out on the hat. She had a habit of doing that, just bottling everything up until it came out in full force. But usually it was Jonas who suffered her wrath, and now she had probably pissed off the hat, so she definitely wasn't going to be in Ravenclaw at this rate. These were the times when she hated her temper.

Oh I have my reasons, and you would do well to not doubt my judgment. Not all Potters are Gryffindors; I think the time will come when we could very well see a descendent of Godric in the Slytherin house. Just you wait. But I believe you will be surprised to know that you, yourself, Miss Prewitt are not a Gryffindor either. Fate has other plans in store for you. The hat explained. Joce rolled her eyes irritably.

"So it's fate fault when I end up having to explain to my mother exactly why I ended up in Slytherin?"

Your brain is quick enough, I'm sure you'd find a good reason. But you mustn't worry too much longer. For you won't be a Slytherin, but a RAVENCLAW!

Ev frowned in confusion as the hat was pulled off her head, but instantly broke out into a grin as she spotted Joce and Adel beckoning her over to the cheering Ravenclaw table. She turned and smirked at her twin was gaping at her, right alongside Andy Potter. With a wink, Min pushed both boys forward, snapping them out of their reverie. Ev spotted the worried look on her brother's face as he headed for the hat. Undoubtedly he thought he was going to end up in Ravenclaw too.

His fears were cured when he was quickly sorted into Gryffindor with Andy Potter not a second behind. Jonas and Andy quickly sat next to their new found friends from the train, Noah Jones and Ode McGonagall. After Romulus, Regan was sorted into Slytherin, the young transfiguration called Min's name. Ev, Joce, and Addi sent an encouraging smile her way as Min took a deep calming breath and succumbed to the darkness of the Sorting Hat falling over her eyes.

Ah… What do we have here? Oh no! Not another Potter! Even if you are just a Potter cousin! One of you is more than enough. My, my will the teachers have their hands full this year. Well Potter's, even distant ones, always go to Gry-

"Wait!" Min screamed in her head. "Supreme, overlord, hat, sir, are you sure? Take a closer look in my head and you'll find that my Potter side hasn't corrupted me yet. As a matter of fact, I generally play by the book. The rulebook that is!" Min added hopefully.

Well you do seem to have the studious side down. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to put you in Rav- Wait! Well aren't you a devious one! You almost tricked me! The hat gasped.

"A girl's got to do what a girl's got to do." Min shrugged her shoulders as she gave a sly smile.

How very Slytherin of you! The hat sniffed disdainfully.

"I told you I wasn't all Potter." Min reminded him, as if that explained everything.

Well Gryffindor would be a good place for you, but it seems as if Fate has other plans. Fourth time today too. It seems as if she has something big planned. Oh! And when you start looking for a name I suggest Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief Makers. But maybe not… Miscreants has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

"You're crazy." Min shook her head at the hat.

I prefer the term 'mentally deranged' thank you very much! That hat said dryly. I don't envy them your sarcasm and wit in RAVENCLAW!

Min was still somewhat puzzled over the odd hat's remarks, when said hat was yanked forcibly from her head. Picking herself up, the newest Ravenclaw saw three gleeful faces beckoning her over to the Ravenclaw table. The three girls barely paid attention to the rest of the sorting, as it passed by in a flash, ending with a black haired boy named Zambini, Bode joining their table.

The feast was, well, just an average feast as far as Hogwarts is concerned and pretty uneventful. Well it was uneventful if you forgot the part where the new caretaker, Apollyon Pringle, stood up and yelled that he'd personally slay the first student set off one of those 'new fangled dungthingies'. This statement was followed by a shower of pumpkin juice from Professor Dumbledore who was laughing just a bit too vigorously. Addi swore she saw him wink at two tall red headed boys sitting at the Gryffindor table, two boys that looked to be suspiciously plotting on how to make the new caretaker's life miserable. But Adelaide was known for her conspiracy theories so none of the other three girls really believed her. But if you ignored all of that drama, then the feast was perfectly uneventful. Well, almost uneventful.

Everyone knows that Andrew Potter can't sit for a minute without causing, or plotting to cause some kind of trouble. And as he had finished eating, he was left with next to nothing to do. And it doesn't take a bored eleven year old boy long to decide that it is high time to flick a pea at his favorite cousin, Minerva, who happened to be sitting right next to Jocelyn Cahill. Unfortunately, eleven year old boys don't have very good aim. So he of course missed and hit a very irritable Jocelyn Cahill in the head, splattering pea-guts all over her hair. But instead of doing the logical, logical meaning starting a food fight like Mundungus Fletcher wanted her to, Jocelyn glared. And boy does Joce Cahill have a nasty glare; no eleven year old boy could stand up to that under pressure. Minerva gleefully exclaimed that it was the first time she had seen Andy cower to anybody other then his mother. However, stubborn Gryffindors aren't prone to cowering, so it wasn't too long before Andy was glaring right back. Jocelyn smirked as she surveyed her three friends.

"Revenge." She said, and four pairs of eyes glinted with mischief as they clinked their classes. Dodge rolled his eyes and Dung, as Addi had so nicknamed him, went back to picking at his potatoes mumbling about the waste of a perfectly good scope goat for a food fight. Joce soon reverted to glaring at Andy. Minerva leaned across the table to whisper to Ev and Addi.

"I'd say Joce has made Andy her new target." Min whispered to the two.

"More like 'self-proclaimed-enemy'." Addie said scoffing. Evelyn giggled at the two before catching their eye.

"I dunno… Min, Addi, it looks like love at first sight to me." Ev said. This was too much for the already giggling girls. Min snorted as Addi fell off the bench. Evelyn grinned smugly as Joce glanced puzzled at the two laughing maniacs. Jocelyn threw Ev a questioning eyebrow, and Ev just replied with a confused shrug. Jocelyn shrugged and went back to discussing the record number of detentions with Grape Gatsby, a 6th year prefect.

Up at the head table, a young man with twinkling blue eyes popped a chocolate frog into his mouth as he eyed the four Ravenclaw girls with interest. All four had taken a particularly long time to be sorted, and had sported almost identical looks of confusion as they headed over to the blue table. Even stranger was the fact that they were the only four girls to end up in Ravenclaw this year, while every other house had at least ten girls. Add this to the fact that the four seemed to have already bonded and Albus Dumbledore was seriously thinking of resigning his post as head of Ravenclaw. It wasn't that four eleven year old girls were anything to be frightened of, because surely four girls such as the ones sitting at the blue table were anything but scary to a man that had faced Grindewald and a charmed goat. However, there was something to be said for one of those four girls. For she had the power to evoke panic and wide chaos in the noble heads of Wizengamot. Jocelyn Cahill was widely regarded by everyone in Wizengamot as a menace, or at the very least a terror inspiring mischief maker. One could only imagine the sort of trouble a girl with a wand, and three partners in crime could cause in the halls of Hogwarts. The young Transfiguration Master frowned, but whether it was from the thought of how much horror a harmless eleven year old could cause, or the fact that the chocolate frog he had just consumed gave an unpleasant lurch in his stomach, we may never know. But we do know that Albus Dumbledore crosses chocolate frogs off the list for his viable favorite candy.

So far the list had only two items, Drooble's Best Blowing gum and Chocolate Frogs. Both of which were in the process of being crossed off. The gum incident had ended rather traumatically with Albus needing a haircut. But rest assured that the Professor had not yet given up his quest for the best candy of all time. It was of Albus's opinion that every decent defender of justice, truth, light, and all that was good in the world, needed a favorite candy. That stupid Batman character probably had a favorite candy, and Batman was half dark! So of course Albus, the new defender of light, needed a favorite candy. And maybe a cape too. You couldn't be a good superhero without a cape. But he would need to work on that dastardly billowing effect. It just wasn't working out for him. Billowing took a lot more concentration that you'd think. With one last frown, Albus went back to his mashed potatoes, oblivious to the glaring contest between the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables.

Author's Note: Well this was just an idea that I've been toying with for a while. There are a few recognizable characters, but I can guarantee that more will pop up along the way, and of course some life altering events will come to pass, such as finding one's favorite candy, the journey from man to ghost, and the evolution of cantankerous caretakers at a certain school of witchcraft and wizardry. This story takes place in the late 1940s or early 1950s, just a year or two after the defeat of Grindewald. Comments, questions, and criticism are always appreciated! Happy Reading!

-Sarak