Chapter Eight
Classes Begin
The next morning Harry awoke to giggling and laughter. When he opened his eyes, sure enough, there was Ginny and Serena with what looked like a hundred fake spiders. They were standing over Ron's bed with grins so wide that Harry knew this wouldn't be good.
"He'll kill you both if you do that." Harry said. "Besides there's easier ways to mess with him in his sleep."
"Oh yeah how?" Ginny asked, an eyebrow raised.
"Simple. RON TAPDANCING SPIDERS!" Harry shouted. Ron leaped out of bed, eyes wide in shock.
"I don't wanna tap dance!" Ron bellowed, then looked as his sister and Serena were laughing at him, Harry was smiling. "That was not right, Harry!"
"It's better than what they wanted to do. Trust me." Harry said. The girls nodded at Ron and handed him the bags they were holding. As soon as he saw what was in them he dropped the bags and jumped back.
"You two were gonna put those in my bed?" Ron asked, seeming hurt. They nodded still smiling. "You are worse than Fred and George!" Ron said to his sister, but laughing all the same. "Then I should say Thanks, Harry. Better your way than theirs." Harry nodded still smiling.
"You know you are kind of cute when you wake up Ron, Fancy a walk." Serena said, laughing as Ron's face turned red. "God I'm just kidding! Besides Hermione is waiting downstairs. We said we'd wake you two up."
"Hey why are their girls in here so early in the morning?" Seamus asked, waking up from all the noise.
"I rather think you mean late mate." Harry said, causing Serena and Ginny to blush and him and Ron to laugh.
"Alright, whatever you say. I don't care but can you keep it down?"
"Sure Seamus we were just about to get dressed and leave. Ron I'm going to teach you a spell this afternoon to help you with morning but for now don't move." Harry said. with a flick of his wand Ron was dressed, and then so was Harry. Getting out of bed he smiled. "Okay let's go ladies and gent. Serena! Did you fix the pictures?" Serena nodded.
"Why, what are we going to do with them?" Serena asked.
"Can't say just yet as Hermione will hear. She's a good friend, and she will only try to help, but not in the way we will need help. Besides all of the ones at the end of the prank have to be destroyed. No good from Dumbledore's speech to us last night. I'll do a lot, but I won't make Hogwarts look like the wrong sort of school, you know?" Harry said.
"Harry can I help?" Ron asked. Harry looked back at him shocked. Still walking down the steps Hermione came into view. Harry looked from one to the other, then sadly shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Ron. I want to say yes but too much will happen and with you and Hermione. I guess you are dating now, I don't want you in trouble like this. You don't have to worry as much about teachers as your girlfriend." Harry said. Ron didn't take to this answer.
"Harry, you have a girlfriend, and she doesn't bother you about things." Ron said, looking impatient.
"Ron, my girlfriend is a maraud- is that what you are offering Ron?" Harry asked. He looked from Ginny to Serena, both looked as shocked as him.
"I'd be willing to try and offer that. If not then I will stay out of it for your reasons, even though I remember what you said about that pensieve, and your dad got your mum in the end." Ron said. Harry nodded.
"This is different though mate. She is with you now, and acting like we do she'd break up with you and then you would expect her to come back when this is through? I think that's a bit of false hope, but go ahead and talk to her now, as she is only ten feet away, we will be behind you in spirit Ron." Harry said, smiling at the last bit.
"No come with me this is not going to be a private talk." Ron said. Harry nodded and followed him, Ginny and Serena close behind. The three marauders sat down, Harry in his favorite chair, Ginny on his lap, and Serena on one arm of the chair. Ron sat next to Hermione, and she smiled happily at her friends.
"Hi you three, how are you guys today? Anything I have to worry about?" Hermione asked, not bossy but curious.
"Well there might be." Serena said.
"We're not sure yet." Ginny said
"Probably will though. Only time will tell." Harry said. He laughed and whispered what he noticed about them just a second ago. "It seems we are taking the Fred and George way of talking. Have either of you noticed?" The girls looked at him, confused, then grins appeared on their faces.
"Best way for people to be!" Serena said.
"Yeah we know what the others are thinking." Ginny said.
"You two make a good point." Harry said. Then they turned their attention to Ron and Hermione. Ron looked nervous and he seemed to be making Hermione so. "Out with it Ron!" Harry pushed.
"Alright. Hermione, I want to join those three, and I would like you to as well." Ron said with his eyes forced closed. Harry knew what he was expecting, and he wasn't disappointed.
"WHAT! RONALD WEASLEY YOU WILL NOT JOIN THEM IN ANY OF THE LITTLE JOKES AND NEITHER WILL I! HONESTLY!" She shouted, and Ron began to look scared. "Did you three put him up to this? I want an answer now!"
"We didn't put him up to it!" Ginny said.
"He asked to join us, we said no because of you!" Harry said.
"It was his idea to bring you along!" Serena said.
"Sorry Ron, but she's angry enough at us. I can't cover for you today." Harry said, looking down.
"Agreed!" Ginny and Serena said. Ron looked completely shocked, not that his best friend had to leave him to his own defense, Harry was right. Hermione was already angry at him for last night. Harry, Ginny and Serena kept the tower up till almost three in the morning. She was not happy. What shocked him was how quickly they all answered, and how they seemed to be tying one sentence together.
"They're right Hermione. I miss my best mate is all. No offense, Harry, but being a marauder has taken most of your time. I know that being mates with Harry comes with its own problems, but I can't turn my back on him now, even if that means getting in trouble. I figured you would see that too Hermione." Ron said, now he was smiling. "Face it, you helped me and him get out of tighter situations than confrontations with Snape. You are an escape MASTER! Also they will need a smart witch for some of their pranks, at least some of the ones I heard them talking of." Harry smiled. He started to whisper to Ginny and Serena, and they began to smile too. Ron was playing up things a bit. He knew Hermione would help them if they needed it desperately. But Hermione still wasn't looking too happy about it. Harry decided to save the day.
"Ron, Hermione, you are my best mates, have been since first year. Ginny, you are my girlfriend, and Serena, well you're pretty much family. So how about this? While classes are in session we are the marauder's true to word. But afterwards, during lunch, dinner, and after studies, we are all just friends? No marauders and Ron and Hermione, just friends? I know we will probably still talk about things like marauders, but not exclude them. I think we have been doing that more than a bit. During summer it was ok because all they were doing was running off for a snog, but now they will need us as much as we will need them." Harry said all of this calmly but smiling at his two friends. "Does this sound good to everyone?"
"Agreed." Ginny and Serena replied happily.
"Okay, Harry. I'm sorry I can't help you, but you are going against a teacher! Even if it is Snape." Hermione said, almost sounding sad that she couldn't help. Harry nodded.
"I knew you couldn't do that Hermione. Why do you think I didn't ask you? However I will need to ask you for some help on something in a few days. Ron, sound like a good plan?" Harry asked.
"I guess but I would still like to help you from time to time. If not, then having my best mate back is still a lot better deal." Ron said. He started smiling again. "But now that that's settled, lets go to breakfast, I'm starving!"
"You guys go ahead, we have one thing we have to do before we can make it to breakfast." Harry said smiling. Ron nodded smiling himself, and led Hermione to breakfast. The three left and began whispering to each other so no one could hear in case others came into the common room, which several people did. After coming to an agreement, they pulled out a stack of pictures, charmed them all, and started laughing as they disappeared. Then they walked down to the great hall grinning.
Upon entering the Great Hall they sat today in a very different manner. Harry sat next to Hermione, Ginny sat next to Harry, but Serena sat next to Ron. Hermione and Ron looked confused but shrugged it off. Suddenly Harry sighed.
"Well you lot, I'm bored! Hey Hermione wanna help me entertain myself? I promise no teachers are involved!" Harry said, his grin getting wider.
"What are you going to do Harry?" Hermione asked, shaking her head.
"Well I would tell you, but if you acted like a prefect I'd loose about 400 house points at once. So do you want to help me or not?" Harry said, his grin never leaving him.
"No teachers?" She said. Harry nodded. "I don't believe I'm doing this. All right Harry I'll help you, what do you need me to do?"
"Hang on. Ron you in?" Harry said. Ron nodded happily with a smile. "Serena explain to Ron please. I'll tell Hermione." Then they began whispering, Ginny giggling as she knew what would happen. Harry was right for this to work they would need five people. After a few laughs from the newest recruits, Ginny leaned over to them.
"So you guys like it then?" She said smiling. "I hope so cause a lot of that plan was mine!" They laughed as Harry and Serena nodded in agreement.
"Ginny, that's bloody brilliant! Fred and George would be proud." Ron said. "However I think you are going to get more than a few howlers for last night and this!" At the moment Remus walked up to them and they all got quiet.
"Hello, children, Anything interesting to expect at breakfast?" He asked, slightly amused.
"Moony! Give it about five minutes," Harry said, ginning mischievously
"Then you will see a reminder," Serena said laughing
"And after that, we really have no idea what would be happening at the Slytherin table." Ginny said innocently.
"Okay, well then you three didn't have a row. So I take it you either recruited more marauders, which they would be wonderful at, or you needed more help." Remus said smiling. "Don't worry, I will keep your plan secret but, Harry, how much of a reminder from last night?"
"Nothing too bad Moony, we promised Dumbledore nothing that would make the school look to be the wrong sort last night. One of the earlier occasions." Harry said seriously. Then acting innocent, "We really don't have any idea what is going to be happening at the Slytherin table though. You will see the reminder. Have a good day Moony. Oh wait, will we see you today?" Harry added.
"I believe I see Gryffindor sixth years today yes, be prepared. I like a prank or two of my own. You and Serena are going to have a lot of fun I feel." Remus said, smiling his own mischievous smile and walked away from the table.
"That Moony," Serena said.
"He's gonna be the death of us!" Harry said.
"Or we're gonna be the death of him!" Ginny said and they all laughed.
"Agreed!" Harry and Serena said.
All five students laughed at the thought of this, though before they realized it, they were not the only ones laughing. Suddenly the three smiled as they knew what was happening. They looked at Hermione and Ron and Smiled brightly. Suddenly papers started to stack up beside Serena and Ginny. Harry pretended to pout at this.
"I don't see why I can't count the ballots love. Makes me feel left out and all you know?" Harry said talking to Ginny while they were eating. She just laughed at him.
"Well, Sweetie, then there could be tampering and we couldn't have that. I want you to win fair and square!" Ginny said, giggling while looking at the two piles. "It seems as though you are winning anyway though. I guess Malfoy's scrawny body and shaved legs didn't win the hearts of the Hogwarts girls. Besides you know I voted for you!"
"So did I. I prefer a body that has seen work as opposed to one that has been catered too! Who you voting for Mione?" Serena asked, laughing because Ron didn't know what was happening.
"Don't worry Ron. If all goes well we have to vote at lunch. I just don't know who I will vote for yet cause I don't know what the vote is for!" Harry said laughing.
"Mione?" Serena asked again. She laughed as Hermione blushed.
"Well, if that is what we are voting on, I guess I have to say Harry wins." Hermione said. "Sorry Ron but you are not on the list"
"Hell Hermione write him in if you want to!" Ginny said laughing. Hermione laughed and shook her head.
"I don't want to get Ron more involved in this than he already is." She said, trying to calm her laughter.
"What are you on about?" Ron looked over Hermione's shoulder, only to see a blank parchment. "What is that?"
"Its charmed Ron. No guys can see it. Its a women's only vote. It will be the same for us. Like I said don't worry, just remember what we need you to do." Harry said. Ron nodded again still smiling and continued eating. Suddenly, both stacks disappeared and a piece of parchment appeared in front of Ginny. She laughed and handed it to Hermione, who smiled then handed it to Serena.
"Harry, you stud! However I'm surprised." Serena said, looking confused. "Gin, they all said the same thing right?" Ginny nodded. "Then how did Malfoy get five votes?" Serena said laughing. "Oh Hermione you wrote Ron in then? He did pretty well. Harry still won, but he got 30 votes." Ron blushed and looked at Hermione, who looked confused.
"I didn't write him in Serena! You are joking! I looked at the list myself!" Hermione said.
"Its charmed so that aside from me and Ginny, everyone else only sees Malfoy and Harry. However the person appears on the parchment after the first person writes his name down." Serena said, then grinned slyly at Ron. "You little charmer you, all this time you had at least 30 girls fancy you, and you still stuck it out for Hermione. That's sweet really!" She laughed as Ron started to blush. "We will have to give you an award as well. All the rest really don't matter, one vote or two here and there, but Ron and Harry did the best. Harry, if you ever break up with Ginny, you will be happy to know 90 percent of the female population will flock to your side to...comfort you...in your time of need!"
"Hmm, well that definitely gives me something to think about!" Harry said laughing. Hermione and Ron looked shocked, however Ginny was laughing.
"Oh no you don't! I've waited six years, and you're not just disappearing now that everyone wants to shag the boy who lived." Ginny said in mock frustration. "Remember I love Harry Potter, not the boy who lived."
"I know love. I love you too. Its just fun to see Ron and Hermione squirm a bit now and then!" Harry said, laughing, while he kissed Ginny on the cheek. "Its getting to be time to announce the winner. Take a look around."
Looking around the room, the male students were leaving and getting ready for class. However, the girls, whether they were through or not sat there firmly. Ginny and Serena nodded, and walked up to the front of the great hall. They spoke to Dumbledore who nodded, and they smiled.
"Students of Hogwarts, everyone please sit!" Serena said.
"Yeah, you lot, the marauders' women have an announcement to make." Ginny said.
"Now, the guys of Hogwarts do not know this, however, me and Gin decided something last night." Serena said.
"We want to thank the choices, who willingly participated in this. My first love, my boyfriend, and the greatest of our group of marauders, Harry Potter!" Ginny said, as most of the people in the room cheered.
"And also that stupid slimy git from Slytherin, Draco Malfoy." Serena said quickly, as if trying to rush his name along. Slytherin table cheered.
"Oh shut up only five of you voted for him anyway!" Ginny said. Slytherin table quickly became quiet.
"Well that said, we will say that there are a few boys who have very loyal girlfriends!" Serena said.
"A very low few, cause I refuse to believe so many girls are single!" Ginny said, and the girls laughed.
"However to catch the boys up, we had a contest to find the school heart breaker. We were shocked to say the least." Serena said.
"Yeah how my brother took second is beyond me! I thought we only had to figure out whether it was Malfoy or Harry. Lost my appetite after that!"
"Ginny! Really come on!" Serena said.
"Sorry. As we were saying that is what girls were seeing all morning at breakfast. Don't worry another contest will be held at lunch for the boys, provided Professor Dumbledore agrees!" Ginny said, the guys cheered at this.
"Yes so the winner, well he cant be considered a winner can he Gin? Not a right sort of competition. Anyway, the winner is, of course, Harry Potter!" Serena said. She laughed as Harry stood on top of a table, and began to bow and grin. He quickly sat back down and nodded to Ron and Hermione.
"Yup, I'm dating the school heart breaker!" Ginny said smiling.
"Now Malfoy might have some loyalty in Slytherin, as he got five whole votes. Right nice of you five." Serena said.
"My brother is actually second place. Thank you thirty girls for making him feel special, and making his girlfriend insanely jealous!" Ginny said laughing. "However both boys, Harry and Malfoy, agreed that the loser would pay by a way me and Serena deemed appropriate! Neither of them knew. In fact, Harry is not even participating in this."
"So one and all take a look at the new, vastly improved," Serena said
"Draco Malfoy!" Serena and Ginny said together. The entire school looked over at Malfoy, laughter erupted in an instant. Draco, looking to see what was so funny, saw that he was wear a dress, covered in red and yellow flowers. What he didn't see was that his face was green and warts began to sprout on his face. He looked at Harry and glared. However Harry was pointing and laughing, with no wand in sight. Malfoy looked at the teachers table to find all but Snape laughing uproariously. Dumbledore wasn't even attempting to stop this.
"YOU WILL PAY! ALL THREE OF YOU WORTHLESS MUDBLOOD LOVING WORMS! EVERY ONE OF YOUR LOVING TEACHERS WHO LAUGH WITH YOU AS WELL! JUST YOU WAIT UNTIL MY FATHER ESCAPES AZKABAN!" Malfoy said and fled from the Great Hall, for the second time in two days. All of the students were still laughing. Harry walked up to the staff table with Ron and Hermione in tow.
"Professors, I can honestly say the marauders were not responsible for what happened. I even have witnesses that can testify that I never even raised my wand." Harry said fighting back laughter. "And all of you saw Ginny and Serena. So I ask that we not be punished for this, humbly of course." Dumbledore looked at Ron and Hermione.
"Would you risk giving up being a prefect to say that Harry was not at fault?" Dumbledore asked, his eyebrow raised. He knew this was a bigger threat to Hermione.
"Yes professor I would risk it. I was watching Harry the entire time. He made such a spectacle of himself how could I not." Hermione said firmly, her know-it-all voice breaking out.
"So do I, Professor. As soon as he sat down he started talking to me about being voted second." Ron said, blushing as he said this.
"Very well, I believe you all. I would like to know what happened to Mr. Malfoy though children." Dumbledore said, looking particularly at Harry. Harry, un-phased, pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Dumbledore. On the paper were the signed names of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. It was an agreement to enter into the competition.
"Sir the paper was charmed. Had I lost, the same thing would have happened to me. It just couldn't have affected anyone else as they weren't in the original agreement. Malfoy knew this and agreed. Apparently, he seemed to think money could influence who has charm." Harry said, adding the last part arrogantly. Ginny playfully hit him on the arm.
"Stop, Harry. Be nice to Professor Dumbledore." Ginny said. Harry nodded .
"I apologize Professor. However we do want permission to do this again at lunch. Its not really fair for the guys otherwise." Harry said. "I am trying to be fair after all."
"Harry I appreciate your honesty. I also apologize for Mr. Malfoy's rude behavior. You may have your contest. However, remember your promise. All of you." Dumbledore said.
"We do, that's why Malfoy wasn't inappropriate. A little embarrassed sure, but I'm sure I'd have been embarrassed if I was in a dress and green with warts. By the way it is easily fixed with a little magic. I'm sure Professor Flitwick could fix him in less than a minute." Harry said, smiling at Flitwick. "After all he was only charmed to look that way, its not real." Flitwick laughed when he heard this.
"I will fix his appearance, but only if he offers an apology to the school for his attitude today Headmaster." He said. Snape was outraged.
"I will have him do no such thing! I'm sure he would not agree to anything that Potter had in mind. Young Malfoy hates Potter! All of you know this." Snape spat. Dumbledore held a hand to silence him.
"That is all the more reason for Mr. Malfoy to enter into this arrangement. I'm sorry, Severus, but even I must admit that he has a certain arrogance about himself being a pureblood. Not his fault of course, but it is there nonetheless. However, this second contest is not allowed to be Gryffindor and Slytherin, but the whole school. I will not allow favoritism." Dumbledore said.
"We didn't we said you could vote for anybody, Professor. Hold on one second." Ginny said as she removed the charm on the paper. Names began to fill the parchment as she handed it to Dumbledore. "See. We just charmed it so only me and Serena could see the other contestants. The others just weren't worth mentioning. One vote here and two there. Only reason Malfoy was even mentioned is because he chose to enter himself willingly. Do you really think I would put my brother on a list like this?"
"Very well I ask you still select one from each house, provided they agree of course. Then you have my permission." Dumbledore said. "No other way will it be allowed."
"Sir could we ask Sniv- Professor Snape to ask the Slytherins for us. This way he knows they enter willingly. Also there will be three opened to the women. Only two will be able to be selected by everyone, and one by guys only." Harry said, smiling. "Would that be acceptable?"
"Yes Harry I will allow it. But I wish to see these ballots myself. The complete ballot." Dumbledore said.
"Of course sir. As long as you are of the male persuasion, you will see the list. By the way, I wish to thank all the female professors here for voting as well. I never thought you lot would get into this kind of thing." Serena said, laughing as the female Professors blushed and nodded. Dumbledore seemed amused at this.
"Very well children. Please go to class." Dumbledore said and they nodded. Turning around they all headed to class. Dumbledore just shook his head. When they left Snape began again.
"You know he didn't agree to this." Snape said. Dumbledore nodded.
"I know this very well. However that is his signature on the paper. Whether he knew what he was entering into or not, he did sign it. However I also know Harry did not do anything as well." Dumbledore said. Snape just gaped at Dumbledore.
"How can you possibly know that?" Snape said. Remus answered him instead.
"Hermione would die before losing her prefect role. She is very much a person who appreciates academics, and the achievements they bring. To give up prefect for a prank is something she would not do. Very much like me, which is why Sirius and James were always in trouble. They seemed to like that however. Just another way to pass the time for them." Remus said smiling. "I agree with Dumbledore. He didn't know what he was signing, but he did sign it. I know what they did to the parchment as well. I feel I am to blame, as no doubt Harry got the idea from something I told him Sirius and James got away with."
"Remus, did they say anything about what I said last night?" Dumbledore said. He looked at Remus with an eyebrow raised.
"Yes, they said that you asked them and they promised not to pull stunts like they did last night, or make the school look bad as they did last night." Remus said still smiling. "It was funny though, Albus. It reminded me quite of something Sirius and James would do."
"And this is the person you want to deal their detention! The Potter boy and the Black girl are likely to be told more stories of their fathers glory days. What would we do then?" Snape said, getting far more angry.
"No, Snivellus, I will not tell them stories during detention. Believe me, all three will suffer worse than anything you could dream up." Remus said smiling. "Remember, I know what they hate the most, even though you don't. You think it is you. The truth is they are little worse than James and Sirius. They never minded detention, because they were doing something. What they hate, is boredom."
"Then what will you have them do? Write lines, clean?" Snape asked mockingly.
"No, Snape, I will make them sit. No work, nothing to keep them busy, nothing to take their mind off of things. Just sit. This will be a torture unlike any you could think of for these three." Remus said. He began to smile. "Also, Albus, trust me when I say this. Watch the contest carefully. I believe they mean to keep their promise. Remember that." With that Remus got up and left. Dumbledore nodded at this. He knew as well they did not want to break their promise. He only wondered what worried Remus.