It was December in the Hogwarts castle and everyone was having a good time. Well, except the Slytherins. They never have to fun; they're just too dang hated by the rest of the castle. Especially a certain group of Gryffindors called the Marauders. And now I bring you to these teenagers as they strut around the castle like they own the place.
Sirius Black stood about two inches above the others with long, dark hair and chocolate brown eyes. Nearly every girl in the school had a crush on him at one point, and he'd dated nearly the whole 5th, 6th, and 7th years (at least the girls any way). Remus Lupin was next tallest and had sandy blonde hair and hazel eyes. He looked tired and older than the others did. Next was James Potter, with his messy jet black hair and piercing blue eyes he was easily as good looking as the first two. He was the quidditch captain and had a smile that melted the Hogwarts female population's hearts. The two shortest were Rachel-Lynn Potter and Peter Pettigrew. Rachel was James' twin sister and had the same black hair, but hers fell in loose curls around her face and on her shoulders. She also shared his blue eyes and signature lopsided grin. Peter Pettigrew was a little taller than Rachel and didn't fit in with the group at all. He had blonde hair and small black eyes. He was also kind of fat and wasn't nearly as good looking as the rest of the group.
They walked through the hallways laughing and planning their next prank, not even noticing how crowds seemed to part to let them through. They burst into the Gryffindor Common Room and took over a couple chairs near the fire. Sirius plopped sown in an armchair and Rachel sat on its arm while James and Remus took seats on a couch. Peter simply sat on the floor.
"Ok it's nearly the break and we've gotta pull off a big prank before we leave." Sirius said, stretching his legs out as he did. Peter looked up at him, confused.
"Why? We can just pull one on the Slytherins that stay over break. Can't we?" The other four all rolled their eyes, but Remus was the only one with the patience to answer him without using a fist.
"Because, Peter. Ray, James, and Sirius are going on the annual Potter family ski-trip over the break. You, know, the one they go on every year?" Peter looked thoughtful, imagine how much that must've hurt him, then nodded. Sirius took this time to make his usual Sirius-like comment.
"Plus, this is the year they finally let us go without supervision! James, Ray, I love you're parents and all, but this trip will be a lot better without 'em!" They both nodded and answered simultaneously.
"Hear, hear!"
"Now, let's get to planning." They all nodded and sat in deep thought, again causing Peter pain. But a certain fiery redhead that also happened to hold James' affections interrupted their thoughts.
"POTTER!" James and Ray jumped up at the same time.
"Yes?" They answered both of their mouths just itching to smile. They did this to annoy her every time. She screamed and both Potter's winced. Ray turned to her brother and smirked.
"I'm pretty sure she's here for you bro. You're on your own." And with that, she, Sirius, Remus, and Peter left for the sixth year boys' dorms to plan for their last prank before Christmas. James gulped and turned to face the girl that was now only a few feet away. Her bright red hair was straight and would've fallen halfway down her back if it weren't in a ponytail. Her bright green eyes had gold tints in them, like they only had when she felt a really strong emotion. James usually saw it when she was mad.
"WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?" James winced again. She was really mad, and he had a feeling he knew why.
"Whatever are you talking about, Lily, darling?" She glared at him and opened her mouth to answer, but he cut her off. "No. We are going to do this calmly and with no screaming. It's better, and less embarrassing, that way." She frowned. It was obvious she knew he was speaking the truth for once.
"Fine. Why did you do that? You jeopardized my relationship with my boyfriend and risked starting what could've possibly been a huge fight. Why?" He smirked. So it was what he thought it was. This was going to be fun.
"Whatever do you mean darling? Oh, wait. You're speaking of the gift I sent you, aren't you?" She glared again before answering him.
"Yes. And I hate you for it." He put on a look of mock hurt.
"But I thought peridot was you're favorite stone. Seeing as how it's you're birth stone and goes so great with those gorgeous eyes of yours." After he finished he grabbed her chin and pulled her forward. Then he kissed her right on the nose and was rewarded with a slap across the face.
"It is, but you sent it at the worst time. I was with my boyfriend when that bloody owl of yours flew in and dropped it on me! He was so mad! He thought I was cheating on him!" James smiled at her.
"I knew that owl was a smart one! So, when you say you were with him, exactly what were you doing?" The way he wiggled his eyebrows made it clear what he thought they were doing.
"NOTHING! And how did you know my birthday was in August?" James laughed and shook his head.
"Way to change the subject Lily."
"Just answer the freaking question!" James laughed at her again.
"Fine, fine. I heard your friends talking about it, ok?" She nodded then continued.
"Ok, so please don't do that again. You nearly made my boyfriend break up with me. Please, just stop." He pouted.
"You mean you didn't like it after all?" Then he caught a glimpse of something sparkling on her wrist. He reached out and had her wrist in his hand and her sleeve pushed up before she knew what he was doing. You gotta love quidditch reflexes. And just as he suspected, the gold bracelet with the peridots sat on her wrist. "So you like after all." He smirked and kissed her hand. "Goodnight fair maiden." Then he turned and left. She glared at his retreating form before turning toward her own dorm.
James walked into the room he shared with his best friends, excluding Ray, and made his way to his bed. Sirius was sprawled across his bed and Ray was lying next to him. Remus sat on his own bed and Peter was on the floor eating an éclair. They were all talking excitedly. He sat down on his bed and it moaned under his weight. Why had he picked the squeaky bed? Ray looked up and walked over to plop down beside him.
"Hey James. I'm guessin that, since all your limbs appear to be intact, Evans letcha off easy." He nodded and looked at his watch.
"Ray, you'd better get out. It's nearly eleven and you know how Longbottom likes to come here and make sure your not in our dorm after that incident in fourth year." She pouted but slowly got up.
"G'night all." Then she walked out and down the stairs to her own dorm. Not long after she left all the guys managed to drift off to sleep.
Rachel made her way slowly to the sixth year girls dorm, knowing that she'd be pelted by questions when she got there. Slowly and mournfully she opened the door. The other five girls that shared her room were all sitting in a circle around a pile of chocolate, candy, and butterbeers. Ray pressed herself up against the wall and slowly made her way to her bed, inch by inch.
"Potter!" Ray flinched and put on a smile before turning toward the girls.
"Hi guys. Listen, I'm really tired. So can I just go to bed?"
"No way. Come on, it's the last night at Hogwarts before winter break. You HAVE to play Truth or Dare with the rest of us. Just once! Please!" Ray scowled but walked over. If it would get them to shut up, she would play that stupid game. But they were gonna regret it. A Marauder knows how to make someone pay. Especially by way of a dare.
"Ok I believe it's my turn." That was Elisa Smith. She was way to nosy for her own good and was always gossiping. "Lily, Truth or Dare?" Lily grinned.
"Dare." Smith smirked at her.
"Alright. You have to…Prank call James Potter over the break!" The girls gasped and Ray perked up while Lily sputtered.
"Wh-what? Ho-how can I? I mean, he probably doesn't even have a phone! And even if he does, I don't have his number-" Ray interrupted with a smirk on her face.
"That won't matter." All eyes were suddenly on her. "We don't have a phone, but again, that doesn't matter. We won't be at our house over the break. We're going on the annual Potter Christmas ski-trip. At a muggle lodge." Lily's eyes grew wide.
"But I won't have the number-"
"I'll give it to you."
"But what if your parents answer?"
"They wont. This year they're not coming and it'll be just me, James, and Sirius." Ray was obviously amused by all of this. The other girls, however, were whispering franticly about the last thing she had said.
"Ok, but how do you guys know I'll even do it?" This is where Smith came back into the argument.
"I'm staying at your house over the break. Remember?" All the girls grinned at Lily and she sighed, defeated.
"Fine. But now it's my turn. Potter. Truth or Dare?" Lily was obviously getting her revenge.
"Truth."
"What? A Marauder chickening out?" Lily smirked evilly.
"Nope. You guys just can't come up with any good dares. Now ask the stupid question." Lily continued to smirk.
"Ok. Have you ever kissed and/or slept with Sirius Black?"
"EW! God no! Well…Ok, yes. Every winter there's this huge Pureblood ball-event-thing. And there's this enchanted mistletoe that picks a person to follow around 'til they kiss someone. Padfoot and I always pick each other as an easy way out of it. But that's all." The girls giggled and one of them, Ray still didn't know her name, spoke up.
"How many times and when was the first time?" More giggles.
"Only one question." They all frowned and begged so she finally gave in. "Ok, ok! It was eight times, and the first was in our third year." They all giggled some more and the game went on. Around midnight the girls all got in their beds and fell asleep.
The next morning all five (yes Ray counts) of the Marauders slept in and were rushing around trying to get to the station in time. It was a mess and they all looked terrible, but at least they made it to the train in time. The whole ride was spent sleeping in the compartment they had gotten. When they woke up Ray was laying on top of Sirius, James and Remus were both sitting up, but were slouching against each other, and Peter had been pushed onto the floor. They all got off and said their good byes before heading off to their parents to begin their break.