Hi guys!

Sorry I haven't been updating for so long. I have just started Uni and was so busy with assignments I never had the chance. Anyway here's the challenge between The Marauders and Lily and Alice. Who is gonna win?

Sorry it is such a short chapter but enjoy! Read and Review as always!

Chapter 6 – The Challenge

'What are they doing?'

'Haven't they got enough already?'

'That is so unhygienic!'

Around the Hall, people were whispering to their friends as they glanced over at the Gryffindor table. The teachers hadn't noticed the small commotion yet but it wouldn't last.

'Quick grab the gravy!'

'How the hell am I supposed to put gravy in here without it spilling?'

Lily shot her friend a glance of annoyance and continued to pile chicken, bread, garlic bread and vegetables into her bag without anyone noticing but it was failing. She could feel everyone's eyes on her as she and Alice, who was busying herself with stuffing cups of trifle and jelly and ice cream in her bag.

'We're done,' Alice whispered and Lily nodded.

Both got up from the table and clutching two bottles of pumpkin juice in their hands, made their way as quickly as they could without jostling their bags, out of the Hall.

…

'To me!'

'No a bit to the right Padfoot.'

'Prongs make your mind up, this weighs a tonne!'

Remus and Peter watched in amusement as James and Sirius came walking down the corridor towards the Hospital Wing.

Said boys were holding a large parcel of food from the kitchens. The elves had been ecstatic when James and Sirius asked for a whole feast and they were suffering because of it.

'Why did you ask for 10 large chickens?'

'I did not Padfoot, the elves just get hyper!'

'Whatever you say Prongs, but I know deep down under your robes in a huge stomach tied back with a few belts to keep in shape for Evans,' Sirius said laughing.

'Shut up!'

James reached over to punch Sirius in the arm but failed as the parcel between them nearly dropped to the floor.

Peter rushed forward to help them steady the parcel.

'Um guys…' Remus said, sweat dropping as he pointed to a puddle dripping from the parcel.

The four boys shot each other a worried glance.

'Quick, before the gravy weakens the parcel's wrappings!' Peter squeaked and all four boys rushed to the Hospital.

…

Hermione snuggled further into the warm blankets. She stopped and frowned. Blankets?!

Opening her eyes she blinked as the white walls of the Hospital Wing glared at her. She let out a groan and Madam Pomfrey bustled out of her office with potions in hand.

'Good to see you awake deary,' she smiled, 'drink these potions.'

Hermione grimaced at the taste and handed the empty vials back to the nurse, who immediately ran her wand down her.

'W-What happened?' Hermione asked confused.

'You were hysterical after your DADA lesson and brought here where I gave you a Calming drought. He's been here all the while,' Pomfrey jerked her head to next to her bed and saw Harry sitting on a chair with his head lolled to the side and his hand clutched in Hermione's.

Hermione blushed and nodded. She slipped her hand out of her boyfriend's and stood up, stretching.

'Hermione?'

Hermione turned to see Harry rubbing his eyes and smiling gently at her.

'Hi Harry,' she said and then turned away. Harry frowned and turned her to look at him.

'What's wrong?'

'You must think I'm really weak. I can't even face a Boggart… how am I supposed to help you defeat Him? I won't even blame you if you want to leave and break up with me,' Hermione said and a tear slipped down her face, which she brushed away.

'Hermione,' Harry began, 'you are most definitely not the smartest witch I know. If you were smart you would know how stupid you sound. Why would I think you were weak? You were the only one to provide support during the TriWizard tournament and you most certainly matter to me! Only a blind person would walk away from you. And even I had problems when I faced a Boggart for the first time, I fainted. But you didn't… that makes you so much stronger than me. We're going to get though this together! You and me… only you matter to me right now and if I ever leave you then I give you permission to hunt me down and hex me as much as you want to.'

Hermione had tears streaming down her face as Harry finished his speech and with a sob, she launched herself at him. He hugged her and they separated.

'Now let's go and find the Marauders, Lily and Alice,' Harry said.

They strolled down and out of the Hospital Wing into the corridor.

'I wonder where they are?' Harry said spinning to look around the corridor.

'LOOK OUT!'

Harry turned around and the next minute there was a crash as a tangle of limbs crashed to the floor.

'Guys!' Hermione said worried and all five boys looked up to see the parcel that James and Sirius were carrying come falling towards them.

'Crap!' Sirius and James said.

CRASH!

Hermione took one look at the five people on the floor and burst out laughing, clutching her sides.

Harry wiped his glasses clean on mashed potato and gravy as did James. He glared at the four Marauders, who were grinning.

'What the hell?!'

Harry was about to shout at the four boys and give them a piece of his mind when he heard Hermione laughing and smiled gently. He loved her laugh and this was the first time he heard her laugh since they arrived.

Getting to their feet, Harry and the others glanced down to see them completely soggy.

'Come on, let's hit the showers,' Harry said and Hermione, still laughing, followed.

…

Quickly they scampered down the corridors.

'We are gonna win this,' Lily and Alice said to each other.

They burst into the Hospital Wing to find it empty.

'Can we help you ladies?'

The two girls spun around to see the four Marauders, still covered in food and dripping in gravy, looking at them.

Lily and Alice froze before bursting out with laughter. The clutched each other and laughed as the four boys made disgruntled noises.

'P-P-Potter!' Lily said laughing.

'M-Marauders!' Alice gasped out of breath from laughing, 'What happened?'

'We were coming but we crashed into Harry,' Remus said.

'And now he's gone to hit the showers with Hermione,' Peter informed them.

'Come on let's hit the showers too,' Sirius said.

With that the four boys trudged away.

'Hey wait a moment,' Lily called.

The four boys turned.

'Yes?' James asked, 'Is this your acceptance to Hogsmeade this weekend?'

Lily snorted and shook her head.

'We WON! Suck on that losers,' Alice shouted gleefully and doing a little jig.

'Zip it!' Sirius yelled.

'Make me!' Alice yelled back.

Sirius made to go forward but Remus and James tugged him along with them, as the four gravy covered boys made their way to a nice warm shower.

Lily and Alice collapsed on the beds in the Hospital Wing giggling.

'Did you see their faces?!' Alice said happily, taking a sip on pumpkin juice.

'Yes it felt so nice to get one up on Potter.'

'Let's go see Hermione and Harry,' Lily said and with that the two girls, still occasionally giggling, walked off to the Gryffindor Tower.