Monday Defense Against the Dark Arts classes were cancelled. No one knew why except for the Marauders.

"It worked!" Peter exclaimed, throwing himself into one of the Common Room's plush chairs.

"She deserved that," James agreed.

"That was a brilliant idea, Peter," Remus said, broadly grinning.

"An entire hour of nothing!" Sirius sighed.

"Not nothing," Remus said, "because you still have that potions essay."

"You just had to remind me," muttered Sirius.

"You're welcome."

After half an hour of Sirius cussing and complaining, the essay was finished.

"We've still got half an hour before lunch," James said.

"Shall we plot another plot?" Sirius asked.

"What sort of plot?" Remus inquired.

"A diabolical plot."

"That doesn't sound like a good idea."

"Come on! No one knows about the Marauders! We have to create a reputation-"

"The news will get out, your note will make sure of that," Peter said.

And the news did. A week later, when D.A.D.A classes resumed, Umbridge spoke with the class.

Her mouth was slightly swollen and an ugly, inflamed pink color. A small scar ran from the middle to right edge of her top lips. She was livid with suppressed anger.

"I was given a… a gift… that caused me to cancel classes. The gift was 'courtesy of the Marauders.' Is there anything anyone would like to say?" Her eyes rested on the two desks the boys sat at.

There were quick glances around the room, but the class was silent.

"Very well," Umbridge said, forcing cheerfulness. "But I'll find out who did this. Your silence fools no one. Someone in this room did this, and I will find out who. Mark my words."

The lesson continued in silence, but when they were dismissed, the class erupted in chatter.

"Whichever bloke did that was bloody brilliant," a girl by the name of Marlene said.

"Whoever did that is going to be in so much trouble," whispered another girl.

"Wonder what they did to her."

"Glad I didn't do it, Umbridge looked murderous."

"Who the heck are the Marauders?"

With barely contained smirks, the Marauders left the class.

"It was you guys, wasn't it," a voice said behind them.

The boys turned.

"Who else would it be?" James asked.

"She know it's you, she was staring at you for the whole class," Lily said.

"Don't turn us in," Peter said.

Lily laughed. "Until Umbridge is gone, you're in the clear. After, you're going to be in a whole world of trouble."

Sirius grinned. "Can't wait."

Lily gave him a look. "Do you like being in detention?"

"Course, who doesn't?"

Lily made to answer when the entered the Great Hall. "Actually- oh whatever. I'm getting some lunch." She left them standing in the entryway as she left for the Gryffindor table.

"Lunch sounds like a great idea," Remus said.

"I'm afraid Lunch will have to wait, Mr. Lupin," Umbridge said.

They whirled around.

"I have some questions for you, if you'd come to my office," she continued.

"We'd love to, but this really isn't the time," Sirius started.

"I wasn't asking, Mr. Black."

"Alright," James said.

Umbridge briskly led them to her office. A large pot of tea sat on the desk, around which were stationed chairs. Before each chair was an enchanted teacup.

"Have some tea," she instructed. "There's sugar and milk on the desk."

"Er, Professor?" Peter said quietly, "I don't drink tea."

"Actually, none of us drink tea," Sirius added.

"You're all English, right?" Umbridge sweetly inquired.

"Yeah," James said.

"Well, what sort of englishman doesn't drink tea?"

"Many people, in fact, and we're a few of that many," Sirius said.

"Humor me, Mr. Black."

Sirius' lip twitched. "You see, Professor, I can't. Humor isn't part of my personality. I'm rather serious, actually.

It was enough to make the others drop their intent expressions. Remus snorted, Peter chuckled, and James had to clasp a hand over his mouth to muffle his laughter.

"You use that one way too much," James told him.

Umbridge ignored the comment and laughter. "Drink the tea."

With the ghost of a grin on his face, Remus grabbed a teacup and took a sip.

"Remus, don't!" Peter warned.

"Why ever not?" Umbridge said. "Surely you don't know something about these teacups."

"No-" Peter paused. He had given them away.

"Remus, the pact! What about the pact? You haven't forgotten about our pact have you?" Sirius exclaimed.

"The pact?" Umbridge prompted, beginning to smile triumphantly.

"We're not supposed to drink tea," Sirius explained.

Remus made to put the cup down, but it stuck to his lips. Without a word, he left the office.

"Oi! Remus!" Peter shouted.

"See? It messes with his brain, makes it go strange, the poor bloke. We should go get him," James said, and they left the office.

"I did not dismiss you!" Umbridge called after them, but they did not reply.

"What the bloody hell did you think you were doing?" Sirius demanded angrily. "You are not a tea addict, and you shouldn't be letting yourself get hurt like that! Consider the consequences! What if that's stuck to your lip for all of eternity?"

"We need to find Madame Pomfrey," said James.

"Stair cases are just up another flight," grumbled Sirius.

After a few days in the hospital wing, Remus was free of the teacup.

"Why did you do that?" Peter asked him.

"If I went to Madame Pomfrey and showed her the damage, that wouldn't be good, she knows that Umbridge was in earlier. But, when you told her Umbridge gave her the cup, that puts Umbridge at fault. We weren't getting anywhere in her office, so that diverted the blame from us, and it also is going on her record," Remus explained.

James grinned. "Brilliant."

"So what'd I miss while I was out? You didn't bring any homework up."

"Er, about that-"

"Two essays, five chapter summaries, four- no five chapters, and you need to practice ferula," Sirius listed.

"I was sitting in bed for days! I could have gotten those chapters done!" he complained.

"Well, no homework in the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey's orders," Peter said.

Remus sighed. "And we still have lessons for the next two days."

"Yeah, but Minnie's not assigning you anything for Transfiguration. She also got Flitwick to lay off on you, mostly. We started episkey the other day, but he'll catch you up on that when you're on top of all of this," James said.

"History of Magic's mostly just lecturing, so you'll be able to work during that," Sirius told him, "James, Peter, and I can take notes."

"You always fall asleep in that class."

"Well, Hogwarts also has a library."

"Yes, but-"

Peter interrupted them. "Charms starts in twenty, and we still have to get breakfast."

"Alright," James said, "To breakfast we go."