It's chapter four! Finals are over, school is over, and hopefully, I'll have time to write more now! This is actually very enjoyable to write. I love playing the part of the marauders; they're so much fun! Thank you all for your wonderful reviews and enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters. They all belong the wonderful goddess named J.K. Rowling.

Breakfast the next morning was much louder than the day before. Sirius and James were laughing at the different things they could do to Snape while stuffing their faces with food.

"Hey," said James around a mouthful of toast, "maybe we could charm a knight into singing that Barney song while chasing that sniveling coward around the school." Sirius looked at him curiously.

"What's the bar-knee song?" asked Sirius. James began to laugh.

"I forgot that you wouldn't know it," James said, "It's this really stupid and annoying little kid's song about love. Here, I'll sing it for you." James proceeded to sing the "I love you, you love me" Barney song completely off tune and with a flair for the dramatic. To put it nicely, he sounded like a dying duck jumping on a froghorn. Gryffindor table exploded with laughter and applause for James' awful performance when he finished.

"Oh god," gasped Sirius. He was holding onto the table for dear life, trying desperately to stay on his chair. "We absolutely have to do that to him. I think he would be scarred for life." Words and balance failed him at this point and he fell over into a laughing heap on the floor.

"We just have to find that kid who made a knight chase one of the Slytherins and ask him to teach us his tricks," James said thoughtfully, "I'm pretty sure we could teach a knight how to sing that song." He then had to bend over and thump Sirius hard on the back because he had begun to choke.

"Oy, mate, that was me," Sirius said when he finished choking.

"You were the one who made a knight chase the Slytherin?" asked James excitedly, "Oh, this is going to be great! How'd you do it?" Sirius shook his head sadly.

"Don't mean to burst your bubble," Sirius sighed, "but it didn't actually chase him. I just pushed the knight over onto the kid and he began to scream and run madly." James began to snicker. "The knight's helmet fell off when it hit the floor and it rolled after the kid. The kid turned hysterical, claiming the knight had chased him all over school trying to kill him."

James was disappointed, but he couldn't help but laugh at the forlorn way Sirius told the tale.

"It's alright, mate," James said while patting Sirius on the back, "we'll think of something else." Then the bell rang and Sirius grabbed a last piece of toast as they ran off to class.

Throughout the rest of the day, Sirius and James paid absolutely no attention in class. After all, why would two such bright young students need to pay attention to the boring lectures their teachers gave them? Especially when ideas for revenge were so much more interesting, not to mention educational.

Peter listened raptly to everything they said. Remus on the other hand, eventually gave up trying to make them pay attention or shut up, and settled for ignoring them.

At dinner, James and Sirius had decided that they should stick to something simple for their first "official" prank. That meant something they could easily pull off, and to their disappointment, it also meant something slightly less exciting than they had originally hoped for.

"Maybe we could drop dung bombs into Snape's potion?" Sirius asked dejectedly.

"That's and idea," James sighed, "but I already did that. We should try something different. Like…I don't know…"

"So you were the reason that git's potion exploded?" Sirius asked gleefully. James nodded and Sirius began to laugh again. "Oh, his face was priceless. He's so concerned with his grades and to top it all off, he even got detention. I was sure he was going to die of humiliation." James and Sirius succumbed into another fit of sniggering.

"But we still don't know what to do this time," James said dejectedly once they had calmed themselves down.

"Why don't you just tie a firecracker to his seat or something?" Remus asked exasperatedly. He was obviously tired of their constant deliberating.

"Remus," exclaimed Sirius, "you're a genius!" He looked excitedly at James. "What do you think?"

"I think that's perfect!" James agreed enthusiastically, "We can do it in transfiguration, imagine what McGonagall will do." His eyes became unfocused and dreamy.

"Wait," Remus stuttered, "I didn't actually mean for you to do that. I just wanted you to be quiet. Y-you're not actually…" Remus stared at them in horror. No way. There was no way they were actually going to listen to his absurd lapse of judgment. But James and Sirius were off in their own world, imagining what McGonagall would do if Snape's chair blew up in the middle of class.

That night, Remus went to bed with a heavy heart while James and Sirius were still in rapports of ecstasy. They had found the perfect simple prank. Now they just had to wait for their next transfiguration class.

Unfortunately, they didn't have transfiguration again for two days. Remus spent those two days hoping and praying they would forget all about the prank, all in vain.

The two boys looked forward to transfiguration class with uncharacteristic anticipation. They had had the firecracker in James's bag, with a few extra in case something went wrong.

"Don't do this," Remus whispered urgently as they took their seats. James and Sirius cracked identical grins.

"Do what?" asked James innocently.

"Lighten up, Remus," Sirius added, "nothing will go wrong." Remus just sighed.

Professor McGonagall started the lesson and James and Sirius waited for the right moment. It finally came when McGonagall had the students try to change mirrors into panes of glass.

"Psst," Sirius jabbed James in the ribs, "give me a firecracker." James scowled and rubbed his side but handed Sirius a firecracker and some string.

Smirking, Sirius crawled under the tables over to Snape's chair. James watched as Sirius tied the firecracker to the leg of Snape's chair. At the same time, he tried to keep an eye on McGonagall.

With a small crackling noise, Sirius lit the firework. Unfortunately, Snape seemed to hear it because he turned to look behind him. James saw Sirius freeze and cursed under his breath.

"WOAH!" he yelled loudly. He waved his wand wildly and hoped the mirror would turn into something unusual. To his delight, it turned into a featherless green chicken.

Snape snapped his head over to look at him instead of down at Sirius and the now smoking firecracker. He sneered at the squawking chicken in front of James and raised an eyebrow at Sirius's empty seat before turning back to his own mirror.

James sighed in relief as Sirius scurried back over to their desk. However, the chicken had attracted Professor McGonagall's attention too. She walked briskly over to James.

"Oh shit," James whispered. Sirius was still on his way back to his seat and McGonagall was sure to notice he was missing.

McGonagall arrived at their desk and Sirius still wasn't in his seat. She waved her wand and turned the chicken back into a mirror and then stared suspiciously at James.

"Having trouble today, Mr. Potter?" she asked.

"Yeah," James grinned with what he hoped was an abashed expression, "sorry about the chic- er, the disturbance."

"And what about Mr. Black?" she asked. James swallowed nervously just as Sirius popped his head up from under the desk.

"Hello, Professor," he said with his most charming smile.

"What, may I ask, were you doing under the table?" she asked formidably. Sirius didn't bat an eyelash at her tone.

"Sorry," he said innocently, "you see, the chicken knocked my quill off the desk in it's excitement at being green. I was looking for it. Turns out that it fell under my bag." He held up a squashed looking quill.

Professor McGonagall looked like she was going to say something else when she was interrupted.

BANG!

The whole class turned to look at a very scorched looking Snape. The firecracker had exploded along with the chair, leaving poor Snape on the floor with a sparkling red firework above his head.

"What is this?" Professor McGonagall snarled with a fierce glare, "I expected better of you Mr. Snape!" She was absolutely furious. "Disrupting class like this-" she stopped to glare some more, unable to continue she was so enraged, "fifty points from Slytherin and detention tonight."

Severus stared at her in horror.

"But it wasn't me," he spluttered, "I didn't do anything." He suddenly had a malicious glint in his eye.

"It was Black," he said pointing at Sirius, "he wasn't in his seat earlier. He did this!" Professor McGonagall glared at him suspiciously.

"Is that so?" she asked Sirius. Sirius shook his head innocently.

"Check his bag!" yelled Snape angrily, "I'm sure he'll have more that he's planning to use later."

"Show me your bag," McGonagall said to Sirius. Sirius opened his bag and handed it to her. She quickly looked through it and turned back to Snape.

"There are no firecrackers in Mr. Black's bag," she said calmly to him, "detention is at six every night for the next week."

The bell rang and James and Sirius sprang out of the room before they gave themselves away by laughing their heads off. Remus and Peter came out soon after.

"That was brilliant," Peter squeaked happily.

"Thank you, thank you," Sirius said with a flourish and bow. James smacked him on the head.

"Excuse me," James said indignantly, "but I helped with that too." Sirius just stuck his tongue out and dodged James's next swipe at his head.

"You were almost caught," Remus said reprovingly, "What would you have done if there had been firecrackers in Sirius's bag?" Sirius and James both shrugged.

"I dunno," James said, "I was kinda worried she wouldn't believe I actually had trouble transfiguring because I can usually do it with no effort." Remus glared at James's cocky self assurance.

"I guess it's a good thing they were in Jamesie's bag then," Sirius said carelessly.

He was hit in the head again.

"Ow!" he exclaimed, "What was that for?" He rubbed his head gingerly.

"Do not," James said threateningly, "call me Jamesie." He glared at Sirius.

"Oh," Sirius grinned cheekily, "poor ickle Jamesie-boy doesn't like his name." He shook his head sadly. "What a shame."

James looked ready to explode. Then he suddenly calmed down and smiled sweetly at Sirius.

"Does little Siri-poo like his name?" James asked innocently. Sirius froze in mid skip to stare incredulously at James.

"What did you just call me?" Sirius asked slowly, as if he hadn't heard perfectly.

"I called you Siri-poo," James said as if Sirius were a five year old. "Is there something wrong?" He cocked his head to the side in fake worry as Sirius stayed frozen with one foot in the air.

"Well, Jamesie-boy," Sirius said dangerously, "there's nothing wrong with me, but there will be something wrong with you if you call me that again." James grimaced momentarily then recovered.

"Call you what?" James asked innocently, "Siri-poo?" Sirius twitched at the name.

"Jamie," Sirius gritted out, "you are pushing it." It was James's turn to freeze. "Is there something wrong?" Sirius imitated James's earlier tone and posture with a devilish glint in his eye.

"You're going to get it now," James growled as Sirius smirked at the fact that he now had the upper hand. Remus who had watched the whole exchange decided it was time to step in.

"Guys," Remus said tentatively, "um, shouldn't you just compromise? This is sort of a stupid argument." Both boys turned to glare at him. "Or maybe you could just fight it out on the way to dinner?"

James and Sirius grinned in anticipation at the mention of dinner. Shaking his head, Remus stepped between them and walked toward the Great Hall.

"Well Siri-poo," James started, "do you think we could call it a truce?"

"I think we might just have to, Jamesie," Sirius replied, "at least until after dinner." Both boys shook hands while placing their free hand over their heart.

"We solemnly swear to call it a truce until after dinner," they said gravely.

"Wow!" exclaimed Peter, "you said that in unison! Can you read each others minds or something?" He looked at them in amazement.

"My dear Petey," Sirius said, "that is a secret you shall never know."

"Oh come on, you drama queens," Remus groaned, "let's go get dinner before it gets cold."

"Yes, sir!" exclaimed James with a salute.

"We're right behind you," added Sirius.

"Sir Remie-kins!" both boys shouted together. Then they broke down in laughter at the horrified expression on Remus's face.

"Remus," Peter said timidly, "are you okay? You look like you're choking on a moldy sock."

"That's exactly how I feel," Remus muttered as he managed to move again. He walked to the Great Hall without saying a word, and the other three boys followed a safe distance behind.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The next weeks passed in colorful blur and before the four boys realized it, the holiday season was upon them.

"Would you look at this," James exclaimed one snowy Sunday morning, "there's only one more week before Christmas break." Peter looked at him blankly.

"We've been is school for almost four months now," Remus said happily. Sirius groaned and threw himself over his bed. He was really dreading the holidays; he would now have to go home and stay with his parents for two whole weeks.

"I hate the holidays," Sirius scowled, "too many too damn happy people everywhere. It's sickening." He shoved his face in his pillow, and Remus looked at him in worry.

James sensed Sirius's stormy mood and guessed its source. He flopped down next to Sirius and grabbed his limp hand.

"Sirius, my dear," James said theatrically and held Sirius's hand to his chest, "if I thought I could win your heart, I would ask for your hand in marriage-"

"You already took my hand without my heart," Sirius interrupted darkly, wrenching away his hand. James continued as if Sirius hadn't said a word.

"But I know nothing but heartbreak and woe lie down that path." James tried to look tragic, but his face just looked lopsided.

"That's because you're an overstuffed prat," Sirius grumbled. But the corners of his mouth were twitching. James ignored him again, but his eyes were sparkling now.

"So, as I give up my quest for you heart," James threw a hand over his forehead dramatically, "I have decided on a new quest." He smirked as Sirius looked at him curiously. "There's one week before we're gone, mate. One long week left for us to use as we wish."

"One week left for us to leave a mark," Sirius whooped.

"Exactly!" James grinned, "and that means-"

"Why do I get a bad feeling about this?" Remus moaned despairingly.

"that we should pull our biggest, best pranks yet!" Sirius finished.

"Yes!" James and Sirius grinned and hi-fived each other.

"They did it again," Peter whispered to Remus, "how do they finish each other's sentences?"

"They're too much alike for anyone's good," Remus mumbled as James and Sirius turned to their two friends.

"You guys are going to help us with this prank," Sirius stated with assurance. Peter quickly agreed but Remus shook his head vehemently.

"If you want to get yourselves in trouble that's fine," Remus said, "but I would like to be able to stay in school if you don't mind." James and Sirius both turned on the puppy dog eyes as Remus backed into a corner, still shaking his head.

"Please, Remus," James said beseechingly, "we need you to help." His brown eyes were large and melty, rather like a bar of chocolate that had been left too long in the sun.

"No you don't," Remus said, trying not to give in, "you can do it perfectly fine without me so why do I need to be a part of this?"

"But Remus, you're our friend," Sirius replied. He took Remus's hand and got down on one knee, looking up at Remus with swirling silver orbs.

"Yeah," added James, "it won't be the same without you." Peter nodded his assent to the boys' statements.

Remus seemed to freeze. He looked at James, Sirius, and Peter, and then down at the floor. When he finally looked up again, his eyes were very bright.

"Okay," he said, voice wavering slightly, "I'll help you guys." The three boys all grinned happily. Sirius clapped Remus on the back.

"Good man," Sirius said smugly.

"Just one thing," Remus interjected. "I can't help tonight." James and Sirius looked at him curiously, but nodded.

"Alright," James said, "we have one week to come up with a super duper never before seen prank. Let's get to work!"

Yep, that's it! Please review and tell me what you think! Thanks for reading.