Chapter Nine- The Fifth Marauder

It's Saturday morning at last, and time for me to show my mischievous side. At the moment, I'm on my way to attend a brief meeting with the Marauders. Something about proving my worthiness I think they said. Whatever it is, I'm about to find out as I enter the Heads Dormitory, the new official Marauder lounge, apparently. As I enter the room, a sudden silence surrounds me, as if they had just been discussing me.

"Hi boys, not talking about me I hope?"

"Ehh… nope not at all Flower…" Sirius replies smoothly. Remus breaks in to the conversation shortly after.

"So Lily, we've called this unofficial meeting to discuss what you need to do, to be admitted into the Marauders. And we've decided, to prove your worthiness, we want to see a prank. No, not just any silly little prank, Lily. We want something the whole school will see. Do you accept this challenge?"

I think quietly to myself for a few moments before replying strongly, "I accept. Are there any conditions to this prank besides be viewed by the student body?"

James jumps in, "Well now that you mention it, yes. We are allowing you one Marauder," here he winks at me. As if I would choose him, "to assist in the planning and execution of your prank. Oh, and if you somehow get caught, which you shouldn't if you're a true Marauder, we collectively have decided that we will take the blame for the prank. But please don't get caught! I have quidditch practice almost every night."

"Don't worry boys, I already have something in mind. Even if I do get caught, I'm sure the professors will enjoy it too much to punish me. By the way, the Marauder I pick will be…, " I hesitate for a few moments as they look anxiously in my direction, "Remus."

He seems surprised that I picked him instead Sirius, but I have my reasons, very important indeed. I am certainly glad indeed they didn't rule out pranking the Marauders, because I have plans in store for them…

I continue on after a few surprised glances thrown my way, "I have a feeling you'll be quite helpful for what I have planned. Now if you don't mind, boys, I'd like to borrow Remus here so I can get the ball rolling on this little prank of mine."

As we leave I hear Sirius asking quietly, "I wonder why she chose Remus?" And just as quietly I hear James muttering something about friends betraying him etc., the usual things concerning me.

"So Remus, I already have the basic idea planned out. I was actually planning on doing this tomorrow. You see, your mates are in for a little fun when they find out what I have up my sleeves. I just need a few kinks worked out, and I think you'll work lovely in the scheme. Let's head down to the library so we can get this prank in to motion."

"Lily, pranking before required?? You are a Marauder." He smirks mischievously, "Now what are my dear ol' friends have in store for them?"

"You'll see Remus, you'll see."

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Minutes from our impending prank, Remus and I wait patiently in the common room Sunday morning for our subjects to emerge. After just a few moments, the Marauders minus Remus stumble groggily down the stairs, eager for the breakfast awaiting them in the Great Hall.

"Hello boys," I call merrily from the opposite side of the common room. "Are you almost ready for my initiation prank?"

"What… prank… initiation?" Sirius replies while rubbing his eyes.

James, however, seems a bit more responsive to his surroundings. "I'm sure, love, it won't be anything we haven't thought of doing already. Honestly, we are the best pranksters Hogwarts has seen."

I snort dismissively and reply arrogantly, "Well, Hogwarts hasn't seen me as a prankster yet, has it?"

After James's laughter subsides, I once again give him a slight warning of my intentions, "Well if you don't believe me why don't you just meander on to the Great Hall, and prepare for my imminent prank."

The boys slowly head towards the portrait hole, ready to descend the flights of stairs to the Great Hall. Sadly for them, they have no idea of the embarrassment that is soon to follow. Remus and I quickly abandon our seats and head towards the staircase leading to the boys' dormitories. As we hurriedly take the steps two at a time, we at last reach the 7th years' dormitory. I open the door and head in, Remus following closely behind. What greets my eyes is an indescribable mess surrounding three of the four beds. Of the four beds, James and Sirius's are distinguishable by their beloved stuffed animals. I head for James's cluttered bed while Remus ambles over to Sirius's. I immediately spot Mr. Cuddles, as James endearingly named the teddy. I reach for the light brown plush bear, while taking out my wand preparing at last to give the Marauders what they deserve for the 6 years of taunting and pranking. Across the room, I catch Remus doing the same.

"Are you ready Remus? I definitely am…"

"Yeah, Lily. It's Sermo Sequor, right? Oh… they are going to kill me…"

"Yes, and then we will need to hurry to the Great Hall immediately to witness it."

Simultaneously, Remus and I point our wands at the respective teddy bears and mutter, "Sermo Sequor." The bears seem to come alive as they float down the stairs. We hastily pursue the active teddies. After following them through the common room, and down several sets of stairs, we finally manage to gain a good lead on them. It's necessary for us to beat them to the Great Hall. While catching our breath, we head in to the Great Hall and take seats near the subjects of our prank. All three of the boys seem a bit more awake than when they exited the common room, including Peter who was shoveling food into his mouth as if there was no tomorrow. I nudge Remus, indicating that he should cast the spell on Peter immediately. Quietly I hear him mumble under his breath, "Abeo Alimentum." Just a few minutes later, a popping sound disrupts the various conversations through out the Great Hall. Glancing at Peter, I notice the pastry costume covering his body. As everyone else gets a good look at this costume, laughter erupts throughout the hall. Two of the loudest seem to be Sirius and James, but I assume that the objects serenely floating through the doors will shut them up quickly.

I hear a, "Siri!! Why did you leave me all alone?" escape from the mouth of the black teddy bear still floating towards the raven haired boy. Moments later, Mr. Cuddles joins in the chatter with, "James, I missed you."

Both faces of the dark haired boys immediately redden. Phrases such as, "I love you James," and, "Snuffles loves Sirius," erupt throughout breakfast as the boys attempt to ignore the growing laughter of their peers.

Desperately they ask, "When will it stop Lily?"

I reply with a smirk, "Just until Remus and I finish our breakfast, which should give the bears enough time to be acknowledged by most the student body. Now does this fulfill your prank requirements?"

If looks could kill, I would've been dead in a nanosecond. Feeling slightly sorry for the little buggers, I eat a bit faster than my previous snail slow pace. After just minutes more of the bears adoring comments, they drop lifelessly in to the laps of their humiliated owners. At the same moment, Peter's pastry costume disappears, and his weekend clothes replace the food attire. James and Sirius rise quickly wanting to exit the embarrassing scene as soon as possible. James approaches me and asks for a quick work. I tell Remus and Peter to take their time finishing up. We walk through the doors and begin the climb up the many stairs. After moments of silence, James finally speaks up.

"I must admit Lily, I didn't think you had it in you to prank, but you surely do have the courage of a Gryffindor pranking the pranksters… But one question, why did you pick Remus, I was expecting it to be Sirius."

It's my turn to become silent. "Well… umm… you see… I was doing the most embarrassing things to you three, and I didn't want Remus to know I knew his secret, and I didn't want the school to know. So I avoided it by picking him."

After a few seconds of shocked silence, Sirius finally manages a few words. "You know? When did you figure it out? And you didn't tell? Oh thank you Lily!!" Both boys pull me in to a quick embrace.

"Well, he is my friend so I wouldn't want people judging him on that. And w- I figured it out first year."

"First year… It took us until the beginning of second, and we lived with him!"

We continue up the stairs, chatting about nothing, but I'm still lost in my thoughts. I didn't tell them that all the girls know… more importantly Alexis knew. Remus would not like it if he found out…

…………………………………………………………………………………..

Shortly after dinner, I gather for the third time with those kooky Marauders, the first being the memorable breakfast, and the second to receive a very long winded lecture. I think it had something to do with group loyalty? Not quite sure considering I zoned out a couple seconds in to it. Just nod and act like you're listening… works every time.

Anyways, I gather once more, in our semi-official meeting place (Head Dorms) I assume for initiation. We all form a circle on the Common Room floor, and I wait for one of the three boys to speak. After a few moments of silence, Sirius starts my initiation.

"Lily Evans, you are here to be officially initiated in to the Marauders. If you wish to back out, now is your last chance. There is no turning back after tonight. Once a Marauder, always a Marauder."

"Yeah, yeah Si. I'm ready, let's get the ball rolling."

James jumps in at this point, "Do you Lily Evans, promise to be a loyal Marauder, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part?"

I snort dismissively at the end of James's speech, "What am I doing, getting married?"

Sirius and Remus both mutter unintelligibly, "In his dreams…" While James immediately answers my question with a typical arrogant response, "Well Lily… I'm sure we could arrange something." He winks suggestively at me, while I simply roll my eyes.

Remus breaks in before any fire is thrown, "Just answer please Lily."

"Alright alright… I do."

And, gentlemen, do we take Lily Evans as a Marauder member, until death do us part?"

With a few I do's, I was an official Marauder, and we concluded our meeting and went on with our normal Sunday activities.