(A/N) Thank you to my friend Jacob for telling me I needed explosions.

I'm sorry once again for the long space between updates. School is being evil, taking up my time. Not to mention I'm part of the school newspaper, Model UN, the Spanish Club, Key Club (community service) and play piano. I also get distracted reading other people's fanfictions. Once I start one, I can't put it down. So I apologise again. May I have forgiveness?

Our first week of school turned out to be, in a word, effortless. At least it was for me. My mates didn't have such an easy time of it. I had already gotten seven letters from my parents -every morning - and had even heard back from Al on the name for my owl. I didn't think it would take him so long, but then again, he was probably busy getting an extra-early head start on his school lessons again. I was surprised; his letter was actually rather helpful.

James,

I've been thinking about what you asked me, and I found a few names you might like. I figured you'd like his name to have a meaning and, knowing how much you love America and everything to do with it, I found these:

Arkansas, which means southern wind.

Ahusaka, the Winnebago word for wings.

Jalen, meaning bird of light.

Keanu, meaning cool mountain breeze.

Makani, meaning the wind.

Mongwau, meaning owl. Though that one may not be subtle enough...

Muraco, meaning white moon.

Ohanzee, meaning shadow

Tuari, meaning young eagle.

I'm hoping these were helpful. Write me when you choose a name for him.

Your brother,

Albus S. Potter

P.S. I found a name for Sam's owl as well. I don't know her quite as well as I know you, but I think it suits the owl perfectly.

Blayze, meaning spitfire.

Perfect, isn't it? Say hi to our many relatives for me, and Hagrid and Neville, and Sam, and... Well, just say hi to everyone for me, okay James?

I grinned to myself, standing up. If he wanted me to say hi to everyone, then I would...

"Oi!" I shouted, loud as I could. Everyone stopped to stare at me. "My brother Al says hi!" I told them.

"Please sit down, Mr Potter," McGonagall said almost wearily.

I shrugged. "He told me to tell you all." I sat back down.

"I'm surprised he wrote to you," Sam told me. "You two didn't seem to get along very well."

"We argue," I admitted. "But I wrote him first. I asked him for a few suggestions for a name for my owl." I showed them all the list. "Oh, and he has a suggestion for your owl, too, Sam."

"Blayze..." she read to herself.

"Spitfire," I said, "is the perfect word to describe her, Sam."

"She's sweet!" Sam argued.

"Are you forgetting that she tried to take my head off the first time I met her?" I asked.

She sighed. "I guess you're right. But I like the name Blayze anyway. It suits her."

I looked over the list again. "I sort of like Arkansas. It sounds cool. Arkansas..." I said the last word quickly, smoothly. "It's perfect. I'll tell him."

"Tell him I say thank you!" Sam told me.

"And tell him we say hi!" Lew added.

I quickly scribbled down my return letter.

Al,

Thanks for the names! It was hard to choose, but I picked Arkansas. It suits him, don't you think? Also, Sam likes the name. She says thanks.

I told everyone you said hi. They looked at me strangely, but that's all right. My new friends say hi!

The BEST child,

James.

"The best child?" Louis' voice came from behind me. I turned to see him reading over my shoulder. "I highly doubt that, James." He ruffled my hair. "But then, who am I to decide? You aren't my kids." I heard him add "Thank Merlin" under his breath.

"What are you doing over here?" I asked him.

"I just came to say hello," he said. "and to tell Victoire and Dom that Aunt Gabrielle is having a second baby."

I grinned. "Tell her I say congratulations."

"Will do, Jamie," he said, ruffling my hair again as he walked away.

"He likes doing that to your hair, doesn't he?" Kagan asked.

"Yeah. He's been doing that since before I can remember. I think he's jealous."

"Why?" Amanda Andrews jumped into our conversation. "He's got such nice, blonde hair..." she trailed off, looking after him dreamily.

"I don't know for sure, I told her. "For all I know, he could be trying to annoy me. We'll never know."

"Is he your cousin?" Amanda asked.

"Yeah. I have a lot of those." I nodded my head to Fred, who was, at the moment, talking with John and Rebecca. "Fred's my cousin."

"How many cousins do you have?" Marco asked interestedly.

"Let's see..." I muttered. "Victoire, Louis and Dom belong to Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur, Uncle Charlie doesn't have any kids, Uncle Percy has Molly and Lucy, Uncle George had Fred and Roxanne, Uncle Fred died, and my Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione had Rose and Hugo. So that's..." I counted the fingers I had held up, "Nine."

"Wow," Kagan said, his eyes going huge. "You've got a giant family."

I grinned. "Dad said that's what happens when you marry a Weasley."

At that very point, a large "bang" sounded from a bit farther down the table. We all looked to see a chagrined Bella Finnegan covered in smoke, her bangs smouldering.

"I was trying to turn it into rum!" she apologised.

John was laughing. "My dad's best mate used to blow things up all the time."

"Who's your dad?" she asked.

"Dean Thomas."

Her eyes went wide. "My dad is Seamus Finnegan!" she told him excitedly.

I grinned. "They were dorm mates with my dad, you know," I informed them.

They both nodded. "Your dad is famous," John reminded me.

I stuck my tongue out at him before turning back to my friends. "Bella's Dad was very well known for making things blow up," I informed them. "Almost every time he did magic, the first time he tried, something would explode."

"Wicked!" Fie said. We all stared at him. "What?" he asked defensively. "I like explosions!"

"They are kind of cool," Kagan agreed.

The time passed rather quickly. Before we knew it, the first Quidditch match was coming up. Somehow, through the years, the Gryffindor-Slytherin match had gone from first to last. I figured that this was done in order to increase the suspense and excitement surrounding the last match.

We had found the spell we were going to use some time in September, and our plan had been finalised by the beginning of November. We had been looking forward to this day for a long time. Our plan was finally going through.

It was a simple plan, really. Marco, who was far more into his academics than the rest of us, was going to ask our Potions professor, Professor Calloway, a question about our homework for that night. While he was up there, he was going to plant a Decoy Detonator (a Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes product, of course) under the Head Table. During this time, Lew, Kagan, and I were going to position ourselves at one end of the Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin tables, Fred, Sam and Fie at the other end. When the Detonator went off, we would cast the spell on our table, turning all of their robes, scarves, and ties red and gold. We would then quickly seat ourselves again, and no one would know who did it. I had something else up my sleeve, but that was a secret.

Going down to breakfast the morning of the match, we made sure to act as tired and lethargic as always, even though we were hyped up on adrenaline. We sat down at our normal spot and waited for the rest of the school to be seated. When the Hall seemed full, I nodded to Marco, who stood, a look of determination on his face. I sincerely hoped he changed it by the time he got to Professor Calloway. The rest of us stood and made our ways slowly and casually over to our stations, waiting for the Detonator to go off. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Louis stand up and walk over to Lew.

Dang, I thought worriedly. If he didn't leave before the Detonator went off... we'd be in trouble. I wasn't sure any of us were strong enough to cover a whole table by ourselves... but no. He was leaving... and not a moment too soon. I heard the loud bang and saw the smoke. Nearly everyone jumped up and started shouting.

"Mutare colorem rubeum et auri," (1) I whispered quietly, flicking my wand upward. I stayed only long enough to see that the spell had worked before running back to my seat. I watched my mates run back as well. With all the chaos going on around us, no one noticed, and we stayed standing so as not to draw attention.

"Did we all succeed?" I asked them.

"Obviously I did," Marco said, sounding offended.

"I wasn't asking you," I told him, rolling my eyes. everyone nodded, and I sighed in relief. Up at the Head Table, the smoke had cleared and everyone - at both the Head and House Tables - was sitting down. We sat down too. Suddenly, people were shouting.

"My tie! It's red and gold!"

"My scarf! My robes!"

"What's going on?"

"I look like a bloody Gryffindor!"

I watched in interest as McGonagall leaned down to pick something up. It was a few seconds before I realised it was the Decoy Detonator. I sucked in a breath.

"WEASLEY!" she shouted.

"Yes?" Fred, Dom, Victoire and Louis all called back.

"Fred Weasley," McGonagall practically growled.

"What'd I do, Professor?" Fred asked innocently.

"This," she held up the Detonator, "is one of your father's products, isn't it?"

"Hang on, Professor," Lew said quickly. "You surely aren't blaming Fred for this just because his dad invented it, are you? I mean, their shop is really popular. Anyone here could have bought it."

McGonagall sighed. "I suppose you're right, Mr. Cadwalader."

"Of course I am!" he said smugly.

"Well, if Mr. Weasley didn't set this off, who did?" she asked.

I figured this was the perfect time to show off my idea.

"Flagrate," (2) I whispered.

Several people gasped.

"Look!" some Ravenclaw cried. McGonagall turned around. Written in flame on the wall behind the Head Table was a message.

"We did"

"And who are 'we', exactly?" McGonagall asked angrily.

"We are the Next Generation, madam. The Next Generation of pranksters. The Next Generation of Marauders."

I watched with glee as McGonagall went white. "No," she moaned, sounding almost pitiful. "Please, no. Not more of them. Please."

"I find it rather amusing that a woman as strong and brave as yourself is so afraid of a group of pranksters."

"You have no idea," she said. "They were impossible! And we were never able to discover for certain who they were!"

"Let us hope that is true for us as well, yes? Now, I believe there is a Quidditch game today, so shall we not finish breakfast?"

The words lingered for a second before vanishing. Everyone sat still and stared at the place they had been.

"Well you heard it!" Fred shouted. "Let's eat so we can start the match!"

The other three houses were a bit disgruntled, to say the least. Especially the Ravenclaws, who would much rather be wearing their own house colours so they could support their team. The school grumbled angrily as we walked our way down to the pitch, but my mates had something else on their minds.

"That was a neat spell, Marco," Lew said, grinning.

Marco looked confused. "What spell?" he asked.

"The words!" Lew reminded him.

"I didn't do that," Marco said with a confused frown. "I thought you did it."

"Who actually did it?" Kagan asked. "Because Lew's right, it was a pretty wicked spell."

I grinned. "It was me."

"Why didn't you tell us, James?" Fred asked incredulously as we climbed the stairs in the stadium.

"I wanted it to be a surprise," I explained.

"Well, it definitely was a surprise," Fie said with a smile. "Didn't You-Know... Voldemort," he corrected as I glared at him, "use that spell in front of your dad once?"

"I guess," I shrugged. "Honestly, Fie, it's kind of creepy that you know more about him than I do."

He grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. I can't help it. He's so cool!"

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever you say, Fie," I said, sitting down on one of the seats. Sam sat on one side of me, Lew on the other. Fie, Fred and Kagan were in front of me. Marco was behind me, and soon Dom's friends joined him.

"Where's Dom?" Marco asked them.

"She's a Chaser," Maria informed him.

"And a bloody good one, too," Jonah said. "You lot planning to go out for the team next year?"

"Which positions are open?" Lew asked curiously.

"All except Dom's," Jonah told him.

"All of them?" I asked incredulously.

"All the other positions are filled by seventh years," Maria told us. "Dom got her position last year, and she was the only new member of the team. She'll be captain next year."

"I'll probably try out," I agreed.

"Me too," (and three and four and five and so on) We were all planning to try out.

"You can't all make it," Maria said logically. "One of you won't be able to get on the team, and that's only if no one else from Gryffindor makes it."

"Stop being so logical," Lew complained. "You're depressing me."

Maria rolled her eyes. "Well excuse me."

Their conversation was suddenly interrupted when the commentator, fifth year Gryffindor Leyana Rider began to speak.

"Good morning, Hogwarts!" her magically amplified voice rang out. "Welcome to the first Quidditch match of the 2015 school year! On the north side of the stadium we have our Ravenclaw team, comprising of Chasers Kenneth Browne, Christina Beck, and Louis Weasley,"

We cheered for Louis, even though he was on the other team.

"Beaters Neil Devlin and Nicolas Ruby, and Keeper Toby Kimel. Captaining the team is Seeker Jeremiah Donahue!" The team walked onto the pitch at this point. The Ravenclaw stands erupted into cheers. I noticed the Slytherins cheering as well (obviously they weren't rooting for us)... and most of the Hufflepuffs? What was that about?

"On the opposite side of the field we have the Gryffindor team, comprising of Captain Zachary Meyers and his fellow Beater Steve Perry, Chasers Brielle Michaels, Abner Moore, and Dom Weasley," - we all cheered again - "Keeper Jessica Montez, and Seeker Kimberly Ash." The Gryffindor stands erupted with cheers, but we were the only ones, save for a few Hufflepuffs. It was rather embarrassing, to tell the truth.

"Why is it that no one cheers for us?" I asked the older kids behind me.

"Well, to put it bluntly, our team is rubbish," Jonah said. "The captain, Zach? He's an okay bloke, don't get me wrong, but he recruited the team all wrong. Recruited his mates instead of talent. I'd say Dom is the only good player on the team, and the only reason she even made it is because Zach ran out of mates."

"Plus," Maria added, "we have a right nasty group of sixth years in our house. Complete prats, if you ask me."

"Bullies, they are," said a Scottish fourth year from behind her. "Don't discriminate between Houses, though. Attack everyone equally, they do."

"Because that makes it so much better," Maria said rather sarcastically. "A bully is a bully, no matter who their victim."

"The match is starting!" Lew interrupted us excitedly, staring fixedly at the field with rapt attention. We all instantly turned to watch. He had called just in time- Madam Hooch threw the Quaffle in the air just as I turned my head back toward the field.

"And it's Ravenclaw in possession, Chaser Christina Beck flying fast as lightning toward Gryffindor goal posts. She passes to Browne, who passes - Ouch! He's hit with a Bludger sent his way by Gryffindor's Steve Perry! That had to hurt. Now it's Abner Moore with the Quaffle. Blocked by Browne, he passes to Michaels, who drops it!"

There was a collective groan from the Gryffindor stands, then-

"I don't believe it! What a miraculous catch by Dominique -sorry, Dom - Weasley! She streaks up the field, only to be hit by a Bludger from Ravenclaw's Neil Devlin! She barely fumbles, but in that few seconds, the Quaffle is grabbed by Louis Weasley, her brother!"

Maria leaned forward. "Dom and Louis have a huge Quidditch rivalry. They actually play rather viciously against each other."

Fred and I laughed. "Why doesn't that surprise me?" I asked. Suddenly the whole stadium exploded.

"And Louis Weasley scores! The score is now ten-zero Ravenclaw!"

The rest of the game was, in a word, disappointing. I could see now why no one cheered for Gryffindor; Ravenclaw won 320 to 40. Dom had played well, though, so my mates and I went down to congratulate her.

"Great game, Dom!" Fred called to her as she trudged rather sadly back toward the castle.

"Why do you say that?" she asked, sounding depressed. "We lost, as per usual."

"Well, yeah, Gryffindor played like rubbish," I admitted. "But you played well!"

She smiled. "Thanks, you two. How did I end up with such great cousins?"

"'Twas fate!" I answered dramatically, throwing an arm around her shoulders. "I say, to celebrate a game well done, we sneak out to Hogsmeade!"

(1) Mutare colorem rubeum et auri is, quite simply, "change colour to red and gold" in Latin. Or so Google says.

(2) I found this spell on harrypotterspells (dot) net. It is not mine.

(A/N) Thank you for sticking with me thus far! I hope you don't hate me for being so slow to update! Did this longer-than-normal- chapter make up for it? Yes, no?

Another question... Who is your favourite Harry Potter character and why? Mine is Snape. If you really want to know why, say so in your review, because if I start telling you now, I'm liable to go on a rant, and I'd rather the word count not be too misleading.