Days in Avalon

Chapter Ten: Marauders Midnight Ride

Gryffindor tower was still on a high the Quidditch victory the pervious week. All the students couldn't stop talking about the game, expect for the ones who actually played in it. Most of the team was getting pretty tired of the recap of the recap of the recap. Finally most of their housemates took the hint and started to come up with other topics of discussion. By Friday evening, things were almost back to normal.

That evening in the common room, after a long day of classes, Felicia and Lily remained in the common room going over some things. Felicia was off in a corner scanning and scribbling things down frantically for one of her classes, while Lily stood near the fireplace practicing some sort of charm. As she made another attempt to conjure her spell, she, along with Felicia were interrupted by a blond fifth year coming down the stairs singing…

Oooh What you want

Baby, I got

What you need
Do you know I got it?
All I'm askin'
Is for a little respect when you come home (just a little bit)
Hey baby (just a little bit) when you get home
(just a little bit) mister (just a little bit)

I ain't gonna do you wrong while you're gone
Ain't gonna do you wrong (oo) 'cause I don't wanna (oo)
All I'm askin' (oo)
Is for a little respect when you come home (just a little bit)
Baby (just a little bit) when you get home (just a little bit)
Yeah (just a little bit)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Take care, TCB

Oh (sock it to me, sock it to me,
sock it to me, sock it to me)
A little respect (sock it to me, sock it to me,
sock it to me, sock it to me)
Whoa, babe (just a little bit)
A little respect (just a little bit)

"Thank you Miss Motown," replied Lily with a slight grin.

"Not a problem," said Andy as she took a seat on the couch.

"What are you so cheerful about?" asked Felicia as she frantically sorted through her notes, slightly annoyed to see someone in a good mood.

"Is it a crime to sing a song just because I feel like singing it?"

"She's just glad that she passed McGonagall's test," said Lily while she was trying to figure out what she was doing wrong with the spell.

"Heck yeah! Do you know how long it took me to learn that blasted spell? I'm serious the woman hates me," said Andy.

"She does not. Quite exaggerating," said Lily as she looked directly at Andy.

"Says the teacher's pet," remarked Andy with a grin. Lily couldn't help but smile at her friend's tease.

"What do you have there?' asked Lily as she noticed Andy beginning to read some sort of note.

"Huh? Oh, it's just a letter from my Gran," said Andy not looking up from the parchment.

"What's she say?"

"Oh, the usual same old things. 'Quite goofing around in class. Study hard. Quite antagonizing our house mates even if they are being a bunch of gits.' Nothing to extraordinary," said Andy nonchalantly.

"Well, that's nice that she wrote to you," said Lily as she looked over her notes for something.

"Yeah I guess," said Andy half-heartedly to which Lily gave her a quizzical look.

"I mean don't get me wrong. I love the woman, it's just that…urgh," she sighed in frustration. "I'd just wish she's get off my case. I just want to have a little bit of fun and the woman acts like it's the end of the world. I mean what does she want? Blood?" said Andy getting a little riled up.

"She's just looking out for you is all," said Lily trying to bring some comfort.

"I guess. But she could lay off for a while. I mean she's acting like she's going to die or something, and I have to take care of everything."

"Well, it's possible. I mean your grandmother will go sometime in the future."

"Please! The woman is like 400 years old! If she hasn't died yet, then she not going to," said Andy in a matter of fact tone.

"What ever you say," said Lily turning back to her pervious task. Just then, the portrait swung open and a small of group of third year boys came bolting in and ran up the stairs to the boy's dorm. Among the group was Andy's younger brother Jason.

"Whoa! Where's the fire, Jas," said Andy as she quickly grabbed a hold on her younger sibling.

"Yeah, what's wrong?" replied Lily with concern in her voice.

"Can't…talk. Gotta…hide…before…they…catch…me," breathed Jason as tried to catch his breath and started to make a brake for the stairs. Unfortunately Lily conjured a charm that pulled him back to where the two girls were standing.

"Now what was that again?" chimed Lily.

"Come on Lil. Sis please tell her to let me go," pleaded Jason as part of his dirty blond hair fell into his eyes.

"Why should I?" said Andy simply, teasing him just to spite him.

"Because they'll catch us!" shouted Jason, desperate to get away.

"What? Catch who? Who's chasing you?" said Andy clueless as to what he was talking about.

"The Marauders! They're going to kill me!" screamed Jason as if it were obvious.

"Why would they want to hurt you?" said Lily.

"Jason…what did you do?" replied Andy giving him the look (The one that states 'Alright little brother, what kind of trouble have you caused now?'), while folding her arms across her chest.

"W-we played a prank on them," said Jason staring down at the floor.

"You what?" said a shocked Lily.

"Okay this is interesting. What exactly did you do that would cause the biggest pranksters in the school want to harm you?" inquired Andy. Jason opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed it as if he thought better of it. Instead, he dug into his robes and pulled out a vile that was half way filled with an aqua colored powder.

"Is that what I think it is?" said Lily in slight state of shock.

"You used my Pinocchio powder on them?" said Andy in a tone that was mixed with anger and amazement that her little brother could pull such a thing on them.

"Yes," said Jason as he shuffled his feet together not taking his eyes off a certain spot on the floor.

"Jason how in the hell did you get a hold of this," asked Andy as she grabbed the vile out of his hands.

"Andy don't use profanity," said Lily.

"I snuck it out of your trunk before we left home," said Jason looking up at Andy, hoping she wouldn't blow her top.

"You did what!" said Andy slightly miffed to hear her brother had gone through her things without her permission. The three of them could now here the Marauders outside the portrait yelling as they came down the hallway.

"Andy please!" plead Jason now extremely desperate to get away. Andy stared at him for a moment and caved in to his plea.

"Go on. I'll deal with them," she sighed.

"Thank you!" breathed Jason loudly as he quickly made his way up the stairs. As the boys neared, Lily and Andy went back to their original positions before Jason and his friend came in.

"I can't wait to give them detention," said Lily under her breath, a little eager to finally use her prefect powers on the group. She'd been trying to get them at least once, but they always seemed to be one step ahead of her.

"Lily, don't do a thing. He's my brother and the Marauders I can deal with," stated Andy as she picked up her letter again and made it look like she was reading it again. Andy knew fully well that James and the rest of the group would never really harm anyone. Sure lots of younger students tried to get them. But when a group got really close, the Marauders would first want to scare them a bit before congratulating them on a good attempt.

Just then, the portrait swung open and in walked James, Sirius and Peter with scowls on their faces. Everyone in the common room at that time tried hard not to laugh at the three boys with extremely long snouts that kept wiggling and bouncing every time they'd move their heads.

"Evening boys. What's up?" said Andy cheerfully trying to contain a laugh that wanted to escape. She made a mental note to congratulate her brother and his friends on a job well done, and beamed a little bit of pride for teaching him how to pull off a great prank.

"Where are they?" growled James.

"Who?" asked Lily raising an eyebrow to the three of them. James hadn't noticed Lily standing there. But when he did, he felt that now familiar feeling in the pit of his stomach and instantly ruffled up his hair even more.

"Your brother," said Peter trying to sound cool.

"What about him?" said Andy playing the 'I-have-no-clue-of-what-you're-getting-at' act.

"We want to talk to him," said James simply trying to avoid Lily's gaze.

"Sorry, don't know where he is. Lil?" stated Andy.

"Sorry," said Lily shrugging her shoulders.

"What's this about anyways," asked Andy, acting all business like.

"Issues," spat Sirius taking a step forward and looking down on Andy as she sat on the couch with her legs tucked under.

"Don't point that thing at me, Blackie," retorted Andy taking her finger and pushing Sirius's long nose out of her personal space.

"All we just want is to have a little chat with the bloke, is all," said James with a slight grin playing on his lips.

"Hmmm…chat," said Andy thoughtfully, making the boys think that she was considering telling them something. "Well I could tell you where he is, but…then again…I won't." She finished the last part in a matter of fact tone and went back to reading her letter.

"Why?" said all three of them flabbergasted.

"Because I don't want to have to hex you for flogging my brother. Although, I'd make an exception for Blackie here," stated Andy sweetly. Sirius was about to spout a comeback line, but James raised his hand to stop anything before it started.

"Actually…" started James now knowing that it was no use to continue on, "we wanted to just scare him a bit."

"Really?" said a skeptically Lily with her arms folded.

"Yeah," said Sirius in defeat. "Got to admit the little buggers got us pretty good," he stated while pointing to the third years work.

"I'm sure he'll be thrilled to hear it," said Andy with a smirk. "Just do me a favor and don't scare him too much. Otherwise long noses aren't going to be the only thing you'll have to worry about."

With that the three pranksters made their way to the staircase that led to the boy's dormitories. When the reach the steps James suddenly stopped causing the other two to crash into him a bit.

"Uh…Star?" said James timidly.

"Hmm?" said Andy looking over to where the boys were.

"Little help here?" he said as he pointed to his hexed nose. Andy cocked an eyebrow and gave him a skeptical look before she pulled out her wand and muttered the counter curse. Once their noses had shrunk back to their original state, the three of them continued on up the staircase.

"YOUR WELCOME!" shouted Andy after them. "Boys," she muttered and she rolled her eyes and picked up the book that she had also brought down with her, while Lily went back to trying to figure out her charm.

About five or ten minutes later, Lily was once again becoming agitated with the charm and ended up causing a vase to float in the air and smash to the ground.

"Urgh, why can't I get this hex right?" said a distraught Lily.

"What are you trying to do Lil," asked Andy as she turned a page in her book.

"I'm trying to do that hex Professor Corinthos showed us today. You know, the one where you freeze the person for a few seconds giving you enough time to get away, and then once the curse wears off he or she is sent flying through the air," said Lily as she went over to the shattered pieces and returned them to its original state. Andy stopped what she was doing and looked up at her friend, taken back by her words.

"Ummm…Lil, that's like NEWT level work. I don't even think they teach that hex here, unless you are going to be an Auror or something like that," said Andy.

"I know that," stated Lily. "I just wanted to try. I got the incantation right. I just can't get the wand movement right." Lily then made another attempt to perform the hex while Andy watched her.

"Well, for starters you're holding it wrong," chuckled Andy at Lily's wand waving.

All Lily could mange to get out was a "huh?" and looked at her best friend as if she were on something.

"Loosen your grip and relax your wrist a bit," instructed Andy as she sat up properly on the couch.

"Like this?" said Lily as she complied with what she was told.

"Uh huh. Okay, now do two swishes, three circles, and a thrust," ordered Andy. Lily did what she was told and was now concentrating on the vase.

"Great, now stand on one leg and quack like a duck," stated Andy calmly. Lily began to raise her one leg up until Andy's words registered in her brain.

"Andy!" said an outraged Lily not finding it funny to be the butt of a joke.

"You were really going to do that weren't you?" giggled Andy. Lily gave her a look and shook her head trying not to laugh. She then returned her attention to the vase and performed the hex on the vase. It rose off the table a couple of inches and hovered for a few moments while tiny patches of frost appeared on it. Then suddenly the vase was sent pelting across the room into the direction where Felicia was sitting and shattered against the wall. Lily and Andy stared at the wall in shock.

"Whoa! Remind me not to mess with you again," said Andy.

"Would you two, please!" spat Felicia upset that her concentration was now broken. She then dove back into her satchel trying desperately to find something.

"My, aren't we in a chipper mood," said Andy in a mock tone.

At that moment Kelly came walking down the stairs, looking all dressed to the nines. She was wearing a new black pleated skirt with a white sweater and a pair of silver hoop earrings. She had curled her hair and had it pulled up into a clip. Everyone could only see that she had also put on a light layer of makeup, something Kelly never really ever did unless it was for a special occasion.

"Hey Kel. What are you all dressed up for?" asked Lily, admiring her friend's outfit.

"Actually I'm going on a date," said Kelly simply as she took a seat near the fireplace.

"With who?" said Andy curious as a kitten.

"A boy," replied Kelly coyly.

"Duh! Which boy though?" remarked Andy as she got up and sat on the edge of the little table next to where Kelly sat. Kelly just ignored her two friends and gazed in to the fire.

"Come on! Tell me please!" whined Andy.

"Is he from our house?" inquired Lily a little curious as well. She looked over to where Felicia was and noticed that she really didn't take interest into who Kelly's mystery date was. 'That's odd. Felicia is usually more curious about these kinds of things, than Andy is,' she thought.

"Yes," stated Kelly simply as she continued to wait for her date.

"Is he in our year?" asked Andy quickly.

"No."

"Younger?" spat Andy hoping that if she asked her questions fast enough, Kelly would slip up.

"Nope."

"So he's older than," concluded Lily. Kelly simply nodded and looked at the clock to see what time it was.

"Is it Mathews?" asked Andy. Kelly just shook her head.

"Richardson?" said Lily, thinking of the current head boy at Hogwarts. Kelly again shook her head no.

"McKay?" asked Andy with a grin, wanting to see what Kelly's response was to the mention of the biggest nerd Hogwarts had ever seen. Kelly turned about two shades of green at the mention of the boy.

"Well you could at least give us a hint," said Andy getting a little frustrated at this guessing game.

"Well…alright. He's someone on the team," said Kelly grinning ear to ear.

"Okay, now we're getting somewhere. That narrows it down to three," said Lily trying to imagine whom she was talking about.

"He's got a great smile. Dark chocolate eyes, and shaggy brown hair, and ooohh what a bod," said Kelly dreamy. Lily and Andy couldn't help but laugh at their friend's sudden outburst of affection and the look on her face.

"It sounds and awful lot like Wood," giggled Lily. Kelly couldn't help but beam at the mention of the Quidditch captain's name.

"You're going out with Wood?" shouted a surprised Andy. "When did this happen?"

"Last week after the game. We started talking and he hinted that he wanted to go out, but he didn't ask until Wednesday," giggled Kelly.

"I didn't even know you liked him," said Andy. She felt awful and a little hurt that she didn't pick up on her friend's feelings, which she's usually good at. (or so she thinks)

"Well it started around the beginning of the year. One night, I was walking pass the pit and saw him flying around, and it sort of hit me like…like…lightning," radiated Kelly. "Since that day, I kept coming to the practices to watch you guys, along with Felicia."

"Wait a minute. You mean to tell me that you two were the cackling hens that hid under the stands?" said an astounded Andy, to which Kelly nodded in response. "I thought you were a couple of first years or Slytherin spies."

At that moment Braden Wood came in through the porthole looking a little nervous. His cheeks were a little pink from being out in the cold.

"Hey Kelly. Sorry I'm late. Your ready to go?" he asked with a charming smile.

"Yeah. See you gals later," said Kelly as she took Braden's arm that he offered to her, and left the common room.

"Have a good time," chimed Lily and Andy. The girls looked at each other and couldn't help but giggle at the sappy display that they had just witnessed. After a few moments of laughter, Andy noticed that Remus had just come down from his room. He was looking awfully paler than usual, and the appearance of someone who had a lot on his mind.

"Hey Rem. What's wrong?" said Andy as she approached him.

"Nothing, just not feeling all to well," said Remus weakly. Up close, Andy could see the dark circles under his eyes and got the impression that he a good strong gust of wind would knock him over.

"Are you going to be all right?" asked Lily.

"Yeah, I think you should go see the nurse," advised Andy, hating to see any of her friends not feeling well.

"Yes, I think you're right. See you later," said Remus quickly as he looked out the window at the beautiful sunset. He hurried passed the girls to the porthole.

"Feel better, Rem!" called Andy as he pushed the portrait open and disappeared into the hallway.

"I hope there's nothing wrong with him. Doesn't it seem kinda odd that he's always sick?" said Lily.

"It's just the way Remus is," said Andy simply over the sound of something tapping. The tapping grew louder and startled a couple of people in the common room.

"What is that!" roared Felicia, being interrupted for the third time this evening. "Sounds like it's coming from the window." Lily and Andy turned back to the window and saw a white and gray owl tapping at the windowpane. Andy quickly went over and opened the window to let the creature in. It was carrying a note addressed to her in James's handwriting.

"What is it, Andy?" inquired Lily.

"Nothing. Just Jay's ruddy bird," stated Andy as she stroked the owl's back before it flew off to find its dinner. Once the bird was gone, she opened the note and read it.

Hey Star,

We need your help with something. We need you to open the portrait for us. Sirius, Peter, and I are waiting by the door. Could you do us this favor, please? We don't have much time, to pull this off. (And don't bother asking what we're doing. It's best to not to let too many people know).

Misfits in Need

"What does he want?" inquired Lily. She had a pretty good idea that it was some sort of mischief that James needed help with. 'Probably another prank of Snape.'

"Hmm? Oh nothing really. Just being a prat as usual. He wants to know if I want in on a prank for Snivellus," said Andy simply as she folded the note and tucked it into her pocket.

"And?" pushed Lily.

"Eh, I've got better things to do. Got a lot of homework and practice to work on. Don't really have time to help the delinquents," said Andy nonchalantly as she took a seat on the couch again. Lily was shook to see her friend turn down an offer to prank someone. 'Maybe she is growing out of that habit,' hoped Lily.

"Ah, shoot!" exclaimed Andy.

"What is it?"

"I left my charms book in the library. I'll be right back," sighed a disgruntled Andy as she got up and left the common room.

"Huh, that's funny," said Felicia packing up some of her books.

"What is?" asked a perplexed Lily.

"Why would Andy say that she left her book in the library, when I have it right here?" stated Felicia as she held up Andy's copy of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5.

Out in the corridor that was becoming darker and colder by the second, Andy walked casually down the hall. Although she couldn't see anyone, she knew that there was someone walking behind her. Apparently it was a couple of people cramped together shuffling along the hall.

'Wonder what would happen if I did this?' thought Andy as she slowly pulled out her wand from her pocket. When she got a little ways ahead from the portrait of the fat lady, she slowed down a bit and secretively pointed her wand to the supposed empty hall behind her.

"Tarantallegra!" whispered Andy.

"OW!" exclaimed a voice out of nowhere

"HEY!" cried a different voice

"WWWWHHHHHOOOOOOAAAAAAA!" At that moment the invisibility cloak slipped off to reveal, James, Sirius, and Peter lying on top of each other in a heap of wiggling limbs on the floor. As they separated, Andy could tell that she had obviously hit James with the curse since he couldn't seem to control his legs.

"Well, well, well, if it's the Three Stooges," chimed Andy dipping every word in sarcasm. She stood before them with her arms crossed and a raised eyebrow.

"Hi Star," growled James, while Sirius muttered the counter curse and helped his best mate up.

"Hmm…not that I don't mind helping out delinquents, like yourselves, but what pray tell has caused this little covert operation?" said Andy with now just a hint of her sarcasm in her voice.

"How do you even know it's covert?" asked Peter defensively.

"Well for starters the cloak is a big hint. Also the note was a big hint, too," chuckled Andy. 'And they call me blond?'

"It's nothing," said James simply as he picked up his Invisibility cloak.

"Right, and I'm Helga Hufflepuff," spat Andy.

"What are you doing, writing a book?" said Sirius harshly as he noticed the full moon becoming brighter in the night sky.

"Gee, that's funny. I don't remember talking to you," growled Andy, getting ready for another word battle with Sirius. James knew exactly where this conversation would lead, if he didn't put a stop to it now.

"All right! We're going to set up a prank," lied James.

"On who?" said Andy hastily. She could tell that James was lying to her. He was pulling that same pathetic grin and innocent act that he has been known to do in front of McGonagall.

"Uh, Malfoy and Snape," replied James, hoping that he sounded convincing enough. Andy studied him for a sec, and knew right away that he was either lying completely to her, or only partly speaking the truth.

"Alright, I'm in," she stated.

"Huh!" shrieked all three guys, looking at her as if she had three heads of something.

"Well, thanks to you, I have to stay out of the nice warm common room a bit, so I think you owe it to me for a little bit of excitement," concluded Andy.

"You don't want to get involved," said James gravely.

"Why not?" she asked. 'If this is another one of his, because it's a guy thing, I'm going to hex him.' she thought.

"Because…because…because…" stuttered James trying desperately to come up with a good excuse.

"Because it involves going into the boy's lav on the forth floor," stated Sirius, with conviction.

A sour and disgusted look came over Andy's face. Everyone knew for a fact that the boy's bathroom on the forth floor was definitely not a place people wanted to be near. Ever since some second year Slytherins, a couple of years back, tried to create an illegal potion that blew up in their faces, the bathroom has been off limits. Nobody for sure knew what was really in there, but every time someone walked passed the door, he or she would have to cover their nose and mouth and pray that they didn't get sick right there in the middle of the hallway.

"Urgh, on second thought I think I'll pass," said Andy.

"Wimp," stated Sirius under his breath. Andy glared at worst enemy and was about to state a come back, when James stopped her.

"Come on, let's go," he told his two mates, and threw the cloak over them, and left Andy standing in the middle of the hall.

The three Marauders scurried down each passageway and staircase, trying not to make to much noise. When they reached the Entrance Hall, they quickly snuck into a nearby closet and hid until after McGonagall made her nightly check on the front door. They weren't exactly sure what time she would check it tonight. It all depended on whether or not any of the other students decided to cause trouble that needed the professor's attention. So the boys decided to take turns keeping watch to see when the cost was clear.

After waiting for felt like an eternity, James heard the Professor coming down the hall, while talking to Professor Flitwick. Right on cue, McGonagall checked the door and made sure that no one had tampered with it. As the two Professors made their way up the stairs, James listened until he knew they were at least on the second floor.

"Okay, cost is clear," he whispered to the other two.

"About bloody time too," muttered Sirius as he got up, stretched his arms, and poked a snoring Peter. "Come on, Wormtail. Showtime!"

The Marauders once again hid under the cloak and made their way to the front door. When they reached the door, Sirius muttered the spell that would disable the nightly charm McGonagall but on it and opened the door. "Knew that would come in handy some day," he whispered to James.

The night air hit the three of them hard as they stepped outside. From the bottom of the steps, they could see a curl of smoke coming from Hagrid's chimney and could hear Fang barking in the distance. The boys stealthy darted from the front of the castle to the Whomping Willow, and screeched to a halt once they reached it.

"All…right…Wormtail…It's up…to you…now," gasped James, trying to regain his breath. Peter, worried face and all, nodded, took a deep breath, and transformed into a small rat.

"Wicked! Go to it mate," said Sirius. With that, the rat darted out from the cloak and scurried toward the tree to press the knot that would disable it.

"After you mate," said James as he slightly bowed to Sirius and presenting the secret passageway to him. Sirius just rolled his eyes and punched him in the shoulder before transforming into a large, shaggy, black dog. James then took off the cloak and hid it in a nearby bush. He then looked around to make sure know one from the castle was watching, before he transformed into an off white stag. He could still feel that slight tingling sensation that he gets when he transforms, when he heard his best friend the dog bark for him.

James, Sirius, and Peter climbed down the hole in the tree and into the narrow tunnel of earth. They walked down the passage way slowly, not knowing where exactly their other friend was. As they neared the end of the tunnel, they could hear something howling and snarling just up ahead of them. Soon, the three Animagi found themselves in the legendary Shrieking Shake, just out side of Hogsmeade.

Furniture and pieces of drapery were ripped and torn throughout the room, as they scanned the room. In the corner of the room, they found a small pile of clothes folded up and tucked away. They each looked at each other and we're wondering the same thing…'where is he?' At that moment, they heard a low growl. James in stag formed glanced over at Sirius thinking that it was his growl, until he saw the dog shake its head. They heard the growl again coming from behind them.

Standing right by the fireplace was none other than Remus as a full fledge werewolf, baring his teeth and snarling at its intruders. The three animals stood side by side, staring down their werewolf friend, hoping deep inside that what they had read about werewolves were true.

The werewolf studied the three of them carefully, until the little rat decided to run away and hide from it. Remus, quickly tried to pounce on Peter in rat form, but was stopped by both the dog an stag charging at it. The werewolf, bite and scratched at both animals until they had him back up into a corner.

The standoff between them was extremely intense, until an idea popped in James's head. He stared directly into the werewolf's eyes and slowly trotted toward it. Remus snarled and growled at the stag as he came near him until he noticed the stag's hazel eyes. Slowly, Remus began to calm down and saw who each of his intruders were by looking through their eyes.

Deep inside, Remus couldn't have been happier to see his three friends there with him in his monthly form. He always knew that his friends would go to extreme measures sometimes, but never in his wildest dreams would he have thought that they would become illegal Animagi just to hang with him. So began the Marauders monthly tradition of running around the ground of Hogwarts, causing and finding themselves in worlds of trouble.

Disclaimer: It's all J.K. Rowling. I only own this story and the characters I made up.