The Marauder's were sitting in the three broomsticks, comfortably occupying the table they'd claimed as 'theirs' since their third year. At the moment, Sirius was unsuccessfully trying to score a date with Madam Rosmerta, while the rest of the group were growing annoyed at his lack of attention.
"Padfoot," Remus sighed, "can you please stop harassing the poor woman and get back to the topic at hand?"
"We've already discussed it to death," Sirius whined, "we know what we're doing."
"We need to go over the plan again and make sure we all have the details exact," James reminded him, "If we get this right it could be one of our greatest pranks yet, but if we're so much as a second off it will be a disaster."
Sirius levelled his best friend with a put-out sort of look. "Prongs, I don't think being head boy agrees with you at all. You used to be so carefree and let Moony do all the stressing over the finer details."
James rolled his eyes and didn't bother trying to argue with Sirius, that would only derail the conversation further.
"Wormtail," Moony said, "You're sure you've got your part down? You know exactly where to be and you know when and how to cast the charm?"
Peter nodded, "Yes, I'm going to wait at the top of the fifth floor staircase, at exactly seven minutes and fourteen seconds past five I'll cast the charm, which will take me three seconds to complete, I've been practicing," Peter said proudly, smiling widely when James gave him a congratulatory pat on the back.
"Brilliant Wormtail," Remus said, "Prongs?"
"Fourth floor, exactly three feet to the left below Wormtail, I'll cast it at seven minutes and eighteen seconds past five, it'll take me exactly two seconds," James recited breezily.
"Padfoot?"
"Third floor, standing exactly eighteen inches between Prongs and Wormtail, I'll cast it at seven minutes and twenty-one seconds past five, it'll also take me two seconds," Sirius told them, then couldn't resist adding, "see, I can listen to you and admire the beautiful barkeep at the same time."
Remus mimicked James' eyeroll in response. "And I'll be on the second floor, sixteen inches to the right of Wormtail, where I'll cast the final charm at exactly seven minutes and twenty-four seconds past five."
Sirius rubbed his hands together gleefully, "This is going to be great," he said.
They all grinned, wearing their marauding grins, the ones specially reserved for when they had a brilliant prank planned.
The door of the three broomsticks opened then and three girls walked in, cheeks flushed and noses pink with the cold, heading straight for their table. Remus quickly tapped his wand against the enchanted piece of paper on the table before them, where the details of their prank were written. The parchment became blank, but not quick enough that the red head who reached their table first saw that there had been something written there. She raised an eyebrow as she sat beside James, burying her cold face and hands in his robes in an attempt to warm up. He wrapped an arm around her as the other two girls took seats and the four marauders adopted innocent expressions that fooled no one.
"What are you planning?" Lily asked, her voice muffled.
"Can't tell you that, Lily flower," Sirius said, a smug smile on his lips, "Its confidential marauder business. You'll find out when everyone else does."
Lily rolled her eyes, lifting her head to shoot an unimpressed look at him. James nudged his warm butterbeer towards her to warm her up, which she accepted with a grateful smile.
"Where's ours?" Mary asked, pouting at the lack of butterbeer being pushed her way.
"I'll order us some," Marlene said with a sigh, "Godric knows we can't accept chivalry from this lot." She left the table, ignoring Sirius, Remus and Peter's objections, and James' laugh.
"You're really not going to tell me what you're planning?" Lily asked James, pouting slightly and blinking up at him through her lashes.
James gulped, looking from his girlfriend to his friends and back, "Well- I- we-"
"Prongs," Sirius said warningly, causing Lily to glare at him. "Don't fall for that."
James nodded, "Right, of course not, Padfoot. Sorry Lils, I'm sworn not to tell you."
Lily sighed, "It was worth a try."
"How was your shopping?" James asked her, deliberately changing the subject.
Lily shrugged, "It's too cold to get much done," she admitted, "You lot have the right idea, sitting in here instead."
Marlene returned, carrying butterbeer for herself and Mary.
"What are you're plans for the holidays?" she asked the table. It was what everyone was talking about at the moment, given Christmas break was only two weeks away. "Anyone staying at Hogwarts?"
They all shook their heads, indicating they'd be going home for the holidays.
"You're all welcome to come by mine during the holidays," James said, "I'm sure Lily will want a break from Padfoot and I quick enough."
Lily rolled her eyes endearingly at him, causing him to grin down at her. They must have been staring at each other a bit too long because the rest of the table started making gagging noises, causing Lily to blush. "More like I'll be wanting a break from them," Sirius grumbled.
"Are you spending the whole Christmas at the Potters' place?" Peter asked her.
"No, James and I are going to my house for a few days first," Lily explained, "but then Petunia's boyfriend is coming to stay for the holidays. He doesn't know about magic and Petunia is frightened I'll scare him away so we'll leave before he gets there." She couldn't help frowning as she explained this, and James took her hand, squeezing it comfortingly. They all knew that Lily didn't get along with her sister, but she hadn't gone into much detail with any of them besides James about the letter Petunia had written her telling her very firmly that Lily wasn't allowed to be in the house when Vernon came to visit. Lily had spent most of that night sobbing in James' arms at her sister's horrible words, and though she'd since pulled herself together, she was still upset about the ordeal.
"We should plan something," Mary agreed, probably sensing her friends sadness, she was extremely empathetic.
"We'll throw a party at our place," Sirius said, "Mom will pretend to be annoyed but she can never stay mad at us," he told them happily.
"I both pity and respect Mrs. Potter for having to deal with you two," Marlene laughed, causing James and Sirius to both frown.
"What do you mean?" James demanded, "We're perfect."
Lily laughed loudly at that, causing James to give her an affronted look. "Sure you are, love," she told him, patting his cheek, "sure you are."
By the time they got back to the castle the girls seemed to have forgotten all about the prank the boys had been planning, and the Mauraders were careful not to remind them. In fact, they were careful not to mention it at all, unless the four of them were in their dormitory with the door firmly closed and an anti-eavesdropping charm cast, for almost two weeks.
The entire castle was a little on edge though, the Mauraders often had unexpected pranks at random throughout the year that regularly caught students and staff alike off gaurd, but by now it was well known that they did a big prank just before the Christmas and Summer holidays. But by the time morning of the holidays came and everyone was getting ready to get the train, there still hadn't been anything. The more foolish of the students thought this meant they were safe, that for some unexplained reason there wouldn't be any Maurader prank this year. The more wise were extra on edge.
Still, no one could deny that it was strange. Then it began. As the first students left breakfast, heading towards the carriages that would be picking them up outside to bring them to the train, they heard a strange noise, starting at the fifth floor and moving all the way down the castle. It was loud enough that the students in the great hall rushed out to the entrance hall in curiosity, and with no small amount of weariness. It didn't take long for a large crowd to form, standing around expectantly.
Without warning, the roof above them, which happened to be where Remus was waiting on the second floor, opened wide, as did that of the third, fourth and fifth floors, starting at the top of the fifth floor staircase. Something began to form between the gaps, a brown dripping slide connectign the gaps. As the students in the entrance hall tried to figure out what they were looking at, Peter Pettigrew came zooming down the slide, shortly followed by James Potter, Sirius Black and finally Remus Lupin. The four seventh years landed proudly in the entrance hall, completely covered in... chocolate?
"Want some chocolate, love?" James asked the head girl, holding out his chocolate dripping arm to where she was standing at the front of the crowd, staring at her boyfriend with an I-dont-know-if-I-should-laugh-or-yell look. It's delicious."
Let's just say it didn't take long for the student body (and many of the staff too) to race up to the fifth floor and jump onto the slide, mouths wide open as they descended, arriving at the bottom covered head to toe in chocolate. While the students enjoyed themselves, Filch could be heard shouting from somewhere on the fourth floor about the chocolate footprints they were leaving around the castle.
When they heard this, the Mauraders all looked aghast. "But we did this so he wouldn't complain about mud," Sirius whispered with faux sadness. "Ah well, Padfoot," James replied, "You can't please everyone," he said, as they waved at a chocolatey Dumbledore walking past them.