30th September 1972

James Potter had always known Hogwarts was full of secrets. Secret passages, secret rooms, secret spells. But nothing, nothing was more tempting than secrets meant to be kept from him.

Which is why, when he and Sirius found themselves loitering outside Filch's office after dinner, ears pressed to the wooden door, their mischief senses tingled at full force.

"I swear," Filch's grating voice muttered from inside, "one more student trying to get into that cabinet, and I'll hex 'em myself—locked up tight now, it is. Not even Peeves'll get in."

James raised an eyebrow, glancing at Sirius. His best mate had the exact same look in his eye—one that meant trouble was coming, fast.

"We have to see what's in there," Sirius whispered, as though it were obvious.

James grinned. "No doubt it's all the best contraband in Hogwarts. Zonko's goods, dungbombs, maybe even some confiscated Firewhiskey."

Sirius's smirk widened. "I dare you to break in."

James placed a hand on his chest in mock horror. "Me? Sirius, I could never."

"Oh, please," Sirius scoffed. "You want to just as badly as I do."

James sighed dramatically. "Fine. Twist my arm, why don't you?"

They darted down the corridor as Filch's voice faded, already forming a plan.

James and Sirius were returning to the Gryffindor common room when they heard laughter echoing from the end of the corridor. A group of Slytherin second-years stood in a loose circle, speaking in hushed but smug tones. Among them was none other than Severus Snape, flanked by Avery and Mulciber.

"Well, if it isn't the blood-traitor Black and his personal lapdog," Mulciber sneered as they passed.

James felt Sirius stiffen beside him. He knew that tone—Sirius despised his family's ideology, but he despised Slytherins who echoed it even more.

"Didn't your parents teach you how to speak to your betters, Mulciber?" Sirius shot back, his smirk razor-sharp.

Avery scoffed. "My better? We don't need to prance around like children. We already own this school."

James rolled his eyes. "That so? Funny, I thought Gryffindor won the House Cup last year."

Mulciber stepped forward, his expression twisted in disdain. "Doesn't matter. The professors coddle you, but the real power at Hogwarts lies with our house. You'll see."

Sirius took a step closer, chin raised defiantly. "I'd rather be coddled than brainwashed."

Mulciber's hand twitched toward his wand, but James had his own out in a flash. "Try it," James said, grinning. "You'll be eating slugs before you can say 'pure-blood supremacy.'"

A tense silence followed. Then, Snape muttered something under his breath, turning away. Avery and Mulciber followed, casting them venomous glares as they went.

Sirius exhaled sharply. "I hate those slimy gits."

James clapped a hand on his shoulder. "That makes two of us. Let's make it our life's mission to make sure Slytherin never gets to 'own' anything."

Sirius grinned. "You read my mind."

…

Later that night, under the cover of darkness, they crept through the castle. The Gryffindor common room had long since settled, and the halls were eerily silent, save for the occasional groan of the old stone walls.

"Alright, James," Sirius murmured as they reached Filch's office. "I'll stand guard. You shall retrieve our bounty."

James inspected the heavy padlock securing the cabinet inside. "Didn't bring a hairpin, did you?"

Sirius mockingly checked his pockets. "Ah, drat. Left my supply of hair accessories in my other robes."

"Useless," James muttered, then grinned. "Alright. Come out Twig, now's your time to shine." Twig, who had been hiding in James' pocket jumped out onto his hand, proceeding to use his stick-like arms to pick the lock.

The lock clicked open. James shot Sirius a triumphant look before slowly swinging the cabinet door open.

Inside was a treasure trove. Decayed Zonko's prank boxes, a stack of confiscated comic books, Filibuster Fireworks, and—

"The Marauder's paradise," James breathed. "We're set for the year."

Sirius was about to grab a dungbomb when—

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY OFFICE?!"

A furious screech split the air. Filch appeared, wild-eyed, Mrs. Norris at his feet.

"Bollocks—"

"RUN!"

But it was too late. Filch seized them both by the scruffs of their robes and began dragging them, muttering every insult under the sun as he stormed through the corridors.

"Reckless, rule-breaking menaces! Can't let students like you run about unchecked!" Filch grumbled. "Professor McGonagall'll sort you out, she will!"

James exchanged a grin with Sirius. This wasn't even their worst offense.

They were plopped unceremoniously into chairs before a very unamused Professor McGonagall, her lips pursed so tight they nearly disappeared.

"I assume," she began, fixing them both with a steely gaze, "there is an excellent reason why you were caught inside Mr. Filch's office?"

James, ever the diplomat, sat up straighter. "You see, Professor, we were simply taking a nightly stroll when Filch—"

McGonagall held up a hand. "I do not want to hear it, Potter."

James gave Sirius a 'worth a shot' look. Sirius, for his part, looked entirely unfazed.

"I cannot believe I have to say this again," McGonagall continued, rubbing her temples. "You two are barely a month into your second year, and you've already been in my office three times."

James leaned forward. "But, Professor, we were simply ensuring that Filch's security measures were up to Hogwarts' standards."

McGonagall's expression did not change. "Detention. Every night for the rest of the week."

Sirius clutched his heart. "Ah, Minnie, you wound me."

McGonagall's nostrils flared. "Black—"

"Professor Minnie," Sirius corrected, smiling sweetly.

James barely managed to smother his laughter. McGonagall pinched the bridge of her nose, seemingly regretting every life choice that had brought her to this moment.

"Out. Now."

They bolted before she could change her mind.

Back in their dormitory, James collapsed onto his bed, still laughing.

"That was brilliant," Sirius grinned. "Filch was livid."

James wiped a tear from his eye. "Worth it."

Sirius rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. "Alright. New plan."

James sat up. "I'm listening."

"We need to find a way to outsmart Filch next time. We can't get caught again."

James grinned. "Sirius Black, are you suggesting we improve our criminal methods?"

Sirius smirked. "Precisely."

James leaned back, hands behind his head. "Well, mate, looks like we've got ourselves a mission."

Later that night, as the others were dozing off, James sat up with a smirk. "You lot want to see something properly useful?"

Sirius and Peter perked up instantly. Remus, half-asleep, groaned. "What now?"

James pulled a silvery, shimmering cloak from his trunk and let it spill over his arms. The air beneath it disappeared.

Sirius's eyes widened. "You've had an invisibility cloak all this time?"

"Why have we never used it?" Peter asked, gaping at the fabric.

James shrugged, grinning. "Wasn't allowed to bring it last year. Mum and Dad thought I'd get into 'too much trouble.'" He smirked. "But this year, I may have… snuck it out."

Sirius let out a low whistle. "James Potter, you absolute genius."

Remus sat up now, fully awake. "So this is how we outsmart Filch?"

James threw the cloak over his shoulders, vanishing from sight. His voice floated from the emptiness, smug as ever. "This, my friends, changes everything."

Sirius grinned wickedly. "We're going to have so much fun."

And just like that, a new level of mischief was unlocked.