#1 : In Desperate Need of Some Marauders

[December the 22nd - 9 days to New Years]

"Oh, Ron!" Hermione threw her hands in the air and sighed in annoyance. "That is SO overused."

"Is it?" Ron asked mysteriously, his eyes glinting.

"Yes," Hermione nodded stoutly. "Very."

"Well, you think of a better one, then." He propped up his head with his hand and glanced at Harry who was smirking at their bickering.

"Fine," said Hermione crossly. "I will."

"You two have been snapping at each other for over an hour. Let's just make a plan and then do it!" Harry yelled, finally at his wit's end. "We haven't got all year!"

"We CAN'T pour ice in their beds," said Hermione reasonably. "That is such a stupid idea." She rolled her eyes heavenwards. "Maybe if I had some better partners in crime I could work better."

Ron glared at her, his ears turning slightly pink in aggravation. "So sue us for not being bloody Marauders."

"THAT'S IT!" Hermione shouted, jumping to her feet in triumph.

"What's it?" Harry looked terribly perplexed.

Hermione's eyes were glittering mischievously. "The Marauders."

"Some of them are dead," Ron pointed out unnecessarily.

Harry gave him a scolding look which Hermione quickly mimicked.

"AND," Ron went on, ignoring his friends. "Professor Lupin won't help us because he's a former teacher. Plus, we have no idea where he is. Wormtail is out and about with You Know Who. Harry's dad is---no longer with us.....and Sirius---"

"Sirius," said Harry quietly.

"No," said Hermione. "He's too busy on the run from the law. I was talking about your brother." She looked pointedly at Ron.

Ron made a face. “Percy? He's too busy with his stupid cauldron bottom report. And he'd never help us pull a prank."

Hermione rolled her eyes yet again. "Not him!"

"Charlie is too far away. It would take us too long to get an answer back and Bill--he's on holiday and I don't know when he'll be back in Egypt." Ron said, sighing heavily. "There's no way to reach him. He's owl-blocked."

It was Harry's turn to roll his eyes. "I believe," he said calmly to Ron, "that she's talking about FRED or GEORGE...the original pranksters."

Ron jumped to his feet, nearly knocking his chair over. "Of course!"

Hermione rolled her eyes in a superior sort of way. "Owl them."

“Okay!” Ron started going toward the portrait hole.

"Wait!" Harry called after him. "Let me just go get the invisibility cloak!"

"Oh, of course," said Ron, leaning against the portrait hole.

“I'll stay here and try to think of something easy to pull tomorrow while we wait for their answer." Hermione said, grinning evilly like a Grinch-in-training.

Ron shrugged, "Well, it might take them awhile. The last owl they sent said the joke shop was in full bloom so they're really busy."

"The owl talked?" asked Hermione, sounding very interested.

Ron was clearly annoyed. "HERMIONE!"

"Shhhh!" hissed Hermione. "People will hear you!"

Ron rolled his eyes at her. "Hermione, it's the Christmas holidays. WE are the only ones here besides Ginny."

Harry trotted down the stairs just then, invisibility cloak over his arm.

"Let's go," he called cheerily.

Ron and Harry exited the common room leaving Hermione by herself with her thoughts.