Prank pt2
The four of them were still laughing as they left the Great Hall, reliving every detail of the prank. James kept mimicking Mulciber’s horrified shriek, Sirius nearly tripped over his own feet from laughing, and Peter kept grinning like he had just witnessed the best thing in his life.
That was until a very particular ahem stopped them in their tracks.
Professor McGonagall stood before them, arms crossed, lips pressed into a thin line. Her sharp eyes flicked over each of them before settling on Sirius and James in particular.
James immediately straightened, trying, and failing, to look innocent. Sirius just grinned at her.
"Mr. Potter. Mr. Black. Mr. Pettigrew. Mr. Lupin," McGonagall began in that dangerously calm tone of hers. "Would one of you care to explain why the entire Great Hall seems to believe you are responsible for this morning’s… incident?"
Sirius exchanged a glance with James before putting on his most offended expression. "Professor! I’m hurt! Do you really think we would do something so horrible to our fellow students?"
McGonagall’s eyebrow twitched. "Mr. Black, you are smiling."
James threw an arm around Sirius’s shoulders. "Professor, I can assure you, we had nothing to do with that masterpiece, I mean, unfortunate accident."
Peter nodded quickly. "Yeah! We were just enjoying our breakfast like everyone else."
McGonagall’s lips pressed even thinner. "And yet, Mr. Pettigrew, I distinctly heard at least thirty students congratulating you on your ‘brilliant prank.’"
Peter paled. "Oh, uh...well..."
Sirius quickly stepped in. "We don’t control what people say, Professor. Maybe they just think we did it because we’re so talented and clever."
McGonagall gave him a look that clearly said she was not in the mood for his nonsense.
She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I have no proof," she muttered, almost to herself, before looking at them sternly. "However, I will say this, if I do find out you were responsible, you will be in detention until you graduate."
Sirius was about to respond when McGonagall fixed them with a pointed glare and added, "And I strongly advise that you do not go around this school behaving like a bunch of marauders, causing mischief wherever you please."
There was a beat of silence.
Then Remus, who had been quiet up until now, suddenly perked up, eyes shining with amusement.
"Marauders?" he repeated, as if tasting the word. Then he grinned. Actually grinned. "I like that."
Sirius caught on immediately, smirking. "You know what? I do too."
James’s face split into a grin. "Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant."
Peter, who had been nervously shifting, suddenly lit up. "We should call ourselves that! The Marauders!"
Sirius threw an arm around Peter and grinned. "Pete, you genius!"
McGonagall sighed heavily, looking like she regretted every life decision that had brought her to this moment.
"I should not have said that," she muttered, rubbing her temples. "I really should not have said that."
James beamed. "Too late now, Professor. It’s perfect."
McGonagall closed her eyes for a moment, as if gathering patience. Then she gave them one last look and walked away, muttering something about first-years being the bane of her existence.
As soon as she was gone, the four boys turned to each other.
"The Marauders," James repeated, grinning.
"It’s perfect," Sirius confirmed.
Peter beamed. "We have an actual name now!"
Remus smirked. "I suppose if we’re going to keep causing trouble, we might as well make it official."
James threw his arms around all three of them. "I think this is the beginning of something legendary."