The Order of Mischief I (Marauders)

1.17

December finally arrived, with a flurry of snow that covered the mountain tops in the highlands. Scotland looked beautiful when blurred in a frozen blizzard. The staff and students of Hogwarts were pleased to welcome the peak of winter as the dream of a white Christmas seemed more like a possibility than a fantasy.

"Accio scarf!" A short Ravenclaw boy shouted as he ran frantically across the platform of the train station. His short legs left him to the tormenting task of chasing James and Sirius around. The train awaited for students to fill the cabins before they left for the holidays.

"Argh!" Eralia groaned as she watched the young boy whine while the taller two laughed with mischief glinting in their eyes. "Can they not just spare everyone the last moments of misery and shut up? It's too early for all this noise."

Anya popped up by her side, her arm playfully wrapped around Phoebe's shoulders, "It's literally ten in the morning, not too early. What were you doing last night?"

Eralia rubbed her temple, she was tolerating a terribly painful migraine. Mai smiled as she spoke, "We stayed up partying. It was fun celebrating with our seniors, but they locked the alcohol away from us, apparently we're too young for them."

Susan socked her head sideways, "What were you up to? Studying, as usual?"

"Obviously not. But unlike you clowns, we did not spend last night partying till unreasonable hours." Kylennia smirked as Lily Evans walked along them, curious to hear what the Ravenclaw house was up to the night before.

"Unlike you idiots, we do not dedicate one whole night to partying. We spent all week doing that and made sure last night's celebrations ended at midnight so that we could all be fully awake for this journey." Phoebe replied, entwining her fingers through Anya's as they walked together.

Lily finally joined the conversation, "I thought your house was full of smart people who know better than to spend a whole week celebrating the coming holidays."

"Sure, but we're also smart enough to not get caught doing it. You all could learn a thing or two from us," Anya winked as she released her arm from around Phoebe and pulled her to the carriage where Pandora waved out of. The blonde had awoken an hour before them and left the common room early, in the name of having to send post to her parents ahead of her arrival, while her roommates pounced around their room in a hideous attempt to pack. They had intended to pack earlier during the week, but they got caught up in their final rounds of pranks and last minute essays before they could enjoy a holiday of doing nothing. Of course, Pandora taunted them for their laziness, but she was quick to forgive them as she ensured all of the girls' belongings were on their beds or neatly tucked away in their closets.

"Let's just get inside. Eventually, those two will get bored and join the rest of us," Naomi offered, as she led her friends into a predominantly empty carriage. Lily had taken this as the window to run to her friends. The red-head walked towards the four girls who were all talking to Nahara, when she joined them, the younger twin had disappeared to wander around the platform before boarding the train.

"You got everything, Lils?" Sahara asked as she looked at her shorter friend. The other girl nodded with a smile.

"I heard that Remus Lupin will be staying back," Mary frowned as she led the girls inside the mostly-empty carriage. They were among the first students to settle into an empty cabin. The five girls settled into their seats after loading their smaller belongings in the overhead lockers.

"Of course he is, why?" Lily responded in a calm but slightly sad tone, wordlessly reminding her friend about how he had no family to return to.

Mary shrugged, "I would have thought that he would have gone home or followed his friends to theirs. I mean, I heard James inviting them all to his place for the holidays. I would have thought Lupin would have accepted."