Marauders One Shots

2. Loophole

"Potter! Lupin! Black! Pettigrew!" the voice of Minerva McGonagall shrieked, as she caught sight of the four insolent boys, who were wandering the corridors not only in their pyjamas, but also on levitating beds. "Back to bed! At once!"

"But we are in bed, Professor," chirped James Potter, with an impish grin. "Technically speaking. Aren't we Animigos?"

"I'm fairly certain you mean to say amigos Mr Potter, but that's hardly the point," Minerva said, checking her magical watch. "It is several hours past curfew, go back to bed, like proper gentlemen!"

"We are in bed! Besides Professor, we're fourteen," said Sirius Black, nochalantly. "We aren't supposed to be gentlemen."

"And if I had said 'like good boys' you would have thrown a hissy fit Mr Black," she shot back. These boys were possibly the worst students she had ever had to teach. "Now back to bed!"

"Professor, I'd suggest you pick your words more carefully," Remus Lupin said, in an almost polite tone, but Minerva could hear the cheek behind it, see the mischievious glint in the boys eyes. "As our beloved Padfoot said, we are infact, in our beds."

"Nice one, Moony," intercepted Peter, before almost cowering away once Minerva shot him her famous glare.

"Lupin, Pettigrew, I expected better of you," she scowled, before rounding on James and Sirius. "As for you two, I can't tell you I'm surprised by your behaviour."

Minerva watched as the two dark haired boys reached over the gap in between their floating beds, to take part in some sort of flamboyant and elaborate handshake, a handshake that just screamed Potter and Black.

But she stood her ground, eyeing the four teenagers as they sat there, grinning away like this was the funniest situation in the universe. The nerve!

It was only when Sirius pulled out a pot of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans and began passing them around to his peers, like popcorn at a muggle cinema, that Minerva finally lost the plot.

"THAT'S IT!" she roared, heat rising up her neck. "THE FOUR OF YOU, BACK! TO! BED!"

"But we are in bed," James said, somehow less confident now his head of house was in a rage.

"Potter! I will ban you from Quidditch forever!" Minerva shouted, although she knew deep inside that she'd never do such a thing.

"Oooh!" Sirius laughed sarcastically, and Minerva aimed her daggers at him.

"You too Black!" she yelled. "And I will be sending owls home and-"

"Maybe we should listen to her," squeaked Peter uncertainly, as she continued to rant.

"Never!" James gasped, appalled.

"Do you really want another Howler from your mum, Prongs?" Remus asked, and that was all the convincing James needed.

Minerva watched in satisfaction as the four boys nervously apologised, and were on their way back to Gryffindor Tower.

Nobody found loopholes around the rules, not while Minerva McGonagall had any authority, at least.

(Inspired by the textpost attached- technically it's been requested I guess :/ )

-Amber imconfunded