Four broken boys

Toebeans

"Stop stepping on my heel Sirius!" James hissed behind him.

"It's not me it's Remus!" Sirius protested.

"It was Peter last time you git." Remus said flatly.

"Stop pulling the cloak!" Peter warned them, feeling a breeze behind him.

They were under the Invisibility cloak and wandering the Halls of Hogwarts. It was well past midnight. But when James pulled out the water silk from his trunk, grinning wickedly. He had asked them if they wanted a little adventure, and of course they couldn't say no. So that's how they found themselves arguing under the cloak.

Remus whipped his head round at the sound of footsteps. "Someone's coming." He whispered.

"What? Where? I don't hear any-" James started, but Sirius had clamped a hand over his mouth when McGonagall and Dumbledore were walking down their corridor.

"And no Albus, I have not been to see the musical Cats yet..."

They tried to control their frantic breathing while listening to their conversation.

"Do you know I'm going away for the holidays?" She asked him.

"Maybe you'll get a chance to watch it then." Dumbledore replied with twinkling eyes.

McGonagall gave him a pointed look through narrowed eyes, and quickened her pace a little. Dumbledore didn't answer, however the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. Their conversation continued as they walked down the corridor and out of sight. The Marauders let out a sigh of relief. Even being invisible still made them scared of being caught.

James started steering them right. "Let's go this way."

"Where are you trying to take us?" Remus asked testily.

There was a pause in which they all looked at James pointedly.

"Well?" Peter pushed.

James shifted uncomfortably. "I thought we could... you know." He muttered, turning away.

"You thought we could what?" Sirius repeated.

"I was hungry so I wanted to... find the kitchens." James finished sheepishly.

Remus smiled. "A good idea, but do you know where they are?"

"Errr, no." James said slowly.

"So you dragged us out here to wander around until we come across a probably magically hidden door to the kitchens where we're not allowed?" Peter said with a raised eyebrow.

James spluttered while Sirius answered for him. "James was leading with his stomach."

"Which means no rational thoughts." Remus chipped in.

An indignant squawk passed James's lips at the lack of respect his friends held for his cravings. This only made them laugh however, and continue ambling down the corridors as before. It wasn't soon before they encountered a random ghost taking a midnight walk. A very loud ghost who was suspiciously holding an unscrewed chandelier.

"Peeves." Remus muttered.

Peeves the Poltergeist had met them formally before. But those circumstances were rather dire, in which they were late for lesson. Peter remembered bitterly when in first year Peeves pulled a rug out from under him during his first week. He could still feel a sore spot on his backside where he fell even when he though about it.

"If we can just get past-" James started planning.

"James I'm so tired."

"I'm cold."