When he thought back to it all, Rhys Potter supposed that it really has been only a matter of time before one of their pranks failed and they were caught in the act, he just hadn’t expected it to happen in his 5th year when he was 16 and generally thought to be responsible, something he still didn’t understand to this day, he supposed being the Gryffindor Quidditch captain could have been a reason, especially since he was 15 when he was appointed but responsible was a word he did not like being mixed with him.

Now Professor McGonagall, his transfiguration professor and head of his house had called a meeting with their parents to discuss their behaviour and pranking scheme. He was not looking forward to it to say the least and a quick glance at his friends face confirmed that he was not alone in this sentiment.

He knew his mother and father had already arrived due to the fact he could hear his mother’s voice getting louder the closer she got, with a tone that made him wince and try and appear as small as a Quidditch toned 6 foot 1 16 year old could possibly be.

The four of them; himself, Daniel Black, Michael Lupin and Russell Pettigrew were standing outside McGonagall office, they weren’t allowed to sit down nor were they allowed to speak meaning there would be no chance to defend himself from what he knew was about to happen.

He glanced up in time to see a woman of about 5 foot 7 storm towards him, her stride purposeful and matching the angry glint in her green eyes, her red hair had been tied back in a chignon but obviously she had been rushing because it was no partially down and framing her flushed face.

“RHYS BENJAMIN CALLUM POTTER” she yelled at him from down the corridor he saw his three best friends look sympathetic before they looked away in case they were turned on, Russell especially looked everywhere apart from the approaching figure since he had no desire to deal with his irate Godmother. “WOULD YOU CARE TO EXPLAIN ALL THIS TO ME?” Rhys shrank back against the cold, stone wall his dark hazel eyes looking frantically around him for an escape. It didn’t help that several pretty girls were standing near and giggling at him.

He noticed his 6 foot father hurrying after his mother obviously intent on stopping his wife from smacking his second son round the head. His hair showed signs of recent travel as well if the mess the black waves were in was any indication to go by, his dark eyes the same shade as Rhys’s own were narrowed and by the frown on his face it was pretty clear that he was not pleased either. Suddenly the window to the right of him down the corridor was looking more and more appealing the closer his parents got to him.

Before Rhys could make himself move or even get his brain into gear to come up with the best escape plan his mother was in front of him, her hands curled into fists that were resting on her hips. Up this close he could see her nostrils flaring ever so slightly. Her skin was pale except for her cheeks which were scarlet and if the emerald pieces of flint that were her eyes was not enough to proclaim her angry than the throbbing vein in her smooth forehead most certainly would. The last time he had seen his mother this angry was when he accidental set his sister’s Chloe hair on fire when she had broken his broom, he remembered the punishment and swallowed deeply feeling almost frightened Lily Potter was not someone you got annoyed after all.

“Alright mum, how’s it going with you? I haven’t seen you since Christmas since I didn’t come home at Easter so…” he fell silent as the nostrils began flaring more. Deciding that things couldn’t get much worse if he tried he shot her a smile hoping that would work. After all Rhys Potter was a hotly sought after boy at Hogwarts and he had an amazing infectious smile. His eyes met his father who was shaking his head and the smile fell off his face at the same time he ducked his head.

He really couldn’t see what the problem was after all Prank number 114, which had been chosen at random from the Marauders prank guide by Daniel, was completely harmless to everyone, so a few Slytherins would be embarrassed as far as he was concerned that was nothing new. If it had been prank number 265 which could have involved some hair loss then he would have been a lot more sympathetic.

He sighed quietly as his mother and father argued with each other quietly and he glanced up in time to see the arrival of the other parents, all of whom look angry to some degree. He breathed in deeply; there was a good chance that they may actually be in some trouble this time round.

He shared a quick look with his friends who were also now being yelled out by their various mothers. Their fathers stood behind them nodded and looking like they agreed but Rhys knew without a shadow of a doubt that his dad would grab him and ask to know all the detail the very next second he could. After all once a Marauder always a Marauder. He turned his attention back to Lily who was still yelling looking as if she would never stop

“And you ought to be ashamed of yourself not stand there looking proud” the tone of her voice sent any lingering student hurrying off till it was just them and their parents “What kind of example are you setting to Eric, Lynette and Stuart?” she demanded speaking of his brothers and sister who were at the school with him “You know how much Stuart looks up to you” Rhys rolled his eyes before he could help it. His 12 year old brother was a Ravenclaw and Rhys was pretty sure he was not counted as someone he looked up to.

“Don’t you dare roll your eyes at me young man and act as if you didn’t do something bad, you’re in so much trouble that I don’t even know where to begin, what has gotten into you Rhys?” Rhys had enough

“Look mum” he began heatedly his temper matching his own dark red hair “Stop being so melodramatic and acting as if we killed or injured someone, this really isn’t a big deal” he crossed his arms and schooled his features into a bored look which did revealed nothing, it certainly didn’t reveal his beating heart or his sweaty palms, in all honesty Rhys was extremely nervous to the point he almost felt sick.

“MELODRAMATIC” Lily shrieked her voice cutting across all the others and stopping their own lectures so they could stare at the battle going on between the two red heads

“Lily I think you need to calm yourself, we don’t want to do anything rash, this is our son after all and we love him though not so much at the moment” James said with a quick scowl at his son “and you listen here” he said coldly pointing his finger at Rhys, he could see the shivers going through Lily and he wasn’t best pleased with his son “We’ll be having  along talk when you come home in a month and you’ll be punished severely as will the three of you” he stated looking at them.

“Why” Rhys demanded his quick temper flaring up again “We didn’t do anything wrong it was just a stupid….” His sentence died as he met his father’s eyes. For the first time he looked like a child as he shrank back, his back hitting the wall.. His eyes looked away and glanced to the side landing on a small 12 year old with neat straight black hair and light green eyes that were round in shock and awe something which made Rhys push himself off the wall and stand tall. After all it wouldn’t do for his baby brother to see him showing any weakness other wise he would never respect and fear Rhys in the same fashion again.

“Well the fact that we are here and having this conversation would point to you being wrong and getting caught in doing something that you shouldn’t have. We wouldn’t have to be dealing with this mess otherwise” Lily snapped at him. Rhys started at her then shrugged