A/N:Well it's a miracle-I'm actually posting a HP fic. It's been so long and for that I'm sorry but I have a new policy where I have to write the whole story before posting because I never update on time.

So that's why this is under complete-it is complete-and I will be posting one chapter every day. There's seven chapters about what good role models the marauders are for us all-snigger.

Disclaimer: Nope

The Marauders used their spare time to take on advanced projects to earn -cough- extra credit.

Three heads shot up as the 4th year boys' dormitory door burst open. A slightly disheveled James Potter came running into the room. The door slammed shut behind him.

"I've found it, I've found it!" James was panting, having run all the way to the dorm, with a heavy tome under one arm. His face was flushed but he grinned as he flooped down on the floor next to his stunned friends. "I've found it" he once more excitedly proclaimed.

One more moment of silence and then Sirius threw his arms around James, almost knocking both of them over, "Oh, Jamesie, darling,! I can't believe you finally found me the book shaped fireworks holder. You're the best!" This was all said in a very high pitched squeal.

"Gerroff me" laughed James, rolling sideways and sitting up, leaving Sirius to pick himself up. "That's not what I mean and you know it. I've found the book-'Becoming the animal within'"

"What?!" Remus tugged the book from James' arms, staring down at the silver title. For two years they had been searching for this book. An obscure reference book had listed it as a good source of the animagus transformation progress. But almost twenty months of searching later they still hadn't found it, despite having been through the Hogwarts library, the Potters' extensive collection and so many book stores that James and Sirius had threatened to commit suicide. And now the book was lying innocently in Remus' lap, as if it had always been there. "James, where ever did you find it?"

James grinned, obviously pleased with the reaction as the three other boys were now playing close attention to him. "I found it in the one place we never thought to look" he received expectant looks, having paused for effect, "Dumbledore's personal collection"

Remus gasped- "James, tell me you didn't-tell me you didn't steal this book from Dumbledore"

James feigned a hurt look "What do you take me for, Remus? Of course I didn't steal it-I borrowed it-and with permission before you ask" He had cut across Remus, who had just opened his mouth, "I was just passing by Dumbledore's office when it struck me that it could be in there and low and behold, right at that minute Dumbledore came up behind me. So I told him straight which book I was looking for and that I had a bet on with Sirius that I couldn't find a book on Animagi before Halloween. Asked him if we had on the school, told him it'd cost me twenty gallons it I lost. So he gave it to me-but I have to return it tomorrow"

"That's ok-we can copy it" Remus was already opening the book and starting to read.

"Well" Sirius sounded very excited, "The first step to becoming animagus"

A/N:Review? Please? Hope you liked it-more tomorrow ;-p