"I'm bored," James whined. "Absolutely bored."

"Well, we have to go to bed soon, so why don't you try doing homework?" Remus asked absently.

"Why do we have to go to sleep?" James pouted.

"Because it's the rules," Remus said resignedly. They'd been through this many times.

"It is?" James asked. Apparently, this was news to him.

"Well, the rules are stupid," James declared.

"Well, you still have to follow them," Peter said, frowning over his transfiguration homework. "Remus? I don't understand this."

As Remus started to explain the question to Peter, James turned to Sirius. "I think we should go out."

"Nah, mate," Sirius said, after surveying the outside world through the window. "Look at the storm. Don't fancy getting my paws wet."

"Or muddy," Remus added, feeling slightly nervous at the look on James' face.

"Besides, its cold," Peter said, adding the cherry on top of their counter-argument.

"Who cares about a little mud?" James whined, sounding like a mix between a little boy who didn't get a lollipop and a dog.

"Evidently James has never heard of the word cleanliness," Remus mumbled. Peter snorted.

"Look, mate," Sirius said. "We've already got detention till Christmas for that little prank-"

"Little?" Remus repeated incredulously.

"Yeah, little," Sirius said, frowning.

"You blew up the Great Hall, destroyed Minnie's hat, singed a good foot off of Dumbledore's beard-"

"Exploded Remus's chocolate-"

"Ruined Sprout's gardening robes-"

"Toasted my apple-"

"And melted Snivelly's candy," Peter finished.

"I didn't even know you could toast an apple," Remus moaned.

"Fine, fine!" Sirius held his hands up. "Maybe 'little' was an understatement-"

"Understatement," Remus and Peter snorted darkly.

"Still," James said, returning to the main point. "It's not fair we have to stay in bed once it's lights out."

"Ah, there I was," Sirius said, returning to his main point. "We've got detention till Christmas. It's only November. Are you quite sure you want to get more detentions?"

"You care about getting detentions?" Remus asked, looking absolutely shocked because this was Sirius Crazy Black (a nickname that was awarded to him after he and James stole a hippogriff and rode it to Hogsmeade). 

"Not me, mate," Sirius said. "But Jamsie here. Minnie said that he'd get taken off the Quidditch team-"

"Oh yeah," James said. "We can't have that."

Then he scowled. "I don't want to follow that dumb rule anyway..."

Scratching his nose as he studied his parchment, Peter mumbled, "Then get around it."

James shot up in his seat. "What?"

Surprised, Peter looked up. "I said get around it. What? I guess you could get above it, behind it-"

"Get above it," James said, looking awestruck. "Pads, mate, we're in the presence of a genius."

"Remus?" Peter asked, pointing to their werewolf.

"No, you!" James said. "Look, guys, here's what we'll do... get around the rule!"

He did not produce splash he expected.

"Huh?" Remus asked.

"See," James said, frustrated. "If the rule is the problem, we can solve it by getting above it!"

"Whoever thinks Jamie here is crazy, raise your hands!" Sirius shouted to the common room. Lily Evans' hand shot into the air.

"Reacted too quickly, Evans?" Sirius said, grinning. "I'd have thought-"

"Oh shut up, Black," Lily retorted. "You're about as stupid as he is, and an arrogant dog to boot."

She turned away vehemently, her cheeks a bright pink. Sirius looked very pleased with himself as he sat down.

"Well, mates, did you hear that? She called me an arrogant dog-"

"It's not a compliment!" Lily shouted.

"Whatever pleases you, Evans," Sirius smirked. Remus sighed. Peter chewed on his fingernails.

And James pouted.

"But I'm not the interesting one," Sirius continued. "Everyone knows you're in love with James here-"

A heavy textbook flew across the room and smacked into Sirius's arm with surprising accuracy.

"Ouch, Evans," Sirius said. "That hurt."

"Good," Lily said, satisfied.

"Look at that colour," Sirius commented, examining the bruise on his arm.

"Guys!" James said. "Can I get back to how we're getting around the rule?"

"That made no sense, but sure."

"We can stay in bed," James said. "But the beds don't have to stay still..."

---

"Congratulations," 'Minnie' said. "You are officially the worst behaved students I have ever encountered."

There was a pause.

"GOOD JOB, BOYS!" Sirius cheered. "WE'VE DONE IT!"

McGonagall sighed. "They don't pay me enough for this..." she mumbled, rubbing her temples. "I should give you detention, but you already have so many..."

"Peter and I don't," Remus volunteered. "Not that I want detention," he said hastily.

"We shouldn't get detention!" James protested. "We didn't break any rules!"

"Oh, really?" McGonagall was met with nods. "What do you call levitating your beds, while sitting in them, charging into each other in attempt to knock each other off-"

"-It was Muggle Studies!" Sirius said.

"Muggle Studies?" McGonagall asked.

"Yeah! We learned about these things called Whumper Hugs-"

"Bumper Cars-" Remus corrected.

"And we were doing that. We also practiced Wingardium Leviosa on um, the bed-"

"And while lightning flashed outside, you proceeded to create the thunder?" McGonagall asked, with an eyebrow raise.

All four boys nodded.

"Well, you're supposed to stay in your beds during the night, so you still get a detention-"

"No, no," James interrupted. "We were still in bed. If our beds got levitated, it doesn't--"

"Yeah, there's no rule that says the beds can't be levitated--"

"How is it our fault?"

"Because you caused it."

In front of this unshakeable evidence, the boys had to admit defeat.

Well, partially. Remus and Peter caved to the detention, but James' and Sirius's supervising teachers, to this day, are still not sure who is on the right side of this argument.

After all, after hearing the same gripes enough times, one becomes unsure of the choices:

One- blocking them out

Two- using reasoned argument

Three- yell

Four- believe

And five- decide one has been teaching for quite long enough, and hand in resignations.

Over the years, Minnie's debated the last one...

 ---

This was based partly on a headcanon and meme I saw on Pinterest somewhere. If you liked it, I'd love a comment/vote!