Disclaimer: We do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

A/N: This is just an idea we had to help those of you that need help with excuses. You are free to use any of these but you may have to modify some of them.

Lists Chapter 1 Please Excuse Me Because...

"Potter, your late," a very irate potions master exclaimed to the ravine haired boy that had just slunk into the potions classroom three seconds after the bell rang. "Twenty points will be taken a way from Gryffindor for your inability to be on time to my class. Now take your seat before I decide to assign you detention."

"Sorry, sir," the ravine haired boy muttered. "I was detained trying to rescue Professor McGonagall in cat form from a large black mutt."

"Detention tonight to discuss this excuse of yours at seven," the Potions MAster exclaimed as his pale face went even paler as he recognised the excuse that was being given even though it could not possible be true since the mutt had died last spring. "Take your seat."

That night promptly at seven Harry Potter walked into the potions classroom carrying a black book with a strap on it. "What do you want me to do, Professor?" Harry muttered running his hand through his black messy hair.

"Mr. Potter, where did you come up with that excuse you used?" Severus Snape asked rounding his desk to stand in front of his student. "And why out of all of the excuses you could have used did you chose to use the one that was so obviously an untruth."

"Oh, I don't know it just seemed like the one to use at the time," Harry responded. "Besides it was the last one I read."

"I see," the professor murmured running a hand through his silky greasy black hair. "And where did you find this book?"

"Well you see," Harry began. "I got an owl during the summer from Gringotts requesting my presents. When I got there they gave me another key to a vault which was in my godfather's name which had a few things that the Marauders had collected over the years including this diary."

"And you just decided that it would be in your best interest to read this diary," Snape commented with a sneer.

"It was either that or curse it and present it to you," Harry responded looking straight into the Slytherins face. "Which I might add would have pleased both my godfather and dad to no end. Just think it would have been their last gift to you. Something for you to remember them by. That was actually the suggestion that was given in the letter from my godfather that accompanied the diary."

"So knowing that the diary was cursed you decided to read it anyway," Snape stated now so close to Harry that he was practically standing on top of him.

"Actually it is only cursed if I am not the one reading it. Look, here I'll open it for you. Just don't touch it. I haven't found out what the curses are, yet."

Professor Snape looked down at the diary with a look of hesitation on his face waiting for the bloody black book to blow up in his face. The page that Harry had opened up to was a list of excuses that the infamous Marauders had made to get out of being late to class and have incomplete homework assignments. The Potion Master knew that such a list could be very dangerous in the hands of a student but couldn't bring himself to take the book from Harry. He was worried about what exactly would happen to him should he take the book and he didn't want to take one of the few things that Harry had left of his parents. "How about we read through this list, Mr. Potter. As long as you promise not to use any of the excuses on this list in my class I will not take the book a way. Just don't let anyone else see this diary or it will be used to start a fire in my office in front of you."

"I understand."

Read and review. Next chapter Excuses Galore. Til next time.