Disclaimer: All credit for the wizarding world goes to J.K. Rowling

It was the last Hogsmeade weekend before winter break, and yet all the sixth year Gryffindor's were hard at work in their common room. Professor McGonagall had assigned a particularly difficult Transfiguration paper after a few too many shenanigans took place in the village the month before. No one ever proved that the sixth years were at fault, but given the track record of a few specific students, it seemed probable.

Sirius Black was an exception to the group. He had plans for the day and was not going to waste it doing Transfiguration. The only problem was he needed a partner in crime, and his usual supporters had already denied him. However, when Sirius came downstairs, he was met with the perfect choice. Sitting by herself, reading a book was Sophie Holland.

Plopping himself down in the chair across from her, he tried to catch her attention. "Hey Soph, you finished that paper already?"

Sophie, always stubborn when it came to Sirius, refused to look up until she had finished the page she was reading. When she finally did, a small smile played across her lips. Unbeknownst to Sirius, she had a little soft spot for him, but she would never let on.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I finished last night," she arched her eyebrows, "but I reckon you haven't."

"Well you see Soph, the thing is I'm rather distracted."

She sighed and closed her book, resigned to the fact that she would not be allowed to finish until she helped him. "Pray tell Sirius, what is troubling you?"

His eyes gave off a sparkle, but if asked, Sophie would deny she noticed. "I've got an appointment in Hogsmeade, and you're going to come with me."

"Oh okay I see how it is, I'm 'going' to go with you. Why do you figure that?"

Sirius leaned in and whispered, "if you must know, there's an apparition tester in Hogsmeade right now. Being the organized man that I am, I made an appointment, but I bet if you ask really nicely you can take yours today too."

The blood immediately rushed out of Sophie's face, "I'm not ready."

Sirius let out a surprisingly loud cackle, and across the room, Lily Evans turned to stare at them. Sirius shrugged at the redhead causing her to roll her eyes before turning back to her paper.

"I saw you no less than four times leaving the apparition office in the ministry."

If Sophie's face could go any paler, it would have. "Were you following me in the summer?"

Sirius furrowed his brow as he realized what he had just admitted to. "Sounds like it, doesn't it?" Instead of offering more of an explanation he got up and took a few steps toward the door. "Come on let's go, Soph; you can question me more on the way."

Sophie would have said no to Peter or Marlene or likely anyone else, but that stupid soft spot got the best of her once again.

When they were out in the end of autumn air, Sophie let her fears get the best of her again. "If I fail you're not allowed to mention it to anyone."

"How about you just don't fail?"

Sophie tossed her head in the air and laughed. "You know you drive me crazy, don't you Sirius?"

He shrugged, "I try my best," and it was true. While Sophie had a soft spot, Sirius had more of a crush. A six-year long crush to be specific, but Sophie didn't know that. All she knew was that he had been with what felt like all of Hogwarts and was currently with a Hufflepuff by the name of Maxine Corwin.

Sirius wasn't one for pining, unlike his best friend, James Potter. Yes, he'd admit that he liked Sophie a little more than a friend should, but he'd also say 'so what?' He'd never act on it.

"Hey Lil," Dorcas Meadowes grabbed the attention of her desk mate. "Do you know what the Principle of Artificianimate Quasi-Dominance is?" She pointed to a section in their textbook, "it's got something to do with messing up your conjurations but beyond that I'm confused."

Lily bit her lip as she read what Dorcas was pointing to. "Beats me, reckon you'll have to head to the library."

Taking a look across the room at James Potter, Dorcas began, "or you could ask–"

When retelling the story Dorcas would say that Lily lunged across the table at her, but really all the redhead did was blush and firmly respond, "no."

"Here's the thing," Dorcas tied her hair up in a bun, as she was known to do when she wanted someone to take her seriously. "James is the top of the class, but he's too stubborn to help me. Yet, you're kidding yourself if you don't think he'll help you."

Lily stole a glance at James, "better idea; you could ask Sophie, she's just as smart as Potter."

"Normally you're right, but," she gestured to where Sophie had been previously sitting, "she left with Black ten minutes ago."

"Merlin," Lily sighed as she stood up resigned to her fate. "Today is not my day."

Marlene McKinnon finally set down the quill she had been twirling for the better part of an hour. "You know if we work a little faster we could probably make it down to Hogsmeade for a quick butterbeer."

"You're going to have to work pretty fast Marlene, considering you haven't written anything yet." Peter Pettigrew didn't raise his eyes from his page, but his statement was correct, and a usual occurrence for Marlene. He liked working with her, but in all honesty, it made his skin crawl when she could throw together an assignment at the last minute and still receive a great mark.

"Maybe we should just go now. You look like you could use a break. Besides," she said picking the quill up to twirl again, "Black and Holland left ages ago, and Potter is clearly distracted by Lily, if no one else is working why should we?"

Peter lifted his eyes to analyze the room, and he realized Marlene was right. It didn't seem very probable though that Sirius had left with Sophie; he'd have to question his roommate later. "Florence is working," he pointed out when he noticed her curly blonde hair behind Marlene.

The words caused Marlene to laugh, but she quickly stifled it. "You know she got an acceptable on her O.W.L., McGonagall only let her take the class as a favour." Marlene leaned closer to Peter and lowered her voice more than it already was. "Rumor has it the Minister for Magic asked her to. Florence's dad works for the American Ministry, and with the way the war is going we may need them in our back pocket if things get really ugly."

"Who told you that?" Peter's face had become slightly paler than usual.

She shrugged, "I have my sources, but I don't need Black or Potter spreading this around, so keep your mouth shut."

Peter nodded his head; he was used to being forced to keep quiet.

Remus waited until Lily was safely out of earshot before smirking at James. "Well aren't you just a shiny cliché."

"I'm not her knight if that's what you mean, I was just being helpful." James avoided Remus' eyes, a known sign that he didn't believe his own words.

"Helpful you say?" Remus tapped his quill loudly on the table until James finally looked at him. "I heard Dorcas ask you that exact same question at breakfast."

James' eyes darted away, "well I didn't have the answer then. Besides Evans will just tell Meadowes anyway, no reason to fret about it."

Remus turned his attention back to his paper, but his smirk was still present. "Don't you worry Prongs, I'm not fretting."

A/N

Happy 2019!

Its hard to believe but its been just past two years since I published the last chapter of Lily Evans and Marlene McKinnon's Easy Guide to Marauding. I have done a lot of writing since then but somehow I ended up pulled back to the Marauders once again, and I couldn't be happier about it.

This chapter is an introduction to the eight main characters (with a little mention of Florence the ninth sixth-year Gryffindor). While most of the names are recognizable this is my original take on the characters and is separate from my other works.

If you ever have any questions throughout this journey please feel free to PM me and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Shaelynn Sophia