Disclaimer: I gladly give all credit for the characters and plot of Harry Potter to J.K. Rowling!
Summary: As the story opens, we pick up where Harry leaves off in Order of the Phoenix. You will recall that Harry took a jaunt in Snape's memory he had placed in the Pensive and witnesses Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter at Hogwarts in their fifth year.
"That's the bell. Come on James, put him down already. Nobody wants to see you pull down his knickers," Remus said as he walked over to where James and Sirius were dangling Snape upside down in the air. James gave a flick of his wand and let Snape fall to the ground. Remus motioned over his shoulder with a slight jerk of his head. "We're going to be late for the Transfiguration O.W.L. if we don't go."
"Oh come off it Mooney, don't tell me you're going soft on old Snivellus here," Sirius scoffed. "Did Evans' little rant get to you?"
Remus let out a half-hearted laugh and they began to walk in the direction he had just indicated as Snape cursed behind them. Sirius looked over at the remaining girls by the water, and met eyes with a dark-headed Gryffindor girl. He gave a smirk and she smiled back at him with a mischievous grin. Sirius held her gaze for a few more seconds and turned away. He took a deep breath, adjusting his bag on his shoulder and ran his hand through his hair.
"Wait for me," Peter wheezed as he sprinted to catch up with the others. "You weren't trying to run off without me, w-were you?"
James laughed, "Wormtail, if you were any brighter I don't think I could stand it."
Sirius gave a ragged sigh. "It's always so boring around here! If it weren't for the full moons, I think I might go mad from being shut up in this stuffy castle."
"Glad to know my suffering isn't in vain," joked Remus in hushed tones.
"Sirius—how can you be so abysmal," James asked earnestly. "Exams are almost over and you can't have forgotten that the masquerade ball is only a few days away."
"James, I think it's you that has forgotten. I am not going to the ruddy ball."
"Don't be such a killjoy. Honestly, it's not as if you don't have loads of girls to pick from," James motioned to a group of giggling third year girls following them. "Tell him, Mooney."
"I don't really want to go either mate. I think that for some reason, the girls around here would prefer guys who don't have a habit of sprouting a snout and fangs every full moon. Not to mention from the looks of things back there, you aren't gonna have date either." Sirius let out a loud, bark-like laugh.
"Well it's not as if we are going to the ball to dance anyway." James said composedly. "Think about it, an entire room full of masked people. What better chance to wreak a little havoc without the worry of getting caught?"
The foursome came to a stop a few steps outside the classroom, where the majority of the class had already assembled.
"Did I hear someone say something about wreaking havoc?"
The same girl Sirius had been looking at was now walking toward them with a smile. Her shoulder length, dark brown curls bounced with every stride and her bright green eyes glinted in the sunlight from the window. She glanced around the group with a smile. "You lot wouldn't be up to something now would you," she asked with an arched eyebrow. Her eyes stopped on Sirius as he loosened his tie and swept his long hair away from his face.
"Didn't see you at breakfast Felicity," James said taking no notice of her pinking cheeks.
"I was up late studying," she stifled a yawn, "and I overslept this morning."
She cast a quick glance at Remus who appeared to be engrossed in his book. He looked up at her and then returned to it as quickly as he had strayed. He was fully aware that Felicity hadn't been up late studying.
"But don't go trying to change the subject," she said hastily.
James gave and innocent shrug and messed his hair haughtily, "I don't know what you're talking about. We were merely discussing the masquerade ball."
"Quite harmless, I can assure you," Sirius added.
She looked at him perceptively, "Somehow I can hardly believe that any discussion between you lot can be harmless."
Remus laughed as he placed the book in his bag, "She's got a point, you know."
The crowd started to move into the classroom, and the group shuffled along.
"Licity, I'm hurt," mock pain spread over Sirius' face as he wiped an invisible tear from his cheek. "All this time I thought you liked hanging around us irresponsible miscreants!" A smirk passed over Felicity's face, only to be replaced by a look of pure frustration.
"Well if it isn't my lovely Blood Traitor of a cousin."
Felicity stopped abruptly and turned on her heel, "Lucius, have things really been so slow today that you couldn't find anyone else to nauseate with your presence."
He smiled smugly, "Tsk, tsk. There's no need to be harsh."
"Really? I find there is always more than enough reason to be harsh with you, Lucius," Sirius quipped, stepping in front of Felicity.
Lucius sneered, "When I want comments from unkempt vermin, I will ask for them." He looked past Sirius to his cousin, "Until then, keep your boyfriend on a leash."
Felicity glared at him, her jaw having gone rigid with anger. "He's—we're—what do you want Lucius?"
"I need to talk to you-" He glanced at Sirius, "alone-later. Meet me in the library by the restricted section after dinner."
"Right, no thanks," she said pushing Sirius aside.
Lucius took a step forward and lowered his voice to a hissing whisper, "You will be there, or will have to let the whole school about your little friend Lupin's- shall we say- moonlight marauding?"
"You filthy little-," Sirius growled as Felicity instinctively put out her arm to restrain him. She let her mouth fall open, "I'll be there."
"I thought you would see things my way." The classroom was starting to quiet as students prepared to take their last exam. Lucius swept past, leaving his cousin and Sirius standing in the doorway.
The Gryffindor common room was buzzing with the usual end-of-exams excitement as the group climbed through the portrait hole. The skidding thud of James' bag on the table in the corner drew little attention with all the commotion. "Yeah well. Malfoy can just well piss off if you ask me," James growled as he sat down. "How did he find out anyway?"
"Lucius has a way of finding things out, especially if he can use them to his advantage," Felicity said with a gloomy tone.
"Yeah, and I wouldn't be too surprised if Wormtail is the one that told him. You notice he made himself scarce after Transfigurations," Sirius suggested accusingly.
"Padfoot-really- Peter is harmless," James said putting his feet on the table. "A bit annoying, but harmless."
"A bit annoying! He's mental," Sirius mocked. "He always follows us around, watching and listening to everything we do. Don't you find it odd how attentive he is sometimes..."
The sound of Sirius's voiced faded as Felicity walked over to the window where Remus stood. The lines in his face seemed more noticeable than usual, and his eyes lacked any flicker. She reached out and gently placed a hand on his arm.
He didn't look at her, but sighed heavily. "I have a bad feeling about this Licity. I don't think you should go by yourself. There's no telling what Lucius wants."
"Remus he's my cousin. I seriously doubt he'll hurt me. I don't know what he has up his sleeve, but we can't risk him telling everyone."
"That's my point," He grumbled through gritted teeth. "I would feel better if one of us went with you. It's my fault you have to go anyway."
"It is not your fault," she said indignantly. "Lucius is vile, and will use whatever means necessary to get what he wants. He wants to talk. If that's all it takes to keep you safe, then I'll do it."
He finally turned to her with a serious look. "You can't trust him."
"I agree with Remus," Sirius said appearing at her shoulder. "I wouldn't trust Malfoy for a thousand Galleons. Let us go too, we can use James' invisibility cloak."
"No we can't," James said firmly.
Felicity smiled, grateful to have someone on her side. Sirius and Remus were taken aback. "What," they exclaimed in unison.
"Sirius and I have our last team meeting at the Quidditch pitch tonight."
"Then I will go," Remus said defiantly.
"If Lucius catches you-or suspects anything- he will out you for sure. I will be fine. Please," she looked him in the eye, pleading. "It's not worth it."
"Come on. Just let her go Remus. You heard her. She'll be fine," James said distractedly. He was watching a group of girls going out the portrait hole with great interest. "Come on, let's go to dinner."
As they all started for the portrait hole, Felicity felt a tug on her arm. She turned to face Remus, who waited until he was sure the others were out of earshot to speak. "Are you still going to meet me tonight," he whispered hurriedly.
"Yes," she whispered quietly. "I will tell you all about what happened with Lucius then, I promise."
"Come on," James yelled impatiently from the portrait hole.
Felicity turned to them with a smile, "Oh please, it's not as if you will get a seat next to Lily- even if we run!"
Author's Note: I would first like to thank you for taking a moment to read my story. I started this back in 2006, and I'm just glad people still want to read it. I also feel the need to put a plea for you to continue here. There is much more going on with Remus/Felicity/Sirius than meets the eye-it may not be what you expect either! Let's not forget about James and Lily either! Reviews are deeply appreciated, as always.