Prologue

"We're Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, sit back and let the evening go! We're Sgt. Pepper's lonely— oof!" Molly was knocked to the ground. She sat up and wiped the wood chips off her hands and out of her hair, then looked up at the boy who had just knocked her over.

"Sorry," he muttered. He paused and raised an eyebrow. "Were you just singing?" He had long hair for a boy, but it was shorter than Molly's. It was black, and his eyes were grey.

"Singing?" asked Molly. "No. I was just repeating… the noble words of John Lennon."

"Okay… Anyway, I didn't mean to knock you over."

"You didn't knock me over," she said as she stood up, brushing the chips off her skirt. "I did it on purpose."

The boy raised an eyebrow again. "Really," he said flatly.

"Yep. It's part of…" Molly trailed off, thinking. "It's part of a new style of dance. I'm still learning."

"Ah. I see. You haven't quite mastered it yet, then?" he asked. His face looked completely serious, but his eyes— they were glimmering, ever so slightly, as if he was teasing her.

Molly grinned. "Yeah, it takes a lot of practice," she said in a mock- serious tone.

"I bet it does!" the boy heartily agreed, still a glimmer in his eye. "So, how old are you, anyway?" he asked.

"Twelve."

"I bet you're only eleven."

Molly frowned, disappointed. "Yeah, my birthday was last week. What about you?"

"Eleven last month."

"I haven't seen you here before," Molly said. "Where do you live?"

All of a sudden, though, the boy looked uncomfortable.

"It's not around here. It's a really… dreary place, actually. I hate it." There was a pause. "There are no parks around there," he added, as he kicked the wood chips and looked over at the swing-set.

"I live just there," Molly said, gesturing to a medium sized house across the street.

"HEY, MOLLY!" called an older voice from where Molly had pointed. It was a boy who looked about thirteen. He ran across the street. "Hey, freak, you're mum wants you for dinner."

Molly didn't turn around. However, the dark-haired boy noticed that the swing in the playground had begun to swing by itself.

"Hey, freak-o. Didn't ya hear me? Your mum wants ya!"

"I'm not a freak," Molly whispered. The street light flickered.

The boy flinched. "Don't you start your freakiness on me!" he shouted. Molly turned around fast. "BIBITY- BOBITY- BOO!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. The kid looked terrified and ran away.

"Aaarghhhh! She's gonna turn me into a toad!" he wailed.

The boy Molly had been talking too stared at her. She felt uncomfortable. "Um, I- I have to go—"she stammered, and turned, but the boy grabbed her arm. She felt a shock. Probably just static…

"You made the light flicker."

"Wh- What do you— how could I do that? Look, it was nice meeting you, but I have to go." With that, she ran off.

"There's the train. Goodbye."

"What a lovely mother," whispered Molly to herself, as she looked out the window. She had been watching a certain family from a window in the Hogwarts Express. The mother was wearing all black and she had not smiled yet. Her two sons looked equally as miserable. The taller one had long black hair and ran his hand through it. He looked completely agitated.

"Bye," he muttered in the same, annoyed voice, and he boarded the train. Then Molly saw his face. It was the boy from the park.

"He's a wizard!" she said to herself. Molly walked out in to the corridor. "Hello?" she called to him as he boarded the train. He turned. His hair was longer than the last time she met him. The boy looked at her for a moment.

"Hey Sirius!" a boy with scruffy black hair called. The boy turned his head the other direction.

"Yeah, I'm coming," he called. The boy— Sirius— looked at Molly. "I knew you were a witch," he grinned, and followed the boy down the corridor.

Chapter One

Seven Years Later

Sirius yawned. "I'm bored, Prongs."

Lily looked up at him. "You think maybe you could do your homework? It's just a suggestion."

Sirius stared at her. "Me? Do my homework? You're kidding, right? I don't need to do homework. I know it all."

Lily rolled her eyes at him.

"Done! Ha to you all." James slammed his book closed and grinned. Remus glanced up at him and shook his head.

"Oof!" came a voice from the portrait hole. Everyone turned to see a tall girl with dark brown hair and brown eyes fall through the portrait hole. "I'm fine- ow-" she stuttered as she pulled herself up.

"Hi, Molly," said Lily.

"Hello, Lil," replied Molly. Molly St. Clair was character; there was no doubt about it. She had the habit of accidentally attracting attention. She was slightly clumsy and forgetful, but smart and kind. She also had a vague dislike for the word 'normal.' Today she was wearing her hair in two braids and had a cowboy hat on. She was also wearing flared jeans with the knee torn out and a white t-shirt.

"Where were you all night?" asked Lily, raising an eyebrow suggestively.

"Lily Evans!" Molly scolded. "I was at the library."

"Really."

"Really! God, Lily. The way you go on, like I was up to no good or something."

"I never said that. You must have a guilty conscience."

Molly rolled her eyes. "Anyway, hello, Lily's Friends. How are you?" she asked politely.

Remus looked up from the book he was reading. "Relatively good, if that means watching Sirius as he makes paper airplanes out of pages from our History of Magic book."

"So everything's pretty normal?"

"Yep," replied everyone, including Sirius.

Molly looked around with a sudden air of concern. "Hey, where's Pettigrew? He didn't drown, did he? Because last time I saw him, he was climbing out of the lake."

Sirius grinned

Lily smacked him. "You could have killed him!" she said. Lily then turned to Molly. "He's in the hospital wing; he had a nasty encounter with—"

"-A lonely, unloved, greasy little b—"

"Boy named Snape," cut in Lily quickly, before Sirius started swearing in front of the first years. Sirius shrugged.

"I dislike him greatly," said Molly.

"You don't like Snape?" mocked Sirius incredulously. "But I thought you were into John Lennon and his 'All You Need is Love' stuff?"

"Notice how I didn't say the word 'Hate.'" She grinned.

Sirius shook his head. "You and that mind of yours. It'll get you into trouble some day."

"I have a feeling that it'll also save my life." She sat down next to him and put her head on his shoulder. "You know what?" she sighed. "I think that you're just jealous that you don't have a cowboy hat."

"You caught me," said Sirius, and he put Molly's hat on his head.

"Right, well I'm off to bed," announced Molly, taking her hat back from Sirius.

"Have fun," he said.

"Gosh, that lesson was impossible! I didn't understand a thing!" complained Molly the following day, after walking out of a rather difficult session of Arithmancy. Molly was a very smart girl, but she was no genius. She usually understood her Arithmancy class very well, but this was beginning to become like learning Greek.

"I understood it," said Patrice, who was walking with Molly. Patrice Connery had been friends with Molly for four or five years, now. Recently, though, it seemed like the two were drifting apart. It used to be they would do everything together; tell each other everything, but now it seemed as if Patrice was out to get Molly. It was almost as if it was a game — Patrice was always trying to be better. Moreover, she had taken to making fun of her — calling her stupid, dumb, forgetful…

The halls were almost empty. It was getting late and they had to be up in their houses in about twenty minutes. The two girls were heading to Gryffindor Tower. However, they turned a corner to see a giant Slytherin before them. He grinned. The next thing Molly knew, she was pinned up against the cold wall with the rather large Slytherin's wand jabbed in her neck. "Hello, poppet," he said. Patrice watched, terrified, from the sidelines.

The bully tuned his head. "I really think you should be going," he grunted to her.

Patrice gulped and nodded.

"Patrice, you jerk!" gasped Molly.

"Well, what would I do?" exclaimed Patrice.

"Gettaget hedagelp! Nodagow!"Molly told her. Patrice nodded and left.

"You think your stupid secret languages will stop me?" asked the Slytherin.

"Actually, Crabbe — it is Crabbe, isn't it? — That's your standard, everyday Gibberish. Everyone can speak Gibberish. And in case you're wondering what I said, I told her to 'get help.' I'd recommend help to you, too. Maybe a psychiatrist or counselor, because you have some serious social issues."

Crabbe stared at Molly with a thoroughly confused look on his face. Molly knew that Crabbe wasn't smart enough to do any serious damage, but there was still an element of fear in the situation, and anyway, her neck was hurting from where the wand was jabbed. She decided to talk her way out of this.

"So," Molly said. "Is there any particular reason why you're cornering me at night and jabbing my neck with your wand?" asked Molly politely.

"Oh yeah," Crabbe grunted. "The boss said you've been… Uh… Upsetting him. So he told me to sort you out."

"Would your 'boss' happen to be a man by the name of Snivelus? A fine man, he is. Somewhat in need of a good hair wash, but a fine man all the same. And I think the word you're looking for is 'teasing him.' You see, he hasn't been very polite to me, so I got back at him by—"

"Do I look like I care?" asked Crabbe. "And stop confusing me!" he growled. "Now, I'll count to three before I hex you. By the way, any requests?"

"I've always wondered what it'd be like to be frozen stiff."

"Nah, I think I'll just stun you a few times."

"Ouch."

"Ready, you disgusting little mud—" but before he could finish, there was s soft 'thud' noise, his eyes crossed and he collapsed to the ground. Sirius was standing behind the pile of Crabbe, in front of Molly, looking down at the now knocked out Slytherin, and holding a rather large schoolbook in his hand.

"That wasn't very nice," said Sirius to him. "But at least I learned a good use for books." He looked up at Molly. "I believe a certain damsel in distress called for help?" he asked.

Molly smiled and sniffled. The adrenaline was wearing off.

"Hey," said Sirius, dropping the large book on Crabbe's head. They heard a soft thud, followed by a grunt. Sirius pulled Molly into a hug. "Listen. No matter what anyone says about you, you're not a mudblood. Understand?"

She nodded. "I know— I'm being stupid, that's all."

"No, you're not. Come on. Let's go back to the tower."

"Hey, there's a Christmas Dinner Dance coming up!"

"Did you hear about the Winter Ball?"

Students all over the castle were in an uproar about the upcoming Yule Ball.

Sirius rolled his eyes as he walked down the hallway. All he had heard, all day long, was, 'the dance! The dance!' These younger students were so worked up over nothing! It's a dance, for heaven's sake. McGonagall had posted the flier in the Gryffindor Common Room yesterday, and now it was as if Christ had come to save His people.

"Hey, hot stuff!" said a voice. A pair of hands covered his eyes. "Are you going to the ball?"

"Not you too," moaned Sirius.

Molly let go of his eyes and walked in front of him. "How'd you know it was me?" asked Molly.

"I just do," said Sirius. "No particular reason." He smiled.

Molly smiled back and looked at the ground.

"Hey, nice outfit," said Sirius.

"Why thank you!" said Molly. She span around. Molly was wearing black and red striped tights and a black dress with a poofy swing skirt.

"You look like a cheerier version of my mother," he teased, and she pinched him.

"So? Are you going to go?"

"Do you live to annoy me?'

"I try." She smiled angelically.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Who with? That French girl? Ooh, what's her name…? Annabelle! She likes you, you know."

"She and every other girl in the school," replied Sirius in a bored voice.

"Aww. Are there no good girls left in Hogwarts? Poor you. You've gone through all the decent ones… And the not-so-decent-ones… Whatever is a boy to do?"

"For your information, I have not gone through every girl in the school," said Sirius. "If I did, I would have to date girls seven years younger than me. That is simply wrong."

"So, who will you go with, then? Your boyfriend?" Molly grinned evilly.

"What?"

She smiled. "Just go with James. Everyone knows you two are in love." Molly was only kidding, but she knew it would annoy him. Guys were weird that way. If you called a girl gay, most of the time, they'd just give a sarcastic remark and laugh it off. Guys… well, it seemed to take away their 'manliness.'

"What? Have you lost it? I'm not gay!"

"But you and James are so close! Don't hide your true emotions, Sirius. You're only denying yourself. My uncles are gay, and they're great fun. I'll accept you!"

"I swear, Molly. If someone hears you saying this dung, I'll never get another girlfriend."

"I don't know. Girls find gay guys awfully attractive sometimes."

"Molly, I'm not gay."

"Sure."

"Molly—"

"Yes?"

"I'm not gay."

"Whatever you s—" However, Molly was unable to finish her statement. She now found herself pinned against the wall yet again, but this time it wasn't a wand poking her. Sirius's lips were soft against hers and for a brief moment, Molly forgot where she was. His hands were gently holding her neck. Molly's heart was beating so fast, she thought the whole world could hear it.

Slowly Sirius pulled away. He stared at her and grinned. "I'm not gay," he whispered.

Molly gulped and nodded. Then she realized the halls were empty. "We— we missed the bell. Lunch s-started," she stuttered.

Sirius smiled. "Yeah."

Molly began to walk away, completely confused about the occurrence that just happened.

"Hey, Molly."

She turned around.

"Sorry about that. I was just trying to prove a point."

Molly nodded and walked to the Great Hall. Just Sirius and his playing around. Giving people false hope. False hope? She thought. What false hope? I never wanted to go out with him before. Why should I now?

Because he's gorgeous, said a voice in her head.

Stupid voice. Who are you and why are you in my head?

I'm your conscience. We haven't spoken in a while. Not since that time in France.

Oh yeah. I should never have eaten that dish…

How many times must I tell you? Don't eat something unless you know the meaning of the name.

Then why do I eat yogurt?

Let's not go there.

Molly found a seat next to Patrice and sat down.

"So do you think you're going to go the Winter Ball?"

"I don't know yet, Patrice. You've only asked me six times."She looked up at the ceiling of the Great Hall. It was partly sunny, but the clouds were covering it. Molly dipped one of her crisps into ketchup. Everyone thought she was weird— she did the strangest things. For example, if ever Molly and her friends would go to a Fish and Chip stand, she would ask for 'fish and chips, please, but can you hold the fish?'

"Well I know I am. I'm going to go with Frank." Frank was a Ravenclaw seventh year. Patrice was always complaining about being put into Gryffindor. 'I'm so smart, I should have been placed in there,' she would always say. Even Molly was beginning to wonder why Patrice was in Gryffindor— she didn't appear to be too brave. And she wasn't very loyal, either.

"Has he even asked you yet?" asked Molly before she picked up another crisp.

"No," said Patrice, "but I know he will."

Ah, Patrice. Always so sure of herself and how much everyone liked her— even though loads of people didn't. They found her annoying. Molly did too, but she had decided to put up with her. After all, she hadn't always been this way. Patrice began to talk about the Winter Ball some more, but Molly wasn't listening. Her thoughts kept lingering back to just a few minutes ago, in the hallway. She so desperately wanted to tell someone about it, but she hadn't told Patrice a secret in a long time.

"Can I sit here?" asked a voice.

"There's no room," said Patrice. Molly looked up. Lily was standing above them.

"Oh. Um, ok then. Thanks anyway," she turned to leave.

"Hey, Lily, yeah, you can sit with us. Don't let Patrice be a jerk to you." She shot Patrice a glare.

"Bitch," whispered Patrice. Molly stared at her.

"How do you even expect me to like you anymore, Pat? You've just turned into a monster!" said Molly all of a sudden, as though they had just been conversing about the matter.

At first Patrice looked shocked, but regained herself quickly. "Me? You're the monster! You randomly insult me!" Patrice spat.

Molly stared at her. "Patrice, dear, you just called me a bitch."

"You called me a monster!" yelled Patrice. People were beginning to watch.

"After you said I was a bitch."

"But you always insult me!"

"When, Patrice?" asked Molly calmly.

"You just— you just do!" she stammered. "D'you what, Molly? I don't need this," and she stood up and left.

"Well, look at the bright side. Now there's an empty seat!"

Molly turned to the voice that had just spoken. It was a sixth year sitting next to her, who had obviously been listening.

"Really?" she hissed sarcastically.

The sixth year turned away.

"Um, Molly? I really could have sat somewhere else," said Lily nervously.

"No, it's fine. I've wanted to say that to her for a while now. Sit down, it's ok." Molly patted the spot next to her.

Lily sat down, but still had an uncomfortable look on her face.

"So what's up?" asked Molly. "Where are the boys at?" she said, referring to the Marauders. Molly wasn't sure if Lily would notice the awkwardness in her voice. She hadn't gotten over the Sirius matter yet.

"Detention."

Molly laughed. "What'd they do this time?" she asked.

"God knows," said Lily. Then she paused. "At least, I think they're in detention. I haven't seen them in ages. I mean, I just assume, when they're not around..."

"I just saw Sirius in the corridor," offered Molly helpfully, but she still felt a bit odd talking about him.

"Where was he headed?" asked Lily.

"I don't know. He was walking the opposite direction than me, anyway."

"What did he say?" asked Lily. There was a worried expression on her face.

"Umm…" She gulped. "Well, we didn't really talk… much…"

Lily raised an eyebrow. "What did you do?"

"Nothing!" said Molly.

Lily grinned. "Ok!" she said. "Anyway, I don't recall James telling me he had detention, now that I think about it…" There was a pained look on Lily's face as she looked at Molly. Immediately Lily jumped up from the table and ran out of the hall. Molly clambered after her, stubbing her toe on the way.

Breathless, she caught up with Lily. "Something- wrong?" she stammered.

"This is not good. They could be doing anything!" said Lily, who was Head Girl and did not need to be disciplining a group of bored seventeen-year-olds in her spare time.

The two were walking down the corridor very fast, now. All of a sudden, however, there was a chorus of laughter. Four boys were running down the corridor laughing like mad.

"James, what did you—" began Lily as he ran up to her, but he grasped her shoulders and said, "shh! Come on!" and dragged her away with him.

The six seventh years ran down the corridor crazily.

"What did you do this time?" asked Lily.

"Blow up one of the tampon machines or something?" asked Molly, who noted they had been running away from the girls bathroom.

Sirius grinned evilly as they heard a loud BANG as they saw little white packages shooting down after them.

Lily stared. "You did blow up the tampon machine!" She looked at Remus, whom Lily thought would've stopped them.

"Couldn't help myself!" he grinned.

They came to one of the staircases and sprinted down it. However, Lily's foot was stuck in the vanishing step. The boys didn't notice until they had already gotten down. James began to go up and help her, but she made a shooing motion as they heard footsteps heading their way.

"Go!" Molly whispered to him. The boys turned the corner and ran.

Then the staff appeared. They just missed them!

"Ha! I t must have been you two!" said the nasty Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Ms. Callous.

"Now now, Deirdre, we mustn't make accusations," said Dumbledore cheerfully.

"Uh," said Lily, her foot still caught in the missing step. She began to think of an excuse for the exploding tampon machine. "Well, you see…"

"Lily," whispered Molly.

Lily looked up.

"There's no point in lying for my sake."

Lily stared.

Molly went on: "you see, I have Defense Against the Dark Arts next period, and I…" She looked down. "I didn't finish my essay. All I had left was my closing, honest!" she cried. "So I dragged Lily along with me to the library, and we tore the place apart looking for books. So it was our fault. My fault."

Professor Callous stared at her. "What on earth are you on about?"

"That's what your talking about, right? The mess of books in the library?"

"No!"

"Deirdre, please," said Dumbledore. "There was a slight mishap in one of the girls' lavatories upstairs," he explained to them, "in which one of the machines put to aid the girls was exploded."

"Is that so?" said Molly. "Well, I swear we were in the library—"

"Hey, Moll, did you finish your essay?" came a voice from a round the corner. "Oh— Sorry, Professors, I didn't see you."

"Hmm. So it would seem, Mr. Black," said Callous.

"Sorry, am I interrupting something?" asked Sirius innocently.

"It just so happens you are," she spat.

"Actually," said Dumbledore, "you are not. It appears Miss St. Clair and Miss Evans are innocent. I think you'll agree, Deirdre?"

"Hmm. Yes, it appears to be so, however, Black, what are you doing here?" she said, determined that someone should be punished.

"I was looking for Molly and Lily. Molly said she'd be in the library doing her essay."

"And where are your friends?"

"They're at lunch with everyone else."

"Well!" said Dumbledore cheerfully. "Now that everything's cleared up, other than the mess, that is, I have to make my way down to Hagrid's Hut. I promised him I'd join him for some of his fudge and a glass of Brandy. Children, off with you now, and don't be looking for trouble!" He smiled and made his way down the corridor, humming as he went along.

Professor Callous glared at the three of them and strode off.

"Well," said Sirius, "that was close. Now, come on, the bell is going to ring any minute."

Later that night in the common room, Molly sat on the hearthrug while Lily sat on the sofa in front of her.

"Hey, Molly," said Lily. "I'm sorry if I screwed up anything between you and Patrice."

"You only asked if there was an extra seat!" said Molly, incredulously. "Anyway, it doesn't matter. Things have been going down hill with us for a while, now."

"Really? How so?" asked Lily. "Not that it's any of my business."

"Well," said Molly, "it only started last year. "She started getting somewhat mean, like teasing and stuff, and thinking it was funny. For instance, if I got a B on a test, and she got an A, she'd tell me I was stupid. And she started to call me names— I no this sounds dumb, me being seventeen, but they'd be rude names and stuff. She thinks it's all a game. And she's constantly competing with me! Over everything! Whether she says so or not, it's always a race. If she finished a book before me, she'd say so about ten times. If I saw a movie— you know what that is, right?" said Molly. "Oh, wait. You're a muggle-born."

"Yes."

"Good. Well, if I saw a movie that she didn't even show any interest in, as soon as I told her I saw it she'd be off like a bullet and go see it, too. And if I bought a book, she'd have to buy it. If I learned how to play the guitar, she'd have to learn to play one—

"You play guitar?" asked Lily.

"Yeah," said Molly. "But that was just an example. Patrice has no musical talent. Anyway, even if I learned to tame elephants, she'd want to!"

Lily smiled. "Well, enough of this depressing talk. It's time for some girl talk!"

Molly laughed.

"Girl Talk! Yay!" a voice came from behind them. Sirius appeared behind Lily, along with James and Remus.

"What's today's category, ladies?" asked James.

"Well," said Lily conversationally, "since it's been so long since I've had a girl talk, being with you lot all the time, I think we'll start off with boys."

"Ooh, boys!" said Remus. "Me being one, I know a lot about boys."

"Hey, so do I!" said James, as though he just realized this. "I could have joined a girls talk ages ago!"

Molly laughed.

"Well, Molly," asked Lily. "Are you ready?"

"Yup!" she said grinning broadly.

"Kay. Um," Lily thought, "oh, I have one! Who was the last boy you kissed?" she asked.

Suddenly Molly turned a deep crimson.

James, Remus, and Lily laughed, but Sirius merely smiled and looked down.

"Molly?" asked Lily.

"Umm," she said.

"Why don't we take this up into the dorm," said Lily, smiling slightly. Molly agreed. The two girls walked upstairs.

"'Night, Lil," said James.

"Good night, Molly," said Sirius.

Molly turned and raised an eyebrow at him teasingly.

He smiled ever so slightly, as she turned back and followed Lily up to the dorms.

"So?" asked Lily excitedly as they reached the girls' dormitories.

"So what?" asked Molly.

"So what's going on with you and Sirius?"

"What do you mean?" asked Molly, looking at the floor.

"Don't give me that! I know there's something up with you two."

"Lily, of course there is," said Molly. "We're friends. That's what's up! We've been friends since day one! I mean, I met him before I met anyone else here."

"Molly," said Lily. "I realize that you haven't told anyone a secret in a long time, with your situation with Patrice. But I want you to trust me. I'm not going to tell any one anything."

"I know." Molly looked up and grinned.

"Talk to me," Lily said.

Molly sighed an overly-dramatic sigh, as though she was giving in to a very large favor. But then she laughed and divulged to Lily her bizarre corridor encounter with Sirius.

"I can't believe this!" whispered Lily, for it was getting late and one of the other girls were asleep. "This is great! We've all been waiting for this for ages!"

"Who? Waiting for what?"

"Me, James, Remus, and even Peter! We've been waiting for you and Sirius to hook up!" she said excitedly.

"What?" laughed Molly. "We're not hooking up. He was just being his normal weird self, trying to prove a point."

Lily rolled her eyes and smiled at Molly as though she was a small child who announced she figured out how to fly. "Whatever you say," said Lily.