A/N: This is my first story about Remus Lupin, so reviews and encouragement are greatly appreciated! I'm pretty excited about it actually, so here we go…

"People can change Harper! I'm not the same girl that I was last year."

"Bullshit. You're exactly the same. How many times have we been through this Sonata? Honestly, how many times? You keep telling me you've changed and then you just go right back to where you started. I don't have to put up with this."

"As if you're so perfect? Newsflash, you're just as bad as I am. Maybe in a different way, but still. You have no right to get all self righteous on me, as if you would be doing me a favor by taking me back? Well guess what? I DON'T WANT YOU ANYMORE!"

Sonata James sat in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express, alone. She was reliving the fight she and Harper had had back in July for what felt like the hundredth time. Hell, it probably was the hundredth time. The pair had broken up and gotten back together so much that everyone had lost count – but that fight had ended it all. Sonata knew she wasn't perfect, but she also knew she couldn't be with someone who had no faith in her. Harper had his reasons for doubt, but the fact that he had just given up on her … Sonata shook the thoughts out of her head. The honest truth was that she had very little faith in herself these days. If not even her boyfriend had believed she could clean up her act, then who would?

The opening of the compartment door startled her.

"Sorry," said an almost musical voice, "I was just wondering if I could sit here. I, erm, I can't seem to find my friends."

Sonata turned and faced the owner of the voice. She recognized him from her Potions class last year, and they had both been prefects as well – she in Ravenclaw, he in Gryffindor. His name was Something Lupin. Tall and lean, he had dark sandy hair that brushed his collar and soft brown eyes. Sonata smiled a little in spite of herself – if she had to have company, at least it was handsome company.

"Sure," she replied, "take a seat."

"Thanks."

He sat down opposite her and turned to stare out the window, where a gentle rain blurred the passing scenery.

"Oh," Sonata whispered, so quietly that he didn't hear her above the noise of the train.

Across the left side of Lupin's face, from his hairline down under his jaw, ran a thin reddish scar that Sonata was certain hadn't been there last year. There was another one, smaller and almost imperceptible, that ran closer to his ear. It looked as though he'd been attacked by a wild animal.

"So," she said, attempting to make conversation, "You look familiar. We had potions together last year didn't we?"

Lupin looked at her for a moment before recognition dawned, "Yeah, you were a prefect too weren't you?" She nodded."Yeah," he said, " I thought I knew you from somewhere. You look different though."

"It's the hair," Sonata replied, lifting a slightly curly dark brown strand from her shoulder, "I cut most of it off a few weeks ago."

"It used to be half way down your back didn't it?"

"Good memory. Yeah, it did. But I just …" she thought about Harper and paused for a moment. He had loved her long hair, "… I just needed a change."

Lupin nodded, "It looks good."

"Thanks."

"How did you do on your O.W.L s? If you don't mind my asking."

Sonata shrugged, "Not bad. I won't be returning to Potions though, I can tell you that."

Lupin looked slightly disappointed for a moment, but it passed so quickly Sonata thought she must have imagined it.

"How about you?" she asked.

"Sadly, I'll be facing a few more years of Slughorn. It shouldn't be too bad though. It's just that I don't know quite what I want to do yet, so keeping my options open is probably a good idea. "

Sonata nodded as the slightly awkward silence of two people who only have one thing in common settled between them. Seconds later, the door of the compartment burst open, and in toppled James Potter and Sirius Black. Sonata would have recognized the pair anywhere. Quidditch stars and Hogwarts legends in the making – both on the pitch and off. Sirius, in particular, was shameless.

"Remus!" Sirius barked, "Finally, we thought we'd never find you mate."

Sonata cursed herself. Remus, of course! That was his name.

"Me? I thought I'd never find you. We were supposed to meet in the usual compartment right?" Remus asked.

"Well, yes…" James looked slightly sheepish, "But then we saw Evans heading toward the other end of the train, so I convinced Sirius we should go to because I had to – "

"Say no more," Remus replied with a laugh, getting up and collecting his things from the overhead storage.

"I'm sorry," he apologized to Sonata, "But if Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum are left alone to their own devices much longer I'm sure chaos will ensue. And Evans will probably murder one of them."

She laughed lightly. James Potter's undying love for Lily Evans was just as infamous as he was. "Don't worry about it."

At her words, Sirius turned and took notice of her for the first time.

"Oohhhh," he said, "I didn't realize Prongsy and I were … interrupting something."

Remus blushed slightly, " Weren't we leaving?"

"You know Moony, she's really a looker. I would keep my eye on her – " Sirius winked at Sonata, "I know I will be. Absolutely gorgeous. Pray tell, fair lady, what is your name?"

"Sonata James," she replied, allowing Sirius to kiss her hand, "And I already know who you are Sirius Black, so I think I just saved both of us a quickie in the broom closet. Consider me unconquest-able."

Sirius looked slighty flabbergasted as James and Remus chuckled. Seeing Sirius knocked down a few pegs was always worth its weight in amusement.

"And on that note," James entered in smoothly "- if you'll pardon the pun Sonata, we will be leaving you."

Remus was the last to exit and offered her an apologetic smile, "I know they can be a bit much, but –"

Sonata shook her head with a laugh, "No need to apologize for your friends. I like them." She gave him a friendly smile, "See you later then?"

"Yeah," he replied, and was halfway out the door before he turned one more time, "By the way, Sonata is a beautiful name."

A/N: So, what do you think? Reviews are like lemonade on a hot summer day!