Chapter One

"Man, I wish I didn't have to go to school everyday," Adalyn thought to herself as she walked home from the elementary school. She was only ten, but her mother worked all day, without time to pick her up. Her dad had been out of the picture since she was two. Her mom worried about her walking but made sure Adalyn knew exactly what to do. That's how Adalyn knew something was wrong when a beat-up silver van stopped their car right next to the child. The window was rolled down on the passenger side so the person could talk to her. Adalyn thought he looked about 25, with black hair. As soon as he said the classic "Hey, Hun. You want some candy?" she bolted. Her heart beat thudded in her ears each time her feet hit the pavement. The only sounds she could hear were her own breathing and the fast-approaching person behind her. Adalyn tried to force her legs to go faster but to no avail. Her 10-year-old legs could not keep up such a pace. She looked behind her, trying to see how close the man was. She dodged into an alley and threw herself behind a dumpster. She couldn't concentrate. She felt the tears on her face, but the young girl's hands were shaking too much to wipe them away. She knew she had no chance. She screamed when she was saw the face of her kidnapper. She tried to fight but he was too strong. It was all happening too fast. "Help! Help! Help! Hel-"

"Hey! Hey! Adalyn!" Lily Evans whispered the girl awake. "Potions is almost over and then we can get to the common room so you can sleep." The bell rang and the two 15-year-olds left the classroom. "I can't believe you fell asleep in potions again. That's like the 7th time in a row."

"Sorry, I just haven't been sleeping lately," Adalyn replied.

"I know. I can hear you tossing and turning all night. Is there something wrong?"

Adalyn pondered this question for a second. The anniversary of the day she was kidnapped was coming up in a month, she had 4 hours of homework for each class to catch up on, and she coudn't remember the last time she washed her hair. Instead of saying that though, she replied, "No, just tired." She could tell Lily didn't truly believe her but they both knew they weren't close enough for Addie to tell her the truth.

Her thoughts were interrupted with a "Hey, you! What cup size do you think James would be? Adalyn and Lily turned to see the Maruaders. James Potter was clutching his chest and all of them were looking at Adalyn.

"Um... what?" She could tell the boys were joking with her but she still felt her face go red from the attention.

"Sorry," she heard Lily say, "I don't know. Maybe an A cup."

"Nuh uh," James retaliated, "I'm a B. Definitely."

"You wish," Lily replied. She grabbed Adalyn softly by the arm and led her to the common room, knowing she didn't like the attention.

"Bye!" they heard behind them as they entered the common room.

-"Dude, you couldn't keep a girlfried for more than a week!" James Potter exclaimed to one of his best friends, Sirius Black.

"I could too!" Sirius shot back.

"I bet you couldn't even go one whole week with a girlfriend," Remus Lupin, another part of the group of friends said, laughing.

Although the smart thing to do would be to laugh with them and agree, Sirius did not.

"I could go at least six months with any girl I wanted," Sirius said.

"Three months, and we get to pick the girl." James negotiated.

"And the time doesn't start until the first date!" Remus added.

"Deal!" The shaggy-haired man shook each of the group's hands.

"This'll be fun," James thought aloud.

The next three hours were spent doing nothing but homework. Adalyn would have kept doing work, but Lily talked her into dinner. The long tables that looked like they could go on forever never ceased to amaze her. Neither did the extravagant food that lay in perfect heaping piles. They sat down and Addie grabbed a piece of salmon, asparagus, and some mac n' cheese. She and Lily talked about various things for some odd minutes while they ate. After several more minutes, Severus came over to the Gryffindor table.

"Hey, you guys wanna go to the lake tonight?" Sev asked.

"Like... after curfew?" Lily asked.

"When else?"

"Will it just be us? Addie questioned, already knowing the answer.

Severus sighed, "You got me. It's gonna be me and a couple other slytherins. You guys have to come." Lily and Addie looked at each other and sighed.

"Fine," they said in unison.

Adalyn sat by the lake under a tree. She loved the night, especially the cool breeze that usually came with it. She relaxed, looking at the lake and waiting for the others, when suddenly she heard laughter. She looked to her right and saw five boys: James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and Severus Snape. She soon realized that only four of the boys were laughing, which meant Sev needed her help. As she got closer she heard some of the conversation.

"Hey, Schnivellus," James said, "Do you ever shower?"

"Shutup, Potter," Severus replied.

"Calm down. It's not James's fault that the top of your head has 97% of the world's oil on it." Sirius laughed at Severus.

"Hey!" I shouted. "Leave him alone, you tools!"

"Wow, Schnivellus! You got a girl fighting your battles. Cudos!" Sirius exclaimed.

"I do not! You don't need to be here Adalyn. I got this."

"I'm not leaving you here alone, Sev! Where's Lily?"

"She forgot her bag. She should be here soon."

"Wow, I didn't know you had friends, Schnivellus."

Adalyn didn't know if it was the way Sirius was talking to her friend, or the upcoming anniversary of her tragic event, but Addie got a sudden burst of adreniline. "Hey, Sirius, I've got some information you might not know: being a dick, contrary to popular belief, does not make yours any bigger. Surprising, right?"

She heard the chorus of "oooo's" and "Ohhh, she got you!"

"You know what, James?" Adalyn said.

"What?" James smirked.

"The only way you'd ever get laid is to crawl up a chicken's ass and wait so I don't know if you should be laughing at Sirius or Severus."

James laughed, "That's a good one!"

Adalyn turned her head. "And Remus!" Remus's smile was immediately wiped from his face. "You just stand their and watch your friend's make fun of people. That sounds like a wonderful way to spend your life. Oh, if only I could do such things with mine!" She exclaimed sarcastically. "I don't even know what to say to your chubby tag along. You all think that your tough, but you're not. Please, stop picking on Severus because he's more of a man than any one of you will ever be."

Adalyn grabbed Severus and left the four boys standing there dumbfoundedly.

"Her," James said. "You have to date her."

"Oh, fuck."