"Bloody—Rachael is that you?"

Rachael jumped and twirled around. Standing behind her was none other than Sirius Black. His dark brown eyes were widened in surprise, but a smirk was slowly forming on his face. She almost melted. Sirius was probably the best friend she had…and yet, she felt more than just that for him. She had practically been in love with him since their first year, it was their sixth now.

"Yes, it's me…why?" she tilted her head a little, amused.

"Because you look…"

"Oh my God! Rachael you look so good!" came the voice of her best friend, Lily.

Rachael's eyes roamed to look at the sixth year red-head. She sighed. If only she had such perfect hair. Jealousy raged momentarily unchecked in her chest. Quenching it she forced a smile.

"Thanks, Lily. I'm amazed every summer. How do you keep getting even prettier?" she said, rather shyly.

Lily laughed, "I don't. You need your eyes checked."

"Actually she's right. You do get more beautiful every summer," came James' voice. Rachael's eyes snapped to him.

It was completely obvious James Potter was completely in love with Lily. It was less obvious, probably not at all to the guys, that Lily felt the same. Rachael sighed, wishing someone would feel the same way for her.

Soon Remus and Peter appeared in the compartment. They were all on the Hogwarts Express. It was slowly moving down the countryside. Now that all of the Marauders were in the same compartment, it normal.

Rachael sighed again. Remus was also good-looking. Yet, he seemed sort of distant from everyone else, especially girls. It was always her that was left out. After all, she was in a different house from them. Rachael was in Slytherin and the only reason they talked to her was because she'd been a friend of Sirius's since before they had gone to school. It wasn't really her fault the Sorting Hat had placed her in such an annoying house, away from everyone else.

Remus froze when he saw her. Smiling at him, Rachael walked off from the group. She sat down in a vacant seat. James and Lily were still flirting. Suddenly she heard a giggle in a different voice. She glanced over and froze. Sirius was sitting in a seat with a busty blonde on his lap. They were snogging. She felt as if someone had frozen her heart. Turning back around, she stared out the window, forcing herself to think about something other than the jealousy and pain in her heart.

Lily saw the look on her face and glanced at Sirius. Rolling her eyes, she walked over to sit next to Rachael.

"You know, if you really like him, you should make a move!" she said softly.

"I can't…What would he want me for? He can have her," Rachael muttered, without looking away from the window.

Lily sighed and stood up. She knew when her best friend wanted to be alone. Going back towards James, she whispered something in his ear. James glanced from Rachael to Sirius, then back to Rachael. A small smile appeared on his face, but he didn't say anything.

A while later, Rachael sat back in the seat, only dressed in her Hogwarts robes. Pinned to her breast, was a badge that showed she was from Slytherin. Glancing around, she saw everyone else was dressed the same, only their badges had Gryffindor on them.

Depression over-riding all other senses, the lone Slytherin got up and slowly left the train compartment. She didn't know that a pair of crystal blue eyes followed her. If she had, she probably wouldn't have stayed anyway.

Having no clue where to go, she headed farther down the train, looking for an empty compartment. She found one.

Closing the door behind her, she leaned heavily against the cool metal. She felt her eyes begin to burn with tears. Rachael pushed herself off the door and headed to slump into a seat.

As soon as she had sat down, the tears broke through a barrier and flowed down her cheeks. She didn't sob. In fact, she made no noise at all. She went back to staring out the window while the tears continued to flow. Her dark chocolate eyes closed briefly as a silent sob wracked her body. Opening them again, she bowed her head so that her long, brown hair swung to cover her face. She didn't want to be there. She didn't want to be alive.

Pulling back her sleeves, she stared impassively at scars that lined her wrists. It appeared that she had tried to slit her own wrists. She had. Pushing the sleeves back down, Rachael sighed and looked back out the window.

She was alone.

Always alone.

No one cared.

Remus watched the only Slytherin leave the compartment. Sighing softly, he looked at his other friends. Sirius was still snogging with that blonde. James and Lily were in the corner, laughing and talking. Next to him, Peter was asleep, snoring softly.

Rolling his eyes, Remus stood up. It caught the attention of Sirius.

"Where ya goin'?" he said, the busty blonde pouting that he'd pulled away.

"To find Rachael…" he answered softly.

Sirius's eyes widened slightly. He looked around the compartment and suddenly realized the stunning brunette was gone. Angry at himself for not realizing she'd left, he pushed the blonde off his lap. The girl, Samantha Figg, huffed and positively ran out of the compartment.

"When did she leave?" Sirius was still beating himself up over the fact his friend had left without him knowing.

"A while ago, about the time your hands were up Sam's shirt," came Remus's cold reply.

"Oh, well, Moony…It's not like she left because of me."

Remus snorted and wandered out of the car, knowing his friend would be pissed at him later for leaving. He didn't care. The only girl to figure out his secret and still treat him like a normal person, was upset. This made him upset. You didn't want him upset.

He wandered through compartments, half his mind alert for the beautiful brunette while the other half was submerged in thoughts. He had almost died when Rachael smiled at him earlier. Yet, he'd just…frozen. What was wrong with him? She was probably the most beautiful girl to ever smile at him, and he'd frozen.

He sighed. Rachael had first caught his eyes about two years before. He could remember it clearly.

[flashback…]

Remus stood just inside the Gryffindor Common room. James and Lily were studying in the corner, Peter was trying to un-stain his bag, and Sirius was no where to be found. Sighing softly, he left the room, thinking it better to wander the halls.

Walking down one, he realized he was near the great oak doors that lead outside. Opening them, he stepped outside. Far in the distance, standing in a patch of moonlight, was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. Her hair was dark brown and hung down to her mid-back. She was perfectly curved and had a thin waist. He stepped down the stone stairs and towards her a little. She turned to look at him. The moonlight made her eyes burn dark amber.

She smiled at him. The fourth year Gryffindor walked over to her and was startled nearly senseless. It was Rachael. His heart ached as she continued to smile at him and it took him all his strength to not kiss her right then and there.

[end flashback…]

Remus smiled softly. He knew what he felt was love. But…she couldn't ever love him back. He was a werewolf, a monster. She had figured it out, but she still hadn't turned away from him. She didn't look at him with fear in her eyes.

He knew she liked Sirius. It was in her eyes every time she looked at the black-haired sixteen-year-old. How he would give anything if she'd look at him like that…but she wouldn't. Ever.

Suddenly Remus realized where he was. At the end of the train. Going into the last compartment, he saw her. He saw the beauty sitting by herself…crying. The girl his heart yearned for was crying.

"Rachael…" he whispered to her.

Rachael suddenly heard a voice. She glanced up and her eyes widened in horror. It was Remus. She quickly wiped away the tears that had been streaming down her face. She didn't feel the disappointment of it not being Sirius that had come, usually she did. Instead…she felt contentment.

Smiling ever-so-slightly, she tilted her head. "Worried about me, Remus?"

Remus felt his ears burn slightly. "Uh…yeah. Why wouldn't I?"

"I dunno, why would you?"

"Because…I—ah—I…care about you." he said, honestly.

Rachael's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh…" was all she could get out.

Biting his lip, Remus sat down in the seat next to her. Their gaze locked. For a while they just stared, but suddenly, Remus had to remind himself to breathe.

"Are you ok, Rachael?" he immediately felt like an idiot for asking. It was obvious she wasn't.

"Yeah, I suppose…" she said softly. Remus cared for her?

Leaning towards her, still caught in the spell of her eyes, Remus said softly, "I'm always hear if you want to talk…" his own eyes were full of concern.

Gratitude filled her eyes and Rachael slowly slipped her arms around his waist in a hug. He felt himself tense suddenly for no reason. Rachael giggled softly as she felt his stomach muscles harden through his robes. Slowly and nervously, Remus wrapped his arms around her, returning the huge.

"Thanks," she mumbled, her face against his chest.

Before he could reply, the compartment door opened with a bang. In strode Sirius. He froze when he saw his two best friends hugging. Scowling softly, he crossed his arms.

"You two look comfortable."

Rachael jumped and let go of Remus. He sighed, disappointed. Suddenly a flare of anger driven by jealousy charged through his chest. He would never have her, she was practically in love with his best friend.

Standing up, Remus crossed his arms, imitating Sirius, "Well yeah…"

Rachael blushed softly. Sirius looked ready to kill Remus. But why? Was he jealous she had been hugging him? Hope swam in her heart, maybe Sirius liked her too.

"Don't you have places to be, Moony? Like charting the moon's phases?" his voice came out cold.

Remus flinched. He saw the look of horror on Rachael's face and felt himself flush. He turned and ran out of the compartment. She probably remembered he was a werewolf, and realized she's just hugged a monster. The pain at the thought of her fearing him almost made him sick.

Rachael glared at Sirius, "That was so…bloody…ugh! I can't believe you said that to him, Sirius! What were you thinking?!" she growled softly at him, anger flashing in her eyes. She strode past him, "I can't believe you could say that and remind him about his lycanthropy. Wasn't it enough you used it against Snape? God, sometimes I wonder why I ever want to be your friend!" She continued away from him, anger raging in her heart.

Sirius stood there, in complete shock. Why had he said that to one of his best friends? Rachael thought him a bloody ass now. He remembered the feeling that had sent shock waves through his heart when he'd seen the two of them hugging. He frowned. Had he been jealous? Sure as hell had…Did he like her now?