"Every journey starts with a single step"

- Chinese Proverb

"Do I have to wake up?" groaned James from under his pillow, for about the tenth time in five minutes.

"Yes, dear. Breakfast is ready," said Sirius, uncannily mimicking James' mother.

"Really?" James practically shot out of bed, only to be greeted by three friends nearly laughing themselves sick. "Useless," he grumbled. How was he supposed to be able to tell Sirius' voice from Wanda Potter's, anyway? He got dressed in huffy silence, shooting the most malicious glare he could at, "Five in the morning?" he yelped. "What the blazes did you lot wake me up for?"

"Quidditch." Sirius was wearing his annoying satisfied little smirk. "You do remember tomorrow is the match against Ravenclaw?"

"Right, right, yeah, whatever," muttered James distractedly, idly running his fingers through his hair.

"Here are your socks." Sirius handed him a pair.

James grinned. "You know me too well, Padfoot."

"I know you well enough to know that the only thing that could ever wake you up is the word breakfast, and that before Quidditch practice, you're always looking for socks," replied Sirius, shrugging dismissively.

　"True," said James, grinning. "And here's what I know: Marie was waiting for you last night at the Three Broomsticks, but you didn't show up. You're really gonna catch it this time, mon ami."

"If only I could catch that tongue of yours and-" Sirius made a violent wrenching motion that could've ripped a snake in two.

Breakfast was taken, as usual, after Quidditch practice. James and Sirius entered, looking mussed up enough to let every one know they had practiced, but not too mussed up. The moment Sirius strode into the room, he knew he was in trouble. Marie Fawcern of Ravenclaw was walking toward him as he sat down, and not looking so happy either. "Told you," whispered James.

"Shut up," hissed Sirius, and began to nonchalantly start piling food on his plate. He was halfway through a bite of egg, when a voice behind him asked, "What exactly was so important at seven o'clock yesterday that you didn't come?"

Sirius held up a hand and pointed at his mouth, which James could swear he had stuffed to buy himself time. Sirius washed it down elegantly with a sip of orange juice, then smiled pleasantly. "Well, if you really must know…"

"What, you've got another girl?" said Marie, face tight.

"Not exactly…"

"Then WHAT IS IT?" she cried. No one was really noticing her, except for the Maurauders.

"You're in a good mood," he muttered. Sirius put an arm around Remus. "Well, Remus and I decided to…"

But he was interrupted by, "YOU DISGUSTING FREAK! I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN!" and with a swish of robes, she swept away.

"What?" asked Sirius, eyes dancing wickedly. "I didn't do anything…right, Moony?"

"Well," Remus started removing Sirius' arm from his shoulder, "I think that she thought that you were implying something else…" he blushed, and his voice drifted off.

"Oh," said Sirius apparently thinking. The quiet peace at the Gryffindor table was broken by ear piercing shrieks, as Marie updated her friends on her love life.

"Can you believe it? He ditched me for another boy!"

At which James, Sirius and Remus laughed heartily. Peter didn't seem to get it, but he giggled shrilly, all the same.