Summary: Exchange students, Slytherins, Muggle-borns, and Hogsmeade visits. As Voldemort is on the rise, Sirius Black is just trying to find his way through his 5th year. That might prove to be harder than expected.

Full Summary: Nevena Krum is an exchange student from Bulgaria, Alex Warner is a muggle-born from a divided family, Liam Anderson is a Prefect and Beater for Quidditch, and Evelyn Hall is a girl who thinks she has it all. Their worlds collide to create the worst and best time in their life. Voldemort is gaining followers and as everyone prepares to fight, unexpected things happen, leaving only one thing to say; "Pass the Firewhiskey."

Authors Note: I don't own Harry Potter, so y'all can calm down.

Sirius' POV

Prongs was after Lily, again. Why does he pursue Evans, anyway? She obviously doesn't like him, and besides, there are better Gryffindors. Girls who aren't so full of herself and better looking, too. Not that Evan's isn't good looking, it's just that, well, there's better catch in the pond. Get me?

So here we are, passing every compartment to see which one holds Prongs' fiery girl. I didn't exactly think it was a smart idea, cornering Evans in a compartment. It was like going into the pen of a caged tiger. Dangerous, don't you think?

We found her quick enough, with Snivelly too. Well, I might as well poke fun…

Wait, who's that?

"It seems that introductions need to be put in place, Prongs, Evan's found herself another friend."

I passed the girl my usual smirk, looking her up and down. Quite good looking, and she definitely didn't attend Hogwarts the year before. No, I would remember this one. Pretty brown eyes, nice tanned skin, small bow shaped lips. Not to mention the hair. Everything was interesting. Then she scowled at me. Very interesting…

James looked over at her, smirking for some stupid reason, "Ah yes, I remember you. The veela from Bulgaria. I have a wonderful memory, but I'm sure Evans already told you that." Lily rolled her eyes and a smile tugged at the veela's lips. A crooked one, but it had character, did it not?

But my God, what was wrong with Peter? The poor boy was basically drooling all over himself. Ah, must have been the veela effect. Remus shoved him and Peter looked like he woke up from a dream. Poor boy, veela's have a pretty strong presence, but she obviously wasn't a full one. Otherwise, we'd all be blubbering idiots. Especially Snivelly. Speaking of the git…

"Oh, does dear old Snivellus not like our presence?"

"Black, don't you dare," Lily passed me one of those murderous looks of hers. Luckily for me, I was already immune to them. If I had a Knut for every time Lily openly threatened to kill me, I'd have a Gringotts vault full of rubies.

"Don't worry Lily, I won't let Padfoot upset you, although you do look amazing when you're angry," James cleaned off his glasses on his tie and smirked at her. The glare shifted over to him, only hardening. Like I said, she hates Prongs with a passion. A burning passion.

"If your memory is so wonderful, Potter, perhaps you remember me slapping you last year? I remember it feeling awfully good."

James smiled at the redhead, and I could tell something good was coming. "Of course I remember Evans, how could I forget the wonderful sensation of your soft hand caressing my cheek? Any touch from you, my dear Lily flower, is a moment forever captured in my mind." Lily looked thoroughly upset with herself, which only made me laugh (or should I say snicker?) ten times harder. Remus stepped on my foot to stop me from laughing too loudly. Dear old Moony, always there to keep me in check...

Just at that moment, the veela muttered under her breath, audible enough for me to hear. "And I thought Nikola's hormones vere bad."

To hell, if I knew who Nikola was, but her comment was a rather educational experience. The veela had a sense of humor, that was important. Naturally, I shot her a smirk. "Prongs' hormones have been raging since the moment he was born, love."

"Sirius, I'd be careful what you call her, you wouldn't want Amelia to get upset that her boyfriend was flirting with another girl, now would you?" Of course, dear old Moony always there to remind me of the relationships I was in. But besides, Amelia and I were together last year. And bloody hell, can I call anyone anything anymore? 'Love' isn't incriminating. Moony's just sensitive.

"Lily, won't you be there to cheer James on at this year's Quidditch matches?"

"You haff Quidditch teams?"

Dear Lord. Did Peter honestly just mention Quidditch? Now we're never leaving. Honestly, pull yourself together, man! You've just sent us all to our deaths! Naturally, we all groaned. Peter, of course, held up his hands in mock defense. As if being innocent could save him! We were all doomed. It seemed only James and that veela were enjoying this conversation. I'll have to remember to sketch the boy out my will...

"You play Quidditch?"

"I vos a Chaser at Durmstrang, ve von the Quidditch Cup many times, are your team's any good?"

R.I.P. my soul…

"I'm on the Gryffindor team and probably the best Chaser in the whole school. You could maybe get a spot if you really tried…"

…

Nevena's POV

The train stopped only moments after Lily and I changed into our Hogwarts robes. Severus had left to go meet up with a group of his friends and Lily wasn't happy about it. Apparently, she wasn't too fond of the rest of the Slytherins. Most people weren't.

Well that makes me feel good about my future Hogwarts house, right?

It was crowded getting off the train, but Lily led me to the carriages easily enough. Thestrals were pulling them, and I greeted them in my usual way. I started to see Thestrals when I was eight, my little sister, Zivka, died of a terrible disease.

"Umm… Nevena? What are you looking at?"

Lily gave me a look that was purely her own. In our short trip on the train I learned that she has many different facial expressions, some only she could ever do. Obviously, she can't see Thestrals. Only then did I notice everyvone's odd stares. So no one knows about the Thestrals… okay… not even one person? At Durmstrang there were Thestrals, and even if you couldn't see them you knew about them…

"Can you not see Thestrals?"

"Pardon?"

"Thestrals. They pull the carriages, all of them. You can only see them if you haff seen death and haffed coped vith it. They are very beautiful creatures, they look like horses, although they haff a skeletal look to them." Lily nodded, but in a way that said 'i-understand-what-you're-saying-but-don't-believe-you'.

Joy. Another person thinking I belonged in an insane asylum.

No, she wouldn't be the first. That spot is held by two, Erik and Lucas from Durmstrang, together making enough brain cells that would only make a brain dead person jealous. And even then, it was a stretch.

Now, why do I hate them so much? Well, while being veela can have its benefits (perfect hair, never having to deal with unnecessary weight gain, etc.), it can also have its drawbacks. Unwanted attention from males being one of them. (Not to mention the amount of prejudice and hatred from other females.) Dear Erik and Lucas fell into this category and obviously had no tact whatsoever.

I mean, trying to forcibly snog a poor girl senseless in the halls. That little of tact. Now, of course, not only did I do the logical thing and slug them both, but I also yelled (In quite the voice) "I HOPE BOTH OF YOU BURN IN HELL FOR YOUR SINS!"

I'm very poetic, right? Well, Nikola, my brother, thought so. However, the headmaster did not. Needless to say, I got two months detention and had to write a written apology. Invisible ink comes in handy at times like this, does it not?

The two boys couldn't show their faces for weeks. Especially after Nikola sent them a Howler. But I'm getting off the topic.

Anyway, I got into the carriages with Lily, although so did the Marauders. They really didn't know when to give up, do they? Oh well, hopefully, I can space them out…

Sirius' POV

I think the veela made a valiant attempt to block us out when we sat down in the carriage. I voted to sit in the carriage with Evelyn Hall, but Moony broke the tie, saying 'he'd rather watch James pine over Evans than watch me try and make a move on Evelyn while still (we broke up last year!) going out with Amelia.'

Whatever Moony, we all know you're just upset because Alice Fortescue snogged Frank Longbottom at the platform. Big deal. Everyone but him knew that they were just waiting until they turned 15.

"What were you talking about?" Trust Moony to try and keep Evans civil.

"Thestrals. Nevena was telling me about them. Apparently, they pull the carriages." I scoffed. Honestly, what was I expected to do in that situation? Nod and pretend that what they had said was perfectly normal? Nothing pulled the carriages, anyone with eyes could see that. Apparently, my reaction wasn't wanted, however, because I received a glare from almost everyone in the carriage. Touchy.

"She's not wrong," Merlin's beard, Peter. Are you asking for a premature death? Because you're one foot from the edge. "These skeleton horses pull the carriages, Thestrals. They always scare me senseless, but I figured no one would believe me."

Naturally, my eyes rolled. What else were they supposed to do? "C'mon Wormtail, the carriages pull themselves. Like always," Peter shrugged indifferently and everyone lapsed into an uneasy silence. Even Prongs wasn't saying anything. Obviously, I hadn't gotten the memo. Since when was the carriage ride to Hogwarts silent? It was unheard of and downright unnatural. Oh well, that's what the presence of a veela does, I suppose…

What, is it not okay for me to blame everything on her?

Speaking of the veela, didn't Lily call her Nevena? Nevena. Beautiful name, the only drawback being her house. Yes, I refuse to associate myself with any sort of Slytherin. But can you blame me? Besides, people at Durmstrang practiced the Dark Arts. Both of those things combined should scream to any sensible person 'run away and hopefully the world will have mercy on your poor soul.'

"Hogvarts is… beautiful."

The vee- Nevena, said it in another one of barely audible sighs. What, it's not my fault I have amazing hearing! Besides, it wasn't like I was listening to her or anything! There was just something about her deep voice and overly thick accent that made you listen when she spoke! Or maybe it was the veela in her…

What, am I no longer allowed to make assumptions based on what she is? People do that to me every day! But then again, the house of Black is seen as 'noble', so maybe that works in my favor? Eh, I think too much.

"Lily, do you realize just how romantic this is?"

James was slugged before I had a chance to look up.