James found himself running as fast as he could down a decaying tunnel to Hogsmead. Sirius was right behind him and as far as he could tell they were late for their meeting with Remus and Peter, but he hadn't brought the watch his parents had given him and therefore couldn't be sure. They had sprinted back from quiddich practice to the dormitories to take showers and change, but had still been late getting out because Lily Evans was standing in front of the portrait hole talking to Alice, and the boys couldn't push past while wearing the cloak. It was ten by the time they got to The Three Broomsticks, and Peter and Remus were already sitting at the bar talking the Rosmerta.

"I dunno if we should keep using that passageway Paddy" James said in a low voice while the boys walked up to the door

"I know. It does seem to be crumbling in places doesn't it? It should be fine though, never failed us before." Sirius said as they wended their way between tables to get to the bar

"We have so many others though. Why don't we just use the witch from now on?"

"Dunno, we'll talk about it later. Rosy, how are you tonight?" Sirius said in a deep voice he saved for flirting

"I would be fine, Mr. Black, if you didn't keep an enormous tab that never seems to pay itself off." Rosmerta said laughingly

"Don't worry about the thing, love, I'm going to pay it off next Hogsmead trip, I swear it." Sirius said grinning and putting two fingers up in a boy scout pledge.

"Out! Get out of my pub, I mean it Black! I refuse to let you go more in debt; lord knows I don't want to have to tell your parents." Sirius barked with laughter

"That's probably the only thing they're good for. You're not the only one who doesn't want to upset them." He said grinning and then growing serious "But you do know I'm on my own now, right?"

"So young? Why didn't you tell me before, if I'd have known there was no money backing you I would have never let you start a tab in the first place!"

"Calm down Rosy, I've got it tonight and I'll take his tab too, I lost a bet to him the other night. I'd rather the money go to you that straight into his reckless little hands" James said smiling

"Oh, James, you're a doll. What can I get you? I'll give a free round tonight if you do settle his debt. And another for your birthday Peter, dear" Rosmerta said, giving an affectionate look to James and then Peter.

"Oi, my hands are not little, their very big, thanks!" Sirius said indignantly

"Oh, Paddy, that's the least of your worries in the department of small body parts." James said cheekily

"Ouch, James, and you, my friend?" Sirius said laughing

As the night went on the boys became far more boisterous, and Rosmerta was glad for their company, even though she knew full well they weren't supposed to be out of school.

"I might have to tell Dumbledore about your visits, I'm not sure it's safe in such dark times for you to be wandering about at night." Rosmerta said smacking Sirius on the arm with the towel she was using to wipe the bar down as he reached over the bar for the bottle.

"Where's the fun in that? You love our company, and so long as we're entertaining, no one has to know about our little excursions." Remus said flirtatiously

"I've never heard such a boast, and from you, Remus?" Rosmerta giggled.

"You know I've always been soft on you Rosy." Remus said laughing

"Only when you've been here an hour or so Moony" James said laughing and turning his empty cup of fire whiskey upside-down

"You boys are too much for me to handle, why do I put up with this?" Rosmerta said, filling James' glass again "How's your birthday, Peter? It's quiet for the big 17, huh?"

"Din' wan' 'nything big, jus' the boys, an' you 'course Rosm'." Peter said smiling and slurring slightly

"I would expect it from you an' Remus. But I know James and Sirius are planning something else."

"I'd be lying if I said anything else" Sirius grinned coyly.

"Go on then, let's hear it"

"No, I'm afraid not, what you would hear might shock or scar you. No, I'm afraid I'll have to keep that secret to myself, far to wild for someone like you, darling."

"Oh! Insulting me in my own pub are you? Not to mention that, Sirius, you seem to be forgetting that not only am I older than you, but I am always around intoxicated men much more wild than yourself." she said giving Sirius a look and topping off everyone else's glasses, none of which had been finished and leaving Sirius' empty one the counter.

Sirius looked shocked and horrified. "I am so sorry, madam, if I offended you in anyway. I promise I will have my party here and all my guests will pay you loads of money." Rosmerta giggled and filled his glass

"And for the record, Sirius, no party of yours is ever welcome here. Your guests could never pay for the damage they, and you, are sure to cause."

"You have the most trusting friendships, Sirius." James laughed

"That goes for you too, James." Rosmerta said sternly while smiling slightly

"You seem to mirror Sirius' talents James, my boy." Remus said

"Remus, you are always welcome" Rosmerta said smiling at him

"Youe predjudice against James and I astounds me!" Sirius said unhappily

"Ahh… well maybe it's better for all of us Sir. She is right about the damage issue, I'm not sure The Three Broomsticks would ever be the same." James said "Anyway, Rosy, I think we should take our leave. Looks like Petey isn't feeling too well. He's shorter you know, goes to his system faster."

With that, James paid off their large check and Sirius' tab and the boys left, James and Sirius supporting Peter under the arms and Remus walking beside. They walked in relative silence for a long time. Sirius and James were trying not to let Peter fall and Remus was thinking about a much different adventure that would take place on Friday.

"You look dark again Moony. Thinking 'bout your furry little problem?"

"It never leaves my mind, unfortunately."

"I'm sorry we couldn't make it more in the summer, but neither Sirius nor I can handle your transformed self alone."

"I wouldn't have expected you to come, I appreciate that you lot come along during the school year, I just wish it weren't so dangerous."

"We're not going over this again, Moony, we don't care, you're more important, I swear it." Sirius said gruffly

"Well said, Padfoot." James said

"Speaking of," Remus changed subject "you have to stop slipping our nicknames in public, Prongs."

"I know, I'm sorry, Rosy doesn't care though she's got other stuff to deal with. I won't do it again though."

"Yeah, well, that goes for Peter as well, he's the worst of all of us. If the school finds out, we're screwed, because we sign all our pranks with them."

Silence elapsed again and continued until they got to the portrait covering the tunnel. Remus, Sirius and James all cast themselves invisible, and wrapped the cloak around Peter who had fallen asleep by now, continuing up to the dormitories in the same fashion.

"I don't think I've ever seen him so quiet drunk before." James said as they put him to bed

"Hahah, yeah, do you remember last house party after we won the quiddich cup last year? I thought he was going to get up and table dance!" Sirius said

"He did," Remus laughed "You were too absorbed in Tara to see"

"Oh, yeah, I remember that! How horrible was he?"

"Surprisingly enough, he wasn't bad!" James laughed

Later that night, or by that time, early next morning, James found himself in the common room, standing at the hearth and staring blandly into the fire. He was thinking about his object of affection. It was strange but he had almost forgotten about her this year, he'd been so busy. He still blushed at his actions last year, what a fool he had been. Desperate times, he supposed, desperate measures. But even that didn't cover how stupid he had been, no wonder she hated him, why had he not seen his faults earlier? He knew she was worth all the pain, but honestly, would she ever see through the façade that appeared every time she came near? Damn this whole situation. Why did he even like her in the first place? Gone were the days when he liked a witch just for what she looked like.

"That witch of yours is the most kind person I think I've ever met."

"Of mine? I wish." James said bitterly "And I know she's kind. It makes me sick sometimes to look at myself in comparison."

"Actually, I think you two are very similar in that way." Remus said, standing at the window and looking up at the moon. James looked over at his friend curiously, and said nothing, waiting for Remus to go on.

"She knows, and she doesn't care."

"What? How did she find out? If it was Snivelly, trying to win her back, I'm going to make him wish he'd never lived."

"I'm not sure. He did say it in passing to her and she and I were talking. Said she'd sunk so low to be talking to me, your friend and a…well, she turned on him quick as anything and said that she liked me because I didn't care that she was mugge-born, and said I was a good wizard, not even though I am a creature, or anything, just wizard. She says she thinks it's awful the way they treat werewolves. But the thing is, she didn't even say she knew, she told me as if it were still a question whether I was or not. I don't think Severus ever told her."

"He better not have, where does he get off insulting you? Berk." James said angrily and them softer "She defended you? That's brilliant mate. Look I've been telling you all along. Anyone who cares about your condition is not worth the time."

Jame's eyes burned in a way that told Remus he wasn't thinking just about Remus and his troubles. Remus knew James had come to the fire to think about Lily because for once in his life, he wasn't spending his energy trying to get her in his corner. In fact, James seemed to have stop bothering with Lily at all, it had been three weeks since start of term and they had barely spoken a word to eachother. At least Lily hadn't yelled at James once yet.. he had to be happy about that.

"Lily is worth your time, James, even if she doesn't appear to care about you right now."

"I know…"


Well, chapter two is up, waht more can I say? Review?