Chapter Two:

I carefully pulled myself out of the bed and headed down the stairs to the common room. When I reached the foot of the stairs I heard faintly familiar voices talking in low tones, glancing into the room I saw the four Marauders huddled around the table the owners of the voices. Pausing, I stopped to contemplate whether or not sitting by the fire was worth interrupting them. I knew I wasn't going to get back to sleep, and I didn't want to sit in the dark and stare at the wall, so I may as well interrupt.

I walked out into the open and coughed so it didn't seem like I was sneaking up on them. Sirius' eyes met mine my first, and the familiar sensation of being socked in the gut hit me as I stared into the eyes that I had accepted to be dead. "I'm sorry, I couldn't sleep I didn't think anyone would be down here," I told them feeling uncomfortable at how out of place I was with people who had become such a stable part of my life.

Remus smiled at me, "It's alright. We were just talking."

I smiled slightly as I saw the annoyed looks that Sirius and James threw him at the statement. I sat down next to Sirius and curled my hands into fist trying to squash the desire in me to pull him into a tight hug and never let go. "So, why don't you guys tell me about Hogwarts? It seems so interesting," I told them wanting to laugh as I asked about the place that served as my home for the best parts of my life.

"Hogwarts is awesome. We are some of the most popular kids in school," James started boasting and I had to grin at how unlike Harry he was. He seemed so self-assured and positive that nothing could go wrong, but Harry was shy, humble, and afraid of doing anything to upset someone, always checking over his shoulder in case an attempted assassination of the Boy-Who-Lived was about to occur.

I smiled, "What about the Black Lake is it true there are mermaids in there?" I said asking the first question that came to mind, but I knew the answer. Yes, and they were not the friendliest of creatures. The Tri-Wizard Tournament, the start of this all, maybe if it had never occurred then Sirius would still be alive in the future.

Sirius nodded, "Of course, and there's a giant squid."

"Well, a lake wouldn't be complete without one, would it?" I replied with a laugh because his voice had made it sound like such an obvious answer, which it was of course, but I was supposed to be a new student.

Peter was sitting in the corner quietly looking shy and altogether harmless, but still I couldn't help the seed of hatred gnawing at me as my eyes flashed toward the meek boy picking his nails avoiding my eyes. Had I just met Peter and knew nothing of him I'd probably describe him as cute, like a little puppy dog. He was a little chubby and he had wide eyes that made him look constantly anxious of impending embarrassment. Still, I knew he was not a dog, but a rat.

James smiled at me, "So, who are you rooming with."

"I only met two of them briefly Mary and Lilac, I believe," it was hard to keep my voice innocent as I purposely skewered her name to see how he would react.

James sighed dreamily, "You mean my Lily-flower?" he asked a love struck expression entering his eyes. My mind flashed to the picture of his parents that Harry had always kept with him. It was early spring, and there were flower buds drifting from the trees around them as they held each other in their arms. Even if Lily didn't see it now, there would come a day when she would.

"Yes, that's her name. Are you two dating? You'd look cute together," I told him with a light smile, but on the inside I was full-on-grinning, as I knew that it would result in a great annoyance for Sirius and Remus since he would badger them about her more than ever now.

Sirius glared at me, mock-annoyed. "Why did you have to go and say that? Now he's going to act even more like a love-struck idiot than normal, and let me tell you it is pretty bad normally."

James smacked him with a pillow, before pouting, "I'm not that bad. And sadly, no, I am not dating the magnificent Lily Evans, but one day she will accept my affections and date me."

"I'm sure she will," I told him with a sad smile. One day Lily would see it, but it would almost be too late. They wouldn't get the time they deserved to raise a family together. They'd only have four years before the world, and their house, came crumbling down leaving their son the only part of the relationship. "So, what are the students in the school like?" I asked trying to get more of an idea of how my Professor had thought when he was in school.

Sirius grinned, "The girls are helplessly in love with me. The guys wish they were me. The professors all secretly love me, even if they refuse to show it."

"And let me guess, you're the most modest of all the students at this school?" I asked him with a wicked grin.

"It's not being cocky if it's true, and the girls really do throw themselves at me feet," Sirius said with a smile.

I rolled my eyes, "That's nice. So what about the teachers, something tells me they don't actually love Mr. Wonderful over here."

"They don't," Remus told me with a laugh, "he has detention at least four times a week."

I smiled at Sirius, "Aw, who could give that face detention?"

"The people that have to listen to that mouth," James replied with a wicked grin in his best friend's direction. "So, Lacie, what brings you to Hogwarts?"

"What?" I asked feigning ignorance, because I had not taken the time to prepare for the questions that I should have expected to come up. There were never new students besides the first years, let alone after term had started.

"Why did you come to Hogwarts so late?" he asked again.

I shrugged, "I had been attending a different school for a while, but do to extenuating circumstances I had to transfer to Hogwarts." It was partially true, because future Hogwarts technically is a different school and there were circumstances that caused me to come back to this school.

Sirius raised his eyebrows from where he had moved to lounge in one of the overstuffed armchairs with his feet dangling over the edge. "Are you going to tell us what the extenuating circumstances are?" I shook my head. "Why not?"

"I don't really know any of you currently that well, and I don't think it's a good idea to really talk to anyone about why I'm here. Rumors spread like wildfire no matter where you are," I told them feeling guilty as I tip-toed around the phrasing of my sentences to keep them from being outright lies.

Remus gave Sirius a look when he opened his mouth to protest. He smiled at me and I noticed that while he still had the tired look in his eyes and an unorganized crop of sandy brown hair on his head he had brightness in his eyes. He seemed to be truly happy. "Don't mind Nosy over there."

Sirius shrugged giving me a look, "I think it is reasonable to want to know. We're in a serious war, and we know nothing about her. She could be some sort of spy for all we know."

"Sirius," James said in a scolding tone.

I shrugged leaning back against the couch. "It's okay. He's right; I'd be suspicious in his place, too. Dumbledore knows why I'm here, and he trusts me. That should be enough," I told them thinking about how far Dumbledore's word had gone in the future and hoping it went equally far now.

They all nodded. "So, why did you come down here anyway?" Remus asked after a few moments of uncomfortable silence.

"Bad dream," I told them staring at the fire. The faces of the Inferi appeared in front of my eyes flickering in the fire reminding me of why I was here.

Sirius winked at me, "Well, if you're scared maybe you can sleep in my bed tonight. I'll protect you." Instead of replying I just burst out laughing and shook my head.

Once I got control of myself I looked at him seriously, "No, thank you. I'll just sleep here. The fire comforts me, because my room in S- I mean, my old room had a fireplace," I told them, quickly correcting myself as I almost mentioned Sirius' house. That would definitely raise suspicions and questions I couldn't answer. I saw them exchange looks, but thankfully no one said anything.

They bid me goodnight, and then they headed upstairs to their dorm. I sat there sitting on the hearth staring at the fire. It flickered and licked the logs making the room have an orange glow over it. Soon I felt myself drift slowly off into sleep, this time a comforting dreamless black.

"Lacie!" I jolted awake to see Sirius standing over me. "You fell asleep down here?"

I yawned and looked up at him through bleary eyes, "I guess so. I better go get dressed, meet you at breakfast?" He nodded and I scurried up the stairs to get dressed. Pulling on the robes that McGonagall had provided with me I glanced around the room. I had no make-up or hair ties with me, so I'd have to go all natural until I could get some. Grabbing the books that Professor McGonagall had provided me with and hurried out to the Dining Hall.

"You found you way?" James asked once I sat down. "We were just considering sending someone back for you in case you got lost."

I laughed, "I have a very good sense of direction." Glancing up at the teacher's table I looked for Professor McGonagall. "I'll be right back. I need to get my time table." Walking up I stopped in front of her and smiled. "Excuse me, Professor, I need my time table." She nodded and handed it over to me.

She gave me a light smile, "Lacie, you'd do well to remember that Mr. Black and company are not who you know them to be. Please, try and remain aware of that."

"I know who they are. I know where I am," I told her trying to keep the defensive tone out of my voice. "They are not who they are in the future, not yet. I'll take note to stay aware of that, though." Walking down the table a few seat I stopped in front of Professor Dumbledore.

He smiled at me, "Ms. Stephens, what can I do for you on this fine day?"

I smiled at him, "I have a plan, and I was wondering if I might be able to talk to you at some point today."

"Of course, come to my office after your last lesson of the day and explain to me what you intend to do. The password is Red Vines, I assume you know where my office is." I nodded and then he continued, "We will talk about what your plan is and if there is any way we can ensure your safety."

"Sir, with all due respect, I don't think that there's anything you can do to ensure that," I told him subconsciously folding the parchment into squares. He nodded and I headed back to my seat.

Peter glanced at me when I sat down and I smiled tightly at him trying not to put them off. "Whu yhu doin' tahing ta Dubledor?" Sirius asked me through a mouthful of food. I laughed at him and waited for him to repeat himself. "What were you doing talking to Dumbledore?"

"I have to talk to him about some things after classes," I told them pointedly so that they wouldn't question me further. "I got my time table; do I have any classes with you guys?"

Remus took the paper and glanced at it, "Lucky you, you have a Marauder in every one of your classes. You have Herbology with James first, and then Potions and Care of Magical Creatures with Sirius. Tomorrow you have Astronomy with Sirius again, and Transfiguration with me." I smiled.

The clock chimed deep in the castle, and the students began filing out of the Dining Hall. "Well, Mr. Potter are you ready to go to the first class of the day?" I asked him as I gathered my books into my arms. He nodded and we walked down the hall toward the exit into the courtyard so that we could take the path to the Greenhouse. On our way there I heard whispers following us and eyes burned their way into the back of my neck. "What's their problem?" I questioned James.

"Probably shocked I'm with a girl and not chasing after Lily I suppose," James told me as he glanced at a boy who was not so subtly pointing at me and saying something that sounded rather rude. The boy gulped and scurried away in the opposite direction. "This school is always desperate for a scandal."

I thought about Harry for a second. "James, why won't Lily give you a chance?" the question slipped out before I could think about whether or not that constituted as prying or being nosy.

He shrugged and stared at the floor dejectedly. "She thinks I'm an arrogant prick, and I guess I sort of am, but I really would treat her right."

"Aw, she'll come around. I'll bet you 50 galleons that you she'll realize you're a good guy within two months," I told him trying to keep the wicked grin off my face.

He raised an eyebrow, "Really?"

"It's win-win for you, I mean look at it this way you either are going to fall in love with the girl of your dreams or get 50 galleons," I told him.

He nodded, "Deal."

With that we took our seats in Herbology and listened as a Professor I didn't recognize began to explain how to grow gillyweed.

After that I parted ways with James and headed down into the dungeons. I took a seat in the back next to Sirius who was leaning back on two legs of his chair, his feet balanced on the edge. He looked so self-confident with his arms behind his head and a smirk on his face as he surveyed the room. Carefully I nudged one of the chair legs enough to jolt him, but not cause him to fall all the way onto the floor.

"Hey," I greeted him with a soft laugh as he turned to meet my gaze with a glare.

His intense gaze broke as he smiled, "How was Herbology?"

I rolled my eyes, "Boring as hell. I'd forgotten how much school sucked while I-" I broke off realizing what I'd been about to say. "…Was on summer break." I added unconvincingly after a minute. Sirius gave me a look and opened his mouth about to protest, but he clearly decided against it. "So, what do you guys do on weekends in this school?"

"We hang out, cause havoc and general chaos. This weekend there's a Hogsmeade visit, so we'll be spending a large portion of Saturday doing that," he told me. "Maybe, we could go to Hogsmeade together," he asked, but I was still distracted by the fact Hogsmeade was coming up.

I had planned to get the first horcrux on the first Hogsmeade trip. Was I ready yet? "That sounds like fun, but I think I have something to do this weekend. Maybe next time, or we could hang out by the lake or something afterwards?" I suggested hoping I wouldn't offend him.

"What do you have to do?" he asked.

I paused, wondering why I hadn't seen this question coming, "I need to run some errands because I don't have everything I need while I'm here." It was almost true.

"I could help you," he offered.

Of course he'd choose now to be helpful, "That's alright. I need to go bra shopping and stuff."

"I can help you with that," his eyes lit up as he offered in a suggestive tone.

I slapped his arm and gave him a look. "Inappropriate." He just laughed. Slughorn took that moment to call the class' attention to him and I tried not to groan. With the Marauders, maybe going back to school wouldn't be so bad.