A/N: Oh, I've been forgetting to do this!

Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter, James, Lily, Sirius, and Remus would be ALIVE and WELL.

I yawned and stretched as I climbed the stairs to the girl's dormitory. Pausing at the door, I heard hushed voices and decided to eavesdrop. …What? Stop looking at me like that! I'm a Marauder! A Marauder's main job is to break rules and habitually do things that prissy, prudish people would not even attempt!

"… great to see you again, Lils!" That was Alice Prewett, a boisterous, loud girl who's main focus in life were boys (particularly Frank Longbottom) and clothes.

"You too, Alice! Lovely to see you, Mary!"

"Hi, Lily." Mary MacDonald was a shy, quiet girl who I didn't really know that much. She got awful grades all the time and was rather dull.

"Where's Carrick?" Prewett asked.

"I don't know. Probably hanging out with her boyfriends." The two girls snickered as MacDonald probably just watched on.

"What a slut," the girl sneered.

Mary feebly tried to control the conversation. "Alice…"

"I wouldn't go that far, Alice." Evans cut over the small girl. "She's just a pathetic arse trying to pretend that people like her."

"Um, Lily…?"

"Very true," Prewett agreed firmly. "I wonder why she's even accepted into that stupid little group of boys?"

"You know what they say. Bird of a feather flock together," Evans said cruelly, laughing along with her friend.

A door opened and I tensed, looking around me. I relaxed once I realized that it was the bathroom door inside the dorm.

"Hello, girls," came the firm voice of Tessa. "What are you talking about?"

"Bitch," Prewett said promptly. "Oh, I mean, what's her name…? Idiot? Stupid Little Bugger? Oh, yeah! Carrick!"

Evans giggled naughtily as I listened on.

"Girls," Tessa scolded, "let's not gossip. None of you actually know her."

"Neither do you," the redhead pointed out.

"What I'm saying is, don't judge a book by its cover. For all you know, Carrick might be saying the same things about you, though she doesn't seem the type."

"Sure, sure, she doesn't seem the type," Prewett drawled. "Let's all pity the little orphan girl."

I froze, clenching my fists. That was a low blow. I didn't want to hear anymore of this conversation.

Walking down the stairs, I sighed. I didn't mind the insults. I could take being called a whore, a female dog, a loser. But digs about my parents, or lack thereof…

I stepped down into the Common Room and saw my friends talking together, thick as thieves in front of the cozy fireplace.

"Hey, guys!" I said cheerily, deciding not to be moody.

"Hey, Ell!" Remus responded immediately, making space for me to join them. I smiled and sat down, leaning on the werewolf's shoulder.

"What's wrong?" James asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Nothing's wrong," I said, trying to act innocent.

"Then what's this?" Sirius lifted up my hand and showed me the curves on my palm where my fingernails had dug into my skin. It was habit for me to clench my fists when I was getting emotional.

"I almost tripped down the stairs." I forced a laugh. "I thought someone might have pushed me, but there was no one."

Remus gave me a look. A twin look. No one besides me knew what it meant. Are you telling the truth, Ell?

I put an affronted expression on my face. You don't trust me, Moony? I am extremely hurt.

Remus stared at me. No, I don't trust you, especially when you're dancing around the question like this.

I swore mentally. Damn it, there's nothing wrong.

The werewolf's eyebrow curved up. Then why did you go up to your dormitory, only to come back down after a few minutes without unpacking or changing into your pajamas?

I sighed. "Okay, fine," I muttered. "I went upstairs and Evans and Prewett were talking and I listened in and I might have gotten a teensy bit emotional at what they were saying about me but I am totally fine and no," I pointed to Sirius sternly, "we are not going to prank them."

"I didn't even say anything!" the dog protested.

"I know you, Sirius Black. If we prank them, Evans will think it was James and fwoosh," I whistled for emphasis, "there goes any chance of me being Maid of Honor at their wedding."

James looked uneasy, and it was obvious why.

"Listen, Jimmy dear, it's totally okay. Look at me." He refused, so I pushed his chin up and gave him a broad grin. "Since when have I cared? And anyway, everyone gossips about people they don't like. We gossip about Diggory, don't we? That doesn't mean other people don't like us. I can't help if Evans doesn't like me, I'm just not a very likable character with girls." I shrugged. "The only thing that will make me feel bad is if you give up on your dream because of little me."

Prongs chuckled, the light returning to his eyes as he stood up. "Yeah, you're pretty little, aren't you?"

"Hey, hey," I yelled, proceeding to chase him around the room. "I am not little, I'm vertically challenged!"

"I bet if anyone saw you two, they'd guess you were James' daughter," Sirius laughed. I looked pained.

"Been there, done that!" I exclaimed. "Someone came up to Tucker and asked him how old his daughter was! Hello! I have black hair, he's blonde! I have brown eyes, his are blue!"

"You obviously take after your mother," Remus said, picking up a book and settling himself into an armchair.

I snorted. "And how would I know?"

Moony winced, realizing that he had touched a nerve. "Touché."

"Hey, where's Peter?" I asked suddenly, whipping my head around.

"I.. hmm… where is he, Pads?"

"I don't know. I don't think he's even come up to the Common Room yet."

"Wonder where he is," I shrugged.

James yawned loudly. "I think it'd be better if we got to sleep."

"Wimp," Sirius taunted.

I glanced up the stairs to the girl's dormitory, then turned to the boys. "Can I sleep with you?"

Before you darling readers think any… thoughts, let me elucidate. The boys had an empty bed in their dormitory since their classmate had moved to Durmstrang in 4th year. So at times, when I couldn't fall asleep, I'd come and sleep in their dormitory. It was easier for an insomniac to rest surrounded by friends, rather than petty girls who hated them.

Remus glanced up and gauged how I felt. Normally, he would choose, since he was the only one who knew me well enough to decide whether I should fight or flee. "Sure."

I smiled, kissed him on the cheek, then ran upstairs with my suitcase. "Last one in the dorm is a rotten egg!"

A/N: Alright, I have a feeling I'm going to get flames from Lily fans.

O.O *ducks as tomatoes and other vegetables are thrown at her by rabid Lily-Lovers*

Till next time, her Majesty, the Queen, Violet ^_^