A/N: Thanks for the awesome reviews! I hope you're enjoying, here's Chapter 4! (I apologize for the not-very-creative title) Everything in italics is flashback (besides the top title type thing), and for Disclaimer: See Chapter 3!

Chapter 5 - New People, New Ideas

Years later, in fifth year…

"I can't wait 'till we can apparate, I'm sick of walking, my feet hurt," I complained to Lily on our way to Charms.

"It's not worth it, you can't apparate on school grounds. Protective charms," she replied to my whining.

"Well then they should let us ride our brooms around the school," I grumbled. Lily smiled. If it had been the other way around, I would have bit her head off. But Lily never does that sort of thing, and I always do. I don't know how she handled me. Before II had much chance to ponder over it, however, a pair of hands came up behind me, wrapping around my waist. The person would have been flipped if he hadn't said, "All right, Jaqui darling?"

"Bye Jaqui," Lily said briskly, and walked ahead. I decided to take all the time I needed, Charms wasn't that far ahead.

"I told you not to surprise me, Sirius, for the millionth time, it's like you want to end up in the hospital wing!"

"Well hello to you too," he answered, pecking me on the cheek. "What's up with her?" he questioned.

"Lily? Well I imagine she's not too happy with what you and James did to Severus, not that she's alone on that one," I said sternly. It was hard to be strict with him, but I was genuinely disappointed. Some days, he really was just perfect, but others, he was still the immature first year I'd despised on the train.

"Aww, come on Jaqui, we were just having a little fun with old Snivellus!"

"Yeah, and I'll have a little fun rearranging your face if you don't cut it out!" He looked thoughtful for a moment.

"You've used that threat a lot lately, running out of ideas, sweetheart?"

"Ugh, this is what I mean Sirius! Have you ever tried acting your age, not getting into trouble? Does "You're best mate's a prefect" mean anything to you?"

"Yes, I won't get caught as often," Sirius said sagely.

"I really wish I'd gotten the stupid badge, just so I could make sure you and James end up in detention!" He laughed at me, both enraging me and, (I know, weird) delighting me. I hated how much I loved his laugh. We reached Charms all too soon, and he leaned in close to me in the doorway.

"You wouldn't rat out your brother, would you?"

"He's barely with you when you and James pull your idiotic stunts. And yes I would."

"Jaqui, you don't even know," Kissing me again, he smugly took his seat next to James. I found my spot next to Lily, and wondered how insane I was to date that boy.

Flashback

Sirius was following me, I tried to ignore him, but lately it was harder and harder to do.

"What do you want, Sirius?" It wasn't nasty, for the past couple years, he, along with James and Peter, had been good friends to Remus…and me, I suppose.

"Err, umm, you did great in the Quidditch match, Jaqui," he stuttered.

"We lost."

"Yeah, but YOU still did good. Come on, I don't dish out compliments to easy," he said, gaining some of his old, big-headed, self back.

"Oh really?" I said lightly. "Well, you've been dishing them out to me for so long, I wouldn't have known,"

"Well, Jaqui my dear, you're an exception,"

"Did you have something to say, Sirius? I kind of have to get going." He took a deep breath and looked at me more seriously than he'd ever looked at me before.

"Well, it's not exactly a secret that I find you…stunning."

"Huh. Didn't know stunning was in your vocabulary,"

"Please, Jaqui, I have a reputation. I can't go around seeming good at school. Do you have any idea what that would do to me?" he said in mock pain. It earned him a hard smack on the arm, that he rubbed vigorously, possibly out of habit.

"So, I'm stunning. And?"

"Come to Hogsmeade with me," he said in a rush.

"Like, you and James and Remus and Peter?"

"Err, no, just me. Please?" I was shocked. Yes, he'd flirted with me, but he flirted with everyone. After I soaked him with pumpkin juice in our first year, I never thought he'd asked me out again. Apparently he thought my hesitation was a no. "All right I'll just-

"No, I, you didn't give me a chance. I'll go with you," I smiled, but prpbably not as much as him. I wasn't sure I'd ever seen him so happy. "James won't be angry? I'm sure he'll think I'm stealing you from him,"

"Alas, he finds your friend much more entertaining lately," Hanging his head, he cried, "I've been replaced!"

"Oh, stop your crying, you've got me,"

"You've got that right," he grinned.

"Well, I've really got to go, I'll talk to you later Sirius,"

"You, later,"

"See you Saturday?" He nodded, and I turned to leave. We were good friends, and I knew he'd never try to hurt m. Plus, I'm sure Remus' presence probably was helpful. But Sirius had dated around, with who knows how many girls, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was just "this week's play thing".

End Flashback

"Miss Lupin, are you paying attention?" Professor Flitwick squeaked, surprisingly close to my chair.

"Well, it really all depends on how much extra homework you'll give me if I say no, so…?" He shook his head as the class laughed. I crossed my fingers and prayed my "good student" reputation would pay off. It did.

"Try not to do it again," he said gently.

"Of course not, Professor,"

"Well class, practice, practice! I want to see the wand movements perfected by the end of the week!" The class groaned in unison as the bell rang. Stupid OWL year.

"Does "Your twin brother's a prefect" mean anything to you? Or shall your non-paying attention reign prevail?" Sirius asked me smugly, strutting over to my desk.

"Oh, shut up," I scathed.

"Feeling a little stressed, Jaqui?" James asked. The moment Lily noticed him, she bolted out of the class room, but not before giving him a dirty look. "Hmm, how am I supposed to get in a conversation with that girl. if she keeps running out of sight every time I get close to her!"

"Here's a guess: Stop being a jerk to Severus."

"Jaqui, I don't really think they're capable of such a feat!" Remus cried. Peter giggled, just tagging along, the way he always did.

"We don't mean anything by it!" James said.

"You dumped a vat of Swelling Solution on him!" I shouted, exasperated, and then annoyed when Sirius laughed and tossed one of my books to James. He tossed it to Remus, who tossed it to Peter, and back to Sirius again.

"Catch it, James!"

"Someone's losing an eye," I growled, raising a fist, and approaching James, who dropped the book immediately.

"Merlin, Jaqui, you should really consider being a Beater instead of a Chaser!" He laughed out of the room, flanked by Peter, looking nervous, and Remus, mouthing "Sorry". I was left alone with Sirius, who picked up the book, dusted it off, and handed it to me. I snatched it from him before he could do more damage.

"Swelling solution," I muttered

"Yes it was brilliant, wasn't it?" Sirius said, relishing the memory.

"He blew up like a balloon! What if he got hurt, Sirius?" I didn't understand the humor. "It's four against one! Two if you don't count Peter and Remus, but still!"

"All right, all right, I'll try not to bug him as much." Empty promises, but I knew I couldn't change things. Severus hated James and Sirius. Remus and Peter too. They hated him.

"Fine."

"Cheer up," I sighed as we made our way in silence to the Gryffindor common room.

"Thank God it's Friday," he exclaimed, pulling me down on top of him as collapsed into the cushy arm chair. "We have too much homework,"

"You do. If you'd finished those essays early, like I'd told you, you'd just have Charms and Care of Magical Creatures," Neither of which I felt like doing, I'd save them for Sunday. Still, I somehow managed to draw those diagrams for COMC, and forced Sirius into doing his Transfiguration essay. I then realized what tomorrow was: our Anniversary. Kissing him good night, I retired to the dormitory. When I woke up the next morning, I found a dozen beautiful roses at the foot of my bed, and thought about the question I'd asked myself upon sitting down at Charms yesterday.

"Oh yeah," I thought, "This is why."

Ok, so I realize it's kind of like James/Lily thing, but Sirius and Jaqui live, so it's a little different. =) Hope you're enjoying, and here's something I saw on other people's stories that was cool:

Quote of the Day

(from That 70's Show)

Laurie: I married Fez so he doesn't have to leave the country!

Mr. Forman: YOU WHAT?

Laurie: Oh don't worry, Daddy, I don't love him, I just got bored.