*In Which Padfoot Visits the Library*


A/N: um, well, here we are. Profuse apologies or myriad excuses? What with producing a show here on campus, regular physical therapy, crazy-involved film theory class, and butt-kicking african civ, short and busy Christmas break that's almost over...yes, here we are. This chapter has not only been a long time coming (duh), but it also took me long time to get exactly right. That is to say, I suck. But enjoy the update! Thanks for the reviews, always!

About Lily: yes, it IS odd that she won't let James kiss her, you're all picking up on that correctly. :)


Lily and Marlene were studying quietly in the back of the library, as was their Thursday evening tradition. Lily was intent on next week's Transfiguration essay, but Marlene was fed up with homework and allowed her gaze to wander about the library. She chewed absently on the end of her quill and caught the eye of a very unexpected person entering the library.

"What are you doing here?" Marlene whispered sardonically as Sirius joined them at the back table.

Lily finally looked up from her essay, somewhat disoriented. "Sirius? Is it...is there...are you guys pulling a prank in here or something?"

Sirius looked offended. "What, a bloke can't come study in the library with his classmates?"

"You didn't bring any homework," Lily pointed out.

He swung his feet up onto the table with practiced nonchalance and gestured to the surrounding bookshelves. "How can one not study in the library, I ask you?"

Lily frowned slightly. "Is there something you want?"

Sirius cast a sly glance in Marlene's direction. "You mean besides-"

Marlene spluttered and half-gagged on her quill, desperately cutting Sirius off. "NO," she choked out as Sirius smirked. She quickly dove beneath the table, pretending to fumble with her book bag.

"Marlene! What's wrong?" Lily's concern quickly faded to confusion as she looked from Sirius to her coughing friend. "What am I missing?"

Sirius met her gaze. "Nothing really," he said with a straight face. "That is, unless McKinnon here has something to share."

Marlene sprang back up from beneath the table. "Nope. No. Nothing. Ever. At all." She glared at Sirius. His grey eyes smirked back at her.

"Alright then," he said. "Nothing you're missing. Just thought I'd pop in for a chat...with my two favorite gals," he added mischievously.

"Oh please," Lily groaned. "You are not copying our homework."

"Go ask Remus, would you?" Marlene chipped in.

Lily winced ever so slightly at the name, Sirius noted with interest.

"Fine, maybe I will." He pretended to be hurt by their low opinion of him and sulked for a moment to give them the full effect. Neither Lily or Marlene gave him any such satisfaction, however, and Sirius eventually gave up and sauntered out of the library.

Winking at a couple of Ravenclaws giggling by the door, he failed to noticed that Marlene had looked up from her books to watch him go-earning her an elbow in the ribs from Lily, who whispered something less-than-kind to her friend with a scowl at Sirius Black's departing backside.


Having been so rudely dismissed by the girls in the library, Sirius was at a loss for what to do. James was drilling with Chasers out on the pitch, Peter was serving a detention for making fun of the Diviniation professor, Remus was studying irritably in their dorm room, and there were still two hours left until curfew. So much he could do with two whole hours, but a quick survey of the Map showed Snivellus safely in the dungeons with his fellow Slytherins, so that was out. A run with Padfoot might not be such a bad idea, he decided.

Sirius did not normally shift to his animagus form apart from the full moon, but his lack of motivation to do schoolwork and the absence of friends and enemies alike provided him with a rare opportunity to cavort like a puppy through the chilly, deserted grounds of Hogwarts. This also gave him time to think, which he rarely allowed himself too much of.

He tried to keep his mind off of particularly distressing thoughts, such as those of his family, life after Hogwarts, and the impending trouble with that Voldemort bloke. Instead, he found himself thinking about Marlene McKinnon's hair, and her bizarre rudeness to him in the library.

Her hair was a lovely, coffee sort of brown, and rather straight with a few random curls. It was longer even than what was considered fashionable, and rumour was she hadn't cut it in all her time at Hogwarts. Sirius considered this very impressive, considering that he himself was meticulous about his hair.

He supposed it wasn't really so strange how she'd acted in the library. At least, not in light of the past weekend's, er, activities. It was at the party after the Quidditch game, and they had both been a little drunk, and chatting in the common room had led to stumbling through the corridors, which had led to finding a broom closet to snog in (one of Sirius' favorites, incidentally)...which had then led to Marlene losing her shit because apparently she and Lily had made some kind of pact in their fourth year to never, ever snog a Marauder. She really emphasized the never ever of it all, and Sirius was rather offended. Still, he supposed her reaction in the library was logical, as she clearly hadn't told Lily about what had transpired.

Sirius chuckled to himself, and it came out as a soft whuff, which was then answered by an incredulous "Padfoot?!"

His ears perked up, and he could discern the outline of James coming toward him, followed very unfortunately by the other two Gryffindor Chasers. James realized his mistake and simply gestured for Sirius to get lost, making some excuse about rabbits to the others.

Padfoot waited until the Chasers were inside the castle before shifting back into Sirius and strolling casually in the front doors, where James was waiting to pull him into an alcove.

"What're you, gonna shag me against the wall now?" Sirius cracked, shrugging out of his friend's grip.

James ignored the comment. "What were you doing out there? Somebody could have seen you!"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Heaven forbid someone sees a dog running around outdoors. Merlin, Prongs, you can be awfully skittish sometimes."

"Well I didn't know you'd be out," James huffed at his best mate, heading up the stairs. "Reckon I almost gave you away."

"That you did, mate." Sirius patted his shoulder. "Not exactly my fault, is it?" He paused a moment on the stair before continuing, "Oh hey. I think I might know why you're having such trouble with Evans."

James, his interest piqued, came to a halt, forcing Sirius to stop with him. "And?" he demanded.

Sirius chuckled. "It's pretty dumb," he admitted.

"Just tell me, for Merlin's sake!"

"Don't get your knickers in a twist. Apparently she and McKinnon made some stupid oath not to snog any of us, and Evans is much more committed to that than McKinnon," he smirked.

James looked torn between relief and devastation. "That's all then? Just some silly pinky-swear... Wait? You snogged McKinnon? When?" He remembered his own predicament in time to save Sirius from answering. "Ugh, she'll never let me if she doesn't know Marlene already broke their stupid oath. I don't suppose you could...drop a hint?" he gave Sirius a pleading look.

"Oh, stop it," Sirius replied, continuing up to Gryffindor Tower. "Tell her yourself! McKinnon would skin me and eat me."

"That's...vivid."

"You know what I mean."

"Well you've got to help me," James insisted.

Sirius rolled his eyes. "I know we've had this conversation before, but why Evans? The one girl in this school who's not a part of your bloody fan club?"

James scowled. "Shut it. At least she's finally dating me."

"Oh, is that still on then?" Sirius smirked. "She didn't dump you yet?"

"No, and she isn't going to!" James sped up as they neared the portrait of the Fat Lady. "I'm asking her to Hogsmeade for Sunday, and I'm just going to fucking kiss her! Kneazle whiskers!"

The portrait swung open and Sirius followed James into the common room.

"That's m'boy."