Summary: Sometimes life was sweet, but with a bitter ending. Sometimes it was the opposite. Just like butterbeer.

Full Summary: James Potter was in his prime. He was Quidditch Captain for Gryffindor, he had become Animagus to help Remus, and his group of friends were at their height in their pranking career. Now all he had left was to woo the girl. Lily Evans. But of course, James doesn't do things halfway, and all he needed was someone to help him. Now, who fit's the role? Only, Olivia Grey. Of course, Slytherin's aren't always the most helpful type, and Sirius Black knows so. Could she be hiding any ulterior motives?

Author's Note: If Harry Potter were mine, Neville and Luna would have been a thing.

Olivia's POV

Dear Lord.

What had I done?

There had to be at least half of the entire school storming out of the Great Hall and into the courtyard. I'm insane. Or I'm having a dream. One of those.

I couldn't have just stood on the tables and called out Slughorn. I couldn't have. That was all a part of my imagination, right? Or did Potter spike my drink and I'm hallucinating?

It was brisk outside but warm for December. Of course, my cloak was sitting in my dorm, which is located in the Slytherin girls dormitories, and that's located next to the Slytherin common room, and well… You know the rest.

Amos (bless that man) was walking around, trying to get all of the newcomers to sign a sheet for our records. We kept track of everyone who was campaigning with us, smart, right? It was Jianyu's idea, naturally.

People were walking all around me, trying to find out where to go and trying to find out what was really happening. It was moments after we all made our announcement in the Great Hall, and everyone was a bit too high on adrenaline to understand what was going on fully. It was then that I saw him, and I knew I was dreaming.

And before you get any smart ideas on who he was, let me tell you.

It was my younger brother.

Anthony Grey.

I found him a moment before he saw me, and when he did, he started to come my way. I pinched myself, but I didn't wake up. Why would he be here? I mean, sure, my brother is no muggle-born hater, but still. It was me who was standing on the tables, right? I didn't accidentally transfigure myself to look like someone else? Nope, as far as I could tell I was still me. Still Olivia Grey.

"Hey."

"Hey, yourself."

"So…" Anthony shoved his hands in his pockets and nodded to a couple of Gryffindors who passed by. Did I mention my brother is popular? I didn't? Must have slipped my oh-so-slippery mind. "A strike, huh?"

I nodded deftly. What else was I supposed to do? This is the first time my brother had spoken to me since summer break! It was awkward… well, I'm awkward. He's, well, himself. "Is Anna here?"

He raised an eyebrow. (So it does run in the family. I thought it was just me…) "Honestly? You know Anna, she won't give up her studies for anything. Especially now that she has her N.E.W.T.s. Besides, you kind of sprung it on her. On all of us, really. Give her some time to process it. She takes time."

And with that, he disappeared into the crowd.

So sly. Are we sure that he isn't the true Slytherin? Although, Gryffindor is the last place I belong… Nah, Slytherin is the place for me. It's a place where I belong…

Minus Avery and his Death Eater gang.

But that was a given.

…

"Okay, so… who are we going to pick for the other Gryffindor leader? It's up to you, James."

"And it can't be Evans!" Jianyu yelled this from across the common room.

We were currently sitting in Hufflepuff's common room (the new Headquarters for the leaders of the strike), and for some reason, I was put in charge to find the two new leaders for Gryffindor. Naturally, James Potter was one of them, but we needed another. Preferably female, to balance out the estrogen and testosterone levels. What? It's important!

"He has a point there." Vanessa jumped over the back of the couch and landed next to Amos, poking him in the ribs.

Now, before you get any smart ideas about those two, they're cousins. And not the kind that likes incest.

"I wasn't going to pick Evans, anyway. Grey advised me against it. And unlike Mr. Ravenclaw over there, I trust her."

"I heard that!"

"I'm pretty sure you were supposed to, Chang." Jianyu glared at me. I passed him a smile, and he rolled his eyes. We have a great relationship, don't we? Jianyu opened his mouth to say something witty or sarcastic, but then Andrew Thomas sat across from him, and Chang went into a trance. It's cute, his little crush.

"Well, considering we want the leader to be female, why don't you pick someone that is err - how do I put it - well spoken? You know, someone who'll stand up for what they believe in. Someone strong, but not painfully so."

Thank Merlin we have Amos. He can always put thoughts into words. "Yeah, I agree. We already have Vanessa, and she's a bit more on the soft side of things, and I'm a bit more - well - dark? Sarcastic? Anyway, we need someone a bit more analytical, but still Gryffindor. Someone warm too. We need more happiness in this strike."

We needed more happiness in the strike? What? I'm not even sure what I just said. I do, however, know that I dissed myself. Sly. I should probably put those skills to use. Maybe I have been, and I just don't know it? Am I really like that and just don't know it?

Anyway, back to more important things…

"How about Embre?"

"Who?"

"Embre Shines," James cleaned his glasses off on his tie and leaned back casually. "She's a friend of Sirius. She's pretty cool, from what I've heard. I've only spoken to her a couple of times, but she seems pretty smart and Ravenclaw-ish. Not to mention she's female."

"Black talks about Shines?" Jianyu decided to join our little pow-wow and fixed James with a semi-interested look. What was that all about? Since when did Jianyu have friends that I didn't know about? Well, I suppose it's possible. He is quite the social butterfly.

"A bit. Why?"

The two boys eyed each other for a long moment.

"No reason."

…

Embre's POV

Two weeks into December and the strike was still going on.

Not that it was a problem or anything. I just thought it would have ended sooner. I mean, Olivia Grey along with most of the Slytherins were camping outside their common room at night, refusing to get any of their belongings that were inside the cursed place. We gave them extra blankets, but it gets deadly cold at night. I can't imagine being on the stone floor.

"Hey, Embre!"

Speak of the Devil. Olivia ran up and dumped her bag on the chair across from me, straddling the one next to it. Vanessa was close on her heels, along with Jianyu. Was I missing something? Since when did all of them willingly hang out with each other? Vanessa couldn't stand Olivia!

"Tonight in Ravenclaw Tower, we're writing a letter to Dumbledore."

"Okay, but why didn't we do this sooner?"

"Umm… Why doesn't Chang will you in?" Olivia gave Jianyu a deadly look, and the Ravenclaw gave an unconvincing grin.

"Well, you see…" Jianyu seemed to be having a war with what words to pick. Whatever the reason was, it couldn't have been too good. "It's - ah - involved because you see… We - I mean - Andrew and Sturgis… and Potter err-"

"They tried to blow up the entrance to the common room."

"WHAT?!"

"Wonderful tact, Vanessa."

"You said you were going to break the news to her, and Jianyu was getting nowhere."

"That doesn't mean-"

"HUSH! ALL OF YOU!"

The tried to blow up the entrance to the common room. They tried to blow it up?! With what explosives? No spells actually work on the entrances, their far too intricately enchanted. Where did they get the explosives? Nevermind, that's not important. How much damage did they do?

As if he read my mind, Jianyu piped up, "It didn't do much, because of the enchantments. There is, however, a hole the size of my fist in the wall."

"So we're going to write a letter to Dumbledore to avoid getting expelled?"

"Pretty much!"

Merlin's beard.

Note to self: Never let Andrew Thomas, Sturgis Podmore, and James Potter be in a position of power. Especially if there were explosives.