Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or its characters. I want to give a shout out to my beta DragonGirl323! Thanks for the added details and all the extra help you gave with this chapter! This chapter was orginally with the last but with the word count going over my normal length.

(DOT)

WARNING: This chapter contains the after events of a rape that happened in chapter 5. You have been warned.

(DOT)

Valentine's Day was next week and I was a little disappointed that I hadn't gotten anything for Remus yet. The years before, I got the Marauders each a small box of chocolates. Sirius and Remus always returned the favor by treating me to whatever I wanted at Zonko's whenever we managed to get our next Hogsmeade visit, since I didn't like chocolate much. Genuinely, I preferred any kind of candy over chocolate. I really liked Trolli's Peach Rings that I first found in Muggle Germany, called Pfirsichringe there, during one of our vacations. James ate the entire bag's contents and Dad bought me five boxes worth as compensation. He wasn't happy I liked the Muggle junk food, but it was peach flavored and I liked them!

I knew that James would get a boat load, which he normally shares by night's end with his friends. Sirius had a tendency of stealing some for me as I sat under the Invisibility Cloak, eavesdropping on their conversation.

I doubted James would even remember me this year since he hasn't remembered to get me anything all year. Remember, I hate Christmas and my birthday because of him!

While those around me tried to get last minute gifts for their lovers, I saw that Sirius was missing for much of the days leading up to Valentine's Day. I asked Remus about it, and he said he wasn't suppose to say anything, but hinted that he was planning something for someone.

"Who?" I asked him, starting to feel a little betrayed.

Remus only smiled and left me standing in the middle of the first floor corridor. I watched as James entered the hall and motioned for Remus to join him. I tried to think of who Remus was talking about, and I figured that James might know. I decided that I would claim sick and miss a day of classes so I could track down James and Remus and find out. Should I find Sirius, well I'd deal with that if it happened.

I first told Madeline the following day that I had a terrible stomach ache, which I did in fact have. She said she would cover for me. After she left with the rest of our dorm-mates, I made my way to James' dorm and entered it, praying that no one was there. There wasn't anyone so I quickly grabbed the Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map. Yeah, I knew about that little device too. It was absolutely brilliant! Sirius showed it to me once they had completed it two years ago.

I opened it and tapped my wand saying, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." Then suddenly the door slammed close.

"You are up to no good," came my brother's voice from behind me. He was eyeing me sternly but looked upset as he folded his arms over his chest. "Why are stealing my stuff?"

"I'm only borrowing it, James! Besides it belongs to Dad," I said, beginning to pull the cloak over my head.

"Stop right there!" He grabbed for it and held me in place. There was a noise behind the door and James wrapped the cloak around me firmly and pushed me behind him.

" – and then Madeline said that Emily was sick. So I'm clear for the day!"

"That's mean, Sirius! She's one of Emily's closest friends! I don't doubt her words, but I remember Emily asked me about it yesterday and I couldn't say a thing about what you were planning!" We heard Remus say. "I'll get James. He went to get something from the dorm."

"Whatever!"

Remus opened the door and he gave James the strangest look. He arched his neck a bit and then shrugged his shoulders

"Come on, please? I don't want to be late for Charms," he scolded, holding the door open for my brother.

James nodded and grabbed for his bag that had been laying on his bed. I followed James as I managed to slip out before he slammed the door.

"What's your problem, Prongs?" Sirius asked as he stood with his hand on one hip and his bag at his feet. "Did you get what you wanted?"

"No, I couldn't find it. Someone one must have taken it," said James shooting a look in my general direction. Sirius turned and led the way out of the Common Room.

"Now tell me again what we'll be learning in Charms today? Don't skip the details this time either!" Sirius urged Remus as he was walking backward. I saw Sirius' usual merry self here as we walked to the Professor Flitwick's classroom.

"Why don't you listen sometime, Sirius? Really, you would do wonders if you actually listened and paid attention! I don't like that you copy my paper on our last research paper. Professor Flitwich almost failed me because he read your paper first!"

"That would have been a week later had it not been for you, Moony—" Sirius said, trying to justify his actions. I could tell by James' expression, he hadn't copied Remus' paper and was giving Sirius a frown.

"Will you both shut up?" James snapped at his two friends. I saw the irritation that I was following them in his eyes and voice. I was still holding onto the map and I knew that annoyed James greatly. He walked off leaving the two alone to question his behavior.

"That was unexpected," commented Sirius. "Anyhow, now about that thing I asked about earlier. You cannot tell Emily about it. She's already getting suspicious about me not talking to her. Besides with my detention, it's hard to find the time to speak to her without James knowing about my true feelings."

"Why don't you just tell her and James the truth?" Remus suggested, sounding exasperated. "She will never know it if you don't tell her what's been going on! James knows something is different about how you two act! He is not stupid when it concerns Emily! We both know that. He might be oblivious to her feelings and emotions, but somewhere beyond his giant ego, he cares for his sister. Now tell them the truth, before I do!"

Remus walked off in the same direction that James had gone, a look of success at beating Sirius at his own game. Sirius just stared as his back as he left. I had smartly covered my mouth so I wouldn't give myself away. I was happy that he was still thinking about me, but I couldn't help that since Sirius' sudden distance was partly our own fault. Finally, he went on his way to Charms and I just stood there contemplating to follow or not.

For that day, I remained in James' dorm to apologize for taking the cloak. I did feel horrible about taking his property and wanted to return it to him, not just put it back. I had taken the challenge of folding the Invisibility Cloak into a perfect square, which was very difficult since parts just disappeared. I placed it on top of his dresser next to his spare tie and winter gloves. Around dinner time, he entered the dorm without Remus or Sirius. I had been sleeping in his bed, wrapped in a blanket that Mum had made him one Christmas long ago. He shook my shoulder and I raised my head a bit, barely registering it was him. I sat up and rubbed my eyes.

"Get out!" he said, pointing his finger toward the door.

"I want to say sorry for taking it. I'm sorry, but –"

"I don't care for you reason! You don't take what is mine!"

"But James, I only wanted to know —"

"I don't care! Out!"

I saw the anger in James' eyes again. I knew I had done wrong and didn't want to fight with him. I loved him despite everything I did to him in the recent months. I pulled the Marauder's Map out from my shirt and put it gently on his bed. I felt a tear drop from my cheek that I hadn't known was there. After removing my finger from the parchment, I left his dorm and felt the door against my bottom as James slammed it close. As I looked down the stairs, I saw Remus and Sirius walking up toawrd me in a deep conversation. Remus quickened his step once he realized I was distressed, and Sirius just looked at me.

"What's wrong?" Remus asked, laying a hand on my shoulder.

"It was my fault. I stole something of James' and I feel bad. I'll just go to my dorm. I feel sick for real now. Thank you though, Remus."

I left the inviting hug that Remus was about to give me and disappeared into my dorm. I confined myself to bed and felt sick to my stomach. The next morning, I went to see Madam Pomfrey because I was unable to sit properly in class which earned me a loss of twenty points for disrupting class. I remained in the Hospital Wing until the day before Valentine's Day because of a terrible flu that mostly affects Muggle children during the winter. Mum had sents me a box of chocolates and a get-well card while I sat in the hospital for my third night.

Just as I predicted on Valentine's Day morning, the table in the Common Room was covered in gifts for the Marauders. James, who we all knew by his loud, obnoxious voice, had the biggest pile of them all. Sirius and Remus both had equal sized piles. I rubbed my eyes as I made my way down the stairs and I felt a yawn sneak up on me. I sighed heavily as it escaped my mouth, almost wishing I would have stayed in bed but knowing I had class to get ready for. Rubbing my eyes once more and tossing my hair into a quick loose side-swept ponytail, I looked back over at the boys as they opened their gifts. The sight was like Christmas morning all over again. Sirius was pulling the wrapping off one of his gifts and picked it up out of the box to show James.

I grinned when I saw it. That gift was from me. It was a book I knew he had been wanting. I saw him open the cover and read the note I had left inside it. His dark brows scrunched together and he looked up, searching for me. However, once his eyes settled on me, James tugged on his sleeve, and Sirius' attention was no longer on me. My shoulders sagged, wondering what had happened to make Sirius completely forget about me.

Last year I woke up on this day to a small box covered with dark blue wrappings on top of my trunk. Inside it was a handmade sculpture of a lion cub yawning. Sirius had spent his whole summer and fall term in his sixth year making it. Its final resting place was on my book shelve at home in my room, right next to my copy of The Tales of Beetle the Bard. Now that I thought on it, how had he gotten into my dorm? Boys weren't allowed in the girl's dorms for obivious reasons.

Everyone downstairs was watching with bated breath, wondering who would get the best gift, but I wanted no part of it. I quickly turned away and went to collect my bag from my dorm, leaving them to their gifts and chocolates. When I left to go to breakfast no one even noticed that I was leaving, especially my brother and Sirius. They were much too caught up with more important things. I didn't expect to get anything today. In fact, I knew I wouldn't. Sirius and I weren't talking directly to one another, but at least I was thoughtful enough to get him something. So I guess hoping for . . . something myself . . . was it too much to ask for?

Maybe he'll steal me some of James' candy later, I thought, trying to stay positive.

Throughout my classes that day, everyone got something except for me. Even Frank Longbottom got Alice a beautiful ring and a note that said she was his one and only and that he would marry her! I couldn't help staying sour after witnessing something like that. They were such a cute couple. I was glad that they would be staying together.

By the end of the day, still with no gift or card or anything really, I gave up. Going to the library, I saw Lily doing some class work. She looked deep in thought as she scribbled her quill across the surface of the parchment, stopping just long enough to dab the end in her bottle of ink. She was nibbling on some chocolate bar. Curious, I walked over to see what James had gotten her.

"Oh, hi, Emily. James got me these," she said, smiling as she held the bag up. Inside it was an assortment of chocolate and marshmallow things designed only to rot teeth. How fattening, I thought, thankful that I actually didn't get anything like this. Lily was still smiling as she picked up another candy. "He's so thoughtful!"

"I'm glad he is," I mumbled quietly, turning away. I felt my tears building up again for the tenth time that day. I didn't want my future sister-in-law to see me cry so I tried to hurry out of the library as fast as possible. Lily called my name, sounding concerned, and I turned around. It had been awhile since I heard my own name, especially more than once in a single day.

"Is there something you want to talk about?" she asked, clearing away her books and inviting me to come sit down.

"I don't want to bother you, Lily. I can handle it myself," I answered, only taking a few more steps towards her.

"Emily, please sit down," she urged, pulling out a chair that was next to her. "There's something wrong, I know. I heard Remus trying to get James to talk to you, but James was saying something about jealousy and ignored him. I don't think you look jealous at all."

I just stared at Lily in amazement. She actually seemed concerned and had taken the time out of her study time to talk to me. No one had wanted to 'just talk to me' since before the Christmas party. She reached out her hand and I noticed she had red nail polish on her nails. It was the same color as her hair. I had always liked Lily, but her determination was not something to be trifled with since she was one of the smartest witches in the last five years. Only one person had ever beaten her grades but he had finished school five years ago. I heard that his name was Lucius Malfoy. Even thinking about him gave me goose bumps. I had also heard that he befriended Lily's ex-best friend, Severus Snape.

"I didn't get any candy today," I mumbled finally, but more to myself more than her. As Lily began to separate some out, I quickly asked her not to.

"Why? Every girl deserves something on a day like this. I mean, its Valentine's for a reason, Emily," Lily said with a smile. I took one of her toffees and just stared at it. Was this pity candy she was giving me? I hoped not, but then I was happy that I gotten something, even it was from a girl.

Lily returned to her work but kept a close eye on me, while I pulled out my own assignment for Charms. We worked until the librarian came around and told us we needed to leave. Gathering our books and throwing our bags over our shoulders, Lily told me that she and James were finally boyfriend and girlfriend.

Great, I thought, though my expression told otherwise.

"Lily, can I ask you something?" I said, pausing to collect my thoughts.

"Sure," she said, stopping a few feet in front of me. We were standing in the middle of the hall on the fourth floor. I saw Lily place her hand on her hip, waiting for me to speak. For a moment, I thought I saw her grip her wand.

"Has anyone been saying anything about my brother recently? And I mean like things pertaining to me and James?" I asked suddenly. Lily frowned as she listened, trying to make sense out of what I had said.

"There was rumor going around that he's neglecting you for some reason, but it's just a rumor. I doubt James would be that heartless to his own sis—" I cut her off before she could finish that sentence.

"But he is, Lily!" I practically yelled. "Yes, he is! That's why I hate him. He left me out to dry and then he abandoned me because he was too busy enjoying his wonderful life! If I wanted to kiss the holy arse of James Potter like the rest of our classmates, I would do so, but I won't!

"He hasn't said my name all year and he ignores me all the time in the Common Room. I don't even feel like I have a brother anymore. I don't have anyone who loves me!" I snapped, knowing that I crossed the line that I set for myself when Sirius abandoned me at the Christmas party. It was the same line that prevented me from saying my true feelings until now. Here, my pot had boiled over and was spreading like wild fire.

I took one step towards Lily, raised my arms into the air, and began to shout my words at her.

"All year I've waited for my moronic brother to actually see me! All he does is look at you! You are nice and all but I want my brother to actually acknowledge that I exist! It hurts really bad that he thinks I'm mad at him because he's a male! I could care less about the family money! I just want someone to love me! I thought Sirius did when we made our deal, but then he abandoned me right when I needed him the most! You remember the Christmas party you and James set up right? The one you two worked months on? I was raped by a seventh year Slytherin in a broom closet! Did you or my brother know that? NO! No one knew because no one cares about James Potter's little sister! All they care about is him!"