Disclaimer: I still don't own anything; you still don't actually read disclaimers. I'll get on with it then.

I woke up that morning with a particularly evil grin stuck on my face. As I brushed my teeth and washed my face it still wouldn't go away. I had a quick shower and put a drying charm on my lengthy auburn locks. I pulled on my uniform and wiped some of the steam away from the mirror, I was still grinning like a Cheshire cat. Oh well, Pads is bound to find out I was behind the attack.

I hustled down the stairs to find that none of my boys waiting there like they usually did. I'll wait ten more minutes and if they aren't here by then I'm leaving, I decided as I flopped down into the high back velvet armchair closest to the boys' staircase.

I was just settling down when I heard a scream from the boys dorm. Ah good, Pads is done in the shower.

I braced myself as I heard his thundering footsteps on the stairs. He sounded angry.

"WHAT the BLOODY HELL," Sirius roared motioning violently from his hair to me, lounging in the chair. I was expecting a reaction like this and I was proud of my work. Sirius' hair was a vibrant hot pink, and thanks to Zonko's Colour Calamity Potion, it was permanent until I said otherwise. Obviously I'd seen Sirius' temper, and I'd seen him fly off the handle, but I'd never before seen him the shade of angry red he was now.

"My hair is FUCKING PINK," he shouted, doing that over enunciating thing he did when he was angry or upset.

"I can see that, it's quite a change but we'll get used to it if your hearts set on it." I said rising from my seat with a patronizing smile.

"I know you did this," He was no longer shouting, but still far from calm.

"I did nothing,"

"I know it was you Pheebs,"

"T'was not,"

"It was so, change me back and I'll forget the whole thing,"

"I don't negotiate with ticklers," I was exiting the portrait hole now, the boys behind me.

"Ah, so it was you," Sirius grinned. Now fully accepting his punishment because the possibility of a prank war was worth pink hair, "You'd better watch your back,"

"I assure you, I will sleep with both eyes open," I laughed wandering down the hall towards the smells of breakfast.

"You will not because there isn't going to be a prank war," Remus sighed.

He looked tired, the full moon was at the end of the week so he must be. I wanted for him to sleep more, eat more, and at least get more fresh air before the turn.

"Awe c'mon mate," Sirius whined pulling into his seat at the long table.

"It'll be fun," James added stuffing a rash of bacon into his mouth before he'd even sat down.

"No it won't be fun," Remus huffed, getting himself worked up. "I always get caught in the crossfire and you lot always get detention,"

I felt bad for causing this stress in Remus when the full moon was just around the corner.

"I agree with Moony. No prank war, it'll just cause stress where stress isn't needed," I looked to the marauders pointedly, hoping they'd understand without a further explanation. Of course they did.

"Alright," James agreed, looking to Moony with a smile, Peter nodded along beside him.

"Or it could cause a distraction where a distraction is needed," Sirius kept on, shooting me a look straight back.

"Pads, drop it, or she'll never turn your hair back normal," James warned an easygoing smile spreading across his face.

I heard the sound of her before I saw James' hand start to flirt with his messy curls. Lily Evans was walking by. James' eyes left the food, Remus looked up from the paper to smile at her, and Peter cast his eyes down to his shoes.

"Nice hair black," Lily spat out sarcastically. Her eyes left the mess of pink to glare at me for an instant.

"Oh do you like it? It's not red but then again reds not my colour love," Sirius winked, knowing how it would ultimately anger Evans. I noticed James gulp down his pumpkin juice from across the table, he looked nervously from Lily to Sirius.

"Don't worry mate, even a blind man would see that there is nothing between them," I whispered easing his mind a bit. Unrequited love, what a bitch. Speaking of bitches…

"Sirius!" Marlene whined coming up beside Lily, batting her abnormally long eyelashes at my boys. "I've been looking for you, we have a tough potions essay and I was wondering as my partner, would you help me with it," Oh my giddy god, she was more transparent than cellophane.

"I'd love to doll," Sirius flashed a smirk and a wink. God he was laying it on thick, even for him it was over the top.

"Perfect, I'll see you later then. Oh and Phoebe," She turned smiling at me as if we were the best of friends, "You and Remus make a super cute couple,"

I choked on my juice. I was sputtering and gasping for air, and Remus wasn't much better off. Sirius and James were roaring and Marlene and Lily looked confused, very confused.

"I, uh, we, erm," Remus tried to explain while I found my breath again. This was humiliating, I'd totally forgotten about last night in my pranking haste. This stupid joke was being taken seriously, ugh it'll probably spread like wildfire, I needed damage control.

"We're not together," I coughed, Marlene looked between us intently her smile now a frown.

"Oh, Well I'd assumed after last night that you two had finally got together,"

"No that was some stupid joke," James aided while the other boys watched dumbstruck.

"It seemed real, you're a great actress," Lily cut in, making even a compliment sound callous.

"Yeah. Wait, what did you mean finally got together," I switched from indifference to inquisitive like a toss of a coin. What could I say my interest was peaked.

"Oh nothing, I just mean you two are close and I thought I saw something there is all," Marlene looked like someone who was hastily backtracking. What the bloody hell was she on about. Something there, something there! Of course there was something there we've been mates for ages. I love Remus, but there is not something there.

"Of course we're close we're mates," Remus said giving Marlene a hard look, which to Remus was a death glare.

"Woah touchy, all I said is what I thought," Marlene defended clearly not knowing when to leave things be.

"Well you thought wrong yeah,"

"Yeah I guess I did, sorry,"

"Good, it's sorted. I'm going to class," Remus hauled his books and got up from the table.

"Merlin he's moody lately," Lily noted, worry in her voice. She and Marlene watched him leave the great hall, visibly ruffled from current events.

"Must be his time of the month," Marlene joked, not caring that Remus was in a right mood, or that she put him there. Ugh that great toad.

"Marlene," I called out as sweetly as I could, "Go to hell," With that I got up and left the Hall, James, Peter, and pink haired Sirius in tow.

"Is my hair really that bad," Sirius whispered, or what he thought was whispering, Sirius was as subtle as a gunshot. We were in transfiguration and supposed to be working silently on our essays (turning rats into wristwatches, I was so far unsuccessful.) McGonagall was making her rounds and I could sense her stern eye fall upon us as Sirius kept blundering on, unknowing or uncaring.

"Sirius shut up mate," James muttered, grasping at his messy black hair as one would grasp at straws. This was a tough assignment even the genius' were struggling.

"No mate honestly tell me what you think. Do you think Marlene digs it? When do you reckon it wears off?"

"Mr. Black get back to your assignment and for Merlin's sake shut your mouth," McGonagall scolded him with that signature scowl aging her somewhat young face.

"Only for you Minnie," Sirius winked

"Bloody ridiculous, pink-haired buffoon," McGonagall muttered as she returned to her desk, I couldn't see but could tell she was rolling her eyes at Padfoot's latest antics

After classes that day we took to the Quidditch pitch to play with the snitch James had "acquired" in his time between classes. I was into Quidditch but was far from skilled at the sport. My coordination on a broom fell flat, as I did if I ever touched off the ground, and I could never fly straight let alone toss a quaffle or dodge a bludger. James and Sirius would always mock me when I sat out as the guys played, but I'd rather sit on the sidelines than in the hospital wing. Of course those two were brilliant at the game, it was effortless to them, those smug little twats. Peter was a solid beater at the best of times, but he was reliable, so for the practices he would always join in the fun. Remus was surprisingly good. He had enough skill to join the team if he'd wanted to; or been able to. His furry little problem kept him from participating in a lot of things, the biggest upset for him was not being able to miss practices unnoticed. It killed me that he had to bench himself because of a little bad luck in his past. That he couldn't live his life as fully as he'd wanted.

The boys had played more than a few two on two rounds and it was starting to get dark.

"Should we head back," I yelled down from the stands, it took a couple tries before I opted to amplify my voice across the pitch magically.

"Alright next to score wins," James called out, his voice needing no assistance.

I sat back, looking out to lake as the sun was being slowly sucked from the sky. Admiring the way orange and pink mingled into darkness beyond the hills My eyes caught the shadows of two figures walking down by the lake. Squinting against the now blinding sunset I tried to make out who they were. One was obviously a girl, her curves could be seen from the distance, which really said something. It was harder to make out her partner, who looked like a lanky rectangle despite all my best efforts. From here it looked as if they were walking side by side but not hand in hand. Who could it be!

The boys were hollering loudly and I was drawn away from the mysterious couple, probably just some prefects making their rounds, or having date night. I looked back to the couple and they seemed to be coming closer, but they were still too far away for detailed inspection.

"Hey boys, looks like we've got company," I yelled across the pitch capturing their attention.

"Who," James asked, interest peaked he caught the snitch and flew over the the stands to see exactly what was going on.

"I can tell who it is but I think they've heard us. They're coming closer see,"

I pointed as the rest of my boys joined me, Peter clutching the quaffle and his broomstick in an awkward juggling match.

"Here Pete," I help my arms out and caught the ball as he tossed it to me.

"Thanks Pheebs," He smiled warmly and I felt the sisterly love surge for a bit before my attention was regained by our situation.

"Let's go see who it is," Sirius said before taking off in their direction as fast as his old broom could take him. I looked around for the fastest way to get down as James hollered and zoomed after Sirius. I could run really fast and meet them on the ground, but I was in the stands and it would take at least a few minutes to catch up.

"Hop on," Remus offered.

"I not getting on that thing, no way,"

"Oh come on Pheebs, you can't seriously be scared of heights,"

"I'm not scared of heights Rem, I'm scared of falling," I looked at him and his smile got wider.

The last rays of sun were being tucked into bed behind the blanket of clouds. The peachy sky made Remus' hair seem more blond than brown and his eyes were squinted against the light. I'd never felt my heart race before, for anyone, at least not like this.

"Alright," I agreed brushing my hair from my eyes

"Alright," He got closer so I could mount the broom behind him

"Get a move on slowpoke! I could've walked down faster than this,"

On the ground is when things started to get interesting. I hopped off after Remus who'd touched down a little ways behind the others. The others who had already approached the couple and seemed to be enjoying catching the two. The two who I now could see were Snivellus and Evans. Oh it was a date night. Well for one of them at least. Sirius had already dismounted and was now shouting at them, jovially, but I knew with Sirius joking could quickly turn to hexing as far as Snape was concerned. I was aware of how badly this could go, but I was also completely above stepping in if it meant Snape was the one benefitting.

"Oi! Look what we found Pheebs," Sirius yelled to me. I rushed to his side smiling at the trouble we'd found. Remus walked along after me, obviously in no hurry.

"what did you find Pads," I asked falling over his shoulders and leaning on him.

"Just a bit of dirt Evans can't seem to shake off her robes, do you know any spells that might help her,"

"I know a few, but I would've thought Evans would be smart enough to take care of the problem herself. Instead she walks through life blissfully unaware of the distinctly greasy stain she's always got with her," I smirked at Snivellus. He was livid but watched himself when he was with Evans. I saw him battle himself wanting badly to fight back but also wanting to play the victim to his beloved Lily. Speaking of beloved Lily, James was absolutely beside himself at the pair we'd come across. I felt bad for him, he really was in deep and Evans just kept breaking my Prong's heart.

"Oh shut up Dillon," Evans stuck her perfect little nose up at me. Was that all she could come up with, She was supposed to be clever. Well, she was clever; the brightest witch of our age even.

"Well what is it date night for the two of you then," I bit back, wanting her to know that she wasn't just torturing James, but her slimey mate as well. Lily turned a magnificent shade of red while Snape just grew paler.

"Well is it date night for you. You and your boys always did seem to close for comfort," Snape sneered. My mouth dropped. He did not just say that. How dare he. Even Lily was a bit shocked at what came from her best mates mouth. Not surprisingly James was the first of us to react, he always was the one on his toes.

"That was uncalled for," James stepped closer, successfully intimidating Snape, "Don't you ever say something like that again," He was angry, and angry James was something you didn't see very often. It made me proud the way he was handling the situation, almost as if he'd matured a little. Then there was Sirius, who was now stalking towards Snape with his wand drawn and a dangerous expression.

"You slimy little git! Don't you ever insinuate something that horrendous again, you would be fucking blessed if you had a friend like Pheebs. None of us would ever take advantage of her like that and you'd better check you pervy little mind into Mungo's if you think she has anything going with any of us, let alone all of us," Sirius had now pushed past James and was right up in Snivellus' face, wand only inches from his hooked nose. Lily had pushed herself infront and was now shielding the git from any curses Sirius would send.

"Back off Black," Lily warned, her temper flaring with every word.

"We'll call Sirius off as soon as He apologizes to Phoebe," Remus cut in. I smiled, look at my boys sticking up for me; I wouldn't mind having a bloke if he treated me the way my boys did, well I don't think I'd fancy a bloke like Peter.

"Oh is he your attack dog now," Evans spat, glaring openly at Sirius. She detested James but there was something about Sirius that she simply could not stand.

I smiled at her choice of words, "Something like that," I smirked, James and the others picking up on what I was implying.

"You've got to the count of three," Remus got back to business, he probably wanted to get inside before the moon popped up. He'd never admit it, but he still feared the moon as much as he did in third year, when we had Boggart training and his deepest fear was revealed.

"One," Sirius pushed Evans aside effortlessly.

"Two," Snape was fumbling for his wand but Sirius already had his at Snape's throat, glaring bloody murder at him. Hell, even I was scared.

"Thr-," Remus didn't even finish his authoritative count before Snape broke.

"Fine. I'm sorry," Snape muttered, sounding anything but.

"Take it, it's the best you'll ever get," Lily glared. Even Remus didn't escape her wrath this time.

We decided to cut our losses and head back up to the castle. Leaving a disgruntled Snape and Lily behind us and shouldering the brooms we'd brought with us. I carried Sirius' broom as he piggy backed me into the castle. We trekked up the stairs and flopped into the common room, fully exhausted by the days events. We sat up and talked for a while longer before I finally decided to haul my arse to bed. Before leaving though I had to do one last thing.

"Padfoot," I yawned turning to look at the marauder in question, who was now draped across the three person couch, typically leaving no room for anyone else.

"Mmhn. Yeah," he groaned sleepily.

"Nothing," I smirked, waving my wand in secret. Sirius would have a shock in the morning to find his hair brown again.