October rolled around and Hogwarts looked as beautiful as ever. Lily and I decided to take a break from our endless amount of homework to enjoy the outdoors. It was mostly because it was the one day out of the week that it stopped raining and the sun decided to show again. It was also a Hogsmeade trip so that is where we decided to go.

"Do you really need anything while we're here? Or can we just walk around outside before going to the Three Broomsticks?" Lily asked as we arrived.

"Are you forgetting the endless supplies of sweets that I most definitely need," I replied questioning her sanity.

"Of course," She rolled her eyes, "how could I forget?"

"I don't know, but do you want to go there first or wait?" I asked.

"Let's go now so you don't forget," She said shaking her head as I excitedly squealed at her answer.

"You make me the happiest girl alive," I beamed at her.

"No, I'm pretty sure it's your sugar intake that does that," she lectured on our walk to Honeydukes.

I rolled my eyes, "My aunt is a firm believer in sweets and so am I. Don't insult us with this negativity towards them."

We entered the sweets shop and were welcomed by the warm sweet air.

"This is probably my favorite place on the planet," I smiled smelling the air. I got my usual haul with a couple new sweets here and there.

"Happy now?" Lily asked as we left the shop.

"I'm elated," I grinned.

"Someone looks absolutely gleeful."

I turned my head at the sound of his voice to see Sirius and the rest of the Marauders walking towards us.

"More than actually," I corrected.

Remus, who was beside Sirius, took notice that we seemed to have just left Honeydukes, "I see you've had your sugar intake for the day."

"Hey, I'm not even as bad as you Remus," I claimed.

"That is very true," He replied, "Now, if you'll excuse me."

He grinned making his way past them into Honeydukes.

"We're going to go join him," James said, "Make sure he doesn't overdose on chocolate or something of that nature."

He left with a friendly nod to me and a wink to Lily before entering the shop with Peter.

"Hey you should just buy a bunch of sweets for no one in particular, just because," I said to Sirius, already buzzed with sugar.

"Oh please don't listen to her," Lily exclaimed and pulled my arm in the opposite direction, "We are going far away from this place."

Sirius barked in laughter, "I'll see you guys later."

He followed his friends into Honeydukes and Lily and I went on our own way around the town.

The rest of midmorning and some of our afternoon was spent walking around Hogsmeade and window shopping in all the shops - Lily kept me safely away from Honeydukes. Before the afternoon could escape us we headed to the Three Broomsticks and ordered a couple of butterbeers.

"Hey, if I head back to the castle early would you be mad?" Lily asked as we sat down with our butterbeers, "I promised Severus I'd study with him a bit today."

"No, that's totally fine," I said, "I'll probably go back to the castle and study as well. I do have a letter to my aunt to write, so I can probably get that done."

"Thanks," She said smiling gratefully.

After she finished her butterbeer she left to go back to the castle, leaving me to finish my butterbeer by myself. It's not that I hate Snape it's just that I wasn't ever comfortable being around him. I always got the feeling that he hated me for unknown reasons. So whenever Lily went off with him, I stayed behind.

"Well if it isn't little miss sugar high," I turned to see Sirius sliding into Lily's empty seat, "Where's your partner in crime?"

"She went back to the castle to study with Snape," I explained.

He didn't hide his disgust for the guy very well - or at all - as he scoffed rolling his eyes at his name.

"I'll say no more on the matter," He politely said and changed the subject, "Got any plans for the rest of the day?"

"No, not really. I was probably going to go back to the castle and find something to do," I shrugged.

"Mind if I join you?" He asked, "I lost the guys a while ago."

"Sure why not," I said and drank the last of my butterbeer before getting up and leaving with him.

We traveled in silence for a bit until we reached the castle grounds.

"You know," Sirius started thoughtfully, "I do recall from sometime ago that I may ask you a question and only get your full honesty. Not that I don't believe you are always a remarkably truthful person, but I can't let this opportunity dwell for much longer."

"Oh boy," I laughed, "I guess I should have been prepared for this."

He laughed as well, "I promise it won't be too terrible."

"Well as long as you promise," I rolled my eyes and he laughed again, "Alright, let me hear it then."

We stopped walking to face each other properly.

"I feel like I should explain myself, but last time I did it freaked both of us out," He said, "So I'll just ask my question and hope you still know where we stand."

"You're really not good at this," I said laughing it off.

"No I'm really not," He scratched the back of his head, "Would you ever consider going out with me?"

When I gave him this question I figured that he would ask something like this, I just didn't know how long it would take him to ask. Or what my answer would be. Beginning of the school year? It would have been a straight no. Now we're friends… that sometimes cross an invisible barrier of more than friends before jumping back into safe waters. It looks like today is going to be one of those days where we take another step through this barrier.

I suddenly realized that maybe I should stop debating all this junk in my head and actually answer his question.

I chewed on my bottom lip for a moment. Total honesty. That's what I promised. A promise is a promise.

"Hm," I hummed, "Would the context be just a date or a relationship?"

"Whatever you decide," He said.

"Huh, well To answer honestly; yeah I guess I would. In either of those context I suppose," I answered almost shrugging the subject off completely.

"Really? 'yeah I guess' What kind of answer is that?" He scoffed.

"It's an honest one," I replied solemnly.

He blinked staring at me in disbelief, "I think you're actually insane."

I laughed, "What? How am I insane? You're the one who asked and I promised the truth."

"Well you're truth is as if I asked you how's the weather," He laughed.

"The weather could be better, it was actually great today - besides cold - no rain so that's a plus," I answered his unasked question.

"I take it back," He said staring at me in almost wonder, "You're not insane, you're just driving me insane."

I flashed him a smile and batted my eyelashes, "Of course I am, it's what I do best."

He laughed again tilting his head back almost sounding like a dog barking. The picture of Sirius as a dog made me giggle along with him.

"Come on crazy I want to go inside before I get any colder," I said tugging his sleeve in the direction of the castle. We walked all the way back to the common room while talking animatedly about how crazy he really is.

"I guess I'm going to have to check myself in at St Mungo's," He said before saying the password to get into the common room. The Fat Lady swung open giving us both a smile.

"You can't do that because then who would be here to entertain me through all these OWLs?" I questioned.

"Fine, I guess I'll be staying in the real world for a little while longer then," He sighed.

We drifted to a couch to sit on.

"Have you done the essay for Transfigurations yet?" I asked remembering all the homework we've been getting because of the OWLs.

"Yes, but no I won't be letting you reading it," He answered.

"What why not? You can read mine," I asked offended.

"Because," He exaggerated every syllable, "It is not quality work for me and I'm not writing it again no matter what you tell me."

"Don't you want good grades?" I questioned, "I'm just trying to help."

"Thank you but I'll get better grades on anything but this essay," He said then changed the subject, "Now onto other things. So James and I were talking about our Christmas plans. Have any?"

"I'll most likely go home and spend time with my aunt," I answered, "Why? What are you two planning?"

"Well I don't go home for Christmas, I either stay here or go home with James and we were planning on whether or not we would this year," He explained.

"I see," I nodded.

"So far it looks like we're going but it all depends on his parents work, but-"

"Oh!" I gasped cutting him off, "I almost forgot! Hold on for a second!"

He laughed at me as I jumped up from my seat, "Forgot what?"

"Hold on," I ran upstairs to my dorm. Talking about my aunt reminded me that I had gotten a letter from her earlier that day and I didn't want to put off writing her back any longer. I grabbed her letter, a piece of parchment, and a quill and ink bottle before going back downstairs.

"My aunt wrote to me and I wanted to write back to her before I actually forget," I explained as his curious gaze found me walking back to where we were sitting. This time I sat on the floor in front of the couch he was on so I could use a coffee table to write on.

"I see," He hummed.

"Now what were you say?" I asked and nudged his leg with my elbow for him to continue what he was saying.

"Oh right," He said, "but if we do end up going to his house for the holidays then we should hang out or something."

"That sounds fun," I said, "maybe you guys can come over to my house and meet my crazy aunt. Fair warning-she's crazier than me."

"Does it really get crazier than you?" He teased.

"Yes, apparently it's you because as I do recall I'm perfectly sane," I said leading my attention to the letter in my hands.

"Touche," He said.

The letter read;

Juliet,

I hope all your school work is well and you've been enjoying yourself. I promise I haven't been into too much trouble, but that doesn't mean I've completely stayed out of it. As always when you're away at school I try to find a new hobby, this time it's been people watching. Unfortunately this neighborhood is very dull so I'm pretty sure we're going to have to move. I'll try to keep myself entertained with these boring people for now, but I'll only last for so long.

Love your Aunt Tracy

"You should tell her to take up knitting. I hear it's quite relaxing," Sirius said over my shoulder.

I turned my head and raised my eyebrows at him, "We've talked about the whole reading other people's letters thing right?"

"I'm not going to even lie," He said, "I read it over your shoulder and I feel no regret about it. If I'm a rule breaker then I'm proud."

I rolled my eye, "You've been a rule breaker since first year."

He grinned like a child, "So are you going to tell her? I mean I feel as though now I am a part of this letter having read it over your shoulder."

"You're impossible," I stated then grabbed a piece of parchment I brought down with me to write my reply.

Aunt Tracy,

School is good and I'm enjoying myself. I can imagine the amount of trouble you get yourself into but opt out of telling me. My friend Sirius recommends that you take up knitting. He - like you - likes to invade my privacy and had read my letter from you. He made note that knitting is very relaxing. Hopefully it's a better option than people watching so we don't have to move. If that fails I'm sure he'll think of something else. Do try to stay entertained.

Lots of love from Juliet and Cooley (and apparently Sirius who is concerned with your entertainment)

"You're really putting that all on me aren't you?" He asked of course reading my reply to her.

"Well when she gets offended by the idea of knitting she won't yell at me for it," I explained.

"Or she'll realize what a great idea it is and praise me for it," He countered.

"I'm very sure," I rolled my eyes, "Really? Knitting though? Couldn't think of anything better?"

"Hey, don't knock it until you try it," He defended.

"Are you telling me that you knit?" I questioned.

"Juliet, there are only so many aspects of my life I choose to share with you. Whether or not I knit is something I'm going to leave to your imagination," He spoke as if he was giving life's greatest advice.

"You're a child," I said making him grin like one, "It's nearly dinner time, can we go to the owlery before then so I can mail this? Or would you rather sit around up here and knit me a sweater?"

"Who said I knitted sweaters? I could be a scarf expert."

"You said it was up to my imagination," I got up off the floor, "So are you knitting me a sweater or are you joining me on a walk to send this letter?"

He sat there for a minute contemplating it, "Fine I'll go, but I'm not happy about the sweater."

"Too bad," I smiled and we walked out of the common room only to bump into his three friends.

"Oh hey Sirius we were looking for you," James said not bothering to greet either of us, "Lost you sometime after Zonko's."

"Yeah I was looking for you guys but then I gave up," Sirius explained.

"And now he's going to knit me a beautiful sweater," I added.

"I'm telling you, it's going to be a scarf," He argued.

"What are you two on about?" Remus questioned giving us both a strange look.

"Sirius knits now," I explained, "He says it's very relaxing."

"School can just be so stressful sometimes. I just look for ways to escape," Sirius shrugged.

"Alright," James nodded, "These two are in their own world again. We'll see you at dinner in a few?"

"Yeah I'll see you guys then," Sirius replied nodding them a farewell before we continued in the direction of the owlery.

"You know what I've noticed?" I asked breaking the silence we've had since leaving his fellow Marauders. We were making our way up the stairs to the owlery, I was walking behind Sirius because he walked up the stairs faster than I could.

"What?" He asked glancing briefly towards me.

"That when just the two of us hang out we tend to do what James said," I said.

"Go off into our own world?" He asked to clarify as he stood at the top of the steps pulling the door to the owlery open.

"Yeah," I answered hopping up the last few steps walking through the door he held open.

"Hm," He hummed thinking it over, "I guess we do. That kind of funny cause I do that with the guys and you sometimes will do it with Evans."

"I guess that means we've truly become friends," I praised giving my letter to an owl.

"Proud of us," He gushed in a weird voice that made me laugh.

"I never would have thought that this is how this year would end up," I said as the owl flew away.

"This is all thanks to me," He said not at all acting conceited, "Lets be honest you would never be this newly changed person who is trying new and bolder things if it wasn't for me. I can't take all the credit but you know I'm going to anyways."

I rolled my eyes, "You're so modest."

"It's a gift."