Chapter 10

"Peter, just tell us the truth!" James groaned. After Care of Magical Creatures class, he and Sirius had dragged Peter up to the common room to question him about the summer. They only hoped that Alaina would pass the news onto Remus.

"I am telling the truth, James!" Peter cried indignantly, as Sirius snorted in disbelief. "My mum has been sick all summer. Its been hard on our whole family!" Remus arrived panting. Sirius stood up and offered their werewolf friend his seat.

"Guess what Wormtail just told us, Moony?" Sirius growled. Remus shrugged and clutched the stitch in his chest.

"Please elaborate, Padfoot." Moony groaned, he had been in a very ecstatic mood after his potions class with Alyssa. However, after his run to Gryffindor tower, he was quite irritated.

"He says that his mother was sick all summer," Sirius said in a hoarse growl. "Yet, he failed to mention the time that you saw her in Diagon Alley, as healthy as a bird." Peter gulped at this as his three best friends glared at him.

"I - I - she has an off and on condition!" Peter said, quickly recovering. "I have to take care of her. Ever since my dad was killed, I have been all she has left!" The other three Marauders paled at the thought. Peter's father had been killed the following year. He had left Peter and his mother in a lot of debt.

"Look," Remus said in a whisper, as he finally caught his breath. "Lets just forget about the summer. We have other things to worry about than the amount of times we hung out with Peter. Like our N.E.W.T.s" James and Sirius both gasped.

"Not the N.E.W.T.s!" James cried out in mock horror. Remus rolled his eyes and stood up dragging Peter along behind him.

"Come on guys, lets go down to the Great Hall," Remus said. "The girls are waiting for us." James and Sirius smirked at each other and caught up with Remus, as he exited the Common Room.

"Hey Remy," Sirius said in a sing-song voice. "How was Potions with Phoenix?" At the sight of Remus' blushing, Sirius pushed further. "Did you and Alyssa kiss?" Sirius fluttered his eyes and puckered his lips at Remus.

"No," Remus said, rolling his eyes. "We just hugged." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Remus wished he could take them back.

He hadn't been planning on telling the boys what had happened during Potions class. It was actually a secret Remus had been planning on taking with him to the grave. Alyssa was the perfect girl, she was smart, clever, and oh so caring. She was beautiful with her dark blond hair and chocolate colored eyes.

Too bad Remus Lupin was a werewolf. Therefore any romantic relationship with Alyssa was impossible.

"Remy and Lyssa sitting in a tree-," Remus slapped his hand over Sirius' mouth, shutting him up.

"Sirius, I am not the one with the girl problems," Remus said with a smirk. "You are the one who is having the mixup between Krystal and Alaina." Sirius' eyes widened and he surprisingly turned crimson.

"I am not mixed up." Sirius said in a determined voice, though his eyes betrayed him. The four Marauders walked through the doors to the Great Hall. "I know perfectly well that I want - CHAMBERS!" Remus faltered for a brief second, wondering if he had heard him right. Sirius was looking absolutely livid.

"But you said last night-," James was cut off as Brittney and Lily ran forward stopping the Marauders to proceed any further.

"Sirius," Lily said in a huff. "You probably don't want to go any further. Jake is in there." Remus looked over the girls' shoulders and saw that Alaina was talking to her boyfriend, and his beautiful Alyssa was standing next to them, looking positively angry.

"I will go as far as I want," Sirius snarled and he pushed past Brittney and Lily. He stalked towards Jake. Remus groaned and followed him.

"Well, well, well," Sirius growled as he stood next to Alaina. She looked up at Sirius in shock. "If it isn't Jakey-Poo Chambers. I would say it was a pleasure seeing you again, but I hate lying in front of these girls. Not the proper edict." James grinned, but Lily scowled. Obviously, she thought that this wasn't good something she should let evolve, as she was headgirl.

"Well, Black," Jake snarled as he threw his arm around Alaina's shoulders. Remus winced as Sirius' face contorted in rage. "If you really don't believe that lying is right, than I believe that it is time that you finally step out of the closet, if you catch my saying." Peter gasped in horror, as though he expected Sirius to be extremely angry.

"Hm," Sirius said as he mocked concentration. "I believe that cheating your way out of the truth, so maybe I will take your advice, if there ever need be a time when I need to step out of said closet."

"Oh shut up the pair of you," Brittney growled. She had sat back down again, and was currently eating finishing her lunch. Remus grinned down at her. "Stop with the little mind games. Sirius sit down, and Jake, hurry up. You know that other students aren't allowed to sit at different House tables." Sirius and Jake grumbled.

"Fine then," Jake sneered. He kissed Alaina's cheek, and threw one last glare at Sirius. "We will finish our conversation later, Alaina." He turned around and stalked back to the Ravenclaw table. Sirius growled and sat himself down.

"Bloody hell," Alyssa sighed, as she too sat down next to Brittney. Remus blushed, but the consented to sit next to her. Alyssa smiled at him, and there was a pink tinge to her cheeks.

They all finished their lunches in total silence. Remus had to admit that it was strange having four more friends with which he could talk to. The Marauders barely knew any of the four girls, and except James who knew Lily quite well.

They eight of them left the hall, still cloaked in silence. It was as though they had all reached a pact to not speak. Sirius and Alaina were avoiding each other, each walking on the opposite side of the wall.

"Sirius!" The eight teenagers stopped and spun around. Krystal was walking forward towards Sirius, looking slightly agitated. "Where have you been? I told James to tell you I was looking for you, yet you have almost completely ignored me! What is going on with you?" Remus watched as the Alaina scowled. Remus was slightly taken back, she had always seemed like a very gentle, quiet person. Lily and Brittney were smirking. Both of them obviously thought Sirius was getting what he deserved.

"Look, Krystal," Sirius said as he looked at the dark haired girl. "Can we talk about this some other time? How about tonight at dinner? I have to go to class." Krystal narrowed her eyes, and scanned over Sirius as though she was inspecting him.

"Fine, but we will talk, tonight!" Krystal turned around and left the eight of them in silence. They continued and soon reached the end of the corridor where they would separate.

"See you guys in Defense," James said as he turned towards a set of stairs.

Once again, the eight of them separated. James, Sirius, Peter, and Alaina were on their way to Transfiguration, and the other four on their way to Herbology. At first Remus had been nervous about not having that many classes with the Marauders, but now was hardly nervous at all. Having many classes with Alyssa wouldn't be bad at all, especially if they turned out at all like Potions.

"Do you think Sirius is going to be ok?" Lily asked Remus as they stepped outside. It was a meek day. It had rained the night before, and the ground was slightly wet. The four of them sloshed their way to the greenhouses.

"Yes," Remus said, with a weak grin. "Transfiguration always cheers him up. Its his best subject. He will be fine." Lily and Alyssa nodded, content with his answer. "What were Jake and Alaina arguing about before we got there?" The three girls groaned, startling Remus.

"Sirius." Alyssa said, simply. Remus looked towards Alyssa and saw in her chocolate eyes that she was telling the truth.

"Sirius?" Remus asked, intrigued. "Why were they arguing about Sirius?" Brittney let loose a giggle, and Lily elbowed her.

"Well," Brittney said with a grin. "Me and Alaina were talking about Sirius, and at the wrong time Jake showed up. I am sure that you know very well the hatred those two boys share, so it wasn't the best timing." Remus nodded his head.

When the arrived at the Greenhouses, Professor Sprout let them into number three. There were several small tables located inside, and the four of them walked over to the one farthest from the door. Lily went to go sit by Alyssa, but Brittney pulled her next to her.

Leaving the only spot for Remus next to Alyssa.

Oh yes, this year was going to be wonderful.