[A/N] Hey there! This is our longest chapter yet! A lot happens, but it might feel like nothing is happening. I promise this is all important though, so bear with us, okay? Again, thanks for all the lovely reviews, they make life better! I wonder when we'll be able to say we have 50 reviews... wouldn't that be cool? I'd be soooo happy!

Disclaimer: Jo is amazing. We are not hers. Wait, yes we are... or um... we don't own Harry Potter! We only have bits of plot and our OCs.

New Beginnings

I believed that you'd always be here
'Cause once you promised a life with no fear.
Please don't break my ideals
And say what's fake was always real.
Hope was the one, now I know.
Take me back again.

-Shine (acoustic) by Muse

"I can't believe we lost," James said, mostly to himself, as he sat with the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, staring into the fireplace later that evening, "Our team is so good!"

"I'm sorry I missed the snitch, James," Angela said.

"No, it's not your fault," James argued, "Your position may get the most points in one go, but we're still a team and winning is a team effort. Jade, Kristi and I could've racked up more points, Kate could've saved more goals, Eric and Jason could've hit more bludgers. But it doesn't come down to just one person, not really."

"So, you're saying we all suck?" Kate asked, amused, in spite of herself.

"No, most definitely not. Didn't I just say how good of a team we are? We'll just have to practice more and practice harder. We can still win the cup!"

"I'm in it for the cup!" Kristi agreed, smiling at James and putting her hand on his. The other all nodded in agreement. James smiled at his team, and then turned to the blonde next to him. Since their date in Hogsmeade, Kristi had been everywhere James turned, smiling at him, touching his arm and agreeing with him. At first he'd been hesitant to return the affection because he wasn't entire sure how he felt about the girl and his parents had taught him to be a gentleman and not lead girls on. But as he looked at her now, unable not to notice how attractive she was, James decided that he may as well go for it. Lily wasn't any more impressed with him now than she'd been at the start of the year; he really had nothing to lose. He ruffled his hair and smiled back at her.

"Fancy a walk?" He asked her, standing up and holding out his arm. She giggled and accepted his arm as he led her through the portrait hole and out of the common room. The rest of the team took that as their cue to disband the informal meeting and join their friends in the various areas of the common room. Kate rolled her eyes at her captain's overdone chivalry and made her way to where Maia, Allie and Lily sat, trying to get some homework done.

"What exactly does he see in her?" Lily asked her friends as she watched with narrowed eyes as James whispered something to the fifth year and helped her through the portrait hole.

"What does who see in whom?" Kate asked, settling down in a chair across the table from Lily and pulling a book on exotic magical plants out of her bag.

"No one," Lily said quickly, turning her eyes away from the place where James and Kristi had disappeared. Kate looked at her curiously.

"She means James and Kristi," Maia said without looking up from her essay on switching spells.

"Since when do you care about who James likes?" Kate asked, slightly taken aback.

"I don't care," Lily argued, "I was merely curious. As if I give a damn who James Potter dates or why."

"Then why ask?" Kate pressed, sharing a knowing glance with Maia, who had looked up from her essay to watch Lily's pointless assertions.

"I said already," Lily retorted coolly, "I was curious. Is that a crime?"

"Not at all," Kate answered, eyebrows raised.

"But biting heads off is a crime," Maia added, "Especially heads of your best friends who are just concerned about your happiness."

"Shut it," Lily said with a glare at her friends. She turned to Allie; the only of her friends still attempting to work, "Want to work with me on the potions essay?"

"Sure," Allie said, looking up, "Here or in the library?"

"Let's go to the library," Lily answered decisively, gathering her books and parchment, "That way we can work with in peace without people pestering us." Allie nodded and, putting her own things in her bag, stood up.

"Do you think she really doesn't care who he dates?" Kate asked Maia as they watched their two friends leave the common room.

"Not at all," Maia answered, "She's cared for at least a year, but I think she's only just begun to realize it. And I think that's why she's fighting so hard against it. Part of her knows that she fancies James Potter and it scares her more than anyone, even she, knows."

***

"May I suggest," James started the following morning, "to the general audience of this dormitory, that we execute a prank?" Sirius gave a noncommittal shrug and Remus peered at James over the book he was reading. Only Peter, who looked up from the letter he was writing to his mother, showed any interest.

"What did you have in mind?" Peter asked curiously.

"Well, Wormtail," James answered, glad to have some resemblance of an audience for his plans, "I think that Snivellus has gotten far too comfortable of late with his Slytherin Death Eater pals. We ought to make sure they realize that sloth is a deadly sin."

"You want them to hex first year muggleborns with dark magic?" Remus asked, an eyebrow raised.

"No! Of course not!" James exclaimed, "I just meant that they shouldn't feel so at ease. We need to make sure they are on guard."

"Had you given this any more thought, or were you planning on just blindly hexing them into oblivion?" Sirius asked listlessly, "Because I'd be completely okay with that. I'm bored, restless, and more than ready for some action."

"Well…" James hesitated, "I'm open to ideas, but I suggest that we do something about the state of his robes. They kind of hang off him, don't they?"

"Oh," Sirius said, eyes lighting up as anticipation quickly overtook him, "I think we should help him with that. Right now he looks like a pygmy puff in Hagrid's robes."

"Albeit a pygmy puff that got dumped in a gallon of your motorbike grease," James added. "To remedy this, I propose that, on Halloween Eve, we shorten his robes approximately five inches."

"We should charm them so they shorten even more every time he tries to turn them back!" Peter piped.

"Good idea, Wormtail," Sirius exclaimed, patting him on the back enthusiastically.

"You in, Moony?" James asked. Remus hesitated.

"C'mon, Moony," Sirius encouraged, "we haven't done anything this year!"

"Well… that's not entirely true," Remus argued.

"The train doesn't count," James dismissed with a wave of his hand, "We weren't actually at school then."

"You aren't going to lose your badge," Peter pointed out, "You did stuff last year and you still have it."

"Have some fun," Sirius urged, and somehow Remus knew his friend was referring to more that pranking Snape, "You don't have nearly enough fun. Plus, while Prongs' idea is a good start, to be honest, it's kind of lame. We could use your intelligence to come up with something more… creative."

"Well…" Remus said slowly. If he was being honest with himself, he'd have admitted that his friends hadn't really needed to convince him. As always, the idea of a night marauding or a plan to put Snape and the other Death-Eaters-in-training in their places was enough to make him forget that he wore a prefect badge and was therefore responsible for preventing such activities. Wormtail was glancing around the room in anticipation; Sirius looked anxious to hear Remus' decision, but the glint of trouble making lit his eyes and James was standing back on his heels, arms crossed and looking at Remus as though he knew exactly where Remus' decision would fall.

"I'm in. I know just the way to further remedy Snivellus's robes."

***

"Peter!" A voice rang across the common room as the four marauders made their way down from their dormitory a couple hours later. Peter recognized the voice and turned around to see a sandy blonde girl with blue eyes smiling at him.

"Heather," he breathed, a matching smile spreading across his face. It amazed him how, even after nearly two months, the young Gryffindor still managed to stun him. He hurried over to her and pulled her into an embrace.

"Oy, Wormtail!" Sirius called from near the portrait hole, "Want us to go on while you're otherwise occupied?"

"Yeah…" Peter answered distractedly, "I'll just meet up with you guys at the-"

"Library," James interrupted before Peter's distraction gave them away, "We'll be at the library." Peter nodded vaguely as his friends climbed out of the portrait hole.

"Your friends are going to the library?" Heather asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Not exactly," Peter murmured, "But I know where they'll be and it's not with us and that's what matters."

"Well then," Heather continued, "I think that we should go somewhere too."

"The library?" Peter asked.

"Not if your friends are going to be there," Heather smirked, "I was thinking more along the lines of an empty classroom."

"You're so cute when you're trying to be suggestive," Peter whispered, putting his hand on her chin and tilting it upwards. She blushed, the natural rosiness of her cheeks coming into full bloom.

"I… cute… it's not what I was going for," she stammered.

"But cute is the way I like you," Peter answered before catching her lips in his.

"Peter," a bored female voice called from across the room. Again, Peter recognized it. But this time, rather than causing him to smile, he grimaced slightly. He pulled himself away from Heather and turned around.

"Yes, Kristi?" He asked with forced patience.

"Where's James?" She asked, dismissing the fact that she'd interrupted what had clearly been an intimate moment.

"The library," Peter answered curtly, keeping with the peculiar alibi James had thought of moments before.

"Yeah, right," Kristi said in disbelief before turning to Heather, "Do you know where James is, or is your boyfriend lying to me?"

"He said he'd be in the library," Heather shrugged, "I'm sorry Kriss. If he's not there, I have no idea where he is." Kristi glared at her friend and stalked off, across the common room and through the portrait hole.

"What does James see in her?" Peter asked. Heather looked at him quizzically, "I mean, I know she's one of your best friends. But I just can't see her and James working. She's kind of…"

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Heather said with a laugh that sounded like bells to Peter, "She's not usually like this. She's just… not very good with boys. It's fine when she's friends with them, but when she decides she likes them, she can be insufferable." Peter nodded but didn't completely agree. He remembered how Kristi had been standoffish and mildly rude at his birthday party.

"What I don't understand," Heather continued, "Is why James is with her. I thought he was head over heels for Lily Evans."

"He is," Peter agreed, but didn't say any more on the topic. That was James' business and if he wanted to tell people, he could. Peter wouldn't betray his friend's confidence in that way. "I'm much luckier than him."

"Why's that?"

"Because I'm with the girl I'm head over heels for," He said seriously, looking down into Heather's light blue eyes, "Let's go on a walk."

"It is a nice day out, maybe one of the last before winter sets in," Heather agreed, "The lake is always lovely this time of year." Peter took her small hand in his. He hoped his friends would realize, and not mind, that it would be quite some time before he caught up with them.

***

The next day, the four boys were all eating lunch under a clear blue sky-ceiling in the great hall in-between classes when James looked up to see a beaming 3rd year girl waving at them.

"Hey, Wormtail, your younger sister is trying to get your attention," he said through a bite of roast beef sandwich. The other three boys smiled as Helen made her way through a crowd of hungry people to come sit by them. Her light brown hair was combed nicely into a high ponytail and Peter grinned at how grown up his baby sister had become even though she was still petite as ever.

"Hey, Peter!" She smiled. "Hello Sirius. Hi James, Remus." She nodded at all of the boys, blushing when approaching Sirius' name.

"Hey cutie," Sirius winked making Helen blush deeper. "What can the marauders do for ya'?"

"Oh…" Helen ripped her eyes away from Sirius and looked directly at her brother. "I was actually hoping I could talk to you for a bit Peter. You always ignore me at school."

"Nah, I don't, you're just as busy with your own little friends! Sure though, wanna take a short walk before class?" The two Pettigrews stood up and bidding farewell to the other three, they strolled out of the great hall and walked outside. The October air was chilly and Helen pulled her cardigan tighter around herself.

"So, what's up? Everything ok?" Peter asked her once they were out on a path close to the castle.

"I don't know… I miss Mum," Helen admitted. "Have you been writing her? She's not saying it directly, but I can tell she's having some trouble with money."

"Yeah? I don't think you should be worried. We'll always take care of you. You know that." Peter didn't like the confused look in Helen's eyes. Now, he thought again, maybe she was looking a bit too grown up. There was a slight crease between her brows and her usually round face looked a bit thinner.

"I'm not worried about me! I'm safe here at Hogwarts. I'm worried about Mum. It's getting kind of scary out there and with Dad working with those scary guys—"

"Helen, don't worry about it. I'm sure Dad knows what he's doing."

"But he won't ever write me back when I send letters and… I feel like I don't know him anymore. Since he left Mum, I'm so worried about her. What if he doesn't protect her from those guys he's working with now?"

"He'll make sure nobody hurts us or Mum. Don't worry about it—"

"Peter! I know what they're called! I heard some girls talking about it. They're called Death Eaters. What does that even mean? It sounds so creepy!"

"Just… focus on school work, okay? How are your classes this year?" Helen glared at him but knew that she wasn't going to get any more information out of him. Besides, she did want some help for some charms stuff she'd learned in class. Peter loved being the smarter, older brother and was happy for the change in topic, so they talked about less frightening stuff for the remainder of their walk and when Helen walked off to her own classes Peter thought that maybe, just maybe, she looked young again; like he had lifted some weight off her shoulder somehow. With those wishful thoughts he walked back into the castle to meet his friends for Defense Against the Dark Arts.

***

Weather was getting chillier and so Prof. Mansfield had lit a fire in the corner of the classroom and all the students were comfortably leaning back in their seats while he lectured about the new unit.

"We've covered some der basic defensive spells 'ready dis year and so now we'll work on dis new unit about Dangerous Dark Creatures, donchya know. Yous can check out a book called just dat, Dangerous Dark Creatures if you want extra readin'. It's by the Berkins Duns." Mansfield wrote the title on the board in big letters and there was a bustle of scratching quills from the Ravenclaws (and Allie) in the room.

"Anyways, we's is gonna start wit' werewolves who aren't necessarily Dark by nature but can go dat way der. O'course dey will be dangerous if you cross one 'round the full moon."

"No offence, Professor, but we've already learned all about how to recognize and escape a werewolf. That was all on the O.. What else do we really have to know?" A Slytherin girl with pinched cheeks asked.

"Well, dat der is a good question, hey? We'll be going more inta' depth wit dem. We'll learn about common werewolf culture and why some o' dem go bad and why some of dem stay good. It'll almost be like a psychology class mixed with some anthropology. Can anybody tell me why dis might be important stuffs ta know 'bout? Yes, Miss Regarne?"

"Because, if we know what can make them turn against regular humans then we can try to make sure they don't. Also, if we understand them, then we can maybe help keep them contained during the full moon. I mean, why would anybody want to be a monster?" Maia said ignoring glares from certain people in the room. Other people, mostly her friends grinned encouragingly.

"Well spoken, Miss Regarne! 5 points for Gryffindor!" Prof. Mansfield continued as several hands shot into the air. "I can't help but notice, however, dat you used terms such as 'dem' and 'we'—"

"Oh! I didn't mean—"

"No worries, lass. It's just that we'd better notice how we talk, eh?" Maia nodded, blushing.

"I see dat lot's of you want to add your two cents, eh. Miss Todd?"

A large Ravenclaw girl put down her hand and started speaking at top speed. "I don't mean to insult victims of such an awful thing, but you must admit that once they are bitten you can't really do anything to change them. They're evil and that's the way of the species! Just like Vampires or Dementors."

At this erupted loud choruses of agreement along with quite a few outraged disagreements.

"—Of course they're evil! They kill people!—"

"—They're just nasty! Not even real Wizards!—"

"—What about their families? It's not their fault they were bitten!—"

"—It's possible for them to be good, I swear!—"

"—It's not like any of us have actually talked to one before, how would we have any idea?—"

"—You say that as if you think knowing one would be a good thing!—"

"—You are all just bigots!—"

"—Well you're all idiots!—"

Remus sunk in his seat and scribbled so hard on his parchment that his quill snapped in two. Thankfully, only his friends noticed in the chaos that was class and Sirius quickly repaired it under his breath. Prof. Mansfield was trying to get everyone to calm down, but apparently everybody had something to say. James took the quill from Remus' white knuckles and scribbled down, "You okay, Moony?"

Sirius looked at James as if to say 'Of course he's not okay, you prat!' James shrugged and started digging in his school bag. Meanwhile Peter was arguing with some Slytherins who kept insisting that werewolves were evil.

Looking in Remus' downcast eyes, Sirius felt his heart wrench with sympathy. Underneath the table he squeezed Remus' hand and, for once, Remus didn't pull away, but squeezed back, readily taking the comfort.

Just then, there was a loud bang from where James was sitting, and everyone halted their speaking. James winked at his friends and they knew he'd used a Noise Halting Boom-Breaker. He smiled sheepishly at the relieved looking professor.

"Just thought it was getting a tad chaotic," James informed the class.

"Danka' Mr. Potter, I quite agree." Professor Mansfield went on wiping sweat from his brow. "Now, I believe dat an essay about your opinion on the matter from what you know so far should be turned in by all of you by tomorrow, hey. Den once we've done a bit more studyin' yous can all write another more educated essay 'bout what you think, eh?"

There was a murmur of contempt and consent before Professor Mansfield continued to talk about werewolves and their common lifestyle choices. Things calmed down and everybody took notes, even Remus took studious notes on what was mostly old information.

At the end of class, when everybody else filed noisily out of the room Professor Mansfield subtly leaned down to Remus and in a kind voice asked if he would like to have a cup of tea. Remus bit his lip, mostly just wanting to leave the room and forget the whole things but Mansfield looked genuine and Remus supposed it might be worth it.

"I have a free period now, Professor." Remus waved his friends goodbye and sat down at Mansfield's desk. In a few moments all the other students were gone and it was just the two of them. Mansfield silently poured two cups of tea and then looked up at his pupil.

"I reckon dis dere lesson was hard on you, eh?" Mansfield raised his eyebrows and handed Remus a teacup.

"Uhm…" Remus didn't have any idea what to say so he took a sip of the tea. It was perfectly warm licorice and he sighed as it helped to ease his nerves from the class.

"A bit, yeah."

"It's part of the curriculum and I agree dat learning about werewolves is a very important lesson, otherwise I'd hate to bring it up with you in da class and having to listen to da sensitive debates, donchya know," Mansfield nodded importantly. "Instead of having you write about how you think we should treat werewolves, I would like for you to write an essay about how the treatment of werewolves and how it has effected your life. It will of course be confidential."

"Oh, that sounds good Professor," Remus smiled at his teacher glad that instead of pretending that Remus wasn't a werewolf Mansfield was acknowledging this and was helping him to express and talk about it. Before Remus had any time to think about it he started talking.

"It's hard. Having to lie to everyone. And hearing what over half the class thinks about what I can't help being… it sucks."

"I bet. You know, my brother is a werewolf. He got turned when we were about your age. Awful thing, eh. He wasn't able to cope like you. It's like he dinks it's his fault, donchya know?"

Remus nodded. He did know.

***

"Allie, when is that Transfiguration essay due?" Maia asked lazily from her position draped across the couch with her legs lying in Kate's lap. Lily had her Runic Translations book and several pieces of parchment spread across the floor in front of the couch. Allie was sitting cross legged next to the Gryffindor fireplace with a potions book. She looked up at her friend with a wary look on her face.

"Tomorrow… have you done it?"

"Sort of?" Maia groaned and Kate laughed and responded.

"What does 'Sort of' mean, Maia oh wondrously vague one?" Maia covered her face with her arms and mumbled something incoherently.

"What's that, Maia oh wondrously mumbly one?" Kate asked in a mocking tone.

"I don't think mumbly is a word…" Allie thought out loud. Maia ignored her, choosing instead to repeat herself in a clear tone.

"I said… I've sort of done it as in I've thought about doing it." Maia avoided looking at Allie's scandalized expression by fiddling with loose gold thread on the couch. She stood up quickly and, lecturing Maia, the two of them hurried down to the library.

They only had a couple hours until curfew so Maia had changed out of her stuffy feeling uniform and she looked comfortably flirty wearing a tank top and baggy plaid pajama pants. Allie on the other hand wore black muggle jeans and a pink polo, her long brown hair pulled into a neat ponytail, strands of perfectly straight hair clipped up with bobby pins. The girls could not have looked more different in style and stance. Allie was still lecturing the other girl about responsibility and Maia was whining about how she was tired and didn't want to work. The only thing that marked the two girls as friends were the intertwined fingers that pulled Maia along.

The shorter girl stalked into the library and pushed her friend into a chair at a table. She then ran off to get all the millions of books that she deemed necessary to complete the assignment. Maia slumped in her chair and looked around the nearly empty library.

There was one loner Slytherin in a far corner that Maia recognized as Snape. She grimaced and looked away from the slimy git. Then there were some young stressed looking Hufflepuff girls. Maia sighed deeply at the lack of life in the room. Too bad Kingsley isn't here… Of course… I guess I should avoid him now considering I owe him money that I don't have.

"Maia Regarne," A deep chocolaty voice came from right behind her and she jumped.

"Oh! Hi Kingsley Shacklebolt! You surprised me!" Maia breathed. "Actually, I was just thinking about you. Maybe I'm psychic?"

"Or maybe I'm just thought provoking?" Kingsley chuckled as he turned around to signal his friend Josh Mason. Then he sat down in the seat next to Maia and she bit her lip.

"No," She replied shaking her head and grinning. "I think I'm just psychic."

"Or maybe you were thinking about me because you have a guilty conscience?" Kingsley leaned back in the chair and Maia noticed a gold hoop on his ear. She smiled. She loved a good rebel.

"Ah, I see that smile! It means guilt!" Kingsley accused laughing and pointing to her smiling lips. She quickly forced her face into a silly looking scowl.

"No! I was thinking about your earring! It made me happy!" Maia said, her scowl failing and returning to a grin.

Kingsley was so sure of himself, it made Maia feel like she could be as silly or as real as she wanted around him. It was a very different kind of confidence than what James and Sirius possessed. As much as Maia loved the ridiculous Gryffindor boys, the air they carried wasn't the kind of self-assuredness that was contagious; it was instead the kind that often intimidated people. This made people strive to be liked by them and they always got plenty of positive attention. Kingsley though, talked to everyone the same, and so people approached him easily. Maia guessed that this was one reason why this black, intelligent, sexily-accented guy was so well liked throughout the school: it simply felt nice to be around him.

"Oh? You like it?" Kingsley asked his eyebrows arching in amusement.

"Wait… what do I like?" Maia had lost track of the conversation, distracted by the thoughts drifting through her brain.

"My earring," Kingsley looked confused now. He shook it off and suddenly looked serious. "So, as I was going to say, you owe me 20 galleons."

"Seriously? I didn't actually think…"

"You know what, Maia Regarne?" Kingsley interrupted a faux contemplative expression moved his dark features as he pretended to examine her carefully. "I can think of something better than 20 galleons. If you wish to give it to me, that is…"

Maia thought about all the various things Kingsley could possibly want. "What is it?"

"A date?" the wizard looked hopeful and nervous so Maia pretended to consider very carefully.

"I suppose… with you, I presume?"

"Well, yeah. And you. You and me." Maia grinned wide and nodded vigorously. Kingsley let out a breath and smiled at her. After a few moments of content and almost awkward silence, Allie appeared across the table from them with a large stack of books.

"So, I brought all the obvious choices for you to look in for references. I couldn't find a certain book that I used to help me write about the history of the spell, but I'm not sure you have to include that in the essay. I did though. But you probably don't need to. Somebody probably checked it out… should I go ask Pince then?"

"Oh, hi Allie," Maia stared dazed at the pile of books, but her glee at being asked out by an incredibly hot guy didn't quite fade, even at the mention of homework.

"Hello, you must be Maia's friend Allie… Korets? Top Gryffindor female, and friend of lovely Miss Regarne. Pleasure to make your aquantiance."

"Yeah, hi," Allie was already digging out paper for Maia's essay. Maia loved how her friend would help her with studies so readily, but sometimes it bugged her that Allie barely even registered simple concepts like "hot boy" and "compliments from said boy". Maia rolled her eyes.

"Hey, Kingsley, we'd better get up to the common room. Earlier Greggor said he wanted to talk to you about something or other." It was Josh Mason, the seeker who had won Ravenclaw their last game. He was also Kingsley's best friend (as Maia knew because of all the times he was by Kingsley when she was staring at him from afar). "Hey, you must be little Miss Regarne who Kingsley kept mentioning. He really put some pressure on me to win that last game for some reason that had to do with you." Maia thanked the gods again that she didn't blush.

"But who is this?" Josh asked, his eyes gliding up and down Allie, who was busily marking pages for Maia to read. "I do not believe I've seen you before. I would remember if I had."

"That's my best friend, Allie Korets," Maia told him as she kicked Allie under the table. Allie looked up startled.

"Oh, hi," She smiled briefly and continued to look through the books.

"Yeah, hello," Josh gave her the most adorable crooked smile, but she missed it as her nose was buried in the texts. "What are you reading?"

"Transformations and How to Transfigure Them. By Hagifer Hannings."

"I see," Josh looked away looking a bit disappointed in her lack of interest. "Well, Kingsley, mate, we should get going."

"Right. I'll find you tomorrow Maia. To make plans." Kingsley tucked a bit of Maia's bangs out of her face and bit his lip. Maia leaned into his hand and he relaxed. "See you later, Korets."

"Bye girls. Later." Josh waved and the two Ravenclaws left the library.

"Allie!"

"What?!"

"You missed that completely, didn't you?"

"Missed what?"

"I have a date with Kingsley Shacklebolt!"

"Oh! Maia that's great! You like him, right?" Allie had finally looked up from her books and gave Maia her full attention.

"Yes, I like him! Did you at least notice that Josh Mason, genius and Quidditch star, was checking you out?"

"He was? Really? Why didn't he say anything to me?"

"Really, Allie? Really?! You are hopeless."

"I resent that!" The girls shared a look and Allie sighed. "I guess you're right. Maybe I should keep my eyes open for a potential relationship. I'm feeling a bit better about the whole Remus thing… but it's still kind of soon for me to think about guys too much."

"But Allie! It's the season of love! So full of possibilities! Friendships taking seed, families growing, romance blossoming! Come smell the flowers of possibility! Our future is in bloom!"

"Maia… it's autumn." The excited witch shrugged and started giggling.

"We're sixteen years old! It's always the season of love!"

"Okay, well, right now it's the season of essay writing. Love can wait."

"Yeah… it must be patient. I could name at least two people would wait for their special honey to come around for ages."

"Yeah? Who is that?"

"They both have black hair and call themselves marauders. That's all I'm saying."

Allie shrugged and pushed Maia's suggestions out of her head. Maia couldn't possibly know who Sirius wanted… could she? Besides, Remus had broken up with her so Sirius was probably just basking in Remus' affections right now. Right?

***

A/N: If you can read it you can review it! If you love it, hate it review! If you want updates, review! If you want something to happen, review! If you have a key board, review! (Wow, I'm sorry for being so pushy. This is what happens when liebedance isn't watching me writing author's notes.) We love you!

Peace.