Remus P.O.V.
'Should I ask her?' 'What if she say no?' 'I think it's just a crush, I'll get over it. I don't have to act on it.' 'No need to hurry. Start slow. Ask her on a date already.'
These were some thoughts that had been going on in my head ever since I admitted my liking towards Artemis. I hadn't told my friends yet, as I'm quite sure they would make it a big deal than it really is.
"Remus, are you okay? You haven't moved your quill for past ten minutes." Artemis asked me over her parchment. We two were doing our homework in the common room after dinner. James and Sirius were having a detention right then while Peter retired early for the bed.
"N-nothing. Just thinking some stuffs." I pulled back my thoughts and tried to concentrate back to my work. My reply might not had been that convincing as I saw some doubtful looks on her face but she didn't say anything after that. We completed our assignments in silence, and continued to read. I sneaked a glance of her every few minutes, suggesting myself 'If you want to know how she feels about you, this is the perfect chance. We are alone and cannot be disturbed. Probably.'
"Say… Artemis, are you going to Hogsmeade this weekend? It would be your first visit." I thought to ease into the main question so, I started slow.
She looked up from her book Everyday Charms and straight into my eyes. "Oh, yeah… I have to ask about that from Prof. McGonagall, you know… regarding the permission. But I'll be not surprised if she denies it. She is quite strict about school rules and I don't have any permission letter from my parents or guardian." She smiled meekly. It can clearly be seen in her eyes that she wanted to go very much.
"She will say yes, I'm telling you. Or the other students would start suspecting something, if you, a fifth year, is not allowed to visit, right?" I tried to reassure her.
"I hope so…" She said with a smile, and went back to her reading. 'Now' "…and if she allows you, ….would you like to–"
Just then, the portrait hole opened and we heard a loud laughter. "– I think this is some kind of a record, to land a detention while being in a detention… I'm not saying I'm proud of it but… did you looked at Kettleburn's expression after we pulled that prank on him? It was totally worth it." Sirius said to James while he heaved with laughter. They both made their way to us and announced, "You won't believe what just happened."
'Damn it. I missed my chance.'
****
Hogsmeade weekend was near. This weekend was special because it was the first ever trip for Artemis. Her excitement doubled when she asked for the permission for visiting the village from Prof. McGonagall and after a little complication, she agreed to it.
"Yes, Miss Hale. Do you want to ask something?" Prof. McGonagall asked Artemis after a transfiguration class, when she approached the teacher's desk.
"Yes Professor. I wanted to ask about the next Hogsmeade visit." She voiced her query, feeling a bit nervous.
"What of it?" Prof. McGonagall said.
"I wanted to ask for the permission for my visit. I mean, I can't possibly bring a signed letter from my parents or guardian and it will be suspicious if I said 'my parent didn't signed the permission form' to my friends resulting to more questions from them and more lies from me… and lies makes me nervous." I concluded in one breath.
Prof. McGonagall paused for few seconds considering my explanation and then said, "Very well, but I simply can't permit you instead of your parents. However given your condition, you are indeed our responsibility for the time being." She paused again. "I'll consult with Head master for this and let you know."
Headmaster Dumbledore, however, gave her the permission to visit Hogsmeade. This joyous news she could only share with the marauders, who were the only one knowing her secret. She did not wasted a second to tell them this news.
"Guess what, guess what?" Artemis skidded to halt in front of the marauders at the great hall before dinner. "I got the permission to visit Hogsmeade!" she was literally bouncing up and down on her heels.
"That's great news." James beamed. "We will celebrate it with butterbeer, what say? Come with us to Hogsmeade. We'll have great fun."
"Oh, but I promised the girls, that we'll go together." She said. "Maybe next time?"
"Sure, sure." James replied.

Artemis P.O.V.
I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't spent my Hogsmeade day with the marauders. I don't mean that my girl gang wasn't fun but being with Sirius…. Remus and James too, I feel less restraint.
The Hogsmeade Saturday morning started early for me, I woke up earlier than usual. I tried to sleep some more but it seemed like it had abandoned me for good. The sun wasn't up and the chill in the air stung like needles despite of the heater in the room. It was clear that I was the only one up at this ungodly hour so, I thought to make good use of it and rolled up to the other side of the bed reaching to my school bag. I took out the book that I issued from the Library, conjured up a temporary ball of light and started reading. It was becoming my habit; whenever I wake up early I read. There was so much to learn aside from our assigned school books which I was always tempted toward.
As the sun rose, I freed myself with all the daily chores, the others did the same as I groomed up for the day. It took one more hour for them to finish up; Alice took most of the time as today was her date with Frank and Lily was on her special duty to groom her. Today was all planned out- a girl's day out- all thanks to Lily: first some Christmas gift shopping, honeydukes, Clothes shopping, Three brooksticks, then Style-witches Parlour. It was such a tight packed schedule that it was giving me headache just to think about it. Anyway… even with the tight schedule I had my fun; Hogsmeade looked like a holiday card, with the Christmas nearby; Honeydukes was a paradise.
We exited Honeydukes fully satisfied with ourselves; I was practically giddy, half of my bag was filled with just the fifteen different kinds of dark chocolates.
"Now that we covered this place too…" Lily chimed, "…let's go to Glagrags, I heard they had just received a really awesome, new collection of dresses. Plus I need a new dress for Christmas."
Marlene agreed to her as we started heading to the said shop. I was too busy watching the surroundings that I missed their conversation and came to senses of what was going on when she addressed me directly. "Temi! Did you listened to what I said at all?"
I whipped my head to her. "Sorry, Lily. I was taking in the surroundings." She pouted at my response so I justified again, "don't be mad… it's my first time. I want to see everything. Anyway… what did you say?" I asked her innocently with my puppy eyes.
She smiled at me and then said, "I asked 'what kind of dress you'll be buying?'"
I mentally counted my remaining money and the lot I had spent today. It was not looking good. Since I was literally dropped from nowhere, with nothing but a bunch of my belongings, to this world, I didn't had any money on me. All my books and school stuffs were second handed; Dumbledore, however, gave me a small sum of money for emergency purposes.
I had to get out of this situation.
"… I forgot something. In the Honeydukes. I forgot to pick up the bag after the billing." Lily and Marlene were giving me a confused look. So, I added quickly, "Lily, why don't you go ahead with Marlene. I'll pick up the bag and come find you, alright?"
"…Okay, if you say so." She replied, uncertainty in her voice. "Are you sure you'll not get lost? I mean, if you want, we can take a detour –"
"Don't worry, I'll be alright." I called as I started walking back.
I was wandering down the Hogsmeade main road for quite some time. Nothing else to do, I kept drifting wherever the road turned, thinking about many things that included, my mysterious life, memories, friends...
"OUCH!"
I fell straight on my butt. It would have hurt more, if it wasn't for the thick layer of snow that cushioned my bottom. Damn, I bumped into someone.
"Sorry, I wasn't looking–"
"Ah, If it isn't our Arty…" I looked up with my watery eyes, James and Remus were towering over me. He lend me his hand and pulled me up. "What are you doing… alone? Weren't you with Evans and McKinnon?"
"Yeah, I got out of there. They are… shopping."
"Then come with us. We are going to Three Broomsticks." James offered me which I gladly accepted.
"So, where are the other two?" I asked. It was Remus who answered. "Peter got hold up by Prof. McGonagall. Apparently, he did poorly in his last few assignments. And Sirius, last time I saw, was with–"
Just then, as we passed an ally, I saw two figure at the end of it, snogging. It wasn't difficult to distinguish who they are, when one of them is your good friend. "Never mind, I get where he is." James and Remus seemed to notice what I was referring to, so, James commented, "That little…, when did he left us for that Revenclaw?"
"…when you were too busy ordering gift for Lily. You didn't even noticed when he hit on that girl." Remus explained.
For some reason I felt greatly irritated that I tuned myself out of the conversation. The scene of them entwined and snogging kept coming back to me. I was so occupied with the thought that I didn't even noticed that we entered the bar and took seating around a vacant table. It was James who brought me back to earth. "So, tell me, How it felt to be outside Hogwarts for once? Did you like Hogsmeade?"
His question made me forget about what I saw just now. "Hogsmeade looks like a Christmas holiday card. And I'm totally enjoying it. Specially the shops…" I saw Remus reached our table with three butterbeers. He probably went to the counter and ordered when I wasn't paying attention. He forwarded a bottle toward me and took a seat beside me. "…Honeydukes was the best. You won't believe how much I spent just on the chocolates." I said, shaking my head at the thought of it.
"You probably saying that because you haven't seen Zonko's yet." James went on when he saw confused expression on my face. "It's a joke shop. And every single thing inside it, is awesome." We sat there, drinking and talking for almost an hour. James described about every shops and places in the Hogsmeade and also the menu of the bar, which made Miss Rosemerta's work (the pretty girl that owned the Three Broomsticks) a lot less when she came to take order.
"Looking pretty as ever…" a voice spoke from behind Rosemerta. My head turned toward the voice owner. The carelessly handsome face of Sirius peeked into view. "Sirius Black." Rosemerta said without even laying her eyes on him, "A butterbeer for you too, I presume."
"You are such a doll." He said, winking at her. He turned toward us, taking the vacant seat with a huge grin and beamed, "Did you miss me?"
James replied, without even glancing at him, "Who would miss someone who ditches their friends just to snog random people." To which Sirius added, "She is not just random people, for your information, she is the hot sixth year Revenclaw with whom I wanted to hook up since last year." he said with a grin but for some reason it did not reflect in his eyes.
With the appearance of Sirius, and him describing that girl made me feel queasy in the stomach. It must be all the sweets from before. and on top of it, butterbeer…. I thought. I suddenly stood up. "I forgot… I had to meet the girls." I flashed a weak smile and walked out of the bar. I checked my watch; 'they will be in the parlor, I should head there straight.'
'I won't deny it. I know, the way I felt when I saw Sirius with that girl and when he was talking about her, it sickened me. I am starting to have feelings for him. I am not stupid. I know my feelings well.
But he is not interested in me, it is clear as a day. I need to keep my feelings in check or I'll risk my friendship with him.'

Sirius P.O.V.
I saw her walked out the bar. She is again going out of my sight. I didn't knew she was to meet us at three broomsticks or I would have gotten here sooner…
I am utterly confused.
To keep her out of my head, I executed the plan to know her better, but that only made her more interesting. It annoyed me when she is not in my visible range. She distracted me way too much, so, I started hooking up more. I always kept myself busy but she just won't get out of my thoughts. What is happening to me? Why am I so obsessed with her? Should I talk to James about this? Will it be of any help?