"I can't be tutored by him!" I told professor McGonagall, but she seemed unfazed by what I had just said as she raised one single perfectly done eyebrow at me.

"Unless you prefer to fail Transfiguration, Ms. Evans, you will be tutored by him," she told me in her most polite voice, where you could perfectly see she was smiling inside, laughing even. Then, as if it wasn't her problem anymore, she said, "And now, if you excuse me, I shall be going. I have better things to do. Good luck."

I'm sure she wasn't wishing good luck to me…

And I just watched her turn her back on me and exit the library with the same ease she always seemed to have, without any other word from either side.

I turned my angry gaze to the guy that was now settling himself in one of the tables and with a small smirk on his face that just pissed me off.

"Just settle down Lily," he said calmly, like he wasn't one of my biggest enemies from that school, "We should start now."

I didn't know his name, which was weird, but I knew he was one of the so called Marauders. And Marauders meant problems and humiliation for me. I wanted them as far away as I could. All of them.

"Écoutez," I started, "I know you don't want to do this as much as I; so why don't you just walk out of that door and I can teach myself whatever you were supposed to?" ("Listen,")

He looked at me with a calm expression, the same he seemed to always have. Damn him! "You see, I believe you're wrong in that," he told me, "I'm actually looking forward to do this."

I raised my eyebrow, "If you think I'll let you-"

"The only thing," he said with a powerful voice, effectively cutting me off, "I'm here to do, is teach you," he said, "Now would you please just sit and let me start?"

I eyed him suspiciously. What was he on about? Could it be possible that he wasn't thinking in pranking me in any way?

I asked him as much. He answered me with laugh in his voice, "For as much as I do find it funny how Sirius gets to know people sometimes, I do have my own ways, and none of them includes harming people in any way."

I just kept eyeing him and trying to decide if he was trusty. After five minutes of gazing at him, I finally let down my things into the table and sat next to him. What was the worst that could possibly happen?, I asked myself

"Great," he said, "I'm Remus Lupin, by the way. Can we start then?"

I nodded, "Don't you think-", I started saying threateningly again.

"I'm not thinking anything," he said, once again cutting me off, "The only thing in my mind right now is teaching you."

"Très bien," I said at last as I opened my book and placed my wand on the table, near my hand, to show him I was ready for whatever was to come. ("Very well,")

There was something about this guy that wasn't well… although not as handsome as James and Sirius, there was something about him that definitely caught my eye. He seemed- not kidding here- kind. A Marauder that seemed kind.

This was going to be good.

"Good then!" he said happily, a smile in face, "Believe me it could be worst. James was McGonagall's first option, you know? But I took the place instead as I know you two don't get along that well."

I didn't answer him as I stared at my hands "Now," he said, interrupting my thoughts of how my hands seemed so small, "Can you show me what exactly you can't do?"

I looked at him and smirked. He was so not ready for me.

(…)

"Wait a minute, wait a minute…" Charlotte said to me next morning as I told her how my night in the library had been, "You were tutored by a marauder?" she asked me stupefied. I smiled and nodded.

"I know it seems impossible."

The night before, after fifteen minutes of endless explications from none other than Remus Lupin, the Marauder, he finally got to the conclusion I wasn't going to be that easy to tutor. After one hour, he seemed as tired as if he had run three entire marathons. But at least when we ended I was able to change the colour of my snail! Sort off at least…

Moving on, after we were finished, he insisted on making me company to the common room, which I, after five denies, had to accept, as I remembered it was that or probably spending the night in one of the many hallways of Hogwarts.

"Which one?" Alice put in as she looked at me with a curious face.

"Ce gars Lupin. Remus," I said. ("That guy, Lupin.")

She sighed dreamily "Oh yeah. I know who he is," Alice said "He's simply sweet, you know? Nothing to do with James or Sirius. Or Peter for that matter. He's more the boyfriend type, if you know what I mean."

"Yeah," Charlotte said "Remus is nice guy."

I raised an eyebrow at her, "And how would you know, Charlie?" I asked as she seemed to squirm in her chair, "Do you know him?"

"Well… kind of," she admitted, "But the point is," she cut in quickly "He is nice."

I nodded, "Oui. Or at least he was."

Speaking of Remus Lupin, I remembered James, and his birthday ball suddenly came to my mind. I would have to go, as my parents would force me to, but I had no idea of what to wear or how to go for that matter. Hell, I didn't even know when it was going to be and where!

Also, I still hadn't told anyone about it. You have a good chance now, my mind told me. I sighed.

"Speaking of Marauders," I started, "Have you heard about James' birthday ball?" I asked.

Immediately, not only Alice and Charlotte, but everyone turned to me- everyone being Charlotte's little friends, Meagan, Fiona and everyone that was in hearing reach.

"Of course we have! That is like… the most waited ball ever! I mean ever since James Potter exits everyone wants to go to his off age ball! It's going to be huge, only important people will be there and it's going to be marvellous and-"

"Okay Meg," Alice said "We got it."

"Point is," Fiona told me "Only important and beautiful people are invited. I think all seventh years are going- except for the Slytherins of course."

"Yeah, and Fiona was invited!" Meagan said rather happily, "As her grandparents worked with James' parents the whole family received an invitation!"

I nodded, "Oh, how… nice," I told them.

"I bet you would like to go," Fiona put in evilly, as she looked down on me, "But it's only for few, the ball," she said as she gave me a "not-to-people-like-you-ball" stare.

An unexpected anger erupted in me and I smiled rather violently at her "Bien," I started, and finally noticed I was beginning to understand how things worked at Hogwarts. Or at least with Fiona. "I received a personal invitation from Doreah. Oh, I meant Mrs. Potter, James' mother." ("Well")

Their jaws all felt as they gave my incredulous looks, "No way," Meagan said excitedly, "You're going?"

I nodded. "I don't believe it," Fiona said, looking me in the eyes, "And you all shouldn't too. She couldn't have been invited."

Alice raised an eyebrow at her, "Why not?" she asked.

"Look, if you don't want to believe me, why don't you just owl her or something?" I told her, "Maybe then you'll believe me."

She looked at me with a doubtful look again before she smirked maliciously. "I have a better idea," she said, "Why don't we ask James himself? If you have been invited, then he must know, right?"

My heart gave a big lump as she said those words. I hadn't even thought if James wanted me in his birthday party or not! What if he didn't want me to be there? What if his mother had forced him to invite me? What if he didn't even know she had invited me?

"Alright," I said at last as I nodded. I couldn't back down or I knew it would be worst, "Go ahead."

Her smirk got larger as she turned her gaze to where the marauders sat "Oy! James!" she called out.

His head turned to her immediately and he smiled "Fiona," he nodded.

"Could you come here, please?" she asked, "It's really important!"

He raised an eyebrow at her but came to where we were sitting anyway, sliding down between Fiona and Meagan. "What may I be of help, fair Lady?"

She giggled. "So," she said, "We were just here talking about you birthday ball in November."

He nodded with a smile, but his eyes gave in the boredom he was in, "What about it?"

"Well… we were wondering if Lily here was invited. I mean, she's saying she was, but I just can't belie-"

"Of course she was," James interrupted calmly, as if it was the most normal thing in the whole world.

Fiona looked at him in disbelief and I tried my best not to show the gratitude I was feeling for him in that moment. He didn't deserve it, even if he was being nice to me. "She is?" she asked, probably not believing what she had heard.

"Yeah," he said, "I told my mum myself I wanted her there."

Now that surprised me; he had actually wanted me to go?

Not giving me time to ponder that, his gaze turned to me, and I could see the amusement in his eyes, "By the way Lily," he started "I still haven't told you about what day it is and stuff like that. Mum said you never told her if you were actually going or not."

Trying to hide my awkwardness, I cleaned my throat and managed a small smile "I…uh… I was busy," I said, "Give her my apologies and inform her I'm going, please."

James nodded "Of course. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be going. Talk to you later Lils. See you girls!"

And he dashed away, leaving Fiona stunned. Alice was nodding approvingly and Charlotte was smiling. Anna, as usually, kept eating as if nothing that was happening bothered her much.

"You weren't kidding," Fiona said, a somewhat disappointed tone in her voice.

I shook my head. Charlotte, who was sitting next to me, was grinning as she hugged me, "Thank Merlin you're going!" she told me, "At least now I'll have company. I was dreading to be all by myself in that party."

I smiled back at her, as Meagan thrown her an envious look and Fiona just looked away, "You're going too, then?" I asked.

She nodded, "I'm forced to."

I raised my eyebrow "Pourquoi?" I asked her and she looked at me strangely. Smiling I clarified, "I meant why?"

She shrugged, "You know how it is: pureblood families are always connected one way or another."

Now that intrigued me: it was a known truth that pureblood families were almost always related in some way; I had never really thought Charlotte could actually be in that role as well. What would she be to James?

As I was preparing to voice my question, Charlotte and the other five little first year girls got up, "We're going now," she told me "We have potions and it's a long way to the dungeons."

I nodded, taking a mental note to ask her that question later. "Alright," I said, "See you at lunch."

"Bye," they all chorused as they exited the Great Hall.

"We should be going too," Anna said, standing up. We all stood up as well and followed her out of the Great Hall, preparing to endure one hour of Defence Against the Dark Arts.

(…)

"Evans, my dear!"

I groaned to myself as I kept walking. That voice was becoming so familiar to me that I needn't turn to know who it was.

"C'mon. It's not polite to ignore people!"

I snorted, "You'd know about being polite to people," I whispered and only Alice and Anna, who were next to me listened. Alice laughed and Anna left her lips form a line that seemed a lot like a smile.

"What was that?" we heard him ask, as his footsteps seemed to be getting closer. By the sound of it, he was alone.

I ignored him and kept walking calmly. Why didn't he leave me once and for all? For weeks he had been doing that to me, weeks. Why wouldn't he just get… tired or something?

"Evans, you're being incredibly rude," he said once again.

"Oui," and I couldn't stop myself from speaking loud enough for him to hear, "Because you're simply chevaleresque." ("chivalrous")

"I'll pretend I understood what you just said," he told me, "And that it wasn't anything bad."

"Si tu le préfère de cette façon… mais t'es toujours stupide et grossier d'une manière ou d'une autre," I told him, rather happily as I knew he didn't understand. ("If you prefer it that way... but you're still stupid and rude either way.")

"I don't know if you noticed, but you're not in France or wherever you came from anymore," he told me as he grabbed my wrist and made me turn around. Anna and Alice turned as well, looking at him.

"Sirius, why won't you just leave her for a second?" Alice asked, "She has never done anything to you."

"Alice, Alice, Alice…" he said, in a disapproving tone, "I'm wounded by your words. I'm just welcoming her to Hogwarts!"

"Then you mustn't worry. We can do that ourselves." Anna said unexpectedly. Even Sirius looked at her surprised.

"Why future-Mrs. Patil, I didn't even know you could speak!"

"Well, now you do," she sneered at him, "But trust me when I say I'm much better with unspoken spells."

I looked at her amazed. That was the most coherent conversation I had heard from her.

"Am I being threatened?" he asked her with the same voice he used before.

Anna didn't answer. I smiled as Alice did too, "I don't think she believes that deserves an answer." she informed him.

If anything, his smile got wider and he looked at us with dangerous eyes.

"She doesn't, does she?"

Anna just turned her back on him and continued her way through the hallway.

Now Sirius seemed mad. Alice giggled, "Bye Sirius," she said as she followed Anna.

I followed her as well, even more amaze than before. Never had I thought she had such courage in her! The kind of courage I lacked and that left me wondering why I was in Gryffindor still.

However, as we were reaching the end of the hallway, I turned around to look at Sirius. And just in time too, to see him send a hex our way…

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: an update just in time, like I promised! Next one maybe, just maybe, will be out this week too. There'll be a lot of James and Lily interaction in it and well… you wait and see. But I'm not giving any sure as I have an English test tomorrow and I have to get a good grade. So… wish me luck!

I got you on that one, didn't I? I bet no one ever thought of Remus as the tutor. I admit that the first time I thought about it, I wanted it to be James, but then I thought better and decided against it. It would be just too… cliché.

Now, like last chapter, I'll answer here the ones I can't answer by fanfiction.

MiXeDuPmEsSeDbOoKs: thanks!!!

Reader: I'm glad you like it!!!

Jenny: thanks for reviewing

xxHPxx: I bet you were expecting it to be James, am I right??Lol. There, it was Remus! ;P

Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed or just read!!

See you next time!!

Hannah