I'm really sorry. I've been super lazy recently and then I've actually been doing stuff like I've started sixth form and got my results and all that Jazz and well yeah. Lame excuses- I know. Sorry. I've started up school again though so iIll be posting a lot more often since I usually write fanfic when I have work to be doing.

Thank you for all the people's reviews and also if you haven't given up the story even after the massive gap in updates well i'm really sorry and thank you.

I've read lots of stuff on here and I hate it when people do what I just did so I should know better and all. Okay. let's go.

Side note: I would recommend reading the previous chapter to recap your mind or whatever. :)

Chapter 10: advice and Sirius déjà vu

I ran up the boys staircase. Seventh door. I knocked.

'GO AWAY- OPEN THAT DOOR AND BE HEXED!' Sirius' voice boomed. Wasn't he a friendly one..

I considered leaving. But I could really use Remus' calm reassurance right now. My fingers were still shaking as I held my books. I was downright terrified of Lily. I knocked again.

'GO AWAY! I'M SIRIUS!' he called again. Of course he would say that. I heard James groan through the door at the stupid pun that Sirius never let die.

'What? I am?' I heard him say. I rolled my eyes.

And knocked again.

'Maybe if we ignore him he'll go away…' someone muttered. Might've been Peter? The room went silent.

These doors really were thin. 'I'm not a 'him' and I won't go away.' I called and kicked the door lightly. You're such a lovely person. I can't understand why they wouldn't want you in their room…

Shut it.

I heard instant action on the other side: A gasp and a 'That's a girl' and suddenly the door swung open to reveal Sirius Black.

He looked at me and his face fell with... disappointment? Jerk. I don't know why but I felt the sudden urge to kick his shins.

Hmm, I'm progressively getting more violent. I should probably get to the source of that at some point. Hey, at least I'm not acting on it… yet.

It's still early days…

'Apris?' he acknowledged. I looked into the room behind him.

'I need to speak to Remus.' I said straight to the point.

'You really know how to greet someone Apris.' He raised his eyebrows. He sighed when I didn't react or apologise. I mean, like his greeting was any better? 'Remmypoo is in the shower.' He leant on the door frame and gave me a bored expression.

'Oh, urm, okay- I'll come back later then I guess.' I turned to leave but then James came up behind Sirius.

'Wait, he'll be out in a minute- you might as well wait in here.'

Sirius rolled his eyes and opened the door for me. I walked in; and had the most severe sickening sense of déjà vu I've ever had. Only the other day I'd escaped this dorm. Ugh, the second time I'd been in their room.

I couldn't help my eyes flicker to Sirius' bed. The furthest from the door, the forth bed along. I supressed a shudder. Keep calm; keep casual and keep unconcerned. This was a mistake; I shouldn't be here.

Peter was staring at me. Had he noticed how I was now looking everywhere BUT Sirius' bed? No, he couldn't have. Peter Pettigrew just got nervous around girls, everyone knew that. Breathe.

I realised I was just standing there in the middle of their dorm.

AH! That's not casual. Do something casual! I walked over to Remus' bed and perched on it 'casually'; nailed it.

Sirius and James went back to sitting on James' bed and looked at me. Then Sirius snickered and whispered something too low for me to hear. James looked up at me and gave a rather girly giggle if I may say so myself. Peter got wide eyes and chuckled.

I supressed the mini-panic attack I was having and with effort, forcibly rolled my eyes. 'What?'

Deny it. If they suddenly got wise; just deny everything.

Sirius shrugged but Peter snortled, 'Sirius was just saying how that's the first time Remus has ever had a girl on his bed...' then James laughed madly.

I rolled my eyes freely now but I was also sure I was blushing slightly. What is wrong with boys anyway? Seriously.

'I heard that!' Remus shouted from behind the bathroom door. And I heard the water stop. I gave a chuckle as Sirius and James exchanged fake-terrified glances.

I looked around their room a little keeping my eyes away from you-know-where and noticed that all the boys had neat and tidy beds; which was weird. I mean, they were neater than my bed. Well, Sirius' curtains were closed and they looked like they'd been thrown together suddenly. So maybe his wasn't. Though, I reckoned they'd chucked whatever they were 'planning' behind the curtains before I came in.

Maybe I could warn matt or something… but then how would I do that without telling him what's happening? They probably won't act on it; whatever it is. Hmm.

James cleared his throat a little. I looked at him, he smiled, 'So..'

I frowned suspiciously. 'What?'

'How is Lily?' He looked at his bed post as he said this pretending to examine the wood.

I laughed and he mock-glared at me. I concealed it with a cough. 'um. She's grand.'

He nodded then pushed his glasses up with the base of his palm, 'Right. Has she... has she said anything about me recently- you know I haven't asked her out in 2 days now.' He said proudly and I noticed he'd stuck his chest out.

Sirius snorted, 'Don't pretend that was your idea.'

James pushed him playfully, 'It was my idea.'

'It was moony's, wasn't it?' Peter squeaked.

'Yeah it was.' Remus said as he came out the bathroom fully clothed with wet darkened sandy brown hair. He threw me a smile and didn't seem at all surprised that I was here or perched on his bed.

James crossed his arms over his chest, 'Well, i was thinking it too.'

'Right. So, Apris? C'mon- let's talk outside away from these Idiots.' Remus said.

Sirius pouted. 'You don't mean that Remmzzypoo.'

'Ugh. Stop calling me that.' Remus walked out with me on his tail.

'BYE APRIS' they chorused behind us.

Remus walked us a little distance from the door and turned to me, 'What's wrong?'

'Oh, well, I was wondering if you could teach me that hickey covering spell; it's worrying me a little how close things are getting.'

Remus nodded. I continued, 'And Remus I don't know what to do about Lily'

Remus nodded slower this time thinking things through, 'Well, the Hickey spell is quite simple so I'll teach it to you later today. But I don't know what you can say to Lily… She's your best friend- I'm sure she'll forgive you...'

I bit my lip doubtfully. He sighed smiling, '…eventually anyway.'

'Hmmm.' I said unconvinced. 'So, how is the search going?' I nodded in the direction of their dorm.

Remus made a face, 'Well, they're still pretty sure I know something and Sirius is showing no signs of letting up- It's getting annoying- It's the only thing he talks about now.'

'Perfect' I muttered sarcastically.

He threw me an apologetic look, 'Don't worry, I'm leading him away from you' He leant closer and whispered, 'I took your name off the list.'

I blanched at that, 'The 'List'?'

He gave a low chuckle, 'Erm yeah—Sirius devised a list of all the 'Potentials' and he's working through and interrogating them all - I believe he's just crossed off Alicia Featherwest' Remus frowned thoughtfully, his eyes going into the distance thinking about something.

My eyes widened, 'What? How does he know it wasn't her?' I was disappointed slightly. I thought that he'd be fooled by her flirty manner and decide that it was her after all; letting me forever off the hook.

Remus looked even more thoughtful, 'I'm not certain but he's got a set of criteria- he muttered something about Alicia being too 'into' him to be the one. How she acts. Sirius baffles me sometimes- actually, quite a lot of the time.' He smiled and the distance left his eyes. 'But don't worry so much. You'll go prematurely grey.'

I sighed and smiled, 'Oh, I think if it was going to happen-it'll have started already. I think I'm closer to heart problems.'

He chuckled at something. 'I agree.'

I frowned. How would he- Ah, he must have guessed that my heart was going haywire all the time. Maybe I always look like I'm about to die or something. I made a mental note to control my facial expressions better.

He coughed. My eyes widened as I realised something, 'Ah, Remus! Wait, won't he realise you took me off the list? - if I'm the only girl that isn't on there then-'

Remus cut me off amused, 'No, it's a pretty long list and I took some other girls off just in case.'

I calmed my heart and crazy thoughts, 'Oh, alright. So, what about this party?'

Remus frowned, 'Which one? Sirius' or Slughorns'

I didn't know Remus was going to Slughorns' party, though it made sense. In fact with all the drama i'd forgotten about that party altogether. I think it was two days from now. 'Sirius'. Should I go or skip it?'

Remus' eyes widened briefly before he said, 'Go. Definitely go.'

'Right.' that's going to be a problem… I'll have to convince Lily, It would be weird coming without Lily and suspicious too. We'd all go as a group or not at all. Merlin's beard I should have asked Remus before I opened my big mouth to her.

'REMMYPOO IF YOU ARE JUST GOING TO STAND OUTSIDE IN THE CORRIDOR THEN GET YOUR BUTT BACK IN HERE AND HELP!' Sirius' voice boomed.

Remus sighed.

James grumbled, 'Yeah Moony! Stop trying to get out of it?!' he sounded more accusing and bored then like he actually cared.

Remus made a face again and looked at me, 'I blame you for this.' He said jokingly.

'Right. Sorry. Bye.' I moved further back.

He nodded, 'Bye- oh, Meet me in the room of requirement later to practise the spell.'

What? 'The where?'

He frowned, 'The- oh, never mind. Hmm, you know the corridor outside Arithmancy?'

I nodded confusedly. Why there? Surely there were better places to meet?

'Meet me there at…hmm, shall we say 5? Before the feast'

I nodded, '5- okay. See you. Oh and thank you for everything, again.'

Remus just smiled and shrugged. 'Good Luck Apris. Oh and stay out of the common room.'

'Right' I waved and walked down the steps muttering, 'I can do this.' under my breath.

Merlin, Bad luck can back off because I can do this.

After all, I have an Ally on the inside.

Muhahahahahah aha aha ahahahahahaha aha aha hhahahahahaha. I have plans for you Apris...

So, what are people thinking of 'The list'? Hehe. Apris made a slip in this chapter, wonder if anyone caught it? Hopefully Sirius didn't.