Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Harry Potter series. That credit goes to the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling. Go Jo! I also do not own some of the material used. Again that belongs to Jo and Warner Brothers.

Chapter 10 Chaser

September 10, 1972

Sirius, Remus, and Peter looked at James for a moment in shock as they entered the boys' dormitory. Had they heard him correctly? James cocked his head to one side when his friends had not shown more enthusiasm about his decision to try out for Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

"Have you gone mental?" Remus asked, sitting on his bed.

The other three stayed standing.

"What? I love flying," James said.

Since they were now in their second year, they could now able to try out to be on the House team. One of the Chasers had now left Hogwarts, and the Gryffindor Quidditch team needed a replacement.

"Yeah, but trying out for the Gryffindor Quidditch team?" Peter asked.

"Well, I think it's a brilliant idea," Sirius said, walked up to James and placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Thanks, Sirius," James replied with a big smile on his face.

"Just don't expect me to try out with you," Sirius added as he walked over to his bed and began to undo his trainers.

Laughing, James responded, "Got it."

After getting out of their school robes, James and Sirius went back down to the common room to play some Wizard Chess.

"You're going to be brilliant, James," Sirius said as Lily happened to walk by.

"Brilliant at what?" she asked.

"I'm trying out for Chaser tomorrow," James replied.

Lily blinked, and then said. "Good luck tomorrow, James."

And she leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"Did that just happen?" James asked as he touched the place Lily had kissed him as she walked away.

"I think it did," Sirius said, shocked as well.

Marry walked up to Lily and asked, "Why did you do that?"

"Why not?" Lily responded with a giggle.

It wasn't that long ago kissing a boy had seemed gross to Lily, and James would have wiped his cheek, so why had things seemed to change?

xxx

September 11, 1972

Sirius was not paying attention as he ran through the corridor so he could see James try out that he ran into someone. By the sound of the scream, it was a girl.

"Sorry," Sirius apologized, helping pick up the books.

"It's all right," the girl said. She flushed some as Sirius placed the books in her hands. "Thank you."

"So, um… where are you heading?" Sirius asked as he cleared his throat.

He then noted her school robes. It declared her a Ravenclaw.

"I was actually on my way back to the Ravenclaw common room. How about you?" the girl wondered.

"I'm on my way to the Quidditch pitch to watch my mate tryout to be on the Gryffindor House team," Sirius told her.

"I can't wait to see the first match," the girl said excitedly.

"Me either," Sirius replied.

It shocked him that a girl, who clearly was into reading, could be interested in a game like Quidditch.

"Well, perhaps I might see you later," the girl said with a look to the ground.

"I'm Sirius by the way," he replied as the girl turned.

She turned back with a curious look on her face.

"Serious about what?" the girl asked, causing Sirius to laugh out loud.

"No, my name is Sirius," Sirius replied, still trying to stop laughing.

"Oh, I'm Gina," she replied, looking down in embarrassment.

With that, she turned back around and walked off. Sirius began in the other direction to the entrance hall.

xxx

Sirius ran into the field after the tryouts were over.

"Way to go, James," he said, slapping his friend on the back.

James laughed some because he had not gotten on the team yet.

"Thanks, Sirius. What took you so long?" he asked, remembering how he had not seen Sirius in the beginning of the tryout.

"Um…I bumped into someone," Sirius explained. "Literally."

"Oh," was all James replied.

He didn't get how bumping into someone would make Sirius as late as he was, but he decided against asking. Sirius would tell him if he wanted.

"You better get back there," Sirius told James.

James was so caught up in thought that he hadn't heard his name being called.

"Right," he nodded, and he headed back to the group.

Sirius crossed his fingers.

"Congratulation, Mr. Potter," the captain replied. "You're our new Chaser."

James took his hand his shock and said, "Thanks."

James shook his head and laughed as he walked towards Sirius, who was clapping loudly.

"Congratulations, mate," Sirius said. "This is a cause for celebration."

"Like what?" James asked.

"You'll see," Sirius replied with a mischievous smile.

xxx

James stopped in awe as Sirius entered the common room with all sorts of goods from the kitchen. Sirius had made James stay behind with Remus and Peter, who were now in the dormitory.

"How the bloody hell did you you know where the kitchen was, Sirius?" James asked.

He looked around the common room, but no one seemed to care how Sirius had gotten so much food.

"You hear things," Sirius replied, giving the same mischievous smile he had given James on the field.

James's eyes grew as a girl, a year above them, walked up to him.

"I hear you're the new Chaser," the girl said.

"That's right," James nodded.

"I'm Fern," she said, extending her hand out.

James took her hand and shook it. He then realized who she was.

"Oh, right. You're one of the other Chasers," James said.

"I'll see you later," Fern replied.

Sirius walked up to James as Fern walked away.

"See you," James said under his breath.

He had no idea what was going on. It was a strange feeling in his gut.

"What was…" Sirius began.

"Shut it," James told Sirius before he could finish his sentence.

"But…" Sirius tried again, but James cut him off again, saying, "I mean it, Sirius."

Sirius finally gave up and started up the stairs with the food.

xxx

November 14, 1972

Sirius had not mentioned Fern to James since that night, but he, Remus, and Peter had all spotted him together with Fern, laughing and talking.

The first Quidditch match of the season had just ended, and Gryffindor had beaten Ravenclaw. Sirius, Remus, and Peter ran up to James after the match.

"Great match, James," Sirius said.

James could never stay mad at Sirius for long.

"Thanks," he replied with a big smile on his face.

Sirius looked away for a moment as Remus and Peter were congratulating James when he saw something.

"Sirius, what is it?" Remus asked when Sirius had turned back around with a shocked look on his face.

"I don't know," he said.

The three looked at Sirius confusedly.

"I don't understand," Peter said.

"I just saw my brother talking to Snape," Sirius replied with a sigh.

This confused James and the others even more. Why would Sirius be shocked about that when they were both in Slytherin?

"Why would that surprise you?" James asked.

"Yeah, they're both in Slytherin," Remus replied, voicing the others thoughts out loud.

"I guess you're right," Sirius said.

With a shake of hid head, Sirius let it go and went back to celebrating Gryffindor's victory.

xxx

Remus tossed and turned in his sleep. He had never had a dream about transforming before.

"Where am I?" Remus asked out loud because the scene was so fuzzy.

Sure, he had dreams of himself as a wolf, but never transforming like this. He had also had nightmares of the night he had been bitten. When Remus looked around he found himself in a familiar room he occupied while he was a werewolf. Something was different, though. He felt like he was being watched. There were three animals behind Remus when he turned.

"What are you three doing here?" he asked them, and for some reason, he expected them to answer him back.

The stag, the huge black dog, and the rat stared back at him in an almost human way.