Chapter 10

I lay on my bed, staring up at the red drapes. How could I have been so stupid? I obviously knew that Sirius didn't like me, and I was positive that I hated him, even before that moment in the trophy room. I couldn't even explain exactly what had happened, apart from the fact that it showed what a playboy Sirius was and that he enjoyed knowing girls fawned over him. I absolutely loathed him. I was also confused at my reaction before; what the hell had happened? I had sworn before I started at Hogwarts that I wouldn't have any type of romantic relationship with a boy. I was going to focus on how to defend myself in the real world so I could make the people that killed my family pay. Still angry with Sirius and myself, and the scene constantly replaying in my head, I slowly drifted to sleep.

"I know! That's so weird!" Christina's voice echoed up the stairs seconds before the dorm room burst open. She suddenly became quiet and tiptoed over to my bed. "Amara?" she asked. "Are you alright?"

I didn't bother opening my eyes as I nodded. "I'm fine. How was Hogsmeade?"

She giggled. "The girls and I hung out with the Marauders- apart from Sirius of course, until James and Lily got into another disagreement and Lily and Marlene left. But James asked you, August and me to come to their dorm tonight because they want to 'get to know us better', especially you"

My eyes flew open. "Will Sirius be there?" I asked, holding my breath.

Christina grinned and nodded. "And how was your little detention date?" she asked me with a wink.

I scowled in response. "Sorry but I'm not going this evening" I told her.

Christina frowned. "Why not? What happened?"

"If I were to put it politely, I could say that Sirius is a prick who doesn't deserve any girl"

Christina snorted. "Looks like you haven't changed your mind on him then"

I laughed. "I have actually! He's worse than I thought"

"Really?" Christina asked. "But look, you don't have to talk to him tonight, just please come along! They're the most popular guys in school, and I'm pretty sure we're the first group of friends to be invited up there!" she told me, the smile returning to her face.

I sighed. "I suppose. If he starts pissing me off though, I'm leaving"

Christina smiled and nodded. "Okay! Can I please please please do your hair and make up though?" She asked me excitedly.

Three hours later Christina was straightening my hair and darkening the make-up around my eyes. We had been to the Great Hall for dinner and were luckily one of the first people there, so I didn't need to make awkward eye contact with Sirius. Unfortunately, one of the first years came up to me and gave me a note from Professor McGonagall, saying that Sirius and I would have to come back for detention on Tuesday afternoon again as we had not finished it today. Christina had chosen one of my skirts and a shimmery top for me to wear, and even I had to agree I looked good. Christina and August were dressed similarly and both looked stunning as well.

At ten, we made our way to the boys' dorm. August knocked on their door, and a shy Peter welcomed us in.

"Girls! Don't you look pretty!" Remus grinned as he gave me a hug, before doing the same to Christina and August. James appeared as well and gave me an awkward one-armed hug as he held a bottle of Firewhisky in the other.

"Come sit on the couches" James pointed to the furniture at the end of the room.

I made my way across the dorm, looking at the Quidditch posters that covered the walls. They had obviously cleaned up since the day the girls and I had pranked their bathroom things. I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and saw Sirius coming out of the bathroom. As we met each other's eyes, I gave him a sweet smile, which caused him to look at me in confusion. I grinned and sat down between Remus and James. "So how come you've done us the honor of inviting us up here?" I asked them.

James shrugged. "We figured we should probably get to know you better because you obviously have some Marauder material in you, especially after beating Sirius in a pranking war!"

I smirked at Sirius, who was sitting next to Peter and Christina on the couch opposite.

"She didn't actually win" Sirius said defensively.

"Yes she did" August told him. She was sitting in the only armchair. "She was the last one to do a prank, and it was by far the biggest"

"Yeah but she made us get caught" Sirius answered snappily.

"McGonagall knew it was us though, it was only a matter of time before we did get in trouble" I smirked.

Sirius didn't answer.

"I think Amara is right actually" Remus agreed and James nodded. Peter looked uncertainly between the boys, unsure of which side to take.

Sirius scowled. "Why are you taking her side? What happened to Marauder's always standing up for each other?"

James grinned and put his arm around me. "Because she's Marauder material"

I laughed. "Thanks Jamsie-poo"

Remus cleared his throat. "Let's forget the prank thing at the moment and start drinking so that Sirius can stop dragging down the atmosphere"

Everyone nodded apart from the grey-eyed boy, who still looked angry.

James poured everyone a shot of Firewhisky, and then lifted his glass. "To the coolest Gryffindors ever", he announced and threw back his head and tipped the liquid down his throat, the rest of us following his actions.

I scrunched my nose at the burning sensation in my throat. The first one was always the worst.

August started coughing on the armchair and I glanced at her.

"Who here is a lightweight by the way?" James asked.

Christina shrugged. "I'll be average because I haven't drunk since the Christmas holidays, but usually I'm not too bad"

I nodded in agreement. "Same here"

Everyone looked at August who blushed. I giggled. "Is this your first time getting drunk August?"

She nodded slowly, and James jumped up. "We have a virgin drinker!" he laughed. I saw that even Sirius grinned. "You should be honored that your first time drinking is with the Marauders" James told her, before squishing down next to her on the armchair.

"Let's play your muggle game!" James told Sirius. "That way we can get to know the girls and get drunk at the same time"

"Alright" Sirius grinned. "Have you girls ever heard of never have I ever?"

Christina nodded. "I played that with my neighbors in the holidays!" she told us. Sirius looked at her and smiled before turning back to us. "We're going to just play it with the one Firewhisky bottle, and what happens is that one person says "Never have I ever" and then says something like, "fantasized about someone", and then those people who have will have to take one sip from the bottle." He looked around our circle. "Does that make sense?"

Everyone nodded and James laughed. "I'll start! Never have I ever kissed someone"

Everyone grinned and reached for the bottle. I waited while it was being passed around, and grinned when I saw Peter take a sip as well. "Wasn't it obvious that we've all done that?" I asked before I took a large gulp of the liquid.

James shrugged "Just making sure"

As we were going around in the circle, it was Christina's turn next. "Never have I ever had a detention!" she said lightly.

Sirius, James and Peter laughed while Remus frowned. I scowled at the memory of today's detention as I drunk.

Sirius smirked "Never have I ever had sex" he laughed before tipping a large amount of the liquid down his throat. Christina blushed before taking the bottle from Sirius and doing the same. Everyone else didn't move. I gasped. "Christina you naughty girl!" I said in fake astonishment. "With who?" I added with a wink.

She laughed shyly. "I'll tell you later"

I grinned and looked at August. She obviously didn't know either as she met my eyes, grinned and shrugged. I looked back to the couch opposite and saw that Sirius now had his arm around Christina's shoulders. I frowned; he was such a playboy. He glanced at me and smirked at my expression.

It was Remus's turn next "Never have I ever been jealous of someone in this room" he grinned. I turned and stared at him. Remus came closer and whispered in my ear "You're not very subtle" he chuckled and pointedly looked at Sirius and Christina.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed the bottle of Firewhisky. James held out his hand for me to pass the bottle to him. "I'm actually jealous of the countless girls Sirius can get so easily." He told us. Peter nodded in agreement and held out his hand for the Firewhisky bottle.

August looked at me before saying "I'm jealous of Amara because she seems to be good at almost everything, including beating Sirius at pranking" she smiled before continuing, "and she's super gorgeous".

"Aww August!" I laughed. "There's nothing to be jealous about, I promise!"

"If I were a girl I'd be jealous of you" Remus grinned, and put his arm around me. I laughed and lent into him, noticing that he smelt very nice.

"It's your turn" Remus whispered into my ear and I giggled as his nose brushed against my hair.

I saw Sirius frown and grinned.

"Never have I ever rejected a girl or an opportunity to snog one because I'm a total dick" I said loudly.

No one drank. I smirked at Sirius. "Don't deny it, Black"

He rolled his eyes. "I may have rejected someone but it wasn't because I'm a dick"

James looked at Sirius with confusion. "When did you reject someone Padfoot? That really doesn't sound like you"

Remus and Christina glanced between Sirius and I, realization dawning on their faces.

"Really?" I asked Sirius sarcastically. "Because what you did didn't seem very gentlemanly to me"

"I didn't ask your opinion though. It's not my fault you'll get with everything that has male genitals"

I glared at him. "Are you calling me a slut? That's rich coming from you!"

Sirius returned my glare, removed his arm from Christina's shoulders and got up, walking out of the dorm room and shutting the door with a loud bang.