A/N: Okaaay so I have been out for a looong time. Hopefully going to get a LOT more writing done now. A lot has happened over the last few months: I got married to the love of my life and moved into my first home with him, settling down. A new job has also popped up into the cards so I have been a busy little bee. Anyway, this is for you lovely, loyal readers, and my new followers whose presence has been noted due to emails popping up to remind me that I have a story to finish. Question though, - do I finish this as a Marauders era fic? or do I go on into Harry's life. I have several different ideas, but I would love to know what you guys think?

Thanks for following as always,

xYruniwyliox

The Turning point in the process of growing up is when you discover the core of strength within you that survives all hurt – Max Lerner.

Okay, so my plan was….backfiring. I wholeheartedly believed that if I ignored Sirius, eventually he would be gone from my mind, and my heart. It didn't work. I had been somewhat selfish and hogged James to myself, which then caused problems. Massive ones.

Sirius had been left out of going with Moony on the full moon trips, and even though Peter was ten times calmer and more involved in conversations, I finally realised what was tipping the perfect muggle-born princess over the edge. Lily thought I had filched James from her, which caused rather a melodramatic rift in our dorm. Bloody Hell!

It basically blew up in my face one afternoon. I had finished Charms and whilst James and I were walking back to the Common Room arm in arm, laughing over something stupid, Lils clambered from the portrait of the Fat Lady and literally stopped in the middle of the corridor eye-balling us. James merely nodded at her and guided me through the portrait hole, and off we went. He totally ignored her, without simpering or gushing. He was growing up, and I couldn't be more pleased that his heart wasn't breaking every time he looked at her.

However.

That evening in the dorm, I was re-reading my potions essay when Alice and Lily came in and completely ignored me. Then Marlene came in and she ignored me, so I snorted aloud, and that got everyone's attention.

Whoops.

There was name calling (mostly at me, but also by me), and tears (all from Lily) as she erupted in a fit of anger, jealousy, confusion and sadness.

"Just who do you think you are?! You're ignoring us, and you're dating Potter! Straight after Black! And possibly Malfoy! Lucius ruddy Malfoy! Everyone's talking about it, A.J. You can't make that kind of name for yourself, and you definitely can't date Potter, because-"

"Because what, Lily? You're dating him? Bollocks. Firstly, I can date whomever the hell I damn please. Secondly, you cannot stake a claim in my best friend, just because someone else shows any interest in him. When he pines after you, you're a complete hag to him, so no – you cannot tell me I can't date James. He is a wonderful, kind, caring and handsome person, and if you are stuck so far up your own arse to see it then, more fool you!" I snapped, before flourishing my wand violently, and vanishing my things, and turning to face her gaping face. "As for Lucius, our families travel in the same circles, as you well know, and his pursuit of me is nothing and I will not listen to this vile judgement. You wanted a reason to hate me, here it is." I sneered, whirling around and stomping out.

I'd been sat in an alcove on the seventh floor for about four minutes before James slid down the wall to sit beside me, sighing. "Must you be so…aggressive?" he'd asked me softly. I raised my watery eyes to look at him and he huffed, sliding across the floor to pull me into a brotherly hug.

"Where will you go? I'm sure you can stay with us until we figure something out, or this all blows over," he suggested, using a single, thin finger to push his spectacles up his nose. I shrugged and stood. "For now, there's only one place I can think of."

He followed suit until we found the tapestry, and paced back and forth in front of the blank stretch of wall.

I need a place to stay, and stay safe.

The door appeared after the third try. James opened the door for me, and the room we beheld was beautiful. Crimson and scarlet, with gold trimming adorned the room. It was like the common room and the dorm all at once. There were bookshelves, crammed to bursting-point, a large four-poster bed, a writing desk, and before the fire, a large squashy sofa. I immediately made myself comfortable, inwardly thanking Hogwarts for this beautiful gift. I turned to invite James in, and found myself snorting in amusement at the gob-smacked look on his face.

"This is amazing!" he cried loudly walking in and slumping onto the sofa. "I might just move in with you," he winked. I grinned and moved to pull a scrap of parchment from my backpack. "What are you going to do?" James enquired softly. I shrugged again as an answer, and drew my quill from the writing desk.

"For now," I began, focusing my attention on the parchment, "I intend to begin our legacy."

Thin ink lines began to take shape over the next four hours, where James and I sat comfortably, with him correcting my drawing and my editing. We were creating something great, I could feel it, and it would be our legacy to the future trouble-makers of Hogwarts.

This happened for a week. For seven days, I lived in the Come and go Room, while a little fireman's pole would open every morning taking me straight to the kitchens for breakfast. From there I would go to lessons and then back to my new room. James, Remus and I had been inseparable, although I think in Remus' case; my new abode was a quiet respite from the common room, or the library that didn't involve Madam Pince breathing down our necks every five minutes.

By the end of that week, my living conditions had been revealed and I had a late-night visitor. I opened the new portrait that had become a mini-door to the come-and-go room to come face-to-face with Dumbledore.

Balls.

He merely smiled at me with his twinkly eyes, while I tried to stop the internal panic running rampant through my veins. I stood aside and let him in, wringing my hands and wishing I could be anywhere else. The thought hit me like a broomstick. It was that train of thought that got me in this situation in the first place. I swore Dumbledore could read my mind as he grinned at me and nodded in approval.

"I like what you've done with the place, Miss Fletcher." He said kindly. I nodded at him and he gestured for me to sit. I chose one of my squashy armchairs, which had become a new permanent fixture once Remus and Peter started coming with James, while the Headmaster took the sofa. "It seems our dorms do not quite fit your requirements anymore," He stated, turning his bright blue gaze upon me.

I shifted and scrunched my nose. "There has been a bit of a falling out. I needed space, and I knew of this place," I explained with a shrug. Dumbledore nodded, running a finger through his beard. "It seems you are quite familiar with many of Hogwarts' secrets."

I flushed. Was that a compliment? From the Headmaster? I was drawn rather harshly from my inner-confusion by the door opening and a grinning James entering. "Have you finished the map yet, Vix?" he asked, grinning madly at me, as I rolled my eyes.

Curse that messy haired man-child to the deepest pits of hell.

"I see both of your magical talents are being put to good use." Dumbledore commented, a half smile growing on his aged face. James stopped, frozen, large hazel eyes staring through his glasses as though willing the vision of Dumbledore casually sitting on my sofa to be some sort of illusion or hallucination. I couldn't help the snort of laughter that bubbled forth from my lips, which awoke James from his stupor.

"I confess I am curious, could I see?" he asked. With no actual reason to refuse the Headmaster, James and I brought the parchments to him and he nodded, amused. "You seem to have found much of the castle's hidden secrets," he mused. I nodded, and felt James take my hand underneath the coffee table.

This was it.

Suspension?

Expulsion?

"There are two more passageways here, and here," Dumbledore pointed out good-naturedly. James stiffened, an enormous grin almost splitting his face in two. "Really?" he queried, pushing his spectacles up his nose as he leaned in for a closer look. Dumbledore nodded, before lifting his quill. "May I?" he asked.

As one, we agreed immediately – it isn't every day you get aided in your mischief making by the head of the establishment!

Dumbledore gently sketched out the contours of several rooms for us, and nodded once, as though pleased with his work and James and I wore matching grins as we turned to face him, eyes wide and smiles immediately putting him on edge. "We'd like you to sign it Professor," James began, with me nodding beside him.

"We'll be putting our own marks on it later, but something this awesome must be documented!" I chirped. Dumbledore chuckled and flourished his quill, signing one of his own office walls. It was discreet, so he wasn't openly agreeing to our rule-breaking plans, and he didn't quite know what we would be doing to it, but it was a step.

"Unfortunately Miss Fletcher, you have been sorted into Gryffindor House, and fortune does indeed, favour the bold, so I expect your belongings to be back in your dorm by tomorrow evening, and if the problems persist, come and see me – you know the way." He smiled kindly, his eyes turning to the map, before he turned and excused himself.

"Merlin! Did that just happen?! A.J. – pinch me…Dumbledore just –ow!" James snarled turning to me as I almost fell of the sofa laughing. "What? You asked me to pinch you, Prongs." I shrugged and grinned.

Slowly though, my smile seemed to fade. James' expression mirrored mine and he sighed, seating himself next to me again. "It'll all sort itself out, don't worry, Vix." James said. I nodded once, wringing my hands. "On the plus side, Lily was dying of jealousy when she thought you and I were dating." James seemed to perk up straight after. The evening was whiled away with games of exploding snap, and house elves delivering a dinner for two from the Headmaster so that James and I could enjoy our last night of this room. I turned my green eyes to the boy – who was growing up to be the man I knew he could be. My best friend.

My traitorous thoughts then turned to another, his sleek black hair curling at the ends, and the grey eyes the Black family was famous for, his mouth pulled into one of his easy smiles and I sighed. Merlin himself couldn't know what I would do with Sirius Orion Black.