So at long last I have updated! I'm so sorry for the wait; I have had trans-European adventures from Russia back to London, I have been very ill with a wonderful (not) virus and I have had shed loads of revision for exams, so please bear with me. The exams are in two weeks, so I should be updating soon after that, but at the moment I really don't know!

Recap: Rose has decided to help James have a chance with Lily after a massive blow-up in the common room. The next day, James apologises to Lily, who is very taken aback by this. Sirius questions Rose as to her motives in a dark enclave in a deserted corridor...but nothing else happens.

Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love. - Albert Einstein

With all the speed of a jumbo jet, the Lent term was soon over and I found myself aboard the Hogwarts' Express on the way home for Easter. The scenery was absolutely beautiful, as all the flowers were out, the tiny lambs playing in the green fields and the sun shining brightly overhead. Lily, Katie, Megs and I sat in our own carriage with a heap of chocolate frogs, making plans for the summer.

This year it was Meg's turn to come to the annual Logan summer barbecue, an event which my parents held every year and to which we invited the better part of all our friends and neighbours. My friends were all particularly eager to go, as always, the main reason being the sheer number of attractive friends of my brothers who always went and also my brothers themselves.

In the summers of first and second year, not being so well acquainted with the others, I had invited Lily. In third year Alice had decided that she wanted to come; having heard about it from Alice and Lily, Katie came in fourth year. Unfortunately, due to a family holiday, Megs had been unable to make it in fifth year and so Alice had come for a second time. Now, in sixth year, it was Meg's turn. It was always a day of water fights, tasty food, games, the infamous singing competition and a lot of flirting amongst the younger guests, so all in all, good fun.

The girls were arguing their claim for next year; Katie because Alice and Lily had been twice, Alice because in her own words: "I love and appreciate you more than the others", Lily because she felt that she hadn't got the best out of it in 1st and 2nd year as at that time she was shy around boys and Megs was swearing that she would give me a year's supply of chocolate frogs.

It was going to be a difficult decision to make between my friends, but I warded off their questions, arguments and pleas by announcing that I would make the decision next school year and proceeded to take to everyone about their Easter holidays, which were obviously more imminent than the holidays in the next 16 months.

The train was approaching London as we all changed out of our robes and into our Muggle clothing. Lily groaned as she saw Petunia waiting for her on the platform and we shared a look. Petunia at the best of times was almost insufferable, but since the arrival upon the scene of her new boyfriend Vernon, she had become so worried about him finding out about Lily and her magic that I'm sure she would have locked Lily up in an attic somewhere if she could, in the same way that Mr. Rochester locked up his mad wife Bertha. Her sister's aversion to her and her magic was greatly upsetting to Lily, although she was very good at hiding her feelings about it after 6 years. I think she truly believed that Petunia hated her for being a "freak", but I thought that Petunia's behaviour stemmed more from jealousy than hatred. In any case, it was obvious to most that there was no love lost between them.

The train pulled into the station and there was the usual scramble and rush to grab bags and trunks and get off the train. Dragging our trunks, the five of us made our way slowly down the carriage and off the train on the platform, exchanging remarks as we went.

Behind me, i heard a familiar barking laugh and I was puzzled as to why my heart began to race, until I realized that I recognized that laugh. Sure enough, out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of the Marauders just getting off the train behind us. Catching my stare, Black smiled back at me, his face lit up with the aforementioned laughter which suddenly disappeared as his eyes alighted upon something behind me.

Turning and following his gaze, I saw a tall, handsome woman standing and staring right back at him with a very frightening look of anger plainly exhibited on her face. Beside her was a Slytherin whom I recognized as Regulus Black, who was looking down at the ground, scuffing his shiny black shoes, as if to avoid looking at his elder brother.

Also nearby the lady was a tall man, who might also have been attractive if not for the cold, superior look in his eyes and the sardonic curl of his upper lip. Something about the two of them, man and woman, seemed to darken the air around them.

Then the woman, Lady Black from the resemblance, began to purposefully stride towards us, her hand in her pocket where I felt sure that it must be gripping her wand. The Marauders had fallen silent behind us and even Katie had stopped talking at her approach, her husband marching along beside her and her younger son following bashfully behind.

They brushed past me as if I was no more than a fly, knocking me backwards into Lily with their forceful movements. Lady Black walked right up to Sirius and said in a voice that she hadn't bothered to lower;

"You will return home now with us or suffer the consequences."

He drew himself up, every bit as proud and determined as the figure of his father in front of him and replied the one word;

"No."

Silence fell across the station as though a thick blanket had suddenly been dropped over it. The sound of the proverbial pin would have deafened those at the other end of the platform.

From the stiffening of Lady Black's profile, I gathered that this might have been the wrong answer. Sirius would not be taking home the million pounds. I was in the front seat to watch Sirius "suffer the consequences." At this point, Lord and Lady Black both took out their wands and pointed them at their son. Just as Lady Black lunged forward to grab her son, I've no doubt in order to side-long apparate him home, James Potter stepped forwards, deflecting her grasping hand and standing between the parents and their son. Lady Black raised her wand and I felt Lily stiffen beside me as she spat:

"Don't think that I won't hex you, blood traitor. That is my son and therefore I have the authority to exercise my full parental rights, whether he wishes to return home or not."

I began to reach for my wand and felt Lily's hand grip my arm painfully as she began to move forward to intercede.

"I'll thank you to cease threatening my son, Lady Black" came a strong voice from my left. A tall man, with messy black hair, who could only be related to James Potter emerged from the crowd. Upon his arrival, Lady Black had drawn back slightly, but was still holding her wand in close proximity to James' neck. I think I had lost the feeling in my arm from the strength of Lily's grip.

"You can hardly expect to hex a young wizard and abduct another in front of over 500 people. Particularly when your son is now of age and is therefore free of your so-called parental authority, as he is now considered an adult in his own right. Or did you forget that your son's birthday is in November, Walburga?"

"Lord Black's face curdled into a sneer. Realising that she had lost, Lady Black withdrew her wand and then turned to Sirius, spitting;

"You are no son of mine. Come, Regulus."

And with that, the three of them disapparated with a sharp crack.

Sirius noticeably relaxed, although his gaze lingered on the form of his younger brother until it vanished. I think that that whole station heaved a sigh of relief as a strong breeze ruffled my hair. Lily's grip relaxed slightly, but not completely, on my arm. Slowly the hubbub of the platform rose again once more and people began to move. A beautiful lady, with glossy brown curls and smiling hazel eyes surfaced through the surging crowd and enveloped both James and Sirius in a tight hug, before doing the same to Mr. Potter. I assumed that this must be Mrs. Potter.

A tap on the shoulder tugged my eyes away from this scene and i turned to face Alice.

"My parents are here, so I'm off. Happy Easter!"

After the traditional hugging round with Alice and Megs (who was staying at Alice's for the first week of the holidays as her parents were celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary in Rome), Lily and I were left, Katie having wandered off to talk to some 7th year guy from Ravenclaw.

Lily was just staring into space at my side, so I nudged her.

"Penny for them?"

"I was just thinking that however bad I think my relationship with some members of my family is, Sirius has it a thousand times worse. Petunia seems almost lovely compared to Lady Black."

"Yeah. I can't believe she actually thought that she could hex a pupil in front of the rest of the school and their parents. She must've been really angry."

"I know! And the way that James stood up to her to protect his friend: Lord and Lady Black could really have hurt him!"

I tried my very hardest not to smile at this last comment and just managed it: Lily was starting to see a better side of James than before. And James hadn't been doing it to impress Lily or something like that; he was so focused on protecting Sirius that I don't know if he even noticed that Lily was there ( a definite first!)

I was saved from keeping up my straight face when I spotted my parents a few hundred metres away. Promptly dropping all of my stuff, I ran down the platform towards them, ending up squashing them both in a giant bear hug.

I chatted excitedly to them about my term, asking the questions until Lily came up, followed by Petunia, pushing both my trunk and her own on a trolley. Petunia began talking to my parents, who she didn't deem to be freaks and Lily and I were left chatting behind them as my Dad took over the trolley from Lily.

As luck would have it, we reached the barrier only a few metres away from the Potters and Black. I was startled suddenly when beside me Lily abruptly half-said, half-shouted;

"Happy Easter James!"

He turned at the sound of her voice, his face shocked, until a huge grin slowly crept up his face. Lily was blushing furiously as his parents and Black were staring at her as well.

"And... and to you as well, Sirius" she stammered.

His lips twitched into a smile and he nodded.

"Don't eat too many Easter eggs," he replied.

Lily nodded as well, her face still flushed.

"Well...um...bye!"

"Goodbye Lily!" from James.

As we passed them, I gave Potter a surreptitious thumbs up and he saluted me in return.

"I'll miss you, Loganberry", winked Black as I passed him and I nodded and hurried forward before he could see that the blush suffusing my cheeks was redder than Lily's had ever been.

Just a few questions if you are kind enough to take the time to review:

Is Rose a Mary-Sue?

Is the story moving too slowly?

Is there anything that you would like to see more of?

Who are your favourite characters?

Do you like the story in general?

How could it be improved?

Thanks very much, EllieBaby xxx

RECAP: Rose has decided to help James have a chance with Lily after a massive blow-up in the common room. The next day, James apologises to Lily, who is very taken aback by this. Sirius questions Rose as to her motives in a dark enclave in a deserted corridor...but nothing else happens.