A/N: So, um, hi there... It's been like 2 months since I updated. And I kind of feel shitty about that, and I'm still going to give the 'I had shows for drama, and buttloads of homework, and family issues' excuses, which did suck away time, but I also did find lots of time to get on tumblr when I could have been typing. So, really, I'm just lazy as hell. And I apologize for taking so darn long. But I will not give up on this story! I refused!

So to those of you who are still here and don't hate me, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STICKING WITH ME AND MY LAZINESS I LOVE YOU.

Now here's a very long chapter. Enjoy :) xx

Chapter 21: It's Routine

The big red chair in the Gryffindor common room, with its very worn cushions that make you sink when you sit, is the perfect place to study for your upcoming Transfiguration test with your friends very detailed notes. Just start up the fire, kick back, and bury yourself in parchment. Works like a charm.

With a cup of hot tea on the table beside me, half-drunk with lots of empty sugar packets littering said table, my eyes were glued to Andrew's- or are they technically mine? – notes, frantically scanning each word, phrase, side note, or the rare, but oh so helpful, diagram. No wonder Andrew does so well, his notes are like Professor McGonagall's lecture's on paper, and understandable. They're beautiful. I feel like I'm actually learning something, it's amazing.

Lily's been 'checking up on me', as she puts it, every now and again. I keep meaning to stop her before she leaves to show her the necklace Sirius gave me, but I keep getting immersed in my/his notes. And, well, every time she says something I just mumble something like 'mhm... yeam..." Real intelligent, I know, but I don't think I studied this hard for my O.W.L.s. Well, maybe, but that's not the point.

"Alex, you're going to drive yourself mad if you don't take a break."

"...'m fine, James..." I mumble from my papers and he sighs, walking over and sitting down on the couch beside the chair.

He doesn't say anything a moment, then suddenly lunges, yanking the papers from me.

"James, no! You'll rip them!" I shriek.

"Calm down, they're just a little crinkled. I won't rip them."

"Give them back. I want to study. Test tomorrow."

I make a grabbing motion and he shakes his head, holding them out of my reach. "Ah ah ah... No grabbing. I'll give them back to you after you take a break."

I'm not leaving the common room."

"I didn't say you had to. You just need a break. Fancy a butterbeer?"

For a moment I wonder where they got the butterbeer from, it's not as if they have it at school, but I remember Sirius telling me one time about these secret passageways all over the castle. And about mapping... something. But he stopped himself at that and wouldn't answer my questions about it. It's just a map... Maybe I'll ask him again later. "Um, sure," I shrug, uncrossing my legs and standing out of my saggy chair, stretching my arms over my head.

James nods and stands, taking my notes with him, bloody, sneaky git, as he walks away.

"Isn't that Sirius' sweatshirt?" A boy in the year above me, whoc had emerged from a sea of 'History of magic' books, commented.

"Yea."

"Why're you wearing it?"

Um, because it's big and comfy? And soft, and warm, and smells like him. It's wonderful. "Because I can."

"But it's not yours."

"Maybe I stole it."

"Does he know?"

Do you know what the meaning of stole is? I doubt so. "Well, I'm dating him. I don't think he'll really mind that much."

"Even after that snog with Alder, Sirius still wants you?"

"Excuse me? Clearly you weren't present as he tried to force his tongue in my mouth to 'kiss' him while I was drunk, against my will I might add, while I tried to stop him. So, in fact, I never snogged Jason Alder, because he is an asshole. And Sirius knows that. Thank you."

The boy goes slightly pale and quickly buries himself back into his book. Yea, that's right, hide away in those books you little twit...

James comes back with two bottles and my notes, and I grumpily slouch back into my chair. Ugh, I thought this whole thing had blown over. It's been more than a week!

James gives me a way look and eyes the boy, sitting down again and handing me a bottle. "I miss something?"

"No, "I say grumpily, taking a sip of the butterbeer, and sigh.

He nods and points at me. "That Sirius' sweatshirt?"

"So what if it is?"I practically yell at him, making him jump and almost slosh his drink.

"I was just curious, it doesn't matter. You sure you're alright, Alex?"

"I just need to study."

"Maybe you need to take a nap..."

"I'm fine. Now can I place have my notes back?"

He sighs and looks down at said nods, and his eyebrows furrow. "This isn't your handwriting. It's much too neat and legible."

I roll my eyes. "Thanks..." I mutter. "But it's Andrew's. They're his old notes. He gave them to me for Christmas."

"Ah, no wonder they're so detailed..."

"Hey!" I frown and give him a look, going to grab them again. This time he lets me take them back. "Thank you." Grumble...

James shakes his head and chuckles. "You know, if you just cram, you'll forget it all by time the test comes."

"No I won't."

"Yes you will."

"...Shut up."

"Go take a nap."

I sigh. Maybe he's right... I keep feeling like I just have to cram, but I am tired. Maybe just a quick nap. At most an hour. Maybe an hour and a half... "Fine. I'll take a nap..." I get up and take my notes, butterbeer and shoes, and start trudging up the stairs.

"I'll just... clean this mess up for you then."

"Thank you James. Tell Lily thank you too. And... Goodnight."

"Alright, goodnight."

"And tell Sirius I'm stealing his sweatshirt."

xXx

Sirius turns another page of the scrapbook, looking at the photo of an angry Lily whacking James, while he and Remus laughed in the background, from their fourth year, with the date and all, just like every photo Alex put in there. Every photo, from ones at school, to one's from holiday, and even one's while he was at James' house. He figured Mrs. Potter had helped her get certain photos. She always liked Alex... He wondered if James or Lily or even Remus knew about the scrapbook? He wanted to think they didn't, he was pretty sure James didn't, 'But Alex never tells Prongs anything' he thought as he scans another photo and caption. Lily might but Remus wouldn't... What about Rachel? Yea, Alex tells her everything. Complete opposite of James.

"Hey, Pads, Alex says she's-"

SLAM. Sirius shuts the scrapbook and leans on it, like he's trying to hide it.

He looks up and meets eyes with James, who just stares at him blankly.
"...Alex says what?"

"Um, she's stealing your sweatshirt... what've you get there, Sirius?"

"Nothing."

"Looks like a book. I didn't know you read."

"Oh, shut up... I read loads of things."

"James makes his way across the boys form and to his bed, left of Sirius', and tries to sneak a peek. "That's pretty thick. C'mon, what is it?"

"Told you it's nothing," Sirius says, his eyebrows furrowing.

"Why can't I know? Aren't I your best mate?" he tsked.

"Yea but I don't to share everything with you."

"It's a book."

"It's none of your bloody business!"

"It's all of my business!"

The boys both threw glares at one another, but seeing as they're both stubborn, neither would want to be the first to cave.

Then Remus walked in. "...It's like the second Ice Age in here. What'd you do now?"

"Sirius is being a prat."

"James is prying into my business."

"Over what?" Remus stuffed his hands in his pockets, and leaned against a bedpost, almost as if this happened all the time, and these were just the same questions.

"Some book."

"It's more than just a book!"

"Well I wouldn't know, you won't tell me!"

"James, if Pads doesn't want to share his book he doesn't have to." Sirius looks smug. "But, you-" Remus points at said smirking boy. "-could at least say it's private, if you're going to be sour about not sharing." The expression stops off Sirius' face and onto James'.

"But Remus-"

"No whining."

"You're like a bloody father..." James grumbles, crossing his arms and throwing himself on his bed with a thump.

The room grows quiet as each of them didn't want to break the silence. James still wanted to know what the damn book was, Sirius wanted to get back to scanning the pages of said book, and Remus just wanted his mates not to shout. It gives him a headache.

"Alex made me a scrapbook," Sirius finally says slowly, leaning off the book and showing James the cover. He thought it just wasn't worth the bitterness later. And just because he told him what it was didn't mean he had to show him the inside... It was just easier this way.

James sits up and takes a look at it, cracking a grin. "Alex would do that, make such a book. 'Specially for you." He didn't ask what was inside. As stubborn as he may claim to be, or act, he did know his limits, more so around Sirius than anyone else. After going through all the hell they were chucked into he knew better than to get too testy with him.

Sirius smiles and nods, looking back down at the cover.

"Hey, you didn't tell me, what'd she think of the necklace?" James asks, only just remembering now. Sirius wouldn't stop going on about it to him once he figured out that's what he'd give her, so he figured he owed it to Sirius to ask about it.

While biting at his lip, Sirius runs a hand thought his long, unkempt hair, thinking about their 'argument' that morning. But he decided not to bother with repeating the trouble with James, at least not now. "She loved it," he says, putting a smile on his face. "She said she wouldn't take it off."

James nods. "Well good. Just hope she lives up to that, eh? Be a shame if you caught her without it on."

By this time Remus had decided to leave them be, nodding as he left the room, thinking to himself, 'My work here is done.'

xXx

I'm late. Fuck. Fucking fuck. I blame James. For.. um, stealing my notes and taking away my time to study, so I had to cram, and then... go take said test, but then... I just blame him okay.

So as I rush down the halls to my charms class, I panic, but also rejoice. I didn't fail that Transfiguration test. In fact, I may have even done well on it. Well! On a Transfiguration test! It's a bloody miracle! Andrew's notes are my saving grace. If I wasn't dating Sirius, I could kiss him. Maybe.

Back to being late. Professor Flitwick probably won't mind so much, as he loves me to death, but I shouldn't count on it. Maybe he's in a bad mood and I'll get detention. That would not be good. Did it once, wanted to kill myself and Marlene McKinnon, don't want to do it again.

I get to my classroom and open the door, wincing as it creaked audibly, then entire class turning and looking at me. Well, hi there... Andrew gives me a curious look, almost asking 'Where were you?', and I shake my head.

"Oh, well, Welcome Alex. You made it before we paired off. Take your seat." I knew Flitwick wouldn't get angry at me. Thank Merlin I know my charms...

I nod and quickly take my seat, and there's already a note in front of me. From Andrew, no doubt.

'Where were you?' was scrawled onto the paper.

I dig out my quill and ink and write back; 'Lost track of time. But... guess who passed her transfig. test?' I slide back to him with a smile.

He gins and scribbles something else, handing it back as Professor Flitwick starts talking about a pair activity.

'I take it you had detailed notes?'

I look back at him and nod. He glances our professor's way before mouthing 'be my partner?' to me.

But of course as I mouth 'sure' back at him, we were told our partners had already been chosen. Naturally. I make a friend in my class and I'm not allowed to work with him. This is my life...

"Alright, no I'll read off your names and you'll find a pair of desks together. Ready? Mr. Artcher with Mr. Fenter..."

The list trails on and the two of us just have groaning expressions on our faces. Why? Why?

"Well maybe we will be paired together—"

"Mr. DeRae and Mr. Marx."

"Or not..." I finish for him as he gives me a sorry look and gathers his things, going to join the other Hufflepuff boy. Lucky him, he gets someone he knows. I doubt I will. And even if I did, the Gryffindors in this class are people I rarely talk to.

"...Marqcues with Ms. Hawthorne."

I sigh and gather my own things and look across the room. I've never, ah, had the pleasure to meet 'Ms. Hawthorne' before, but I've heard of her. She's a Slytherin, in my year apparently, and he name's Kimberly. That's about it. I haven't heard anything that bad about her, she's got no criminal record or family history that needed to be running through Hogwarts gossip mill, but she is a Slytherin...

I spot her sitting in a desk, her legs stretched across to the one beside hers, and she's staring back at me, smirking. Hm, well. Clearly she knows of me... I walk over and set my things on the desk occupied by her feet, but she doesn't look like she wants to move them.

She eyes me up and down and rubs her chin, like she's thinking hard about me, as if I were under some sort of inspection. "Alex, right? Yea, I've heard about you. So, where's your boyfriend? One Sirius Black, yea? Didn't think you'd be datin' that mutt. Don't think I've had the... pleasure to see him," she grins, but I'll admit it doesn't look evil, just... teasing. Like instead of making me want to maim her with something, she just sort of wants to see me agitated. Huh.

"Yea, well, he doesn't share this class with me."

"Ah, what a shame... must be absolutely heartbroken."

"...sure. Mind if I sit?"

She hesitates, like she's deciding if I'm worthy enough to sit down, and then nods, moving her feet under her own desk. I slide into the desk and sigh, slumping.

"I'm Kimberly, but you can call me Kim. Everyone does. I barely answer to Kimberly anyways," she says, shrugging her slim shoulders. She's a thin girl, but not frail. As far as I know of she's pretty strong, but like I said, I haven't heard any talks of Kim beating anyone to a pulp. She's got black hair, with dark brown streaks it looks, that goes past her shoulder, and bangs that hang in front of her brown eyes. Her whole demeanor screams 'confident', as if nothing would really worry her that much, at least nothing she couldn't easily handle. Why can't I be like that? Why can't I just be so confident nothing worries me? Everything worries me!

But I finally nod at her and glance at Andrew, who seems to be having a ball, laughing away with the other Hufflepuff, Marx, and Professor Flitwick, who seems to be making his rounds to each pair. We had a way to go.

"Hey, what's this?" Kim suddenly says, making me turn back as she grabs ahold of my necklace, clearly not bothering to see if I minded, and opened it. "Oh, from your beloved boyfriend, yea? You two were cute as kids,: she comments, closing it and letting it fall back to my neck.

I frown. "Do you know like Sirius?" I ask, wondering why my 'beloved boyfriend' is just such a hot topic with her. And the way she said it, sort of sarcastic, made me wonder if she had something against him. Though I wouldn't really be surprised...

She shrugs and shakes her head. "No, I've got nothing against him; friends of mine do, but... Eh, I don't really care. He hasn't done anything to me personally. I do this to everyone, make sarcastic remarks; don't take it to heart." Well that's a little surprising actually. I haven't met a ton of Slytherins who don't want to hand Sirius by his toes from the Astronomy tower and hex him to death. I suppose it's a good thing she just like to tease me then? "And I just think your story's hilarious. With the ball and all, it's great," she says, shaking her head as that smirk comes back. Feisty, that's how I can describe her to people. Because, despite the 'cool' demeanor, her words do have a bit of 'bite' to them, I suppose is how I can put it. And I'm sure she'd be just lovely in an argument. She's not so bad, though. 'Exceeds expectations' to say the least.

"Well, um... thank you..?" I say, and she nods.

"So, what do you think we've got to do? Hope it'll be easy. Not a lot of work..."

As if planned, Professor Flitwick comes around to us and explains our little project. "Alright you two, today you'll be practicing the color change charm, page 47 of your books, that we learned last week. Once you both think you've got it perfectly, come and show me to receive credit," he says with a warning sort of look, as if telling us to get along, before changing it to a smile and walking off. Though, honestly, I don't think we'll have a problem getting along. Or rather, it's a possibility. Kim doesn't seem like someone I'd hate. Though I'm sure it'd be hell to be on her bad side...

I set to pulling out my book and my wand. Of course I know the charm perfectly, but well, sometimes it's best not to look like a charms nerd. Kim crosses her arms and looks smug, yet again. "Do you like purple?"

"Do I... what?" Purple's a nice color, sure, but what's that got to do with anything?

She shrugs and doesn't respond, pulling out her wand and aiming it at me.

"Er, Kim, do you know the spell...?"

"Course I do," she grins, waving her wand and saying the spell; crisp, clear, and correct.

By the sound of her laughter though I don't think my eyebrows are their normal color. If they're purple, which I can only assume they are, I will strangle her.

"Oh Merlin that's great! Bet your boyfriend'll love it!" She laughs, pointing at me. Really, pointing and laughing? I thought that was just in the books...

"Kim, did you change my eyebrows purple?" I practically shriek, lunging for any reflective surface. Yep, they are bright amethyst purple, bright as day. It's like having blue hair all over again! People just can't stand my natural hair color clearly. "I can't believe you! We're not supposed to do that!" Oh, where's my wand?

As I am it at myself to change me back, Kim takes it from me. She took my wand! Mine! Give it back! "Kim, give me that! It's mine!"

"I know, but you don't think I'm going to just let you whip yourself back to normal, do you? I haven't enjoyed this enough."

I see why she's in Slytherin.

"No, but you've had enough fun for my taste. So, just, give it back. Unless you'd like to do it yourself."

"Why would I do that? No, no, I think I'll watch you suffer." She starts chuckling again. Yea, laugh at my pain.

I grit my teeth and my purple eyebrows furrow. She makes a comment about how Sirius would oh-so-happily change me back, and I think I might tackle her. "Kim, change me back now, or Merlin help me, I will strangle you so you can't make any more comments about my damn 'precious' boyfriend!" No more laughing for her.

She doesn't make a move to give me my wand, but just sort of stares at me, almost surprised and then slowly nods. "Well, that's more like it. Finally get angry at me. And people say Slytherins are the only ones with a temper," she says with a sly looking grin, tossing my wand back to me.

I roll my eyes and mutter the spell, changing my eyebrows back to their natural color and toss her a glare.

"Ooh, maybe you hold grudges too." Yes, we do, we aren't all nice and cuddly. Whatever gave you that impression...

I've decided Kim is one of those people you have a love/hate relationship with. Sometimes she's a lovely chap, joking and bantering and all casual fun, and then other times you want to just wrap your hands around her neck and squeeze until she pops. I wonder if she knows Ginger Martin, or if she's 'friends' with her. I wouldn't think so. Kim doesn't seem the type to deal with all her shit, but who knows?

She sighs and twirls her wand around her fingers. "So, I think we've got that spell down," she says with a grin, and looks to Professor Flitwick. "But now there's a line. Eh, we can wait 'til it dies down." She shrugs, propping her feet up again on the back of the desk in front of her. "You know, you really aren't so bad. I mean, obviously people in my house talk shit about you and your mates and all, but I never really cared much. You don't seem so bitchy, then again I haven't really gotten to know you that well," she says, rather calmly. "Though I will say I understand why some people don't like Potter, or your boyfriend. I know you probably think different, but they aren't the nicest blokes in Hogwarts. 'Specially not to my house. 'Spose they've gotten a little better, handing about you and Evans, but..." she shrugs again and sighs. "Still doesn't excuse their behavior. I understand needing to pick a fight once and while, to get all your frustration out, but I think it's safe to say that those two must've gone through some pretty fucked up things to want to pick fights every other week. Or, well, used to."

Thinking about what she said, the way she said it, just made it so true. Maybe I've been ignoring it for so long because I've been mates with them for so long, and now I'm dating Sirius, that maybe I don't want to come to that realization. But, even so, I can't excuse what they've done, and I don't know how I could possibly change it. Sirius sort of does what he wants. And, even thought, indirectly, he might be spending more time with me and thus less with the Slytherins, it's not changing who he is. And what if I do? Try to change him, I mean? Even if it helps him to stop fighting with them, would it change other parts of him? I'm not doing that, making Sirius out to be some sort of clay I can mold to the perfect image.

Though as I think this through, I can't help wonder if she means Sna- er, Severus. Is she mates with him? James clearly believes he has reason to go after him most, and Sirius probably doesn't care that much who he's picking his battles with from that house. I don't think Kim and him could be anything more than potential mates, what with him and Lily's past issues. But even though, did she feel resentment towards the marauders, because of Sna-Severus? But, maybe she doesn't even associate with him at all and I'm speculating about nothing. Who knows. It's not like Severus was the only Slytherin they ever hexed.

"Hey, you still in there, Alex? No day dreamin' about your mutt of a boyfriend are you?" Kim cuts into my thoughts.

"What? Oh, um, yea..." I mumble out, shaking my head.

"Whatcha thinking about? Don't tell me it was some steamy fantasy about—"

"No, no no no... Nothing like that at all. Really, nothing." I shake my head furiously, sure my cheeks had turned bright red.

I hadn't thought about it like that... How many other people thought my spacing out were dreams about Sirius? Merlin, I hope not many... Maybe I really should look into not spacing out so much, especially around Kim it seemed. She seems far too keen on finding any reason to bring him up and make me flustered. Like that's where the pleasure comes from. Not Quidditch like James, or classwork like Remus, but making people flustered. Not the best thing, if you ask me, but I suppose there are worse things out there.

"Well if it's really nothing, then you can tell me. Right?"

"But, it's not important, I don't see why you'd want to know—"

"Then it's not nothing. If it's nothing, as you keep saying it is, then what does it matter if I know?"

Hmph. Smart arse... "Fine, maybe it is something. And I don't know if I feel up to sharing. No, we should practice—" She cuts me off again. Seems she has a knack for doing that too.

"Oh, please, Alex... we both know we can perform the spell just fine. I mean, you got your eyebrows back, eh?" She quipped.

"I 'spose... Then maybe we should go show Flitwick, for our grade."

"Fine," she sighs, like getting up was such a hassle. "But I get to cast the spell first," she smiled, and I just rolled my eyes. But the way she smiled wasn't evil, like every other Slytherin's smile seemed to be, but actually friendly. Were we mates? I wouldn't say enemies, turning my eyebrows purple wasn't that bad I guess, but... mates? Maybe acquaintances. We'll see.

xXx

I'll admit, I'm quite the oblivious person. It shouldn't come as a surprise then, as I was walking along, that I missed Rachel's owl flying about.

I'm walking through the corridors after charms, Kim and I of course, performing the color change charm perfectly, as my eyebrows once again are their normal color, and finding ourselves in better spirits, I suppose, with each other than earlier. She really isn't so bad, once you accept the fact that she wasn't out to get you, and learn to just let her antics go, and by that I mean just let her turn your eyebrows colors and turn them back later. Accept that, then you can get along with her just fine.

So we emerge from class, chatting away, and the faint sound of an owl hooting isn't really my concern. I don't normally get many owls, Astrid's also incredibly lazy whenever I do need her, so I suppose I didn't think that that owl was for me.

"It think it's for you," Kim says, stopping and pointing at the small barn owl, flapping it's wings frantically, trying to catch up to me.

"Oh, Llarl!" I say, my eyes lighting up. Don't ask about the name, it's a long story that genuinely left me confused about the owl for days after Rachel told me. I just left it be.

I haven't heard from Rachel all holiday. And holiday ended a week ago... I've gotten a few bits out of Remus, begrudgingly, but not nearly what I want. We need our own journals, honestly. Remus is usually pretty good about sharing and being nice and all that, but when it comes to that journal it's like his child. I can't touch it, see it, be in the same room... Okay, fine, that last was a joke. But really, he said I couldn't look or write to Rachel in it, he'd just tell me what I wanted to know and that's that. Mr. Stuffy...

I grab the letter after Llarl dropped it at my feet, and tear it open. Kim claps her hands together. "Well, I got places to me, people to see, all that stuff. Give your boyfriend my regards," she grins, waving as she walks off.

I nod distractedly and give a half-hearted wave as I open the letter. Llarl flies off again and I pull out a thick piece of parchment with Rachel's scrawled but always neat, handwriting.

Alex,

As I'm sure you've noticed, I haven't returned to Hogwarts after holiday ended. I'd been planning on being back, but there's been a few issues with transportation back to school. (But between you and me, I really don't mind the delay) I've written McGonagall about it, at my parents request (and them breathing down my neck as I wrote), and it seems I might not be back for another week. (Again, still don't mind much.)

I'd ask you to take extra notes in the classes we share but, well, I'm sure after a day or so you'd give up and eventually ask someone who did take good notes for a copy. Though I'd like you to watch over Llarl for me, as he has to stay in Hogwarts until I return. Him and Astrid will get along fine I'm sure. He can be as lazy as you say she is sometimes...

How was your holiday? Remus told me all about your little stunt with Alder. Haven't I told you that something like this would happen one of these days? I'm sure I have, but I'm sure you didn't listen. We'll have a detailed conversation about it when I get back. You aren't worming your way out of that one Alex, you know I'll remember and bug you about it every chance I get until you cave. And you will, because you love me. Remus also mentioned the necklace, and a few things about Sirius too, and how much he likes that scrapbook. Has he told you? Remus says he's constantly flipping through it before bed, chuckling to himself. If you ask me, I think it'd be hilarious to see him laughing to himself. Sirius doesn't often look off his rocker like that does he? Hm... Remus said a few things about James and Lily too. It seemed you all had a smashing time, then. Minus the accident Christmas morning (Told you I wouldn't forget).

You should have written me about it, then it wouldn't be a hassle. What would you do without me Alex? I don't understand how you managed all of holiday without me. Must've missed me terribly...

My parents wish you a Happy Christmas, along with my cousin, who says your name like 'Ales Mawreckess'. She's the cutest thing ever, she'll be loads of fun when she gets to Hogwarts. Eventually...

Anyway, I'll tell you more about my holiday when I return (I'll give you something to look forward to besides that long conversation about Alder), but I told Remus to, nicely, answer any questions. I have a feeling he doesn't want to share anything to do with the journal, but he'll get over it. Hopefully. Though I'm happy he likes it so much.

I'll see you soon,

Rachel xx