Chapter 23

"What's that sound?" I wondered out loud. Lily, Andromeda and I were sitting in the Gryffindor common room talking and introducing-or, reintroducing, really-Andromeda to everyone, when I heard a banging and muffled shouts.

"I think someone's trying to get in," Lily replied, cocking her head, "They must've forgotten the password." Lily walked over to the entrance and peered out, talking to whoever was out there.

"Andromeda, Ted Tonks wants to see you..." She said, confused. That was understandable. Ted Tonks was a Hufflepuff in our year, so it was strange that he would be wanting to see Andromeda, who, to everyone's knowledge, had just become nice, But surprisingly, her face lit up when Lily relayed the message, and she ran past Lily and into his arms, kissing him.

"Guess I'm not the only one who can do that," I murmured before walking past a few 1st year girls who were staring and sighing wistfully to see what this was all about.

Ted and Andromeda turned to look at us, beaming at our bewildered faces.

"...What?"

Andromeda giggled before explaining. "Well, about...a year ago, I started tutoring Teddy..."

"And I fell completely in love with her," Ted announced.

"Merlin knows why, I was awful-"

"But I Was completely whipped," Ted added, grinning down at her.

Andromeda rolled her eyes and continued, "Yes, well even though I was horrible to Ted he just kept working on me, and, eventually, I guess my heart softened and I Started to like him too. He's really the one who got me away from all the...evilness in the first place. And after a while we started going out-secretly, of course. More like snog-sessions instead of tutoring," Andromeda giggled.

"But we can finally be a couple in public," Ted said blissfully, wrapping his arm around 'Dromeda's waist.

"Awww, that is too cute!" Alice squealed. We all turned to look over out shoulders where Alice stood, blushing. "Sorry," She apologized. "I...couldn't help overhearing..."

I grinned. "Couldn't help." Yeah right. More like eavesdropped.

"It's alright," Andromeda smiled kindly, "But-"

"They want to be alone," I winked before ushering everyone else back into the common room.

!

The next Saturday was a Hogsmeade Saturday. Andromeda was going with Teddy, and Alice was blissfully going with her long-time crush, Frank Longbottom. The rest of us-Lily, Mary, and I-were going together. We quickly ended up at the Three Broomsticks-which was stuffed full.

"Where are we supposed to sit? There are no empty tables," Mary wondered.

"Why not intrude on them?" I asked, grinning wickedly.

"Wha-no!" Lily protested as I dragged her and Mary to where I had pointed.

"Hey. Do you have any extra room?" I asked the Marauders.

They were in a booth, two on each side.

"Of course!" My brother spoke eagerly, glancing at the exasperated Lily. I sent James a look, telling him not to be over-eager, but he glared at me and opened his mouth again.

"Here," He spoke to Lily, getting up from his seat by Peter, "Would you like to take my seat?"

Lily was so surprised by this she was silent, her mouth forming a silent 'Oh', until I nudged her, smirking. "Oh! Okay...Thank you," She spoke quietly, sliding in beside Peter.

I slide into the other booth by Sirius. "Scoot over," I demanded while Mary sat quietly by Lily.

"What are you guys planning to do out here?" Remus asked us.

"I've got to go get some new quills," Lily spoke.

"Same," Mary said, "And I'm out of ink."

"All work, no play?" James asked from his chair at the end of the table. "Maybe you need some people to go along and make it fun?" While he said this he did not even glance at Lily once.

"I'll go," Peter piped up.

"Why not?" Remus agreed, "I could do with some new parchment, anyways."

"WAIT!" I objected, "I don't want to go. That sounds so boring," I spoke, dramatically falling onto Sirius' shoulder.

"I agree," Sirius announced. "I'm not going."

"Fine. You two do whatever." Remus said, "We're still going.

"Maybe we will," I said in a singsong voice.

"Okay, you do that."

"Maybe we will," Sirius spoke offhandedly.

Remus frowned. "Yeah..."

"MAYBE WE WILL!" My raised voice was added to Sirius's.

Remus groaned. "You two can annoy me in less then five minutes of being in the same room as you."

I grinned and nudged my partner in crime. "Oh yeah. We are just so skilled."

"Too skilled," He said seriously. "We have to do something about it. It's just to much to handle."

Remus threw his hands up wearily. "I'mm getting out of here. You guys coming?" He asked the others.

"Yeah," Mary answered, throwing me and amused glance. "Let's go."

Everyone else followed them out, leaving me and Sirius alone.