Next Monday, I was feeling positive that everything was going to be fine if I could continue this way and not drop unto laziness as I often did in the past. I woke up before my roommates, to be the first to get in the shower. I opened my trunk and grabbed my soap and shampoo before heading to the bathroom. I liked to be the first up, so I can take all the hot water I want. I took my time and stayed a little longer to stay under the hot water, singing my favorite group's song called Bite you.

- You smell so good good good, I wish I could could could... Bite you b-b-b-bite you!

I was definitely in a good mood. Even the fact that I had Potions this morning wasn't ruining it. I got off the shower and draped myself in a big towel and a smaller one to cover my hair. I got dress while the girls were getting up one after the other. I removed the towel on my hair and was fetching my hairbrush in my trunk when I heard Mary shriek.

- DORCAS! What did you do to your hair? She shouted.

- What? Nothing? I said.

Marlene and Lily, appearing in the bathroom doorway gasped loudly.

- MERLIN! Said Lily.

- What the heck? Shouted Marlene.

- Okay, now you're freaking me out? I said, running to the bathroom to look in the mirror.

Then I saw what makes them shout in surprise. My hair were purple. FREAKING PURPLE. And I immediately guessed who was responsible.

- I'M GONNA KILL SIRIUS BLACK! I shouted.

- How do you know it's him? Asked Lily.

- I know. He told me that he would prank me, last week. I forgot about it because I thought he was joking around. But this isn't a coincidence, it's him for sure! That piece of...

I got out of the Dorm still raging, hearing the girls calling after me, and not bothering to answer them. I went back the stairs and began to climb the ones leading to the boys's Dorm. The Marauders's one must be one of the two Dorms on top of the stairs. As I was wondering which one, I saw Remus getting out of the one to the left.

- Dorcas, what…? He said, eyes wide open.

I must be a strange vision that early in the morning. My hair were wet, AND PURPLE.

- Out of my way! I said, entering his Dorm.

There was Peter, putting on socks, sitting on edge of his bed, and there was Sirius, still in bed, stirring. He spotted me and sat promptly. I heard Remus coming back in the Dorm in my back.

- Good morning, Meadowes. Love what you did with your hair! Said Sirius with a smirk.

- I'M GONNA KILL YOU! I shouted, before I ran to him and jumped on him.

He easily took my hands as I was crushing on him and flipped me under him on his bed. At that moment, I saw James coming out of the bathroom, only wearing a towel around his hips, with an misunderstanding facial expression.

- What the bloody hell is this racket about? He asked us, then spotted me under Sirius. Oh, morning, Meadowes. Nice hair! He winked at me, before going back into the bathroom.

The jerk for sure knew about this. As I was about to curse each and everyone of them in turns, I realised in what position I was. Aka, under Sirius's body, on his bed, wearing only a dressing gown (I mean ONLY this) and his body was pressing on mine, with only briefs on. Actually, there was definitively some bulge between us. Forgetting all about my stupid purple hair, I looked at him, who was smirking at me, but his eyes betraying his trouble, I sensed my face caught into fire. Putting my hands firmly on his chest, I pushed him.

- GET OFF OF ME! I shouted.

He seemed reluctant, but he listened to me, getting back on a sitting position. I got up promptly from his bed and, trying to focus on my not that far away feeling of anger, I pointed him menacingly.

- You're so going to pay for this! I said, before I turned around and escaped out of the room, bypassing a still stunned Remus on my way out.

I stumbled back down the stairs and went up to my Dorm, where the girls stopped what they were doing to look at me.

- So? What happened? Asked Marlene.

- I… I jumped on him, but he was stronger. So nothing, I'll need to find another way to take revenge on the jerk, I said.

- Calm down, said Lily. Let's dry your hair and see if we can... I don't know, reverse the spell? Find an antidote?

Still raging, I let the girls take care of my hair, detangle them and dry them with their wands, while sitting on my bed and thinking about ways to get back to Sirius.

- Dor? Said Marlene, getting me out of my murderous plans.

- Yeah?

- You know, it actually is... Not that bad at all...

- What? They're purple, Lene, how can they not be that bad?

- I don't know, the colour kinda... Suits you. Lily? Mary? Do you agree?

- It does look good! Said Lily, opening her eyes wide in surprise.

- I agree, said Mary.

- Doesn't it make a good comeback to Sirius? Said Marlene, looking at the girls for approval, while Lily was coming back from her trunk and giving me a hand-mirror.

I looked in it and I was surprised to see that the girls were right. The deep purple color was actually not as bad as I would have thought it would be.

- What do you mean, a good comeback? I asked Marlene, intrigued.

- Well, what is the reward of a good prank? She asked. To humiliate someone, right?

- I guess...

- So, if you would, you know, look sexy as hell with your new hair color, it would make you the winner of the prank, and not the victim.

- You think? I asked, now intrigued.

- Oh yeah, I do. Now, girls, let's make this girl fabulous!

They putted products in my hair to make them silky and accentuate the curls. They also putted some purple eye-shadow over my eyes and mascara. When I looked in the mirror, I, for once, really felt beautiful. Marlene looked back at me before we got out of the dorm.

- Showtime, girl! She said, winking at me with a mischievous smile.

We were a little late for breakfast so I was a little nervous to enter the Great Hall, knowing that mostly everyone would already be there. I took a big inspiration when we arrived near the doors. The girls entered first and I followed, raising my chin a little and trying my best to have a femme-fatale attitude, mimicking how I know Marlene would look. As I entered, I heard gasped and whispers on my passage, but I saw that the reactions weren't of disgust. I saw some boy's reaction like smug smiles, winks, and even one of the Ravenclaw seventh year boy, Freddy Duncan (a gorgeous tall blond blue-eyed and pretty popular with girls), whistled me. I have to say, this gave me confidence that the girls were right and that purple hair did suits me well. I turned towards the Gryffindor table where the girls were taking places and saw that they clearly made a point to leave me the place just in front of an apparently astonished Sirius.

- You look good, Meadowes! Said James, clapping Sirius shoulder, laughing.

- Doesn't she look stunning? Said Marlene. I think that all the boys here want to ask you out, Dor.

- I love it. I wish I would've thought of it myself, actually. I said, raising my eyes to Sirius, with what I wished was a seductive smile. Sorry for earlier, Black, I didn't saw how good it actually looks on me at that moment.

- Don't apologise, love, you're welcome in my bed anytime, he said, winking at me.

The girls gasped at this new information.

- Nothing to fuss about, girls, I was just trying to kill him in his bed, that's all, I said, trying to look blasé about this (which I was so NOT).

Sirius was clearly about to add something, but was cut by Marlene before he had the chance.

- Merlin, Dorcas, Freddy is still looking at you! Said Marlene, elbowing me to catch my attention.

I looked back at him and indeed, he was looking at me. He smiled at me before going back to his breakfast.

- Isn't he the most gorgeous person of the school? Asked Mary dreamily.

- Is he, now? Asked Sirius, looking at her.

- Of course he is. Look at him. He's perfect, Said Marlene. And the best kisser there is, she added. Dor, if he asks you out, you HAVE to say yes, or I'm never speaking to you again.

Instead of answering, I took a bite of a buttery croissant. I looked back at Sirius, who was now looking at the Ravenclaw's table with a deep frown. The breakfast was punctuated by fellow students stopping by to tell me how good I look with my new hair. Sirius left after the third person stopped by. The other marauders followed him not long after, leaving us girl alone. We clapped our hands in victory upon Sirius before we finished our meal and went to the dungeon for Potions class.

I was deeply focused on my task of cutting mandrake's roots the right way when I saw a hand putting a paper on my Potions book. I turned my head and saw that Freddy Duncan was sitting back at his table, looking at me with a seductive smile. I looked back at the paper.

- Open it, Dor! Lily whispered to me, smiling.

I looked up at her, then at James, who was mixing his potion and smiling at me too, and at Sirius, who was not looking at me and looked like he was murdering his roots. I took the paper and gulped a little from nervousness before I opened it.

Do you want to date me someday?

- Yes

- No

- Go to hell

I giggled a little, looking back at him. He was smiling deeply to me, making his dimples show, something I find adorable. What should I say? Should I go out with him? I'm single, and the person whom I seemed to have feelings for didn't looked like he was really interested. I know, I didn't really ASK, but I don't want to, how humiliating is that? Freddy was still looking at me, probably wondering about my answer. I smiled back at him and nodded. He turned back to his potion and I did the same.

- What was it? Asked Lily, in a whisper.

- Did he asked you out, asked James.

I looked at them and saw that Sirius was putting his roots in his potion and he rose his eyes to look at me. Avoiding his eyes, I turned my head to see only James and Lily.

- He did, I said.

- And? Lily asked.

- And I said yes, of course.

- Good! This is exciting! She said a little louder.

- Lily, keep it down! I said, returning to my brewing potion.

I guessed I was distracted, because my potion fumed and burned. For my defense, Sirius's potion wasn't better than mine. When the class was over, he left at once, not looking at me. I think that Marlene was right, and that it bothered him a lot that his prank didn't work on me. Well, good for him. I didn't pity someone who tried to make me look like a fool in front of the entire school... Annnd the fact that I've never been this popular was a welcomed change. As I was exiting the class, Freddy was waiting for me in the corridor.

- So, when may I invite you? He asked me.

- I don't know... I have Quidditch practice tomorrow and Thursday, and I have extra Potions lesson Wednesday...

- You do? How come? I thought you hated Potions? He asked while we were leaving the dungeons.

Well, I never thought he paid attention to me before. But, it's true that all the mistakes I've made in Potions throughout the years must have pointed in that direction for anyone who was a little observant...

- I do. But I need extra good grades in Potions so I'm doing my best...!

- I see. We could say, friday night, then? We could meet up in the Clock Tower courtyard, at seven?

- Why not? I said, clearly blushing awfully.

As we reached the Great Hall entrance, he turned to me.

- Great then, it's a date, he said, smiling at me, while I felt like I was liquefying on the spot.

I went to Gryffindor's table and sat with the girls, side-along with the boys, because of Lily dating Potter, we were always seated with them now.

- So? Asked Lily, keeping her voice down for everyone not to hear.

- So what? What happened? Asked Marlene, leaning towards us, imitated by Mary.

- Duncan asked her out, said Lily.

- HE DID? Said Mary. You're so lucky! He's dreamy that one.

- What did you say? Asked Marlene.

- I said yes. It will be Friday night, I said, taking a sandwich.

- Amazing! Said Mary, clapping with enthusiasm.

- You not just win this prank, you totally trampled Sirius, whispered Marlene in my ear. He looks angry, don't look! It's perfect, I told you, right! Laugh like I just told you an amazing joke, she added.

I laugh hard, then took a bite of my sandwich. I saw from the corner of my eye that Sirius got up and left. Unsure of myself, I looked back at Marlene. She gently squeezed my thigh under the table.

- Trust me, Dor. What's happening now is a good thing. You'll see. She whispered to me. Gotta go, I need to go back to the dorm to fetch my Care of magical creatures' book before class. See you later, hon. She said, kissing me on the cheek before she got up and left.

Why was I feeling like I did something wrong? Was this comeback at the prank too much? I didn't know anymore. I just knew that it didn't feel right to me. But Sirius never did something to show me a real interest and I cannot not be intrigued about Freddy. I didn't know that much about him, but I did know he's pretty popular amongst girls, because he was totally hot and was also a nice person, which was a very good combination. On top of that, he was brilliant. He wanted to become a healer for St-Mungos, he often helped Madam Pomfrey here in the hospital wing.