"Hello boys, back again!" Florean Fortescue, the ice cream shop owner, appeared next to Sirius and ruffled his hair. He blushed. "What can I get for you today?"

"Chocolate milkshake, please," Remus requested politely.

"Cookie dough chunk, two, in cups. Lily should be arriving soon." James gestured to the empty seat, and Florean smiled.

"Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean cream, extra cockroach cluster sprinkles!" Sirius smiled as she walked away, shaking her head.

"Cockroach cluster?" James asked, astonished.

"Hey, it's good! You've never tried it!" he retorted.

"Who would want to?" James wrinkled his nose.

"So, how was Italy, Sirius?" Remus asked, trying to avoid one of them cursing the other across the table. James and Sirius might be best friends, but they were quite argumentative.

"Oh, it was amazing! I learned so much, Lily would be proud!" James blushed at the mention of his girlfriend.

"Where is Lily, anyway?" Sirius asked James. He shrugged.

"Off somewhere with Rhiannon. You know those two; I don't like to stick around when they get together."

"Yeah, they might give the infamous Marauders a run for their money!" a voice behind them laughed. Lily and Rhiannon had walked into the parlor. James jumped up to give his love a kiss. Sirius snickered and made faces as Rhiannon sat down beside him, stopping only when she smacked the back of his head. Remus laughed.

"You're the only one that can keep him in check, Rhia," he remarked. She smiled at Remus.

"Yeah, it's a gift."

Since they had all met the first day of school some five years ago, Rhiannon had been in love with Remus, though she never told him, of course. Rhia was shy enough as it was, she didn't need rejection pushing her further away. So she harbored her feelings, just being friends with Remus all these years. It was fine with her... sometimes...

"So, what did you buy me?" James asked Lily when they sat down.

Lily laughed. "What makes you think I bought you anything?" she asked.

"Because you always do!" Sirius exclaimed. Rhiannon giggled.

"He's got a point, Lil."

Lily sighed and handed James a small bag. He peered in, squealed, and pulled out a tiny Quidditch set. "A practice set; I can plan plays and things! Oh, this is great Lily!" And he kissed her again, much to the dismay of the table.

"Oh, that's so gross..." Rhiannon moaned, grinning.

"Aw, I dunno Rhia, I think it's kinda cute!" Sirius retorted.

Oh, here we go, they're starting again!" Remus cried out.

"Oh really Sir?" Rhiannon shot back, pretending to ignore Remus. "Well then, where's your girlfriend?"

"I don't have one... yet..."

Lily laughed. "How about this - you two get together? You're both such flirts!" Rhiannon and Sirius stared at each other, and opened their mouths at the exact same time.

"Ew!" They all laughed. Rhiannon turned to Remus.

"So, speaking of obsessive crushes on Sirius, how's Annie?"

"Annie is just fine." Remus replied as Sirius snickered. "She's buying a pet with Father and Mum."

"She's still infatuated with me." Sirius grinned, folding his hands behind his head.

"She always has been." Lily retorted. "Has she grown any?"

"Why don't you go see for yourself?" Remus suggested. "She's right across the road."

"Alright, then, we will." Rhia answered, grabbing her friend's arm. "C'mon, Lil."

"See you boys later!" Lily cried as they left, walking to where Annie and her parents were coming out of the pet shop.

"Rhia! Lily!" Annie cried, waving and smiling.

"Good afternoon, girls." Mrs. Lupin smiled.

"Annie, what is that?" Lily raised her eyebrows toward the skinny brown thing on the girl's shoulder, tugging on her curls.

"A monkey!" Annie giggled.

"He's adorable!" Rhia cooed. "What's his name?"

"I haven't decided." Annie replied.

"Little Sirius?" Lily suggested with a laugh. Annie's cheeks flushed and she played nervously with the bow on the monkey's neck.

"Why don't you girls go on by yourselves?" Mr. Lupin suggested. "I want to take your mother to look at family brooms. Tell Remus we'll meet at two instead of one."

"Yes, Father." Annie said, rolling her eyes a tad.

"Goodbye, Mr. and Mrs. Lupin!" Lily called, putting her arm through Annie's as Rhia put hers through Lily's.

"Now, as for Sirius." Rhia grinned.

"Oh, won't you two just let it alone?" Annie replied, trying to make it nothing.

"He's my best friend, it's impossible to 'just let it alone'." Rhia retorted.

"It's nothing, we all know it's just an infatuation, you've said so yourself." Annie shot back. "He thinks I'm just a clumsy little git, his friend's kid sister with a schoolgirl's crush."

Rhia smiled a small, forlorn, knowing smile that no one saw.

"Come on, Annie, it's not that bad." Lily said, hugging her with one arm in a motherly sort of way. "I had a crush on James for over two years before we started dating."

"Well, you had a chance with James." Annie sighed, letting her monkey crawl up and down her arm. "I haven't a chance in the world." She frowned ever so slightly. "Do you know how many girls like Sirius?"

"Half the school, we know, we know." Rhia rolled her eyes. "He's told us enough times himself, the vain thing."

"So you see, I haven't an ice cube's chance in Hell." Annie slumped onto a bench in front of Flourish and Blotts.

"Well, you know what would make me feel better?" Lily suggested. Rhia and Annie looked up at her. "A book."

"That would make you feel better." Rhia smiled.