Prologue: Introduction By Melina Sorino

It was the stupidest plan imaginable. I'm going to kill Remus. We were forced to do it. I want it to go on the record, once and for all, that I was, and always will be, against this moronic plan.

It was entirely Sirius's idea. I don't know what I see in him. It was originally supposed to be a plan to get back at Snape. Snape, yeah. How many plans have they originally devised with that motive in mind? I guess it sounded okay to begin with (in our demented state of mind). But I forgot one key fact: It was Sirius's plan, and that spells disaster.

-Melina Sorino

Part I: The Bad Beginning

Chapter One: To Catch A Spy

"Okay, okay. Explain to me again exactly why were doing this," Lily asked in exasperation. Melina ignored her, peering out into the school grounds from between two bushes and pushing dark blonde hair out of her gray eyes. Of course Melina would ignore her, she'd been doing it for the past six years that they had been best friends.

"Shhh. Here they come," Melina whispered. Lily sighed. Once Melina made up her mind about something, there was no turning back. Lily averted her eyes from the single flower was staring at in concentration to the gap of sky between the two bushes. She could faintly make out the whomping willow and in the distance, she discerned the gamekeeper's hut.

Abruptly the tree froze, as though carved from marble. Lily gasped as four figures appeared from nowhere, and disappeared into the roots of the great tree. "How did you know about this anyway?" she asked Melina, still gazing spellbound at the motionless tree.

"I am the all-powerful Oz. I know all. I see all," She grinned. "No, actually I found their "next month's adventure" plans. They really shouldn't be leaving spare pieces of parchment lying around the common room. You'd think they could at least pick up after themselves once in a while," She laughed quietly.

An hour passed, and Lily's knees began to cramp from kneeling. "Melina, do we have to stay out here? My knees hurt," She complained.

"So stand up," Melina answered, and returned her attention to the Whomping Willow. "Wonder what they're doing down there..." she muttered.

"We could ask you that same question, you know," Came a voice from behind. Lily inwardly groaned. Perfect, Melina. Now you've got us caught. This is just perfect.

Aloud she said, "Oh, nice night out, huh Remus? Peter?" she smiled at the two boys brightly, crossing her fingers in the pocket of her robes and praying to God that this was just some bizarre dream.

There was a sudden rustling in the bushes nearby. For a second, the clouds cleared and the half moon shone brightly over the grounds. It was only for a second, but that's all it took for Melina to see what Lily couldn't: Their ticket to permanent detention.

Chapter Two: And Since When Do I Care?

"Lily, run!" Melina hissed, grabbing Lily's wrist and pulling her in the opposite direction toward the castle. Lily never realized how fast she could run until that moment. It wasn't until they were well inside the entrance hall that they slowed to a mild trot.

"What...was...that...all...about?" Lily panted. Melina cut her off with a quick shake of the head, and made her way up to Gryffindor Tower, Lily in tow.

Ten minutes later, now safely up in the common room; Melina sank down into a chair. "Are you going to explain anything now, or are you just going to sit there?" Lily asked, mildly annoyed. "Like why we were out there in the first place, maybe? Or like why we were sprinting across the grounds to get away from some of our best friends? I mean, come on, they're not going to give us that much grief,"

Melina glared. "I don't consider Severus Snape one of our best friends," She snapped.

"What?!?! Snape is out there? And you didn't even bother to warn Remus and Peter?" Lily exploded. Melina sighed the sigh she always did when she thought Lily had just said something terribly naive.

"Well why should I? It's their own fault they want to go roaming the grounds at night, trying to get themselves expelled two weeks before Graduation,"

"But we were out on the grounds spying on them," Lily reminded her. Melina groaned.

"Lily, we were spying on James and Sirius. What do you think Remus and Peter are going to tell them about that?" Lily glanced around the room nervously, beginning to see the problem. "Good point. Oh boy, this is not good. Not good at all. How are you at memory charms, just out of curiosity?"

Melina sighed again. "Not good enough. I'm afraid that's your department," She glanced down at her watch. "It's after three. We better head up to bed," She pushed herself out of the chair and headed toward the stairs.

"But, what about the boys?" Lily asked, perplexed at Melina's positive attitude.

"What about the boys?" Melina demanded. "They got caught. We didn't end of story. Now come on, let's go to bed,"

Chapter Three: A Bit of Morning Blackmail

It wasn't until the next morning that the sad, sad truth was confirmed. Lily was mid-way through her blueberry muffin at breakfast, when she and Melina saw Remus and Peter approaching, looking grim.

They stopped about five feet away from them, and glared. "Well, you girls will be happy to know that we have detention for the next two weeks. They would've given it to us for the rest of eternity, but we're graduating in two weeks so they can't,"

Melina, always the optimist, gave them a false smile. "Well, look on the bright side! You didn't get expelled!" Remus narrowed his eyes, and for the first time, Melina felt slightly scared of him. "Oh, and we got fifty points taken. Each. And it doesn't help that James and Sirius got caught too,"

"What?!?! That's two-hundred points!" Melina was scandalized.

"Hail Melina! You've finally learned how to add!" Remus cheered sarcastically. Melina frowned.

"Okay, I didn't ask for your personal opinion, Remus,"

"Fifty points? Good thing we didn't get caught too, Melina," Lily said thoughtfully. Remus looked, if possible, even angrier. "Oh, so suddenly you care immensely if Gryffindor wins the house cup, huh?" he asked.

"Well, I guess not getting detention for two weeks was a plus," Melina added with a grin.

"You could've warned us!" Peter burst out.

"And what, have you taunt us about it for the rest of our natural lives? I don't think so!" Melina retorted.

"Who says we're not going to do that anyway? We're not complete morons, we know what you were doing out there," Remus interjected.

"Told you," Lily whispered from somewhere behind Melina.

"Shove it, Lily,"

"Oh, yeah, well what are you going to do about it? You can't prove anything. And besides, like McGonnagal's gonna listen to you after the stunt you pulled last night!" Melina snapped at Remus.

"Oh, McGonnagal might not, but we know two people who be very interested to know about it," Remus grinned mischievously. Lily groaned.

"You wouldn't dare," she said aloud. "What makes you so sure about that?" Remus taunted. He was up to something, and knowing Remus, it was nothing good.

"Oh, Shut up!" Melina said, temper rising.

"Oh, we just might. For a price," He added.

"What do you want?" Lily asked, rolling her eyes.

"Sirius has some idiotic plan that I don't even see working, myself, but it'll be hilarious if he pulls it off. And, we need your help," Melina's jaw dropped.

"Help? Us? In one of Sirius's plans? I think you've fallen off you're broom one too many times in Broom Flying class, Remus!"

Remus shrugged. "Okay then, if you two don't want to help... Oh Sirius! James!" Melina and Lily both groaned.

"Okay, okay, we'll do it. Just shut up!" Melina said with a sigh.

"You like them..." Remus teased.

"Like them? Excuse me? That's the craziest thing I've ever heard!" Lily tried to sound dignified.

But what they were about to hear from Sirius, topped even that.