Disclaimer: ok, The Harry Potter Books do not belong to me in any way shape or form. This story is based off of the most talented Airin's Artistic Hands, which she has been kind enough to let me use, and which you should all go read immediately. It's not necessary to read Artistic Hand's first, but it explains some things. This is the story from Peter's point of view.



Sirius was acting strange.

That was the thought that circled around in my head as I watched one of my best friends push open the painting and walk out of the common room. I turned towards my other two best friends to see if they noticed anything. James was reading a book about Quidditch and was dead to the world. Remus was watching the portrait hole through which Sirius had just left, daydreaming I guess.

"Do you guys notice anything weird about Padfoot recently?" James looked up at me, while Remus just continued his daydream.

"Like what, Wormy?" James looked over at the portrait hole as well.

"Well, has he told you who this new girl is who he keeps going to meet? She obviously isn't a Gryffindor, or he wouldn't have to go out. You don't think it's a Slytherin do you?" Moony turned towards me, at last paying attention to what I was saying.

"Naw, I don't think there is a girl in Slytherin who Padfoot hasn't already had, or tried to have. Actually I don't think there is a girl in the school who he hasn't gone for. Maybe there is a Ravenclaw." James broke off suddenly as a thought occurred to him. He turned to me, worried. "You don't think its Lilly do you? I mean they get along so well, and spend so much time together."

Remus interrupted him, "No, they are just good friends, I don't think there is anything romantic between them." Then turned back to staring off at nothing. Typical of him to comfort James like that. But James couldn't get the thought out of his head now that it was in there.

"But it could be, I mean, she's not here either. In fact she hasn't been hanging around with us much lately, so it has to be her." He looked over at our curious faces and stopped, blushing. Then trying to repair the damage, "Not that I care, just trying to solve the mystery, you know." I couldn't resist this opportunity to tease him a little. Usually it's the other way around, James and Sirius teasing me about something, most likely some idiotic thing I asked in a class. It's not my fault that I don't get things as quickly as they do.

"Why do you care Prongs? Do you fancy her?" His only response was to turn redder, and I laugh, then noticing the red comes from some anger as well as embarrassment, my courage runs out. "Actually, I agree with Moony, they are almost like a brother and sister. Besides, it was you I saw her staring at yesterday in transfigurations." He quickly glanced up at me, much happier then a moment ago.

"Really?"

"Yes really." James beams, and I just forget to mention the looks I also saw her sending Snape. Wonder why she's always nice to him. He's so strange, always so quiet, and no one should care that much about potions, I mean, its not even real magic. It's just like muggle cooking. I actually think he's kind of creepy. And James and Sirius don't like him, so it's safe for me to openly dislike him as well. Not that I need them to protect me, it's just nice to have the extra security around.

Remus sighs, and finally rips his eyes away from the portrait hole, and glances over at James. "Hey Prongs, want to play a game of chess?" James agrees, and all conversations about Sirius and his mystery girl are dropped, as they are quickly absorbed into their game. So deeply absorbed that I might as well be a speck on the wall. I push the cynical thought out of my head. Of course they aren't going to notice me, chess is a deeply involved game.

While their game continues, I decide to work on some of my Muggle Studies homework. It's the only elective I'm taking that the rest of the marauders aren't. They all decided to take Arithmancy instead. Sirius and James feel that they have no need to take as boring a class as Muggle Studies, and Remus' has an aunt that's a muggle, so he has no need. I had a muggle great- grandma somewhere back there, but she was dead long before I was born, and the rest of my family is all witches and wizards. We try not to talk about the muggle grandma too often. Sometimes its better not to have people know that you're not pureblood, when the rest of your family claims to be. I never cared one way or the other, but my dad does, and I try to please him.

Soon James becomes bored with chess and goes back to his book. Remus joins me at my table and takes out his Transfigurations essay. The commons room was quiet for a change, without Sirius to stir up trouble. So we worked in almost silence, occasionally one of us murmuring something about electricity, or pincushions, until we hear the password being spoken in front of the portrait, very close to curfew. Sirius sauntered in, and smiled over at Remus and I distractedly, said goodnight to James, and walked straight up the stairs to our bedroom. The rest of looked at each other in amazement. Sirius was hardly the type to go to bed early without causing at least some commotion.

Yep, Sirius was definitely acting strange.