A/N: I promise to up-date more often! I have someone following me around now telling me to update my HP stories; you know who you are! Cough*Nikkita*cough, Oh well, it's good for me.
SORRY, but still in the flashback.
"So Sirius how was your Christmas break?" Sarah heard Lily ask as she came down to the common room.
"It was all right, has anyone been taking about Blacky from the dance?" He asked hopefully.
"Only everyone," Lily laughed; "it's like having our own Cinderella."
"I'm going to find her," he said as he spotted Sarah. "Hey princess, get any candy for Christmas?"
"Since when did you start calling me princess?" She asked raising an eyebrow.
"Well I was thinking," he said leaning on her; "and it seems I've been neglecting my duties as royal nickname giver. I gave the guys nicknames but not the girls."
"I thought my nickname was sis?" Sarah said somewhat bitterly.
"No," Sirius whispered; "because if Peter ever wanted to date you it'd just be wrong."
"Gross!" Sarah exclaimed; "I could never date him!"
"Poor Peter," Sirius shook his head; "he already bought the engagement ring." And without another word he bound up the stairs.
"Go to see you Sarah," James said going past her; "have a nice Christmas?"
"Better than the last," she smiled.
"Hi Sarah," Remus said hugging her; "you seen Rachel yet?"
"Not yet Moony," Sarah said ruffling his hair as he went up to his room.
"You going to wait for Rachel down here?" Lily asked making her way towards the boy's dorm.
"Sure," Sarah said after Lily's retreating back. She knew they didn't mean to but they did leave her out. Rachel came storming into the common room and smiled expectantly at Sarah who simply nodded towards the boys' dorms.
Sarah left the common room, no one had missed her. She should of expected this by now, she didn't want to be selfish though, she knew they all wanted to see their boyfriends or girlfriends she just wished she had one. Sirius would be her dream guy but he had only noticed her when he didn't know it was her. Just forget about the dance Sarah, she commanded herself, just forget.
But Sirius didn't stop talking about Blacky, in fact he became more obsessed with finding her which is why when Sarah got up one morning in the middle of March she wasn't surprised to hear him talking about her. Blacky had almost become another person to her but she was confident that he wouldn't find out who she was. It was amazing though how much Sirius remembered about that night, she wasn't on a Quidditch team, since it was her first kiss he was positive she was a fifth or fourth year, she wasn't in Slytherin, and finally she had both her parents. It was kind-of impressive, in an I'm-a-stalker sort of way. "Sirius just get over it," Lily informed him as Sarah sat down starting to eat her usual ham and cheese omelet.
"Still raving about Blacky?" Sarah asked.
"Well I wouldn't be if you would help me out!" He complained.
"Mr. Padfoot I have no intention of chasing after some mystery girl whom you have already placed on a so high that even if I did find her for you, your expectations have been completely blown out of proportions by this counterfeit standard you have for her. Go date Unity Xavior from Ravenclaw, she's brilliant, funny, and I'll have you know she's my top competition for a chance at Head Girl."
"Sarah will you please just help him so we all don't go insane," James said pinching the top of his nose; "it's all he's been talking about for months now."
Sarah sighed heavily; "I will write down all the girls that match you 'specifications' but nothing more."
"Finally we're getting somewhere," Sirius smiled passing her parchment and a quill. After finishing the list Sarah completed her breakfast and was just about to leave when her owl swooped in and delivered her a letter. She really didn't want to deal with a note from her parents right now, everything was strange here right now which made her depressed but happy at the same time because at that moment she still had Sirius' ring on. Slowly and carefully she opened the letter.
Dear Sarah Elisabeth,
This is your monthly update. We've noticed that you grade in Charms slipped with the last test since you recieved a 93 percent, we expect it up by next week or we will be forced to place you on restriction. Your mother and I had a lovely dinner with the Potters last week, please send our greetings to James. On the thirteenth we will be attending the international wizarding dinner with the minister of magic.
On another note your grandmother died in her sleep on the second, we've already held the accustom services. Keep studying for your exams.
Sincerely,
Your father and mother
Sarah read the letter again and tried to act as natural as she could. She placed her bag on her shoulder and walked up to the teachers' table, everything was so cloudy right now. "Yes Miss McKinley?" Dumbledore asked.
She handed him the letter and she tried to control her shaking arm as much as possible. He looked up at her as she found her voice. "I was wondering professor if I could just stay in my room today, and get my homework tonight," her chin was beginning to shake but she wouldn't cry, not here.
"Take as much time as you need Sarah, if you would like you may have one of the other students stay with you today," he told her handing back the letter.
"No that's all right professor," she told him as she kept folding the letter; "thank you." She walked straight out and her friends didn't even notice.
"Where's Sarah?" Remus asked at lunch.
"I don't know I was just thinking that though," Lily said looking at the empty seat.
"Hey Cindy!" Sirius called down the table; "where's Sarah?"
The fifth year blond looked up at him; "no clue, she didn't come to class."
"What?" Lily asked; "that's not like her at all."
"Maybe she didn't feel good," Sirius shrugged.
"I'll go see if she's in the tower," James said getting up.
"Sarah?" James called getting into the common room. No one answered but he did hear muffled crying. Following his ear he made his way up to the girls' fifth year dorms. "Sarah?" He asked again and the quiet crying he had heard before stopped completely. James moved to the only bed that had it's curtains out and pushed them back to expose a tear streaked Sarah. "Sarah what's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just don't feel well," she told him as he sat down on the bed and she pulled herself up into the sitting position.
"Liar," he said; "what happened?"
"Nothing you need to worry about James," she told him; "your going to be late for class." James looked around the room and spotted the letter which he made a jump for. "No James don't," she begged as she lunged for the letter.
James held her off though as he read it; "oh Sarah."
"Don't worry about it James," she said snatching the letter back; "I'm fine."
"Double liar," he said as he scooted over and hugged her. Sarah couldn't help it she started crying again. "Hey how about I skip my class and I'll stay here with you," James told her.
"No James I'll be ok I just didn't want to go to class today and start to break down while the professor started to tell us about griffins or something."
"You sure?"
"Positive."
"All right, but right after class I'll be back. I won't even stop at the kitchens, cross my heart," he told her getting up; "it's my secrete brotherly duty."
"All right James."
Sarah slept the next few hours away and when she awoke Lily and Rachel were pulling her out of bed; "what?" She asked.
"Come on," they told her as they dragged her down to the common room. Each had a hand on her shoulder and they placed her on the floor in front of the fire.
A few minutes later Peter came in carrying a few pieces of parchment; "your homework," he explained setting them on the writing desk.
"Thanks Peter," she said as he sat next to the girls. It was the beginning of a circle going Sarah, Lily, Rachel and then Peter.
"Operation cheer up is offically underway!" Sirius' voice boomed as the remaining marauders entered the room. "James was in charge of the food for tonight so if there are any complaints go to him!" Sirius said putting down pizza boxes and sitting next to Peter.
"Butter beer," Remus smiled passing out the favorite drink then sitting next to Sirius.
"And," James announced juggling two boxes and a jar; "sweets. Including peppermint of course." He said placing the large boxes down then sat in between Remus and Sarah.
Sarah smiled weakly; "thanks guys."
After finishing up the pizzas and the butter beers, and the sweets were halfway gone Sarah smiled a bit; "I don't know what I'm going to do my seventh year."
"And why is that our dear sister?" James mocked.
"You'll all be gone."
"Come now, you'll be the most popular girl in school, everyone will want to hang out with the friend of the marauders! We're the most popular group so they'll all be riding on you coat tails," Sirius informed her.
"Who ever said you were popular?" Sarah asked.
"Oh a challenge," Rachel said smiling.
"Do you know what my dear Mr. Moony, Wormtail, and Prongs," Sirius said rubbing his chin in a mock intelligent way. "I do believe she's insulting our fine establishment."
James smiled; "now we can't have that." Which started a tickle fight between James and Sarah.
"Let me go James!" Sarah begged.
"Not until you say it!" James declared.
"Say what?" She gasped.
"That we're popular!"
"Fine, you're popular!"
"The most popular guys in school!"
"Well I don't know about that," she said which caused a worst tickling match; "all right you're the most popular guys at school!" James became satisfied and let her go.
She glared at him with his smug look on his face; "Remus will you trade me spots?" She asked; "I've had the fire to my back all night and it feels as if I'll catch on fire."
"Sure," he responded and when Sarah sat down Sirius looped an arm around her shoulder.
"You missed me didn't you? It's all right you can tell me," he smiled.
"In your dreams," she said even though she knew she was lying.