Here's the next then, not that it's any big occasion since you probably just read the one before…

(Disclaimer; I own nothing but my genius J )

The next morning Katrina was surprised to find three out of four Marauders waiting cheerfully in the common room to escort herself and Lily to breakfast.

"Morning, sunshine!" James slung an arm casually around Lily's shoulders. She wriggled uncomfortably, then settled down and put her own arm shyly round his waist. They set off towards the Great Hall, Remus and Sirius following behind with Katrina between them.

"Pete's still in bed," Sirius informed them, thus explaining the absence of their usual tagalong. "Says he feels sick."

James snorted. "He's felt sick every Tuesday morning since second year. It's because we have Potions first lesson."

They seated themselves in a row at the Gryffindor table. All the Marauders piled their plates high with food; Lily began buttering toast, and Katrina, who hated breakfast and didn't wake up properly until midday, sipped her coffee and stared into space.

Sirius waved a hand hopefully in front of her face. "Hello? Anyone home?"

Katrina grimaced at him and he jumped back in mock horror. "Merlin! It's horrible!"

"Oh, stop it," she growled, half-laughing.

"So how are you finding Advanced Charm Work?" James asked Lily, landing on the only topic he could think of that interested her.

"I haven't started it yet, I was going to tonight."

"I'm mortally offended," James informed her solemnly. Lily laughed, and his stomach did a flip.

::Aah crap, don't say I really like her…:: He hated getting attached; it only meant more tears at the end. ::Maybe it'd be better not to do this…::

Lily tugged at his sleeve. "Are you coming? Lessons in five." James stared at her. The whole of his arm where she had touched it was tingling lightly.

"Sure." He stood up and laced his fingers with hers, fighting the urge to pull her closer.

::Hm…'just friends' obviously isn't going to work out. Guess I'll have to think something else up.::

It was during potions that it happened.

Sirius and Katrina had been busily passing notes from their respective seats next to James and Lily, who were shooting lovelorn glances across the room whenever one thought the other wasn't watching.

Merlin, Prongsie has it bad for the redhead. S

Don't call her that. K

Well she is. A Carrothead I mean. S

That's beside the point Black. D'you think he's just going to use her? K

Frankly? Yes. S

If he hurts her I'll murder him. You might want to tell him that… K

I'll pass it on. S

When are we meeting up again? K

Can we make it soon? S

Eager today, aren't we? Not getting any from your little Ravenclaw? K

Stop reading my mind.

Sorry.

Day after tomorrow do you? S

(A/N; I could pick up on the 'do you' thing but I won't. I'm a good girl radiates innocence)

Can't wait. K

Me either. Of course, we could just sneak out now… S

Sirius Black you horny bastard. I'm ashamed of you. Have a little restraint. Wait till the end of class. J K

See you then…S

Exactly what Sirius was planning on Katrina never found out (A/N; I think she kinda guessed…) because just as she was unfolding the latest note, an enormous firecracker landed in her and Lily's cauldron and exploded with a deafening crash.

Immediately both girls began to sway. Their vision blurred, and one after the other they collapsed onto the floor, surrounded by pieces of firecracker and potion.

The last thing Katrina saw before she blacked out was Sirius gawping at her.

::Idiot:: she thought fondly, and fainted.

Spatters of Transparency Solution rained down on the two unconscious girls, dripping off the ceiling where it had been splashed liberally by the explosion.

James was puzzled; why had they been knocked out? It had only been a firework…

He knelt gingerly beside Lily and inspected the floor around her. As well as little puddles of Transparency Solution, she was surrounded by a thin layer of blue liquid.

"What's this sir?" he asked Professor Alderly, scooping some up with his finger and showing it to him.

"Looks like a knockout drop," the professor answered, puzzled. He held some up to his nose and sniffed. "Yes… bright colour, musty smell…knockout potion." He frowned. "Odd."

"What you getting at?" Sirius asked James, looking worriedly at Katrina.

"Someone put the knockout stuff in the firework," James muttered

"Hospital wing," Professor Alderly commanded, looking rather shaken by these unorthodox happenings in his classroom. James scooped up Lily wordlessly and walked out, beckoning Remus after him. Remus, the slightest of the group, eyed Katrina's tall frame and then looked pleadingly at Sirius who followed James' example without the least hesitation, rather pleased to have the chance to carry Katrina places. Remus and Peter tagged along, glad to escape their worst class of the day.

Just as the door closed behind him Sirius saw several of the Slytherins, notably Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy (A/N; unoriginal I know but I can't be bothered to intro new baddies just yet.) smirking at him in a self-satisfied sort of way.

::So…it was them, was it? Right...::

(A/N; dramatic minor chord / music from Psycho take your pick.)

Madam Pomfrey took one look at Sirius and James' burdens, gestured to the two nearest beds and turned to start making an antidote.

Remus looked over her shoulder, engrossed. "How do you know what they've taken?" he asked. Madam Pomfrey, gratified that someone should take such an interest, treated him to a rare smile.

"A blue tinge around the lips," she informed him. "The antidote is very simple, but useful if you don't have a wand handy to use the enervating incantation. That doesn't work on these symptoms anyway," she called to James and Sirius, who were taking it in turns to try waking the girls with their wands.

She bustled over with the potion and poured a trickle of it down each of their throats. Not much happened; Katrina's eyelids fluttered slightly, and that seemed to be it.

Madam Pomfrey handed a phial of antidote each to Sirius and James. "Two drops every twenty seconds over the next five minutes," she ordered. "Then give them the rest to drink themselves."

She moved briskly on to the next bed; but before long, she was called back.

"Um…Madam P?" Remus said uncertainly, staring at Katrina. "I don't want to bother you…but…Kat's ear has disappeared…"

The nurse was back in an instant. "What?"

Remus pointed to where the offending appendage ought to have been; and sure enough, there was nothing but a blank space.

James, bending over Lily to administer her next dose of potion, noticed a similar blank spot on her neck. This prompted a long and thorough search of all the body parts decency would allow.

Katrina had five more spots of nothingness; Lily was slightly better off, with only three.

"The Transparency solution in their cauldron," James realised. "It spilt on them."

"And now it's working," Sirius added, stating the obvious.

Remus nodded.

It appeared that the effects of the solution spread; by the time both girls were fully awake, five minutes later, the whole of Katrina's right leg and half of Lily's neck had vanished.

Sirius smiled down at Katrina. "Hey, Moore. How d'you feel?"

"Fine. Bit groggy." Katrina sat up and looked around with interest. "Cool, we're missing Potions."

"Um…yeah…also, your leg's vanished," Sirius told her conversationally. Katrina stared at the place where it ought to have been, fascinated.

"Weird! Must have been the Transparency Solution."

Sirius sat down on the bed; Katrina let out a yelp of pain.

"What?"

"You're. Sitting. On. My. Leg," she gritted.

"Huh?"

"Get your fat Quidditch-player's arse off my fucking leg!"

"Sorry," Sirius muttered, standing up hastily.

"S'ok."

"My arse isn't that fat is it?"

"No, you've got a lovely arse," Katrina soothed. "And I should know…" she added mischievously. Then, "Don't!" as he made to sit down again.

"This is stupid. Where's your leg?"

Katrina guided his hand to it. He felt carefully up and down to work out where it was, and then sat down gingerly on the very edge of the bed with a grin.

"Remember last time you were in here, because Malfoy got you in the face with his beater's club and your nose was streaming blood, and all you could think about was whether you'd have a black eye for that month's ball."

Katrina nodded, smiling absently. She was finding it hard to concentrate; mainly because Sirius' hand was still moving gently up and down her thigh.

"You ready to go?" he asked, shifting his fingers higher. Katrina swallowed and nodded.

"You're a manipulative bastard," she whispered as he helped her up.

"And you love it," Sirius muttered back, grinning. "Let's go shag."

Katrina thought about it for a whole ten seconds before shrugging flirtily. "What about my leg? You can't see it."

"The stuff'll wear off in an hour or two."

"And until then?"

"Well…I'll just have to feel my way."

Katrina raised her eyebrows, smiling knowingly. Sirius tried to look innocent.

They went out arm in arm.

(A/N; First, is flirtily a word? Cos Johnny says it isn't. (That's my laptop BTW. I call it Johnny after John E, this guy I know, because it's small, annoying and never does what I tell it to. J )