"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies."
--Aristotle

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Getting back into the cabin, Joey noticed that everyone seemed to have been keeping themselves busy. They had already all changed into their robes, and were now trying to pass the last remaining time on the Hogwarts Express. Peter was munching delightfully on his chocolate frogs he had bought from the food trolley, getting it all over his robes without even noticing. Remus was, as usual, reading some book on the history of magic, completely unaware of everyone else in the cabin. Sirius was busying himself by tickling Flam who was now sitting on his shoulder.

"Traitor. . ." Joey mumbled loud enough so that Sirius and Flam could hear. The bird then responded with a very rueful 'hoot,' and went flying over to Joey's welcoming shoulder. Glancing over at Sirius with an uncertain smile on her face, she noticed that a smile was beginning to creep up his face, too. Then they both laughed together, and Joey took it as a welcome for her to come squeeze between him and Remus.

"You will eventuallyput your robes on, won't you?" questioned Remus who didn't bother to look up from his book.

"Why, no, My dear friend Moony," Joey responded sarcastically. "I was actually planning on stripping down to nothing and going back to my seventh year of Hogwarts nude. Do you have a problem with that?"

Hearing this, Peter suddenly began choking on his chocolate frog. This was clearly too much even for Remus to handle, because the straight face that he was trying ever so carefully to keep, was now being broken up by the uncontrollable laughter. Peter continued to cough on the same piece of chocolate, and, in effect, caused Joey and Sirius to bust up laughing as well. Joey got up, walked over to her trunk, pulled out a bottle of water for Peter, and began changing into her robes. As she plopped back down onto the seat between Remus and Sirius, Sirius started up a new conversation.

"Well, I certainly hope that Lily and James are having fun so far, as head boy and girl." Sirius remarked. Flam decided to crawl over onto Sirius' shoulder when he said this.

Remus looked over at him and answered his thoughts. "Yes, well it will probably do them some good, having to spend a little more time together."

"Why would you say that?" Joey looked over at him quizzically.

"Because," Lupin continued. "James and Lily have suddenly seemed a little distant recently. In fact, it seems like whenever they are together they just spend the time bickering!" Joey looked back on it, and come to think of it, they had been arguing a lot towards the end of last year. She got a little angry with herself for not realizing. Sirius began chuckling lightly.

"Why is that funny?" Joey snapped. Sirius looked up into her face and continued his soft laughing.

"Isn't it obvious?" Sirius began answering her question with one of his own. "Lily and James are just meant for each other. They are clearly trying to hide their feelings for each other, from each other!"

"What?" Joey didn't quite believe it.

"Actually," Remus started up again. "It makes sense if you think about it. Lily and James have been best friends for, like, ever. It probably would come as a bit of a shock to them that they began falling for each other."

"But it just doesn't make any sense," Joey said shaking her head, disbelieving. "I mean, I can totally understand them having feelings for each other, but why won't they come out and admit it?" Joey said frustratedly. "Who would do that?"

"Oh, I know other people who have trouble with the same exact problem…" Remus smiled as he trailed off with his speech and looked back down at his book.

"What? Who are you talking abou-" Joey didn't finish the sentence as Remus looked back up from his book. By the look that Remus was now giving her with his cool blue eyes staring straight into her brain, she suddenly got chills down her spine. She knew exactly what he was implying. Glancing over at Sirius, she had wondered if he had heard. Sirius was stroking Flam, who was now cuddling into his lap. His face looked down at the bird, listlessly. Yes, of course Sirius had heard. But the feeling in the pit of his stomach was telling him that he should act like he hadn't paid any attention.

Before anyone could say anything else, the train came to a sudden halt as they were pulled into the Hogsmead station. All of the train's excited passengers began gathering their trunks.

Stepping out of the train into the crisp, cool air of the Hogsmead night, the four friends soon caught up with Lily and James. At the moment, they happened to be ushering the first years over to the lake, where they would ceremoniously cross to join their new school. When they turned around, they looked excitedly at their friends who had been waiting for them.

"Oh, Good!" Lily thought aloud. The friends smiled brightly at the head boy and girl. "You guys can join us in the Head boy/girls carriage for the ride over to Hogwarts!"

The six friends squeezed into the carriage, with Joey squeezed between Remus and Sirius on one side, and Lily squeezed between James and Peter on the other. Soon, they were on their way back to their welcoming school for their final year.

"Oh, my," Lily said with a yawn. "I am just so worn out!" Her eyes looked droopy and her head slowly leaned its way onto James' shoulder. James reacted by resting his head on the top of hers and closing his eyes. Sirius and Joey exchanged knowing looks. They glanced over at Remus, who already was shaking lightly from his inaudible laughing. A huge smile crept over all three of their faces.

Before they knew it, the carriage stopped in front of the huge school, and they all recklessly fumbled out of it. Lily and James squeezed their way to the front of the mass of students, guided them into the great hall, and proceeded into the dining hall. Joey could feel Sirius guiding her along through the crowd to the Gryffindor area. The students resumed their positions at the usual tables, and waited for the sorting to begin. Everyone sat restlessly through the sorting, as they had done so many years before, and then as Dumbledore stood up, they suddenly all became silent.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts!" Dumbledore exclaimed. "Now normally, I would just allow you to begin eating right away, but there are a few announcements I must make first." The students glanced around at each other, impatiently. "Now I will dissuade you, as I do every year, not to enter the forbidden forest or stay out of the castle past your curfew. . . for these actions will result in serious punishment. On to a lighter note, I'm sure the sixth and seventh years are wondering why they were asked to pack their dress robes with them this year! Well, I have a bit of a surprise for you! This Halloween, we are going to throw a masquerade ball!"

The sixth and seventh years in the audience screamed with delight. Dumbledore did his best to silence them, and continued, "And don't worry," Dumbledore paused for a moment, a twinkle gleaming in his eye, "everyone will have a date." The noise broke out in the audience again, as everyone laughed. "I have a rather interesting plan to accomplish that, and I'm sure you all will be rather enthusiastic to participate!" Glancing down at the younger students, Dumbledore added in, "and of course, the younger students will be welcome to have their own little parties in their common rooms! And now, don't let me hold you back from the feast any longer, as I welcome you to your supper!"

And with that everyone began talking excitedly and all at once. The anticipation for the night that was coming up in a month was so strong. What did Dumbledore have in mind? Who was everyone going to be matched up with? And how? Dumbledore refused to let out anymore information on the subject, so everyone was simply left to guess. They were just going to have to wait and see what he eventually had planned for them!

Reviews are appreciated! love, SJ