A/N: Alright, I've decided on a new approach to my chapters. They're going to go by months so I can make the chapters longer and not have them skipping randomly through time. Hopefully this will move the story along and keep you guys interested. Um, thanks to my reviewers, I don't have you all individually thanked in this chapter, but you know who you are!

Anyway, hope you enjoy...

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Chapter 9, January

Mia yawned sleepily and settled deeper into the couch as she listened to the dull roar of the boy's low voices around her. She was so content she failed to hear the danger creeping up on her...

A loud explosion to her left destroyed her peace and nearly blew Mia's eardrum out.

"JAMES POTTER!" She screeched, sitting bolt upright. She glared at the half- sorry half-delighted boy standing next to her couch. "I'm going to kill you," she cried as she ran towards him. She vaguely heard Lily's cry of disbelief, but quickly put it out of her mind.

Instead she tackled him onto the couch, straddling him as she bent down and said in her most menacing voice, "It's not midnight yet. Do not blow up anything until then or I will be forced to kill you."

"But I thought you loved me, dear Mia." The look on his face was so pathetic she almost believed him. Almost.

"Yeah right you pathetic loser."

"I'm hurt," he said in mock dismay as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her on top of him.

"James! Let me go!" Mia struggled, but his grip was too strong.

"You know you want me," he crooned, and before she could react, he reached up and planted a kiss square on her lips.

"EEEEW!" Mia cried, and laughed at hearing the "hey!" coming from a laughing Sirius.

"Stop it you two lovebirds," said Remus while throwing a glance at Lily, who seemed on the verge of tears.

James just laughed and began to tickle her. Quickly they became acquainted with the floor as they rolled around, each trying to tickle the other into submission.

"N-no, James! Stop! Stop it!" Suddenly she felt herself lifted away from James. Looking up Mia found she was in the arms of a stern Sirius.

"What?" She asked, still giggling uncontrollably as James stuck his tongue out at her from behind Sirius.

"You're really upsetting Lily. I'd go talk to her."

She looked at him in confusion, then threw a glance over at Lily, who was already storming up the stairs to our dorm. "What did I do?"

Remus looked up from the couch. He looked sick again. "I think Lily is finally realizing her feelings for our dear friend James."

"Lily's... Jealous of me?" She asked incredulously, not able to process this.

James looked at Mia in horror. "I don't like you... I mean, not, well..."

"I got it." She threw a reassuring smile at him. "Look, I never realized she'd feel that strongly. I mean, I knew she liked you and all, but I didn't think she'd think we liked each other." A pause. "No offense James."

"None taken. But please go talk to her." His face looked drawn and worried and he was throwing frequent glances towards the staircase as he spoke.

She nodded and headed up the stairs. Quickly she opened the door to her room and found it deserted except for a very small looking Lily sprawled in the middle of her bed, crying furiously.

"Lils? You okay?" Mia tentatively stepped forward.

"Go away." Lily's voice was hard.

"I didn't do anything, Lils!"

"Yes you did!" She sat up and began glaring at Mia. "You knew very well that I liked him and then you went and flirted with him."

"I did not flirt with James Potter! I am going out with Sirius, and I don't like James. And I clearly did not know that you liked him. Well, I did, but you insist that you hate him, so it's free bait for anyone that wants him."

"But you should know! You did know!"

"Well what if I did? It's not like you're ever going to do anything!"

"SHUT UP!" The boys down in the common room could hear Lily scream.

"DO you think we should go help Mia?" Sirius asked worriedly.

"If we hear any screams of pain we'll go up there," said Remus dryly.

"Shut up Moony."

"I was just joking Padfoot!"

Up in the girl's room, things were also tense.

"Look, I already told you I don't want James. I'm going out with Sirius. Honestly, I thought you were supposed to be smart Lily."

That seemed to break Lily. "Oh god, you're right! Why are we fighting over James? I know you don't like him, but I do."

Mia looked slightly mollified, but still hurt.

Lily burst into a fresh wave of tears. "I'm sorry Mia, I was so stupid."

Mia moved over and sat on the bed next to Lily. "You were," she said, "but so was I and it all worked out."

Lily's tears slowly began to stop and she smiled with gratitude at Mia. "Thanks, that helped. But I was just expecting..." She trailed off, blushing furiously.

"What?" Mia's interest was piqued.

"Well, I just was hoping that James would kiss me at midnight tonight," Lily said quickly.

"Aw!" Mia squealed in delight. "That's so cute!"

"But it won't happen."

"Sure it will!" With that, Mia grabbed Lily's hand and, ignoring her loud protests, dragged her back to the common room.

The three boys looked up in concern.

"You okay Lils?" James asked tentatively.

Lily smiled at him while rubbing her eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine, thanks."

Sirius and Remus beamed at Mia as she sat down beside them.

"I don't know what you did, but it worked," whispered Sirius, not taking his eyes off of the blushing couple across from them.

"Yeah," sighed Remus enviously as Lily sat nervously beside James.

Mia smiled over at Remus. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get Amber. Just kiss her tonight."

Instead of blushing as Mia would have expected him to do, his face became dejected. "No, she'd never go out with me."

"Why?"

Sirius and Remus exchanged a meaningful glance, one Mia did not miss.

"Why?" She repeated her question with more insistence.

"Tell you later." At that moment, Mia realized just how worn and sick Remus looked. But he was still handsome. She couldn't see why Amber wouldn't go out with him.

"Okay."

"We've got fireworks for tonight," Sirius said in a desperate attempt to lighten the mood.

"I know," Mia said wryly, "one nearly deafened me."

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"Ten... nine... eight... seven... six... five... four... three... two... one... HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

The noise in the common room was deafening as numerous fireworks were released and went whizzing above the heads of the shouting students.

Among these students were six very happy people kissing in the New Year.

"Happy New Year James," Lily said as she planted another kiss on his lips.

"You have no idea how happy I am," he said languidly as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Nearby Remus and a certain girl of his dreams were too furiously snogging to be available for any comment. The euphoria on their faces was enough to share their feelings, though.

"Happy New Year, Sirius." Mia smiled up at him as they sat in a windowsill watching the fireworks going off all over the grounds.

"And the same to you," Sirius replied, pulling her close. "And let's make this one just a little less eventful."

"Deal."

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Mia yawned and stretched her arms above her head after she had finally gotten dressed. It seemed to be nearly eleven by what she could tell, but her eyes were so blurry she wasn't quite sure. She never slept this late, but the New Years party had gone on very late.

She looked around her room and finally realized that no one else was there. Then she remembered that it was yet another Hogsmeade weekend.

"Guess I won't be going there," She mused, to no one in particular.

Shrugging she headed out the door and down to the common room, not expecting to see anyone but a few younger kids.

"Hello Mia."

Mia jumped. She hadn't even noticed him sitting there.

He grinned. "Sorry I scared you."

"That's alright Remus." She sat down beside him and gave him a tight hug.

"What was that for?" He looked surprised.

"I'm glad you're happy."

"Thanks." He smiled again.

"But," said Mia as she looked at him closely, "you don't look so great. Have you eaten yet?"

Remus smiled guiltily and shook his head. "I got up late and I didn't make it to breakfast."

"What kind of Marauder are you? Let's just go down to the kitchens."

"Okay." He stood and seemed to get dizzy. He grabbed onto the seat of the couch as he blinked his eyes rapidly, trying to dispel the blackness.

"You okay?" Mia asked in concern.

"Fine, fine," he muttered as he finally straightened back up.

Not convinced, Mia wrapped her arm around his waist and proceeded to lecture him on the importance of eating right and sleeping regular hours.

She was still talking (and Remus laughing) when they reached the portrait of the fruit. "Oh, well here we are," she said.

Quickly they went into the kitchens and were surrounded by house elves.

"What would you like, Mistress and Master?"

Remus looked put out by the use of that name, but casually replied, "Just some breakfast."

"Of course," said the same house elf. It quickly bowed and rushed off to cater to their every whim.

Meanwhile Remus and Mia sat down at a small table for two.

Remus smiled fondly at Mia. "I really don't know what I'd do without you to take care of me."

"I try." Mia smiled at him only half-heartedly.

"What?"

"I know that you're lying to me, Remus," she said simply.

"What do you mean?" Mia knew she had struck a nerve. His pale face had gone even whiter and his hands twitched nervously under the table.

Mia sighed. "I know there's something more than your family members getting sick, but I haven't known you long enough to figure out what it is. Wouldn't it be much easier just to tell me?" Waiting for a response, she found none, so she persisted. "Don't you trust me?"

Remus looked hurt. "Of course I trust you. I'm just afraid that if you tell me you'll hate me..."

"James and Sirius know. Hell, I'm fairly sure Lily knows too. Why can't you just trust me to do the right thing? They didn't hate you fore it."

"Look," Remus started, obviously struggling, "I really like you. I don't fancy you, but in the time that we've gotten close I've rally felt a connection." Mia nodded, looking intently at him. "But when I told James and Sirius our bond was much deeper. We're still rather new friends and I don't know if... if it's enough."

Mia looked close to tears. "You're like my brother. I don't think I could hate you for any long period of time."

Remus sighed, but looked happier at that sentiment. He took Mia's hand and pulled her closer. "I- I'm a werewolf."

Mia pulled back and looked stunned. "Oh." It was all she could manage.

Remus leaned back as well looking for all the world as if he would like to bolt off right there. "I know I'm freak, but I hope you can still like me."

Mia tried to speak, but her voice seemed to be stuck in the back of her throat from the shock. For a moment the two stared at each other. Suddenly Mia began to laugh.

"What?"

Mia tried to stop laughing enough to explain herself. "My uncles a werewolf!"

Remus began to laugh nervously as well. "Heh, well I guess I needn't have worried."

Mia stopped laughing suddenly and looked at Remus steadily. "Never doubt that I will always be there for you. I would never be that superficial. You can tell me anything."

Remus smiled slightly. "Thanks."

"Hey," said Mia, her brain clicking into place, "it's the full moon tonight, isn't it?"

Remus paled, but nodded.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry I dragged you down here when you're so-"

Before she could finish that sentimental feeling, the portrait hole burst open to reveal James, Sirius, and Lily.

Sirius was the first to spot the. "Remus! Are you stealing my girl away from me?"

Remus laughed, removing his hand from hers. "Of course not. I just told her about... you know. And it's fine," he added to Mia.

"Oh good." Sirius did indeed look relieved. "I hated keeping that from you."

"Woo," said Mia, not failing to notice James and Lily's entwined hands. "So you two finally got together?"

"Finally," echoed Lily.

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