Yo yo! Today was National Day Celebrations in school and it was uber fun! I realised our teachers can't sing! =D Anyway, we're looking at Saturday – Tuesday holiday here, and I'm hyped!! Woohoo! I can write more story now... but been having writer's block actually...

-whimpers- Help?

Okay, reply-to-reviews time!

Drop-depp-gorgeous : I'm starting to read your fic now! The completed one. It looks awesome. Will review when I'm done.

Sweetiepiepirate : Tell Sirius as in what happened during that dreadful night? Well, as I have stressed many times in the story, no one will ever know. She's ashamed by it, and because of her status and stuff, she doesn't want anyone to know about it. Sirius will eventually –gasps and slaps mouth- I'm not saying anymore. "The part where Reine is a Slytherin and Sirius is a Gryffindor" – well, it matters. And the Slytherins didn't like her before and after she dated Sirius anyway. It's because she isn't very much like them. She can be a bit scheming and revengeful as you've read, but she isn't a Mudblood hater and stuff and that ticks them off.

Hunni : Liar, liar, plants for hire! I've always wanted to say that. And yeah, they are friends and colleagues, and yes, she will have to stay away from Sirius for a while there... hehx. She might even... pretend. You'll read about that in this post, I think. I call them POSTS now, not CHAPTERS. They're too short to be chapters. =D

Chibichibi : OMG! I was grinning like crazy when I read that from my inbox. (People come in and wonder why I smile at the screen) Wow, better than a book? –flattered- Maybe not, lolx, I should've planned this fic more than just write from my head. Hehx. Well I hope you stick with me till the end and you enjoy the story, yeah? Luv yaz! XD  excited smiley.

Daniel-radcliffes-girl : Need more drunk people? Well, students are underaged to drink right now... but you never know once they're free to roam the world on their own, they might get drunk and do something crazy........................(what are you thinking! I meant something like, blither illegibly!).

Post 52

The rest of the train ride passed normally. Nikki was making everyone, and I mean everyone, a friendship band each. She had given a purple and pink one to Lily, who delightedly tied hers on her wrist. She handed me one that was navy and sky blue, my favourite colours and she helped me tie it on my left wrist.

As for James and Sirius however, who she had both made in red and gold, Gryffindor colours, in a variety of patterns... well, you guessed it. They refused to put it on.

First Nikki put on a pitiful face, with puppy dog eyes and all with the bands hanging limply from her fingers. When this didn't work, she began pleading annoyingly non-stop! Oh pity the rest of us who had to suffer. Peter begged James and Sirius to take the bands just to make her happy.

Grumbling as they agreed, Nikki cheerfully tied the bands to their wrists but I could've sworn I saw Sirius dump his deep into his bag when Nikki wasn't looking.

"Hey, James," I said, snapping him out of his reverie. Rather, he had been gazing at Lily, who was snoozing lightly. He looked at me questioningly. "What about your dad?"

"What about him?"

"Well... he thinks we are," I thought of the word. "...together."

His forehead wrinkled as he sat deep in thought.

"Maybe we should just tell him..." I suggested meekly.

"We can't," replied James quickly. "He'll kill me. No, he'll give me a good nagging about priorities, life and respect and then kill me."

"Or... we could," I shrugged. "Pretend?"

"Just don't let Lily see us..." he whispered lest Lily should awake. "You don't mind do you, Padfoot?"

"Wha-?" mumbled Sirius, snapping from his daydream. "Oh, no, go ahead..." He yawned openly and slumped back into the seat, eyes closed.

We got off the train at King's Cross. The wind was chilly and the sky was an inky bluish black. The station was decorated with Christmas wreaths, hollies and mistletoes. Students began flooding off the train and being greeted by their parents in open arms. As I walked across the platform, I saw many parents talking happily, hugging their children tightly in their arms, beaming in happiness and showering their children with warm unconditional love.

I felt a twinge in my heart as I watched the children hugging their mums and dads, their faces alight with contentment. And then laughing and the child full of stories to tell, they walk out of the station, arms wrapped warmly around each other.

Oh how much I'd give to be like one of them. I stared into space thinking deeply until Sirius brought me back to reality. He linked his arm with mine, looked questionably into my eyes to which I replied with a reassuring smile.

It was then I realized that Mr Potter was there. The Mr Potter that my father struck a deal with. The Mr Potter whose wish was for his son to be with me. Whose secret evil wish was to inherit the McKinnon riches!!! Okay, maybe I exaggerated a bit.

Sirius must've wondered why my smile faded so fast when I quickly withdrew my arm away. I gave him a warning look and cast a glance towards Mr. Potter. He understood with a small "ohhhh..." motioned a sorry.

I headed towards James and the rest. James was being greeted by his parents. Like everyone else in the train station, his parents were glad to see him, though he did try to squirm away when his mother held him in a tight hug and tried to kiss his cheeks. Nikki giggled and he turned bright red.

"Okay well, I better go. My parents are over there..." she chirped.

It was a wonder how she was so jumpy and merry after such a long, tiring journey.

"Glad to have you over, Miss Mckinnon," Mr Potter greeted cheerfully, holding out a hand which I took. He shook firmly. "I certainly hope you and James have had a wonderful first term."

"Well, you can just call me Reine, sir..." I replied, trying to ignore the fact that he had include James into that sentence. "And... uh, school is okay." I cast a brief glance at James who looked unfathomably back.

"Let's go, it's freezing," he said simply.

I walked next to James and Mr Potter smiled at that. I rolled my eyes after he turned away and sank towards the back, with my hands in my pockets following the whole group of them as they walked through the snow towards the carriages.

The trees along the sidewalk rustled with a soft hush in the sudden blast of wind and I drew my coat tighter around me.

I was about to board the second carriage after Sirius and Remus had stepped in but Mr Potter called me back.

"Come, this is your carriage, Reine," he called.

I cast a sad look at Sirius, who shrugged, and jumped back down onto the wet, snowy pavement. I headed towards the second carriage which James had already entered. I gave Mr. Potter a hesitant smile and he grinned back warmly, steadying my arm as I climbed into the carriage.

I dropped next to James, and Mr and Mrs Potter got in and sat opposite us. They smiled at us from the other side of the carriages. I felt very awkward. Every second spent in the deathly silent carriage was filled with tension so thick you could slice it with a knife. I managed a weak smile back and immediately found something to be interested in outside. The shining crescent moon in the black nothingness with only the daunting silhouettes of buildings and soon, hills and trees.

Even in the carriage it was chilly. The piercing wind outside seemed to be able to seep through the glass in the carriage. I leaned back against the seat and grabbed a pillow to my chest. I stared out the window, I don't know where we were, but I don't think those muggles could see us.

I stole glances at the Potters. Mrs Potter was sound asleep but her husband sat awake in his seat, never moving from the position he was in since he sat down. I looked at my distance with James. Another whole adult could sit in between us. I don't think we're acting convincing enough.

The carriage sped across the country. The only light now came from a glowing lamp at the top of the carriage ceiling, or otherwise from the silver moonlight that poured into the carriage casting eerie shadows.

Suddenly, my nose itched and I sneezed breaking the sultry silence that had blanketed the carriage since a couple of hours ago. Mr Potter cleared his throat quietly. "James, I think Reine's a bit cold."

"Oh no, I'm fine really," I added hastily, rubbing my nose and in the process, made it runny.

"Should I get the blanket?" James asked his father.

"Yes, yes, please do. There's only one, so maybe you both could share," he added. His lip twitched.

James raised an eyebrow but obeyed anyway. He brought down a neatly folded blanket in rich maroon and opened it up. He nudged his head slightly with a meaningful look in his eyes. I looked at Mr Potter. He was observing.

I moved closer to James and shared the blanket. James slowly slid his arm around my shoulder and I savoured the warmth it brought. He held me in his arms, just like how Sirius would, and I actually felt glad that he did... and slowly my eyelids started to get heavy.