Authors Note: Wow, It's been a really really long time. Thanks so much to Pam, my awesome beta.
The creative names of Dora Explora and Oswald are credited to Lauren, who thought it would be funny if I put a reference to two of her favorite shows in my story. Kudos to you, Lauren, for being an odd bird. :)
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"Today, we're going to be learning how to transfigure humans," Professor McGonagall said to her N.E.W.T. class, which consisted of James, Sirius, Peter, Remus, Lily, Lauren, Sara, two Hufflepuffs, three Ravenclaws, and one Slytherin. Their class was more advanced than the regular seventh-year class, hence the reason it was a bit smaller.
Considering the fact that James and Sirius had already achieved the most difficult aspect of Transfiguration, they, as usual, weren't listening. Instead, Sirius put a Silencing Charm around their desk, and they started discussing the new people chosen for the Quidditch team, Dora Explora (Chaser) and Oswald Scott (Keeper). They were both third years and insanely talented for their age.
"I don't see how we can lose the Cup this year, Padfoot. Dora and Oswald are exquisite!" Not minding the pouring October rain, James had held tryouts every day that week to find the perfect players.
"I agree," Sirius replied. "But Camille is going to have to do a little better at Seeking then she did last year." Camille Johnson was a fifth year who played Seeker. She was good, but had a small complex with people watching her play. However, she did well enough to get the Gryffindors second place the previous year.
"We did okay last year, second place. You just don't like Camille because she's the only girl you've dated that's broken up with you," James reminded Sirius. True enough, Sirius had always been the one to break up with whomever he was dating, except for Camille.
"Thanks for reminding me," said Sirius gloomily.
"No problem. You need an ego-deflater every once in a while." James smirked. "I wish Lily would have tried out for Keeper. I bet she would have been splendid."
"Or Sara. She looks like she would have been a good Chaser," Sirius stared at her. James looked thoroughly amused.
"Oh, does little Padfoot have a crushy-wushy?" He inquired.
Sirius was startled at the question. "Maybe," he grinned.
James changed his tone from childish to serious. "She's quiet, Padfoot. A lot like Lily, not much of a wild person. I don't know if you two would get along."
"Nonsense! I've watched her with Lily and Lauren. She laughs with them all the time!" Sirius said loudly, flailing his arms. Professor McGonagall saw him and looked at him oddly, but he just grinned apologetically and she went on with the lesson.
"Yes, but that's different. They're her best friends. When the four of us," James was referring to the Marauders, "aren't together, we aren't the same people." Judging by Sirius's disbelieving face, he changed his mind. "Okay, maybe we're the same all the time. But they aren't! I've watched Lily for four years now, and she's completely different around Sara and Lauren than she is around, say, Heather Clearwater."
"Who's Heather Clearwater?"
"That Ravenclaw you dated back in fifth year," James answered exasperatedly.
"Blonde, curly hair? She was about an eight on my kissing scale, if I remember correctly," Sirius was looking up at the ceiling, deep in thought.
James rolled his eyes. "Anyway, back to the Sara issue. She might be too...mature...for you. Lauren is more your type. Outgoing and such."
"No, Lauren fancies Remus. Remus fancies Lauren. They just haven't figured each other out yet." said Sirius, as if it was a known fact. James looked surprised. "Plus, I dated Lauren back in second year," he added as an afterthought.
"Really? Lauren and Remus. She's loud, he's quiet. I guess opposites attract," James thought aloud.
"Exactly my reasoning. What do you say, Prongs? Five Galleons if I ask Sara to Hogsmeade, she'll accept," Sirius bargained.
"Fair enough," James shook Sirius's outstreched hand.
"So, are you going to ask Lily?" Sirius winked.
"No," James said sadly.
"And why not?"
"She's finally having civilized conversation with me and I'm afraid if I ask her out, she'll completely reject me," James explained.
"But you're still using the same Potter charm on her aren't you?"
"Of course."
Lauren and Sara sat at a table in the corner of the Gryffindor common room pining over their Arithmancy homework. Lauren enjoyed the subject ten times more than Sara, who was staring into space as Lauren solved equations. I don't know why I'm taking this; I don't need it to be an Auror, she thought. But, if Lauren really wants to be accepted into the Gringotts Curse Breaking program, then I guess Lily and I will have to grin and bear it through the rest of the term or else she'd be taking it all alone...Maybe she'll be up for a game of chess...
"I'm tired of doing homework. Want to play chess?" Sara suggested.
"Justonesecond," mumbled Lauren, who was checking over her equations, making sure she got them all correct. Finally, she closed her book, put away her quill, and agreed to a game.
Sirius, who was sitting in front of the fireplace playing Exploding Snap with Peter, looked over to the two girls and grinned.
"Whatcha' looking at?" Peter asked innocently.
"Sara," said Sirius. "I'm going to ask her to Hogsmeade, I just don't know when."
Peter looked over to Lauren and Sara, who were laughing at something between themselves. Sara was sporting a dirty-blonde bob today, and it bounced as she giggled.
"Why don't you ask her now?" Peter suggested.
"What if she says no?" Sirius said worriedly.
"You're Sirius Black. Hogwarts' most eligible bachelor, voted best looking six out of seven years. If she says no, you can just ask some fifth or sixth year, and they'll go with you," said Peter.
"Shup up, Wormtail," Sirius said, grinning. "I'll be right back." He got up and walked over to the girls' table, and they started laughing again.
"Laughing at me?" he asked cunningly, crossing his arms.
"Of course," Lauren answered with a friendly smile.
Sirius looked at the chessboard. "Who's winning?" He asked, looking at the scattered peices of stone all over the side of the board. He could tell by looking that neither of the girls were very good at chess.
"I am," Sara said matter-of-factly. "I'm beating her by one pawn," she confessed.
Sirius laughed, sat down beside Sara, and began giving her pointers on where to move. Sara's heart was going a mile a minute, and she thought she was going to stop breathing, but she continued to stay calm.
"Checkmate," Sara and Sirius said together, and Lauren's king dropped his sword.
"Well...poop...I'm going to turn in, I think. I didn't sleep well last night. Good night!" Lauren said, picking up her bag and muttering "Reparo!" to the chess peices. They magicked themselves back together, and Lauren put them away.
"I think I'm going to turn in as well," Sara added and stood up, swinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Can I have a word really quick?" Sirius asked uncomfortably, looking at Sara. Both Sirius and Sara looked at Lauren, and she quickly got the point.
"Okay, see you in a bit, Sara. Good night, Sirius," she said and turned toward the girls' staircase.
Sirius smirked. "Now that she's gone, I have a question for you."
"Shoot."
"Would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow?" he asked, smiling.
Sara's eyes about popped out of her sockets and she grinned widely. "Yeah, that would be great," she said.
"Awesome. Meet you in the Great Hall for breakfast?"
"Sounds good," replied Sara.
"You know, I've been wanting to ask you for a while now. I just never had the courage," said Sirius, looking at the floor as he spoke.
Sara was perplexed by that comment. Well damn, God knows I would have loved to go, she thought."I would have accepted," she said nicely.
"Really?"
"Of course," she replied. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Yeah, can't wait," he grinned, and did something she was definetly not expecting. He kissed her lightly on the cheek.
"Goodnight, Sirius," she said sweetly.
"Goodnight," he replied. He walked back towards Peter, and she to the girls' dormitory. When Sara got to the stairs, she sprinted up them and burst into her room grinning broadly.
"LAUREN!!!!!" Sara yelled, the excitement very evident in her voice. She walked out of their lavatory in her bathrobe and a grin spread across her face. "He asked me to Hogsmeade! Sirius Black asked ME to Hogsmeade!!!"
For a minute they stood in the middle of the room squealing with joy until their very annoying, very stupid roomates Becca Becker and Yvonne Hogalsby came in. They looked at Sara and Lauren oddly. "What's up?" Becca asked in her snooty voice.
Not even the stupidity of Becca and Yvonne could break Sara's excitement. "Sirius has just asked me to Hogsmeade!" She said, smiling toothily.
"Oh," Yvonne and Becca said together. Yvonne started raving about how Sirius went out with her and dumped her for some Hufflepuff, though Sara wasn't listening.
"Let's go to Lily's room, maybe she's back," Lauren muttered. "We'll be back later, girls," she said in her best impression of their voices, and she and Sara left the room.
When getting to Lily's door, they were greeted by the portrait of the mermaid, who was flipping her tail around gracefully. "Hi Lauren and Sara," she said excitedly. Unlike most merpeople, Lily's guard was very nice. "Lily hasn't come in yet tonight, but if you guess her password I'll let you in."
"Okay, bubotuber?" Sara guessed.
"Head Girl? Fizzing Whizbees? Fairy lights? Pepper Imps? Chocolate Frogs? Bertie Botts?"
"Bingo," the mermaid said, and the door opened.
"Thanks," both girls said and walked in. They both started jumping on Lily's very bouncy king-sized four-poster. After a few minutes, they heard Lily talking to the portrait.
"You have visitors!" The mermaid exclaimed. "They guessed the password, so I let them in, is that all right?"
"If it's Lauren or Sara you can let them in any time, but no one else, okay?" they heard Lily say, "Bertie Botts." Lily walked in and smiled at her two bouncing friends.
"Hey Lils!" Lauren called from her bed.
"Hey guys," she replied. "Whatcha doin'?"
"Jumping," they both said. Lily grinned and got up onto the bed with them and began jumping with them.
"You look happy," Lily said to Sara. It was the truth, she did look happy. She hadn't quit grinning since she came up from the common room.
"I am happy," replied Sara.
"And why is that?" Lily asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Sirius asked me to Hogsmeade!" Sara exclaimed and broke into a huge smile.
Lily stopped jumping and gave Sara a hug. "As much as Sirius annoys me, I'm happy for you!"
"So I guess its just you and me tomorrow, Lily," Lauren said.
"Yeah, I guess so," Lily replied.
The next morning, Sara took ten times longer than usual to get ready. She changed her hair too many times to count, and finally decided on long and auburn. She wore a brown sweater that brought out the color of her eyes, her favorite pair of blue jeans, and brown boots. She put on a touch of make-up, and then found a pair of small hoop earrings.
"Ready!" Sara called, walking out of the bathroom. Lauren rolled her eyes for having to wait so long, handed Sara her purse, and they left for breakfast.
Lily looked up from her seat in the Great Hall, which was very ornate with Halloween decorations, to see her two best friends walking in. "It took you long enough!" she called as they walked up.
"Yeah, I wanted to look perfect," Sara said dreamily.
"I'm sorry it didn't work out," Lily replied. Sara gaped at her, and Lily and Lauren laughed. "Only joking! You look fine."
"Thanks." The three girls continued chatting and eating their breakfast, and a few minutes later three of the Marauders came into the Great Hall.
"Good morning," Sirius said cheerfully, sitting down beside her. James took a seat beside him, and Remus sat down in front of Lauren.
"Same to you," she replied. Each of the boys started eating so ravenously, it was sickening.
"Where's Peter?" Lily asked after a minute.
"Heshadfyoonrulorshanterrude," James replied with a full mouth.
"Sorry, I lost you after ashuhashdaysh," she replied cooly.
"He had to go to a funeral for his Aunt Gertrude," James said after swallowing.
"Were they close?" Lauren asked.
"Yeah. He was pretty torn up about it. Got the letter last night." Remus answered. The six finished eating their breakfast silently, and then left the Great Hall to head to Hogsmeade.
The village was beautifully decorated for the most celebrated holiday in the Wizarding World. Jack-o-lanterns were lit on every corner; streamers hung from shop to shop; skulls, spiders, and other ornaments hovered in the sky over the lane. The smell of pumpkin and spices was intoxicating. And to make it all better, it was the perfect temperature. No one needed their cloaks, but long sleeves were necessary.
Before the group broke up, Remus tapped Lauren's shoulder and waved her to the side. "Would you like to have a Butterbeer later?" He asked abruptly.
Lauren was shocked and flattered. "Sure, what time?"
"Is one okay?"
"Yeah, see you then."
"See you."
Remus smiled and walked off, leaving Lauren alone. She stood in the same spot wide-eyed and mouth partially open for a while, until Lily waved her hand in front of Lauren's frozen face.
"You alive?" Lily asked humorously.
"Uh huh."
"What happened?"
"Remus asked me to have a Butterbeer with him later," she answered dreamily. Really it wasn't something to get overly excited about, but Lauren tended to obsess over things.
"Congratulations!" Lily said excitedly.
Lauren snapped back into reality. "Remus asked me to have a Butterbeer with him!!!!!" She repeated squealing and jumping up and down.
"Calm...down..." Lily coaxed, pretending to fan Lauren.
"Right," she straightened up and put a sophisticated face on. "Where shall we go?"
"Honeydukes?" Lily suggested.
"Okay!" Lauren said hyperly, and she hooked arms with Lily and together they skipped off to the sweet shop.
Sara and Sirius walked out of Zonko's; Sirius's pockets bulging. He had bought a rather large variety of things and had even persuaded Sara, who didn't regularly purchase joke items, to buy three Dungbombs and a fake wand. They walked down the lane close together, laughing about something unknown to everyone else. Both teenagers looked genuinely happy.
Not paying attention to where they were going, the pair had inadvertantly started down the dirt road leading to the Shrieking Shack. Now when they laughed, it echoed, for the alley was completely deserted. They began climbing the small hill leading up to the Shack, and found a large tree to sit under.
Sitting in front of the legendary haunted house, Sara and Sirius involuntarly began to talk about it. "Do you think the Shack is haunted?" Sara asked. She herself didn't think it was. She had heard the stories about the howling and such at night, but she had never witnessed it, therefore not really believing it.
"No," Sirius answered quickly. He knew the truth, of course, and he didn't want to lie like he was supposed to and exaggerate the rumor. "I've never believed it was."
Sara somehow wasn't surprised at this remark. "I've never believed it either," she replied.
"Really? I thought most girls were terrified of this place!" Sirius added. Truthfully, every girl he had dated and spoken to about the legend had thouroughly believed it. Then again, most of the girls he had dated were complete airheads, so that didn't say much.
"Most girls are. But then again, most girls are gullible, and I am not gullible," Sara said defiantly.
"Really?" he asked cocking an eyebrow.
"Hey look! It's a flying carpet!" Sirius called a few minutes later, jumping up and pointing out into space in front of the Shack.
Sara stood up beside him and looked around, "Where?"
Sirius began to laugh. "So much for not being gullible," he said. Sara gaped at him and crossed her arms. She tried to frown, but her lip was twitching.
Sirius held his hand out and took Sara's. "Let's go get a drink."
"What time is it?" Lauren asked Lily for the thirty-second time.
"Twelve fifty. You can go now," Lily answered. Lauren's stomach flipped.
"Do I look all right? Is my hair straight? What about my make-up?" She started combing her hair with her fingers and pulled out her vanilla lip gloss that she considered a bare necessity.
Lily grabbed Lauren's wrists in attempt to calm her down. "You look fine. Just go!"
"Are you sure you'll be okay by yourself?" Lauren asked, her voice full of concern.
"I'll be just fine! Don't worry about me!" Lily insisted.
"I feel bad leaving you alone."
"I swear, Lauren, I'm fine. You go flirt with Remus, and I'll shop. You're the one missing out, you know."
Lauren stuck her tongue out at Lily. "I'll see you later, okay?"
"Yeah, have fun! Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
"All right, bye!" Lauren called, and practically ran up the lane towards the pub.
"I wonder where she is," Remus said timidly to James, who was having a quick drink before Lauren arrived.
"No idea. Maybe she's standing you up, Moony," James joked. Obviously, Remus hadn't thought about this because he paled and a frightened look spread across his face. James saw this and immediatly took it back. "I'm just kidding. She wouldn't ever do that. She loves you to death."
"Really?"
"Uh huh. Here she comes," James replied. Lauren had just walked into the pub and Remus waved her over.
"Hey Remus. James..." she said, giving him an odd look.
"Oh, I was just having a quick drink with 'ole Moony here. Which way did Lily go?" James asked.
"I think she had to buy a new quill and some parchment. Why?"
"Just wondering. See you two lovebirds later," James said, giving them a wink and waltzing out of the pub.
James followed Lauren's instructions and headed for the small supply shop that was down the lane. The shop was vacant, except for one red-head and the owner, a very old woman who couldn't hear worth a Knut. James tiptoed up behind Lily and put his hands over her eyes. "Guess who!" He called.
Lily knew immediatly who it was. "Hello James," she said nicely.
"Hey. I got kicked out of the Three Broomsticks by some werewolf and his girlfriend, so I thought I'd come find you," he said charmingly.
Lily was glad he had come. Even though she had only been by herself for a few minutes, she was already lonesome. James was good company. "Well, thanks, I guess."
"No problem, I figured you wouldn't want to look like a loser and walk around all by yourself."
"I look more like a loser walking with you," Lily joked.
James feigned offense. "Well, if you feel that way, I'll just go!" He said, walking out of the store. Lily bought her supplies and left the shop. Not to her surprise, James jumped out from behind the door yelling "boo". Lily laughed at him and strutted off, and of course James followed. Exactly what she wanted.
"You're not going to leave me alone are you?" She asked, the humor evident in her voice.
James shook his head defiantly. "Nope."
"Okay," she said simply. "Where do you want to go?"
"I haven't been to Zonko's yet."
"All right, to Zonko's we go," Lily said, and together they marched up the lane.
James walked up to the bar, smiling so big he could have lit up the room. "A couple of Butterbeers," he told Madam Rosmerta.
"Hey James. Who're you with this time?" She replied, grabbing two mugs and filling them with the gold drink.
James, if possible, smiled bigger than he was before. "Lily."
Madam Rosmerta laughed. "You're glowing, son. I've never seen you look this ecstatic. You must really like this one."
"I do," he replied.
"Is this the first date?" She asked, raising one eyebrow.
James shook his head, but continued smiling. "Not even a date, just a drink."
"Well, good luck with her," she smiled and handed him the Butterbeers. He passed right by Lauren and Remus walking back to his table, but not noticing. He was too happy to think about anything except Lily.
James sat down and gave her one of the drinks. She held her hand out, offering to give him money for the drink, but he pushed it away. "This one's on me. But if we drink anymore, you just might have to buy them. I spent a lot of money in Zonko's."
"Who says I want to have more than one Butterbeer with you anyway?" Lily said snootily.
James smirked. "How do you like the ring?" He said changing the subject. James had bought Lily a big pink ring at Zonko's and slipped it on her right pinky finger. The only person that could remove it was James, because it was charmed to stay on until the person who bought it took it off. Lily had pulled and pulled on it, but James had just laughed in her face. She now had to wait until he decided to remove it.
She rolled her eyes at his question. "It's just wonderful," she said sardonically. "May I ask when it will be removed?"
"Whenever I want it to be," James said happily. Lily crossed her arms and looked away. "Aw, come on. It's not that bad!"
"It is! It's bright pink! And it henders my ability to use my wand!" She complained.
"Well, now every time you see, or feel, it, you'll think of me."
"And how much I can't stand you!" Lily said angrily.
"You don't mean that."
"Do so."
"Do not."
"Do so."
"Do not."
"Okay, do not."
"Thank you."
"You're so bloody welcome," Lily spat.
"You know you like the ring," James suggested humorously.
"I hate pink."
"Really? I thought all girls liked pink."
"I don't."
"Oh well in that case," James pulled out his wand and tapped the ring, "it shall be green. Now it brings out your eyes."
Lily rolled her eyes. "I guess its better than pink."
"Should we be getting back to the castle?" Sara asked Sirius as they walked through a less crowded Hogsmeade. The sun was setting and the feast would be beginning soon.
"No, I don't want this to end. This is the most fun I've had with someone---ever," Sirius replied honestly. He was having a wonderful time, and so was Sara.
"It doesn't have to end here."
"I was hoping you would say something like that," Sirius said reaching for Sara's hand. He pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her.
"Really?" That was the only thing that could come out of her mouth.
"Yeah," he replied, giving her a light kiss. Just a peck, nothing spectacular, but Sara was still ecstatic. "Let's go," Sirius said quietly as he interlocked his hand with Sara's, and they started on their way back to Hogwarts.