Thank you LiLbLueangeL1223 (did I get that right?), Mrs. Raven Wood, Avadne, Slytherin ice princess, ViviBlack, Pussin Boots…

No name – Try searching for them here at (you know, choose character one and two in the top-right corner), I know there aren't many of them but they do exist!

Gwynn-Potter – If you do, feel free to tell me )

Shadownthedark – Er, the Remus-recognizing-Hermione-think is just a little fact I, er, chose to ignore. Sorry!

Monkeystarz – Wasn't James a chaser in the book? But please don't respond to that coz there's a hell of a debate about that and I just stopped caring! But thanks for the thumb dance. LoL.

Gryffindork23 – One million words is too short? God, you are really spoilt! LoL.

Chapter 6 – Settling

"Guys! It's half past seven", Remus's voice was heard. "You need to get up now if we are going to have breakfast before classes start."

"Guys! It's half past seven", Remus's voice was heard. "You need to get up if we are going to have breakfast before classes start."

Harry sat up in his bed, rubbing his eyes. A groan was heard from what Harry knew as Sirius's bed, closely followed by another groan, which came from the direction of Ron's bed. Harry smiled to himself. It appeared as though Sirius was just as tired in the mornings as Ron.

He pulled the curtains open and swung his feet over the edge of the bed, landing them on the somewhat cold floor.

"Good morning, Harry", Remus said.

"Mornin'", Harry mumbled while yawning and stretching his arms.

"Mornin'", echoed Peter, who was situated in the same morning phase as Harry.

Harry took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself down. Don't freak out. Don't attack him. He quickly looked in another way, so that he wouldn't have to be provoked by that rat.

"Good morning, Amy", Hermione said cheerfully.

"Oww…", Amy muttered. "Why on earth are you up so early?"

"It's almost eight o'clock."

"Oww…"

"Gladys and the twins have already gone for breakfast. "Come on and join me!"

Amy sighed and rolled over on the other side. "I want to sleep…"

"Don't blame me if you'll be late for our first class."

"No, I won't. Promise."

"Sleep well", Hermione muttered and walked out of the room.

Looks like I'll have my breakfast alone, she thought as she walked down the stairs to the common room. Oh well, I'll probably meet someone down in the Great Hall.

But it didn't take so long.

"Alyssa! Hey wait!" someone called just when she was about to exit through the portrait hole.

Hermione turned around. "Hi, Sirius."

"Hey."

The duo climbed out through the portrait hole and headed off towards their breakfast.

"Slept well?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah", Sirius said and yawned.

"You look tired."

"I am tired. Stupid school where they force us to go up in the crack of dawn."

"It's eight o'clock."

Sirius muttered something indiscernible. "The others didn't care for waiting for me, no", he said. "Nice friends one has got."

"Probably they just got tired of waiting for you", Hermione said.

Sirius snorted. "So why are you alone?"

Hermione shrugged. "They had all left, except for Amy, who refused to come out of her bed."

"I understand her", he muttered.

"Things seem to be going well between you two", she said.

"What's that supposed to mean? What has she told you?"

"Don't worry", Hermione said. "She hasn't told me any details like that you are useless at snogging."

"You take that back!"

Hermione chuckled as the two of them entered the Great Hall. She scanned the Gryffindor table for somewhere to sit, and caught site of Lily, James, Remus, Peter, Harry and Ron. Lily had spotted her as well, and was waving energetically.

"Let's go and join them, shall we?" Hermione said to Sirius, who nodded and so they walked over and sat down.

"Hello Sirius my friend", James said.

"Whatever", Sirius said with a yawn.

"Good morning, Alyssa", Lily said.

"Good morning", Hermione replied. "Hi", she added to the rest of the group, including Harry and Ron, who were into a conversation with Remus.

"Here", Lily said and handed her a neatly folded parchment. "I've got your timetable, McGonagall gave it to me. I'd guess it's the same as last year."

Hermione unfolded the parchment and glanced at her timetable. "Yeah, it is", she said. "Double Potions first class. I can't wait", she said sarcastically.

"… don't you think, Harry?"

"Harry?!"

"Harry!"

Harry did suddenly become aware of that someone was trying to make a conversation with him, and focused on the two persons in front of him – Ron and Remus.

"What?" he said.

"You were far away there, mate", Ron said.

"I know. I'm tired. What were you saying?"

"Only that Chudley Channons are better than the Tornados."

"No, they're not", Harry said automatically. "You know that, Chudley Channons hasn't won a game for twenty-two years."

"Yes they have", said Sirius. "They won two years ago, didn't you know?"

"Kind of a shock to everyone", James said. "Especially as they are completely useless."

"You take that back", said Ron.

The others laughed as a small quarrel arose between Ron and Sirius and James.

Am I the only one who doesn't find this situation completely normal? Harry thought depressed. He looked at Ron, who was discussing quidditch with Harry's dad and his friends, out of which two were now dead, like it wasn't unusual at all. Ron had quickly gotten accepted by the Marauders, but it was harder for Harry. Of course, he was accepted, but he didn't really fit in. I should be the one hanging out with my dad, he thought. Instead his dad seemed to be getting along really well with Ron.

Harry turned his head and looked at Hermione, who was chatting with Lily. They seem to be really close friends. Well, of course they are. They spent the whole last semester together.

This was all he had ever wanted. To meet his parents and to see Sirius again. So why did he feel so alone?

"Of course", Hermione said to Lily. "That's necessary, isn't it?"

The two girls giggled. Hermione looked further down the table. Ron was a minor friendly argument against Sirius and Har- no wait, that wasn't Harry. That's James, Hermione thought. Not Harry. Harry is over there…

It did still feel weird to see him as a blonde. It was hard referring to him as Harry. James looked more like the usual Harry right now, which wasn't that strange as Harry and James was very alike indeed.

"We should go to class", Lily said. "History of Magic, is it?"

"I'm so glad that I've got rid of that class", James snorted. "Completely useless."

"But you've got another class instead…" she began slowly. "Divination, isn't it? Very useful", she said and giggled.

"Uh", Hermione said. "I remember that – I actually took that class for a couple of months. Horrible."

James looked at her in a strange way. Hermione couldn't meet his gaze so she looked away while blushing.

"Let's go then, shall we?" she said and rose from the table.

"Sure", Lily said and smiled. She leaned towards James and placed a kiss on his cheek, then she followed Hermione's example and rose.

The two girls headed out of the Great Hall.

Harry Potter stared down into the table.

Author's Note: Oh, and just so that you know. I'm going on a small vacation soon, to be more exact I'm going skiing. So… we'll see if I can manage to get home without all bones in my body broken! But I should be home just before Christmas Eve, so I'll update… at least before New Years Eve. Although I should try and write something for my other story, plus I have a Christmassy idea buzzing around in my head. You get the point.Reviews are Welcome!