7th May Second Year

"Hey Tara wake up you lazy sod! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Here I made this for you!" Lily passed her a small box, which was wrapped in shiny red paper and gold ribbons (Gryffindor colours). Tara sat up in her bed and discovered a litter of presents at the end of it.

"Lily why'd you get me up so early? You know I hate mornings. We aren't all a perfect little songbird in a morning – fresh as a daisy – some of us need our beauty sleep!" Tara scowled whilst yawning. "Wow, who are all of these gifts off," she exclaimed suddenly noticing the bundle at the foot of her bed, "It's like Christmas all over again! Awww thanks Lil, it's beautiful!" She had just ripped open Lily's gift. "I can't believe you made this!"

It was a multicoloured friendship bracelet with some charms on it marking special events so far in their friendship; there was still plenty of room for more. So far there was a small train symbolising the first day they met on the Hogwarts Express, a small lion symbolising their sorting in Gryffindor and a tiny round charm containing a moving photo of their gang of friends – Tara, Lily, Sophia, Kitty, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter. On a gold bar there were the words "Tara, Happy 14th Birthday. With love from your best friend Lily."

Tara leapt out of bed and pounced on Lily, giving her a huge hug.

"Awww Lil, it's gorgeous – thanks you so much – it's the best present I've ever had." By that point Tara was practically in tears of joy.

"Aww don't go all mushy on me now 'Princess', anyways you have all these presents yet to open. Im dying to see what Sirius got you!"

"Sirius? Why?" Queried Tara

"O… erm… nothing! Just curious that's all!" Lily had been watching Tara and Sirius now for sometime and she knew that there was something more than just a close friendship there. She didn't understand why they just didn't admit it to themselves and each other. She could see that it annoyed them both greatly when they saw the other flirting with any other person, or when other people showed an interest in them. Lily had questioned Tara about her feelings for Sirius many times but she was adamant they were just close friends. Lily had even spoken to James about it but he just couldn't see it. Anyhow, James' mind seemed to be very preoccupied at the moment, Lily thought. Her and James had become fast friends as soon as they met but she noticed that he treated her differently to other girls. She couldn't make up her mind whether she liked this or not.

Tara had made a pounce on her presents; she then jumped on Sophia, who had still been sleeping. "Sophia thanks for the set of Tarot cards and rune stones. They're ace!"

"What? Oh your welcome…could you guys keep it down please and Tara get off me, Im knackered!" Grumbled a sleepy Sophia.

Lily and Tara just giggled.

To Tara's astonishment, most of her gifts were off people she didn't even know – guys she didn't know to be more precise. She had ended up with 15 boxes of Honeydukes finest chocolates, 20 bouquets of multicoloured roses, 3 bouquets of singing daffodils, clothes and makeup from James' parents and relatives, Quidditch books from James and Sirius – they had doubled up to buy her a present, books on dance from Remus and Peter who had also doubled up and some muggle CDs from Kitty. She had reached the last present in her pile, which she expected to be off her father but there was no tag on it or card with it. The present was a tiny box. Tara opened it and inside she found a delicate gold chain with a small crown charm on it. On the back of the charm was an engraved message. It read, "To Princess love Sirius."

'Princess' was the nickname Sirius had given her ever since they were young for several reasons. Tara came from a wealthy family and her father thought the world of her. Tara didn't have a mother. She had walked out on her and her father after having an affair when she was only five years old so she was spoiled by her father, he always treated her like a princess and it was his nickname for her. Sirius mocked it at first but then carried on using it. When they got to Hogwarts, it had caught on to other people too so now she was stuck with it.

"Hey Lil, look at his! Sirius got me another present – he had already bought me those Quidditch books with James. I don't understand."

"Hmm" Lily grinned, pretending to be astonished, yet fighting back the laughter at the astonished look on Tara's face. She really is soooo naive

Unfortunately for Tara, her birthday was on a weekday, which meant lessons. She had to put up with double Potions, Transfiguration and the History of Magic before she could go back to the common room and chill with the gang. Well, all of them except Kitty as she was in Hufflepuff.

As they approached the breakfast table and owl zoomed over towards them and landed on Tara's shoulder. It was carrying an envelope and in it was a birthday card from her father. Moments later several more owls flew into the Great Hall carrying and enormous package between them. This was dropped with precision at her feet. All eyes were on her as she bent to and ripped off the wrappings.

"To My darling daughter on her fourteenth birthday. I hope to see you very soon and would like to invite you and five of your friends to stay over for the weekend as we have asked Professor Dumbledore for permission. We expect to see James and Sirius amongst the party! Send them my love, Annie and Matthew say "hi" too. Hope you like the you new friend Magnus. With much love from daddy. Xxxx"

Tara knew who she would invite, naturally it would be Lily, Sophia, James, Remus and Sirius. She gelled with them the best.

On the floor lying in the shredded wrapping was a basket covered with a lid. Tara removed the lid and out stepped out a beautiful fluffy white kitten. Many of the girls around them watching cooed at it.

"Tara, he's gorgeous!"

"Yeah he is, trust daddy to get him for me – I've been begging for a kitten for ages, well I best take him upstairs! He can't stay down here!"

The lessons weren't too bad for Tara as she excelled in Transfiguration – and much to all the Gryffiondor's astonishment in Potions too. It was, however, unfortunate that their last lesson of the day was History of Magic with the ever so boring Professor Binns. As Lily was the only person who paid and attention to him in the class she sat right near the front of the class avidly taking notes. Tara was sat at the back off the classroom next to Remus, Sirius and James. Peter was sat in the corner animatedly chatting to Kitty. Binns seemed completely unaware that there was a small riot at the back of his classroom caused by a small fight of rubber chickens which they had transfigured their wands into. It was like a fencing match of the poultry. Every time someone made a hit, the chicken squawked as if it were alive. Other members of the class began to turn around and began cheering. Professor Binns seemed completely oblivious and continued to teach.

Lily finally turned her head round at them and snapped, "Will you guys save it for late please, I can't hear Binn's!"

"Guys maybe we should cool it for a bit, I mean I know we don't care about what Binns has to say but she does so maybe we should respect that." James spoke up

"MR POTTER! Will you kindly stay behind at the end of class for a quick word please about you very rude comment towards me!" Mr Binns butted in.

"WHAT! THAT YOU HEAR!" James retorted.

Professor Binns continued as though he hadn't even heard what James had said.

"Ooooo, look at James sticking up for Lily. Does widdle Jamesy have a widdle crush on Lily?" Tara cooed.

"NO! Why would you think that?!"

"Erm, because you gawp at her 24:7 and you act weird around her Prongs. Everyone can tell!"

"Shut it Moony, no I don't!"

"Hey I couldn't tell", chipped in Sirius.

"That's because you are just you! And you're too wrapped up in your own stuff… your own love life!" Remus shot back with a quick glance at Tara, which no one picked up on but Lily who had heard the conversation but just pretended to do her work while blushing furiously at the mention of her being James' crush.

"What love life? I don't have a love life. Girls, I'm totally not interested, I'm happy with my buddies!"

"Hey were not that bad, just because your not mature enough to like girls, or maybe its because you fancy boys!" Tara confirmed with a malicious glint in her eye.

"Hey watch it Princess, I do not fancy guys! I think girls are good looking, there are none that I fancy though!"

"So what, you're standards are set a bit high aren't they, they're are loads of great girls at Hogwarts." Tara huffed.

"Why are you so bothered anyway?!"

"I'm not! It's just you're one of my best friends. I just think you're acting a bit pig headed here!"

"Thanks, so you think I'm pig headed?!" Sirius replied getting annoyed now.

"Well in this current circumstance I do a bit!"

"Well next time I won't bother busting my savings to buy you a necklace because you mean something to me if I'm that pig headed!"

Tara just stumbled on her words looking slightly guilty and shocked at how angry and upset he was becoming at her. Lily bit her lip hoping that the two wouldn't fall out and Tara wouldn't say something stupid back at him. She knew what her friends temper was like and it wasn't good. She had a fiery temper as did Sirius and it was strange for them to be arguing, they never argued.

"I mean something to you? You've never said that to me before." Tara asked him meekly.

"Well of course you do, you and James are my best pals, and we grew up together from being babies", Sirius replied sounding slightly exasperated. Tara looked slightly pissed at this comment.

"Well I know I haven't yet thanked you, but it's beautiful I love it, thanks a lot Sirius." She leaned across Remus to give Sirius a quick peck on the cheek and a hug.

"Hey, well, you're welcome you know!"

"Right now you two have stopped fighting will you please tell me what you're on about? Sirius chipped in with me to buy you some books!" James interrupted.

"Yes I know, and look, he also gave me this necklace!"

"Well why would he do that when we already bought you one!?"

"MR POTTER! Iv'e already told you once now I'm giving you a detention for interrupting my lesson!"

"Bu…!"

"Stay behind after class for the details please!"

"THAT YOU HEAR! WHAT ARE YOU DEAF?! I MAKE ONE SINGLE COMMENT AND I GET DETENTION. NOOOO ITS ALRIGHT THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ARGUMENTS, BUT I SAY ONE WORD AND I GET DETENTION!" James yelled.

"Actually Mr Potter you have said 84 words this lesson. Not including that rather rude speech you just gave me then. I am in fact dead not deaf as you very well know no make that two detentions next week for speaking out of term. I suggest Mr Potter you stay quiet for the remainder of this lesson!"

James scowled at him, leant back in his chair and snorted.

"Wow Prongs has Binns got it in for you! We didn't even know he knew he was dead! Hey perhaps I can get detention too and maybe we'll even get to go into the forest! How cool would that be!"

James just grunted in response. For the remainder of the lesson Sirius tried to act like a big enough idiot as possible but Binns didn't take the slightest notice in him. When the lesson has ended the class trooped out and the group, all except Kitty and Peter, stayed behind for James. James reappeared two minutes later fuming.

"So what you get? Forest?! Dungeons?!!" Sirius asked him gleefully ignoring the angry look on James' face.

"Hospital Wing, dirty bedpans, scrubbing, no magic. Sound FUN??!!"

"Oooo unlucky man! But hey look on the bright side, don't they have that new student nurse there? Erm Poppy Pomfrey?" Winked Sirius

"Yeh I suppose it will be ok. Hey were Peter and Kitty?"

"They went ahead to dinner. No offence I know he's kind of our friend, well more your friend than ours, but what do you think Kitty sees in him? I mean she's spending a lot of time with him lately. I hope she doesn't have a crush on him." Sophia asked. "He's not cute, not interesting, a bit of a weasel, yet they're always together nowadays."

"Oooo harsh Sophia! Wormtail has some good qualities…erm let me think…" Remus pondered.

"None?!" Lily exclaimed, "great mates you are!"

"Just give me a minute… Aha, he's loyal!"

"You mean he follows you because you're the big guys right?"

"Don't feed their ego any more Sophia!" Tara chipped in.

"Yeh he is good at complimenting us and doing what we want!" Laughed Sirius.

"That's just using him!" Lily retorted.

"Well he is a good friend, we don't have to prove it to you!" James said firmly

"Ok I was just curious that's all!" Sophia apologised.

"Ok, while the other two aren't here anyway my dad said I could invite five of my friends to Darcy Manor this weekend, Dumbledore has already approved of it. And, I wanted to invite you five, because I feel closer to you guys than the gruesome twosome! What do you think?"

They all agreed with much enthusiasm and with that the sextet all trekked off to the Great hall for dinner before celebrating Tara's birthday.

So what do you guys think? Is it ok? More juicy bits coming up next I promise. Some party games!! Wahoo! Im gunna go write it up 4 u now! Promise! R&R Love Princess Tara x x