One evening a few weeks later, Lily and Remus were sat in the common room doing their Potions homework. Lily kept casting dark looks over to where James and Clare were kissing. Remus smiled sadly at her. He had been stunned when Lily had turned up in tears after seeing them by the lake. He had really thought they would get together. She was just too late. James wasn't one to wait around forever. And he had already waited a long time. Clare was a nice girl and James seemed to like her a lot. Remus was his friend as well as Lily's and so wasn't about to do anything to ruin what he had with Clare.

James had been acting weirdly around Remus since he and Clare had got together. They still talked and hung round together, but it was always slightly stiff and formal on James's half. Remus had just shrugged it off as Clare not liking him or something.

"Hey guys!" Sirius walked over to them looking slightly flushed and straightening his tie. Remus grinned at his friend.

"Where've you been?" he asked knowingly.

Sirius smiled broadly and winked at Remus.

"How are things with Sara?" Lily asked as Sirius slid himself onto a chair next to her and flicked through her text book.

"Good," he smiled to himself and sighed deeply. "Really good. She's amazing. She's so much more beautiful and clever and funny and intense than anyone I've ever dated before." Sirius closed his eyes and pictured her smiling at him.

"Wow!" Remus was impressed with Sara having this effect on his friend. "Could this girl be the one who finally manages to keep hold of Sirius Black?"

Sirius didn't answer, just smiled. Remus understood this look. He could read his friend like a book. Plus the fact he had been seeing Sara for nearly two months proved something. No girl had ever lasted more than a week with him before.

"Where's Peter today?" Sirius grew bored of the chapter on truth potions extremely quickly and began looking for something else to do.

Remus shrugged. "No idea."

"So what do you think of Clare?" Sirius asked Lily and Remus. Lily looked over to where they were sill kissing in the corner.

"I don't like her," Lily said shortly. "I don't really see what James sees in her."

Sirius looked over and then winked at Remus, "I do!" He laughed his loud barking laugh which caused several first years to jump in fright. James finally came up for air and walked over to join his friends, pulling a scowling Clare by her hand.

"Hello stranger!" Sirius shuffled round to make more room at their table. James slid in next to Lily. She felt her face grow warm as his leg pressed up against hers.

"Sorry Lil'" he grinned "It's a tight squeeze!"

"That's ok!" Lily said in a voice slightly higher than natural. Clare narrowed her eyes slightly at Lily and perched herself comfortably on James's knee. Remus smiled sadly at Lily who had suddenly become very interested in a page in her book..

At that moment Peter entered the common room looking extremely rain soaked and cold.

"You look like a drowned rat Pete!" Sirius said causing all four Marauders to burst into hysterics causing the girls to look at them in alarm.

"Where've you been, Pete?" Remus asked him as he pulled of his soaking shoes.

"Erm, nowhere," Peter squeaked before scampering off upstairs calling "Got to get changed!" over his shoulder.

"He's weird," Clare said pointedly. "I've never understood why the three of you hang round with him. He's nothing like you."

"Now wait a minute Clare," Sirius began, looking angry. "Pete is a nice guy and he's our friend so-"

"Alright Sirius," James gave him a silencing look. "Clare," he pulled her to face him, "Peter has been our friend for a long time and just because he's shy doesn't make him any different."

"I'm sorry James," Clare pouted slightly and pushed her blonde hair behind one ear. "Are you mad with me?" James smiled and kissed her tenderly.

"Of course not. How could I be mad with you?" He grinned cheekily as she pulled him up and led him out of the portrait hole.

"Ok," Sirius turned to Lily. "I think you were right. I don't like her either."