Authors Note: All characters and universe from the Harry Potter series belong to JK Rowling and assorted corporations. Only two characters are my own. Plot is mine as well

And I know I haven't written in a while...But that's because my creative part of my brain has been on an all time low...But now it's back, and I hope this story will fit some peoples liking.

First year

As several Hogwarts first years stepped out of the boats that had carried them over the lake to the castle, there were several gasps of surprise at the sight ahead of them. Infront of the students, stood the tall and magnificent Hogwarts castle, although not all of it was at the moment visible, as the night had cast dark over it, it still looked enchanting.

A boy with honey colored hair, looked up at the castle, before listening to the discussion currently going on between his new friends, Sirius Black and James Potter. Remus J. Lupin, shook his head slightly. "I'm going to go ahead... It's freezing outside" He told the two, before making his way towards the castle.

Almost at the top steps, he stopped and let out a small sigh. He had just recently been through the painful transformation from mortal to werewolf to mortal again. Suddenly, he heard a voice behind him, a deep and calming voice.

"Out of the way!" The fifth year Hufflepuff stated, and a small THUMP followed, as a first year hit him in the back.

"Stop it, Pepper!" The girl hissed, "He has every right to stand there... You wouldn't like it if I bugged you to move every time you stopped" She smiled apogetically at the boy infront of her. The boy named Pepper laughed, "Alright...I'll leave you alone...See you at the feast then, Cade" He said, before walking off.

Remus smiled nervously at the girl. He hadn't expected anyone to stand up for him, specially not a girl.

"Sorry about that," the girl stated, as a small breeze played with her red/brownish hair. "Pepper is a bit of an jerk...Oh, by the way, I'm Cady, Cady Rider"

Seventh Year

The night sky cast some faint light over the grounds, although the castle did the most of the job. It's windows lightening up most of the grounds, except a small spot over by the lake, where a seventeen year old girl was sitting on a bench. Her now boyish-short red hair, seemed black in the dark. Her ocean blue eyes gazing at the lake.

"If only Pepper was still here..." She whispered to herself, "He'd know what to do..." She didn't notice anyone coming up behind her, she didn't hear the footsteps as they made their way over to the bench, crunching the snow at every step. "Then there would at least be someone I could talk to"

"You know...You could always talk to friends..." Remus said softly and thoughtfully, stopping and leaning on the bench. Cady jumped, and looked at him alarmed. Remus had to control himself to keep him from grinning at her reaction. She did look beautiful in the moonlight. "Don't worry, I don't bite"

Cady smiled, although it seemed strained. "I know you don't..." She said, before looking back at the lake, she didn't want Remus to see the sadness that was in her eyes.

Remus let out a sigh, and seated himself on the bench beside her. "What's wrong?" He asked in a concerned voice. Cady merely shook her head, "You don't want to be bothered with it" She said, her voice barely audible, but carried the tone that she was on the verge of tears.

Remus didn't know what to do. He wasn't exactly used to girls, not like James and Sirius, and rarely, actually, never found himself in situations like these. His first instinct was to just let the subject drop, but Cady was one of his best friends. "But what if I do?" He questioned. Cady laughed miserably, "Then you're bloody stupid...No one would want being bothered with my problems..." 'Except Pepper' she added silently to herself. Remus seemed to read her mind, "You know, this might come as a shock to you, but Pepper isn't the only guy on earth who cares about your well being" He stated.

This seemed to be the wrong statement, because soon he could hear a sob escape Cady's mouth. "I'm sorry Cade, I didn't mean it like that..." He said, slightly alarmed. What had he done?

Cady let out another small sob, "No...It's not that... It's just that—"She said, before launching into an explanation. About how she had all of a sudden been banned from her household at home, for wanting to continue being a witch, instead of helping her mum at the resturant back home. About how her stepfather had treated her ever since he figured out she was a witch. Remus became more and more angry as the minutes passed. How could anyone treat her like this? He wondered, and pulled Cady into a comforting hug.

"Don't worry about it... I'm sure you'll find a place of your own...In fact—"He said, suddenly getting a bright idea. "You could move in with me, until you get an apartment on your own, that is" He added, hoping he wasn't making a complete fool out of himself.

Cady put her head on his shoulder. "I can?" She asked, her voice carrying disbelief. Remus nodded, "Of course you can...What are friends for?" Cady smiled, and looked at him with her ocean blue eyes sparkling mischievously. "Don't know...Tell me, Remus, what are friends for?"

Remus arched his brows at her sudden change of mood and looked back down at her. "So that you can have a shoulder to cry on, someone to talk to, some-" He was cut short as Cady gently placed her lips on his. Caught by surprise, it took Remus some time to respond. But as soon as he had shaken the feeling of surprise off, he placed his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. Their lips softly brushing against each other, neither one of them really caring about how it would look.

As Cady finally pulled back from the kiss, the sparkle still in her eyes. Remus looked at her, looking completly dumbfounded, causing a smirk to appear on Cady's face, "You don't have to look so confused" She said, and Remus grinned weakly. "But—Why did you kiss me?"

Cady smiled, "You boys need it handed to you with sugar, don't you?" She asked, pretending to be annoyed. "I kissed you, because I like you Remus... Not that hard to figure out" She added, "Anyways, think we should head inside? It's after hours, and Ravenclaw doesn't need more points taken from it" She added with a smirk "But you're lucky enough to be a Prefect, meaning you can walk around and pretend you're partolling"

Remus couldn't help but grin widely. "That was actually why I came out, I saw you from the Gryffindor Dorm Room window.." He added, "Came out to tell you, to get back in." Cady smirked and looked up at the castle, locating the Gryffindor Boys Dormitory window, just in time to see the curtains get pulled closed. Remus had spotted this as well, and groaned inwardly. Now he would need to explain this to James, Sirius and Peter.

TBC