A/N: One thing I forgot to mention was the disclaimer. Everything you recognize from the Harry Potter books belongs to the ever-wonderful J.K.Rowling, and I am certainly not making any money from writing this. All things you do not recognize, however, belong to me, including Origanal Characters, plot, and any other thing you, uh, don't recognize...

Miss Elfie --- Thank you for the review, it is much appreciated, and all the more because of the constructive criticism. I hope this chapter is easier to follow, if not then please tell me. D

Chapter Two : Friends

He kicked his trunk with a great amount of force, then swore loudly, and not just because of the sharp pain that was now pulsing in his big toe. His hands came up, fisted in his hair, and he swore again.

Sirius watched from where he lay on the bed, hands clasped behind his head, holding it up, and with his ankles crossed. Concerned, but mostly just amused, he watched as his friend paced up and down the dormitory, abusing several pieces of the furniture as he went.

He didn't know what was up with James, but he was content to simply lay back and watch him as he took out his anger on the surroundings.

And then Remus, the sensible one, the reasonable one, had to ruin the show.

"Is there any particular reason why you're attacking the décor?" he said in his calm, easy-going voice, the only sign of amusement in his pale blue eyes. Turning around, James stuffed his fisted hands into his pockets. His nostrils were flared, his jaw clenched. His was the face of a man truly outraged.

"Noelle quit the team." He had never been the type who meandered casually around a serious subject, so he delivered the news bluntly. The frustration, the anger, he felt showed in his voice, and it was that more than anything that had the other two boys jerking to attention.

"Bradshaw." There was no question in Sirius' voice; he was stating a fact. A fact that made his teeth clench and his skin crawl.

That little slime ball.

"Got it in one," James said with a bitter smile. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he sighed heavily and rubbed a hand over his heart. "You should have seen Lindsey when she told me. She was a mess. Crying and shaking and asking all these questions."

His head jerked up, and he looked straight at Sirius. "I didn't tell you that. Don't tell anyone I did. She'd skin me alive if she found out you knew."

"Because she'd probably skin me as well, don't worry. Your secret's safe with me," assured Sirius, his lips curling into a sneer. But James knew that he would keep his promise- as would Remus.

And perhaps it was better that was better that Peter wasn't there. It wasn't that the kid was untrustworthy but… he could sometimes let a few little details slip. James didn't blame him. The guy didn't have a lot going for him, and maybe by gossiping a little bit he got to have his fair share of the limelight.

This was something that James couldn't afford to be gossiped about. Lindsey was counting on him. She trusted him. He wasn't going to let her down.

Besides, if he did tell Peter, and Peter went on to tell everyone else, Lily would probably find that a reason to hate him even more. That was the last thing he wanted.

The Common Room was almost empty. Megan and Nicole had already gone up to bed, leaving her alone with Lindsey.

It had been alright when it had been the three of them talking to her, comforting her. Because, Lily admitted, it had mostly been Nicole doing the talking, Megan doing the comforting. She had just sat and watched, doing nothing, helping no one.

But what had she meant to do? She couldn't talk endlessly about nothing in particular like Nicole, nor could she compliment a person, tell them how great, how special they were and sound sincere like Megan.

The only thing that Lily had to offer were her brains. Doubtfully, Lily glanced over at Lindsey, and watched as she slowly - almost mournfully - polished her broomstick. As far as she knew, she had never been one to talk with enthusiasm about schoolwork.

"I'm sorry if you think I'm interfering or anything," Lindsey said quietly and, glancing up, caught the frown on Lily's face.

"Interfering?"

"Yeah, you know, with your friendship and stuff. I feel like an idiot for attaching myself to you guys when we haven't really had that much contact in the past… and stuff." Lindsey shrugged, and went back to her polishing.

"You're not interfering. And I'm sorry if I haven't gone out of my way to make you feel welcome but… it's a little awkward, ya know?"

"A little awkward?" Lindsey glanced up again, lips curved into a small smile. Then, defiantly, she sat up straight, resting the now gleaming broomstick across her crossed legs. Her chin came up, and there was a hardness about her face that had been there before the mess with Noelle.

"So are we, like, friends now?" she asked in a tone that suggested to Lily that if she said no, there'd be trouble.

"Er… sure." Lily managed a small, only slightly confused, smile, and shook the hand that Lindsey offered.