A/N: I love you people who are reading this! Last time I looked at the hits, the count was over 1100. Wow.

This part's a bit shorter than the last one...it's more of a bridge into part nine, really. Again, sorry for the shortness!

Don't forget what I said about reviewing anonymously (if you don't belong to this site yet or don't feel like signing in or maybe you don't want your review on the Internet or whatever); e-mail to my address in my fan fiction dot net profile to do so.

Enjoy, everyone, and thank you very much for your reviews!

Jedi Knight Bus: Yeah, the month and a half thing was just...necessary. I'm not good at writing about classes, so I compromise...how? Okay, I'm not sure. Haha... But Lily and James basically DID sit brewing the potion for a LONG time. It's a very involved assignment, and takes up a great deal of free time. Thanks as always!

InuBecka: I'm glad you like it. I did add Professor Solomon, though, and there is another added character coming in the next part. Thanks!

Nicnak: Thank you! I didn't make up the ingredients. I went to the Harry Potter Lexicon online Potions Encyclopedia to make sure I could use the names of certain ingredients. I found Stinksapto be a good substance to thicken the potion, and I mentioned eye of newt, as it's always mentioned in movies and shows when witches brew potions...I gathered the ingredients from different places, to put it in a nutshell.

Part Eight: Young and Naïve

"Hey, Padfoot!" James shouted across the Great Hall one special Saturday morning. "I want a word."

"Sirius finished his walk to the Gryffindor table. "What is it, mate?"

"I got the Stinksap from the store cupboard," James whispered to him.

"James, you forgot the code!"

"Oh, er…the lion is in the den. Why do we bother with codes, anyway?"

"It makes us look more professional."

"We are professionals."

"Good point. Well, I like it better with the code. How about you?"

"I don't—"

"Will you two just be quiet?" Remus snapped, looking up from the Daily Prophet, obviously sleep-deprived.

"Sorry, Moony," Sirius apologized. "It's that time of month again," he added to James in a hushed voice.

James nodded absently, staring off toward the Great Hall doors.

"Not again," Sirius groaned, banging his head on the table.

Lily approached James and smiled nonchalantly. "Ready to go?"

"What?" said Sirius. "Don't you ever get a day off, James?"

It was Lily who responded. "You've obviously not been in Solomon's NEWT class, Black. The word 'leisure' isn't in the potions master's vocabulary."

"She's right, you know," Remus offered from behind the paper.

"Whatever," muttered a disgruntled Sirius.

James glanced at Sirius worriedly. "Lily, could you go on ahead? I need to talk to these two."

Lily nodded, and soon she was gone.

"All right, men," James began, "we have a mission today, but I can't be a part of it for much longer. Wait—" James stopped suddenly. "Where's Wormtail?"

"He's found himself a girlfriend. You didn't know?" Remus said.

"Am I out of the loop or what?" James asked, more to himself than anyone else.

Sirius was kind enough to supply an answer. "I've been telling you that for ages. But why can't you participate today?"

"Fluxweed," said James. "We need it for the Blood-Replenishing Potion, so we're going to Hogsmeade to get it."

"I've got it made compared it you, James," Remus said, putting down his paper.

"How's that?"

"Snape won't trust me with the potion."

"Aren't you worried about that?"

"Nope. He's a complete whiz at potions. I guess I'm a bit scared he'll make me take it, though."

"Why?"

"It's Veritaserum."

Sirius and James gasped.

"But Moony, he could have you test it in front of the class," said James, eyes bulging.

"I know," replied Remus. "But I have a plan."

"You can tell me later. I've got to go."

"What about the mission?" Sirius asked.

"You've got all the components. Do it without me!" James called after himself, already halfway to the entrance hall.

"Ah, to be young and in love," Remus mused, turning back to the 'travel' section of the Prophet.

"Ah, to be young and naïve," Sirius mimicked bitterly.

Review, please!