Emma ran as fast as she could towards the common room. She was supposed to meet her friends there a half hour ago, but due to Mrs. Norris she had been caught mailing dungbombs to the Slytherin common room. She ran faster yet and bumped into a person with full force. She and the person flew back in different directions. Emma quickly scrambled to get up and said, "Oh, I'm sorry."

The person she had bumped into stood up and looked at her, "That's okay, it was kind of my fault to I shouldn't have been walking its clear everyone is supposed to be running. This is my fifth time getting knocked over."

Emma smiled and said, "Well I am still sorry I had to meet my friends in the common room a half hour ago."

"Well, I see your in Gryffindor as well, do you mind if I walk with you?" the person asked.

Emma smiled and nodded. The person was a seventh year Gryffindor guy with brown hair and brown eyes. He had slightly tanned skin, probably from the summer, and was carrying a huge bag of books. "I see your taking a lot of subjects," Emma observed.

"Oh, yes, I plan on being an Auror and well I feel it necessary to take all the needed subjects and more," he said, "for instance History of Magic may not be listed but it's good to know about your wizarding community and such."

"Oh, yea, I am hoping to be an Auror as well," Emma said, "By the way my names Emma."

"Oh, sorry, I completely forgot to introduce myself, I'm Ted," Ted said.

The two entered the common room and Emma spotted her friends waiting impatiently in the corner of the room, "Well I have to go but maybe I'll see you around sometime," Emma said turning to leave.

"Wait," Ted said, "Do you think maybe you'd like to grab a butterbeer with me at Hogsmeade this weekend?" Ted asked.

"Oh, sure, how about at 12 we meet in the Three Broomsticks," Emma responded.

Ted nodded to confirm the plan and the two parted their separate ways. When Emma got over to the corner were Lily and Katy were playing a game of chess they jumped up at once, "Emma where have you been!" Lily said sighing impatiently.

"I got caught by Mrs. Norris sending dungbombs to the Slytherin common room," Emma said.

"Well it's the beginning of February and you are already getting caught doing that type of nonsense!" Lily said angrily.

"Sorry," Emma said pretending to look ashamed.

Katy snorted, "Sorry my ass."

Emma looked at her warningly nodding her head at the side towards Lily. Lily said, "Well anyway the prefects and the heads have organized a Masquerade. You can use costumes of course like a dress that resembles a swan or something. You come with a date but leave with someone else. It will take place on Valentines Day.

"Oh, interesting," Katy and Emma chorused not looking interested at all.

"Oh, sod off you two, you two will have to go anyway so we are going shopping in Hogsmeade," Lily said.

"Well I have to meet Ted at 12 so I guess I can't go," Emma said faking a sigh.

"No you'll just go before twelve and finished up by ten of," Lily said.

Katy and Emma both groaned they hated shopping with Lily. Shopping was okay but when you're with Lily everything has to be perfect.

Marauder's Dormitory

"Alright men, I Sirius Black have written a book on breaking up and I am here to read it to you guys," Sirius said holding up a book labeled, The Art of Breaking Up.

Remus raised his eyebrows questioningly. James snorted into his stolen butterbeer. "Ahem, The Art of Breaking Up by Sirius Black. The first way to break up is drawing the line. You draw the line, she can't cross it, and he can't cross it. The line is permanent!" Sirius said.

"Next is putting your foot down. First you place your foot firmly on the ground. This foot is not coming up. No matter how much she or he begs the foot is firm on the ground!" Sirius continued reading in a way that made it seem as if he was famous.

He held the book higher and read, "The third way is severing ties. You severe the ties! Severing the ties is related to Severus. Think of it like this you Severe the ties with Severus."

As Sirius read yet another excerpt from his "book" he got more confident and began to use hand motions and actions, "Next is parting ways. Here is your ways," he said holding up to fingers, "You part them," he explained pulling the fingers away from each other. "This is indeed call parting ways for that reason!"

"Lastly is we're through!" Sirius said, "It's saying I'm through with you cheating on me, I'm through with making out in the park, and I'm through with your annoying antics!"

Remus and James clapped pretending they had listened to Sirius' book. "Thank you, I've already sold ten copies!" Sirius said bowing.

"Ten copies," James mouthed to Remus.

"The world has come to an end," Remus mouthed back.

Sirius then interrupted their conversation by saying, "So each of you may purchase an autographed copy for 1 galleon each!"

James unwillingly pulled out a galleon and handed it to Sirius. Sirius beamed and said, "I knew you guys would like it!"

Remus handed him a galleon of his own and both he and James received Sirius' book. "Ok, now you guys can do whatever you want I am going to go sell my books to the common room," Sirius said excitedly.

He ran down the stairs and the other two Marauders heard him bellow, "Anyone can receive a copy of my book on breaking up for just a mere price of 1 galleon and an autograph!"

They heard several people shout out, "I'll take it!"

Remus shook his head, "Poor people don't know what they're buying."

"Of course they do," James said, "Anything written by Sirius is a load of shit."

"Come on it wasn't that bad," Remus argued.

"I wanted to rip my hair out it was so bad," James said.

"Well it's a good thing you didn't your mom would flip," Remus said.

"Please, I am not seeing her until Christmas break it would grow back by then," James responded.

"Well still," Remus said, then adding as an after thought, "Are you still hosting that New Years Eve ball?"

"The Potter's Annual New Years Eve ball, of course!" James said as if he were astonished Remus didn't know.

"Well excuse me for not knowing," Remus said.

Katy, Lily, and Emma walked down to a good dress shop in Hogsmeade. Lily ushered the other two inside to reveal a huge room filled with accessories of any kind. "Who are you pairing with?" Emma asked Lily.

"Oh, do you remember Jerry? I am going with him," Lily said.

"Oh, I'm pairing with Ted," Emma said.

"I'm going with Felix Mardo, my goal of getting him was acclompish obviously," Katy said.

The girls separated as began to search for their costumes. Once they had paid for their costumes Emma left to meet up with Ted. She walked inside of the Three Broomsticks and a rush of warm air hit her. She spotted Ted at a table for two and sat down across from him. "Hello," Ted said.

"Hey, Ted," Emma said smiling.

"I just ordered you a Butterbeer," Ted said just as Madame Rosmerta arrived with two butterbeers.

"So Ted, what's your family like?" Emma asked.

"Oh, well I have a sister in third year, Ted said, "But that's really it what about you?"

Emma took a sip of Butterbeer and said, "Well I have a brother in seventh year, Ryan, and two brothers out of school Fabian and Gideon. Then I have a sister who just graduated last year Molly and she's engaged to Arthur Weasley they are getting married Christmas Eve."

"Wow, married on Christmas Eve that's cool," Ted said, "I know Ryan but he and I aren't the best of friends."

"Yeah , I figured since he never mentioned you," Emma said taking another sip of her butterbeer.

The two talked for a while before Ted excused himself saying he had to buy his costume. "Well, I'll see you at the dance," Emma said waving goodbye to him.

"Yea," Ted said waving back and making his exit.

No sooner had she left then she was joined by the Marauders. "Hey, Emma," James said sliding next to her.

Remus and Sirius sat across from them and ordered three butterbeers. "What have you been doing?" Sirius asked.

"Oh, I was just on a date with Ted," Emma said.

"Ted Andersen?" Sirius asked.

"Yea, why?" Emma asked.

"Oh, he used to be on the Quidditch team but he got kicked off," James said.

"Are you serious? How do you know? Why did he get kicked off?" Emma asked.

"No he's not serious I'm Sirius!" Sirius said.

James shook his head grinning slightly and said, "Oh, I know because I remember people always talking about what a great seeker he was. I don't know why he got kicked off though, I just heard he did."

"Oh, well I'm sure it's not anything bad. Right?" Emma said worriedly.

"Oh, of course it wasn't bad," Remus said reassuringly handing Madame Rosmerta three galleons and taking the butterbeers.

"Anyway," Sirius said grabbing his butterbeer, "I must be off I got a date with a cute blonde in fifth year."

Remus nodded and said, "I've got to go meet up with Erica."

The two left and James and Emma stared at each other. "So, we've never really talked alone have we," James said.

"Not really only when your yelling at me during practice," Emma agreed.

"Well why don't we get to know each other," James said.

"Okay, you are an only child right?" Emma asked.

"Yup, and your related to Ryan, Fabian, Gideon, and Molly," James responded.

"Yea," Emma said, "So you still like Lily right?"

"More than anything," James responded in a heartbeat.

"Well, maybe I'll put in some good comments about you then," Emma said.

"That'd be great," James said grinning.

"How about we head up to the pitch and shoot some hoops," James suggested.

"Alright," Emma said.

The two headed up to the castle and got their broomsticks. They were well absorbed in a one-on-one game of Quidditch when Sirius, Remus, Lily, Erica, Peter, and Katie joined them. "Hey you guys up for a game of Quidditch," James yelled down to them.

They nodded and made teams. It was Sirius, Remus, Lily, and Peter against Katie, Erica, James, and Emma. Katy and Lily played seeker. James, and Emma and Sirius and Peter played chasers. Erica and Remus played keepers. By the end of an hour the score was 150 to 50 James' team. Katy spotted the snitch and dove for it with Lily trailing slightly behind her. Katy caught the snitch earning her team the win. James, Erica, and Emma engulfed Katy in a hug while the other team sourly headed back up to the castle. "Hey Erica, you did a really good job!" Emma said.

"Well I do play keeper for Ravenclaw so it's no big deal," Erica said blushing slightly.

"Well bye Erica," Katy said as they passed the Ravenclaw common room.

Erica waved goodbye and the others walked on smiling. James said, "Hey you guys aren't all that bad after all."

"Yea well you're still bad," Katy said and with that she and Emma took of running with James hot on their heels.