Author's Notes:

PyroGurl4: lol, I'm glad I cleared the whole half-blood thing for you! :o) Keep reading!

Lyny Angell: Thanks for the encouraging review! I'm glad my story keeps your mind off of real life, real life sucks! :o) Sorry about the typos... I always go over my chapters with spell check but then I usually add stuff after I upload a chapter. So I will try to check over my story more carefully next time. Thanks again!

DarkRaven-04: Thanks for reviewing! And no, Sirius isn't exactly using Hermione, he really likes her. But he knows something is weird about Harry and Hermione and he wants to figure out what it is. So Sirius is hoping that while he is spending time with Hermione, something will slip. But that is not the only reason he is spending time with her, he thinks she is a very interesting person. I hope that makes sense! (I just re-read it to myself and it was kind of confusing, lol.) And yes, there is going to be an argument between James and Harry in the next chapter, but I don't want to tell you too much about it. It will be interesting though. :o)

Lynx Irisa Black: lol wow you seem really desperate, well, here is my update!!!!!!!!

E: I always love new readers! Thanks a bunch for reviewing! :o)

popppincorn: I know the feeling! (tired, can't think!) =) Thanks for reviewing!

Anarane Anwamane: I try, thanks!

Chapter 5: Hogsmeade

"He doesn't seem to like me very much," Peter told Sirius.

"It's your imagination. He doesn't even know you, why would he not like you?" Sirius asked.

"Well, he wasn't being mean or anything. Just not exactly friendly. Anyway, I found out something really weird."

"What is it?" Sirius asked.

"Okay, he told me he was a half-blood. And at first I was thinking that it made sense, if his mother was a pureblood and his father was a muggleborn. But then he said that his mother was a muggleborn, meaning that his father would be a pureblood. And if his father was a pureblood, then there would be something on the name Parsons," Peter concluded.

"You're right," Sirius said thinking. "But there are some other possibilities. I mean, he could have a step-father or something."

"No, his parents died when he was a baby and he lives with his aunt and uncle," Peter said.

"You definitely have something there Wormtail. Good work. Anything else?" Sirius asked.

"Nothing big. But some of the stuff he said about his past didn't make sense. Almost like he was lying," Peter explained.

"Could be. Well, I'm gonna go find Hermione. I'll see ya later." Sirius went to the common room and saw James sitting on the couch, looking miserable.

"Hey Prongs," Sirius greeted.

"Hi," James replied unhappily.

"Something wrong?" Sirius asked even though he knew what it was.

"Lily," was all James said in response.

"What about her?"

"I miss her," James replied.

"Well of course you miss her you dumb ass, you two were perfect for each other," Sirius said. James glared at Sirius.

"I didn't ask for your opinion Padfoot," he said rudely.

"Why don't you talk to her?"

"I don't need her."

"You just said you missed her," Sirius said.

"Yeah, but I'll get over it soon. It happens to everyone when they break up. It's just hormones. I don't really need her. It's just a trick my mind is playing on me," James explained.

"Sounds to me like you're trying to convince yourself, not me," Sirius said. James glared at Sirius once again.

"Have you and Wormtail found out anything about Parsons?" James asked dryly.

"Just that his parents' died when he was a baby," Sirius responded.

"Where is that Parsons kid anyway? I bet him and Evans are having the time of their lives," James said sullenly.

"James, they're just friends..."

James laughed. "I bet in less than a week we'll catch them snogging."

"Would that anger you?" Sirius asked.

James knew where Sirius was going. "Shut up Padfoot! I know where you're getting at. You were gonna say that if I don't care about her why would I be angry if she is with Parsons?"

"Actually no, that wasn't what I was gonna say, but that's a very good point," Sirius said grinning. "Thank you for bringing it to my attention."

James stood up from the sofa he was sitting on. "Look Padfoot, just keep Parsons away from me. I don't want to see him."

"Then I wouldn't look in the mirror if I were you," Sirius joked.

"Oh, that's hilarious," James said sarcastically. "You think it's funny that I look exactly like someone I hate? Well it's not!"

"Prongs, you don't even know anything about him!" Sirius said exasperated.

"Oh, I know plenty about him. I know that he likes to steal other guy's girlfriends from under their nose. I know that he is not good at making conversation. Have you forgotten about the time he made Hermione cry and run out of class? He's a pathetic, parentless freak!" James said loudly.

"James... don't you think you're being a little harsh?" Sirius asked.

"No I don't. In fact, I hope him and Evans start going out. I hope they get married and have lots of kids," James said angrily. He thought about his own words for a second. "Yeah, he's dead," James said starting to walk toward the portrait hole.

But unfortunately for James, Sirius was stronger than him. Sirius grabbed James and flung him back down on the couch. "You're not going anywhere Prongs. You're going to sit on that couch and listen to me, even if I have to hex you to sit still."

James considered for a moment fighting with Sirius, but he knew Sirius was stronger than him. And James didn't have his wand with him, so there was really nothing he could do. "Fine," James said grimly.

"Okay, try to understand this. Let me think of an example. Ya know how you used to be really good friends with that Katie girl before she graduated?"

"Yes," James said.

"Now how would you feel if Lily said she didn't want you to hang around her anymore?" Sirius asked.

James thought for a moment. "That's not the same thing!" he finally said.

"Prongs, it's exactly the same thing!"

"No it's not. Sure we were friends but we weren't always laughing and flirting and walking to every single class together!" James shot back.

Sirius rubbed his eyes and groaned. "James, please, can't you be rational for two seconds?" he asked desperately. "You're my best friend, but sometimes you can be really thick." James didn't say anything. "Look at it this way. If Evans really did like Harry, wouldn't they be going out by now?"

"They will be dating soon enough," James retorted.

"Ya know what? I just can't deal with you anymore. I'm getting a headache. So if you ever come to your senses and decide you were being a jerk, go talk to Evans," Sirius said walking away.

The Next Day

"Moony, are you going to Hogsmeade?" James asked.

"Nope, I have a lot of work to do," Remus replied.

"It's Saturday," James said matter-of-factly.

"I know, but you know how many advanced classes I'm taking. I have so much I have to do before Monday," Remus said. "Aren't you gonna go?"

"Let's see... I can't go with Lily because we're not going out anymore, Sirius is going with that Hermione girl, you're not gonna go, and Peter... well I don't know what Peter is doing. Do you know where he is?"

"Yeah... he's upstairs," Remus said not looking up from the paper he was writing.

"Thanks," James said as he headed up to the boy's dormitory. "Wormtail, are you going to Hogsmeade?"

"No... I wasn't going to go. Are you?"

"Yes, I'm gonna go crazy if I just sit in the common room all night. Come with me. We'll go to the joke shop or something," James said.

"Sure," Peter said standing up.

"Peter, do you know by any chance if Lily is going?" James asked.

Peter avoided James's eyes. "Uh... I overheard her and Harry talking. I think they're going together," he said nervously.

"They're going together?" James asked disbelievingly. "Is it a date?" he asked.

"I'm not sure... I didn't hear much. I'm sure it's just a friends thing. Like how you and I are going."

"Ya know, I was considering talking to Lily and apologizing. I almost believed that they were just friends. But now... now I know that they like each other."

"James... you're jumping to conclusions."

"Come on Wormtail, let's just go," James said.

With Sirius and Hermione

"So do you like Hogsmeade?" Sirius asked.

"Oh yeah, I love it. There are so many different places though. Do you know where everything is?" Hermione asked. She was having fun playing along.

"Yeah basically, just about everything. Do you want to go anywhere in particular?"

"No."

"It's pretty loud out here, let's go somewhere a little quieter. I know just the place," Sirius said.

With Harry and Lily

"Lily... maybe we should go back to school," Harry said.

"Why?" she asked.

"Well, what if James sees us? He'll think we're on a date or something."

"Yes, he does tend to jump to conclusions like that. Why do you care what James thinks?" Lily questioned.

"I just... I just want him to like me," Harry said.

Lily looked deep into his green eyes, the same color as hers. "It's so strange... you seem to be so desperate for James to approve of you. Why?"

And there it was. Looking from his emerald green eyes to hers, he wanted so badly to tell her the truth. For a split second, Harry considered telling Lily everything. About the time travel, about them being his parents, about Peter betraying them, about the closest thing he had to a father (Sirius) dying, about the prophecy.

But he knew he couldn't. "I don't know."

Lily looked away, breaking eye contact with him. "Ya know, I've never met anyone who had the same eyes as me. It's really amazing..." she trailed off. She shook her head at the silliness of her comment.

There was a silence between them for about ten seconds. "I miss James," she finally said.

"Go talk to him," Harry said to her.

"I can't Harry. If I just go crawling back to him, then he'll think he can tell me what to do whenever he wants. And I can't have that. He has to accept the fact that I'm friends with you," Lily said.

Harry thought about saying something in James's defense, but he realized that she was 100% right. "You're right."

"Let's talk about something a little more uplifting, okay?" she said smiling.

Back with Sirius and Hermione

"This is a nice place," Hermione said examining it. She had been there before of course, but it was much newer than it had been when she had seen it. Sirius led her over to a booth in the corner of the room. "I bet you bring all the girls here," she said grinning.

Sirius grinned too. "Yeah I do... but don't worry, you're definitely my favorite," he joked. Hermione laughed slightly. But Sirius knew what Hermione was thinking. "Ya know Hermione, I have been in a real relationship before."

"Oh," Hermione said, hiding her surprise.

"You're surprised," Sirius said reading her mind.

"How do you know me so well when we just met?" Hermione asked looking into his eyes.

"I don't know. I guess we just click really well," Sirius replied.

She smiled. "So, tell me about this relationship you were in." Sirius didn't say anything. "You don't have to if you don't want to," she added quickly.

"No, it's okay, I don't mind. When I was in fifth year, I was dating this girl named Amy. She was... terrific. I loved her," he said.

"What happened?" Hermione asked gently.

"She broke up with me. She just didn't love me like I loved her."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. That was a long time ago. I guess after that... I just stopped trusting girls," Sirius explained.

She made eye contact with him. "Why do you trust me?" Hermione asked.

"You're different," he said simply.

"Yeah but how can you tell?"

Sirius just sat there for a few seconds, considering how to word what he wanted to say. "There are some people... some extraordinary people, where you meet them and you can just tell. I can't explain it... but you can. They just have a little something extra to them. You have it Hermione." Sirius paused for a moment, and then continued. "Lily has it, so does Professor Dumbledore."

Hermione smiled softly. She reached across the table and placed her hand over his.

With James and Peter

"Where do you think Harry and Lily are?" James asked.

"I'm not sure," Peter replied. He quickly tried to change the subject. "Where do you wanna go? We could go to Zonkos," he suggested

"No. Do you know that little café that Lily and I used to go to all the time?" James asked.

"Yeah."

"We're going there," James stated.

"But why? Oh no James… you're not going there to look for Lily and Harry? Don't you think you're being just a tad obsessive about this whole thing?"

"Me? Obsessive? No," James said quickly. "Come on Wormtail, I'm not gonna go in, I'm just gonna look in and see if they're there."

"Fine," Peter said giving in.

They walked over to the café and James looked inside. He desperately hoped they were not there. But unluckily for James, he spotted them talking at a small table. They weren't laughing though. It seemed like they were talking about something serious. James longed to be the one sitting across from Lily. Oh how he hated Harry for coming between them… He and Lily would still be together if it weren't for Harry.

James pushed his thoughts to the back of his head. "Come on Wormtail, let's leave," he said turning around. Peter followed.