Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling and I am not profiting from this in any financial way possible. I, however, am just getting some relaxation and this story is meant for pure pleasure so please don't sue me. Besides, I am a college student and it is really hard financially as it is anyways. Well, this is my lecture, happy reading, or bash me to the ground if you want, don't really care. Actually I kinda do, if you have like it and want me to continue, then say so, I really am wanting to do this until 7th year but we will see.

Moving On

Over the next few days, the Marauders were lying low for they were working on their animagi transformation. Every night, before eight, they would disappear to the Room of Requirement to study and perform the necessary steps. Since Remus already had an animal form and his prefect duties, he stayed put in the common room doing homework. By October, James and Sirius had successfully transformed into their animal counterpart. James took the form of a stag while Sirius turned into a black hound. Their three years worth of work finally paid off as now they are able to be with their best friend when he transforms on the full moon. The only task left to do was to help their pal Peter so he can transform also.

"Wormtail, that's not it. You're doing it wrong. You are supposed to glow light blue, not dark green. You did it wrong. Focus," James coached his mate.

"Wormtail, how many times do we have to tell you? You have to concentrate until you lock onto an animal and hold onto it till the potion's effect runs out. This is the simple part Wormtail," Sirius rambled with a hint of annoyance while handing Peter the ninth vial of the night.

Peter took it and waited for James' cue to drink it. When James gave the ok, Peter drank and went into a trance in which his body glowed resembling the color maroon. Six minutes later, Peter fell out of the meditation when his body yet again glowed dark green.

"Ok, that is enough for today, good progress Wormtail, let's go to bed," James said as he realized the time after checking his watch.

"Wormtail, you better get it right tomorrow, because you have exactly twenty-one days left until the full moon. Prongs and I will leave you behind if you don't get the transformation right. In all honesty, I find myself teaching till Christmas," Sirius said while James sighed.

"Way to boost his confidence Padfoot," James said as he gathered his belongings.

"I only said what was true, you know it too James,"

"Sorry guys, I will try harder tomorrow. I think I got the hang of it anyways,"

When the three Marauders arrived at the Gryffindor common room, they found many Gryffindor girls still up gossiping mostly about who they want to take to the upcoming Halloween dance. Unfortunately for the Marauders, it was also the day of the full moon and James and Sirius already pledged to be at Remus's side now that they can.

The trio was walking up to their dormitory when Erika came up to them and asked, "Hey guys, do you mind if I borrow James for a couple minutes?" she asked uncharacteristically nervously.

"You guys go ahead of me, I will catch up," James said as Sirius gave him the childish grin. After he was sure that they were out of hearing range he said, "You want to go out of the common room to talk?" Erika nodded, this time, not looking at him but down at the ground.

They went out, finally away from the hungry eyes and ears that were desperate for some to gossip about. They settled in front of the stairs that leads down to the Great Hall.

"Is there anything you want to talk about?" James gently asked.

"Well, I was wondering if you asked someone to the Halloween dance, because if you didn't, are you willing to go with me," Erika finished, looking terrified.

Shit. What am I to do? I promised Remus that Sirius and I will be with him. Crap. But Erika is so hot and she must have mustered a lot of courage to ask me.

"Hey, Erika, why are you so hyped up, I never seen you so flustered. Not even the championship game against the Ravenclaw has so much even fazed you. About the Halloween dance, hey can I get back to you. You see, I originally have plans to do something else during Halloween, and I, you see, I promised a friend. Let me sort this out and get back to you because I would love to the dance with you," James said choosing his words carefully to make sure he doesn't hurt Erika.

"Ok, I guess I will then see you tomorrow at practice then," Erika sounded more like her normal self as she started to walk away. James, however, grabbed her wrist. She turned to face him looking at him quizzically and James just looked at her. Then a moment later he turned her body around so she is facing him and he cupped her face and gave her a light kiss in the lips. James gave her a deeper kiss when she accepted his tongue into her mouth.

When the kiss was finally over, Erika blushed into scarlet red and then went back into the common room. James on the other hand sucked on his tongue to savor Erika's sweet taste.

Erika ran straight into the girls' dormitory when several of her friends asked her to tell them what happened. Rachael, Alicia, Celena, and Alice ran up also when they realized something must be wrong when their friend ran for her room. When they arrived, they found her lying on her back on her bed, completely opposite of the state they expected to find her. Erika's face was blissful, and full of smiles, and they realized that James must have said yes when she asked him but they were to find out it was because of something completely different.

James went back into the common room a minute later and walked up to his dorm room. When he opened the door, he found Sirius and Peter nearby whispering excitedly until they realized he was there. They stopped immediately and ran up to him and bombarded him with questions.

"What did she what?"

"What did you tell her?"

"Does it have anything to do with the Halloween dance?"
"Cool it guys and listen. I have a dilemma, yes Padfoot, it does have to do with the dance and I told her maybe," James started to say.

"Dumbass, why did you tell her maybe? The answer is no, remember?" Sirius said losing all his excitement he had and replacing it with a stern face.

"Dude here me out, Padfoot; you were the one to tell me to get over Evans. Well, I think I am in the process. I sort of kissed Erika,"

"You did what?" Sirius demanded, after he thought about it and then patted his friend on the back, "Bout time I tell ya. Geez, took you long enough. So how was it?"

"You prat, lay off,"

"What are you going to tell Moony?" Peter asked.

"Yeah about that, I really don't know. You see, I don't want to disappoint him because I made him so hyped that Padfoot and I will be there by his side. And the fact that he isn't going to the ball, but it doesn't feel right,"

"You fool, you forgot me. You want me to keep a werewolf's company while you are making out with Erika. Hell no. I already rejected two offers. One from that hot chick in Ravenclaw and Rachael asked me," Sirius stated.

"Yeah, about that, sorry there Padfoot,"

"You damn better be and I expect you to tell her the same thing I told Rachael,"

"Well, you still have an hour before his shift is over," Peter said jumping on his bed to sleep while the other two continued to bicker.

"So how did it go," Celena asked excitedly.

"Oh, the dance, yeah, umm, that went kind of bad I guess," Erika responded a little less happy than she previously was.

"What? Honey, what did he say?" Rachael asked concerned.

Erika looked out of the window before she responded, "Maybe,"

"Why that bastard,"

"Hey you got it better than I did when I asked Sirius. He said he had Marauder business and said the conversation was over," Rachael sighed.

"Hmph, I think James said something along that line also, and he said he will try to fix it so he can go. He seemed so sincere,"

"Sirius that dog,"

"Hey, I got a question," Celena asked while cutting off Rachael, "Is it me, or why do you look so jovial all of the sudden when you were partially rejected?"

"Oh, about that, I really don't think I should tell you yet, because, I really don't know what really happened," Erika started to say when she was showered with puppy faces and "come ons" by her friends, "Ok, fine. Well, James kissed me," Erika stopped to see her friends' expression. Alice raised her hands up to her breast. Rachael covered her mouth with her right hand. Celena and Sara raised their eyebrows.

When the moment was over, Sara asked, "Do you think he will ask you out? And what about Lily?"

"Well, does it matter to her? I guess it would be beneficial to her, now that James will be off her case. She finally has the vacation she wanted since the middle of second year," Celena stated casually.

"I guess I will, it really shouldn't matter to her anyways though and I really don't know. I hope he does. I had a crush on him ever since first year. I was always jealous of Lily because she had his attention," Erika said.

"Hey you aren't the only one who has or had a crush on him," Sara said mockingly as she jumped into her bed, "Well good night, and I hope for the best for you Erika,"

"Sweet dreams"

"You staying up for Lily,"

"I don't think so, I want to get some rest," Erika said as she went out in her bathrobe.

"So why do you to see me about Prongs?" Remus tiredly asked.

"Hey Moony, I just want to tell you… that I will be there for you during this month's full moon,"

"You dragged me out after you know how tired I was… dammit,"