It had been a month since the Hogsmeade trip. Cris and Remus were joined at the hip, while Lily had slowly started to gravitate towards James. Sirius had reached his record length of dating any girl and he continue to date Jessica. It wasn't really clear what was going on between Tristan and Parrick. They were never seen together in the halls but they did talk occasionally.

Cris was sitting beside Remus in the Great Hall. She was giggling as he was recounting a story about James and Sirius.

"They sound absolutely insane." Remus nodded and grinned at her.

"Sirius has always been the more crazy one." Cris smiled at him. James suddenly came storming into the Great Hall. His face was a little red and he was breathing heavily. He sat down beside Lily and almost knocked a her cup right off the table. She looked at him; her eyes probed his face curiously.

"James, what's wrong?" He shook his head and downed a whole glass of pumpkin juice. Sirius gave James a bored look as he glanced over at Jessica, who was sitting beside him.

"Mate, calm down. I'm sure that you'll be fine." James glared at him.

"Sure, we'll all be fine when we lose the upcoming quidditch match." Sirius dropped his fork and stared. "What happened, Prongs!" James sighed and shrugged his shoulders. Well, we have a beater down and no reserve beater. We're playing Ravenclaw and you know that one of the most important things when playing the Ravenclaw's is to have a good beater." Sirius nodded gravely.

"Oh shit. Well I'm sure that we can come up with someone." James shook his head.

"I don't think I'm gonna be able to find anyone." Lily spoke up now.

"James, I know that to you Quidditch is incredibly important, but don't worry about it. I know that you'll be able to make it work." She smiled at him gently.

I must be crazy. I'm trying to comfort James when he's upset. It's all right. This is what friends do. That's all we are. We are just friends, but he does look adorable when- No! What am I saying? Potter is not adorable. He's an arrogant prat.

Do you really call your friends arrogant prats?

Who is that? Who are you?
Well, I could give the original answer that I am your conscience. I don't think that I'll be that helpful, though. Let's just say that I know you better than you know yourself.

Merlin, Potter was right in the beginning, I am losing my mind.

Well I think that all of you are quite mad already. You didn't need me to prove that.

Oh God. Oh no I think Potter's saying something. What do I do?

Dare I suggest that you return to calling him James and heaven forbid, you actually answer James? You know though, I could be totally off target.

Oh go away.

Nice try, now answer lover boy.

He's nod lover boy. How dare you little voice suggest that-

"Lily, are you all right?" James was looking concernedly at Lily. She seemed to be completely in her own world. She nodded. I'm sorry James, what were you saying?" He looked at her closely and then spoke.

"I was just saying that I don't think I can manage to find a beater, but thanks for your confidence." Lily looked at him and smiled shyly. "James, you're a great captain. I know you'll fix things." James smiled at her. Sirius pretended to gag.

"Look, you two, I am eating. This still doesn't solve the problem of who's going to replace-" Remus started to laugh. "Oh come on you can't honestly say that you constantly having your tongue down Mulrone's throat isn't sickening?" Sirius shrugged his shoulders.

"When it comes to my fantastic self nothing is to disgusting." Remus and James rolled their eyes while Cris started to giggle. Alia was sitting there quietly throughout the entire exchange. She glanced once at the Ravenclaw table. She caught sight of thick dark curly hair. She took a breath and looked away.

Tristan sat there and laughed quietly. She did her best to avoid Sirius noticing her. The two of them had stopped their war, but he was insulting to her every chance he got. The old Tristan would have fought him back tooth and nail. She merely put up with him, too tired to do anything else.

Alia seemed to snap back to reality. "So the ball is coming up soon isn't it?" Lily nodded.

"It's right before holiday." James nodded.

"It's dress robes, so since there's going to be a Hogsmeade trip next weekend you all can probably shop for new ones if you want." All the girls except for Tristan nodded enthusiastically. She glanced at all of them. She stood abruptly. "Well I'm done with dinner, I'll see you later," She nodded at the girls and left. Lily glanced in her direction worriedly.

"What's bothering her?" Cris shrugged. Alia bit her lip and turned away.

Lily was sitting in the common room. She was busy reading a book. James walked in and sat down. He grinned. "I think that tomorrow's match is going to work out all right." Lily glanced up at him.

"That's wonderful, James." She smiled at him sincerely. "Who is the temporary replacement?" James' face clouded over slightly. "It's a surprise," He looked at her and smiled as she put a bookmark in her book and focused on him, "will you come to the match?" She shrugged her shoulders.

"I've never really been to one of the matches before and I have a bit of work." He dropped his head and tried to keep the disappointment from creeping into his voice. "It's fine, you don't need to." Lily felt awful.

Why should I feel bad? I mean it's just a match. The fact that it means a lot to James shouldn't matter to me. Why am I feeling so guilty?

You know why you're feeling guilty.

Oh Merlin, you're back again. So tell me why you think I care. Actually don't tell me. I don't want to know."

I think that you just don't wan t to admit that you love him.

Who asked for your opinion anyway?

Actually, oh so brilliant child, you asked.

Then I took it back.

Tell him that you love him and will attend the match.

I don't love him and I won't attend the match. I have work to do.

Fine, don't tell him you love him, but GO TO THE MATCH!

I DON"T LOVE JAMES POTTER! I'M NOT GOING TO THE MATCH!

YES YOU WILL!

NO I WON'T. Who do you think you are anyway?

I'm the voice inside you're head.

Oh sod you.

That's not very nice is it?

Fine, I'll go to the match.

"You know James, I think I might be able to make it to the match." He looked up at her. His eyes were shining. "Really? I mean, you don't have to, but it would be nice for you to see quidditch. It's really amazing." Lily smiled.

"Well we'll see. I'm actually kind of curious as to who is your replacement beater." He just smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

James had been freaking out over the situation of not having a replacement beater. He had been walking on the school grounds to clear his mind. He was heading towards the pitch. He stared in surprise as he saw a figure flying around the pitch. He had never seen anyone fly like that.

The figure was speeding around the pitch, weaving and doing twists. He watched as the person actually managed to swing over their broom. There was something about the way the figure was moving. Everything seemed to be desperate. It was as if the person might never get the chance to fly again. He approached the figure and called out.

"Hey, would you come down." He watched as the figure easily flew to the ground and dismounted in one fluid motion.

"Are you in Gryffindor?" He watched in surprise as the person started to laugh hysterically.

"Potter, I already know that you need a replacement beater, trust me I'm not the one you would need." He stared in shock.

"Hollis?" She laughed bitterly.

"Yes, in the flesh. This thing here that isn't fit to play on the quidditch house team can fly." He was glad that it was dark and she couldn't see his cheeks burning red. He sighed. He knew then that she would be the perfect replacement. In fact if he could just get her to do it things would be excellent. Well, there was the issue of her and Padfoot.

"I really need a replacement beater. You're an amazing flyer, Hollis. The team could use you." She laughed. "I'm not interested, Potter. You'll manage. I'm sure that Black can hit bludgers just fine." James shook his head.

"I'm actually going to beg you. Please Hollis. Please be the replacement beater." He could just make her out nodding.

"What about Black? He's not going to handle this well." James sighed.

"I'll handle him. You know the drill, right?" She nodded.

"I'll be here for practice before the match, but don't count on me practicing." He nodded.

He started to walk away before turning around. "Do you come here a lot?" She stopped walking and looked at him. She looked like she wanted to say something else. "Now I do. Being outside allows me to think. I like to fly." James nodded.

"Alia said that you were an amazing quidditch player. Why is it that she's the only person who has seen you fly, or play quidditch? You're absolutely mesmerizing." She laughed bitterly.

"A compliment from the arrogant James Potter. I've never found the need for other people to see me flying. I could never fly at home. Alia only saw me flying by accident." He nodded.

"Thank you, Hollis, night." She laughed.

"Night,Potter, and who knows, maybe you can get Lily to come to the match." He laughed to himself and walked back to the castle.

Sirius was at practice and listening to James before the game. He was actually pretty surprised that James was so relaxed. He'd have thought that James would be insane with worry over the whole issue about needing a second beater. "Prongs, did you find a replacement beater?" James nodded.

"Well where is she mate?" James glanced around the room.

"She's right over there." Sirius glanced to where James was pointing. He gagged. He saw straightened black hair and electric blue. She turned around. The nose ring was a small silver stud today. She raised her eyebrows at James and walked away.

"You've got to be kidding me mate!" James shook his head. "I'm not kidding Padfoot. She's the other beater with you. You' re gonna have to deal with her."

"There's no way that Hollis can-" James started to laugh.

"Just wait until you see her mate. Now we got to get out to the pitch." Sirius glared at Tristan and followed James.

Lily searched the bleachers until she found the familiar shapes of her friends. She hurried over to Cris who was near the announcing area. Lily glanced there in surprise. Cris smiled. "Remus is the commentator for the matches." Lily nodded in understanding. She looked at Alia and impulsively hugged her. "Tristan here?" Alia shook her head.

"No, she disappeared right after breakfast." Lily shrugged her shoulders.

"Hi Remus." Remus smiled at her.

"Hi Lily/." She smiled at Remus. "So you're here to watch the match. James will be glad." Lily shrugged her shoulders and faced the pitch. The players were emerging. Remus listed the last names of al the Ravenclaw players and then the Gryffindor players.

"There's Potter, my fellow marauder as well as chaser and captain of the Gryffindor Team. Here comes another of my fellow Marauders, Sirius Black, beater. Now we have the replacement beater for this match, and its… It's Hollis. " Remus looked surprised as he squinted his eyes and the girls all leaned forward and tried to get a closer glimpse. "Merlin, that really is Tristan." Lily said in shock. Cris' eyes widened and Alia gave the faintest smile.

"I'm sure that there's going to more than one conflict on the field today. I hope that Black and Hollis will be able to control themselves." Remus started to laugh. Madame Hooch blew the whistle and the game began.

Sirius was focusing on the game, but secretly was shocked. He had never seen anyone fly like Hollis did. She didn't need to grip the broom and every muscle in her body was taught and prepared. She would hit the bludger all the way to the other side of the pitch as well. Sirius stared in shock; he saw a bludger being hit towards him. The next thing he knew Hollis had the ball towards the other side of the pitch.

Lily stood and cheered. She had never seen any game played with such concentration and passion before. Seeing James and seeing Tristan fly was the most amazing thing that she had ever seen. James was so fluid. When he was playing quidditch it as if that was the only thing that he was meant to do. Tristan, she couldn't' even describe Tristan. It was as if Tristan was playing like it was the last time.

After the game Lily walked up to James. "I just want to say that you did a really great job out there." He absentmindedly messed up his hair, while he grinned at her.

"Thanks for coming Lily. Someday I'll take you flying." Lily smiled.

"I think that I'd like that, James."

Tristan walked passed everyone. They all stared at her in shock. A bunch of boys kept on yelling at her to go out with them. She caught Malfoy and Snape approaching her. She took a detour from the pitch. She sat and waited for them to show up.

A/N Sorry about the awful chapter. I just wanted something that didn't take place in either a classroom or the Great Hall. If you guys have any suggestions please give them :) and Please REVIEW!