A/N: Hey, kiddies! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, sorry it's taken me forever to update, I swear I haven't abandoned it, I just can't really FORCE the chapters, you know? Anyway, I went to Canada on vacation with my family. (to all you Canadians out there, your country is beautiful, and clean. I was in the Rockies area, I forget the province? Is that what you call it? If not I apologize, I think it was . . . Alberta? Correct me if I'm dead wrong. Anyway, it was beautiful, and the people were very very polite and helpful, and altogether pleasant.) Anyway, then I went to a performing arts program, and .. . well, I've just been really really really busy. Anyhoo, on with the show! Oh! By the by, I've got the end planned out, and have tentative plans for a Harry-age sequel. Comment if you're interested, or if you're like, oh God, stop writing!

Chapter 23: Surprise and Lust

Hogwarts seemed unperturbed at the addition of two new couples to the school dating mill.

Remus and Tabitha were very quiet and private about their relationship, but the affection between the two was very apparent. They rarely argued, and could often communicate without speaking, an ability that frightened Sirius greatly. Remus and Tabitha were very different from other school romances. They knew that they were bonded by their souls.

A word for Lilly and James' relationship? Passionate. They generally agreed, and got along wonderfully, but every so often, the two dueling tempers would emerge.

"I can take care of myself, Potter!"

"Oh, back to Potter, is it? Look, Lilly, you weren't there! You didn't-"

"I know. Snape irks you, but when you don't rise to the bait, that makes you the better person. It makes you the good guy. I want to date a good guy, not a bully."

After the climax of the fight, two flushed teenagers could be seen stalking to their rooms. Unfortunately, with their rooms being in the same location, this would lead to a silent battle of who could reach the entrance first. They would powerwalk, sometimes run, all dignity forgotten, to beat the other to the door. Students of that particular year may recall the resounding slam of a door that shook Hogwarts to its foundations, after Lilly lost one such contest. But, as it is with many quick-tempered people, reconciliation soon followed. Whether James or Lilly began the argument, the end was always done jointly, with a meeting, and a blurted

"I'm sorry!"

Their new relationship changed much in the terms of their dorms. Before too many were aware of them, as a couple, Professor McGonagall walked calmly into her classroom, to discover her two Head students, so long enemies, snogging on one of her desktops. As they blushing parted, she intelligently uttered-

"I- ! You- ! What-?" before promptly dropping to the floor in a dead faint.

After being revived, they were told that they had to be in separate rooms by 11. Of course, without the Professor there to monitor them , this rule was sometimes forgotten.

On a particular Friday in March, the Gryffindors turned out in grand fashion for Gretchen's birthday, to do what Gryffindors do best: party.

All of Gryffindor arrived, four boys in particular "mysteriously" brought food, candy, and butterbeer. They party raged for hours, the birthday girl and her friends dancing on tables well into the night. After all had said goodnight, and stumbled to whatever dorm housed their bed, Gretchen and Sirius stayed to pick up the mess.

"I can't believe we have to do with." Gretchen grumbled.

"Well, it is our turn" Sirius said, picking up a red streamer, sticky with some mysterious substance, delicately between two pinched fingers.

"Hey, whose side are you on, anyway?" she grumbled, throwing a gold streamer at him.

Sirius being Sirius, and Gretchen being Gretchen, this resulted in an all out, no holds barred streamer fight, resulting in a greater mess than before, with the two perpetrators standing in the center of the room, very close.

"You know" Gretchen said, casually pulling a long streamer from Sirius' hair, "in many cultures, its tradition to be kissed on your birthday."

"Oh really?" Sirius replied, somewhat huskily, "well, we mustn't break tradition. That would be dreadful."

"Oh yes. Dreadful."

As their lips met, touching for the first time, bodies falling gently into the soft pile of red and gold streamers, Sirius thought,

'This could change our relationship a bit.'