Ch. 2- The Beginning

A/N: I don't know if I disclaimed in the last chapter, so here it is- I OWN NOTHING, SADLY, becuase if I did I probably wouldn't be writing fnafics...okay, so here it is, chapter 2!

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You are my Sunshine, my only sunshine,

You make me happy when skies are gray,

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't my sunshine away

You are my Sunshine- Norman Blake

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"Here we are again. Another year, another chance to learn new things." Dumbledoor said, addressing the now silent tables. "Before we start this magnificent feast, I'm afraid I must remind you all of a few rules. First of all, no magic in the corridors between classes and no forbidden objects. You may check the list in Mr. Filch's office to find out exactly what those items are. Secondly, no one is to go near the whomping willow as we have had some accidents in the past. And, finally, the Forbidden Forest is, as always, forbidden." He said, his eyes lingering on us for a moment. "And now, let me say two words: Lemon Drop. Enjoy the feast."

Food appeared on the tables and everyone started eating. I helped myself to everything in my reach- I'd been living on American fast food and lean cuisine all summer. As we ate, we started planning things we wanted to do this year. Before I knew it, it was time to leave.

"Hey, guys, I have to show the first years, the way to Gryffindor tower, so I'll meet you up there." Remus said, breaking away from us.

The rest of us made our way upstairs, laughing and joking. I felt an unusual warmth spread through my body as I stepped through the portrait hole and into the common room. I looked around and I finally felt like I was home.

"Hey, Joie, make sure you go to the right dorm." Susan Giles, a girl from my dorm, called across the crowded room. "That would be the one that isn't with the Marauders."

"Thank you so much, Susie." I retorted, in a fake, honeyed voice, using the one nickname that she despised. "I would never have been able to have figured that out on my own."

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I'd known Remus the longest out of the four Marauders. We had been next door neighbors until this summer and we'd always been close. That was because I was the only friend he had after he'd been bitten. I never really saw what the big deal was about. I mean, sure, he turned into a werewolf once a month, but he was still the same sweet boy he'd always been. Remus and I have been through everything together. He's the brother I never had and I don't know what I'd do without him. Which is why I had refused to go to Hogwarts unless he went too.

"So, Sunshine, sleep well?" Sirius asked the next morning.

"Like hell." I replied, rubbing my eyes. I'd tossed and turned all night, trying to escape my nightmares. I'd ended up with maybe two hours of sleep. "You?"

"Like a rock." He said, as we walked down to the Great Hall.

"Lucky you." I muttered sourly, yawning.

"Oh, c'mon, Sunshine, perk up!" He said, slinging an arm around my shoulders.

"You know, Black, you seem to have this annoying way of making me do the exact opposite of what I want to." I said, sliding my arm around his waist and suppressing a smile.

"That's why I'm here."

James was already at the table when we got there. Which, in itself, was amazing. What's more is that he was that he was reading a book that wasn't Qudditch Through the Ages.

"Jamesie, are you feeling alright?" I asked, feeling his forehead like a mother would check for a fever. "You're up and you're reading."

"Funny. This happens to be a book on pranks." He retorted, jerking out of my reach.

"Oh, touchy." Sirius said, sitting down across form us. "Where's Moony?"

"I don't know. Remus was gone when I came down. Probably in the library already." James replied, shrugging.

"Guys, did you for get what tonight is?" I asked looking at them. "I mean, honestly, you've known Remus for four years now."

"Wha-" Sirius started, and then a look of understanding dawned on his face. "Oh, right." He said, smacking his forehead.

"By the way, is everything ready?" I asked, lowering my voice so that only the two of them could hear me.

"Almost, we should be able to do it by Christmas." James said, with a nod.

"Excellent, I can't wait." Sirius said excitedly.

"Why? So that you can into even more trouble?" I said, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Yeah, that's it." He retorted sarcastically. "I hate just sitting here while Moony has to go through hell. I can't stand it." He added, after a second.

"I know where you're coming form, mate." I said, sadly.

Classes went as I'd expected them to. Defense Against the Dark Arts was still a joke. Honestly, the guys and I had taught ourselves more in two weeks than we'd learned in four years. Potions wasn't too bad, but then I wasn't one of Slughorn's pets. Transfiguration was probably going to challenge me some. Charms wasn't going to be a problem, but I suspected that was because that was my favorite class. And History of Magic was still the dullest class ever.

As far as the social aspect of school went, I was still an outcast. This is because I hang out with the Marauders- three of whom are the most sought after guys in the school. I'd tried to make friends with the girls in my year, but it just didn't work. I'd always hated the drama that came with girls. Guys were so much easier to along with. If they get mad, they hit something. Problem solved. With girls it's so much more complicated. They hold grudges for years. Besides the fact that Remus and I were best friends, I'd just clicked with the four of them so easily.

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"Sunshine! Here you are!" Sirius yelled as he ran towards me. I was down by the lake, skipping rocks.

"So it would seem." I replied, not looking at him. "Unless you're, you know, hallucinating."

"Well, I hope not." He said and we both laughed. "You certainly one of a kind, Sunshine. Have I ever told you that?"

"Not today."

Sirius had been calling me Sunshine since the day I'd met him- at least it seemed that way. He rarely ever used my real name and when he did, I knew that it was important. But I'll never forget the day we became friends.

Flashback

"Remus, can I sit with you? You're the only person I know." I asked, as I caught up to him in the hall on the way to dinner one night. It had been a month since we'd started and I was still having trouble making friends. "Please say yes." I added, desperately, because I was afraid that he liked his other friends better than me already. After all they were boys.

"Of course you can." He said, slightly surprised. "I'd never say no to you."

I sat down next to Remus at the table, keeping my eyes down. Like Remus, I was extremely shy when I first met people. Luckily for me, two of his friends were outgoing enough for everyone.

"Hey, Remus, I see you've already got a girl! Way to go." I heard one of them say. I looked at Remus, who had turned bright red- as I'm sure I had too.

"Um, Sirius, James, Peter, this is Joie Emerson." Remus said, regaining his composure. "Joie, this is James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew."

The first boy I looked at was plump, short, blonde, and he had watery blue eyes. He resembled a rat, if truth were told. He smiled, a nervous, frightened smile, at me and I smiled back. He almost seemed like he was a tag along, like he didn't really belong.

The next boy had jet-black hair that seemed to go in every direction. No joke. He had a nice set of hazel eyes hidden behind round frames. He was built for Quidditch, I could tell, and he was definitely going to attract quite a few girls' eyes. And then I turned to look at the third boy.

If the boy next to him was going to attract a few girls, this boy was going to have no trouble attracting the whole female population of the school, and then some. He had raven hair, which fell gracefully into his mesmerizing blue-gray eyes. He had a casual poise of someone who knew he was good-looking. He was for Quidditch as well, but not overly so. Most girls would describe him as a sex god. And the sad thing was, it was true.

"Nice to meet you." He held out his hand and flashes me an I'm-so-charming-don't-you-just-love-me smile. I looked at Remus, eyebrows raised, and he just shrugged.

"And you." I replied, shaking his hand. "Sirius, wasn't it."

"Yeah."

"And you're James," I continued, shaking the other boy's hand, "and you're Peter." I added, remembering the pudgy boy.

"So, Remus, where did you find her and where can I get one?" Sirius asked, wiggling his eyebrows at me in a suggestive way. I rolled my eyes.

"Actually, she's my next door neighbor and best friend." Remus said, shaking his head in an amused way. Apparently he was used to Sirius' antics.

"So, you guys aren't, like, you know." He said, arching an eyebrow.

"Why? It's not like you have a chance." All four boys looked at me, surprised. Hell, I was shocked myself.

"Whoa, Sirius, she's first girl to blatantly refuse you." James said, a mixture of amusement and awe in his voice. Sirius just sat there, staring at me in disbelief.

"So, how bout that weather?" Remus said, trying to cover the awkward moment.

"Um, I've to go to the, um, library." I stuttered, breaking my gaze from Sirius. "Yeah, the library." I added, jumping up and running out of the Great Hall.

"Hey, wait!" I heard a voice- Sirius'- call after me, but I didn't look back.

I ended up going to the Astronomy tower. I climbed up on top of the roof and watched the sun set. This was my favorite time of day- dusk. And then I sat watching as the stars came out, picking out constellations and thinking about what was wrong with me.

"Hey, what are you doing up there?" A loud voice called out, suddenly, making me lose my balance. And then I was falling off of the roof…and into a pair of strong arms. "You okay?" Sirius asked, holding me.

"Yeah, thanks." I said, breathlessly- whether from the fall or being in the arms of this devastatingly gorgeous boy, I didn't know.

"What were you doing up there?" He asked, setting me down on my feet.

"Watching the sun set and the stars come out." I said, not meeting his eyes.

"Well, if you trying to hide, you were doing a damn good job." He said, matter-of-factly. I looked at him. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"Me? Why?" I asked, confused.

"I wanted to apologize for earlier. I had no right to say what I did, especially since I don't really know you." He said, sincerely. "It's just that I tend to open my and say whatever pops into my mind at that moment."

"It's okay, really. Don't worry about it." I replied, with a shrug. "I guess I was kind of imposing. I mean, I have to remember that Remus isn't just my friend anymore."

"You know, we can all be friends. It doesn't have to be one or the other." Sirius said, slowly.

"Yeah, I guess. But I haven't had much luck making friends yet, so don't be so sure." I said, depressedly.

"Well, aren't you just a bright little ray of sunshine?" He asked, sarcastically and I glared at him. "Why don't you give it a shot before you give up completely?" He added.

"I guess there's no harm…"

"That's the attitude!" He exclaimed. "Now let's get going, I think you've spent enough time up here all by yourself." He added, and grabbing my hand he half led, half pulled me back to the common room.

The next morning I went down to breakfast, prepared to sit all by myself again. I'd convinced myself that Sirius had just been being nice for Remus' sake. So it took by complete surprise when I heard someone calling me.

"Hey, Sunshine! Over here!" Sirius yelled from halfway down the table. If he hadn't been looking right at me I wouldn't have known he'd been talking to me.

"Sunshine?" I asked, as I sat down across from him and Remus and next to James.

"Yeah, remember, you're just a bright little ray of sunshine. Therefore I shall call you Sunshine so that you always remember." He said, brightly. I shook my head at him. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine…" He started singing.

"Okay, stop!" I said. "You know, you're really something else." I added. It was at that moment I knew I'd found four people that were going to have a great impact on my life.

End Flashback

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reviews would be nice...just a thought ;)