God, you guys are amazing. Again, OmenProphecy – your wish has been wholeheartedly granted. I have to thank OmenProphecy for the character of Annie. Honestly, it's because of her she exists.

Let me tell you of how I really don't own Harry Potter – tis a long tale. Begins and ends with the fact that I'm writing fanfiction on.

The Sake of Sanity

The sun burnt the castle walls brightly – the month of February promised the deliciousness of bets and it definitely promised swirling emotions which can be taken advantage of.

As for James Potter, he was definitely taking advantage of these emotions – with the coming of June Leto, the gambling trade had shifted largely onto his shoulders. There were immense bets to be placed, arguments to be refuted and speculation to be done. James was acting bookie for all those bets – so many people wanted information on June.

After all, how could a girl have gone unnoticed for all these years, without even making friends? How was it that she had slipped through the halls of Hogwarts without being pointed at, and without laughing with the others? How was it that she had never been seen?

Obviously, the speculation over her was exponential. The amount of curiosity the girl had induced in the school was ginormous. There were far too many people contemplating who she was, and even more wondering what her relationship with Sirius Black was, and the entire school betting on when the two of them were coming together.

"I say she's an elf of some sort," said Jack Robins.

"I say you're an idiot," said Fred Hearse, "She's obviously a spy the teachers have sent."

"Or maybe the ministry," said Becka Karp, idly flipping the page of her book.

"I say she's using love potion," said Gina Root jealously.

James was reaping the benefits of all the mystery. A huge and illegal betting station was going on, hailed largely by James, while everyone tried to dig up everything they could on June Leto.

Meanwhile, parallely , the teachers had joined the speculation in their own little ways. June's essays were dug up quite suddenly, since they were all also wondering how a girl managed to go by completely unnoticed for nearly six years. There was a scramble to find her old assignments, her old work, her old notebooks. And once the scramble was over, there was a ringing silence in the staff room – no one knew what to make of the girl.

"Albus, how did I manage to not notice her?" asked McGonagall.

"I'm afraid she's really good at hiding," said Dumbledore cheerfully.

"But this essay is university level!" said McGonagall, "How does one let something like that get by?"

"Well, she doesn't want to be noticed, does she?" asked Dumbledore.

"I don't see how I missed her," muttered McGonagall, "You should have told me."

"Oh, I wasn't going to deny you the opportunity of finding out the girl's prowess yourself," said Dumbledore bemusedly, "Especially Horace. Would I not want to be him right now."

Indeed, there was a lot of talk in the staff room about this girl, and Slughorn ended up joining the search, hunted down some old essays, sat down on his plush chair in shock, and

immediately wrote out invitations for a party on the weekend. June was added to the list of invitees.

The word reached June in the form of a tiny redhead who was trying her hardest to catch up to all her friends, minus Dorcas, who was hanging out with her boyfriend.

"June! Oh, sorry!" cried the redhead, dodging a person with an enormous pile of books, "Oye! June!"

June turned around and blurted, "It's the Queen of England!"

"Who?" asked Lily, surprised.

"The Queen of England," wheezed Annie, "You heard her. Curtesy before I clap you in irons."

"And who is this saucy second year?" asked Marlene.

"It's Annie the Queen of – I mean, Annie no last name," said June.

"Why does everyone think I'm a second year anyway?" asked Annie, digressing.

"You're a titch," said Marlene helpfully.

"I am not!" Annie declared, "And anyway, good things come in small packages."

"I like this girl," Marlene said.

"What is it, Annie?" asked June.

"You don't know my last name," Annie pouted, "I shan't speak to you."

"What's my last name?" asked June shrewdly.

"Something from 'S'," invented Annie wildly.

June sighed, "Leto."

"'Leto'?" questioned Annie, "What kind of a name is that anyway? Sounds like a disease."

"And what's yours?" asked Mary.

"Burns."

"'Burns'?" queried June with a raised eyebrow.

"To signify my lovely personality," said Annie with a grin.

"I really like this girl," said Marlene.

"Alright, what is it?" sighed June.

"Slughorn asked me to give you and prefect Evans this," said Annie, handing them both scrolls of invitations each, with bright red ribbons.

"Thanks?" said June, confused.

"Part of the slug club?" asked Annie slyly, "I hear Sirius Black is part of it as well."

"Honestly, where did you find this gem, June?" asked Marlene, "You must tell me!"

"She was lying the corner of the library," said June dully, "And you need to stop being so cheeky," she addressed Annie.

"You love me for it," said Annie with a grin, rushing off for class.

"Seriously June, where did you get her?" asked Marlene, marveling.

"Hush, Marlene," said June.

"Well, you have a thing with Sirius today, don't you?" asked Mary, "See where it goes from there."

"The boy's like a cake," said Marlene, "You should pounce on him."

"Marlene!" said Lily, scandalized.

"What?" asked Marlene, "He may be an idiot, but he's an idiot with a fabulous body."

"There's more to him than that," said June.

"Oh really?" asked Mary slyly.

"Really," said June.

"Like what?" Lily asked, elbowing June.

"Well, he's really smart," began June, "Amazingly so. Not only in his studies, but with his resourcefullness also. He's brave and courageous. Lord knows I admire that in a person. He's terribly sweet, he'll go to any length to make you happy. He has a personality – so many different likes and dislikes, I don't know how to describe them. He's... Merlin, I sound smitten, don't I?" asked June.

"Very much so," nodded Mary.

"I say you sound like an idiot," said Marlene.

"Why?" asked June, surprised.

"Because you seem to know him inside out, and he knows you inside out, and yet the two of you refuse to acknowledge how perfectly youu compliment each other."

June blushed.

"I say, Prongs, do you happen to have a quill?" asked Sirius.

James checked his pockets and pulled out a battered looking quill. "Whatever for?" asked James.

"I'm all out," said Sirius.

James shrugged. He was watching the breathless second year running towards them.

"James Potter and Sirius Black?" asked the redhead.

"Yes?" asked Sirius.

"I was asked to give you these," she said, pulling out two scrolls each, with red ribbons and all.

"Oh, it's the slug club thing," muttered James distastefully, "I can schedule a Quidditch practice."

"You might not want to do that," said the redhead.

Sirius, who had completely forgotten about the scrawny second year, looked at the titch little thing. "None of your business, kid," he said cuttingly, "Off with you."

The redhead shrugged. "Your funeral," she said.

Just as she was leaving, Sirius called out, "Why wouldn't I want to not go?" he asked.

"Did you just hear your sentence?" asked the redhead musingly, "I'm sure there were so many double negatives, I didn't understand it."

"Enough with your cheek," said Sirius, "I can't believe I'm listening to an ickle firstie, but, why do I want to go?"

"I'm a third year, actually," said the redhead.

"Could've fooled me."

"You could've fooled me into believing you're a pop boy band lead singer, with the immense amount of product in your hair, not to mention your supremely immature antics," said the titch of a girl.

There was a silence.

"I think June's coming for the party," added the redhead with a shrug.

There was another silence.

"Which reminds me, I needed to place a bet," she added, addressing James.

James promptly burst into laughter.

"Kid, I'm going to give you the money for nothing," he said, "You deserve it."

"June's coming?" asked Sirius.

"Yes, she told me in the library," said the redhead, "And I don't think that will be fair," she addressed James.

"You know June?" asked Sirius.

"Fair-shmair," said James, "A third year just shut him up."

"To tell the truth, it's not that hard a task," said the redhead, wrinkling her nose.

James burst into more laughter, "I like her!" he said, "Can we keep her?" he asked Sirius.

Sirius gave James a look, and said, "How do you know June?"

"I know her. And I want to place my bet," she added.

"Yes?" asked James, pulling out a little black notebook.

"Five galleons on June and Black getting together with the coming of the next Quidditch match," rattled of the redhead.

James had noted it all of, "That's tomorrow."

"I know," she said with a grin, "I have to go for class."

"What's your name?" called James.

"Annie Burns!" she called back.

"Oh – I'm sorry, I'll be leaving," said Lily, for she had stumbled into a corner of the library which was normally empty, but right now, hosted a James Potter, who was, very surprisingly, studying.

"No, it's alright, Evans," said James, "You can join me. I might actually get some work done if I know someone is watching me do work."

"Um – are you sure?" she asked.

"Absolutely. Personally, I'm banking on the osmosis effect – since you are smarter than me, more information will come to this side of the semi-permeable membrane, and I, James Potter, will become smarter."

Lily laughed at that, "Since when am I smarter?"

"Let me explain the concept of you being smarter than me," said James, "See – this is what happens – you, Lily Evans, are smarter than me."

Again, Lily laughed. "You're an idiot."

"Good. You're grasping the concept. Now come and study, so that the osmosis effect takes place."

"Where did you find out about that anyway?" asked Lily.

"You know, it's not like only one of us are friends with the good lady Leto."

"June?" asked Lily, surprised, "June gave you a lesson in science?"

"After stammering for about half an hour about this and that, she was able to discuss the basic principles of science with me, yes."

"Why did you ask her?" asked Lily.

"Because it sounded like something you were into," said James, "And unfortunately, I'm completely taken by you, Evans. My existence has become utterly futile, unless I'm doing something as a means to impress you."

Lily went completely red at that, and her stomach swooped precariously in her abdominal cavity, while a bunch of butterflies that were residing in Lily's stomach secretly, burst through and became terribly active.

"James..." she said, trying to remember coherency. It was at this point that her brain decided to remind her that this was the first time they had been alone sine their little kiss under the mistletoe. Lily silently cursed the principles of science and wondered why her own body was against her.

"Yes, Evans?" asked James.

"I -" she began, but could not continue. There was something stuck in her throat, as if she couldn't speak.

"You're a perfectly wonderful human being, Evans. Who seems to be having trouble talking," said James.

"I'm sorry," she said, "I can't do this."

"Do what?" asked James.

"This," she said, "Us being friends."

"Friends don't kiss each other," James pointed out.

"I know!" said Lily, "Which is why it begs the question: what are we?"

"We, Evans," began James, "Are nothing as of yet. This is what's going to happen: you're going to sit beside me, and study properly. Explain everything about this chapter in Arthimancy, because I am an idiot. Then, you and I are going to flirt – oh, don't give me that look Evans, we're always flirting and you know it. And lastly, we're going to say goodbye and be off on our way, because we have two people in our friends circle to tackle."

"Sounds about right," Lily breathed.

June tapped her foot nervously.

It was not yet eight o'clock. She had five more minutes.

"Damn it," she muttered, and started heading towards the astronomy tower.

Every part of her body was screaming in protest. She didn't want to do this, she really didn't. Okay, she actually was looking forward to it. Not a lot, just a little bit. There was a lot of excitement mixed with the dread.

"Ah, you're here!" came the voice of Sirius Black (her stomach did a somersault), "That's good."

He sounded mildly nervous.

June nodded, since her tongue had seized up all over again.

"You look very pretty," said Sirius.

June blushed red. "Thanks," she muttered.

"I like flustering you," said Sirius with a grin, "You look lovely when you blush."

"That's a big word," muttered June helplessly, "Words like that shouldn't be bandied about."

"Good thing they aren't," said Sirius seriously.

June blushed even worse at that.

"Here we are," said Sirius, "The astronomy tower."

June felt like her brain would explode.

Sirius took her by the shoulders and pushed her forwards. "What a-are you doing?" asked June.

"I know you, June," said Sirius, "You're freaking out right now. I'm not going to make this difficult for you, trust me. We get this done one step at a time?"

Immediately, a huge weight residing in June's stomach lifted. She smiled, and nodded.

"That a girl," said Sirius.

They found themselves in an empty classroom, with a window that opened to the world and beyond. They could see the lake, looking like a pool of ink, stretching across the into the valley and on – like a sea of the darkest monsters. The moon burnt bright, with the clouds fluttering across it's burnished face. It looked like a flickering light in the stormy seas.

Sirius didn't hear Pringle give them orders, he didn't register the broom that was placed in his hand. He was watching June.

Over there, with the outlines of the hills blurred, the darkness which seemed to envelope everything and everyone in it – the horizon seemed endless. Every fibre of Sirius' being was humming with an electricity which he had never felt before – the very stars seemed to be singing songs with the way they twinkled.

Nature was alive.

And June smiled at him – he was paralysed.

It seemed like she was the one controlling everything about the scene. The universe sighed with her very breath, the world rotated with the power hiding behind those bright golden eyes, and everything about nature was bending towards the will of those light feet.

How does she do this? Sirius asked himself. Everything about her was so... different. She stepped lightly, as if every little change counted in the currency of coincidence.

"What?" June asked, pushing her hair back in a pony.

"You look beautiful," he said, pinching the rubber-band from her hair, letting it flow loose.

June blushed in the silvery blanket of moonlight, "Words like that shouldn't be bandied about."

"Good thing they aren't," said Sirius simply.

"I wish you wouldn't say things like that," she said.

"I make it a point to only speak truthfully in moments where it counts," said Sirius, by way of explanation.

June blushed again, fidgeted with her fingers, and got back to the broom.

"We need to organize this mess," she said, pointing at the haphazard mess which looked like a giant lump of blackness.

"Alright," said Sirius, and they began.

The piles and piles of records were found, and June began to organise every single one of those files. They found certain old pictures, and a bunch of albums which Sirius had no idea existed. They held pictures of the old school Quidditch teams, old badges, and many other things.

"This school is ridiculously old," muttered Sirius.

June laughed, "Oh, I would have never known!"

"Excuse me? Tone down the sass," said Sirius, trying and failing to adopt an American accent.

"Did you just say 'Tone down the sass' in a sentence?" asked June.

"Yes, I did," said Sirius, "You should take lessons from me on general sassiness."

"I thought I was the one being sassy."

"See? This is what I meant when I said 'tone down the sass.'" said Sirius, annoyed.

"There can be only one master of sassiness!" declared June, jumping on a box, presumedly to gain height over him.

"Exactly so," said Sirius, "And I declare a sass war!"

"What are you going to do? Give me a half-baked argument?" asked June, teasing.

"Oh, you did not just – I'm coming for you!"

Sirius came rushing after her, and June jumped off the box, laughing. He chased her around the room until they stopped in front of the window, with June helplessly pinned in his arms, and Sirius bent forwards and on to her.

"Who is the king of sass?" asked Sirius.

"Either Annie or Marlene," said June, at once.

"Wait – Annie the titch?" asked Sirius.

"She's not that small!" said June defensively, standing up.

She didn't realise how precariously close to him she was. Sirius didn't make an effort to move back.

The moon decided that it was a good time to peep out of the clouds, and it peeked out from the wisps of darkness.

"The moon looks beautiful," muttered June, turning.

"It's hiding in shame behind those clouds thanks to you," said Sirius.

June blushed, "And how many times have you used that line?"

"Never," said Sirius, "I don't use lines like that. I'm not a very cheesy person, Miss Leto – you tend to make me."

June didn't have a reply to that, so she marveled at the moon.

"What are you thinking about?" asked Sirius.

"I'm feeling overwhelmed," sighed June, "Everything is ridiculously perfectly made, isn't it?"

"I don't follow," said Sirius, turning to face the open window as well.

"Think about it," said June, "There was a one in a million chance that the earth would be born, another one in a million chance that it would support life, and yet another one in a million chance that we would be here. There's far too little time for us to feel less, isn't there?"

Sirius watched her.

"There's far too much poetry in this world," continued June, "Everything from the language we speak in, to essential elements of this world sing. It's impossible not to notice it – you have to, for the sake of sanity. The amount of chaos, the amount of order, the very way coincidence forms our lives – now that's beautiful."

"June?" asked Sirius.

"Yes?" asked June.

"How old are you?"

June faced him with a confused expression, "Sixteen," she said.

"You don't seem sixteen," he said, "You seem... older."

"I reign over this dark castle, with love buried deep," she quoted, "I control this universe now, since I control my keep."

"That's a perfect way to put it," said Sirius.

"It's a poem," said June, "Anonymous poem. It's about the monsters in one's head."

"Sounds like a wonderful poem," said Sirius.

"Oh yes," said June, nodding, "I wonder why we fight against the monsters in our minds anyway? If you look at them closely... they are beautiful too."

"June?" asked Sirius again.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Can I kiss you?"

June watched him, her eyes widening – she was saved the pain of answering, with the arrival of Pringle.

They watched silently as Pringle inspected their work – which had taken so very long. It was almost one in the night. He grunted and let them go, and June and Sirius walked back silently to the empty common room.

Just as June was about to leave, she turned to Sirius, telling him to stop.

"What?" asked Sirius.

"I'm... not sure how to do this," she muttered. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and pressed her lips to his cheek.

"Oh," said Sirius, "I'm not sure how to do this either, but..."

He kissed her on the cheek too.

"What do you mean, 'I'm not sure how to do this'?" asked June, annoyed, "You have had countless girlfriends!"

"And you're the only girl who has ever had me guessing," he said, "No girl has ever asked me to kiss her on the cheek."

So that's that. I actually have a wonderful chapter planned out for you guys next. Hopefully, this one wasn't too shabby!

Also, the poem quoted by June was something I wrote. If you would like to read it, you can PM me, or request it in your reviews.