A special thanks to BerryStainsAndSunflowerSeeds. Thanks for reading. :)

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November, 1973

The first month of school was the easiest, even DADA. But then November rolled by and Marlene and I found ourselves going back to our old tutor: Ravenclaw third year Tobias 'Tobster' Knowl. He was an excellent tutor, if not a little too serious, but his tutoring sessions were super long, making it impossible for any free time on the days he tutors us.

But his help improved our grades and when I got my monthly letter from Mother, she praised me for my good grades. But then she ruined it by saying that my disrespect has caused Grandmother stress and now she was feeling incredibly ill. A perfect way to end a letter to your daughter, isn't it?

As November continued on, as did the pranks. I no longer spent time with Snape, but Lily and Marlene did. Everytime the Marauders pulled off a prank, Marlene would tell me all about it and it would take a little too long to stop laughing. I wanted to tell the Marauders 'good job' to their faces, but I almost never saw them, much less actually talk with them.

That changed when I was in the library, doing my Transfiguration homework. I was bent over my notes , tapping my quill on the table, when I noticed that someone was standing in front of me. I was busy so I waited for whoever it was to move on, but they didn't. Sighing, I glanced up and frowned when I saw James Potter smiling at me. When he saw he had my attention, he slid into the chair across from me, a hopeful expression on his face.

I looked at him for one moment before returning my attention back to my homework. "What do you want, Potter?"

"Who said I wanted anything?" James asked innocently.

I gave him a look of disbelief. "I haven't seen hide or hair of you Marauders since school started and now all of a sudden you want to talk?"

James nodded. "What's wrong with that?"

I smiled, put down my quill, and leaned back into my chair, crossing my arms. "Okay, you have my attention. What do you need?"

James's smile widened. "About Lily—"

"Yeah, no," I interrupted, picking up my quill again. "That's between you and her. I'm not getting mixed into it."

"Oh, come on," James said. "I just want to ask her to Hogsmeade. Is that so wrong?"

"No," I admitted. "But she has made it pretty clear she wants nothing to do with you, especially with all the pranks you pull on Snape."

James smiled as though he was thinking of a happy memory. "Fine, but you gotta admit that we nailed those pranks."

I absolutely agreed with him. Their pranks were getting better and funnier, but I wasn't going to say that, so I simply shook my head. "Sorry, Potter."

"What'll take?" James asked as I began to pack away my books. "There has got to be something."

I shouldered my book bag and pretended to think, causing a hopeful look to flood James's face. I then made my eyes widened, as though I thought of something, before I looked at him with a smile, which soon turned to a blank expression.

"Nope, nothing. Sorry, Potter."

I patted his shoulder before walking away, but I stopped walking when I thought I heard more than one person laughing. I turned back around to where James was sitting and I didn't see anyone around him. I waited for it to come again and when it didn't I merely shrugged and left the library. I convinced myself I imagined it, because there was no other logical explanation.

I made my way back to the Gryffindor dorms and when I entered the common room, I saw Lydia was there with Marlene and Lily.

"Oh, Cerisa!" Lydia exclaimed with pure joy. "Guess what?"

I plopped down on the couch beside Marlene. "I don't know. What?"

"Peter asked me to Hogsmeade!" Lydia said.

Marlene covered her ears because of how loud Lydia was, but I simply smiled. "That's wonderful! You're going this weekend?"

Lydia nodded with a smile before her face flooded with dread. Lily looked at her in alarm. "Lydia? What's wrong?"

"I have nothing to wear!" Lydia exclaimed in horror.

Marlene held back a smile and I stifled a giggle. Meanwhile, Lily simply smiled and replied, "Don't worry. I've got you covered. Come on. I'll show you my clothes."

Lily and Lydia raced up to her bedroom and when they were out of sight, Marlene and I laughed. When silence fell, Marlene played with her hair as she said,

"Did you hear the rumors?" When I frowned, she added, "About You-know-who."

"Yeah," I replied. "Do you believe them?"

Marlene sighed. "I don't know. I'm just concerned for Lydia and Lily."

I nodded in agreement and just then the door to the common room opened, revealing the four Marauders. They all laughed amongst themselves and I saw how they changed since last I saw them. Remus had more scars on his face, Sirius's black hair was longer, and Peter had gotten a lot thinner. James, however, didn't change at all.

When they noticed Marlene and I, they stopped laughing and James said, "So I can't convince you otherwise, Reesa?"

I smiled. "Nope."

"Let me guess," Marlene said. "Potter wants you to talk to Lily."

"Correct," I said. "And I declined because he needs to learn a lesson. The more you prank Snape, the more difficult it will be for you to ask her to Hogsmeade."

"Well, that's unrealistic," Sirius said. "It's impossible not to prank Snivellus. Come on, Kaiser. Admit it. It's funny when we prank him."

I smiled but didn't answer. Beside me, Marlene said, "Why don't you sod off, Black. Cerisa and I were having a pleasant conversation before you came along."

Sirius placed a hand over his heart. "You wound me, McKinnon."

After another laugh, the boys went to their dorm rooms, leaving Marlene and I alone.

"They're unbearable," Marlene muttered beside me. "I don't like them."

"You don't like anyone, Marlene," I told her.

Marlene gave me a look of mock offense. "Not true. I like you, Lily, and Lydia. Tobster isn't that bad either. And Peter and Remus aren't as bad as Black and Potter."

I counted all the names and held up six fingers. "That's it, Marlene. You like a total of six people. Feel proud."

Marlene wiped away fake tears. "I am. I can't—now what do you want?"

Surprised at her change of tone, I turned around to see Sirius leaving his dorm room. He raised his hands defensively as he made his way to the exit.

"I'm just going out!" Sirius said. "Gee!"

When he left, I looked at Marlene. "You hate Black, huh?

Marlene nodded admantly.

I smiled mischievously as I said, "Some say the line between love and hate is a very thing line."

She looked at me in horror. Before I knew it I was hit with a pillow and I was on the ground. It took me a long time to stop laughing.

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December, 1973

As November ended and December began, I couldn't help but notice the complete lack of the Marauders—all except for Jame who continued to try and woo Lily. But even then, usually I could see them laughing when they did a prank, but now I just heard laughter, with them no where in sight. This caused me to be cautious and curious.

I had another one these experiences as I made my way to my tutoring session with Tobster. As I walked the corridor, rummaging in my bag for something, I heard someone say, 'ow' before another voice said 'shush!'.

I turned around and saw that I was completely alone in the corridor. I cautiously continued to the library and right when I was about to enter, I couldn't sworn I heard someone say 'Peter'. But there was no one there and I was completely distracted during my tutoring session. Tobster got angry and dismissed me and as I made my way to dinner, I couldn't help but look over my shoulder.

When nighttime came, I was too tired to talk with anywhere so I went straight to bed. I was in a deep sleep until I hears something clatter to the floor. I woke up immediately and went into the common room with my wand.

"Lumos," I whispered, looking around the room with my wand as a guide.

When I saw nothing I was about to go back to bed, but then I heard something. Getting sick and tired, a grabbed a pillow and threw it to where I heard the sound. I thought I was going crazy and that the pillow would simply hit the wall and fall like normal. But then it didn't hit the wall. It hit something invisible that was in front of it.

Holding my wand up to better see, I then heard really fast footsteps. My eyes widened in fear and I muttered the only spell I could think of to where I thought the footsteps where.

I almost screamed when four different voices groaned and lying on the ground were legs with no bodies. I froze in my spot and I found myself unable to say anythin when lying there was soon Sirius, Peter, James, and Remus, with James holding some sort of cloak.

"Great going, Peter," Sirius muttered, getting to his feet.

"Don't blame him," Remus whispered, "You're the one who knocking over the candle."

That was when James poked his friends arms and pointed at me. Remus' syes widened, Peter hid in the shadows, but Sirius gave me a smile.

"Hello," he said cheerfully said with a wave.

When I finally found my voice, I could only think of one thing to say. "Holy crap."