November , 1977

As the weeks went by so did news of Veronique being a Death Eater. It was soon made public and the entire school new about it. Students were shocked—a Gryffindor a Death Eater? No one wanted to believe it and those who accepted it shunned me entirely. Atter all, to them I was just like Veronique: a pureblood in Gryffindor who was raised the same way.

So my group of friends shrunk. I now only spent time with the Marauders, Lily, Lydia, and Marlene. I didn't mind, though. They were infinitely better than anyone else.

Presently I walked along with Sirius and Peter. I had my arm interlocked with Sirius's and I smiled as Peter told me his grand plan for Lydia's Christmas gift. It was awfully sweet.

"I got an idea, Wormtail," Sirius said. "Why don't use Prongs's cloak and place a mistletoe under the Hufflepuff common room door, so that when you walk her back, it will conveniently be there."

Peter's eyes lit up. "That's an excellent idea, Padfoot! In fact, I'mgoing to find Prongs right now."

"There's no need," I said as James came running down the corridor towards us. "What's wrong, Potter?"

We didn't stop walking so James walked beside us, nearly out of breath. "I need to ask you something, Reesa. Something very important."

I raised an eyebrow in amusement. "All right then. What is it?"

"Does Lily like me?" James asked seriously. "I mean, does she like like me?"

I pressed m lips together, trying to contain my smile. "What gave you that idea?" Beside me, Peter and Sirius stiffled laughs.

"I was talking with Marlene," James began. "And she mentioned that if I asked Lily would go with me to Hogmeade. When I asked her to explain, she wouldn't! What a dreadful woman!"

I laughed. "She does give that impression. And to asnwer your question, yes. Lily does seem to like like you at the moment."

James stopped walking, which caused all of us to stop. Sirius went to James and placed his hands on his shoulders. "You know what this means, Prongs."

James nodded. "It's time for Phase One. Wormtail, Padfoot, with me!" He paused and glanced at me. "Oh, um, you don't mind if I bother Sirius from you do you, Reesa?"

I shook my head with a smile."Go ahead. But you harm Lily, I harm you."

A smile sprung to his face and James kissed my cheek before he and Peter rushed off. Sirius, in the other hand, gave me a kiss and a grin before going after his friends. I watched them go, tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, wondering if I would ever be as important to Sirius as the Marauders were.

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December, 1977

It was the end of November when it happened: James took Lily to Hogsmeade and a day later, they were dating. And so during the two weeks afterwards, Remus and Marlene tagged along to all our group events as the seventh and eight wheels. But that didn't mean I wasn't a third wheel myself. At time when I was with Lily and James, it was like I wasn't there. The same went fot Peter and Lydia.

And so when Christmas break was fast approaching we all agreed that we would stay at Hogwarts and spend Christmas together. I was thrilled and so was Lydia, who was already starting to figure out what to get Peter for Christmas.

But something else was agreed around Christmas time. Lydia and I sat in the Gryffindor common room minding our own business when the Marauders appeared. They sat down on the couches around us—after Peter kissed Lydia and Sirius winked at me—and I was suspicious at this sudden gathering. Therefore I placed down my sketchbook and raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"We're going to tell Lily and Marlene," Remus told us, his face and tone completely serious.

Lydia and I looked at each other and we knew exactly what he meant. Lydia turned to Remus. "Are you sure? I mean—"

"I'm sure," Remus said with a small smile. "Besides I trust Lily and Marlene. They're my friends just as much as you and Cerisa are. They deserve to know."

"Just as long as you're sure, Remus," I told him. "So when will you tell them?"

"Soon," he replied. "Before Christmas."

"I think it'll be a lot btter once we do," Peter said. "Then we'll be a real family."

Lydia smiled and her dark eyes sparkled. "Exactly! Because that is what we are. A family!"

James grinned along with them before glancing down at his watch. "Speaking of Lily. We need to perform our Head Boy and Girl duties. I'll see you guys later."

Once James left the dorm, Remus turned to us. "Sure, 'duties'. Yeah right."

I stiffled a laugh. "Perhaps you should've told them to bring the invisibility cloak."

"Are you kidding me?" Peter asked. "They already have it. Why do you think there are less pranks this year? James has the cloak with him at all times. We can never get out hands on it."

"Poor thing," I said with a pout. "Must be hard not to be able to annoy people anymore."

Peter gave me a teasing look and after some more idle conversation, Peterand Lydia soon left. Remus left soon after because I gave him a look to. I wanted to talk with Sirius alone. And so when it was just us, I crawled up on the couch and faced him with my legs crossed.

"What's up?"

I sighed, not really sus how to begin. "Remember when we first started to date?"

Sirius grinned. "Of course I do. How could I forget?"

"And remember when you told me that you could offer me your commitment? That I would be your only girl?"

"Yes," Sirius said, slightly suspicious. "Why?"

"It's just that..." I bite my lip. "It's just that when I'm with you and the other Marauders I don't feel the attention you give to them. Look, I'm not trying to sound jealous, but..."

"Kaiser," Sirius began. "Surely you—"

I held my hand up, interrupting him. "I'm not mad, Black. I've resigned myself to the fact that I won't hold that special place in your heart like the Marauders do. I just want some of it."

Sirius looked at me incredulously before taking my hand in his. "Kaiser, you do hold that special place in my heart. Don't think otherwise. Yes, I love Peter, James, and Remus. And yes they're more than friends. They're my brothers. But I want you to be more than more than a friend to me. And that is what you are to me. More than more than a friend."

"You mean a girlfriend?" I asked with a small smile.

Sirius grinned and placed a kiss on my lips. "Exactly. Look, Kaiser. I know I'm new to this whole commitment thing but I want to make this work. So if you need more of my sweet love and attention, you've got it. Think of it as a reward for finally admitting that you've loved me since first year."

I playfully punched his arm, trying to keep back my smile. "In your dreams, Black. I have not loved you since first year. Hated you, maybe." Sirius gave me a mischievous smile and silence fell before I sighed and asked, "Out of curiosity, what made me so special that you would want to commit to me? I mean, there are hundreds are other girls. Prettier girls. Smarter girls. So why me?"

Sirius kissed my hand. "Honestly? You were cute to me at first. And not pretty cute. I mean stuffed-animal cute. Especially when you got mad. I could hardly take you seriously!" This earned him another punch on the arm before he continued. "But then it was how everytime we pranked you, you didn't bother to save yourself some embarrassment. For example, when we covered you in glitter. Instead of cleaning up, you marched into the classroom with no shame. I liked that."

"Is that all?" I asked, not being able to hide my increasingly wide smile.

"No. I liked you also when you took the time to check on Regulus. I mean I know Peter asked you too, but you when farther than you needed to. You befriended him and tried to stop Snape from influencing him. There's also how you handled hearing about Remus's furry little problem."

"And all these things add up to...?" I prodded.

"These little things and many other things told me that you were worth commitment," Sirius replied. "Not to mention the fact that you are smart, beautiful, and able to handle all of my crap. That's important."

I looked at Sirius with admiration before leaning over and planting a kiss on his lips—a kiss that left him breathless afterwards. "Thank you, Black. That meant a lot."

Sirius held my hand and kissed my forehead. "You're welcome. And don't you ever forget: you're my only girl."

Those last words left me smiling for the entire evening.

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End of chapter 33! Only four chapters left of this fanfic (give or take)!!!!! Thank you for sticking around for so long. I love you guys!!!