Okay I know I said I wasn't going to update until I got three reviews but I got two on the same chapter and had almost 20 people read the last chapter in the past three days so you get an update. Want to ask you to keep reviewing. It keeps me motivated. Hopefully this chapter will answer some questions.

Huge thank you to EternalVeritie and Patronousesandpotions you guys totally rock. Both for the reviews and for following the story.

Betas for this chapter are: LittleDrummerGirl2010 and Literatifan4eva. You guys are great.

Also thanks to Prongs Smitch for looking over this even though you didn't find anything wrong.

Chapter 6: Trust, Not At All

Slowly Mandy trudged down the boys' stairs after her conversation with Sirius and came across the three other Marauders still in the Common Room. Pinching the bridge of her nose, Mandy walked over to them and then she leaned against the arm of the couch. "James, Peter, did either of you see what happened with Black and her last night?" Mandy asked as she ran a hand through her hair.

"I'm sorry, I didn't," James said softly. "For what it's worth though, I don't think he slept with her."

"Thank you. Peter?"

"They were snogging in the Great Hall during the party but I don't—" Peter stopped and looked away. Mandy nodded. "Mandy, they're also speculating about you and Remus. You two were practically the only ones who didn't show up."

"You both knew Sirius was in bed with her though, right?" Mandy asked.

"We tried to warn you," James said.

"You did," Mandy agreed, "I'm sorry I didn't listen. Remus and I didn't do anything last night. I didn't even see him until this morning."

"I trust you. I know how much you care about Sirius. We all do," Peter said.

"James, do you know where my brother is?" Mandy asked.

James pulled the map from his pocket and scoured it for a few moments. "His office," he said.

Mandy nodded again, "you two should get to class."

"Free period remember?" James asked.

"Right." Mandy left the Common Room. When she reached her brother's office she knocked and he let her in. Mandy smiled at the scent of scones and cocoa coming from within.

"Yes, you can have some," Jason agreed. However when she got closer, the scent made her flinch backwards. "You alright, little sister?"

"That smell is making me nauseous," Mandy answered.

"Are you coming down with something?" Jason asked.

"Maybe. Listen I need to know what happened last night."

"Last night?" Jason asked, swallowing his hot chocolate. Soon the cup was empty and Mandy felt better.

"I know you were watching him like the protective lion you are. Please," Mandy begged, knowing that Jason knew exactly who she was talking about without her mentioning his name.

Jason put the tip of his wand to his temple and thought for a few moments. He drew his wand away and dropped the memory into the pensieve on the mantle. The pensieve had been handed down through the male descendants of the Hunters belonging to Jason's dad and his dad before him. He lifted it and sat it on the desk as an offering to his sister. Mandy touched the surface and was pulled in.

Mandy walked around the Great Hall spotting her brother. He was leaning against the punch table snacking on a piece of cake. Mandy followed his sightline and found he was indeed looking at a pirate but the pirate was alone. Mandy walked towards him. She paused about a meter from said pirate. Then she watched as the girl in the pink dress and matching mask walked up and sat down next to him. The crown on her head told Mandy the girl was portraying a princess. Sirius gave her half a smile and went back to staring at his glass of punch that he was nursing. The girl sat down next to Sirius and began whispering in his ear. Mandy glanced away and took a deep breath before turning back to watch them. The girl kissed Sirius's cheek then continued to whisper to him. The memory went fuzzy and when it continued Mandy was standing farther away from Sirius but the girl was perched in his lap and they were indeed snogging. Mandy watched as they snogged for a while and as the party wound down they walked out the door, Sirius's hand on her back.

The memory went dark and Mandy floated back up and out of the pensieve. She sat down in a chair next to Jason's desk and noticed he had finished most of the scones. "First, I can't believe you manipulated that. Something happen you didn't want me to see?"

"I may have been flirting," Jason said embarrassedly. He was staring into the fire as he sat in his desk chair.

"Jason, as long as she's over 17, I don't care. She's of age that's all that matters. Unless it was guy. If that's the way you feel then don't flaunt it in front of me and good for you," Mandy said.

"It's a woman and she's 17, I promise. I just—I'm not comfortable with it being out there just yet." Jason shook his head.

"I'm not going to tell anyone. I'm your sister for Merlin's sake."

"Alright. I will tell you, soon but not yet," Jason said.

"Okay."

"Wait, what was your second thing?"

Mandy shook her head, confused.

"You said first you couldn't believe I manipulated the memory. So the second?"

"If you had problems trusting your girlfriend, totally hypothetical, but you still loved her, then you were at a party and this girl started flirting with you, really flirting, would you leave with her?"

"If I was drunk off my rocker? Probably. I don't think I would ever go to a party without my girlfriend and drink heavily but if that were the case then there is a chance that I would do something like that but only if I was pissed."

"Do you think that was the case with Sirius?"

"Mandy, there was no alcohol there that night."

"That you saw."

"OK, I admit that someone may have spiked the punch but even if they did, he only had four glasses. I was near that bowl all night."

"Thanks, Jay."

"Mandy, did something happen?" Jason asked, looking at his sister carefully.

"It's your memory. Look for yourself," Mandy answered before leaving the room. Mandy slowly walked the long way back to the Common Room trying to calm herself down but it didn't work and by the time she returned she was even angrier. She returned to the Common Room to find it empty and then realized that everyone must have been in class.

Mandy went upstairs and fell asleep and woke during the afternoon shortly before classes let out for the day. Finding she was still hurt and angry she took a shower then went to dinner. After dinner Mandy pulled Lily into an empty classroom and looked at her. She knew by the look on Lily's face, the older girl had wanted to talk to her and knew it wouldn't be good to put her off any longer.

"Where were you last night? It's like once a month you disappear. Your bed is empty all night and last night. Last night was a big deal to both me and James. You said you'd be there," Lily snapped.

"I never said I'd be there, I just said I had a costume," Mandy said. "And you're basing my disappearance off two months?"

"You've been disappearing once a month since the start of sixth year. Tell me, Mandy. I'm supposed to be your best friend and you've never hidden anything from me. We're not supposed to keep secrets," Lily said angrily.

"I've already lost my boyfriend, things are still a little rocky between me and James, and every one already believes I'm doing things with Remus, my day could not get worse," Mandy muttered, making a split second decision. She nodded and looked at her best friend. First she had to get a promise out of the girl. She wasn't going to destroy a friendship without making sure her secret wouldn't get out. "No matter what though, no matter how you feel about this, no matter how angry or disgusted or turned off you may be by this, you have to swear not to tell a single soul. No one can know," Mandy said forcefully. "You have to swear it."

"I swear I will never say a word," Lily said.

"Good, what do you know about were-tigers?" Mandy asked.

"Aren't they like werewolves? I mean we don't really study them here; they're non-existent in Britain."

"Lily, I know you like to read," Mandy said. "Professor Weston asked us to include all lycanthropes in our report in third year."

"Right. I remember that werewolves can live in packs but the tiger form doesn't. They're solitary animals and a lot of them are able to hide their condition better. That's why most of them live like normal witches and wizards. I don't know much else," Lily said. "Why does that matter?"

"They are a lot like werewolves. They change once a month, they have a lot in common with their normal versions, and they do have a drive to kill people, but they're not all like that. Were-tigers can be someone you've never expected. They're vastly misunderstood," Mandy explained. "It's also hard to tell the difference between a real tiger and a were-tiger like with wolves and werewolves."

"Why is this so important?" Lily asked.

"Two summers ago, six days after my 16th birthday I was wandering the woods behind my house looking for my cat when I was bitten. I ended up at St. Mungo's for two days and two nights. They couldn't figure out what had bitten me until my brother used Legilimency on me and I saw the striped tail. As it turns out on the 30th of every month were-tigers transform and one somehow ended up in Britain. I was bitten because I was outside and now once a month I'm turned into a big, hairy tiger," Mandy explained.

Lily went dead silent and stared at her. Several minutes later Lily turned and walked out of the classroom. Mandy sat down near the door, wrapped her arms around her legs as she drew them up to her chest, buried her face in her knees, and cried. What seemed like several long minutes later the door opened then shut and a warm body pressed against her wrapping her in a tight hug. They didn't say anything and Mandy continued to cry. When she was all cried out she leaned against her mystery person, breathing slowly.

"I can't tell you it'll be ok," he said softly.

"James—" Mandy started.

"Shh," he said gently. "I know it feels like it's all falling apart but you will always have me."

"How did things go last night?" Mandy asked.

"Great. Lily and I made some progress too," James said, stroking Mandy's light brown hair. "Mandy, I am so sorry about what I put you through. I was so stuck on—"

"James, you've already apologized."

"I know. Even so, I know you still feel like things aren't right between us. It is hard for me to come to terms with what happened between you and Sirius; to understand how I buggered everything up and it was all my fault. I feel so bad. If I hadn't gotten involved—"

"James, I know why you feel like you have to say this but I've already forgiven you. If you can accept my relationship with Sirius as it stood two days ago then I am—then we are ok. Nothing more needs to be explained or gone over. We're mates again and that's that," Mandy said. James leaned down and kissed the top of Mandy's head. She held on to his comfort for a few more moments before standing up and pacing.

"Now tell me why it feels like my heart is breaking," James said.

Mandy stared at him.

"Mandy, in third year when the two of us were young and dumb, we conned our Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor into believing we needed a book from the restricted section. When we found said book we thought it was the most brilliant idea to perform a very old spell, remember?" James said.

"Right. I never should have done that spell with you. It changed my life," Mandy said.

"Tell me what happened," James said. Mandy continued to pace as she told him about everything that had happened with Sirius and everything she had found out. "So he didn't sleep with her, only kissed her and slept in the same bed with her. May I remind you she was passed out?"

"That's not the point, James. He was drinking spiked punch. At least four glasses. How am I ever supposed to trust him again?" Mandy asked.

"The same way he's supposed to trust you when the basis of the start of your relationship with him was a plot to humiliate him."

Mandy stopped and stared at him. "You're right. I planned on humiliating him in front of the entire school. If he can learn to trust that I won't do that again then I should trust that he'll control his drinking next time. Besides like everyone has told me he didn't sleep with her."

"And?"

"And what?"

"That's enough to get you down but it won't make you cry," James said, opening his arms again.

Mandy walked over and sat down next to him. She sank into his embrace and told him about her talk with Lily. "So now she knows and she didn't say anything. She just walked away. I lost my best friend. One of the only girlfriends I've ever had." There were tears in Mandy's eyes again.

"Mandy, it's her loss. If she can't accept you for what—who you are then I don't want anything to do with her."

"James, I know how you feel about her," Mandy protested.

"And you and I are a package deal. You're my best friend. My kid sister. I'm always going to protect you. You're always ... well maybe not come first but you're half my soul. Any girlfriend, fiancée or wife will have to understand that. Besides if she's going to walk away from you, she's going to walk away from Remus and if she can't understand either one, she doesn't deserve me."

"You are too good to your friends."

"I'm not going to sacrifice a friendship for a relationship. Take me as I am or don't have me at all."

"There's something special about you James Aaron Potter and if I wasn't so in love with Sirius, I'd want you all to myself. Any girl who is lucky enough to have you should treasure you like you're the last man on the planet."

"I'm not the only one. You're amazing too."

"Do you think we could have ever worked out?"

"I don't know, Mandy. You never forget your first but there are some things we never could have worked through." James shook his head.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe we are better off as mates. I'm glad to have you though," Mandy said.

"Same here." James pulled her to her feet and led her back to the Common Room. In the Common Room Mandy found Sirius sitting on the couch staring at a book but his eyes weren't moving so Mandy could tell he wasn't reading it. The minute she walked in Remus nudged Sirius and the latter closed his book, looking towards Mandy and James.

"Like I said earlier," Mandy said as she sat down in her chair, "I am upset and disappointed. I am not angry. You were, at least, telling the truth about what happened at the party, I've seen that much so I can trust that you were telling the truth about the rest. Trust is a word that is hard for me to use. We can work this out just like James and I did but it's going to take a lot of time. Did you get rid of her?"

"This morning after a hangover potion. She's a Hufflepuff. Evidently it was a drunken dare. Her friends set her up. She profusely apologized for it when she was clear minded and she realized that my feelings were as strong as ever for you," Sirius said.

"I understand but I need space and I don't want you to try to romance me," Mandy said.

"Mandy, really I'm—" Sirius started.

"Don't!" Mandy snapped to shut him up.

Sirius's eyes darted towards James who was leaning against the fireplace and James shook his head subtly. Sirius looked back towards Mandy and saw the fire burning in her blue eyes and knew from their shared history that now was neither the time nor place to say anything. He looked down at his lap feeling like the world's greatest prick for what had happened.

Mandy on the other hand stood and walked upstairs then changed into her pajamas. After getting her assignments from her roommate Tiff, Mandy blazed through her homework and then settled down for bed. A while later Mandy heard Lily and Parker come in talking about something but it stopped suddenly.

"Oh, she is here," Lily said softly.

"You're being too hard on her," Parker said.

"You have no idea what I know," Lily said.

"Maybe not but she's been your friend for ages. You can't just—"

"Parker, I appreciate the concern but honestly, I don't want to talk about it."

"Fine. I still think you need to really think about it before making any decisions. Especially rash ones. Look how wrong you're starting to see you were about Potter. I admit he's not as bad as he used to be and you were getting along with him last night."

"Let's not talk about this now," Lily said.

"If you say so," Parker said.

Mandy listened as the rest of her roommates came in and went to bed and soon the room was filled with the sounds of slumber. When she was sure they were all in bed, Mandy grabbed her teddy bear and went to the boys' dorm. Pressing her ear to the door all Mandy heard were soft snores and some squeaking bed springs which told her they were mostly asleep. The one sound she didn't hear was the sound of James's distinct grunting and knew he was still awake. Mandy crept inside and silently made her way to the second bed on the right. James's bed. She slid open the hangings and by the light of the dying moon she saw him practicing wand movements.

"So this how you're better than everyone else? Practicing late at night?" Mandy asked quietly.

"A little bit. Come on, my covers are nice and warm," James said, not pausing his wand. Mandy smiled gratefully and climbed into bed. This wasn't the first time they had shared a bed as they had been friends for ages and Mandy knew it probably wouldn't be the last.

So there you have it. I do hope you enjoyed. Keep reading and please, please review. It really does keep me going.