Breathe

Authors Note: Thank you to my reviewers and I hope that you enjoy this chapter as much as you enjoyed the last. Once again I don't own anything you recognise from the Harry Potter series and I don't own the lyrics.

'I don't know how many times we've walked the streets,

Talking for ages about the people we're gonna be,

We've been waiting for a change but I don't mind,

If you don't change baby,

Though it might seem crazy,

But I'm happy with you this way.'

Lyrics: 'Breathe Easy Acoustic Jam' Sugababes.

Joan

I really couldn't wait until the quidditch season started up again. It was the highlight of my weekends, any excuse for a good party in my opinion and the rest of Gryffindor seemed to agree with me highly. It's two weeks into my last year at Hogwarts and nothing remotely interesting has happened. Normally the Marauders have played half a dozen pranks to amuse everyone and make the first signs of homesickness disappear. It hasn't gotten any easier for me I always get homesick and I sorta depend on their completely immature pranks to pull me through the first couple of weeks when I just want to go home.

Robert Stanford was the quidditch captain this year and though I've never played quidditch (Lily plays seeker) I think he's going to make a good captain. Last year he played fantastic and subed as the captain while the real captian was in the hospital wing with rather nasty concussion. Qudditch also brings relief from Lily and James's constant arguing as its the only thing they have in common. I have a hunch that that's why James likes Lily so much, She can hold a good quidditch debate.

I was sat in the common room in my usual chair by the fire just people watching. Its amazing how much you can learn about people just by watching them pass their lives away. I had finished all of my homework and without Lily or James here (Qudditch practise) there was nothing to do or anyone to talk to. Without Lily I'm not the most popular person in school I have my friends, popularity doesn't matter to me. I haven't had a moments peace all term so far, No time to think. Remus is sat opposite from me engrossed in some book on astrology and the brass band was nowhere to be seen or heard of. I heard the portrait hole open.

"Joan!" A deep voice called, I turned to see Robert walking towards me carrying his broom in one hand. Remus's eyes flicked up from his book for a moment, probably thinking that the brass band was back.

"Oh hey" I said softly not wanting to break the peace by the fire. Robert was a tall guy with light brown hair, his eyes were green and he was fairly stocky. He sat in the chair next to mine.

"I haven't had chance to talk to you, how was your summer?" he pulled the chair around more to face me.

"It was good, yours?" What followed nearly caused me to fall asleep, you see Robert has this horrible ability to make even the most interesting subject on the planet seem like it was the most boring. He's a lovely guy and he really can't help it but his voice is one flat monotone. Involuntarily I yawned discreetly covering my mouth with the back of my hand.

When I looked at him I realised he had asked me a question and was waiting for me to answer.

"Yeah." I nodded enthusiastically, out of the corner of my eye I could see Remus smirking just behind his book. What had he asked me? I really have to start trying to listen and I would've if I wasn't so damn bored/tired.

"Great! I'll meet you at nine in the entrance hall on Saturday." Roberts voice suddenly had some animation to it, then the words sunk in 'I'll meet you at nine in the entrance hall on Saturday' . What one earth had I agreed to? Remus was full out laughing now. Robert smiled at me and walked off towards the dorms. The moment he was out of sight I turned to Remus in a panic.

"What have I agreed to?" I asked him hurriedly, it couldn't be a date. Please not a date.

"A date." Remus gasped between breaths of laughter. Groaning I sunk deeper into my chair. When will I learn to listen?

Then as if my evening couldn't get any worse the brass band chose to arrive at that exact moment. The moment of mortification continues he's going to have a field day with this.

"Oi! Padfoot!" Remus called across the common room to him.

"Remus please don't tell him." I hissed with a pleading look on my face.

"Who said I was going to say anything?" He asked me smugly.

"Remus don't even think about it." I resorted to warning him. With each second that passed Sirius was getting closer to us. Remus just kept the smug grin on his face, at that moment no matter how nice he normally is, I wanted to deck him one and knock that smug smile of his stupid face.

"You'll never guess what Joan just agreed to." Remus said to Sirius when he'd sat down in the chair Robert had just vacated.

"Oh yea' what?" Sirius asked looking curiously between me and Remus. If I had been less mortified I would have moved and gone upstairs but at that moment I couldn't move. I determindly looked into the fire, ignoring Sirius's quizzical glances.

"She agreed to a date." Remus seemed to be taking a smug satisfaction with drawing this out as long as humanly possible.

"With who?" I could feel Sirius's eyes fixed on me.

"Robert Stanford." and so the teasing would commence.

Lily

Dumbledore has completely lost the plot this year. Potter as Head Boy and now Stanfords' the Quidditch Captain. What type of team Captain saunters off after practise and leaves the rest of their team to pack up everything? Stanford apparently. I'm not the only one who is less than happy with this blatent unfair abuse of privilages.

"We could give him detention" Potter growled nastily as we were struggling together to push a bludger into the ball chest.

"Or let one of these lose on him." He continued conspiring against Stanford.

"Can't he's a beater." I panted putting a flaw in Potters plans. I may hate the guy but on all things Quidditch we stand united. It was getting dark out and we were the last ones on the pitch. We had let everyone else go and stupidly offered to clear all the equipment away. Although a good move on the student popularity front it could just cost us our limbs in the process. With one last push Potter managed to hold down the bludger while I fastened the restraining clip.

Even more exhausted we both slumped resting our back on opposite sides of the chest.

"I could prank him." Potter barely whispered but I still heard it. Him mentioning pranks reminded me of something Joan had said. The Marauders pranks were fun and amusing but this year their had been no pranks. A sign their all growing up. I snorted at the thought of Black being mature. No that can't be the reason.

"Speaking of pranks." I turned to look at Potter over the chest, "Why haven't you played any so far?" He chuckled lightly.

"I thought you hated the pranks?" He muttered. Had he stopped pranking because of me? No not possible.

"Actually I like the pranks but only when there not dangerous." He stared at me shocked.

"Evans is that a complement?" he asked incrediously. His eyes were wide, looking at me as if I was a whole new person.

"Sorta." I shrugged my shoulder and went to stand up when Potter's voice stopped me.

"Who are you and what have you done with Evans?"

"It's Lily," I faced him, he looked even more shocked. "Call me Lily."

"Breathe, Potter, Breathe." I called back to him as I left leaving James still sat on the pitch.