Disclaimer: It's completely pointless.

Emily had arrived at the leaky Cauldron two days after she had left Sirius in front of the Black Mansion. She wouldn't be able to tell you how she managed it because she barely knew herself. But she was there, that was all that mattered. She did exactly what Sirius had told her, and was soon sitting in her room at the Leaky Cauldron inn. She didn't go into Diagon alley for a few days, and just kept to her room, apart from mealtimes. When she finally decided to venture into the busy street, she found herself feeling overwhelmed by the size of it all. There were so many people, all talking and laughing, everyone seemed to know everyone. People would stop suddenly to wave or call out to someone, or go down a side alley to more shops, hidden from view.

Emily looked down at her list. She decided to get her school robes first, and headed towards a shop, with a sign above saying 'Madam Malkin's robes for all occasions' She headed inside, and was welcomed by a squat, smiling witch dressed in mauve. She showed Emily to a stool, where she started to measure her arms, around her waist and around her forehead.

"Hogwarts m'dear? Yes, I've got all the things you need. But you're not a first year are you? I've never seen you before," a scowl came across her face, "I suppose you've been shopping at Twilfitt and Tattings…"

"No, I had my robes sent to me," Emily lied. Emily was good at lying; she had done it often at the Black's household. Usually to Mister Frank, if he let her speak that is.

"Well, it's much better to shop here in person if I say so myself. Seem to fit much better when fitted personally."

After she had finished measuring Emily, Madam Malkin had shown a short, round boy to the stool next to her, and begun measuring him. He had entered the shop with two of his friends; a golden haired boy reading a book and a tall, dark haired boy with round glasses. Emily observed the trio for a moment before looking down at the floor. They all looked her age, but she wanted to wait for Sirius before talking to anyone. She didn't want to say anything wrong.

The first boy had stepped up rather clumsily, and loosing his balance on the stool, fell promptly into Emily, knocking her to the floor with an 'oomph'.

He muttered a very rude word before picking himself up, and holding a hand out to Emily.

"Sorry! Shoelace untied… Sorry… Are you ok?"

"I'm fine," said Emily, getting to her feet. She brushed some dirt off the clothes before standing up straight. "I do it myself all the time! I'm such a klutz!"

The trio didn't say anything. When she had stood up, they could see her face properly. They were transfixed. She wasn't the prettiest of girls, but she had a kind of glow around her, that made her seem bouncy and light. Her brown hair flowed eloquently behind her, and she flashed a smile at them. Peter's jaw physically dropped, before Remus gave him a hard nudge in the ribs and he closed it quickly. Emily noticed them all staring at her, and looked down at the floor again. She had already ruined her plan of waiting for Sirius.

James had taken no time before introducing himself, and his two companions.

"That's Remus Lupin, this is Peter Pettigrew and I'm James Potter."

Emily's eyes involuntarily opened wider. The Marauders. She'd heard their names mentioned so many times in the Blacks' presence. Sirius talked about them non-stop, and Regulas always talked about them with malice, even hate. It seemed he was the butt of their pranks whilst at Hogwarts.

"Emily Higgins, nice to meet you."

Remus felt inclined to carry on speaking to the girl, and felt curious about her. He recognised the name Higgins, but didn't say anything about it. Instead He asked Emily of her age.

"I'm fourteen."

Peter's eyes seemed to light up at the statement.

"Same as us then. You'll be in fifth year."

"What? Oh… yes I suppose so."

Remus found this response even more unusual. The girl seemed uninterested by the prospect of Hogwarts. He continued to question politely.

"So why are you starting in fifth year? Why weren't you here from the first?"

"I got my letter and here I am, that's all there is to it."

It was James who spoke next.

"So where are you from?"

It was the question Emily had been dreading. She didn't want to tell them, but she knew it would come out sooner or later. Just as she opened her mouth, she was distracted by a second tinkle of a bell as the shop door opened. All four of them looked, and sure enough, Regulas Black had entered Madam Malkin's shop, and was no doubt looking for Emily. He spotted her soon enough, and seeing her company, walked behind her and whispered,

"How much have you told them?"

I should have known better than to expect a nice 'hello' or 'how are you'. She thought. As Madam Malkin returned from the back room with Emily's robes in a bag, she stepped down from the school; Regulas grabbed Emily's hand and guided her pointedly towards the door. Not with force, just with an air of hurry. Emily kept her head down, and didn't look back once at the three Hogwarts students now staring confusedly after her.

As soon as they had left the shop Regulas had dragged her through the crowded street, and into the oh-so-familiar Knockturn alley. Emily had been there with Regulas before, on 'business'. He was always secretive.

Regulas was dragging Emily by the wrist, pulling her further and further away from help. She didn't trust Regulas anymore. She pulled back, forcing him to stop and pull back. Emily face was screwed up with effort as she dug her shoes into the ground. She wasn't going anywhere, and Regulas, sensing this to be pointless, let go of her wrist, causing her to fall flat onto the floor of Knockturn Alley. Regulas smirked to himself as Emily pulled herself up.

"Why have you brought me here?"

"I want to know where Sirius is."

"What?"

"You heard me. After you ran away, father was furious. Sirius disappeared and father was even angrier. Sirius wasn't there to get the blame, so guess who was? That's right, I got punished! BECAUSE OF SOME MUDBLOOD AND A TRAITOR!"

Emily barely had time to retort before Regulas came hurtling towards her. She scrambled out of the way and tried to run. Regulas was quick though, and hexed her as she ran. She fell forwards again, and stayed there. Regulas made to grab her, but a huge black dog jumped onto his back, crashing him down. He heard animal noises, and as he looked up he saw a stag with it's antlers pointing dangerous towards him, and a rat began to nibble at his ear. He watched as his brother's friend Remus went and picked Emily up off the floor.

The black dog was still on Regulas' back. It sat waiting until Remus had taken Emily up and out of Knockturn alley, then ran after them around the corner with the stag and the rat. Regulas looked up from the floor to see Sirius and his friends escort the girl into Diagon Alley.

XxX

To my dearest, loveliest, sexiest Lily,

I have the Marauders round my house! Sirius has this girl who used to work for his parents, and she's surrounded by boys. Remus suggested I write to you and ask if you wanted to come to my house and spend time with her. She's going to Hogwarts. And bring Alice!

From your dearest, loveliest, sexiest James xXoxOxXO x.

P.S. Will you go out with me?

Lily actually laughed when she received this letter. James had been asking her out since their third year, and she had never accepted yet. It had become like a game; he asks, she says no, they laugh and it starts all over again. It was strange during the holidays because he wasn't there to ask her. Though he had written a couple of times to tell her he loved her. Which she quite liked. But this letter was really strange. Lily didn't know if James was joking about this girl to get her round his house again (yes he tried this before) but then again, Sirius did have a lot of girls.

Lily wrote to Alice, who wrote back from James' house. Yes, Alice was already there. Stupid git. Lily thought as she drove up the Potter's driveway. Her Mum and Dad looked delighted, but her sister Petunia had a very menacing look on her face. Lily was quite happy when she left her sister in the car.

"LILY"

Alice.

Alice, Alice, Alice.

"You have such a big gob!" cried Lily as she was pulled into a huge hug.

The two girls stood talking on the Potter's driveway for some time, until Lily asked her friend about this girl that had been mentioned in the letter.

"Wait till you meet her!" exclaimed Alice, "She's adorable! A bit on them clumsy side, you have to admit, but she's lovely. The loveliest!"

Lily's mind wandered back to James' letter. From your dearest, loveliest, sexiest James. What an idiot.

XxX

The marauders were all sat talking when Lily and Alice came in. There were several camp beds pulled out over the living room floor, and the four boys were deep in conversation. Alice pulled her friends into a separate room, where lots of squashy cushions and pillows scattered the floor. Lily put her bag down and they all sat in front of the fireplace. Alice looked ecstatic.

"So! Girl talk! Finally! I've spent four weeks with only a brother for company – I thought I was going to die!"

Lily and Alice began talking animatedly, mainly about Hogwarts. Names of students and Professors scattered throughout the conversation, but Emily didn't recognise any of them. She sat quietly watching the two girls. Lily and Alice's conversation then turned to the Marauders. Lily took out James' letter from her bag, and showed it to her friend. Alice burst out laughing as she passed to Emily. As she read it, even Emily had to smile.

"I always wondered who you two were you know," she said, "Whenever they were round the Black's house I can hear them above me through the ceiling. They talk about you quite a lot you know."

"Really?" Lily exclaimed, but Alice didn't look at all surprised.

"Of course they talk about Lily, James is in love with her! She is the only thing on his mind! He want's to hug you! He want's to kiss you! He wants to marry you! He wants to sh – "

"SHUT UP ALICE!"

Emily and Alice were rolling on the floor laughing as Lily sat red-faced and angry. Alice wiped a tear from her eye.

"Classic!" she said. Once she'd calmed down she sat massaging a stitch in her side.

"So Emily," lily said, turning to face the girl, "How long have you been at the Black's house?"

"As long as I can remember. I've been there since I was very small, maybe even my whole life."

"What about you're parents? Do they live there too?"

"No. They left me they, on the steps to the Black's Mansion." She saw the looks on her friends' faces and added, "Oh, don't feel sorry for me. I'm glad I don't know them, if they were so nice to leave at some strangers house."

"Isn't that a bit harsh?"

"No." said Emily, "I don't want to know the people that abandoned me, and I hope I never do. And anyway, I had Sirius for company, and that was nice enough."

Lily just stared at her incredulously. Alice broke the shocked silence.

"But why? Black's a pain in the ass."

"If you think Sirius is bad, you haven't met Regulas. Or his parents!"

"Are they really that horrible?"

"I knew Black didn't get along with his family, but I didn't know he had it that bad."

Emily began to tell them about Mister Frank, and the other servants. The two girls cringed as she talked about the communal toilet in the servant quarters.

"The rooms weren't too small, but it was the stink coming from that thing that I really hated. That's why I tried to run away all they time. It was disgusting."

"You ran away?"

"Of course I did. I got my letter from Hogwarts and I escaped. Well, Sirius helped me escape."

Emily told them about the night, and then the morning of her escape. When she got to the part about Sirius giving her the money for her school supplies, Alice scoffed and looked at her incredulously.

"What? Black? That's insane! He likes people waiting on him! He's the laziest git I've ever seen!"

They was a loud 'Hey!' from the other room, and a several bangs against the door. When it had gone silent, you could hear a single 'shush!'

The girls got up and headed towards the door.

"Crap! They're coming! Quick!"

The girls glanced at eachother and had to stop themselves laughing. Alice pushed open the door.

There were the Marauders, sitting around the coffee table with a half-finished game of exploding snap. They all stared all the girls as they stood in the door with their hands on their hips.

James smiled.

"Can we help you Ladies?"

XxX

Authors note: You like? No? Tell me either way. I like the last part, it makes me laugh! hehehe! so ermmm... LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! review :)