Disclaimer: All the characters that are found in the wonderful Harry Potter book series belong to JK Rowling.

A/N: Hello readers, this chapter is finally completed! It's been awhile, about a month. I really thought this chapter would be easy to write because I had it outlined in my mind for awhile, but every time I sat down to start writing, I'd only manage to write a few sentences. The chapter is lengthy (20 pages in word), so at least you get a long chapter for you long wait. Thanks for being patient, please enjoy!

The next morning, most Gryffindor students choose to catch up on sleep instead of eating breakfast in the Great Hall. McGonagall had allowed the party to last until eleven pm, and then she and a few reluctant Prefects made sure everyone headed straight for bed.

As Sirius joined his friends for breakfast he realized his departure with Ally had not gone unnoticed as he had hoped. His friends were shooting him curious looks, but none had moved on to verbally questioning him yet.

In an effort to keep them away from that subject, Sirius decided to steer the conversation in a completely different direction.

"I was thinking about your offer to visit you during Christmas break," he began.

James perked up; he had been literally falling asleep into his bowl of porridge. "You think you can convince your parents?"

"No," Sirius answered bluntly taking a slow sip of his orange juice, "But I think I can convince them to allow me to come over to Peter's house."

"My house?" Peter was so alarmed by this that he started choking on the piece of pancake he was chewing. "I don't know…with the new baby…"

"I wouldn't really be staying with you Pete. It would be a small detour. I'd stop in for a few minutes and then continue on to James' house."

"Do you think that will work?" James asked.

"Yes. The Pettigrew's aren't the purist bunch, but pure enough and they haven't done anything to put them on the Black's marked list. There's no reason for them not to allow me that I can think of if I behave."

"Excellent." James turned to Remus and Peter, "You both are also welcome over to my house."

"I can't," Remus said quickly, "I'm staying over at Hogwarts."

"You are?" Sirius didn't bother to pretend that he was surprised. Wouldn't the holiday break be the perfect opportunity for Remus to visit is sick mother daily?

"My parents are staying abroad to visit this doctor that they hope will help my mother's illness. I could stay at my Aunt's but I'd rather not."

"I hope they find a cure," Peter said for he was the only one who still believed Remus' lies.

"What about you Peter?"

"I hope I can! I'll have to ask my parents…"

"If you do come, make sure it's a day after Sirius does otherwise he won't have a place to detour to," James reminded.

Sirius congratulated himself silently for keeping them from the Ally topic. Most likely they had completely forgotten…

"Ok, I'm not waiting any longer," James exclaimed speaking louder than he needed. He grinned slyly, "Where did you and Ally disappear to?"

"I saw them leave the common room together," Peter supplied helpfully.

Sirius shot Peter a look; he was never good at keeping information like that to himself.

Sirius shrugged. "We did leave." He went back to eating his breakfast pretending he didn't notice his friends staring at him in bewilderment.

"And?" James prompted. It was rather fun driving James crazy with his nonchalance. Even the usually calm and cool Remus was looking at him in annoyance.

"Let's see we…ummm…" He pretended to think really hard, "We walked a bit, then talked a bit."

With that incredible revelation, Sirius went back to eating his breakfast.

"You walked and talked?" James didn't look at all convinced at the legitimacy of that statement. "You could have done that in the common room."

"Perhaps we needed privacy for the kiss…"

"What?!" Peter and James babbled simultaneously.

"You kissed?" Remus asked in awe. Sirius nodded noncommittally.

In an exasperated tone, James inquired, "Well? How was it?"

"It was-"

The three boys leaned closer toward Sirius. Besides seeing older students snogging on the couches, none of them had any experience when it came to kissing girls.

"It was nice," Sirius finished, leaning back in his chair.

"Nice?" James' face fell. "That's it? Nice?"

"And weird, but in a good way." Sirius smiled remembering the kiss, her soft lips, her comforting presence, her smell… He felt his face redden a bit in embarrassment. "She smelled nice, like flowers."

Sirius half-expected his friends to burst out laughing, but they all regarded every word he said very seriously.

"Why did she kiss you?" Peter asked innocently gazing at Sirius with the same type of admiration he had given James after his first Quidditch match.

"Because she likes him Peter," James answered shaking his head in annoyance.

"Ally told me she wanted to be my first kiss…because according to her soon loads of girls will be lining up and then I wouldn't give her a second glance."

"Lines of girls, eh?" Remus grinned.

"I wasn't about to argue with a prediction like that."

"So what now? Are you two…" Remus trailed off.

"I don't know." Sirius hoped his voice didn't sound as panicky as he felt. What was the next step? Was there a next step? He hadn't thought anything beyond the one innocent moment they had together.

Just then Ally entered the Great Hall with a group of friends. Even though she looked tired and her hair was messy, when she smiled radiantly toward Sirius she looked as pretty as she did yesterday.

Sirius watched with apprehension as she began walking toward them, and sighed with relief when she seemed content to sit with her friends about ten seats from him. He wouldn't have known how to act if she had wanted to sit with him or him sit with her.

Sirius turned to his friends and with more confidence than he really felt on the matter he proclaimed, "Though I wouldn't mind kissing her again…"

Lily Evans swung her bag over her shoulder standing up from the couch she had been occupying.

"Where are you going?" Cory asked her the moment she stood up. Though he made it sound as if he didn't really care, Lily knew the truth. She considered Cory one of her closest friends, but he was very needy. He needed to be constantly reminded that Lily really was his friend and she really did enjoy hanging out with him. And if she ever planned something like this without letting him know, he became worried.

"Meeting Lupin in the library," she replied and she had to suppress her eye roll at Cory's expression of distaste. He was suspicious of any activity dealing with one of his four roommates.

"We're partners for Slughorn's project," Lily elaborated.

"Oh, right…you're starting that already?" At least this appeared to placate him.

"It will be due before we know it…and if I don't hurry I'm going to be late and you know I hate that."

Near the entrance of the library, she noticed a bit of commotion. Though she hadn't seen what had happened, a small girl stood with her face in her hands sporting electric blue bushy hair. It was fairly obvious that this was not her natural hair color and lo and behold near her stood Potter and Black laughing and looking pleased. Lily sighed audibly. Potter had confidence to spare as it was, and his recent Quidditch victory had only enlarged his ego. One good thing was the more James showed off the less Lily found her liking him. Without even trying the crush she had wanted to get rid off was slowly disappearing on its own.

Lily easily found Remus; he was sitting near the front.

"Hello, Lily," he said pleasantly.

"Hi, Remus," she smiled placing her bag on the ground and taking the piece of paper that told them all the requirements for the project.

Professor Slughorn had assigned them partners to write a joint paper about potion properties. They had been assigned to research information about a Sleeping Beauty Potion. The founder of the potion had been Muggleborn, hence the origin of its name. Needless to say the potion would put whoever consumed it into a deep peaceful sleep that would last at least a week, sometimes longer depending on the weight of the individual and how long it took the potion to work through the body.

"I saw your friends attacking a poor first year," Lily supplied, using the tone of the one describing the weather.

"Excuse me?" Remus picked his head up to look at her curiously.

"Outside the library, your friends, Potter and Black were attacking some poor girl," Lily repeated giving him a pointed stare.

"Attacking?"

"Yes. The poor girl's hair was completely turned blue."

"Seems quite harmless…"

"Harmless? Surely you don't approve of such behavior."

"I'm not my friends' keeper," he replied coolly.

"They were behaving like idiots."

"Don't insult my friends in front of me, Evans," his cool slightly amused tone had turned cold. Lily hadn't meant for the conversation to turn in such a way. She had been pleased to be partnered with Remus; he was very levelheaded and he always had his homework completed.

"I didn't mean to insult them, but that doesn't change that their behavior is…"

"If it bothered you so much why didn't you report it to a teacher?"

Remus' words caused her to pause. He must think she was mad.

"I didn't see one and I believe they'd listen to you faster than any teacher."

"It's not my place."

"Are you afraid to confront them? They wouldn't drop your friendship because of something like that, would they?"

"No," he replied a bit too quickly. "I just – I just think you're making this into more of a deal than it is."

"Why are your friends with them Remus? You're nothing like them?" She knew her tone was coming out more condescending than the concerned-friend-tone she was aiming for.

Lily couldn't help, but notice the drastic difference in Remus' demeanor versus James and Sirius. Peter was also different, but he had an obvious spot in the group. Remus on the other hand, did not seem to fit. So what made him gravitate towards those three troublemakers and not Cory or Lily or anyone else in their year for that matter? Remus had been caught doing mischief with the others, but Lily was positive if it weren't for who he chose as company, he wouldn't have one detention in his name.

"I didn't realize you weren't allowed to be friends with people different than you." His brown eyes took on a gold coloring in the afternoon light shining in from the high window above them; he looked almost wolfish.

"You're right," Lily admitted, "But if they ever pressure you into something you don't want to do, if ever you're only going to do something so they stay your friends, remember you're always welcome to sit with me."

"I do have a mind of my own, Evans! I can handle my mates. I don't know where you've gotten the impression I'm being forced to be in their company."

"We'll be playing a rousing game of Exploding Snap in the common room tonight. Perhaps you'd like to join us."

Remus seemed to be considering her offer. "I already have plans."

"In other words, they won't be happy if you abandon them for a night."

"I didn't say that. How about you join me and my friends instead? You'll see they aren't bad people, who surely wouldn't force anyone to hangout with them."

The tables were suddenly turned. "Sorry?"

"I'm not lying about having plans. Since you're so worried about who I hangout with than why don't you join us, since surly your friends wouldn't care if you didn't join them for one night. I can promise it will be much more exciting than Exploding Snap."

That peaked her interest and though Remus was clearly alluding to rule breaking, it wasn't that Lily cared that much about that. She didn't obey every rule. Just this summer she had gotten so mad at her sister that she had broken the no underage magic rule outside of Hogwarts.

"Fine. I'll come."

"Great. I'll meet you in the common room around eleven thirty pm. Dress warmly, but disguise it…don't make it look like you're dressed to go outside."

"Outside?" What on earth had Lily agreed to?

"Yes. Are you still in?" He was having fun with her now. Well the Gryffindor in her wouldn't allow Lupin to think she was scared.

"Yes. Now I think we should get started on that paper already…"

It had taken some time for Lily to convince her friends that she was serious about spending time with Remus and his friends.

"Lily, if you didn't want to play Exploding Snap you could have at least come up with a better excuse," Mattie said.

She was able to dodge more questions by leaving the room. She'd worry about explanations later since she was supposed to have been downstairs five minutes ago. Since it was late, the common room had mostly emptied already but there were still enough people to notice them all leaving after curfew. She soon found out that the boys had that all covered.

Remus walked up to her. "Thanks for escorting me to the Hospital Wing," Remus sad loudly and clearly so every person in the room could hear. A few people glanced their way and then turned away uninterested. Outside the common room Remus explained that he had only mentioned the Hospital Wing to cover their tracks incase anyone became suspicious.

"Where are the others?"

"Waiting for us outside. Come on!"

Remus walked swiftly through the corridors and thankfully they didn't meet a soul, not even a Hogwarts' ghost. As they slipped outside, the chilly air immediately wrapped itself around them, penetrating the few layers of cloth easily. It was dark and cloudy out. The moon was half visible and a few stars could be made out. Three shadowy figures stood by the edge of the Forest. The only reason they were at all visible was because of their lit wands.

"What's she doing here?" James looked at Lily suspiciously.

"You didn't tell them I was coming?" Lily demanded looking at Remus with equal suspicion. All this talk about him trusting his friends and he hadn't even asked them.

"I told Sirius and he was supposed to tell James," Remus replied calmly.

"Errr- right," Sirius grinned cheekily from Remus to James, "Remus invited Evans."

"Thanks for telling me. I really appreciate it," James muttered sarcastically. He looked over at her. "I suppose she has to come now. Let's get going."

Lily stood rooted to her spot as James began to enter the Forbidden Forest.

"We aren't going in there, are we?" Lily gasped.

"Scared, Evans?" Sirius taunted. Well no self-respecting Gryffindor dared admit to another that anything like this frightened them.

"No. I was just checking." Lily took a deep breath and followed her Housemates into the woods. She was still worried obviously for there had to be a plausible reason for the naming this area of trees the Forbidden Forest. To make matters worse it was night and everyone knew the most horrible creatures roamed around during the night.

"Don't worry, we've been here before," Remus whispered.

"You know what's strange? My parents two years before I got my Hogwarts letter were finally able to convince me that there were no such things as ghosts, vampires and werewolves and then I come here to find out they all do exist."

Potter and Black were conversing in low tones a few feet in front of them. Pettigrew was struggling to keep up a few steps behind James and Sirius looking to the left and right in apprehension every thirty seconds. Lily and Remus brought up the rear. Lily was relieved that for the moment they were following a trail.

There was suddenly a loud screeching sound and something large flew from the trees to the left to the trees on the right. They all fell to their knees covering their heads with their hands because of how low the creature had flown.

Hoot-hoot said the creature indignantly and it gazed at the second years with gleaming eyes; then flew away.

"It's just an owl!" Lily exclaimed. She was the first to spot it and the first to stand up.

Everyone laughed it off, but they continued the journey in closer proximity to each other. The woods became suddenly much thicker and James led them now off the main trail. After battling through a very dense area of shrubs; there were leaves sticking out of everyone's hair. Lily couldn't help to ask, "Are you sure this is the…"

The question died on her lips before Lily could finish. It was clear that they had reached their destination, which was a large patch of flowers. These flowers were no ordinary flowers because they glowed, twinkled and shone in all the colors of the rainbow.

"Wow," Remus replied next to her. They all took a seat on a log that appeared to be placed just for their benefit.

It was then the real show began. The flowers began to shoot pods of seeds into the air that exploded in bright beautiful colored lights, coating the area with fluorescent seeds for miles around them. It was like a private firework show just for them without the loud noise. The pods just made little popping noises when they exploded.

"Where did you hear about this James?" Peter asked his eyes never leaving the sparkles in the sky.

"My father told me about this rare flower found in abundance in the Forbidden Forest. He then mentioned that it usually occurs for four to five days during the first week of December and much to my mother's dismay he even showed me a picture of the flower. They aren't very remarkable looking during the day, only at night and only during this time when they are trying to spread their seeds."

They watched the natural light show for close to an hour in silence. Soon the flowers dimmed in color and the seeds that had spread across the forest had also stopped glowing- now attempting to make a home in the nearly frozen ground.

Lily stood up stretching her stiff legs realizing how cold it really had gotten. The lights in the sky had given the illusion it was warmer than it was and as the area darkened, Lily noticed how low the cloud cover had grown, she couldn't stop shivering.

"Everyone stay close," James instructed as he began to lead the group through the misty forest. Lily wasn't completely confident he knew where he was going, but then again he had gotten them to the destination safely. They now walked in a straight line because of how foggy it had gotten. Lily lagged slightly behind lost in thought keeping the sandy-haired boy just in her sight. Suddenly she felt that someone or something was staring at her back and she whipped around hoping to catch whatever it was unaware. A silent forest greeted her. Chiding herself for being worried for nothing, she turned back to her companions to realize she had completely lost sight of them.

"Remus?" Lily called out tentatively. They couldn't have gotten that far ahead; she had turned around for less than thirty seconds. She quickened her pace fully confident she'd run into them but around her all she saw were trees. Then she heard what sounded like two people scuffling and quick loud footsteps heading straight toward her coming out of the thickest part of the mist. She decided not to wait around to see what it was and ran in a random direction hoping it was the way out of the forest. She ran until a shadowy figure up in a tree branch only inch above her head jumped right in front of her. She turned abruptly to run in another direction and cried out as she tripped on a stray root that hadn't been there before. Were the trees against her as well?

The figure that had jumped at her was now emitting a strange sound – it almost sounded like…like laughter?

Another cloaked figure joined them and Lily faintly thought it must be what had been chasing her moments ago. The figures pulled down their hoods to reveal them to be none other than James Potter and Sirius Black.

"That wasn't funny," Lily stated trying to catch her breath and stop the pumping adrenaline through her veins. Two other people joined them, Remus looking bewildered and Peter looking guilty.

Remus was relieved to see them all unharmed. "There you all are! Peter suddenly veered off the path, he said he'd lost you…and Lily are you all right?"

"All right? Am I all right? Ask Potter and Black!!!"

She didn't wait to hear Remus' response. She knew this had been a bad idea to begin with. She was badly shaken and it hadn't helped matters to see James and Sirius laughing at her. Her anger was to mask how frightened she had really been. She heard the boys protesting for her to return, so they could all safely find their way out. Now they suddenly cared about her safety! After practically giving her a fright! She had almost twisted her ankle on that root because of their games.

By some miracle she found her way out of the forest. Parts of her robes were torn and branches and leaves had gotten stuck in her auburn waves, but at least she had her dignity, which she felt was more important.

She woke up later than usual for breakfast. Her roommates had already eaten and had been worried about waking her since they had heard her come in late last night. Though Cory had already eaten, he accompanied her. Remus, James, Sirius and Peter were already seated at the table. Lily tried to make a statement about picking the seat farthest from them but she doubted anyone noticed. After a few minutes Remus stood up and walked over to where she was seated.

"Mind if I sit?"

Lily nodded. She was wondering when one of them was going to apologize to her.

"So about last night…" he paused glancing at Cory.

"You can speak freely. He knows."

"You – you told him?" Remus looked shocked and Cory gave him a smug look.

"Yes. I told him." She needed to vent to someone about last night.

"This was supposed to only be between the five of us," Remus stated softly, "We broke a slew of school rules last night."

"He's not going to tell," Lily replied giving Cory a hard look. She knew he wouldn't even if it was only for the reason that Cory knew Lily would get in as much trouble as everyone else.

"I won't tell," Cory said and murmured, "Not that I don't want to."

Lily cut Cory's words off quickly. "So what is it that you wanted to say?"

Remus stared at Cory for a few moments. He'd obviously heard his last few words. He sighed, "I hope you understand that it was just a joke. They were just testing you…"

This did not sound like the apology she had expected.

"Why would they need to test me? You invited me."

"If I had known they were going to do that, I would have stopped them. There was no harm done."

"No harm done?" Maybe not physically, Lily mused, but the dark had always frightened her, activating her already over-active imagination. The boys might have not known this, but that didn't give them the right. "I could have twisted on ankle. I thought something had eaten you all!"

Remus smiled, "The dark creatures in the forest generally leave students alone, as long as you don't bother them."

"It wasn't funny. Don't even try and make me believe that."

"It was a joke. That's just how they are. It wasn't personal."

"I see," Lily retorted. She realized that Remus was obviously on his friends' side.

Remus looked at her carefully. "So you're angry?"

"Obviously."

"I hope you at least enjoyed yourself."

Lily had enjoyed it immensely, which is what made their joke even worse. She was pleasantly surprised how she had enjoyed the walk and sitting watching the lights, and they had ruined it all for some laughs.

"Somewhat" Lily answered grudgingly. Lily turned to her breakfast signaling her conversation with Remus was over, unless he wanted to amend any of his words.

"Ok, well see you later."

Lily watched him leave and she watched him exchange words with his mates. Potter turned to catch her gaze, but she turned quickly feeling her face redden. That day whatever potential spark of friendship Lily might have had with the four mischief makers was doused considerably. Perhaps if Remus had apologized more or if Lily had laughed it off things could have turned out differently. At least Lily and Remus were adult enough not to let this 'bump in the road' affect how they worked together on the project. If they had been on better turns they may have talked more about trivial stuff. At least the situation allowed them to work quickly and they received top marks.

Even though Remus was not on the best terms now with Lily Evans; he found himself mulling over her words. He had taken his friends' side when it came to the joke in the forest. It hadn't been kind of James and Sirius, true, but he did believe it was all harmless. He didn't see the point in getting into a disagreement with James and Sirius over such a trivial matter. He couldn't even imagine beginning such a conversation.

Remus felt he was in a precarious situation as it was. He valued their friendship more than his friends' realized, which was why he hated lying to them each month, but he knew he had to keep it up. He sensed only Peter remained convinced of his stories and he knew James and Sirius would be suspicious that he was staying over at Hogwarts instead of going home where he could see his mother daily.

He hadn't been entirely lying. His parents were going abroad, but they were looking for something to cure him or at least make his transformations more bearable. His mother had recently written him that his father was becoming quite obsessed with finding a cure. And Remus now knew why. His father blamed himself and though Remus was sure his father hadn't meant for it to happen, in a way it was his fault.

James had been acting more cocky than usual since the Quidditch match. He never seemed to tire of boosting about his abilities to anyone who stood around long enough to listen. And there never seemed to be a lack of audience.

Sirius got annoyed by this the fastest or maybe he was the only one brave enough to voice a complaint. "Shut it, Potter! We know you can fly," Sirius grumbled one afternoon. James did calm down after that.

Lily had been right that he wasn't at all like his friends. Why she cared though Remus didn't understand? One thing she didn't realize was how he wished he were more like James and Sirius. At a young age Remus had learned how cruel humans could be to one another. His cautiousness, shyness, and attempts to remain unnoticed were all a byproduct of that. His parents had warned him to be extra cautious about his secret. The few friends his Mum and Dad had confided to when Remus was a young child had all abandoned them. They told Remus these stories often, not meaning to scare Remus about trusting people, but to protect him. They didn't understand how lonely Remus really was; Remus himself hadn't realized how lonely he was, until James and Sirius had offered a hand in friendship. His parents had warned him to neither make close friends, nor enemies, anyone who grew interested in him meant his secret could be surfaced. And friends could easily turn to foe if one learned he was a half-breed.

Before Hogwarts, Remus had never met boys like James and Sirius. Their outlook on life was completely different than his and this difference drew Remus toward them. Instead of hiding in the crowd, they made waves. They made themselves the center of attention, especially James. And each day Remus was growing closer to them and he found himself at times wondering what their reaction would be if they knew his secret. The problem was he couldn't gamble on something like that. He'd have to leave Hogwarts if they rejected him. James was well liked; they could easily spread that news in a few hours. His parents would be completely disappointed and without a Hogwarts degree he knew the little chance of ever finding employment would diminish greatly.

Later that evening Remus followed slightly behind his friends as they entered the Gryffindor common room. They didn't have any specific plans except catching up on some homework and thinking up a target for their next prank.

For what seemed like the tenth time that day James asked Sirius, "You sure you don't want to me try out that charm? It doesn't look too difficult…" James had been trying to get Sirius to agree to go under a charm that would make him less attractive to the opposite sex. News of Sirius kissing Ally had traveled far and wide. And that information had increased Sirius' popularity status in the eyes of Hogwarts many groups of giggling girls. The girls trailing them and the giggling annoyed James the most.

"Honestly I don't see why they consider you experienced," James said seriously.

"Why not?" Sirius asked grinning at his mate.

"It was only a kiss. One as in singular. And it was just lips, was it not?"

Sirius nodded falling onto his bed.

"How else would they kiss?" Peter asked as he too plopped onto his bed though not with the same grace as Sirius.

"I don't think I should tell you," James answered gravely.

"Awww…come on tell me!" Peter whined.

Sirius rolled his eyes. "You really don't know?"

Peter turned red, "You all do?"

Remus only knew because he had seen older students kissing on the couches.

James whispered something to Peter.

"Oh…" Peter thought this over carefully, "Ohhhh."

James shrugged and turned back to Sirius. "Don't tell me you enjoy all that giggling!" he demanded.

Remus was usually good at reading people. He'd noticed that though Sirius had mixed feelings about the sudden female attention, around James he acted confident about it. Most likely just because it irked James so much. Remus didn't really see why James had any reason to complain. More students had also noticed him since he's spectacular flying during Gryffindor's first match.

"You have the lovely Victoria's affection. Is that not enough for you?" teased Sirius.

"Don't remind me…" James said with a groan.

"You just need to kiss someone. How about Evans?"

Remus glanced suddenly at Sirius surprised that he had picked her. Remus had gotten a feeling that Lily had a crush on James. Did Sirius think that as well?

"Be reasonable. Perhaps someone who likes me?" James answered.

"Victoria likes you," Peter said with a sing-songy voice.

Remus was growing tired of the topic of conversation. James had been on about this since the morning.

"I think Adair should be our next target." Three heads turned in his direction. "And I have an idea."

The rest of the night Remus spent outlining his plan to them and they made the necessary changes in order to make it all work out. It was the first time he had been so actively involved in the planning of a prank and Remus found he enjoyed the exhilarating feeling.

Many plans sounded good on paper. The problem with ideas sounding good on paper was that they actually had to work in real life.

"Peter, you can have first watch," Sirius instructed.

"I want to help too," Peter said looking alarmed that he'd been demoted to watch dog.

"We'll rotate watch," Remus assured him.

"Does everyone remember the signal if you see Filch or his cat or a teacher?" James asked surveying the group seriously. "Ok, Peter, here's the cloak. Be careful with it! And if you hear the signal, find a place to hide quickly."

The plan was quite simple and didn't require learning of any new spells, charms or hexes. Professor Adair's classroom and Professor Tucker's classroom, the Ancient Runes teacher, were two doors apart. The width and length of the rooms were the same. The same desks were in the rooms, even the teachers' desks were identical. They were just going to switch the two rooms around.

James and Sirius were working on changing the wall colors. Adair's classroom was a bluish and Tucker's was more of a greenish color. Remus' task was to work on switching the stuff on top of the desk and to switch the drawers. Using the levitation charm and a switching charm they had just learned, the task turned out to be easier than he'd expected.

When James went to do watch, Peter worked on setting up the desks. In each of the rooms it was slightly different. It took him quite a while because he moved them without magic. Remus then helped Sirius switch the portraits and other various decorations that was specific to each of the teachers. They were all finished by the time it was Remus' turn to do begin watch. The whole process had only taken them about an hour and fifteen minutes.

"They'll be in for a surprise," Sirius said smirking, "I can already imagine. We need to get to class early. I want to see Adair's face. I wish we could take a picture."

"That won't look suspicious, say cheese Professor, we just want to remember this forever, but we didn't have anything to do with it. We were sound asleep in our beds," Remus replied.

"She'll assume it's us anyway," Sirius replied.

"I hope she realizes it's us," James said ruffling his hair.

"You want to go through one of her horrible detentions?" Remus asked, raising his eyebrows.

"I want her to remember us," James smiled. "Anything she throws at us will be worth it."

"I agree," Sirius remarked joyfully.

"Me too," Peter said giving a little hop in his excitement.

They all turned to Remus, who shrugged. "I suppose."

Peter was a nervous person by nature. Normal everyday things made him nervous, such as if the teacher would call him in class or he wouldn't have anyone to partner up with in class. Waiting to see Adair's reaction was driving him crazy. He'd been so nervous during breakfast that he'd stuffed his face and now he was feeling a bit sick.

He was seated next to Remus as usual. James and Sirius sat in another desk to their right. They were the first to arrive for class that morning. Peter was finding it entertaining enough just to watch every student's individual reaction when they stepped into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Most looked around in bewilderment and a few even stepped outside the classroom to verify the room number.

"Did Professor Adair change rooms?" Grace Landon asked them as she entered with Mattie Carter and Ellie Aston.

James shrugged and smiled innocently. "I guess we'll find out."

There were only five minutes left until class began, but it could have been an eternity. Peter fidgeted with the quill on his desk. Besides common knowledge that Peter hung around with James, Sirius and Remus, he hadn't yet gotten on the wrong side of Professor Adair. Since he wasn't as strong as his friends, he wasn't in a hurry to anger Adair. Once he showed up on Adair's radar, he was sure she'd be able to sense his weakness and pick on him the most.

"Don't look so worried," James whispered to Peter. Was his nervousness that obvious? "You'll give us away."

Did James believe that would make him worry less? It would be obvious to Adair it was them. Who else would have the gall to pull something off like this? It wasn't something a Slytherin would do and everyone knew James and Sirius were at odds with Adair. He'd lied last night about not caring about getting caught; in truth he was terrified.

"I hope you are all ready to work," Professor Adair announced as she entered the classroom, "We have a lot to do today."

Without glancing around the room, she walked straight to her desk. Peter could hear Sirius counting under his breath: five, four, three, two, one….

Adair stopped and that's when her face began to change colors. "What is going on here?!" she shouted, "What is the meaning of this?!"

Peter turned to glance discreetly at James and Sirius. They both looked like it was taking all their effort to not burst out laughing.

"It was like this when we entered, Professor." Snape's oily voice filled the room, his eyes drifting over to where they were all seated. He'd already guessed their involvement.

Adair began opening the drawers one by one. "Where are all my things? Is someone going to answer me? Rooms just don't change over night!"

Adair's eyes roamed around searching each of them for an answer. Her eyes were gleaming in anger. Peter shivered slightly.

The silence was broken by Professor Tucker entering the room with two fifth year students. He looked around in surprise; obviously he had not believed his students when they had claimed that his classroom had turned into Professor Adair's.

"I believe these are your things," Adair said dryly. The two teachers talked softly in the front of the room for a few moments.

One of the girls on the Slytherin side of the room raised her hand. "I was one of the first to arrive this morning like usual," Sydney Sarss pronounced, "Potter, Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew were all here even before me. I found it peculiar."

Professor Adair turned to where they were sitting smiling gleefully. If she hadn't suspected them before, she definitely did now. The spotlight was on them, Peter felt a trickle of cold sweat drip down his back. They were in for it now.

"Professor Adair, I didn't realize arriving early to class was a crime," James answered. He didn't look the least bit worried.

"So Mr. Potter, you had nothing to do with this?" The direct question was a surprise. James looked hesitantly at Sirius.

"I'd answer, if I could answer truthfully," James replied after a few moments of silence.

Did James want to get caught? Peter felt dread creeping up his spine.

"Is that a confession?" she demanded taking a few steps closer to where they were all seated. Peter squirmed even though Adair was glaring intently at James and Sirius.

"It would be impossible for him to pull this off by himself," Sirius said crossing his arms and looking defiantly directly at the teacher.

"Are you saying you were involved, Mr. Black?"

"I may have changed the wall colors," Sirius replied rather proudly.

Mattie Carter and Ellie Aston both gasped astounded by his confession. Adair didn't appear to know what to do either. She had been expecting an argument.

Winking at the class, Sirius added, "It took a bit of effort to get it to not change back to its original color overnight."

"I see…" Adair stated slowly, the anger roaring in her eyes.

"I also helped with the wall colors," James slipped in.

James wouldn't let Sirius take all the credit. Peter was confused though; they had never agreed to this confession. What were they playing at?

"And which one of you was the mastermind behind this?" Adair addressed the two students, who by every right should be cowering in front of her. Sirius and James glanced uneasily at each other.

"That would be me," a shaky, hoarse voice replied. Peter turned to see it was Remus who had spoken. All the students looked astonished, even James and Sirius. They hadn't been about to rat out Remus like Peter had originally thought. They would have taken all the blame.

"Ah, well that figures. Your kind shouldn't even be allowed in the school." Peter had no idea what Adair was referring to; neither did anyone else by their expressions. Though Peter was very surprised that Remus had spoken up, it had been Lupin's idea. The whole prank had seemed strange to Peter from the beginning. Since when did Remus come up with plans that included rule breaking? It wasn't like him at all.

"Anyone else have a part in this?" Adair demanded. Though only a few people were looking at his direction, it felt as if everyone in the whole school was. The heat in the room was bothering him; he felt more sweat dripping down his neck. He should confess as well. He knew he should confess. He tried to open his mouth. He tried to make his lips form the words; he really did try. He couldn't do it.

He was a coward. That was a fact now.

"No, Professor," Sirius confirmed clearing his throat, "No one else."

Professor Tucker gathered some of his notes since the rooms couldn't be put back as they were right that moment. Professor Adair instructed Remus, Sirius and James to see her after class. Then she also tried to teach the class, but she was too distracted by the change in setting. Peter was glad about that small favor since at the moment he couldn't concentrate on a word the teacher was saying. He was worried now what his friends would say about him not taking part blame. Would they laugh and whisper coward behind his back? It wasn't as if he had done much to help anyway. He'd been put on first watch and told to move some desks around.

Peter later heard from his friends that in the end the confession had helped them. Though Adair hadn't wanted it, Professor Tucker had made sure Professor McGonagall became involved in the punishment process. Sirius reckoned that McGonagall had probably found the prank rather funny because she only took off a total 15 points and assigned two detentions. The first detention consisted of putting the rooms back how they should be without magic. Anything that required magic to change it back was done by one of the teachers.

James and Remus both insisted they weren't upset with Peter for not confessing. They attempted to quell his worries about not really belonging in Gryffindor because he was easily frightened and rarely showed bravery. Sirius kept quiet on the matter, which Peter felt was a sure sign he was angry.

Remus had a talk with him explaining that the day was behind them and that didn't matter, but it did. As much as he hated serving detention, Peter felt an intense loneliness when the three of them went off to serve one without him. He knew his parents were disappointed with him when he did receive a detention. They wanted him to make connections and friends, especially his father. His father was always on about making the right connections, yet they didn't realize to keep his friends, he'd be involved in many more detentions in his Hogwarts' career.

Peter was now alone in the dorm. He'd received a package from his father a few weeks ago. The package had contained a product that the wizard factory his father worked for had decided not to sell for one reason or another. His father called the product a Two-way Mirror. The mirrors looked quite ordinary, but according to what the instruction stated, two people could talk to each other through the mirror no matter where the other person was. The mirrors could easily be set to recognize one name or a series of names.

At first Peter was going to keep one of the mirrors for himself. He thought long and hard about who he should give the other one to. It came down between James and Sirius…he'd almost decided on James when he began to worry what Sirius would think. With the room switching prank still looming in his mind, Peter eventually decided the best thing to do was give them each a mirror as an early Christmas gifts. James and Sirius would find them more useful than Peter ever would.

James, Sirius, and Remus had just finished the last detention and had returned back to Gryffindor Tower. Sirius had taken a seat on the couches alongside Remus. James joined Peter at one of the tables. James was supposed to help Peter with the Transfiguration essay. Making sure Sirius wasn't watching Peter slipped the wrapped mirror towards James.

"What's this?" James asked.

"Christmas gift. Keep your voice down; I got the same thing for Sirius. Open it."

James shrugged and ripped through the paper. He didn't look particularly impressed; then again, to James, it would look like an ordinary hand mirror.

"Hang on. When I nod at you, say Sirius' name into the mirror."

"Ok," James said though he was really thinking 'are you mad?'

Peter waddled over to where Sirius was sitting on the couch. He hadn't wrapped Sirius' gift.

"Sirius! There's something on your face!" Peter exclaimed. "Here, I have a mirror. Check for yourself."

Peter handed over the other mirror to Sirius and as Sirius stared into his reflection, Peter nodded toward James.

"WHAT THE…" Sirius exclaimed jumping straight out of his seat. In place of his reflection was James' surprised, but grinning expression.

"Bloody hell, Peter. Where did you get mirrors like these?" Sirius exclaimed as James joined them.

"My father's factory made them. They are one of kind though since they decided not to mass produce them. They're yours, your Christmas gifts."

"So all we have to do is say each others name?" James asked.

"Yes, I set it to recognize your first name alone or with your last name attached. If it's in your pocket you'll feel slight vibration or ringing sensation to let you know someone is trying to contact you."

"Thanks, Pete," Sirius said patting him fondly on the back.

"Amazing," James agreed.

Peter couldn't stop smiling that night. He may have not made the right decision that day in Adair's class, but he was sure he'd made the right decision today. The slight strain in his friendship he'd started to feel between him and his roommates had disappeared and he felt confident that he had solidified his place in the group for now.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please take the time to let me know what you think!

I also want to make clear that Ally is a third year, not a fourth year, even though she's Darien's friend (who is a fourth year). So there is only one year of an age difference between Sirius and Ally. Also the kiss between them was very innocent and I have no intention of making Sirius into a player.

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