Insomnia. Bad for me, but good for my readers. It's late…I can't sleep…so here's chapter 9. Oh…this chapter is dedicated to Nik…my new friend with the sexy British accent.

Chapter 9

How About Some Quidditch?

Death Eater attacks became more and more frequent. An attack a day, it seemed. The entire school was slowly slipping into a state of perpetual depression. Four times in two months, students had lost both parents. Many more lost relatives and family friends. Every house had seen tragedy. Even the Slytherin household, though for different reason. Certain Slytherins lost their parents to Aurors or Azkaban. A dark cloud hung over the castle that week in November. Yes, it was already November, near the end even. Not much had happened, except the attacks. James and Lily were happy, Cara and Sirius were happy, Madison and Remus were happy, and Peter was…well no one cared much about him anyway.

It was a Friday night when James and Lily were sitting in the Head Common Room. Gryffindor played Ravenclaw the next morning, meaning James, Cara, and Sirius would have a shot at Ravenclaw's Keeper, Ryan Pritchard. All three of them remembered what Remus and Madison went through. James had just received the evening edition of the Daily Prophet. More attacks. This time an entire family had been murdered. The father, the mother and the two young children. There was a third child, a second year Hufflepuff. A twelve year old girl was now an orphan. Lily felt tears in her eyes as she read the article. Surprisingly, James had tears in his eyes. He wanted to stop the madman behind the murders. He didn't care what it took but he wanted it stopped. He had to protect Lily when they left Hogwarts.

"Lily?" James began.

"Yes?" She said, setting the paper down.

"I have an idea I want to run by you." James said.

"Okay, what is it?" Lily replied, becoming interested.

"Well, seeing as we have had all these attacks lately, I thought we should do something special to lighten everyone's spirits." James said.

"Like what?"

"A dance. The Saturday before everyone leaves fro Christmas. That will give them Sunday to pack and they will have next Saturday to go shopping. I already have a band lined up and I proposed the idea to Dumbledore." James explained. Lily just sat there with a stunned expression on her face.

"Wow…James, that's amazing. Did you think of that by yourself?" Lily asked.

"Yeah. I wanted something special for my last year. My best year if you ask me." James replied, putting his arm around Lily's shoulders.

"Why is it the best year?" Lily asked, laying her head on his shoulder. James kissed her forehead.

"Because of you." James said softly in her ear. Lily smiled and looked up at him. "I love you, Lily."

"I love you, too, James."

"What are you doing this Christmas?" James asked.

"I don't know, my sister is getting married to an oaf named Vermin, excuse me, Vernon Dursley. I was invited, but I wouldn't be welcomed by my sister so I doubt I'll go." Lily said bitterly.

"I owled my parents and they have agreed to let all the Marauders come to our house for Christmas." James said.

"Good. I'm sure you four will have fun." Lily said, sadly.

"I included you, Cara, and Madison in my letter and I consider the three of you Marauders. You know our secrets, you snog us, and we love you. Everyone else has already agreed and gotten permission. Plus, it wouldn't be the same without you."

"Well, I don't know…" Lily said, looking thoughtful.

"I have already owled your parents and they said that it was fine and that I was a nice young man." James said, puffing out his chest and looking proud.

"I'm not sure…" She said, unsurely.

"Please? Pretty, pretty, pretty please?" James asked sticking his bottom lip out and giving the puppy dog face. Lily leaned over and kissed him.

"Alright. I'd love to." Lily said. "You actually owled my parents?"

"Yes, I got the letter at breakfast. Read it." James said, handing her a piece of parchment. She opened it up and read:

Dear James,

We were surprised when we received a letter from Lily's boyfriend, but nonetheless, we respect that you asked our permission yourself. You seem like quite a catch. If Lily agrees to it, we will allow her to go. We are so happy Lily found someone like you.

Sincerely,

Rose and Joseph Evans

"Wow. They are right." Lily said as she folded up the letter.

"About what?" James asked.

"You are quite a catch. I wonder why I didn't see it before…" Lily said, trailing off.

"Because I was an egotistical arsehole." James said simply, kissing her cheek.

"Ah, that's right." Lily laughed as she kissed him lightly on the lips. "You better get to bed. You play Ravenclaw in the morning." Lily said, standing up.

"Right you are. Will you join me?" James asked, also standing up.

"Why not." Lily said as she made her way towards her room. "Let me get ready and I'll be in there in a moment."

"Alright." James replied, going to his room to also get ready.

Shortly after, Lily entered James's room and slipped into the covers next to him. They said their goodnights, followed by a goodnight kiss. The goodnight kiss turned into a goodnight snog. If sleep had not overcome the two, the goodnight snog may very well have become a goodnight shag.

The game started at noon. James woke up at six-thirty, as was custom for game days. The team ate a hearty breakfast before going to the locker room for pep-talks, play reviews, and the ever-popular pacing by the captain, a.k.a. James.

At five 'til noon, the players formed two lines and made their way to the entrance of the stadium. The doors opened and the players flew out as Remus announced the players. Since Remus was sick all the time, he was not on the team. But, he loved Quidditch so much that he was the announcer at all the games.

"And for Gryffindor, Keeper-Jake Bell, Beaters-Sirius Black and Lela Tybill. Seeker-Trent Nicholson. Chasers-Cara Richardson, Madison Cooper, and the final Chaser and Captain, James Potter!" Remus announced. The crowd cheered loudly for the Lions.

"And for Ravenclaw, Keeper and Captain-Ryan Pritchard. Beaters-Frank Edwards and William Durnt. Seeker-Erica Ramone. Chasers- Geoffrey Casil, Adam Douglas, and Stella Poe." Remus said, with a tad less enthusiasm. The Ravenclaws cheered.

"Madame Hooch steps onto the Pitch" Came Remus's voice as Madame Hooch looked up at the circle of blue and red.

"Captains shake hands!" Madame Hooch said as James and Ryan flew towards each other and shook hands. "Good luck. I want a nice, clean game." She said as she opened the crate.

"The Bludgers are out, followed by the Golden Snitch. Madame Hooch tosses the Quaffle and the game has begun! Gryffindor takes possession. Richardson has the Quaffle, she passes to Potter, who passes to Madison…I mean Cooper. Cooper fakes a pass to Potter but hurls it at Pritchard! Gryffindor scores! That's my girl!" Remus shouted as Madi scored the first goal. Madison smiled up at him and then turned her attention back to the game.

It was a very close game. After ten minutes, the score was twenty to forty, with Gryffindor in the lead. Durnt hit a bludger at Jake Bell. Before he could react, Jake was hit and fell to the ground. Ravenclaw took this opportunity to try to score as many goals as possible. Ryan was a better Keeper than James remembered. Soon, Ravenclaw was in the lead, one-hundred and thirty to sixty.

"NICHOLSON! YOU BETTER CATCH THAT BLOODY SNITCH SOON!" James shouted at the Seeker. Trent could only do so much.

Suddenly, a tiny gold speck caught James's eye. He whistled loudly and Trent looked over just in time to see the Snitch streaking past James's head. Erica Ramone, the Ravenclaw Seeker just happened to look over at James's whistle. She rushed after Trent but he had a head start. Sirius noticed Ryan's distraction and hit a bludger towards him. It hit him square in the stomach. He doubled over and flew down to the ground as the Seekers raced after the tiny golden ball.

Trent's fingers were just inches from the Snitch when it took a sudden nose dive towards the ground. He dove with it, Erica not far behind him.

"SO CLOSE! Nicholson is getting closer, and closer, unfortunately…I mean…so is Ramone. They're both headed straight down. They better catch the damn thing quick or they're going to hit the ground! What the hell? Nicholson is pulling up…wait! HE'S GOT IT! HE'S GOT THE SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR WINS! GRYFFINDOR WINS!" Remus shouted, jumping up and down in the Teachers' box.

"AFTER PARTY IN THE GRYFFINDOR COMMON ROOM!" James shouted as Gryffindor ran onto the Pitch and the players landed. The Gryffindors followed the team up to the Common Room in a flurry of cheers and congratulations. When they entered Gryffindor Tower, there was a multitude of sweets and drinks. Where it came from, no one knew. All they did know, was that one Marauder was conspicuously absent from the game.

After fighting his way through the crowd, Remus caught up with Madison and kissed her fully on the lips. Cara and Sirius had walked up from the Pitch together, arm in arm. Lily had run to James on the trek up to the Tower. Sometime in the celebration, music began playing. No one knew how and no one cared. Remus and Madison were dancing. Lily and James were mingling. Sirius and Cara were in the middle of a delightful snogging session when Sirius pulled away.

"Come with me." He said as he led her over to the stairs leading up to the boys' dorms. She followed him smiling. He opened the door to his room. Sirius rounded on Cara and began kissing her fiercely. She was pushed up against the door, closing it. Cara kissed him back with the same intensity. They somehow landed on Sirius's bed with their lips still locked. Sirius rolled over so he was on top. His hands began to slide up under Cara's shirt. She moaned and ran her hands through his hair. He began to remove her shirt when suddenly she came to her senses. She sat up abruptly and Sirius fell over.

"What's wrong?" Sirius asked, sitting up.

"I'm not ready yet." Cara said.

"Ready for what?"

"Ready to sleep with you." Cara explained.

"We already did." Sirius said, smirking as he referred to the night in the Hospital Wing.

"You know what I mean!" Cara said, hitting his shoulder.

"I know, I know." Sirius said, winking.

"Look. I understand you've shagged half the female population…" Cara began but Sirius cut her off.

"What! I haven't shagged half the female population. I've only had sex with two girls. I'm not a man-whore." Sirius tried to explain.

"Two? But…"

"Girls lie. Now, I may have snogged half the female population. But the two girls I had sex with, I dated faithfully for over two months. The first girl was when I was in fifth year and the other was last year. I started snogging around third year. I felt a real connection with the two I slept with but that was nothing compared to what I feel for you. I am willing to wait for you. Do you know why?"

"No."

"Because I love you. I love you more than anything. We don't have to have sex. I'd like to someday, but we don't have to anytime soon." Sirius said while softly kissing her cheek.

"I love you, too." Cara said softly, kissing him on the lips.

"Will you sleep next to me tonight?" Sirius asked.

"I have no pajamas up here." Cara protested. Sirius reached into his trunk and pulled out a clean t-shirt and boxers.

"You can wear these. I'll step out so you can change." Sirius said as he got off the bed.

"Alright." Cara said as Sirius closed the curtains. She changed into Sirius's clothes and slipped in between the covers. Shortly after, Sirius slipped in next to her and they fell asleep listening to the sounds of celebration downstairs.

Short chapter, I know…but hey…that was one fast update, eh? Well…I'll start chapter ten in the morning…good night all! Oh yeah…Read and Review!