"JAMES HARRY POTTER!" I yelled from my bathroom. There was now an electric blue path of freckles across my nose and my hair matched.

As I ran down to the common room, I started to hear laughter. I had heard those laughs a hundred times before. They were laughs of the Maruaders after they pulled a prank.

When I ran into the common room, their laughter got louder and I attacked James.

I was now on top of him tickling the crap out of him. I know it was childish, but he hatedbeing tickled.

"OI… stop… it!" He yelled trying not to laugh.

"You turned my hair and freckles blue! You must pay for you crime against my hair!" I declared as I continued to tickle him mercilessly.

"I'll… fix… it," he gasped, "just… let… me… go!" He was now crying. I figured he had learned his lesson. So I relinquished my attack.

"Change it back now," I put a lot of emphasis on now.

"Fine, you are no fun though." He said a spell and I was immediately back to my normal self.

"Thanks!" I kissed him on the cheek and ran upstairs.

"Ok class, today we are going to be working with Boggarts! Now who can tell me what a Boggarts is?" Professor Reynolds.

Lily raised her hand high in the air like she always did, I figured I would give her the satisfaction of showing Professor Reynolds what she can do even though I knew it, "Ah, Ms. Brown."

"I didn't have my hand up Professor," I said as politely as possible.

"I realized that, but I am asking you anyway," he raised his eyebrows.

"Ok, it's a shape-shifting creature that takes the form of what a person fears most."

"And what is the counter course?"

"Riddikulus, Sir," I said shyly. I wasn't exactly known for being smart, everyone knew I was a good dueler, but it doesn't take a lot of brains besides quick thinking.

"Would you show us how to do it?"

"Um, sure." I stood up not wanting to know what my boggart was. As he opened the door I thought of everything that scared me. Snakes and spiders, well bugs in general. Then I thought deeper into it, what was I really afraid of?

What came out was completely unexpected. Guys? I was afraid of guys?

At first I just looked at it dumb founded as a bunch of guys piled out of the dresser. I heard a snicker from behind me and I suddenly felt self-conscious.

The last man came out and they all started yelling at me and telling me how ugly I was and how I would never, ever be wanted by anyone. Then the most horrific thing happened. Sirius stepped out of the crowd and started laughing at me and calling me names.

I forgot what to do for a moment and almost dropped my wand, "Riddikulus," I said in almost a whisper. I didn't wait to see what happened, I turned on my heel and took my seat next to Lily avoiding anyone's eyes, especially Sirius.

"Well class, I think you get the idea. Early dismissal homework is…" I didn't wait to hear the rest. I packed my bags and walked out the door. I ignored the calls I was getting from Lily and anyone else. I only walked faster.

I could go for a run, I thought. No, that didn't turn out so well last time. I could stuff my face with delicious foods. No, that would be even worse. I will just go to the Library and study for NEWTs even though it's only the first week of school. It was also the last place anyone would look for me.

"Nice to see you are wearing the proper attire today, Ms. Brown." I looked up from my book and saw Professor McGonagall standing in front of me.

"Yes well, I am really sorry about yesterday. I promise it won't happen again, ever. If you have a moment, I actually have a question for you. It is about what we will be learning this year. I want to be on top of things this year. I really want to do well on my NEWTs."

She eyed my book, "I can see that. Well, I have some time. I have to admit I am proud of you Ms. Brown. You may be a handful in class but you are a good student." She said as she took a seat. She had never given me a complement like that.

"Thank you, Professor. It means a lot to me," I blushed and flipped through my book looking for questions to ask, "I was wondering what…" the afternoon went on like that. I asked the questions and she answered them.

The dinner bell rang and we both looked up in surprise, "Wow, I have never been so consumed in Transfiguration."

"I have never studied with a student before and enjoyed it this much," she said standing up, and brushing off her robes. She said it like it was no big deal.

"Thank you, Professor. Not just for the help, but I needed someone who wasn't questioning me about every little thing whether it be friends, what I did over the summer, or anything really. Thanks."

A faint trace of a smile appeared on her lips, "You are welcome. Come Ms. Brown, I will not have you miss dinner." With that, she turned on her heel and vanished from the library.

"I guess I'm going to dinner," I murmured.

XXX

Everyone was already in their seats, since I took the long way to make sure all of the seats by my friends would be taken.

I looked around the Hall, there was still a seat next to Lily and Arianna right across from Sirius. There was also a seat next to Lucius. Sitting at the Slytherin table would just give me more shit to deal with.

I headed towards the usual seat, putting on a brave face and not daring to look at any of the snickering people, "Where have you been?"

"We have been looking everywhere!"

"What happened in class?"

"Are you okay?"

"I didn't know you were so self-conscious." Everyone looked at Peter.

"I was studying, I wasn't hiding I was in the library, I encountered a boggart, I am fine, and yes I am self-conscious Peter." I answered them all in one breath.

They all looked at me except Sirius. I was saved by the always timely Dumbledore, "Hello everyone! I hope your first week was a successful one. There are no announcements so, let the feast begin!"

I suddenly wasn't hungry, I looked at all of my favorite foods, but I didn't feel like eating. "I'm not that hungry, I will see you guys later." I got up to leave but right as I did Lucius and his posy got up too. "On second thought, I'm starving. Pass me the potatoes, will you?"

They looked at me strangely, "Are you sure you are okay?" James said.

"Positive!" I smiled a little too brightly. Liar, Liar pants on fire!

XXX

"What happened to you today?" Alice asked abruptly as we all got changed into our pajamas.

"What do you mean?" I played dumb.

"In DADA, the whole boggart thing and then Sirius; you just ran out before anyone could talk to you. Then you disappeared for the whole day." Don't hold back.

I thought about lying again, but I figured I owed them the truth, "It caught me off guard. I never really thought about what scared me, at least really scared me. It's really superficial, I know. I'm not even sure why I thought of that. Everyone was staring and whispering, it freaked me out."

"You should have come to us, we would have understood." Marlene wrapped her arms around me.

"I know I was just really confused and embarrassed." I blushed and hugged her back.

"You still didn't tell us what the whole Sirius thing was about." Arianna said from her bed. I had forgotten that she and Sirius had gone out and she might be really pissed.

"I am not really sure," I lied, "I think it was just because I value his opinion and no madder how much he makes fun of me I know he never really means it. I guess I was just scared that one day he would actually mean the stuff that he says and he wouldn't want to be my friend anymore," I was rather proud of myself for coming up with that so quickly.

"Oh, okay!" she said very bubbly.

"Well we better get to sleep. Quidditch trials are tomorrow and the boys are making us go." Lily said, pulling the covers over her head and turning off the lights with a flick of her wand.

This was kind of a nothing chapter, but don't worry the next chapters will be better! Please review, they make me happy:)

XOXO Miranda