Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 3:

It was weird. Before my unexpected friendship with Sirius I never even noticed him in any of my classes. But all of a sudden there he was, in my charms class, transfiguration, herbology, and he even sat in front of me in history of magic. I did understand why I hadn't realized that he was there before. Well, I did it was because we weren't friends before, but still I found it strange.

One day after history of magic I was walking with Brittany to the Great Hall for lunch. Sirius caught up with us, he was accompanied by his sandy-haired friend, Remus Lupin. Brittany still hadn't taken a liking to Sirius, so once he started walking with us she whispered to me, "I'll meet you in the Great Hall," and started walking at a faster pace.

"Does she hate me or something?" Sirius asked once Brittany wouldn't be able to hear him.

I didn't want to say yes, but she kind of made it seem like she did. "Well, she doesn't hate you exactly. She just doesn't like you. But don't take it personally; she doesn't like most people at first. She didn't even like me until the third week of school in our first year."

"So she's always like that?" Remus questioned, moving his head so he could see me.

I guessed he was talking about her snotty kind of vibe, "No. She really is a kind person. She just has major trust issues. But she is one of the most trustworthy people I know."

"Other than me of course," Sirius chimed in.

I snickered, which I don't know why I did. The first day I ever spoke to Sirius I told him one of my biggest secrets, so that obviously meant I found it easy to trust him. Since I didn't know how to respond to his comment I asked, "So is there a reason you started walking with me, or did you just want to bug me?"

Sirius smiled as he answered my question, "Roma, you know I would never try to bug you on purpose." I stared at him doubtfully. "Alright, so my reason is, that well," his speech began to slow down, "I was wondering if you wanted to go on the Hogsmeade trip this weekend with me?" I was surprised by his offer, and I didn't know what to say. I assumed he wanted to go as friends, but that's not what others would assume if they saw me and him alone. Dominic wasn't going because he had studying to do, and Brittany's parents never signed the permission slip for Hogsmeade so it wasn't like I would be going with anyone else. After a few minutes of quiet Sirius spoke again, "I mean James and Remus will be there too, so do you want to go?"

I looked up at him and I swore I saw his face turn the slightest bit pink. "Sure. As long as James and Remus don't mind me joining you."

Both Sirius and I looked to Remus for a response, "I don't mind at all. It's nice having someone around without the maturity level of a toddler."

"Hey, I have a much higher maturity level than a toddler," Sirius argued.

"Only sometimes," Remus teased.

James kind of came out of nowhere and threw his arms around Sirius and Remus. "Guys she said yes," James said with the biggest smile on his face. "I can't believe she said yes."

I hadn't a clue what he was talking about. But by the looks of it Sirius and Remus knew exactly what he was talking about. I didn't want to look stupid, so I didn't ask, but I guess by the expression I had on my face it was obvious that I didn't know what they were talking about.

"Lily Evans," James smiled, "I've been after her since first year, but she's always rejected me for whatever reason. But I knew that she fancied me, even if she didn't know it herself. So I didn't give, and finally after all these years she's agreed to go on the Hogsmeade trip with me." He looked back at Sirius and Remus, "I know we were all planning on going together, but you understand don't you?"

"Prongs, you've been waiting for this moment since forever, I think we'll be able to get over it." Sirius smiled as he patted his friend on the back.

James smiled again and said, "I've got to go find Lily."

As he ran of Remus called out to him, "Weren't you just with her?"

James called back, "Yeah, and I've already gone to long without seeing her."

"So James isn't going to be coming to Hogsmeade with us," Sirius said while looking towards me.

I rolled my eyes and laughed, "Really? I couldn't have possibly guessed that. It's a good thing you were here to explain that to me. But I am curious, why won't Peter be coming with us?"

"He forgot to get his permission slip signed," Remus answered.

"I offered to forge the signature for him, but this killjoy over here," he beckoned to Remus, "convinced Pete that it wouldn't work and we'd both get in trouble."

Remus rolled his eyes, "You know Sirius–"

"Mr. Black, Miss Roma," Professor McGonagall said from behind us, "please follow me to my office."

Sirius muttered a curse under his breath as he turned on the heels of his feet.

Honestly, I was kind of terrified. The only thing I had ever gotten in trouble for was talking in class. And if I was going to get detention I at least wanted to actually do something detention worthy. Not just from being associated with the people who did it.

"I expect more from you Potter, as Head Boy you better start accepting your responsibilities. And Miss Roma," she turned her attention towards me, "I understand you are not Head Girl, but as I remember you were a prefect last year weren't you?" I nodded. "Then you should know better as well."

"She didn't do anything," Sirius mumbled just loud enough so it was able to be heard.

"What was that Mr. Black?"

He sighed and raised his voice, "She didn't do anything."

"As it is, I don't believe Miss Roma did have anything to do with was happened to Mr. Snape. But given the circumstances I must assign detention for all four of you for the next two Saturdays. You will to report to my classroom at six in the morning, and from there I will tell you what you need to do. Miss Roma, since this is the first I've ever hear of you getting into trouble I'll only give you detention for the first Saturday. And finally I must take ten points from Hufflepuff, and thirty points from Gryffindor." Nobody argued with her, and we were dismissed.

"What exactly did you do to Severus?" I asked as the four of us walked into the hallway.

Peter smiled mischievously, "You haven't seen him recently have you?"

I shook my head, "No why?"

"Because if you've seen him recently, you'd know exactly what we had done," James explained.

I was curious, but I didn't feel like asking. All I wanted to do was get to the Great Hall and eat lunch with my best friend. So I said good-bye to everyone and almost ran to the Great Hall.

I was kind of expecting to see Dominic with Brittany, but he wasn't there. Which I was glad about because I wanted to talk to Brittany in private.

The minute I sat down next my blue/green eyed friend I started putting food on my plate and asked, "Do you remember when you broke up with Jason?" She nodded and I continued, "Well I was wondering if you could give me some pointers on how to break up with someone."

"Why do you need to know how to break up with someone?" She asked looking extremely confused. It took her a minute or two to realize that I was planning on breaking up with Dominic, "But why? What are your parents going to say? Are you sure this is the right idea? I really don't want you to regret doing this. Are you sure? When do you think you're going to do it? Soon? But you two have been together forever. Do you really want to give up a relationship that lasted that long?"

I sighed heavily, "You know why, I've told you that story. My parents can say whatever they what to, it doesn't change anything. I'm never really sure of anything, but this is what I believe I should do. I'm not going to regret it. Again, I'm never really sure of anything. Sometime before Christmas. If you consider that soon, then yes. I know we have and that's part of the problem. I'm not giving up the relationship; I'm just not going to be dating him anymore. I hope that he and I will still be able to be friends."

Brittany looked at me as if she had something she wanted to ask me. I had a good idea of what she wanted to ask me, but I wanted her to ask it herself. "I have one last question to ask you," she paused, "After you break up with Dom, would you be mad if I started dating him?"

I smiled, her asking that meant she trusted me. I knew she had trusted me from other things she had told me, but this specifically made me feel good about our friendship. "I wouldn't mind at all." I would've told her that I've known that she fancied him for a while, but I didn't want her to feel like I was breaking up with Dominic because of her.

She blushed and smiled, "Thanks." I smiled back at her. "So what took you so long?"

So I had to tell her the whole story. She laughed at some parts, asked a few questions, and decided that she should've stayed. "So you have detention on Saturday? And at six? You wake up at six? That's funny."

"You're always up at like five; I was hoping that you would make sure I'm up. You'll do that for me, right? Because I'm the coolest person you know."

She nodded. "Of course I will."

Charms was our first evening class. I don't know how, but I never realized that all four Marauders were in that class. James and Sirius actually sat at the table to my right while Remus and Peter sat two rows behind them. I even noticed that Lily Evans sat right in front of me and Brittany with Marlene McKinnon.

Charms was my least favorite class. I had absolutely no interest in the subject, and I found it unbelievably boring. In fact, about half way through the class I found myself slowly drifting asleep when I felt something hit my head. I didn't actually lift my head until I felt another thing hit my head.

I noticed two crumpled up pieces of paper in front of me which I assumed was what was used to hit my head. I looked at Brittany, but she was busy taking notes, so I looked towards Sirius. He was using his hands to imitate opening a book. I figured he was trying to tell me to open the paper.

I chose one of them and opened it. I was still acting groggily, but what happened after I opened the paper made me wide awake.

A bird had flown out at me. I don't know what kind of bird, just some bird. Scared the hell out of me, it did. Scared me so much that I literally fell out of my seat. As I sat there on the floor, trying to comprehend what just happened the only thought my brain put into my mind was, Unpredictable, that's what you want, and that thought just kept on replaying and replaying and replaying until I finally got up, and sat myself in my seat.

Professor Flitwick was saying something, but I couldn't hear him. But it didn't seem as if he was yelling at anyone. He probably didn't see what happened. Mostly he seemed concerned with getting the bird out of the classroom. Which thankfully did take him some time, because I did not want to listen to his lesson at all.

"I can't believe you did that," I almost screamed at Sirius.

He and James both sniggered. "What? You looked tired. I just thought that I should wake you up," Sirius tried to defend himself.

"You truly are a prat."

"But that was pretty darn amusing," Brittany laughed unexpectedly. It seemed she was warming up to the Marauders because she started talking with James and Peter about the prank.

Sirius smiled innocently at me, "I did tell you I was going to prank you. It's not my fault you were off guard."

"See what I mean about the whole maturity of a two year old thing?" Remus asked.

I nodded, "I certainly do." I glared at Sirius quickly before grabbing Brittany's arm. We began walking towards defense against the dark arts. "I can't believe he did that," I mumbled slightly flustered. I wasn't really mad at him for pulling the prank as I was at myself for falling for it.

"Why, it was brilliant? Maybe Sirius isn't as bad as I originally thought," Brittany smiled.

I chuckled, "I like how it takes him pranking me for you to start to like him."

In defense against the dark arts I saw Severus. His usually black hair had been turned to a bright pink. And several times during the class his hair changed from pink to yellow to orange and other vibrant color. It was pretty funny.

After the rest of our evening classes we met with Dominic for dinner.

"So have a good day?" Dominic asked while landing a kiss on my cheek.

"She got pranked," Brittany laughed.

"You did? I would've figured that it'd be too difficult for someone to prank you after everything Kevin did."

"I was in charms. I was bored. I was tired." And that was my defense.

Dominic and Brittany were Head Boy and Head Girl, and they had a meeting that night. So I walked back to the common room alone. Once I was there I walked to the girls dorms, and flopped onto my bed. I wasn't feeling as tired as I was feeling in charms, so I decided to use my energy to write a letter to my brother.

Dear Kev,

Today, I hate to admit it, but I was pranked. Which is the first thing I'd like to address in this letter. I need your help with a prank. A good prank. You played so many pranks on me throughout our childhood, so I know that you must be able to help me. I don't want something dangerous, not something that's going to hurt anyone. But something that will show the people who pranked me not to mess with me. I figure you can just give me any supplies I'll need for Christmas. Since that is coming up.

Speaking of which what exactly do you want for Christmas? I know one of the things you told me you'd miss was the chocolate from Honeydukes, would you like that? I'll probably wind up giving a bunch of random gifts like I have every other year.

Lastly, I'm entrusting a secret in you. Sometime before Christmas I plan on breaking up with Dominic. I'm not sure how mom and dad will react, but I'm almost sure that it won't be something they accept easily. So I'm probably going to need your help getting them on good terms with it, if that's not too much to ask. We'll probably have to comfort mom more than dad since you know her and Mrs. Layton really were the ones who wanted Dominic and I to be married. Dad and Mr. Layton seemed more like they just wanted to make their wives happy.

I'm sorry if I make Christmas awkward for you. But I think it's going to be just as awkward for me, if not more. Plus, it's going to be awkward for Dominic and his parents since they'll be over at our house. But I really do think I've been acting like I'm actually interested in marrying Dominic for too long. And Dominic likes someone else, but he won't break up with me for the same reason I've waited so long to break up with him. By the time you get this letter I'll probably have already broken up with him, so please don't even try to talk me out of it.

Oh and please don't tell mom and dad about this letter. I haven't sent them a letter since I got to Hogwarts, and I don't want them to know that I sent you one and not them.

Finally, this time I mean it, I just need to thank you. I know you're going to come through for me because you always do. You're always there when I need you. But that's just because you're the best older brother ever. So thanks, I know we fought and bickered when we were children, but we were children back then, but now you truly are one of my best friends. So thank you.

Love,

Meg.

I slid my letter under my pillow, so no one would accidentally come across it, and it was in a place that I would remember to look for it in the morning. Shortly after that I found myself slipping into sleep.

End of Chapter 3

Well I'd just like the thank all of you who added this story to their alert list, or reviewed. I don't exactly like the way I ended this chapter, but liked most of the rest of it. Please let me know what you think. This chapter was a little shorter than the other two, but oh well. Next chapter will be detention and most likely a short chapter, and then will be Hogsmeade which will be a normal length chapter. I'll get those out as soon as possible.