Groaning, I glare at the sunlight streaking into the train compartment, waking me up from the wonderful nap that I was taking. Giving a bit of grumbling, I glance around and see that the compartment is empty, excepting the owls that were asleep in the upper racks. Furrowing my brows in confusion, I exit the compartment and start walking down the train, becoming steadily more worried as I see more and more empty compartments. I glance out a window to see the landscape flying by.

"What happened to everyone?" I mutter. I start to jog, trying to keep my calm and thinking about a good reason as to why there isn't anyone on the train. I remember stepping on with the boys. I remember Remus having to go up to the Prefect's compartment.

Seeing another empty compartment I frown, "Sirius? Remus?" Empty compartment, "James? Peter?" Empty compartment, "Evans?" Empty compartment, "Snape? Anyone?"

Finally I reach the driver's compartment and even the driver isn't there. By now I'm really starting to freak out. Turning on my heel I run back to the opposite end of the train and throw open the doors where they store things. When I see what's inside my heart drops to my stomach and I can't breathe. Taking a tentative step inside, I feel the floor is slick and glance down. Crimson black now colors the floor, and I jump back, eyes widening and breath increasing. A sound behind me makes me spin around and a troop of black robed and white masked figures stand there, their wands aimed at me.

"How dare you?" I shout, pulling at my bravado, hiding how scared I am.

The one in front pulls off their mask and gives a smirk I'm all too familiar with, "We dare a lot."

"Ann?"

I start, looking around in confusion. Sirius and Remus, who must have returned from his prefect duties, are right in front of me, watching with concern. James and Peter are just beyond them, but still look worried.

"What? Huh? How? Where are the robes?" I ask, still confused.

Sirius frowns, "Robes? What robes? Our school robes? We don't put them on till later, remember?"

I blink, gathering my wits and gaining my bearings.

"Ann," Remus says, "You were dreaming-"

"Nightmare," I mutter.

"About what?" Peter asks.

I glance at him, then to the other boys in turn before shaking my head. Something about that dream had felt too…odd. The compartment door opens and Evans steps in.

"Remus, I was looking for you, we were supposed to patrol five minutes ago, remember?" she pauses, "What's wrong with Grimwood?"

I bristle, "Nothing to worry about Evans. Nice badge."

She frowns, "No need to get upset about it."

"I just don't like people talking about me as if I'm not in the room."

"I'm sorry, but maybe I didn't want a sarcastic comment in return for my concern."

I bite my tongue and take a breath before looking out the window. I could see Evans's reflection pull herself higher and turn back to Remus.

"I'll wait outside. Whenever you're ready."

With that she exits, shutting the door behind her. Remus sighs, dipping his head down as though tired by the whole exchange.

"Can't you at least try to get along with her?" Remus sighs.

"I'll try when she does."

"I suppose it's too much to ask you to be the bigger person?"

I don't answer and Remus shakes his head before walking outside.

"That's one thing I've never understood. Why don't you and Evans get along?" James asks.

I look at him, "We just don't. I think we're too different to truly get along."

"I think you two are a lot more alike than you both would like to admit."

Eyes flashing, I turn to Sirius, "Oh really? How the hell am I like that teacher's pet?"

"You're both smart. You're stubborn. Good with hexes. You both love to read. You're both the only people who are able to, somewhat, keep me and James-"

"James and I," I correct automatically since Remus isn't here.

"Right, James and I, in line. Neither of you are particularly girly, though she's a little more feminine than you. You both have firecracker tempers. You both hate pink. You're loyal to your friends. Plus you're both the top females of our year, with Evans beating you by a few points." Sirius finishes his list with a smug grin.

Shaking my head, I frown, "It's more than that though, we just…don't get along."

"Maybe Remus is right," James says, "Maybe you should try."

I smirk at him, "You just want me to become friends with her so I can get in a good word for you."

James has the decency to blush and faces the window.

"In the days of swordsmen and knights
There stood magicians four.
They wished to set to rights,
And here is where we learn the lore.

From each direction they did come,
Strangers first, did become friends.
And here is where it troubles some,
For how could a strong bond meet such ends?

Dear Gryffindor, of noble heart,
did set it straight from the start,
His students were to be of courage and nerve,
For their friends they did serve.

Loyal Hufflepuff wished just that,
her students morally knew where they sat,
They were to be patient and just,
Working hard as they must.

Open Ravenclaw did decree,
that learning would be utmost to thee,
Her students were to be sharp of wit,
To devour knowledge like a flame lit.

Mischievous Slytherin was heard to speak,
that students physically weak,
could utilize quick cunning,
and pure ambition for skills they were lacking.

Though these friends were close,
Fires from different opinions arose.
Until the day did one leave,
And three were left with trust like a sieve.

But before their end they did decide,
A way to sort the students fair,
In the case they should have died,
To the houses which they would share.

Gryffindor pulled me from his head,
And placed me where he sat,
They gave me abilities which I need and then said,
Their fate is yours, dear sorting hat.

So step forward,
Don't be shy,
You've been warned,
I never lie."

I applaud with the rest of the people before glancing at the guys, "Song was a bit long this year eh?"

Pete shrugs, "He was probably really bored last year."

Remus's eyes light up for a moment and he pulls out a piece of parchment and starts scribbling away madly.

"Why do I get the feeling that dear Remmy has a wonderfully devious idea?" Sirius mutters, a smirk on his face.

"Probably cause he usually has his homework done before we arrive at school," James says.

"And he never-"

"Ever uses-"

"Pocket parchment-"

"For anything-"

"Other than mischief!"

I glance between James and Sirius, eyebrows raised, "You two aren't even twins, how in merlin's fuzzy left nut do you do that?"

"Trade secret," Sirius says.

James continues, "We could tell you,"

"But we'd have to kill you," they finish in unison.

Rolling my eyes I turn my attention back to the sorting, clapping when the people are sorted. I really don't give a damn where they get sorted to. Honestly, with Rowan in Slytherin, I've learned quite a bit of tolerance, something I wish James and Sirius would learn. Granted, they left Regulus and Rowan alone, but they were really biased against other members of the snake den. When the sorting finishes, Dumbledore stands, gives his usual speech and then begins the feast.

I start to eat and turn to Remmy, "So what's the plan?"

He glances up long enough to grab some food and make eye contact before giving a slight wink and smirk before returning to his work. Translation: Just wait, I'm working out the kinks.

Shrugging, I return to my food and pick up conversation that's going on around me.

"First you were all like "whoa", and we were like "whoa", and you were like "whoa...""

"Did you see the skirt Kelly is wearing? Talk about out of school code."

"Oh my god, did you hear about what happened to Martin?"

"So you know where I can get some herb from right?"

"Ghosts are real?"

I grin and watch as Sirius finishes his plate and starts to juggle dinner rolls.

"You know Sirius, you're supposed to eat your food, or play with it on your plate, not juggle it," I comment.

He grins, "But this is so much more fun. And look! It entertains the firsties!"

Chuckling, I leave him to it and start up a conversation with Marlene McKinnon. The girl was one of two girls in our dorm who I considered down to earth, the other I really didn't talk to. Soon the feast ends and we're all sent up to our dorms. I get the password from Remus, and Marlene and I take the shortcuts up to the tower and relax while we can.

Once the first years are brought up by Remus and Evans, I wait for a bit before heading up the boy's dorm stairs and entering the one that would be ruled by the Marauders. Sitting down on a random bed I wait for the four of them to arrive. After a couple of minutes the door opens and they come in, talking all at once trying to be louder than the one next to them, laughing, and overall just being them.

I smirk when they stop in surprise at seeing me, "Well, close the door, we have business to attend to."

Sirius closes the door and the drapes on the windows. James turns the lights down and pulls out extra pillows and blankets. Peter opens his trunk and pulls out a medium sized box. Remus pulls out a couple of books from his trunk along with a large pad of parchment bound on one side. I place up the privacy spells and monitoring charms. All of this was second nature by now. This happens every time that the boys plan a prank, and I have been privileged to participate in a couple of their bigger pranks. Dropping down into my normal seat I watch as each of the boys gets more comfortable, taking off ties, robes, shoes, and vests or sweaters. I already rid myself of those annoying articles when I arrived here with Marlene.

"Alright, so what's the plan Remmy?" Sirius asks.

Remus grins, "We're going to steal the Sorting Hat."

AN/ Hey ya'll. Ok, so I was reading through Crystalline Glass, when I noticed that there are chapters missing from the story. I'm thinking I'm going to rework that story, make it easier to read and add in those chapters, so I'm letting you know if you have an alert on CG don't freak out if you get a "New Chapter" alert and wonder if your computer is possessed. ANYWAY! I'm going to ask nicely, please review. They make me happy and help me write.