"Sweet!"

Looking over at the dark-haired girl, Sirius Black frowned and asked, "What?"

"Jem and Lily are Head Boy and Girl together this year. They'll get to spend all this time, just the two of them. I mean, they're bound to get together this year. Right?"

Sirius smiled, leaning back and replying idly, "You've been spending too much time with the Marauders, Mira, you're starting to think like us."

"I'm James's cousin," she pointed out, extending a hand to Remus as he entered the compartment. "They've always been a good match for each other. Where in the name of Merlin is Alice?"

"Saying bye to Frank out on the platform."

Rolling her eyes, she sat back huffily and looked up at Remus, pulling him down beside her and lying down in his lap. "Do they not understand that we have the rest of our lives to play mush?"

"What do you have against relationships, Cela? You never had a problem with Sirius liking every woman that moves."

"Other than me, Lily, and Alice," Celaeno pointed out lightly, laughing as Sirius snorted. "I don't have a problem with Sirius because he every woman that moves, not particular woman that he dotes until everyone else gets sick."

"Does this have anything to do with your obvious hatred for Slughorn?"

Sirius perked up, nodding. "Yeah. You do seem to have a thing against him."

"I don't have a thing against him. I just have no respect for him."

"Wait a minute, Mira, what are your NEWTs again?"

Gaping in disbelief, Remus managed in shock, "You're kidding, right? You don't even know what her NEWTs are?"

Laughing, Celaeno reached up and stroked Remus' cheek. "You know how much Sirius hates talking about school, Remus. Don't bug him."

"He deserves it," Remus replied steadily, still staring at Sirius. "Padfoot, you're kidding, right? For all that time you two spent talking you don't even know –"

"Moony, don't get your knickers in a twist," Sirius said with a laugh. "What are they then, if it's so basic."

"Elementary, my dear Watson," Remus replied, rolling his eyes as Sirius looked at him curiously and Celaeno laughed. "Muggle thing, Padfoot. Astronomy, Transfiguration, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Charms, and Defence Against the Dark Arts. That's it, right?"

Celaeno nodded, "Yes, sir. Dunno why I let Alice dupe me into doing NEWT Defence. I'm no good at it. And I wish I hadn't dropped Muggle Studies."

"Moony can help you with Defence," Sirius said idly, "he's wicked at it."

"So are you and Prongs," Remus pointed out. "Collectively, that's our best subject."

"Because it's bloody awesome!"

Making a face, Celaeno looked up at Remus and asked, "When will he ever grow up?"

Standing in the doorway, James took in the scene with an amused expression, Lily laughing beside him. "Padfoot, grow up? That's funny."

– 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 –

The door slammed loudly and the all three teenagers jumped. "Bloody hell Padfoot! What –?"

James stopped mid-sentence, taking in the sheer outrage on the other boy's handsome face and the slightly terrified look on Peter's. "Dammed Ravenclaw."

"What the bloody hell are you on about, Padfoot?"

Whirling on Remus, Sirius snarled angrily, "This all your bloody fault. If you hadn't been so bloody self righteous this wouldn't have happened."

Raising an eyebrow, Lily asked carefully, "What did Cela do and why it Remus's fault?"

"Not Mira! The bloody prat –"

"Sirius!" Mira Celaeno slammed the door open, looking breathless and anxious. Her hair was tousled and her face was flushed, the look in her eyes both terrified and worried. "Don't, please. It wasn't what you think!"

"Wasn't what I think?! Then what the bloody hell was it!"

Anger swamped her pretty features and she stomped her foot, hands fisting at her sides, "Why can you not accept the fact that I am perfectly capable? You are not my father, nor are you my keeper! I can do what I like, with who I like, and it's none of your concern unless I make it so!"

Realization hit Lily and she smiled, cutting in before Sirius could respond, "Oh my god, Cela. Is it – did you two – oh my god!"

Momentarily Celaeno's anger faded and she smiled, nodding happily and blushing as Lily squealed, jumping up and hugging her tightly. "That is amazing. It's about bloody time! He is divinely attractive, I'll give him that. Oh, Cela, that's fabulous! Sirius, stop being so overprotective. It's about time she gets herself out there again."

"Not that I have an option now," Cela said harshly, glaring at Sirius. "The bloody prat would've beaten him to a pulp if Peter and I hadn't stood in the way. Thank you, Peter, by the way, for helping me control this idiot! Do I have to do everything with your approval?"

"That guy had a hell of a lot more than that on his mind, Mira," Sirius growled. "And just so you know, he's been making eyes at the Ravenclaw prefect, what's-her-name, for two weeks. Prongs and I noticed it during Potions ages ago. If you ever talked to me I'd have told you about it!"

"I know full well what he's been up to! I don't talk to you about that kind of stuff, but if you ever actually trusted me with anything you'd be able to accept the fact that I've been talking to James about just that for weeks now. If you'd kindly keep your nose out of my business! My private life is not your concern!"

She turned to walk away and Sirius grabbed her arm, whirling her around and biting harshly, "None of my concern? Bull shit! You know that I have every right to know what you're doing, just like you know what I'm doing. Don't try to play that card with me, cause it won't work. Why the hell don't I deserve to know something about what you're doing? Because I'm not your cousin? Because I don't live with you? Because I don't sit and do homework with you everyday? I have as much right as anyone to know! Or does the fact that I care about you suddenly not matter?"

Tears had sprung to her eyes and she shook her head jerkily, fighting them back quite effectively. "Caring about me and trying to monitor everything I do are two different things, Sirius. There are plenty of people who can watch after me. I do not need another protector. If you paid any attention, you'd know that more than half the staff has been keeping a hawk eye on me all year. I need a friend, dammit. And you've been too self-absorbed in your compulsive need to play protector to actually do that. Even James has been more a friend, and he's the one with the hero complex!"

She did turn and walk away that time, leaving Sirius to stand there, stunned. Turning to Lily, he said softly, "I don't think you need to worry about her needing attention anymore. If you don't go for it now, when you plan on doing anything is beyond me. He deserves to know."

"You straighten up your own issues and then worry about mine."

"He's my best friend, Lily, don't tell me not to put him first. You know that's how it goes."

Frowning, James looked between the two, asking carefully, "What's going on Padfoot? Lily, what's he talking about?"

"When was the last time you asked her out, Prongs?"

Eyes widening, James turned to Lily, mouthing soundlessly before managing, "Are you saying –"

"I'm not saying anything, James. Sirius is. But the only way to do anything properly is to speak for yourself."

"So you'll go out with me?"

Laughing, Lily looked at him and tilted her head. "Why am I not surprised?"

"What?"

"You would be the one not to catch on that now's the time to be romantic, not dense."

"But you will, right?"

Rolling her eyes as she smiled, she nodded and looked at Sirius gently, "I guess I may as well."

Dense as his words may have been, James Potter was not so immature as to be ungrateful. Reaching out, he touched her cheek gently, cupping her face and kissing her gently, his voice soft as he rested his forehead against hers for a moment, "Then I'm the happiest man alive."

Sirius made a face, rolling his eyes, and walked out. He saw Celaeno, standing in a corner and looking out the window. Arms wrapped tightly around herself, she sniffed slightly and stared blindly out over the Hogwarts grounds. Stepping forward as he smiled softly, he wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on hers and saying softly, "I didn't mean to upset you, you know. It's hard, though, to think that someone else may know you better than I do."

"What are you going to do when I get married?"

"I thought you hated favouritism?"

"I think I'll find someone I love enough to not mind that much."

"Do you love me that much?"

It was an innocent question and Celaeno melted. Turning, she leaned against the stone wall and smiled. "Of course. You're family, Sirius, as much as any blood-bound family I may have."

"Then I guess I can accept you loving someone else. Especially since you'll have loved me first."

"And I was just about to say you're growing up."

"Me, grow up? That's funny, that was the one thing I planned on never doing."

Looking up at him, she remembered the boy he had been before, and smiled at the realization that he had grown up. Maybe not entirely, but enough. And she continued to smile as he said, "And, by the way, James and Lily are now dating. I left them up there to be mushy, and I won't be surprised if Moony and Wormtail come down soon."

"Was it your doing?"

"Kind of."

She rested her head against the wall and smiled, saying gently, "You really are growing up. I'm proud of you. And I may like him, but nobody will ever replace you."

"Are you telling me to stop being overprotective about guys you snog at random?"

"Exactly."

"I guess I can do that. I think you might be right."

"What?"

"Maybe we are growing up. And maybe it isn't so bad."

– 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 –

"I'm buying myself a place."

Everyone looked up at Sirius, astonishment clear on all of their faces. "What?"

James spoke first, looking stunned. "You heard me, Prongs. I got that job that I wanted, and with the money my uncle left me I have enough to get a flat. I found a really nice one earlier this week. Mira, the one I saw with you."

"I thought you were kidding."

"Nope. I can't stay here forever, Prongs. I'm not mooching off your parents anymore, and I'm working. You'll be in training for another year, you should stay at home. It's just stupid for me not to get my own place. I have to grow up sometime."

"Didn't you say you didn't want to grow up, Sirius?"

Celaeno looked at him gently, smiling as he made a face at her. "Shut it Mira. Are you staying here again tonight?"

She nodded, "My father might be heading over there again tonight. Something about Vega Merope, and I'd just rather not be there."

James nodded, understanding exactly what she was getting at. Then he looked at her, his jerky movement startling the redhead lying against his knees. Celaeno seemed to realize the same thing at the same moment, for she looked at him with wide eyes. Nodding, she turned slowly to Sirius and said softly, "That was a big place. You plan on staying there yourself?"

"I guess. I mean Prongs wants to stay here for now. And Moony won't come, he loves being at home. Same with Wormtail. Lily, wanna leave James and bunk with me?"

"In your dreams Sirius," Lily said idly, poking James to figure out why he had disturbed her and demanding to know what had caused his sudden interest in Celaeno. "James? James!"

Patting her hand distractedly, he ignored Remus's chuckle. "Where's Wormtail? And Alice?"

"She left twenty minutes ago, smart one," Lily said, rolling her eyes. "And Peter's coming down the hall."

"What about me?"

"Prongsie was just wondering about you, Wormtail," Sirius said with a grin. "And stop giving me that look Mira. I can take care of myself, you know."

"I know that." She said it quickly. Too quickly. And they all noticed.

Slowly they all turned to look at her, Sirius's eyes narrowing as he asked carefully, "What is it?"

"So you're in the market for a roommate?"

Remus stared at her, realizing what she was planning and gaped as Sirius shrugged. "Yea, I guess. Why?"

"Could I –"

"You!"

Protective streak flaring up, James sat up rigidly, "What's that supposed to mean? You were propositioning my girlfriend less than a minute ago, and now you can't even have a girl for a roommate?"

Flushing, Sirius shook his head, "No, I mean – Mira, why in the name of Merlin do you want to leave your house? And why would you want to stay with me? Your mum'll go haywire."

"But it'll keep me from ever having to see my dad again. He disowned me, remember? He'll have no right to my place, he can still come at will to wherever Vega is."

Looking stunned, as were Remus and Peter, Sirius shook his head and avoided the sharp gazes of Celaeno, Lily, and James. "I'll think about it."

She understood his hesitation, his aversion from a female roommate, and her especially. Stung, she nodded and stood, turning away from him and asking, "James, want something while I'm in the kitchen?"

James shook his head, glaring at Sirius as she walked off. Frowning, Lily gasped sharply, standing and ignoring Sirius, "Oh, Cela! Don't!"

– 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 –

Sirius shifted nervously in his seat. James and Lily were still giving him the silent treatment, and Celaeno hadn't looked at him properly all day. Remus and Peter were being normal, thank Merlin, but they were supposed to be his best friends too! Not that Celaeno was any issue now, because she had just left, talking cheerfully to Miss Eli. James had followed, of course, because he never missed an opportunity to listen to his mother and cousin laugh. So now it was just Lily, who was talking to Remus happily. Remus would've let Celaeno live with him in a heartbeat. Not that he could be choosy about roommates, he wouldn't be able to afford it. Then they all froze as they heard James's shocked cry, "Uncle Max–!"

His cry was drowned out by the sharp cry from Celaeno and the furious questions from both of James's parents, "Daddy!"

Yanking her into the kitchen, not even noticing the other three, the youngest Rookwood grabbed the arm of his stepdaughter fiercely, his face pale and his eyes clouded, "I want you to stay here. I'll bring you your things as soon as I can."

"What in the name of Merlin is going on?"

It was Andrew Potter who spoke, his eyes dark as he looked at his brother-in-law. Looking at her husband reproachfully, Elizabeth Potter reached out and eased Celaeno from her brother's grasp. "Max, what's wrong?"

"What do you think?"

Sighing, Eli reached out and grasped his hand. "Are you okay?"

"Everything's fine now. I need you to keep her, Eli. I'm not having that bastard get his hands on her. He's trying to reclaim her, and it's a nasty process. She's not going back to that man, not unless she wants to."

"Daddy, is Mum okay?"

"Your mother's fine, darling," he said, softening and rubbing her arm. "I didn't mean to worry you. And Vega's fine, before you ask."

Andrew knew exactly what nasty process Maximilian Rookwood was referring to. "Who does Venatici have in mind?"

"The Malfoy brat just got engaged to the middle Black girl, or I'd say him. It's got to be McNair or one of the Lestrange boys. If he kept to the same age group. I wouldn't put it past him, though."

Sirius paled. No way was Mira Celaeno going to get roped into one of those families. And as Andrew Potter spoke again, he stood up. "She can stay with us as long as she needs, Max. No worries."

"No," he said, looking from the two men to Celaeno. "She's going to move in with me. I'm signing for a flat next week, and we decided that she'll room with me earlier."

Celaeno's fearful face melted, relief glittering on her features. She nodded, looking up at her stepfather, aunt, and uncle. "We were going to tell you tonight, during dinner. He needed a roommate, and I thought it would be fun."

"Sirius," Eli said slowly, "how many bedrooms does the flat have?"

Max Rookwood chuckled, snorting as Andrew Potter bit back laughter. "Two!" Sirius exclaimed, looking highly affronted that she would think such a thing of him. "You know, I have grown up in the past seven years."

"Of course," Eli Potter said absently, smiling. She looked at Celaeno, remembered her as a young girl, and smiled again. "You certainly have grown up. But you still have more growing up to do."

– 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 –

"Isn't this great?"

He leaned back on the couch, propped his feet on the table and laughed as she promptly removed his feet and glared at him. "Yes, and don't put your feet on the table. You'll have to clean it if you do."

Chuckling, he looked at her with a grin. "You're gonna have to live with me now, Mira. Get used to it."

She rolled her eyes as he placed his feet on the table again. Laughing, they looked at each other and smiled. It was great, and they were going to make the most of it. Of course, James, Lily, Alice, Frank, Remus, and Peter would probably spend every spare moment with them. As they were the only ones with their own place. Making a face, Celaeno looked at Sirius and asked, "When you agreed to let me get this place too. Was it because of my father?"

Starting, he twisted to face her. He had expected the question to come up eventually, but not so soon. As he watched the questions swim in her eyes he sighed and shrugged, "I guess. When I first said it, it was. But I'd have ended up bringing you with me anyway. I was already warming up to the idea. So the overprotective bit kicked in and sped up the whole process, but you'd have been here anyway. Don't worry about it. You know me. I'd tell you I wanted you out if I didn't want you here."

"I know that, silly," she said with a laugh. "I was just wondering about that part. It feels weird. It's been less than six months since we left Hogwarts, and already it feels like forever."

"I know!"

She laughed at the enthusiasm in his voice and then she perked up suddenly, "Hey, we're right near that muggle place. The cinema, remember I told you about it? The one Lily got really excited about."

"There's a cimena near here?"

Laughing again, she shook her head. "Cinema, not cimena. Merlin, Sirius, you really ought to have taken Muggle Studies more seriously. You did take it."

"And failed my OWL."

"No you didn't. You and James got the same grade, and I know he did well on his. How you managed to do well without retaining any information I'll never know, but that's life I guess. Do you want to go?"

"Sure. I've never actually been to a muggle movie."

"Oh, they're brilliant! Come on, let's go!"

Jumping to his feet, Sirius grinned. "Alright. You go call Remus and Alice and I'll talk to James and Lily."

"Yay! It'll be a party!"

Eyes lighting up, Sirius turned toward his roommate. Celaeno mentally kicked herself as she saw the gleam in his eyes. "We have got to have one of those."

As he ran off to get his two-way mirror and talk to James, she shook her head and turned toward their fireplace. "And here I was, thinking he was starting to grow up."

– 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 –

"There!"

She straightened the cushion and straightened, beaming and looking supremely self-satisfied. Between the six of them they were all tired, slightly sweaty, and positively beaming. And James, raven hair messier than usual and eyes shining with joy, swept down over her and kissed her deeply. She responded, smiling at him as he swung her around. "I'm so proud of you," she whispered, arms around his neck as he rested his forehead against hers.

Reaching forward, Remus swept her away from James, "Alright, you're going to make Lily jealous, Prongs, if you keep that up. It looks good, I'll give you two that. Impressive, what you did while we played with the rest of the house."

"It's a beautiful place," she said softly, smiling as she watched James grab Lily and kiss her heatedly. "James, darling, if you're going to copulate at least wait until everyone else leaves. Oh, nevermind, Lily's staying with me tonight."

"She is?"

"You're staying here with James, Sirius, remember?"

Remus laughed as Sirius's mouth opened in a round expression of surprise as he remembered that he was supposed to stay with James. Pressing a kiss to her hair, he watched Sirius turn to his best friend, "It does look great. Moony's right. And we made it look even better, right Wormtail?"

Peter laughed, agreeing readily as James clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Well then, let's see what we have for lunch. Cela made us something."

"Oh, no!" Lily smiled, knowing what Celaeno was going to say as the girl looked at her cousin in horror. "I didn't make anything! It was Sirius."

"Sirius?"

Laughing, Sirius winked at Peter. "Yes, Wormtail, I can cook. I'm pretty damn good at it too, if I may say so."

"I'd let Cela be the judge of that," Peter said wryly and the others laughed.

Looking fondly at her roommate, Celaeno nodded in approval. "He isn't half bad, actually. Enjoys it well more than I do, so I just let him cook for us. I'll do the cleaning."

"With your compulsive tendencies, I'm not surprised," Remus said with a laugh, squeezing her waist as she glared at him. "You know we love you, Cela, obsessive or not."

"Thank you Remus," she said with a sigh, looking at Lily for help.

Reaching out, Lily grasped Celaeno's arm and tugged her away from Remus. "Come on, Cela, we have some talking to do. Now."

Looking at her best friend in the mirror as she fingered her hair, Cela asked idly, "What is it Lily?"

"What's going on between you and Remus?"

Turning, she leaned against the wall and shrugged. "I honestly don't know, Lily. I love him, I really do. And I know he loves me. It's how, on both ends, that has us both at a loss. I don't think he's in love with me, and I don't think I'm in love with him. But I'd be happy with him, I really would. I don't know. As of now it's pretty much just physical."

Sighing, Lily rolled her eyes. "You have issues with men, you know. For all your romantic notions, if you keep on this path you're never going to find a guy who you really care about it."

"Are you saying Remus isn't attractive?"

"No!" Lily glared at her best friend. "Stop twisting my words. I'm saying that you and Remus having a purely physical relationship that you two would pointedly put on hold in front of everyone you know is not the best way to do things. How did Sirius react?"

"He thinks it's great. He's been infatuated with the idea of me and Remus since ages ago. The whole us being best friends thing, you know."

"Good to know the whenever you say that I know I'm your real best friend."

Laughing, Cela flung her arms around Lily. "Oh, I love you! I really do! You're so cute!"

Lily blushed, giggling, and then she looked at Celaeno with a smile. "We really are growing up. Could you imagine where we were just a year and a half ago?"

"I know. It feels so weird. But I think I like it, this whole growing up thing. It's new. But there's no way around it anymore, Lils. Even the Marauders. We're all growing up."

– 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 – 07 –

Where the bloody hell was Lily? The thought raced through his head as he grasped her tightly, feeling her body snap against his. And where were Sirius and Remus? They were supposed to be back over an hour ago. They were supposed to be there, they actually knew what to do. He moved like lightening as he heard her gasp, softly, "James, towel, please."

He returned and felt his heart break, the blood on her hands rocking him to the core. Sirius had told him about her fits, Remus had warned him about how to deal with them, and Lily had encouraged him to be there. But he had never seen her look so broken and dejected as her body began to reject her very existence. And as the door opened he heard, "Shit!" and was only mildly aware of Sirius falling to his knees beside him. "Moony, could you get a warm, wet towel? Prongs, what happened? How long has she been like this?"

"About ten minutes. Where the bloody hell were you?"

"Picking up birds. Mira, how do you feel?"

She wasn't so sick as be unable to turn and look at him with narrowed eyes. James couldn't help but smile at the distinct what do you think in her expression. It was a bit of a stupid question. He reached out and stroked her hair. "She wasn't feeling well all day, and then she just started coughing."

Remus came back, pushing Sirius aside and watching James jump out of the way. He kneeled before her, wiping her face and neck with the towel and letting her press it to her mouth. "Just lie there, Cela. Just wait it out. Do you want me to go get a nurse or something?"

She grabbed his hand, shaking her head and pressing the towel to her chest as she looked up at him, "No, I'll be fine. It wasn't that bad."

Wasn't that bad? Did that mean they were getting worse? They had to be, for she sounded like hell and she looked even worse. And then she coughed again, twisting sideways so they wouldn't be subject to the blood that sprinkled the towel. She continued, standing and slapping Remus's hand away as she headed out of the room. Her walk was shaky and she grabbed the doorframe as she left the room. Sirius swore, standing up and looking at where she stood, bent over the sink as she breathed in deeply. Moving, he rubbed her back, pulling her hair over her shoulders and asking gently, "Do you want me to get you anything?"

"Water, please," she gasped, turning on the faucet and letting the cold water run over her pale face.

Remus's fists clenched in his lap as he watched her. "Is it because of what happened between you two?"

He started, looking at James curiously, "What? No, of course not. We're friends, we both realized that. It was mutual, you know. We were attracted, then it faded. That's all."

But Remus still watched her tensely, his form rigid as Sirius handed her a glass of water. "Anything else Mira?"

She shook her head, coughing again and turning away from him. Face clouding, countless expressions passed over his handsome features and he growled, stalking off and brooding. Sighing, Remus stepped passed Sirius and laid a hand on Celaeno's shoulder. "A little better?"

"A little," she said, nodding and looking up at him. He swept her into his arms, holding her tightly and letting her rest against him.

"Come on, Cela. Let's get you sitting again. More water?"

She nodded, letting him lead her to the couch. James jumped up, filling her glass and handing it to her quickly as Remus knelt beside her, massaging her head gently as she rested her forehead against his chest. "Mmm."

Remus smiled, knowing she was beginning to feel better. "Guessing that you like getting massaged."

"What sane person doesn't?" her catty wit was back and now James smiled as she leaned back, closing her eyes and saying softly, "I don't want to keep you. I'll be fine. I just need to rest."

"I have to head home, really," James said, bending forward and pressing a kiss to her forehead. "But I am going to send Lily over when she gets back. Let her see you and make sure you aren't try to play self-sacrificing. Alright?"

"Alright, Jem. Kiss?"

He obliged, letting his lips linger a moment and savouring the fact that she was still there to kiss him goodbye. Not that any of them would admit it, to themselves or to each other, but she was dying. It was a black mark on their sunny lives, and if this was part of growing up then James Potter did not like it. Maybe growing up wasn't so great after all…