Oh my goodness! I am so sorry. I apologize for having like a 2 month wait. I got involved in an archeology dig which took up 2 weeks, I started hanging out with my friends getting in the social circle again, face book and myspace came into my life, college excitement and shopping took/is taking place. I move in Aug. 19! I went to Six Flags. I do hope that those reading don't hate me, and I apologize once again. I haven't abandoned the story, nor do I plan to. Sorry this is long…I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own a college scholarship but sadly not anything related to the Harry Potter Series. Although if I did, I wouldn't need that scholarship!

Chapter 4: First Day Back

"Ugh! Potions…it must be against the law somewhere to have potions first thing with the Slytherins on the first day back." complained a groggy yet still handsome Sirius Black.

James nodded in agreement, as did Peter and even Remus, although Remus wasn't listening to the conversation. His thoughts were preoccupied.

"…goofy grin…rosy cheeks…my foot you're not hiding something!" James overheard as some giggly third year Hufflepuffs passed by the Marauders in the Great Hall. He snickered to himself, "mental those girls."

"Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but….we need to head to Slughorn's class." said a boy who answers to Moony.

Sirius answered back, "You know you did not have to be the bearer of bad news," still slightly moody from being tired.

"You boys better get a move on, or all the good seats will be taken" said fellow sixth year Gryffindor Brooke, making sure to be as flirtatious as possible, which included her winking and making sure to sway her hips as she walked by.

Lily huffed and then snorted with laughter when she saw Brooke acting that way. It was truly sad in Lily's opinion. She really could not stand the girl. She got on Lily's last nerves. Furthermore, that girl couldn't be in O.W.L. level potions. She was smart, but she just didn't care.

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Slughorn very cheerfully welcomed his new sixth year students to class and announced that they would be making a simple healing potion.

Everyone paired off: Gina and Lily, James and Sirius, Taylor and Jenny, which left Remus without a partner. Slughorn decided to be nice and let Remus choose a group to be in, and of course, he chose the two best female potion makers in the class and not mention two of the prettiest. "Easy grade…James and Sirius would understand," or was that just his excuse?

Professor Slughorn announced, "If everyone could please turn to page 5 and begin, ingredients, like always are in the cabinet."

"N-no, Gina," a somewhat shy Remus stuttered out, "don't worry about getting the ingredients, I'll get them."

"Are you sure? It's no problem." questioned Gina with a slight blush changing the color of her cheeks to a rosy shade.

"No, it's fine, I don't mind at all," he replied smiling goofily.

Lily noticed this, but said nothing for now. Lily was thinking that maybe Remus had ulterior motives for joining their group instead of being in a group with James and Sirius.

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"Remus, you were great!" exclaimed a very happy Lily.

"Magnificent, wonderful!" added Gina.

Remus seemed to really smile when these comments were being spoken. Lily and Gina were already good at potions, but with the help of Remus, they finished 20 minutes early and earned a homework free night for the class.

"Well thanks again Remus," Gina said casting him a big smile and laughing, "we'll see you later, we're gonna get out of here before James can annoy Lily (a defiant "Hey!" could be heard from James in the background) today! Later!"

And with that the girls headed to their free period, which meant the Marauders, minus Peter, also, had a free period seeing as how they shared the same schedule.

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"So, Geeeeeeenuh," Lily said drawing Gina's name out in a playful manner, "is there something going on between you and Remus? If there is, I wouldn't mind, he's the respectable one of that lot."

"Um, sorry Lileeeeeee, not that I know of, and wipe that stupid smile off your face."

"Gina, I know your not blind, he was staring at you all during potions and offered to get the ingredients for you…"

"Well, he was being a gentleman."

"Uh-huh..well we'll see. But anyways, do you think you would like him if he liked you?"

"I, uh, really don't know. I'm not, um, er, sure."

"Then why are you blushing?"

"Oh bugger off."

"So you do like him, you think he's cute!"

"Well, of course I think he's cute, I mean he is one of the dreamy Marauders."

"Puh-leeze, dreamy marauders? Ha! You still didn't answer my question."

"Oh Lily, just because you don't like James and Sirius, it doesn't mean that they're not incredibly good looking."

"Look at that, you're avoiding the subject….again."

"And you're not denying that James and Sirius are incredibly good looking! Okay, okay. Stop glaring at me like that, you know it scares me! I might like him. Happy now?"

"Yes!" screamed a giddy Lily. She then proceeded to begin dancing around saying "Gina's got a crush, Gina's got a crush!" all the while making Gina turn as red as a tomato.

Lily eventually got Gina excited about her crush and they began dancing around together, giggling and such.

Imagine what a sight that was to see when the Marauders, minus Peter, crept in unnoticed, until Sirius came over and started dancing with them.

"So, um, why are we dancing? Are we celebrating my good looks? James, Remus! Come help us celebrate!" asked a still dancing Sirius.

"No, no, we're fine, really." replied Remus fighting the urge to laugh. He did not expect to see this in the Gryffindor common room when he came in.

"Yeah, sorry mate, I'm gonna sit this one out. I can admire Lily much better from here." James said while winking at Lily with one of his famous smirks on his face.

Lily glared daggers at James and yelled, "Potter, you're dead." She walked over to him and slapped him across the face: "You say any derogatory thing like that again, and it'll be much worse than a slap."

"Oooo fiesty!" Sirius threw out to fill an awkward silence.

Lily and Gina looked at each other and laughed so hard they were rolling around on the ground holding their stomachs and wiping tears from their eyes. They looked at each other again and Lily spoke up, "So um, we were, um, uh, exercising! Yeah, that's it! It's the way some muggles are doing it now."

Gina said, "Yeah, it's a lot of fun! You boys should try it sometime! We'll we're parched…so um…we're gonna go get something to drink, right Lily?"

"Okay, sure you don't want to dance some more? It was a lot of fun!" Sirius sadfully said.

"Next time we do that again, you'll be the first one we ask Sirius." said Gina smiling.

Lily and Gina left the Marauders to go fetch some pumpkin juice from the Great Hall before the next class, Herbology.

"Hey, Lil, don't tell anyone about our little dance topic, kay?"

"Don't worry, G, your secret is safe with me! I'm just glad the Marauders didn't notice how badly we covered the excuse up. It didn't seem that believable, but they are boys."

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"Did anyone else notice how weird that was?" asked a very amused James, "I'm not complaining though, Lily can dance whenever, wherever she pleases, and especially if I'm around."

"Prongs, you're absolutely right, mate! That was really weird. Those are two girls I wouldn't normally just picture dancing around in the middle of the common room with no music. And since when do those two care about their weight?" concurred Sirius.

Remus asked James, "I thought you weren't going to bother Lily anymore?"

"I did say that, but, I've decided to just gradually ease out of it. Like giving up candy, if you ease out of it, it makes it easier. I think…"

"You, my friend, are pathetic." Sirius stated.

"Anywho…I'm sorry I didn't join your group in potions." Remus said.

"Yeah! Hey, why didn't you? Traitor!" Sirius said jokingly, to an extent.

"It was an easy grade!" Remus replied.

"Sure, Remus, I think you just wanted to be by Gina. Sirius and I couldn't help but notice you looking at her." James said matter-of-factly.

"I da-don't kn-know what you're ta-talking about." Remus stuttered out.

"Sure ya don't." Sirius joked.

"Oh gee, look at the time, I'd love to stay and chat with you but we need to get to Herbology…" Remus shouted while running out the portrait.

"I'd say he has a crush on Gina. She's nice enough for sure. I think they'd be good together. We need to watch them when they're together and see if they got good chemistry." Sirius stated.

James looked at him strangely: "That, mate, is the truest, yet oddest thing coming from your mouth."

Sirius smiled at him and then said, "Hey! I can say nice stuff too!"

James just nodded and assured him he was only joking and both headed to herbology.

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Remus made it out of the castle long before any of the boys did. He happened to see Taylor and Jenny just ahead of him.

"Taylor, Jenny! Hey!" Remus yelled.

The girls stopped so that Remus could catch up with them. "Hey Remus! How was the rest of your summer?" inquired Jenny, "My summer went well, the trip to Scotland with Gina was wonderful. It's so pretty."

"Yeah it is. The sights are beautiful." replied Remus with a genuine smile. "Oh! My summer, well, it was filled with James, Sirius, and Peter, and myself pranking anyone who dared enter the Potter Manor or the very people in it. Taylor?"

"Um, my summer was good, I spent it with Steven most of the time."

"That seems like that's all you ever do." said Jenny a bit hurt.

Remus sensing a possible argument bid them a farewell and found a seat in the back of Greenhouse number two. James and Sirius quickly joined him.

Even though Shawn didn't make O.W.L. level potions, he probably had the highest score on his herbology test out of the class. He decided to sit with James, Sirius, and Remus since Jenny, Gina, Taylor, and Lily were already occupying one table.

James watched Remus since he figured Sirius would forget to during class, but he didn't stare at Gina all the time, just occasionally. And by occasionally, he was doing it every few seconds. To James's surprise Sirius caught on!

Lily noticed this too, between taking notes, she wrote a little note to Gina,

Gina,

He can't take his eyes off of you!

Love you lots,

Lily.

P.S. Be sure to invite me to the wedding.

Gina smacked Lily in the arm when she read that but grinned nonetheless.

Class passed by quickly ending with a small 2 foot essay to write about Mandrakes being sure to cover all aspects briefly.

Lily exclaimed, "Gina, he soooo likes you!"

"Shh! Do you want everyone to know?"

"I feel bad, we've been leaving Jenny and Taylor behind today, lets wait for them."

"Agreed."

The girls all walked off towards the castle with the Marauders close behind.

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"Man, I am starving!" shouted Sirius as he sat down to lunch.

"And when are you not?" asked James.

"Good point," he retorted.

"So, Moony, when you gonna make your move?" James asked aloud.

"Huh, oh, I don't know what you're talking about." Remus said mysteriously.

"Make a move! Where's the chess board? I don't see one, so how can he make a move…..oh…I get it! He's playing mental chess!" Peter said while sitting down.

"Wormtail! You old wormy thing! It hasn't been the same without you around." said James truthfully yet laughing.

"I know, it's truly dreadful in class without you guys. At least I got to work with Shawn in Potions. He's really nice once you get to know him, a bit of a smart pants, but who isn't?"

Sirius said, "Ahem…we were talking about Moony and when he's going to make his move on this girl he fancies that goes by the name of Jenny!"

Remus looked up shocked.

"Gina, you mean, not Jenny." James corrected.

"Dang! I thought that's what I said, Gina, Jenny, dang I hate that, their names are too close…confusing!" Sirius mumbled.

"Yes?" Gina asked as walking in, "I heard you say my name. Did you need something?"

"Oh, er, no…we were just talking about how yours and Jenny's name sounds so similar." Sirius said trying not to give himself away.

"Oh really? We've had that problem a lot. I'll answer to anything that sounds like Gina. I even answered to Shaina once!"

James laughed aloud along with the rest of the Marauders as Gina walked down the table to join Lily, Taylor, Jenny, Brooke, and Shawn.

Remus noticed that Taylor was sitting with her boyfriend and her and Jenny were getting along fine.

"Remus, you never," started James and was finish by Sirius, "answered our question." They grinned at each other…best mates finishing sentences, couldn't get any better..unless James was with Lily now.

"Geez, you guys don't let up! Okay, okay, so I might have a crush, but I'm not telling you who, because you'll just go up to her and try to help but really hurt my chances with her. I think I know what I'm doing. And besides, it's only the first day back, what's the rush?"

"Ouch, that hurts, even though there is some truth in it," Peter said filling in what James and Sirius was thinking.

"Okay, we won't help, we can't since we don't know who, but since you haven't told us and we think we know who it is, you never said we couldn't go talk to her!" James said while getting up to go talk to Gina with Sirius following and Peter further behind.

"Oi, Gina! Can I, er, we talk to you a minute?" James asked.

Remus saw this and groaned inwardly. "What are they going to do?"

"So how are you?"

"Having a good first day?"

"Is the moon really made of cheese?"

The three people looked at Peter and laughed.

"I'm good, and yes, I'm having an excellent first day. Thanks for asking." Gina replied a bit unsurely.

"So, I see Taylor has a boyfriend, what about the rest of your friends?" James asked getting an inquisitorial look on his face.

"Um, that's an odd question…but Taylor is dating Steven Cooke, they're practically married, Brooke, I don't know who her flavor of the month is, Jenny, no, Lily, no, and me, that's a big negative." Gina said smiling and added as an afterthought, "Oh! Shawn isn't interested in boys, but he doesn't have a girlfriend either."

"Oh okay, um well, we gotta go, we left Remus all by himself!" James said while smiling trying not to appear shifty.

"Bye Gina!" Sirius said while flashing her a flirty smile. "We really do need to dance again…." his voice fading as he walked farther away.

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The rest of the day was boring, since the herbology essay was due tomorrow, everyone spent the rest of the afternoon writing it. It was odd that an essay be due that fast, but seeing as how it was very easy, Professor Vines thought it would be a good way to get everyone's work ethic back in motion.

It was an eventful first day full of many possible things. Everyone was tired and turned in early that night to catch up on some lost sleep. The next day would be there faster than anyone wanted.

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Sorry this chapter is shorter than usual. I just really wanted to get something out there. I have been suffering from writer's block too…so yeah. But I know there wasn't much James/Lily interaction, but this chapter is important….it sets up something that will happen in either the next or chapter after next. I hope you liked it, and please review!