….he heard his sister and Sirius arguing in an empty classroom on his way back to the common room, and he didn't like what he heard…
"It's none of your business, Sirius!"
"Anna, trust me, he's not a good guy!"
"How would you know? You've never even talked to him! What is it you have against him? Are—are you jealous!?"
"Of course I'm jealous, but that's not the point! Any other guy, and I'd try my best to be happy for you, but Jackson Ramsine…"
Suddenly, James burst into the classroom. "Jackson Ramsine?! Anna, please tell me you're not dating him."
"And why not?"
"Because Sirius is right; he is not a good guy."
"Oh stop! James, you just hate him because he's better than you at quidditch, and Sirius—you said yourself; you're jealous! Now please, both of you; butt out of my business! I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself!" With that, Anna stormed out of the room.
A few weeks later, the Marauders sat outside under the big beech tree. James and Sirius were both glaring daggers in the direction of the lake, where Anna sat alone with Jackson.
"I hate him," Sirius muttered. "She won't go out with me, but yet she's dating a guy who is 10 times worse!"
"Well, maybe she just doesn't like you." Remus kicked Peter for that comment, but neither Sirius nor James seemed to have heard it.
"I hate him too."
"Guys, lets talk about something else, please?" suggested Remus.
"Yeah," said Peter, "like plans for the trip to Hogsmeade next weekend!"
"I promised I'd hang out with Taylor," Remus said, "And I'm sure James and Sirius have dates too. Sorry Petey."
"Nope," James and Sirius said in unison. Remus and Peter looked shocked.
"If I can't have Lily, I don't want anyone." Remus and Peter rolled their eyes.
"I'm trying to show Anna I'm not a man-whore." More eye rolling.
"And how exactly are you doing that?" asked Remus. Did he really even want to know?
"No girls," answered Sirius. "No dates, no snogging, no sex. Nothing." Remus and Peter nearly died laughing, and even James joined in, though he was still glaring at his sister and her boyfriend.
"Good luck with that, Pads," said Remus, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.
"Gee guys, thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm really glad I have such supportive friends," said Sirius, a slightly annoyed look on his face. "I'll have you know I haven't done more than look at a girl since the end of last year." No one said anything, as the three boys realized the truth in the fourth ones statement.
"You really like her, huh?" Sirius had already turned his attention back to the couple sitting near the lake, and merely nodded in response.
Not even a week later, James and Sirius were playing chess, Peter watching, when Alice Prewitt, Anna's best friend, approached them tentatively.
"Hey guys," she said. "Have you seen Anna?"
"No, why?"
"No reason, it's just… we were going to work on homework together in the library, and she never showed. I figured maybe she was in bed already. She said she wasn't feeling well earlier today, but she wasn't in our dormitory. It's just weird… its not like Anna to just not show up when she said she'd be there." James and Sirius looked at each other briefly to see if they were thinking the same thing, and James pulled a piece of parchment out of his robes.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good." The two boys searched the map, and sure enough, they spotted a dot labeled "Anna Potter" alone in an unused classroom, aside from one other person; Jackson Ramsine.
EARLIER
Jackson and Anna had been sitting in the Ravenclaw common room (Jackson was a Ravenclaw), when he asked if she wanted to go for a walk.
"Sure," Anna said, "but I can't go for too long. I'm meeting Alice in the library to study." As the two walked down the halls, they were passed by several other students.
"Let's go in here," Jackson said when they came to an unused classroom.
"Why?"
"I just want to talk privately. I want to be able to talk to you without worrying other people will overhear."
"Jackson, I don't have a lot of time to talk. I told you, I'm meeting Alice." It was no use though. He grabbed her hand and dragged her into the room. As soon as they were both in, he kicked the door shut with his foot, and pinned her to the wall. His lips crashed against hers, and his hand snaked up her shirt. Anna tried to push him off, but he was much bigger and stronger than her.
"What the hell are you doing with my sister?" James yelled as he, Sirius, Alice, and Peter burst into the room. Jackson instantly let Anna go, and Alice hurried over to hug her shaken friend.
"What are you gonna do about it?" Jackson taunted. James made to punch him, but Sirius got there first.
"What the hell man? I think you broke my nose!"
"Good," Sirius spat.
"What is going on in here?" Lily and Remus had come running, after hearing the commotion while doing rounds. Lily saw James, Sirius and Jackson all glowering at one another, and the blood dripping from Jackson's nose. She didn't notice Alice, Anna and Peter in the corner of the room. "Detention," she hissed, storming from the room.
"You see why I hate them?!" Lily ranted to Remus as they finished their rounds. "Always causing trouble and teaming up on others."
"Lily, I'm sure they had a good reason."
"Please. I can almost guarantee you they were just bored and looking for something to do."
"I doubt it. Jackson's going out with Anna, and Sirius and James don't think he's a very good guy. They're just being protective."
"Hmph," was all Lily said in reply. Of course it would have something to do with Anna. That was the one thing Lily respected about James—how good of a big brother he was to Anna.
"Get out," James said to Jackson, in a dangerously low voice. Jackson didn't need to be told twice. He quickly scurried from the room. James turned to his little sister, "are you ok?" She ran to him and buried her tear covered face into his chest. James wrapped his arms protectively around her.
"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you, "Anna finally whispered to James and Sirius.
"Don't worry about it," Sirius said.
Alice cleared her throat. "It's past curfew guys… we should probably get back to the common room before you two—" she gestured at Sirius and James "—get in any more trouble.
No one was in the common room when the five friends arrived. It was fairly late.
"I'm going up to the dorm. Wanna come?" Alice asked Anna. Anna just shook her head. "Alright, well, good night everyone."
Anna and the three boys sat down on the plushy furniture. Anna was between James and Sirius, leaning on Sirius with his arm protectively around her. They sat quietly, no one having much to say.
When Lily and Remus arrived after doing rounds, Lily paused in front of the group like she had something to say, but then turned and ran up the stairs to her dorm.
"Everything alright?" Remus asked. The others nodded. "We've got class tomorrow. You all going to bed anytime soon?" The three boys looked at Anna. She had fallen asleep. Sirius looked at his friends. They all looked awfully tired.
"Go to bed guys," he said. Peter got up immediately, but James shook his head. "I'll take care of her Prongs. I promise." James gave his friend a funny look. Padfoot sure has changed. He nodded and followed Remus and Peter up the stairs. Sirius stayed up all night long, staring at the fire and thinking, while Anna slept soundly in his arms.
AN: I'm not updating again until I get atleast 5 reviews. I hate to do this, but out of more than 100 people who have read this story, only one has reviewed. That's pathetic. I really want to know what people think! It doesn't take that long. Please, just review! Thanks.