"Emmeline..." whispered Sirius, tapping her lightly on the shoulder. Her short black hair was swaying in the wind as she stared at the lake glinting in the sunlight as she stood under the beech tree. Sirius was so scared. He had always had many meaningless relationships with many ditzy girls who only liked him for his looks. But what if this was it for real? What if he would finally fall in love, what if this was his one chance to have a real relationship?

She turned and smiled when she saw him, "Hey, Sirius. What's up?"

He wiped his hands on the insides of his robes. He was not accustomed to being this nervous. Usually girls were nervous of him! Not the other way around.

"Um, can-can we talk?" he asked, stuttering unnecessarily.

She nodded amicably and sat down on the grass, patting the fresh green patch next to her, indicating that Sirius should sit there.

He lowered himself warily onto the grass, "Um, so I wanted to talk to you."

She grinned, "Well I kinda gathered that, Sirius, I didn't really think you wanted to murder me or anything."

He let out a shaky laugh, but he squeaked and stopped, "Yeah. So, um, I heard that you're going out with Gideon Prewett."

She smiled, glowing, "Wow. Gossip really travels fast, doesn't it? Well, yes, I am."

He nodded, focusing all his attention on pulling blades of grass out of the ground, "Yeah. Well, I just...I don't think it's the best decision."

She frowned, "Why not?"

He took a shaky breath, "Um, well, because you could have someone else."

She let out a disbelieving laugh, "Oh, really? Who? Snape?"

He gave her a crooked smile, "Well, no. I meant...well...I meant me."

She went silent. You could have heard of pin drop. The only sounds as Emmeline stared at her hands and contemplated Sirius's comment were Sirius's heavy breathing as he awaited her answer, and the twittering of the birds in the tree above.

Her head suddenly snapped up and she looked him in the eyes, "Sirius. You can't do this!"

He was very confused now, "Do what?"

"You can't just-just come in here and ruin everything! I loved you, Sirius. I loved you. But you never gave me a second glance. And now, now that I've finally got a boyfriend and a chance at happiness you come barging in here and mess up everything! I was all set to give Gideon a chance even though I don't like him as much as you. I was all set to forget you and get on with my life. This-this just isn't fair to me, Sirius!"

He stared at her, openmouthed, "I didn't-didn't mean to ruin things, Em. I just never realized how much I like you until you were taken. I really really like you, Em, and I think you would be happier with me than you will be with Prewett."

"I don't doubt that Sirius, but...you're just-you're too late! You had your chance and you blew it. I'm with Gideon now, and you'll just have to deal with that. I know that I never really occured to you as a romantic interest because we were friends, and I know forbidden fruit is always more tempting, but, Sirius, I just wish you could have figured this out earlier when I was still hopelessly in love with you." And with that, Emmeline stood up and left, leaving Sirius feeling helpless, being shot down the one time he was ever vulnerable in his life.

Peter frowned grumpily, "Why do I have to stand watch?"

James grinned, "Because if we let you do anything else, Wormy, you would mess it up."

Peter put his hands on his hips, "I would not!"

Remus smiled, "Don't be so indignant. Now go stand watch like a good marauder watchdog."

Peter still looked grouchy but nevertheless turned around in front of the care of magical creatures hut to stand watch.

James, Sirius, and Remus tiptoed their way into the hut and gasped once they saw the contents. Hundreds of magical creatures inhabited it. Some they had seen, some they had not. Some looked dangerous, some looked no more menacing than a puffball. But they could not stand here and gaze in wonderment at the plethora of animal life. They were here for one thing. To steal a niffler.

The three of them made their way through rows and rows of enchanting creatures until they finally reached the cage at the end full of fluffy black creatures.

Sirius whispered dejectedly, "Alohamora," he had been in a morose mood ever since his talk with Emmeline.

The latch to the cage undid and the door swung open. James glanced around and hurriedly reached a hand inside and pulled out two nifflers. They struggled slightly as he pulled at them to chew off his watch. Remus opened a leather bag and James dumped the two animals inside.

The three of them sowly walked out of the hut and the night air hit their faces like knives.

"Psst, Wormy!" hissed Remus as Peter turned around in surprise.

His eyes traveled over their faces, "Did you get the nifflers?"

Sirius nodded and the three of them traveled silently up to the castle. They then walked through the halls underneath the invisibility cloak which could just barely cover them now as they were all so tall.

They reached the entrance to the slytherin common room and Sirius whispered, "Mudblood"

The stone wall slid open and the marauders let the nifflers loose into the common room. They slid the door shut before the nifflers could sneak back into the hall. James, Remus and Peter burst out laughing as the four marauders made their way back up to the common room, but Sirius moped as he dragged his feet up the stairs. He seemed like he would never have fun again.

Yes, yes, yes...more soon! Review review review! Chapter 9 is coming soon!