A/N: Hi everyone. I have changed the previous chapter, so i would recommend everyone to read the first chapter first. That's all.

Mysterious Girl

"Ah-ha," Sirius chirped, "Final year."

"Yeah," Remus said, rolling his eyes, "And you had to make it grand, right?"

"Of course," James added matter-of-factly.

"By earning two week's worth detentions," Remus asked, "even before the school started?"

Sirius and James gave him a cheeky grin.

"You have to admit; it was a masterpiece," Sirius said with a far-away look; no doubt remembering the prank.

Remus had to admit it – the prank was awesome. When the students had gotten off the train, they all had gotten their hair coloured red and golden – Gryffindor colours. The most shocked of the lot were Slytherins, who had tried everything to remove the colour. Ha! Only if they knew it was going to stay for a week.

James clapped Remus on the back. "All thanks to you, Moony. The genius among the Marauders, right, Wormtail?"

Remus blushed at the praise as Peter wobbled his head furiously to show his agreement. The prank had earned them detention with Filch for a week. Right now they were headed to the Great Hall after receiving a talking to from him, probably missing the sorting.

As the Marauders entered the Great Hall, they received a thunderous applause from Gryffindors and scowls from everyone else except Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling as usual.

Bowing to the applause, the Marauders took their seats at the table and started dinner.

"At least eight new Gryffindors," Remus said, glancing down the table.

James nodded in affirmation since he was also doing the same thing. "Is she also new?"

Sirius' ears perked at the mention of 'she'. "Who?"

James pointed at the girl in question. She had her back towards them, talking to the person beside her. All they could see were her chocolate brown wavy hair.

Sirius nodded, "Yes, unless someone changed her hair-style."

"She looks older though," Peter added.

"Ah … our Peter is growing up," Sirius cooed, "He is finally noticing girls."

Peter blushed crimson but Sirius didn't stop teasing him. Remus joined in the conversation only to save Peter from Sirius' banter.

James, however, was still watching the girl in question. Sirius waved his hand in front of James.

"Uh-oh," James muttered, "What? Stop waving your hand, Sirius."

"What are you staring at" Remus asked, following James' line of sight. Sirius and Peter followed suit.

Three pairs of eyes landed on The Girl.

"Oh oh oh," Sirius said in a sing-song voice, "Someone has caught James' fancy. Bored of Lily, huh?"

James snorted. "Stop it, Sirius. I just want to know who she is, is all." With that, he turned his attention to his food.

Sirius and Remus smiled at each other before following suit.

Dinner all finished, Dumbledore stood up to give his usual speech, which James tuned out in favour of watching The Girl. Unknown to him, two pairs of eyes were watching him intently.

James was pulled out of his reverie by a poke in his side. James turned to look at Peter, who motioned towards Dumbledore, whispering, "He called you, Head Boy."

Sirius and Remus snickered as James hurriedly got up only to stumble and land unceremoniously on the floor. Snickering turned to out-right laughter.

Quickly, James stood up to salvage whatever pride was left. Dumbledore looked amused and McGonagall exasperated. He looked at Lily, Head Girl, wearing the same expression as Minnie.

Dumbledore spared James from further humiliation by finishing his speech and asking everyone to head towards their dormitories.

"Nice show, Prongs," Sirius laughed, as they marched out of the hall.

"Not funny," James muttered. "Minnie would be disappointed. First, the prank and then…"

"Oh," Remus cooed, "Our Prongs is worried about Minnie. You are growing up, James."

"I am a grown up, thank you," James said, holding his chin up.

Just then Lily passed by, surrounded by her usual girl-friends. All the three marauders stopped to watch the all-too-known scene play before them – James proposing Lily and Lily refusing him.

When the fourth Marauder didn't utter a word, the three, along with Lily's girl friends, turned to look at him, their eyes wide with shock. Even Lily turned around, ever so slightly, to look at him.

"What?" James asked, shrugging.

The Marauders let Lily's group pass by. "You didn't propose Evans," Sirius said.

James again shrugged. "Decided to let her be. If she had wanted to say yes, she would have already."

The three continued to stare at him as he passed by. Blinking, Remus looked at Sirius and Peter. "Surely, grown up."

They turned to follow him, only to find him rooted to his spot. They walked to his side to find the cause – The Girl.

"Or maybe not," Remus whispered to Sirius.

There standing before him was The Girl, talking to Sarah, fellow Ravenclaw. James could only stare at her. She was smiling broadly while talking to Sarah, a bright, genuine smile. Her brown eyes sparkled with excitement and twinkle matching Dumbledore's. Her luscious, pink lips were moving fluidly as she talked with the girl. Her oval face held intelligence and pride. Her skin was so smooth … like silk.

Then she laughed. To James it sounded more like tinkling bells and he, himself, swell with delight.

Waving Sarah, she moved in the direction of Gryffindor house, chatting with a fifth year Gryffindor.

Someone nudged at his sides. James paid no heed. Another nudge. Ignored. Another nudge, more forceful.

"What?" James demanded, turning to face Remus, the source of the nudges.

Remus only raised his eyebrows. James looked at other two wearing similar expressions.

James moved his hand in his hair. "Uh – well … she—I mean I—you know--"

The three Marauders kept staring at James even after he stopped blabbering.

"Oh stop it," James said, irritated, as he took off in the common room's direction.

"Mysterious Girl--," Sirius sang loudly, following James, joined by Remus and Peter.

The common room was full when the Marauders entered. Once again they received applause for their prank. Dutifully, the Marauders bowed.

Lily came to them, a scowl marring her face. "Care to remove the colours, Potter?"

James looked at her. "Of course, why not. We didn't plan for the Gryffindors to have the colours for a week. We are Gryffindors. Its others who need to show their respect for us."

This earned chuckles from the crowd. Sirius, James and Remus waved their wands at all the present and soon every Gryffindor in sight was back to their normal hair colour.

Lily was somewhat shocked as she went back. Potter hadn't proposed her as yet and had quietly accepted her demand. This was confusing her. This was so unlike him.

Lily wasn't the only one confused. Remus shared his confusion with Sirius when they were walking upstairs.

"Maybe he did mean what he said," Sirius said, thoughtfully.

"Maybe," Remus agreed.

The next day started with usual ruffle. Earlier, James used to reach common room early just to catch a glimpse of Lily. Unable to get rid of the habit this year as well, he found himself in the common room an hour before the breakfast.

Deciding to wait for his friends, he settled himself on the couch with Quidditch through the Ages.

Sometime later, someone cleared throat. James looked up, half-expecting Remus to be there. His breath was caught in throat when he realised it was The Mysterious Girl. Well, he didn't know her. Makes sense to call her that.

She smiled at him. "Good morning."

James just stared at her.

"I saw that you removed the colours from everyone's hair yesterday night. I went to sleep early, so…" she trailed off looking at her hair. James noticed that they were still red and golden.

When James made no movement to undo the prank, she said, "Will you please remove them … the colours I mean?"

"Uh-oh," James stuttered, "Of course. Why not." He waved his wand and the girls' hair turned back to normal chocolate brown.

"Thanks," she smiled again as she turned towards the portrait hole, "It was a nice prank, by the way."

James could only stare after her. It was only when she moved out of the portrait that James realised that he had missed the opportunity to ask her name. Picking his bag, he ran after the girl.

"Hey," he called her. The girl turned around and stopped when she noticed James. James jogged to her.

"Hi," James said, extending his hand, "I am James Potter."

"I know," the girl said, amused, taking the hand anyway.

"Oh yeah," James blushed as he remembered the last night, "What's your name?"

"Hermione Jane Granger," the girl said. "You weren't there during the sorting, right?"

James nodded. "Got detentions and talking to for the prank."

Hermione laughed as she started walking. "Head Boy and pranks don't go in the same line. No doubt Professor McGonagall didn't look happy."

"Well," James said, moving his hand through his hair, "We had this planned for years. Had to do it."

"Where are you headed to, by the way?" Hermione asked, since James was walking beside her.

'Wherever you are going,' James thought. "No where in particular. You?"

"Library," Hermione answered, "I need to issue Potions book. I didn't buy it."

"Need any help?" James asked. Seeing Hermione raise her eyebrows, "The castle is huge. It's easy to get lost in here."

"Thanks for the help," Hermione said, flashing her bright smile, "I will manage. See you at breakfast."

James watched Hermione till she was out of his sight.

"Mysterious girl…"

James turned around to find three snickering Marauders. He flashed them a goofy smile. "Our mysterious girl has a name – Hermione Jane Granger."