Okay, so here's the second chapter of my story. I'd realllyyyy appreciate some reviews. They motivate me to update much more frequently. So please take a minute to let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Something Else

"You know, Ashley," Lily said, collapsing on Ashley's bed and looking up at the canopy above her head, "I really love your house, it's completely brilliant, but out of everywhere in Britain to have a home, your parents decide to do it within meters of James Potter?"

"It worked out pretty well," Ashley smirked, "I got a live-in best friend out of James living so very close."

"I don't see how anyone could use the words 'best friend' and 'James' in the same sentence."

"Is anyone gunna point out that she just said 'best friend' and 'James' in the same sentence?" Mischa joked.

"You kinda just did," Katrina said, throwing a pillow at her friend.

"Besides, we all know Lily fancies James," Shiloh teased.

"So basically you're saying 'Kill me, Lily, please, I want to die,'" Lily said, grabbing the pillow from off the floor and throwing it at Shiloh hard.

Later that day, the boys came over to hang out. They were all in the backyard, and decided to play a game of Quidditch. They had two teams of seven. Ashley, playing captain for the first team, and James as captain for the other. Ashley had Shiloh, Mischa, her older brother, Jack, and three of her cousins, Summer, Hope, and Joy. On James' team was Katrina, Sirius, Megan, Ashley's younger siblings, Nick and Taylor, and her cousin, Faith. Those who weren't involved in the games, such as Lily, Amanda, Samantha, Saoirse, and Ashley's little cousin, Grace were hanging out by the pool.

Every now and then, a scream would come from one of them if anyone playing Quidditch got too clsoe to the pool area, or flew over them. James currently had the Quaffle, and was about to pass it to Megan, but Ashley intercepted it and tried to see who was open to throw it to. Shiloh was currently fighting off a bludger and Summer was too far away to throw it without it getting to someone else, so Ashley flew closer to the goal post and threw the quaffle, praying Faith wouldn't be able to stop it. She was in luck. Joy had just lunged the other bludger at her eldest sister, and the quaffle went through. They were winning! Katrina and Shiloh both dived after the quaffle, and Katrina got it, and passed it to Megan. Ashley flew to catch it mid-throw, but Sirius sent a bludger after her. Megan caught it and tried to throw it, but Jack caught it easily and threw it back to Ashley, who threw it to Summer, who threw it to Shiloh just before Nick hit a bludger at her. Mischa threw the other bludger at Faith, giving Shiloh the chance to score.

The game continued for quite sometime, and after another fifteen minutes, they were neck and neck, when someone shouted, "I've got it!" Everyone stopped, hoping it was someone on their own team who had caught the snitch.

"Yes!" Ashley cried, flying over to Hope along with the rest of her team. They all landed on the ground and put away their brooms. "We won! You lost. Nanananana."

"Your maturity level is miraculous," James rolled his eyes at her.

"Oh please, Potter. You're the exact same way," Ashley countered, "All right, guys. Change into your bathing suits. Let's go for a swim."

And so they did. Just as Ashley was finishing changing, there was a knock on her bedroom door. "Come in."

"You change incredibly quickly," Ashley observed, looking at Sirius in his green swim trunks.

"I had them on already under my clothes. Wow," Sirius gaped at her, "That's...Nice," he said, refering to her attire. Ashley was wearing a tiny two-piece black bathing suit.

She grinned and threw him a towel, "Mop up the drool from my floor, will you?"

Sirius rolled his eyes and chucked the towel back at her, "A little cocky there."

"I wouldn't be if you weren't so obvious," Ashley shrugged, "Why are you here, anyway?" she raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

"To talk," Sirius replied awkwardly, stepping further into the bedroom.

"Well, you've done that," Ashley said after a moment, "So will you be leaving now?"

"You're funny," Sirius said, no hint of a smile on his lips.

Ashley furrowed her brow, looking a bit more concerned, "What's on your mind?"

"You."

Ashley's eyebrows shot up, "Huh?"

"Not like that," Sirius said quickly, "I just meant. Well...You're my best friend, Ashley."

"You came here to tell me something that I've known for five years? As sweet as it is - "

"Merlin's beard, would you let me finish?" Sirius burst out.

"Sorry," Ashley said shockedly, "Go ahead."

"I don't want to ruin our friendship," Sirius said sincerely, looking up from the floor and straight at her.

"What? I don't know what you're - Oh. Oh!" Ashley smiled a little bit and shook her head, as if shrugging off the entire issue, "That's nothing, Sirius. Jeez, don't get all worked up. It's no big deal, we'll just stop. Come on, it's us. It's what we do. But if you're worried, it's done with. I mean honestly, we both have more than enough options. In case you haven't noticed, we're sort of the most wanted people at school. In a sexual way, that is."

Sirius grinned and shook his head, "You're something else."

"I've been told," Ashley smirked deviously, "So, would asking you to help me with my sunblock cause you severe emotional distress?"

Sirius made a funny noise and shut his eyes, "You're the devil."

"I've been told that, too," she laughed.

A week passed and on Thursday morning, the Hogwarts letters came in. "You know what I just realized," Katrina said, holding her letter in her hand, "All the fifth year Gryffindor girls are here. One of us is a prefect."

"Lily," Ashley, Shiloh, and Mischa said in unison.

"Why do you say that?" Lily questioned.

"You're smart," Ashley replied.

"You're equally as smart as me," Lily told her.

"Yeah, but I'm a Maraudess. I don't have a squeaky clean repuation like you."

"Come off it - Oh. You were right," Lily said, trying not to squeal with joy, "I am a prefect."

They all congratulated her, but her spirits weren't high for long. James came running in through the back door and into the kitchen, "I'm - a - prefect!"

"No!" Lily yelled, and everyone looked at her, "H-How? I would've bet money on Remus."

"I guess Remus just isn't quite as responsible as I am," James said, enjoying her squirm.

"Everyone have everything?" Serena White asked all of the children in front of her, "Okay, I've asked Uncle Cash's wife, Denise, to drive you lot to the station, and she was more than happy. I've enchanted her car to fit you all. Remember guys, she's a muggle."

"Married to a star Quidditch player," Samantha reminded her.

"Just don't go hexing her or anything," Serena sighed.

"We're not that mean, mom," Ashley told her.

Serena raised an eyebrow at Ashley.

"Okay, well maybe I'm that mean, but, ugh you know what? Bye, mom." Serena laughed, shook her head, and kissed her children, neices, nephews, and children's friends goodbye.

Aunt Denise's car was indeed extended. It looked nearly as big as the Hogwarts Express. Well, it did have to seat 20 students! Ashley and her siblings, Samantha, Megan, Nicholas, and Taylor. Then cousins and extended relatives, such as Summer White, Faith, Joy, Hope, and Grace Linden. Along with Gary and Corinne Cross. Then there was Shiloh and Saoirse Darby, Katrina Colebrooke, Amanda Mitchell, Mischa Ferguson, Lily Evans, James Potter, and Sirius Black. For Merlin's sake, Ashley's family probably made up a quarter of Hogwarts.

Muggles stopped everything they were doing to watch as 20 children exited the beaten up old station wagon. How could they not? It was like being at the circus. Once everyone ran through the wall at Platform 9¾, they all hurried off to find their friends. Lily and James hurried off to the Prefect's Carriage, leaving Ashley, Sirius, Shiloh, Katrina, and Mischa alone. The five of them quickly found a compartment, seeing as for once, they were early. Everyone was getting settled when the door opened, and in walked Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. "Remus!" Ashley screamed, lunging at her close friend. They hugged, and then everyone else welcomed Remus and Peter.

They made small talk for five minutes or so, and then the conversation switched to Lily and James being prefects. "Everyone thought you'd get it, Rem," Mischa said, shaking her head, "If I have to live in a world where James has authority over other people, I don't want any part in it."

"Who knows? Maybe Lily will learn to get along with James now," Katrina suggested.

Everybody burst out laughing, "And maybe Sirius won't have sex this year," Shiloh laughed.

"Why me?" Sirius pouted, "Why do you all gang up on me?"

"Because it's so damn easy," Ashley giggled.

"Why not you?" Sirius turned to her, his eyes narrowed, "You get around too, y'know. What's the difference?"

"True," Ashley agreed, "However, I have a reason for being the way I am. Or are we forgetting Adrian Holcombe?" Ashley countered.

Adrian Holcombe was a Ravenclaw in their year. Ashley had gone out with him for seven months when was in her third year. And even though she was young, her experience was enough to turn her off to relationships for a good time. Ashley had always had trust issues to begin with, and well, Adrian cheating on her with Carolyn Duke only worsened her trust issues. That was her first real relationship. She had had a second, with Carter Davenport, a Ravenclaw two years older than her. They went out for almost three months in fourth year, but she got bored and eventually dumped him. So, Ashley cut the drama of relationships out of her life completely. It was pure unecessary stress.

"It was two years ago," Sirius reminded her, "Life goes on."

"I know it does," Ashley snapped, "Which is why I dated Carter. But I just don't trust guys. You, on the other hand, do it just for the pure pleasure. And that's the difference."

"Okay, okay," Sirius mumbled, "I'm sorry."

To break the awkward silence, Mischa began talking about her vacation to Thailand. After a while, Lily and James found them. "Best friends yet?" Remus joked, which merely earned him a glare from Lily.

"So," Katrina said, looking around at all the faces in the compartment, "Who else wants to pretend with me that everything's dandy?"

Remus, Peter, Shiloh, and Katrina raised their hands.

"Yay, I have a following," Katrina smiled.

"Oh! Who's Head Boy?" Ashley asked Lily. Ashley's sister, Samantha, had been elected Head Girl, and she was dying to find out who her sister would be paired with.

"Dylan Edgecott," Lily said flatly.

"Dylan Edgecott...The Ravenclaw Keeper? No way. Sammy used to have a crush on him," Ashley smirked.

"Can you blame her? That bloke is built, with the face of a God," Shiloh commented dreamily.

"Is not," Sirius and James said in unison.

"How cute," Mischa laughed, "They're jealous."

"Shut up, Fergie," James glared at her, "We are not."

"That sort of sucks for Andrew," Mischa said, ignoring James, "I mean, Andrew's great-looking as well, but Sam's going to be spending an awful lot of time with Dylan."

"Sam wouldn't cheat on Andrew," Ashley shrugged, "She's very anti-cheating."

Some time later, all of the students filed into the Great Hall and sat themselves down at their House tables, all except the first years, who were walking toward the front and standing before the Sorting Hat. Professor McGonagall unfolded her scroll, and called out the first name, "Dorinda Applegarth."

A small girl who was slightly chubby with light brown hair and pale skin walked up to the hat, terrified. After a moment, the hat said, "GRYFFINDOR!" and so, the Gryffindors clapped, happy that the first sorted child landed in their house. Dorinda stepped down, much more relaxed, and sat at the edge of the table as everyone congratulated her. The next girl, Avalon van Buskirk, was sent to Slytherin. Van Buskirk, Ashley thought to herself. There were other van Buskirk's. Saffron and Dahlia, who were sisters, both in Slytherin, no surprise there. Two girls, Helena Chaplin and Esmeralda Clench, went to Hufflepuff. A girl called Kinley Combs joined her seventh-year sister, Kerana in Ravenclaw. A boy called Emmet Cox, brother of seventh year Gryffindor Acacia, went to Ravenclaw as well. More kids were sorted, and Ashley recognized many surnames. After a little over a dozen more names were called, Ashley heard the name of her little cousin, "Grace Linden." Ashley knew that Grace desperately wanted to join her three sisters in Gryffindor, so she crossed two of her fingers for her.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted, and Ashley could tell Grace was resisting the urge to shout with it. Grace's sisters all cheered happily, and Grace ran over to sit with Hope.

Ten or so more names were called and finally, it was Ashley's sister, Taylor. She was the same way Grace was, and again, Ashley crossed her fingers. It was okay, though. The second the hat touched her head it said, "GRYFFINDOR!" Taylor happily came down and sat next to Grace. One more kid went to get sorted called Clarence Ziggler (he too, was a Gryffindor, like his older brother, Zachary) and then the feast began. All in all, there were 32 incoming first years. (9 Gryffindors, 8 Ravenclaws, 8 Hufflepuffs, and 7 Slytherins)

And so the next day, classes begun. Ashley, Lily, and Remus had the exact same schedule. As did Mischa, Shiloh, and Katrina, and James, Sirius, and Peter. The Gryffindor fifth years had the exact same schedule, except for periods four and six, which is where the electives were. Ashley, Lily, and Remus took Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. Mischa, Shiloh, and Katrina took Care of Magical Creatures and Divination. James, Sirius, and Peter took Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies.

"Congratulations, Brody," Ashley said as Katrina's older brother came down to the common room the first evening after classes ended, "I thought you'd be made captain."

"Thanks," Brody said, trying to hide how thrilled he was.

"Do you know when you'll be holding trials?" Ashley questioned.

"Not sure yet," Brody responded, smiling, "But you and Potter are two of the best Chasers in the school. Of course you'll be back on the team."

"There could be someone better this year," Ashley told him, "So don't go making up your mind just yet."

Brody smiled and shook his head, "Have you seen my sister?"

"She's at the library with Lily, I think," Ashley responded.

"Thanks. I'll see you later, Ash."

"Bye, Brode."

Ashley heard a group of girls talking by the fire, and turned to see who was there. It was Grace and Taylor with three other girls. Ashley smiled, glad that they had made friends here. Even though they were quite lucky to come in together and be sorted into the same house. "Hey, guys," Ashley said, walking over to them.

"Hey," Taylor smiled, and turned to her friends, "Ashley, this is Chyla Lowe, Dorinda Applegarth, and Emma Solomon. Guys, this is my sister, Ashley. Who's also Gracie's cousin."

"Nice to meet you," Ashley said kindly.

"Nice to meet you, too," the three girls chorused. They all seemed like nice girls. Chyla had a deep tan, midnight colored hair, and eyes to match. She was postively pint-sized, and Ashley would hardly believe it if the girl were four feet tall. Dorinda, though a tiny bit chubby, was very cute and cheerful-looking. Emma looked quite funny next to Chyla, because Emma was at least a foot taller. Her skin was ivory, and she had red-brown hair, and hazel eyes.

It was almost 7 o'clock and Ashley decided to go out for a little walk around the castle. It was quiet, seeing as not many people were roaming around at the moment. Ashley turned down a corridor and stopped in her tracks. "W-What're you doing here?"

"Um, it all started about five years ago. You see, I got this letter saying 'You have been accepted -'"

"Forget it," Ashley rolled her eyes and spun on her heel, ready to walk away.

"Ashley, wait a minute," he said, and she heard his footsteps as they become closer.

Ashley sighed and turned back around, "What do you want, Adrian?"

"I still feel bad everytime I see you," Adrian told her, looking into her dark eyes.

"You wouldn't if you hadn't cheated on me," Ashley shrugged.

"We might still be together if I hadn't done that," Adrian murmured.

"Guess we'll never know, 'cause you did," Ashley said casually, as if discussing Quidditch.

"I don't know what to say anymore besides sorry," Adrian said.

"Then I guess you should just give up then," Ashley said quietly.

"I made a mistake," Adrian told her, "It's been two years. I've matured."

"That's great for the next girl," Ashley said with a slight shrug.

"I want you to be the next girl," Adrian told her, "I really do."

Just then, from down the hall behind Adrian, Ashley saw Sirius. He looked a little concerned and started making his way over. "Aw Adrian, really?" Ashley said sweetly, walking over to him. She put her arms out to embrace him, and he did the same, when suddenly, she turned a bit, making Sirius to receiver of the hug, and Ashley began to laugh. "You couldn't have possibly believed me."

"You're a real bitch, you know that?" Adrian said angrily.

"What did you just say, Holcombe?" Sirius asked furiously.

"Oh, I'm sorry, let me repeat that slowly," he turned back to Ashley, "You...Are...A...Bitch."

Sirius raised his fist in the air, ready to hit him, when Ashley shoved him out of the way. "I appreciate it, Sirius, but this is my fight," she smirked. Ashley raised her own fist, and punched Adrian in the nose. Blood gushed from it, and Ashley resisted the urge to giggle. Adrian muttered something inaudible and stalked off.

"Nice work," Sirius said approvingly.

"Thanks," Ashley grinned.

"You're something else," Sirius shook his head, and linked his arm with Ashley's, "You know that?"

All right, so get to that reviewinnn and i'll try to have the next chapter up as soon as I possibly can. byee !