Disclaimer: If you think I'm J.K., perhaps you should check into the crazy hospital.

Author's Note: Yes, this is insanely short. Sorry! I have more, but I wanted to make it it's own chapter. That said, you should be getting anywhere from 2-4 more chapters this weekend, so don't be too irate.

Also, I don't have a beta or anyone who edits my writing. Granted, I edit my chapters several times myself, but I don't catch everything, so I apologize for errors.

Review? Please?

...and happy Thanksgiving to all you Americans.

Chapter 3

I entered the Leaky Cauldron at half-past eleven the next morning. It was too early for the lunch rush and the pub was nearly empty. I took a seat at the bar to wait for the boys. After a quarter of an hour, just when I was beginning to get frustrated, I noticed two black heads just visible over a open newspaper-both black, one smooth, the other messy.

I walked over to their table. "James? Sirius?"

They lowered the newspaper and their grim faces came into view. "Hey, Lily," James greeted.

I frowned down at their copy of the Daily Prophet, trying to read the headlines upside-down. "What happened?"

"More attacks," James sighed. "Family of five found dead in their home-one pureblood parent and one muggleborn. The pureblood father was active in the anti-Voldemort movement. From what they can tell, the kids were tortured and killed in front of their parents." His voice held deep disgust.

Sirius just stared at the wall, his gray eyes dark and dangerous.

James stood and guided me a little away from the table. "Some of Sirius' extended family is under suspicion regarding recent deaths," he said quietly. "There's no solid proof, and their status as an old pureblooded family makes it nearly impossible to accuse any of them, but he's a bit upset."

I glanced back at the brooding boy. "Blood complicates things," I sighed. "I'm a potential target and the subject of discrimination because mine is "dirty". Blood connects Sirius to a family he'd rather forget. Blood is the reason for this whole war."

"Not the reason," James said, "just the excuse."

"I'm starting to wonder if it will ever end. The attacks and prejudice have been escalating ever since my first year of Hogwarts..."

"If the ministry would do their job..." growled James. He ran a hand through his hair in irritation. "They're floundering about like a helpless fish!"

I tried to laugh at his odd analogy but found my light-hearted mood had been spoiled by our conversation, and we both remained silent for a moment.

"Oi, Prongs! Padfoot!" Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew had arrived, unaware of our somber thoughts.

"Are we going to Flourish and Blott's or Florean's first?" Peter asked.

I tried to shrug off the gloom and foreboding that had settled like a heavy cloak and answered, "Who's up for Florean's? I feel like ice cream for lunch."

Everyone murmured their agreement and we set off for Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.

By the time we had finished our rather large ice creams, Sirius still hadn't shaken off his dark mood. I had never encountered this Sirius before-granted, I didn't know him very well, but I had always seen him as cheerful, joking, and generally pleasant, if a bit cocky. At the moment he trailed a bit behind the group, hands shoved in his pockets, morose and silent.

James finally leaned down to whisper to me, "Go ahead with Remus and Peter-I need to talk to Sirius."

I looked up at him worriedly. "Is he all right?"

"He will be." James dropped casually behind us and fell into step with Sirius. By the time we stepped into the apothecary to purchase our potion ingredients, they had disappeared.

The two boys reappeared in Madame Malkin's. Remus and Peter both needed new robes and were being measured while I browsed the dress robes. I was rather fond of a royal blue set, but I had already spent most of my money and didn't need them anyway.

"Hey Lily," greeted Sirius from behind me.

I jumped slightly. "Hey...Sirius," I replied cautiously.

He grinned faintly. "Congrats on Head Girl."

"Thanks," I replied, puzzled by his abrupt change of mood.

"So," he said, toying with the sash of a scarlet robe, "How do you feel about your fellow head this year?"

I smiled slightly. "Well, if he can manage to control you..."

Sirius laughed. "He's only just now begun to control himself-don't you think that's asking a bit much?"

I shrugged. "I suppose we'll just have to see."

"Oi, Padfoot," James approached, glancing between us warily. "Please don't scare her off!"

I grinned and shook my head as the boys began to argue good-naturedly. Despite the grim start to our day, I had enjoyed my excursion with the marauders.

Remus and Peter joined us minutes later. "Hey," said Sirius, grinning broadly. "We're all of age!"

I raised an eyebrow. "And...?"

"Firewhiskey! And you can't call us on it, it's legal now," he added to me.

"Isn't it rather early to be drinking?" I asked. "It's only half-past three."

"Never to early for a pick-me-up," he argued, taking my arm. "I'll escort the fair lady to the pub."

At some point I managed to extricate myself from Sirius and moved to walk beside James. "What'd you say to him?" I asked curiously.

James followed my gaze to the laughing Sirius in front of us and smiled slightly. "I just reminded him who his true family was."

Here I am again to pester you.

I'm not going to upload the next chapter until I get at least 4 more reviews.

10 people put me on their story alert lists, and 4 favorited me, but I only have four reviews.

One liners work. One word works. Although constructive criticism would be great-I'm hoping I can become a better writer!

If I don't get four more reviews...well, we'll just see how long till I break and just put up the next chapter anyway. :)

The Quirky Quill