1 September, 1974

Well – Remus knows about me and Patrick, and it was even more awkward than I thought. I really have now idea how Remus and Patrick are both going to fit in my life, until now they've been kind of separate and now that we're at school we'll all be forced together.

Lily is really happy that my "romance" as she calls it has survived the summer. In some ways I think she escapes her problems by living vicariously through our happiness. Thankfully her sister seems to have avoided her this holiday which will make the year a bit easier for her. The feast was wonderful as always, but I could see the Marauders, particularly Black and Potter, were up to their old tricks. Another prank is on the way.

Annicka Llewellyn

The first few weeks back at Hogwarts were awkward between Remus and Annicka until they both understood and accepted Patrick's role in her life. The two of them would usually talk in the morning, and they of course had classes together, but Annicka now spent most of her free time with Patrick. Remus made a point of scheduling time to study with her, and that seemed to be their only real social interaction for the first few months of school.

31 October, 1974

Hogsmeade was a trip! I spent most of the time with Patrick and the girls from the dorm. Margo, Alice and Lily wanted to get to know Patrick, but I promised Remus that I would meet him too. I wound up getting there late, and he was put out for the rest of the afternoon. He's not warming up to Patrick at all.

Annicka Llewellyn

10 November, 1974

Patrick has been talking about ways for us to get a little more alone time together, places where we can kind of avoid people. I'm a little ashamed to say I asked Remus for suggestions without telling him why I wanted to know. He just gets so angry sometimes that I don't really like to talk to him about Patrick. Why does this have to be so complicated?

Annicka Llewellyn

1 December, 1974

My father has done it again. We're spending Christmas with the Potters again, only this time we'll be meeting at our house. I have a feeling that Black will be coming as well, and I don't know that I want to have him anywhere near my home. I understand that he has a hard time at home, and seeing how he interacts with his brother I can understand shy, but at the end of the day he is the most aggravating, annoying person I know. Patrick wants to spend some of the day with me, but I don't think it will happen. We'll have to find some time before the holiday.

Annicka Llewellyn

Annicka took Patrick aside the day before the Christmas holiday to a small courtyard hidden away in the grounds of the castle. "I wanted to give you your present before Christmas," Ann stated holding out a small package.

Patrick took it from her, set it aside and kissed her like he had never kissed her before. Taken up in the kiss she wrapped her arms around his neck, he wrapped an arm around her waist as the other tangled in her hair. Slowly he pulled back, she paused a moment then asked, "What was that for?"

"Incentive," he replied. "Now you have a reason to come back, plus I need to give you your present," Annicka laughed, kissed him once more and left without a word, teasing him as he teased her. For the train ride home she spent some time with her dorm-mates, and part of the time with Remus. She didn't want to be stuck with the rest of the Marauders so she led him to the third compartment from the front of the train. "How did you get the door open?" Remus asked a little surprised.

"We'll call it a talent," she replied cryptically. The conversation they had was more free and easy between the than it had been in months. Annicka guessed it was because Patrick was staying at Hogwarts for the holiday. The train eventually arrived in London and they all separated. For the first few days of the holiday break Annicka spent her time catching her family up on what had happened at school.

Sooner than she would like it was Christmas Eve and the Potters and Sirius Black arrived. Her father was called away to work, again, and the parents all assumed the children wouldn't want to be part of the adult's conversation and left them alone. Annicka somewhat avoided the awkward situation by opening the book Remus had given her for Christmas. She was pleasantly surprised to see a photo of them from over the summer holiday pressed into the pages.

It was a picture of them by a lake they had visited with their families. Ann had been drying out on a beach towel when Remus had dumped a bucket of ice water on her. Someone had obviously captured the moment. She smiled holding back a laugh as she saw herself running after Remus, screaming as they went. The scene played out over and over again, always ending with Remus throwing her hover his shoulder and jumping into the lake.

"What are you staring at?" Sirius asked looking over at her.

"Just a photo," she replied, sliding it back into her book. Before either boy could ask more questions Annicka's father apperated into the room, blood dripping down his arm, "Lay him down," she ordered the boys as she marched over to a window seat. James and Sirius rushed over to support her father and led him to a sofa.

"Shouldn't we get your mum?" James asked worriedly.

"No," Annicka objected. The boys stepped aside as she knelt by her father. She opened a small box by her feet that held several bottles and bandages. Perfectly calm she pulled out a pair of scissors, cutting away her father's sleeve. "You have to be more careful," she admonished her father, "one of these days I'm not going to be able to heal you."

"It's my job," he replied with a grimace. Annicka placed a few drops of a potion on his tongue to take away the pain; she then began to clean the wounds. The boys looked over her shoulder and saw long claw marks running down his arm from his neck. Annicka cleaned the wound, spread some potion over it, and bandaged it with a practiced hand. As she worked her father's breathing slowed, and soon he was asleep. "What did that to him?" Sirius asked.

"A werewolf, it's a full moon tonight," she answered calmly, packing up her supplies. "He's always trying to save them, but he needs to be more careful when they transform." Ann stood, and returned the box to the window seat, "We should let him sleep, and I need to make a blood replenishing potion." They boys quietly agreed and followed her to the room their parents had retreated to. Annicka had a quick whispered conversation with her mother and walked off. James and Sirius were rather subdued for the rest of the night, when Annicka eventually rejoined them they both just watched her. Close to midnight the Potters and Black said good-bye and went home.

3 January, 1975

The holiday was interesting. Dad came home injured on Christmas Eve, and Potter and Black helped me move him around. The oddest thing is ever since then they've been kind of – quietly watching me, it's getting really weird. Honestly I wish they would just go back to normal. Patrick has been so wonderful, he was so excited to see me when I got back, and he gave me a beautiful necklace for the holiday. This year is going to be crazy.

Annicka Llewellyn

15 January, 1975

Remus has been quiet lately, I think he resents the time I spend with Patrick. I don't know what to do about it, he's stopped complaining, but now he just avoids the subject of Patrick all together . . . well, I'm going to meet Patrick before my study session with Remus.

Annicka Llewellyn

Sirius entered the library wandering through the tables; he froze when he saw her lean in and kiss the boy she was sitting with. He whispered something and she giggled. Sirius approached slowly seeing a new side to Annicka that stirred something inside of him. With one more kiss she turned back to her book and saw Sirius, the smile faded from her face and she almost glared up at him. "What?" she asked, when he didn't say anything.

"Moony was looking for you, he says you're late," Sirius replied in a bland monotone. Annicka jumped to her feet as though she'd been shocked.

"I completely forgot," she muttered to herself. "I'll meet you in the Entrance Hall," she added to Patrick, gave him a quick kiss, and walked away. Annicka paused looking back when Sirius didn't follow her, "Aren't you coming?"

"I'm going to stay here for a while," he replied never turning from Patrick. Annicka looked confused, but shrugged and left. "Sirius Black," he introduced himself holding out his hand to the Ravenclaw boy.

"Patrick Claymore," he accepted and introduced himself.

Annicka walked down to the Entrance Hall with Remus, he went off to eat while she waited outside for Patrick. After about 15 minutes she started to get worried. Annicka stepped into the Great Hall traveling down the Ravenclaw table looking for one of Patrick's friends, hoping to find out where he was, when she saw him. "Hey," she called to him. He reluctantly turned to look at her, "I thought we were going to meet in the Entrance Hall," she said sounding mildly confused.

"You're right," he agreed. Patrick stood, and turned her back toward the doors. "Let's talk," he led the way out and Annicka was forced to follow, her confusion growing. They were close to the grand front doors when he stopped.

"Patrick, what's wrong?" she asked crossing her arms defensively.

"I know," Patrick stated dramatically.

"What are you talking about?"

"Black told me everything this afternoon," he almost growled. He continued at her blank look, "I know the two of you have been seeing each other behind my back –"

"Wait!" she gasped. "A boy you've never spoken to before randomly approaches you and tells you that I'm cheating on you," she paraphrased, "and you believe him?"

"I don't have a reason not to," Patrick answered tersely. "Look, I don't –"

"You don't want to see me anymore?" she interrupted. "Fine, you will never see me again," Annicka turned on her heel and stormed back into the Great Hall.

Several people looked up at the door flew open and she marched down the Gryffindor table toward the Marauders. Annicka stopped in front of Remus, "Where is he?" she demanded to know angrily, interrupting his conversation with James Potter.

"What" he asked disoriented.

"Remus, where is he?" her tone and expression told him that she was looking for Sirius Black.

"Sirius went back to the common room," Remus answered, "What did he do?" he asked, but Annicka had already turned on her eel and walked away. "What did he do?" Remus shouted after her. When she didn't respond he leapt up from the table and followed her. Lily, Mary, Margo, Alice, James, and Peter all watched him leave for a moment before scrambling to follow them. Remus quickly lost sight of Annicka. He took every short cut he knew to catch her. He arrived just after Annicka entered the common room.

Sirius was standing with a group of 3rd year girls talking. Annicka stomped over to him and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned taking a step back as a fist collided with his eye. "OW! What the bloody hell?" he swore trying to focus on the person who had punched him.

"How dare you? What did you say to him?" Annicka screamed.

"What are you talking about?" he demanded to know.

"Patrick," she stated and Sirius froze, "What did you say to him?" she asked one last time.

"Nothing!" Sirius argued defensively.

"He didn't just break up with me over nothing," she growled. Sirius was silent as she continued, "I don't know where you get off thinking you can toy with my life like it's one of your playthings, but if you ever do anything like this again I will make sure you never have children." She paused, waiting for the threat to sink in, when all the color drained from his face she was sure he got her meaning, "Do I make myself clear?" Sirius nodded mutely, "Say 'I understand'," Annicka ordered.

"I understand," he replied quietly.

"Good, now move," she pushed forward through the group. Lily and the girls followed her up to their dorm and the Marauders went to stand by Sirius. "Are you okay?" James asked trying not to laugh.

"She has a mean right hook," Sirius replied flinching as his eye twinged.

"So, you got Claymore to break up with her?" Remus asked quietly.

"Apparently," Sirius replied with a shrug.

"Good job," the two boys stared at each other for a moment before sharing a smile. Annicka sat on the edge of her bed staring at the floor. Her dorm-mates all entered quietly, Lily sat next to her nervously. When Lily placed a hand on her shoulder Annicka turned and buried her face in her friend's shoulder as she began to cry.