3

'You lied.'

'No I didn't.'

'Yes you did.'

'Technically I didn't.'

'Technically?'

'Yeah. My brothers were the one who told me about it. Their idea as a joke.'

'Oh.'

'Yeah. Oh.'

Gracie and Sirius became silent. James stared at them amused. They had just been arguing over what had happened earlier in the day, when they raced to Transfiguration class, only to find out that McGonagall didn't give out sweets to the first person to class. Remus was rather down hearted when he found out, as he had won.

'You didn't even win.' Gracie muttered.

'Yeah. But Remus would've share. Right, Remus?' Sirius asked.

Remus suddenly became very interested in his spoon and didn't answer.

'Can you keep it down, please? I want to eat my food peacefully.' Peter said, taking a bite out of a chicken leg.

Sirius sighed. 'Nothing interesting is happening though.'

'GRACE CHARLOTTE PREWETT!' James and what he could see the whole hall, glanced up to see a red haired girl storming over towards them.

She stopped in front of Gracie, who had paused with her fork in mid-air and mouth wide open.

'I've heard you got detention on your first class! On your first day!' she shrieked, and people nearby had to cover their ears.

'Detention? This early in the year? Not our little Grace? She would never.' One of the red haired twins that James recognised from the sorting yesterday said.

'She probably would. She's not as innocent as people think. I'm quite proud actually. Must be a new record. I also heard,' the other twin stood next to the first and raked his eyes over James, Peter, Remus and Sirius. The only difference, between them, that James could spot, was that the second one seemed to have an earring in one of his ears, the other didn't. 'That she refused to be taught by Servark along with 3 other pupils. Teaching themselves as well, I heard.'

'Grace! How could you. Wait until mum and dad hear!' the girl shook her head and walked off.

'Don't worry about her. She just gets very,' the twin with the earing paused. 'Protective. I'm Gideon Prewett by the way. That's Fabian my brother,' he waved his hand in the direction of Fabian, nearly hitting him in the face. 'Molly's are older sister. The one that just shouted. Then I think you know Grace our sister.'

'James Potter.'

'Sirius Black.'

'Peter Pettigrew.'

'Remus Lupin.'

'Nice to meet you. But we must be off. I see some turkey with my name on it.' Fabian said cheerfully.

He and Gideon turned and walked away, their eyes stuck on the large chicken further down the table.

'Well you just met my siblings,' Gracie chuckled.

She stood up and she broke out into a small smile.

'I think I'll go as well now. Give you a chance to talk and whatever. I need to speak to the girls anyway about Potions Homework. I don't have a clue why we have to do it though. I personally find it pointless.'

Gracie left, offering another smile before leaving.

'Hey Remus, what was the Potions homework again?' Sirius asked suddenly.

Remus rolled his eyes and remained mute.

'James! Wake up!' James felt someone shaking him roughly.

'What?' he muttered tiredly, swinging his arm out.

'Ow!' he heard someone hiss.

Whoever that had been leaning over him had moved out of the way, and he saw the faint outline of a person next to his bed, holding his nose.

'Try not to hit me next time please James.' The person whispered.

'What time is it? Who is it?' James asked, rubbing his eyes and searching around for his glasses on his bed side table.

'It's me Sirius and it 2am.'

James put his glasses on, and sure enough, it was Sirius.

'Why did you wake me up?' James asked, thinking that Sirius was crazy.

'I want to explore the castle James! And who better to do it with than my best buddy James Potter?' Sirius said, nodding to himself.

'Why couldn't you do it during the day?' James asked, sitting up in his bed.

'Because of the teachers and students. You wouldn't have a good look around. Plus it's probably much cooler doing it at night, when it's dark. Come on James. You know you want to come!' Sirius said in a quiet voice, glancing around to see if Peter, Frank or Remus had woken.

'Alright. Should we wake up the others?' James asked, getting up and slipping some shoes on.

Sirius threw his arms up in a silent cheer.

'I think it should be just me and you tonight. We can always ask them to come another night if they want to. And if we find anything, we can show them during dinner or something tomorrow when no one's there.' Said Sirius.

James nodded.

'What we waiting for then? Let's go!'

'How big is Hogwarts?' James asked uncertainly as Sirius closed the portrait hole behind them. Fortunately for them, the Fat Lady didn't stir.

'I think Andy said 7 floors,' Sirius said thoughtfully. 'Including the dungeons.'

'Who's Andy?' James asked, staring at Sirius thoughtfully as they walked down the grand staircase.

'My cousin. The only one I actually like. Bellatrix is crazy. Narcissa is as mad as the rest of them. Reg my brother,' Sirius suddenly sighed. 'He's turning into them. I try to tell him that their stupid opinions are well stupid.'

James patted Sirius on the shoulder and gave him a sympathetic look.

'I'm sorry Sirius. I can't really imagine how your feeling.' James said.

Sirius shrugged.

'Hey! Keep it down! Some of us are trying to sleep here!' a nearby portrait hissed angrily.

They glanced at each other and laughed.

The portrait mumbled something under his breath about 'annoying'.

'Where about are we now?' James asked.

'One way to find out.' Sirius said, and leant out a window.

He turned around, so his back was on the ledge, and his face was facing the sky.

'1 floor… 2 floors… 3 floors…' he mumbled quietly.

'Sirius! Be careful! You could fall!' James yelled, holding onto Sirius.

'Hey, James, is it me or can you smell smoke?'

Sirius came back in and they both leaned out the window, looking around.

'There! The forest?' James, confusedly, pointed in the direction of the forest, where sure enough smoke was clouding around and above the trees in the middle of the Forbidden Forest.

'Do you reckon something's on fire?' Sirius said, tilting his head to one side thoughtfully.

'I don't know. It can't really be people. There's lots of dangerous creatures and stuff in the forest. I'm not really sure if a person could last in there that deep in. maybe the trees just randomly were set on fire.'

Sirius snorted and checked his watch.

'It's getting late-early. We should go back. Next time we should go outside and see if there is anything. Keep an eye out.'

James nodded in agreement and they turned around, heading back up the stairs.

'Hey, James.' James turned to see Sirius smirking at him, with a twinkle in his eye.

'Yes?' he asked slowly.

'So, I reckon you fancy Miss Evans.'

James felt his face turn red.

'So it's true!' Sirius said, laughing. 'She is quite pretty. But I'm not so sure she actually likes you at all mate. After what you said to her and that Snivellus git on the train. But you sort of did defend her in Defence against the Dark Arts when he didn't. So you could have a shot.'

'Really?' James asked hopefully.

'Yeah. Ask her out.'

'But I hardly know her.' James protested.

'Well get to know her then, while you're going out.' Sirius grinned.

'Alright I'll ask her. By the end of the month. So I can see what she thinks of me and if I like her personality.'

Sirius snorted. 'Yeah. You can do it all romantically as well. Give her roses and chocolates.'

'Great idea! Thanks Sirius!'

'James! I was-' Sirius stopped speaking and then grinned like Christmas had come early.

'You were…?' James asked trailing off and looking at Sirius expectantly.

'Nothing. It doesn't matter now.'

'Oh okay. Anyway, I think it's obvious that you like Gracie.' James teased and now it was Sirius's turn to blush.

'I-'

'Do,' James interrupted grinning madly. 'You like Gracie! You like Gracie! And don't pretend you don't! We'll ask Remus in the morning when he wakes up if it's obvious that we each fancy someone ask him if he knows who we fancy.'

Sirius agreed.

'And, when Lily agrees to go out with me, you have to ask Gracie out or you have to dress up as a girl and, I'll get Gracie to do your make up. And both you and I know that she won't hesitate to make you look absolutely ridiculous. Oh… that would be funny, I can imagine it now…' James stared of dreamily.

Sirius shuddered and hit James lightly over his head.

'You wouldn't.' Sirius asked, unsure.

'Oh I would Sirius. I would.' James said as they arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady.

'OI! Wake up!' Sirius yelled tapping on the portrait.

'OW! What are you two doing out this late at night! And how dare you-'

'Shut up and let us in! Lightening! The password is Lightening!' James shouted impatiently.

'Alright. Don't let me catch you out again or I'll-' she said, opening up.

'Yeah, yeah, whatever.' Sirius muttered as they went into the common room and up the stairs to the boy's dormitory.

'Night Sirius.' James mumbled as he got in bed.

'Night James. And about what you said before, I'll ask Gracie out after you ask Lily out, but she has to say yes.'

'Alright. See you in the morning.'

'Night James…'