Morning/Afternoon/Evening/Night/Whatever-the-hell-the-time-is-for-you.

So sorry to disappoint some of you, but I'm very much alive, and back with edits. Again, the plot is more of less the same, I'm just going to ditch a whole lot of irrelevant shit.

The funny thing is, it's not actually so bad, these first few chapters. Could be better, but it really went downhill later...

Meh. 'Nyways, I don't own, obviously.

Chapter 3: You Talk About Change Like It's A Good Thing

'Max! Max, get up!' Lily shook me awake. I was already awake, just confused at where I was. I blinked, taking in my surroundings. 'Come on, today's Monday, there're lessons!'

I got up. 'Lily, can you help me find the books I need for each class?'

'Sure, okay.' Lily was nice, I found, and helpful. Not too helpful, mind you. Just helpful in a good helping way. You know? Okay, never mind. That was just completely confusing. So anyway, Lily helped me grab the books I needed for Divination, and Muggle Studies, then we headed down for breakfast.

-o-o-o-o-

Lily and I walked down the stairs, talking about whatever came to our minds.

'So, how many people around here have big secrets?' I asked.

'What do you mean? Because I'm sure there's plenty of broom closet activity, if you know what I mean...' She blushed slightly, possibly remembering some activities of her own...

'No, I mean, like hiding something that could get them chucked out of school, or shunned, or worshipped, or something.' I said casually.

Lily glanced at me questioningly. 'I don't know. There's a few, I'm pretty sure.' Good. So we probably weren't the only ones. Well, maybe there weren't many people with wings, but at least something to hide.

'Hey, Max, Lily! Over here!' I looked at the Gryffindor table to see Sirius waving at us. We went over to join the others. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lily hesitate before sitting.

'Hello there, my Lily-Flower. How are things so far?' James asked, ruffling his already messed up hair.

'Shut up, Potter.' Lily snapped. I blinked.

'Aw, so my Lilykins isn't in a good mood? Maybe I could fix that?' James smirked.

'You'd just make me miserable.' Lily hissed. So that was why Lily had hesitated. I suppressed a grin. At least Fang and I weren't like that, even back then.

'So, Max, Fang, ready for Divination with the Hufflepuffs?'

'Is it good?'

'No!' Peter squeaked.

'Why?' Fang asked. One word so far! He's on a roll!

'Sybil Trelawney. She likes to pretend that she's a seer, and predicts everyone's deaths. Really, though, if she's a seer, I'm a vampire.' Remus explained.

'No! Remus is a vampire!' Sirius said, pretending to ward Remus off with a piece of garlic. 'Save me! Anyway, she predicted that I would choke to death at breakfast tomorrow, and the poor old Remmy the vampire would get stabbed with a muggle knife, a machete I think she called it, and James would trip down the stairs and out the window, inpaling his heart and right eye in the process. Oh, and Pete would die a hero's death, whatever that is.'

'Right...' I said.

'Yeah.'

-o-o-o-o-

We entered the spacious room, and I looked around. It didn't look like a classroom at all. There were curtain-ish hangings everywhere, and little tables with crystal balls on them. I glanced around for the professor. No one.

'Just sit.' Sirius told me, and I sank down on one of the cushion-y chair things.

'Welcome.' a female voice said. I stiffened. 'I am Professor Valdaen. Welcome to Divination. You are early, but no matter. Maximum Ride, is it? And Fang Ascher? Do take a seat.'

-o-o-o-o-

We were reading teacups. Lily was my partner, and she showed me how we were supposed to prepare the cup. She handed her cup to me, and I gave my cup to her.

'Okay, I'll go first, if you like.' she said. I nodded. 'Hmm... Well, this could be a, uh, bunch of roses? For true love. That's sweet. And, um, this looks like cheese... and cheese means, um, nothing... so maybe it's a pyramid, which means, uh, that you will lose a loved one, and this here, could be a, um, heh, a, sun? For happiness. Your turn.'

I peered into Lily's cup. I saw... tea remains. Amazing.

'Well, let's see, this could be a, um, feather? For one sided love. Oh, and a, what the heck is that? Um, deer? For, hmm... blessings in disguise. How cliché. Oh, and this would be a... a book. For a great achievement. Heh. How very detailed.' I looked up, and I saw that we were both struggling not to laugh. Valdaen was casting a suspicious look in our direction.

-o-o-o-o-

Fang sighed. Trelawney had spent the last fifteen minutes pouring over his teacup. So far she'd told him that he was in love, and that person loved him back, and they would have to make a hard decision, at dinner he would have frozen yogurt for dessert, he would lose someone he loved, there would be betrayal in his life, and -

'AIEEEEEEE!' Trelawney screamed. Valdaen hurried over.

'My dear, what is the matter?'

'THE GRIM! IN THAT CUP LIES THE GRIM!' Trelawney shrieked, and many people struggled not to laugh.

After most of the commotion had died down a bit, Fang took Trelawney's cup and looked at it.

'Box for great loss of dignity. Owl. Respect. Gold. Prosperity and riches.' he stated.

'Oh, Fang! How can you be so calm? It's terrible! You're going to die!' Trelawney cried. Valdaen ignored her, staring into the cup in a trance like state.

'Yes. I am going to die. Just like everyone else.'

Trelawney wailed.

-o-o-o-o-

'What's this 'grim'?' I asked Lily as we walked to Muggle Studies.

'Oh, that. It's a death omen. Trelawney sees it everywhere.' Lily rolled her eyes, but looked slightly concerned. 'Anyhoo, she's predicted it for so many people, and none of the are dead.'

'That's good.' I said. 'Not that she predicted it for a lot of people, but that they didn't die.'

'Yeah. It is, I guess.'

-o-o-o-o-

'Welcome to Muggle Studies. For the newcomers, I am Professor Chantez.' a freakishly cheerful voice said. The voice belonged to a woman with long brown hair, blue eyes, and a freakishly huge and genuine grin. 'Today we will be learning about what muggles do to get around without magic. Specifically, how they travel. Max, Fang, there are a couple of spare seats down the back.'

Fang and I moved to sit where she indicated. We both took out parchment, ink, and a quill, and started taking notes on bicycles.

About halfway through the lesson, the notes on my parchment disappeared, and it was replaced by writing.

Hello, Maximum. the writing said. I nearly freaked out.

Sirius, you're scaring her. Max, it's us, ignore Sirius, he's touched in the head. - RL

I read Remus' message and immediately felt better. He then told me how to spell my parchment.

It worked. - MR, I wrote.

Of course it did. - JP

Hi, guys! - PP

What do you think you're doing? You all should be taking notes! - LE

Lily? - MR

Yeah. - LE

Well, if you think we should be taking notes, why don't you do it yourself? - SB

Shut up, Black. - LE

Hey, Lilykins, go out with me? - JP

NO! -LE

What did I miss? - FA

Fang? - MR

Who else? Jolly old Saint Nick? - FA

Shut up. - MR

Oh, and Lily, me and Fang already know about bikes. We used to live as muggles. - MR

Ok... if you're sure... - LE

You tell her, Max! - SB

Yeah! - PP

Shut up, Black, Pettigrew. - LE

My mother bought me a bicycle for my birthday last year. She's a muggle. I spent a while tinkering with it, and now I know how to use it. - RL

Remmy showed me! - SB

DO NOT CALL ME REMMY. - RL

Fine, if you're all sure then! - LE

Are you angry at us? - RL

No, not really. I should be, but I'm not. Not at you, Max, and Fang, anyway. The others, yes I am angry. - LE

Sorry, Remmy. - SB

I SAID/WROTE DO NOT CALL ME REMMY. - RL

But it's fun! - SB

We'll discuss this later... - RL

Fine, fine. - SB

... - FA

Yeah, I know Remus is weird. - SB

Not him, you. - FA

I respect that! - SB

It's 'resent'. - RL

Really? - PP

Yes, really. - LE

Evans, you are so smart! Just like me! We're a perfect match! - JP

Piss off, Potter. AND WE ARE NOT A PERFECT MATCH, YOU ARROGANT SWINE! - LE

Ooh... - SB

Ooh... - PP

Shut up. - LE

But we can't shut up on paper. - SB

*glare* - LE

Ah, no not the glare! - SB

-o-o-o-o-

'And we will be going to a muggle camp in a few weeks time. We will do what muggles do without magic for three days.' Professor Chantez said cheerfully. 'Please put your name down on the list at the end of class if you want to go.'

-o-o-o-o-

Sounds fun. - MR

Yeah, and it'll piss my parents of majorly... LET'S GO! - SB

? - MR

Sirius, she doesn't know. Explain. - RL

Why can't you do it? - SB

It's your family. - JP

Yeah. - PP

Yep, even though I don't know what you're talking about. - MR

I'm with Max. - FA

I agree with everyone other than Black for this one. - LE

She agrees with me! - JP

Only because I have to. - LE

Oh. - JP

Oh. - PP

Why is everyone ganging up on me? - SB

That's your problem, now explain. - RL

Ok, my parents are 'pureblood maniacs' I suppose you could say. They believe that only pureblood wizards and witches should be allowed to learn magic. If they had their way, you, Fang, Remus, Lily, and every other halfblood or muggleborn wouldn't be here. Fortunately, Dumbledore disagrees. - SB

Wow. I don't like your parents already. - MR

*nods* - FA

Must you be silent even on paper? - MR

*nods* - FA

... - RL

... - SB

... - JP

What? - PP

Oh, okay then. - PP

... - PP

Anyway, we should go on this muggle camp thing. - RL

All in favour say 'aye'! Aye! - SB

Aye. - RL

Aye. - JP

Aye. - PP

Aye. - LE

Aye. - FA

Aye. - MR

Agreed. We will go on this muggle trip camp thing. - SB

*rolls eyes* - RL

*snorts* - JP

*snorts* - PP

Must you do everything James does, Peter? - SB

James? He asked me a question. What do I do? - PP

LOL! - FA

ROFL! - SB

ROFLMAO! - RL

LMAO! - JP

Oh. Okay, then. LMAO! ;) - PP

What does that mean, anyway? - PP

Laughing my ass off. - JP

Oh. And lol, rofl, and roflmao? - PP

Rolling on the floor. - SB

Laugh out loud. - FA

Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off. - RL

Oh. - PP

So, Peter, what's your answer? - SB

LMAO! - PP

... - RL

... - MR

... - SB

... - FA

... - JP

... - PP

Hey, James, dare you to write that you're an asshole. - SB

I'm an asshole. - JP

Not falling for that, guys. - PP

-o-o-o-o-

When the lesson ended, we all signed our names on the parchment. Chantez smiled her freakishly big smile at us.

'See you on the trip then!'

-o-o-o-o-

The day passed, and nothing remarkable was done, unless you count the magic itself. Fang did explode a cauldron in Potions, though, and Sirius dropped a book on James' head in Charms, and I transfigured Snape's quill into (possibly poisonous) toad.

It was an accident.

Really, I swear.

-o-o-o-o-

During dinner, I noticed that Remus was missing, but I let it go. We all had our reasons.

Dinner was good, but that's not saying much considering that just a while ago I was dumpster diving. So I suppose anything I said about food would have almost no meaning, unless I said it was bad, which would make it really really awful. Oh, well.

Anyway, dessert was not frozen yogurt, so Trelawney was wrong. Good. I don't like her. I mean, she predicted my boyfriend's death! And yes, I said boyfriend. Me and Fang are making it official, after much bugging from the flock, and now the Marauders and Lily. I mean, is it that obvious?

Knowing us, it probably is.

-o-o-o-o-

That night, I flopped onto my bed, exhausted. Lily had made sure that all my homework was done before she let me sleep. I was grateful, because, it's me, and I've almost never had to hand in work on a deadline, so I probably would've forgotten about it and not done it. I don't need to get on the teachers' bad sides right away, do I? Not with homework, anyway.

Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, and I gave in to my subconcious, and slept.

-o-o-o-o-

I woke up to find my blankets half falling off the bed, and my head was under the pillow, which was next to my knees. It must've been a nightmare, I figured, because usually I didn't sleep that violently.

I gathered my things, and got dressed. I saw that no one else was awake yet, but I headed downstairs to the common room to wait for the boys.

Eventually my waiting paid off, and a bleary eyed Sirius walked into the room, followed by the others. Fang looked like he'd slept as well as me, which wasn't well.

-o-o-o-o-

'Max? Hellooooo? Maaaax?' Sirius waved his hand back and forth in front of my face. I slapped it away.

'Sorry, just tired. Didn't sleep that well.' I murmured.

'It's okay. And we were just discussing -'

I tuned out, and rested as best I could without actually falling asleep.

-o-o-o-o-

Double Transfiguration was uneventful, but I was more alert, so when Remus walked in during lunch, looking like crap, I might add, I actually noticed.

'Hey, what happened to you?' I asked, taking in his damaged appearance.

'Went to my grandmother's funeral. Crashed my broom on the way back...'

I didn't believe him, but I let it slide.

'My, uh, condolences? Is that the word?'

'Yeah, it is, and thanks.'

-o-o-o-o-

I was unlucky enough to run smack bang into Snape after dinner. Well, not him, but his friend, who was standing next to him. Close enough.

'And who are you?' I hissed to the blonde boy.

'Lucius Malfoy, mudblood.' he hissed back.

I was about to say something back, but Nudge came and interrupted me.

'Hey, Max!'

'Hi, Nudge!'

It was nice of her to come and see me.

But it turns out that she wasn't here to see me.

'Hey, Lucius, Ro sent me to see if you were still up for that game of Exploding Snap. So, you in?' Nudge said.

'Sure am. Let's go. Coming, Severus?' Lucius replied, completely ignoring me.

'Nudge? Can I have a word?' I asked. 'In private?'

I didn't like the fact that Nudge didn't answer straight away, but rather, looked at Malfoy like she needed his permission.

-o-o-o-o-

'You're friends with a Malfoy?' I asked. Sirius had told me all about 'pure blood mania people'.

'Yes, because he's actually a nice person! Unlike those people you call your friends! Sirius Black, really? I thought you knew better, but now I see! Finding your mum and your sister made you soft! Don't you rememberwhen you were the one scolding me for wanting to find my parents?' she said.

'Nudge, are you aware of what these people do?'

'Listen, Max. It's not my fault you made the wrong friends, so don't try and pin this on my friends!'

'What?' I reeled backwards, shocked.

'Yeah, you heard me right. You have the wrong people as friends. You're in the wrong house. The Hat wanted to put you in Slytherin, didn't it? That's where you should be. It's where great people are created.' Nudge's voice shook.

'What?'

'Max, don't you know? They teach me things, like how to protect myself. They care about me. You just left me behind and went prancing off with Fang and your new friends. Iggy knows. He understands, and he doesn't judge me. I just feel like I can't confide in you anymore. You're so... self absorbed now. Don't forget, we're not normal. You told me that. We'll never be normal.' Her dark eyes, normally so cheerful, brimmed with tears.

'Nudge, what happened to you?' I asked, desperate.

'The real question is, what happened to you? And just by the way, my name is Monique. Maybe you should use it sometime.'