Just forget what you've learned, just forget what you've heard.

The truth just confirmed I can't bare the sight of you anymore.

Bite My Tongue

Riley wasn't aware how quickly time had passed since the murder of Brandon's grandparents. That Monday, as promised, she faced the school. It took some time to get used to the glares and the whispers but Sirius told her time and time and again that she had to remember, she wasn't the one that done it. She wasn't her Father. Brandon had came back to Hogwarts in time for his O.W.L's and didn't speak to Riley. She tried to talk to him in private so she could apologise on her own behalf but he always managed to avoid her, so she eventually gave up. Her relationship with Sirius was now official and the group was becoming closer than ever, Lily was even warming up to James.

It was the day of their Defence Against The Dark Arts O.W.L, the last O.W.L for the group. Riley was sitting in the row beside James and Sirius, two seats behind James and one seat in front of Sirius. She was writing like mad, afraid to run out of time. She looked up to see who else was writing and noticed James looking back and grinning at Sirius. She shook her head in disapproval. Moments after, Professor Flitwick collected in the papers and everyone began to leave the Great Hall. Lily smiled at Snape as she made her way to meet Riley who was with Sirius.

"Easy?" Lily asked them both.

"Hell yeah," Sirius said. "I'll see you girls outside, I'm gonna see what the guys thought."

He gave Riley a peck on the lips and ran off to meet the Marauders. Riley and Lily walked behind them, going over the full exam and what answers they got.

"Did you like question ten, Moony?" asked Sirius when he reached the group.

"Loved it," Remus answered. "Give five signs that identify the werewolf. Excellent question."

"Think you managed to get all the signs?" James asked, trying to keep a serious tone.

"Think I did," Remus answered. "One: he's sitting on my chair. Two: he's wearing my clothes. Three: his name's Remus Lupin."

They all laughed as they emerged outside with a large group of other students. Lily had left Riley to go see what Mary's thoughts on the paper were so she caught up with the Marauders.

"I'll be surprised if I don't get 'Outstanding' on it at least," she heard Sirius say.

"Oh really?" Riley asked and took his hand as they got to the tree at the edge of the lake. "Getting a bit big headed there, are we not?"

"Well, I am brilliant at it," Sirius said and kissed her.

"Padfoot," James interrupted. "Look who it is."

"Excellent," said Sirius softly. "Snivellus."

"Sirius, don't you dare," Riley warned him. He didn't listen. He let go of her hand and stood beside James and watched as Snape put the O.W.L paper into his bag.

"Alright, Snivellus?" said James loudly.

Riley cursed James under her breath and was praying to herself that Sirius didn't do anything. Before she knew what was happening, Snape had dropped his bag and got his wand out. He was too slow though, James had reacted quicker.

"Expelliarmus!"

Snape's wand flew twelve feet into the air and fell with a little thud in the grass behind him. Sirius let out a bark of laughter.

"Impedimenta!" he said, pointing his wand at Snape, who was knocked off his feet halfway through a dive towards his own fallen wand. Students all around had turned to watch. Some had got on their feet and were edging nearer. Some looked apprehensive, others entertained.

"Guys, please stop," Riley tried to reason but they ignored her.

"How did the exam go, Snivelly?" said James.

"I was watching him, his nose was touching the parchment," said Sirius viciously. "There'll be grease marks all over it, they won't be able to read a word."

Many people laughed at the remark.

"You-wait," Snape panted, staring up at James with an expression of purest loathing, "you-wait!"

"Wait for what?" said Sirius cooly. "What're you going to do, Snivelly, wipe your nose on us?"

Snape let out a stream of mixed swear words and hexes but with his wand so far away, nothing happened.

"Wash your mouth," said James coldly. "Scourgify!"

Pink soap bubbles streamed from Snape's mouth at once, the froth was covering his lips, making him gag, chocking him.

"Leave him ALONE!"

Riley closed her eyes at the sound of the voice, preparing herself for more arguing. James and Sirius looked round to the source.

"All right, Evans?" James asked.

"Leave him alone, Potter," Lily spat.

Behind them, the hex on Snape was wearing off. He managed to get a hold of his wand and directed it at James. There was a flash of light and a gash appeared on the side of James' face, blood spilling out. James retaliated, there was another flash of light and Snape was hanging upside down in the air, his trousers down with his underwear on show. Those watching cheered and Sirius, James and Peter roared with laughter. Lily had went red from fury.

"Put him down and LEAVE HIM ALONE!" she shouted, pulling her own wand out an pointing it at James and Sirius. "Take the curse off him!"

James sighed deeply, then turned to Snape and muttered the counter-course. "There you go," he said, as Snape struggled to his feet. "You're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus-"

"I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!"

Lily blinked and Riley looked flabbergasted. Did he really just drop the 'M' bomb?

"Fine," she said coolly. "I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus."

"Apologise to her!" James roared at Snape.

"I don't want you to make him apologise," Lily shouted. "You're just as bad as he is! You both make me sick!"

Lily turned on her heel and hurried away. Sirius turned to Riley, wearing the same expression as her while James tried to get Lily to come back.

"What is it with her?" said James.

No-one answered. Riley walked up to the two of them.

"What did I tell you both?" she shouted. "Honest to Merlin, if you just listened to me, none of that would of happened! Bloody hell you two are gits. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a best friend to check-up on."

Sirius turned to James. "Why are we the ones getting yelled at when he's the one that called her a you-know-what?"

James shrugged. "I have no idea but who wants to see me take of Snivelly's pants?"

X

"Lily?"

Riley walked slowly into their dorm to see Lily sitting on her bed. She didn't acknowledge Riley when she walked in, she just flipped another page in her book.

"Lils? You okay?" Riley asked.

Lily looked up and nodded, "Yes, why wouldn't I be?"

"Just with what happened earlier-"

"It was bound to happen at some point, Riley. Sever - Snape has been acting strange for a while and I always knew he was fond of the Dark Arts. It was all just a matter of time. As for Potter, he's always been a twat."

"Are you sure? What Snape said was out of order."

"I'm use to it. Really, Riles, I'm fine."

Riley knew it was time for her to leave and left Lily in the room alone. She walked down the stairs and saw Remus walk through the portrait hole.

"Is Lily okay?" Remus asked Riley.

"So she says," she sighed. "Do you want to go to the library? Not to study or anything, I've just not spoke to you in a while."

Remus smiled. "Sure."

Riley had missed talking to Remus, even if it wasn't over important things. Next to Sirius, Riley found Remus the next person she could trust with anything. They walked to the library, exchanging small chat that Riley enjoyed. While they walked, she could feel everyone's eyes on her.

"I wish they would just get over it," Riley muttered.

"I know what you mean, it's like the don't realise it wasn't even you that done it," Remus said. "The main thing is you have a group of friends that know who you truly are."

Riley smiled at that and then linked arms with Remus. "Did I mention I'd missed you?"

"Only once or twice," he laughed. They rounded the corner to enter the library. "I found this book the other day that I thought you might like…"

X

Not long after the Snape incident outside, James, Sirius, Peter and Frank were sitting in the common room. They were discussing the Quidditch league outside Hogwarts when two 4th year girls walked up to them, blushing.

"You're going out with that Martinez girl, aren't you?" One of them asked Sirius.

"Yeah," he asked, rolling his eyes. That's all people ever asked him now, just to confirm he was going out with a murderer's daughter. "Why? Is there a problem with that?"

"Oh no, no, not at all," she said. "It's just…we saw her with your friend, that one that is away all the time. They were holding hands on their way to the library. I thought you'd like to know."

Sirius stared back at the two of them, confused. The one who spoke to him, smiled innocently and winked at him before she left.

"They're probably lying, mate," James said. "Riley's not like that and neither is Remus."

"She did seem annoyed with you though…" Peter said.

"Honestly, Pete?" James asked.

Sirius didn't say anything but he simply stood up and walked out of the common room. As he made his way down the stairs, Mary passed him.

"Sirius? Are you okay?"

"Not now," he growled and pushed by her.

"What on earth?"

Mary followed behind him, almost running to keep up with him. Sirius wished it was safe enough to turn into his animagus form so he didn't have to stalk in there. He walked up the steps into the library and saw Remus and Riley sitting at a table laughing. He felt a jealous twinge inside and walked up to them, pulling a seat over.

"Alright?" Sirius asked, looking at them both intensely.

"Yes, thank you," Riley replied curtly. "What brings you here?"

"Oh you know, people talking about this and that."

"Care to tell?"

"I think I'll leave you two alone…" Remus said, starting to draw away.

"Oh no, I'd like you to stay, Moony."

Mary ran in and walked over to them slowly.

"Were you really that pissed off at the Snivelly joke?" Sirius asked Riley. "So pissed off that you need to go about holding hands and Merlin knows what else with him?!" Sirius pointed to Remus.

"Sirius, that's a lie -"

Sirius cut Remus off.

"And you! You're one of my best friends! How could you?"

"Remus?" Mary asked.

Riley looked at Mary which made her even more confused. She was standing there, tears building up in her eyes.

"Mary, I have no idea what he is talking about, I promise," Remus told her and got up to go to her. She turned and walked out of the library. Remus looked at Sirius and Riley before he left after Mary.

"I don't know how on earth told you Remus and I were holding hands because we weren't!" Riley told him.

"Well then why would they say it?!"

"I don't know, Sirius! Plenty of girls want into you and probably think I'm not good enough because as you know, I'm just a murderer's daughter!" Riley was shaking with anger. "They'll say anything to make sure we aren't together!"

"I still don't understand why they -"

"I linked arms with him! Like I used to do with you and like I do with James! That was it! It was all friendly! I can't believe you would even think that I would cheat on you!"

Sirius soon realized she was right. He didn't even know what had came over him and how he could even accuse her of something like that.

"I'm sorry, Riles. I was just jealous and scared that I could of lost you…I don't know what came over me."

Riley bit her lip. "It's okay. I probably would of done the same. But Remus and Mary? Since when was that happening?" She laughed.

"They've just been seeing each other, its not official yet," Sirius smiled.

"I think it's cute," Riley smiled.

The end of this is horrible, I'm sorry.

Abbey x