I really enjoyed writing this chapter... If I can write a quick chapter 10, you might get it tonight... might...

Chapter 9:

You Can't, I Can't, We Can't

They had gone out into the forest the next night as well but fortunately hadn't seen anyone, much to James' relief. The following morning, they were all extremely tired. Sirius frowned when he thought about his day; he had Herbology first thing, followed by two hours of Defence, followed by Lunch, followed by an hour of Transfiguration. "Can we have a nap after Transfiguration?" he asked.

James laughed; somehow he managed to look much more awake than either Sirius or Peter. Peter frowned, "it's ok for you… I've got bloody Double Divination after Transfiguration."

"Well you haven't got two hours of Defence," Sirius snapped back.

"Alright guys," James intervened, "Padfoot, we can't have a nap anyway…"

"Why?"

"We've got homework to do," James replied seriously.

"As if," Sirius chuckled, "you can't be serious!"

"No… you are," James grinned, "but we do have Herbology homework due for tomorrow."

"Bloody hell," Sirius moaned.

The day went incredibly slowly for the tired marauders. James was so tired that he couldn't wait for his hour with Lily to be over, as much as he was enjoying her company, their potion was hurting his head. When they returned to the common room, they were both delighted to see that Remus had returned, "Alright mate?" James asked.

Remus nodded but didn't say a word. He couldn't even look at Lily. Luckily Lily quickly excused herself so that she could go to bed. James wished her goodnight just as she was turning away, causing her to turn back. She glanced into his eyes and instantly recognised them. She was instantly taken aback by their brightness; they were that same marshy, hazel colour that she had seen just last night. She smiled and forced herself to turn away again, taking her eyes away from his.

When the girls were gone, Remus turned to the other marauders, "never again." He then rushed up the stairs without waiting for a response.

Over the next few days, life in the castle began to fall back into its usual pattern. The sixth years developed something of a routine. They would eat together for meals in the Great Hall, just like every year before but something had changed. Peter often didn't speak, except when he was spoken to directly, which rarely happened, except when Lily or Remus noticed that he looked sad or James and Sirius made a joke at his expense. During lessons things were different too, Lily and Remus were still quite good friends and sat together Ancient Runes and Arithmancy, where they were joined by Alice and Frank. In Defence, the Gryffindors took over the front row, all sitting together. Their Professor preferred them to sit boy girl so James often ended up sitting between Lily and Alice or Lily and Marlene. In Potions they were expected to sit with their project partner so Lily and James usually sat with Sirius and Marlene whilst Remus and Kate sat with Frank and Alice. Lily was the only girl from their friendship group that was taking Herbology so she would sit with the marauders, often next to James, much to his delight. Charms was the only lesson where they split up into girls and boys. The girls sat on the row in front of the boys. Things were really difficult for Peter in Transfiguration because Professor McGonagall had assigned seating at the beginning of the year and so he had had to take the empty place on the front row whilst all of his friends sat on the back row. He would often look around enviously, wishing he were with them. He had divination on his own and he didn't sit with the girls in care of magical creatures because he was very shy around them. Kate and Marlene had both tried to make conversation to no avail.

Midway through their fourth week a new notice went up in the common room. Sirius bounded over to the others at breakfast, "did you hear?"

"Hear what Padfoot?" James asked, before taking a gulp of orange juice.

"Hogsmeade – in a weeks time!" Sirius told them all excitably.

"Fantastic," Remus grinned, "I've been dying to go shopping for a new book."

"Alright Moony," Sirius laughed, "I was thinking more along the lines of Zonkos but whatever floats your boat." Sirius turned his attention to Marlene, "Mars, fancy going with me? A bit of shopping, Three Broomsticks for lunch…"

"Not Madam Puddifoot's?" Marlene grinned.

"Hell no!" Sirius faked a feint.

"Good," Marlene smiled, "I'd love to."

"Just make sure you are back in time for practice," James told them.

"Practice? You got to be joking! On a Hogsmeade weekend?" Alice asked.

"Yep our first match of the season will be the weekend after that," James explained.

"Yeah but Prongs it's against Hufflepuff!" Sirius laughed.

"And a bunch of your ex-girlfriends… who still hate your guts if I remember rightly…" James replied.

"Yeah… didn't one of them punch you in the eye when we beat them last year?" Marlene asked.

"It was your fault," Sirius teased Marlene. "That was Louise… she saw us kissing… awkward."

The entire group burst out laughing at Sirius' remark.

Marlene and Kate sat together at the back of the Care of Magical Creatures classroom. Professor Kettleburn was talking excitably about Horklumps. "I'm going to ask him to Hogsmeade," Kate whispered.

"Lupin?" Marlene questioned.

"Yeah! Who else?" Kate grinned.

"Go for it! You might as well… you clearly like him and he's totally into you."

You think?" Kate smiled.

"Without a doubt," Marlene grinned.

"Do you think he'll say yes?"

"Why wouldn't he?" Marlene asked Kate.

"Well he doesn't really date does he?"

"Um… I don't really know why he doesn't… but I know he likes you!"

Later that night, Remus and Kate worked on their Potions project together. When they had finished, they returned their potion to its place next to the other sixth year potions and went to leave the classroom, "Rem, before we go, can I have a word with you?"

"Sure," Remus smiled, "what's up?"

"I… Hogsmeade… do you want to go with me?"

"Did Lily get asked out by Lorinc?" Remus asked, thinking that she just wanted to go as friends.

"I don't think so… I don't know… but I want to go with you… I…"

"Well of course we can go together," Remus grinned, "you're a great friend."

"I don't… I don't want to go as friends…" she almost whispered.

"I… oh…" Remus was taken aback.

"I like you, I have for ages now," Kate told him.

"You can't," Remus frowned.

"I do!"

"You can't… I can't…" Remus took a deep breath, "we can't." He went to leave the classroom but she called him back with one word, "Why?"

He didn't look at her, he didn't even turn around, "you'd hate me if I told you."

Please review...