thosetooweaktoseekit: I really want to play it out to the end either. I have big plans for this story! :) Everyday I wish she would write about the Marauders as well. That's why I decided to start this story anyway. :)

Guest: Thanks! I intend to keep writing, I hope I can. :)

I'm back with another chapter. I hope you enjoy!

NOTE: I realized I made a logical mistake and wanted to fix it but I'm new here, I didn't know you could replace a chapter, so I ended up deleting it. Sorry for the inconvenience. Won't happen again.

CHAPTER TWO: THE BET

1 SEPTEMBER 1977

Victoria Severe was walking the very narrow corridors of the Hogwarts Express along with a rather large group of people, all of whom had badges on their chest, trying to get to her compartment. The prefects' meeting was recently over and unlike the usual responsibility and slight boredom students felt after this meeting, there was a mixture of muffled laughter and confusion hanging over them. Majority of the crowd separated into their own compartments until Toria (She had a strong disliking towards her full name and ended up looking rather scary especially if called Vicky.) reached her destination. Following her, was James Potter. He turned around and gave Remus Lupin, who had been after James, a grumpy look mixed with amusement. James gestured towards the inside of the compartment they had just reached. Inside were Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. There was a mischievous gleam in Sirius' eyes that Remus came to know that only meant trouble. Remus smiled sympathetically towards James, knowing what was about to happen.

James opened the compartment door and saw Sirius bowing so low that his nose almost touched his toes.

'It is an honour to welcome your Highness into our humble compartment.'

'Would my lord fancy a foot rub perhaps?' Peter continued, also bowing.

Toria gave a loud laugh that eventually caused everyone else to break down. Even though James was trying his very best to look affronted, his body was rocking with very poorly suppressed laughter. Lily was the first one to manage to take control of herself.

'Move along, you.' she said poking James slightly. 'You're blocking the entrance.'

Lily went in followed by Toria and Remus. There were two more girls after them; Zoe Brooke and Georgiana Berry. They too went in and sat next to Lily who was sitting next to James.

'Can somebody please explain,' said Georgie, a small girl with pixie cut blonde hair, 'why on earth was James made to be the Head Boy?'

Sirius gave a bark of laughter.

'I know this rumour had been around for a while but I think, Dumbledore finally lost it,' said Toria finally settling on a seat next to Remus.

'Hey!' Lily protested.

'I'm afraid I'll have to agree with that,' Zoe giggled. She was a black girl with dark, curly, long hair and equally dark, large eyes. 'I mean how else can you explain Dumbledore choosing James instead of Remus? He was the prefect.'

'Well,' said Remus humbly, 'I wasn't exactly a great prefect. I can't say I ever managed to contain―'

'him.' Toria completed. 'And now he gets to be the Head Boy? You know, maybe we should make Peeves the Headmaster next year, why not?'

'I can't say that didn't hurt,' James looked at Toria with false anger.

Toria rolled her eyes.

'All right Potter,' she said looking at him with a smile. 'If you can give me one logical reason why you were chosen, then I promise I'll never say another word against you again.'

He opened and closed his mouth for a while silently.

'He is a Quidditch captain,' Lily said after a while, patting James' arm, 'that can indicate responsibility and discipline.'

There was even a louder burst of laughter than before that James also joined in.

'Responsibility and d-discipline!' Sirius howled.

'Wow, Lily,' said Remus, also laughing, 'I don't think anyone could've come up with two words more unrelated to Prongs.'

Lily turned scarlet and looked sharply at James who was wiping tears from his eyes.

'I'm trying to defend you, you know.'

James stopped laughing immediately and cleared his throat.

'Yes,' he said with a hoarse voice, 'Sorry.'

Sirius and Toria exchanged looks.

'What was that?' Sirius asked curiously pointing a finger at James.

'What was what?' He shrugged.

'Lily defended you,' said Toria staring first at Lily then James, 'and you apologized to her.'

'Let's not forget the fact that you happen to be sitting next to each other.' added Zoe, nodding.

'Yea,' Georgie joined in, 'when did you become so friendly anyway?'

'Are you suggesting we shouldn't be friendly?' Lily asked stiffly, avoiding others' gaze.

'No,' Remus added smiling, 'I think they're suggesting maybe you're a little bit too friendly.'

'Oh no,' said Sirius grinning, 'I think you're exactly the right amount of friendly.'

'Thanks, er, Padfoot,' James said, unsure where this might lead to.

'You're welcome mate. Because,' Sirius continued, looking at Toria wickedly, 'I'm suggesting that I've finally won the bet.'

'I'm not even sorry that I've lost Mr. Black.' Toria shook Sirius' hand, smiling.

'What bet?' Lily looked around, confused.

'Isn't it a little too early to celebrate?' Peter asked, avoiding Lily's question.

'I don't think so,' said Zoe looking at Lily frantically. 'Did you realize that Lily wasn't surprised at all when James walked into the meeting with a Head Boy badge stuck to his chest? I thought maybe she was trying to keep calm but now, I don't think so.'

'You're right,' Georgie gasped, 'You don't think James was the one―'

'Oh my God, he totally was!' Toria jumped up in excitement.

'Wait,' Remus looked at the enthusiastic faces of Toria, Georgie and Zoe, 'Now I'm confused. James was the one what?

Lily's face almost looked the same colour as her hair. Standing up, she tried to force Toria down to her seat.

'Nothing, don't listen to her.' she said placing one of her hands next to her mouth as if telling a secret, then continued silently 'You know these Slytherins' tendency to lie.'

'Fine,' Toria lifted her hands in defeat. 'say I'm lying. what about Zoe and Georgie? One of them is in Ravenclaw and the other's in Hufflepuff.'

'Can you explain what you're talking about?' Peter asked.

'Lily had a secret pen pal all summer,' Georgie laughed.

'She went into a corner everyday and written at least a two-page long letter to a mystery person.' Zoe avoided Lily's hand that was trying to cover her mouth. 'We've been trying to guess who it was all summer.'

'Hey, you told us you had been talking to April Livingstone!' Sirius objected, Remus nodded.

'I was!' James argued desperately.

'WHAT?' Lily let go of Zoe and turned to James piercingly.

'I-I'm,' James stammered then sighed deeply. 'Fine! We've been writing to each other all summer. Happy?'

Toria laughed triumphantly.

'Yes!' She turned to Lily who had her arms crossed in defeat. 'And as you can see dear Lily, us Slytherins don't always lie.'

'I know,' she muttered and sat back next to James, pouting.

'Why are you sulking?' asked Remus, grinning, 'That's great news!'

James and Lily smiled, looking at each other.

'Yea,' Sirius leaned back happily, 'I've been losing the bet to this one' - he gestured towards Toria - 'for two years now.'

'What is this bet anyway?' James asked.

'Black keeps betting me that you'll be together by the end of the year.'

'Hold on, you are together, aren't you?' Peter asked.

James looked at Lily for a while, then put his arm around her. Lily beamed, pink-cheeked.

'Aww,' Georgie smiled.

'Alright, it's official then.' Sirius said putting out a hand towards Toria. 'Pay up Severe.'

Toria rolled her eyes.

'Don't look so cocky, Black,' she took out a Galleon and handed it to Sirius, 'I'm only giving your money back to you.'

'Still,' he flipped the coin in his hand, 'victory is mine.'

'So,' said Lily addressing Toria, 'you've been betting against us, have you?'

'Vicky's in trouble.' Sirius laughed.

Toria winced.

'Call me that again and we'll see who's the one in trouble Black.'

'So scary,' said Sirius sarcastically.

Toria avoided him.

'And I've been betting against you only because I know how stubborn you are sweetheart.'

'She has a point,' James smiled. Lily slapped him jokingly on his leg.

'We should be going,' said Georgie standing up. 'We're supposed to patrol the corridors.'

'Right.' Remus, Toria and Zoe joined Georgie.

'You,' James pointed at Toria 'are not going anywhere Miss.'

'I've got prefect duties.'

'Well, I'm the Head Boy and I say that you don't.'

'Why?'

'Just sit down, I want to talk to you.'

'Alright,' she said as the others left the compartment.

'I heard,' He gave Lily a quick look while Toria sat down, 'that you've got yourself a Golden Snidget over the summer.'

Toria looked sharply at Lily.

'A secret Snidget.' She corrected.

'Sorry.' Lily mouthed.

'Anyway, I'd like one as well.' James said enthusiastically.

'You can't,' Toria replied sternly. 'Snidgets are not toys Potter.'

'How come you've got one, then?' Sirius asked.

'I have a licence. I had been trying to earn it since I turned 17.'

'I also happen to be 17, Toria, unless you realized.'

'Look James,' Toria spoke matter-of-factly. 'My father is a magizoologist who happens to be responsible for one of the few Snidget sanctuaries around the world and he breeds Hippogriffs and Thestrals for racing, a tradition that goes a long way back in our family. I learned everything I know from him and I have an outstanding O.W.L in Care of Magical Creatures. I am sure you understand that I have just a little bit of an edge over you in this particular matter.'

'Show-off,' Sirius muttered.

'Can't you teach him?' Lily asked loudly as Toria opened her mouth with a comeback.

Toria considered this idea for a while.

'I, um, I suppose,' she said finally looking at Lily's pleading eyes. 'But you'll have to come over to my place to get your Snidget.' She looked at James this time.

'Why can't you train me here?' asked James curiously.

'Oh, I will train you here, but these birds are very delicate creatures. I can't just send you one with owl post now, can I? Also, Snidgets have a hard time trusting people. You have to allow them to get used to your presence before you can take one with you. And even then I can't guarantee you'll be able to have a license.'

'Sounds like a lot of work,' said Peter.

'Well, it is.' Toria nodded smiling. 'You still want one?'

'Yea!' he said boldly. 'It would be awesome to have my own Golden Snidget.'

Lily suddenly gasped.

'You can come to Toria's over the Christmas holiday this year and we'll get to spend it together!' She squeezed James' arm enthusiastically.

'I guess I'll be spending Christmas alone with Mr. and Mrs. Potter then?' asked Sirius grumpily.

'Don't be ridiculous Sirius, you can come too,' said Lily then added unsurely, looking at Toria, 'He can, right?'

Sirius looked at Toria incredulously.

'Of course, you can Black,' Toria said sincerely.

'How about you Peter?' asked Lily as Remus Zoe and Georgie came back into the compartment.

'What about Peter?' asked Remus, sitting down next to him.

'We'll be at Toria's for Christmas this year apparently,' said James grinning.

Georgie and Zoe cheered.

'What?' Remus sounded alarmed. 'That may not be a great idea for me.'

James and Sirius looked at each other for a moment. Peter counted something using his fingers.

'Oh,' said James suddenly sounding serious. 'that's right. We cannot go anywhere this Christmas.'

'Why not?' Georgie looked confused.

'We have plans.' said Sirius simply.

'Damn. I really wanted that Snidget.'

'They know about the Golden Snidget?' asked Zoe.

'Lily told James,' Toria explained.

They all stared outside the window for a while silently. Night had started to fall as stars blinked now and then on the sky. They must have been getting close.

'You should go,' said Remus. 'I'll stay.'

'I'll stay with Remus,' said Peter. 'My parents don't allow me to spend Christmas apart from at Hogwarts or at home anyway.'

'No,' said James sternly. 'We're not going without you.'

'Why can't you come Remus?' insisted Georgie.

Toria noticed Lily had been unusually silent recently.

'You know why,' said Toria. 'Don't you Lily?'

'Yes,' she said thoughtfully. 'It wouldn't be a problem Remus,' she added kindly.

Remus shook his head.

'It's too dangerous.'

'You can trust them,' Lily assured looking straight in Remus' eyes. 'I didn't tell them because you asked me not to but believe me, you have nothing to be afraid of. I know them, you know them.'

Remus looked at James, Sirius and Peter in turn, asking for support.

'It's your decision mate,' said Sirius patting him on the shoulder.

James nodded approvingly.

Silent fell again as Remus rubbed his chin nervously. After what seemed like forever, he took a deep breath.

'Okay,' he murmured, looking intently in their eyes. 'I'll tell you.'

He cleared his throat.

'I-I am a lycanthrope.'

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