James

James…James, wake up…

I drifted slowly towards the boat.

"Just five more minutes," I said, or maybe I just imagined it.

What should we do?

I dunno, dunk him in water…

He'd get mad…

So? Minnie'd get madder…

The two voices drifted serenely through my mind. They sounded familiar—as if I knew them from a far and distant place.

I'm telling you, mate, we're going to be late.

Ok, fine...but you have to do it.

I cheered internally for the water-dunking boy. Sounded like my kind of person.

On three, okay? One…Two…Three!

My ship sunk with a splash, and I emerged from my dream with a splutter.

"Merlin, James, you snore like nobody's business," remarked an unruffled Sirius leaning against my bedpost.

"Are. You. Serious?!" I yelled, glaring at Remus who had just sheepishly emerged from his bed.

"No, I am. He's Remus," Sirius winked at me and it took me a moment to process this, but when I did I smacked him with my soaked pillow.

"You prat!" a small chuckle from the corner of the room startled me, and I turned to the intruder with a glare. "Who are you and what are you doing in our room?"

The boy squeaked, instantly cowed. "P-P-Peter P-P-Pettigrew. I'm a G-G-Gryffindor."

"Oh," I gave him a comradely smile, and he seemed appeased. "Let's go down to breakfast and leave those two here."

Peter looked awed, before he hopped up out of his bed excitedly. "Let's go!"

"Um, Peter?" I asked, feeling amused. "How about you put on your robes first, don't you think, mate? You'll make a better impression on the ladies that way."

Peter looked down at his bare chest and pajama-clad legs before blushing and running back into our room with a squeak.

I just laughed.

***

Fifteen minutes and a water fight later, Remus, Peter, Sirius and I walked confidently into the Great Hall. My eyes scanned the Gryffindor table, and my stomach felt a thrill when I spotted a head of red hair sitting at the end.

Wait, did I say red hair? I meant blond hair. Lizzie Donnels sat next to Evans, eating daintily and laughing with Patil.

"Who is she?" Sirius' eyes reached the same spot as mine. I reacted quickly, thinking he meant my girl, but I relaxed when I saw him eye Patil.

"Aliya Patil, remember?" I said amusedly. "Do I sense love in the air?"

"Not love, Jamsie…but most definitely like, and I like what I see."

Remus blushed at Sirius' statement, as did Peter, but I only laughed in agreement.

"I like the blond…Lizzie." I pointed out the new OOMA (Object Of My Affection) to Sirius, and he whistled appreciatively as we started to walk over to them.

"I thought you liked Lily?" asked Remus. I did not miss the usage of her first name, nor the slight blush that accompanied it.

"Nah, I just wondered if she liked me," the lie rolled off my tongue easily and I beamed inwardly. I was most definitely over Evans. She was just a passing fancy, after all. "But it seems as though you do."

Remus' blush and clearing of the throat was all the answer I needed. I turned to Peter and grinned, noticing his slightly glazed expression as he looked at Winters.

"I know who Peter likes," I said slyly. He gave a small squeak (really, was this boy trying to imitate a rat? That or he's twitchy) and jumped. "Alice Winters."

Sirius grinned. "Well, mates, I said we must have a bet. Whoever can secure a date with their lady love before, said…"

"Fourth year, so we'll have all of third year and Hogsmeade to work with," I butted in. Sirius looks disappointed that he would have to wait that long before dating Aliya, but I just shrugged. Aliya was a tougher cookie then she looked, I could tell by the way she argued with Sirius last night.

"Ok, by Fourth Year, and whoever's first before then gets twenty galleons, and if you're after and were first, you get fifteen. If you're the second, fifteen before fourth year and ten after, and so on."

Sirius was actually quite serious (no pun intended) about this, and by the looks of it, Remus was too.

"And whoever get's a kiss first gets ten galleons extra, no matter when." Remus added, blushing furiously at the thought of kissing.

"And whoever gets—" Sirius was about to said something worse, judging by the smirk on his face, but we'd reached the girls by then so he had to stop.

Thank Merlin for small favors.

••••••

Lily

I blearily opened my eyes at the beeping; well, blaring of my new alarm clock. The other four girls were beginning to stir, only seconds behind me.

"Lily," whined Aliya. "Shut the bloody thing off! Jus' five more minutes, 'Kay?"

"Aliya!" I whispered. "Get up!"

When Aliya refuses to answer I rolled my eyes, looked pleadingly at Lizzie (who was disappearing into the showers) before I decided to leave her.

"Aliya," tried Alice, who was the alertest of us all. "Wake up. C'mon…please? Sirius will be there!"

Lizzie and I exchanged looks of incredulity. Aliya and Sirius? Nah…I tried to picture them together, and to my everlasting horror, I realized I could.

It was disturbing. Pretty, clever, sarcastic Aliya and rebellious, mischievous Sirius? I thought back to when they had been arguing last night, and I realized with a dawning horror that they did like each other!

Oh, god.

Meanwhile, Aliya was blushing furiously and clutching her pillow to her face. "Guys!" she said half-heartedly. "Stop!"

"Love ya too!" Lizzie drawled in an American accent, gathering her shower things and rushing to the bathroom. I was quick on her heels, claiming the second shower, and Alice, relived, claims the last.

I set my clothes aside and turn on the water, but not before I hear a disgruntled, "I hate you all!" from the still-blushing girl outside.

****

Later, after we all showered and changed into our robes, the four of us trooped into the Great Hall. The Gryffindor table was mostly empty, and we claimed four chairs at the very end, near to the staff table.

All of the platters were empty, but as we complained to each other about how starved we were, the doors swung open and Dumbledore entered grandly. He gave a twinkly-eyed smile at the four of us and swooped down into his seat. Dumbledore then gave a little snap with his fingers, and as if on schedule, the platters suddenly appeared with food.

Delicious.

Lizzie and Alice laughed at our awed expressions, the latter explaining how, after much careful study and questions answered by the Headmaster when she was a child, her mum did the same thing at home.

We had just gotten into our meal when the door swung open and They walked in. Potter was scanning the table, before his eyes landed on Lizzie and I. I couldn't tell who he was looking at (I wasn't conceited enough to think it would be me), but I was glad when Sirius stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes landing on Aliya.

I could tell he was asking something like, "Who is she?" thanks to the awestruck look on his face. I nudged Liz, who pokes Alice, who giggles.

"Hey, Lils, Alice…" Lizzie said thoughtfully. I mouthed 'Lils?' at her, but she waved it off. "If I tell you who I like, will you tell me who you fancy? Out of those four."

I agreed, only to see whom she fancied. Liz looked at me apologetically before whispering, "James Potter."

I checked my emotions. Nope, there was no confusing rush of feelings, no flutter in my stomach. I grinned, and she looks relieved.

"Good, for a second there I though you liked him," she said, obviously happy that there was no competition, even though I certainly wasn't competition. "So? You?"

"I like…Remus, I think." I said thoughtfully. Remus was cute, in an innocent sort of way, and was nice and smart and kind.

"Out of those four, I'd said…none!" Alice said cheerfully.

"Yeah, there's no one there for you," Aliya snorted, obviously sore about Alice's previous jibe. "Frank Longbottom is the one for you."

"Is not!" Alice was obviously embarrassed.

"Is too," Aliya wrinkled her nose. "Don't deny it."

"While this is all very interesting," Lizzie broke in, "I have a proposition for you all. I propose…a bet." She giggled, looking around in a self-satisfied manner.

"A bet?" I said dubiously, wrinkling my nose much like Aliya did.

"What sort of bet?" Alice was eager to get the attention off her and Frank.

"I'm in," announced Aliya, looking over my shoulder at what I presumed to be Sirius.

"A bet to see who can—with the help of their fellow Gryffin-sisters—get their man to ask her out the earliest!"

Silence reigned in the halls before I leaned forward. "So, to see whether I can get Remus to ask me out before you get James to do the same…and for Aliya to get Sirius and Alice to get Frank?"

"Yes!" Lizzie was very pleased with her plan. "Except," she frowned thoughtfully, glancing over at Frank. "I think Alice should get an exception, because Frank's three years older."

"Agreed," I said, rolling my eyes at her enthusiasm.

"So, twenty galleons to the winner, sixteen for the second place, twelve for the third and four for the loser?" Aliya proposed, keeping the sums in multiples of four.

"Yeah, but that would mean each of us would have to pay, oh, five plus four, plus three, plus one," mused Alice. "Each of us would have to pay thirteen galleons!"

"Just put aside a galleon or two every month. It's not like we're going to get the guys anytime soon. We have to make sure they notice us, AND be on top of every class!" I said decisively, and they all agreed (albeit a little less enthusiastically at the "be on top of every class" part).

Just then the afore-mentioned boys (minus Frank and plus another) reached us.

Thankfully, before they could say anything, McGonagall came with our schedules.

"Miss Evans," she said with an air of disproval. I got the feeling that she was still rather resentful that we had had the nerve to miss the Sorting and still get sorted into her house. "Miss Donnels, Miss Winters, Miss Patil."

She handed us each a piece of paper, and I scanned it seeing that our first class is Transfiguration with McGonagall. Perfect, no?

"Mr. Black, Mr. Potter, Mr. Lupin and Mr. Pettigrew," she concluded, handing the boys their schedules. I leaned over and peeked at Remus' schedule since he was sitting next to me, and saw that their first class—and entire schedule—is the same as ours.

Great.

••••••••

James

Transfiguration. I had always longed to learn Transfiguration. My dad was an expert at it, and could turn a piece of straw into a toy broom. He was even an animagus, which is a wizard that could turn himself into something else. He turned into a lion, which was fitting, seeing as he was a Gryffindor.

We walked into 'Old Minnie's' classroom (as Sirius named it; how he found out McGonagall's first name, Minerva, was beyond me) and sat behind the OOOA (Objects Of Our Affections).

We had barely exchanged more then a few words at breakfast, mostly words like, "Good morning," and, "Eat the eggs, they're good." Oh, and there was a, "What's Transfiguration?" and I told Lizzie all about it.

That was about it. After last night, it seemed as though nobody really knew what to say. It was as if last night never happened, but they still heavily disliked us.

Typical girls.

"Welcome to the art of Transfiguration. By the time you leave me (hopefully it'll be in seventh year, if you work hard enough), you can aspire to do magic like this," Professor McGonagall's voice came out of nowhere, and as we watched, awed, as a cat leaped up onto her desk. Since you could not talk while you were in your animagus form, I betted she just changed.

I was right; McGonagall changes back to her prim self with a slight blurring of color, as were common in practiced animagi. The students clapped in awe.

"Or," continued the teacher, "This." She waved her wand at her desk and promptly turned it into a pig.

Unfortunately, we were only given toothpicks to work with…after sleeping through most of her lecture I was the first one to change it into a needle. Sirius was close behind, and Evans (ugh) was third.

Professor McGonagall was obviously flustered. I could tell that on normal occasions, if they're talented, there was one student that could make it all pointy and shining. To have three students master it, well, she was evidently impressed.

Evans barely got it though…McGonagall hardly had time to award ten points to each of us and tell us the homework before the bell rang.

"I'm thinking I like Transfiguration," whispered Sirius, a horrified look on his face. "Imagine me liking a class!"

I laughed and we head off to Charms, Remus and Peter trailing behind.

••••

"The nerve of them!" I ranted to Alice on the way to Charms. "Sleeping through the entire lesson and still managing to get it first!"

"I heard James' dad is brilliant at Transfiguration," Lizzie offered. "He probably taught James a thing or two."

"And Sirius listened, I could tell!" protested Aliya, but I waved it off.

"And you were third!" Alice placated me.

"I'll just be first in Charms," I said as we walked though the door.

"I'm sure you will," said Aliya, looking amused. I glared at her and she laughed.

Typical Aliya.

"Mr. Black!" squeaked an absolutely tiny wizard as he hopped onto his chair. A few books slide off it and he seemed to shrink an inch. I cracked a smile.

"Here," Black said as he dumped his books by the floor and took a seat in the back of the room.

"Miss Donnels!" he called and Liz answered. We got through the list quickly, and when he was done he went over the movements for a spell to lift things off the ground. The professor, whose name I learned was Professor Flitwick, explained the fundamentals of magic and Charms, and it was very interesting.

"Now repeat after me, boys and girls! A Swish and Flick! Swish and Flick! Wingardium Leviosa!"

We repeat it and he began to Levitate feathers in front of us using the spell.

I tried it. "Wingardium Leviosa!" I shouted, making my "gar" and "o" very long. The feather spiraled towards the ceiling on my first try, and Flitwick nearly fell off his seat in excitement.

"Excellent, Miss Evans!"

I shot a triumphant look to my friends and watched as Potter and Black try, try, and try again…and fail. Revenge was sweet.

***

Potions was our next class after lunch, and then we had Flying Class. I did not fly. Nope, never have and I never will. I was afraid of heights, a bit; so flying was not up my alley…literally.

But, I could see Sev during Potions and Flying, so I'd pretend to enjoy it, for his sake.

"Welcome to Potions!" an extremely fat man waddled out from behind his desk. "I'm Professor Slughorn, president of the Slug Club. Today we'll be brewing the simplest potion in your books. Please turn to page four, the Shrinking Solution. Now, you'll need four ounces of crushed lacewings, three ounces of shredded unicorn horn…"

"Sev!" I whispered, spotting him. As my friends followed me we weaved our way through the dungeon and sit down near Sev. He smiled at me and, with a concentrated look, Levitated a piece of paper near me.

'Hello, Lily.' The paper read. I scribbled back, 'Nice Charms' and Levitated it back to him.

I started to assemble my potion, grinning when it turned the exact shade of blue specified in the book. This was like Muggle Chemistry, which my science teachers had told us about and had let us experiment with.

"Stir counter-clockwise five times before letting boil for precisely ten minutes," The book read. I put the ladle in to stir it when the paper flied back in front of my face.

'Stir clockwise, not counter. My Mum taught me to make this potion and the book's wrong. You'd have to repeatedly stir until it turned purple.'

'Thanks, Sev. Can I tell my friends: Alice, the brunette, Lizzie, the blond, and Aliya, the dark-haired one?'

I Levitated it back to him, he looked at Alice, Lizzie and Aliya and nodded, and I did what he instructed. To my surprise, it worked! I set a timer for ten minutes and turned to help my friends.

"Alice!" I whispered, and she looked up. "Turn clockwise, not counterclockwise. Trust me."

Alice looked dubious, but she agreed. I in turn helped Lizzie and Aliya, and we worked in peace…until Sev suddenly jumped up, shouting in pain and outrage. I immediately turned to the back of the dungeon and saw Potter's shoulders shaking in laughter.

I growled under my breath. He had gone too far.

•••••••••••••••••

James

Slughorn blabbed on and on about Shrinking Solutions, and I tuned him out as I stared at Lizzie and Evans.

Lily is looking really pretty today, my treacherous brain commented.

She does, I agreed, not really listening to myself. (No, I was not crazy). Wait…What?

I did NOT just think Evans was looking pretty! Oh, no. Nonononono.

Look at her; her vibrant red hair, her beautiful green eyes that sparkle with laughter…wheedled my brain.

I waslooking at Lizzie! I protested feebly.

Admit it!

But, Remus claimed her.

But, you asked her out by the lake, which should make her yours.

But, I don't want her. I had a very evil brain.

I saw Lily levitate a scrap of parchment, and it dropped on that greasy haired git that was with us at the lake, the one that Lily kissed. My stomach churned and my heart got all cold and evil-ish. I had to stop this, I decided. Not because it was Lily, er, Evans and Snape. No, because it was a respectable Gryffindor and a slimy Slytherin.

That was it.

I nudged Sirius and pointed at him. He gave me a 'What the hell are you on about' look and I opened my school bag and showed him a firework I had bought from Zonko's. A look of realization dawned over his face. He mouthed, who?

I pointed at what's-his-name, Snake or Snape or something like that. Sirius thought for a minute. "Isn't he the one who kissed—"

I cut him off. "Well, yes, but he's a snake! A slimy, sneaky snake!"

Sirius laughed bitterly, and I realized I probably shouldn't have said that.

"Sorry—" I started to apologize but he held up three fingers and mouthed, On three. I nodded, not entirely sure he wasn't mad at me.

We did a silent countdown and launched the ignited firework into Snape's cauldron. There was a wonderful cry of pain. I looked at Lizzie, who was sitting next to Evans, she was laughing, but I don't think I've ever seen anyone look as pissed as Lily did.

Oh, bugger.

••••

Lily

I quietly seethed in my bed. Of all of things to do! Sev was in the hospital wing, and would have to stay there for the night because he had some allergic reaction. Why would Potter do such a cruel thing? Slughorn had found a burned out firework it the bottom of Sev's cauldron, but Potter and Black said they had no idea (yeah, right) how it got there! As if!

Slughorn believed him, too. Potter makes me so mad sometimes! It was our first day of classes and he ruined it!

I made a half-strangled cry of rage and Aliya, in the next bed, rolled her eyes.

"C'mon, Lils," she said sleepily. "Leave it alone."

"Aliya!" I protested.

"Just go to sleep, Lily!" Lizzie's tone booked no argument and, after a few glares at me "best friends", I rolled over and closed my eyes. It would be a long night.

*****

Friday, September 28th, 1971

Finally.

It is finally the end of my very first month at Hogwarts. A whole month of blindly trying to find our way to classes, desperately staying up late to write foots of homework, and finally learning to use a quill.

It's finally the weekend and I am exhausted. My owl, Artemis, is swooping around outside. She's beautiful; a fierce, loyal snowy owl.

Potter and Black have left us—and Sev—alone. I know I should be thankful for their silence, but it feels like the calm before the storm.

I don't like it. I had shouted something terrible at Potter the day the idiots launched a firework into his cauldron, all without getting caught, but after that I had avoided Sev in embarrassment. I needed time to think. He didn't know I had shouted something along the lines of, "Why on Earth would you hurt poor Sev? He never did anything to you! Curse my boy—Sev one more time and I will hunt you down!"

Yes, I had almost called Sev my boyfriend. The problem was…I didn't like him that way, not at all.

"Hey! You! Yes, you. Opened the door, will you?" A loud voice floated up to us. Yawning and stretching, I decided to see what all the commotion was about. As I sleepily walked down the stairs I saw a curious sight: pajama-clad Potter crouched over an unconscious Remus while a half dressed Black leaning out of the window, shouting bloody murder and Levitating pieces of rubbish out of the window.

What?

"Potter! Black! What on Earth is going on here?" I stood with my hand on hips, tapping one foot crossly. "If you hurt Remus…"

"Jeez, Lily," Potter said, his back towards me. He turned around crossly, saw me, and his mouth dropped opened. Lily? Why was he calling me Lily?

It was then that I realized I was wearing a skimpy tank top and short shorts. Oh, god.

Potter's eyes raked over me, and I felt very self-conscious. "Potter!" I snapped. "Focus! What. Did. You. DO"

"I didn't do nothing!" Potter held up his hands to defend himself.

I rolled my eyes at his grammar. "Exactly my point!"

Potter looked confused and I groaned at his stupidity.

"Black!" I turned on him next. "What are you doing? It's the weekend, and it's seven o'clock! Why are you so loud?"

Black turned around and stared at me with appreciation. "Well hello."

I rolled my eyes. "Answer me, Black, or I will go get Professor McGonagall!"

"Please do," Black answered smartly before turning back to the window. "Oi! Professor McGonagall! Remus is sick!"

"She can't hear you, you fool!" I said, rolling my eyes again, Really, how stupid could those boys be? Seriously! "I am going to said this one more time. What. Happened. To. Remus?!"

"Nothing, I swear! I got up to go to the loo, and Remus was there, and he looked horrible; all pale and sick, and he turned around, saw me, and fainted! I didn't do anything!"

"There's a smarter way to get Professor McGonagall," I said. I dashed back upstairs, grabbed my owls cage, a small whistle and her treats.

"What…?" Potter said, sitting down dejectedly.

I blew on the whistle while shaking around her treats, and Artemis swooped in. "Hey, girl," I cooed. "Can you take a message to Professor McGonagall?"

Artemis hooted faithfully.

"Good girl," I walked to the desk in the corner of the room and grabbed some parchment and a quill.

Professor McGonagall,

I'm terribly sorry to be disturbing you so early in the morning, and on a weekend at that, but I'm afraid that Remus Lupin is ill.

James Potter and Sirius Black were trying to get your attention, but they got the attention of my dorm instead.

According to Potter, Remus was in the loo when Potter came in, and he looked pale, weak, and sickly. He fainted when Potter entered.

We cannot get Remus to the Hospital Wing without assistance, and if you could help we would be very grateful.

Sincerely,

Lily Evans

I looked over my letter, nodded in satisfaction, and was about to give it to Artemis when Potter snatched it out of my hand.

••••

James

I cannot believe it's been a month! A month of sleeping through classes, copying Remus' notes, and trying to charm our ladies.

Sirius and I had been quiet lately. We hadn't wanted to give Aliya and Lizzie, respectively, reasons to hate us. Unfortunately, they just seemed wary. After the way Evans had shouted at me after our little stunt in Potions on the first day of classes, I'd wanted to at least prank her, but Remus wouldn't hear of it.

Evans had been avoiding me and Snape; something which I'd found very confusing. I didn't understand her: did she like him or not? If she fancied him, why was she avoiding him? Could she fancy someone else? Who?

"Okay, mate, I have a plan," Sirius came rushing down to where I was sitting on a red and gold couch with Remus at my feet.

Yes, you heard me right; it was bloody seven in the morning and I was a) awake, and b) trying to awaken Remus.

You see, I had gone to the loo when I'd encountered my friend, who had looked awful. All pale and sickly, and the moment he turned around to stare at me, he fainted dead away.

I had Wingardium Leviosa'd him down, and Sirius was trying to find Professor McGonagall.

"What in Merlin's name?" A boy around fourteen walked in to the Common Room and stared at us in shock. "Is this a prank?"

"No!" I said, frustrated. "It is not a prank! Can you get McGonagall?"

He looked at us, considering, when the corners of his mouth twitched, "Ohhhh. I get it. You're going to prank McGonagall! Smart! Well, I won't get in your way."

Laughing, the prat started to walk, sniggering, out the door.

"Hey! You! Yes, you. Opened the door, will you?" a desperate Sirius shouted.

"The idiot!" I fumed when the portrait door swung shut behind him. The Fat Lady wasn't in her frame, so the door wouldn't stay opened.

"You know, James…I heard that McGonagall's quarters are above Gryffindor Tower," Sirius mused.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, like we can throw stones at her window, or something," I said sarcastically. Sirius actually considered it and I threw up my hands. "I was kidding. A joke! Not for real—Sirius!"

Sirius had pointed his wand to the ashes in the fireplace and, smirking, Levitated it out. He pointed his wand out of the window and started to holler for McGonagall, making the ashes hit the window above us.

I just groaned at my friend and crouched over Remus, trying to awaken him.

"Potter! Black! What on Earth is going on here?" A sharp voice rang out. I silently moaned. Evans. How much am I supposed to take? "If you hurt Remus…" Evans continued.

As if! I would never hurt Remus! Also, what was up with Evans calling Sirius Black, me Potter, and Remus Remus? Really, talk about unfair.

"Jeez, Lily," I said, annoyed, before I turned around.

As soon as I saw her, my mouth dropped opened. She looked amazing. Her red hair was loose and cascading in curls down her back. Her green eyes flashed and she was wearing…Oh, Merlin. I gulped, my eyes raking down her slim frame like some kind of stalker. She was wearing a pale green tank top that hugged her body. It was to small…probably old; seeing as when she crossed her arms it rose slightly, revealing a strip of pale, creamy skin. Her shorts barely covered anything, making her legs look long and slim.

I closed my eyes briefly, trying to think of anything else. McGonagall and Slughorn. Ewww, Dumbledore and McGonagall. Lily and—Potter! Focus!

I realized belatedly that Lil—Evans, echoed my last two words.

"What. Did. You. Do?!" Evans asked, and i held up my hands defensively.

"I didn't do nothing!" I protested, and L-Evans rolled her eyes.

"Exactly my point!"

She turned and accused Sirius as well, who just stared at her and answered her smartly.

Take that, Evans.

! "I am going to said this one more time. What. Happened. To. Remus?!" Lily practically screamed, and I defended myself crossly, telling her exactly what happened.

Of course, Lily had to be the "smart" and "sensible" one, getting her owl to take a letter to McGonagall.

Wait a minute…I thought, snatching her letter out of her hand. After she had sold me out to Dumbledore, how would I know if she would write something like, Professor McGonagall. James Potter and Sirius Black made Remus Lupin faint, and they caused a disturbance.

I read over the letter, eyes widening. Okay, so it wasn't so bad. Still…

"Give me the quill," I said, snatching it from Lily. I turned the parchment over, and wrote my own note. I couldn't let her get away with seeming so goody-goody. She was such a teacher's pet, and I wanted McGonagall to think it wasn't my fault.

Professor McGonagall,

Today I woke up to go to the loo, and Remus Lupin was already standing there. When I said hello, he turned around and fainted.

I got him down to the Common Room, but I can't get him to the Hospital Room. Sirius Black tried to get your attention, but Evans came instead. If you could get Remus to the Hospital Wing it'd be great!

Thanks a ton, Professor.

James Potter.

I looked at my letter and grinned in satisfaction. Perfect.

"You can't send that!" Evans screeched.

"Watch me," I said, before tying in swiftly to the owl's leg. The owl fluttered off at once.

**********

Barely five minutes later, an annoyed McGonagall met us in the Common Room.

"Oh, dear." She said upon encountering Remus. She stopped, a look of recognition coming across her face. "I see."

McGonagall nodded at us, and Levitated Remus up and out the door.

"Five points to Gryffindor, each Mr. Potter, Miss Evans, and Mr. Black, for smart thinking." Sirius and I exchanged gleeful grinned, before McGonagall continued. "Five points from Gryffindor, Mr. Black, for complete lack of decorum. Good day."

With that, the stern professor and Remus exited the room.

"WHAT?" Sirius exploded once she left. "What in Merlin's name is decorum?"

To my surprise, Evans cracked a smile. I grinned in accomplishment. Looks like that stick shoved up her you-know-where just slid out an inch.

*****

October 27, 1971

I couldn't wait for Halloween! Sirius, Peter, Remus and I had the best prank ever! It would be a Halloween to remember, I was sure of it.

Speaking of Remus…where was he, anyway? After his little fainting episode a month ago, he'd been all distant and moody. He was acting like…like a girl!

Sirius had managed to pull him out of his funk by getting some first year Hufflepuff to take a bunch of pictures of Lily and Remus, and Sirius had pasted them all around our room. Remus had blushed, but cheered up considerably, especially when the picture Lily would wave and smile at him.

Of course, I couldn't let such a good idea go to waste, so I had gotten pictures of Lizzie and I—admittedly, there were few, but picture Lizzie would giggle and blush when I was in the room.

So, Sirius had gotten Aliya to pose with him (well, he had paid the first year to tail them one day), and for Peter, well, Peter had one picture of him and Alice together.

Still.

"Oi! James! Where's Remus?" Sirius called, walking into our room. "The potion's missing!"

"The B one?" I asked, horrified. This one had taken us an entire month to brew, and we had just finished it yesterday.

"Relax, Sirius, I have it," Remus walked into the room with Peter in tow. He looked pale again, but I brushed it off. "Look—my Mum's sick, okay? I need to go home for a few days."

"A few DAYS?" Sirius squawked. "But—we need you!"

"I'll be back on Halloween, don't worry," Remus said nervously, or perhaps I was just imagining it. I shot Sirius a glare. Could he not see that the boy's mum was sick, and that he was worried?

"It's fine, Remus," I said reassuringly. I grinned at him and pointed my wand at a rose lying on our floor (Sirius had tried to give it to Aliya, but she refused), and summoned it over to us. "Tell her that we hope she gets better soon."

"Thanks, James," Remus choked out, sounding strangled. I exchanged a look with Sirius that plainly said, Something's up, before Remus ran out of the room, scooping up his bag.

"Weird, mate. Just weird," Sirius said under his breath, shaking his head slowly.

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A/N: I hope you all like this one! Nothing really of importance…I suppose. James and Lily are being rather angsty, and they're only eleven!

For those of you who say that they are being to mature, well, think back to when you were eleven. I thought I was so grown up, having a crush on a boy, and such.

I get that Lily's being a bit competitive in this chapter, and that she didn't try to turn James in, but I think she wanted to forget about her confusing feelings about James/Snape.

I'm sorry if the scene with James and Lily, when Remus fainted, seems a little too mature. I don't think James understood what he was feeling; he just felt amazed. The idea of him thinking Lily's tank top is old, since it's short, came from my three year old cousin. He saw a girl wearing a tank top that showed her stomach and said it must be old because it was too small. I thought it was hilarious!

Next chapter: Remus' mum is 'sick' some more, Sirius learns what "Detention!" means, and Halloween brings many surprises...

Thanks to my beta, siriuslydangerous, who transferred this monstrosity (5551 words) into the right tense!

Thanks to my SOLE reviewer, Harry Potter Lover! Really, guys, I have a lot of hits and only what—7 reviews? That's not very encouraging! The next chapter is nearly done already, but I will not post it unless I get at least 5 reviews. C'mon, I know at least five of you are reading this…please?

For all you writers out there…remember that delightful feeling when you posted your first story, and someone likes it enough to give a review? That feeling of accomplishment when someone take the time to say "Hey, nice story"? When you feel as though your hard work FINALLY pays off? Imagine summoning up enough courage to finally post one of your never ending stories that takes up a lot of space on your computer, and you find out that it's worth it. Please, it'll take two minutes of your time, and make me feel accomplished!

Now that that emotional guilt-inducing monologue is over (and I know my beta is rolling her eyes at me) the least you can do is press that little button down there and write a few words! Until next time!

Oh yeah…go back and read the authors note in chapter three. Someone please answer my question!

Love you all!

Zanna1