Potions was fairly entertaining, because James had totally ruined his entire potion and the consequences of the sticky liquid on Professor Slughorn weren't pretty. However, the rather odd professor did not seem to care, but roared with laughter, and dismissed the class ten minutes early for break. "James, was that delibrate?" Sirius asked, amusement flickering across his face as they approached the lake, settling down for an enjoyable half hour free time. James gave the mere image of a nod, and Sirius laughed. "Nice one!"
Remus sighed. "You shouldn't encourage him, Sirius ..."
Narcissa laughed softly, her eyes closing as she breathed in the warm breath of sunshine. "Ever the mature one, James," she commented lazily, enjoying the warm sun on her face. It truely was a perfect day.

Remus opened his bag and leant back against an old oak tree, and selecting a book, he began to read. He managed a whole sentence before being tormented by James. "Cmon, Moony, take a break from studying for just one day. The day is perfect, so enjoy it, don't hide away."
"Was perfect," Remus corrected, putting his book back in his bag. "Look who's just arrived, dear James."
"Excellent," said Sirius, "It's Snivellus."
"Leave him be," Narcissa interjected sharply, "I still haven't forgotten what you did to him after the Charms OWL exam."

"I forgot about that," Sirius said reminiscently, smiling with newfound amusement. Narcissa's thoughts drifted to what would happen if he parents discovered she was befriending Gryffindors and basically doing what Sirius did - which was becoming a blood traitor? She shuddered slightly under the dazzling sunshine. She would too, be blasted off her Aunt's portrait, but even if that did not bother her cousin, it would most certainly bother her. She couldn't quite understand why it would bother her so; her family consisted of pompous gits, but still. They were her family. She sighed, edging herself up on her elbows, opening her eyes. She was a little suprised to see Remus watching her curiously.

"So, have you spoken to any of them?"
"I ... what?" Her brain seemed to turn to mush, forgetting completely what Remus was trying to ask. He smiled benignly at her, a hand momentarily smoothing his hair, not quite as messy as his friends hair was, but still not completely neat.

"Your friends," he pointed out quietly, "Rodolphus, Regulus, Crabbe, Goyle, Severus, Lucius - and your sister, Bellatrix."

"No," she admitted after a while, twirling a strand of blonde hair around her finger nervously. "I talk to Severus a little, but not really the others. Bellatrix talks to me when she wants to discuss how ... how terribly 'amazing' and 'powerful' Voldemort is."
Remus nodded. "That is to be understood. I disagree on her description of Voldemort being amazing; but he is however powerful-"
"Oh, shush Moony," Sirius yawned, watching James play with the stolen Snitch with mild interest, "You talk like a book sometimes."
Remus blushed, but Narcissa interuptted. "I didn't know books could talk."
"Dear Cissy," Sirius said carefully, to delibratley annoy his cousin, "Some books CAN talk."
"Don't call me that," she grinned, grabbing Remus's book without thinking, "can they also do this?" And she whacked Sirius over the head. James roared with laughter at Sirius wavering slightly, but then his usual swagger returned. "Oh I dunno, Cissy, can they?" and he retrieved his own book, and whacked her with it.

"Sirius Black!" The sharp voice of Professor McGonagall stopped any form of book hitting. "Do not use your new Transfiguration book as a form of weapon! Don't let me see that again!" And with that, she dissapeared into the castle, looking haughty.
"I won't let you see," Sirius replied sarcastically, but put his book back just in case. Narcissa realised she was still holding Remus's book and offered it to him. "Er, sorry about that."
Remus smiled. "Don't worry - I think he needs that sometimes." As he retrieved his book, his fingers gently brushed against Narcissa's, and she blushed. James was oblivious to this mild flirtation going on right under his nose, and he picked up a stone and threw it into the link. "Hey, Sirius," James smirked, "Suppose you could do me a favour?"
"Probably not," Sirius sighed, but then smiled. "What sort, Prongs?"
"Tell Lily how good I've become lately-"

Sirius snorted.
"And, how I like her-"
"What's in it for me?" Sirius demanded, looking at James with a gleaming challenge set in his twinkling blue eyes.
"How about I do your homework for you for a day?" James wheedled, looking hopeful.
"Deal!" Sirius beamed triumphantly. "I'll do it tomorrow, first thing during Defence against the Dark Arts."

Remus moved his hand away from Narcissa's when Sirius and James finally turned around, and neither of them cottoned on. "Speaking of which, we have that in ten minutes. I can't wait."
"Trust you Moony," Sirius said affectionatley, catching the Snitch before James could, which was saying something as James was the Gryffindor Seeker. Narcissa pondered. "I wonder who'll be teaching us."
Remus shrugged once more. "Not a set teacher, I hear. It'll probably be a supply teacher." He smiled once more at Narcissa, but his smile was cut short when Lucius and Bellatrix approached.
"Narcissa," Lucius said pleasantly, his eyes sweeping greedily over her body. "Want to be partners for next class?"
"No," replied Narcissa shortly, squinting up at him, the dazzling sunshine becoming more and more bright by the second. Lucius did not take this rejection very well. Bellatrix crossly acknowledged the group with a sarcastic eyebrow raise. Her eyes rested on Sirius and she pouted. "Your brother talked about you earlier, Sirius."
"Doesn't suprise me," Sirius replied loftily, staring at Bellatrix with controlled dislike.

"Yeah, well, Cissy, are you going to acknowledge our existence or not?" Bellatrix folded her arms across her chest, still pouting.
"I am acknowledging you, Bella. I'm just not sitting with you in classes or lunch, but," she held a hand up in defence as her sister began to rattle something off, "I listen long enough to you to know how much you desire Voldemort."
Bellatrix's mouth opened then closed, deciding it was better not to speak.
"Come on Lucius," she said crossly, turning away from them.

"Nice one, Cissy," taunted Sirius playfully, then high-fiving her. "God, you're friends with such jerks."
"Bella is alright sometimes, but Lucius is just ... I don't know. He makes me feel uncomfortable."
A great bell sounded, which indicated it was time for class. "Cmon, lets go."