Dearest Wonderful Magnificent Sophie,

Is it winter break yet? I'm going mad in this house. Mum and Dad aren't talking again. It's been so quiet you can even hear the house elves. Can your present to me be you coming early? Just think! If you get held back a year then that's just one more year me and you can spend at school together! Mums yelling for the owl so I'll have to end this here.

Yours pleadingly,

Tessie

P.S. Seriously consider that whole early thing. Mum and Dad don't fight as much with you around.

Dear Tessie

Despite your very enthusiastic, (did you need so many exclamation points?) and determined argument, I would rather not be held back in school. That tends to look bad when you're looking for a job. Though I miss you desperately too dear. Winter breaks only a little over two weeks away. Keep reading and studying and when I go to Hogsmeade in a week maybe I'll get you something extra special.

With all my love,

Sophie

P.S. Mother and Father will get over it soon enough. Behave yourself and just don't get in the middle. Also, don't try talking to Mum if the wine bottle has been out. She can be a handful. I'll see you soon love. Behave yourself!

Dear Jane,

I'm sorry for my long silence. I have no excuses and I hope you can just understand that it was in no way a commentary on you. You are just as charming in person, as you're letters are—especially the last one you sent. How have your classes been? Don't think I have forgotten my mission to figure out your identity. My next question shall be about pets. Do you have any? Have you had any? I want details on all of the animals in your life.

Yours apologetically,

Remus

Dear Remus,

Both of us are guilty of silences. Think nothing further of it. I have one and a half pets. My youngest sister should count for another half in all honesty. She loves animals and is forever bringing something home to nurse then release. She finds some of the strangest creatures, which is saying something of a witch. I do have a cat. She's a dear sweet thing. Don't let any rumors sway your opinions of my baby. She might also have a reputation of being a demon. She only lives at my house when I'm in residence. The rest of the time, she roams and terrifies the surrounding area. The other half would be Duchess. She's technically a school owl, but we've taken quiet a shine to each other. She would be the barn owl that's normally delivers my letters. I suppose she reminds of my baby back home. I'm sure at this point; I'll just be taking turns missing one of them.

Now good sir, it's time for you to answer some of my questions. You seem to know an awful lot about me but I know nothing about you besides here-say. So please do share with me about your pets. Tick for tack, seems fair to me.

Yours inquisitively,

Jane

Sophie smiled as she watched Duchess swoop onto Remus' arm. She was really very happy that they were talking again. The silence had been oppressive. So many things had been happening that a little bit of returned normalcy was welcomed. Though just how 'normal' you could call her situation was questionable.

"Why do they have to make potion instructions so difficult? It seems really excessive." Sophie's head popped up a little bit at the mention of potions.

"I would tell you it's not that bad but I have no idea what that line means either." Two girls sat in front of Sophie. She thought their names were Jessica and Rachel. They tended to sit in the same vicinity as her but she'd never talked to them before. Both girls were currently ignoring their breakfasts in favor of a potions book. Sophie could see bits and pieces of the page and recognized it. She actually had nearly lost her eyebrows messing with the brew instructions of that one.

"Uumm…" Sophie squeaked. Her hopes of them not hearing her were dashed. Both girls' heads shot up at the noise, eyes locking onto Sophie. "Well here you go Sophie girl. They heard you. Better answer." She muttered before continuing in a louder voice. "The Remlock draught right? I remember that one. It was particularly nasty. Most of the instructions didn't make sense. It goes a lot easier if you hold off adding the powdered eye of newt until after it's turned blue. Just scrap the essence of figwort all together. It only acts as a preservative and makes the potion all explody, same with the…." Sophie trailed off at their expressions. "Did I say something wrong?" she continued in a small voice.

Rachel shook her head emphatically. "No! No, not at all! We just didn't realize you could…." Jessica was going to say 'talk' but trailed off instead.

"Knew so much about potions! Rachel jumped in. "How have you brewed it already? You're a year six with us aren't you?" She had vague memories of Sophie being around since their first year. This was the first time they had heard her string more than three words together in that time.

"Oh, ya. They moved me up a class level. Which, I don't understand. It isn't that I'm better at potions than other people, I tend to blow up the classroom more than anyone else honestly." Sophie was never so happy as to see that got a laugh.

"Please, do you have any other tips? We would love to hear them." Rachel asked. Jessica nodded her head in agreement. They had never really given much thought to Sophie before, but she was quickly becoming one of their favorite people if she could help them pass potions.

"I talked to people!" she fairly skipped to her next class. "And it went well!" as juvenile as it seemed, she really was truly surprised and excited by the interaction. "I can't wait to tell Remus about this." She whispered. He would be strangely proud of her she figured. But, who to tell him as? He knew Jane was socially stunted, but Sophie was a bit more of a mystery. Why was she worrying about that at all? Why did she feel the intense urge to tell him at all? The answer came to her readily, but made her worry. He was important to her. Very important to her. She wanted him to know about her triumphs and struggles and such. She was quickly descending into such strong feelings for him that it nearly required a word she really didn't want to use. To admit she was in that with him would mean having to own up to all of the deception she had been living with. Worse still that she had been participating in. She would have to come clean. She didn't believe in his regard being strong enough for her to stop him from cutting her completely from his life. She definitely didn't believe herself to be selfless enough to risk losing him. So she wouldn't admit to being in that with him yet.

"I have enough things to worry about without adding other things to the pile." She muttered to herself. It was true. There was her double life with Remus. She had a father she had to keep from finding out she wasn't his daughter. A sadistic housemate with some sick addiction to making her life more complicated and miserable. A potion to brew to stop her from becoming a ghost in truth.

"Miss Naldeg. If you have such mastery of this charm to daydream through my class you can come up here and preform it for us. I suggest you get it right or its detention." And now she was going to have detention to add to all of that joy.

"I definitely have enough to worry about." She grumbled as she got up to face her doom.

My Dearest Darling Sophia,

I just wanted to send you a few lines to make sure you still know I exist. I'm so excited for next weekend. Our esteemed elder sisters have already ensconced themselves in our house for the month of December. Apparently, no one told them it was still November when they arrived. Please think of my plight and me as you lounge your way through your weekend. I shall have to be at the beck and call of the rest of our family. The good daughter and sister I am I shall of course do everything in my power to please my family and prove my good upbringing.

Yours selflessly

Your Dearest Tessie

My Dearest Tessie,

How is it I know you're manipulating me—you know very well that I'm going to Hogsmeade this weekend—yet it still manages to work every time? I'm starting to rethink spoiling you as much as I have in the past ten years. I not sure if your head will fit in the Great Hall, which does live up to the expectations of its name. I am sure I will be thinking of little but you this weekend. Maybe they have a potion for minimizing ones features…

With immeasurable love,

Sophie

P.S. Keep calling me Sophia and see if I give you your presents.

My Favorite Sister Sophie,

Anything for you!

Your Favorite,

Tessie

P.S. Oh you know you're my favorite sister. Hurry up and come home.

Sophie couldn't help but smile at Tessie and her antics. How such a carefree and whimsical child was ever born to her family she could not comprehend. She was more than her favorite sister. Tessie was her salvation. Without Tessie urging her to always be better and try more Sophie would be even more pitiful than she already was. She long would have given up if it hadn't been for the bright smile and shining eyes of that little girl. Before Remus, everything she did was with Tessie in mind. Gaining her independence from her family would mean she could eventually free Tessie as well. All of the saving, all of the plans she had in place for different disaster scenarios. All were working towards freeing Tessie before she started to be corrupted by the toxic environment their family created. Sophie would move the earth if she had to in order to protect that innocent smile.

Tessie was her air. Potions would be her water and food. Few things gave her as much joy as potions and experimentation did. Now Remus had wormed his way into her life. He was her drug. He intoxicated her, coerced her until she barely knew what she was doing. She needed more and more of him until he was replacing food and water in her thoughts. He scared her to death. Yet, she still needed him. In full grip of this addiction, she could see no way of shaking the shackles—nor wanted to.

"Who's the letter from Sophie? You seem particularly excited about it." Shaken from the bog of her thoughts, Sophie looked up to the voice. It was Jessica staring at her. Sophie tried not to flush.

"My little sister Tessie. She writes me a good deal. She's currently reminding me of my near obligation to spend all my money on her at Hogsmeade tomorrow." Sophie answered.

"Oh that's so sweet! I wish I had a little sister. Or any siblings." Jessica responded.

"Better than having an older brother. I'd trade mine in a heartbeat. He always used to be a jerk to me. When I got a Hogwarts letter and he didn't it only got worse." Rachel said. Both girls had taken to talking to Sophie on a consistent basis. It had started with just school things but gradually branched out. Sophie would be comfortable calling them friends soon. She still wasn't used to having people to talk to yet. Every time she remembered she could, she got a little thrill.

"Do you have any other siblings Sophie? Or are you the eldest?" Jessica asked.

"Tessie and I have two older sisters but they are ten and twelve years older than me so she's mostly use to just having me around. She starts at Hogwarts next year." Sophie said beaming. "It'll be nice to have her around more often. I'm afraid I miss her something fierce during the school term." The discussion turned to family and the coming holiday for a while.

"Hey Sophie, you're going to Hogsmeade tomorrow then?" Rachel asked. Sophie nodded. "So are we. Do you want to come with us?"

"I'd lo-love to." Sophie stammered. "But I'm actually already suppose to go with some people tomorrow." Tomorrow was her day to spend with Remus. She was very excited they invited her though.

"That sounds fun though! Who with?"

"Um, Remus and Grace." She paused thinking about it. "Possibly Sirius and James." She could find no concrete reason not to tell them. It felt weird admitting to other people that she'd be with them tomorrow. Both of the girls' eyes bugged out at the list of names.

"You're going to Hogsmeade with the Marauders? How do you know them?" Jessica questioned.

"Well, Remus and I run into each other pretty often in the library and we just kinda end up talking. The trip came up last time and he said how I should come with the rest of them." They were barely listening to her explanation.

"I can't believe you get to spend the whole day with Sirius Black!" Jessica exclaimed.

"And James Potter!" Rachel added. Sophie couldn't understand why those were the two she should be the happiest to spend time with. Remus was the better conversationalist.

"Do know Sirius and James? Do you see them often?" Meaner spirited people would have wondered more on what a waste the chances to speak to such men on the completely socially inept Sophie.

"Remus hasn't introduced me to them, but I've already met them. Not at school, our parents travel in the same circles. Well, the Blacks at least. I haven't seen a Potter at any gatherings in a long time actually." Sophie was quickly confirming in Jessica and Rachel's minds that she should not be underestimated. First, she's friends with at least one of the infamous group. Now she knew James and Sirius from outside of school. The slightly stern expressions caused Sophie to ramble. "My family—the Naldegs—are one of the old pure lines. All this really seems to entitle us to is periodic gatherings where everyone pretends we are better than everyone else. It's rather excessive honestly." As Sophie prattled on the girls tried to reconcile all of this new information. "Though if I see you guys while were out maybe we can all go to the Three Broomsticks and get drinks or something?" Jessica and Rachel nodded emphatically. A chance to meet the marauders? They were not going to turn that down.. Being from Ravensclaw meant few chances to interact with them, even a slim chance was not to be turned down. Topics returned to more benign things as dinner ended.

Sleeping was shockingly easy for Sophie that night. She had her normal homework and charms detention work to do before the weekend was over. Obviously, her Saturday was going to be busy. Sunday she was hoping to work on the potion. She had done long brew potions before but this was the most frustrating. There was no way to hide the streak in her hair anymore. It was a fully pronounced light silver band in her hair. She couldn't wait to hear what her mother was going to say about it when she went home. She wondered if her father would notice at all. She thought she looked like a bad imitation of Rogue. Hopefully, she could stop it's progression before she looked like Cruella de Ville. She didn't like it. She was too fond of her natural hair color for that. On anyone else, she would have said it was nice. Probably.

At breakfast, Jessica and Rachel reaffirmed their invitation to Sophie for Hogsmeade. Sophie beamed as she told them she would try to steal some time away so they could all hang out. The rest of breakfast went well. Sophie barely noticed. Her anxiety levels were slowly ramping up the closer the end of breakfast came. She tried to take a few deep breaths occasionally. It was going to be okay. She was getting better at this. Talking to the girls was starting to desensitize her. "Think of all of the times you've talked to him in the past with no issue." she told herself as she checked her appearance for the umpteenth time in a metal plate she passed in the hallway. "You've even talked to Grace before and it's been okay. Not that she knows that of course." In the storm of worry and anxiety was anticipation. She was going to see Remus. That made her smile.

Sophie shivered and wrapped her coat tighter around her. Winter was in full swing now and it promised to be a bitter one. While she liked the winter, she was a bit of a baby about being cold. "Why can't it work that it snows while it's warm? Or at least a little warmer? This sort of freezing just seems unnecessary." She muttered.

"That must be you Sophie. I know that indistinct muttering anywhere." Sophie jumped out of her skin and spun to the left. Remus was standing next to her grinning. His green gold flecked eyes shining in the sun. Sophie's own face broke out into a wide smile.

"Remus! At some point we are going to have to talk about this whole sneaking up on me thing." She put a hand to her chest. "Your obsession has already shortened my life span enough."

Remus chuckled. "You may be right, but it would probably involve you not muttering to yourself anymore and I just can't see that happen." Sophie's cheeks reddened. It might get her into a lot of trouble but that habit wouldn't be going anywhere. She had been her greatest, most constant companion for too many years to stop conversing with herself now.

"Looks like I'm going to die an early death." She said. She smiled at him as he laughed again. This was good. Things were good. Now just don't think about the kiss Sophie and you'll be fine. Sophie's brain started to go round and round. She couldn't think of anything else. Luckily, Remus didn't notice her lack of focus for the next few minutes as he continued to scan the crowd.

"Grace is suppose to wrangle together the rest of them. She should be here any moment." He told her. Sophie nodded on delay. While looking for Grace, Remus kept sneaking glances at Sophie. She really was very pretty. He wasn't used to seeing her in direct sunlight. Her hair was loose and curly floating about her head being teased by the strong wind. It kept sweeping her hair back exposing her face completely. She was so expressive. He could always tell what she was feeling. Her dark eyes were clear to the point of being near worrisome. Now they seemed in a swirl, too many thing fighting for attention. "Alright?" he asked.

Sophie mentally shook herself and looked up at Remus. "Ah. Yes. Sorry. Got a little lost there for a moment." She gave him a weak smile. Remus here and now, that's where, and when, she needed to stay.

"Did you always have this silver curl?" Remus asked. It had caught his eye. He couldn't remember it being there before. Then again, it was normally dark when he saw her. The ghostly color pulled at him.

"Sadly, yes." She said through clenched teeth. "I fear I'm destined for old maid's hair before too long." She cast her eyes out over the crowd. A familiar curly red head caught her eyes. "Isn't that Grace there?" Sophie pointed. Remus looked over where she indicated. It was indeed Grace. She seemed to be dragging a slightly reluctant Sirius behind her. How had Sophie known who she was? Most of the school seemed to know him, Sirius, James, and Peter by sight and reputation. Much fewer recognized Grace. Grace had said she'd never met Sophie. He tucked away that information for further thought. He waved to catch Grace's attention. Sirius saw him first and tapped Grace. Grace jumped. That was odd. Was something strange going around today?

"There you are Remus." Grace said with a gentle smile. Sophie was nervous but even she took notice of the dark circles under Grace's eyes. "Sorry we took so long. Someone refused to wake up. Or tell me where James is." She threw a glare behind her shoulder to a yawning Sirius. Leaning to look past Remus, she eyed Sophie. Remus moved to place Sophie in front.

"Grace, this is Sophie." Sophie managed to give Grace a smile.

"Ah, Sophie! I wonder if I should say Remus has told me a lot about you? Or would that just make you feel nervous?" Grace said. Remus frowned at her.

"I'm not quite sure to be ho-honest." She stuttered out.

"Sirius mentioned he has met you before." Gazing around with a bored look, Sirius did manage a nod of greeting. Sophie returned it. The less she talked to him the better. Their talking led to discussions of family. Sophie didn't really want to talk about them.

"Now, Sophie." Grace started while linking their arms together and dragging her forward down the road. She had been right, Sophie mused. Grace had admitted to being forward at the ball and she still was now. "I've heard from Remus that you despair of Potions as much as I do. While I can't claim I will be of great help, I do wish to discuss the possibility of attacking our Potions problems concurrently from now on. I'm a fair hand at Charms on the other hand."

Remus smiled at the backs of the two girls. Leave it to Grace to start drawing the shy Sophie out. No one could hold out against Grace's focused attempts at being nice. He looked over at his other friend. "Where is James?" he asked.

Sirius yawned again before answering. "He's running after Lily today. I think she actually agreed to spend time with him. We might need to check and see if he drugged her. You know how mad she'll get if she finds out." He gestured towards Grace.

"Does she know they're meeting at all?" Lily and Grace were very close.

"From what James told me, no. Lily is treating this like classified information." Sirius responded. Remus laughed.

"That doesn't seem strange at all. James I'm sure is going along with it like an excited puppy." He continued to chuckle at his image of an enthusiastic James. Sirius smiled too.

"She never fails to turn Prongs on his head." He admitted before yawning yet again.

"You certainly are tired today." Remus commented. "Did Grace have to drag you out of bed to even get you down here? You were still asleep when I left this morning." He was too busy staring at the back of Sophie's head to notice the red start to seep onto his friends cheekbones. Sirius mumbled something in response. Like hell was he going to tell Remus about Grace and his… grogginess… this morning. It was bad enough she had learned he had been dreaming about her. He bit the inside of his cheek. He was going to die from mortification. Why did she have to find out it was her. If you asked him, it was all her fault actually. If she had a more common name then he could play off as if it had been some—any—other person. But no. She was Grace. One of a kind, beautiful, funny, caring to a fault, Grace. Sirius near growled. This day was just not going in his direction. He opened his mouth to talk to Remus, but Moony had moved up to start talking with the girls. Left to stare at the backs of head, Sirius did just that and tried to ignore the red headed one.

Sophie by contrast was having a splendid time. She had managed, with a lot of tripping, to steer the conversation away from Charms. She'd forgotten she'd told Remus she was good at Charms. She was really hoping she wouldn't have to prove that. The conversation had flowed on from there with Remus joining them at some point. It became comfortable at a pace that would have worried Sophie if she had been paying any attention. She wasn't.

"You made them do what?" She exclaimed through laughter.

"They deserved it." Grace replied with a smile. "I was quite put out with them. If they had just been civil in the first then I never would have retaliated." She said with a humph.

"I still don't quite understand how retaliating against their retaliations for you taking their train car ended in friendship but eleven year olds are weird I suppose. Seems more like a set up for a rivalry to me." Sophie commented.

Grace looked thoughtful. "You have a point. I wonder..."

"Sirius got hurt." Remus piped up. "Somehow in the shuffle he got cut and you turned into mother hen."

"That was it wasn't it?" Grace said with a smile. She looked back at Sirius. He was still trailing behind them. "Your lack of coordination spawned this strange family we seem to have created." Sirius gave her a lopsided grin. Family. He liked that.

"I distinctly remember it being your fault. I'm sure it was because I was protecting you from something. Nice guy I am." Grace slowed to swat him on the arm.

"Your head has not gotten any smaller since the first day I met you but your memory sure has atrophied. That is most certainly not what happened." They continued to bicker between themselves.

"Do they do that a lot?" Sophie asked in a small voice to Remus.

"More often than some would say is healthy." He said.

"There's a lot of love there. Its fine I'm sure." Sophie said with a gentle sigh. Remus nodded. Of course there was love there. They all loved Grace. Hell, besides his own mother, Remus probably loved Grace more than any other female. Taking a look at Sophie, Remus amended his mind. She was most certainly up there in the ranks now. He wasn't sure how high, but enough that she was approaching Grace. Not that she had a lot of competition. His sphere of close interactions was rather limited. One of his closest friends did exclusively communicate with him via letter and a lark name. He shook his mind away from Jane. She was a problem in and of herself. He did care for her, but Sophie was proving to have the ability to eclipse most all other things. He would deal with her later he resolved staring at Sophie's smiling face. "They do seem very comfortable with each other. I've never seen Sirius so relax."

Remus frowned. "Are you in a habit of watching Sirius?" he asked.

"No." she answered still watching the arguing couple. "But it's no secret we've met at family gatherings over the years. I think if you traced lines far enough we are cousins of a sort. I believe the Potter's are too if my grandfather hadn't disavowed any connection to them. I don't really remember James at all. I might have met him before. Sirius I remember though. I freely admit to hating those events. Seemed to be he hated them as well. At least I had my little sister to keep my sane."

"You never thought to talk to him? After a time, you must have realized you go to school with each other. There're plenty of safe topics for you to discuss as an effort to stay away from less desirable company." Remus inquired. He remembered Sirius mentioning knowing Sophie before. He had mirrored her comments.

Sophie gave him a small smile. "This might come as a shock to you, but I am not the most social of people. Had it not been for that night at the Owlery, we might not be friends right not. I think we owe this to your strong sense of guilt." She said.

Remus frowned. "This is not out of a sense of guilt towards you." He didn't like the implication, thought it cheapened his feelings for her. "We had met before that if you recall. In the library, I believe. I seemed to have made a habit of taking out my moods on you from the start."

"Oh yes! The library." She said with a laugh. "I had nearly forgotten."

"Exactly. I had liked you from that point. I always intended to talk to you again. The Owlery just happened to be my first opportunity." He said deftly. "There was no lasting damage I hope? I haven't asked since it's been healed." He said with a little more hesitation.

"No. None at all. See?" Sophie said, pulling up her sleeve to expose the forearm in question. He grasped her arm, turning this way and that, scanning the pale skin for the pucker of a scar. Finding nothing, his hand and gaze shifted down to her hand turning it this way and that like it was the most fascinating of objects.

"I'm glad to see that." He said in a murmur. He pulled her sleeve back down before twining his fingers in hers and dropping them both to their sides. Sophie felt color flood her face. She was afraid he could feel it through her hand her heart was beating so fast. That aside, they feel into a happy silence.

Behind them, Grace took note of the exchange. She tried not to do a little jig. They looked like such the content couple from her vantage point. "While not difficult, it is much less satisfying to argue with you when you aren't paying attention." Came the sardonic comment from her side.

"Must I entertain you at all times? Am I not allowed to pay attention to anyone else?" she asked without looking at him. Sirius clenched his mouth shut. That was the argument he had been having with himself of late. "Look at them." Continued Grace, "Things are progressing nicely if I do say so myself." She said with a smile.

"You cannot be taking credit for whatever that," He waved his hand towards them. "is." He couldn't dampen her sense of triumph.

"Oh hush. I don't want the credit. I just want Remus happy and it seems to be the case. Look at how close they're standing together. He's even holding her hand! It's adorable and terribly romantic." She sighed before starting to shiver from the cold. Sirius noticed and closed remaining distance between them. At this proximity, their shoulders were constantly brushing together. If Grace noticed, she didn't let on. "So where are we going first?" Grace called out.

The group proceeded through the Hogsmeade looking at this and that. Sophie had never been in most of the shops and was having a grand old time. Grace was nice and putting forward such an effort to be charming, Sophie couldn't deny her. Grace had a mitigating effect on Sirius. He actually seemed to smile around her. Remus made her nervous, but in a good way she was becoming accustomed to. They had found their way into a Quidditch shop with Sirius gazing longingly at different thing.

"I'm thinking of getting James a snitch for Christmas." Grace announced. Sirius and Remus started chuckling. Sophie just stared. "What? It's a good idea. He's always playing with the school's." Grace defended.

"That's half of his fun. It wouldn't mean anything if it wasn't a rebellion at the same time." Sirius answered.

"A childish one." Grace muttered. "Well fine. I'll just have to think of a new idea." She got a gleam in her eye. "At the bookstore and I'm taking Sophie with me." She linked arms with her captive and effectively towed Sophie along with her. Remus went to follow but Sirius pulled him back.

"Let the girls have some time to themselves. We'll catch up to them in a minute." He said before going back to browsing.

Sophie forgot to be nervous as soon as she walked into the bookstore. Surrounded by so many of her constant most beloved companions how could she be? Considering its location in relation to the school—and all of the muggle-borns that warranted—they had a wonderful mixture of muggle works and magical works. Given her families feelings on muggles and muggle culture, those books that she did own all came from the Hogsmeade store and were carefully hidden. She avoided the fiction section in lieu of a small collection of music scores. Tessie adored the piano. A collection from the muggle section would be a secret gift and a well-loved one. As long as she was careful never to let her parents see the score she could learn it and play it as much as she wanted. From there she drifted over to the section concerning Defense Against the Dark Arts. She had been thinking for a while about getting Remus a gift for Christmas. He had mentioned to her before about his love for the subject. She was hoping to find an interesting book or two about it. She could easily give him a gift as Jane. Sophie herself had a little less information she should be going off. She thought they had talked about it on one of their trips to the library.

She was in luck. She easily found four potential books. Now she just had the hard task of whittling it down. She still wanted to get Tessie a few more little things and her funds weren't that large to cover all four books. She wished they were. Juggling three of the books was how Grace found her.

"Here you are Sophie. I'd say sorry for dragging you away but you seem to be having a good enough time of it." She said spying the books in her hands.

Sophie smiled "I'm afraid while I have no great love for Quidditch, written word is a complete other story."

"Well, I'm glad of it, especially because I need to slip away for a little bit. I would have had to answer all sorts of questions with Sirius and Remus right there. I seem to have made you complicit to my little scheme." Sophie wasn't sure how to respond. Grace waved her hand as if whisking at her concerns. "It's nothing dangerous or anything. I love those boys dearly, but sometimes a girl wants to go places without having to give prior notice. I don't suppose you have older brother?" Sophie shook her head. "They are a curse at times." She said with a rueful quirk of her lips. "I'll only be gone for a short period of time. By the time they come, find you, and start worrying about me I will have already returned. You mentioned meeting your friends at the Three Broomsticks? It's about twenty till three. I'll rendezvous with you there." With that and a sunny smile, Grace departed. Sophie stared at the spot she had been at for a minute.

"I am not sure what just happened." Sophie muttered. Turning her attention back to the books in her hand, she continued. She was wanted to get them bought before Remus came looking for her.

She made her purchases and slipped into the fiction section to browse and dream. She kept getting distracted by thoughts of Remus. She was anxious to return to him. He obliged her quite swiftly.

"There you are!" he said walking towards her. The bright smile she gave him caused him to misstep. He covered it well though. They wandered for a short time looking this and that and sharing their mutual love for the written word. Sirius eventually halted them.

"Where did Grace run off to? She was with you wasn't she Sophie?" though his tone was normal, Sophie couldn't help but shy away.

"She was. She said something about having an errand to run and that she would meet up with us at the Three Broomsticks around three." There was a grim set to Sirius's face. Sophie found herself continuing. "She ran off before I could really say anything…" trailing off she bit her tongue to stop herself from saying anything more.

"I guess the Three Broomsticks is our next destination then." Remus cut in. Sirius turned and started walking out of the store.

"I'm sorry Remus. I should have done more to stop her shouldn't I? She's just… impossible to argue against. Don't misunderstand. I'm honestly quite fond of her, but she is very strong willed. That doesn't excuse my conduct." Sophie had a full head of steam at this point. Remus had to grab onto her shoulders to get her attention.

"Sophie!" he said. There was laughter in his eyes. "It's okay. I know Grace very well. If she wanted to do something, you weren't going to be able to dissuade her. Not to mention the fact that she is a very capable person. She can go off by herself and it not be a bad thing. Sirius is just overprotective. He has—notions—about something that happened recently. He'll be okay. You didn't do anything wrong okay?" Sophie bit her lip as she searched his eyes. Looking for censure, revulsion, contempt, she couldn't find anything. Just barely suppressed mirth towards her.

"So you don't hate me?" she voiced her deep fear in a low voice.

"Sophie. How could I ever hate you? Let alone for something where you did no wrong? Now let's follow. Sirius is gruff but he's not angry with you either. I believe we were having a good day and I intend to continue on." He held out his hand to her. She hesitated for the briefest of moments before enclosing his hand in hers.

Sirius, they found had gone ahead of them to the Three Broomsticks. Inside they also found Rachel and Jessica. Sophie abandoned Remus for a moment in her enthusiasm to greet her new friends. Both girls stared wide eyed at the boys. They had no reason to believe Sophie had misled them. It still seemed so weird that she would be on such an intimate level with the fabled Marauders. Conversation flowed easy enough once everyone was settled. James at some point rambled in with a frazzled red headed girl that Sophie wasn't sure of her name. Sirius intercepted him in short order and by all appearances dragged him over to their table. Remus smiled and addressed the girl.

"Lily. What are you doing running around with the likes of him?" he jerked a thumb to James. Busy fighting off Sirius, he could only glare at Remus.

"She looked like she was trying to run away from him." Sophie found herself muttering. She must have spoken louder than she realized because eyes suddenly fell on her. She turned red as fire. Whatever she was attempting to say after that was drowned out by laughter.

"That I was." said Lily. "And now think I will try again." She waved farewell to them and departed. James stayed with a goofy smile on his face that Sirius was trying his hardest to insult him away from.

With the addition of James' personality, they had a fine mixture for a pleasant evening. Rachel and Jessica had reason enough to leave early though they did long to stay. This story was certainly getting shared among all they could get to listen. Sirius disappeared not too long after them to continue a search for Grace. James followed him. Remus and Sophie lingered. They spoke of this and that but mostly just reveled in each other presence.

"It's getting late. I guess we should be heading along ourselves." Remus said with a sigh. He loathed for the day to end, but six had come and gone and they had a curfew of seven. Sophie nodded her agreement. Her face had the same discontent clouding it as his.

The walk back to the castle was a quiet but pleasant one. Remus was bold enough to seize her hand again. They were inside close to where they should part ways when Sophie glanced down at their interlocking fingers and remarked. "You know, you've held my hand hostage for most of the day."

Remus looked down at their hands considering them for a moment. "I have haven't I?" He then pulled them into a nearby alcove. "Seems only fair to my mind."

"And how is that?" she asked.

"Well you have had complete sovereignty over my attention and mind for much longer." He said in a low voice. Sophie's heart thundered in her ears.

"Oh god. He's going to kiss me again." She murmured.

Remus chuckled. "Why yes he is." She barely registered what he had said before his lips covered hers. She felt as if she had been branded by fire. Her one hand still entwined with his the other dropped its packages and snaked around his neck. His free arm went around her back drawing them even closer. Sophie forgot to be shy. Her little mewls of pleasure as they plundered and explored each other were not to be quieted just because someone might walk by. So too would her heavy breath as they finally disengaged from each other.

"Oh Sophie." He gasped. His breath as tortured as hers. "You will be the death of me."

"Seems only fitting." She smiled against his lips. "You'll certainly be mine."

A/N~ Howdy! Ya I left it there. You are welcome. Not sure if that's actually sarcasm or not. It's not really a cliffhanger. It's more of a steep hill. I've had much sheerer rock faces I've left you at. So this is going to signal a shift in our wonderful little story here. I'm pretty sure. I have to work out a few time lines. I have somethings I know I want to do. Others that I'm not sure of. Dear God. We might have hit the half way point of this little romp. Kinda terrifying when the author can't tell you for certain right? But it was eleven pages! And that's before editing. It might be twelve by the time I'm done. For better or worse my stuff never gets shorter in editing, only longer. So if I have any weird turns of phrases it cause I've been reading a lot of 1800s stuff recently and it likes to worm its way into my brain. It convinces me when I'm at work and answer the phone and speak with someone from London I should slip into a British accent. Then I realize I can't do a British accent and that its kinda insulting and then I stop. Im not an adult. Any whoodle, PLEASE review. You are my nourishment. I'll have the next one when I have the next one. Lots of stuff for my other fic in this. I feel like its telling me I should really devote more time to it. I should stop rambling here and actually go and edit this so I can post it. Well love you all! Hope to see you soon! Ja Ne.