Delilah was awoken by a loud snickering. She sat up on her elbows, puzzled by the noise. Lily and Loraina also stirred, grumbling and groaning. Rubbing her eyes tiredly, she looked around the slightly unfamiliar common room to be met with a cackling Sirius Black. Her first instinct was to check each of her limbs, making sure they were all attached and in their proper places. She then narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously.

He simply continued to giggle his little heart out while Delilah turned to her friends in utter confusion. When she watched Lily's mouth drop open and Loraina's eyes widen significantly, she leapt up and ran to the mirror on the wall.

"SIRIUS BLACK!" she yelled angrily. Her hair was fire engine red, and her face was gold.

"Just wanted to get into the Gryffindor spirit," Sirius choked out through his laughs. He wasn't positive why he wanted to prank her so badly, but he didn't regret it as she tackled him to the ground.

"You are such a prat!" she screeched, hitting him angrily in the chest.

"Really, now, Delilah, you should have told me you wanted me this badly."

"URGH!" she yelled, practically flying off of him. "You are the most insufferable, moronic boy I have ever met!"

"Why thank you," he drawled.

With one final scream of irritation, Delilah dashed up the stairs toward what she thought was Lily's room. For a moment, Lily considered telling her she was going the wrong way, but decided against it, for once enjoying the humor of the moment.

Remus entered the room, dressed in uniform like Sirius, chuckling. "I presume he pulled it off, then?"

"Did he ever," Loraina giggled before blushing as she realized that she was clad in a pair of extremely short red plaid shorts and a far too small white tank top.

Remus allowed his eyes to rove over her once before straightening up and politely looking her in the face. "Where'd she go?"

"AHHHHHH!" came two screams, one decidedly male and one most definitely female.

"There's my ray of sunshine," Sirius said, lying across the couch casually. Lily narrowed her eyes ever so slightly before shaking her head. She was trying to lighten up this year. It was her last one, and she wanted to enjoy it to its fullest.

Delilah appeared at the bottom of the stairs, looking absolutely mortified. "I just walked in on James. Naked," she stuttered. Simultaneously, everyone burst into laughter, Lily and Loraina holding onto each other for dear life. Remus hit the ground in laughter, while Sirius buried his face in the couch cushion.

"It's not funny!" she exclaimed indignantly. When no one responded, she growled and stormed out of the room, into the halls of Hogwarts.

"She does realize that she's wandering the halls in a short little nightgown, right?" Remus said when they had finally stopped laughing.

"I doubt it," Sirius said. "But that just makes it so much more fun!"

Lily leaned back on the couch where Sirius laid, a smile on her face and her eyes dancing. This was definitely a fun way to start out her last year.

Lily had not expected Delilah to be mad at her and Loraina when they went to breakfast. Delilah had repaired her appearance, so she was back to normal, but the glare on her face was definitely not part of the normal Delilah.

"What's up?" Loraina asked cautiously as she sat beside her friend.

"I can't believe you two," Delilah growled.

"What?" Lily gasped.

"All of a sudden, you're all buddy buddy with the Marauders and laughing at my expense. Especially you, Lily."

"I'm really sorry about that," Loraina said, biting her lip. "I just don't want to have any enemies. It's our last year, and you have to admit, it was pretty funny."

"Yeah. Can't we just enjoy this year? I'm gonna be forced to live with and work with Potter all year long as it is. I might as well try and be friends with him, right?"

"I guess so," Delilah agreed grudgingly.

"Good. Now let's get to class," Lily smiled as they finished up breakfast and headed to their first class, Transfiguration. As they walked in, they were surprised to find a seating chart on the board. Lily groaned as she realized she would be apart from her friends, who were relatively close to one another.

She morosely took her seat beside a Hufflepuff named Ryan Eatonson. When she looked over at her friends, she giggled. Loraina was sitting awkwardly beside James Potter, and Remus was looking anxiously at Delilah, as if she was a time bomb. Rolling her eyes and turning her attention back to the board, where notes on review were already appearing, she turned to the boy next to her.

He was average looking, with light brown hair and brown eyes. He smiled at her and introduced himself, as did she. "Are you on the Quidditch team?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said, nodding. "We're not the best, but we have fun."

"That's all that counts," Lily said sweetly.

"You don't play, do you?"

"No, no, no," Lily said, shaking her head several times. "Me and brooms do not have a very good relationship."

"I take it you're scared of heights, then?"

"That obvious?"

"Yep," he said back cheerily. Lily laughed slightly and kept taking her notes.

James turned to Loraina with an annoyed expression. "Is Lily flirting with that guy?"

"No," Loraina said innocently. "She's just being friendly."

"Oh. Okay."

A moment of silent passed by. "You really like her, don't you?"

"I thought that bit was obvious," he said sardonically.

"It kind of seems like she's just a conquest, to be honest," Loraina said shyly. When he looked slightly offended, she backpedaled. "No offence."

"None taken," James lied. "She's actually being half civil to me, though."

"She wants to enjoy this year. No enemies. That kind of thing."

"That's good," James said with a smile. "How about you? You like anyone?"

"You could say that," Loraina replied, a twinkle in her eyes.

"Care to elaborate?"

"Not really," she said. "Now shush. McGonagall's talking."

Meanwhile, Remus and Delilah were off to quite a good start.

"I'm sorry for laughing at you this morning," Remus said amicably.

"No problem," Delilah said bashfully. "I overreacted a tad."

"Just a bit," Remus agreed with a wink. She laughed and nudged him.

"You do know why I told Sirius to stay away from Loraina, right?"

"Why?" Remus said, feigning ignorance.

"I could see the way you were looking at her. It's obvious you like her."

"I hardly know her."

"Then get to know her," Delilah shrugged.

"She makes it a little difficult, if you hadn't noticed," Remus said to her with a look.

"Yeah, I know," Delilah nodded. "Don't worry, she'll open up soon enough."

"I hope so."

Two weeks later, the teens had formed something of a strong friendship. This friendship is the reason why Delilah found herself on the Quidditch pitch, trying out for the spot of seeker. James, the captain, was grinning at her, tossing the quaffle from one hand to the other. Lily and Loraina were watching from the stands.

"Okay Delilah," James said. "I'm gonna release the snitch and time how fast you can catch it, okay?"

She nodded nervously and shakily mounted her broom. Right before she took off, she felt a warm hand on her arm and turned to see Sirius giving her an encouraging smile.

"Good luck," he grinned. "Not like you'll need it."

"Thanks, Sirius," she said back sweetly and took off in the air.

When she got up in the air, all nervousness was evaporated from her body. She was ready to go, and almost immediately, she spotted the gold ball with wings. Deciding to show off a bit, she weaved in and out of fancy maneuvers. She caught the snitch in what could have been record time.

"Woohoo!" hooted Sirius, who raised his arms up above is head. "Way to go Delilah!"

She turned to grin at him, although he probably couldn't see her, she was so high up, and as she turned, she was met with a bludger...right to the stomach. It knocked the wind out of her, and knocked her off of her broom. She gripped the polished wood with one hand, although her hand was slipping. Just as she was about to get back on, another bludger hit her, this time in the head.

Everything went black as she tumbled to the ground.