She thought her life was over – but fate gave her another chance, in a world of magic. Now, running around Hogwarts with James Potter and his friends, she's about to make choices that will change the future in ways she never thought possible…

Marauder's Phase

CHAPTER SEVENTY

The Realisation

Nothing could ever be the same between me and Remus after that night. It became extremely hard for me not to want to jump on top of him every time our eyes met and, I realised with a start, he felt the same way about me. Sirius' utter devotion to me made it hard.

But I was in love with Sirius too. When I wasn't staring at Remus and wishing I could kiss him, I was spending time with Sirius. And, if you spend a lot of time with Sirius AND you're his girlfriend, then fifty percent of that time is devoted to snogging.

I made a pie chart.

"Siri," I said, very seriously, thrusting the parchment into his face. "Look at this! I spend more time snogging with you than I do sleeping! And even when I'm sleeping I'm dreaming about snogging you!"

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "I'm impressed. You can control yourself to dreaming about snogging. The last dream I had about you we were making…"

"Say anything but 'lovely rope ladders' and see where it gets you!" I growled. "And just see what happens if you lie to me…"

"Umm…"

I laughed. I loved putting Sirius on the spot like that.

He rolled his eyes, grabbed me tie, and forced me to kiss him.

Can't say I minded.

But it made things difficult for me.

I was going to have to stop acting like I was in a Twilight movie, choosing between a werewolf and my boyfriend…oh damn.

***

"Another year ended," I said to Lily, as I tossed things into my trunk. Something smashed. "Oops…Reparo? Anyway, so what are your plans for these holidays?"

"Probably just gonna stay at home," Lily shrugged. "We're not going anywhere…"

"Come visit us!" I suggested brightly.

Lily laughed. "You're acting like James' house is your house now, Ems."

"It pretty much is, since it's the only one I've got…and," I added, with a grin. "You're coming over whether you like it or not! So get used to the idea, Lils."

She grinned and just shook her head. A thought crossed my mind.

"What's come over you Lily?" I asked her, looking at her suspiciously. "Since you started going out with James…you've started breaking the rules a lot more!"

She blushed. "N-no…maybe you guys have just started obeying the rules a lot more!"

"That doesn't make any sense!" I informed her.

She laughed. "It doesn't have to!"

"Lily, please," I complained. "You won't let me have the benefit of inviting you over to other people's houses, at least let me think I'm right all the time!"

Lily was laughing too hard to respond.

***

Our Apparation practices came and went. James and Sirius were able to do it on their first tries, and Lily and Remus soon followed.

I surprised myself, again, by being able to do it after about two lessons, but, let me tell you, it was difficult and weird. Destination, Determination and Deliberation. We focused, and turned on the spot, and…

Our practices were some the most interesting things that I had ever seen. People splinched themselves – it was funny to watch until Peter managed to leave his eyeballs behind. Then it just became horrifying as he ran around, eyeless and clearly distressed and the heads of houses had to put his eyes back in. Well, I was horrified – James and Sirius and most of the other students were laughing at poor Peter.

I was so horrified that it took me three more tries to want to attempt it again.

It helped when Peeves dropped by, and threw a water balloon at me. I shrieked, and turned on the spot, Apparating across the hall and missing getting hit by the water-filled orb, which hit Sirius instead.

Now Peter laughed at Sirius. I did too, once I'd calmed down enough to realise what had happened, and Sirius pushed his wet hair out of his eyes and called Peeves something that made McGonagall deduct five points from Gryffindor.

All in all, I was happy when I passed my test. James, Lily and Remus passed theirs as well, and we knew that Sirius would have no trouble with it. And, well, Peter could always Side-Apparate with any of us.

Apparating was going to come in handy for scaring my friends. I was looking forward to it.

It would also come in handy in the wide open world, what with the Wizarding War going on.

Open warfare…that's what I'd stumbled into…

The wizarding world was currently in a state of open warfare.

Just thinking it made me shiver.

***

All too soon, the third week of June arrived, and we were leaving Hogwarts. As this was happening, a strange feeling overcame me. The Marauders and Lily had been here for six years, but I'd only been here for two, due to the strange circumstances of my arrival. We were all the same age, but they'd gotten to spend more time at Hogwarts. I couldn't help but feel envious of this. Maybe I'd study hard and become a teacher, so that I could return to Hogwarts…

Yeah, I could teach Muggle Studies – and not get myself killed by Voldemort for it…

"I will never forgive you, Sirius Black," I told him, because I was still annoyed that he'd had the nerve to throw me a surprise party for my birthday on March twenty-seventh. I have issues with surprise parties. "Never, ever, ever." At least James had enjoyed his end of the party…

Sirius laughed. "Yes you will." He said confidently.

I rolled my eyes. Confidence is Sirius' middle name.

We were on the Hogwarts Express, which was taking us back to Kings Cross. Me, Sirius and Remus on one side, and Lily, James and Peter on the other. We were talking, except in the case of Remus who was reading. Every so often, we would glance at each other.

The realisation that he and I would be separated for the holidays was setting in – even though I would be with Sirius, I was dreading not being able to be with Remus, and this was a serious problem for me, since I still hadn't figured out how to resolve the complications of the love triangle.

The train was approaching the station…we'd already changed into our muggle gear, and I was staring out the window, wondering how to solve my love triangle.

I was wondering about the holidays, wondering if, when I went to visit Remus again, we'd get attacked by a Death Eater, possibly even Fenrir Greyback…and then Nymphadora Tonks might be in trouble again…and I'd save her again, because she was supposed to marry Remus…

"That's it!" I yelled, standing up suddenly and pointing toward the ceiling.

Sirius, Remus, James, Peter and Lily stared at me in shock.

I blushed, and sat back down again. "Sorry…just thinking out loud…" I wasn't as embarrassed as what I would have been had it not been my friends.

Sirius was giving me an utterly perplexed look.

Haphazard and Valencia were regarding me silently.

And Remus was staring at me hard, a strange look in his eyes, and I couldn't help but look back at him, across Sirius, as we were both leaning forward and staring at each other. Another two feet, and we'd be face-to-face.

I kind of lost track of what was happening, that is until Sirius coughed and said: "Uh…what are you two doing?"

Remus blinked and then glanced at Sirius.

I laughed. "Ha! I win! No one beats me in a staring contest, Moony!"

James, Lily and Peter all laughed too and, presently, Sirius and I joined in.

And, at last, Remus laughed too, but his laugh made me sad because I had to give him up.