A/N: Sorry about the delay for this chapter – I had some computer problems recently, so had to re-write half the chapter. :/ To make up for it, in this chapter I include the compulsory "Sirius/serious" pun that must be found in any Marauders-era story. Also features Angry!Alice. Hope you like it! ^_^

Never was the tradition of Hogwarts terms starting on the 1st September more appreciated than when that date fell on a Friday. As James had pointed out in his last letter before the beginning of the school year, this meant that the first two days after the start-of-term feast were free from homework and lessons – a weekend of total freedom to celebrate being back at Hogwarts.

Directly after finding the Head's common room the previous evening, James and I, both exhausted, had gone immediately to our rooms, pausing only to say goodnight to each other. I awoke the following morning to the sound of James singing a rather impressive tenor in the shower. As I glanced over at my clock, I immediately decided that half past seven in the morning was not the best time to appreciate my boyfriend's vocal talents. I clumsily picked up my wand from my bedside table and pointed it towards the door. Although I had long since given up on any reconciliation between myself and Severus, his spells still had some use.

"Muffliato," I mumbled sleepily. Instantly, the sounds of James' voice and the rush of water coming from his bathroom were quietened, and I rolled over in my incredibly comfortable bed and went back to sleep.

Nearly two hours later, I awoke again and decided that the time qualified as civilised enough to get up, and after getting dressed, I went into the small living area in the Heads' rooms, which resembled a miniature version of the Gryffindor common room, mainly due to the fact that the red wallpaper and wooden floor seemed to be exactly the same. Next to two mismatched armchairs and a small sofa arranged in a U-shape with a table in the middle was situated a warm, crackling fireplace, giving the room an extremely welcoming and cosy feel.

Entering the room, I saw that James was seated in on of the armchairs, reading the morning Prophet. Red and gold firelight danced across his face, mixing with the bright sunlight streaming in through the window, as he frowned at the newspaper he was holding.

"Dear Lord," he muttered, before noticing me and standing up, grinning. "Fancy going down to breakfast?"

"I'd have thought you'd already been," I replied. "God knows you were up early enough!"

"How'd you know?" he asked as we walked out through the hole concealed by an ugly gargoyle. The sound of it sliding back into place followed us as we walked away.

"Erm… I heard you singing in the shower, you sort of… woke me up," I said, feeling a little embarrassed. Reddening slightly, I looked down at my feet, but a second later I heard him laughing.

"Looks like the doors aren't Imperturbable. I assumed they were. Kind of made sense, cause they are in the Gryffindor dormitories. Evidently they trust us far too much, eh?" he grinned.

"What exactly made you find out that the doors in the Gryffindor dormitories are Imperturbable?" I asked incredulously.

It was James' turn to blush. "... That's a long story."

"How... I mean…"

"You don't want to know," he grinned.

On entering the Great Hall, I saw that Alice and Emmeline were not there, nor were the other Marauders. Usually, James told me, the four of them rose early, and they had probably already left. Emmeline and Alice, on the other hand, normally got up late at weekends, and I doubted whether either of them was awake yet.

Not long after James and I had started eating, however, my two best friends came through the double doors on the opposite side of the hall, talking in low voices; appearing not to notice me and James at all, they walked straight past us on their way up the Gryffindor table, and I caught something of their conversation.

"Don't you think you're overreacting a bit?" Emmeline was saying.

"Of course not," scoffed Alice. "For heaven's sake, it's absolutely ridiculous…"

"Mmfwh mff mwfm?" I heard James say, still looking at my friends' retreating backs. Evidently he had his mouth full.

"Sorry, what was that?" I smiled, looking round at him.

Swallowing, he said, "What's that about?"

"Alice? Goodness only knows," I replied. "Except… well, she was a bit strange at dinner yesterday too. She was a bit short with me, but I have no idea why." I shrugged. "Oh well. What shall we do today?"

After some discussion we eventually decided to spend the morning taking a walk around the grounds, given that it would be some of the last good weather that year. We finished eating at set off through the Entrance Hall. As we walked out of the huge double doors and into the grounds, James stretched out his hand to me. Blushing, but grinning, I took it.

We walked down past the Herbology greenhouses and around the edge of the Forbidden Forest, stopping briefly to talk to Hagrid outside his hut, where he sat chopping vegetables.

"Never though' I'd see the day," he chuckled, seeing us holding hands as we approached. "Bout bloody time, mind. Don't mind tellin' yeh there's been a bit of a wager between the staff fer a while now!" He leaned in conspiratorially. "Between you an' me, Professor McGonagall owes me a few Galleons!"

After successfully parting from Hagrid without having to try and eat any of his rock cakes, we strolled round to the other side of the lake and sat down on the grass. We stared out over the lake for a while, watching the tentacles of the giant squid waving above the water. All of a sudden, it started moving towards us at an alarming pace, and we hastily retreated up the bank and out of its reach.

"Going to have to watch out for that thing from now on," said James, grinning.

"Speak for yourself, you're not the one who nearly got dragged under the lake by it!" I said.

"Until your brilliantly dashing knight in shining armour came to save the day!" said James heroically, and I laughed.

At around half past one, we both realised we were rather hungry, and headed back up to the castle for lunch. As we walked into the Entrance Hall, we saw Alice and Emmeline coming down the marble steps, and I waved at them. Emmeline waved back, but Alice completely ignored me and stalked across the hall.

"Alice? Alice!" I called, but she did not look round. I finally decided that enough was enough. I ran over to the door into the Great Hall, reaching it at the same moment she did.

"Will you just tell me whatever it is that's bothering you?" I demanded, grabbing her by the shoulders.

But she shrugged my hands away. "Oh, finally remembered we exist, have you?"

"What?" I said, completely nonplussed.

"You do realise you've only spoken to me once so far this year?" she said coldly. "I would have thought, even though you have a 'boyfriend'" – she spoke the word derisively – "you'd still have some time for your best friends!"

"I – what?" I said, startled. "Are you serious?"

"No, I am!" said a grinning Sirius, coming out of the Great Hall behind Alice with the other Marauders. "Alright, everyone? What's going on –"

He never finished the sentence, because Alice turned around sharply and hit him, hard, across the face. He staggered, dumbfounded.

Everyone stood there, still and silent, for several long moments. Then Alice burst into tears and ran back up the marble staircase, all of our gazes following here.

"What the…" I muttered. "You okay, Sirius?"

"Yeah," he replied, still looking startled. "What's up with her?"

"I… I dunno," I said. "Emmeline?"

Emmeline looked uncomfortable, and stared down at her feet for a few seconds. Then she said, "She's not pissed off about you and James. Not really."

"Then what on earth…" I began, but she cut me off.

"I don't think I have the right to tell you," she said flatly. "I think she's just using you as an excuse to vent at the moment. I'd better go and see if she's okay. See you later." And she turned and walked away towards the upper floors.

A/N: Please please please review! :D