Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter or Harry Potter related copyrights.

A/N To Everyone:

I am incredibly sorry that this wasn't up months ago, but I have been exceptionally busy lately! However, thanks to paddynprongsie, I edited this chapter I had written months ago and posted it for you all! I hope that it's length (20 Word pages!!!) makes up for some of the insane time gap. It is likely that the next chapter you will see after this will be in late December; when I had time to write I was having trouble with the next chapter- it wasn't coming out quite like I wanted, so it's going to take me some time to get it right.

Anyway- enjoy!

-AAA

P.S. There are some song lyrics in this chapter. Kudos to anyone who can pick them out!

"After your three years here you will be given a series of exams. If you satisfactorily pass these exams then you will earn yourselves the ability to work as an auror. You may choose to accept our offer of a position at the British Ministry or sit for the tests of another country. During your first year as an auror in the British Ministry you will do rotations through the five divisions within the auror department. At the end of the year the Division Heads will convene and decide where to place you. The majority of you will be placed in Field Agents, many in Surveillance and Recon, those more suited to desk jobs will be placed in Investigation and Planning, some will go in Security, my old division, and a select few will join Special Ops.

"For the following year you will be paired with a mentor in your new division. After that time training is considered complete; you are then given a partner whom you will be stuck to until you of you dies so I advise you not to piss him off on the first day," joked Philip Norfolk, the instructor of Auror Protocol. He had just finished the unit on security and now he could finally get into the "fun" stuff and relive his glory days in the department.

Sirius led most of the aurors in chuckling half-heartedly at Norfolk's attempt to be funny. The rest appeared interested and entertained, except one troublesome trainee.

"POTTER!" bellowed the instructor. "Pay attention!"

"Yes sir!" exclaimed James, his attention having been effectively recovered.

This was not the first time James had been caught unaware in class; in fact it was almost routine for him to zone out at least once every class. It was partially understandable; the classes were tedious and boring, though necessary. However, James had volunteered to be an auror and thus attend auror training; therefore it was assumed that he would want to learn the necessary information. James was a disappointment to all of his instructors; they had expected better from Christopher Potter's son.

Sirius was behaving the exact opposite of James. While James rarely visited the library, wrote the bare minimum for his essays, and never volunteered in class, Sirius spent every hour not at the gym at the library, wrote essays with lengths that would make Lily proud, and was a regular teacher's pet. However he was also a disappointment to his instructors.

The instructors went over Sirius's case with a fine-tooth comb. In his file they found testimony after testimony from his teachers about what an exuberant, personable, and inspiring leader Sirius was. He was a charmer, convincing classmates and students alike to adore him. Also he lightened every situation, always knowing exactly what to do or say to raise everyone's spirits.

The instructors saw none of this Sirius Black. They found a serious and studious young man who rarely associated with his peers and never engaged in any conversation that wasn't academically relevant. Every once in a while they would see a glimmer of the man he could be, the auror they wanted on their team, but all too soon he clocked himself in solemnity once more.

At the end of class Norfolk called, "Potter, Black, you're both to see the Director immediately. Follow me."

As James and Sirius filed out of the room before the rest of the class they met with many sympathetic looks. No one especially liked the two trainees because they kept mainly to themselves, but they were still sad to see that they were being expelled already.

James and Sirius shared one horrified look as they entered the hallway and then diverted their gazes to the floor, dumbly following their instructor to their doom.

"You're up first Black," said the instructor emotionlessly as they stopped in front of a dingy looking door that both trainees had taken for a janitorial closet. "Knock and enter."

Sirius's fist trembled a bit as he knocked but neither of his companions commented. As Sirius stepped into the office his shock dissipated, leaving only pure fear and crushing disappointment. He had done everything he could to be a normal student, never uttering a negative statement, participating in class, doing all of his schoolwork on time, and yet he was still being expelled only a month into training. What was he going to tell Mr. and Mrs. Potter?

"Sirius," the Director greeted him cordially from behind his enormous mahogany desk. "At ease. Please sit."

Sirius was glad that he could relax his formal stance and sink into one of the plush green armchairs in front of the desk. For some reason he had pictured hard wooden chairs, but he wasn't complaining that his last few moments at the academy were spent in relative physical comfort.

After a tense moment in which Sirius squirmed under the Director's intense gaze, Sirius said, "You wanted to see me sir?"

"Yes I did," agreed the Director as he reclined in his chair, the scrutiny over. "Did you know that ultimately the decision to let you into the Academy fell into my hands?"

"No sir," mumbled Sirius.

"It was a difficult decision. The committee spent days on your case debating your character, family background, test results… until finally they set the decision in my hands. I struggled with the case for a day or so and then called in Christopher Potter."

Sirius paled at the mention of his surrogate father. Christopher had put so much on the line for him and he had thrown it all away.

"Did you know that I mentored Christopher? Back in the years just after Grindelwald I was the second Captain in Special Ops. I hand selected Christopher and had him promoted to Special Ops before his first postgrad year was even over. I saw incredible potential in him from the first day he set foot in my department. Obviously I wasn't mistaken.

"Christopher was the last candidate I ever undertook as a mentor. Every candidate I saw after him was just a let-down; no one else was worth my effort. However, I have the same feeling about a trainee in this class as I did all those years ago. Christopher's statement only made me positive."

"James?" asked Sirius in a small voice.

"No my dear boy!" exclaimed the Director as he boomed with the friendly laughter that few trainees were ever allowed to hear. "It's you!"

"Me?!" asked Sirius, his voice deep with shock.

"Yes you," said the Director, clearly amused. Sirius could hardly believe that this was the same hardass who had stood in front of the new class and scared most of them to death. "I admitted you because Christopher knew you had the potential to become a great auror. I have kept you here because I know that you have the potential to become a great auror.

"However, you haven't been showing your true self here. While I admire your single-minded dedication to your schoolwork, essays and tests are not everything. The Academy is a boarding school because we want you to bond with your fellow trainees. You must learn to trust each other to be able to function properly in your teams, and the necessary level of trust requires years to build.

"I have never said this to a trainee before, but Sirius, concentrate on your studies a little less. I want you to express your true self; make friends, pull pranks, make sarcastic comments in class. Just be yourself. I admitted Sirius Black the partying prankster, not this bookworm perfect student I've seen these past few weeks. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal," stated Sirius lightheartedly. He hadn't felt so good in weeks.

"Good, now send in that best mate of yours," he said dismissing the young trainee.

"Yes sir!" Sirius said as he rose and nearly danced out of the room. He wasn't being expelled!

"Your turn mate," said Sirius with a barely concealed smile of glee. He didn't even think that James wouldn't receive similar news.

James, who had been sitting on the floor against the wall slumped over his raised knees, sighed and got up. He looked old, old and tired, not like the carefree and full of life James Potter that Sirius knew.

"See you later mate," mumbled James as he brushed by Sirius.

Sirius, like the good friend he was, decided to wait for James, so he settled down and made himself comfortable. Then he took out some parchment and a quill from his bag and proceeded to write Lily a letter about the day's wonderful news.

"Hello Potter," said the Director coolly, all traces of the friendly and fatherly mentor gone.

"Sir," James greeted him as he stood at attention in front of the desk, his face a mask of impassive marble.

"I leave this Academy exactly twice a year, for your mother's Christmas party and for your father's annual auror reunion. Your father comes here to visit me on a monthly basis, and we exchange letters far more often than that. This being established I will tell you that your father has informed me about most of your life; I could probably write your biography. He has been telling me since the day you were born, I was there at the hospital that day, that you were destined to be at this academy.

"Obviously he was right, you are here. However, even your friend Peter could have gotten in with a last name like Potter. And I don't think you realize this, but even a Potter can be expelled. Over this past month I have watched you strut around here like you own the place, like you're above everyone and everything. Learning seems to bore you, and you consider yourself superior to your instructors, every single one of whom had active roles in the battle against Grindlewald and for this, if nothing else, deserve your respect.

"Yet you continue to barely scrape by! I want to know, right now, if you are here because it is your father's dream or because it is your dream."

"Mine," answered James sharply.

Angered, Striker rose from his desk and stepped in front of James. Although shorter, the older man seemed to tower over the younger.

"I am ready to send you packing this minute. Your lack of enthusiasm, of desire, is grounds enough for me to say that you'll never make it. You have to fight to stay here, starting now. Fight! Make me let you stay!" shouted Striker as spit flew from his mouth, desperately trying to inspire the morose trainee before him.

James really had to fight to even work up enough emotion to make a convincing argument. For so long he had allowed himself to exist in a pit of despair, a very comfortable and easy place. He just went through the motions, not allowing himself to feel anything: not the joy of making new friends, or the shame of being lectured by instructors. However, Striker's spit seemed to have magical qualities, because it finally broke through James's self-imposed walls, and allowed the old James Potter to shine through.

"I have what it takes sir," said James, his voice quiet at first, but gaining strength as he went. "I belong here not because my dad is a great auror but because I completed all of the qualifications. I passed every test you threw at me with flying colors; I perform well under pressure, I am a natural leader, and a damn good duelist. And unlike many of my peers I have an incentive. Many trainees are from other countries; they don't know what this war is like."

"And you do?" asked Striker skeptically as he rested his body against his desk, coolly surveying James.

"On many levels yes. I was involved in a death eater attack on King's Cross Station last fall, my friends were tortured in August, and my dad is at risk all the time. Also, as Head Boy, it was part of my responsibilities to comfort the students who lost family and friends in this war. I have seen the damage done by Voldemort and his cronies in so many different ways. Unlike many others here, I have something to fight for."

"What are you fighting for?" asked Striker mockingly. "Peace? Equality? Love? These are abstract qualities that will desert you the moment fear strikes. I have seen your kind before; they end up in the permanent ward at St. Mungo's."

"No!" said James furiously. "I am fighting for my girlfriend!"

"And what happens when you break up with her? You'll stop fighting?"

"No!" yelled James. "I will always fight for her and every other muggleborn! I watched her be prejudiced against for seven years because she has a muggle family. Almost subconsciously everyone always sided against her! They may not have been death eaters or even blood purists, but there is something in every wizard, some sort of superiority engendered by the fact that we can do magic and others can't, that causes them to look down upon others. I am fighting to end that."

"In other words, you are fighting for truth, equality, fairness."

"There's a difference. I am not fighting for abstract and fancy theories. I am fighting for these things in the concrete. I am fighting to end the nightmares my girlfriend has because she has been tortured by death eaters twice already, fighting to stop first years from becoming orphans, fighting to stop families from breaking apart because of differing opinions and deaths. I don't fight for things; I fight for people," concluded James, his chest heaving from his emotional speech.

Striker smiled. "Now there is the James Potter I know! Don't lose yourself again. Now go, and don't make me call you in here again, because next time you'll be out. Dismissed."

"Sir," said James nodding as a sign of respect. He then left. As soon as he exited he breathed a sigh of relief.

"How about some one-on-one Quidditch?" asked Sirius as he rolled up his letter.

"Sounds great," said James, the first genuine smile on his face since he had left home. "But why don't we see if we can scrounge up two whole teams?"

"Even better," agreed Sirius.

The dream team was back together once more. Starting on that day they began to conquer the Auror Academy, just as they had had Hogwarts wrapped around their little fingers. The young men were their charismatic selves and everything fell into place. Life was good again.

-----

"We meet again Aphrodite," said Teddy cockily.

"So it seems," responded Lily dryly.

"I think we would make a good couple," continued Teddy.

"I don't think so," said Lily, her focus still on the path in front of her.

"Why not?"

"Because I already have a boyfriend whom I love very much," stated Lily wearily. "I've told you that every day for the past week."

"And every day I find you to be the only girl here who can keep up with me during our morning runs."

"And the ego emerges again," quipped Lily. "Personally I see it as you being the only boy here who can keep up with me."

"Did you run a lot back home?" asked Teddy, still trying to make conversation.

"Yes," said Lily, her teeth gritted.

"So did I. I put myself on a very strict physical training routine when I was twelve. These morning runs are like a cakewalk. I used to run up mountains! I find it so humorous to watch the others lag behind us every morning. They were stupid to focus on only the academics. I knew since I was five that I wanted to come here, so I have kept my focus on advancing my whole person," boasted Teddy. "I am mentally, physically, and socially skilled. I am a complete package."

"You know, you remind me a lot of my boyfriend, except you lack his charm, kindness, bravery, physique, good looks, and kissing prowess," mocked Lily.

Teddy was silent after that. Lily mentally sighed in relief.

Every morning at six a.m. all of the students went on a run. Each person ran as far as they could as fast as they could and marked their progress on the trail that wound through the woods near the Institute. So far only Teddy and Lily had finished the ten kilometer run. Teddy was right in assuming that most of his peers were purely the brainy type. They all started together, but Teddy, Lily and a few others quickly raced ahead of the others. Slowly they would all fall behind, leaving Teddy and Lily alone. That was when Teddy would begin to pester Lily; it was often the highlight of his day.

"You know that you're going to date me one day," said Teddy suddenly breaking the silence. He looked over at the feisty red-head beside him and grinned cockily.

"Am I going to be drunk because I feel like that's the only way you would get me to be alone with you."

Teddy spread his arms wide and turned around. "It looks like we're alone right now. Technically, this could be considered a date."

"It is not a date," spat Lily. She was already feeling guilty enough that she had been forced to cheat on James on her first day at school, especially since he was so insecure about her being there in the first place.

"I think it is," said Teddy in a teasing voice.

"I think I'm going to punch you in the face," threatened Lily as she increased her pace.

Teddy easily matched her stride and continued, "I think that you're really fun to tease. You get so hot and bothered."

Lily refrained from answering because her temper was just short of the boiling point. Subconsciously she thought about how James used to make her blood boil when he was trying to get her to date him.

"And when you get hot and bothered, I get very… aroused."

"Shut your mouth while you still have one," said Lily as she picked up the pace again.

"You want to do something to my mouth?" asked Teddy as he feigned shocked. "Why Madame Goddess, I'm honored!"

"You won't like what I'm going to do to you," Lily ground out.

"Personally I'm into the rough stuff. When it's love if it isn't rough it isn't fun," he said grinning, seemingly unaffected by the intense physical exercise.

"Isn't there some other girl you can bother?" asked Lily, fighting to control both her breathing and her temper.

"No one else interests me like you do," he said simply.

"Then you must be a masochist because you only interest me as a punching bag," retorted Lily.

"Your sardonic wit amuses me, your body entrances me, and your talent intrigues me. There is no other girl."

"I've dated guys like you before; generally when I'm through with them they go crying back home to their mothers."

"I'm built of sterner stuff than your wimpy English blokes," Teddy informed her.

"Well I'm not a passive Swedish milkmaid," countered Lily.

"That's what I like about you; the whole 'milkmaid' thing: been there, hit that. I'm ready to try something new."

"Then go seduce an Italian because I am not interested!"

"There's no chase there; the chase is half the thrill that is you. I like the 'hard-to-get' girls."

"I'm not 'hard-to-get', I am 'impossible-to-get'!"

"That's what you say now," smirked the Swede. "You'll be singing a different tune before you know it."

"The only tune I'll be singing is your funeral march!" huffed Lily as she put on a final burst of speed to end the run.

Teddy didn't bother to increase his pace this time; he was enjoying watching Lily run from behind way too much.

"You are such a prick," Lily spat as Teddy strolled out of the forest. She was too smart not to guess what he was doing behind her.

"It's all part of my charm," he said jovially. Unlike Lily, he wasn't doubled over, panting and gasping for breath.

"What charm?" she gasped, sending him a death glare.

"The charm that is already starting to seduce you. Don't think I don't see how you look at me," he joked.

"I don't look at you of my own free will, but if I must look at you it's a glare that says I want to punch you!"

"Me thinks the lady doth protest too much."

"I'm warning you for the last time: don't mess with me!" she shouted as she turned around and stomped away from him. "And stop looking at my ass!"

Teddy chuckled and continued staring at her retreating form.

A young man called Freddie by most, looked at Teddy and said, "You're asking for trouble."

"And I am hoping that trouble is what I get," joked Teddy in response as he joined the young man in cool-down stretching.

"Somehow I doubt that you are going to get her," said Freddie.

"I'll get her," said Teddy positively. "It's only a matter of time."

"If you say so," said Freddie shrugging.

-----

"He is such a prat!" fumed Lily as she stormed into the suite she shared with three other girls and four boys.

"Teddy bothering you again?" asked Vicky as she towel-dried her hair. She was one of the many students who had never volunteered for physical exercise; as such, she and the majority of the school had already showered and changed into normal clothes by the time Lily returned from her run.

"Yes!" shouted Lily as she started stretching.

"I don't know why you don't just beat him up and get it over with," replied Anna easily.

"There's only one thing in her way," remarked Francesco. "Respect."

"Damn those fundamental principles," jested Ken. He, who looked remarkably like the American "Ken" doll and thus received the moniker from Vicky, and Francesco, who looked nothing like an Italian supermodel because he had a much darker complexion and different features owing to the fact that he was a native of Kenya, were constantly amused by Teddy's antics. They only wished that he was one of the four boys in their suite, so that they could see the encounters between Lily and Teddy firsthand.

"It's not funny Ken," said Lily as she gave him a friendly shove that resulted in him falling off of the armrest he had been sitting upon. "Now that's funny."

"You are interrupting my study time!" barked Angelica as she rushed out of her room and into the common area that all four bedrooms branched off of. She had received her name much like Francesco; it was ironic because her personality was nothing like an angel. She was solely focused upon book learning; she was entirely uninterested in any type of knowledge that was outside of written words. While her fellow roommates played cards or went out in the evenings, she stayed in the room she shared with Anna and read.

After Angelica had stomped back into her room and slammed the door, everyone rolled their eyes.

"I'm begging you," said Anna as she turned to her suitemates. "Will one of you please let me move into your room?"

The others laughed. Anna asked that same question at least four times a day, and every time she was turned down, not because the others didn't care that she had to suffer sharing a room with Angelica, but because there was no way that another bed would fit in the tight quarters that were their bedrooms.

"I'll even sleep on the floor!" she said desperately.

"Sorry Anna-banana," said Ken as he regained his former position on the armrest. "No can do."

"She's probably just nervous because everything's still new," said Francesco kindly. "I'm sure she'll become more relaxed with time."

"Doubt it," said Vicky in a sing-songy voice.

"Hey everyone!" called Tim in his booming voice as he entered the suite. He was an extremely large young man, the same size as Ken and Francesco put together, thus the nickname "Tiny Tim." He was also extremely motivated; although he was clearly not in shape, he went on the morning run and did his best every day. It took him much longer than his comrades, but he went as far as most of the others nonetheless.

"Hey Tim," they chorused. Everyone liked Tim; he was a big Canadian softie who was always ready with a smile and a dumb joke.

"Laurie's in the house!" said Lawrence as he stepped out from behind Tim. Lawrence was a Polish boy with classic Polish features: wavy blonde hair, extremely pale skin, and ice blue eyes. He was also extremely charismatic and he and Tim had bonded almost instantly. Everyday Laurie did his best on the run and then waited for Tim at the end, cheering for each person as they emerged from the woods. Although physically very different, the two young men were so alike they could have been brothers. After only a week as roommates, people were already joking that they must have been separated at birth.

"We still have to pick a team name," commented Anna as the boys settled down into the lounging area.

At the Institute the students were separated into teams of eight by their suite. There were twelve full teams and a thirteenth team that was comprised of the remaining four students, usually the two brightest women and the two brightest men. Each team selects their name during the two week adjustment period and then they are stuck with it for the next few years.

The students can earn points for their team by holding a record of some kind. However, the points are taken away if someone else breaks that record. The students can earn points as a team by competing in various contests such as team dueling, or academic or physical decathlons.

"The cool kids?" suggested Ken.

"The funny people?" joked Lily as she continued to stretch in the corner.

"The attractive team?" said Ken as he eyed Lily.

"Laftkalv?" suggested Vicky.

"What?" asked several people at once.

"It's our initials all put together, I can't help the fact that we are lacking vowels!" pouted Vicky, who thought her idea was very good.

"I like it," said Anna slowly, as she savored the idea.

"Me too," agreed Francesco. "I've heard some of the other team names and they are not as good as this."

"I know, eh?" said Laurie. "Today someone told me that his group name was 'The Rabid Wildebeests' and yesterday I heard about 'The Purple Onions.'"

"My favorite so far is 'The Smart Team.' Obviously if you're here you're smart," remarked Anna.

"I haven't heard of anyone that made up a word yet," commented Lily.

"How about 'The Attractive Laftkalvs'?" asked Ken jokingly.

"I love it!" gushed Vicky and Lily at the same time.

"That's fine with me," said Tim with a rumbling laugh.

"I'm in!" shouted Laurie exuberantly.

"Me too," said Anna.

Nodding his head, Francesco said, "I think it's very fitting seeing as we all are rather attractive people."

"Damn straight!" said Vicky as she punched the air to emphasize her point.

"Let's take an official vote," suggested Anna.

"Shouldn't we consult Angelica?" wondered Tim.

"Nose goes!" announced Vicky. Vicky had introduced 'nose goes' their first day, and the rest of the suite's occupants had quickly adopted the game. In the game when there was a task that no one wanted to do, someone would call out "nose goes" and the last person to put their finger to their nose would be obligated to complete the task.

"You lose Li-Mei!" announced Vicky triumphantly.

"But my knee was touching my nose," whined Lily. The name Li-Mei had stuck with her after everyone watched her time and time again be as nasty as can be to Teddy one minute, and as sweet as a flower to someone else the next. The 'pretty' part was obvious.

"Fingers only," said Anna, who was elated that she didn't have to deal with her roommate.

"Fine," said Lily as she jumped up from the floor and proceeded toward the door that led to Anna and Angelica's room. She knocked, let herself in and shut the door behind her. After about a minute there was some shouting which was followed by Lily quickly letting herself out of the room.

"She said she would prefer 'The Academic Elite Eight,'" Lily informed the group.

The group laughed.

"All in favor of 'The Attractive Laftkalvs' raise your hand," said Anna. After she counted to seven, she announced, "The Attractive Laftkalvs it is!"

"I would like to make a motion that no one tells anyone else what a 'Laftkalv' is," said Lily with a grin.

"All in favor," said Anna. "Motion passed unanimously!"

"I bet that no one will be able to guess what it is," said Ken with a large grin. "They'll drive themselves crazy trying to figure it out!"

"This is going to be great!" predicted Laurie.

"Well all you Laftkalvs, let's get moving; breakfast will be over in ten minutes," said Francesco.

"Grab me some sort of fruit," Lily requested as she darted into the room she and Vicky shared to grab her shower caddy and a change of clothes. Lily's roommates were accustomed to grabbing breakfast for Lily to eat in the few minutes before class because her runs took so long that she never had time to actually go to the hall to eat.

"I'm thinking waffles this morning," said Tim. Like Lily, he too didn't have enough time after his run to eat breakfast.

"With syrup or butter?" asked Laurie, who was in charge of getting breakfast for Tim. Laurie always showered directly after his run and then returned to the woods to wait for his buddy.

"I'm feeling like some syrup today," said Tim as he paused in the doorway to his room, his girth almost taking up the entire space.

"Want some bacon wrapped up in that?" asked Laurie, who was already known for the brilliant breakfast sandwiches he constructed for Tim.

"Yeah, and throw some eggs in while you're at it," requested Tim.

"I'm on it!" said Laurie as he saluted Tim and exited the suite. "Farewell Laftkalvs!"

The rest of the Laftkalvs followed, joking about their new name.

-----

"Hey guys," said Alice casually as she found Sirius and James trying to outdo each other while lifting weights. "A few of us were going to set up a dueling tournament. Only first years so we're pretty much all at the same level. A couple of the third years promised they would referee. You in?"

"Hell yes!" said James as he put down his weights.

"It's about time this baby got some action," said Sirius as he grabbed his wand and stroked its smooth and familiar wood.

"Great!" exclaimed Alice, her round face alight with excitement. "Go sign up with Henry on field three. Everything should be starting in a few minutes."

"See you there!" James and Sirius called as they grabbed their gear and scrambled out of the room.

Alice watched them go for a minute. She didn't know how it had happened but those two boys had wormed their way into her heart as surely as they have captured her best friend's heart. She had resisted at first; they were too loud, too gorgeous, too rich, too popular, and too messy for neat and sensible Alice. But Marly and Lily had been there to hold her hand as she got her feet wet in the infinite pool that is the Marauders and before she knew it she had dunked her head just as absolutely as her friends.

She had watched them the past two weeks scared by what they had become, yet clueless as to what she could do to help. They were quiet and serious and once again Alice felt like she needed an instruction booklet to know how to act around them. She heard her classmates whisper about the two, and she wanted to stand up and scream that they were the best friends anyone could ask for- loyal and brave and funny and kind- and everyone should just leave them bloody well alone, but her courage failed her. For the first time in seven years she didn't have her two pillars of strength beside her and she was afraid of being alone, so she said nothing. She said nothing and a little bit of her died. She tried to console herself by saying that she was just a girl and none of the boys would listen to her anyway, that she was just a girl, outnumbered by the male dominated field and wouldn't make a difference, but she still felt as if she was betraying the two men she had grown to love.

She loved them for what they had done for Lily. They had coaxed her out of her shell, kept her secrets, and convinced her of her worth in a way that she and Marlene never could. She and Marlene had kept Lily alive, but James and Sirius had given her her life back. For that she would be eternally grateful.

Alice smiled softly; the two men had long since left her sight, but their presence still lingered. Finally she turned and went to recruit more people for the tournament.

The tournament went well. All twenty-nine first year trainees showed up to prove themselves and gauge the talent of their comrades. Most of the upper level trainees as well as the instructors showed up to watch.

Alice did well, making it to the quarterfinals and surprising many of her classmates. They had severely underestimated the slightly chubby and short girl with the kind face and gentle curls. That facilitated many easy wins for the girl who had learned to hold her own against Marlene and Lily, her fierce and talented friends. In her last match she fought a man from Bulgaria named Mihail; he was twice her size and seemed extremely fierce as he immediately launched into a fury of attacks.

As Alice dodged and threw up shields to protect herself she remembered what Lily had said as she had watched a duel between Alice and Marlene. Impatient Marlene had done exactly what Mihail was attempting; she had cast several spells in rapid succession hoping one would hit and then when one did she launched more while Alice was down. Marlene won without allowing Alice to ever respond. Lily had quietly told Alice that while that strategy may seem impressive and scary and could be effective if one didn't know how to counter it, really it was to mask the caster's fear and inadequacy. Lily had then told Alice to just wait out the attack and look for the opportune moment to cast one really good spell. After being pulled to her feet by Lily, Alice went back up against Marlene, and while she was beaten again, she landed a few good hexes that time. She only improved with time and developed a strategy of her own to combat Marlene-esque fighters.

Alice used those skills she had cultivated during those many hours spent with Lily and Marlene sharpening their skills and reviewing spells for their N..s. As she concentrated on protecting herself she felt a pang of grief; she missed her best friend. The Auror Academy was a strange and intimidating place and Alice wished that Lily was there to make it familiar. Lily also always subconsciously took the spotlight, which allowed Alice to step back and watch. Alice was comfortable with shadows, but here there was no one to hide behind; she had to stand in her own sunlight and she wasn't sure how to handle it without getting burned.

Finally Alice saw her opening. She silently cast Expeliarmus, thinking of how Marlene had spent hours practicing silent spells with her because she had such trouble with them. She made a mental note to write to Marlene to thank her because the spell hit and worked. Her opponent's wand soared out of his reach and into her hand. Then thinking that she had won, Alice turned around to walk out of the battle area. That was a mistake.

As soon as she turned her back to the man he ran and tackled her. He grabbed the wand that rolled out of her hand and pressed its tip to her neck.

Alice panicked; she couldn't breathe and she was so shocked that she was suddenly on the ground and losing. The pain that extended over much of her body also clouded her vision. She could feel her hands and face start to become wet and sticky; she assumed that it was blood oozing from the cuts she had received as she had slid along the rocky ground. Dimly she registered the crowd's cheer as her opponent was proclaimed the winner.

"Alice?" asked a soft yet deep voice. "Alice can you hear me?"

Alice took a shuddering breath and choked back a scream. Tears began leaking from her eyes.

"Alice, my name is Frank Longbottom; I'm going to take you to the infirmary now," said the calm voice.

As she was picked up and carried off the field in the strong and able arms of Frank Longbottom, Alice dimly thought that she was turning into Lily. Then she blacked out.

Meanwhile Frank was concentrating solely on not tripping or dropping the girl in his arms. He was known for his clumsiness and he just hoped that every ounce of grace that he usually possessed while fighting could somehow be mustered in this moment. Frank's humble plea was heard; he even managed to lay Alice on the simple hospital cot without jostling her.

It was then he was able to really take her in. He sat by her side as the healer attended to her injuries and just looked at her. Although he had promised Lily he would look after this girl, he really hadn't had much time to do much more than pass her in the gym or see her from across the mess hall. She had always looked happy and safe so he hadn't paid too much attention. To further ease his conscience for not actually talking to the girl he had kept an ear out to make sure none of his male classmates were bothering her.

Now he was studying her intently. He already knew that she had curly blonde hair, but up close it looked very soft and appealing, even though it was a bit dirty from the fight. Her hair also smelled tantalizing; the sweet scent of strawberries seemed to taunt Frank, inviting him closer and closer. Common sense stopped him; he didn't know anything about this girl. For all he knew she could have a boyfriend.

He jerked his head backward, away from Alice's hair, and tried to content himself with staring at her face. Since the Healer had started with her facial injuries, Frank was free to see her face in its normal state. The first thing that he noticed was her nose. Some critics may have said that it was a bit too big for a lady, but Frank didn't mind. In fact he thought that the way it curved up at the end was very cute. His gaze only remained on her lips for a moment, but his quick surveillance told him that they were rosy and full.

Slowly his gaze roamed over the rest of her features, taking in every aspect. Frank had never felt such a magnetic connection before. Even after the Healer finished and assured Frank that she would be fine when she woke up in the morning, Frank continued to sit in the uncomfortable wooden chair next to her cot and rubbed soothing circles into the back of her hand as he watched her sleep. A herd of rampaging hippogriffs couldn't have moved him from that spot.

-----

"Next up is Potter and O'Brien," announced Henry, the organizer of the event. "Whoever wins this will go up against Mihail Petkov in the semi-finals."

James and Mick O'Brien coolly surveyed each other as they bowed and prepared to attack. Mick was one to shoot his mouth off. The very first day of classes he had informed all of his classmates that he had been privately tutored in his mansion in the outskirts of Dublin and the next year would be a breeze for him. Since that day James had heard many other of Mick's boasts at meals and in the barracks. Privately he hoped he had never been so cocky and arrogant as the Irishman.

"So Potter, did daddy's name get you this far in the competition just like it's gotten you this far in training?" asked Mick mockingly.

James was shocked for a moment, but then he shrugged it off and fired back a taunt of his own. "I've seen you in the gym O'Brien and from what I've seen I'm amazed that you have had the strength to lift your wand this whole time. Maybe daddy should have bought you some muscles when he bought you that brain."

Hot-tempered Mick didn't need another excuse to begin the fight. He shot off spells quickly, but lacked in power. His aim was also poor, though what he lacked in accuracy he made up for in quantity. James spent the first few minutes of their duel merely dodging the spells; he didn't even bother conjuring up a shield. He grinned as he saw how flustered Mick was getting that he could simply outmaneuver him.

The whole time he was remembering a conversation he had had when he first joined the Quidditch team his second year. He had asked the seeker, a sixth year name Dan, how he could possibly catch something as small as the snitch, never mind beat someone there. Dan had replied that it was all about maneuvering. He said that he always watched how the other seeker flew for the first half of the game; then when it came time to fly against him he could predict how he would act and use it to his advantage. Although Dan had a slower and older broom than the three seekers he played against, he always outmaneuvered them and beat them to the snitch.

Although James wasn't chasing the snitch, he was after something just as elusive- victory. After watching Mick for a few minutes he saw how he operated. Then James was ready to launch his counterattack. A few well-cast spells sent Mick flying; he lacked the reflexes of a seasoned Quidditch player and his hastily cast shield had none of the power required to block James's few effective spells.

Mick jumped up with a fire in his eyes. He renewed his assault with twice the firepower. He shot off a volley of spells simultaneously, and in the second before the majority of them hit James, James was impressed. Then James was on his back mentally cursing as he struggled to remain conscious after being hit with three strength-sapping hexes.

"For Christmas you should ask for some skill," said Mick smarmily as he stood over James who was still gasping for breath and strength. Mick stomped on James's wand hand, which was twitching as it tried to gather enough strength to fire off another spell. "This ends now. Stupefy."

"Tough break mate," said Sirius quietly. While Mick was being declared the winner he had awoken James and helped him off the field.

"I think my wrist is broken," James ground out as he tried to move it.

"I grabbed your wand," Sirius informed him as he handed it to him. "You had better head to the infirmary."

"I'll watch your match first," said James like the loyal friend he was. "You had better win because someone has to represent Gryffindor in the final."

"For Gryffindor," said Sirius seriously as he nodded once.

"Levicorpus," James whispered as Sirius walked by him.

Sirius grinned and nodded again. Then he went out into the battle area where Mick was still enjoying the applause of the crowd.

"Alright O'Brien why don't you step out of the ring and let some real duelists compete," said Sirius as he approached the megalomaniac.

"Real duelist?" scoffed Mick. "I just beat your friend using pure skill and strength!"

Sirius smirked. "You may have beaten James this one time, which I'm going to put down to good luck and a lucky hit, but I doubt you would EVER be able to beat even James's girlfriend."

"You don't think I'd be able to beat a girl?" asked Mick skeptically. Sirius's opponent, a burly woman named Tina, immediately took offense to this, but was restrained by the nearby trainees; they wanted to see where this fight would go. "Where is she? I'll beat her right here, right now!"

"She's not here at the Academy," said Sirius.

"She's not even a trained girl?!" laughed Mick. "Name your stakes because I'd be willing to bet ANYTHING that I can beat her."

Sirius cast a glance back at James; he wasn't sure what to ask for. "Your entire chocolate frog card collection." Sirius had heard Mick brag just that morning that his collection was worth over ten thousand galleons.

Stupidly Mick didn't even bother to consider that he shouldn't so readily accept a bet that his opponent was so sure he would win. He probably should have found out some details about Lily before he agreed. For example the fact that she was at the International Institute for Incredibly Talented Wizards or that she had a perfect score on all of her N.E.W.T.s. "Alright," he said cockily. "And when I win I want every galleon you have."

Mick probably should have done some more research about the Black family. His father was a wealthy merchant and often did business with the Black family. Therefore Mick assumed that they were rich and so their son would also be rich. He should have paid more attention to what other people said instead of just listening to himself. Then he would have found out that Sirius had been disowned and didn't have a sickle to his name.

"I can't wager my family's money," said Sirius thoughtfully, pretending that he actually cared about losing his family's wealth. "But I bet every coin I have in my personal vault that Lily Evans, James's girlfriend, can beat you in a duel."

"Deal," said Mick firmly. He shook Sirius's hand and then Sirius said, "Good, now get off the field."

Mick sauntered off the field, totally enthralled by the millions of galleons he was convinced would be added to his vault very shortly.

"Don't go easy on me because I'm a girl," Tina told Sirius sternly. As soon as he had finished with Mick he had turned around and jumped when he saw that Tina was merely centimeters away from his face. She was one intense woman.

"I wouldn't dream of it; I know what women are capable of," he said in a slightly flirtatious voice.

"Save it Black," spat the aggressive woman. "Let's do this."

"Alright," said Sirius backing up a step while holding his hands out in a placating way. This woman was already furious at him and he hadn't even done anything yet. She reminded him of Marlene, except Marlene had had a motive to be nasty to him.

Tina turned sharply and took her place, while Sirius focused himself and walked to his place too. The pair bowed and while Tina seemed like she was going to take the time to check him out, Sirius was as impatient as always and he fired a strong spell right off the bat.

Tina, who hadn't been expecting the attack, barely had enough time to construct a hasty shield. She glared at Sirius as the shield shimmered and then disappeared as the spell hit. Reminding Sirius of Lily, when Tina was hurt she instantly jumped to anger. She fired off three spells in rapid succession. Sirius dodged them easily. He wasn't as fast or as graceful as James (though during discussions like those he merely brought up the fact that his hair was much more graceful than James's) but he was still able to escape the spells and grin cockily about it.

The grin, the grin that made girls swoon and teachers grimace, really set Tina off. The volley of curses and hexes that she set his way only made Sirius grin. He was glad that he could still affect girls, could bother them like this. After Marlene he had been afraid to get into another relationship because she was so bloody sensitive he didn't want to lose her as a friend and thus ruin the dynamic of their group of friends. Also they still snogged occasionally, so he was somewhat satisfied in that department.

Sirius dodged a few more spells and then surprised Tina by actually decreasing the distance between them. He rushed at her and zig-zagged to her right side and then rolled into a crouch. Then he fired off a few hexes and smiled as the spells didn't go through her shield, just around it. She dropped to the ground and the battle was finished. She hadn't even seen it coming.

Sirius was like that; he did the unexpected. No one expected him to be sorted into Gryffindor, to make friends with a Potter, to run away from home, to befriend Lily, to have a steady girlfriend, or to go to the Auror Academy. He had done all that and so much more.

Sirius went on to the semi-finals but was defeated. However he did go out in a blaze of glory. He had cast a levicorpus and was laughing so hard as Mihail thrashed around while being suspended in midair by his ankle, that he didn't see the stunning spell coming toward him. Lesson learned: no laughing until the opponent is dead or stunned.

A/N. Well hello again! How was your chapter 49 experience? I can't wait to hear about it! Here are some questions for you:

Were you surprised by how James and Sirius were acting at the beginning of the chapter? At the end?

Were you surprised by the outcomes of the duels and the dueling styles of the auror trainees?

Who do you think will win the epic battle between O'Brien and Evans?

What do you think of the name that Lily's team picked?

What do you think of dear Teddy? Of the Laftkalvs?

What do you think of the Auror Academy and the Institute so far?

What do you think of the fluff between Frank and Alice?

What are the song lyrics in this chapter, plus name of the artist and title of the song? I am prepared to name a character after anyone who can guess all three (the name of a future Marauder girlfriend for the first correct response)!

Well that's it for now! I look forward to hearing from each and every one of you!