[Edited 07/25/16]

Previously, in Chapter 4…

"D'you mind if we join— since when are compartments this big? Wormtail, this could fit four of you in here with us!" a male voice sounded from the door. Just gotta finish this sentence...

"Oh sure thing, come on i—"

Oh. My. Goodness gracious.

It's them.

And they're talking to me. Not talking to someone else, not talking to each other.

They are looking at and talking to me.

Even their friend Peter is here!

I must have been staring at the four very handsome, very REAL boys for a good few seconds too long before I managed to pull myself together. It was like I was in a cartoon; I had to literally shake my head back into place before any words actually came out of my mouth.

"I-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean ta be uhh... rude! Have I... Seen y'all somewhere?"

Heck yeah I have, nearly every night since I was 4.

I watched James, Remus, Peter and Sirius slowly make their way into the compartment, being observed by the four in return— shoot! I'm not supposed to know their names! Keep it together, Elizabeth, just breathe.

"Maybe we saw you at Diagon Alley," Sirius suggested, nudging Remus, who sat down next to him.

"Die-a-gone alley..." What the holy hippogriffs was- "Oh! Is that how y'all say that? Gawd, I thought it was Diagon'lly! Like, it was a diagonal street!"

"No, not quite," Remus replied as James put his bag up on the racks. "Though I suppose it could still be true."

My suitcase, propped against the wall, caught James' attention. "Do you need some help with that..."

"Elizabeth!" I all but shouted. Can you say embarrassing? At best, I could hope he assumed his looks flustered me. He really is a cutie, tall and athletic; the excuse could make sense, if I look as mortified as that felt. Play it cool, I told myself, you don't know them. It's just making new friends, no problem.

I made myself take a deep breath in and out, calming my heartbeat to allow me to focus on the conversation at hand. "Elizabeth Hartly," I tried again. A much better introduction! "And I sure could use your help, I'll bet I'm not near as strong as ya look."

James grinned, looking pretty pleased with himself when he lifted my bag like it was nothing. I admit, I really was impressed. I know what I packed in there, and it sure wasn't nothing!

"Thank you so much-! Uh... I guess I dunno who you are," I tried, sounding as nervous as a little first year. It was ridiculous! I must have imagined actually talking to these boys a hundred times, already knowing their habits and quirks, their personalities and patterns. It was supposed to be fun, not this nerve-wracking, heart-pounding stress fest! Well, it wasn't supposed to ever happen, actually. But still!

"Sirius Black," Sirius jumped in immediately, sending me a wink. Saved by the flirt! He never was a shy one, especially not with girls. His first kiss had been such an anxious event for him.

Wait a second, did that really happen? Am I allowed to keep thinking about that? It seems so wrong now!

"Charmed, I'm sure," I answered, smiling my most convincingly sweet smile. Shaking in my boots? Who, me? Not at all! At least I hoped they couldn't see how nervous I was around them, whatever the reason.

"Remus Lupin, apologizing for... Well, him," Remus told me, making me giggle. He was so clever when he teased his friends! Probably has something to do with all of his studying, keeping his tongue and mind sharp as a tack! I think it makes him a little stiff though- that and the whole lycanthropy issue.

"Remus," I started—it felt too good to be true, saying his name and knowing he could hear me!—with a light laugh, "there's nothin' wrong with a lil bit o' fun. You look like you might even enjoy it if ya gave it a try."

His friends laughed, and Peter introduced himself while the others collected themselves.

"Peter Pettigrew, at the service of anyone who can tease Moony over there that easy! Git's too quick for us."

I snickered a little, leaning over to shake his hand.

"Then I know we'll be great friends Pete, if that's got any hand in it!" I realized what I had said almost immediately after, surprised by my own boldness. "Oh! Is it alright? Me callin' ya that? I'm sorry! I'm gettin' ahead of myself, I know—"

"Elizabeth!" He stopped me, mid-babble with a surprisingly attractive grin. He looked so much better when he was happy. I guess he never got the attention the others always seemed to have for something or another. "It's fine, I'm sure we will be good friends! It's better than whatever name these twits come up with; you've met Sirius, after all!"

"Oi! That's my almost brother!" James defended, taking the seat next to me, closest to the door.

"Well then, Sirius, ya gonna introduce your 'almost brother' then? Or ya think he can do it himself? I know not everyone gets brawn and brains, after all." I really hoped they picked up that I wasn't being mean. Ruby has such a sharp tongue, I'm usually the sweet one by comparison, but this is the first time I'm doing this without my best friend by my side. Even if I wasn't meeting this group, I never imagined making new friends all over again would be so difficult.

"I can do it, thank you very much!" the bespectacled 16-year-old said, standing again. "James Potter, pleased to make your acquaintance," he told me with a silly, overly-pompous tone, giving a mock bow.

"So dramatic, what do you do with him?" I had to joke, grinning at our other compartment-mates.

The boys laughed, and I paused to soak in the moment. I'd spent my entire life thinking I had an overactive imagination, a mess in my own head that dragged me in, but they're real. By Hecate in a handbasket, they're real! Sirius and James and Remus and Peter and Li—

Oh my gosh.

Lily.

Is she real too? And her friend, Alice?

Before I could think too much, Remus asked about my book.

"I bet y'all 've read it a hundred times! 'Hogwarts: A History'? I've got a lot to catch up on; I'm not from your parts, obviously."

"American, aren't you?" Peter asked, looking as if he might be yelled at for judging incorrectly, bless his heart.

"Yessir! Proud Texan, brought to the land with no sunshine and too much snow," I informed them. It came out sounding more bitter than I had intended. I couldn't let it mess up these boys' first impressions of me! I've known them—well, watched and known about them—for years now, but the situation isn't anywhere near the same on their end. What kind of person meets four nice, attractive young men and almost immediately insults their homeland?

"But it's just an adventure!" I added, albeit as more of a side note than anything. "And y'all seem like you turned out alrigh', so I guess it can't be all that bad 'round here!"

"Very cute, really," Sirius told me sarcastically, rolling his eyes. He was smiling though, along with the others, and everything felt just fine.

Actually, it was more than fine; everything felt absolutely perfect.

"Well I thought so," I replied teasingly. "But really, I've got a lot to catch up with here! I only jus' found the part 'bout the houses, which I jus' don't get. Do y'all really hate everybody else so much that y'all can't keep in one bunch?"

"The other houses are alright, but Gryffindor is the best!" Standing in a 'macho man' pose, James went on. "The brave, the bold, the lionhearted!"

"Except Slytherin, they're right foul gits," Peter said, and Sirius appeared to be in agreement. Even someone who didn't know his expressions and quirks could have seen his apparent disgust with the group.

Throughout this, Remus was quiet. He had no comments on houses, just watching with his amused expression. Remus, who always had a clever quip, despite his unofficial assignment to be the nicest of the four, had nothing to say? No way.

"Remus," I called quietly, as he was sitting just across from me, "what do you think of everythin'? You're so quiet all of a sudden."

He opened his mouth and paused, hesitating for some reason. Before he said anything, he pulled out a badge I had seen last month when he got his school letter.

"Don't think I'm really supposed to have a bias... I'm a prefect now, Gryffindor house, sixth year boy..."

I nearly jumped out of my skin when everyone else in the compartment started shouting.

"Blimey mate!"

"No way!"

"Why didn't you tell us, you tosspot?!"

"Good lord, what are y'all screamin' 'bout?"

Everyone stopped to look at me. I must have seemed so ignorant to them, looking more lost than a drunk house elf.

"What's a prefect and why's it such a big deal? Don't shiny badges usually mean good things?"

"You didn't have prefects at... Where did you g—?"

"Doesn't matter!" James interrupted Peter, looking alarmed. "You're the official goody-goody now! We can't have you doing pranks or—"

"How the hell did this even happen?" Sirius shouted, pushing a hand through his hair, dark as his last name. "I thought Frank was our year's prefect!"

"He dropped the job," the newly appointed prefect told his friend. "He said it took too much time from studying, if studying means making sure his girlfriend's lips are attached to his outside of class."

"That's bollocks though!"

Frank... Frank Longbottom? I think I've heard Alice talk about him...

While James was in a panic, frantically murmuring to himself, Remus leaned forward to give me an actual explanation.

"It's a position for fifth, sixth, and seventh years, with a boy and a girl from every year and house. It's like an officer of sorts, to monitor students since the professors can't always be around. A Head Boy and Girl keep track of them, they're seventh years, top students and all."

"That's fantastic though!" I exclaimed, a wide smile stretching across my face. "Congratulations Remus!" I offered, patting his knee.

"What do you mean 'congratulations'? This is terrible! This is—"

"A gift!" I cut James off, rolling my eyes. "At the Academy, we called people like Remus S.O.'s, or Student Officers, and y'all seem ta be mighty close friends with one!" My only response was a set of stony faces. "Well dontcha get it?"

All four of them were staring at me blankly. Indicating to Remus, I set to spelling it out for them.

"You're golden. You've got hall monitorin' schedules at your fingertips, a man on th' inside coverin' for ya, and no one suspects the innocent S.O.! Now I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear y'all chattin' 'bout pranks, and Remus here can jus' do the same. "

Realization dawned on their faces, though Remus looked a little anxious. It was an important job, but he'd never put anyone in danger, not if he could help it. It was his nature, likely some guilt complex about 'already putting too many people in danger without any control of the situation'.

"Elizabeth, you're a bloody genius!" Sirius exclaimed loudly, grinning like a maniac.

"Stop, it's nothin'! You're makin' me blush," I giggled, smiling at their joy. Seeing them happy, and in part because of me, made me feel so much more... Complete. I didn't even know I was missing this in my life until I got to experience it firsthand.

Before I knew what was going on, James was squeezing me in a death grip, or what he probably called a one-armed hug. If I thought he looked strong, I found out firsthand he might as well have been Hercules!

"The Marauders owe you one! Thank you! How did we not come up with that?"

"Prongs, you're going to kill her! She's a witch, not a mermaid; she needs air to breathe," Remus admonished him, even if I could see the way he was trying not to laugh. Traitor.

Suddenly, I could take in air again, James having loosened his grip and switched to a long arm around my shoulder instead.

"She's just so little!"

"Hey, I am not 'little'! 166 centimeters is a very respectable height, I'll have ya know! You're jus' a darn near giant! What are ya, a good 188? 190?" I accused loudly, elbowing him in the ribs.

"Centimeters?" Remus questioned, followed by a dawning expression. "Right, American; you use the metric system," he reminded us all.

"Hang on... Umm... 2.54 centimeters to an inch... so I'm 'round 5 foot 4! Better?" I asked, looking at them. Remus just nodded, but the others looked shocked.

"What? Y'all doin' okay? I didn't really mean ya had giant blood—not that it's always a bad thing—!"

"Are you some genius here to spy on us?" James asked, apparently astonished by my knowledge of basic multiplication.

"James Potter, I am not that blonde!" I informed him, shaking his arm off and standing up. "If you're gonna be like that, maybe I should just sit with Remus and talk 'bout how mean you are!" An empty threat, sure, but a one worth whatever reaction was to come.

"Not without me!" Evidently, Sirius didn't catch the teasing implications I meant to express. Instead, he unexpectedly turned me around and took me down into his lap, his hands resting much too comfortably on my hips. To say the least, it knocked the wind out of me.

"Sirius!" I choked out. "You mangy dog, get your paws off'a me!" I could feel myself blushing up a storm. I mean, I'd seen the oldest Black in action, but I never imagined I'd have to prepare myself for it! He seemed to know way too well what he was doing!

Again, James was my not-so-little hero, kicking what I assume was Sirius' shin. Within a couple seconds, his arms released me, thank Circe! I jumped up just as soon as I had some air, sitting myself back in my original seat.

"See Padfoot? Even she knows you're a right dog!" James laughed, giving him a look, and apparently Sirius got whatever message the younger had for him. Boys.

I hadn't actually realized what I said until James commented. It sure sent me on a trip down memory lane.

Last year, around October, James, Sirius, and Peter completed the intense process of becoming animagi. I had to admire their dedication, not only to Remus, but to helping each other. The process was hard; I can't say that from personal experience, but I did watch every step. Blood, sweat, and, though none of them would ever want to admit it, hard tears went into their ultimate success.

The first step was getting their Patronus Charms under control. James got the hang of it first, probably with the help of all the happy memories I know he had. Sirius and Peter had a little more difficult time, the latter achieving it first. No one really saw how good Peter was with charms, he had a real talent for them! Neither moved on, however, until Sirius got his.T

Next, of course, was the challenge of holding a mandrake leaf in their mouths for an entire month. That was where Remus started getting suspicious, and he certainly wasn't dumb. He finally got Peter to admit what was in his mouth and pieced it together from there. The boys were so worried for Remus, and even in his anger, the werewolf was grateful. The last part of the process was easier with his help. If he didn't offer aid, he knew they would probably manage to accidentally hurt themselves, and before he had even touched them in his other form.

Finally, the three all made it to the starting line and set off for the real challenge. I remember how serious they got when they were concentrating on their task; so serious, I can't even make a joke about Black's name. These boys, usually so lively and mischievous seemed so... Mature. From my perspective, even knowing everything that was going on, it sure seemed like their attitudes were coming right out of nowhere.

This time, Sirius got to the finish line first. His animagus form, a shaggy black dog, was joined not long after by a proud-standing stag, James, and a resourceful rat, Peter. As much good as the three did for Remus during the full moon, and heaven knows he needed the help...

Well, they got up to more troublemaking than anything else. Looking up girls' skirts as a sneaky little rat, or getting attention from the ladies as innocent-looking animals are pretty devious ways to use a skill with originally noble intentions.

I was brought back to the present by the same boys I'd been thinking about, now knowing that these dreams had some real basis.

It's crazy, wrapping my head around the idea that these dreams aren't just dreams. Nothing I've encountered with them now has disproved anything I've learned about them in these dreams. There's only one explanation: everything had to have actually happened. These were no ordinary dreams, they were visions.

But there was no time to dwell on this startling realization. I had to keep my head n straight and respond to whoever it was talking to me...

"Sorry about that, love, couldn't help myself," Sirius apologized, obviously at the silent prodding of James. No one influenced him like his surrogate brother could, a surprising voice of reason even when Remus was around.

"Ya sure caught me by surprise! But I uh... I guess it happens?" Only just falling back into reality again, I gave him a smile, readjusting myself more comfortably.

From there on, conversation felt much easier. There were no awkward pauses. There were too many things to talk about to even consider a break! An hour had gone by before any of us had realized. However, I must note this halt in conversation for one very special alone:

Lily.