As Halloween approached rather quickly, it seemed as though everything and everyone was back to normal before all the weirdness began. Regardless, his life was starting to fall into unpredictable comfort as it was before.

That was until he had made the mistake of snogging Marlene McKinnon.

It was his curiosity and the Prewitt twins to blame for his sudden need to snog a witch. What could be so great about romance, about snogging, and love? The whole bloody idea seemed to be trivial, to be so nonsensical. He truly didn't think such a thing existed. It had to be fake. His parents didn't even love one another, could barely even stand to be in the same room together.

Yet, when James and him had been in the changing rooms with the elder boys on the team after a rough practice, they were in such a rush to get to their girlfriends.

"You may think that witches are gross now," Gideon chucked. "But trust me mate, they are the best thing to exist."

The small offhand comment had him thinking, as it has resulted in several agreements with the other guys. They all talked about their girlfriends and how they couldn't wait to snog them.

He scrunched his nose in disgust.

Snogging seemed like such a waste of time that could be spent pranking people or on the quidditch field with his broom.

"Just wait until you snog a witch Black," Fabian grinned. "You'll have wondered why you hadn't snogged a witch sooner."

Which is why he was here, in the Great Hall. He decided he was going to find a witch to snog as he needed to know if what they said were true. With James in detention, Remus studying with Evans and Peter, Merlin knows where that lad was, he was left to his own devices to find a witch to snog.

One that wouldn't mind for him to snog her and use her to experiment on where the Prewett twins were being honest about snogging and all that romance garbage. He was betting galleons that they were pranking him just for the hell of it.

He had already ruled out several girls just due to their age and house. There was no way in hell that he'd snog a puff or even a slytherin for his experiment. Which left girls in Gryffindor and Ravenclaw that were either in his year or the year below him, but he would prefer a witch in his year.

However, he knew that snogging a few girls in particular in Ravenclaw were off limits just out of respect to Gwen. Although he was quite naive on the subject, he had a feeling if he were to snog one of them, it would be quite the issue.

If he had done the math correctly then that meant that there was a total of twenty eight girls from the houses of Ravenclaw and Gryffindor and in his year that had the potential of snogging. However, he also had to take into account how many of them were currently courting someone and if he remembered who was with who correctly.

The number went down to fifteen girls he could snog, but some of those girls were either at slug club or quidditch practice. This left him just deciding that he would snog the next girl that walked through the doors to the Great Hall.

A girl with dark brunette hair, with dark green eyes strolled into the Great Hall, smiling as she walked towards the Ravenclaw table.

Marlene McKinnon, he had seen her hang out with Evans a few times. She seemed like a nice enough witch, and she was decent enough to look at.

What is the worst that could happen?

Sirius groaned just at the memory of it.

Shaking his head, he just rolled out of bed, grabbing his clothes out of his trunk and heading to the bathroom. Remus had already gotten up and left with Peter for breakfast and James was down in the common room waiting for him.

Coming out dressed in his uniform, he grabbed his wand and schoolbag off his desk and left the room.

"Sirius, mate! There you are, could have sworn that you went back to sleep." James hopped off the couch grinning.

"Trust me I would have." He was tired from staying up late at night after putting his new prank in place. If he was right, there should be some angry puffs right now attempting to clean off the pumpkin juice bombs he had set up right outside their common room.

They walked out of the nearly deserted common room and headed to breakfast. James was chatting about their last quidditch practice and how he wanted to start practicing more for the upcoming game.

The Great Hall was surprisingly still full of students considering class was starting soon. However, he was hungry and he couldn't be arsed about class.

Remus and Peter were already eating and talking once they reached their usual spot. As usual, he had a book propped open in front of him. Rolling his eyes, he took his seat beside James as he continued to talk about Quidditch. Droning him out, he began to start eating, his hand immediately straying to the pancakes. Bringing the piece of it into his man, he saw a flash of white hair in his peripheral.

Momentarily forgetting his hunger, his eyes immediately found her. Hie heart stopped, his breath caught as his eyes followed her gracefully walking across the room, full of confidence and elegance. Her rosy lips turned up into a smile, a beacon of light that illuminated the room. Her lips were moving, speaking to her friends as she began to laugh. A beautiful laughter ringing like a jingle that sounded more like bells. Light and melodious.

His eyes strayed to her eyes, they were wide with adoration, a beautiful shade of dark blue, sparkling with kindness, compassion, and secrecy. A perfected representation of her vibrant personality.

His heart clenched the more he stared at her.

Although they had been close mates for some time, their special friendship, no– their special relationship were rooted from their shared interests but there was something there. Some mutual string that connected them, where they always sought out each other, reached out for one another. They had laughed, worked, and even comforted each other during difficult times. But, deep down, Sirius knew. Knew that his secret he had never shared, something he kept hidden away in the depths of his heart.

For now, he contented himself with watching.

"Ew mate," James snorted. "Are you mental?"

Snapping out of his stupor, he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "What are you on about?"

Remus didn't even bother to look up from his book, "you just spit your food back out onto the table."

Looking down, he grimace. His bite of pancake and syrup stuck to the table. He could have sworn that he had eaten the bite of heaven.

"What are you even staring at?"

James turned his head, only to see nothing.

Sirius breathed a sigh of relief, the object of his affections had already left the Great Hall with her friends to head to class. He'd have to be more mindful to not allow it to happen again.

"Oh are you staring at McKinnon?"

What?

James gestured with a nod towards said witch, sitting with her own friends at the Ravenclaw table. She was smiling at him, waving.

Bloody hell, not her again.

"No," he shrugged. "Witch is rather annoying."

"Hadn't you snogged her?"

Sirius ducked his head, "yes, she is."

Peter chipped in, "rumor has it she is quite obsessed with him now, even going as far as to claiming that they're dating."

"You're not dating her, are you mate?"

Running a hand through his hair, he let out a sigh, "no, I'm not."

Remus finally peeked over at him, "Lily told me that Marlene won't stop talking about you and your snogging abilities."

He groaned.

Snogging a witch was great, but something told him that snogging a witch like Marlene was more trouble than it's worth. His decision would surely come back to bite him in the ass.

Snickering behind her muggle novel, she watched as James, Sirius, Remus and Peter walked from into the Great Hall with scowls as they scanned the entire Hall. Everyone they passed to get to their seats covered their noses from the foul smell that emitted from them as the four boys whispered amongst themselves. As soon as the boys took their seats, people within a ten feet radius had quickly left most likely making their way to their next class as it was lunch time.

James caught sight of her giggles and immediately nudged the other three who were still whispering and nodded his head towards the young Ravenclaw. They stood from their seats and made their way to where she sat. Yet as they walked closer, everyone gagged and immediately left the area in order to escape the wretched scent.

"Gwen," James warned

"Jamie!" She smiled "How are you faring today?" The four boys could tell that she was struggling to stifle her incessant giggles

Sirius and Remus walked over to her side of the table and both plopped down right next to her. Slinging their arms over Gwen's shoulders, they caged her in from escaping the horrid scent and their questioning.

"Do you know who was behind this little prank, cousin?" James placed both his hands on the hardwood table trying his best to look intimidating but it only caused Gwen to snort

"Yes I do," she covered her mouth hoping to smother her laughter but it was hard to when they had no idea what she had in store for them next

"Mind telling us who?" she looked at all four boys before she settled on an answer

"Yes, indeed I do mind"

"We won't let you leave until you tell us who"

Remus stepped in as he was the most logical one out of the four, as he hoped to coax the girl into spilling the small secret. Slipping her hand into her robe, she immediately grabbed her wand and shouted.

"Confundo!"

She pointed her wand towards Remus knowing that he was the weaker one between him and Sirius especially since it was the end of November. Taking the small window of opportunity, she jumped up from her seat and immediately took off running towards the exit. It only took the boys a second to realize what had just happened as they ran after her. Once she was out the doors, she had run across the hall and out into the entrance hall and was immediately grabbed by Toni and Jackie who had been hiding by the door.

The boys skidded to a stop wondering why she had stopped running, but didn't think too much of it as they slowly started advancing towards her. Big mistake. They were doused in water, thanks to Peeves leaving them to fall in their rears, sputtering up water. Laughter from many students had erupted all around the four boys, who merely off their fellow students laughter,

"It was I, Jamie, who was behind this little prank but of course I had help from Peeves," she gestured up to the ghost who merely cackled before zooming off somewhere "and Toni and Jackie."

"You don't play pranks though," Sirius pointed out quickly as he brushed his hair back

"This is just a payback for following me that night with Sev," she smiled before looping arms with both girls who were smiling coyly at the four boys. "We must be off as class starts in ten minutes."

With that they left.

"She's bloody brilliant" Remus was the first to speak as Peter nodded in agreement

"I can't believe that she had the audacity to actually prank me," James stated as he watched her walk back into the castle

"Agreed," Sirius shook his hair of water

"You want to start a prank war with Gwen?" Remus knew they'd lose "This isn't a good idea mate,"

"Just wait dear cousin," James chuckled

"Couldn't she just write to your parents and tell them what you've been doing?" Peter pointed out as he pulled a chocolate frog out of his pocket

James paled at the realization as Gwen often sent letters to his parents as well as her own. She was the daughter his Mother always wanted to have after he was born. Of course, she was unable to have any more children otherwise it would have killed her. Which is why she raised Gwen as her own, to which she was a little sister to him due to their Mothers being best friends since their fourth years.

"That's a risk I'm willing to take," swallowing nervously they all got up and made their way to the boys' lavatory to get cleaned up.

"Wait—" Sirius paused, causing all the boys to stop and stare at him "When had she been in our dorm recently?"

Sirius strode down the halls of the castle, he had just finished serving detention for that prank he had pulled on the puffs the other day. He had spent most of the morning cleaning the artifact room under the watch of Filch.

Stepping out into the courtyard, his gaze settled on his younger brother, who was smiling and carrying on with Antonin and Barty. He watched, half mesmerized and half yearning to speak with his brother. It's been three months since they last spoke, he wouldn't admit it aloud but it hurt his feelings that his own kid brother was ignoring him.

Taking a step back, his heart wavered, unable to decide whether to go to him and confront him or to walk away and leave him be.

Sirius replied, "Blimey. What stick is up your arse?"

Regulus stared down at his feet, "I'm not angry."

"So why are you so angry then?"

Regulus didn't answer, only stared up at him with indifference.

"Why do you hate it here so much?"

He was referring to their house, 12 Grimmauld Place. A house that was dark, cold, and rather grim.

Sirius guffawed, "Because everybody here hates me obviously!"

Although, his parents were happy with his friendship with Gwen. His housing placement and his refusal to help his cousin Bellatrix were stark reminders that he would never grow up to be what they wanted. That they would never see eye to eye. He's been home from his first year for only a month.

Walburga and Orion barely paid any attention to Sirius's presence, after their rather dry reunion and questioning on his grades and relationship with Gwen. They barely looked at him again. Oftentimes, if they needed to speak to him, Walburga would send Kreacher for him. Kreacher would croakily repeat the message for him, but always with his own insults into the mix about being a disgrace.

Regulus snorted, "I don't hate you."

"Yet, you have a funny way of showing it since I was sorted into Gryffindor!"

"I may not hate you but I do find your decisions to be rather ignorant."

It was in that moment that his shy, crying brother had developed into something else in the year that he had been away at school.

His eyes strayed from his group to his own friends, James laughter filling the cold air while Remus also laughed at the expense of Peter, who had been hexed. He was hunched over, vomiting up large slimy slugs.

His lips twitched, smirking.

"Sirius mate! Come join us!" James hollered towards him, "you look mental standing there like that!"

Without a second thought, Sirius decided that he would leave Regulus to decide his own fate. Just as he had made his own decision to walk his own path, even if it meant turning his back on the only people he had ever known.

October had come and gone, the air becoming colder and the skies consumed the sunlight more than ever. A perfect reflection of what was happening, as more and more muggles were being killed everyday by followers of the Dark Lord. The body count was now well over a couple hundred as it only seemed to become more grim as the seasons changed.

Sirius crumpled the newspaper in his hand, shoving away from the table, he left the safety of his common room. He needed time to think. His mind strayed to the request that his oh so charming cousin had made last year at the end of term. She had been looking for the sword of Gryffindor, and had said that since he was in the damn house, it was the only logical solution to hand it over to be in his good graces.

Whatever, it didn't matter.

Nobody had even seen the ruddy thing. It was rumored to only show up to true Gryffindors that needed it.

Whatever that meant.

He had been wandering the corridors for well over an hour now, his mind having calmed down from seeing the paper, the list of muggles that had been killed. It made him angry. Turning the sharp corner, he ran into something, catching his balance, he glanced to see that he had actually run into Regulus.

Rubbing a sore spot on his head, Regulus stared at his older brother. "Quite rude to run into people."

He rolled his eyes, "it isn't as if I had done it on purpose."

Regulus just blinked at him, suddenly nervous as his eyes glanced away from him. A sign that he was embarrassed.

"Congratulations on making the Quidditch team," he ran a hand through his hair. "I watched your tryout and you did quite well."

Sirius blinked, dumbfounded but felt happiness at hearing those words.

"I hadn't realized you had came to watch,"

He shrugged, "you're my brother, of course I would watch."

Regulus and Sirius had been in the drawing room, their parents having left to some function that was adults only. Which left them in the house alone. This had been an ample opportunity for Sirius to practice riding on his broom that his Uncle Alphard had gifted him for turning eight, much to the distaste of his Mother but had said nothing when their Father had thought it prudent he knew how to fly before attending hogwarts.

He however, was sitting on one of the dusty old couches while he watched Regulus on the broom, he had let him get on the broom. How could he say no when his younger brother looked at him like that?

Regulus zoomed around the cramped space, weaving through the furniture causing dust to fly up and fill the air. He has sharply turned when he almost ran into their mother's china cabinet. Sirius couldn't help but be proud of his younger brother, who also had a natural talent for broom riding.

"GOOD JOB, REGGIE!" He shouted, his face splitting into a large smile. Sirius picked up his mother's glass crystal vase and threw it across the room. "Catch!"

Regulus, zoomed across the room, panicked as he raced to catch the object that was one of their mother's prized possessions. Upon catching the vase, he smiled in relief.

"Looks like someone will be making quite the great seeker to me," Sirius grinned, applauding his younger brother.

"You think so?"

"The best Quidditch seeker I've ever seen."

The warm fuzzy feeling hadn't lasted long. It had been interrupted however by the sound of the floo fireplace, "SIRIUS! REGULUS!" Sirius looked up to where the screeching of his mother had come from.

Sirius immediately jumped off from the couch, running towards Regulus; he had taken the crystal vase from him. Putting it back in its place, making sure it was in the same place as it was before.

"Come here, Reggie!" Sirius said, helping his little brother off of the broom and shoving the broom under the couch before she knew what they had been doing while they were away.

The click of his mother's heels were echoing through the hallway now, becoming closer and closer to the boys. Regulus looked at his brother with a frightened expression, and Sirius opened his mouth to comfort him, but was promptly cut off.

The door to the sitting room was forced open with the flick of a wand, and it slammed into the wall behind it - hard. Regulus let out a yelp from surprise and shock, and Sirius quickly turned around to face the angry tyrant woman that they called Mother.

"That means a great deal to me," he smiled.

Regulus just flashed a smile.

The two boys stared at one another, neither of them knowing what else to say. Awkwardly standing and avoiding their gazes as they stood in the silent and deserted corridor.

"Why must you always push them?"

The question caught Sirius off guard. Blinking, he strapped back, not sure what to say before collecting his composure. "What are you talking about, Reg? I would never do anything of the sort," but Regulus could hear the smile as he said the words.

"They hurt you because you talk back," he muttered.

Sirius snorted, dryly chuckling."They're going to hurt me anyways. Just my breathing irritates our mother, it doesn't take much for me to piss the old hag off."

But Regulus didn't laugh, not like usual. No, instead he was doing quite the opposite, actually, he felt tears pricking his cool gray eyes. Anger and frustration seeping into his words. "Why couldn't you just be sorted into Slytherin like the rest of us?!"

Sirius sighed, then room a deep breath, and stared at his brother with a meaningful expression. "I have chosen to live a life of happiness, purpose, and in the sun. They're dark wizards, Reggie. I'm not." He shook his head, "I'm meant to do great things, good things even. I want to grow to be the kind of wizard that has friends and family that are loving and compassionate, to treat my own children the way we should have been treated."

Regulus met his brother's eyes for the briefest of moments, tears spilling and cascading down his face. Turning away, he brought his sleeve to his face and rubbed the tears out of his eyes. "But you don't understand what it's like."

Sirius shook his head again, "I've been different since the day I was born Reggie, they've known that and it is why I'm the cause of their ire for the last twelve years." he smiled sadly at his brother, the urge to reach out and hug his brother just below the surface.

"I mean... being alone with them. It's..." he trailed off,

In the months that followed the sorting of his older brother had been excruciatingly painful. With his brother at school and unable to punish him, their parents Walburga and Orion had taken up the task in beating the knowledge of dark magic and their pureblood values and traditions into him. To ensure that he didn't become like his brother and Uncle from what he had overheard from his mother.

Those months had taught him to learn to sneak around, to ration his food whenever his mother was in a particular mood and decided that his mistakes were worth him going without food for a couple of days. It wasn't until the news had been broken that Sirius had befriended the pretty witch that he had met at the Winter Solstice Ball.

It was then and most likely the only time he had heard his parents speak nice and kind things about his brother. It had unnerved him and made him more fearful than usual in regards to their stark change in behavior.

Sirius just stared at his younger brother. Not sure what to say or do.

"I'm not sure what you want me to do Reg," he spoke softly.

"I want us to be a family," he stated rather quickly without thinking. "A proper one where there is no dark magic or wizards."

He could only watch as his older brother shook his head sadly at him. "That won't ever happen and we both know it." He paused, handing him the crumpled newspaper. "This is what our parents live for, what they support and I can't support this. It's wrong to kill people just because of their blood status."

Regulus' heart wavered.

His parents' voices ran through his mind. Until Regulus heard a soft feminine voice that pushed theirs out, even for a brief moment.

"You always have a choice. Do remember that Reggie."

He swallowed. Unsure of what to do, of what to say and what to think.

"I won't tell you what to do Reggie, Gwen tells me that your choice in path is up to you but—dammit! You must know that what they're doing is wrong."

His eyes flickered towards his older brother, tears and weakness having been buried underneath. "She is a witch unlike either of us have met."

At the mention of her, he saw how his brother's entire demeanor changed. "She is a rather intelligent and compassionate witch."

That was something they could both agree on.

"Rumor has it that you were caught snogging McKinnon in the second floor corridor," Regulus stared.

Rolling his eyes, he snorted. "The rumor may be correct," he ran a hand through his hand.

"I didn't realize that you liked McKinnon," he shrugged. "She seems different from what I expected."

"Who do you think my first snog should have been?"

Regulus smiled, the kind with no teeth. It was a knowing smile nonetheless, "A different Ravenclaw."

Sirius' mouth went dry.

"See you around brother," was all Regulus said before turning and leaving, as Sirius just gaped at his retreating figure.

Sirius, James, Remus and Peter all stood in the Room of Requirement, they were waiting for Gwen to join them so they would complete the next step in becoming animagus.

"She is late," Peter ground out

James rolled his eyes, "she will be here soon."

After having kept the mandrake leaf in their mouth for an entire month, they were to spit it into a small crystal phial along with one of their own hairs. Then they had taken the time to add a silver teaspoon of dew that hadn't been touched by sunlight or human feet for seven days in a row. After that they had to add chrysalis of a Death-head Hawk Moth to the mixture, and then they had to store it in a quiet, dark place. Until the next electrical storm.

For a few months now, they had spent it repeating the incantation "Amato Animo Animato Animagus" while placing the tip of their wand to their heart.

Tonight they were to have an electrical storm. Tonight they would gather together, repeat the incantation, drink the mixture that is to have turned blood red. A rather arduous and tedious process that required a vast knowledge and aptitude for transfigurations and potions.

"I'm right here," Gwen pulled down the hood of the silvery gray invisibility cloak. "Filch had caught a couple of first year Ravenclaws sneaking out and was patrolling near my house with Miss Norris."

Sirius grumbled, "that cat is a damn nuisance."

Gwen clicked her tongue, "that cat is agreeable if you have a way with animals that is."

"We don't have time for that." James amended, "we have to do this before it's too late."

Picking up the vials from the small table, they were each handed their own crystal phials. Standing in a circle around the small table, they all shared looks with one another, anticipation and nervousness filling the air. Popping open the cork, they brought the cold glass to their lips and hastily downed the liquid.

Placing their glasses down onto the small table, they looked at one another hastily as if there had been some change. The potion had left a rather warm feeling as it slid down their throats, almost like a warming sensation. Minutes ticked by in silence but nothing had yet to happen.

Amato Animo Animato Animagus

Sirius opened his eyes. "Anything different for you lot?" he asked.

James shook his head in a dejected manner, his shoulders slumped.

"Nothing for me either," Peter shrugged. "Seems to have been a waste of time then."

Sirius slid his gaze towards Gwen who just squinted at the phials on the small table in front of them. "What does the book say, Sirius?"

Since he was the one to knock it from the Forbidden Section, he was the one in charge of keeping it while James had taken charge over the phials to ensure their safety.

Humming, he went to the bookmarked page in the book. "It says that what shou—"

Gwen's head snapped up all of a sudden, "do you hear that?"

The four boys whipped their heads to her, brows furrowed as they eyes her appearance.

"Hear what?"

"Another heartbeat?"

Clutching her head, she yelped in surprise at the sudden head splitting pain she felt. As they went to reach for her, they all crumpled over as well. Remus could only watch in a helpless manner as his four friends were in pain, unsure of what to do. While their ears were filling with the sound of two thumping heartbeats, a voice suddenly spoke in their minds.

You must show no fear. It is too late now, to escape the change you have willed.

There was a funny cracking sound all of a sudden, as the pain in their head subsided and James who stood to full height again. "What the hell was tha—?"

Catching the wide eyed stares of his mates, he had been about to ask when a sudden heavy weight on his head caused his body to crumple and fall backwards.

"What's bloody happening?! WHAT'S BLOODY HAPPENING?!" he shrieked, desperately attempting to get up but failed as he was kicking in the air.

Remus, Peter, Gwen and Sirius all gather around him in a circle, staring in amazement and fear. Which only made his anxiety shoot through the roof. "Stop staring at me and tell me what the hell is going on?!"

"Grab the book," was all Gwen said to which Sirius obeyed.

"Now what are you guys staring at me for?!" His heart was raving as he looked at his friends, who continued to gape at him.

Gwen recovered, a look of thoughtfulness as she finally said what they were thinking. "You sprouted antlers."

"Does this mean that he is going to be a unicorn then?!" Peter asked, wide eyed

Gwen just sighed while Remus smacked him upside the head, "unicorns don't have horns growing on the side of their head you twat." He paused, "when was the last time you even looked at a unicorn?"

"It seems as though your animal is a stag cousin," Gwen stated.

"These antlers are rather heavy!" He complained, before signing in defeat. "Why did only part of me change and why just me?"

As Gwen opened her mouth to speak, Sirius rushed over with James' wand and threw it at him. Looking up from the book in his hands, Sirius stared down at him. "Say the spell again should reverse the change."

James tapped his nose again. "Amato Animo Animato Animagus!" The result was for a second, but much smaller horn to protrude from his head on the other side to grow.

Sirius's eyes were wide and full of panic, while the other two boys freaked out.

"Now there's two of them?!"

Remus finally threw his hands up in the air, "I knew this was a bad idea!" He grumbled, "how in Merlin are we to explain this?!"

"I'm not an expert on this!" Sirius snapped.

While they began to argue amongst themselves, Gwen just took the book from Sirius and began to read the contents on the pages, before flipping to the next.

"Try it again this time but you need to calm down otherwise your panicking will cause the change to be permanent." She spoke up after reading the chapter rather quickly.

"I swear if this doesn't work," James started only for Sirius to interrupt him

"You'll what? You can't even get your arse up from the ground."

"Once I get up, I'll stab you with my horns."

Sirius just grinned while Remus swore under his breath. Still agitated, the banter had calmed him down to perform the spell once more, James tapped the wand to his heart.

"Amato Animo Animato Animagus!"

Another terrible cracking sound resounded in the large room, his four friends gathered around him, peering down at their normal human friend again. The collective sigh of relief was let out.

"Now get off the cold floor before you catch a bloody cold." Remus warned, offering him a hand.

James dusted himself off, "I'm glad that is over."

"As we continue to practice the spell, we will eventually shift into our Animagus forms in a quick and painless manner without our wands and having to say the spell." Gwen explained further, closing the book and handing it over to Sirius.

"Why hadn't we all transformed then?" James touched his head where the antlers had grown from only to touch clear and smooth skin

Remus piped up, "you aren't all the same. It'll be different with all of you, it'll take time in order to get a physical change."

While they had cleaned up to head back to their houses, it couldn't be helped that they were one step closer to their goal, to helping Remus and to becoming Animagus.

In the few days that followed, Remus had been focusing on the map in order to charm it to do what they wanted. Since the other three were busy trying out the spell, he had taken charge of practicing to use the advanced detection charms he had learned from Fabian and Gideon Prewitt under the guise of using it for a prank.

Huddled up in his dorm, the fire from the fireplace crackling to warm up the dorm, he sat at his desk, the map sprawled out. Rubbing his eyes, he was growing quite tired of staring at the bloody thing. Packing up the map and putting it in his trunk, he went down to the common room.

This evening was a particularly chilly one, as December crept up rather quickly. The common room was filled with the younger years as it was Saturday, which meant the older kids were away at Hogsmeade. Taking his seat on the empty couch, he had been about to pull out his book when Lily burst in the common room.

Upon seeing her, he smiled.

"It's bloody freezing out there." She stated, taking her seat beside him, rubbing her hands together.

"Where did you come from?"

Lily rolled her eyes, "Marlene had stated she wanted to hangout together, she had neglected to say that it was to stalk Black."

Remus couldn't help but laugh.

"It's not funny!"

"You must admit that it is quite a bit hilarious," he pointed out.

Using his wand, he transfigured them with a blanket to share. She flashed him an appreciative smile, before huddling inside the blanket further.

"It is a bit hilarious," she finally stated. "I just don't see the appeal she has for him, he's rather dramatic and loud. He is always Mauradeeing about with you a lot, always up to no good."

"He is a good person," Remus defended.

"That doesn't change the fact that he is beyond irritating, stubborn and anyone who spends time with him must be equally dim-witted."

Remus said nothing as he moved the blanket off of him and pushed it to the side, "since I'm rather dim-witted, I'm going back to my dorm."

"That isn't what I mea—"

Remus felt annoyed and hurt, "you said it rather plain Lily, there was no other way to interpret it. Sirius is my friend and I'm not going to sit here and listen to you insult him and I when we have done nothing to you. James I understand but we haven't done anything."

It was all he said before going back up to his dorm.

He hadn't been alone for long when they burst into the room, the door banging against the wall. "Remus, mate, you missed it!"

James and Sirius' faces were red from either the cold or from laughter, mostly likely a mix of both. "Peter had grown a tail!"

A tail?

"What kind of tail?"

James shrugged, "not sure yet but it was a small tail nonetheless. Gwen might have been able to discern what animal it belonged to had she been there."

"Here mate," James set a cauldron cake on his desk. "We had headed to the kitchens after and grabbed you something. Figured you'd be hungry from working on the map."

"I still haven't been able to link the charms to the map yet, but I'm close." Remus stated as he graciously took a bite of the chocolate flavor baked good.

Sirius being well Sirius just flopping onto his bed in a dramatic fashion, "at this rate, we'll never finish the map. Too many secrets here to mark them all down."

James rolled his eyes, "you make it sound as though you will die before it will be finished."

"It is my goal in life."

"For the bloody map?"

"It's far too important to not be one of many goals I wish to accomplish before we graduate."

Remus snorted, "hate to break it you mate but we're only second years. I think there is a high possibility that we will finish this map before we graduate."

"You guys should be ashamed of yourselves for killing my bit," he began to dig around his desk.

Snorting James just rolled his eyes, "you're mad Black."

"Have you seen my family?"

"If anything it makes sense why he is the way he is," Remus pointed out

Peter finally spoke up after finishing his cake, "is there a reason why Evans left angry?"

Remus sighed. Why couldn't Peter do something other than gossip, it was as though he was a teenage girl himself.

"We had a disagreement," he said with a shrug. "She had said something that I didn't agree with and it caused a bit of a row."

"Does this means that you guys aren't together anymore," Peter blinked at him.

"Pete, just because they argue doesn't mean they're broken up. Couples have domestics all the time, it's normal." James threw a ball up shift at him, "have you not seen your parents argue at times?"

"Yes but then my mum forces my dad to sleep on the couch and he apologizes the next day."

"My parents can barely stand one another, they're constantly bickering." Sirius chimes in, his eyebrows furrowing, "honestly don't know how they haven't killed one another yet."

"You're joking right?" James asked

Sirius just blinked at him, confused.

"Alright then!" He clapped his hands, "Evans and him will make up later, but in the meantime we can go down to the common room, it's mostly empty since everyone went off to lunch."

"I finally figured out what we could title the map!" Snapping his fingers, Remus dug around for parchment paper before grabbing his quill. The three boys huddled around him as he scribbled furiously on the paper, the reddish brown ink bleeding into the paper.

"The Marauder's Map," James hummed.

"Isn't that what people say about us?" Peter was confused

Sirius, squinted at the title page, "Yes, they all say we marauder about, even Minnie uses that term." His eyes lit up, "When we graduate we could pass it on to future generations of witches and wizards who are like us, pranksters. We'll put our names on it so they'll know who the original owners are."

James frowned, "what if we get caught and it gets taken? They'll know it was us and know that we had been the ones to make it and we'll get in deep trouble as it will prove we broke at least a dozen school rules."

"Then we'll get thrown into detention," Remus paused. "Or worse expelled."

"Then we'll go by nicknames, one's only we know and we'll charm the map so if it does get lost or taken. It won't reveal itself to anyone but true mischief makers." Sirius explained, a bigger smile forming just at the idea of what the map would represent.

"What kind of nicknames?"

"We'll already call Remus, Mooney." Sirius started, "our nicknames will form based on our Animagus forms. Like James could be Prongs since we already know that you'll be a stag."

"He makes an excellent point," Peter chimed in

"I always do," he went back to his desk and began to dig around for his homework. "I'm going down to the common room for a bit, need to finish my DADA essay."

"I haven't even started, I'll join you."

After grabbing their things, they headed down to the now empty common room, taking seats on the large red couch with the fireplace crackling as it burned the wood. Peter had also joined them, taking a seat in the plush chair by the fire as he began to work on his own homework with Remus the last to come down. With a book in hand, he took his place on the couch in between James and Sirius.

Jackie, Pandora, Toni and Gwen were sitting in their common room, in their usual spots as they did homework. Or rather Jackie was flipping through magazines and the other girls were doing homework. They were trying to finish up before the Quidditch match that was happening after lunch. After the match, Gwen had to attend the Slugclub meeting in the dungeons.

"Don't you have homework yourself?"

She peered over her magazine, "Daniel and I had already done it together."

"Daniel and her have been having study dates," Gwen explained without even looking up from her own essay.

"I'm surprised she is even getting anything done as all she does is stare and giggle," Toni snorted.

Hearing a thump, Gwen glanced up to see that Jackie had thrown one of the throw pillows at Toni causing ink to smear on her jumper.

"What the hell!"

The girls began to bicker with one another. Pandora and her shared a look before going back to their own homework. Toni soon left to change her jumper, while Jackie went back to her magazine.

It was quiet other than the crackling fire and the scribbling of their quills on the parchment paper, and the sound of Jackie turning the papes of her Witch Weekly magazine. Until Marlene McKinnon had come in, with two of her friends. Alyssa Mountgomery and Catherine Wellington, two other girls in their year. They were smiling and giggling.

Gwen caught Marlene openly staring at her, she just gave her a tight smile, before walking away. Brushing off her strange behavior, she went back to her homework.

The girls were walking down to the Quidditch field together, Toni and Jackie had made up and were now arm in arm smiling and chatting about boys.

"You should have brought a jumper," Pandora admonished. "It's cold out."

Gwen had been in a bit of a rush as she had dozed off doing her homework and had neglected to wear a jumper or clothes that were suitable for the Scotland fall weather.

"It's too late to walk all the way back now for it," she hugged herself as she was careful to not trip and go tumbling down the hill. "I'll just have to deal with the cop and pray to Merlin that I don't catch my own death."

"Darling, you should be more prepared."

Whipping around, she found Sirius and Jamie standing behind her. They were dressed in black trousers with Gryffindor jumpers on. Crossing her arms, she stared at him.

"If you must know, I was in a rush."

James groaned, "if you catch a cold again, I'm going to be hearing about it from Mum."

Gwen rolled her eyes, "it's not as if I did it on purpose."

"So then you aren't cold?" He teased with a smirk but had stopped when she sneezed. "Are you alright? You look a bit red but you don't seem to have a fever." Stepping closer to her, he placed a hand against her forehead, he frowned. "You're a tad warm."

Flushing, she buried her face into her scarf, swallowing nervously by how close he was to her.

"It's a bit chilly is all," a large gust of wind brushed across the hill, causing her to shiver and sneeze again.

Sirius watched as she sniffed, stepping back from her he had shed himself of his own jumper and handed it to her.

She shook her head, "you'll catch a cold then."

"I can grab my quidditch one from the changing room," he gestured to the tent where his trunk was.

"This is your house jumper..." she murmured as she stared down at the fabric in her hands

"Don't tell me you believe in such a trivial matter as house cooties right dear?"

"No, of course not"

Sirius took the article of clothing from her. Uncrossing her arms, he placed them up in the air. Tugging it over her arms and head, he adjusted it in her. Ignoring how smooth and soft her skin felt.

Her face was flushed pink, she smoothed her hair down only to see him staring at her. She grew embarrassed. "How do I look? I could pass as a gryffindor right?"

The sweater wasn't too big, not too small nor did it fit her right. It was a bit baggy as the sleeves fell over her fingertips. Seeing her bearing his house's crest and the colors made him smile.

She was adorable.

"Charming," he complimented, causing her to smile. "and probably the bravest one I've ever seen"

Gwen averted her eyes, "you're mistaking me for someone else in all honesty"

"Who might I be mistaking you for?"

"You, Mister Sirius Black,"

Clearing his throat, he watched as she averted her gaze from him. He swallowed, his eyes straying to her mouth. Where she chewed on her bottom lip. Her pretty pink lips.

"We should get going," Pandora smiled. "The match is going to start soon."

"Thank you for your jumper Sirius," she flashed him a shy smile before she was pulled away by Pandora.

Staring after Gwen, he swallowed.

"That girl is going to be the death of me," James sighed.

"You and I both," he stated.

"Sirius!"

Hearing the familiar voice, he winced. James caught it as he just snickered at him.

"Marlene," Turning he saw the girl with her two friends standing a bit behind him as she smiled hugely at him. "What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if perhaps you'd sit with me in the Ravenclaw stands."

Sirius rubbed the back of his neck, trying to hide the exasperated feeling that was creeping on him. "I'm actually sitting with my mates already."

She frowned, "you sit with them all the time."

"That's because I enjoy sitting with them."

"I'm just asking for you to sit with me once," she pushed. "It wouldn't hurt for you to do so."

Sirius felt his eye twitch. "Look Marlene, I've been nice and trying to reject you but I have no interest in dating you. I don't like you anymore as a friend." What he had neglected to say was that they weren't even friends to begin with.

"It's because you like Gwen right?"

"What are you prattling on about now?"

She flared her nostrils, as she huffed. "She isn't even that pretty or smart, so why do you prefer her?"

"That is my cousin you're talking about McKinnon," James warned.

She continued on as if she hadn't heard him, "admit that you like her."

"It's because I don't like her," he lied. "She is my best mate."

"Then why won't you pay attention to me as you pay attention to her," she stomped her foot, her hands balling into fists.

"Why would I waste my time with a girl so vain and selfish that she would lower herself to bad mouthing a witch kind and smart like Gwen?"

The girl stayed silent, they had gathered a small crowd at this point as their peers stood and watched, whispering and laughing. Sirius and James watched as she clenched her jaw in anger, he knew that his honesty probably hurt her feelings but he didn't care. He was tired of her following him around, irritated by her constant need to find reasons to talk to him.

Walking away, James followed as they made their way down the pitch.

The game had already started, as they were both tied but as the game was still in full swing and the golden snitch had yet to be captured making the game far from over. Gwen had high hopes that her house would win, and she'd win her side bet with Sirius. With a smile, she clapped her hands together as they had scored more points.

"Jack is doing really well" Toni had been eying the boy the entire game as she made the occasional comment about him.

Gwen turned to look at her, "are you interested in my cousin?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"I know what you mean," Jackie chimed in "Daniel is looking good and playing better" she sighed wistfully as she leaned against the railing.

"You do realize that he isn't even playing…right?"

Jackie sniffed, "yes!"

Gwen shook her head at both girls as they were both obsessed with their Quidditch team boys. As they had never missed a practice and had learned the boys schedules so they could "accidentally" run into them in the corridors. She still didn't understand why boys were always in their minds, they were nothing but trouble in her opinion. At least the boys that she knew. She really needed to step back and re-evaluate her choices in people.

"It looks like Slytherin is going to win!" Jackie clapped her hands as they had scored once more putting Slytherin ahead of Hufflepuff "If we win, I'm going to ask Daniel to go to Hogsmeade with me!" She vowed causing both Toni and Gwen to laugh at their friends ambitious and eccentric behavior

"We're second years Jackie" Gwen pointed out causing Jackie to begin whining in protest. "And he still isn't playing."

After Sirius dropped her off outside of Professor Slughorn's large office. She was nervous. Opening the door, she was immediately met with silence and she wondered if maybe she had gotten the time wrong had it not been for Professor announcing her arrival very loudly. There was a large circular table, where several students sat.

"Miss Donoghue! I'm glad you could make it!" Professor Slughorn stood from his seat clapping his hands

"I wouldn't miss it for the world Professor," she walked towards the only empty seat refusing to look at anyone else

The stares of the other students made her stomach queasy. Once she took her seat, she peeked a glance to see that she was sitting in between Remus and Daniel, Jackie's whatever he was. Across from her was Narcissa Black to which she wasn't surprised to see as she was proficient in potions.

"Now that we're all here, dig in everyone!" Professor Slughorn took his spoon and dug into the ice cold treat of ice cream

Gwen found it funny he chose such a cold treat when they were in the dungeons where it was cold as it seeped through the cracks in the stone walls.

"I didn't realize that you were going to be here Donoghue," Daniel was the first to speak to her as he shoved the spoon of ice cream into his mouth

"I was tempted to not come" grabbing her spoon she took a small bite

"Why is that?"

"I'm rather tired," she shrugged. "It's been a long week."

"Sorry to hear that."

Daniel pushed around his ice cream, "I was wondering what you could tell me about Jackie and if she likes anyone."

Gwen had to stop herself from snorting, instead she smiled at him. "She does, but I don't think I'm the one you should ask. I believe that you should ask her yourself."

Daniel sheepishly smiled "of course, thanks Donoghue."

Turning her head away from Daniel she saw Lily across the table sitting between Fabian Prewitt and Penelope Douglas, a seventh year hufflepuff.

Lily opened her mouth to say something, "I don't want to speak with you Lily," she turned away from her and towards Sev who quietly ate his ice cream as he seemed to be listening in on all the other students' conversations.

"I'm glad to see you here Sev,"

"Likewise Gwen," he smiled shyly at her before going back to watching everyone

For the next twenty minutes she exchanged pleasantries with the other students excluding Lily as she was still a bit peeved with her. Otherwise though Gwen kept quiet as she really didn't feel like socializing that much.

"Nice jumper," Remus leaned over and murmured in her ear "belongs to a certain gryffindor with a knack of pranking correct?"

"How's you know it belonged to Sirius?"

He chuckled "I never said Sirius, I merely suggested that it could have belonged to James or Sirius. You admitted to it belonging to Sirius which could only mean you were thinking about said gryffindor."

Gwen was at a loss for words as she gaped at the now smirking Remus, puffing her cheeks out she took another bite of her ice cream. Once she came up with a very good comeback, she turned to find him staring at Lily with an unreadable look on his face.

"You guys still haven't talked huh?"

Remus had told her what had happened between the two and what she had said. Gwen usually stayed out of such matters but when she heard what Lily had said, she couldn't help but feel rather irritated by it.

"No, she doesn't think what she said was wrong."

She clicked her tongue.

"She'll figure it out."

Remus just breathed out a heavy sigh, "yeah, I hope so."

"You're cross with me." Lily stated after having finally cornered the younger girl in the library when dinner had just started and everyone had left already.

"Yes I am," Gwen closed her book. "I thought it was quite obvious."

"Remus told you."

"I thought that was quite obvious as well."

Lily let out an annoyed sigh, "stop doing that and just talk to me please."

Gwen picked up her books, packing them away into her bag. "You complain incessantly about how the boys bully Severus, who dishes it right back I might add. They go back and forth fighting and insulting one another. I understand your feelings toward my cousin, they are valid but I will not tolerate your hypocrisy and bullying toward Sirius and Remus with your comments."

She moved to open her mouth, but was interrupted. "I am speaking like you wanted, you will wait. Sirius has never bad mouthed you, he has done nothing against you personally nor has Remus but you have the audacity to speak ill of him and then make that comment anyone who spends time with him must be equally dim-witted. You not only gossiped and bullied Sirius behind his back but you also insulted Remus and I with your comment. I will not tolerate that, therefore I am cross with you and rightfully so."

Lily just stared, gaping as she continued to pack her things. Finally snapping out of it, "I realize that what I said was thoughtless and mean. It wasn't my intention, I was just fed up with Marlene talking about Sirius all the time and then tricking me into following him around half the morning."

Gwen clicked her tongue, "it is no excuse Lily."

"I know," she let out a tired sigh. "Please forgive me?"

"Agree that you will apologize to Sirius and I will forgive you," she shrugged.

Lily gaped at her, "you mustn't be serious?"

"No, but he is."

She groaned, "really?"

"Couldn't help it."

"Fine, I will apologize to him."

Gwen nodded, "good now we can catch up while we head to dinner."

Lily beamed as they walked, arm in arm out of the Library after bidding Miss Price a goodnight and entered the corridor. While Lily prattled on about classwork and something Mary had done, she couldn't help but notice the other students who were whispering as they walked past.

Come to think of it. It has been happening more recently.

The better of the last week had been rather odd. By odd she meant that whenever she'd be walking between classes, the corridor would be filled with gossip and whispers as she walked past. It was easy to ignore as she had already grown accustomed to the sheer fact that it was because of her name that people were eager to be friends with her for but this was something entirely different. As the whispers were something else.

Shaking it off, she just feigned a smile and turned back into Lily, who was discussing Slug Club.

"She's too ugly to be with him!" A girl snapped as Gwen walked passed the group of older girls who were gossiping as they were hunched over a copy of this week's issue of Witch Weekly that she had yet to even bother to look at

"They are perfect together," the other girl agreed. "The way he is with her is romantic."

Gwen didn't quite understand why girls were jealous of other girls. She didn't see the point in her opinion as boys were merely boys with their jokes and rule breaking. Especially the Gryffindor boys but mostly the four boys who wreaked havoc on everybody whether it being a prank or a stupid comment.

"Gwen!" Stopping in her tracks she turned in the direction where she heard her name being called to find Lily smiling as she ran to catch up with her as well as Severus who wasn't far behind

"Oh hello Lily, Severus" She smiled softly as she adjusted her bag as the pair had caught up with her in the semi crowded hall "How are you this morning?"

"Lovely, thank you for asking Gwen" Lily smiled as she looped her arm with Gwen's as they began walking towards the Great Hall together with Severus walking beside Lily as he carried her books for her

"And you Severus?" Gwen glanced over to the dark haired boy who had been silent, he glanced over to her and offered a small smile

"Lovely as well"

"That's nice to hear"

Now that things were relatively better with their friendship, they were able to slip back into their routine of being proper friends again. By hanging out next to Black Lake, studying and hanging out as they had prior, they were able to study, talk about Slug Club, and just be normal again especially now that Lily knew about the secret Sev had been keeping.

Gwen smiled as she listened to Lily talk about the new potion they were learning with small tidbits of conversation from Severus. Even though she was there, her mind was elsewhere as she thought about the letter she had received from her father that she had yet to open. Yet it felt as if it was burning a hole in her book as it was placed as a bookmark for her Potions book.

"See you later'' Gwen smiled as Lily had parted with her with a small wave as she walked over to her own house table as Severus had disappeared to his own table. She waved back before she made her way to her own house table, where she took a seat by herself as Olivia was with Harold, Jackie and Toni were most likely at the Quidditch practice to ogle the boys as they played and Pandora was hanging out with an older boy in their house by the name of Sam. Taking out the letter she had received this morning from her potions book, she smiled as she moved to open the letter but stopped when she heard her name being shouted from across the Great Hall.

Her gaze fell to see Jackie and Toni running towards her, their robes flapping behind them. Confused, she sat there frozen, wondering as to why they would be shouting her name at eight in the morning.

Maybe her friends had truly gone mental. A shame but at least they were quite pretty and charismatic.

"May I ask why you are causing a ruckus?"

They fell into their seats across from her, out of breath and their hair in a mess. She set down her letter and waited for them to collect themselves.

"You will never believe what we have heard." Jackie chugged down her gillyweed water, wiping her face off with her sleeve. "Rumor has it that Marlene got jealous of your relationship with Sirius and then tried to convince him that she is the better option–"

"But Sirius had called her selfish and vain and told her how amazing you are in front of everyone." Toni finished with a large smile

Gwen could only sit there, unblinking as she tried to process the new information.

"When did this happen?"

"Before the Slytherin and Hufflepuff match."

That had been nearly two weeks ago. It only took her a few seconds to put together what all the whispering had been about. Everyone was talking about Marlene and herself.

"What does myself have to do with her trying to be with Sirius?"

Jackie groaned, "is it not obvious you git?" When she received no response, she just sighed dramatically. "Sirius won't date Marlene because it is obvious that he likes you!"

"That doesn't make sense," she stated. "If this happened two weeks ago then why did you two just run here to tell me that?"

Toni poured herself some gillyweed water, "we just overheard Marlene talking in the common room about finding a way to separate Black and you."

She snorted, "you must be joking."

"No, that girl is determined to get you out of the picture to have Sirius all to herself."

Frowning, she bit back a sigh.

She didn't understand what her deal was, Gwen had never interacted with the girl before. Yes, they were in the same house and in the same year, but they ran in different circles. Personally, she didn't even know a single thing about her, she barely even acknowledged her presence in class or the common room. The only thing she knew about her was the fact that she hung out with Lily occasionally but other than that, zilch.

What did she even mean by getting her out of the picture?

She sounded pathetic and delusional if she was going to go to such great lengths for a boy who didn't even share her affections and made it quite clear to her face. At their age, love was such a fickle thing.

"Let her try," Gwen shrugged. "If she wants to waste her time chasing something that is of no value then that is her prerogative."

Jackie shook her head, "you're going to realize that sitting back is a mistake."

"What would you suggest I do?"

"Claim Sirius as your own officially."

"Sirius and I don't share those deep affections for one another, we are just friends."

Toni snorted, "what a lie."