From The Beginning Till The End

It was nearing the end of their first year. Everyone was packing his or her trunks, preparing to head home for the summer holidays. They're left with one more week of school. The results were out and it turned out that Lily was the top witch for the first year while James was the top wizard for their year. Lily had topped in Charms, James in Transfiguration, Sirius in Defense Against Dark Arts, Remus in History of Magic, Stefanie in Herbology and Arabella in Potions. Each of them seemed to have their own strong points and had made up the top six students for their year.

Before anyone knew, it was the day before the end of their first year. The six of them gathered around the fireplace in Gryffindor common room that night. Everyone was already in bed; all prepared to head home the next day. They were now talking and reminiscing over the past year.

"I had one hundred and six detentions this year, beaten you guys," Sirius boasted, smirking nastily at a particular friend.

"Well, I only lost to you by one because two days ago you took the credit for a prank that I did on Snape!" James snapped. Severus had knocked onto him on purpose and the latter's temper had flared up. He immediately charmed the greasy, black-haired boy, turning Severus's hair into a brilliant shade of red. Unfortunately, Professor McGonagall happened to walk by and gave detention to Sirius instantly since his wand was pointing suspiciously at Severus.

"No fight, I only managed to achieve a hundred and two. But that was because I was away while you all get caught in the pranks and hence, I didn't get enough detentions. That's really not fair!" Remus added, pretending to sulk.

"What's with the detentions?" Lily asked in an exasperated tone. She had only been to one detention so far. And that was for the major prank the girls played on the guys in the second week of their first year. It wasn't as if she had just pulled one prank on them in that year either. The guys were constantly fighting for the credit to get sent to detention, and of course, being one of the best students, none of the teachers had believed that Lily had done any of the pranks. She felt quite proud of this hidden ability of hers and took great care not to look so smug.

"I had two. Not the least either," Stefanie added sulkily. Evidently, she wasn't in the mood to compete with the person who managed to hit the highest frequencies.

"Three for me. But then judging from the amount of pranks we girls pulled as compared to you guys, we simply don't get ourselves caught that easily and wasting our time cleaning bedpans or wiping trophies," Arabella said with a smirk.

"Next time you girls can let me get your credits then, I need some extra detentions to beat them out!" Remus said brightly to Stefanie and Arabella.

"Well, we've the whole summer to think of pranks to deal with Malfoy and Snape next year. The typical colored hair and words on clothing had gotten quite boring, you know," Lily suggested with a mischievous grin. The six of them had condemned the Slytherins since the day they called Lily and Arabella Mudbloods in the first week of school. Inevitably, the Slytherins became their objects of fun in school.

"Great idea. How about we meet up together at my house in the last month of the summer holidays?" James suggested his place once again.

"Why is it always your house? My house isn't as big as yours, but it's definitely not small either," Sirius remarked pointedly, elegantly arching up his right eyebrow.

"You know I don't mean that. It's like since Christmas when you all came, the rooms that you all had occupied during that stay had officially become yours. If you all come again, it would be the same room. You girls still have your rooms of course. Well, Sirius, you practically stayed at my house since we were four to escape from your sister. So, now you decided that we should stay at your house instead?" James teased Sirius. The whole group burst into laughter and Sirius started blushing a little.

"I did not escape from my sister. I just did not like her company. By the way Jamesie, you stayed at my house half the other time because you feel lonely at home and the room across mine belong solely to you," Sirius retorted.

"Don't call me that, Siriee!"

"You teased me first!"

"You teased me first!"

"Calm down guys!" Remus cut into their arguments. James and Sirius settled onto the armchair and started laughing.

"Let's visit each other? Since Arabella will be staying in the orphanage, I don't think we can go, so perhaps she would like to stay with Stefanie again?" Remus turned to Arabella. "We could all gather at Lily's place to fetch her from the Evans first. That is, if your parents are okay with the crowd, Lily?" he asked humbly.

"I'll ask my parents first. And then I'll owl you guys about it." Lily nodded at Remus.

"Then we can stay at my place for a couple of days. After that, you can all move on to the Black's because I have some personal matters to attend to first. I'll join with you all again at Potter's Manor the week after. How's that for arrangements?" Remus asked the group.

"That's a brilliant idea, Remus." Lily smiled at Remus.

"Bloody brilliant dude!" Sirius slapped Remus' back.

"Language my dear brother! I support that idea too," Stefanie added, smiling.

"It's wonderful!" Arabella smiled happily.

"I guess that's settled then. We owl each other for updates? Anyway it's nearly dawn, we can head down for breakfast soon," James suggested as the first rays of the sun shone through the windows into the common room.