The Transfer

The Hogwarts Express chugged loudly as it pulled out of Platform Nine and Three Quarters. The four Marauders moped around in their compartment, feeling especially put out.

"Last trip to Hogwarts," Peter sighed, looking out of the window

"Yeah, but who cares?" Sirius shrugged,

"What on earth are you on about Padfoot my friend?" James said, frowning, "This is our last trip... ever,"

"I know but still there are no drop dead gorgeous female companions in our lives are there?" Sirius replied, putting his chin on his hand,

James coughed suddenly. It sounded oddly like "Lily"

"Oh apart from your good self and Miss Evans," Sirius said quickly,

"Someone might turn up this year though," Remus said optimistically,

"Yeah I suppose," Sirius sat up happily,

"Hi," came a voice from the door,

The four boys looked over and their jaws dropped.

Leaning casually on the doorframe was the most beautiful girl any of them had ever seen. Wavy hair fell to her slender shoulders, blonde on top but a dark brunette underneath. Hazel eyes with small traces of green glittered with mischief and entertainment out of a lightly brown face. Her body looked fit but incredibly slender and adorable.

"Is there any room in your compartment?" she asked, "I'm a transfer from Grenadines School of Sorcery in America and I can't find any room,"

Sirius, unable to speak, just nodded, still gaping.

"Thank God for that," she sighed, heaving a trunk into the rack, "I must have been like all over the train already,"

Remus and Peter shifted along to let her sit down. Once she had sat down she took out a small book and started reading.

"Hot dog," Sirius muttered in James' ear,

"Have I died and gone to heaven?" James hissed back

The girl looked up at them. Her eyes scanned their gaping faces.

"What?" she said, smiling, "Are my brains leaking out of my nose or something?"

They shook their heads and looked down at the floor. She looked doubtfully at them; one eyebrow raised and shook her head slightly.

"Your very silent for boys," she said, snapping her book shut, "Most boys I know don't shut their mouths,"

"Oh we're not silent usually," James replied,

"Really?"

"Yeah," Sirius nodded vigorously, "We don't shut our gobs either,"

"That explains everything," she answered sarcastically,

There was a long silence, in which all of them looked down at the floor.

"Oh by the way," the girl leaned forward, her hand outstretched. Her fingers were long and delicate but looked very strong "I'm Jade Anderson,"

"James Potter,"

"Sirius Black,"

"No," Jade interrupted the introduction, "I've heard of you!"

"Nah, you couldn't have done,"

"Yeah I have, my headmistress said that in the letter that Professor what's his name sent her, that there were a group of boys I should watch out for, I immediately thought that you spent your time sexually harassing people, but you've got time to prove me wrong,"

James, Sirius, Remus and Peter all looked at each other with surprised looks.

"Ignore what I just said," Jade said hastily, brushing her hair behind her ears,

"Anyway, I'm Remus Lupin," Remus shattered the silence,

"And I'm Peter Pettigrew," Peter squeaked, still gaping at her,

"Pleased to meet..." Jade started

"Pleased? How could you be pleased?" a slimy voice sidled from the door. It was Severus Snape with his gang of adoring Slytherin fans. Snape had been an archenemy since before the Marauders could even remember.

"I mean, a mental asylum may be pleased but a gorgeous American transfer?" Snape continued smirking, "Per-lease..."

"Go away," Sirius finished his sentence,

"Manners Black, manners," Snape simpered sarcastically

"Why don't you just slither away and eat your young?" Jade snapped, "I thought that's what snakes were famous for,"

Snape settled his cold black eyes on her hazel ones.

"Have you confounded this girl Black? Or did she retort naturally?"

"I retorted naturally," Jade answered, standing up "And I bloody well meant it,"

Snape moved closer to her, his eyes never leaving hers. Then, suddenly, he grabbed her and forced her lips onto his. She pushed him away savagely.

"You unwashed miscreant," she spat, "How dare you kiss me!"

She punched him hard in the face knocking him back into the walls. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter, looked at her stunned.

Snape got up, his nose now bleeding steadily. He pulled out his wand looking threatening.

"Repeticia!" he half shouted. Jade winced and clamped her hand to her shoulder. A small trickle of red ran down her white t-shirt. The Marauders all stood up, also taking out their wands.

"What did you do that for?" James asked, though he knew the answer, "All she did was punch you,"

"And you deserved it as usual," Sirius said, "See how you like it,"

But before Sirius could hex him, Snape had slunk away. They all looked at Jade, who still had her hand on her shoulder. She sat slowly down in the seat.

"Are you ok?" Sirius asked sitting down next to her, trying not to get overpowered by his excitement of being so close to her.

"Yeah, it's just a cut, it'll stop bleeding in a minute," she brushed aside his concern,

"You really hit him hard just now," James said in an awed voice,

"How did you get so good?" Sirius leaned forward eagerly

"Well, um it's a bit hard to explain," she looked anxious,

"No you can tell us, we're your friends, and I mean we practically live off being weird," James answered

"I'm a...a...vampire slayer," Jade said in a rush,

This obviously didn't have the effect she had expected.

"A what?" all four boys asked,

"A vampire slayer,"

"You...you slay vampires?" Sirius frowned

"Yeah, that's pretty much it,"

"I never thought you could get women doing that," James sank back into his seat, "My Dad's an Auror and he said that they rarely got women applying for it,"

"Oh so he expects a guy, beard, stake, bad breath?" Jade raised her eyebrows,

"Yeah,"

"And instead he gets a babe with a bob cut and a magnificent bosom," Jade sighed,

"I wouldn't say no to that," Sirius muttered in James' ear,

"My mother was a slayer too," Jade continued staring out of the window,

"Was?"

"She's dead," Jade replied with difficulty,

The boys looked at each other.

"I'm sorry," Remus said quietly, speaking for the first time in minutes,

"That's OK," Jade smiled at him, "It happened a long time ago,"

"What happened?" James asked. Sirius nudged him hard in the ribs and shook his head.

"She was murdered," Jade said, "By vampires,"

"Really?" Sirius' jaw dropped again, "No wonder you took the job,"

"My headmistress thinks I'll be safer over here," Jade informed them,

"Well you've got guards now," James smirked, gesturing to himself, Sirius, Remus and Peter.

"Thanks," Jade replied

The train slowly pulled into Hogsmeade station and Jade and the four boys climbed out onto the chilly stone platform.

"Hey! James!"

Lily Evans was fighting her way towards them smiling cheerfully.

"Hi you guys, have a good holiday?" she asked

"Yeah quite good thanks," James replied

"Who's this?" Lily looked confusingly at Jade

"This is Jade Anderson," Sirius said, "She's a transfer from Grenadines in America,"

"Lily Evans," Lily shook Jade's hand,

"Nice to meet you," Jade smiled

"Cath! Mands come over here!" Lily yelled over her shoulder. Two girls made their way towards them. One of them had short cropped, brown hair with green eyes. The other had dark, almost black hair that reached the small of her back and sparkling blue eyes.

"This is Cathy Roads and Amanda Mullen," Lily pointed them out,

"Jade," Jade replied smiling,

"Come on," James interrupted, "The carriages will leave without us if we don't hurry up,"

"But don't you have to be sorted?" Sirius turned to Jade

"I was sorted before I even arrived in this country," she sighed, "I'm in Gryffindor, with the rest of you I hope,"

"Yep, we're in Gryffindor as well," Amanda linked arms with Jade, smiling widely,

The carriages pulled up in front of them. The four boys got into the first one and the four girls got into the second. After about five minutes of swaying and crashing into the mouldy sides of the carriages, they finally reached Hogwarts castle. They all clambered out and walked into the huge Great Hall. The ceiling that night was a dark velvety blue dotted with silver. Four tables stood beneath floating candles and on a large platform stood the staff table.

The headmaster of Hogwarts, Professor Albus Dumbledore, was beaming around at the students, winking at various people. Sitting at his side was the seriously spoken Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Klaxon. Some students suspected that he destroyed every joke book that unfortunately came his way.

Sirius, James, Remus and Peter sat down at the Gryffindor table in the usual place, right at the very end that was right next to the wall. Lily, Amanda, Cathy and Jade sat opposite them and turned around to look at Dumbledore.

The Deputy Headmistress, Professor McGonagall was leading a line of shaking first years up to the platform. Sirius (as usual) didn't listen to the Sorting Hat's song or pay any attention to who got put where. This year, he was too busy either avidly staring at Jade, trying to imagine her joined to his mouth or muttering with James, Remus and Peter about their first adventure of the year. It was the planning, that really caught his concentration.

"So where are we going this month Prongs?" he asked, leaning forward so Professor McGonagall wouldn't see them talking.

"I have a fully studied proposition," James replied

"I'm not going to get optimistic," Sirius groaned. Every time James came up with one of his 'fully studied propositions', they always ended up doing something for the grumpy caretaker Apollyon Pringle, which was not something any of them enjoyed.

"Oh come on," James looked at Sirius, his eyes sparkling with excitement, "I thought you were made of something Padfoot mate,"

"I am Prongs dude. It's just I don't feel like another six hours trying to sort out crime files in Pringle's office according to how much he hated the honourable student who had committed the crime,"

"OK, OK I can make my peace with that fact," James nodded,

"But anyway your fully studied plan?" Sirius prompted,

"Right, OK We are...God I'm brilliant, do you know I amaze myself sometimes...we are going into the Forbidden Forest to search for the Tree of the Dead that Binns told us about in that boring lesson I'd rather not get familiar with,"

"What the tree where that mad axe man wizard guy hid all the heads of his victims you mean?" Peter asked anxiously

"Yep," James said,

"You are a genius," Sirius smirked,

"Isn't that obvious?" James asked,

They fell silent as Dumbledore stood up and opened his arms in a welcoming way.

"Welcome to yet another year!" he exclaimed happily, "I am ecstatic to give these following words..."

"TUCK IN?" Sirius shouted hopefully,

The whole hall laughed loudly and a few "YEAH'S!" resounded here and there. Dumbledore laughed himself; he laughed so much his moustache quivered.

"No, Mr Black, I was going to come to that after my next announcement," he said, "As I was saying...I am extremely happy to welcome the five transfers from Grenadines School of Sorcery in America. Jade Anderson and Lee Robinson in Gryffindor, Lela Inman in Ravenclaw, Ross Lincoln in Hufflepuff and Kieran Andrews in Slytherin!"

There was a loud round of applause.

"I hope your time with us is enjoyable. Now to that highly interesting point Mr. Black arose about food...please eat!"

The plates in front of the students filled magically and there was hardly any talking as people started to scoff themselves stupid.

"So, um...what do you like doing?" Lily asked Jade.

Jade swallowed her mouthful of mashed potato and replied:

"I adore horse riding, it is definitely my most favourite pastime,"

"Horse riding?" Cathy said

"Yeah,"

"It's my favourite too!" Cathy exclaimed, "Have you got a horse?"

"Yep, thoroughbred, name's Flint,"

"I have one as well, dappled grey, his name's Charlie,"

"Wow, you certainly have a lot in common," Remus raised his eyebrows,

Jade cracked a grin.

"All we have in common so far is that we both have horses and love horse riding," she shrugged, "That's not much,"

"What about Quidditch? You like quidditch?" James turned eagerly to her,

"Nope, never understood it really,"

James' jaw fell onto his chest. James took it as a personal insult when someone said that they didn't understand Quidditch.

"What did I say something wrong?" Jade asked

"No, it's OK," Sirius reassured her, "its just James is a bit...um...well, he becomes mentally disturbed when someone says that they haven't a clue about Quidditch. It's his hobby; no it's his obsession,"

Jade laughed slightly.

"Well I'm sorry James if I hurt your feelings..." she suddenly looked over his shoulder, "Lee...how you been?"

They all turned. Standing behind James was a tall boy with dark brown, almost red hair with green eyes.

"I'm alright Jade, you OK?"

"Yeah I'm fine...guys this the other Gryffindor transfer, Lee Robinson,"

"Hi," Sirius got up and shook his hand, "Sirius Black, this is James Potter, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Lily Evans, Amanda Mullen and Cathy Roads,"

Lee's eyes settled on Cathy and stayed there a minute or so. She looked back at him.

"Interesting," Jade said slowly, "Romantic hypnosis, very interesting,"

Cathy gave her a playful punch on the arm.

"Romantic hypnosis...trust you Anderson," Lee shook his head

"That's right, you can trust me to bring up something morally gross while my friends are eating," Jade retorted

They all snorted into their portions of the chocolate gateau that had just appeared on a large white dish. Lee looked impatiently at her.

"Hardy ha, ha," he said sarcastically

"Anyway, I'll see you around?" Jade asked optimistically

"Yeah I guess," Lee nodded

"OK see you later,"

With a short wave of his hand, Lee turned back to the other Gryffindors he had been sitting with and walked off towards the doors.

"Are you and Lee an item or something?" Lily said

"Me? And him? Not now Lily, I'm trying to eat,"

"But Cath he seemed pretty interested in you though didn't he?" Amanda raised her eyebrows knowingly at Cathy,

"Yeah," Cathy replied dreamily, "He is so good looking..."

"Compared to what? His primitive ancestors?" Jade asked sarcastically

"Oh shut up," Cathy filled her mouth with gateau, finishing their conversation.

"Anyway, what are the lessons like here?" Jade looked at them

"Well, Defence Against The Dark Arts has to get better now we're in seventh year..." Amanda said slowly

"And Care of Magical Creatures is quite interesting..." Lily nodded

"Transfiguration is excellent..."James said

"And all the rest are down right dull," Sirius said thickly through his pudding

"That sums it up," Cathy shrugged

"Right, OK then," Jade replied smirking slightly, "What are the punishments like?"

"What in general?" Remus asked

"Well, letting off dung bombs in any place here will get you a mild detention..." Sirius said

"Leaving traps for the caretaker will land you in a serious detention with the caretaker..." James continued

"Jinxing practising sadists like Snape..." Sirius began

"Snape? Was he that git who forcefully made me snog him?" Jade frowned

"Yep,"

"Carry on," Jade told Sirius

"Jinxing practising sadists like Snape will lose your house at least 20 points and give you a detention,"

"Great now I know what to expect...now which jinx..."

"Good evening Miss Anderson," a new voice joined the conversation

They all turned to see Professor Dumbledore smirking cheerfully.

"I couldn't help but over hear your interesting conversation,"

"Oh that, we were talking about my um...rat yeah my rat," Jade smiled nudging Lily for support

"I doubt jinxing a rat would lose your house 20 points and get you a detention," he raised an eyebrow,

Jade opened her mouth to reply and stayed in that position for a few moments. Then shut it again, and slumped back into her chair.

"Now I'm not going to comment about that," he said with a swift smile, "I just came to tell you, even Hogwarts has it's dangers. Don't expect complete safety here. They'll still be hunting for you, keep your eyes open,"

"Yes sir," Jade smiled and nodded

Dumbledore beamed at them then turned and walked back to the staff table.

"What did he mean 'They'll still be hunting for you'?" Sirius asked Jade,

"Well you know..." she shot a glance at Lily, Amanda and Cathy next to her, and mouthed 'Vampires'

"Oh," Sirius said

"What the hell are you talking about?" Cathy looked at both of them, "Oh this what you meant Jade, by romantic hypnosis..."

Jade looked impatiently at her and smiled sarcastically.

"Come on, we'll show you the tower and dormitories," Lily said standing up and taking Jade's hand. The boys all stood up too and followed them out.

They walked in silence up to the portrait of The Fat Lady who had acquired yet another dress. This time it was baby pink with red trimmings.

"Password?" she asked

"Um...anyone know the password?" James looked at them all.

They all looked back at him and shrugged in unison.

"Well that was intelligent," said a voice,

It was Arthur Weasley, a friend of theirs in the same year.

"Coming to the portrait hole not knowing the password...clever, the password's 'Flowerbeds',"

The Fat Lady swung open with a small creak and they climbed in.

"Who thinks up these crappy passwords?" Sirius said to James,

"I don't know," James shrugged, "Probably a total idiot,"

"That's what I was thinking," Sirius replied nodding.

The next day, Sirius woke up before anybody else. He looked at his watch...7:30. He threw his pillow at James who groaned and sat up, looking grumpily back at him.

"What was that for?" he yawned

"Nothing," Sirius said, "Just wanted to annoy you...anyway, I bags the first shower,"

"Oh no you don't!" James snapped,

They both shot out of bed and sprinted to the bathroom at the end of the dormitory, fighting each other and pulling at each other's shirt. Their small shouts woke Remus and Peter.

"What's the big idea?" Peter groaned

Remus realised what they were doing and joined in. Eventually all three of them were on the floor, having furious wrestling matches with each other. Peter looked on nervously and put the duvet over his head. Soon James and Remus were locked in furious combat. Sirius stood up pulling his old t-shirt straight. Then smiling slightly walked over to the bathroom door. He cleared his throat. Remus looked at him from James' headlock. Sirius smirked evilly and closed the bathroom door.

He came out 15 minutes later in his Hogwarts uniform consisting of baggy black trousers, grey v-neck jumper, one of those proper white shirts, a scarlet and yellow tie and long black robes. His hair however, was damp and all over the place.

"Finally," Remus sighed.

"What? You can talk Moony dude, you take longer than that,"

"But...damn it!"

James had sped into the bathroom before Remus could retrieve his towel.

There was a soft knock on the dormitory door. Sirius looked at Remus from under his messy fringe, frowning.

"Come in," Remus called,

It was Jade and Lily.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Sirius asked

"Well that's nice...I was expecting a cheerful 'Good morning Jade' or a 'Morning' at least," Jade said

Sirius quickly drew his gaze from her long slim legs protruding from the hem of her skirt.

"Alright then, morning, what the hell are you doing in here?"

"We were just, you know, moping around, got bored, and we thought we'd come up to see you," Lily shrugged

"Really, interesting," Sirius said

"Anyway, we're going down to breakfast in a minute, want to come?" Jade asked

"Yeah I will at least," Sirius nodded, "I've had a shower, James is in the shower, Remus wants to be in the shower and Peter still thinks we're fighting each other for the shower,"

"You fought over the shower?" Jade raised an eyebrow,

"Yep,"

"I don't think I had a shower earlier," Jade said slowly

"No way am I fighting you. I saw how well you hit Snape yesterday," Sirius shook his head,

"Chicken," Jade snapped, "Oh well...never mind,"

She turned to leave. Sirius seized a pillow and threw it at the back of her head. She turned around, and folded her arms.

"A pillow?" she said,

"Yeah a pillow,"

"Pitiful, just pitiful," Jade threw the pillow back and he caught it.

"I'll see you at breakfast," she said, as she and Lily left the room.

Finally, they were all showered and dressed. Sirius led them down through the common room to the Great Hall for breakfast. Jade and Lily were sitting where they had last night and were talking and laughing. They were silent as the Marauders sat down. Then burst out laughing again.

"OK, what have we done?" James said

Jade took a deep breath and regained control of herself while Lily sniggered through her hand.

"Nothing, we were just laughing at an immensely hilarious joke that Lily told me, it included various characters that fitted your descriptions..."

She then started to giggle again.

"Mad," Sirius muttered, "You better get rid of those giggles, I bet we've got Defence Against the Dark Arts next and Professor Klaxon won't be happy if you laugh yourself stupid in the lesson,"

"Yeah that is true," Lily said mid giggle, suddenly getting serious, "Trust me Klaxon will have a nerve failure if someone laughs in his lesson,"

"That's a bit harsh isn't it?" Jade asked, putting scrabbled egg onto her plate

"Klaxon is harsh, I don't think I have ever seen him smile," James replied

"Neither have I," Sirius, loading his bacon and sausages with ketchup.

"Bit like my old Astronomy teacher, now she was harsh man," Jade filling her mouth with toast,

At that moment Cathy and Amanda walked in and sat down heavily.

"I wondered where you had got to," Lily said

"Cath couldn't find her shoes, I had to help her find them," Amanda shrugged,

"Hey, look timetables," Peter called down the table, passing them round,

"Yep, told you we had Attila the Hun teaching us first," Sirius, said

"Then it's Transfiguration..."James' eyes were scanning the timetable

"After break it's oh bugger," Sirius moaned

"What?" Jade said

"Divination," James and Sirius replied their shoulders sagging in obvious disappointment,

"With the mutant praying mantis," James head fell onto his hand,

"Come on it's not that bad," Lily, said

Both James' and Sirius' eyebrows flew up in disbelieve.

"Not that bad?" Sirius shook his head,

"Yeah, think positive,"

"You can be positive, I'll be realistic," James said through his toast.

The bell clanged, resounding off the stonewalls. The eight of them trudged to Defence against the Dark Arts. Professor Klaxon was already there, awaiting the class' arrival.

"Sit down and take out your things, be quick now!" he snapped

The class filed in, sat down and took out their books and quills. Sirius slumped down next to James. Professor Klaxon picked up a stick of chalk from the desk in front of him and started to write something on the board. Then he turned as fast as a flash of lightening and said:

"As you are now entering your seventh at Hogwarts, the Defence Against The Dark Arts lessons will get much more testing. I will have to teach you how to deflect the more pain inflicting curses and I will also have to teach you the tell tale signs that will inform you that a wizard is about to curse you,"

Nobody moved.

Professor Klaxon stared at them with his small angry eyes. Sirius felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle as those cold angry eyes met his. He stiffened as he felt the angry gaze harden.

"Now, curses can range from making you painfully unconscious for hours sometimes days, to giving you a nasty illness. Does anyone know any?"

Nobody's hand shifted. Sirius shot a quick look at Jade, who was nervously putting her hand into the air.

"Yes, Miss...." Professor Klaxon checked his register, "Anderson. It's always comforting to know that someone can answer simple questions,"

"Um...the Blocking Wits curse. It's slows your senses and reflex actions," Jade said

Everyone looked around at her. Professor Klaxon was wearing an expression, which was composed of what looked like, mild admiration.

"You are correct Miss Anderson," he replied, "But that curse is only recorded in books that are kept under very tight security in all the wizarding schools, how did you find out about it?"

Something about Jade's anxious look told Sirius that she had evidently learnt it from being a vampire slayer.

"I...I learnt it from my headmistress sir, she ran a duelling club last year for all the sixth years and that was one of the spells she taught us," Jade's eyes looked like they were praying he would buy it. Professor Klaxon looked doubtful but he swallowed it as the truth at least.

"Right, OK then, Miss Anderson has earned her right to leave this classroom when the bell rings, if anybody else wishes to leave they better come up with some curses and quick!"

Everybody's hand shot up immediately.

That night, the four Marauders were sitting round a small wooden table in the common room, planning the mad escapade to the Tree of the Dead. James had a piece of parchment in front of him, on which he had drawn a map of the forest containing the deadly tree.

"Right, because this is going to be..." James put on a Professor McGonagall tone, "'Extremely daring and dangerous' we are going to have to be careful,"

"I heard the Tree is protected by old curses and other life threatening things," Peter informed them nervously

"Wormtail your such a wimp," Remus said, "This is going be excellent,"

"Yeah really wicked," Sirius said nodding, "You call yourself a Marauder? You should be ashamed,"

"This Tree of the Dead manifesto will make us famous," James leaned forward, his aqua eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Will it? Do you know what this Tree could do to you?" a new voice interrupted the conversation

They all started and looked up; it was Jade.

"Jade what the hell are you doing?" James asked

"Warning you about the Tree of the Dead," she drew a chair up and sat down with them, "This tree is dangerous..."

Peter looked around, smirking smugly,

"You don't know what you're getting yourself into," she muttered,

"And I suppose you've seen the dangers it imposes?" James snapped,

"Yes actually I have," Jade replied coolly,

"Well we haven't got the bloody time to li...."

"No James," Sirius cut across him, "Lets just hear her out,"

Jade smiled her thanks.

"This tree has the power of dark magic behind it. Even if you go looking for fame..." she shot a steely glance at James, "It is incredibly likely you'll come back with a spiritless body. Now there are precautions you can take, but you'll have to take me with you,"

"No way," James exclaimed quietly, "It would mean revealing all our secrets to you,"

"I'll keep my mouth shut I promise," Jade nodded vigorously

James looked at Sirius and Sirius looked back. He thought taking Jade was a good idea, especially if she knew about the Tree's power but then on the other hand it would mean telling her a lot of things. Like Remus being a werewolf and them being unregistered Animagi.

"Alright," Sirius said finally after a telepathic argument with James, "Listen carefully and don't tell anybody,"

"I won't, I swear," Jade replied

Sirius started to explain. Jade's eyes did not become round with wonder but started to glitter with admiration and at the end of his story she was smirking like she was a real Marauder herself.

"That doesn't mean anything to me," she said, "I mean I'm an Multi-Animagi myself, I can turn into any animal I want,"

"You're kidding,"

"No I'm not,"

The four boys started to smile now. They leant in closer to her, all looking excited.

"Right, we're planning to go for it in two Full Moons time," James explained, forgetting his previous arguments instantly, "Do you know the way to the Tree?"

"Sort of, I know the direction it's in from here,"

"Great, then you can lead us,"

"Prepare yourselves for a shock, physical and mental," Jade stood up to leave, "The Tree is deadly, trust me when I say that,"

Over the next weeks, Jade started to transform into a humorous, adventure loving teenage girl. It was as if she had been hiding most of her personality when the Marauders and Lily and co. met her.

Sirius was finding it hard not to stare at her in a dazed dream every time he looked at her. She seemed to become closer to him too, but she obviously didn't want a close relationship. Friends (for the moment) was the main idea between them.

Jade was getting closer to Lily and her friends too. Lily especially. They were rarely seen out of each other's company and were always laughing or talking animatedly about something or other. Amanda and Cathy were always with them of course and they too were incredibly close to Jade.

This was evidently proved one day, which was very near to the full moon that they were planning to go to the tree. Jade was called to Professor Dumbledore's office. She had got to her feet in the common room looking mildly confused and had followed Professor McGonagall, assuring them that she would back in a minute. She returned about twenty minutes later, white and trembling slightly.

She slumped back into her chair next to Lily.

"Jade, what's up?" Lily asked instantly

Jade didn't reply.

"Jade?" Cathy shook Jade's shoulder,

Sirius thought he knew what this was about. He nudged James and muttered:

"I bet it's something to do with vampires,"

Sirius leaned forward and said

"Jade don't you think you should tell them? About...you know,"

Jade looked at him for a minute then took Lily's hand.

"Lily, I know this will come as a shock probably, but I'm a vampire slayer,"

Lily's mouth fell open. So did Cathy's and Amanda's.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Lily stuttered,

"I've been rejected so many times by other people when I told them what I am and I was scared," Jade replied with difficulty,

"But you told them alright didn't you?" Lily nodded in the Marauder's direction

"They were already on to me," Jade said quickly,

"I can't believe you didn't say anything," Amanda said, "You know you can tell us anything,"

"I wasn't sure OK?" Jade voice had began to waver,

"Alright you're a vampire slayer no biggie," Cathy said shrugging, "So what's up then? Why did Dumbledore want you?"

"He...he told me that the vampires had found out where I was," Jade stuttered, the mischievous glint missing form her eyes, "I'm in more danger than you realise, if I don't be careful, then they'll attack and siege the castle demanding for me, if I don't come they'll more than likely kill everyone trying to make me bring myself forward,"

"Jade, listen," Lily turned towards Jade and looked her hard in the eye, "No matter what happens we will always be by your side. Even if it means we'll get dragged to hell and back,"

"Thanks Lily," Jade looked up at the ceiling, "I've just got to look out for myself from now on,"

Yeah," Cathy said, "But look on the bright side, Jade, at least you've still got all your limbs and everything,"

Jade smirked at Cathy, her eyes lightened up by the returned glint.

"I won't for long if they come after me but hey!" Jade shrugged, "Anyone up for a bit of dinner, I'm bloody starving,"

The full moon of the deadly tree came at last. Sirius woke on the day feeling excited but at the same time morally nervous. James looked entirely cool about it, Remus didn't look anything but Peter was practically squealing with fright.

As they walked down to breakfast, Jade caught up with them.

"Morning," she said cheerfully, as though the Tree was at the back of her mind. Then she caught sight of their apprehensive faces.

"Your all nervous aren't you?" she asked with a grim smile,

They said nothing.

"They might be but I'm not," James said confidently

"Yes you are," Jade replied, "I can see fear in your eyes,"

"You don't have to go," she shrugged,

"No we're going," Sirius, said, "You are too aren't you?"

"Count me in," she smirked

The day sped through like time had been altered drastically. One minute they were all eating breakfast, the next waiting for the common room crowd to go to bed. Lily, Amanda and Cathy went to bed, finally being assured by Jade that she would come up, once she finished her chess match with James. When Lily's back had disappeared up the staircase, James took out the invisibility cloak he had been sitting on.

"Right," he whispered urgently, "Everyone got everything?"

Jade flung the small black back pack over her shoulder, pulled on a light black jacket and nodded shortly. Sirius finished tying his shoelace and stood up next to James putting part of the invisibility cloak over himself.

"But there isn't room for all five of us under the cloak," Remus said quickly, realizing first.

"I can go without it," Jade shrugged, "I've invaded vampire fortresses and you think getting out of an undefended castle without an invisibility cloak is going to be hard?"

"OK, just saying," Remus, replied

"Jade, you go ahead and check the corridors then," James ordered, smiling slightly,

"Fine," Jade said.

She walked casually to the portrait hole and pushed it open. She peered cautiously out, turned her head left and right then hissed at them,

"Coast is clear, come on,"

She jumped, catlike down and jogged silently to the corner and looked round. She gestured for them to follow. They ran as quietly as they could after her and after a couple of minutes had reached the front doors. Jade pushed one open a little and let them through. Then closed it behind her. They sprinted to the borders of the forest. Once they had reached the first band of trees, James threw the cloak off their shoulders.

"Few, first stage over," Peter said

"We've done that loads of times," Sirius brushed away Peter's statement

"Keep close," Jade said, looking deadly serious, "It's incredibly easy to get lost on the route I'm going to take,"

She turned and started to walk through the trees. The four Marauders followed her, each lighting their wands so they could keep a close eye on her back. The black jacket she was wearing was very effective in the pitch-black night surrounding them. They occasionally lost their footing because apparently Jade's route was no path. She was leading them through thick forest now and the ground was covered in stumps and bushes. As they stumbled on, the night got darker until it reached a point when the small wand light was dazzling Sirius' eyes. Suddenly Jade stopped dead. Sirius bumped into her and James bumped into Sirius.

"Shh!" she hissed, "Stay here a second,"

She crept silently away. The Marauders gave each other nervous side glances. Jade came back so deadly quietly that when she tapped Sirius on the shoulder, he nearly jumped a foot in the air.

"It's as I feared," she whispered, "The Tree is just ahead but there are at least a dozen vampires camping around it,"

"What?" they all breathed

"We can get closer but you must be quiet, their ears aren't that good but if you breathe that loudly you'll find yourself captured,"

Sirius immediately stopped breathing and decided to breath through his nose instead of his mouth. Jade looked at him sharply but she was smiling.

She gestured for them to follow again. She led them to a long line of bushes and ducked behind them. Sirius dropped down beside her and copied her in looking through the thin branches. There was a huge roaring fire in the centre of a large clearing and dotted around it were several black silhouettes. Behind the silhouettes were some horses and behind the gigantic fire was a black twisted form. The Tree of the Dead. It's branches breached out at sharp angles and it's trunk writhed and twisted in a snake like way. Sirius' heart shuddered to a halt as some sort of evil cold swept over him. Jade noticed and looked at him anxiously. He shrugged her worried glance off and looked at the vampires again. The vampires were talking loudly and their conversation could easily be heard.

"I wonder if that wretched slayer knows we're here," one of them was saying, "If she does we shouldn't stay here,"

"Yeah, she's always kicking our asses, why doesn't that Master care about that?" another replied,

Sirius looked at Jade, she was smirking in an evil way.

"There's no point worrying," another vampire joined their conversation, "She can't know 'cause if she did she would've attacked by now,"

"Yeah, that's a good point,"

Jade quickly pulled her bag off her back and hastily put a silver chain round her neck. Attached to this chain was a silver Celtic designed cross. She whipped out a wooden stake and shoved in into her pocket.

"I'm going to ambush them," she turned to the four boys, her eyes sparkling

"What?" James hissed,

"I'm a vampire slayer, I might as well do what the title says,"

"What shall we do though?"

"Wait here and if I scream like hell, come running,"

Sirius smiled at her adventurous, reckless courage as she turned and ran at a crouch round to the back of the vampire's fire.

"What the hell is she playing at?" James muttered angrily, watching her,

"Doing her job," Sirius replied,

James looked at him, a small smirk playing around his lips.

"You have a thing for Jade don't you Padfoot?"

"No! I...well,"

"Yes you do,"

"OK, maybe I do like her a bit but that's not your business is it?"

"I'm your best mate of course it's my..."

"Look," Sirius said pointing through the thinner branches in the bush

Jade had snuck round the tree and was practically on top of the vampires. They hadn't seemed to notice. She crept forwards farther, getting closer, her high heeled, black boots making no noise as they came in contact with the forest floor. Sirius watched her graceful body as she slowly came and squatted down next to a nearby vampire who was talking animatedly to another vampire sitting next to him. The vampire he was talking to, stopped dead and looked at Jade with rising fear in his face. The vampire sitting next to jade turned round looking confused.

"Boo," Jade said

They all jumped a foot in the air, some of them drawing daggers, some clutching onto one another in terror.

"God, you get worse every time," Jade moaned, "Come on, who's going to die first?"

A vampire strode forwards, his dagger raised menacingly.

"I love eager volunteers," Jade muttered

The vampire made a sweeping blow towards her head but Jade ducked quickly and rolled in between his legs. They started to circle each other; Jade looking utterly laid back and her opponent looking determined. The vampire charged at her again; Jade back flipped expertly hitting the vampire in the nose with the heel of her boot. He fell back ward onto the floor. He charged at her feet, knocking her down but she put her heels into his stomach and kicked him off her. She leapt up, flicking her hair out of her eyes. The vampire was furious. He ran towards her, yelling with fury and frustration. She quickly yanked the stake out of her back pocket and as the vampire passed, she rammed her knee into his chest. He stopped and straightened up; she rammed the stake through his heart. Dust granules were the only remnants of the vampire. The Marauder's jaws dropped onto their chests in shock and admiration. Jade was one of the best fighters they had ever laid their eyes upon.

Other vampires now sprinted in anger towards her. She dodged all of them, fighting three at once. She jumped into the air and swung her hips round hitting one twice around the face with her sharply heeled boots. She elbowed the other two in the stomach, and then slipped down to the floor, bringing all three of them down on their backs with one sweep of her slim leg. As each of them tried to get up, she killed all of them using her stake. The other vampires looked at her fearfully, not daring to move.

"What's the matter? Scared?" Jade asked with a smirk.

They turned tail and ran towards their horses but Jade was faster. She sprinted round so she was ahead of them and leapt up in an Olympic fashion onto a black horse. She rode forwards and blocked their way.

"What are you doing?" she asked sarcastically, "The party's only just begun,"

The vampires didn't seem to care. They turned away again sprinting into the forest but a great black mist had suddenly appeared in the clearing. The horse Jade was on, tossed its head and stamped it's hooves in fear.

Sirius felt the cold mist penetrating his body and piercing his heart. Peter was shaking like mad and Remus and James were looking scared and confused. Sirius looked at Jade. She was looking around, not looking scared but curious. Suddenly a black-cloaked figure emerged out of the darkness. It walked towards Jade, who was now looking afraid. The black figure grabbed her throat and lifted her effortlessly off her horse. She struggled, coughing and spluttering in the figure's strong grip. He threw her hard into the trunk of the threatening tree. She collapsed in a heap, still coughing. Sirius leapt up, his body being controlled by his own reckless courage...and his heart.

The vampires, who started to run, had sunk down to their knees in obvious praise. The figure lowered its hood. Black, greasy hair fell to his shoulders, his skin was pasty white and his mouth and eyes were ringed with grey. The eyes were a fiery red, which pierced the skin, and his evil gaze was chilling to the very bones. Sirius stood stock still, not moving. He was looking at the face of the vampire lord, Kalikow. Jade was looking at Kalikow like he was something disgusting off the bottom of her shoe.

"You," she spat,

"Me," he replied. His voice sent a tense feeling of unease up Sirius' back and made the hairs on his neck stand on end.

"I was wondering when I would see you again slayer, first a midget trying to be brave when the scary vampires ram sacked her house and murdered her mother, now a beautiful young flower, trained in the admirable art of fighting and me? A rotting corpse with..."

"With no just excuse to walk on the face of this earth," she snapped at him

Kalikow fixed her with his chilling stare.

"And a tongue as sharp as a knife," Kalikow circled her, like a watchful bird of prey,

"I get that from my mother," Jade folded her arms

"Yes, she too was annoyingly arrogant,"

"Shut up," Jade said, "Don't you dare talk about my mother that way, unless you want your tongue ripped out and left for the vultures tomorrow morning?"

"Ouch," Kalikow said, "That hurt,"

"You haven't felt anything yet," Jade retorted,

Kalikow strode forwards lifting his hand. A blue jet of light shot out of his fingertips, lifting Jade up in a sphere of dazzling blue light.

"You've said your last words slayer," Kalikow sneered, "No living man could defeat me, didn't your dear mummy mention that to you all those years ago,"

He slowly closed his fist. Jade let out a yell of pain as she writhed and twisted in his sphere.

"Now you will understand why people call me the Lord of all Vampires...because I'm the only one who the slayers could never beat!"

The sphere disappeared and Jade fell. Sirius, acting as if on a reflex action, sprinted to underneath her and caught her before she hit the ground. Jade opened her eyes feebly and looked at him surprised.

"Thanks," she muttered weakly,

"No problem,"

Kalikow was smirking evilly.

"Awe, the slayer's found herself a boyfriend, how incredibly touching,"

Sirius put Jade down and put her arm around his neck.

"What? You jealous?" Jade retorted angrily,

Kalikow's smirk faded a little. His face became uglier in anger.

"Sirius," Jade croaked in his ear,

He turned to look down at her.

"The horses over there, if we could get over there, we could ride back to Hogwarts and warn Dumbledore,"

"Right, are you going to be OK?"

"Yep, fight as a fiddle,"

She pulled her arm from his grasp. Immediately she fell back into him.

"Ok...a badly tuned fiddle," she nodded guiltily

"Look, this is so romantic, he's helping her to get her backside in gear for hopefully, the only time I'll have to bother," Kalikow moved towards them but Jade grabbed Sirius hand and pulled him to the horses. Sirius yelled for James, Remus and Peter who came running instantly. Jade leapt up onto a horse and wheeled it around. The others did the same, Peter leaping on behind Remus because he couldn't find a horse who wasn't huge.

"Where are you going cowards?"

"Back to Hogwarts," Jade called, "I'll finish you off later,"

They galloped back through the trees. Jade leaning forward in her saddle, clearly not wanting another encounter with Kalikow. After a few minutes at a breakneck speed they slowed to a walk. Jade sat wearily trying to stay conscious in her saddle, the other's silent. Sirius' heart was beating fast with shock and a new found love for Jade. The way she had looked into his eyes when he had caught her