Carpe Diem

"James Potter! Get down here this instant! The Hogwarts Express is leaving in an hour!"

James hurriedly shut his trunk and glanced around his room to make sure everything was packed. His transfiguration book was lying on the floor, a few pages already loose. He started to think that perhaps throwing a brand new book on the floor may not have been the best way to rebel against the fact that Lily barely spoke to him again after Snape had left the Leaky Cauldron. With a sigh, he picked it up and shoved it in his bag, which he immediately threw over his shoulder. That was when he noticed a flash of gold zooming about the room. Shrugging his bag off his shoulder, he jumped up onto his bed and caught it in less than five seconds. The Golden Snitch that he stole after a particularly glorious Quidditch game against Slytherin was one of his prized possessions. The memory of it still brought a smile to his face.

"James! Hurry! Sirius is already here!"

"Sirius? How did he get here?"

"Apparated, mate!" yelled his friend up the stairs. "Now hurry up."

Jamespulled his bag over his shoulder again and grabbed his trunk, still holding on to the struggling Snitch. He bounded down the stairs, promptly sending his trunk hurtling to the bottom. His mother managed to slow down the crash and then directed it safely to the car.

"Now, James, are you ready?"

"Yes, Mum."

Sirius grinned broadly at James as they walked to the car. "Yes, Mum," he mimicked.

"Oh, shove off," James said, but he was beaming as well. "How did you get here anyway? As I recall, you normally make it to the station by the skin of your teeth."

"Turning over a new leaf, dear boy." He laughed when Jamesgave him a look that clearly said that he didn't believe him. "All right, so my clock was slightly off. Big deal."

Exactly one hour later, Sirius and James were in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express with Peter and Remus. The floor was scattered with treats, which the boys were happily devouring. Within ten minutes of sitting together, there was a knock on the door. Remus immediately jumped up and opened the door. Roma stood smiling, while Lily was just behind her, looking as though it had been Roma who had forced her to come. Her Head Girl badge was gleaming on her black robes.

Roma sat down next to Remus and the two immediately began chatting as though they hadn't seen each other in years. Lily stood awkwardly in the corner. She didn't particularly feel like dealing with the antics of James and Sirius, and wasn't up to Peter's constant compliments and adoration.

"Doesn't look too enthusiastic, Prongs," Sirius said under his breath, nudging Jameswith his elbow. James quickly got up and took Lily's arm.

"Care to inspect the train, my fair lady?"

Lilyrolled her eyes, but she didn't take her arm away from him. "If we must. I trust you won't be abusing your badge."

"Now, how could you ever suggest a thing like that?" Jamesasked, trying to sound as innocent as a newborn babe. Lilyopened the door, and the two walked out to make sure that none of the younger students were "experimenting" with fun hexes and jinxes.

"I'm taking bets," Sirius said, pulling out a piece of parchment. "What do you think will happen first: James will kiss Lily, or Lily will kill James? Any takers?"

The others laughed. Roma insisted that Lilydidn't actually hate James, she just found him highly irritating and had often wanted him to jump in a pool of molasses. Remus mentioned that was basically the same as wanting to kill him, and Roma said that no, it wasn't, since she wanted James to jump in on his own accord. Lily herself wasn't going to push him in or anything. Remus then said that that was a minor technicality, and that somehow Jameswould find himself dead because of Lily. Sirius brought up the fact that he would die from shock if she ever agreed to go out with him, and perhaps Lily should try that if Jamesever really annoyed her. The mood was still light and cheery when James and Lily returned. James had a look of shock on his face. Lily took a seat next to Roma, but James still stood frozen by the door.

"So, what were you all talking about?" Lilyasked cheerfully.

"James' death."

Lily's green eyes widened as the entire group answered her, but then she laughed. She had a sneaky suspicion she played a role in James' "death." She rather enjoyed the thought.

"Oy, James, something crawl in your mouth?"

Jamesstared at Sirius, not blinking. "He...he was being...nice."

They looked at James for a second, and then turned to Lily for an explanation. "We met Severus on our way patrolling the train. He actually said hello to James. I think it threw him into a state of permanent shock."

Roma laughed heartily, and Remus looked like he was trying hard to suppress a grin. Peter was eying Sirius' incredulous expression, and then decided to put on an equal expression of horror.

"Oh, honestly. We're of age now, this is our last year at Hogwarts. I think Severus has the right idea. We should try to be nicer to each other now that we are adults. No more childish pranks."

"For your information, Miss Evans, James and I pride ourselves on the maturity and complexity of our pranks," Sirius said in mock indignation. "But let us not get away from the fact that Snivellus is never civil, let alone nice. James has the right to be shocked, he's up to something."

"You boys have the mentality of mice," Lilysaid, amused but a bit tired of their constant bullying of Severus. It was getting old, and she just couldn't see why they hated him so. Granted, he did have the look of somebody who had spent a year in Azkaban, his hair long, messy, and greasy, and his skin oily. He wore black all the time, but so did many people in the wizarding world. He knew far more Dark magic than anybody else at Hogwarts, but from what she heard about his father, that shouldn't really come as a surprise.

Roma shared her sentiments. She had worked with Severus on a project in her fifth year, and while Severus hadn't been exactly friendly, he wasn't the monster that most of the school made him out to be. He was just very quiet and withdrawn, as though he had a lot on his mind. At least Remus was courteous to him, even if his friends weren't.

The rest of the trip was spent discussing exactly what Snape had up his sleeve. At least, that's how James and Sirius spent the trip. Remus had taken out a textbook and was studying it. Roma had given up on talking to him and talked excitedly to Lily about the Seventh Year Ball. Peterflitted about, trying first to plot against Snape and then to debate Lupin about whether the Ministry should have an ambassador to the Muggles. His most failed attempt, however, was with the girls and how the Great Hall should be decorated for the Ball. In the end, he sat back in his seat and crossed his arms, pouting, until the great castle appeared in sight. The group pulled on their robes and got ready to view their very last Sorting Ceremony.

~*~

After proceeding into the Great Hall, the Marauders, Lily, and Roma all took seats near each other. Jamesmanaged to maneuver around so that he was sitting next to Lily. Remus smiled at him, his eyes twinkling. Jamesgrinned back and then turned to Sirius, expecting to see his usual smirk. But Sirius' attention was focused elsewhere.

At the very end of the table, sitting where the first years normally sat was a girl he had never seen before. She had very pale skin and black hair that just grazed her shoulders. Her back was straight and proper, and she was looking up at the ceiling, enchanted to look like the night sky. She had an ethnic look about her, but James couldn't place it. There was no way she was a first year- she looked several years older than him. He called Sirius' name, jarring him from his daze.

"What?"

"Who do you reckon she is?" James asked, nudging his elbow towards the girl. The rest of the group turned to look as well.

"Dumbledore did say we would be getting a transfer student. I guess that's her," Lilysaid, eyeing the new student.

"She looks familiar," James said, glancing back over at her. "I think I've seen her before."

"Snow White," murmured Lily.

"Who?"

"It's a Muggle story," Lily said with a slight wave of her hand. "She was this princess with skin as white as snow, hair as dark as ebony, and lips as red as rubies. She had an evil stepmother, so she hid in the forest with seven dwarfs. Then the stepmother gave her a poisoned apple, and Snow White laid in this eternal sleep until her prince came and kissed her." The others stared at her, amused by this information. Lily adjusted her robes.

"I wonder where she's from," Remus said.

"Greece?" guessed Peter.

"Nah, she's too...I don't know," Sirius said, not taking his eyes off of her. "I just don't think Greek."

"I know what you mean," Roma said. "She seems a bit more...I can't think of it either. She just looks very sophisticated, refined. Above the lowly British. But not Greek."

"Italian."

"Well, Sirius may have got it," Roma said. "I can see that. Yes, Italian."

"I don't know," Remus said, looking over at her again. "I thought they had darker skin. Look at her, she's practically glowing white."

"No, she's not!" Sirius said vehemently. "She's beautiful!"

"I never said she wasn't," Remus said calmly. He was used to Sirius claiming that every new girl he saw was the most stunning one in the world. "I was just saying..."

"Oh, for Merlin's sake," Lily said, getting up from her seat. "I'm going to go try the old-fashioned way: asking her! No, Sirius, you stay here. We don't want her first memory of Hogwarts to be of hormonal teenage boys pouncing on her."

"I wouldn't pounce," Sirius said, sounding slightly hurt. But he stayed in his seat.

The group went back to chatting about upcoming events and teachers, the new girl forgotten. Only Sirius continued looking over at her, and even he got distracted when James cracked a joke about Professor Getty's new haircut. Still, after ten minutes of watching her longingly, he jumped up.

"What right does Lily have to tell me who I can and can't talk to? I'm going to go meet that girl right now..."

But at that exact moment, a long line of nervous looking students filed into the Great Hall, lead by Hagrid. Remus offered Sirius a smile.

"Sorry, mate, but it looks like you'll have to wait a bit longer to meet your dream girl."

Sirius sat back down, pouting. It took ages for Professor McGonagall to go from Appleton, Brenda to Wartson, Reginald. But finally, all of the first years were seated and the food had appeared on the table. Sirius stood up.

"If you will excuse me, a princess awaits."

James stood up as well. "I'm interested in meeting this girl myself."

"No you're not. You just want to sit next to Lily."

"Moony, you coming?" James asked, ignoring Sirius.

Remus looked over at Roma, who nodded. Peter jumped up as well, and the group made their way over to the head of the table.

"First years. Do you mind moving over there, or would you like me to hex you?"

"James," Remus said in what must have been an attempted stern voice. He looked at the terrified students. "He's not serious. But would you mind going to sit where we were? We just want to join our friend, Lily."

The students looked apprehensively at James, who was now unsuccessfully trying to look innocent while casually polishing off his Head Boy badge. With a final glance at Remus, who smiled reassuringly at them, they rose from their seats and left.

"James! That was terrible! You're Head Boy!" exclaimed Lily. She was sitting across from the new girl.

"Sorry, but it had to be done," James said, grabbing a seat next to her.

Sirius sat on the other side of Lily so he could have a clear view of the new girl. She looked only slightly less intimidating up close. Her heart-shaped face looked friendly enough, but he just wasn't sure. Her eyes, however, struck him. At first glance, they weren't anything special, but now he could see how the brown also held green and flecks of gold. Magic eyes.

Breaking out of his trance, he smiled winningly at her. "Hello. My friends and I," he said, gesturing towards the Marauders. "Have a little bet going on. James, the one with the lovely black hair, says that you're from Italy. Remus, the quiet one next to the blonde, is betting on Greece." He leaned across the table and then said softly, "But I say you've dropped down from Heaven. So tell me, do I win this bet?"

James groaned and dropped his head on Lily's shoulder. Remus rolled his eyes, and Roma put her face in her hands. But Sirius didn't care. Because he had made the girl laugh, and it suddenly made her seem so much more...real. It wasn't a mocking laugh, more like the laugh of someone who just heard an amusing joke. Her smile really lit up her face, her brown eyes shone with warmth. He noticed how two dimples appeared in her left cheek. He smiled hopefully.

"No, sorry, hate to disappoint you. But I just transferred here from Bringhurst Academy of Magic in the U.S. But my mother is Italian." She spoke so softly that everybody had to strain to hear her. But Sirius instantly fell for her voice. It was a friendly voice that held the happiness that her face showed.

"Bringhurst? Really?" Remus asked with much interest. "Is it true that they offer more courses than any other wizarding school?"

"Yeah, they offer a lot of obscure topics. It was actually a shame, they haven't offered my favorite subject at Hogwarts for over 200 years."

"Wait a minute," Peter said suspiciously. "If you're from America, how come you didn't say 'howdy' or something?"

The girl laughed again. Sirius loved that laugh. "Not every American talks like they're from Texas. Actually, a lot of Texans don't even talk like that."

"So, where in America are you from?" Lily asked politely. "California?"

"No, about 3,000 miles east of that. I live in-"

"New York?" James guessed.

"Closer, but no. I'm from Delaware." She laughed again when she saw their lost expressions. "Don't worry, I'm used to it. It's a really small state, so nobody pays much attention to it. There were only three wizarding families in the entire state."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Remus said. "We never really said...I'm Remus Lupin, that's James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, my girlfriend Roma Doron...and that lovely man who just attacked you is our very own Sirius Black."

"Ria Manne," she said, nodding in greeting to the others. "Oh, and in case you didn't catch it, I'm a seventh year as well."

"Excellent," Sirius said, thoroughly pleased. "So, tell me, are all American girls as pretty as you, or are you just the special one?"

This time, the entire group just laughed. They were used to Sirius using bad pick up lines, and Ria seemed to be entertained by them. They spent the rest of the feast filling Ria in on all of the teachers, classes, and students. She listened to them all, laughed at their jokes, and smiled when necessary, but was very reserved. She didn't say much at all, and just seemed to be absorbing her new environment. Sirius made more attempts than any of them put together to try to get her to talk, but she only answered what was asked of her, and rarely elaborated.

James was in the middle of telling a joke about a Japanese beetle when Severus Snape walked over to the table. Jamesinstinctively grabbed his wand, but loosened his grip when Lilyplaced her hand on his arm.

"What do you want, Sna-"

The group sat gaping. With a giddy cry of "Severus," Ria had jumped out of her seat and into Snape's arms. He had a true smile on his face, a big shock to the Marauders who had only seen him grin when he had gotten them in trouble. Sirius looked as though he was about to vomit up everything he had just eaten, while James had an expression of wonder on his face. Remus looked incredibly amused.

When the two separated, they were both still beaming. "So it's true, Ria? You're really in Gryffindor?"

"Yes, Sev," Ria said. "I told you that Dumbledore had me sorted before school started, so attention wouldn't be drawn to me...what, did you think I was kidding?"

"No," he said, his usual frown returning. "Wishful thinking, I suppose. You may want to avoid this bunch though."

Ria looked back at her new friends, who were watching the display with mixed faces of interest and disbelief. "I think," she said, turning back to Severus. "That I will make friends with whomever I choose, Severus. I've seen no reason thus far to avoid them."

"Hear that, Snape?" Sirius said, straightening in his seat. "She'll talk to who ever she wants to. Leave her alone."

Severus glared at him, but his smile somewhat returned when he looked back at Ria. "I'm glad you're here," he said quietly, hoping in vain that the others wouldn't hear. "Are you all right?"

"Of course I am. Wow, Sev, I can't believe I'm seeing you again! You look great!"

"Compared to what?" Sirius muttered loudly.

"Ria," Severus said loudly. "Can we go somewhere a little more private?"

Ria looked back over at the Gryffindors, but nodded and allowed Severus to escort her to the other side of the Hall.

"What. The. Bloody."

"Sirius," Remus said reproachfully. "Be careful. Shouldn't you be happy that she already has friends? How would you like to start at a new school in a new country in a new continent in your seventh year?"

Sirius continued to frown at Severus and Ria. "How does he get a hug, I'm so glad to see you, and I get nothing?"

"Sirius, Remus just explained it to you," Lilysaid, exasperated. "She's allowed to already have friends at Hogwarts."

"Yes, but Snape? Since when has he had friends?"

They decided it best to leave Sirius on his own to fume inwardly to himself. The others resumed their conversations, but Sirius remained sulking. It was quite obvious that Severus and Ria knew each other very well. They talked softly so nobody could hear them, and they both wore giddy smiles. It was particularly unnerving to see Severus looking so happy. When Dumbledore signaled that the feast was over, Severus had a distinct look of disappointment on his face. Ria came walking quickly back over to the Gryffindors.

"Sorry about that. I haven't seen Severus in years, and I was just so excited to see a face I knew. Not that you guys are bad or anything, but, you know..."

"Don't worry about it," Roma said. "You sure put a smile on Snape's face. I've never-"

"How do you know him?" growled Sirius.

Ria's eyes narrowed at Sirius' tone, but she answered smoothly. "I've known him since I was a baby. He's my cousin."

James immediately stopped in his tracks, causing Lily, Roma, and Peter to crash into him. "Your...cousin?" he squeaked in disbelief.

"Yeah..." Ria said.

"You don't look like him," Peter said bluntly.

"Our mothers are sisters, and Severus just looks more like his father, and I look like my mother. We both have the dark hair and pale skin, though."

"Yes, but you actually look...never mind," Sirius said. He hated Snape, but he had enough class not to openly insult him in his cousin's presence. The group walked silently up to the Gryffindor common room, where Lily led their new classmate to the girls' dormitories. With the girls safely out of earshot, James turned to Sirius.

"I know where I know her from. You remember that time last year when we enchanted that baby rabbit to believe that Snape had its carrot, and it ended up tearing a huge hole in his bag?"

"Yes," Sirius said, opening the door to their dormitory.

"Well, a picture fell out of his bag. And I happened to keep that picture."

Peter's brow furrowed. "Why would you keep a photograph of Snape?"

"It wasn't of Snape. Actually, it was. But there was another person in it." James dug through his bag, and finally pulled out some tattered robes. "Here," he said, shoving the photograph in Sirius' face. "I used to think that she was his girlfriend or something. I kept it for whenever I needed a good shock to wake up. I mean, Snape with a girlfriend?"

Sirius tuned his friend out and studied the picture. It must have been pretty old, for Snape didn't look older than thirteen. He was standing in front of a house with a girl who was laughing at the camera. A girl with the palest skin and darkest hair. Ria. Even though she must be the same age as Snape, she looked as though she were at least five years older. Exactly why, he was uncertain. Sirius smiled. She looked so perfect in the picture...why did Snape have to go ruin it? His scowling face was the exact opposite of Ria's. He really couldn't believe that they were related. Ria was...well, not at all like Snape.

Meanwhile, James had contented himself with giving Sirius his complete opinion about Ria and Severus.

"You know, that's probably why Snape was so nice back at Diagon Alley. He probably thought he had one up on us, already knowing the new girl. Maybe he even thought he could get her to dislike us, another ally for him. We'll prove him wrong, of course. I wonder how long he knew she was in Gryffindor...that must have been a shock for him. Maybe he still thought she'd be in Slytherin that day we were shopping. Oh! I know! I won't lie, Ria's quite pretty. Not my type, but pretty. Snape had to know you'd go after her...you'd date any woman that stood still long enough for you to ask her. Maybe he thought he'd make her the first girl to turn down Sirius Black! That has to be it. That's why he was so happy."

"Thank you for your vote of confidence. Now, would you mind if I hold on to this picture?"

James smirked, but nodded. "Go ahead. Have some sweet dreams."

Sirius glared at his friend, then laughed. Sweet dreams indeed.