What Might Have Been: Part One

How quickly night passes when sleep is deep. The boys had crawled up to their dormitory the previous night, each laying claim to a bed and moving their trunks around until they were satisfied with the arrangement of the room. They had perhaps stayed up later than they should have, for as the sun began to creep towards the four beds only two of the room's occupants had stirred.

James Potter had been the first to wake, crossing the room to where Sirius slept and ripping back the hangings to wake his friend. Sirius had gotten up with much grumbling, his attitude changing as soon as he remembered what he and James were planning for breakfast entertainment.

They laughed as they pulled on their robes and grabbed their bags- making sure that they had all their books and plenty of parchment, then left the room. Sirius paused at the door, looking back to where Remus and Peter still slept on.

"Should we wake them?" he asked, grinning.

"Let them sleep," James replied, already halfway down the stairs. "Remus set his alarm last night, he won't let Peter be late. Seems the responsible type."

"That he does," Sirius agreed, shutting the door and following his friend down the stairs and across the common room. "Too bad we'll have to corrupt him."

James grinned broadly at this, "That we will."

They left the common room, passing through the portrait and heading off in the direction that they hoped would take them to the Great Hall. They passed down corridors with rooms leading off of them, which James said were probably the classrooms. Most of the rooms and corridors were deserted, though a few ghosts were gliding about. The Bloody Baron passed them without a word and they caught a glimpse of Peeves hanging upside-down from a torch bracket- he stuck his tongue out at them and they gladly returned the favor. It seemed that they were finding everywhere but where they wanted to be. Sirius turned a corner as he commented on this.

"Looks like you could wander around here forever and never find anything... OUCH!" he yelled, having ran headfirst into someone coming in the opposite direction.

"Sorry," said a girl's voice. Sirius looked up, massaging his head, to find Aimee Myers rubbing her temple where they had crashed, Lily Evans accompanied her.

"Morning Lily," James said brightly. "Looking for the Great Hall?"

"Yes, we were," Lily replied, helping Aimee pick up the books she had dropped and sounding frustrated. "It wasn't that way was it?"

"No, haven't seen it," James replied, glancing at Sirius. Sirius was again at a loss for words as was, it appeared, Aimee.

"Want to look for it together?" James suggested, nodding slightly at Sirius and Aimee, both of whom were rather pink in the face.

"That sounds like a good idea," Lily said, grinning. "Let's look this way."

They turned and headed back in the direction Lily and Aimee had come from. James and Lily led the way, Aimee and Sirius following behind them, not daring to look at one another. James and Lily chatted away happily, and after several wrong turns and ending up in more than one dead end they found the marble staircase that lead to the Entrance Hall.

They hurried down and across to the Great Hall, splitting up as they entered. Lily and Aimee went straight for the Gryffindor table, Aimee looking relieved that she and Sirius had finally parted company. James and Sirius on the other hand headed for the empty head table.

Most of the professors were wandering the Hall passing out schedules to students and others were merely strolling around, perhaps making sure Peeves didn't decide to treat them all to a repeat performance of last night's dinner. Whatever the reason James and Sirius were glad for it, it made their job much easier.

James pulled from his pocket an item he had taken from his trunk before leaving the dormitory that morning- a single No-Heat Wet-Start Filibuster Firecracker. Sirius, knowing his job, took it from James and proceeded down the line of chairs behind the head table while James feigned interest in the tableware on the head table. Sirius bit his lip, trying to remember which seat he was to place the firecracker under. It was nearly impossible to remember where which professor had sat last night and Sirius finally gave up, placing the firecracker under what he hoped was the correct chair. He came around the table, smiling brightly at James as both boys hurried towards the Gryffindor table where Remus and Peter were sitting.

"Where have you two been?" Remus asked as James took a seat and helped himself to some of Remus' bacon.

"Oh, got a little lost, Sirius ran into a friend- quite literally, and then we had a bit of business to attend to," James replied chewing happily.

"Who'd you run into Sirius?" Peter asked, unable to keep a smirk off his face. "Not your girlfriend, was it?"

Remus chuckled at this, then seeing Sirius' face stopped. He glanced down the table to where Aimee and Lily were sitting.

"You know, Sirius," he said in a whisper, "I think she likes you too."

"Judging by her reaction when they bumped heads I'd say you're right," James added.

Sirius then became interested in his breakfast, refusing to look up even as Professor McGonagall handed them their schedules. James snatched his, looking it over, groaning inwardly as Peter found what he'd been staring at.

"We take Potions with the Slytherins," Peter moaned looking worried. "Not that it's bad enough that we have to take Potions in a creepy dungeon with a creepy looking professor, but we have to put up with the Slytherins on top of that?"

"I'm sure it will be fine," Remus said, looking over his schedule. "Surely they wouldn't be stupid enough to do anything in front of a professor."

"Did you hear about Snape?" Peter asked worriedly. "I heard some of the older Slytherins talking this morning, they said he knew more about the Dark Arts than the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor!"

"I doubt that," Remus said, a strange gleam in his eye.

James frowned, pausing to ask just what Peter had heard, and what Remus had meant- however his attention was distracted as the professors took their places up at the head table. A feeling as heavy as a lead balloon filled his stomach as he noted where the professors sat.

"Um, Sirius?" he asked, interrupting his friend's debate with Peter on the merits of Severus Snape. "Where did you put the you-know-what?"

Sirius looked up at the table, then he turned white.

"That's what I thought," James said, swallowing hard. "May I suggest duck and cover?"

The words had hardly left his mouth when a loud bang filled the hall, the students and professors stared towards the noise. A sharp whistling replaced the bang, and sparks shot out from beneath Professor Dumbledore's chair. Sirius and James sunk down low in their seats. Remus looked at them in amazement and Peter looked horrified.

"My," Professor Dumbledore commented when the noise and sparks had subsided, sounding amazingly calm. "What a way to start the year with a bang!"

The students laughed at this. Professor Dumbledore didn't seem angry at all, quite the contrary, the look he favored James and Sirius with definitely was amused- the other professors were another story. Both boys found themselves hoping that none of them ever found out just who had been responsible for the firecracker.

"That was lucky," Sirius sighed, pulling himself up to the table again.

"I can't believe you did that!" Remus exclaimed, his voice sounding somewhat amazed but at the same time patronizing. "Stupid thing to do really, a really dumb risk to take on your first day. But, well, wow- I can't believe you did that!"

"Well, you'll have to help next time," James said, grinning at Remus.

"You're not serious," Remus said, looking dumbstruck.

"No," Sirius interrupted, "I'm Sirius, he's James."

They all laughed at this, James rolling his eyes as he did so. He looked back to his schedule, leaving Sirius to tell Remus and Peter all about how they had gone about pulling off their first prank. Not bad, he thought, glancing over the subjects listed, then leaned over to look at Sirius'.

"Hey, I thought you had your own," his friend complained, pulling his schedule out of James' line of sight.

"I do, but I like yours better," James answered, grinning winningly. He sat back, staring at Sirius, who was watching him out of the corner of his eye as he talked with Remus. James sighed, looking past Sirius at the other students at the table.

Remus sat nodding and eating, listening patiently to Sirius. Peter was eating, looking between Remus and Sirius, eager to join in conversation. He continued looking around the table, his gaze finding the Prefect, Wayne Slighter. Then the dark haired girl that had made Remus so nervous the night before, speaking to an older student, Lily and Aimee sitting beside her.

James found his gaze drawn in by the red headed first year. She was smiling brightly as she looked over her own schedule, obviously pleased by what she saw. Aimee pointed out something to her on the parchment, but her comments were drown out by all the noise around them.

"So, what do you think James? James? Hello?" Sirius asked, then, "Earth to James? Come in James. Uh, Remus, we, er, have a problem."

Remus looked up, his eyes quickly following James' line of sight, then he grinned, "James?"

"What is his problem?" Sirius asked, looking around to see what was so interesting. It didn't take long to find it, especially with Remus pointing it out. Lily was sitting not two sits away, her friend Aimee beside her. Sirius felt his face warm and looked away rolling his eyes.

"You know," Peter said, "I think he likes that girl."

"Congratulations Peter," Sirius said irritably. "You've won the million Galleon question- what is James so interested in?"

"I have?" Peter asked in awe, Remus sniggered beside him.

"It's just a saying Peter," Remus told him, "don't get too excited."

"Oh," said Peter, looking back at James. "So we're just gonna let him sit there?"

"I suppose so," Sirius sighed, turning back to his plate. "He seems pretty happy."

"I have an idea," Remus said, then called down the table. "Hey Lily!"

"Oh no, Remus, did you have do that?" Sirius growled, again becoming interested in his cereal.

"Yes?" Lily called back, looking up the table. James turned away as Lily's attention focused on his end of the table.

"I wondered if you'd heard who was teaching Potions?" Remus asked, pointing at his schedule.

"Oh," Lily frowned, turning to an older boy beside her to ask. "Who teaches Potions Frank?"

Frank frowned before answering, "Professor Galdon."

Remus nodded his thanks, turning back to his friends, "You know James, you looked quite ridiculous there."

"And he talks about me having a girlfriend," Sirius muttered darkly. Drawing his friend's attention he added quickly, "Which I don't!"

James shook his head, looking down at the table and grinning. Remus and Peter were obviously struggling to hold in their laughter. Sirius had to do something to change the current topic of conversation- he grabbed James' schedule.

"Hey!" James complained, looking sharply up.

"Just comparing notes," Sirius grinned, holding James' schedule out of reach as he compared it with his own.

"But we haven't taken any notes," Peter said, confused.

"Peter, Peter, Peter," Remus said, shaking his head sadly.

Sirius examined the two schedules closely then handed James' back satisfied that both schedules were identical. After a few inquiries the four figured out that all Gryffindor first year schedules were the same. The classes they would be taking together this year were Astronomy, Herbology, History of Magic, Charms, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Potions.

"What's first on the list for today then?" Remus asked, finishing off his toast.

"Looks like we're up for History of Magic first," Peter said with a frown. "I heard someone say the professor for that class is a ghost."

"Who? Binns?" asked a boy beside them. "You are talking about History of Magic aren't you?"

"Yes," James said, turning to the boy. "Does Binns teach the class?"

"Unfortunately," the boy said, frowning sadly. "Sorry you have him first thing."

"Why's that?" Sirius asked raising an eye.

"Well," the boy bit his lip, "I hate to be the one to tell you, but the guy's a snooze. If your class is still awake at the end of the lesson it'll be a Hogwarts first."

"Oh no," Peter moaned, "I am not very good at history."

"We'll help you Peter," James assured him, then turned back to the boy. "So, where is this class held?"

"Oh, well, you'll want to go up to the Charms corridor and take a left..."

By the time the boy had finished explaining how to get to Binns' classroom- and given them the alternate way for Fridays- it was past time to get to class.

"I don't think we are going to find this room," Remus said, looking at the directions he'd written.

"Please don't say that," Peter whined. "I don't want to be lost forever."

"We're not going to be lost forever," James said, exasperated. "We're just a little mixed up. This is our first day, they have to give us some slack."

"He's right you know Peter," Sirius added in an amused tone. "I don't think they start hanging you by the ankles till the second day."

When it seemed that they would never find the History of Magic room, the room seemed to find them. The four hurried in, surprised to see the girls had apparently found the classroom with no problem. They sat near their Housemates, looking around for the professor.

"He's not here yet," Lily said, turning around. "Did you get lost again?"

"Well," Peter said biting his lip, "Davey gave us directions, and we tried to follow them."

"Davey?" James asked, raising an eye.

"Yes," Peter answered. "That's his name you know, Davey Gudgeon."

James shook his head, smiling at Lily before replying, "Apparently they weren't very good directions- how did you find the class?"

"Aimee and I found it when we were looking for the Great Hall this morning," Lily explained. "We saw Professor Binns in here and asked him if he knew where the Hall was- thought we'd never get away from him!"

"Yes," Aimee added darkly, "he told us he taught History of Magic and Lily had to start asking questions."

"I was curious," Lily shrugged, "but he did tell us more than we bargained for."

Sirius chuckled, "Well then, perhaps the two of you could teach if he doesn't show up?"

"If who doesn't show up?" a voice behind them asked.

They turned to see Professor Binns gliding from the back of the room with his arms full of books and parchments, "Glad to see you again Miss Evans, Miss Myers."

As the class began James began to realize that Davey had been right, Professor Binns had to be the most boring teacher to ever walk the planet. After taking role he started on about the rebellions of the Goblin Revolution of 1322, repeating himself many times. The class had made an effort, they had managed to stay alert until after role call, for even that had been punctuated by quite a few remarks.

"Myers, Aimee," Professor Binns had called. "Irish lass are you? Did you know that Gurlad the Gruesome lived in Ireland and terrorized the city of Waterford for ten years?"

"Pettigrew, Peter," he called, then, "There was once a great wizard by the name of Pettigrew who helped defeat the goblin crusaders of 1269."

It seemed to go on and on, and naturally the class went into a stupor. Professor Binns had to tell them that they were dismissed twice before a single student stirred.

After their first History of Magic class they were a bit apprehensive to attend their other classes, however they quickly found most of them to be to their liking- at least for classes.

Defense Against the Dark Arts was taught by one Professor Paladin. He was perhaps the tallest of their professors, the only compliant most students had was a frequent crick in their necks. He was an easy going professor, and encouraged discussion- to which his classes happily complied. There was a lot of note-taking in the class, and they had a feeling that exams were going to be very detailed.

An airy witch by the name of Professor Procyon taught Astronomy. She was a bit of a ditz, asking for complicated star charts that few students even understood, thankfully they only had class once a week at midnight.

Professor McGonagall, who was the head of Gryffindor House, taught Transfiguration. It had been the impression of many of the first years that the professor was a strict, hard person- they hadn't been wrong. She made it very clear from day one that she wouldn't take any excuses. She was stern to say the least, and expected nothing short of the best from her pupils.

A dumpy witch by the name of Professor Sprout taught Herbology. She had a young, kind face, and after a few inquiries the Gryffindors discovered that she was the Head of Hufflepuff. She was very nice and always willing to give anyone a hand with a troublesome plant.

A tiny, overexcited wizard named Professor Flitwick taught Charms. Everyone seemed to like him, it was hard not to. He spent much of the time teaching from the top of a particularly wobbly stack of books. After a few classes Lily began staying behind- always the first to arrive and the last to leave. Small wonder that Flitwick quickly took a shine to her.

Then there was the Potions class. It was taught in the dungeons, at first Lily and Aimee had been hoping that everyone had been kidding, but they found out soon enough that the other students hadn't been. Professor Galdon was strict, much like Professor McGonagall was, however where McGonagall tried to be just in her critiquing Professor Galdon did not. He had a nasty temper, and was quick to let anyone know how foolish he or she were, especially the Gryffindors.

The Slytherins seemed to enjoy this a bit too much, this became apparent when not a class went by in which they didn't set up a Gryffindor just for the entertainment of watching Professor Galdon blow up at them.

Professor Galdon didn't seem as keen to discipline the Slytherins and this, it was said, was because he was their Head of House. He was quick to play favorites, and so far his favorite would have to be Severus Snape, the boy, who if whispers could be believed, knew more of the Dark Arts than Professor Paladin. Professor Galdon had quickly taken the boy under his wing so to speak, commenting at least once per class that Severus was a truly a Potions prodigy. Snape quickly learned to use this to his advantage, rarely a class went by that someone from the other House didn't loose points.

"Professor Galdon?" Severus asked, a slight annoyance to his voice.

"Yes Snape?" Galdon replied, not bothering to look up from where he was supervising Joan Rinner and Joyce Buler as they prepared ingredients.

"Potter and Black are ruining my dragon livers, sir. They put their fire right next to them."

James rolled his eyes to the dungeon ceiling and Sirius looked as if he would leap across the table and strangle Severus. Professor Galdon wasted no time in rounding on them.

"Potter, Black," his deceptively kind blue eyes flicked over the table. "You will give Mr. Snape your dragon livers, since you so obviously are trying to ruin his."

"But," James started.

"Ten points from Gryffindor! I will take no cheek from you Mr. Potter, do as I say!"

Sirius looked murderous by now, and James shut his mouth before Galdon took any more points away. Snape had, in fact, set his dragon livers next to their fire after they had lit it; they had in no way tried to dry them out. James took the dried up livers and handed over the fresh ones that he and Sirius had been keeping in a shallow dish of water.

"I can't believe him!" Sirius exploded after class. "The stupid... who does he think he is?"

"Our professor Sirius," Remus said calmly. "And your potion was fine in the end, I don't think Galdon took off too many points."

"Yes, thanks to you. You're lucky he didn't catch you," James added. Remus and Peter had given James a few of their livers when Galdon hadn't been looking.

"But still, that slime head Snape, I could kill him," Sirius continued to rant as they made their way to the Great Hall for dinner.

Dinner that evening mirrored breakfast that morning, James kept looking over his shoulder and Sirius finally traded places with him.

"You are being so obvious James," Sirius said. "She's going to notice you, and you look ridiculous."

"Yes, well, I don't care," James said while trying to feed himself a bite of steak.

"So, you admit that she's your girlfriend?"

"You're obsessed with this aren't you? I told you Sirius, she isn't my girlfriend," James replied, focusing on Sirius a moment. "Not yet anyway."

This innocent comment created the results of a small detonation. Peter nearly choked on his roll, Remus looked up in surprise, soup falling onto his lap, and Sirius held his fork mid-way to his mouth.

"What?!"

"Got you," James said, looking back towards the other end of the table once more.

"Of all the... James," Sirius started, "you know, if you don't stop staring and do something soon I'll just have to, have to..."

"Have to what?" James looked at his friend, eyebrow raised.

"Figure out a way to make you!"

Remus laughed at this, Peter looked confused.

"You know," Remus said mopping at his pants, "if you do attempt to do something Sirius I may just help you, I know a good way to start."

"How's that?" Sirius asked, curiosity getting the best of him.

"Ask her to sit with us at dinner tomorrow."

"You wouldn't," James said, disbelief on his face.

"Want to bet?" Remus said looking very convincing. "It's innocent really, they sat with us the first night."

"But," Sirius interrupted, "wouldn't that mean Lily and her friends would sit with us?"

"Yes, I suppose," Remus said, glancing at Sirius with a mischievous glint in his eye. "As far as I am concerned the more the merrier."

"Maybe it isn't such a great idea," Sirius said quickly, a bit too quickly.

"Oh, I wouldn't mind," James said, cottoning on. "I'll even ask her myself."

"You would?" Sirius asked.

"I did tell her and Aimee I would help them adjust to school, or at least the wizarding world. I suppose it's time to see if there's anything they need help with," James said smirking. "What Sirius, afraid of girls?"

"No, it's just, well," Sirius gave up and laid his head on the table. "Nothing I say is going to change your mind about this is it?"

"No," James laughed. "You should know that if you try and bring me down you're going with me."

"Just great."

Aimee and Lily were adjusting well to Hogwarts, growing accustomed to the magical world they'd only known about for a few short months. They were both finding their classes to their liking the only exception being Potions, but then no sane Gryffindor enjoyed Potions. And it was becoming widespread knowledge that even the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were less than fond of the class and its professor.

Lily was making progress with Charms, and had recently decided she preferred Flitwick's class over McGonagall's. After proving her skills Professor Flitwick had begun teaching her some more advanced charms, which she in turn taught to Aimee and their friend Joan Rinner.

Aimee had decided that her favorite class was Astronomy, and this was reflected in her grade for the class. Her father had sent her some very interesting star charts within weeks of her arrival at the school, encouraging his daughter to keep stargazing.

Joan Rinner excelled in Defense Against the Dark Arts. She often led the discussions they had, her only competition was Remus Lupin. It was a frequent thing to find the two arguing heatedly while the rest of the class sat back and watched.

When they were awake they did well in History of Magic. Sirius had discovered after turning in his second essay of the term that Professor Binns did not necessarily read the essays as much as glance at the length and assign a grade to them. This was because Sirius had wrote for the majority of the essay 'Severus Snape is an obnoxious git that needs to...' and continued to go on for approxmently five sheets of parchment.

They enjoyed Herbology, as Lily put it, it was more like glorified gardening for witches and wizards. Professor Sprout had kindly reminded her at that point that she needed to keep an eye on the Manunla she was working with, as it was trying to eat her hair ribbon.

Potions, however, was another story all together. Professor Galdon didn't like anyone, except for the Slytherins. He was quick to jump on anyone he felt was doing wrong, and, surprise, the Slytherins did nothing to help matters.

Aimee had spent weeks keeping her mouth shut, watching as a boy by the name of Severus Snape caused nothing but trouble for James and Sirius. And it wasn't just during Potions class, any time Galdon was around Snape seemed to find a way to draw the demented professor's attention to James and the other Gryffindors.

Lily and Aimee had learned quickly to sit quietly during Professor Galdon's classes, it was best just to sit, take notes, and brew your potion. It seemed that even asking a question relevant to the class was a mistake, for Galdon would accuse the questioner of not paying attention in class and take five points from their house. This, like everything else in Potions, was found out the hard way.

"Sir?" Joan had asked one Potions class. "I can't find in my notes what temperature the cauldron is supposed to be, did you say high or medium heat?"

"Not listening in class, are we Miss Rinner? Five points from Gryffindor, I specifically told you to heat over a high flame."

Joan looked down at her feet, the beginnings of tears in her eyes. Lily and Aimee, who were sitting across from her, discretely helped her bring her fire to a high heat.

After class James and his friends caught up with them as they were heading back to the common room.

"Hey, Lily!" a shout came from behind them, Lily turned and saw James hurrying towards her. Aimee stopped beside her, grabbing Joan's arm to stop her as well.

"I was wondering if you would like to sit with us at dinner tonight?" James asked. "I know I told you I'd help you adjust to the wizarding world, and I feel that I've been neglecting my duty. Aimee and Joan are more than welcome to join us as well."

"I suppose," Lily answered, turning to Aimee and Joan. "Is that alright with you?"

"Well, I don't mind," Joan said, grinning. "Remus and I can finish our discussion on Red Caps."

"Your argument you mean," Lily sighed, turning to her other friend, "Aimee?"

"I don't mind," the small girl answered, "just as long as I don't have to listen to Joan and Remus argue over the various ways Red Caps bludgeon their victims."

Lily raised an eye, looking at Joan, "No discussion of bludgeoning victims?"

"Alright," Joan sighed, looking disappointed. "But then where's the fun in discussing Red Caps?"

"Maybe you could discuss unicorns?" Aimee asked, smile on her face and a glint in her eye.

"I guess we'll be sitting with you guys tonight then," Lily answered before Joan could launch into a heated debate with Aimee over unicorns.

"Alright then," James smiled. "You heading down now?"

"No, we've got to help Joan clean the dragon's blood from her robes," Lily sighed. "We'll be down in a minute."

"Dragon blood?" James asked, confusion written all over his face.

"That little twit, Snape," Aimee answered, fuming. "He threw a rabbit's heart into her cauldron, splashed the potion everywhere. Lucky the bezour hadn't been added yet."

"I just wish Galdon would have caught him," Joan said, looking at her robes. "I don't even know if this will come out."

"Galdon wouldn't have done anything, even if he'd seen Snape," James told her. "Favors them, would've just ignored it I imagine."

"The little creep," Lily started. "I reckon he's trying to get you expelled! If there comes a Potion's class that Galdon doesn't get onto you I'll faint with shock!"

"Well, Snape isn't my favorite person either," James sighed. "But there isn't much we can do about him. I'll see you at dinner then?"

"Yes, we'll see you in a bit James."

James turned and went back to where Sirius, Remus, and Peter were waiting. Lily, Aimee, and Joan continued up to the common room, Joan and Aimee giggling behind Lily.

"Honestly," Lily said, turning around. "What's so funny?"

"Well," Joan said, grinning, "I think James likes you Lily."

"You're reading far too many teen romance novels Joan Rinner," Lily sighed, rolling her eyes. "James' father asked him to help me out this year seeing that I'm a Muggle, there's nothing more to it. Besides, he offered to help Aimee too."

"I think Joan may have a point," Aimee said, eyes gleaming. "He has been staring at you at dinner lately."

"I noticed that myself," Joan said. "Lily, have you noticed?"

"What? Oh, no, I haven't really paid attention," Lily told them as they approached the Fat Lady. "Blitzwit."

The Fat Lady swung forward to let them into their common room. Lily went through first; Aimee and Joan followed, grinning at each other.

"You know," Aimee said thoughtfully, "James pretty much asked you to dinner."

"You're right!" Joan exclaimed. "Like a date!"

"Oh, come on you two, he didn't ask me on a date. He only asked if we would like to sit with them."

"But Lily, he asked you, he only added us as an afterthought," Joan said. "I think it's sweet."

"Oh please," Lily rolled her eyes. "Come on Joan, put on these robes and I'll put yours in the sink. Maybe if they soak in this stuff the dragon's blood will come out."

"You should put on clean robes too Lily," Aimee said with a wink, reluctant to stop teasing her friend. "You are meeting someone for dinner after all."

"You seem to forget Aimee," Lily told her calmly, arms crossed, "Sirius Black is James' best friend, he'll be sitting with us too."

Aimee turned a brilliant shade of pink as she hurriedly put her bag away, Joan dissolving into giggles behind her.

The three girls hurried down to the Great Hall hoping that there was still dinner left on the tables, it had taken longer than they'd expected to put Joan's robes in to soak. Lily led the way in, spotting James, Sirius, Remus and Peter at the end of the Gryffindor table saving seats. Joan was right behind her, spouting on about Red Caps now that Aimee had started her. It had seemed the only way to shut the dark headed girl up, as she kept teasing her two friends about James and Sirius. Aimee was the last to enter the Hall, somewhat reluctant to now sit with the boys.

"There you are," James grinned, looking up at them.

Remus smiled broadly at Joan, a mischievous glint in his eye as he asked simply, "Red Caps?"

Joan sat down beside him immediately, abandoning dinner in favor of debating the Dark Arts with Remus.

"You can sit here if you want," James told Lily, scooting towards Peter and leaving a space for Lily between Sirius and himself. Enough room for two actually. "You can sit there Aimee, between Lily and Sirius."

Sirius made an odd choking sound and looked sharply up at James. Aimee knew her face was pink as she sat down, refusing to make eye contact with Sirius.

"Glad you decided to join us," Remus smiled as he scooped casserole onto his plate before turning back to Joan. "Want some casserole Joan?"

"No thanks, I think I'm allergic," Joan said frowning, giving the casserole an odd look.

Lily snorted into her pumpkin juice and Aimee couldn't help but smile. James looked at the casserole as Remus passed it across the table to him and decided to pass it as well, handing the dish to Lily, who in turn passed it to Aimee.

She looked at the congealed slop in horror before passing it onto Sirius. Sirius wrinkled his nose in disgust, hissing at the casserole as he quickly sat the dish back on the table.

"How do you eat that stuff?" Sirius asked Remus. "It looks like a transfiguration gone horribly wrong."

"Well, it tastes pretty good," Remus replied. "Once you get past the look, and the smell, it isn't half bad."

"I'm glad you like it," Peter said. "I think you're the only one who does."

"I don't know," Joan mused, "Snape probably enjoys it, favors him don't you think?"

"That's a lovely thought," Remus looked disgusted.

"Well, now that we have spoken on the truly disgusting things," Lily spoke up, "does anyone else want some of this pudding?"

The rest of dinner went rather well Aimee thought. James and Lily were engaged in a conversation about the differences in Muggle and Wizard transportation. Currently James was explaining Apparation to Lily. Remus and Joan were explaining to Peter about the difference between a Hinkypunk and a Grindylow. Thankfully the debate on Red Caps had been brought to an end, the two had found a common ground once Peter had began to confuse Dark creatures. She and Sirius were doing their best to ignore each other, focusing with an odd intensity on their dinners. This however, didn't last long.

"So," Sirius said, biting his lip. "You're the top of the class in Astrology?"

Aimee nodded, "Yes."

"Like it then? I don't get it really, just a bunch of specks in the sky if you ask me."

Aimee swallowed her indignation, "Well, my father used to take me out into the fields late at night. He knew every star, and he taught me to recognize them. He said it was valuable information, that the stars show you the way home."

"You enjoy the class then?" Sirius asked, baffled.

"Yes, I think it's fascinating, don't you?"

"Not really," he snorted. "I don't get a lot of it, most of the time James and I just memorize the star charts- or make them up, easier sometimes to do that."

"It is important," Aimee said, growing cross with the boy who seemed to take the sky and its wonder for granted. "You really should learn to follow the stars, it is valuable information- be you a witch, wizard, or Muggle."

Sirius stared at her, "Touchy aren't you?"

Aimee couldn't help but glare, was he making fun of her?

"I'm sorry," he said, looking back to his plate. "I didn't mean to upset you, I've just never really thought much about astrology."

Aimee frowned, "Well, if you like I could help you a bit. My father sent me some very detailed charts, I'm sure I could get you up to speed- even have you making real star charts in no time."

"That would be nice," Sirius said. "If you don't mind that is."

"Not at all," Aimee replied. "Granted you take this seriously, and no more making up charts."

Sirius put his hand over his heart, "Scout's honor."

"When do you want to start?"

"We have Astronomy tomorrow night," Sirius said, thinking. "I haven't finished my star chart yet."

"Good," Aimee nodded. "Mine's finished, I'll go talk to Professor Procyon after dinner and see if we can go up to the Astronomy tower tonight. It might help if you actually locate the stars before you chart them."

Sirius frowned, "I have some other work to do."

"So do I," Aimee said. "But I can be finished by midnight."

As they finished their meals students left the Great Hall, some going to the library, others to their common rooms. Peter and Remus had left first, leaving behind a rather annoyed Joan. They were heading for the library to work on a Potions essay though, and Joan had finished hers. Soon after that James and Sirius headed off, not bothering to say where they were going, leaving Lily, Aimee and Joan in the Great Hall.

The three girls hurriedly finished their meals, discussing the assignments they needed to finish for tomorrows classes. Lily and Joan had to finish star charts and Aimee her Charms paper, they left the Great Hall heading for the common room.

"Remus is a worthy opponent," Joan was saying. "He really knows his Dark Arts, I have a feeling it's going to be close."

"Close?" Lily asked.

"Who gets the higher average," Joan answered, as if this were the most obvious thing. "So, what was it you were discussing? Apparation?"

Lily nodded, "I don't understand it really, sounds a bit dodgy."

"Apparation is supposed to be a very hard skill to learn," Joan said, "My mum and dad can Apparate, and so can most of my aunts and uncles."

Lily shrugged, looking at Aimee, "What do you think?"

"I don't know much about it," Aimee answered from her seat, working on her Charms essay. "Other than it's your basic disappearing act."

"It's more than that!" Joan cried. "Apparation is a very difficult skill, there are even some wizards out there that don't mess with it at all."

"Easy there Joan," Lily grinned. "She didn't mean anything by it, we're both Muggle-born, remember?"

"I'm starting to wonder if you're just using that as an excuse," Joan said, her tone teasing. "I didn't mean anything by that Aimee, it's just that... what are you doing?"

Aimee looked up, "Charms?"

Lily looked at her carefully, "Any particular reason?"

"It's due tomorrow?"

"Yes, but we were gossiping here," Joan said. "Usually you're all up for gossiping. Something wrong?"

"Nothing," Aimee said, turning back to her parchment. "I just want to get this finished before..."

"Before what?" Joan cut her off, grinning.

Aimee looked at her friends, sighing heavily, "Promise you're not going to tease me?"

Lily and Joan exchanged sly smiles, Aimee knew she would get no such promise- especially after her teasing Lily about James earlier.

"Well," she swallowed, thinking fast and coming to the decision that she'd have to settle for the truth. "At dinner Sirius made a few ill comments towards Astronomy, even said he and James had been making up star charts."

Lily raised an eye, obviously not disturbed by this news. Joan didn't look any more impressed.

"That's an outrage," Aimee said, her eyebrows disappearing into her hairline. "He has no respect for Astronomy. What would you do if James told you that Charms was a laugh, or if Remus discredited the Dark Arts?"

"We already know what she does when Remus discredits the Dark Arts," Lily answered. "We're treated to an all out war for a couple of days, remember?"

"And you're changing the subject aren't you?" Joan asked.

"No I'm not!" Aimee said. "I am making a point here."

"What is the point you're making then?" Lily asked, eyes twinkling.

"Sirius obviously said something she didn't like about Astronomy," Joan answered. "Now Aimee, what are you going to do about it?"

Aimee looked at her two friends, a determined look in her eyes, "I'm going to teach him how to make a proper, a real, star chart."