Of course, everything you recognize is JK Rowling's work. Lydia is mine. Enjoy!

Lydia's POV

I sat alone in a compartment of the Hogwarts Express, reading. I wasn't alone for long though; a slender, pretty redhead opened the door excitedly and sat next to me.

"Our seventh year! Can you believe it, Lydia?" I smiled at my best (and almost only) friend.

"Time does fly, doesn't it?" I replied softly.

"Oh! I almost forgot. I got you a present." I looked at Lily Evans, confused.

"But why? It's not my birthday or anything." She shrugged.

"I saw these at a costume shop and thought of you." Lily pulled out a pair of hard plastic cat ears attached to a strip of elastic. They were black with black feathery stuff inside (for fur). "My curious kitty needs ears, doesn't she?" Laughing, I put them on. As soon as I had finished thanking her, the compartment door slid open once again.

"Hey, Evans. Mind if we sit here?" a tall, black haired boy asked. His light brown eyes glinted from behind his glasses as he smirked at her.

"Actually, I do mind," Lily told him, voice suddenly cold.

"Too bad. All the other compartments are full," another boy said, striding in and sitting across from the two of us. This one was drop dead gorgeous and had long black hair, startling blue-grey eyes, and a very easy manner.

"Does it really matter, Lily?" I asked quietly, opening my book to hide my face. Lily frowned, seeing as she was all alone in this matter.

"Oh, fine!" she snapped, "But YOU cannot sit next to me." James frowned but covered it with a shrug and sat on my other side. Two other boys followed in quietly and sat on either side of their blue-eyed friend. The one in front of Lily was rather round with thin-blond hair and small, watery eyes and the boy in front of me had a kind face with light brown bangs almost covering his amber eyes.

"So what's your name, angel?" Blue-eyes asked. Without moving my book, I murmured shyly, "Lydia Matthews." Two fingers appeared on top of the book, pushing it down so he could see my face. "Sorry, angel, didn't quite catch that," he told me with a winning smile, "I'm Sirius Black. That there next to you is James Potter. Over here are Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. Now why don't you try again?" I knew their names already. How couldn't I, living in Gryffindor tower and being in their same year. But knowing their names and reputations didn't help my shyness.

"Lydia Matthews," I whispered, cheeks red. Suddenly remembering the silly ears, I whipped them off my head and into my bag, feeling my cheeks heat up as I did it. Though his eyes followed my movements, he didn't remark about it. Instead, he smiled.

"There, that wasn't so hard, now was it?" I ducked back behind my book, wishing the attention would be averted from me.

"Aw, she's embarrassed!" Sirius exclaimed.

"No, she's shy. Now leave her be," Lily told him sharply. I sent a grateful smile Lily's way and she winked at me.

A bit later, Lily had me go to the bathroom with her. She normally would just go herself, but she probably wanted to rant about James. Again. Or she was giving me a reprieve from being close to all four of them. Either way, I was grateful.

Remus' POV

I had seen Lydia around for years. She was a sweet, shy girl that never bothered anyone. This year I was sharing a compartment with the girl and the cuteness just melted off her. I kind of had a crush on her at the start of fifth year, but never pursued it due to what I am. But maybe this year…

Lily stood up and said she needed to use the water closet. Of course, Lydia went with her. Girls.

"So is she a transfer student? I haven't seen her around," James wondered aloud.

"Neither have I," Peter agreed.

"She's always been here. She's in our year after all," I said in what I hoped was an offhanded voice as I turned the page of my book. The three boys looked at me, surprised.

"Really?" Sirius asked, with a grin. James laughed and my heart sank.

"I know that look," James said, still smiling, "You're interested."

"Why shouldn't I be? She's cute with those big brown eyes and those fake kitty ears. She seems so innocent…might be fun to turn her to the dark side." I frowned slightly, though agreeing with Sirius (about the cute part, not the corrupting). But my friend was the handsome, popular one. Girls flocked to him. And if there was one he wanted, he got her. Honestly, I didn't dare fight Sirius, not when there was the slightest chance I would lose the only friends I'd had in so long. It's probably for the best. We wouldn't be able to get serious anyway. Not with my 'furry little problem,' I thought bitterly to myself. At least, that's what my rational mind told me. My heart said to keep trying and maybe luck would be on my side.

"Wormtail," Sirius said, addressing the boy next to him. He made a lazy hand gesture indicating that the rounder boy should change seats. Peter got up and sat down next to James right as the door swung open again.

Lydia's POV

When I got back, my seat was taken. Peter had claimed it while I was out with Lily. "There's room right here, angel." Sitting, I wasn't sure if I liked the nickname, but I know I was sure I didn't like sitting between two boys I didn't really know (I knew Remus just a little, but still). To cover my awkward shyness, I leaned over and picked up my book from next to Peter and opened it. Remus chuckled. I glanced at him, curious as to why he did. He noticed the look so he closed the book he was reading. Oedipus Rex the title read. Now I understood what was so funny; we were reading the same book. Favoring him with a small shy smile, I slowly put the book down.

"I didn't think anyone else read the classics for pleasure," the quiet boy commented.

"I think it's ironic and funny," I explained to his knees, unable to look him in the face.

"Wait. Isn't that the one where this prince accidently kills his real dad then bops his mom?" James asked incredulously. Both me and Remus nodded. Sirius gave a bark-like laugh.

"What a strange sense of humor. We outta keep you around," he said happily, draping an arm around my shoulders. I admit it- I blushed. Hard.

"So what's your favorite book?" Remus asked me warmly, apparently taking pity on my embarrassment. I smiled gratefully at him, glad for the excuse to turn out of Sirius' arm and to get away from the attractive boy's attention. I'd have probably passed out from embarrassment had it stayed that way. Or word would've gotten around and his fan club would've killed me. "It's Macbeth," I murmured to him.

"That's interesting. Why?" he encouraged. He's so sweet. It's been so long since I last actually talked to him, I had almost forgotten. When I was really little, other kids would tease me, laugh at me, and just be plain mean- all because I was a little different. And not just the witchy part either.

"It's about how one action can have severe consequences and how the people involved handle it and turn out." He nodded.

"Sound reason. My favorite as also a Shakespearean play- A Midsummer Night's Dream."

"How come?" I asked, unable to help taking the bait. Lily wasn't joshing when she said I was her curious kitty. Besides, I liked books.

"It's crazy and messed up but then it turns out to just be a bad dream. It wasn't real," he explained with the slightest hint of sadness- or was it bitterness?- to his voice. He must have wanted the dream to be real, I thought. The two of us talked for a little more; it was easier to talk to him the longer it went on. Still, it was hard to look at his handsome face for too long. His eyes would just bore into mine, as if they could read my thoughts. However I did sneak glances at him through the corner of my eye when he wasn't looking at me. After a while, he mercifully went back to reading his book so I could read my own and fade back to being ignored. Sirius would try to prod me into the conversation every now and then, but a glare from Lily finally shut him up. Most people would be upset that someone (especially Sirius) didn't know who they were after being in the same house and year for six years. I didn't mind. I preferred being invisible. People left me alone and I could do what I wanted without being bothered. Sure, I have Lily and occasionally Remus would talk to me, but that was basically it. But I liked it that way.

A few hours later, I had finished my book and started reading another when they broke out a game of Exploding Snap. It was fun to watch and they even managed to get me to play a round. We arrived at Hogwarts not too long after that. By that point, Sirius had managed to get his arm around my shoulders again and Remus had looked decidedly grumpy for the past hour (probably because he had lost almost every game).

And for the record, I think Sirius Black and Remus Lupin are both very attractive. If I wasn't so shy, I probably wouldn't mind Sirius flirting with me. But every time he does something like that, I feel shoved into the limelight which is sooooo far away from my safety zone. I'd have felt safer had it been Remus' arm…maybe…