Chapter 1

Sirius leaned back into the sofa where he lounged dreamily. They had finally arrived at Hogwarts for their final year, and he smiled happily to himself.

"What are you so smug about?" James asked, shaking out his hair. It was pouring rain outside, and he felt chilled to the bone. The fire that was blazing before them was almost intoxicating.

"Because mate, it's our last year." Sirius said with a pleasant grin. "I smell loose women and bad ideas afoot."

Remus rolled his eyes and looked around the common room. Gryffindors were pouring in. Everyone looked tired, and wet. "I think you ought to focus on your studies for once, you'll be back repeating if you don't." Remus chastised.

Sirius pouted. "But I'm excellent in my studies." He protested.

"Oh yes, excellent studies mate," Peter laughed. "You'd have top marks in women's study."

Sirius chucked a pillow at him.

"I'll have you know I did marvelously on my O.W.L's fifth year." He bristled.

James rolled his eyes. "I don't think there are any girls left for you to meddle with mate, you've just about exhausted your resources."

Sirius sat up and thought carefully. "What about the red head in Ravenclaw? I don't think I've-"

"She was the one who wrote you the howler that exploded in the Gryffindor locker room before our last game fourth year." Remus said straightforwardly, cutting him off.

"Well what about Amelia?" He asked.

"The blonde who burst into tears when you asked out her best friend right in front of her?" James asked with a raise of his eyebrows.

Sirius sighed. "Maybe I should tag their ears."

"I'm surprised the lot of them haven't clawed each other's eyes out from fighting over you." Peter acknowledged.

The others nodded in agreement.

As the crowd died down and everyone settled into their dorms; or otherwise remaining to gossip in the common room, a girl stood out among the others and Sirius sat up curiously.

"James?" He asked thoughtfully. "Do you see that girl over there?"

James looked casually over to where he was pointing.

There was a slender girl sitting sideways on a chair with her legs crossed over the edge, on the far side of the room. She was intensely studying a book. Her long, raven black hair draped over her shoulders. The girl was wearing a green, strappy shirt that looked form fitting; it hugged her in all the right places. James could hardly look away to nod to his friend.

"Why does she look so familiar?" Sirius asked, trying to look at her closely.

"If you don't stop ogling innocent girls Sirius, you might go blind." An irritated voice said from behind him.

"Evans," Sirius groaned. "Why must you be the bane of my existence?"

Lily smiled devilishly and patted him on the shoulder. "One day you'll learn Sirius, that there is more to life than just women."

"There's also cake!" Peter said happily.

Lily shook her head and walked away as another pillow went flying into Peter's head.

"She looks oddly radiant this evening." James said as his eyes followed Lily out of the room."

Sirius balked. "Have you gone mental? She's insufferable!"

Remus frowned. "She's very bright. I think it's you lot that brings out the anger in her."

Sirius rolled his eyes and looked back over at the girl he had been studying.

"I've never seen her here before." Sirius stated. "Have you?"

The other three marauders shook their heads.

Sirius perked up brightly. "Is this fresh meat I see?" He grinned happily to himself.

"Three galleons she punches you in the balls the first conversation you have with her." James said without looking at him.

Sirius nodded and stood up. "Deal."

He sauntered casually across the room toward the girl. He stood beside her chair, and cleared his throat.

The girl didn't look up from her book. "What do you want?" Her voice wasn't harsh, but he could hear the annoyance.

"I'd like to introduce myself, I noticed that I've never met you before and I thought I'd be polite." Sirius said with a smile.

The girl tilted her head sideways and looked up into Sirius' eyes. Sirius was taken aback; her eyes were violet and sparkled with mischief. She pursed her lips into a sideways grin.

Sirius stared at her face. There was something in her eyes that made him recall-

"OH holy hell it's Olivia!" Sirius spun on his heels and ran to grab James off the couch. "JAMES! James! It's bloody Olivia!" He said frantically.

James couldn't tell if he was scared or excited.

She lazily waved over at James, who finally realized who she was.

Olivia Gold had lived three houses down from Sirius when they were young. She was incredibly bossy, and had picked on Sirius continuously throughout their childhood. James remembered it being quite amusing.

"Olivia I haven't seen you since you moved!" Sirius exclaimed. He still looked a little frightened. He was using James' body as a shield.

Olivia sighed and rolled her eyes. "Sirius, I've lived down the street from you for almost fifteen years. I haven't moved."

Sirius straightened. "Then where have you been?"

"Home schooled." Olivia shrugged. "Besides, you were always gone during the summer when you started at Hogwarts. You wouldn't have known if I was there or not anyways."

Sirius couldn't believe his eyes. This was the girl of his nightmares making idle conversation with him.

Every year since they were little he had tried to get rid of her, yet she somehow always managed to out prank him, or physically cripple him for a few days. He was sincerely hoping she had grown out of that phase.

"You can't still be afraid of me?" Olivia asked with a smile.

"Well who could blame me?" Sirius said crossly. "Last time I saw you, you were beating the bloody hell out of me with a stick."

Olivia sighed. "I was ten years old, and I do believe it was your own broom. I also recall you deserving it."

"You broke my arm!" Sirius heard Remus and Peter chuckling behind him. He turned around and glared at them.

"That was years ago Sirius," She slid off the couch and waved to him with a bored look on her face. "I'll see you all later."

Sirius watched her walk away and out of the common room to her dorm.

"She has an incredible backside." James noted thoughtfully.

"She's the devil." Sirius said with a frown.

As he began to walk off James grabbed him by the back of his robe.

Holding out three galleons he shoved it into his friend's hand. Sirius stared at him with a curious glance.

"This was completely worth losing." James laughed.