So, after a year and a half I'm back again. Thanks to a message I'm back into the swing of things, although school is hellishly busy so I might be slower with updates. Only the OCs are mine.

(James' POV)

"Where's she go?"

"I dunno mate. Upstairs probably. I think you freaked her out a little. You do know you were staring at her, right?" James asked, raising his left eyebrow.

"Erh..."

"Yeah, that's what I thought." James stopped for a minute, and then thought of something. "How're your hands?"

"Sore."

"Yeah, that's what I thought again. Do you know what? Cee's said she'd teach me the spell that she used on you. And I'm sure she'll teach it to you as well. Well, maybe not...but I'll teach it to you."

Sirius sighed and turned to go upstairs.

"Wait, Pads. Where're you going?"

"Upstairs."

"But why? It's early."

"Why do most people go upstairs, Prongs? I'm tired and my hands hurt." His voice held a tinge of reproach and betrayal in it.

"Pads. You do know that if I knew how, I would've stopped her." I think...

"Do I?" What's his problem?

"Actually, I don't know if I would've. You did kinda deserve it mate."

Sirius glared at him. "All I wanted to do was to get her to talk to me. Not charm a flock of bloody birds with a serious vendetta against me to follow me all day. And what's everyone going to say tomorrow, huh? Sirius Black, ridiculed, by a girl. A girl younger than him. A girl who no one's ever heard speak. I'm going to look like a fool."

Ah.

James pondered over this for a little bit; Sirius standing impatiently, shifting from foot to foot. Then James thought of something to say. He could hex me, or laugh with me. Either way, it'll make him feel better.

"Well, if it makes you feel better mate, you did get her to talk to you." James deadpanned with a completely straight face.

...

Sirius just looked at him.

Oh Merlin, he's going to kill me.

With a murderous expression on his face.

James closed his eyes.

I'm dead.

A minute passed.

Then two.

Why am I not dead? Or maybe I am. If I am dead then dying is much easier than I thought. Ha, I felt nothing. Wait...I can't be dead, I need to marry Lily first.

He opened his eyes. Sirius was still staring at him. As was everyone else in the common room.

And then Sirius started to laugh.

And James joined in.

xXx

(Cienna's POV)

She heard laughter from downstairs. James' laughter and someone else's. It was deep, and sounded a little like a dog barking.

Black.

Would make sense.

She smiled slightly, picked up a book and settled down on her bed to read. Before she started she looked out of the window.

It's a beautiful night.

xXx

The next day dawned grey and miserable. Sleet was falling in heavy sheets outside, promising a soaking to anyone who dared venture outdoors. The girls got up slowly, unwilling to brave the frigid Scottish temperatures. Hogwarts didn't have heating in the dorms unless someone used a spell. Which Mary promptly tried.

Unsuccessfully.

Instead of heating the room, she heated the water in the shower. This resulted in a shriek.

Lily was in the shower.

She came out of a steaming bathroom not 5 minutes later, looking like a boiled lobster, glaring daggers at Mary.

"What in Merlin's name do you think you were doing? You almost boiled me alive." The girls winced and Cienna slipped into the bathroom, taking advantage of the momentary distraction. The bathroom was a hot commodity in the room full of girls; everyone wanted to use it in the mornings. As she turned on the shower and tested the water Cienna could hear Mary asking how Lily knew it was her.

"Because you're the only one who'd try a spell with somebody else's wand!" Lily nearly shrieked.

A few moments paused, and then Cienna heard Mary mutter.

"Oh."

She smiled fondly to herself.

xXx

(Sirius)

They got into the Great Hall, sat down and started eating before James realised that the love of his life wasn't there.

"Where is she? She's always down before us? I make sure of it so that she can admire me walking in like everyone else does. Even McGonagall admires use when we walk into a room." James' head was swivelling around, this way and that, looking for his future red-headed wife.

Um right, James plans this. Strange boy.

Sirius lifted a piece of toast up to his mouth but paused.

Wait, McGonagall has a thing for us. Didn't seem that way yesterday. Maybe it's suppressed love.

Hm. Note to self: Watch out for McGonagall giving me the look. If she does, run away quickly.

Don't want another repeat of the time with Great Aunt Hilda.

Still have nightmares.

Sirius looked at his toast again, and then pushed away his plate. He'd lost his appetite. Remus glanced at the half-full plate and was about to ask Sirius if he was feeling alright, considering he normally never stopped eating, but James cut him off.

"Ah, there they are. Lily doesn't look happy. Maybe she's angry that she missed me walking in. I told you lads, she loves me. She just can't admit it." James smiled happily to himself but shut up when Marlene sat next to him.

Still trying to act mature.

He's got no hope.

"What's wrong with Lily?" Remus whispered to Alice.

"Nothing's wrong with Lily, thank you very much Remus. And I can still hear, you know. I'm not deaf, although Mary obviously thinks that I have heat proof skin!"

She got up.

"Come on, we have potions next. And I for one will not be late." And with that she stalked off.

"Seriously, I didn't mean to do it. I just picked up a wand from my bedside table. Not my fault it wasn't my wand. Who puts their wand on someone else's table?" Mary complained, picking up some toast before standing.

Emmeline shook her head.

"It wasn't your bedside table, Mary, it was mine."

"Oh."

The boys just looked at each other in confusion before Marlene took pity on them.

"Mary tried to heat up our dorm this morning. Unfortunately she picked up the wrong wand and heated the water instead. Whilst Lily was in the shower. Suffice to say, Lily was not best pleased."

Sirius smirked as he got up. Mary was a brilliant quidditch player but pretty clueless when it came to magic.

The 6th years found themselves walking along the corridors together, following Lily. Sirius and James winked at each other when they noticed Remus walking with Emmeline, discussing some new book or something. Mary started a conversation with James about when the first quidditch match was. Dorcas and Marlene listened to the quidditch fanatics, asking a question occasionally but looking more confused after they received an answer than they had before. Alice and Frank were holding hand, gazing into each other's eyes dreamily. They didn't notice people hurriedly scurrying out of their way.

Sirius chuckled. Cienna glanced up at him before looking away. Sirius wasn't sure what to do. They'd found themselves walking at the back together and whist things were easier between them than they had been at the start of the term, meaning that at least 20 words had been exchanged between them, they weren't exactly friends.

However, Sirius had made a bet. And he wasn't going to get anywhere by staying silent.

"That charm you used yesterday. It was impressive. I haven't seen it before." Her eyes flickered up to his face, and then went to the floor again. "Be useful to use on Snivilus...and maybe a few other well deserving snakes."

For a moment Sirius thought he wouldn't get a response. At least I gave it a go.

"It's pretty simple. Two separate charms – we haven't learnt them in class yet. But I could show you, if you wanted." She paused for a moment. "James wanted to learn it too. He probably had the same idea in mind as you." The corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

Inwardly, Sirius was cheering. Outwardly, he remained calm.

"That'd be great, thanks." He flashed her a smile that normally made girls weak at the knees. It didn't work.

Thank Merlin. She might have collapsed. And that would've been awkward.

She didn't say anything but her little smile stayed put on her face. Sirius figured that was enough for one day. It was better than nothing.

It was a start.

Aw. Mary reminds me of myself - oblivious! Thanks for reading.

Megs