The first class I had with the Gryffindors was Potions, like the years before.

Gabrielle had wished me luck on the new N.E.W.T level Potions class, and to say I was looking forward to the class was a fat lie. Potions wasn't my best subject, and though I wasn't terrible at it, I certainly wasn't as good as Lily or Severus.

"Everyone come in, come in!" Professor Slughorn called, his stomach protruding more than usual. His hair had begun to thin out, but his mustache was as full as ever, and he stroked it thoughtfully.

"Take a seat, doesn't matter where. Except for Black and Elise, and Potter and Rosier,
of course, usual tables. Chop chop!"

I groaned in protest, Sirius evidently uncomfortable at our continued seating arrangements. Slowly walking to the back of the classroom, I dragged my bag on the floor, before thumping down into the chair half-heartedly.

"You look thrilled, Black. Have a nice summer?" I greeted, and Sirius' head snapped to face me, he'd been gazing sympathetically at Potter. I would've been too, if I didn't despise him. Rosier was awful, in personality and in Potions.

"Yes, thank you for asking, soap dope." Sirius said pleasantly, a troublesome grin attacking his features. "How was yours?"

"Full of surprises." I spoke vaguely, taking out my textbook and beginning what Slughorn had assigned. "Draught of Peace, we learned this last year? What is this, a review?" Sirius snorted.

"It's not that easy, he's using it as a warm up to get used to potions again. Use whatever brains you have, soap dope."

I ignored the git after that, turning to my cauldron and beginning to brew the potion. Sirius worked somewhat diligently besides me, and I almost thought that I'd survive the class period when danger stuck.

With a cloud of smoke, Sirius's cauldron exploded, its contents splattering everywhere. I let out a shriek as my robes were hit with ruined potion, and Sirius himself was covered in goop.

"Mr. Black! What did you do this time?" Slughorn said exasperatedly. "Merlin, how did you even pass my class last year?"

"Well, I did get an exceeds expectations so...that's a pass." Sirius said smartly, and Slughorn sighed as the other students snickered.

"Head up to the Hospital Wing, take Miss Elise with you. Don't want her getting any burns from your explosion, do we?" Slughorn instructed, waving a hand. "The rest of you, back to work!"

I rolled my eyes as Sirius grinned triumphantly and I scooped up my stuff gingerly, as my arms and chest burned from where the potion had hit me.

"Well? Aren't you going to thank me? Where are your manners, Oompa Loompa?" Sirius questioned as we strolled to the Hospital Wing, flicking some hair from his face.

"What would I thank you for? Because of you I'm missing class, my robes are ruined, and my arms are burned." I snapped temperamentally.

"Well...I was thinking that you could thank me for getting you out of class but apparently you aren't as grateful as you should be, so I'll just pretend that those were gracious words of thanks."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Black."

---

"Hey Cas! So I was thinking- Merlin what the hell happened to you?" Gabrielle gasped, staring at my disheveled hair and grumpy expression. "Did someone piss on your toast this morning?"

"No, well, maybe, but no. Sirius Black happened, to answer your question." I grumbled moodily, searing holes into my plate with my eyes.

"Okay...Want me to go hit him with my transfiguration textbook?" Gabrielle offered. I looked up with a smile.

"Yes please."

"Will do." Andromeda said, standing up from the Slytherin table with a determined look on her face. "Watch out, Ickle Sirius, I'm coming for you. With a textbook. Of transfiguration."

I barely contained my laughter as she stormed over to him. Sirius and his mates looked up in confusion as the girl approached, and when he offered her an uncertain smile, she didn't return it.

I couldn't hear any of the conversation, but as the dumbfounded look on his face grew and grew, I found my smile growing larger as well.

Gabrielle gestured frantically at him before smacking him across the head with the book, the loud clap echoing across the Great Hall.

Nobody really paid it any attention, however, but I starting hooting with giggles as I saw Sirius' shocked face.

Gabrielle smiled sweetly at her cousin before dusting off her book and looking at it with concern, as if it was more hurt than Sirius. Then she gathered her things and skipped back to the Slytherin table, leaving a very hurt and disoriented Sirius Black, a laughing James Potter, and a confused looking Peter. Remus was nowhere to be found, probably off to some prefect duty.

"How'd I do?" Gabrielle said breathlessly as she sat down beside me.

"Brilliantly. I couldn't hear a word you two exchanged but his facial expressions were priceless. How hard did you hit him?" I gushed. Gabrielle chuckled.

"He's still the closest family member I have, so I didn't him that hard. Just hard enough to remind him who is boss."

"I'm obviously the boss, right?"

"I didn't see you hitting him with a transfiguration textbook! I'm boss!" Gabrielle shrilled.

"Oh yeah?" I challenged. "Fine. I'll go hit him with my transfiguration textbook!"

Gabrielle snorted, her dark hair falling from her bun and into her face.

"Have fun, it's strangely satisfying." She said as I stood up.

"Oh, it's satisfying because he's a bloody prat. Not strange at all." I told her, and walked over to the Gryffindor table.

"Okay, okay, soap dope, what did I do this time? My cousin has already given me a bloody beating!" Sirius growled as I approached, and James giggled, earning him a death glare from Sirius.

"Your cousin, who happens to be my best friend at the moment, hit you across the head with a textbook because you infuriate and irritate me to no ends. Then she said that she was reminding you who was boss, and I said that I was the boss and then she said that she was the boss because she hit you with a book so I said I'd come hit you harder to show that I'm the boss." I explained. Sirius's eyebrows furrowed together.

"Pardon me, but what?"

"Basically, Padfoot, she's going to hit you with her transfiguration textbook harder to prove that she's the boss and not your cousin." James explained, and Sirius moaned.

"Please no, soap dope. Don't do it!" Sirius said, standing up anxiously, looking ready to bolt for the doors at any moment.

"Oh, I'll do it." I said evilly, and before he could react, I promptly smacked him in the head with the textbook.

"Ow! You hit really hard, woman! Am I bleeding?" Sirius shrieked, his eyes watering in pain. How or why a professor hadn't assigned me detention yet was beyond me.

James was howling with laughter, and I turned away with a satisfied huff, a proud smile resting on my face.

"Buh bye, Black!"

"Rot in hell, soap dope!" Sirius roared as I walked back over to Gabrielle with a smug look on my face.

"Okay, you're the boss." She said with a defeated pout.

I smiled in victory, ignoring the guilt that was welling up inside of me.

"She hit you good?" James asked as his friend moaned in pain.

"Good? Good?! Merlin, that woman hits like a bloody troll!" Sirius exclaimed. "Peter, since when have you been as skinny as a stick?"

"Oh Merlin, we'd best get him to the Hospital Wing, he's delirious!" Peter said worriedly.

"Nah, he'll be fine. Gotta man up in front of his lady, act like it doesn't hurt." James shook his head. "Come on Sirius, let's head back to the dorms early."

"Okay mother." Sirius mumbled absentmindedly. "Ooh, look! The Slytherpuffs are wearing purple today!"

"On second thought, maybe we should take him to the Hospital Wing..." James muttered, scratching his hand.

Peter looked from Sirius to the doors of the Great Hall, and back again. He nodded.

"Yeah."