After dinner, we all head to the common room and after Lily shows me around the gathering room, she takes me upstairs. "Moment of truth," Marlene whispers as we move towards the room they all stay in. Worry suddenly bites at me. I don't want to have to meet a group of new girls. Shockingly, I really like the group I already know and I'm not sure what'll happen if I don't get to stay with them. Meet more new people probably. Ugh. Alice steps forward and reads the little list that sits beside each door with the names of who stays inside, then turns towards me with a smile.

"You're with us!" She exclaims and we're all suddenly encased in a group hug.

"Bloody hell I didn't know we'd celebrate by killing me!" I grind out before the girls laugh and tug me in the room.

"So, we usually leave this one empty because a draft comes in the window-" Lily starts and I cut her off.

"Perfect, that's perfect, I get boiling hot when I sleep," I claim it instantly and grin when I find my suitcase under it already.

"Lils, what the hell is moving around in your pocket?" Marlene suddenly asks and I turn around to Lily sheepishly pulling out the dragon from her pocket.

"Oh my god, Lily. It's so cute." Alice coos and brushes her pointer finger over its spine as it stretches itself out.

"We've got to get a cage for it. Anyone have any ideas?" I ask as I crouch next to my suitcase and rifle through it for something to use.

"Just put it right in here," Emmaline says and I look up at the young woman opening the heater in the middle of the room to reveal a little compartment high above the coals. "Dragons like warm places and I'm willing to give up my favorite sock spot." She grins at all of us as Lily steps forward and lets the little guy go on the closed netting. James instantly curls up and sighs a burst of steam in contentment.

"Brilliant, Em. Thanks." Lily breathes before we all busy ourselves changing into pajamas or other comfortable clothing. As I change, Lily moves in front of me to block my scars from the room. I'm incredibly thankful.

"Alright, last night we're all free with no homework. What's the plan?" Marlene asks. Alice grabs a sweater and smiles bashfully.

"I'm meeting Frank before curfew. Sorry!" She calls as she slips out of the room and down the hall. Marlene looks to Emmaline who is already sitting on the floor beside her bed with a makeshift fire on the stone floor, brewing some potion that bubbles and smells strangely like burnt plastic.

"Sorry, I've got potions to perfect." She excuses herself and adds a few pink petals which thankfully clears the smell. Marlene sighs and looks to Lily and I. I shrug.

"I was just going to hang out in the common room with a good book." I clutch the notebook and book in my hands with a pen I nicked from the orphanage. Lily either consciously or unconsciously moves a bit closer to me.

"Same here. You're welcome to come sit-"

"Ugh, love you Lils, but that is not the kind of night I was planning on. I'm off to find someone fun." She winks at both of us and Lily shakes her head as she dances down the hall. Those green eyes turn to me.

"Want to sit together?" I offer and she smiles.

"Gladly."

We head down together and sit at a table by the window. Most students are still milling about outside the common room, so it's pretty quiet. I set out my two books as Lily goes to her page in her book, but she hasn't looked away from my things.

"You can ask," I tell her and she smirks a little.

"Are you making new spells?" She asks and sets her book down, leaning forward a bit. My eyebrows pop up at her guessing it so quick, but I nod.

"Yeah. It helped pass the time in the orphanage and I found I actually really liked it." I tell her just as that crazy group of boys comes in and collapses in various positions on the couch. James and Lily meet eyes, then she looks back to me.

"Could you show me one? I've never seen anyone succeed in inventing a spell. Severus," She falters a moment, "my...friend from the train? He's tried without success so far as I know." I decide to let the comment about her so-called friend go and instead take her mind off it.

"Actually, I've been needing someone to try them out with. Would you mind?" I ask and that bright smile makes an appearance.

"It would be my genuine pleasure." She answers and watches confusedly as I get up and walk over to the boys. All eyes lift to me and Sirius instantly smirks.

"Back again eh, Mane? All the girls do eventually come back..." I snort and move down the line to Remus who now suppresses his own surprised smirk.

"Remus, was it?" I ask and he nods. "Could I bum a smoke?" Surprise still in those brown eyes, he tugs two from his pack and holds them out to me.

"One because you asked and another for the look you just put on their faces." He says quietly so only we two can hear. I laugh and claim them happily.

"Thank you, Remus. Boys." I nod to the other flummoxed three while heading back over to Lily who's trying desperately to hide her wide grin. I set the cigs on the table between us and scan a few notes I've made.

"So what is this supposed to do?" She asks as I point my wand to them.

"If it works, hopefully, you'll be able to tell. Mutare Fumas." I cast and black sparkles around the two cigs. I raise one to my lips and Lily instantly casts incendio on the tip. My drag is long and god, it feels so good to smoke again. The orphanage didn't allow it. My eyes meet Lily's one last time before I blow out a big puff into the air next to us. As the smoke leaves my lips, it takes shape into a beautiful, ghostly dragon about the size of my torso.

"Wow." Lily breathes as it swoops around the room, grabbing the attention of everyone inside before fading. Grinning, I offer Lily the cigarette and she takes it.

"Is Lily Evans about to sully her lips with a recreational drug? Why, I'm shocked." James comments and she shoots him the middle finger. She takes a puff and its clear on his face that he's suddenly forgotten everything else he was about to say at the sight of her lips moving.

"Not her first I'd say, Prongs." Sirius remarks and pats James on his back. Her smoke cloud bursts into a group of butterflies, landing on the nose of nearly every person in the room. James' seems to wake him up a bit.

"What spell is that?" Remus asks with interest in his voice.

"Uh, well...I made it." I tell him and interest alights in his eyes while the other boys quiet down.

"You made it?" Peter asks and I nod before taking another drag when Lily passes it to me. Sirius whispers something into James' ear and both giggle before the silver-eyed boy looks back at me.

"Yeah, I made it."

"Hm, kind of dig a girl with a brain." Sirius remarks and Lily smirks as I roll my eyes.

"Since when?" James elbows him and they fall back onto the couch along with Peter. Remus' eyes linger on me for a moment more before he looks back to whatever he's reading too. Lily and I finish the cigarettes and go through a few more botched spell ideas before she turns in. I lose myself in my work for a while until I realize it's just me and the boys awake. They've been talking quietly for a while, but as more and more people turned in the louder they've gotten.

"Tryouts haven't even happened yet, Prongs, we've got a while to go."

"But that's not the point! If you go through a list of the people we have and the potential people that are going to try out, we are still going to lose!"

"Are you talking statistics? Because if so my position in this group seems redundant."

"That's not it Moony, you're also very nice to look at."

"Right, because we need more people that are obsessed with their looks here."

"Oh, so you're obsessed with my looks? My, my, I'm flattered-"

"Focus, boys, focus! Who else could we possibly induce to tryout?"

"What about Mane?" Peter's voice rings out and there's a pause in the conversation.

"Mane. Does she play Quidditch? Does she even know anything about Quidditch?"

"Why don't you ask her, Prongs," Remus suggests and I shut both my books, stacking them on top of each other and turning towards them in my chair. One of my eyebrows raise. Suddenly they all pop up and surround me, Sirius being closest in the chair next to me.

"Hello, love, you look awfully fine for someone who's had their nose in a book for a couple of hours." My eyes roll at Sirius's flattery.

"Think you have a question for me?" I ask him while James nearly vibrates on the arm of Sirius' chair.

"Yeah, love, we were just wondering-"

"DO YOU PLAY QUIDDITCH AND ARE YOU ANY GOOD AT ALL?" The words burst out of James and he gasps afterward as if it cost him several breaths to keep them in for so long. Remus pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs while Sirius chuckles. I think for a moment on just how I could use this information.

"Having team trouble?" I ask and James sighs, laying dramatically out on the table as I quickly drag my books out of his way.

"Team travesty, more like." He huffs and I look back to Sirius for a more helpful explanation.

"Two chasers graduated and I'm the only beater on the team worth shit. So? Can you play?" Sirius asks and all the boys once again look to me. I grimace and shrug, then James groans. "Shut up, go on love." Sirius encourages and I try very hard to suck in my laughter.

"I can fly, but I'm not sure how good I am at Quidditch. I can give it a go anyway if it's important?" I suggest and Sirius sighs along with James.

"Figures, love. It'd be completely unfair if you were sexy, smart, and good at Quidditch." Sirius assures me with a smirk.

"Still try out though, Mane. Some muscled idiots might just show up to look at you and we can at least shove them in front of the bludgers headed our way." James tells me as he finally sits up with a bit of gloom scrawled across his handsome face.

"Of course, sweetie, anything for you." I pat James on the thigh and grab my books before nodding to a curious Remus and sleepy Peter.

"Couldn't I get at least a kiss goodnight, love?" Sirius asks, but I don't turn around. Just wave my hand and hear his sigh as I walk up the stairs and disappear.

All the girls are sleeping already, including James snoring softly on the warm furnace, so I take the opportunity. I slip my broom out of my suitcase and grab my goggles. A soft squeaking alerts me to James getting up and I wave him over. "Care for a little splurge out, mate?" I ask and he nods his little head. "Alright then. Hold still." I set him on the floor and pull out my wand. "Engorgio." He grows to the size of a small puppy and I nod. "Now you can keep up, but you move from my side and I'll turn you into a tea cozy, alright?" He yawns and I take that as a yes.

I slink over to the window and unlock it before jumping out, broom in hand. James is just after me. It's easy to get it under me and then I'm zooming around the castle with him at my side. Back and forth between the beams of the bridge, around the spires so close my hip is an inch away, then surf with my feet on the broom handle over the lake so the twigs skim the water. It feels incredible to fly again. I float over the water on my back with the tips of my hair tickling the edge of the water. James is splashing in on the edge after some fish but has yet to catch one.

This has been one of the best days of my life. New friends, one quickly becoming a close, someone to try spells with who actually has an interest in it, a great prank in the making, and a strange dragon that can't catch fish. I sigh and take a deep breath of the fresh air.

"I think I could like it here."

A/N

Getting a little more Marauder action in this time. ;) Hope you all liked the dormmates! Everyone in their dorm is someone from the books, so look them up if you like. Class starts next chapter and I'm excited! I hope you are too. ;) Remember to tell me how I'm doing loves, or else I'm lost!

Keep reading, my pretties.