"C'mon, sis! We're not going to get our compartment if you don't hurry!" Dalton exclaimed to his twin sister as they rushed through the corridors of the Hogwarts Express, their trunks rolling behind them.

Savannah rolled her green eyes as she followed him. He was always the more dramatic of the two, always overreacting.

"Hey, Dalton! Come sit with us!"

Dalton grinned as he pushed his way through the throngs of people. "Okay, Potter!" He yelled back, turning to look at his twin, an unasked question in his eyes.

"I don't think our compartment's open anyway," Savannah lied as she looked down. Dalton's bright blue eyes scanned her over.

"Are you sure it's okay?"

"Yes," she responded quietly.

Dalton nodded and led them to the compartment where the four Gryffindors known as the Marauders were waiting. He quickly put their trunks on the netting above the seats.

"Hey, mate! You've been practicing quidditch over the summer, haven't you?" Sirius Black asked as he clapped Dalton on the back.

"You know it! How else do you think I kept these muscles?" Dalton smirked as he flexed. The other boys had no idea he was lying. They didn't need to know what Dalton had really been doing to keep those muscles.

The other boys laughed, not paying any attention to the petite blonde who was standing behind her brother, looking at her shoes and rubbing her arms as if she was cold, wanting to be anywhere else.

Savannah was taking in everything about her surroundings, a habit she picked up over the years, especially since their parents often left them to fend for themselves.

So, she took in the scent of chocolate frogs and old textbooks. She noticed how the carpet on the floors was worn where students always shuffled in and out. She listened to the students carrying on conversations as they walked, to the trunks bouncing when they hit a groove in the floor even though she had closed the compartment door behind her.

She didn't fail to notice how James Potter moved from his spot beside Sirius Black and to the spot beside Peter Pettigrew, who moved over a bit.

Dalton sat across from James, pulling Savannah down beside him, squishing her in between himself and Sirius.

Savannah ignored the way she could feel where her arm brushed Sirius's long after they touched. She absolutely detested the boy, so she was not allowing herself to pay any attention to him.

"Savannah actually agreed to come and sit with us this year?" James asked, pretending to be shocked as he put a hand to his chest.

Dalton chuckled slightly, looking down at Savannah. "For once."

Savannah remembered how every year her brother would ask her to come sit with the Marauders, but every year she would refuse. Dalton would join her in the compartment she would choose, after visiting with the Marauders for a bit, of course.

Savannah fought the urge to roll her eyes. This was exactly why she didn't want to sit with them. They were annoying, immature idiots. Sure, most people would say they were the heart of the school, and Savannah did enjoy some of the pranks they pulled, but something about the group of boys, especially one raven-haired, grey-eyed troublemaker, always flustered her.

"Come on, 'Vannah, say something!" Sirius whined.

Every year it seemed that he took it upon himself to try to annoy her as much as humanly possible. He always seemed to be in every single one of her classes, always sitting right beside her and passing her notes and stealing her quills. He was also they only person to call her 'Vannah' instead of 'Sava.' All of the other Marauders called her 'Sava' so she didn't understand why he didn't.

She remained silent, not wanting to give into Sirius. She refused to look at him, not wanting to already be annoyed. Granted, it was a little late for that. It seemed that, any more, just the mere sight, if not the presence, of Sirius Black annoyed her.

"'Vannah," Sirius whined, drawing out the last 'a.'

Savannah looked to Remus Lupin, who gave her a small smile. Remus was the Marauder that she detested the least, with him being quiet and studious. Out of all of her brother's friends, she thought that he was the only one that she could call a friend. If not a friend, something other than an acquaintance. Sure, Peter was quiet, but there was just something about him that she didn't like. Maybe it was that he followed the others around like a lost puppy or the fact that he never looked at you when you spoke to him. Remus was always kind to her and didn't really treat her as Dalton's sister. He treated her like she was her own person, which she appreciated since the other boys mainly just thought of her, and treated her as, Dalton's sister.

"Vannah," Sirius whined yet again.

Maybe if I ignore him, he'll give up and just talk to the others.

Do you even know Sirius Black?

Shut up.

Savannah rolled her eyes at herself, well more at the argument she was having with herself.

"'Vannah. 'Vannah. 'Vannah," Sirius said in a singsong voice, pushing her slightly with his shoulder every time he said her name.

"Shut up, Black," Savannah finally said through gritted teeth.

Sirius had a triumphant grin on his face. He actually got the infamously silent Savannah Stone to say three whole words to him! Sure, he got that a few times throughout the year, but it was mostly eye rolls or smacks that he got from her. Besides, he missed messing with her and teasing her over the summer.

"Nope!" He exclaimed cheerily.

Savannah rolled her eyes, already not liking the way this year was starting. Her hair was wild, as always, doing whatever it wanted. Savannah didn't help that any when she ran her hand through it, something that she had picked up from James, though she refused to acknowledge that. No matter how much she protested, it seemed that she spent more time with the boys than she did with anyone else, so she was bound to pick up a few of their habits.

Sirius was still grinning triumphantly. He couldn't help it, he'd liked the girl since their first year, ever since he spotted her sitting up in the stands of the quidditch pitch as she watched her brother try out. Now they're starting their sixth year and his feelings haven't faded! (Yes, the three boys still tried out their first year even though they knew first years weren't allowed on the team.) No matter how many girls he'd made out with or shagged, he always felt this pull to the blonde.

"So, Savannah, did you do any of the homework Flitwick assigned for the summer holidays?" Remus asked, seeing the tension between her and Sirius escalate.

Savannah nodded. Sure, she was known as a rebel-she already had a small paw print tattoo on her wrist and a wave on the inside of the middle finger of the same arm- but she also got her assignments done. They were something that kept her busy over the summer.

"What about that essay? Did you find it difficult as well, or was it just me?" Remus continued, being the nice person he was. Besides, she was intelligent and he needed to talk to someone who actually did their homework. Sirius and James were, without a doubt, very bright boys. They just didn't do any homework at all. Peter on the other hand... well, he struggled with his school work.

"Yeah, it was," she responded, finally looking up and meeting Remus's gaze.

Sirius looked at his friend, shocked that he was able to get three words out of her by simply asking her questions. Every time he tried that, she told him to fuck off!

When Savannah looked at her lap again, Remus gave his friend an encouraging nod, which Savannah didn't notice as she was too busy picking at her nails.

"So, 'Vannah, how was your summer holidays?" Sirius asked after he cleared his throat awkwardly.

Savannah shot him a questioning look. Since when is he actually civil and not an annoying arse?

Sirius looked at her with curious eyes, making her notice just how his eyes weren't just one color, but a mixture of dark grey and light grey. She assumed that this was what gave them their stormy appearance. She looked for some alternative motive for him being so nice, but she couldn't find any. His eyes didn't give anything away but plain curiosity.

"Er... fine, I suppose," she murmured, still looking into his eyes. She prayed he couldn't tell she was lying.

Sirius's lips quirked up into a small smile- he actually got more than three words out of her! Well... if you counted 'er' as a word.

Sirius wasn't going to be the one to break their eye contact, so he kept his eyes trained on hers as he replied, "That's good. Mine was actually good for once."

James smirked proudly, as Sirius had finally ran away over the summer and had came to his house.

Savannah nodded. She wasn't very good in these types of situations. She was antisocial; it was part of the whole "rebel-without-a-cause" vibe she was giving off.

Savannah finally broke eye contact, after biting her lip out of nervousness. She looked back down at her lap, toying with the bracelet on her wrist.

Remus shot Sirius a look that said 'back off.' Dalton was sitting oblivious, looking out the window. James was smirking at Sirius, his gaze bouncing between him and Savannah.

This is going to be a long train ride, Savannah thought. A great start to our sixth year.