We stayed at the park for a while until it began to get dark and the stars had started to speckle the sky. Sirius and I watched the sky, occasionally saying a word or two to each other. It wasn't awkward; it was quite the opposite, in fact, because we were just so comfortable that way. I didn't want to leave, I just wanted to stay here, relaxed, forever, watching the stars with one of my best—and most broken—friends. It couldn't be that way, though, because I would have to get back.

I had been about to tell Sirius that I ought to go home because dinner would be ready, and I hesitated before doing so, but he spoke up first.

"I'm going to head back to James's house, then," said Sirius.

"OK," I replied. "Are you going to take the Knight Bus again?"

"Yeah," he said.

I stood up from my swing and he did the same. The ends of my hair were wet and as were my clothes. I took a step closer to Sirius until I stood directly in front of him. He was staring at his muddy shoes, avoiding looking directly at me. I stood on my tiptoes and placed my hands on his shoulders, forcing him to look me in the eyes.

"Are you OK?" I asked.

A fire flickered in his grey eyes and he grinned, wrapping his arms once again around me and pulling me into a hug. "Yeah, you don't need to worry about me."

"If you, you know... need something," I mumbled, "or if you need to talk, or vent, or even get away from your best friend for a little while, please come over again. I'll be here."

"Thank you," he said genuinely.

We apparently couldn't find anything else to say that hadn't already been said, so we walked away together in silence, side-by-side. He walked me to the door of my house and then went back to stand in front of the street. I waited to watch him leave before opening the door to my house. Sirius paced around on the sidewalk, waiting. A bus sped around the corner faster than humanly possible and stopped right next to where Sirius stood. A man stepped out of it and took money from the sopping wet boy. They both got into the Knight Bus and then it sped away, leaving no trace of its existence.

Poor Sirius... He needed a family, but he didn't have one... He was forced to love his friends the way he should've loved his family. I feared what would happen if he ever lost any of his four friends in a way similar to how he had lost his parents. He would break, and only then it would be beyond repairing...

I ran into my house purposefully and ignored the smell of dinner, running up the stairs to get Dorfingryff. He was in my room, inside his cage (which was perched on my desk). The barn owl had a bad habit of nibbling on the door of his cage and as soon as he saw me, he wanted to escape more than ever. I could almost sense his anxiousness as I opened the cage door and watched him fly out immediately, landing gracefully on my windowsill.

"Dorfingryff, I have a letter for you," I told him. "I've just got to write it first..."

I took a fresh piece of parchment from a drawer of my desk, grabbed my quill and some ink and set right to work. I dipped the quill inside the ink and began to write, pausing every sentence to make sure I worded this right.

Dear James,

How is your week going? How's your summer? How's your life? Whatever. Look, I don't want to have to make small talk and beat around the bush, so I'll get straight to the point.

Sirius came to my house today.

He said he took the Knight Bus from your place, and by the time he reached mine he was soaking wet from having been walking in the rain. He told me everything that happened with his family. I just wanted to tell you... FOR GOODNESS SAKE, COMFORT YOUR FRIEND. I don't know if guys cry in front of each other, but it doesn't really matter at this point. He is hurting and you have to help him.

Look... I've been thinking, and those that regular people like you and I care about the most are our families. Sirius doesn't have that, which means that you, his very best friend, are in slot number one of people-Sirius-most-cares-about-in-the-entire-world.

Just talk to him. Talk to him for real—no jokes or other Maraudery things.

Oh, and don't tell him I wrote this. In fact, it would be nice if you could burn it after you read it.

Bianca

P.S. If you make a deer pun out of "Dear James," I will murder you.

I folded the letter up and tied it to Dorfingryff's leg.

"All right, Dorfingryff, listen carefully: please give this to James, but make sure Sirius doesn't get it. If anyone but James tries to open this letter, make sure they never get to it," I said, finishing up tying the letter to the barn owl's leg. I stroked the owl's head with the back of my hand. "If it isn't James, continue pecking them until they drop the letter. Then snatch it away and throw it in the ocean. Got it?"

I almost laughed at myself for being so dramatic.

Dorfingryff hooted, and I hoped it was because he understood everything I had told him. I gave him a treat before opening my window and letting him fly away.

I went down to eat dinner with my family. It was a quiet dinner and Dad was still mad. Every time Mum tried to make conversation, he would mumble something and turn his head away, and my anger towards him would only increase. He took his anger out on the wrong people... He acted so childish sometimes...

He didn't even want to look at me. I tried to convince myself that I wasn't hurt by it. The thing was that he could go days on end without talking to people. If he got into an argument with Mum, he could go without talking to her for a few days, even while living under the same roof. I definitely wasn't going to apologize for something I hadn't done wrong.

It was a little while later when I got a reply from James. Dorfingryff tapped at my window and I opened it for him to untie the letter from his leg.

"In the cage again, Dorfingryff," I muttered.

He gave me a look that was probably a scowl and flew to the other side of my bedroom, perching on my desk and giving me a look of defiance.

"C'mon, Dorfingryff," I whined. "Please just get in the cage. I'll let you out tomorrow, I promise."

He hooted and fluttered inside his cage. Before he could change his mind, I shut the door of it and latched it.

Then I sat down on my bed and opened James's letter.

Bianca—

Sirius came back and he seems just a LITTLE less sad... I guess I have you to thank for that. Whatever you said to him lifted his spirits a bit.

You sort of guilted me into talking to him, and we actually had a nice chat. Poor bloke got a little teary, even, but I'm glad that I was able to help ol' Padfoot. I guess that getting out whatever he was feeling did him some good, but I don't know what else I can do... My parents have been trying to get him to talk as well, so I hope he comes around eventually.

We've got to hang out sometime soon. All of us. Come to my house tomorrow. Don't say no, because I already know you're free (no offence)... I've written to Moony and Wormtail to invite them to my house tomorrow as well. Ever since Padfoot came to my doorstep, he hasn't been himself... I think being with all of us will make him feel better.

James

P.S. I will never, ever stop making deer puns and I'm sure you never expected any less of me, deer Bianca.

I chuckled as I folded the letter up.

***

"Mum, please?!" I begged. "Come on, can't you just see it from my point of view?"

"Bianca, why don't you just take the Knight Bus?" she asked.

"No, I hate taking buses! Besides, I don't even know what to do, I've never taken the Knight Bus before... You know I'll just get nervous and not know where to get off or something... Can't I just Side-Along Apparate with you?" I asked.

"Everyone else takes the Knight Bus," she said pointedly. "You'll never learn how if you don't do it."

"Then take it with me," I said.

"Most daughters would be happy at the prospect of being given freedom to go alone," she replied.

"I don't want to get there alone, I might die along the way!"

Mum rolled her eyes.

We often felt like our roles were reversed. Most teenagers didn't want their parents to take them anywhere and would have preferred to be more independent, but not me... I had lived a sheltered life so far, and I didn't plan on breaking that habit.

"Fine," she gave in. "I'll Apparate you there, but what are you going to do to get back?"

I frowned. "I don't know, actually, I didn't even think of that."

"How are your other friends getting there? Remus and Peter?"

"I guess they're taking the Knight Bus," I mumbled, looking down and twiddling my thumbs.

"OK, so you can take it with them on the way back," Mum reasoned. She shoved a bunch of Sickes and five Galleons into my hand.

"Mum, this is too much. A ticket only costs about eleven Sickles," I said, trying to give the Galleons back to her.

"Just take it. What kind of daughter are you? You're such an old woman."

I Side-Along Apparated with her to James's house in Godric's Hollow.

I was immediately slightly nervous to meet James's parents. I just wasn't good at meeting new people... I knew they would be nice, though...

"Be nice," said Mum, narrowing her eyes at me. She was referring to James's parents as well.

"I will attempt to," I responded.

"Go," she said, pushing me towards the door. When I turned back, she had already Disapparated.

I walked up to the door and just as I raised my fist to knock on the door, it swung open.

"We've been watching excitedly from the window," said James.

I grinned as he hugged me. Sirius, who was standing next to him, did the same.

Sirius was looking a lot better than he had the previous day. I could tell that on the inside, he was still upset, and only an enormous amount of time would ever seal up his wounds in a pathetic attempt at healing. He would probably never really get over it, and understandably so, but it would eventually stop hurting so much. Being around me, James, Remus and Peter would be good for him.

I was the first one to get there. James led me into his house.

"So this is Bianca," said a woman's voice. I turned around to see James's mother. "I'm James's mother, nice to meet you," she continued, extending her hand out to me.

"It's nice to meet you too, Mrs Potter," I said, smiling at her and shaking her hand.

"James and Sirius have told me all about you," she said. "You're the smart one who got her Hogwarts letter a year early, then? They always tell me how much of a genius you are."

I blushed.

"They've also mentioned your Quidditch skills," a male voice interjected this time. James's father came into view. He looked a lot like James and had the same black, messy hair. "I'm the dad," he said, shaking my hand as well.

"Nice to meet you," I said, mildly overwhelmed.

"James told me about your incredible Wronski Feint last year," he said.

"Wow, I don't even need to boast, they do it all for me..." I said, giving a nervous little laugh.

"May I ask, why are you friends with my sons?" James's dad asked me.

"What is that supposed to mean?" James demanded, whirling around.

"Well, son, you two aren't exactly the most studious of the bunch... From what I've heard, I was just wondering why this genius is friends with these two lunatics," Mr Potter said, a hint of a joke in his voice. He grabbed James's and Sirius's heads and ruffled their hair, causing them both to groan. I suddenly saw the similarities between James and his father.

"ErーI don't know, actually," I muttered, embarrassed.

Sirius, James and his parents all burst out laughing. I laughed too.

James, Sirius and I took a seat on the couch in the living room, waiting for Remus and Peter to arrive. Meanwhile Mrs Potter began asking me other questions.

"Bianca, so you must know this Lily Evans that James has a massive, hopeless crush on," she said, smirking.

James's ears turned red and Sirius chuckled.

"Oh yes, I know her," I said smugly. "We aren't that close, but I share a dormitory with her, after all. She sort of hates him."

"Nah, she doesn't," Sirius lied, poking James.

"She does," agreed someone else, "but we will fix that soon."

James, Sirius and I got to our feet and ran towards the door to greet Remus, who had silently crept in and joined into the conversation. Peter came shortly after. When everyone was finally here and after we had all hugged and greeted each other, we sat in the living room of James's house, unsure of what else to do.

"So," said Peter, instantly making things awkward. "What do you want to do?"

No one replied. Remus and James sat on the floor while Peter, Sirius and I were cramped on the couch. Remus's legs were crossed and James was sprawled out on his back, staring at the ceiling.

"I'm in the mood for a muffin or something," Sirius muttered randomly.

"Same, I'm hungry," said James.

"Why don't you lot make muffins?" Mrs Potter suggested.

"What?"

"You heard me, James," she said pointedly.

"How? We can't use magic," said Sirius, looking at her inquisitively.

"Thank you, Padfoot, for stating the obvious," said Remus, rolling his eyes. "We don't need magic. How do you think Muggles bake?"

"Never thought about it, actually..."

"I think I have a recipe here somewhere..." said Mrs Potter, opening a cupboard. She pulled her wand out and said, "Accio muffin recipe!"

A sheet of parchment came soaring out of the cupboard and landed in her outstretched hand.

"Come on, you lazy teens," she said. "I expect to taste these when they're ready."

"Mum, don't you think that's hypocritical?" James asked.

"What is?"

"You telling us we're lazy when you couldn't even look for a muffin recipe without magic?" he scoffed.

"Shut up, dear."

James burst out laughing and we all snorted as well, but at Mrs Potter's confused expression, James pretended to be choking, Sirius slapping him on the back.

Mrs Potter looked at us weirdly, impatiently waving the muffin recipe at us until we got off the couch and went into the kitchen. Then she bustled away, waving her wand around the house to tidy things up.

I picked up the recipe and read it over. "You know, this could be interesting," I said, raising my eyebrows.

"This should be fun," said Remus. "Let's get the ingredients and the bowl to mix everything."

We took everything we needed out of the refrigerator and the cupboards, laying everything out on the counter.

"Bianca, have you talked to your dad yet?" Sirius asked suddenly, taking out the flour.

"Oh, er... not yet," I said.

"Still?"

"Wait, what? What happened with your dad?" Remus asked.

"Er... we got into an argument two days ago," I said nervously. "It's really stupid... you're going to think it's ridiculous. He doesn't want me to become an Auror," I mumbled.

"What?" James demanded, almost dropping the measuring cup in his hands. "Is that a joke?"

"No," I said. "He thinks it's too dangerous and not 'convenient' for when I have a family," I elaborated, making air quotations with my fingers. "He basically said that girls can't be Aurors and that I just need to stay home and have a bunch of kids. I don't want that."

"You're not going to listen to him, are you?" Remus asked.

"Of course not," I stated. "Does that sound like me? Anyway, whatever, I'll face it when it comes." I held the recipe up to my face to see the first few steps, trying to change my mind. "We have to mix the wet ingredients and the dry ingredients separately."

I knew that the four boys exchanged looks, but they dropped it quickly and didn't ask me anything else about my argument with my dad. I was determined to get my mind off of everything and just have fun with my intelligently stupid friends.

I pulled two empty bowls towards me.

"We've got to crack the eggs," Remus started, but James had already taken them and was cracking them perfectly.

"Unbelievable," I said, shaking my head. "How are you so good at that? That is not fair. You've probably never done that in your life. You didn't even get a shell in the bowl."

"I'm good at everything," James replied, smirking crookedly.

"What's next?" Peter asked, grabbing the parchment from me. "Padfoot, get the milk."

Sirius looked baffled as he grabbed the unopened carton of milk and inspected it. He turned it over in his hands, looked at the sides and then turned it upside down. Remus, Peter, James and I all watched him, trying to contain our laughter.

"Merlin, Padfoot," Remus yelped, grabbing the milk carton from him and opening it.

"What?" Sirius said defensively, amusement in his eyes. "How would I know what go do? My house-elf, Kreacher, does—used to do all the cooking."

"God, Sirius, you're such a pure-blood," I said, rolling my eyes.

"I love how you say it like an insult, Bianca. Really."

I snorted. Then I stopped quickly when I heard crunching noises. I whipped towards James, who had opened the garbage and was playing around and crushing the eggshells before he threw them away.

"Really? Do you really have to crush all of them to a powder before you throw them in the garbage?" I questioned.

Peter measured the flour, but spilled so much on the floor and ended up with so much on his face.

Basically, baking with the Marauders was a disaster, and it didn't help that I was very bad at following directions. Mum always complained that when I was baking something, I never read it thoroughly enough and I always left a step out.

"Pete, can you get me a spoon?" I asked him.

He opened a drawer and took out a tiny spoon, holding it out to me. I blinked at him, waiting for him to tell me he was kidding.

"What?" James interjected. "That's a spoon."

"Isn't it?" Sirius added questioningly. He really meant it.

I took a deep breath. "A bigger spoon, Peter," I said calmly.

"Oh," he sighed, this time taking out a spoon that was actually a good size. He handed this one to me.

"Thanks," I said, lightly smacking him on the head with it.

We mixed the rest of the ingredients together and we were only missing one thing: chocolate chips.

Peter, however, was taking one at a time and throwing it into the mix. We watched him, mesmerized, until Remus said, "Oh for God's sake, Peter," grabbed the entire bag of chocolate chips and dumped it into the mix.

"Woah, OK, that's enough," I said firmly, putting the nearly empty bag of chocolate chips on the side.

The minute I turned away, however, I saw Remus add some more chocolate out of the corner of my eye.

"I saw that."

He smiled innocently at me, as he often did in front of teachers to pretend he wasn't up to no good.

Peter took a bag out of his pocket and threw something else into the muffin mix.

"What the hell was that?" I asked.

"Lemon drop," Peter replied sweetly.

"No, that does not belong in a muffin mix. C'mon, Wormtail!" Sirius groaned.

"Everyone grab a spoon, we have to find it and take it out," I suggested.

We all took spoons and began searching through the sticky mix with them, but it was no use because the one single lemon drop had sunk into the mix.

"Whatever, it's only one," said James, patting a blushing Peter on the shoulder.

We put the muffins in the oven when we were done and dusted ourselves off. Standing back, we realized the mess we had made in the kitchen.

"Huh," was all we said.

There was spilled milk on the floor because Sirius had tried to turn the opened carton upside down again, there was flour and sugar all over the counter and on Peter's face.

"Mum will clean it up with magic," James decided, and we left to play Quidditch.

It was a little while later when Mrs Potter came into the backyard to tell us something. "Why isn't the oven on?"

"What? I thought you were supposed to do it, Sirius!" I yelled.

"How would I know how? I'm such a pure-blood, remember? I thought Remus was supposed to do it!"

"Really? I'm pretty sure Peter was supposed to do it," Remus said.

We all turned to look at Peter. "I... forgot," he said.

Everyone groaned.

So we went back inside the house and, this time, we actually waited for the oven to preheat and then put the muffins in.

By the time the muffins were done and cooled, we had already played a game of Quidditch.

"They don't look too appetizing, but maybe they taste better," James suggested.

I didn't have high hopes. I tried one and it might've been the worst muffin I had ever tasted.

"Something about it isn't right," I said.

Remus chewed thoughtfully. "Mhm, I reckon it needs more chocolate."

"No, there's too much chocolate!" I yelled. As much as I loved chocolate, taking a bite into the muffin was like biting into a giant block of bitter dark chocolate that was shaped like a muffin.

James, Peter, Sirius, Remus and I all laughed loudly.

I took another bite. "Peter!" I said, turning the muffin to show him the lemon drop stuck in the middle.

"What? I've got one too," he said, showing me.

"How many did you put when we weren't looking?!"

Peter grinned at me.

"Hey, Pete, give me your hand," James said with his mouth full.

Peter excitedly held his hand out to James, probably hoping he would get to hold hands with him. James had other ideas and spit the muffin into Peter's hand.

"Ew! Prongs!" Peter yelled. "Why would you do that?"

"That was disgusting, mate," said Remus to James. He turned to Peter, who was scowling. "Glad I'm not you..."

"OK, I'm just going to say it: these muffins are disgusting," said Sirius, grimacing as he chewed his. "We'll try again next week. We can do better next time."

"MU-UM!" James yelled to his mother. "I DON'T RECKON YOU WANT TO TASTE THESE!"