"The answer is no."

"But Vixen-" James whined.

"I'm not making a polyjuice potion so you guys can turn into Filch and scare the first years. I'm just not doing it." I whacked my brother and Peter with my Potions book.

"You did it once!" Peter protested.

"No, I didn't. Don't you remember? That was when Myrtle appeared and made me spill half of the ingredients. Bottom line is, I'm not doing it." I rolled my eyes and continued to write the Potions essay. "Besides, we're drowning in homework and it seems to never stop."

"But, Vix-"

"Answer is still no. Now shut up and tell me the effects of salamander blood on the Cure for Boils"

...

"Jade, you have to see this!" Remus ran halfway across the courtyard with a newspaper in hand.

"Rem, I'm in the middle of something." I gestured towards my Herbology books and a confused Regulus who I was currently tutoring.

"How are you, Regulus? But this won't take five minutes. You have to read this." I looked over at Reg who nodded and continued to do read over the study notes I helped him make.

"Five minutes, Remus. He has the big test tomorrow." I stood up and we walked towards an empty tree.

"The wizard finally has a name." I took the newspaper and started to read it.

"More attacks!? That's the fourth one since classes started." I said sadly. "Lord Voldemort? Are you shitting me? When did this came in?"

"Just got the owl now. Everybody at Study Hall was talking about it."

"And how did you get out of study hall?" I smirked raising my eyebrow at him.

"Why are you out of study hall?" Remus imitated me and I laughed.

"Tutoring. What's your excuse?"

"I finished my homework three nights ago and I was helping James with Arithmancy. But I wouldn't be surprised if it'll be the talk of the century in the snake pit."

"This is going to be hell, isn't it Moony?" I looked over at Regulus who was struggling with his studies. "What about the younger ones? Are they going to be talked into this by their parents or by fellow students?"

"I don't know, Vix. Just watch out for Regulus, for Sirius' sake." He looked at Regulus with a sad look.

"I'll try my best, Moony. I promise that I'll try my best."

...

"That's why Mandrakes scream so much." I smiled.

"Jade, I don't think that's the reason." Regulus rolled his eyes laughing.

"I know but I made you laugh, didn't I?"

"That you did, Jade."

"Potter! You're close with the Blacks right?" Theodore Nott sat down next to me as Regulus and I were still studying in the Slytherin common room.

"Don't you have prefect duties, Nott?" I rolled my eyes and looked at Regulus. "Regulus, why don't we wrap this up? I don't want you to burn out."

Regulus caught the hint and nodded.

"All right. Thanks again, Jade." He smiled and left.

"You didn't answer my question, Potter."

"Why do you care, Nott? Aren't you also close to the Blacks? And besides, you people say I'm a blood-traitor. Now if you'll excuse me, we have a bunch of homework and tomorrow I'm planning on not talking to you for the rest of my life. Dreadful chat though, but I'll leave you to do prefect things." I stood up but Nott pulled me back down. "Touch me again Nott, and that will be the last thing you ever do." I pulled my arm away from him.

"Just answer the question. I take it you read the news today?"

"So what if I did? And so what if I'm close to the Blacks? You're closer to them." I crossed my arms and gave him a glare.

"I'm not dating the playboy Sirius Black and I'm not tutoring his little brother." He smirked and leaned back. "I know you read the news. Twitchy Prefect Scarface showed you right?"

"Talk about Remus like that one more time and he won't be the only one with scars on his face." I hissed. "Cut to the chase, Nott. I don't have all day."

"It's night."

"My point exactly."

"Look, something big is going to happen in a few years. I know you're faithful to your twin and whatnot but I know you'll do the right thing. We Slytherins have to stick together, you know?" Nott smirked.

"And what's the right thing?" I rolled my eyes and looked at my nails.

"Why join the winning side, of course. I take that the Gryffindorks will fill for their side, but to each their own I guess." Nott shrugged. "So what do you say?"

"I think I'd rather die before I join you and that bald rat you call a Lord." I smirked and stood up. "I wish this chat would've had a more positive outcome. Such as not having this conversation in the first place. Now if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do, like being anywhere but next to you."

"You'll regret not joining the winning side, Jade Potter. Your brother and boyfriend can't protect you forever."

"Go fuck yourself and suck up to Slughorn while you're at it, dumb-ass. Let's see if you make it to Head Boy by all the dick sucking you're doing."

...

"Nott did WHAT!?" Sirius yelled once I told him what happened last night. "I'm going to kill him."

"Sweetheart calm down. I'm more than capable of handling myself." I sat on his lap and kissed his lips.

"I know, beautiful. But I can't help it. Nott just pushes my buttons." He sighed and out his face in my neck.

"Same here, Padfoot. I'm just glad I got Reg out of there." I kissed his head.

"Reg was there?" I nodded.

"We were studying for the Herbology exam he had today when Nott cornered me. I told Reg to pack it up and to go to his room. Luckily he caught the hint and left." Sirius sighed in relief and nodded.

"Thanks for that, Vixen. I just hope that he doesn't get dragged into this but if I know my mother, she'll drag him into this. I just hope he doesn't get to meet Mr. No Nose Baldy and we'll be fine I guess." I laughed at the name which made him laugh also.

"I'll try to take care of him as best as I can, Padfoot.  I promise."

"Thank you, sunshine. That means a lot."

"I'm giving you two five seconds to back away before I hex you two." James said once he walked through the portrait. "You think I'm joking but I'm not."

"Shut up, James." Sirius mumbled against my neck.

"Hey Bam Bam, is it okay if I sleep here tonight? I didn't get much sleep last night." I asked.

"You know that it's always going to be okay with us, Vix. But might I ask why didn't you sleep? You do know that you had a collapse not too long ago." James said worriedly.

"Don't remind me." I rolled my eyes. "Nott cornered me yesterday about the news and I told him that there's no way in hell that I'm joining Lord Ratface. I didn't sleep because I was watching out for Reg since he decided to stay up all night reviewing for his test today."

"What did Theodore say?" Peter asked.

"Since when do you call the snakes, except for Vixen, by their first names?" Remus asked.

"That's besides the point, Moony. The point is that I don't want Parkinson or Flint cornering me again or else I'll do something I regret and Dumbledore will end up giving Gryffindor the House Cup due to missing Slytherin students." I shrugged.

"As if that'll ever happen. Slytherin has more house points than any other house and it's only November." James said nonchalantly. "But if it'll help you sleep easier, you can spend as many nights as you want with us. We don't mind."

"Thanks Bam Bam."

"You'll always be with us, right Vix? No matter what?" Remus asked.

"I'll always stay loyal to you guys. Until the very end."