The following Thursday which happened to be November 3rd, James Potter managed to drag Remus Lupin away during lunch. It was Sirius' birthday and he didn't want to risk having him hear the information he was about to share. Especially not when James had managed to muster up the sense to talk to someone about this predicament without losing his mind.

They were sitting in one of the corridors, on the window, a few corridors away from the Great Hall.

"Satan walks this Earth," James declared grimly.

"You really do have a flair for the dramatics don't you, Prongs? Padfoot must be rubbing off on you," Remus said. Although he knew that it was too late. That ship had sailed a long time ago.

"And her name is Kelpie Jones," James continued. He had their map open in front of them and was currently busy glaring at Jones' small blip on it. Remus saw his stare falter and looked down too.

On the map, they could see Jones and Astrid in the Great Hall. Sirius' dot too was in the hall. However, James was focused on hers. And only because they were paying close attention, they were able to see Jones' getting closer to Black's before he suddenly walked past her at a worryingly fast pace and exited the hall.

"Curious," murmured Remus. With a sigh, James gave him a tired look. "I'm not going to like what you're about to tell me, am I?" he asked warily.

Shaking his head, James recounted the whole episode from the Quidditch party a few days ago, explaining how Jones had found out about the cloak, had tricked him into lending it - although not yet, and finally the whole Sirius fiasco, which only garnered more pity for her.

James was worried about two things- firstly, Jones finding out about Moony and secondly, Sirius realising that she was determined to follow him. Remus' solution had been to just tell Sirius but James was quick to shoot it down, "No! We can't tell him. She'll know."

"Why did you agree to share it with her anyway?"

"She wanted to find out where he's going and why he gets excited about full moons."

"You mean.."

"Yes. You," Prongs sounded frustrated.

"You don't think she suspects, do you?" Remus paled at the thought.

"Doubt it. She's probably in it to catch Padfoot doing something. That idiot was way too obvious about full moons and now it's got her wondering."

"What do we do?" Remus realised that this couldn't have happened at a worse time. Just when he and Astrid were finally back to normal.

The only other person who knew was Lily, and Remus thanked his stars every day that she was subtle in her approach to it when talking to him. The same could not be said for Jones. She was as subtle as Sirius hiding his repulsion for Snape.

After a while, James came up with the best solution he could. "I could.." he started speaking but then stopped, giving Remus a nervous look at the tips of his ears turned red. "..talk to Evans about it and see if she can help us keep an eye on her?"

"That would be the better option than asking Wormtail," Remus considered.

The boys had started making their way back to get to their next class when they spotted Jones walking alone with a steely look on her face, looking ready to murder. They both figured it probably had something to do with what they witnessed on the map not fifteen minutes ago.

"Oi, Jones!" Potter's voice stopped Kelsey in her tracks. She saw him marching over to her while going through his sling bag for something. Her immediate response was to take a defensive stance. She was not in the mood for this today.

After all, it was November 3rd. Sirius Black might have blown her off but who's to say it wasn't a part of their greater scheme to mess with her?

"Here. It arrived by owl this morning," Potter grabbed a thin book from his bag and shoved it at her. He gave her a small smile. He hadn't missed the pained look on her face as she made eye contact with Sirius Black sucking face with that girl. James did think that was a little meaner than Padfoot usually was but he had kept mum about it regardless. Not that he needed to, Padfoot seemed to have been avoiding him since then too.

Holding it in her hands, Kelsey recognised that freshly printed, inked paper smell anywhere.

"Sweet Helga! I didn't actually think you'd go through with it!" She stared at the issue of Superman in disbelief.

"So please don't tell Lily about my hand in the adult magazines," he whispered the last part cautiously but Kelsey wasn't listening. She had already forgotten that whole fiasco. After all, it was so 5 chapters ago.

"Oh my god, Oh my god, Oh my god! You're the best!!" she squealed and launched into a hug. Her strength surprised Potter when she tackled him to the ground. She wasn't anything if not an enthusiastic nerd.

Sirius had been on his way back to the Great Hall to grab something he had forgotten when he once again took in the scene in front of him. Jones literally straddling his best mate, his brother from another mother, gushing at him in excitement. He saw the thin comic in her hand and vaguely remembered something about her threatening Prongs for one.

It was his birthday today. He should be the one drowning in pretty girls and gifts.

He ignored the fact that he just referred to her as pretty in his mind. Ever since puberty hit, the four boys never had an issue with girls coming between them.

Yes, Prongs occasionally smacked him when he made playful comments at Lily, but they were always in a wingman fashion. Right now, Sirius' hand was itching to grab his wand and create some physical distance between them. The two hadn't noticed him yet, although Sirius saw Remus glance at him looking concerned.

Wondering about the noisy commotion, Lily and Alice Longbottom too made their way out from their late lunch into the corridor as well. While Lily wasn't surprised to learn that Kelsey was the cause of it. However, a frown fell on her when she noticed the messy-haired boy under her friend.

In broad daylight no less! The thought infuriated her.

"Kelsey!" As Head Girl, Lily needed to make sure students behaved appropriately at all times.

Her red-headed friend's shriek alerted Kelsey of her compromising position. With a yelp, Kelsey pushed away from Potter. In her excitement, she had forgotten her surroundings as she clutched onto her latest addition. She was still beaming internally when a loud scoff garnered everyone's attention.

"You'd think he could keep his hands to himself but I guess once he's already sneaking off, getting handsy with a Kelplie in empty corridors, there's very little that'll surprise you." The cold voice belonged to Sirius Black.

"Padfoot, what the-"

But Sirius was stalking away after sneering at them before James could even finish that sentence.

"Emp-empty corridors Kelsey? You're a Prefect! You're supposed to be setting an example!"

"Lily no, you got this wrong-" Lily shushed her.

"If that is the case," Lily began in a high-pitched voice. Kelsey turned to face her now, eyes-wide. "Then I sug-suggest you find a r-room. This is a public space and the sacred grounds of education. Potter, as Head Boy y-you too should know better." Lily didn't know why her voice was suddenly breaking. She didn't understand the prickle of tears she could feel at the corner of her eyes. Turning away swiftly, she stormed off because either of them could stop her with Alice following her on her heels.

"Fudge! Lily! It's not what you think!" Kelsey was about to run after her but Remus held her back.

"Lilypad no!" Next to her Potter looked just as distraught. "And I'd just gotten her to start calling me James after Hogsmeade," he whined. Kelsey offered him a comforting pat on the shoulder.

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WHAT WAS THAT?!" James stormed into the Marauders dorm room sometime later with Remus on his heels, trying to calm him down. Lunch was over, but it looked like neither of them would be attending afternoon classes that day.

Sirius grunted from his spot on his bed where he sat in his uniform, looking at James.

"Care to explain yourself?" James' tone was icy cold. Yes, he loved the boy like a brother but right now he was in no mood for his antics.

"I think I said it all based on what I've been seeing since last weekend," Sirius replied with snark.

"This is ridiculous. You two are fighting over a girl. We don't do that," Remus interrupted sternly.

"No one's fighting. He can have her!" Sirius barked.

"I don't want her! Remember this bird called Evans?"

"Oh, so you do remember her. Funny. I was starting to think you were busy making your way through her friends," Sirius spat back.

"First, you ignore me all week. And now this?" James pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. "Look, mate, I know it's your birthday but honestly, you're acting like a jealous arse."

Sirius laughed. "I'm surprised you noticed. Figured you'd be off celebrating my birthday with your hand up her skirt."

James and Remus shared a look, understanding their friend's jealousy but Sirius still hadn't realised it himself.

"Padfoot, mate. You got it all wrong. Not that it's any of your business. You seemed to be getting on fine on Saturday night yourself." James wasn't kidding around anymore.

"Thanks for the reminder. I could well use a birthday snog. Happy fucking birthday to me," Sirius muttered darkly and stormed out of the dorm.

He made his way to the one place he could think in peace - The Astronomy Tower.

It was nearing dinner time when Sirius finally started making his way back downstairs. After he had calmed down, he had replayed the events in his mind. Prongs might have said that it was a misunderstanding but Sirius still felt betrayed and he didn't even know why. Regardless, he had made the decision to go back to the dorms. He hoped that if Prongs apologised first, it would be easier for him to do so.

"You're acting like a jealous arse" Prongs was mental for sure. He had only gotten a small glimpse of Jones' reaction when he had taken in the flicker of hurt in her eyes the moment his lips had met the other girl's that night. As if she hadn't been the one teasing him in the first place, he remembered bitterly. Not that it bothered him much. He was the Heartbreak Prince of Hogwarts.

Most of the halls were now deserted as most of the students wouldn't be in these areas close to dinner. Approaching a corner, he slowed down when he heard angry voices.

"Tell me, Severus," a cold voice hissed. "What do you call a mudblood that defends another?"

"I don't have time for your riddles, Mulciber. They're drab at best," drawled Snape.

Sirius peeked around the corner. He saw a short first or second-year student standing with a hand protectively wrapped around his shoulders. As he stared at the second person, he recognised Kelsey's profile. They hadn't heard him approach.

"Frontpage news," sneered Mulciber.

He saw Jones lean down and whisper something to the other kid, who took a few shaky steps back. The tension was clear as all the older students were waiting to see who would draw their wands out first.

Sirius' feet automatically moved the moment he saw Jones shove her wand under Mulciber's chin.

Jones, you idiot.

He didn't remember running. He could only see the dangerous look on Mulciber's face before grabbing his own wand without thinking twice.

Before he could hurt her or the other kid, Sirius attacked.

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