Disclaimer: We do not own the wizarding world of Harry Potter if we did we wouldn't be publishing on this website. We would be off writing our own books, but since we aren't we owe a huge thanks to JK Rowling for creating the marauders and bringing them into our lives. Though we do own Casselle and her friend Emma and we are very protective of both of them. Enjoy!

Chapter One

James Potter was standing on platform 9 ¾ attempting to spot a familiar face. He had been hoping to snag a compartment with his best mate, Sirius, but so far he had had no luck finding him. Though, he wouldn't mind sharing with Remus, Peter or Casselle either.

A surprised grunt fell from the dark haired boy's mouth as a small figure collided with him, leaving him breathless.

"James Potter you don't know how wonderful it is to see your big head again!" Casselle exclaimed hugging her friend fiercely.

James smiled, returning her embrace sheepishly. "Careful Cass I'm not as invincible as I look," he teased pulling away from her with a laugh running a hand through his hair messing it up. "Good Summer?"

Casselle's face clouded momentarily but she plastered on a smile before James could notice. "Same as usual, counting the days until Hogwarts. I can't believe we're already in our fourth year!"

"It is going by fast," James remarked. "Have you seen anyone else around?" he asked taking one last look around.

"You mean like that toerag Black?" Casselle asked scrunching up her face in disgust. She would never forgive him for giving her that potion that dyed her hair hot pink for a full week in their third year, not to mention the ever increasing list of other pranks he had used to torment her.

"Well yea, but anyone else? I can't find anyone," he replied glancing around hopefully.

"I don't know but we better hurry before the train leaves," Casselle said pulling him after her.

They managed to find an empty compartment near the back. Casselle sat back breathing a sigh of relief as she always did when she felt the jolt of the train heading to her true home. She listened as James went on about his summer, talking in detail about his new broom and his excitement to try it out.

"What is this mate! Instead of waiting for me you run off with her?" A dark haired boy sneered from the door.

"Sirius where have you been!" James said excitedly.

Sirius Black had an elegant beauty to him, no one could deny that. His dark hair fell in the right curls around his face and his high cheekbones and slim built body gave him the look of royalty. Though he was arrogant, he never overused his looks or his high powered name when it came to anything but girls.

"I was sitting through Remus talking about his studies and boring me to death while Peter listened in rapture. All the while I was wondering where in bloody hell my best mate was and then I come searching expecting to find him tied up at wand point. But instead I find him ditching me for this tramp," Sirius said exasperated.

"Excuse me!" Casselle yelled standing up. "I am not a tramp, mister I flirt with anything that moves."

"Not true, I haven't sunk as low to resort to flirting with you and I don't plan to…nor Evans for that matter," Sirius shrugged.

"Why you!" Casselle said pulling out her wand as Sirius grabbed for his.

"Hey drop it!" James called standing between the two as they said their hexes. The end result left James with hot pink hair and a suggestive lingerie outfit. He looked down and yelled, "That's enough! Change me back!"

But Sirius and Casselle were too busy rolling over with laughter. As James pulled out his wand another head popped into the compartment and stopped dead at the sight of James.

A small smile formed on the red head's face as she tried to hold in her laughter. "That's a good look for you Potter," She laughed.

"Evans!" James gaped in shock at his appearance.

Lily simply turned from him and addressed Casselle, "I've been looking all over the train for you! I was beginning to worry you missed it. Though I see you found a useful pastime at least." Her eyes scanned James's figure again, her green eyes dancing as she watched him attempt to pull his lacy bra off.

Casselle had managed to get a hold of herself by then and grinned at Lily. "I bet that's the last time James throws himself in front of a hex for me. Bye James, maybe Black can help you with the bra, he's had plenty of experience with slag outfits," Casselle called as Lily pulled her away from the two marauders.

Lily laughed and linked her arm through Casselle's leading her out of the compartment and towards the front of the train.

Lily led the way back to the compartment she was sharing with their dorm mate Emma Thompson. Once the three were seated Lily and Emma filled Casselle in on their holiday, which they had spent together. "Oh I wish you could have come with us Cass, Paris was beautiful!"

Casselle smiled tightly back at her friends, "Yeah it's really too bad my grandma was ill," She lied gazing out the window. The truth was her father simply wouldn't allow his daughter to leave the house. She was lucky to be permitted to return to Hogwarts.

"What was it she had?" Emma asked curiously bringing Casselle out of her thoughts.

"Oh…erm..well she had…pneumonia, yeah she was really sick it's amazing she pulled through…" Casselle's voice trailed off as the guilt washed through her. Lily and Emma were her best friends and she had started to tell them about her home life more than once but the words never seemed to come.

Casselle quickly steered the conversation back to more neutral territory," Soo James is looking rather dashing this year," She teased her face breaking into a good natured grin as she waggled her eyebrows at Lily.

Lily snorted, "Yeah I think the hair really suited him."

They broke into laughter the image of James with hot pink hair and girl's underwear flashing through their minds as they attempted to explain the incident to Emma through their laughter.

"Oh I hope he isn't able to reverse it in time for the feast!" Lily exclaimed her eyes shining at the thought.

Casselle giggled, "Now that would be a sight, though I do wish it had been Black instead."

Lily smiled at her friend, "In any case we better get dressed, we should be arriving soon I suspect."

The girls dressed in companionable silence and no sooner were they done then the train screeched to a halt.

They climbed into a horseless carriage as they found Mary Pike, a fellow fourth year in Ravenclaw who they'd always been friendly with and rode the short distance listening to Mary's summer and Casselle recalling how James ended up with Pink hair and hooker heels.

"Have you seen him? I hope he gets stuck with that hair." Lily said hopefully.

"No I didn't see any of those marauders," Mary said replied, "Though I was hoping to catch a sight of Sirius, I've heard the summer has been most agreeable for him."

Casselle pretended to gag at Mary's words earning a peel of laughter from the other girls. "Honestly Mary you could do much better than a troll like Black."

Mary shrugged, "Even you have to admit he's handsome."

"I would rather die," Casselle muttered as the carriage slowed to a halt.

As they shuffled into the Great Hall Casselle dared a glance at the Slytherin table, her heart beat wildly as she made eye contact with her brother Nathaniel. He sneered at her before turning back to his friends.

She followed her friends to an open area at the Gryffindor table and sat down waiting for the sorting to begin.

"Oi Casselle!" James called sitting across from her. "I was not happy about that hex. It took Remus a full fifteen minutes to get it back to normal," He said pulling his hand through his back to normal black hair messing it up.

"Well maybe you should stay out of the way," Casselle replied in annoyance. "It would have looked perfect on Black."

"I was preventing you two from killing each other before school even began."

"Well I don't need protecting so next time stay out of it."

"Like she could have done any serious damage anyway," Sirius mumbled.

"Oh really? Well why don't we test that theory." Casselle said pulling out her wand.

"Cass!" Lily exclaimed. "Not here, you'll get caught for sure. Set a better example for the first years."

"Yeah Casselle wouldn't want to set a bad example," Sirius mimicked shooting her one of his annoying smirks.

Her eyes narrowed at Sirius, and after a quick glance at the staff table she muttered a spell causing Sirius's pumpkin juice to explode in his face.

"Bloody hell Dawson!" He yelled attempting to dry his face with a napkin.

Casselle smiled at him sweetly, "I'm sure I have no idea what your blubbering about Black. Maybe you should just be more careful with your cup."

Sirius glared at her and she met his eye unflinchingly. She had stared down scarier people than him.

Sirius opened his mouth, most likely to utter a scathing remark, but was interrupted by Dumbledore who began addressing the student body.

"Welcome, welcome everyone. I trust that your stomachs are full and you're ready for a good night's sleep. I simply have a few announcements…"

Casselle tuned out her eyes once again returning to her twin brother. He appeared not to be listening either. Instead he was whispering with a dark haired girl who from a distance resembled Sirius. Bellatrix Black, however, made even Sirius look like a sweet little puppy.

She sneered disgusted that her brother could sink so low, conversing with trash like Bella. Though she supposed she shouldn't be too surprised, Nate had always been attracted to powerful people.

As if sensing her gaze her brother's dark eyes met her bright blue ones. There was no warmth in his expression. He seemed simply indifferent.

Casselle looked away feeling sick even at Hogwarts she could never truly escape her family not with Nate here.

"Casselle…hello Cass. Cass!"

Casselle's eyes snapped up, "Sorry Lily what did you say?"

"The feast had been over for five minutes. Sometimes you seem like you live in your own little world! Now come on!" Lily practically pushed Casselle out of the great hall and up to the fat lady.

"Ah bloody hell, do you know the password?" Lily asked hopefully turning to Casselle and Emma.

Casselle groaned. It was the first day and they were already locked out.

A figure sprinted at the girls stopping in front of them panting.

"It's - It's…. Balderdash," James managed looking sweaty but pleased with himself.

Casselle smiled picturing James's thought process. Show up with the password and save the day becoming Lily's knight in shining armor.

Lily however proceeded into the common room ignoring James completely. James in turn looked crestfallen his shoulders slumping as Lily ignored him.

Casselle laughed kissing James teasingly on the cheek, "My hero!"

James turned his face brightening as he grinned at her. "Well a kiss is a kiss, I guess even if you're not Evans." he ruffled her hair in that annoying older brother way and followed Evan's through the portrait hole.

Casselle went with Lily and Emma up to their dormitory and headed straight to her bed and pulled her hangings closed. She breathed a sigh of relief as she finally felt home where she was safe. No one could hurt her here. She closed her eyes and for the first time in three months slept without fear.

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