Chapter 1: The Story Begins

Everything seemed still as the moonlight beamed through the paned glass windows into the fifth year Gryffindor girls' dormitory. All of the girls were asleep—aside from one Kimberly Potter. The slender brunette girl with intriguingly hazel eyes was wide awake huddled in an alcove wrapped in a blanket. She watched the stillness of the lake and the stars sparkling overhead. The scene was enchanting and mesmerizing. Kimberly tucked back a stray tendril of hair that had escaped her braid before she exhaled a breath she didn't even realize she was holding. She couldn't sleep—but it wasn't the fact that she couldn't sleep that bothered her. It was why she couldn't sleep that bothered her.

She was nervous. Nervous being a vast understatement really. In just a few days, she'd be playing in her first Quidditch match—against Slytherin no less, for the Quidditch Cup. She had finally made the Gryffindor Quidditch team…with this being the tail end of the season. Her parents were so proud. Although, the fact that James had made the team second year and was named captain this year was far more impressive than her finally making the team. Originally, Kimberly had only made the Reserve Squad as Seeker this year, but Peakes had been suspended from his position two weeks ago, citing atrocious grades and the need to study harder for his NEWTS—according to McGonagall.

But Kimberly highly suspected that his real reason was because he was passed up for the position of captain over James and he didn't like taking orders from a fifth year. So he found a way to weasel himself off the team. Selfish reasons, really. Kimberly quietly groaned. Not only did she have Peakes big shoes to fill but she also had to prove that she earned her spot and it wasn't her brother's blatant favoritism toward her, which she and most of the other Gryffindors were quite convinced of.

The sound of footsteps padding across the hardwood floor drew closer to the alcove. Kimberly turned to find Lily Evans and her atrocious looking bedhead headed her way. Kimberly quickly avoided eye contact before turning her head to look out the window once more. Lily sat beside the brunette and pulled part of the blanket over herself, snuggling a little closer to Kimberly. The brunette looked at the ginger and gave her a half-smile—but Kimberly knew that there was no way she was going to pull the wool over Lily's eyes in this situation. Lily yawned rather loudly which made Kimberly chuckle.

"This can't be healthy," Lily stated matter-of-factly. "This is the third night you've been up like this."

"Fourth, actually," Kimberly responded with a small smile.

Lily shook her head. "I should tell that toerag of a brother of yours about this nonsense he's putting you through."

"Aww—you'd actually be willing to do that? You do love me," Kimberly teased her friend.

But Lily rolled her eyes. "I said should. I didn't say that I actually would."

Kimberly chuckled. Lily Evans was without a doubt, her closest friend of the female persuasion. The only person Kimberly was closer to was James—but that was more of a twin thing than a choice. What entertained Kimberly though was how much Lily loathed James—while James was absolutely infatuated with Lily. While it entertained her, Kimberly didn't like getting in the middle of that situation. It wasn't a path she cared to repeat—after attempting to talk to Lily about James on her brother's behalf. Things obviously went poorly and Lily stopped talking with her for nearly two weeks. The girls had patched things up—but Kimberly then refused to stop doing anything on James' behalf as far as Lily Evans was concerned.

Lily tried her best to stay up with Kimberly, but the ginger soon fell asleep and was gently snoring. Kimberly chuckled as she helped her best friend back over to her bed. Lily muttered something about staying up with her, but Kimberly told her that she was going to use the lavatory quick before heading to bed herself. Lily bought the lie, which Kimberly was thankful for as she tip-toed through the room, careful not to awaken any of her roommates.

Kimberly slipped down the stairs and into the common room where a fire gently roared, but no one was inside to bother her. So, Kimberly snuggled up on the comfy couch and was almost asleep when she could hear breathing coming from behind her. She rolled her eyes and quickly reached behind her—knowing that it was probably her brother with his bloody Invisibility Cloak. She was surprised when her hand actually managed to take hold of something before she gave a firm tug. But what surprised her more was the fact that it wasn't her brother under the cloak. No, it was Sirius Black—her brother's best friend and her bitter enemy.

"Oi, Potter, what do you think you're doing?" Sirius Black scowled.

Kimberly looked at Sirius coldly. "I thought you were James. It is his cloak after all. What are you doing with it?" Kimberly hissed back. Lily's hatred for James rivaled Kimberly's hatred for Sirius Black. Back in first year they had a falling out—and Kimberly couldn't stand the boy her brother had chosen for his best friend, which had resulted in years of pain and misery.

Sirius shook his head. "That's none of your concern," he retorted. "None of your bloody concern."

If there was one thing Sirius Black knew how to do, it was rile Kimberly Potter. He made her blood boil and sometimes, he did it just for fun. That night was no exception. She should have learned by now to ignore him, but there was something inside her that couldn't just let it go. So, she shot back, "It bloody well is my concern! It's a family heirloom! A Potter family heirloom and I happen to be a Potter. If James isn't going to look out for its well-being then someone has to!"

Sirius arched an eyebrow at her. "And that someone would be you?"

"You catch on quick," Kimberly scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Now, why the bloody hell do you have it?"

He shook his head. "Bloody hell, Potter, Prongs knows that I have it. No need to get your knickers in a twist."

Kimberly shook her head. "Sure he does. Why don't I believe you? Oh that's right, because you're an arse. What are you doing with it, going off to snog some first year, I suppose?"

"Don't you wish you knew?" Sirius said smirking at her. He stood there for a moment towering over her before he responded with a shrug. "Not that it's any of your business what I do with my time, is it?"

"Arse." She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Are you jealous, Potter? It isn't very becoming. You fancy me, just admit it."

"Don't flatter yourself," Kimberly scoffed. "I'd much rather kiss a dementor, thank you very much."

Sirius shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sure that could be arranged."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "For you maybe. A sight I'd enjoy seeing."

Sirius shook his head in disbelief. "You're mental, you know that?"

"And you're an arse." She folded her arms across her chest.

"Sometimes I wonder how you can even be related to Prongs."

"You don't think I wonder the same thing about his friendship with you? Every. Damn. Day."

Sirius smirked at her. "You think of me every day, huh?"

She groaned in frustration. Why did he have to twist her words like that? She didn't mean it like that. Unable to think of a better comeback she hissed, "Oh, shut it, Black. Off to bed with you."

Sirius pointed to himself. "Me?" he questioned before pointing to Kimberly. "You're the one who was also out of bed."

"But I'm not the one who was sneaking out of Gryffindor Tower, was I?"

"Who said anything about sneaking out of the tower?"

"You just did."

"You frustrating…"

Neither of them noticed that they were no longer alone. "Mister Black, Miss Potter, I demand to know why you're both out of bed!" Professor McGonagall waltzed into the common room in her bathrobe.

Kimberly and Sirius both looked at each other and pointed. They instantaneously began word-vomiting reasons they were out of bed because of the other. McGonagall tried to listen to them for a moment, but the back and forth was too much for her to handle.

"Enough!" McGonagall shouted. "To bed, the both of you before I start handing out detentions!"

Kimberly and Sirius headed toward the staircase as McGonagall watched them like a hawk, but that didn't stop them from taking jabs at each other. "Now look what you've done, Black, you've gone and gotten McGonagall on our case," Kimberly hissed.

"Me? If you could have just left it bloody-well alone, we wouldn't be in this situation," Sirius hissed back.

Kimberly stomped the floor. "Oh, I hate you, Black!"

Sirius shook his head and scoffed, "Feeling's mutual, Potter."

"Well, as long as we have that settled, I'm going to bed."

Kimberly was about halfway up the stairs when she turned to see Sirius watching her coldly. He walked closer toward the stairs. She eyed him carefully, fairly certain of what he was about to do. He wouldn't dare…but she knew him better. Sirius purposely stomped on the first stair of the girls' staircase causing the stairs to turn into a slide and Kimberly to go tumbling down to the bottom, screaming all the way down. She fell straight into Sirius Black who stood there as rigid as a stone and staring down at her angrily.

"Now, it's settled," was all Sirius said before he pulled the Invisibility cloak back over himself and disappeared.

As Kimberly slowly attempted to get up, the Gryffindors were beginning to poke their heads out to see what the ruckus had been. Her screams had probably awakened them. With her face aflame, Kimberly marched back to the fifth year girls' room, on the newly reformed stairs, careful to avoid any whispers and glances her way. Instead she just focused on one thing: getting revenge on Sirius Black.

Author's Note: This is a reboot of my first ever HP story. This chapter is shorter than chapters normally would be. I'm just curious in the interest for this, so if you are lemme know by reviewing, following, favoriting...you know. Thanks for reading! :)