Hello all! Typical disclaimer, I only own Katie's character. The rest of the cast belongs to J.K. Rowling

I will be creating a playlist to accompany this story so there will be one to two songs per chapter as I continue to publish. Think of them as inspiration for the chapter. This story in general was somewhat inspired by the movie He's Just Not That Into You but with a more serious element, the Wizarding War, added in and of course all of J.K. Rowling's magic. Enjoy.

Track 1: The Times They Are A -Changin' by Bob Dylan

There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

CHAPTER ONE

September 1st, 1977 - The Times They Are A-Changin'

It was the first time in seven years that it wasn't raining when Katie Prewett got on the Hogwarts Express. Under normal circumstances, the sun would have been the perfect cherry on top of her last year at Hogwarts, the cheery send off she'd always wanted but never had. But some things, she reasoned, just weren't meant to be. And her mood today wanted rain rather than rays from the sun.

It wasn't that she wasn't excited for term to begin. It was simply that it was the first time she'd ever made the trip without a quick goodbye squeeze from her mother and an intolerably cheesy joke from her father. More than a year after their passing, the grief still sometimes felt like a raw, open wound. She had promised herself that she wouldn't mope, wouldn't feel sorry for herself. But it was harder to remember that as she watched her classmates laugh, embrace, and wave goodbye to their families with the confidence that they would be there when they returned.

And it wasn't like she was alone. Her cousin Molly had been cousin, sister, and mother the last year and she would always be grateful for that. Still, the whole getting on the train process was harder than she'd anticipated. What she needed was a quiet compartment with her best mate and her favorite copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Newt Scamander always had a way of soothing her soul.

Determined to do just that, Katie levitated her trunk and began walking backward down the train towards their typical compartment. It was early still, so there were only a few people on the train and she was just starting to wonder who she'd run into first when the compartment she was passing slapped open and two people toppled out and into her trunk, sending it crashing into the window and nearly onto her toes.

"What the bloody hell is wrong with you!?" Katie exploded as the pair untangled themselves with a lot of giggling. It quickly became apparent that the door and her trunk had been the innocent victims of an in-progress snog. She opened her mouth to rage some more when to her mortified surprise Eddie Bones, the dishy and delicious, looked up at her with a heart stopping grin.

"Sorry," he chuckled and used her trunk to haul himself back to his feet. "You'd think those doors would be sturdier."

"Well I told you not to push me up against the door," the girl that had fallen beneath him was rubbing her bum and looking up at him in annoyance. Katie's stomach dropped. It was Mary MacDonald, a fellow seventh year Gryffindor. Someone Katie knew all too well would share all the juicy details of her newest relationship to anyone who would listen including her fellow roommate who had had a crush on him since third year and was now staring at him awkwardly as he helped Mary to her feet.

"Well I wasn't really thinking too hard Mar," he replied playfully and they both laughed at the shared joke. He turned that smile on Katie again and she felt her stomach do a little flip. "Hope your trunk is okay."

"What?" she asked before her brain had fully processed the question. "My trunk?"

"Your trunk," Eddie repeated with a small frown and gestured at the silver edged trunk lying on it's side. "It hit the wall pretty hard. Hope we didn't do any damage."

"Oh right," Katie blurted out and felt her cheeks flame in embarrassment. "It's fine. I'm fine. You're fine, I mean, wait you're not fine. That is, I mean you are but I don't mean-"

"Merlin, Katie are you alright?" Blessedly interrupting her uncomfortable stammering, Katie's best mate Alice Nott stuck her head out of the compartment two doors down. "I heard the crash and thought something hit the train."

"Er, right. Well, hope everything's okay. See you around, Prewett," Eddie gave her a nod and followed Mary's insistent tugging on his arm back into the compartment.

Before the door slapped closed behind them she heard Mary hiss, "I swear she's mental."

Katie let out her breath in a huff and scowled at the door. Handled that one like a champ, Prewett, she thought grumpily and flicked her wand at her trunk in annoyance. In response her trunk jumped into the air and nearly ran her down as she stomped into the compartment where Alice was waiting. Thankfully, the only other people inside were their two closest friends and roommates, Lily Evans and Marlene McKinnon.

"What was that about?" Alice asked, noting the fading red in her friend's cheeks and the distinctly ominous clouds in her eyes. "Usually running into Eddie has a lovely effect on you."

"Yes well, not when he has his tongue down Mary MacDonald's throat," she grumbled and flipped open the top of her trunk in annoyance to find her book and let what she was sure was a truly disgruntled and battered cat out of her cage. Large yellow eyes, in a pitch black face regarded her in annoyance and she popped the door of the cage open with a sigh, "Sorry about the crash landing, Luna. Some toerag was too busy with his tongue down Mary's throat to watch what he was leaning on."

As was her custom, Luna seemed to understand and rubbed affectionately against her hand before waltzing importantly over to Lily and Marlene in greeting. After six years sharing the Gryffindor Tower with the inky, black cat, both girls automatically scratched her while they chatted.

"Frank said he'd heard Eddie Bones was dating again," Alice sympathized and snorted. "Bloke has the worst taste in witches."

"I don't think she even likes Bones," Marlene scoffed, catching the topic of conversation and rolling her eyes. "I heard her telling Lyssa just this morning before they got on the train that her mother always told her to marry rich and everyone knows the Bones' are swimming in nearly as much gold as the Potters or Malfoys. Isn't Eddie in for a nice surprise?"

Katie groaned, hugging her book to her chest and propping her chin on it, "I don't want to hear it. I'm officially swearing off Eddie Bones this year. Maybe even men altogether."

"Oh come off it," Lily laughed and gave Luna another scratch as she climbed in her lap to look out the window as the train started moving. "If James and I can get together, you and Eddie certainly have a chance. You've just got to convince the bloke."

"Right," Katie sighed. "Just like I've managed to convince every other one that's come along."

All three girls gave her a sympathetic look. It wasn't that she hadn't had her fair share of boyfriends in her years at Hogwarts, the time just never seemed right...or maybe it was just her that wasn't right. Either she was too clingy or too distant, too invested or not enough, once she'd even been told she was really pretty but too smart. No matter what she did it always seemed like she was trying to fit this mold that no one ended up wanting anyway. It was exhausting. The last boy, Charlie Vance, had seemed sweet and said all the right right things but when her parents had died he hadn't been able to cope with her fear, her sadness, and he'd backed out pretty quick. All in all, she couldn't say relationships were her strong suit.

"Anyway," Katie continued, wanting to change the subject. "Maybe I'm better off. A boy that pretty is bound to be an egomaniac, right?"

"Oh absolutely," Lily agreed and rolled her eyes thinking about James Potter and all the growing up he had done before she really saw who he could be. "Doesn't mean he can't change though."

Alice raised a single, unconvinced brow, "Generally speaking, those traits tend to run pretty deep. James is still an egomaniac despite some of his better qualities."

Knowing she was the only single one in the room, Katie stayed quiet and let her friends argue about who's boyfriend had the bigger ego. She didn't mind because it distracted them from feeling sorry for her. She certainly didn't feel sorry for herself. Especially after Charlie, she had decided that maybe boys were better left off the table until after graduation. She'd have plenty to keep her occupied in any case between her research with Professor Sprout and hands on work with Professor Kettleburn's more dangerous creatures this term. She definitely didn't need the distraction and especially not from a boy who was unlikely to stick around anyway.

"I couldn't believe it when Dumbledore wrote to us. Apparently this Order is actively taking students after graduation, those who want to join the war efforts," Katie caught the tail end of Lily's statement and looked up intrigued.

"The Order of the Phoenix?" Katie replied curiously. Her cousin Molly and her husband Arthur were active members but Molly had been adamant about keeping it a secret. Apparently times were getting a lot worse than anyone had imagined. "Why are they recruiting students?"

"Graduates," Lily corrected but frowned slightly. "I believe it will be in addition to and dependent on whatever positions we decide to take after graduation. Dumbledore asked that James and I only speak of it to people we trusted. I figured you three were my first choice. Most of us are bound for Auror Training and Katie your research and healing skills were top of the list. They don't have many capable healers right now."

"Wow," Marlene breathed. "Stepping onto the front lines. This isn't just news anymore."

"It's been very real for a while now the bloody Ministry's just been keeping it quiet," Katie said angrily and Marlene suddenly went pale when she realized what she'd said.

"Oh Katie, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean that your parents were just news," Katie could see Marlene get slightly teary eyed and felt bad for snapping at her. It wasn't their fault that her parents' murder was still a fresh, mostly unhealed scar. And it absolutely wasn't their fault that her parents had been hunted down like animals and slaughtered for being blood traitors. It was just difficult to begin healing when she constantly had to remind people that the war was real, that death was real.

"So what? Does Dumbledore want a commitment or something?" Alice asked sliding her arm through Katie's in a gesture that was supportive and comforting.

Lily nodded, "After Christmas hols. James suggested you ask Frank too, Alice."

"He'd agree," Alice said at once. "He's fairly itching to get out of school and fight. We'll both join."

The conversation continued towards other deaths and other attacks over the summer and so Katie tuned it out. Instead, she watched the green of Scotland's hills race by against a bright blue sky for a moment and then opened her battered copy of Fantastic Beasts to run a finger over the inscription inside the cover as she'd done so many times in the last year.

To our little animal lover. With love, Mum and Dad

Just under the inscription Newt Scamander himself had signed it.

It was strange to think that this time last year she'd had two parents, a home, a family. She, like everyone else, had believed that what some had started calling a war was just a small group of extremists that the Ministry would put down eventually. They'd been wrong and her parents had been two of the many that had paid the price. Yes, she thought. Who needed to worry about a stupid boy when they were preparing to fight a war?

Katie often thought that things didn't change overmuch at Hogwarts, year to year. By second year, people had mostly found their best mate or group of mates, they sat in the same places at their House table, studied with the same people, and sat together in class. That's why she was finding it extremely odd to have James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew squeezed into the small section of the table that she, Alice, Lily, and Marlene had always shared. James and Lily, it seemed, had gotten serious enough over the summer that even Sirius had resigned himself to accepting Lily as part of his group. Unfortunately this also meant they were going to hear an awful lot about Quidditch.

"James Potter, I've already told you I'm not coming out for the team again this year," Marlene insisted and shoved another forkful of potato into her mouth in annoyance.

James lifted a skeptical brow, "Marley. I'm not enjoying this joke anymore."

"Who's joking, then?" Marlene exclaimed and accidentally flung potato at Lily when she punctuated her words with her fork. "Sorry Lil. Aidan Belby is a bloody wanker and I won't play with him. I won't."

"He's the ruddy seeker!" James exclaimed. "It's not like you have to actually run drills with him. You don't even have to bloody speak to him. Please, I'm not a man who begs but I will get on my knees right here. I can't be Head Boy and Quidditch Captain without a Head Chaser. I'm not a magician."

"No, just a wizard," Sirius replied dryly and shared an amused look with Remus.

"Shut it," James growled and turned back to Marlene resigned. "Alright, woman. Name your price."

Marlene ate another forkful of potato, paused, and considered, "You do my Transfiguration homework for three weeks and I expect a house elf in my dormitory every single morning with hot chocolate."

"Done," James began but Marlene held up a finger and he groaned.

"And lastly," Marlene replied and couldn't help the grin. "You will not schedule practice on Saturdays before 10am. Are we clear?"

James made of a show of looking annoyed and drawing it out but finally huffed out a breath, "Fine. Done. Tryouts are tomorrow at 4 o'clock, I expect you to be there."

"As you wish," she replied sweetly and dug into her pumpkin pie.

"If you two are quite finished," Alice said lightly and looked knowingly at Katie. "We also need to discuss the planning of the start of term party since it's finally our turn this year. We've had some thoughts."

"Finally someone who's got their priorities straight," Sirius exclaimed and sent them both a devilish smile. "Do tell ladies."

"Cover your ears, Lily," Katie grinned but Lily just rolled her eyes. The start of term party in the seventh year boy's dormitory was a tradition and one that most Prefects, Heads, and Professors turned a blind eye to. "Think Astronomy Tower."

Marlene snorted, "No one needs encouragement to snog."

"No, no," Alice insisted. "We want to charm the ceiling and the walls. Make it feel like you're surround by a starry night. It's a charm we've been doing for years. We'll have low lights, a cool breeze, hot music. It'll be ace and totally sexy."

"On to something there," Remus mused and wiggled his eyebrows at Sirius. "Make it a firewhiskey night? Sirius makes a mean Dragon Whiskey."

"What in Merlin's name is Dragon Whiskey?" Lily asked and looked as though she wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer.

"It's really something you've got to see," Sirius promised her with a smirk and suggestive wink. "I'll give you a demonstration later if you're lucky."

"I mean is it safe? I really don't think-"

"Stop worrying your pretty little head," James soothed and ran a hand through her hair. "We won't let anyone get hurt. And speaking of being responsible, we have a meeting with McGonagall so let's reschedule this little chat. Saturday night. Common room. After Quidditch tryouts. Good for everyone?"

Everyone nodded their agreement and James and Lily left to go find McGonagall.

"They're good for each other," Alice sighed with a dreamy sort of look as they walked away. "It's like they both smooth out each other's rough spots."

Sirius snorted, "Rough spots? What a load of rubbish."

"It's romantic," Alice insisted. "They balance each other out. When was the last time you saw someone calm Lily down when she was on the verge of being a stick in the mud? That was seriously impressive."

Sirius didn't look convinced, "You shouldn't have to change who you are to be with someone."

"Padfoot," Remus replied softly and gave him a warning look. Sirius just shrugged and started stabbing his steak a little more aggressively.

Katie exchanged a speculating look with Alice and wondered. Maybe Sirius wasn't okay with the change in routine after all.

Sirius's dark mood stayed with him after dinner and up to the Tower, leaving him brooding in his four poster while he could all but feel Remus' disapproval from the next bed over. He didn't bloody care. His best mate was becoming a shadow of his former self and it seriously pissed him off.

"I thought you'd moved past all this," Remus said quietly. He glanced quickly at Peter who was already snoring lightly across the room. "I thought you were fine with Lily?"

"It's not bloody Lily," Sirius snapped and let out a breath through his nose when Remus only shook his head. "Alright, fine. Quit your whinging. It's partly about Lily but it's also about James and his need to be a goddamn knight in shining armor. It's nauseating."

"It's not like he shut us down tonight," Remus argued. "I think Alice is right. He's definitely rubbed off on her. She never would have let something like that slide a year ago."

"She's a fucking spoil sport," Sirius said flatly. "Nothing will change that. And I respect that about her. At least she's consistent. Prongs has changed Moony, admit it."

Remus sighed, "Well of course he has. You moved out this summer. Purebloods are being slaughtered. His parents are out in the middle of the bloody mess. Maybe he's finally got his head on straight."

"Or maybe he's just trying to impress Evans," Sirius retorted. "So damned worried about being everyone's pet. Her, Dumbledore, his father. Where's his self respect? I moved out this summer mostly because I couldn't stand him mooning over her. It's downright embarrassing."

"He's loved her since the day he met her," Remus replied. Simply, with belief. He wasn't sure how Sirius, of all people, couldn't see that. Couldn't understand that James had been heading towards Lily since their first train ride to Hogwarts. Just as Sirius believed it made James blind, Remus too could see how love for a person made you blind - even if it was the love of a brother.

Sirius glanced up, his fury quickly turning to guilt when he not only saw understanding on Remus' face, but pity. He didn't want anyone's pity for the things that had happened in his life and he knew he was being unnecessarily hard on James but he couldn't help it. James had been more like a brother to him, more family to him than anyone he was related to by blood and he felt like he was losing him.

He sighed, "You're right. But it still doesn't change the fact that he's a complete ponce these days."

Remus grinned, "No, it doesn't. But take satisfaction in the fact that he is also corrupting poor Lily quite a bit. Maybe you can finish the job with a few Dragon Whiskeys next weekend."

Sirius grinned at the thought, "You always know just how to cheer me up, mate. How do you feel about pudding in Prongs' bed, this evening? I can have a house elf here in ten minutes."

"Banana pudding would be the most effective, I think," Remus replied and was happy to see Sirius jump to his feet, his internal struggle over James forgotten for the moment.

My hope is to update weekly! See you real soon.

- A Sirius Obsession