Alright. This right here started out as my last-ditch attempt to run screaming from the Mary Sues that kept finding their way into my writing, and gradually the plot took on a life of its own. Now, it's a new story. A love story. A war story. A story about the Marauders, and especially about Sirius Black and the girl that thwarted his best-laid plans.

It's cheesy, it's fluffy, it's funny and dramatic. And it's gonna be damn good, so how's about some reviews!

A

Chapter 1

Yellow light from the garage spilled onto the driveway, struggling against the night to illuminate the approaching dusk. Soft, low notes came tumbling out with the light, a muted jazz tune plucked out on an electric bass and accompanied by a husky hum. Lily Evans walked slowly up the sidewalk in front of the nondescript suburban house so much like her own, being very careful not to scuff her sneakers on the sidewalk and tip off the musician- she knew that Rani would be in a strange mood, if she had resorted to playing jazz. When driving guitar or raucous drums came out of the garage, or a bass sound so powerful the metal door vibrated, Lily knew it was a good day. If Ra had her earphones on, or worse, the acoustic guitar out, she knew enough to take it as a bad sign.

Lily tiptoed lightly up the driveway to the garage, bringing in view as she did so the silhouettes of a slightly beat up Mustang, a halfway dismantled drum set, a foosball table, a rusty refrigerator, and one of her best friends in the world.

Rani Callida Shacklebolt stood in the space left open by the parked Mustang, her tall, lean frame resting all its weight easily on one foot as she bent her head over a bright purple bass guitar, long fingers sliding smoothly over the strings. Her long dark hair was dreaded and braided randomly, and parts of it fell into her face despite being pulled into a loose ponytail, the wild mess hiding her look of concentration. Lily paused on the threshold of the garage, so far unnoticed because of the huge headphones clamped over Rani's ears, and then cleared her throat very loudly.

Rani didn't look up.

Lily repeated the action, then knocked sharply on the side of the garage door.

Nothing.

Lily heaved a sigh, rolled her eyes, then marched into the garage and tapped her friend hard on the shoulder. Rani jumped about a mile, the wandering notes of the bass giving a pained squeal and then falling silent as she ripped off her headphones and stared at Lily, looking indignant.

"LILY! Bloody hell, were you trying to give your best mate a heart attack?" she demanded, glaring at her with large blue-black eyes. Lily couldn't repress a giggle, tossing her red hair back and grinning evilly.

"You called me Lily," she pointed out gleefully. "You haven't done that since about fourth year."

"Yes, well, that gives you proof just how much you scared the crap out of me just then, Evans," Rani retorted, wrinkling her nose at her friend. "How long were you standing there, anyway?" she added suspiciously. Lily, choosing to ignore the question in case she was feeling touchy, was provided with the perfect change of subject as she studied Rani's high-cheek-boned face and long, straight nose.

"Is that a stud in your left nostril, Rani?"

"Well, it's not just a very sparkly bogey, Evans." Lily gave a snort and surveyed the tiny sapphire nose ring closer.

"Your parents actually let you get it?" she demanded in disbelief.

"No," Rani answered, smirking. "But they're letting me keep it, mostly because I don't let my mum get close enough to snatch it out. Now if you're done looking up my nostrils, maybe you want to tell me why you're here?" Lily grinned at her, then sat down on the large amp near the drum set.

"You all packed?" she asked.

"Guess so," Rani said evasively, unplugging her guitar and starting to put it back in its case. Lily took no notice of her unenthusiastic tone and bounced her heels happily against the floor.

"I can't wait to get back. Petunia's driving me up the wall, and Severus is becoming more and more of a little slimeball. If it wasn't for you, I'd be going starkers here."

"Glad I could help," Rani commented, taking a seat on the hood of her rusty green Mustang after leaning her bass up against it. Lily stopped bouncing her heels and stared at her friend, exasperated.

"Oh come on! You can't tell me you aren't the least bit looking forward to going back to Hogwarts?" Rani surveyed Lily with the flat, black, penetrating expression that she was so good at, with no emotion besides slight haughtiness in her face. Lily raised an eyebrow at her in return. "Well?"

"Lily, you know I hate school. I barely scrape by in every subject but Potions. Well, and Care of Magical Creatures, but that doesn't count. I'm horrible at magic. Kingsley got all the talent- he's better than me, and he's only going to be a fifth-year." Rani kicked her tires angrily with one scuffed Converse. "And I love all my friends, don't get me wrong, but we've been going to school together for six whole years, going on seven. I'm tired of Hogwarts." Lily rolled her eyes impatiently.

"Rani, would you honestly know what to do with yourself if you didn't go to Hogwarts? What's interesting in the Muggle world, really? What would you do?" Rani gave a little shrug, but her eyes had hardened.

"Play music- everything but my acoustic and drums don't do crap around Hogwarts. Travel- how about finally getting this Mustang to run? Find a club to DJ for. Be a tech for some band on tour. I already hang out with the university crowd around here; maybe I'd take some classes with them. I dunno, I could do tons of stuff in the Muggle world better than I could in the Wizarding one."

"Alright, fair enough, but think of me, Ra! What will I do without you? I'll be defenseless!"

"Against what? Snape? Potter? I'm not so sure you need a defense," she sniggered. Lily blanched and her bright green eyes narrowed.

"You take that back!"

"Shan't." Lily glared for a moment, then said pointedly:

"Well, maybe that'll be a reason for you to come back, besides the fact that you have to- I'm sure Potter is looking forward to seeing-"

"Oh shut it, Evans. Potter and I haven't done anything more than pass frog spawn to each other during Potions since fourth year, and you know it. Besides, it's not me he's after." Lily huffed and stood up.

"Well fine then, if you're going to be that way, you can sit by yourself on the train tomorrow!" Rani smiled and let her get beyond the garage door before she said:

"Well, I was going to suggest going in and watching Sleeping Beauty like we have every night before school starts since we were six, but I guess I'll just go to bed instead." Lily paused and turned slowly.

"Will there be popcorn involved?"

"Likely."

"Do you have a stash of Chocolate Frogs?"

"You can thank my little brother for that." Lily narrowed her eyes once more, then turned and flounced back inside.

"Okay then, I can stay out until midnight," she declared, opening the door to the house without any hesitation and walking straight in. Smiling slightly, Rani slid off the hood and followed her, closing the garage door behind them.