“Back so soon?” James remarked grinning at her. She glanced over her shoulder at him

“Well I do live here” she pointed out “and I forgot my drink” she picked up the glass and refilled it, noticing the way in which Sirius was staring at her. She turned round and put the drink away and spoke looking directly at him “Yes? Do I have something on my face or something is that why you keep staring at me?” Sirius looked taken back for a second then smiled his most charming smile ignoring the growl coming from James’s direction

“I was just thinking how pretty you were becoming, you’re blossoming” Carys stared at him for a second seriously wondering whether the other boy had lost his mind then shrugged

“Erm thanks” she muttered. She turned round to see James standing by the door way, biting an apple and blocking her way out of the room

“Shove it James” she remarked, she really didn’t have time for this. She has homework to do and being in the same room as Remus and being under his gaze was beginning to make her very nervous indeed.

“Why don’t you stay for a while Carys? We wouldn’t mind would we guys?” Peter suddenly offered smiling kindly at her. His eyes moved around taking in the other boys’ reaction. Sirius smiled.

“Good idea Wormtail” he said “You can sit here Mini Prongs” he remarked pointing to the empty seat next to him with that smile again. Carys felt vaguely disturbed by it all.

“I can’t” she said trying to look regretful “I have so much work to do and…”

“Come on Rys, 5 minutes can’t hurt. You never talk or hang out with us anymore” James said. Sirius grabbed her arm and pulled her down even as she spoke

“That’s because we don’t socialise together and we prefer people not to know we’re related” she said, James opened his mouth to argue against that and instead closed it. Well it was true after all; they did ignore each other at Hogwarts except to occasionally smile at each other. She glanced round them and then sighed sounding annoyed “Fine but only till I finish my drink, I might as well save myself a journey after all” she glanced at Sirius and looked away at the smirk.

“So” Sirius began looking round his friends with a smile “How has life been treating you? Since you know we normally ignore you and therefore pretty much know nothing about you” he leaned close to her and smiled again, wincing slightly as James kicked him in the shin. Carys moved her chair away from Sirius

“So you don’t” she replied “And I kinda like it that way thanks” she glanced at him then looked away. She took a sip from her drink “And how has your life been? Burnt your flat down yet?”

“No not yet” he replied “So you’ve been up to stuff pretty much then, anything interesting, go on tell me” Peter sniggered and even James grinned at what was occurring. A fact that Carys noticed instantly. She glared at the pair of them wishing she hadn’t have stared. A glance at Remus showed him to be completely uninterested in what was going on. He was obviously well used to this kind of thing from his friends.

“You obviously want to know something in particular so what is it?” Sirius shrugged

“Don’t know got a boyfriend or something, someone you fancy who you shouldn’t do?” Carys felt her face flushed and cursed herself for it.

“I really don’t see how that’s any of your business Sirius” she snapped angrily at him. Sirius laughed

“Have I hit a sensitive subject Carys, do you fancy someone in particular, someone in this room perhaps?” Carys wanted to die or she wanted Sirius to die, she just couldn’t decide which. A look at her brother confirmed that yet again she was going to be alone in battle.

“Good point” James now said, seeing her little frustrated look “What is the big secret Rys, who do you fancy? Padfoot perhaps?” The look of disgust on Carys face was enough

“Sirius” she repeated “No thanks he really isn’t my type I don’t want to date a boy who’s biggest admirer is himself” Sirius stared at her in shock as the other three laughed

“She does have a bit of a point” Remus commented patting Sirius on the arm “you are slightly vain” James snorted

“Slightly is an understatement” Sirius glared at him before turning his gaze to Remus

“Moony you’re supposed to support me…” he began; Remus rolled his eyes and patted his arm again

“Of course I do Padfoot” he remarked winking at Carys as he did. Carys felt her face heat up again and she looked away feeling almost shy. Of course this didn’t pass James by who suddenly sat up straighter with a look of understanding that made Carys rise to her feet

“See you later” she muttered hurrying out the door and leaving the four boys alone. Peter laughed

“Never thought I’d live to see the day when a girl shoots you down Sirius” Sirius growled at the smaller boy, his pride feeling quite wounded

“Sorry mate I got it wrong, it all makes sense now.” James remarked “She probably would have fancied you if little Carys wasn’t already smitten with Remus over there” everyone looked shocked

“Me?” Remus said “You must be joking me, there’s no way she does she didn’t even look at me the whole time she was here”

“She didn’t need to, I forgot earlier that she mentioned your name after Sirius’s and that’s when she went red and when you just looked at her she looked ready to self combust she almost looked shy and I’ve never seen that before” Sirius looked surprised and looked Remus up and down

“What is with you recently?” he demanded “First Megan from our year is chasing you then that pretty girl Jenna and now Carys how are you bagging them?”

“Good looks, charm and intelligence” Remus replied promptly “Well what the bloody hell do I do now?” he demanded glancing at them all

“What do you want to do?” Peter replied nibbling on a chocolate frog. Remus shrugged looking confused. James looked surprised at him.

“Don’t do anything” he said sternly “Go out with that Jenna girl or something. Go up to her room now and tell her you know, tell her you’re flattered and then you know tell her to turn her attentions elsewhere”