Every year at Hogwarts seemed to get longer. 'They' always say the years are supposed to get shorter and fly by. But for Sirius, he couldn't wait to leave the institution and begin a life without authority hounding his steps.
Having spent his last summer with the Potter family, he was ready to see the world without the Black legacy to deal with. It was quite refreshing not having to hear his mother bitch and moan about his so-called 'wrenched waste of a life'. Or hear his father compare him to his brother at every opportune moment. Sirius had bummed a few weeks at James' house, and felt the comforts of what a family should be. But those few weeks were enough. It was all good and well to be cozy for a while, but bonding was not Sirius' thing. If he had his druthers he would have skipped his final year and gotten off the god-forsaken rock of an island.
Sighing, Sirius slumped against the window of the train. His imagination ran away from him as he pictured himself chained to the chair. Waking from his reverie, he looked around and remembered himself. A smile played at his lips. So be it if he was chained to the train, locked into fate, but albeit a long chain. He looked around at his company: James looking out the window of the compartment to catch a glimpse of Lily, Remus either deeply engrossed in his book or asleep- Sirius couldn't quite tell, and Peter…well Peter seemed to be deep in thought as well, but Sirius couldn't fathom what the little squirt could be contemplating.
Shaking off his trance, Sirius jumped up and walked out the door without a word to his pack. They had, however, seen the smile that Sirius had made infamous play on his features. Either he was up to no good, as was typically the case, or he was in hot pursuit of a fox, which was just as frequent as well. However, to the well-trained eye, the two smiles were broader than the gap in ol' Filch's brain. Which is so say, the two smiles varied. Now this smile, James noted, as Sirius charged out of the room, was a fox smile not a marauder smile. He was on the hunt, of to woo some girl.
James sighed. He and Sirius had had this conversation many times before. James could not understand why Sirius couldn't pick some girl-any girl- and settle down. Now, granted, he didn't have to marry her, that certainly wasn't in the rules. But a little less playboy would be nice, or, at least, easier to deal with. And Sirius, on the other hand, could not possibly understand why James would want to strap him self to one girl. Especially in their senior year! Sirius liked Lily, yeah she was sweet and nice (when a prank wasn't on the line and she was trying to thwart their rebellion), but there were a whole slew, multiple slews in fact, of girls out there, why settle on one? Especially, he would ask James, when they were way-back-when only in their 4th year? Maybe it was longer, Sirius had lost track over the years of when James had admitted to liking Lily, had stopped actually dating others, and when he had made a genuine effort to win her and not just to impress her. Pulling himself out of the memory, the many different conversations hashed and re-hashed, he smiled at the thought of Lily. She would not approve of him thinking of 'winning her'. 'I am not a prize to be won, James Potter' she would say fiercely and somehow cute. Like it was some schmaltzy cartoon romance or something. He rolled his eyes, both at Lily and Sirius chasing after some fun.
The Marauders did not meet up again until dinner that evening. Remus had set down his book and was talking to a sixth year girl on the importance of quail feathers in the elixir to heal a yearling H'yron. James had managed to catch Lily in a civilized conversation over the rising cost of text books in Florish & Blotts, but how it was all worth it and crucial to their education. Peter sat quietly next to James, discreetly eavesdropping on the two, hoping to pick up a tip or two from James. Sirius came sauntering in a few minutes before the ickle firsties wandered in wide-eyed and wet behind the ears behind Prof. McGonagall. Sirius down sat next to Remus, grinning the marauder grin this time around.
"Yess?" oozed James after Lily had gone back to talking with her friends. James absentmindedly fingered his Headboy badge with a small smile, the one usually preserved for Lily. "What havoc was wreaked?"
"Oh, but my little poppits," Sirius charmed them, "wouldn't that ruin the fun?"
Remus groaned and picked up his book, but didn't miss Sirius sticking his tongue out of him. The first years all milled up around the front of the tables. This years transfer students waited at the back of the hall, thankful for having skipped the boat ride across the lake. The stool and the hat were sitting out waiting for their spotlight.
As with every year previous, Professor McGonagall would unroll a list of names to be called and sorted. Sirius sighed with a big roll of his eyes. The marauders always hated this part of the show. Instead of listening they usually made funny faces at each other, eyed the fresh meat of the firsties, scoped out the girls, and other things to entertain themselves. Sirius muttered a charm under his breath and watched as James badge turned into Headgirl and Lily's turned into Headboy. It wasn't his best but it might take few days for them to notice. He snickered at his cleverness.
She went through the first years, same as with every year. She then called the transfer students up. Every year Hogwarts would get a fresh batch of exchange students for one year, while sending a few students off in their place. The program had only started a few years ago, but had gone off with out a hitch. The only requirements to come to Hogwarts via Exchange or transfer were the understanding of the importance of international wizarding (and/or witch) communication, and to posses a seriousness for having a good time and enjoying ones' self. Oh, and to be at least in your sixth year. Prof. McGonagall called the newbies up one by one, as was the only format.
"So when's the first moon of the semester?" Sirius murmured quietly, glancing sideways at Remus.
"Not for a few days, Padfoot. Anxious, eh?"
"You know me, just for some action."
The rest of the night went as usual. All the students sat down to eat. Dumbledore gave his usual spiels twinkling his eyes. No prank in sight, the prefects led their houses back up to their respective common rooms. James proudly mentioned, at least five times, that he would be stopping by Dumbledore's office with Lily for their head assignments. Sirius quietly sniggered at this, knowing Dumbledore would probably fix their badges.
Sirius mentally sighed at the mundane pattern the first night went each year. Remus read his books, eager to excel in his N.E.W.T.s. Peter, usually gravitating around James, was starting into the fire, waiting for his idol to reappear. Sirius knew his place, but accepted it gladly, somewhat anyway. He looked around the room, the latest fifth year all-too-eager prefect was talking to the newbies and firsties about the typicals in Gryffindor and what to expect form life at Hogwarts. Sirius found his current interest, and chatted her up.
They were all the same. Shy and giggly. But that suited Sirius. While he was capable of more, truth be told, he was a bit lazy. When it came to girls and school anyway. If he made a true effort he could be, would be, even more brilliant than he already was. But he didn't actually care. Remus could outscore him. Most of the time he usually did. And that was fine by Sirius. He liked a challenge. Girls were no challenge; they swooned over him without him having to even look at him. He knew it, he wasn't dumb. School was no challenge because he was gifted. But he relied on it, and didn't take an extra effort to study. But if he did, he would be more than likely be an incredible student. However, it was enough for him to be popular and pretty damn good without all that much effort.
So shy and giggly girls it would be for Sirius. He didn't have much choice anyway. Where was one to find a girl who could carry on a decent conversation, or not fall for a silly line, or a great smile? Sirius wasn't too concerned. She would show up some day. And more than likely, not at Hogwarts. Amazing women are out doing amazing things. So he would bide his time. And when that time did come, he would find amazing things to do as well. If life's clichés were true, than he would find her (i.e. come across her accidentally) someday. But who said he couldn't have some fun in the meantime?
Sirius never even thought about it much, which is to say never. He didn't think of a future with Ms. Right. He didn't need someone. He had his friends and that was enough. Oh yes, and his dear pranks. They were so much fun.
But, none of this was running through his head right now. He leaned over the back of Audrey's chair. He dropped his head down next to hers, tilting it, his hair falling to one side. He flirted quietly with her.
"Read any good books lately?" He bantered. "Hmm, Hypnotic Eyes? Let's see." Sirius gazed into her. She blushed at his teasing and interest in her.
"You're the one with hypnotic eyes, baby blue," She managed, blushing harder.
"Baby blue? I think they are darker than that, why don't you take a closer look." He gazed at her. Hook, line, and stinker he ribbed himself.
Sirius, being the playboy that he was, oozed charm. He talked with the young innocent for sometime. As if on cue, James walked in when Audrey was leaving for the night. Sirius wandered over to the marauder-claimed table to hear the 'Lily Scoop' as he tended to call it. Lily had walked in behind James and walked over to her friends, chit chatting with some of the newsies.
"So, tell us, Prongs. We know your dying to." Sirius beat him to the punch. James was an open book when it came to knowing what he wanted to talk about these days. "What cute sexy little thing did our Lily do tonight to get you going?"
James smiled at his friend. He knew him too well. Was he that obvious? It didn't matter. "Oh, just night patrolling, that's all, mates." James said giving them a wink.
"Late night with Lily? That was a nice score." Remus said nodding.
"Tonight?" Wormtail asked eagerly.
"Yes, tonight. The night before the first day. It would be the perfect time, ay?" Sirius dripped sarcasm. He hit Peter playfully, as if telling him not to take it so seriously. "When do you start?"
"Next Tuesday. They want the fresh meat a chance to get everything down before detention starts stalking them in the night." James grinned wickedly. "But, I'm sure I will be busy with other things."
The marauders all had a chuckle and moved on to other marauder-esque business. James dished more out about Lily, and the y all turned to look. She was getting up from a sofa with some girls that had to be new. They all headed up the stairs to their dormitories. A fresh challenge. The corners of his lips curled upwards.
::So how is it looking, all? Are you interested to see who our dear Siri will meet? Apparently she's gonna be different, eh? Well, let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions (Names, plot lines, etc.). Those are very helpful!! Thanks for reading! ::waves frantically::