Tocxy Flavor: Alright, so I've wanted to write this story for a couple of years now. What was stopping me you ask? Simple, I say. Laziness. I hate putting up work that I write when I'm bored. It always ends up reading like crap and ticking me off. That being said, I put a lot of research hours into this to TRY and make it as accurate as possible but Marauder's era canon is shaky at best and contradictory at worst. Also, it's not like there's a huge lack of Sirius/OC stories. I also want to try my hand at writing a bit more fluff than I usually do. I want there to be a clear relationship (hint, hint, there's going to be a clear relationship) instead of allusions of one, or waiting until the end for a miniscule bit of flirting. Oh, before I forget, thanks to my amazing bosom buddy Toshi for beta-ing for me and putting up with being a pawn in my disclaimers all of the time. Now then, since this is probably the longest author's note I've ever written let's hurry on to the disclaimer.
Toshi Disclaimer: Bosom buddy? Seriously? *clears throat* Tocxica claims no ownership of the JKR canon or any of the *checks script and sighs* groovy 70's pop culture references. Uh…I think 'groovy' was a 60's word.*dodges shoe* So abusive.
Chapter 1:
Not Even Left the Station
The year is nineteen seventy-seven. This is a year of the Queens Silver Jubilee, strikes from firefighters to morticians, Star Wars, punk music, the death of disco, and many unexplained murders. Well, unexplained to the muggle world. The wizarding world, however, knew that these terrifyingly brutal murders were the work of a new threat that called himself Voldemort. Yes, these were dark and troubling times for the wizarding community. Voldemort and his followers, Death Eaters, were on everyone's lips. He preached blood purity and the eradication of those he deemed lesser beings. The escalating situation in the wizarding world touched everyone in one way or another. Some had lost friends, and neighbors; some had even lost their families. Fear was now a way of life for muggle-borns and muggle sympathizers. None of this however kept Platform Nine and Three-Quarters of the King's Cross Station in London from being filled with the shouts and rabble of students eagerly waiting to be on their way to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Admittedly, there were not nearly as many students as in previous years, and there were the gaunt and haunted expressions worn by many. But, an atmosphere of hope and normality hung in the like the magically conjured smoke from the train's engine. There was something comforting in knowing that no matter what turbulence there was going on in the outside world, Hogwarts would always be there as a beacon of security for its students.
Seventh year Ravenclaw Aleena Feichin was shouldering her way down the cramped and crowded corridors of the Hogwarts express looking for friends or at least an empty compartment that she could snatch before she was squished into the walls. Near the center if the train, she paused at the open door of a compartment of mostly seventh year girls. They were milling around one of Aleena's roommates from Ravenclaw Tower. Astrid Bulstrode, lovely young woman with shoulder length straw colored hair and chocolate brown eyes, sat with her pretty face buried in her hands sobbing. Aleena grabed the upper arm of a Hufflepuff girl that was near the compartment door.
"Hey, what's wrong with Astrid?" The girl glanced down at the much shorter Ravenclaw before answering.
"Sirius Black," She whispered so as to not upset Aleena's roommate further. "you know how they've been going together since Valentine's of last term? Well, apparently he told her that he wanted to break things off on account of her gaining some weight over the summer holidays. I mean, yeah she packed on a couple, but that's no reason to-"
"Hang on a minute. That's it? A bloke breaks up with her and she's over there blubbering like somebody's been killed?" Aleena gave her roommate a disbelieving stare.
"Well yeah." The Hufflepuff continued, obviously annoyed at being interrupted. "You know how hard is to get over someone like Sirius Black." Sighing and shaking her head slightly, Aleena turned back to the other girl.
"Actually I don't."
The Hufflepuff gave a surprised sort of gasp and pulled Aleena close to her in a secretive manner. "You mean to say you've never gone with him? Lord, I thought he was making his way through the seventh year girls one after the other. Who knows, maybe you're next."
Sneering slightly Aleena turned and continued down the corridor looking for a less drama filled compartment to spend her ride to Hogwarts in, muttering to herself as she left. " Let's hope not."
"Hey, Feichin! Over here!"
Aleena's head jerked up as she was trying to untangle herself from a third year muggle-born's safety pinned leather jacket. Not three compartments down from where she was desperately trying to separate herself from the terrified young man was fellow Ravenclaw Bertram Aubrey. He was leaning out of the compartment door looking amused at her predicament and in obviously no hurry to help. All of a sudden she felt a hand grab onto her sleeve and pull her close to the young boy; the next second she and the third year were separated. As he rushed as fast as the crowded corridors would allow him. Aleena looked up into the handsome face of her savior, Sirius Black.
"Don't you think you should say thank you or something?" He arched a cocky eyebrow at her and smirked.
"Thanks." She was wondering where his friends were. Since first year the four boys, who called themselves the Marauder's, were never alone unless given separate detentions and sometimes not even then.
"I'm Siri-" He stopped when Aleena held up her hand.
"I know who you are. I also know that you just broke up with Astrid."
He glanced down and brushed a stray lock of dark auburn hair out of her face with a self-assured grin. "Good, then you wouldn't mind coming and sitting with my friends and I."
Letting out an exasperated huff, she pushed his hand away from her face. "Actually, I would. I have somewhere to be. Excuse me."
With that, Aleena pushed through the crowd as quickly as she could to get to the compartment that Bertram was now bent double and howling in the doorway of.
"Why am I friends with you?" Aleena grumbled as she shoved the blond haired young man into the compartment while he wiped at tears now springing from his eyes.
"Because, I have 'wit beyond measure' and I'm one of the only people that puts up with your constant rejection. Ooh, speaking of which, do you want to go ou-" He smirked because he knew what was coming when she held up her hand at him.
"No Bertram, I will not go out with you sometime." Bertram had been asking her out periodically ever since she had scored higher than him at Charms in fourth year.
"So, was it just me, or was Black hitting on you? Did he finally make his way through the other houses to Ravenclaw?"
Plopping down into a seat, Aleena retrieved her copy of Hairy Snout, Human Heart and opened it's well worn pages to her place. "I neither know, nor care." Bertram smiled while adjusting the dial on his wizarding radio.
"Right. Then, why are you blushing?" Aleena's hand shot up to her cheeks where she could still feel the warmth of the blush on them.
Suddenly, Bertram found the station and their compartment was filled with the somewhat scratchy voice of the radio host. "You're tuned in to WWN the Wizarding Wireless Network! Stay tuned here for the most reliable Ministry news and jammin' beats, broadcasted to you live from Hogsmeade village! Up next we have a new single by the Singing Sorceress herself, Celestina Warbeck." They had not even left the station and already Aleena knew that this was going to be a troubling year at Hogwarts.
End Flavor: Well, that's the first chapter lovies. I fought with myself over her name for the longest time. I think this version is just right at not being too obvious. Also, love points if you laughed at any of the little jokes I put in there. Tell me what you think by leaving a review.
