The common room was quiet

The common room was quiet. Too quiet. Only five people were currently staying for the Christmas holidays in the Gryffindor tower. Remus sat in one of the armchairs next to the fireplace, reading a book on Goblin rebellion in the late 17th century. Sirius was in the opposite chair, trying to finish a very long piece of Potions homework that Professor Slughorn had set them. Peter was sitting at the table near the window. He had changed a lot recently, ever since the previous summer when his parents had taken him to see relatives in Albania. James and Lily were, as usual, nowhere to be seen.

Sirius slammed down the potions book he was leaning on to write.

"Screw this. Don't know why I'm even trying, the man bloody hates me. It's always 'Oh, Regulus has such potential for potions...' or 'I'm surprised you haven't inherited your Fathers natural talent for potion brewing...' Honestly, it's only because I'm the only Black not in his house..." It was true. Sirius had never had a knack for Potions; he was always more of a Transfiguration and Charms person. Whenever he needed Potions homework done, he would normally go to Lily. But since she and James had disappeared the past few evenings, Sirius was stuck.

"Look, do you want me to help you-" Remus stopped mid-sentence, for two giggling 6th years burst out of the portrait hole, fiery red hair and glasses askew.

"Siri! We need to find somewhere to hide this! Quick!" James shouted, half laughing. He was holding out his treasured invisibility cloak, old and tattered.

"We were...um...just hanging around that broom cupboard on the 4th floor, and Filch stumbled in on us! It was dark and we had the cloak on, but he took it off us! So we grabbed it back and ran before he could see it was us, but we need to hide the cloak!" Lily yelled, out of breath after her midnight wander.

"What about the Room of Requirement? Did you think about that?" Sirius asked, calmer than the rest of them. James shook his head. "Well why not?"

"Because..."
"We were being stupid..."
"Irresponsible."
"Won't happen again."
"We promise."

"Yep. You're just going to cope with us snogging on the sofa while you do your homework."
"James!"

"What? It's the truth!"

"Looks like we're going out for a little wander, boys." Sirius clapped his hands together. At that, Remus and Peter got up from their chairs and followed Sirius, James and Lily outside.

Five minutes later, they were in the Room of Requirement. Siri and Remus led the group, with James and Lily holding hands behind them and Peter lagging at the back.

"You know that Hufflepuff in our year, Jenny Mathers?" Sirius whispered excitedly to Remus. "Well, I asked her out today, before lunch. I'm taking her to Hogsmeade just after the holidays, cool huh?"

"Yeah, I guess so. But I thought you were going out with Helen from Ravenclaw?"
"Didn't I tell you? I dumped her ages ago. She got a bit boring."
"Oh. Is it really that impossible for you to be single?" Remus regretted the question as soon as he asked it. Sirius looked genuinely hurt.

"Maybe it's just fear of rejection. Maybe I just go for the easiest girls who want me because I don't want a relationship that isn't with the person I really want." He stared at Remus for a second. "Or maybe you're right; maybe I am just a skirt chasing git!" He said, his voice lightening up. He strolled along, looking down the many shelves and corners.

Suddenly Remus noticed something very strange. Lily had detached herself from James's arm, and had come to stand next to him instead. She gave him an almost knowing look, before changing to exasperation when she saw him looking very confused.

"Is it not that obvious?" She asked quietly so that only Remus could hear her.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, never mind..." She said in a tone that Remus would hear many times again, from two different people. She walked off back to James.

"Oi! Remy! Come look at me!" Sirius's voice came from behind a bookcase. He was wearing an ugly looking wig, a diamond necklace and a tarnished tiara.

"Oh my god...Sirius Black, what have you done?!" Yelled Remus.

"I know! I look plain gorgeous, don't I?" Sirius said, running his fingers through his wig. "Ugh. Mangy old thing..."

Behind them, Peter turned pale as he saw Sirius and the outfit.

"Sirius, put them down right now!"

"Oh, come on Pete! Just having a little bit of fun!"

"I'm being serious..."
"No mate, I'm Sirius, this here is Remus and over there is..."

"Just do as he says, Siri..." Said Remus.

"Why?"
"Because there is a load of magical energy around here. I can feel it."
"Oh yeah, Remus. The tiara is cursed!" Sirius called out sarcastically.

"Sirius, please! Just put the bloody stuff down!" He screamed.

"Fine. No need to wet your knickers." Sirius took off the wig, the necklace and the tiara. Remus watched Peter's eyes follow the tiara anxiously.

"Pete, what's up?" Remus asked. Before Peter could reply, James shouted from somewhere to the left of the boys.

"Whoa...come and look at this..."

He was standing in front of a huge piece of blue silk. It looked almost like smoke, or maybe water. Lily put out her hand to touch it.

"Lily, don't..." Said Remus. He had read about these veils that instantly kill the person who walks through it, and he didn't want his friends to have to endure what it had said in the book.

"Remus, its fine." Lily said as she touched the silk. Eventually they were all gathered around the silk, touching it. Apart from Remus.

"Remy, it feels really strange..."
"I know, you've all said."
"No, not like that...like, super magical." Said Sirius with a frown on his face. Remus reached out and got a handful of cloth. Suddenly, all five of the teenagers felt the same pull around their navel, like a hook.

"Siri, what's happening..."

Suddenly they weren't at Hogwarts anymore. They were in a room full of cushions, silk and candles. On a stool near to them was an oriental tea set, laid out and still warm. The room was full of reds, pinks and oranges.

"Wow..." Lily muttered. "It's gorgeous. Can we have a room like this in our house?" She asked James eagerly.

"Lily, this isn't a great time to be pissing about..."

Suddenly, they heard the voices.

--

So, there was Chapter 1! Hope you enjoyed it, there's more to come soon!
This is just my little summer project, so... -

Please review! thanks! x