Grimmy: Tiz another challenge fic! This one just so happens to be for the Valentine's Day Happens Year-Round challenge by mew-tsubaki. While this was originally intended to be a oneshot I am seriously considering doing a second chapter about what happens the next day. Tell me your opinions :). And remember, pancakes can't own best selling books!
Wavy, soft, dark brown hair that girls just loved to pull and wish was theirs. Stormy grey eyes trained to completely wipe away all emotion. And that mouth; expert in breaking people, making people, and pleasing ladies of all kinds. Those were the first things to be noticed about a teenage Sirius Black and depending on the person, you could end up noticing a lot more than you should.
That was just in person, however.
Few people knew, I mean actually knew, about the personality behind the face. Oh, sure we had all heard the rumors. A womanizing blood traitor from the notorious Black family was bound to draw attention. Especially since he was the first Black to be sorted in Gryffindor. But that much was obvious.
Everything else we saw was exactly what he wanted us to see. From his obnoxious pranks to his bawdy flirting habits. He'd even perfectly mastered the smile to the point that no one could tell it was fake. He was calm, cool, and collected all the time. I think that's why the teachers favored him and didn't toss him in detention for the rest of his life. The phrase smooth talker barely began to cover how good he was with words. He could talk his way out of just about anything, or into anything for that matter. It came in handy since he found himself in more than his fair share of predicaments.
He was so brave and didn't take shit from anybody. Not his parents, not his peers, or his teachers. He would put his life in illogically reckless situations, purposely prodding offspring of dark families. I imagine he's a great dueler since he isn't dead yet. A social butterfly. His previously mentioned smooth talking had landed him the spot of one of the more popular students. He was probably the most well known in his group of friends, the ones who really knew him.
Up until a few hours go I was one of the people who'd barely known the real him too. We hadn't talked much before, aside from the occasional "Hello" or "Do you have an extra quill?". I don't really know why he'd chose to come to me when he had plenty of other dorms he could have visited for support.
I wasn't exceptionally beautiful, especially since it was nearing midnight and I was dead tired. Slightly curly, almost black hair pulled back into a frizzy ponytail at the nape of my neck. Large and black glasses hanging off the bridge of my nose and giving my chocolate coloured eyes an owlish appearance. There were bags under my eyes and in short I looked like one of those crazy librarians.
Nor were we on good enough terms to be holding such deep conversations. As I'd said before, we had only talked maybe three times prior to the experience. But he'd stumbled into the common room towards me in all his drunken glory before flopping down on the floor and resting his head in my lap. I imagine he must be accustomed to awkward seating because the soft chair I sat in wasn't very low to the floor.
"Er, Black? Are you alright?" I inquired softly, extremely confused as to why he was laying on me on the first place. The common room was completely empty and he could have his pick of the sofas so why use me?
"Ya know what Luckett," he said, his words slurring a bit. He turned so the back of his head was on my knees and his back against my legs. I felt the sudden urge to curl them up against me. "Love is friendship set on fire."
I blinked and scratched the side of my head. "Pardon?"
He sighed and let out a little puff of air. If it weren't for the fact that we were so close to the fire I'm sure it would have made one of those swirly clouds. I'd always loved seeing those. "You knew Ashley Tate right?"
I nodded slowly, not sure what he was getting at but willing to play along for a little while longer. I'd known Ashley before I even came to Hogwarts. She used to live a few blocks down from me. Unfortunately she had adapted the habit of being a bitch to me upon sight. He twisted again so that he was nuzzling one of my legs. Uncomfortable! "I think I may have loved her at some point." I resisted the urge to lift an eyebrow even if he couldn't see it. I'd never pictured him as a one woman man. "We were friends and I think I loved her."
"Uhm," I started but I didn't really know how to finish my sentence.
He turned around so abruptly that I jumped a little; he was suddenly nose to nose with me. The scent of alcohol, damp forests, and something that could only be described as manly invaded my nostrils so suddenly that my eyes began to water. "I think..." His grey eyes were wide with fright and I couldn't help but to want to give him a big hug. He reminded me so much of how my kid brother used to be that it wasn't even funny. "I think I told her too," he whispered.
"Well what did she say?" I asked although if his current state was any clue it wasn't good.
He huffed and slid back to his previous position, back against the legs, head on my knees. "That tosser claims I'm not mature enough for a proper relationship. A bloody good fuck is all I'm needed for," he scoffed.
He sighed sadly and I slid down onto the floor behind him, forcing my arms under his and around his chest while I rested my chin on his shoulder. "Tosser she is indeed," I muttered, pondering on just why he couldn't use his charm to ensnare her like he did everyone else. Even now, even though I knew just what he was doing, I couldn't help but to feel bad for the guy. It wasn't an intentional thing and as cliché as I knew it sounded there was just something that was absolutely charming about him. Like, like puppies! You just can't resist.
Sirius sniffed and turned to me. "You think so?"
I bit back my grin and nodded once again. It was simply too adorable that a near grown man could look so much like a little boy.
"You're such a good friend Ellie," he said before pulling me into a tight hug that had my ribcage aching a bit. I smiled as I hugged him back and even added a pat to his head for extra effect.
"I've never completely skipped the acquaintances stage but I suppose friend is fine with me," I laughed. One never could have too many friends even though I doubt he'd remember any of this in the morning. As mean as it was to say his breath stunk something fierce and I'm pretty sure that he'd drank more than the recommended share of firewhiskey.
He flashed me a brief smile and before I could return it, he'd kissed me. It could have just been accidental, as his head was swaying quite a bit but either way I'd surprised myself by kissing back. It had started innocent enough but had quickly progressed into territory that up until now I had only heard about from my friends. His tongue was in my mouth, swishing and swirling. Teasing and tasting. Practically egging me on to do something in response. I cautiously slid my tongue against his, almost jumping once again at some sound he'd made in the back of his throat. My cheeks began to feel heated and I felt rather dizzy. I don't think it had anything to do with the faint traces of liquor that dominated his mouth.
He pulled back and looked at me, head tilted and a little of his, it could have been mine, spit coating his lips. "So... Breakfast tomorrow then?"
"I... Yeah sure," I found myself saying, a small smile tugging at my lips.
He shifted before getting up and starting to leave the common room. "Ellie... Good night."
Even now as I sat alone in the darkness, I get the feeling that he wanted to say something more.
Grimmy: While it wasn't really romantic in the traditional sense I like to believe that I stuffed a bit of romance and something akin to fluff in there. And while this was a bit rushed I think it's safe to say that this is quite possibly the most fun I've ever had writing a fic. Well I hope you readers enjoyed. :) R&R appreciated.