Disclaimer: I am nothing more than a poor Potterhead. I do not own ANYTHING that you recognize! JK Rowling is the queen if this universe, and without her, none of this would have existed!
She was used to the staring. All of her life, she had felt the eyes of strangers bore into her, shamelessly observing her as if she was an animal on exhibit at the zoo. Muggles saw her as a freak, with her long black wizarding robes and her large violet eyes. The wizarding community, especially her fellow students at Hogwarts, used to view her as an overweight nerd. So yes, Tess Ridson was used to being stared at. But as she entered Platform 9 3/4 to catch the Hogwarts Express for her 7th and final year of schooling, she was confronted by a different sort of staring.
She couldn't understand why Marlene McKinnon and her flock of gossiping girls were glaring at her as if she was a rival they were intent of dismembering. Why boys from 4th year and up were scrambling to catch a glimpse of her over the crowds of parents and piles of luggage. Or why her own friends, Lily Evans and Alice Prewett, were looking at her as if she was a stranger as she struggled to wade through the masses of people gathered on the platform. She didn't think her little summer makeover made that much of a difference!
After six years of being called "ten ton Tess" and being shunned by basically the entire school, Tess had finally decided to do something about it over the summer. Without telling Lily or Alice of her plans, she flew to the United States to visit her cousin, who was a dietician and makeup extraordinaire and had been begging Tess to allow her to make her over for years. After a good 2 months of intense dieting, many lessons on makeup application, and a completely new wardrobe, Tess had returned to her London home with a new look. She had shed all of the lumps of fat that made her look like a giant toad, and finally mastered how to tame her curly brown hair, which tended to have a mind of its own. She couldn't wait to see the expressions on the faces of her tormenters when they saw that she was now a fairly attractive woman. Especially that stupid but eternally handsome Sirius Black...
Lost in her own thoughts, Jess strolled along the platform towards her friends, not really paying attention to where she was walking or who she was near. That is why, when a muscular Gryffindor seventh year ran in front of her, she didn't have enough time to stop before crashing into his chest, causing both of them to tumble to the ground in a heap of luggage and limbs.
Opening her eyes, Tess observed that she was splayed on top of the unfortunate boy, who seemed to be made of pure muscle. Tess caught a glimpse of very toned abs where the boy's shirt had ridden up, and had a hard time not hyperventilating. Whoever this boy was, he sure was a hot one! Realizing that the guy probably didn't appreciate her just lying there in top of his chest, studying his body, Tess slowly rolled her body off of him, carefully untangling her legs from the wreckage she caused. She heard and saw from the corner of her eye that the tall boy was now climbing to his feet, brushing dirt off his khaki trousers. The boy stood up and turned toward Tess, bending down to offer her a hand up. "Here" the boy said in his deep voice, taking Tess's hand," Let's get you up before your pretty face is trampled by some overly eager first year." And with that, he pulled her up, his arm muscles rippling as she was lifted to her feet. Tess brushed herself off before raising her head to look into the stormy grey eyes of one Sirius Black.
"Why hello darling, you must be new here because with your hot body," Sirius's eyes roamed her frame, " I would've had you in a broom cupboard multiple times already."Sirius stated, flashing his signature blinding smirk.
Flattered and appalled at the same time, Tess could not believe what she had just heard. Sirius Black, one of her worst tormenters, the mastermind behind most of the pranks played on her, didn't recognize her and now appeared to be flirting! She couldn't help but smile, thinking about how Mr. "I'm so hot" Black would've reacted if she had told him a couple months ago that he would try to entice her into joining him in a closet for one of his famous snogging sessions.
Sirius, apparently mistaking her expression as a direct reaction to his attempt at flirting, leaned in to her ear and whispered, " What might a beauty like you be named?" With this statement, Tess couldn't hold in her laughter any longer, and let out a loud giggle as her eyes teared up from the humor in the situation. Offended, Sirius pulled back. "What's so funny?" he asked, turning to his friends, James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, who had joined him by that point. James and Peter looked as lost as Sirius was, but Remus had joined Tess's laughter, obviously recognizing who his friend was flirting with.
"Its just," Tess cackled, " I'm not new here. I've been here since year 1. Sirius, I'm Tess Ridson!"
Sirius's eyes widened and he, along with Peter and James, drew in a sharp gasp of disbelief. "No!" Sirius exclaimed, " It can't be. Tess Ridson looks like a beached whale. You," Sirius said, gesturing to The girl in front of him, "You are a goddess! It can't be." Sirius repeated, shaking his head with confusion.
"Well its true!" Tess retorted, furious at him for comparing her old self to a whale, " it's amazing what a little diet and makeup can do huh! Oh! And that offer for the session in a broom cupboard," Tess walked up to Sirius, batting her eyes, making it look like she wanted to snog him then and there, on the platform. Sirius, forgetting who she was, closed his eyes and leaned in for his prize before being brought back to the present by a sharp slap across the cheek.
" There's your answer!" Tess snapped before gathering her belongings and sauntering away from the stunned group of boys, intent on finally finding her two friends on the train. All of the Marauders followed her retreating form with their eyes, mouths open, eyes large, barely breathing, shocked, while Sirius Black rubbed his hand where Tess had just left a bright red, and extremely painful, handprint.
After a moment of silence, Remus remarked, " Well we better mark that one down in the Marauder record book. I believe that is the first time Padfoot has been turned down by a girl!"
"Shut up Moony," Sirius grumbled, picking up his trunk and carelessly throwing it onto the train.
"Hey!" Peter exclaimed, once the boys had all boarded the train and had sat down in their compartment, "Maybe this year will bring change!"
" Maybe Lily will date me." James said, staring off into the distance as he fantasized about his future with a certain red-headed Gryffindor.
The other three Marauders snorted. " Yah right!"
"Prongs, mate," Remus said, laying a hand on James's knee, " The day Lily says yes will be the day that Padfoot gives up his playboy way."
"NEVER!" shouted Sirius dramatically, jumping to his feet . " I'm sorry Prongs, but I intend staying the master of dark corners and cupboards until I'm an old fart!" Sirius finished by turning around and wrapping his arms around his back, making it look like he was snogging a girl. After realizing that none of his friends were paying attention to his antics, Sirius gave a exaggerated sigh and flopped back onto the seat, resting his head in Remus's lap, and his feet in Peter's.
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