Harry sat silently on a couch in the common room, thinking of Desiree. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She made him feel a way no other girl had ever made him feel. The mischievous glint in her eyes, her smile…everything added up to make a completely unique, gorgeous person. He found her intriguing, and could talk to her easily for hours on end. Harry could confide in Desiree more than any other girl he had met, other than Hermione. And today, Desiree would be accompanying Harry to Hogsmeade.
Harry was broken out of his reverie by a tinkling laugh coming from the girls' stairs. Recognizing the sound, he jumped up and turned towards the girl he couldn't stop thinking about. She wore a red and gray tunic over gray leggings with red ballet flats. Her honey waves were done in golden curls, and her eyes stood out in her glowing golden skin. She wrinkled her nose playfully at him, hugging him tightly. Harry's hand lingered lightly on her small waist, pulling away a little late. Had he made some major mishap? He felt himself break out in a cold sweat when Desiree turned from him, walking towards the portrait.
Desiree turned around at the portal, looking at him strangely. "You coming or what?"
With a small intake of breath, Harry walked purposefully towards the girl who was waiting for him.
The pair walked towards Hogsmeade together. Every once in a while their hands would touch slightly, and they would look at each other, then turn away, a little red.
Desiree turned to him, looking a little apprehensive. "So, where are we going to go?"
"I dunno, where do you propose?"
"I'd really love to show you my mom's shop, if you're interested."
"I am very interested." And Harry was. He had heard about the shop from Desiree, but had not had a chance to see it yet. Apparently, it offered tons of Muggle merchandise such as clothes, music, and just random things that were cool.
"Great, it's over this way."
Desiree and Harry wound through the crowds of students, passing all the old Hogsmeade haunts. Finally they arrived in front of a small store. Though miniscule in stature, the store stood out. The sign was just a big red word: Clutter. All in caps, it went all across the front, which was otherwise just a window. The door was revolving, and Harry and Desiree walked through it. They found themselves in a different world. The tiny bit of wall that could be seen was black and white striped, but most of it was just covered in everything. There were signs with huge middle fingers, street signs that had marks from being torn off of poles, Broadway posters for Rent, Wicked, Tick Tick Boom, albums, CDs, DVDs, and tons of clothes that advertised pubs, bands, shows, or just had words on them.
Harry walked over to the posters and was examining them when he realized Desiree wasn't with him. He heard her voice from the storeroom. She wasn't laughing.
Walking towards the back of the store, Harry noticed that the storeroom's door was ajar. He peered in, and saw that Desiree was yelling at a woman who couldn't have been older than thirty. The lady was, frankly, a mess. Her hair was mussed, her clothes rumpled, her lipstick smudged. Behind her, in the shadows, Harry saw the faint silhouette of a man.
"This is so wrong, Mom! Anyone could come in here and find you guys. You are more of a child than me! Can't you act your age for once?" yelled Desiree, angry and distressed.
Her mom, who looked honestly sorry, apologized earnestly to her daughter many times. While she did so, Harry noticed the man who had been with her slipping quietly out of the store. As he pushed open the door, he turned back for a moment, making eye contact with Harry accidentally. Harry gasped, shocked.
The man was Sirius.