Chapter three! Xander's wedding!

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July 14th, 1977

The ceremony was short and sweet, and no one sang opera or read any trite passages from Shakespeare so Hadley considered it quite a success. She walked back up the aisle on Xander's mate Carl Partridge's arm, catching a glimpse of Sirius sitting with James in the back pew. His long black hair was slicked back from his face and he wore impeccably tailored dress robes that had to be made of cashmere. Possibly a remnant of his life at the Blacks, she thought to herself. The sleeves weren't characteristically pushed up to his elbows, which she thought was strange and provided a stark contrast to his habitually casual style. No, tonight Sirius Black was entirely formal. And the look suited him, as if he were born for debutante balls and fancy dinner parties.

He winked at her as she passed and she couldn't help but blush before she reminded herself to cut it out. While he was known for mindlessly shagging girls, he would also snog just about anyone, his mates included. He also wasn't known for keeping his partners around for too long.

The bridal party were spirited away to take pictures while the guests made their way to the reception hall in Bottombrook Manor. The Manor was a gigantic Georgian beauty, built in the late eighteenth century by Godric Hollow's founding family. Over the years, as the family grew and its members died or moved away they'd moved out of the Manor and donated it to the local municipality. The grounds had been turned into a public park that Hadley and James had played in as children; the Manor itself was kept up as a museum of Wizarding life in the eighteenth century and could be rented for weddings or other large gatherings.

Pictures lasted an hour on the Manor grounds, or long enough for Hadley to feel sure her cheeks would fall off from exhaustion, and then the wedding party made their way toward the Manor. The crowd was a little tipsy from the ongoing cocktail hour and hors d'oeuvres, and many of them started cheering when they saw the beaming bride and groom enter the room.

Hadley used this opportunity to slip away from Carl, who had been making clumsy passes at her all afternoon and driving her insane. He was one of her brother's best mates at school and kept commenting on how much she'd "grown up." It was rather creepy, so she was intent on talking to whomever else.

What she didn't count on was crashing into her cousin Eleanor and her date, Simon Heatherton. Ellie was wearing a pale yellow dress that matched her yellow hair and only succeeded in making her look paler than she already was. Hadley had always thought that Ellie's unfortunate looks were due to parts of her face either over or under developing. Her ears were much too large, but her nose was small and turned up at a sharp angle, but she had no semblance of a chin.

Simon, who resembled a damp, angry heron, looked as if he'd rather be anywhere else, but managed to make his ill-fitting suit look decent. She was utterly unprepared for encountering them, so she stood there gasping like a fish out of water.

"Hello Hadley." Eleanor led gently.

The sound of her cousin's voice pulled her back to reality and she smiled, "Hello Ellie. Simon, good to see you again! Did you enjoy the ceremony?"

"It was lovely, Xander looks so happy! Doesn't he look happy, Simon?"

"Of course." Simon said stiffly, looking anywhere but towards Hadley. The three stood in a rather awkward silence for a minute before Sirius sidled up next to Hadley, kissing her on the cheek convincingly.

"So sorry I'm late, love, I was waylaid by the bride's great aunt." He explained as he slipped an arm around her waist smoothly.

"That's alright, you're here now. This is my cousin Ellie, and her date Simon. Ellie, this is – "

"Sirius Black, I remember. So good to see you again." Ellie batted her faux eyelashes at Sirius as she offered him her hand, which he shook like a gentleman. Hadley saw Simon bristle.

"You as well, Ellie. Might I say, that is a lovely dress."

"Oh, thank you! Are you and little Hadley here dating?" she asked tactlessly. Hadley rolled her eyes and tried to think of a response.

"We are, actually. Going on what, three months now?" Sirius piped up.

"Oh Hadley, that's so wonderful for you! You know, she's always been a bit of an odd duck our Hadley, always off by herself doodling in her notebooks instead of socializing." Ellie turned to Sirius and mentioned thoughtlessly. Hadley tenses under his hand that now rested at the small of her back.

"I happen to quite like her doodles. She's very talented."

"Oh, we all know that! We've just worried about her future prospects. Not too many careers in art, you know."

"Well, Ellie, it's been lovely to see you again but I think we are being summoned by my parents." Hadley interjected before grabbing Sirius' wrist and pulling him toward the bar. She ordered two firewhiskeys and downed one of them before Sirius could reach for his.

"Whoa, slow down there!" he said, lifting the glass from her hand and leading her a few feet away from the bar. "You want to make a drunken arse of yourself tonight?"

"No, I just want to forget what just happened," She said, wiping her lips with the back of her hand angrily.

"Hey, who cares what she thinks? You look amazing tonight and you've got the most handsome date by far," He winked at her and held out his arm, which she gratefully took. The firewhiskey was hitting her fast, as she hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. He led her to the head table and kissed her hand before going to sit in his seat next to James and a very noticeable empty chair.

Dinner was delicious, and afterward the maid of honor and best man gave heartfelt speeches about the bride and groom. Hadley barely listened, her mind a bit swimmy from the firewhiskey and champagne she'd been served upon sitting down at the head table.

Instead, her eyes kept flickering back to James and the empty chair where one Lily Evans was supposed to be. Hadley caught James' eye, looked to the chair next to him, and then gave him a look that asked, 'What the hell?'

He simply shrugged in return and mouthed, "Later."

Had the lovely Miss Evans bailed on James at the last minute? He looked too happy for that. He was up to something, that much was clear. Hadley excused herself from the table once the speeches were over, giving her brother a reassuring squeeze as she passed.

Hadley bellied up to the bar once again and ordered some peppermint tea to help settle her stomach, which was gurgling in a most unflattering way. People got up and started milling about while the six-piece band set up on the far end of the room.

"Back for more, eh? Should I be concerned?" A voice asked from over her shoulder. Hadley turned and met the grizzled visage of her dearest uncle, Alastor Moody. She smiled widely and hugged him tightly. Not one for physical affection, he patted her back stiffly.

"Uncle Al! I wasn't sure you'd make it!" she said, pulling out of the hug mostly for his sake.

"You and I both know your mother would've had my hide if I hadn't shown up." He said good-naturedly, his blue eyes sparkling with mirth (and probably a bit too much alcohol).

"True, but didn't I read something about you taking on four of You-Know-Who's followers by yourself last week and putting them all in Azkaban?"

His face darkened and he grumbled, "Yes, you probably did read that…" He took another swig of the drink he was holding and he perked back up, "But that's nothing compared to my younger sister's wrath."

Hadley smiled kindly at her uncle and regretted bringing up his most recent act of heroism; she could see it upset him. Ever since Lord Voldemort had started gaining support he seemed to slip into bouts of melancholy much easier than he used to. She caught sight of Sirius heading over and waved him down excitedly; it was time to make good on her promise to introduce them.

"Uncle Al, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine!" She said as Sirius approached, "This is Sirius Black, Sirius, this is my Uncle Alastor Moody."

Sirius looked starstruck as he extended his hand. "The Alastor Moody? It's a real pleasure, Sir. I-I'm honored, really." Hadley bit back a laugh. She found the eloquent and oh-so-smooth Sirius Black stumbling over words was oddly satisfying.

"Black, eh? Hmph…nice to make your acquaintance, I suppose. Excuse me." Her uncle grumbled as he made an exit, ignoring Sirius' outstretched hand.

"Well, that could've gone better." Sirius sighed as he pulled his hand back.

"I'm sure it's nothing personal. His job is incredibly stressful…" she offered upon seeing Sirius's faraway look. She looked down at the tea in her hands uncomfortably, searching for something else to say to him.

"Yeah, I'm sure that's it." He dismissed, sticking his hands in his coat pockets and looking toward the dance floor. "Suppose we should give it a go?"

"Give what a go?" Hadley asked, looking up as he motioned to the dance floor with his eyes, wiggling his brow at her. She laughed, "I am nowhere near drunk enough yet."

"Then let's fix that, shall we?" His eyes flashed deviously and a smirk crossed his lips as he reached over the bar and grabbed a bottle, hiding it under his jacket and urging her out a side door into a garden.

They didn't slow down until they reached a bench on the farther, more secluded side of the garden that faced away from the Manor. When Sirius extracted the bottle from his suit jacket he didn't bother checking the label before he took a swig, nearly choking on the sharp juniper taste of gin.

"Bloody hell," he said between hacking coughs, which made Hadley laugh.

"Can't handle your gin, Black?" she asked, taking the bottle from his hand and sipping on it.

"I can when I'm expecting it! Didn't check the label is all."

"A likely story." She scoffed, nudging him with her elbow. The sun was just about to set, sending the rays of sunset through the trees. She could hear the band start playing a waltz and her thoughts meandered aimlessly over the events of the day. So much happiness, so much joy. So much love.

"Can I ask you a question, Black?"

"Yeah, sure." He said, sipping from the bottle after tossing his long ebony hair back.

"Have you ever been in love?" she asked bluntly.

He answered more quickly than she expected, "Loads of times."

"Really? With who?"

"You want the full list?" he raised his eyebrows at her, surprised that she was not catching on to his joke.

"No, I mean real love," she raised her fingers and made air quotes, "True love."

Sirius sighed and leaned back on his hands, placing the bottle between them.

"Once. But it ended badly and no, I don't want to talk about it." He was absolutely radiant in the twilight, and Hadley could feel the alcohol haze making desire rise within her. She had a brief thought to reach out and stroke his hair, but stopped herself.

"What…what did it feel like?" she asked, a little embarrassed by the question.

"It felt like…my blood was on fire and she was the flames. Every time I saw her, my heart would stop beating and speed up at the same time. I wanted to be as much of everything to her as she was to me but…she didn't feel the same way. Never did, as she so graciously told me just before she broke my heart," he took another swig from the bottle, "No, no, she didn't break my heart. She obliterated it…"

"I'm sorry, you don't have to say any more. I asked because I've been surrounded by the stuff all day and I was just curious…" she looked down at her hands and bit her bottom lip nervously to avoid his stormy grey gaze.

"What about you, Sinclair? Ever experienced the soul-crushing agony of being in love?"

"Nope."

"Really?"

"Really."

"What about that tosser you were seeing all last year? That Edgecombe bloke?"

"Leo, and I most certainly did not love him."

"But you shagged him?" The gin was beginning to loosen Sirius' tongue and he didn't care. He wanted to solve the case of Miss Hadley Sinclair and this was the most she'd ever opened up to him. Hell, he was pretty sure this was the longest conversation they'd ever had and he wasn't sick of it yet, which was promising.

"I don't see what business that is of yours." She could feel the telling blush creep into her cheeks and she turned her face away from him.

"You did, you saucy minx! You shagged him when you didn't love him!" Sirius pushed himself back upright and pointed at her accusingly.

She shoved his finger away defensively, "Oh and I suppose you loved every one of the girls you've shagged?"

"What do you mean every one?" He scooted closer to her.

"Oh please, Black, everyone knows you've shagged your way through half our class!" She retreated from his advance.

"Oh and I suppose every rumor about you is true?" He scooted closer again.

And again she backed away, not knowing how close she was to the edge of the stone bench, "So it's not true?"

"Well…not half the class. Thirty-five, forty percent, tops! And maybe the same of the class above and below."

She barked out a laugh, "Ha! Gotcha!" she reveled in her victory for a bit before continuing, "Wait a second, what rumors are there about me?"

"Well there was that embarrassing ordeal at the Valentine's Day party not two years ago…"

"I did not slip him love potion! Merlin, when will people let that go?" He took her momentary distraction to move even closer, "Why do you keep getting closer to me?" she demanded.

"Because you look incredible, and you smell amazing, and you're letting me." He leaned his face closer to hers and she leaned away from him.

"I'm not…" She couldn't help but notice how close he was, and the musky, woody smell of his cologne, and how lonely she'd felt over the last few weeks, and how much she wanted to kiss him…

"Oi! You two!" James yelled from up the path a ways, "Dancing's started! Get your asses back in here!"

Sirius groaned but pulled back, lifting himself to his feet and holding out his hand for Hadley to take.

"Are you drunk enough yet?" he asked, a smirk gracing his handsome features.

She grinned and took his hand, lifting herself to her feet. Apparently she was more intoxicated than she realized, because she stumbled a bit. If it weren't for Sirius' strong arms, she would've fallen flat on her face. Giggling wildly, she looked up at her date.

"I guess I am."

"Well then, let's get in there!" Sirius laughed, leading her back toward Bottombrook Manor.

The dancing would've been more fun, in Hadley's opinion, if the band had played more Muggle tunes. But at an all-wizard function, what could she expect?

She and Sirius and James twirled about the dance floor, alternating partners between the three of them. Hadley laughed like mad when Sirius attempted to teach James how to tango, only to regret her teasing when Sirius tried to teach her the same. She wasn't the most coordinated person in the first place, and the addition of alcohol didn't help at all.

"Short, short, long – ow!" Sirius said as she stepped on his foot for the umpteenth time. She winced along with him.

"Sorry!"

"'S alright. Only a flesh wound. But just for safety's sake, why don't we go sit for a bit?" He suggested, dropping her hands and ushering her over to the table where he and James had sat for dinner.

James was sitting there, shoulders slumped and reading a crumpled piece of parchment that he clutched in his hand. As she approached, she clapped James on the shoulder and sat in the chair that was supposed to be for Miss Lily Evans. James straightened and shoved the parchment into his pocket, greeting his friends as they sat on either side of him.

"So, Jamie, as it happens I am no more sure-footed than you are." She admitted, taking a sip of water from the untouched glass in front of her.

"Yeah, both of you are bloody rubbish. You'd never survive in the upper echelons of wizard society." Sirius said in a mock-haughty tone, a wolfish grin crossing his face.

"Good thing we've got you, then, mate." James said, tilting his glass toward Sirius mirthlessly. His hazel eyes were clouded, his brow slightly droopy, and Hadley knew that something was bothering him.

She put a hand on his shoulder, rubbing it gently this time. "James, what's wrong?"

"Lily bailed on me." He admitted reluctantly, "Said she's sick but...I'm sure we all know that's just a lame excuse. She didn't want to come in the first place, I should just give it up."

"Of course you should!" Hadley exclaimed.

"Don't you dare, mate!" Sirius said. The two looked at each other and asked, "What?!"

"She clearly doesn't want to be with him! He should give it up and move on!" Hadley insisted, as she had been for a long while now. She hated watching her best friend make a fool of himself for a girl who had made her non-interest in him quite clear many times over. There was nothing she wanted more than to see James happy, but Lily Evans was not the answer.

"Oh, sod off with that! Prongs-y here will wear her down eventually!" Sirius was trying to cheer James up, and one of the surefire ways to do that was to keep up his hope that Lily would come around. The fiery redhead had drunkenly confessed to Sirius that she fancied the messy-haired Quidditch captain at the end-of-term party he'd thrown in the Astronomy Tower not one month ago, she was most definitely sick if she had missed their date.

"The definition of insanity is doing something over and over and expecting a different result. Given the sheer number of times he's asked her out and she's denied him, James should be in a mental asylum. No offense, James." Hadley countered.

"None taken," he sighed again, much like he did when he was upset. Hadley pulled him into a side-hug and kissed his temple. "It was stupid of me to think this time would be any different." He said as he slumped against Hadley's shoulder, accepting her pity because he felt pitiful.

"But it was different!" Sirius insisted, "She said yes!"

James pulled away from Hadley a bit, "Yeah, yeah, she did!" She could see his eyes brightening again with false hope.

"I saw the letter, mate, she was excited to come! She's got to be ill." Sirius encouraged while Hadley narrowed her eyes at him. James shrugged her arm off his shoulders and faced Sirius.

"She's got to be! Oh, I'm such a prat! I should write her, shouldn't I?"

"Yes, you should. Right away, go get your coat, I'll meet you by the door." Sirius cheered, nodding his head in the direction of the door. James scarpered off in that direction, leaving Hadley staring daggers at Sirius.

"Why did you do that?" she demanded, drumming her fingertips on the table.

"Do what?"

"Encourage him! Clearly she's not interested or she would be here tonight!" she insisted. Sirius leaned back in his chair, calmly confident with his secret knowledge.

"Because there's more to that situation than you know."

"Oh yeah, like what?"

"Sorry, love, sworn to secrecy."

"Well, he's made a complete arse of himself in nearly every possible way for her and she doesn't do the same. He should cut his losses and move on." She stated plainly. Her hairdo was starting to hurt, her feet were throbbing from the dancing, and the alcohol buzz was turning into the beginnings of a hangover, so she wasn't in the mood to sugarcoat her opinions.

"Perhaps that cynical attitude is the reason you've never been in love."

His words caught her attention and she snapped her icy blue gaze on him. Her brow furrowed in offense, "Excuse me?"

"Love requires vulnerability, an ability to…bend, if you will. Cynics, such as yourself, are much too brittle to bend."

"So now I'm brittle?"

"Or bitter, whichever you prefer."

She didn't bother with a response, other than leaping to her feet and throwing the glass of water in his face before stomping away. Dashing past James, she started walking home despite leaving her jacket behind and the nighttime chill.

She wasn't bitter. Hadley had always hoped that true love existed, she just hadn't seen it for herself. Sure, her best girl friend Rachel claimed that she knew what she and Roger had was true love, but her friend had also said that about Henry Werner in their fourth year. Rachel was a bit boy-crazy, come to think of it, and flighty. Perhaps her definition of true love was little more flexible than Hadley's.

Was what her parents had true love? Was it what Xander and Sophie had? It was difficult to assess these things from the outside. Love was such a big emotion, she didn't want to waste it on just anyone.

And how dare Sirius Black, (serial dater, heartbreaker, notorious flirt) call her bitter because she hadn't been willing to fall in love with the wrong person? In Hadley's opinion, he gave his heart too easily. What the French would call un coeur d'artichaut. He had loved so deeply, only to be rejected. No wonder he had a different girl in his bed every weekend; it was his coping mechanism.

Hadley rubbed her arms to ward off the chill, but it didn't help much. She cursed herself for leaving her coat behind. Her wand was in the pocket, too, so she couldn't summon it with a simple flick of the wrist. Sighing, she paused in the middle of the dirt lane that led back to town and considered going back for it.

No, she decided, she would get it tomorrow. She'd had cake and danced and done her duty as sister of the groom and bridesmaid, there was no point in returning if Sirius was still there.

She took off down the lane again, quickening her pace in order to get home faster and out of the chill. Sirius' accusation kept ringing in her head and she couldn't help shedding a tear, which she quickly brushed away. There was no way she would be brittle and weak.

Brittle, bitter, unworthy. He seemed to see her as her parents did, which hurt a little. She and Sirius weren't the best of friends, and now they would never be. If this was what he really thought of her, then she would just have to avoid him from here on out.

The butterflies in her stomach be damned.

So Sirius was a jerk, James was a starry-eyed romantic, and Hadley was stubborn. At least, that's my take on the situation. Let me know what your thoughts are!

Also, check my profile for more information about who I've "cast" in the roles of the Marauders/Hadley and her Family. I think most of you will love the choices I made :)

Leave a review and I'll be forever grateful!