Standard disclaimer applies! Anything you recognize from other sources is not mine!
To my beta, may she keep me sane and posting forever.
Ever, Ever After: Midnight
"Whenever you stroll along with me, I'm merely contemplating what you feel inside."
Sirius smiled and danced along to the music, Sir Frey de Murcurie was brilliant. He really knew how to combine beat, lyrics, and theatrics into a brilliant performance. Although, why he was performing for a five-year-old's birthday party was beyond him.
"Meanwhile I ask you to be my Clementine! You say you will if you could but you can't!"
Sirius moved further into the room, looking for the birthday boy. Sirius had only just returned to Gryffindor, surprisingly in time for Harry's fifth birthday. It seemed like all of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw's royalty was crushed into the large ballroom of Godric's Hollow.
"I love you madly. Let my imagination run away with you gladly. A brand new angle - highly commendable!"
Sirius only wished that he weren't so damned lonely in this vast room. It seemed as though everyone had managed to pair off, except for him. Hell, even Harry had managed to find someone to dance with. Mind, Ginny Weasley hardly constituted as dating material; she was a little low on the food chain for a prince. It was sad too, Sirius had met the Weasley's and while he adored Weasley senior and the children, he could not abide Lady Molly. Nosy, overbearing, hen!
Sirius adjusted the black mask that covered half of his face. Why Lily had chosen to host a masque for Harry's birthday was an oddity, what five-year-old wanted a masque? Of course, it was better than the non-existent parties his mother had thrown him and his brother. A rustle of cloth next to one of the pillars caught his attention. Who would be hiding behind a pillar?
"Seaside rendezvous!"
Sirius felt his breath catch. There, in resplendent robes of dark gold and auburn, was Remus. He had a gold half mask across his face, covered in red and gold sequins, and shaped in the form of a wolf's snout. The robes dripped down his lithe body and fell onto the floor dragging behind him as he moved. The cream overcoat was also covered in sequins and beading. It was a lovely sight, especially for Sirius. He was only a tiny bit smitten with the young man.
Sirius stumbled toward his angelic vision, knowing that a fool's smile was splitting his face in two. He didn't care; all he wanted to do was reach Remus.
"Remus…"
"Hey, haven't seen you in awhile." Remus smiled and rested his head against the red velvet wrapped marble column.
"I know. I missed you."
"You missed me? How can you possibly have missed me? You barely know me."
Sirius stepped up to the other man, making sure that Remus had to look up at him. Remus looked as though he did not like being backed into the corner very much, so Sirius backed up a bit. It wouldn't do to make Remus run away from him when he had just gotten here.
"I did. I swear it."
"I always knew you were a bit odd, but this really takes the cake."
"No cake. Although there are so really great tarts over there." Sirius smiled as Remus snorted indelicately.
"Oh, lord."
"Dance with me?" Remus looked at Sirius as though he had proposed pig wrestling.
"What?"
"Dance with me. Please?" Remus sighed and held out a long boned hand, silently consenting to the madness. Sirius pulled Remus onto the floor, where a slow waltz had just started up. Remus looked very uncomfortable, but it could have been all the people looking at him, rather than Sirius standing so close.
"What do you look so nervous for? There's nothing wrong."
"Its just…there are so many people. I get nervous."
"That's okay, we'll go outside after this dance and you don't have to see anyone."
"So, you're presuming that I came here for you?"
"Of, course."
"You're rather arrogant."
"It's one of my many charms."
Remus smiled softly, "I'm sure."
Sirius twirled Remus once more before settling the young man against him. "Want to go outside now?"
"Yeah." Remus breathed, trying not to fall into Sirius's bottomless eyes. He would never return if he got caught in their mysterious gaze.
/page break/
Remus started as the bell began to toll midnight. He shot up from his spot within Sirius's embrace. The spot that he had reluctantly placed himself in two hours ago and didn't bother to move from it.
"What's wrong?"
"I have to go…now."
"But…"
"No. I have to go, you don't understand. If I don't leave I'll…I can't tell you. Let me go." Sirius had latched on to one of Remus's thin wrists and wouldn't let go. Sirius debated for a moment before decided that whatever was scaring Remus was more important than his happiness.
"Why do you have to go?"
"I'll explain later." Remus hoped so at least. He ran down the stairs, tripping on the second to last one and rolling to his feet. He ran towards the gates of the castle, hoping that he made it to the forest before the Change began. He didn't notice that his mask had fallen off and lay on the last step.
Remus ran faster and faster, hearing the bell toll in the distance was the most frightening thing he had ever heard. As the Change began to overtake him he crashed into the brush of the dark forest. With a sigh of relief Remus let the horrible disfiguration take control.
/page break/
Sirius bent down where the rain had started to 'plip' onto the delicate mask. A raindrop slid down the bridge of the nose, making it look as though the mask was crying. It was a very sad thought. Sirius felt like crying himself. The way Remus had taken off, as though the hounds of Hell were after him, had scared Sirius more than he cared to admit. He had fallen in love with Remus and didn't want to lose him. Seeing Remus so scared had driven something deep into Sirius's heart.
Sirius picked up the mask and cradled it against his chest; it was still warm.
/page break/
"You want to what?"
"I'm going after him."
"You're being ridiculous."
"I think it's romantic."
"Yeah!"
Sirius smiled at Lily and Harry, who seemed to be the only people to agree with him finding Remus. James was not happy and neither was Dumbledore, which was very odd.
"You can't stop me, Your Majesty."
"Sure I can."
"Oh, Daddy. Let him go! Sirius, I give you my permission."
Sirius bent down and twirled Harry up into the air, "Such a little prince. Giving knights orders already?"
"You bet!" Harry giggled, spreading his arms out so that he could pretend to be flying. Sirius laughed and pulled Harry down to him, giving him a solid kiss on the cheek.
"Well, you heard the prince, James. I guess I'm going whether you like it or not."
"Fine! Fine! Go, what do I care?"
Sirius placed a hand on his best friend's shoulder, "I'll be back. I promise. I need to find him, James. I can't live without him. It's like you trying to live without Lily, it's not happening."
James heaved a sigh and nodded, "Fine."
Sirius shook his friend softly, gave Lily a kiss, and Harry a hug. He left the three people who meant more to him than anything standing in the throne room; one sad, one happy, and one pleased beyond belief that somebody was listening to him.
/page break/
"And so Sirius set out to find his one true love. Traveling far and wide to the one place he knew would hold the answers: Slytherin."
A/N: Wow, I'm being productive.
