Featherlegs

by angellwings

Chapter Four: Nicknames, Dates, and Detention

Author's Note: I'm sorry if you feel the story is choppy or moving too fast, but I promise it won't stay that way forever. It's just that the main portion of my story doesn't really begin until sixth and seventh year and beyond. Right now I'm trying to cover key events during their early years at Hogwarts.

These first few chapter's are just for some background on the relationships, and basic events that are not described in great detail during the books.

Have faith there is method to my madness. PLEASE REVIEW!

Enjoy!

Angellwings

James and Sirius had been creating nicknames for them all week, and so far Vivian's was the most difficult.

"What the hell are you supposed to call someone who turns into an owl?" James asked as he ran a hand through his untidy hair.

Sirius opened his mouth to make a suggestion when Vivian interrupted.

"Don't you say it."

"You don't even know what I was going to suggest." He said in flabbergasted tone.

"I'm your sister, I believe I can bloody well imagine."

James, Peter, and Remus chuckled as they continued on their way to the Shrieking Shack.

Lily and Alice suddenly called to Vivian from the entrance of the Three Broomsticks.

"What!" She called back impatiently.

"We need our third musketeer!" Alice called in return with a wink.

"Oh!" Vivian said as she checked to make sure her hair was placed properly, "I'm coming!"

"What's that about?" Sirius asked as a protective edge over came his voice.

"Nothing, nothing at all." She said as she flattened the wrinkles out of her skirt that stopped just above the knee, "You all go on ahead, I'll catch up later."

The four boys watched in shock as she bounded over to her two best friends, and three of them watched contemptuously as Frank Longbottom appeared with two sixth year boys.

"Oy! She's going on a date!" Peter yelled in surprise as he pointed rudely at her.

"Going on a date my bum." Sirius muttered in a fiercely brother-like tone as he, James, and Remus left Peter in the snow and made their way toward the girls.

"What exactly do you think you're doing?" Sirius growled as he reached his sister, "and who are you?"

The last part of the question had been directed angrily at the sixth year across from his sister.

"Bugger," Vivian muttered as she pulled her brother away from the girls and their respective dates, "You're joking right?"

"What?" He asked cluelessly.

"Great Merlin! Sirius, I am 14. We are both going to start dating people sooner or later." She said in attempt to hold back her anger.

"Yeah, later." He told her in a tone that sounded eerily like their father.

"Do you even realize who you sound like?" She asked him with wide eyes, "You sound like dad, whenever he gives me that lecture about 'what being betrothed means'."

"What?" He asked this time in concern, "I do not. I will never sound like him. Especially when it comes to your 'betrothal', if that's what you can call it."

"If you are so determined not to sound like dad, then stop telling me who and when I can date." She told him as she leaned against the side of the building, "Besides Frank Longbottom found these blokes for me and Lily. Do you think he would set us up with a couple of Slytherin posers?"

"No, I suppose not."

"Good, then can I please get back to my date?"

"Alright" he answered reluctantly just in time to see James slug Lily's date.

"Potter!" Lily bellowed, "Bloody Merlin! Can't you ever leave me alone?"

"Damn," Vivian swore under her breath, "Guess that date's over."

She reluctantly glanced at the group, and sighed. If she hadn't been so deeply involved it would have been funny.

A Ravenclaw sixth year was holding his bloody nose and running away from Lily as if a rampaging Hipogriff were chasing him. Lily had now rounded on James had him backed against the wall with her wand while Remus clutched the collar of her own date.

Wait. What?

She did a double take. Remus held her date by the collar. He realized she was watching and quickly dropped him in the snow.

"Have all of you gone mental?" She asked loudly.

Alice and Frank laughed obnoxiously at that. She couldn't blame them because it definitely appeared as though every one had lost whatever sense they had left.

Lily reddened in embarrassment and backed off of Potter, and he in turn decided to make things worse.

"I'm weakening your resolve aren't I, Evans?"

Vivian winced as a loud crack sounded in front of her. There was James lying on the ground holding his nose just as the Ravenclaw had seconds ago, and Lily standing over him rubbing her knuckles in pain.

"The only thing weakening, Potter, is my patience." She began to stalk off when a voice boomed from behind them.

"Hold it, Ms. Evans."

Bugger! Vivian's mind screamed for the millionth time in the last ten minutes. They all turned slowly as they prepared to face the wrath of Minerva McGonagall.

"The lot of you to my office immediately." She ordered sternly.

"But Professor-" Vivian began in protest.

"Now, Ebonesia." She said sharply. Vivian winced. No one called her by her first name. With the exception of her mother.

Her head hung low as the pack of Gryffindor fourth years marched out of Hogsmeade and back to the castle grounds. She sighed and backed up so that her, Lily, and Alice walked side-by-side.

They walked past a group of seventh years who observed them appreciatively. Lily and Vivian grinned at each other while Frank slid a possessive arm around Alice.

"Hey Black!" one of them called to Vivian, but Sirius had turned his head around instinctively, "Nice legs, maybe you'll want to walk those over here someday."

Vivian chuckled and rolled her eyes at the boy, "Please do come up with a better line than that next time."

Lily and Alice giggled at her humor while her brother and Remus looked slightly nauseated.

James' eyes lit up almost instantly, "Featherlegs."

"What?" Remus asked in a stunned tone.

"We'll call her Featherlegs, works right? An owl has feathers and, according to that arse, she has appealing legs. It's perfect." He mumbled with a wicked grin, "What do you think, Ebonesia?"

"Potter, call me that again and I'll give you more than a bloody nose." She said with an angry glare. She hated her first name, "As for the nickname . . . I like it. It's much better than 'Hooters'"

"Speaking of 'Hooters', where is Peter?" Sirius asked as he glanced around the path.

"He was smart enough to stay away from the fight." Remus said lamely.

"That or too cowardly." Vivian mumbled to herself.