Author's note: Hey all! This is the Next chapter, Hope you're all enjoying the story. As you can probably tell Sirius is our favourite! Thanks for reading

Tarantallegra and Anger

It was a bright clear day in Autumn as the third years and above trooped into Hogsmeade a week later. Lily hung onto Diya and Ivana's arms until they reached the Three Broomsticks where they'd all be departing in their separate ways with a significant other. Wood approached Lily looking better than usual having made an effort with his short brown hair and wearing a little cologne.

"Hiya Lily! You're looking beautiful! Shall we go then?"

Lily smiled. She did look nice. The simple white top with the bottle green skirt was enough to bring out her eyes which, with Diya's help, were lined with a smoky dark shadow. Her red hair hung loosely on her shoulders, a change from the ordinary pulled back look. Taking his arm, she nodded back at her friends and they sauntered off for a walk.

Diya and Ivana exchanged knowing looks at the sound of someone clearly seething behind them. James was red in the face and looked ready to murder something. Sirius draped his arm round his shoulder and was calming him down, whilst Lupin looked concerned. Peter had a sour look on his face as one of the best friends he idolised roughly shrugged off Sirius' arm. He offered James a sweet. At this James looked up and though exasperated at this pathetic attempt to cheer him up, smiled and accepted it. Sirius ruffled his friend's hair and started putting Lupin in a headlock before running away from the annoyed "growl" Remus had let out. James laughed at his friends but still looked a little put out. Ivana giggled at Sirius' ridiculous attempts to make his buddy laugh and then sighed looking at Diya hugging her newest date, Gregory Corner of Ravenclaw. Diya smiled slightly sadly looking over at Remus who was now eyeing the couple. Then said concernedly to Ivana, "Sure you'll be alright? Greg says Mittchels said the offer still stands to take you out…"

Ivana shook her head. " Nah really, I don't fancy Mittchels in that way, I thought he would've known by now.." she said so that only her friend could hear. "Don't worry you two, I'm gonna go chat to Rosmerta for a bit, see ya later up at the castle hey?"

Diya nodded still looking concerned but held Gregory's hand and let him lead her off to Madame Puddifoot's. Ivana turned and waved to the Marauders but went inside the Three Broomsticks to talk to the young barmaid Rosmerta.

James frowned again. This time it wasn't Lily who had gotten to him though. "Remus man, I thought you and Diya were getting into something?" In answer Remus shook his head a bit distracted and said, " Well she did show she was interested you know….but I dunno I just didn't wanna ask yet. Besides what if she still likes Padfoot?"

Sirius stopped levitating snowballs over Peter and turned to Moony. " Look mate, Chaterjee may be a lot of things, but when she expresses interest in someone, she's pretty honest about it. And she's definetly finished with me. I can actually have a decent conversation with her now. You should go for it mate, she's a nice girl." After this long revelation, Sirius absent-mindedly lowered his wand so that the 15 or so snowballs he'd threathened Peter with fell from the air and immersed the puny 17 year old in snow. Sirius roared!

" Wahhahah, Petey mate, why didn't you move! I was gonna ask you to help me make a snowman, and now I've made you into one!" He went off into hysterics at his pointless joke. James rolled his eyes. Then laughing he said to Sirius, "God that joke was awful man. You'd think being a Seventh year you would've matured. In general AND in the joke department."

Sirus rolled his eyes back. " Ok Prongsie…Sounding a bit like dear ol' Evans there aren't ya?" Then seeing James' face fall he stuck out his tongue and playfully shoved him. James rolled his eyes again and looked over at Remus who was performing a heating charm on a shivering Peter. "Let's go in for Butterbeer chaps, and lets go keep Petrova company – she was all alone."

Remus nodded in agreement and walked with James into the tavern. Sirius followed close behind holding Peter in a headlock whilst apologising rather teasingly.

They all bustled into a booth and talked rather shallowly for a minute. Too many deep conversations following each other lost the Marauders their credibility as a joking fun-loving group. Of course their friendship obviously went a lot deeper than that, but they preferred to keep their appearance light as to amuse the general public. Rosmerta sashayed towards them to take their order. " Hello boys! Back again? I missed your jokes over the summer," beamed the young woman.

James winked saying, " Oh Rosie you know you missed more than that!" Sirus laughed and smoothly followed with, " Rosie love, without your beautiful voice to talk to us, the summer was full of shrieks and undeserved sounds…" Rosmerta let out a clear tinkling laugh. "Charming as always I see James! Not to mention cheeky Black! Remus, I hope you're keeping the others in check! I distinctly remember you doing no such thing when you were in Fifth and I was in Seventh!"

Remus said rather sheepishly, "Well I try…but Pete's a lot easier to handle than those too."

Peter who was now drooling at the sight of the curvaceous woman received a slightly hollow smile from Rosmerta who hurriedly said, " Sure….haha well boys, Butterbeers I suppose?"

"Nah…Firewhisky for me." Then seeing the shocked look on Remus' face, James' amused eyes, Peter's incredulous gape and Rosmerta's cocked eyebrow, Sirius broke out into a cheeky snicker. "Oh no, Butterbeer please sweetheart – I've sadly gotta go back to school." Remus exhaled, relieved. "Oh relax Moony, I know when to stop now! Last time was just a bad day."

They all remembered the night Sirius had arrived a few days late to the Potter's with more cuts and bruises on his body then any of them had ever seen. The three of them had been sitting in James' room at Godric's Hollow, discussing a possible prank at the party his mother would be throwing that evening, when they heard the rev of an engine below. Looking out the window at the flying motorcycle landing in James' front garden, they exchanged worried looks at Sirius' hardly-able-to-stand body. They all rushed down to meet him as he practically collapsed through the doorway. A second later Mr and Mrs Potter came rushing forward and moved him gently to a sofa they had conjured in the hall. The three boys and James' parents huddled around Sirius wondering what had happened.

"…..too much…..hit….crucio…hurt…parents.." he'd croaked.

Peter looked at the floor, whilst the other two boys gasped. Mr Potter looked ready to explode as he examined Sirius more closely. Mrs Potter holding back tears conjured up some bottles, rags and a bowl of Murlap's essence. She then told the others to go upstairs and get ready and that she'd heal Sirius before the party so not to worry.

Sirius all healed up, had dressed along with the others before the party, trying to laugh and joke with them, but they had all seen the sullen, hard look which touched his eyes even as he laughed. Their ordinary twinkle had gone.

The party was fun for all. Sirius however has far far too many firewhiskys and started acting quite a touch more ludicrous than even his ordinary playful behaviour. At the first the Marauders were amused by his antics, but then a moment came where things got out of control. Sirus had been dancing quite close with a girl who had been flirting with him, until her boyfriend confronted him angrily.

"Wha..the ruddy hell d'you think you're doin with MY girl…you BLACK?" The beast of a boy had yelled at Sirius.

Sirius drunkenly slurred his comeback saying, " Well mate, it's suggested that youre not exactly satisfying her."

"I'll murder you! I'll beat you to a pulp, you aren't going to feel pain like you've felt before when I'm done with you! Let's take it outside." The angry boyfriend had screamed in Sirius' face. By now the room had fallen silent and the music had ceased playing. The girl was whimpering now trying to cling to Sirius, who shoved her off. He was completely silent as he matched the guy's stare. James stepped forward hurriedly to help, but Sirius lifted his hand to stop him. He then turned back to the seething boy and laughed. He let out a menacing, yet unsteady cackle of a laugh and said quite manically, " Torture me? Kill me? HA - YOU, are going to make me feel pain like I've never felt before?" He laughed again looking at The Marauders to laugh along but they simply stood uncomfortably. Sirius swayed as he struggled to walk closer to the guy who had started to seem confused. " Go on, take your bloody best shot mate, cos if you're going to cause me pain…chances are, I"ve felt that, and worse. So go on, hit me. Curse me for all I care. Do you think I give a shit if I live or die? Yeh, cos being a Black is really worth it!" He uttered in a loud hysterical whisper. "Take your best shot, I'll be wandless." At this moment he'd tossed his wand aside and stood arms back willing to be murdered on spot. The look on the boy's face was a look of stunned disbelief which the rest of the party seemed to share with him. Sirius let out a laugh again and crumpled to the floor as the boy lowered his wand

Mrs. Potter had soothingly taken Sirius in her arms and walked him to the nearest room where he'd fallen fast asleep, overlooking the fact that the boy she considered practically her second son had just gotten completely out-of-his-mind drunk.

Following this stunned silence, Sirius casually steered the subject from that terrible night and said, " So Petrova, looks all alone."

James sensing Sirius wanted to talk about something else replied, " Yeh, lets tell her to sit with us eh?" Remus nodded and Sirius vaguely mumbled his approval, so James approached Ivana who had just stopped talking to Rosmerta and was now quietly sipping her Butterbeer. " Hey Iv, feel like keeping us company?"

Smiling Ivana casually agreed and walked with James to the Marauder's booth and sat down beside Remus who greeted her enthusiastically. She smiled shyly at Sirius who had flashed a charming grin at her. Within minutes however, her shyness was abandoned as she laughed openly at the witty stories being told.

"…alright so anyway – I basically just looked at her and was like – Laura – you can't tell me – that you honestly – didn't know that Dumbledore was……human?" Remus said in between hysterical laughter. The rest of the table roared at Remus' ex-girlfriend's stupidity. He had dated her shortly after Marilee and seemed to often be the slight butt of jokes when the boys talked of girls. Ivana tried to straighten her face, " But you know, Dumbledore is like the greatest Wizard to have lived! I suppose its not a crazy assumption?" Then seeing the incredulous looks on the boys' faces she burst and went off into another fit of uncontrollable giggles. Sirius laughed, "Hufflepuff….what a load of duffers." Peter said out of the blue, " Hey James, you remember when Dumbledore said the proudest achievement of his life was being put on the Chocolate frog cards? Hahaha…that was funny." They turned slightly blankly to him, thinking, ok yeh it was funny but a bit of a random time to say it… Remus laughed kindly but said, " yeh Pete but, um…kinda random?"

Sirius nudged James and they both shared a look with Ivana as Diya stormed angrily into the tavern.

"Bloody Gregory Corner, what a little piece of….oh…Hey everyone!" her voice took changed from grumbling to pleasant as she saw Ivana chuckling despite James and Sirius' looks at her whilst shooting Remus worried glances. Sirius and James got out of the booth to let Diya have the more cosy corner and then slid in after her as she quietened down slightly and softly said to Remus, "Hey."

Remus looked awkward but smiled at her.

A pause graced the table for a moment until James decided to break the tension, "Umm you guys know that a Slytherin hit on Sirius the other day?"

The table laughed and Sirius flicked the elegantly hanging piece of hair off his face before chuckling and saying, " Oh yeh the make-up dribbling off her face was a realll turn on…Bit like you Diyaa.." He said her name teasingly to point out he didn't really mean it. Diya pretended to take this to heart and put on an offended look, " OH Sirius….how dare you? Everyone knows I don't need make-up!" Everyone laughed again and Remus grinned at her and said rather unexpectedly, " Well beautiful girls, usually don't". Though shocked at Remus finally coming out of his shell in front of her she beamed and moved her hand towards his on the table. Shyly ( Shocking for Diya) they both smiled again.

James grinned happily at them and looked at Peter who quickly tore his gaze from a group of Slytherins at another booth and half smiled too. Sirius however was miming puking and Ivana was rolling her eyes. They both shared an opinionated look and laughed easily together. Just then, a redhead stepped into the room holding onto the arm of David Wood.

Lily glanced at them and though slightly confused at her friends sitting with the pranksters, shyly kissed Wood goodbye as he went off to the bookstore with his friend Rupert Davies. She approached the group apprehensively and stood near the booth asking, " Um is it alright if I join you?" Remus broke his adoring eyes from Diya's softened ones and enthusiastically beckoned for his study partner to sit down on a chair he summoned at the end of the table. Ivana, Diya and Peter all greeted her jovially asking her how she was, jolly at her arrival. However James looked at her with a pained expression and a curt wave, where as Sirius just nodded vaguely.

Yet again however the slightly tense starting atmosphere was broken by Sirius who let go of his slight grudge and said, " Now, now Miss Evans, KISSING in PUBLIC? I'd dock ten points off you if I had any authority whatsoever! " Lily good naturedly laughed along and quipped quickly, " Well perhaps I"ll need to join you and Potter in Detention this week Black!" Sirius grinned and forgot his slight resentment towards Lily and even James reluctantly laughed. He decided to try to forget about Wood and savour this time with Lily.

Getting into the game of joking around, James elbowed past Sirius to get out of the booth. He bowed regally to Lily and said, " Ah Great Head Girl how can I serve you?" She giggled and played along with his silliness pretending to Knight him with Ivana's wand.

"I pronounce you the court's royal drink-getter and entertainment along with your charming companion there."

James straightened from his bow and winked cheerfully running off to get Lily and Diya Butterbeers. Upon his return, Sirius jumped up from the booth and him and James proceeded to duel rather theatrically. Laughing at this over-the top humour Lily applauded each curse giving the boys either a thumbs up or down depending on her opinion, mood, or Ivana's whispered advice. James hit Sirius with the "Tarantallegra!" and Sirius' feet proceeded to do an out of control quick-step dance. James smirked and sat down in the booth with his arms behind his back. Remus and Diya were laughing quietly stealing glances at each other. Ivana was smacking the table slightly out of breath and Peter was snorting repeatedly between sniggers. Lily gave James a thumbs up and flashed her beautiful white smile at him, which practically made his heart melt as he felt his knees buckle slightly. Thank god he was sitting down!

Sirius got into the spirit of things and started jerking his body around madly, his arms flailing about. The others laughed even more and Ivana choked out "Finite Incanteum" ending Sirius' mad leg dance. "I couldn't take it anymore!" She laughed still trying to calm herself. At this Sirius playfully started imitated himself perhaps even more manically than he had looked with the spell upon him. The fresh waves of laughter came with some teasing comments:

"Sirius mate, I wonder if the ladies'll think you're still as 'slick' as they thought you were," Remus joked drawing giggles from Diya.

Peter said, " You look like the giant squid Padfoot!"

Ivana laughed at his pathetic-ness and started banging the table again slightly. Lily laughed, " You look like you're under the Cruciatius curse!"

The laughter stopped abruptly from James and Remus and Sirius stopped his show harshly. Remus shot Black a concerned look and James' face went stony. The girls continued to giggle and Peter rather foolishly only half stopped when he looked at Sirius frightened. The sudden silence from the Marauders caused the girls to quieten down hastily and look at Sirius rather confusedly.

"Don't joke about things you don't understand Evans." He said in a low, dark voice meeting her eyes without his usual playful twinkle and instead with a hardened expression.

What's this about? It was only a joke. Why was it a big deal? Lily thought quickly getting irritated at Sirius' comment feeling patronised.

"Oh, and you do Black?" she argued

Sirius looked away for a moment with a flicker of sadness. But when he met her eyes again, he showed no trace of any emotion and simply turned and walked in the cold through the swinging doors of The Three Broomsticks.

A/N: AHHH The Angst of Sirius Black. How I adore him. Anyway, hope you're enjoying it! Please Review, even just to say if you like or hate it. I just wanna know what you think! Hope you're enjoying the last bit of Summer.