Skip to Valentine's Day

I rolled out of be, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. The harsh sun streamed through the windows, hitting my bed straight in the face. Neither the day nor time entered my head as I glanced at my still asleep friends and stumbled into the bathroom. The hot water poured out of the shower head and hit the cold floor of the tub. I quickly stepped in, willing to waste no hot water. Slowly but surely, my muscles started to unwind. Lathering shampoo through my dark hair, I heard Lauren say something to Erika, who responded hurriedly.

I wonder what Erika is so worried about? I wondered as the water ran down my back, carrying the shampoo with it. Just as the hot water started to lessen to luke-warm, Erika burst through the door.

"Maria! You've only got 20 minutes! Get out of the shower!" Erika screeched. I racked my brain of some sort of explanation of what Erika was talking about.

"20 minutes?" I repeated.

"Yeah, 'till your date!" The water ran cold as I realized the emergency.

"Shoot." I leapt out of the shower and flung a towel around my body. "But I can't even figure out a decent outfit!" Ever since that fateful day in January, we'd been raiding closets, asking questions, and begging for permission to get into Hogsmeade.

"Not to worry! Last night Lauren found a really adorable vintage top from the 50s. It's so cute!" As if on cue, Lauren ran into the bathroom with everything imaginable: clothes, shoes, make-up, and hair things.

"Now, since we have almost no time, we'll have to double team here," Erika explained and grabbed a hair brush. She started to pull back sections of my hair, yanking and pulling to form a bun.

"What are you doing? I look like an old maid!" I complained and tried to pull it out.

"Don't worry. It'll work out for good," Erika stated and kept quiet the rest of the time.

"You sound like a fortune cookie," I grumbled.

"You never did tell us about your date with Sam," Lauren questioned. I could tell she was trying to change the subject. I tried not to blink as she applied mascara to my eyelashes.

"I told you, I won't tell. Someone will tell someone who'll tell someone else who'll tell Zachary who'll kill Samuel. It was a one time thing." I listened to them bicker a while before I checked the clock.

"Five minutes! I was supposed to meet him five minutes ago! Five minutes!" I bolted up from the chair and flung my jacket on without even looking in the mirror. I ran down the stairs and was only vaguely aware of Erika and Lauren yelling something.

I was at least a block away when I heard the distinct voices of the infamous Marauders. I heard a couple of them joking, slapping each other on the backs of their heads. As I neared closer, I could tell that one of them was taunting the other.

"Well, mate, I think you've been stood up," James joked. I was now right behind them, hidden by the corner of the building. I poked my head around the corner, curious of what they did with their free time. The second I even looked though, I froze. What would I say? What would I do? How should I act? I felt my palms begin to sweat again and I wondered if I should go wash them then come back.

No, by then he might leave. I've just have to- My thought were cut short as I fell face first into the ground. My palms slid down the wall and I landed with thud. I didn't even need to see them to know that within five seconds they would be laughing. I was right. Even though my face was in the dirt, I could feel my face turn bright red as they roared with laughter.

"Shut up, you guys," I heard someone say. I didn't even look up until someone grabbed my hand and pulled me up. I met face to face with Sirius and blushed again. I hurried got to my feet by myself. I looked down at the shirt to see that it was caked with mud and my pants were no less covered.

"I'll be right back," I said and ran into the nearest shop. I heard someone playfully punch someone and then someone else say, "Look what you did you stupid git! You chased her off." Dashing to the back of the store, I quickly found the ladies room. I pushed the door open and looked in the mirror. Dirt and mud ran all the way down my front and covered the blue top. I hastily grabbed my wand and cast a spell to try and get it out, but a slight stain was still on part of the shirt. I sighed, and tried to smooth it out as best I could and walked back out to the front of the shop. I saw Sirius seated by himself on the bench outside. I nervously cleared my throat and his head snapped up.

"You alright?" When he stood, I noticed that he stood at least a good six inches taller than me.

"Yeah," I mumbled.

"Hey, I'm really sorry that they're being such prats," Sirius apologized.

"It's fine I guess." We walked in almost unbearable silence, neither of us knowing what to say. We kept walking, and by fate or not, we landed in front of Honeydukes. We glanced at each other and both walked into the crowed shop. A smile spread across Sirius' face and he took me by the hand, leading me father back into the shop. I felt my face turned a renewed shade of pink. Weaving through the crowds, Sirius had obviously seen something-or someone. As the crowds thinned near the back, it became easier to breath and the sounds were less deafening.

"Oi, Janey!" Sirius called. At the back of the shop, a young woman turned around. Her skin was deathly pale and her hair was black as a raven. Under her eyes were dark purple circles, giving her the appearance of someone who hadn't slept in weeks.

"Sirius!" she called back and ran up to him. They hugged tightly and she pulled back. Kissing him on both cheeks she smiled brightly, but eventually her gaze fell on me. Her smile vanished and I felt extremely self conscious of the stain on my front.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to this girl?" Janey spat out the word, not bothering to find out my name. Her drastic mood swing took me by surprise, as it would anyone. Janey sharply put both hands on her hips defensively and looked expectantly as Sirius.

"Janey, let off. This is Maria," Sirius said and I felt his hand in the small of his back, pushing me forward. I almost knocked into Janey. She stepped back immediately like I had the plague.

"Hmm. She's sort of home for your usual taste, Sirius," Janey said with a sneer and circled me again. She looked me up and down, like she was surveying land. I stood there, taking her criticism with little patience.

"Janey, don't start today!" The woman stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest. She huffed and rolled her eyes at Sirius.

"I was only says that your flings are usually a little more…sophisticated."

Is that what I am? A fling? Sure, I know that I had asked him out and he hardly knows who I am, but a fling?

"Janey, just shut up and do your job. Have any new Charmel flavors come in?" Sirius asked and stepped up next to me and put an arm around my shoulder comfortingly.

"Only the usual flavors are in; green apple, strawberry, grape, cherry pie, and original." Janey replied and let her voice go flat. I watched as her face dropped to a stony stare and started stacking boxes of sugar quills and counting boxes of Bertie Botts Beans.

"Are they in the front yet?"

"No."

"Can I get some from the box and give you the money?"

"No."

"Fine. Come on, let's go." I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt and turned around to face the door, but Sirius grabbed my arm and spun me around. My dark hair whipped around and smacked me in the face as I looked up in surprise.

"I thought we--" I said, confused.

"Shhh!" Sirius hissed and pulled me behind a shelf of Dreebles and Licorice Wands. I stood pushed up against the candy, a box pushing it's corner into my back. Sirius talked hurriedly.

"Janey is only being an ass because she's jealous of you. She graduated last year and still won't give up. She's James' cousin and-"

"Oh, so that's it! I knew she looked like someone." I burst out and earned Sirius quickly putting his hand over my mouth. His hands were cold on my lips. Sirius nervously looked around the corner where Janey was still stacking boxes, oblivious to their hidden conversation. He sighed heavily and turned back to me. His hair moved every time his head moved and made me want to try and touch it.

"We aren't really going to leave. If we sneak back in the back, we can grab some Charmels, leave the money and go. She'll get over it soon enough." I looked up to see Sirius face shinning and his eyes sparkling with mischief. It couldn't have been any more adorable.

"Sirius, we can't do that! Let's just go somewhere else. I mean, we're kind of on-"

"A date. I know. I swear, this is how all my first dates go." Sirius smiled and pulled my arm. Being dragged behind left my arm almost out of her socket and thankfully we reached the isle closest to Janey. She had moved on to taking Acid Pops out of the box and putting them in glass jars.

"Just perfect." Sirius sighed sarcastically and I watched nervously as he glanced between me and Janey.

"Wait here." He commanded. I stood dumbfounded as to what he was doing as I watched Sirius walk up to Janey. She said something indifferent and Sirius responded with putting his arm around her waist. I felt an unknown feeling rise in me. I felt like I was being gypped of something. Something I was supposed to get. I saw Janey hold up her finger before walking away. Sirius put on a forced smile before turning around.

"Go!" he mouthed and motioned for me to go through the open door back in the back on the store that led to the store room. I remained planted in my spot. I shook my head no.

"Go!" he whispered pleadingly. I stood my ground, unmoved my his pleading.

"No!" I whispered back and shook my head. He stuck out his bottom lip and gave me a look that I'm not quite sure if it was supposed to be smoldering or begging. Either way, it did the trick. I stepped forward nervously. I took one step, then two, all the while the same thoughts running through my head.

I'm going to get caught, get expelled, and then get killed by my parents. 'This is how all my first dates go' my ass!

My palms went slick with sweat and different types of punishments rushed through my head. The old dark door to the store room loomed ahead of me. Finally, I ignored my nerves and almost sprinted through the door. I saw Sirius expression go from concern to his proud mischievous smirk before I quickly shut the door.

I turned around to be met with silence and darkness. The room wasn't heated with the body heat from other people, so my breath was icy and made little clouds in the air. My steps echoed as I made my way farther into the room. The loud conversation in the shop carried into the store room and rung in my ears. Over in the back corner, a box sat with black words printed on the side. I squinted to see the words, unsuccessfully however. I quickly rummaged around in my coat to find my wand and lit the room.

"Yes!" I exclaimed and ran over to the box. On the side of the box was written 'Charmels' and the top had already been opened. Dipping my hand down into the box, I only had momentary hesitation. Passing over it, I lifted my hand out of the box to be met with four different flavors and another still in the box.

"What kind?" I panicked. "I shouldn't even be in here. Now I don't even know what to do! Damn it Sirius, this is entirely your fault.

"Now, now, don't get upset." I jumped and turned around and flung my arms.

A heavy 'thud' told me that I'd hit my unknown target. I pulled my arm back and stood there, waiting.

"Holy hell! What was that for?" Sirius' voice carried loudly through the room as he rubbed his nose. I gingerly brought my wand up to his face and saw him trying to look at his nose by going cross-eyed. I tried extremely hard not to laugh.

"It's dot fundy," Sirius groaned and stuck his tongue out at me. I stuck mine back out at him, but the funniness was ruined when I heard the door to the store room open. Sirius must have heard it also, because his head whipped in that direction also. Adrenaline rushed through my veins as panic shot through my body. I peeked around the corner and saw Janey in the door way with her hands on her hips. I flung myself back around the corner and shut my eyes.

"Come on!" Sirius hissed and pulled me behind a stack of boxes and in between another. Another box was on top of them both and I noticed that it made sort of a cubby hole. The hole barely fit Sirius and when he yanked on my arm, I fell flat in his lap. He made an 'oomph' noise after I landed, but was silent after that.

Of course, I thought. The lights flickered on and long shadows quickly fell on the hole. I heaved a sigh of relief. Maybe she still won't find us!

Janey's footsteps were almost inhumanly fast, as though she knew where we were hiding. As though she were only humoring us by not running over here and chopping our heads off. My heart pounded in my chest and I felt sure it would burst out at any moment. Janey's shadow snaked around the corner and Sirius tried to peek out to look but I thrust my shoulder backwards to hold him back.

"Come on, I know you're in here." Janey's icy voice chilled me to the bone and sent a shiver down my spine. "It's no use hiding, Sirius. You can't be that desperate for a piece of candy." Janey's suggestion made me wonder. Why did he want that candy so bad? I felt Sirius shift uneasily underneath me and I knew he was probably feeling guilty.

"Sirius, why do you--" I froze when Janey's black combat boots stopped right in front of us. I could only we up to her knees, but I already knew what was coming next.

"Hello, you two."

Author's Note: Well, I hope you liked this! It's a bit longer than the others. When I had my friends read it they decided that Janey was a bitch cause she's a vampire...:/. Oh well. Eeeek! They are in so much trouble! I can't wait for ya'll to read the next chapter because even though big things happened in this chapter, in chapter 6 something ever HUGER happens! You're in for a ton of surprises and alot more interesting things! And thank you to my wonderful beta, VeniceLily, for betaing hugs