A/n: Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling, minus what you don't recognize.
"Should we wake her?" Lily asked.
"I don't know." Marlene responded.
"Do you think she honestly even wants to go anymore?" Mary questioned.
"Ugh, I can hear you, y'know." Blaise grumbled, rubbing her eyes as she sat up. Surprise showed on the girl's faces.
"Sorry, Blaise." They mumbled.
"We just didn't know if you wanted to come to Hogsmeade with us or not, after everything..." Marlene trailed off, looking down at the floor. Blaise felt guilty. Potter and Black were the reasons she was upset in the first place, she shouldn't be taking it out on her friends. Blaise decided at this moment to stop moping. She wasn't going to let Potter and Black stand in the way of her having a good time. No matter how much they had hurt her feelings.
"No, you know what?" Blaise raised her voice, sounding angry. This change startled the girls, they sent each other nervous looks. "I will not let those two gits have any more control over how I act. I've been moping for too long and I am through with feeling sorry for myself. They can get their souls sucked out by dementors for all I care." Blaise proclaimed, jumping up. The stunned girls stepped back, looking at the red-head like she had grown two heads. This was the most she had spoken all week, they were trying to wrap their heads around Blaise's new demeanor. Lily was the one to break the silence.
"So, our Blaise is back?" The other red-head asked hopefully.
"Blaise is back, girls." Blaise smiled at them. "I'm sorry for how I have been acting." She started apologizing.
"Don't be, you were hurt by your best mates." Mary stopped her.
"We understand, Blaise." Marlene added. Blaise was truly grateful for how wonderful her friends were. "But, I'm glad you snapped out of it. I couldn't take much more of seeing you like that." She smiled, guiltily.
"Right, well, shall we get ready for Hogsmeade? I need a new outfit for tonight." Blaise said. The girls all nodded excitedly. They waited in the common room for Blaise to get dressed.
"I'm so glad she's okay." Marlene said to the two girls once they were away from the dormitory.
"I'm not sure if she's okay, but I'm glad she's at least trying to be back to her old self." Lily said thoughtfully. Just as they started relaxing, a group of boys came running down the stairs. Of course, it had to be the marauders.
"For Merlin's sake." Mary cursed.
"Marlene, you should go stall until they are gone. She doesn't need this, we are just getting her back." Lily said, turning to the blonde. Marlene nodded, quickly making her way up the stairs to the girl's dormitory.
"Who are you just getting back, Evans?" Sirius asked, walking over to the two girls. James following apprehensively behind the dark-haired boy.
"Sod off, Black. It's none of your concern." Lily said harshly.
"You wound me, Evans." Lily and Mary scoffed.
"Come on, Sirius. I don't think you've been a hit with these ladies for a while now. Let's just go." Remus urged. Lily sent him a thankful smile, which he returned.
"Oh, come on, Remus. I was just having a bit of..." Sirius was cut off mid-sentence as he saw Blaise make her way down the stairs. Catching everyone's attention, the air immediately turned frigid. No one sure how Blaise was going to react. Her reaction shocked everyone.
"Oh, hey, Remus, Peter." She smiled, acting as if she couldn't even see Sirius or James. Usually, Blaise completely avoided all the boys as of lately. But, she decided to just erase the two who had hurt her entirely from her life. Remus and Peter smiled at the girl in acknowledgement. "Ready, girls?" Blaise asked.
"Let's go." Lily said, taking Blaise's arm. Making sure to send daggers to Potter and Black as they strolled out of the common room.
"Mate, I think she just pretended we no longer exist." Sirius said, turning to James. James shook his head, leading the marauders out of the common room. After breakfast the girls headed down the path to Hogsmeade. Marlene and Mary walked in front of Blaise and Lily, giggling about something the other had said.
"You sure you're okay?" Lily asked nervously to Blaise.
"I mean, my feelings are still hurt and everything, but I'll survive. I just can't let it bother me so much." Blaise replied, running her fingers through her wavy hair.
"It's okay to be hurt, Blaise. I don't blame you at all." Lily said, linking the girl's arms together. Blaise sent her a small smile as they continued to walk. They entered the village, seeing the hustle and bustle of Halloween day.
"Well, shall we go to Gladrags Wizardwear?" Marlene suggested, turning back to the girls. They nodded in agreement. After they had all gotten new outfits for the party that night, they headed to the three broomsticks. Lily was the last one, just about to enter the pub, when she was yanked back.
"Before you say anything, just hear us out okay?" Sirius quickly said. Lily opened her mouth to protest, but closed it when she saw how desperate he and James looked. Remus and Peter sent her an encouraging look. "We know that we were right gits." He started and Lily scoffed in disbelief. That was an understatement. "But, James here, is miserable without Blaise around. We all are. Don't tell me it hasn't impacted you girls too." Lily looked at the ground, finally nodding in agreement.
"Blaise said she wanted to move on, but I can tell she's still upset. I don't like seeing her like this." The girl admitted.
"Evans, we need your help. Blaise clearly wants nothing to do with us and you know how stubborn she is, she'll never listen to us. Which is where you come in." Lily raised her eyebrow.
"We came up with a plan. If you could just convince her to meet us at the shrieking shack, we can fix this." Remus continued.
"Blaise won't go if she knows you lot will be there. That should be obvious." Lily said. The boys raised their brows, urging her to see where they were going with this. "You want me to lie to her?!" Lily exclaimed.
"Lily, please. Everyone is miserable and it's our fault. She's my best mate. Please." James pleaded. Normally, Lily would have blown the poor boy off, but he looked so sad. She knew what she had to do.
X
"Lily, why the bloody hell are we going to the shrieking shack?" Blaise protested as they walked away from the village.
"It's a surprise! Just wait, Blaise." Lily said, dragging the girl with her. They came to a clearing through the trees when Blaise spotted them.
"No way. No!" Blaise said angrily. "I don't want to see them, what in Merlin's name were you thinking, Lily. You're supposed to be my friend." Blaise felt betrayed and Lily tried to not to be hurt by her words.
"Blaise, just listen to what they have to say." Lily pleaded, stopping the girl from storming away. "Please, we are all miserable. You two are best mates, give Potter a chance." Blaise couldn't believe what she was hearing, Lily was trying to help James.
"Are you feeling okay, Lils? Did you just ask me to give James a chance?" Lily rolled her eyes, sighing exasperatedly. Lily gave Blaise her best puppy dog eyes, Blaise's shoulders fell in defeat.
"I'll listen, but that's it." Blaise said, barely above a whisper. Lily patted her shoulder comfortingly as she walked back to the village with Remus and Peter. "Well, are you going to say anything?" Blaise started.
"I was a complete wanker." James said, walking towards the girl. Blaise raised her eyebrow, urging him to continue. "I was just so angry when Sirius said you were going to the party with Rosier. I didn't mean to say the things I did. You mean a lot to me, Blaise. I couldn't even bear the thought of you associating that way with the creep. And I was a right git about the bet as well. I was just poking fun, I thought you knew better. I didn't think what I had said would bother you like that. I only said what I did because you're blind to all the boys in this school who drool after you. You don't focus on things normal girls do and I don't mean that in a bad way. You're special and that scares boys. I know you could have any boy you want, Blaise. It's clear as day to anyone that you could. I was just being a stupid 13-year-old boy. I'm so bloody sorry, Blaise. Please, I'll do anything, I just want my best mate back. I've never been so miserable and empty in my life." James finished, tears welling in his eyes. Blaise knew James hardly ever cried, the scene of it made her chest tighten. She knew James never thought before he spoke, she knew she was going to forgive him. Without her best mate in her life, she was just as miserable and empty as he was. Tears built up in her eyes as she closed the distance between them, wrapping him in a hug.
"I missed you." Blaise choked out.
"I'm so sorry, Blaise." James returned.
"I forgive you. I'm sorry too. What I said about Lily was horrid of me." She admitted.
"We both said things we didn't mean. Me more so than you, though. I promise to think more before I speak from now on." Blaise laughed, hugging him once more. "Does this mean I have my best mate back?" James asked hopefully.
"I doubt I could get rid of you if I tried." She joked, causing him to laugh. Blaise almost forgot Sirius was there before he cleared his throat. She raised her brow, curious as to what he had to say.
"I'm sorry too. I never take anything seriously and I don't think about how that can impact my mates. I really am sorry, Blaise." It was very short compared to James apology, but Blaise knew Sirius meant it. She gave him a smile and nodded. The two boys linked arms with the girl.
"For the record, James, I'm fairly certain Lily is in love with you too. She just hasn't realized it yet." Blaise told the boy. Causing a dazzling smile to be sent to the girl.
"You better not just be saying that." James laughed as Blaise held her hand up in defense.
"Well, Blaise, I think we owe you some butterbeers, yeah?" Sirius proposed.
"It is the least you could do." She teased as they made their way to the three broomsticks. The three entered the pub, their group of friends turning towards the door. Smiles broke out on their faces as they saw their arms linked.
"Thank Merlin!" Peter yelled. "If I had to see James sulk anymore, I would have bashed my head in. Not to mention Sirius' constant complaining about missing your laugh and your jokes and seeing your fa.." Peter was cut off by Remus smacking the back of his head. James sent a questioning look to Sirius, apparently missing these complaints while he had been sulking. Sirius' neck grew red and the same happened to Blaise's cheeks. The girls sent each other a knowing look as they giggled.
"I'm so glad the gang is back together." Mary smiled, sipping her butterbeer happily. James was the only one who seemed to notice Blaise looking anywhere, but at Sirius and Sirius looking nowhere, but at Blaise.
X
"So, Sirius, anything you'd like to tell me?" James asked his mate as they were getting ready for the party. Sirius shot the boy a confused look.
"What do you mean?"
"Any reason you couldn't stop gazing at my best mate today?" James quipped. Sirius quickly turned to look in the mirror, making sure his hair was the way he wanted.
"I don't know what you're taking about, mate." Sirius said, clearing his throat.
"Do you fancy Blaise?" James asked, just as Remus entered the dorm. Catching what James had just asked, Remus burst into a coughing fit.
"Are you feeling okay, James? I think you're imagining things." Sirius quickly said, shooting a glare towards Remus.
"You know, I wouldn't care if you did. It might actually be brilliant, two of my best mates together. As long as you didn't hurt her, clearly." James said aloud, as if pondering the two dating. "Because as close as we are, Blaise is Blaise, I'd murder you if you hurt her."
"Well, you don't have to worry about that, because I don't fancy her." James and Remus gave each other a knowing look as Sirius blew them off. "Do you wankers want to go get pissed or not?" Making the boys laugh, they followed Sirius down to the common room.
X
"How is this?" Marlene asked. Twirling around in her black velvet dress.
"Marlene, you always look foxy." Blaise laughed.
"Oh, please, you're the one who looks foxy." Marlene shot back. "Your hair is to die for." Blaise shook her head, laughing.
"I think Sirius would agree with that." Mary teased. Blaise's mouth fell open, looking at Mary like she had grown two heads.
"W-what?" She stuttered. All three girls giggled.
"Blaise, are you that daft?" Lily questioned. "He clearly fancies you." Blaise scoffed.
"We're just friends. Bloody hell you guys, we argue all the time. I have no idea why you'd think of something so absurd." The girls shared a look.
"Whatever you say, Blaise." Marlene laughed.
"Sod off, do you wankers want to go get pissed or not?" Blaise grumbled, making her mates laugh. The girls made their way down to the common room, the party was already in full swing. Blaise let her eyes roam over the crowd of people, finding the marauders. "I'll catch up with you lot in a bit, I'm going to go chat with the boys." Marlene waggled her eyebrows at Blaise, sending the girls into a fit of giggles. Blaise took her leave, flipping off her mates as she walked away. She made her way across the common room, headed to where the boys were, when she was bumped into. Sticky warm liquid was spilled all over Blaise's new dress.
"Oops, my bad." A sickly-sweet voice giggled. Of course, it was none other than Verity Welch. Blaise tried to calm herself before she hexed the twit into next week. "Oh, Blaise, I didn't even see you there." Verity smirked innocently, clearly lying.
"Get out of the way, wench." Verity's mouth dropped open at the insult. "I mean Welch, my bad." Blaise mocked the girl's voice from before. She tried moving past the girl, but with no avail. Verity grabbed Blaise's arm.
"I heard how you lost your bet with James, what, couldn't find anyone desperate enough to go with you, Delemont?" Verity said tauntingly. "Not that I'm surprised, I don't know who would want to go with you."
"Ah, Verity, you found my date." Sirius interrupted, hearing the girl's conversation. Blaise had a hard time concealing her shock as Sirius winked at her. Verity's mouth fell open, Sirius wrapped his arm around Blaise's shoulder.
"She was the girl you were going to ask?" Verity asked in shock. Blaise had forgotten about that. She hoped whoever Sirius did ask, wouldn't be upset he was coming to her rescue.
"Yeah, I was surprised she said yes. I'm quite the lucky man." He smirked down at Blaise. Verity scoffed, stalking off. Sirius turned towards Blaise. "Here, let me fix your dress." He performed a drying charm and sent a dazzling smile to the girl.
"Thank you, Sirius." Blaise blushed, looking down.
"Not a problem, I heard what she said. Quite the slag, that one." Blaise and Sirius laughed together. Sirius' arm was still draped over the girl as the rest of the marauders made their way to them.
"What's going on here?" James asked, raising a brow at the two. Blaise turned bright red and quickly moved away from Sirius. He shook the irritation he felt towards James and the marauders interruption away.
"Uh, Sirius just saved me from hexing Welch." Blaise laughed uneasily.
"A rotten one, she is." James commented, causing the group to laugh. "Well, m'lady, can I interest you in a drink?"
"Of course, you can, four eyes." The boys laughed at an annoyed James as he led the girl away. Blaise followed her mate to the drinks table, James pouring her a cup of firewhiskey. Blaise smelled the liquid, scrunching her face up in disgust, making James laugh. "Ugh, it just had to be firewhiskey."
"It's not my fault you drank more than you should have that night. Mum thought you were seriously ill, when in reality, you just had a hangover." James laughed as the two recalled the night they had snuck into James' father's study, stealing his firewhiskey from his desk.
"I was seriously ill, technically." They laughed.
"Hey, Blaise." Blaise turned around at the sound of Mathew Wood's voice.
"Oh, hey, Mathew. How are you?" Blaise asked.
"I'll catch up with you later." James winked, Blaise glaring at the boy as he disappeared from her sight.
X
James chuckled at Blaise's narrowed eyes as he walked towards his mates.
"Where's Blaise?" James smirked at the fact that that was Sirius' first question. Remus and James shared a pointed look. James decided to poke at Sirius a tad.
"Flirting with Wood." Sirius coughed on the drink he had just taken. "Problem?" James asked, not able to hide the smirk on his face.
"What's going on, boys?" Marlene asked, popping up next to Sirius, Mary and Lily in tow.
"Where's Blaise?" Lily asked.
"Blaise." Sirius grumbled. "Is flirting with Wood, apparently." Causing the whole group laugh.
"I hope she'll give him a chance already, the poor boy has been pining for her since the beginning of last year." Mary chimed in, causing Sirius to scoff.
"He's a 5th year, why is he interested in her?"
"Sirius, didn't you get caught by McGonagall a few weeks ago, snogging that 5th year Hufflepuff?" Marlene questioned.
"That's different." Sirius mumbled.
"Is it, mate?" Remus joined in.
"I think that is pretty much the same thing, Sirius." Peter said, putting his two knuts in.
"All of you, sod off. Want to dance McKinnon?" Sirius asked, pulling Marlene onto the dance floor before she could give him a proper answer.
"It's quite obvious, you know." Marlene told Sirius.
"What is?" He asked, raising his brow.
"All of us can see you fancy Blaise." She chuckled. He went to deny it, but was cut off. "It's honestly clear to everyone but her."
"Marlene, you know my reputation. If I did, and I'm not admitting to it, but if I did fancy Blaise it will pass. I don't have lasting relations with girls, Blaise means too much to all of us for me to go after her. I couldn't risk it." Marlene thought about what he said for a moment.
"Sometimes you need to take risks, Sirius." She said quietly. He stared down at the girl before answering.
"I'm a marauder, McKinnon, I take risks every day." She laughed. "But, Blaise," He paused. "She's a risk I'm not willing to take." Sirius said surely.
A/N: So, Sirius somewhat admitted his feelings! As I said in a previous author's note, there will be time skips. The story fast forwards to 5th year in the next chapter. The skips will be less drastic once it's their 7th year. Let me know what y'all think and if you have any suggestions!