Author's note - I am so overwhelmed at all the love! I appreciate it all so, so much! You guys are everything!
Shout outs -
paulaa90 - I cannot wait to write Tonks and Dahlia, I have a feeling that Remus and Sirius will be so embarrassed by the girls!
Blissangel91494 - Thank you so much! I'm so happy that you're loving it and Dahlia!
lijahsgirl - Thank you!
ForeverTeamEdward13 - I'm so happy think so! Thank you!
xxxMadameMysteryxxx - Thank you for thinking so, much appreciated!
FluffcakesAndLemonade - Thank you for everything from notes to gossiping about boys! Love you girl!
HyoSonn - You are fabulous and amazing, don't know what I'd do without you!
Sarah - Thank you for all the love lately, much appreciated!
Dario - You have no idea how much you help me, thank you!
Blake - Thanks for all the low key reading!
patrialevet, tinlawia - Thank you for following!
hash16 - Thank you for following and adding as a favorite!
Blissangel91494 - Thank you for adding as a favorite!
As always please enjoy, read, and review!
The week Harry stayed with Dahlia and Sirius flew by and he managed to safely get to the Burrow the day before the World Cup. The couple would be following the Weasleys with the addition of Harry and Hermione. It was in the rousing pre-game they all met up again.
"DAHL," Fred and George called.
Dahlia ran up to them throwing her arms around the tall twins, "Good to see you boys, taking bets I assume?"
They nodded, "Care to make a wager," they grinned from ear to ear. Those two could have sold fire to a dragon.
"I see you're being hustled little love," Sirius walked up behind her wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Are we making the wager you so carefully crafted?" he asked quietly in her ear and Dahlia nodded. "Right," Sirius pulled out a small coin purse, "All of it on the Irish," he said handing George the velvet bag.
"But what about the Snitch," Fred asked.
"Krum," Sirius smiled at the red heads.
"We knew we liked you," they grinned at Sirius then at Dahlia.
"Ah, Dahlia glad to see you made it," Arthur said behind his sons, he nodded to Black, "Sirius."
"Arthur," Sirius gave a respectful nod in return.
"Come in and sit a spell," Mr. Weasley told the couple leading the way to a tent that from the outside looked rather small and plain. However the truth of the matter was that is held 4 rooms and was enormous on the inside.
Inside the comfy and cozy tent they found Ron and Ginny along with Harry and Hermione. Harry was admiring the inside of the tent, still quite not used to all the wonders magic worked. Sirius left the lilac haired witch's side to embrace his godson and when he did she was flanked by Hermione and Ginny pulling her into their room almost begging for details about the summer.
"Ladies," she grinned at their over enthusiastic nature. Her pale blue eyes flitted to the dark wavy haired wizard, holding him in her gaze for a moment, "He's been a perfect gentleman," she returned to the girls looking like cartoon kittens with big watery eyes and hands clasped together hanging on Dahlia's every word. "Just the wizard I remember and he still surprises me," she said thoughtfully. "He watches me as I drift off to sleep, just like he used to," Dumbledore's niece decided to omit certain explicit details as to how they fell asleep every night. "He cooks, which is a new development, for me at least," she laughed quietly. "The thing that I love most about him is the way he looks at me. It's different from the way he used to look at me when I was a child." Dahlia's voice took on a dreamy quality as she continued, "It's like the first time he's ever seen me, even if he's been looking at me all day, almost like I'm the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. It's admiration, fascination, adoration, and pure love mixed onto his handsome and charming face and in his shining dark blues."
A collective, "Awwwwww," arose from the teenagers turning their gaze to Black and their reaction caught the attention of all in the tent.
Sirius chuckled walking over to the trio of lovely witches, "Telling stories outside of school little love," he sat down next to her turning to Hermione and Ginny, "Anything she has told you has been wholly untrue," he smiled, "you must first multiply it by ten and you will be somewhere close to the truth." He kissed Dahlia's temple softly, to another collective response from the girls and pulled an annoyed mixed with mild disgust from the teenage boys in the room.
Dahlia and Sirius laughed at Hermione and Ginny's reaction glaring at Fred, George, and Ron while Harry laughed at all of them. The grandfather clock in the middle of the sitting room in the tent rang out. It was game time. Before leaving faces were painted with either Irish or Bulgarian colors, large and comical hats were put on along with team colored scarves. The group walked out of the tent meeting up with Amos Diggory and his son Cedric.
"Miss Dumbledore," the cheery Hufflepuff greeted the teaching assistant.
"Cedric, how are you," she smiled at him while they walked to the stands.
"Fantastic, didn't think I'd be seeing you here," he looked at Sirius for a brief moment before continuing, "Exciting summer and all," he flashed a gleaming smile.
"It was, to say the least, but Minister Fudge decided that I should be here so here I am," she laughed with Cedric joining in, "and I couldn't be more thrilled." She saw Amos smiling at the two, "Go with your dad, I'll see you at school."
She watched Cedric run after his dad making their way to their seats. The Minister caught her eye and she nodded, "Well this is where we leave you, behave Weasleys, minus Ginny. See you after the match Harry," she hugged him and Hermione before walking to Cornelius waiting for Sirius to follow.
Sirius caught up with Dahlia, "Minister Fudge," he said cordially. Sirius Black was indeed a gracious and polite man, even when the occasion didn't call for it. His voice was soft and giving, whether or not he liked Fudge for what transpired prior to his incarceration at Azkaban couldn't be said from his outward appearance.
The men shook hands; the Minister looked cautiously on Black, as many people had been treating him. While his name had been cleared and the real culprit had been apprehended, even for a day or two, people still treated Sirius as if he would harm them, very cautious when approaching him. It didn't seem to bother him that Dahlia had noticed, but it bothered her, however the only outward indication of her annoyance was a quick eye roll from the lilac haired witch.
It was during this involuntary action she heard the unmistakable haughty and velvet tones of Lucius Malfoy, "Well put it this way, if it rains…you'll be the first to know."
Dahlia shuddered under Sirius' arm, "Dahlia," he asked quietly turning from the platitude laced conversation with the Minister.
She looked up at him, "Malfoy," she whispered and felt Black go tense around her.
Then Draco spoke, "Father and I are in the Minister's box, by personal invitation of Cornelius Fudge himself," his voice full of snobbery.
The Malfoys were close by, to hear the conversation clearly, "Don't boast Draco," Lucius scolded, "There's no need with these people. Do enjoy yourself won't you? While you can," the underlying threat that had become so commonplace with Lucius Malfoy, it hardly affected those on the opposite side of it.
However it should have, the electricity in the air changed, it was still alive with the excitement surrounding the match but there was something sinister on the wind. It raised the hair on Dahlia's neck, something was coming. The Malfoy family entered, Narcissa first, then Draco, and finally Lucius. All of them wearing the same shocked look seeing not only Dumbledore's niece but Sirius Black standing in a rather protective manner by the lilac haired witch; the tension in the room rose to a palpable level, thick and viscous like syrup. Black and the Malfoy patriarch glared at one another before he turned his icy grey eyes to Dahlia.
"How fitting," he sneered out, the amount of repugnance in his words hung in the air as they took their seats.
As Lucius moved to his seat he knocked into Dahlia, almost pushing her down causing Draco to snicker in delight watching her fall off balance being held upright by Black. After Sirius righted Dahlia he grabbed Malfoy by the arm, "Apologize," he said calmly but it was clear his grip on Malfoy's arm was substantial and getting tighter.
"Sirius," Dahlia said touching his arm and Black relaxed almost instantly letting go of the white blonde wizard, "he can't help that even with all his influence his feet still don't listen to him. Come on," she grabbed his hand, "the game's about to start." She pushed him toward their seats on the other side of the Minister, who had his bowler hat in his hands and it was nearly crushed. Dahlia nodded to him then to Narcissa and Draco. The younger Malfoy scoffed crossing his arms as he slumped into his seat.
Narcissa mouthed, "I'm sorry," to Dahlia. They may not have run in the same circles but they respected one another. She knew how much Dumbledore's niece cared about her students, even Draco, for all Draco and his father's distaste for the teaching assistant, and Narcissa appreciated that.
The tension eased as Ludo Bagman, the announcer of the match, introduced the teams. The Irish came screaming out of the sky to a jaunty fiddled tune and a dancing leprechaun made of fireworks was left in their wake. Then the Bulgarian team sped through the fireworks disbursing the sparks throughout the stadium, the ominous music of the Bulgarian team filled the area along with the chanting of KRUM! The seeker, who didn't have a traditional seeker's build, was wicked fast; it was as if he controlled the wind when he rode. It was truly a sight to see.
Dahlia leaned forward wide eyed and visibly enthralled, she missed playing; it had always been highlight amongst her school days. The wind in her hair, her trusty broom beneath her, catching the blasted snitch in her hands, the crowd cheering, all of it made her adrenaline pump through her. Resting her face in her hands that were propped on her knees, she watched the action on the field. Sirius on the other hand was watching her, sure he played in his school days and enjoyed watching the sport, but what he had his cool blue eyes on was a sight better than any Quidditch match. The way she leaned in on the edge of her seat or how she yelled at the referee for making an obvious bad call against the Irish was the real reason he came with her. He loved watching her get excited, she put her whole body into it, and it was gorgeous. Black leaned down with her, his forearms on his thighs but never taking his eyes off of her, he kissed her cheek making a rush of pink flood her face and a coy smile to her mouth.
"You're missing the best part," she whispered not taking her eyes off the field.
He laughed slightly leaning to her ear, "You are the best part."
The match played out just as Dahlia and the twins had predicted. The Bulgarians were trounced by the Irish but Krum caught the snitch ending the match. Dahlia jumped when the whistle blew signifying the end and cheered loudly drawing all eyes to her.
She turned to the silent and somewhat shocked audience, "It's a Quidditch match not a museum, show that you're alive," she practically yelled at the Malfoys and Minister to Sirius' amusement as he joined her in a hearty, "GO IRELAND!" The lilac haired witch jumped into his arms covering his face in kisses.
Sirius cradled the petite witch to his chest, "Let's go find Fred and George, Minister," he said before leaving not even glancing back at Lucius who was fuming at the ex convict.
Thank you all again for reading, reviewing, following, or the add as a favorite. Please remember I couldn't do this without all of you. Drop me a line, I would love to hear from all of you!
