Thanks to Raven that flies at night, your reviews always make me smile :). Please let me know how I'm doing!
Later that evening, Sage could be found in her bed, reading the second book in her favorite Muggle series, The Lord of the Rings. She was trying to relax after her dismal date and being that her roommates had yet to return, this was the best place. And if she was being honest with herself, it was the safest place to avoid Sirius.
The door opened and Kylie walked in, laden with bags of books. Lumos took off from her spot near the foot of Sage's bed to greet her owner as Kylie dropped the books on her bed. Kylie picked up her cat and perched herself on the edge of Sage's bed. "So, how was your date?"
"Awful," She sighed, placing her bookmark and closing the book. "Sirius followed us for the first part and you saw what happened at the pub."
"He followed you?" Kylie gasped. "What did Gideon say?"
"He didn't see him; Sirius is good at sneaking around. But I did, and I yelled at him," She said, purposefully leaving out the fact Sirius was an animagus. She didn't lie to him; she really hadn't told a single soul for fear of the law finding out.
"You yelled at him?"
"Yep," Sage said, popping the P. She ran a finger over the worn spine of her book distractedly. "Cornered him in the alley by Zonko's and let him have it. Told him that if he did it again, I'd curse him into next week." Kylie snorted at that. "I just don't know what his problem is."
"Me either. Remus lectured him after you left and he just took it. Didn't say a word to defend himself, just sat there with a pensive look on his face." Sage heaved another large sigh but otherwise remained silent. "What happened after that?"
"Well, Gideon said that it seemed like Sirius fancied me and I told him that was ridiculous. I mean, I'm just his best mate's sister, and he was bored." Kylie donned her own pensive look, chewing her bottom lip and staring into middle distance. "What?"
"It's just strange that he'd choose to follow you and not try to hook up with some poor, unsuspecting soul." Sage snorted at her wording before shaking her head.
"Do you really think he could fancy me?" Sage asked hesitantly.
"I really don't know," Kylie replied after a moment. "He's acting strange, definitely. And you two have been spending a lot of time together. And regardless of what you think, he's never treated you as just James' sister. Even Remus said so."
Sage felt the breath get knocked out of her at the thought. She thought Sirius was fit, sure, but anyone with eyes could see that. She never entertained the idea of them being together. He drove her insane most of the time, bordering on obnoxious and exasperating. But he had changed a bit since they started spending more time alone for tutoring. Instead of making fun or pulling pranks on her, he encouraged her and spent their brief breaks making her laugh. Sage shook herself out of her confusion and focused on her best friend.
"Speaking of Remus, how did you wind up spending the afternoon with him?" Sage asked, watching as Kylie's cheeks flushed.
"I was walking to the village and he and Sirius saw me. I told him that I was going to the bookstore and he asked if he could accompany me. Sirius whined for five minutes before Remus snapped and told him that if he couldn't keep his gob shut, he could leave. So he did and we spent most of the day talking about, well, everything."
"Oh my Godric!" Sage squealed, clapping her hands together. "That's so amazing! Are you going to get together again?"
"We were talking about exams and he said that he'd help me with my reviews. So we're meeting up on Monday nights when you and Sirius are studying and James is doing Head duties." She said, grinning from ear to ear. Sage squealed again and knocked Kylie over in a hug, causing a disgruntled Lumos to hiss and bolt under the bed. "Get off!" Kylie yelled laughing, pushing her friend off. The two girls laughed until they were breathless, lying side by side on the bed.
"So are you going to see Gideon again?" Kylie asked, their giggles subsiding.
"I don't know," Sage said truthfully. "He's nice and besides the incident with Sirius, he seemed enthusiastic."
"But?" Kylie prompted.
"But it was awkward. I mean, I don't know if you noticed but he's kind of small and I feel huge around him." Sage said. If there was anybody to whom she could admit her insecurities, it was Kylie.
"You're not huge. You're tall and curvy, yes. But not huge." She squinted up at her friend for a moment before speaking again. "You're an Amazonian goddess, like Wonder Woman."
"Who?" Sage asked with a laugh.
"She's from a Muggle comic book that I found in my dad's office. She's basically a demigod and completely awesome. She's also a princess."
"Ah yes, I can see the similarities between us already," Sage said sardonically.
"They are many," Kylie said with a laugh before turning the conversation back to the original point. "Now, I have even less experience with boys than you do but it doesn't sound like you have any connection with Gideon. Do you want my advice?" Sage nodded. "Don't settle. If he's not what you want, that's okay. Find someone else."
"I'll keep that in mind," Sage said, not completely willing to give up yet.
"Good. Now if we hurry, we can catch dessert."
"Treacle tart, here I come," Sage said, bouncing out of bed immediately.
The next morning, Sage and Kylie were sitting across from Marlene and Alice in the Great Hall. The four girls hadn't much time to discuss their respective dates, as Marlene and Alice had finished dinner and headed back to the dorms to sleep as Sage and Kylie went on the dessert run.
Alice had just finished her long-winded explanation of the romantic afternoon Frank had whipped up, complete with tea at Madam Puddifoot's and a walk around the countryside surrounding Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. Sage had a sneaking suspicion that Frank's increase in romance had an epic finale and was excited for her friend.
Sage turned to Marlene, hopeful. "So, how was your date with Sean?"
Marlene sighed and shrugged. "Boring. McLaggin couldn't talk his way out of a cauldron. And though fit, he's not as fit as...others. There's just nothing there." Sage sighed as well; she had hoped that McLaggin would distract Marlene and her infatuation with Sirius would go away. It seems they weren't that lucky.
"So you're back on Sirius then?" Sage asked. Marlene shot her a pointed look.
"Is that a problem?"
"No, not at all," Sage said quickly, shaking her head and Marlene continued to stare hard at her. "Though, it doesn't seem like he fancies you. And you're much too good to wait around for anyone, especially someone too blind to see how great you are in the first place."
"Maybe you're right." Marlene heaved a big sigh but seemed mollified. "How about your date with Gideon?"
"It was okay. Great actually." Sage said listlessly.
"Doesn't sound that way," Alice observed with a small laugh.
"I don't know. It just didn't seem right." Sage bit her lip, debating whether to divulge her body image issues but decided against it. Alice and Marlene were her friends, yes, but they weren't quite as close as Kylie. Granted, nobody really was.
"Well if it doesn't feel right, it doesn't. No shame in that." Marlene said sagely.
"I think I might give it another shot. He's nice and funny. Maybe it's because I'm out of practice." Sage admitted.
"True. I mean, when was the last time you had a date? Fourth year?" Marlene asked, her tone kind despite the harsh words.
"Fifth." Sage let out her own huge sigh. "What's wrong with me? Am I awful? Ugly?" Alice and Marlene shared an apprehensive look. "What?"
"Nothing, it's just something Frank said," Alice said, waving her hand. "But that's all hearsay."
"What is all hearsay?" Sage pressed.
"Well, I told him you were on a date, right? And he said something about how surprised he was that someone was brave enough to ask you. Something about risking 'the wrath of the Marauders'." She made quotation marks with her fingers. "It seems like it's general knowledge that they've scared off anyone who seems interested in you."
"WHAT?!" Sage screeched, drawing the attention of some third years around them. "Why?" She asked quieter.
"Who knows? Maybe because you're the baby Potter? Maybe to be arseholes?" Alice said, shrugging. Sage glared daggers towards the group of four boys, who seemed oblivious to the steaming curly-haired girl down the table. Students began leaving the tables in droves and Kylie laid a hand on Sage's shoulder.
"C'mon. You can plot their murders after Charms." She said, gathering her things.
"I'm thinking of unleashing a rabid Hippogriff on them. Or tying them up, draping fresh meat all over them, and watching as threstrils eat their eyeballs." Sage grumbled, following her friends out of the Hall.
"Very Persian," Kylie remarked dryly. She walked a bit slower, watching Alice and Marlene's back before speaking out of the side of her mouth. "So are we keeping Sirius' excursion to ourselves?"
"Do you think Marlene would be okay with it? Her precious Sirius following someone, her mate, on a date? Regardless of his motive, it looks...strange." Sage muttered.
"So we keep it to ourselves."
"Until I figure out why, yes."
Kylie snorted softly. "How are you going to do that? Ask him?"
"No idea. But I'm sure I'll come up with something," Sage replied before hurrying to catch up with Alice and Marlene. And she would, after she flayed each Marauder, slowly.
