A/N: I am so horrible for keeping you waiting for so long for a new chapter. Four months is inexcusable and I am so sorry! This semester was so busy for me as I was trying to get into nursing school (but never fear, I made it!). Hopefully, this chapter is going to make it up to you. It's extra long in comparison to how long my chapters usually are. Please please please review! I've missed you guys!
The Chronicles of Aella Knight
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
-Eleanor Roosevelt
Book Two: Confessions
Aella looked at James doubtfully before looking back at the bright red dress in his arms. It was a gorgeous strapless, mermaid dress with white beads around the waist. White lace peeked out from the bottom where the red silk split apart in a fashionable curtain. A beautiful flower design of white beads flowed from the skirt to the form fitting bodice, connecting the skirt and the bodice elegantly.
"James, I'm not sure I can pull that dress off. Why aren't you helping Sirius again?"
James pouted at her, "I know you can! And Sirius will love it! Lioness, you know Lily and Sirius are shopping together since she DID say yes to me."
"Yes, James, you've told me a million times in the past hour. I still don't understand why that means you had to shop with me and Lily had to shop with Sirius."
"Because I want to make sure you look good for Sirius!"
"James, what does it matter if I look good for him or not? He only wants to go as friends," Aella finished dejectedly, taking the dress from James and moving to the dressing room.
James blinked and looked at his friend curiously.
Aella looked at James and finally admitted, "James, I've been in love with Sirius since second year."
"What?!" James exclaimed, stopping her from fleeing into the dressing room, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Aella gave James a leveled look, "James, you can't keep secrets from Sirius and you know it."
James was about to respond but Aella shook her head, "Just don't tell him, ok? He wanted to go as friends to the Halloween Ball, so he is clearly not interested."
"But Aella-"
"No, James."
With that, Aella lightly pushed him out of the dressing room so she could try on the dress that James picked out. She had to admit, James had very good taste in dresses, which was actually a bit concerning when she thought about it. The dress fit perfectly; James certainly had an eye for what would look good on her. It was obvious he picked it because of the color though. The brilliant red was the exact shade of red for a Gryffindor. If Sirius was interested in her like she was with him, she was sure he would love it.
Aella sighed and stepped out of the fitting room in the dress for James' approval. She immediately got it in the form of an enthusiastic nod and a "you look great".
Aella slipped back into the dressing room and changed back into her robes. She put the dress onto the hanger and looked at the price as she slipped on her shoes. It was pricey, but she should have enough to get it with plenty left over for Christmas gifts for her friends in a few short months.
The seer stepped out of the dressing room and quickly paid for the dress. She linked arms with one of her best friend and made their way to Three Broomsticks to meet with Lily, Sirius, Remus, and Peter.
The night had finally arrived.
Lily was putting the finishing touches on the twist she had Aella's hair in, adding some sparkling gems. She curled two side pieces so they would frame the seer's face and stepped back with an approving gaze.
"Put your dress on and you will look perfect! Sirius is going to just die from how beautiful you look," Lily said as she started to get into her dress.
"Lily, we are going as friends," Aella said firmly, slipping into her dress.
Lily looked like she was going to argue with her, but changed her mind. She had talked to James and knew just like he did that Sirius and Aella were head-over-heels for each other.
Her friend looked at her for a moment and reached up to fix a smudge of makeup near Aella's left eye. Aella jumped back from Lily's reach in panic, unable to see what she was doing.
"What's wrong?" Lily huffed, "I'm trying to fix your makeup. Couldn't you see that?"
"Of course I could!" Aella snapped.
Lily stared at Aella thoughtfully, her sharp eyes quickly noticing how unfocused her left eye looked. She had never noticed it before. Was it from when she was hit from the Bludger or was it always like that? It wasn't very noticeable at all, but Lily was pretty sure that Aella couldn't see much or anything out of that eye.
"Shall we head downstairs?" Aella asked, pulling Lily from her thoughts.
"Just let me put on my shoes," Lily said, grabbing a pair of strappy heels.
Aella waited patiently for her friend, shifting her weight from foot to foot. Lily looked beautiful in her forest green dress and silver heels. Her hair was down in waves with a lily flower pin in it to hold back her bangs from her face.
"I'm ready," Lily said, linking arms with Aella and walking down to the common room with her.
Downstairs in the common room, the Marauders were waiting for the two ladies that they were escorting. Technically that James and Sirius were escorting, but James was stubborn about the other two staying with them. Remus was seated near the fire, working on an essay for History of Magic as they waited. James and Peter were watching Sirius pace with amused expressions.
Sirius stopped pacing and started shifting nervously, attempting to adjust his tie for the millionth time.
"Pads, stop," James chided, reaching over to fix his tie.
"You look fine, stop fidgeting," Remus scolded from his seat on the plush chair.
Sirius was pale when he looked at James and quietly asked, "Should I tell her tonight?"
Remus looked up from writing with an eyebrow raised in question. Out of the corner of his eye, James saw Remus' questioning look and hesitated. James was the only person who knew, without a doubt, that Sirius and Aella had feelings for each other. James was sure that Remus had a hunch about Sirius, but did he have a right to basically spell it out for the genius werewolf?
Sirius made a noise of impatience.
James had to answer.
"Yes, you should tell her how you feel."
The answer came from Remus.
Sirius gaped at him, "How did you-?"
"Padfoot please, I'm not stupid."
"Hello, boys."
Sharp intakes of break, dropping jaws.
"You looked beautiful, Lily," James recovered first, going to her side and offering her his arm.
"Aella," Sirius hesitated before offering his arm to her.
Aella took it with a smile and turned to Remus to ask him a question about their homework for History of Magic. James took the opportunity to elbow Sirius and give him a pointed look, motioning to Aella and mouthing something that was either "compliment her" or "parliament cur". Sirius was pretty sure he meant the first one.
"Aella, you look amazing," Sirius said, looking down at the girl on his arm.
She truly was beautiful.
'Thanks, Sirius," she smiled at him brightly, "Are you ready?"
Sirius nodded and followed his friends down to the Great Hall with Aella chatting amicably at his side.
When they arrived downstairs, the large doors opened into a very lavishly decorated Great Hall. The ball was already in full swing and the girls both dragged their dates to the dance floor. Actually, Lily dragged all of them to the dance floor with Aella glaring daggers at her the whole way.
As they started moving to the upbeat music, the song changed almost like Lily and James had planned it personally: a slow song.
Aella stopped dancing and stepped away from Sirius stammering, "Y-you can g-go dance with someone else if you want."
Sirius looked at her confused, "But I want to dance with you."
Aella looked up from her intense staring contest with the floor in surprise, "You do?"
Sirius gave her a winning smile that actually made some nearby girls sigh audibly.
"Of course I do. You're my date! Now come over here, we look ridiculous standing here on the dance floor with people dancing around us."
Aella took Sirius' outstretched hand tentatively, smiling up at him as he drew her close.
"Aella, I-"
"Yes Sirius?" she asked when he paused, her voice slightly muffled from being held tight against him.
"I like you!" Sirius blurted out in a very un-Sirius like fashion.
Aella quirked an eyebrow at her friend, "I know that Sirius. That's why we're friends?"
Sirius looked down into her pale blue eyes and took a deep breath, "No, Aella. I like you as more than a friend…I love you."
If it weren't for Sirius' hand on her waist she would have stopped dancing in shock, but he firmly kept her moving.
"Did James put you up to this?" she asked suspiciously.
Sirius looked insulted, "What? No!"
Aella gave him a skeptical look.
Sirius was at a loss. He didn't think that this is how his confession would go. In his optimistic imagination, she would have said that she returned his feelings. In his pessimistic reality, he thought she would have said that she didn't feel that way. He was prepared for both of these options. What he was prepared for was her not believe him. He didn't know how to handle the situation so he acted out of instinct.
Sirius Black leaned down and pressed his lips to Aella's softly.
Sirius looked down at the girl he held in her arms. He finally did it. He told Aella how he felt and she returned his affections! Somehow, one thing led to another—a kiss led to something more—and now he was holding a very naked Aella in his arms as she slept. He kissed her forehead lightly and pulled her tightly to him, causing her to start to wake up.
"Sirius?" she looked up at him with large eyes.
"Aella, I want to try to make this work. I really do love you."
"And I you," Aella said with a smile, "What do you propose?"
"Be my girlfriend?"
"Yes!"
Everything was perfect.
A/N: Yes, they did what you think they did. No, I'm not writing it! Sorry, I just don't think I could write such a scene very well. NO THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE SERIES. I realized just now that it sort of ended that way but no. There is much more to come so stay tuned! Also, about time that they confessed to each other isn't it? Please review! They make me happy!
