A/N: kate3110, I'm glad you liked it! There will be some more action later, and some more Dora maybe :D Oh there will be some more opportunities for them for sure, if Sirius learns how to use them :D So here we are, chapter 9 :D
Disclamer: Everything except the plot and my OC is borrowed from our queen JKR. :D
Chapter 9
'If it isn't, why are you with him?'' I was genuinely puzzled. We kept lazing around and trying not to think about whether our friends got themselves out of that shit or not, so we kept talking about everything and nothing.
She was looking at me from the corner of her eyes, mirth glinting and smirk threatening to break on that face.
''Well, a girl has some needs which shall be satisfied, if you know what I mean.'' She winked and started to chuckle at my bewilderment. ''Just kidding, relax. It's stupid but… I have to be with someone at this time of the year. I don't want to…'' She cleared her throat awkwardly, like she was trying to think of a way to express herself. ''It's not that I don't want to, it's that I'm frightened to be…alone.'' She was looking at the ceiling and then she glanced to me again, nervous and uneasy, with blush rising on her cheeks, I could even see it in the dark. And then she slowly started to talk about her life, her parents and their last trip to Hogsmeade, and her determination to become helpful and meaningful to this society, rather than just to a couple of people. I wasn't aware how much I actually didn't know about this girl. Vivian was lonely and lost but managed tough demeanor so she could simply survive, just like the rest of us. Just like me. I was admiring her courage to say it all out loud. I knew I couldn't do it. I was admiring her determined look while she talked, even if she didn't look at me. I was admiring all the pretty ways shadows and lights from the outside were dancing on her skin and how her violet hair smelled like lavender and orchid and how it was sprawled around her. I was admiring her voice wavering with emotion and her hands fidgeting with her shirt and she was so present, so true and more honest than ever before. And she was more stunning than ever before.
''And besides all, I don't really have other options except Amos, do I?'' She said it in light, playful tone. Is this my chance? What chance, are you out of your mind? Well probably, since I'm talking to myself in my head.
She was now looking at me expectantly, waiting for me to say something. Right. What do I say, now? Oh crap. I just shrugged and grinned easily. Yup, simple and not something that could embarrass you. I couldn't understand her expression; she was looking at me somehow glumly, but then quickly recovered and chuckled.
We fell into comfortable silence and after a couple of minutes I heard her breathing steadying. I glanced at her to see she fell asleep. Oh well, this is nice, even if we are still on the floor, with no information about our friends. I was just lying beside her, staring at the ceiling and shuddering with dread and worry, and imagining the worst scenarios for my friends right now. Stupid, stupid brain. And then I felt her breathing quickening and when I looked at her, she was already looking at me, with sleepy but gentle eyes. And she knew. How could she always know? She closed her eyes again and sighed tiredly.
''Don't worry; they can take care of themselves. Sleep, rest your head a little'' Vivian all but whispered, smiled with her eyes still shut and moved her hand next to mine. She touched my knuckles with hers firstly, and it felt like electricity and fire and it was simply intimate. Then she intertwined our fingers and I didn't want her to pull away, so I squeezed her hand a little. She smiled again and continued her sleep. A couple of minutes later, I fell into some peaceful slumber.
I was up very early-My slumber couldn't hold me in peace for a long time and cold rays of rising sun were going directly in my eyes. I was aching and my muscles were screaming probably something along 'don't move, you git, when you were that intelligent to think it's a good idea to sleep on the floor'. So I was now pacing through the living room and wincing with every step, while trying to stretch my arms and don't break my sore bones in the same time, ignoring that dull pain coming from my wounds, yawning and occasionally glancing at Vivian who was still asleep.
And then, thank Merlin and his pants, appeared a stag Patronus with Prongs' voice.
''Mate! Lily told me she saw you and Vivian apparating, so we assume that you're at hers. We're all alive, at Moony's, with some cuts and bruises and a couple of broken ankles, but fine! Don't worry about us and please send back some message, those were some bad cuts on your chest!'' They're okay. All of them. I grinned and prepared to cast a Patronus.
''See, told you they'll be okay. Although that Patronus scared the shit out of me. Thought that I died, seeing white light and all that crap'' Vivian was standing behind me, mirroring my grin. I sent my dog Patronus to tell them that I'm fine and Vivian went to make some breakfast.
While we were eating, she turned on the radio, catching some muggle music. It was very nice since I listened mostly to that.
And then started some song and was just like two seconds in, when Vivian screamed with excitement. ''Oooh, I love this one'' She turned it up and started jumping and singing along, still sleepy and groggy but cheerful, still in that flannel shirt too big for her, but without her trousers so I had proper look on her long, bare legs. Her hair was messy and flying around her while she was dancing and she didn't have any makeup on. Beautiful.
''C'mon, I know you know this one, you have this record, I saw it! Stop being such an old man!'' She yelled pulling me with her, and I was just happy because we're all alive and fine so I started being my annoying, weird self again, playing imaginary guitar and singing along with Vivian and radio.
''Oh, my little pretty one, my pretty one
When you're gonna give me some TIME, SHARONA'' We were literally screaming our lungs out and it was awesome. We were laughing and jumping and really just being idiots for some time. Then the song finished and some commercials started, and that unfortunately broke our fun.
''Well. That was something'' I chuckled. ''I suppose I should go now.'' I started to gather my things.
''No! Wait! Stay!'' She sounded urgently, and then realized it because I was looking at her puzzled, with raised brows. She cleared her throat and said much more casually.
''I mean, why don't you stay a bit, then I'm going to meet with Amos so we can go together?'' Of course she's going to meet with Amos, the babe. Ignoring my pang of jealousy and feigning indifference, I shrugged and sat back on the couch. Vivian then asked me to show her all the stuff I bought the day before, so we ended up sprawled in her cozy little living room, reading comics and occasionally bickering. We weren't even aware that the day flew by us. We were having some deep philosophical conversation where I was trying to explain to her that Ramones were the best muggle band ever, and she wouldn't listen to me while claiming that Led Zeppelin was classic and classic is always the best. So we of course started fighting, but then she glanced on a watch.
''Oh crap, look at the time! Gonna be late!'' She quickly ran to her bedroom, leaving the door ajar so I could hear her singing to Whole Lotta Love, awfully loud of course. She couldn't sing for her dear life, but I somehow got used to it and didn't find it irritating. Okay, maybe it was a little annoying.
''Oh my God just stop yelling, someone will think I'm slaughtering you here!'' I started to snicker when I heard some profanities directed to me, but then she emerged out of the bedroom and again that urge to strangle Amos Diggory came back to its father and protector, Sirius. She wore knee-length green dress with pretty revealing part on her cleavage, with her hair down, just washed and dried.
''Sooo, c'mon, be my girl friend. What do you think, is it too inviting?'' Vivian gave me wide grin and wink. I was aware how much of a fish I resembled in that moment, with my eyes wide and mouth opening and closing from time to time. I gulped, cleared my throat and desperately searched for some good words in my mind. But my mind was blank. Puff, just like that. And now I felt blush rising on my cheeks. I quickly ducked my head, suddenly very interested in the pattern of the carpet.
''Uhm…Er…It-it depends what are you aiming for.'' I spluttered, feeling like standing in front of McGonagall, waiting for some punishment.
''Hah, you never know what might happen.'' And here comes my punishment. She winked again still gazing at me so I figured I should at least try to look at her.
''Well then, it's fine, you look-'' I grimaced trying to smile and gave her half-hearted crooked grin. ''You look just fine.'' Vivian was now looking at me with a little raised brows, but didn't comment on my eloquence. And then, to prolong my misery I blurted out the most stupid thing I could manage to say in my pathetic little life.
''Whyithadn'tbeenme?'' Then I realized what the fuck I was doing so I frowned trying to cover up my fright.
''What...'me'...? Excuse me? Didn't quite catch that.'' Vivian was baffled, probably wondering why she let some awkward git in her flat at all.
''What? Oh no, just saying to myself.'' I smiled and really hoped that I didn't look like some maniac.
''Did you take something while I was out there? You're being weird. It's been a stressful night, not my place to judge'' Great, now she was thinking I'm some junky or stoned jerk.
''Nope, just tired. Let's go.'' I stopped smiling because maybe I was looking like some maniac.
After some discussions at Moony's is it safe to renovate our apartment or to move out on some other place, when we finally agreed that now everywhere is the same and nobody is safe enough, so we would renovate, I started to be restless. We were chilling like always, lazing around and being useful to the world, but I just couldn't sit on one place for too long. I was nervous and anxious. What if she understood what I meant, what if I fucked up the friendship before it even developed? What if she kept thinking that I'm the same jerk I was/was pretending to be in school? What if I actually accomplish something with her, but fuck it up because I have zero experience with girls and relationships? What if she actually falls in love with that git? Or what, you pathetic hedgehog, if she realizes how much of a whiny little bitch you are being because of her?
''Padfoot, what's wrong with you? Did you smoke some shit at Vivian's?'' This was Wormtail. Why did everybody keep saying that?
''Yeah, you seem kinda off today. Like a baby cow or something.'' Moony tried to make some good comparison, but baby cow? And we call him the normal one.
''Nah guys, he's just in luuurve and probably hurting because his luuurve is on a date with Diggory.'' Prongs snickered, Wormtail gasped in disbelief, Moony's eyes widened and I glared.
''Shut up, you git, it's nothing like that!'' I barked and kicked him in the shin.
''Oh Merlin, so it is true! You're in denial! Look at you going all crazy for little taunting.'' Now Moony started snickering too. And Wormtail joined.
After I got really bored of their stupid jokes about me going emotional so they could get me back for all the times I toasted them, I transformed into Padfoot. It's so easy when you are Animagi-when shit happens just transform and chase some birds, you'll still have your mind but your emotions will be simple, all black and white, just like your sight. Perfect.
I don't know what I was doing wandering around that valley where her flat was, but I could smell her. And I was ecstatic to find out she was alone.
I stalked to the bench she was sitting on and she looked at me in bewilderment. Oh no, maybe she's afraid of dogs. Well, maybe of dogs of the bear-wolf size. But then she smiled mildly and held her hand for me to sniff and lick. Oh, Padfoot was thrilled and happy around her and could show it proudly, unlike Sirius. So he did, he snuggled close to her and let her scratch his back, while waving tail cheerfully.
''You are one very nice dog, you know?'' Vivian cooed. Vivian cooed? Wow, never saw that coming.
''Can I tell you a secret? I am a little sad, because I am such an idiot,I push away other people who want just good for me, and even if I know that, I do nothing to improve myself. I see my problem, but just ignore it. That's so stupid, right? But shhh, don't tell one guy called Sirius, he will not let me live it down if he finds out that I think so lowly of myself! He would tease me forever!'' She talked to me and my eyes sparkled and my tail started waggling very fast. I didn't know if this was a result of having some argument with Diggory or something like that, but I knew I was happy because she remembered me even in a little unimportant chat.
''Hah, it's like you understand me. See, I'm having a very good conversation with a dog. Told you I'm an idiot.'' Vivian laughed and I pushed her knee with my nose. We stayed that way very long and I could just imagine how would it be to snuggle up next to her in a human form. Oh well, we'll never know.
