Fuel to the Fire

Chapter10:Dance Classes?

Sirius's hair caused quite the stir for the rest of the day. The guys laughed and the girls stared in shock. At first Sirius grumbled and ducked his head every time someone passed him, but then he changed his mind and as only Sirius Black could do, he owned his new colouring.

"Good grief Mr Black... what have you done to your hair?" Professor McGonagall blinked rapidly as we entered the classroom that the Gryffindor's had been summoned too.

"New look Professor" Sirius answered dryly. "Do you like it?" He shot me a glare and I wiggled my fingers. He was pretty annoyed with me. He hadn't spoken to me all morning.

"Uhm well... it's not... exactly part of the school dress code" She was lost for words. I would have thought by now nothing would surprise her. "Anyway... attention students! I gathered you today to tell you about the Founders Ball" She clapped her hands to silence everyone. It didn't work the first time so James stood up on the bench.

"OI! YOU LOT! SHUT UP!" He yelled over the students. They all stopped talking at once and stared at him adoringly.

"That will do Mr Potter. Sit... sit down please" McGonagall shook her head. I swear I saw an amused smile on her face.

"Just doing my Head Boy duties, Professor" He grinned cockily. Annie Prewett giggled girlishly and he winked at her.

"Yes well, thank you. Anyway, now that I have your attention. As your letters told you, this is Hogwarts 800th established year. There will be a Founders Ball held on the January 13, the week after you return from Christmas break" She paused to make sure we were listening. Surprisingly we were. "You will be expected to know how to dance, which is why we're here today"

"This is a dance class?" Sirius spoke up, his eyebrows raised.

"Yes Mr Black. I will be teaching you all to dance" McGonagall nodded her head once. "This ball, although strictly formal, will be a reason to let your hair down and have fun" Her sleek black hair pulled tightly into a bun never looked like it had been let down in its life.

"Is it optional?" Sirius asked.

"No. No it's not" She shook her head. "As I was saying, I will be teaching you how to dance every second Tuesday and Thursday afternoon leading up to the ball so you will know how to dance with your dates, starting the 5th of October. It's encouraged to bring a date from the other houses" she glanced at her notes.

"Fat chance of that happening" Sirius muttered.

"I dunno Pads, you'd look great with Milly Bulstrode" James snickered.

"Or Greta Goyle" I added. He gave us both a dirty look and James and I stifled our giggles in our hands. The Slytherin, Greta Goyle, had had a James-to-Lily sized crush on Sirius since first year. It was just too bad she was 6 foot tall and built like a troll. She was really quite a pleasant person when she wasn't crushing you. I stifled my giggles in my hand. "Oh come on, Greta's really nice"

Sirius just glared at me. Yeah he was still peeved with me.

"Potter, Fox, quieten down please" McGonagall gave us a reproachful look. "James and Lily, you're expected to open the dance as the school's Head Boy and Girl"

"WHAT!" They both exclaimed, looking quite horrified. "I HAVE TO GO WITH HIM!" Lily shrieked. "Professor, please! I though you said it was encouraged to go with someone from a different house!"

"What? Like Snivellus?" James snapped. "Please professor, I can't go with her. She's impossible"

Lily's mouth dropped open. My mouth dropped open. Marley's mouth dropped open. Hell everyone's mouths dropped open. James Potter, for the first time in history, had snapped at Lily Evans.

McGonagall composed herself first and cleared her throat. "Well you may bring other dates, but you two officially start the whole night off..."

"Then that's not really bringing other dates then, is it?" James muttered. Sirius and I exchanged an alarmed. This wasn't James at all. Even 'I'm over Lily Evans' James. Sirius, obviously remembering that he was pee'd off at me, scowled and turned to the front again.

"Prefects will also be expected to open the dance" McGonagall looked at me and Remus. "But you can bring dates from others houses" James and Lily gave a shout again and Remus and I laughed. "Your classes will start next week, in place of your final class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I will see you all then" She shot a pointed look toward James, Sirius and myself. "Mr Black, your hair... will it be... erm normal by the dance?"

Sirius glanced at me and narrowed his eyes. "Good Godric, I hope so" He ran a hand through his hair and I grinned. He walked right past me and caught up with James. He was so peeved with me that he didn't even want to walk with me.

I shrugged. It was worth it.

"What the hell is wrong with James?" Lily hissed, grabbing me and Marlene by the arms and yanking us from the room.

"Yeah, that was pretty weird" Marlene looked at me. "I don't think he's ever snapped at Lily before"

I shrugged and extracted my skin from Lily's grasp. "I told you Lil. He gave up. He's over you... I guess he got annoyed by your bitchiness" I shook my arm as we walked.

"Bitchiness!" She exclaimed. "I'm not bitchy!" She glanced at Marley who glanced at me.

"Well, Lil, you kind of have been to James. The poor guy has been throwing himself at you and no one else for the last 7 years –" I cut myself off when I caught her expression. It was her 'I'm going to kill you' face.

"Also, you're a little bitchy when you're defending Severus" Marlene added with a wrinkle of her nose. I could see Lily's temper go from annoyed to P.O'd in .3 of a second. Damn red head.

"Well he's my best friend and James and Sirius do nothing but torment him!" Lily shrieked. "I know you guys are friends with those two, but they're not exactly the nicest people ever"

I raised an eyebrow. "Have you listened to Snivellus lately? He's a total git" I shook my head. "and 9 times out of 10, Snivellus starts it"

"Stop calling him that" She snapped through gritted teeth. "You just don't know Severus like I do" Lily mumbled, crossing her arms across her. She snapped the password to open the portrait and stormed inside.

I glanced at Marley. "What the sweet frick does she see in that boy?" I shook my head.

"I think she likes James, but just won't admit it" Marlene shrugged her shoulders. I raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Really. I mean, did you see her face when James snapped back. Classic 'oh my godric the guy I like just yelled at me'. Liking him is real to her now because he's given up" Marlene smirked. "That and the fact they're now living in close quarters"

"How do you know these things, Marlene?" I sighed as we started walking. "I'm terrible at picking up romantic hints"

"Experience, Pey. It's just something you learn"

"What, when you're a hoe?" I smirked. She rolled her eyes.

"No. It's just something you learn"

"Yeah... when you're a hoe" I smiled. She let out a sigh and walked away from me. She knows it's true.

Plea's Note;

Just a quick one tonight. Dead on my feet. Send me some love.

Xo Plea