Sirius was sitting in the grass, under the beech tree, pulling out some of the green blades and slowly shredding them in sadness. Emmeline and Gideon, Gideon and Emmeline. They looked fantastic together, and were fantastic together. Sirius closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. He leaned back against the tree, and heaved a big sigh. It seemed that everyone who was obligated to love him in his life didn't, and now the one person he actually wanted to love him didn't as well.

--

"And Vance passes to Potter, Potter streaks down the pitch, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, oh, the slytherin keeper Mulciber saves it. Avery in possesion of the quaffle, he zooms down the field, and a well placed bludger by Black knocks him out! Fabian gathers the quaffle and passes to Vance, passes to Potter, and YES! I don't believe it, he's scored! Slytherin chaser Yaxley takes the quaffle and, streaks down the pitch Black knocks out this one as well! Oh no, looks like Black ticked off the Slytherin end! Now Nott and Black are both attempting to beat bludgers at each other! Hey! Black! That's not captain behavior!" Sirius turned to grin up at Remus who was doing the commentary, and turned around to go hit a bludger at Yaxley.

"Now, Yaxley flys down the field, and, it looks like he's going to score-oh! Gidoen saves it, miraculously! And, I don't believe my eyes! Just as Gryffindor scores, Jones finds the snitch! GRYFFINDOR WINS!"

The screams of Gryffindors surrounded everyone, and the team smushed together in a massive hug, laughing with joy. They had won the cup! Gideon landed next to Emmeline and planted a large kiss on her, Sirius turned away in disgust. The rest of the team didn't notice, they were way too busy celebrating to pay attention to anything other than their happiness at procuring the cup for their house.

Sirius went one by one, as captain shaking all of his player's hands. He grinned at James as he shook his hand, he shook Fabian Prewett's, and Gideon's grudgingly, he shook Jones and Dearborn's hands, and finally, ended up in front of Emmeline in the changing rooms. The rest of the team had gone up to the common room to celebrate, but Sirius had to take this chance.

Emmeline saw him standing in the doorway of the changing rooms, and a funny sensation flew through her, like her blood suddenly rushed to her heart and shivers flew down to her fingertips. She knew what she had to do. She loved him. She had to do this. Looking at Sirius sadly, she pulled him to sit on the bench next to her in the changing rooms.

His lower lip quivered, "Look, Em, I know you think I'm too late, and I am, and you're right I should-"

"Shh," said Emmeline to his wondering expression, "Sirius." and leaving it at that she brought his head forward and kissed him with as much abandon as she could muster. A magical feeling swept through her. She felt like she could see a bright sun through her closed eyelids and every part of her body shivered right down to her fingertips. And as she kissed him she thought this, now this was what she thought love was all about.

Sirius gasped as the two of them parted, "Emmeline!" she raised her eyebrows, and he had the grace to look embarrassed, "Just...Em, why?"

She interwound her fingers with his, and held them tight, "Because I love you."

He gazed at her wonderingly, then pulled her so that her head rested against his tall frame, and he placed his chin on top of her head and whispered, "I love you, too."

The two of them stayed that way for a few more minutes, Emmeline's head resting on Sirius's chest, the top of her head perfectly fit into the hollow of his throat. As they stayed like that, Emmeline marveled at the warmth Sirius radiated, how he made her feel so safe and secure, how she could hear his heart beat, steady and strong. Sirius loved the way she felt, when she was pressed against him, with his arms around her, like she was his, and he was hers, and no one could change that. Sirius wondered at the feeling of belonging, oneness, and how he knew he could always depend on her, and she was the one person he knew would always know how he felt.

Sirius pulled away as something struck him, "Ems..."

She smiled at him, "Yes?"

He hated himself for asking this but he had too. It was the elephant in the room, "What...what about..." he swallowed nervously, "about...Gideon?"

He saw her turn and discreetly wipe away a stray tear, she sniffed, "I'll...I'll talk to him. I thought he was better for me. And he probably is better for me, but he's not the one who makes me happy. It's like, I need a someone like him. But I want more. And, Sirius, you're what I need, and what I want. You're everything and more."

He smiled happily down at her, "I could say the same about you."

--

Lily stared at the letter in her hands with shock. Utter shock.

James came over to her in the common room at her worried expression, "What is it, love?"

Her mouth hung open in horror, "My sister."

He grinned, "The devil one who thinks you're scary because you can do magic?"

She frowned, "It's not funny! My own sister hates me! Just because I can do magic. It's like, James, it's like I don't fit into either world. Here tons of people scorn me because I'm muggle-born and there my sister hates me because I can do magic!"

"Hey now," said James, cupping her face in his hands, "I know a world where you fit into."

She raised an eyebrow skeptically, "Oh, really? Where?"

"You fit into my world."

She laughed out loud, "If that isn't the corniest pick-up line I've ever heard!"

He pretended to look offended, "That wasn't a line! That came straight from my heart!"

"i'm so sure."

He grinned, "Anyways, what'd your sister do?"

She grimaced, "She's getting married. To the most obnoxious, annoying, rude man I have ever met."

"Well if it makes you feel better, I'll go with you."

She looked up at him in joy, "You will? Oh, James!" she knocked the air out his stomach as she hugged him in happiness, "Well, James, you know that we're supposed to act like I went to a distant art school and we have to make up a story for you, too."

She was sure he was surprised, but if he was, he didn't show it, "Anything. Anything, for you, love."

--

Regulus Black stared through the leaves of the tree to stare at his brother. He loved his brother. He was his brother! Of course he loved him. But nowadays it was getting harder to. Sirius was talking to blood traitors, mudbloods, and halfbreeds. He was consorting with the wrong people and though he knew Sirius had always hated their family and everything they stood for, Regulus still couldn't believe that his own brother was going out with Emmeline Vance, the blood traitor who's best friend was Lily Evans, the filthy mudblood, and that Sirius was best friends with James Potter, a blood traitor and boyfriend of a mudblood to boot! As he stared at his brother kissing Emmeline on the grass, he felt a new feeling, other than anger welling up in the pit of his stomach: shame.

--

Lily stared in shock down at the frilly horror of a dress Petunia had sent.

Dorcas fell over in a fit of giggles on her bed, "Oh, you're going to look just darling in that dress, Lils!"

Lily grit her teeth, "Meadowes! Don't you dare say a word! She's...she's my sister! I-I have to do this for her, even if it means wearing this...wearing this..."

Emmeline grinned, trying not to laugh, "Can you even call that ghastly concoction of bows and ribbons a dress?" this comment sent Dorcas into another spiel of laughter, and Lily had to wait exasperatedly until after she was done so that she could speak.

"Ok," Lily said, biting her bottom lip, "I just, I finally don't want her to hate me anymore."

Emmeline sighed, and flopped over on her bed, "Okay, Lily, fine. Just, don't...don't be disappointed if she doesn't change. You know that your mother was the one who made her invite you."

Lily sat down dejectedly on her bed as well, "I know, just, your sister's wedding, this should be an occasion of happiness for her happiness, but I'm just looking at this as an occassion to win back her heart."

Dorcas went to wind her arm around Lily's shoulders, "Lily, I know it's hard, because you're own sister doesn't love you," she started in her usual blunt fashion, "but just know that we do, and we'll try as hard as we can to fill her place."

Lily smiled, "Oh, thanks..." she sniffed and wiped away a tear, "Oh this is so stupid! I can't believe I'm crying! Well, Em, Meadowes, I just want you to know, that, I love you more than a friend, and if possible, more than a sister."

Emmeline rifled through the rest of the package, "Well, what are we to wear?"

"What?" Lily stared up at them, red-faced and surprised.

Dorcas grinned, "You didn't think we'd let you go alone, did you?"

"But, but James is already coming, and I don't think Petunia would like it too much if all of you showed up. Two magical people is enough for one night in her book."

Emmeline shrugged, "Oh, well, who cares what the stiff thinks? You're our best friend, it'll be a hard day for you, and we want to help you because we care about you."

Dorcas looked excited, "And we even got escorts! Em with Sirius and Remus agreed to take me, and we get to act like muggles, and..and not use magic!"

Lily chuckled, "It's harder than you think."

"Oh, well, Lily, we'll do it." said Emmeline.

Dorcas nodded, "We'll always be here for you."

--

a/n: yay, so stay tuned for chapter 11! it'll be coming soon, and now that the weekend's here, I can do a lot more writing! so, please review review review!! That means you, Lily, Kelsey, and Gina! and all of you who I don't know but who always review who I love for reviewing! Please do so!! and yes, I made a longer chapter than usual for those of you who have been complaining that my chapters are getting shorter...