I know you guys are going to be bummed that this isn't a J/L chapter but here is the thing. James and Lily don't have much of a reason (besides potions and a weak friendship) to chat and share experiences. This is a time for them to let their friendship settle and I promise it will grow. In the meantime, I hope you are as taken with Sirius and Ella as I've become. Especially since their story is going to greatly influence James and Lily.
Happy Reading!
He threw himself in the lush red-leather chair and ran his hands through his disarrayed hair, bloody fucking hell, those hips are weapons of mass destruction.
Ella had woken Sunday morning to a tapping at her window. Since no other fourth year girls had stayed for the holidays, she figured the letter was for her. She threw her covers off and slipped out of her bedding, padding over to the cold window. The window loudly slid open as Lily's charcoal owl hooted happily at her.
She grabbed the letter and settled on her bed, quietly petting Rufus.
Lily's letter had been mostly ranting, complaining that, "the git won't stop owling me!" Ella chuckled at her friend's animosity and quickly wrote a response. She tired to tell Lily the events of her holiday so far, but she quickly decided not to discuss the happenings between Sirius and herself. So instead, she wrote vaguely and skipped over key moments of their day. The letter ended up sounding a bit dodgy, but Ella figured it'd have to do if she wanted to make breakfast.
She handed the letter to Rufus and threw on her favorite outfit; a worn black muggle band t-shirt, Sirius had gotten her three-Christmases ago and a pair of destroyed jeans. Sirius had once mentioned she looked "barely tolerable" in the outfit last summer and Ella had been extremely pleased with his backwards admission.
She walked to the great hall feeling light and chuckling to herself over Sirius's reactions last night. He really had failed her challenge. If his initial desire had been a surprise or a fluke he would have pushed her away last night, instead of hitching his breath and inching toward her.
Ella shook her head, somewhat amazed that they were even in this situation. Sirius actually wanted her. Her, Ella Dillonsby. It wasn't that Ella considered herself a lower caliber than Ace's usual conquest, quite the contrary. Ella knew she was good looking and she wasn't one of those prissy duffers who drooled over Sirius like a lovesick pygme.
In truth, she was just surprised that he had managed to go from knocking out a bloke for kissing his "little sister" to being the bloke wanting to do the kissing. Talk about a mood swing, she mused.
Ella wondered if he was regretful this morning or if he would be awkward at breakfast. She wasn't even sure he'd acknowledge the strangeness between them last night. Then again, it was Sirius. And Sirius, like herself, didn't avoid issues or worry much about consequences, most of the time anyway.
Sirius was just as every bit reckless as Ella. And reckless was exactly how Ella felt this morning. Throughout the night she mulled over Ace's reactions and her own desires. At around 2 a.m. Ella had realized exactly what she wanted. She had practically shot out of bed and gone to his room when she'd realized it. But instead she decided to wait; to play the predator in the game that had never been as much fun with anyone else. After all, Ella had never before been embarrassed to initiate a snog and dammed if she was going to act any different just because it was Sirius.
Wanting to snog Sirius was foreign to her and was certainly too thick to say out loud, let alone scribble with a quill, which was partly why she hadn't told Lily.
Ella came upon the Great Hall noticing it currently held a quarter of it's usual mass of students. She continued down the table, stopping to say hello to a third year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. Just as she was about to sit next to Sirius, who had his back turned toward her, she heard her name called.
Ella noticed Sirius's back stiffen as Arkie ran over to her. She knew there was bad blood between the two boys and hoped Arkie wouldn't be upset when she declined to sit with him.
He came to stand in front of her, taking notice of her muggle attire and smiled brightly at her.
"Well, well, don't you look like trouble?" He playfully suggested.
She laughed, "Wotcher Ark."
He nodded toward the Ravenclaw table, "You fancy sitting with us?"
"Not today, sorry."
He seemed to understand as he glanced at Sirius's stiff back. "Right…we still on for later?"
Ella remembered her promise to play exploding snaps with him and couldn't think of a reason not to. She may want to snog Sirius, but that didn't mean she couldn't have friends. And Arkie was a friend. The snogging and flirting had been fun, but she was fairly sure that had all it had been…for both of them.
"Yea. I'll meet you there."
He smiled and made his way back toward the Ravenclaw table.
Ella turned and took her place next to Sirius, who was scowling into his pumpkin juice, reading the prophet.
"Morning Ace."
He nodded toward her, keeping his eyes on the picture of three bunny-eared garden gnomes who were angrily popping up and down from holes dug into someone's yard.
"Anything good in the prophet?"
He sighed and pushed the paper toward her. "Not really, just more Ministry propaganda and angry bunnies."
She chuckled at the thought of the two concepts together. "Just another day in the wizarding world, eh?."
He smiled and looked at her for the first time since she sat. His eyes were a bit wary but instantly shifted when he took stock of her outfit.
Ella thought she saw that foreign look of desire, but she couldn't be sure.
"I remember that shirt…nearly got trampled when that muggle singer threw it into the crowd... had to fight a sixty-year old for that, you know."
She rolled her eyes at the proud lint to his statement, "my hero."
He smiled, "Don't forget it."
The rest of breakfast ran smoothly as they talked to a few random Gryffindors about some ridiculous ball the school was throwing at the end of the year and laughed when Collin Robins, a seventh year Hufflepuff, stood on his table and sang the Weird Sister's Do the Hippogryff. A girl, who Ella thought may be named Payton, stood smugly next to the table, cluing Ella in that the boy had most likely lost a bet. When he'd finished he'd awkwardly smiled at the girl and jumped off the table, his face practically violet.
Ella chuckled toward Sirius. "At least I've never made you do that before."
He snorted, "Yes, like running the pitch in my knickers wasn't just as bloody embarrassing."
"I figured you wouldn't mind that. After all, you fancy yourself Merlin's gift to the female population."
He nodded as if agreeing. "It did get me a lot of dates."
Ella frowned at the thought, which went unnoticed by the raven haired boy as he stood from the table.
"I'm off to practice flying. One bludger to the head fills my quota for this season."
She rolled her eyes, "prat."
"…You can join me of course, as long as you remember to not use my skull as target practice."
"I couldn't make such a promise. It was quite therapeutical last time…. Besides, I've got plans."
Instantly, his face turned unpleasant. "Oh yeah? Where are you off to then? The astronomy tower? A broom closet?"
Ella was confused at his harsh tone and wondered what had set him off
"no?...I'm off to Ravenclaw."
He scowled and mumbled, "plenty of places there, I suppose."
"What was that?"
"I'm surprised your not tired, quite a juggling act you have."
Ella was completely lost as to where the conversation had gone.
"Okay… What the hell has your knickers is a twist?"
His eyes narrowed, "Ravenclaws are daft, you shouldn't be wasting your time with that lot."
"That's rubbish. Ravenclaws are fine."
"Ravenclaws are prats. They fancy themselves smarter than the rest of us."
"that's because they are."
"Bollicks, I'm twice as skilled as those duffers."
She snorted at his arrogance, even if she did slightly agree with him.
"Don't believe me? The whole school knows it. Gryffindors are the smartest, bravest house. All the others are just…left overs…is that who you want to waste your time with?"
"Why are getting shirty right now?"
"You're a smart girl Ella, you can figure it out. Or better yet-"
"You've dated loads of Ravenclaws!"
"oh… so you are dating-"
"- Did that bludger leave damage?"
" the blokes are different, they're all smarmy!"
"Bollicks. They're honest, cunning and just as loyal as the best Gryffindor!"
His eyes narrowed even further. "Fine. Sodd off then. You want your Ravenclaw blokes, you've got my -"
"I'm a big girl Sirius, I don't need your permission."
"-And when you're done with your little inter-house mixer, don't bother finding me."
"With you in a mood like this? …I'd rather lick a basilisk fang!"
He stormed away, obviously twice as upset as Ella was. And for some strange reason she felt as if nothing had actually been said the entire argument. To be honest, Ella wasn't quite sure what had even set him off.
After three hours of exploding snaps. Ella was still confused about Sirius and slightly irritated with Arkie. For some unknown reason, the Redhead had been overly affectionate today, or at least he had tried to be. Arkie had always been a terrible flirt, but the past few games he had been borderline touchy. He kept leaning over her, leaving lingering touches on her forearms and looking her up and down, as if she was bare. Perhaps she would have been more intrigued with Arkie's peaked interest, if not for her annoyance toward Sirius.
How dare he suggest she needed his permission to do anything!
And why was Sirius so worried about her spending time with the Ravenclaws. She could befriend whomever she wanted! It's not as if she was having a slumber party with the Slytherins. The Ravenclaws were perfectly acceptable company. In fact, most Gryffindors preferred their Eagle cousin to the bubbly Hufflepuffs, Sirius included. And Ella felt no remorse for her anger earlier. She had meant what she'd said. House segregation is what fueled Voldemort's war. And Ella would be dammed if she let old prejudice between two dead founders delegate whom her friends were.
The very notion was preposterous and one that she had never expected Sirius, a blood-bound Slytherin who sought sanctuary in Gryffindor, his bloodlines rival, to think such a thing. In fact, Ella was positive Sirius wouldn't think such a thing. So why did he say it? Was he angry that she hadn't wanted to fly?
Sure, they usually did such things together in the past and maybe he had wanted company on the pitch, but a beater and a keeper couldn't properly practice much together.
So if it wasn't about her going with him, it was about her going to Ravenclaw. But that didn't make sense either. Ella had been to both the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff common room to hangout more than once and Sirius had never reacted so irrationally... But perhaps along with Sirius's desire other things had changed in their friendship. Afterall, they had just ended their row about Arkie….Arkie. Could that be what Sirius was so brassed about?
No, neither of them had even mentioned the blokes name! And Sirius didn't even know why she was going to Raven- Shite, she supposed if he had listened to her and Arkie's conversation he may have known.
But Christ, it wasn't like they were shagging, just playing a harmless game, how could Sirius be angry about that? He had to have heard that in their conversation. Ella tried to recall the words Arkie had used. Surely he had mentioned exploding snaps? But no… she mostly recalled him just mentioning plans, so perhaps Ace hadn't known.
Ella suddenly felt like an arse. She had started the day so full of determination. She had pushed Sirius last night and they both knew it. And Sirius Black wasn't one to be pushed. He was hard-headed and stubborn and her pushing his buttons last night in the corridor and within the secret passage had no doubt drove him a tad mental.
And what did Ella do the moment they saw each other this morning? She had made plans with Arkie in front of him! no doubt it sounded as if they were meeting up in a broom closet instead of…...a broom closet.
Ella remembered the harsh words that had started their argument earlier,
"Where are you off to then? The astronomy tower? A broom closet?"
...Holy bouncing balderdash! Sirius hadn't just been embarrassed earlier or naffed at her for making alternative plans after she'd pushed him last night. Sirius had been jealous!
Sirius Black had been jealous…over her. Ella felt slightly dumbfounded, surely jealously was an emotion she had ever thought possible from the prideful Sirius.
"-lla, It's your turn."
Ella came back to herself, seeing Arkie staring expectantly at her.
"you look like you just saw a thestral…everything all right love?" he lightly touched the exposed skin beneath the rip on her knee, as he asked.
"Uh… I have to go do something quickly, I'll be right back, alright?"
He looked at her strangely, "right…we can finish another time if your-"
"No, no. I'm beating you and I want the bragging rights when I win my third game in a row… I'll only be a minute."
She turned to trot out of the common room. As the portrait shut behind her she flew into a full sprint.
She ran through the corridor, through the library (where Madam Fairn screamed at her for running), across the side of the Great Hall and out through the doors. It was a warm spring day, perfect for flying conditions.
The grass was just loosing it's last tint of brown and the trees and flowers looked beautiful in the sunlight. Ella felt a moment of glee and then a moment of panic as she spotted the pitch in the distance.
She kept running, hoping that Sirius had stayed out here longer than usual, as she would have, due to the fine weather.
Ella couldn't see anyone flying at the higher parts of the pitch but the circular goals were blocked from her view by the Slytherin cheering tower.
Just as she was running past the locker room, toward the field, she head the scraping of a locker opening.
Ella stopped herself and ran back into the locker room entrance, past the showers and through the large wooden door.
She swung through the door at a run, leaving it loudly shut behind her and continued to run until just a bench separated the two of them. Sirius turned around toward the disturbance.
His broom was propped up against the open locker and he'd already gotten his pads and jumper off. His leather boots and britches were still on, and he'd replaced his Quidditch jersey with a lightweight black t-shirt that matched his windswept hair.
Besides his attire, Ella also noticed a reaction of regret pass his features quickly turn into one of curiosity and then, as she threw herself across the left space between them, one of understanding.
The impact pushed his body against the locker as their lips connected. Ella felt him stiffen at her attack and then respond enthusiastically. His lips molded with hers as his arms tightly wrapped around her waist. Ella felt her lips part for him and his tounge slide inside her mouth. Shockwaves ignited throughout her, leaving her feel more breathless than she ever had before. Her hand's fastened around his neck, simultaneously pulling him closer and slipping into his hair. Ella's hips dug into him, on entirely their own accord, and she felt him deepen the kiss. Their mouths fought for dominance as their hands groped and their bodies pushed. The kiss wasn't romantic, it was frantic and messy and the very definition of fire. Merlin's sweet-cheeks, .
Just as the thought crossed her mind, Sirius pulled away. Ella heard herself whimper and was instantly horrified by the sound.
They stared at each other, both fighting for breath, until Sirius slowly let his hands drop from her hips and leaned his head back against the locker, his eyes closed and hands fisted at his side.
She wordlessly stared at the exposed skin at his neck, finding it very hard to concentrate. She shook herself and forced out an explanation.
"It's called jealousy," she informed him, slightly teasing.
His eyes stayed closed and despite looking relaxed his breath wasn't coming any easier. "What?"
"That burning sensation in your gut, makes you go mad? It's called being jealous."
"I know what jealousy is... I wasn't jealous."
Ella wondered if he really thought she'd believe that malarkey after what had just occurred. Instead of answering with more empty words, she leaned forward and kissed his exposed neck. He flinched and stood very still, as if he were meeting a hypogriff for the first time.
She slipped some tounge into the kiss, as if urging him to accept her earlier words and he shivered at the contact.
"Sure thing, Ace," she mumbled around his neck.
She pulled away from him found his own eyes were open as lifted his head from the locker.
"In case you know any interested parties, I was playing exploding snap."
"What?"
"In Ravenclaw… With Arkie. Those were my plans. I promised him an exploding snap tournament ages ago."
Realization hit his face and she smiled at him before walking backward out of the locker room, "I'll see you tomorrow, Ace."
"-Wait, Ella"
She stopped, not liking his desperate tone.
"That was…a mistake. It can't happen again… I don't want it to."
She studied his face, which was completely void of emotion.
After years of friendship Ella figured Sirius should really know better than to challenge her. Not only had his statement lied to her, he had also tried to dictate her own behavior.
Ella had never let Sirius tell her who she could and could not snog and she was dammed if she was about to start now… even if he was the snogee in question.
Years of friendship had, at least, taught her that arguing with him now would be pointless. Sirius had made up his mind and she wasn't going to use words to convince him how daft he was being. No, Ella decided, she'd use action to do that.
She shrugged and promised nothing. "Alright,"
His eyes narrowed. "I'm serious."
"I know. Sirius Tellula-"
"-Ella," he interrupted.
"i'll catch you later Ace." she wickedly smiled at him, before walking through the wooden door; wondering if he knew how true that statement would be.
It wasn't until breakfast the next morning that Sirius heard of the attack. He had been sitting alone-partially scolding himself for letting things get out of hand yesterday and partially elated that they had- when he heard a collective gasp go through the hall. He looked around, finding students all studying their prophets in horror. He looked at his own paper and his stomach had dropped.
Sirius was selfishly happy that nothing had happened to any of his friends. He was even more relieved for Prongs, to find that Evans name was not on the list.
He felt slightly sick from a few of the names and was enraged by the total number of deaths. Voldemort hadn't just taken the muggle born lives, an act in itself that was genocide. No, he had killed any-and-all relation that held the recessive wizarding gene. Brothers and sisters and grandmothers, aunts and cousins- all of relation to the muggleborns had been slaughtered in the late of the night.
A few sobs could be heard now from the different tables and Sirius was instantly anxious to find Ella. He stood to go to her room, when he saw her enter the hall, a look of horror on her face.
She was upset, Sirius knew she shared classes with a few on the list and had expected as much. But she was also… enraged. He could see the fury hidden in her indigo eyes. Her teeth were clenched and her hands were shaking.
He went to her and led her back out of the hall, into an empty classroom.
Unsure of what to say, he held her. Wrapping his arms around her long body, hoping she'd find comfort in the gesture.
She hid her head in his neck and he could feel the livid-vibrations coming off of her.
"I'm going to kill him," she mumbled into the soft skin.
He pulled back, "Ella, you need to calm down."
She pushed him away and yelled, "CALM DOWN? He just slaughtered my classmates! I'm going to rip him bloody limb from limb."
Sirius put his hands out, in an attempt to calm her "We all want to defeat him-"
"I DON'T WANT TO DEFEAT HIM I WANT TO BLOODY TORTURE HIM."
"Ella, stop shouting."
Her eyes narrowed and she was just about to yell more when Sirius felt a light brushing sensation in his head.
It was forgotten the next moment, when Ella shrieked and collapsed in pain. Her arms were wrapped around her head as she muffled, "AAGH. Bloody. Legil- Dumbledore. Christ."
"Christ, Ella! Are you okay?"
She took three calming breaths and nodded toward him to help her to her feet.
"I'm fine, just a headache…"
"...I'm sorry for loosing it."
Sirius nodded, "I understand. Lets go to the owlery, you should mail your family."
She shook her head, "that's where I was, when I heard. All the owls are gone, off to the ministry or delivering omens."
Sirius was frustrated, suddenly wishing he had his own owl so he could make sure James was alright.
"Lets go to the Great Hall then, wait for the others to return."
James and Lily walked into the Great Hall to find it half-filled with students. Three of the tables, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, had been pushed closer to each other as students from each house comforted one another. The Slytherin table was notably empty. Crying could be heard from different groups around the hall and every student looked forelorn.
The two Gryffindors spotted Ella, Sirius and Peter halfway down one table, and made their way over.
Sirius was the first to notice the pair, as he stood and firmly hugged James.
"Alright Prongs?"
James hugged him back, fiercely happy for the gesture.
"I've been better mate."
The embrace ended, and James heard Lily sniffling as Ella wrapped her arms around the redhead. His stomach went to knots at the sound, but he figured there wasn't much to do besides keep her as safe as possible.
After hugging Peter and Ella the group sat down and an eire silence started.
After a moment James asked, "Is the train back yet?"
"Weren't you on it?" Ella asked.
He shook his head. "We took a Portkey."
Sirius sat up a bit stiffer at that, "why? You reckon the train could be dangerous."
James shrugged, "Not sure, but I didn't fancy taking the chance."
Both Ella and Peter looked momentarily sick, "Remus is on the train…alone."
"How did you get back Peter?"
The boy looked guilty at the question, "Mum sent me by floo. I tried to owl you and Remus…but the post is mental."
Sirius and Ella nodded, "All the owls were gone, we couldn't get a hold of you."
"Drat. I hope Rufus got to Daphne in time. She always walks to Kings Cross alone, I told her to find a ride." Lily added.
"No worrys, Evans. Daphne will be fine. Remus will be fine. The train should be back soon," Sirius said as he lightly squeezed Ella's left hand.
The group stayed silent, too afraid to speak of the terrors they were all thinking. Instead, just sitting at the table, listening to the words of comfort spoken by the other students trying to calm those crying.