Summary: Sometimes life was sweet, but with a bitter ending. Sometimes it was the opposite. Just like butterbeer.
Full Summary: James Potter was in his prime. He was Quidditch Captain for Gryffindor, he had become Animagus to help Remus, and his group of friends were at their height in their pranking career. Now all he had left was to woo the girl. Lily Evans. But of course, James doesn't do things halfway, and all he needed was someone to help him. Now who fit's the role? Only, Olivia Grey. Of course, Slytherin's aren't always the most helpful type, and Sirius Black knows so. Could she be hiding any ulterior motives?
Author's Note: If Harry Potter were mine, this would be canon. It would soooooooo be canon.
Extra: Like Butterbeer Outfits on Polyvore! Check my author page for the link!
Olivia's POV
I sat with my brother and sister for the long train ride home. Anthony and Anna Grey. Both my siblings and both wildly different. They do, however, bond in the fact that they both hate me. Although why I can't say. I suppose it all stems from my house and it's questionable background, although we were growing apart before then. I don't know, maybe it's just because we're all growing and changing. Or maybe it was because we didn't want each other. Things had changed since Alex, my older brother, left.
We're headed back to America for the holidays. Don't ask me how we get there on a train, we just do. Platform 4 ½ takes you to a train station in New York, not too far from my home.
We sat in silence for the majority of the ride. Anna had her nose in some kind of novel, my brother was polishing the broomstick that used to belong to my grandfather, and I wrote in my journal, occasionally picking up a book or two. At this point, the train rides weren't too awkward, but they had their moments.
My mom was waiting for us at the station, and I tackled her with a hug. She smelled like vanilla and I could tell by the way she hugged me she was tired. She was always tired these days. It made me feel guilty for leaving her to go to Hogwarts. Of course, I didn't tell her this. She'd give me a stern look and tell me that the only thing she asked for was that I do well in my studies. She wouldn't have another child fail her. I heard my little sister laugh from behind me and knew she was probably hanging off of Anthony's shoulders. She was only five. It ate at me every day that I had to be away from them.
"Let's hurry. Traffic's only going to get worse."
With our trunks in tow, all of us headed out of the station to a tiny and beat up car. It took three tries before it started up, but the sounds of the car were familiar. Everything was how I remembered it. People rushing to get last minute presents, the smell of people cooking their holiday dinners, and my mother's voice as she spoke about what she had done while we were gone.
It was all so perfect and picturesque, and for a moment it felt like it had all those years ago. Before Hogwarts, Ilvermorny, before the secrets and the disease. Back when everything was perfect. It was so perfect then, but things had changed. Things always changed.
...
Lily's POV
"I can't make him forgive and forget! Severus has chosen to alienate himself from everyone else, he doesn't even listen to me anymore! He's hanging out with the wrong crowd, Alice."
Alice looked at me, a sad look crossing her face. "When did he become 'Severus'? What about 'Sev'? You've always called him that."
She was right. When did it change? When did I decide to distance myself from him? Was it when he started to drift away? Or had I drifted first and he just followed suit? "I don't know, Al. I just… I can't. He's headed down a dark path."
"And when are you going to get off? You're saying that he's headed nowhere good, and you've made it clear that no matter what you say or do, you can't stop it. Merlin knows you've tried. The longer you hold on the harder it is to get off, you know that."
Did I ever tell you that Alice was unusually perceptive? She's never been one for Legilimens, although if she did practice the art, she could be a force to be reckoned with. But she was right. She always was, wasn't she? I can't help Severus anymore than I can help Petunia. Funny how I always end up being with the people that hate me the most.
I sighed and looked out the window. It was almost time to get off the train, or at least for me. Alice rides the train a bit longer, and some ride it even farther than she does. It always used to be a really quick ride during the holidays, but this time it seemed twice as long. I'm not exactly sure why. Maybe it's because Vernon, Petunia's boyfriend, would be staying with us for the holidays. Who even invited him? Everyone knows Petunia whispers terrible things about me in his ear. Why do I always have to suffer for everyone else? To Hell, if he makes Petunia happy! That's the only thing he does, and Petunia has been right rotten ever since the two of them started to hang out. Which - mind you - was years ago.
After a long moment, the train pulled to a stop. I gave Alice a hug and she stopped me before I could leave the compartment. "Lil, I know you'll do the right thing. Just… be gentle. You can come on strong, and maybe this isn't a relationship you want to fully destroy."
"...Yeah. Take care, Alice."
"You too."
…
Embre's POV
There were few things my parents forced me to do. Go to school, have good hygiene, be a clean person, the usual. So why - I repeat - why do the have to force me to go to a party I don't want to go to? Since when did they care about what other witches and wizards thought of them? My parents hate the pureblood supremacists! So why are they going to a huge party with all of them, dragging their children along?
Of course, there was one flip-side to all of this, my dress. I had to get a new one, and after the fiasco at Hogsmeade, I managed to find the perfect dress for the occasion. It was a little fuller than I liked, but other than that is was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. It's one of those dresses that make you feel superior and fanciful. You know what I mean?
I paired this amazing dress with flats because I feared wearing high heels with it. I wasn't clumsy in nature, but a pair of heels with this dress was a disaster on stilts. Flats were much safer, thank you very much. Besides, the dress was floor length. Like anyone would notice my shoe choice for the evening.
"EMBREEEEEEEEE, LET ME INNNNNNNN…" Katrina had been knocking on my door for at least ten minutes, calling out to me. This would be the first time she's ever attended The Blacks Holiday Event. She had squealed when my parents told her she could go, which was quite the opposite from my reaction. "C'mon! This is going to be AMAZING!"
Fixing the strap on my shoe, I heard Nathaniel walk up to the door and knock on it patiently. "C'mon Em, time to open up."
Nathaniel wanted to see my dress too? Great. That meant that if any boy even looked at me, they'd be getting a long talk. That's the last thing I need. But it's also cute that he's so protective. I can't decide which is the overriding feeling. "Okay, okay. Just give me a minute."
I waved my wand around my room, everything going back to its proper place. I checked my hair in the mirror, and after making sure that every strand was in place, I opened my door. Katrina had been leaning against it and fell forwards, but Nathaniel caught her before she could fall.
"BRE! YOUR DRESS IS SO PRETTY!" Katrina tackled me with a hug and I staggered a bit. Katrina was wearing a purple dress that went to her knees, and she paired it off with a pair of gold heels. She had gotten them a couple days ago and hadn't taken them off since. She looked much older with her makeup all done. Definitely not the fourteen-year-old girl I saw in the halls of Hogwarts.
Nathaniel was leaning against the door, looking at the two of us with a smile. "You know, Embre. You might have picked the wrong color. You know how the Blacks feel about Gryffindors, and you're outfit basically screams house pride."
"Would you rather it be green?"
"Wait, Bre, how are you supposed to pull pranks with us in a dress like that? Nathaniel promised me we'd do something entertaining." Pranks? At a formal event like this one? Well, it is tempting, but Sirius was a part of the Marauders. He'd probably already have something in the works…
"A prank? Nathaniel promised you that? That doesn't sound very Ravenclaw-like." A mischievous smile tugged at the corner of his lips, but before he could say anything our parents called us downstairs.
Let the party begin.
…
It wasn't even an hour into the party, event, shindig - whatever you want to call it - and Nathaniel had already sneaked two glasses of the wizard equivalent of champagne. Sure, my brother was a very studious Ravenclaw, but Katrina could bring his wild side out of him. He couldn't say no to her - but who could? Nathaniel had been right when he said my dress color wasn't the most tactful. I could see everyone eye it with disdain. Of course, the second James Potter saw me walk through the door he slung his arm around my neck, complimenting my dress choice. Nathaniel had sent him away with a glare, ignoring my protests that he was just a friend.
For this being a Black party, I still had yet to see any of the family. That is, Mr. and Mrs. Black, Regulus Black, and Sirius Black were all missing so far. I thought I had seen Walburga once, but when I turned it was Lucius Malfoy trying to seduce Narcissa Black. It was a bit unsettling. Where could they all be hiding? And why were they hiding?
Katrina tapped me on the shoulder, and when I looked at her devilish smile I knew something was up. Leading me into an empty room, she held up a small bottle full of dark brown liquid. I could tell by the look on her face it wasn't anything good. "Gigglewater. From America."
"Gigglewater? Where did you get that?"
"No place important." Katrina lifted her head up but I grabbed her chin and made her look at me.
"Kat, where did you get the Gigglewater? That stuff has a lot of alcohol in it!"
"I… may or may not have stolen it-"
"Stolen it!" I hissed at her to avoid yelling. "Who did you steal it from?" I couldn't decide whether I was more upset at her getting ahold of it, or more impressed that she actually knew what it was beforehand and knew how valuable it could be.
"I said may not! But Amos Diggory had some in the Hufflepuff dormitory. He had gotten it from your friend."
"You have to be more specific than that! Which friend?"
"Olivia Grey."
Great. So Olivia dealt Gigglewater as a side job? Where had she even gotten in the first place? And why would she give it to Amos Diggory? Oh well, at least Nathaniel hadn't given it to Katrina, right? I mean, at least I can trust him that much. Katrina, despite having just been yelled at, still looked at me expectantly. I sighed. "What do you want to do with it?"
A grin slowly spread across Katrina's face. "What do you suppose we could do?"
...
Sirius' POV
My parent's event was going just as planned. Socialize very little, judge people on their outfits and keep me away from anyone my age. Especially anyone who had enough nerve to wear a Gryffindor red dress. Yes, I'm talking about Ms. Embre Kay Shines. I saw her when she walked in. But honestly, who didn't? She could be seen from miles away in a dress like that!
Anyway, my mother must have seen something incriminating in the look on my face, because she forbid me to go talk to her. Like she can forbid me from doing something! I - obviously - wasn't going to listen to her, but then she brought my father over to 'keep an eye on me'. All I could do was sit there and pretend to not notice Embre at all.
Of course, after a while, the social life seemed to wear down on Orion Black. He asked me to get him a couple of drinks from the table. I, of course, got him the most heavily dosed drinks that were available, and after his sixth glass he 'retired for the night'. I had to help him up to his room, and once I had him tucked away, I headed downstairs. I was planning on spending the rest of the night with Prongs, maybe even ditch the formal.
Before I could get there, however, someone backed me up into an empty room. They didn't do it forcibly, I just walked past them and knew they wanted a word. Who was this mystery character? Nathaniel Shines. That's right. The older brother of Embre. If I was correct in my calculations, he was two years older than Embre and was in his final year at Hogwarts. He had just recently turned 18 and emitted a sort of confidence that was impossible to not be intimidated by.
"So, where have you been, Sirius? My sisters were missing for a minute there and you've been absent the whole party so far. You weren't, perhaps, with them, were you?"
Wait. Did he actually think that I would corner Ember and her sister? Why does everyone have extremely low expectations for my moral sense? I'm an ethical human being! Just because my parents are the worst people you could imagine doesn't mean I'm the same! Will my whole life be trying to prove to others that I'm not my family? "Of course not. I was with my father. What are you suggesting, Shines?"
"Nothing! I'm not suggesting anything. It's you who has the bad record, Black. I know how you are, breaking girls hearts because everyone is beneath you and inadequate. If you think that my Embre will be the same, you will regret it. Embre is a sweet and caring girl. It would do you well to stay away from her. I won't let you step all over her like you do everyone else."
…
Embre's POV
Sneaking everyone a bit of Gigglewater was going to be difficult. For one, my dress wasn't the kind you can easily sneak around in, and I didn't have a change of clothes to slip into. The second difficulty was that there was a house elf guarding the wizard champagne - the drink we wanted to spike. Nathaniel was missing and if we wanted to spike it and have everyone drink it, we had to act now. Everyone had already had a couple drinks, and they would probably only have one or two more.
"Okay, Kat. Considering my current outfit, you'll have to be the one to spike the drinks. I'll distract everyone and the house elf, but you have to be lightning quick. No matter what I do, finish the job. Once you're finished, go outside. Okay? We don't want to get caught, and they can't catch us we're not there. Don't worry, you'll get to see the damage you've done."
"Okay, but what are you going to do to distract everyone?"
That was a good question. I would have to make a scene, but I couldn't be a part of it or else I wouldn't be able to meet Katrina outside. There would have to be something for the house elf to clean up because that's the only time he actually left his post beside the champagne. But there would also have to some kind of scandal so that everyone's attention would be diverted.
Just at that moment, I saw my brother walk out of the hall with Sirius Black at his side. A smiled and turned to Katrina. "You'll know the distraction it happens. Just be ready to work fast." Katrina gave me a confused look but nodded anyway.
"Make it a good one."
I nodded and started to make my way over to Sirius Black.
…
Sirius' POV
Embre and I were friends, so naturally, she had asked things of me before. She has never, however, asked something so extreme. I mean, this first offense was that she asked this of me while I was at home. Something like this wouldn't go down well with my mother, but I was on the verge of leaving anyway. The second offense was that she wanted me to do this here, at the event of the year, in front of everyone I had ever known. Merlin knew something like this wouldn't end at all well. "Are you serious, Embre?"
"No, you're Sirius. But please, you do pranks in Hogwarts all the time! Why not bring it to a party?"
"My pranks don't involve loss of dignity."
"That can be debated upon. But c'mon. How bad can it be?" Embre gave me a look and fixed my tie before taking a glass of champagne from her brother. Did I mention that her brother was in on this? Both of them wanted to see my reputation be ruined! Even Prongs was on their side! I was powerless against them!
"If I do this, you owe me one as well."
Embre's jaw dropped and Prongs let out a low whistle. I didn't even dare to look at Shines' brother, because if I did, I might just have gotten slugged right there. After a moment he spoke, his voice tight. "No. Never. A thousand times-"
"Fine," Embre spoke over her brother, and everyone turned to her. She straightened her back and looked at me, her hazel eyes challenging me. Her brother started to protest but stopped. "But Merlin help me if you don't do your job correctly."
"Of course, love." And with that, I walked over to Amos Diggory, pulled him away from the blonde he was talking to, and snogged him senselessly.
I heard Embre's fake gasp and her drink fall to the floor. I then prayed to Merlin that I had made the right choice.