Behind These Eyes – Chapter 12

A/N I haven't updated for a little while, but I could a couple of reviews recently and it reminded me to get my backside into gear. This chapter was probably one of the most difficult I've ever had to write, trying to describe the party without actually any visuals. Which is why I deleted the whole thing and went with a chapter from Lucy's POV. I hope, in fact I am praying, that you all like it! I'm not sure I do. It's a bit rambling.

"Aw Lucy, you look fantastic…"

Lucy turned away from the mirror just as Lily came out of the bathroom, her dark red hair dripping around her shoulders. Lily was smiling admiringly.

Grinning, Lucy turned back to the mirror. She did look good. She wasn't being arrogant admitting it, she'd worked damned hard to look that good. Liberal amounts of Sir Curlsalot Hair Potion had turned her normally poker straight blonde hair into a mass of curls that framed her face. A delicate helping of mascara and liner made her hazel eyes sparkle. But the dress was what she was proudest of. Gladrags in Hogsmeade had been besieged by girls over the last few weeks, but Lucy had fought tooth and nail to get the deep blue knee length dress she now wore. In fact the backs of Rita's hands had the nail marks to prove it.

"Are you heading down now?" Lily asked as she dried her hair. "I'm going to be a while yet."

"Planning on making a big entrance?" Lucy asked with a grin as she put on a pair of dangly earrings. "But yeah, I told Sirius that I'd meet him in the common room at eight. He said something about not wanting to hang around…"

Lucy couldn't miss the look that flashed across Lily's face. "What?"

"Nothing…I just…you know who he's trying to avoid don't you?"

Lucy glanced across the room at Kat's empty bed. The other girl was down at dinner. "He doesn't…he just doesn't want to make her feel bad…"

She tried to ignore the pitying look on Lily's face. She knew full well Lily's opinion on the whole matter. But Lucy didn't believe any of it. Sure, Sirius had run after Kat that day at Hogsmeade, but that was just because he felt sorry for her. That's what he said and she believed him. It was the rest of the school who'd read so much more into it. She was not going to let it ruin her night. She was going to the party with the best looking boy in school, and no one could say anything to ruin it.

"Well don't you look nice." Rita's voice was heavy with sarcasm.

"Rita…"

"Don't Rita me!" She flounced across the room and flopped onto her bed, picking up a copy of Witch Weekly and hiding behind it. "I hope you have lovely time!"

Lucy watched her for a moment and sighed. It didn't look like Rita was going to forgive her any time soon. She shot Lily a quick grin. "See you there."

The common room was full of younger students and those not invited to the party by the time Lucy got down there. The fire was burning in the grate shedding it's warm yellow glow across the faces that turned towards her as she came down the stairs.

She only had eyes for one person though. Sirius had risen to his feet as she came into the room, a crooked half smile on his lips. She felt her heart skip a beat. He really was…perfect. He was dressed simply enough in a pair of trousers and a crisp blue shirt that matched his eyes, and his black hair flopped sexily into his eyes.

"You look nice," he said as she reached him.

For a second Lucy bristled. Nice? After all the work, all he could say was 'nice'. Then she relaxed and smiled back at him. "So do you. Shall we?"

He grinned and they turned together towards the portrait hole.

The journey down to Slughorn's classroom was taken in silence. Lucy wasn't entirely sure what to say. She had Sirius had never really spent much time alone, they were normally part of a group of laughing, chattering friends.

"Ah, Mr Black, welcome, welcome!" Slughorn bowed them into his office. It had been decorated extravagantly for the party, with great silk drapes and hundreds of glittering candles. It was also far, far larger than it should have been. "And who is your delightful companion."

Lucy smiled at Slughorn, taking in his resplendent purple robes and the crystal goblet of wine in his hand. He was looking at Lucy admiringly.

"This is Lucy…one of the girls in my year."

Lucy felt like she'd been slapped. It was a perfectly acceptable introduction, but it was the way he said it. So dismissive. She looked up at him, but he didn't seem to notice that he had said or done anything wrong. He was scanning the room as though looking for someone.

"Well, do get yourselves something to drink, and something to eat. Enjoy yourselves."

Sirius steered Lucy across the room towards the refreshment table and then they found themselves a space near the wall where they could watch a few people dancing in the middle of the room to the string quartet in the corner.

Lucy finally worked herself up to trying to start a conversation when Sirius suddenly moved away from the wall with a grin.

"I was wondering when you'd get here!"

James was approaching them, closely followed by Lily. He snagged two bottles of butterbeer off the table handing one to Lily and then joining them by the wall.

"You look good," Lucy said quietly to Lily as the two boys started talking. The smaller girl had swept her hair up into a pretty clip and wore a green dress that set off her hair and her eyes perfectly.

"Thanks. You don't look too happy though."

Lucy grimaced. There was no way she was admitting to Lily that she had been right about Sirius all along. That as nice as he was, he simply wasn't interested in Lucy as more than a friend. "It's a really good party," she said, changing the subject.

An hour later the party was well underway and even Lucy was starting to enjoy it. There were quite a few famous faces dotted here and there amongst the students, even if they did get stuck listening to some famous Quidditch player tell them all how fabulous he was for twenty minutes.

It was nearly half past nine when Sirius suddenly jerked away from the wall where he had been lounging. James was the first to turn to see what he was looking at, but Lucy soon followed his gaze.

Remus had just arrived at the party, but it was who was with him that drew the attention of the room. Lucy couldn't believe that Kat had actually come, neither, it seemed, could any one else.

"Wow," Lily murmured in Lucy's ear. "She looks beautiful."

And Lucy had to admit that she did. Where the dress had come from, she had no idea, but it was stunning, if a little old fashioned. The silvery grey material seemed to shimmer and change colour as she walked. Her dark hair was loose for a change, flowing down across her shoulders and back. She didn't need make up to emphasise her dark lashes, and grey green eyes.

Lucy drew her eyes away from Kat to glance towards Sirius. His jaw was clenched, and he looked both admiring and angry at the same time. How could she have even thought about ignoring the way he felt? It was so obvious to anyone who knew him. He was head over heels for Kat Metcalf.

Glancing back towards Kat, Lucy half smiled. Kat looked so nervous and uncomfortable.

If only she knew how beautiful she was.

Lucy knew she had a choice now, she could ignore the whole situation, let things carry on the way they were, or she could swallow her pride and tell Kat about Sirius, find a way to make Kat see what Sirius saw in her.

Looking up at Sirius's strong profile, Lucy knew it would be the hardest thing she'd ever done.

A/N – I made Kat beautiful. I wasn't going to, because I hate Fanfics when the OC's are all gorgeous and stunning, but it just works for Kat to be pretty. She doesn't know it at all, so I hope that stops her being too Marysueish… Anyway, let me know what you think, even if you hate it. The next chapter will be back to Kat's POV.