A/N: Sorry, it's been 2 weeks. I have my excuses, even if you don't wanna hear them, sorry. As I may have mentioned a while ago, I am doing the play version of Tom Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles at my school and the last performance was saturday... *sigh* Last week I had a load of school trips and also had the dress and tech rehearsals and this week I had two dress rehearsals after school (Monday and Tuesday as we were rather ill-prepared) and the show Wednesday through Saturday. It's left me rather busy, so I apologise, hopefully this extra-long chapter will make up for it!

I will begin to upload my new Fli/Sirius (Sirius/OC) chapters to a new story entitled: 'Misery Loves Company'. At the end, you may get a sneak peak into the first chapter ;) This chapter is basically a build up to Misery Loves Company so that you guys want to read it as I haven't really explored the Fli/Sirius romance much :/So, without further ado, here we have… Preparations

The emerald green eyes of the girl in the mirror bore into her own as Lily admired Fli's handiwork. It truly was beautiful. The bodice itself glittered with the glimmering beads that framed her shape and wound round in intricate, swirling patterns, as if the night sky itself had been printed in jewels. Flowing from the figure-shaping bodice was a beautiful satin skirt that swept around her and tenderly brushed the floor. The girl in the mirror shone in the afternoon sun, her red hair tied back in quick ponytail in preparation for the makeup her face would receive. Fli, crouching next to her, pins resting between her teeth as she made last minute adaptations to her work, mumbled something incoherent and dashed to duck under her bed and pulled out her sewing kit. Her mother had sent it the day Fli had told her of her mission to create the dresses the muggle way due to what Fli said was 'terrible wand stitching.'

"Take it off now so I can finish the hem," she said before her head shot up, a look of worry shattering her customary passive expression. "But be careful please, no major catastrophes."

"Trust me," She said, holding on to her bedpost as she slipped out of the fine silk that lined the inside of the dress and wrapping her fluffy robe around her shoulders. "If there are any catastrophes, it'll be down to you, Sirius and that dress." She laughed, nodding towards the equally beautiful dress that hung by Fli's bed. "What's going on there anyway?"

She looked up in a daze. "Sorry?"

"You… and Sirius," she slumped on her bed and hugged her pillow to her chest. "You know… you're not fighting anymore."

"No, we're not."

"And you're going to the dance together."

"We are."

"On a date…"

"It's not a date." Lily raised an eyebrow but did not say anything to this for fear that herself and Fli may get into an argument for it. There was a prominent silence as neither of them said a word, Lily death-glaring her cuticles, Fli delving into the twists and turns of her sewing. After what felt like an age, Fli finally spoke up. "It's just… I don't know. He makes me so angry; I don't even know why I agreed to this. I should have just said no, so many other boys asked me out before and after him, so why did I say yes?" She stared at her perfectly done line of thread as though in deep concentration. "It's just… It's Sirius."

"Look," Lily said, seriousness clouding her original mocking tone. "I thought I hated James, like, really hated him, and look at us now." Fli smiled at the thought. The two had been inseparable since Lily and Toby had split. Although they were careful to not undergo any public displays of affection, the students of Hogwarts as a whole noticed a definite difference between the two of them. It wasn't just the stolen kisses when they thought that people weren't looking or the glances and smiles they shared across the classroom but the overall glow of the pair. Their happiness, much like their anger, was infectious. The people around them could not help but feel the overwhelming joy that spread itself around them, like a cloud of joyfulness and love etched around them such as you might see in a muggle comic. It truly was breath taking.

"He might not be perfect," Lily continued, smiling to herself, "But who is? Maybe we all need imperfections."

"That's good advice, where did you get it?" She smirked, hanging the green dress up beside her own and pulling her makeup out of her trunk.

"A very pretty, very silly girl."

"She sounds familiar… do I know her?"

"Well she is my best friend."

"Damn and I thought that was me!" She giggled, sitting opposite Lily on the bed. "Now, on with the show, we only have three hours until the boys whisk us off to the ball and I personally still look like filch!"

James tapped his foot on the granite floor of the common room impatiently, checking his watch, a fine brass face with a brown leather strap, once belonging to his mother's father, which his parents had given him for his seventeenth birthday. The girls weren't late, far from it, but he had previously hurried to get ready and ran from his dorm to see Lily, forgetting that they weren't due to meet until seven. There he stood, pacing in front of the fire, turning his head towards the stairs every time a noise erupted from the archway, disappointed with the result. Eventually, he gave up, and slumped into the plush sofa cushions beside him.

Suddenly, loud pounding sounds came from the stairwell and from them came the mass of curly black hair that was Sirius black. He was dressed in the finest black dress robes you could ever imagine, and yet still he still made them look scruffy with his shirt lying open, exposing the white t-shirt he wore beneath. He held his tie in his hands and was looking at it in deep concentration, as though the tie itself had just materialised out of thin air. His eyes, beneath his long, unruly curls, lay there for a second and then glanced up to meet James', a look of bewilderment etched into his fine, god-like features.

"What…" he panted, as though he had run a marathon rather than simply down the stairs, "Is this?"

"A tie, Padfoot."

"A what?"

James was bemused at his astonishing lack of knowledge. "A tie. It goes around your neck. Have you never worn dress robes before?"

"No way in hell! You really think I actually went to my cousin Narcissistic's wedding to that Ludicrous Malfoy?" He snorted, clearly astonished at the thought that he would ever, ever, go to such an event. "Mother may have bought the dress-robes for the occasion but that does not mean I went."

"It's funny how even though your mother hates you, you still have finer dress robes than me."

"What can I say?" He laughed, saying the next part in the mocking tone which James recognised as the mick-taking voice he often used to mock his mother. "The noble house of Black has no shabby relations."

James laughed along with him, nervously checking the time. It was six thirty, a whole half hour before Fli and Lily were expected to turn up. That meant he had time to not only spruce Sirius' robes up but also have a glass of firewhiskey to calm his nerves

"Right, Padfoot, we need to sort out your get up."

"What? But I look fine."

He gave him a once over. His rather tatty yet lucky converse sneakers were untied; his shirt still had not been buttoned up; the tie that he once stared at was now slung lazily around his neck; and his hair really needed attention. "You're not even dressed properly, mate."

He waved him off as he buttoned up his shirt. "Not like Fli cares anyway, remember it's not a date." He remarked bitterly.

"Of course she cares," James chuckled, tying Sirius' tie and tucking in his shirt with a flick of his wand. Himself and Lily had already had the discussion of the two's obvious feelings. "Besides, out of the many boys who asked her, she said yes to you, Sirius Black!"

"Wait a minute…" He extended his index finger to him in a pointed gesture. "You're telling me…that some other guys, who had other choices… asked her?" His face showed that of astonishment at the revelation.

"Yeah, mate," James replied with a smirk, studying the tangled curls at the back of Sirius' head. "She's meant to be a catch with the boys in Hufflepuff."

"That's 'cos they're Hufflepuffs." He chuckled, bending down to tie his shoelaces. "There, I think we're done."

Right then, a shadow appeared in the archway, blocking the light from the stairwell. Well, James thought, I guess there's no firewhiskey to calm my nerves tonight. "Yeah, and just in time, too."

From the archway and into the light, out stepped the most beautiful sight James had ever witnessed. There, donning a figure hugging, body shaping masterpiece, was his princess Lily, an exceptional beauty beyond any type of comparison he could ever imagine. Her luscious, fiery red locks were wound and weaved in a beautiful and intricate fashion held together by a glittering pearl pin. The dress itself, James couldn't help but notice, was the exact shade of her eyes, framed her body perfectly and accentuated her best features. The gown truly was remarkable. The beautiful beads, the jewelled bodice, the way it seemed to flow around her, it was all… exceptional, and James didn't think he'd ever be able to let go of her hand as she placed it in his.

"Hey," She whispered shyly, taking in the sight of him. He truly was the most handsome boy she'd ever seen, not that she would have admitted it but a few months ago. His chiselled, statuesque jaw jutted out in an extremely bewitching way, as though the gods themselves had carved it out of stone. His glittering eyes beckoned her closer into his lanky, gangly arms as her small, cold, delicate hand seemed to fit perfectly into his large, warm, clumsy paws. Their embrace seemed to be perfect; as though they were the two components needed for a machine to work; they needed each other.

"Hey," He kissed her forehead. There, in front of almost the entirety of Gryffindor tower, where everyone, sixth years and first years alike, took an intake of breath. And neither of them cared.

"Where's Fli-Craze anyway?" Sirius said, breaking the intermittent silence.

"She'll be down in a minute," Lily replied with a smile, her gaze never reverting from James'. "We'll wait for you if you want."

"Nah, you two go on, have fun. Knowing Stone-arse she'll be another hour anyway." He moaned, slumping onto the sofa and picking up the nearest Quidditch Weekly off of the coffee table. When the two of them did not leave, he looked up. "Go, both of you, we'll meet you there."

"Alright then, we'll go," James said, taking Lily by the arm and whisking her away to the great hall, where a night of fun and frivolity awaited them.

Okay, so here is a Misery Loves Company teaser!

The Epilogue.

She had always been the least favourite sibling, so, it appeared, had he. I guess they were made for each other from the start; they were blessed by the stars. No matter how much they defied their destiny, their destiny was always going to catch up with them, no matter how far they ran, they were doomed to follow this path, forever and always.

"Sirius Black! You stupid oaf! Come out of that cupboard this instant!" Twelve year old Flidais Sonas boomed as she pounded on the thick oak of the wardrobe in the Gryffindor girls Quidditch changing rooms. "I saw you run in here you little frizzy haired perve! Come out of there at once!"

"Never!" He laughed, huddled inside the wardrobe, watching between the gap of the doors to see the angry faces of the girls who had tried out for Quidditch.

"You have five minutes to rid the wardrobe of your evil little body before I bat-bogey-hex you!" The girls around her giggled inwardly, impressed that a second year girl would even try out for Quidditch, let alone know how to perform a bat-bogey hex. Sirius himself was impressed, not that he'd ever admit that of course.

"Like you could."

"Want to try me?" She said, a vindictive grin widening on her face.

"Ready girls?" Professor Astlebury asked as she walked into the changing rooms, arms laden with brooms. Professor Astlebury was the flying and Quidditch teacher. She was approximately five foot two and it was rumoured that she played for the Holyhead Harpies several decades ago. She was not only known for her excellent teaching skills but her blunt and aggressive teaching strategies. If you upset Professor Astlebury, all of your dreams of making your house's Quidditch team were suddenluy dow the drain. "Miss Sonas, may I ask why you are glaring at the cupboard?"

She span on her heel, ready to turn Sirius in to the awaiting professor. "Well I…" Funnily enough, she was not prepared for the request that awaited her.

"Please Fli; I'll never make the team." Sirius whispered, terrified. "I'll do anything."

There was silence as Fli considered her options. Even she did not expect the reply she gave within the next few seconds. "I thought I saw a spider. You see, I have a terrible fear of them professor."

"Spiders are nothing compared to what you will see on the Quidditch field, Miss Sonas, you will do well to remember that." As she turned towards the door and walked out, the other girls scuffled behind her to join the boys on the Quidditch pitch for try outs.

"I owe you one," Sirius remarked as he stepped out of the cupboard. "Thanks mate."

"It's okay. Like you said," She smirked, "You owe me one."

"Yeah," He considered this before returning her remark with one of his own. "Who knew someone as annoying and insane as you could be so cool?" And with that he ran away onto the pitch to join the others, Fli trailing behind him, one fist raised into the air as she screamed:

"You little cretin!"

Meh, that's just a taster, its not the actual chapter, that still needs a few little tweeks. SO, what do you think?

Love you guys,

~Chloe xxxxxxxxxxxx