I do not own any of these characters. So I wasn't planning on doing this whole chapter from Siri's pov, but he was insistent, and would not stop talking to me. Wait, what do you mean it's not normal for the characters to talk to me? Eh, whatever, I love not being normal.
Happy All Hallow's Eve everyone! I hope you like this, and I hope that you giggle a bit when you get to the feast. I laughed writing it, but we've already established that I am not normal.
Also, I'm thinking that I need a BETA…someone to read over my messy chapters and kick my butt for not writing when I have the time and the muse to do so. Anyone out there interested, or know anyone who is?
ENJOY!
SiriusPOV
When Harry woke us all up late on Sunday afternoon by twisting, kicking and writhing the blankets off his sweaty body, I had no idea what was going on. I thought it was a nightmare, I'd experienced a few of them, though none quite as violent as this episode. I leapt off the bed to get away from Harry's flailing limbs, and found myself in Remus' waiting arms.
We turned to face the bed together, where Hermione was unconcerned with anything other than bringing Harry out of whatever fit he seemed to be in. She was so close to him that their noses were almost touching and I could her a bit of what she was crooning to him.
"Harry, you are safe and loved here, snap out of it. Come on Baby, we love you, come back to us." She moved closer and closer and wrapped her body around his, to try and calm the still violent movements.
When she turned to us, to ask one of us to fetch a cool, wet washcloth, my heart nearly stopped in my chest. I got my first proper look at Harry's face and it was covered in blood. Blood was pulsing from the lightening bolt shaped scar on his head and running in rivulets down his face; drops were flying off his chin as he shook his head in what looked like anger.
Hermione seemed unconcerned about the blood, but I could hear Remus' gasp when he caught sight of it. He handed the washcloth to Hermione and retook his post behind me, supporting most of my weight because when I saw Harry's bloody face I sagged, unable to hold myself up.
A few more tense moments were spent like that, before Harry drew in a large breath and opened his eyes. Those emerald eyes flew from Hermione's face to meet my eyes, as though he had to confirm that I was there and real. Without one word Harry lifted a hand and beckoned me towards him; I nearly ran.
I pulled him onto my lap and tucked his head under my chin, as he turned his face to Hermione so that she could wipe it clean. Harry was shivering in my arms and I held him tight to try and lend him some of my body heat. Hermione leaned in from the other side and wrapped herself around him as well. Remus joined the pile soon after and, when I realized that his head was next to mine, I also finally noticed that he was speaking to me.
"…think it might be for the best. Maybe it's some of the Castle's innate magic that helped him this far. We've got to try something, maybe we should spell him asleep for the trip though. We'll gather Lily when we get back and he can tell us what happened. If we can't fix it then we might have to go to the Headmaster, though that will be a last resort of course. What do you think?"
I nodded my agreement, and whispered the plan to Hermione. She agreed and placed a light sleeping charm on Harry, who slumped in my arms. She seemed to be rather shaken up as well so Remus asked her about it.
"Well, it's really more to do with Harry than me, but this only happens when Voldemort is experiencing high emotions. The two of them have some sort of mental link, and it deeply hurts Harry. We can talk more about it back at the school."
We apparated to Hogsmeade and I insisted that I would be the one to carry Harry up to the school. When we got into the castle keeping to the lesser known corridors and the shadows helped us to keep from being seen until we got to the portrait of the Fat Lady. Harry had woken up a few moments before and was getting very graphic in his descriptions of what he would do to me if I didn't let him walk on his own through the common room.
Hermione detached from the group to try and find Lily so that she could be there when we talked, as the rest of us made our way up to the Head Boy's room to calm down. I helped Harry up onto the bed and he sighed in relief; I could tell that the trip through the common room and up all the stairs had been tough on him, despite his wanting to power through it on his own.
"Harry, are you ready to start talking?" Remus tentatively spoke up and Harry lifted his head from the pillow and blearily opened his eyes, trying to get them to focus.
"I..It was pretty bad and I'd really rather wait and tell it only once. Sorry." I hushed him as I sat on the bed and stroked his hair. He turned into my soothing touches as Remus hovered uncertainly at the foot of the bed. He had just made a decision to sit down when the door flew open with a bang, starling him into jumping back.
Lil flew into the room like a hurricane, shoving me out of her way and grabbing onto Harry with a cry of "My poor baby!" and smothering him with kisses. I snorted into my hand and pulled back. The look on Harry's face was priceless. He looked like he was reveling in the comfort of his mother, and at the same time, I could tell that he also wanted to run screaming from her clutches.
Unfortunately, my amusement was short lived. I tore my eyes away from Harry's face for only a second and looked at Lily before cursing and turning my eyes to the door that Hermione had just come through. But, curse my eidetic memory; that would never erase the glimpse of shiny leather that adorned Lily's breasts under the silk robe that she was wearing.
"Lily…what the he-what are you…what were you doi-is that LEATHER?" Her face flushed an intriguing shade of red as she fumbled to pull the not-quite-full robe tighter around her body. Not that it helped me, I had already seen it.
"For your information Black, I was with James when Hermione pulled me away, she said it was very important, and I'm glad that I came. For heavens' sake, at least I'm covered! The number of times I have had to endure seeing more of you than I wished to when I headed into your dormitory—" She cut herself off and I saw Harry's lips move; he was quietly whispering something to her that made her blush even more.
"Alright, all of this is…well and good but I think that we have more things to talk about. Harry, the floor is yours." Remus, bless him, knew what Harry had said to Lily and stepped in between me and her, lest we try and tear each other down more when there were much more important things to think about.
Harry started talking, his voice low at first and gaining confidence with every word he spoke. He told us about the horrible connection that he shared with Voldemort; the way that he was sent images when Voldemort's emotions were high. He paused after that, as if trying to frame what he was going to say next. He looked up and right at me, as if he were pretending that I was the only one in the room; the only one that he could confide this last bit of information to.
"Last night, he was extremely happy; he was branding the newest group of his Death Eaters. Some names were not a shock: Malfoy, Nott, Rosier. But Pettigrew, that one caught me off guard." With that pronouncement, I dropped Harry's gaze. The bottom flew out of my stomach and the earth disappeared from beneath my feet. I staggered and Remus caught me. I didn't know what to say or do.
We knew it was going to happen, but it seemed like a dream, something far off that we wouldn't have to deal with so soon. I looked up at Remus helplessly but all I saw was a kind of burning determination in his eyes. I felt sick to my stomach and forced myself up and into the bathroom before I could sick up on anyone.
"He was our friend! We trusted him! I just can't…this is just horrible!" I heard Remus' shouting from my position on the floor of the bathroom. I lifted my head up and tried to croak out a response, but all I got was more of a long since eaten meal coming back up.
Forcing my queasy stomach to behave, I pulled myself off the floor and brushed my teeth before heading back into the bedroom. Lily looked to be sobbing into Harry's shoulder and he was patting her back awkwardly and trying to comfort her. I felt a blaze of anger before it died out. Wasn't she supposed to be comforting him?
"Now the most important thing that we need to know is: what has James told him and how much trust is there between them? Lil, Darling, I think you are the only person who can get the information from him." I picked my way over to the bed and sat behind Harry to pull him back into my arms. I nuzzled my face into his neck as Lily sat up and dried her eyes.
"Yes, you're right Siri, I'm the only one here that James will talk to at the moment, bull headed git that he is, and so I'll find a way to get the information out of him one way or another." Without another word she stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
"I would hate to ever be on her bad side. Paddy, is your stomach better? I was thinking that perhaps Mione and I could head down to the kitchens and grab some food for the four of us." I looked over at Remy and nodded, not trusting my voice to be completely level at that point. He grabbed Mione's hand and led her, protesting, out of the room.
"It's funny really….the first person that I want when something bad happens is always you. Back…home, when things like this would happen I would floo to you right away so that you could ruffle my hair and tell me that everything was going to be okay." I felt a moment of fear; did he miss that kind of comfort?
"Did you want to…that is, would you rather…Uh, do you not want to be with me like this and go back to the platonic relationship from before?" Before I could doubt myself any further, he had twisted in my arms and threw himself at me.
"No! Of course not! I just thought that it was interesting that no matter the status of our…relationship, you are always the one who can keep me that calmest." He covered my face in kisses and I felt myself relax.
"I love you no matter what aspect you have in my life…parent figure, best friend, prank master, lover….they are all good to me." He smirked slightly and cupped my face in his hands. I felt a strange sensation when we kissed, something that made me distinctly uncomfortable. I couldn't place it, but I had to make it stop. So, I did the only thing that I knew how to do when I was uncomfortable; I made a joke.
"I'll bet that you just wanted me around so that you could lust after me." He laughed a bit, but had a far off look in his eyes.
"Actually, it was Hermione who had a thing for you back home…I always had a thing for Remus. Ever since he was our professor in third year…but there is this one suit that you wore, oh man, what I wanted to do to you when I saw you wearing that suit…" I couldn't help but laugh. I made a mental note to get more details about 'that suit' that drove Harry wild, before leaning us both back on the bed and curling up around him.
Harry didn't take long before he was drifting into the first natural sleep he'd had in a while, and I was out not long after. We didn't even make it till Remy and Mione got back with the food.
The week that followed the "Great Revelation" was a stressful one. James was talking to us less and less, and he glared at us whenever Lily came over to speak with us when he was in the same room. Homework was being piled on by the bagful and on top of all that; we had to contend with knowing that there was a traitor in our midst. Harry had even finally told us that when Peter was being marked Voldemort had asked him to keep an especially close eye on his friends; namely us.
We tried our hardest to keep a low profile during that week, but by the end I was bursting and needed to do something. It was Dumbledore that presented me with the distraction I needed at dinner. He stood up as we were finishing eating and announced that we were going to have a Halloween Ball for the upper years after the traditional feast. Costumes were optional, but full masks were mandatory and going to be spelled onto your face when you walked into the Great Hall for the night.
The Hall burst with chatter as Dumbledore sat back down after the announcement. I was bursting with excitement; I knew exactly who we should dress as for the party, but wanted to make sure that Harry, Hermione and Remus were okay with the idea.
"I have the BEST costume idea for the four of us, ever! I can't wait to dress us all up…what's wrong Mio?" Mione had a sad look on her face as she looked at Harry's strained smile. She snapped out of it to look over at me.
"Oh, Siri, it's nothing. Tell me all about your idea." I narrowed my eyes at her wondering how far I could push before she cracked, or if she would at all.
"Oh, no, too many Nosey Nellie's around here who would like to steal my idea. You and I can work it out in private later. Just like you can tell me what's wrong…" I trailed off, framing it half-way between a question and a statement and got a nod in return.
It ended up that later was to be the next morning, because there was a pre-party party in the tower that night and I got caught up playing exploding snap with a few kids in the year below ours. I noticed that Remus and Harry had gone off somewhere after breakfast and took the chance to corner our girl.
"Alright Mione, time to spill your guts. What happened last night?" She sighed and sank into a chair by the fireplace in the deserted common room.
"Well after what happened last weekend, You-Know-who's been on Harry's mind more often. He always tries something on Halloween…we've never had a quiet one. And you know what'll happen in three years on that date so…Harry's just a little stressed about it. I'm just…taking the pressure off him by showing it and explaining to you."
"Alright, that tears it! WE are going to have so much fun at this ball that you are going to think it's every single one of your dreams come true. Plus, may I just say…Halloween? How damn cliché is that? What is he, trying to make up for too many treats and not enough tricks when he was young? That is just ridiculous!"
I succeeded in making her laugh at least, and set about outlining my idea for our coordinated costumes. She agreed right away, but thought that we ought to keep it secret until it was time to get ready. That way Remus and Harry couldn't back out of it. I left her studying, sensibly of course, and wandered off to find my boys.
I checked the library first, but it was a nice if a little cool day outside, so I wasn't expecting much. I wandered for nearly twenty minutes before slapping myself on the head and realizing that I should have checked the map. Shrugging, I wandered out to the Quidditch pitch, and finally found them.
Harry looked like he was having a blast, flying around as high as he could, pulling stunts and laughing like he didn't have a care in the world. I spotted Remus up in the stands, content to just watch Harry enjoy himself; he's never been all that comfortable in the air anyway.
I ran up the steps into the stands to join him. I sat behind him and pulled him back into my arms, so that I could place my chin on his shoulder and speak right into his ear.
"He looks so happy up there doesn't he? It's nice to see him enjoying himself like that, with everything that's been going on. We're all so stressed and it's only October! We have NEWTS this year and this new relationship, trying to save Snape's soul and keep him away from the Death Eaters, and now with Peter… I just wish that there was something that I could do." I placed a kiss on Moony's ear in agreement; what else could I possibly say?
We watched Harry in silence for a bit, just enjoying each other's closeness. Soon, my body was running with that concept and I realized just how long it had been since I had Moony all to myself. I crept my hands around his waist and started rubbing his stomach, low near the waist of his trousers. His breathing sped up as he twisted his head around to look me in the eye.
"Paddy, there are too many people that could see…what are you doi-mmph!" I cut him off by slamming my mouth onto his and licking my way in. He groaned and capitulated, teasing me with small flicks of his tongue into my mouth. I got a bit more aggressive with my hands; shoving one into the front of his pants and running my fingers around the tip of his already hard and waiting cock.
"It's been so long Moony…since it was just you and me. I missed my Moony time." With that, the sounds diminished into heavy breathing and moans. He was rocking his hips back into my erection, which had settled at the small of his back when I pulled him close, and I was forcing my hand further into his pants to get a better grip on his hot and heavy cock.
I thought we were alone until I heard a moan that had not come from me or Moony. I turned my head and saw that Harry had stopped flying and was sitting just two benches away, watching with his hand down his pants. I flicked my fingertips on Moony's chest and caught his nipple between my thumb and forefinger; he shouted in surprise.
He turned to try and look at me, but saw Harry instead and ripped himself out of my arms. I sighed, I knew that would happen, and tried to pull myself together as I watched Moony fluster for a response to Harry's questioning looks. They were both just so cute sometimes, it made my heart hurt.
"Oh please Moons…don't stop on my account. That was rather hot, plus look: You've given poor Padfoot a terrible case of blue balls. Don't worry love; I'll take care of you later." With a wink Harry was on his feet, broom slung over his shoulder and, in that instant, I could see why all of the girls in the Wizarding world mooned over Quidditch players. He looked HOT!
"Well, I had been trying to say no to him, there were too many people that could see, but you know how he is when he wants something and then you know how I can't think right when someone rubs my belly and….dear me, I'm rambling rather embarrassingly aren't I?" Remus blinked over at us, and I shook my head.
"You are absolutely adorable like this love." Remus blushed, still trying to pull himself together and not meeting my eyes, but looking out over the pitch. He sighed and straightened his back, a sign that my fun was over for the moment.
"It's a good thing too; it looks like we have some company." He made a vague gesture and I squinted to see what he was talking about. I could see that two blokes in Slytherin robes were headed our way; though I couldn't make out their faces, I could see that it was Malfoy and Snape, by their hair.
"Oh goody, let's go say Hi shall we? I haven't had a chance to meet the little lord Malfoy yet, and I want to say hello to Severus as well." I fear that my mouth was hanging open a little bit too much as I whipped my head around to look at Harry.
"You want to meet Lucius Malfoy?" Remus recovered first, though my mind was working overtime to try and make myself move, respond, something.
"Oh, yes, let's." He grabbed my hand and tugged me along behind him as he raced to intercept the two Slytherins. When we reached the bottom of the stands he stopped for a moment to calm his breathing and compose himself. If I hadn't known better I would have thought that hew was trying to make a good impression on the great blonde git.
We marched determinedly on an intercept course to the other two and it was then that I realized that Remus wasn't with us. Chicken…traitor. I scowled at Remus' back as I watched him hustle off the pitch and back into the castle. Probably going to get Hermione and Lily for back up incase this turns into some sort of battle.
"Well, what do we have here? Ah look, it's the Black sheep and his new little friend. I have heard so little about you, Harry is it? Though Severus has told me a few things that make me think that you may be salvageable, even after your unfortunate placement in Gryffindor house. So, would you like someone to show you around so that you don't fall in with the wrong sort of people?" Malfoy actually looked as earnest as he ever had in my eyesight, and was holding one gloved hand out to Harry, who seemed to have frozen in shock.
And then, he burst out laughing; large nearly painful looking belly laughs that had him doubled over. I could see tears streaming from his eyes and his face was turning red from the lack of oxygen in his system. I froze what should I do? What could I do, other than wait it out? Malfoy had a patient, angry look on his face and Severus looked intrigued.
Harry started to straighten up, mumbling under his breath the whole time. I couldn't hear what he was saying but I heard a few snatches of words, "the wrong sort of people" and "holy Merlin it's genetic" among the most interesting before he calmed himself to look at the three of us.
"Oh, I apologize Lord Malfoy; I was just having one of my little episodes. Could you possibly deign to repeat yourself so that I may correct my error in greeting you?" Both Severus and I had identical gob smacked looks on our faces as we heard the proper and polite manner that Harry spoke.
Though clearly suspicious, Malfoy dropped his hand and repeated himself…word for pompous word. I caught Severus' eye and all he could do was shrug and direct me to keep paying attention.
"Oh, Malfoy, that was priceless, I could laugh at that all day, and you do love to hear yourself talk don't you? Ah well, I believe that the proper response is: I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself thanks." And with that, we were walking away, leaving an infuriated Malfoy and a thoroughly amused Severus behind us.
We marched back to the tower, Harry's swagger giving off the feeling of being victorious in some way, and found Mione, Remy and Lily studying in front of the fireplace. Harry ran over to them and jumped into Mione's lap, laughing the whole time.
"So, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that your meeting with Malfoy went well?" Remus conjectured. I nodded as Harry began laughing again. He told the story to the amassed crowd, but Hermione was the only one who found it as funny as he did.
"Harry, you can't be serious! The exact same thing? Siri, did Malfoy really say what Harry thinks he said?" Hermione's eyes were bright with laughter, and I nodded and thought back to what he had said.
"So, would you like someone to show you around so that you don't fall in with the wrong sort of people? Why in the world is that so funny?" I had given up on standing and placed myself into Moony's lap.
"Our first year, when we were on the train, Draco came up to us and said nearly the same thing, word for word; sticking his hand out haughtily and with the same 'I'm only deigning to talk to you for my own nefarious purposes' smile on his pointy little face. And I responded in the same way that I did today. I know for a fact that it will rankle his ego incessantly."
"Draco? But I thought he was your…lover?" Lily asked. I turned to Mione, knowing that she still got weepy when they tried to ask about Draco, but her smile stayed on her face, bright and true.
"He was, but that was six years later. We all had to grow up some before we were able to even talk pleasantly, let alone anything else." I nodded my head, pretending that I could understand all of what had just transpired. I tried for force my mind away from the niggling feelings of guilt and jealousy that had taken up residence.
What if, by coming back here, they had changed the future? What if, in a few short months when they went home, they found themselves in a place where Draco was still their lover and Remus and I were pushed to the sidelines, to watch our lovers forever with someone else and have our love returned only in a familial way? The thought was nearly too much for me to bear and I tore myself from the room and headed up to the dorm.
Unwittingly, I went to our old dorm, the one that Padfoot shared with Moony, Prongs and Wormtail, but that was all over now, wasn't it? I collapsed on the bed that had belonged to me just a few short months ago, but I would now forever consider a relic from another life. I hadn't noticed that there was someone in the room when I crashed in.
James was eyeing me warily from his bed, the very same one that we broke in third year when I tackled him in celebration of his finally getting a starting position on the house Quidditch team. I looked back just as wearily. I had no idea of what was involved with our relationship now.
"I'm still your best mate you know. We may disagree on certain things, even important ones, and we each have other people in our lives that we would rather share some things with, but you can still trust me with everything and anything. You will always be my brother." He paused, as if hoping and waiting for a response.
"Alright, I can give you that but, brother, what's with all of the evil glares and silent treatment lately?" I tried to keep the scorn from my voice, but it was difficult. Though I had Harry, Hermione and Remus with me these last few weeks, I had been missing Prongs.
"Well…" he paused, as if trying to frame his answer, "I suppose that if I reading you right, and I know that I am, those 'evil glares' probably looked a lot like the look that was on your face when you came crashing in a moment ago. Therefore, I can tell you that it was jealousy."
"Jealous? Whatever the fuck of Prongs?" I could have slapped myself, now he was going to be one the defensive again, instead of trying to right this chasm between us; I had probably made it worse. But, I was wrong, and happy to be wrong for the first time…ever.
"Of Lil wanting to spend time with them; of the fact that I felt like I had lost all of my best mates: Pete because, well, you know, and you and Moony because you didn't need me anymore. And I suppose that Harry was right about the Snamemsphfmfgtm."
"I'm sorry, could you possibly run that last by me again, I seem to have developed some hearing problems since we last spoke and I can no longer decipher "prongsisms."" I smiled, I knew what that last mumble meant, but he had to say it out loud, to me and to Harry, or we would never be able to get past this.
"FINE! Harry was right about the Snape thing. I was, and still am, terrified that I am going to lose Lily to him and I really don't want to be friends with him. Old habits die hard; you can't teach an old dog new tricks and all that rubbish….Who will we prank?"
I laughed and he joined me after a moment; it felt so good to just let go and have a laugh with Prongs again, that was one of the things I had missed the most. We reminisced about some of our more brilliant pranks for a little while before we sobered up.
"So why were you jealous Paddy?" It brought my happy feelings to an abrupt end and I turned towards him thoughtfully.
"I'm not sure that I can answer that at the moment, but I'll try. They told you about Draco, right?" He nodded and I went on, trying to explain to him how I was feeling, albeit through a rambling, meandering route. When I finally stopped, he was silent, thinking it over.
"Honestly, I don't think that you have anything to worry about. Even if he's alive when you go back, you're still all Moony's mates? Plus, you will have been together for a year and in love. I think that you just have to trust them. I know it's hard, coming from a family like yours, to trust so quickly, but you have to try."
"You know Prongsie, that was incredibly astute and mature of you. Now, what are you going to do about the Severus thing?" He scowled and went silent as I asked the question, and so I was able to hear the door on the other side of the room opening. It was everyone; Lily, Hermione, Remus and Harry had all come up.
"I'm so glad that you're talking again. Are you alright Siri?" Harry had come and jumped on top of my stomach, running his hands all over me as though checking for physical wounds from a fight.
"Ugh, you have your own bedroom to do that in, I have no desire to see my best mate and my future son fondle each other." Prongs said to us with a smile on his face. Harry's face was fairly glowing as he threw a grin over his shoulder at James.
"But I was just trying to play healer!" Four exasperated and one excited groans were the sounds that followed that statement, but then the entire group was laughing together. Lily had joined James on his bed and she was staring him down through her laughter.
"So, why were you talking about Severus again?" Her voice left little room for maneuvering, and everyone could tell.
"Prongsie has decided that he is going to get over his jealousy and be friends with Severus." Harry and Hermione beamed at him with my announcement, but Lily's eyes narrowed further and I couldn't help but gulp in apprehension.
"Why are you still jealous?"
"Because he's in love with you! I know that you can't see it, but I can and it drives me crazy thinking that I could lose you to him, I love you Lily!" Lily heaved herself up off the bed and paced between the feet of our respective beds.
"For the last time, he is not in love with me! We grew up together, we were best friends for a very long time and he's GAY!" Her screaming was met with silence.
"Severus is a poof? Why didn't you tell me that, this whole thing could have been avoided?" Even I rolled my eyes at how dense James was being.
"Firstly, it wasn't her secret to tell and secondly, you idiot, you KNOW that you would have used the information to humiliate him further. How dense can one person be? Are you sure that there is room with all that hot air in your scull for a brain, because I'm not." Hermione hopped off the bed and cuffed James on the back of his head, not un-gently, and began pacing alongside Lily.
"Alright, well, I won't now, and I have a great opportunity to show you all that you can trust me to be nice to him. So, how about we celebrate Saturday night and do something fun?" The girls agreed quickly, ready to put unpleasantness behind us for the evening.
Prongs produced a bottle of firewhiskey, and we all settled into a circle on the floor so that we could play truth or dare. It turned out to be rather hilarious, but my favorite moment was when Harry dared Mione and Lily to make out until James or Moony stopped them.
James was the one who broke first, though Moony had growled sexily from the first moment that their lips touched. James had jumped up from his seat and ran over to physically pull Mione off Lily. I laughed myself sick.
The two weeks before Halloween were spent with Hermione, Lily and I making secretive plans about costumes, while Harry, Remus and James were trying to play nice with Severus. The first few attempts were difficult, but since the whole school had eventually heard about the "new guy who could take down Malfoy with words" Severus slowly began to trust them, and us.
Lily was planning something ridiculous for herself, Prongs and Severus. She was going to force them to behave or die trying. She said over and over that Severus was totally gay, but for some reason, I thought that Lily might be his "exception"…kind of like Hermione was for me.
Halloween morning dawned cold and rainy; reminding me about this Voldemort character's penchant for clichés. Despite what I had told Hermione I was worried, and I spent more time than usual looking out for suspicious people hanging out near my mates. Unfortunately, someone who could not be brushed off so easily was making that difficult; Wormtail.
He'd been clingy lately, but not overtly so. James still had not come forward with what he had told Wormtail during his sojourn at his house over the summer, though we knew he could not have said anything about Harry and Hermione, or he's be dead. None the less, the lack of information combined with the clingy-ness of him lately was making me insane.
Trying to keep a secret that we knew he'd been inducted into the Death Eaters while still pretending to be friends with him was a precarious balance. I thought that we had brought it off well, but James pulled me aside one afternoon and told me to watch my facial expressions around the little traitor. I promised to try, but if I could run him off with ugly looks, I would be more than happy to continue.
I pushed it all aside when it was time to get ready for the feast and the ball. We were all going to the feast in costume and then staying for the ball. Hermione helped me corral Harry and Remus up to our room and, with a flourish, we unveiled our costumes. I expected immediate and loud scorn, and I was not disappointed.
"Oh hell NO! There is no way that I am wearing that in front of people. I would rather die first. Not to mention the fact that I am not letting any of my mates out dressed in less than enough clothing. Your bodies are for me to see and no one else!" I nearly laughed at the wild look on Moony's face, but I knew that would make the matter worse.
"Excuse me? Did you just imply that we belong to you? That I am less than my own person who can make my own decisions? Mister Alpha wolf, you are in so much trouble!" I winced at Hermione's tone and knew that Remus was going to spend a lot of time in the future on his knees; groveling. She huffed and grabbed her costume and Harry's, along with the bag of the makeup that we were using instead of masks, before stomping into the bathroom, dragging Harry with her. She hadn't even glared at Remus once, simply ignored him.
"I do not envy you tonight. Now, are you going to help me with the makeup, or are you going to make me do it myself?"
After much grumbling, messed up face paint, and stumbling around trying to walk in the boots that we had bought, we were all ready. We gathered together and I looked at the other three, my face bursting with laughter; we looked ridiculous, but perfect. We turned as a group and went to face our first challenge of the night; the stairs.
About a half hour later, we were standing at the doors to the great hall, ready to make our entrance. I gave Hermione one more look over; she had chosen to augment her costume with a lot of glamours, if someone cast a finite in her general direction, she was going to give quite a show. I held up four fingers and as the final one went down, Hermione cast the charm to start the music in the great hall. We threw open the doors and marched in singing.
You really like my limousine
You like the way the wheels roll
You like my seven inch leather heels
And goin' to all of the shows, but
Do you love me, do you love me
Do you love me, really love me
You like the credit cards and private planes
Money can really take you far
You like the hotels and fancy clothes
And the sound of electric guitars, but
Do you love me, do you love me
Do you love me, I mean like do you
Really love me
We brought the house down, and suddenly Remus didn't think that the costumes were so ridiculous. Well, at least they weren't nearly as bad as what Lily made James and Severus wear. We would all forever live in the mystery of how she convinced Severus to do it.
"KISS? You convinced them to come dressed as KISS? And you performed too, AHHHH, it was awesome, do you need some groupies? I think we should start a fan club." Lily, or should I say Tinkerbell, was standing in front of us, bursting with praise for our costumes, our singing, our charms work, and our bravery. Behind her stood a sullen James, or Peter Pan, in green tights and the gayest hat I had ever seen, and a smirking Severus, or Captain Hook.
Hermione, since she had the hair for the part, was the Daemon, or Gene Simmons; Harry was the Spaceman, or Ace Frehley; Remus was the Catman, or Peter Criss and I was the Starchild, or Paul Stanley. We had thought that they were pretty ingenious costumes, plus we looked hot. I got the idea because I had seen that they were touring and they were going to be in London sometime after the New Year. After this, I knew we would have to get to the concert.
As I tuned out Lily and let my mind wander I stared at Severus and I realized that I had fibbed to my mates. It wasn't intentional, and I certainly wasn't doing it to get anything but, I had definitely lied to them. Severus looked like the sexiest pirate I had ever seen, and I realized that the fascination I felt for him was beyond wanting to know him and willing to not kick him out of my bed. I really just wanted to get him into my bed.
I could have kicked myself for the revelation, but it wasn't possible for me to balance on one foot in these platform heels. I wondered how it was possible for those guys to run around on stage in them.
I was tugged to one of the tables in the hall; the regular tables having been changed to smaller round tables with room for ten, and sat down to the feast. It was amazing and delicious, as usual. The hour to send all of the younger years off approached and we watched as the dejected kids left.
A few of the upper years dashed off too, most likely to get into their costumes as they hadn't wanted to come dressed in them. I was glad that we had come as we did; it gave us the chance to make the best entrance.
Severus had been staying silent during the feast and the start of the ball, and I couldn't help but want to pull him out of it. Hermione had dragged Harry off to dance, as she was still ignoring Remus, and he was being a total party pooper. So, with more bravery thatn I felt like I had, I asked Severus to dance with me.
He looked suspicious as he took my hand and let me lead him out onto the dance floor, but said nothing until we were weakly holding each other and twirling around the floor.
"I still don't understand you and your friends Black. Why are you dong this? And who are they really? Sometimes I get the feeling that they know something that the rest of us don't….And they both look at me as if they know me." I twirled him around and frantically searched my brain for either an answer to his question, or a way to distract him.
"Has anyone told you that you made a dead sexy pirate?" I rolled my eyes at my own stupidity, and resolved to at least try and balance in the boots so that I could kick my own arse. To my shock, he smiled up at me.
"No…but thank you for saying so. Has anyone told you how much they like your seven inch….leather heels?" He was flirting with me? What to do, what to do?
"Seven, hah, must be more like nine." What the hell is wrong with me? Why is my mouth speaking without consulting my brain first? He laughed again, and I found myself entranced with the sound of it.
"Well, the song is over, but thanks ever so much for the dance Black, it was very…enjoyable." He gave a little bow to me and marched off the dance floor as I stood there gaping at him. I needed to talk to someone about this. I couldn't tell Prongs or Lily; as much as I didn't want to I was going to have to confide in Remus.
I searched for Remus but couldn't find him. I had thought it would be easy to find him, considering he was among one of the tallest people in the room with his heels on, but I had no luck. I found Harry though, and danced with him enough to take my mind off of the Severus situation. For a while anyway.
It was nearing midnight and, after we found Hermione and Remus doing some make-up snogging in a dark corner, we were asked for an encore to end the night. We huddled together to try and decide which song to do, but in the end it was no choice really.
You show us everything you've got
You keep on dancin' and the room gets hot
You drive us wild; we'll drive you crazy
You say you wanna go for a spin
The party's just begun; we'll let you in
You drive us wild; we'll drive you crazy
You keep on shoutin'; You keep on shoutin'
I wanna Rock and Roll all night, and party every day
I wanna Rock and Roll all night, and party every day
I wanna Rock and Roll all night, and party every day
I decided to NOT end with a cliffhanger, in hopes that I get more reviews…what do you say?