Chapter 29: First Day of My Life

Sunday April 10th, 12:23 pm

It was one of those perfect days down by the lake. It was surprisingly warm for April weather, I was comfortably dressed in a t-shirt and tank top. I was spread out underneath a tree with Sirius, Cassi, Peter and Remus. For the past hour I had been trying to study but the only person aside from me who was actually intent on studying was Remus, the others just proved to be annoying distractions.

"Oi you sod head, pay attention to me, I'm bored." Cassi said throwing bits of grass at my face.

"Cass, this isn't a time for me to entertain you. When I said I was sitting outside to study I actually meant it." I responded, rolling my eyes. Peter was currently sleeping in the shade so he couldn't provide amusement to her and Sirius was too busy rolling his sleeves up and flexing his muscles to pay any attention to Cassi.

"Where's James?" Cassi asked, flipping onto her back and spreading her arms above her head. Cassi and James had quickly become good friends. With Cassi's loud mouth and affection for sizing up people, and James' same affinity they quickly bonded. I was a little jealous with how easily Cassi was able to blend in with all the Marauders.

"Lily's ill, he's tending to her currently." I responded.

"She alright?"

"Yeah, just the flu."

"Hm," Cassi mused carelessly as she glanced around the lake where other people were busy studying and socializing. "Do you think I can convince the first years that the Giant Squid is a ride?"

"Only if you want to be responsible for the death of eleven year olds," Remus muttered from behind his book, the first words he'd said the whole time we were there.

"It's either that or my death by boredom," Cassi sighed dramatically.

"No one is making you stay here," I said.

"Yes but everyone else is like you, with their noses buried into books. Honestly, people have stopped having fun lately."

"It's because of these things called exams, people tend to study for them."

"Pish posh," Cassi said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "People outside the walls of Hogwarts should be studying me and what's going to happen once I'm released into the world."

"It is a fear that plagues me at night," I said dead-pan.

"Hey babes," Sirius said turning around to me. "What would you think if I rolled my sleeves and gelled back my hair?"

I looked up at Sirius, "no." I said flatly.

"Give it some thought, would you? I think I would look rather spiffing."

"I think those girls over there wouldn't mind," Cassi said gesturing towards fifth year girls across the lake from us. "They've been readjusting their hair and tits since Sirius came within feet of them. They may as well take off their shirts for how low they've undone their buttons."

"Babes, why don't you unbutton your shirt in my presence?" Sirius asked edging towards me and playing with the collar of my shirt.

I swatted his hand away, "because I have other things on my mind aside from your sexual satisfaction."

Sirius only smiled at my chastising and closed the already small gap between our bodies as he pressed his chest against my arm. He rested a hand on my bare leg and drew small circles on it. Heat was already radiating from my body and I had to suck in a breath.

Since the funeral Sirius and I hadn't spent much time alone together, and spirits had been so down that neither of us had been in the mood to do much of anything. But now the sun was out, the end of the year was fast approaching, and I was reminded about how time alone with Sirius was desperately needed. If only I didn't have exams that were bogging me down.

Sirius placed his fingers under my chin and titled my face towards him. "The loveliest set of freckles are decorating your nose."

"Wonderful," I said dismissively but Sirius had other plans.

"They're also on your shoulders," he commented before kissing my shoulders. His lips on my bare skin made me shiver and I was finding it hard to contain myself. I looked around to see who was watching and other than Cassi who was mouthing 'shag him now' to me, no one else was paying attention.

"If you're trying to distract me it's not working," I said trying to sound firm but I could hear the slight falter in my voice which only seemed to push Sirius harder.

"Well if that's not working, then how about this." Slowly Sirius lifted up his shirt slightly so that my eyes were met with the perfect V that formed his hips.

"Christ," Cassi muttered staring at Sirius's stomach.

I tried to shrug off the incident but my heart was pounding and the words in front of me were blurring. "Nothing I haven't seen before."

Sirius threw down his shirt and pouted. "I'll have you know, when you become a Black you're going to be expected to reproduce or at least attempt at it."

This comment set me off and I looked up at him. "When I become a Black?"

Sirius looked taken aback and blushed slightly as he scratched the back of his head, a nervous habit I noticed he'd picked up. "Oh well, yes, I mean if you wanted to eventually, that is."

Now it was my turn to be embarrassed. "I mean, I've thought about it of course, and it's a definite possibility, later on."

"Oh just get a room already you two," Remus said. "Our room is free for the time being, and I'm getting tired of listening to you drone on."

Sirius and I didn't need to be told twice. I quickly gathered all of my things and threw them into my bag as Sirius and I walked to the castle at a very fast pace. The actual journey to the dormitory took some time. Every ten seconds or so Sirius would push me against a wall and snog me until someone walked by and interrupted us. After a particularly long journey we reached the dormitory.

Once the door was closed Sirius threw me up against the closed door and snogged me senselessly. I wrapped my legs around his waist and he held me up by placing his hands under me. I grabbed at the bottom of my tank top and whipped it off. Sirius trailed kissed down my neck, at this point my entire body was shaking. Sirius started backing up and turned around. He laid me down on his bed without his lips leaving mine. I pulled his shirt over his head and he quickly broke the kiss to allow the shirt to come off. He then kissed me and put his hands under my back, pulling me towards him. He ran his hand up and down my side, causing me to shiver. He stopped at the top of my pants with his hand resting on the button of my shorts. When I didn't stop him he undid my pants and I kicked them off, feeling suddenly very vulnerable in only my underwear.

Sirius seemed more sensitive after my pants came off. He moved slower, less hurried. His hands traveled every contour of my body as if he was trying to commit it to memory. My heart started hammering as I reached and started undoing the belt of his pants. He stopped kissing me and held my eyes as I undid the button and slid down his pants.

"Are you sure you're ready?" Sirius asked, stopping and looking at me intently.

I nodded my head, "yes, I am." I said confidently.

That was all the encouragement Sirius needed.

Afterwards we laid in bed, Sirius was on his back a look of euphoria on his face as he stared at the bed hangings. I laid awkwardly next to him, not quite sure what to do with myself. I didn't exactly know what the protocol was for times like these.

"Should I run and make a sandwich?" I offered.

"What?" Sirius asked turning his head to look at me.

"You know, a sandwich. Someone once told me that it's a woman's duty to make a sandwich after sex."

Sirius let out his bark like laugh and draped one arm over my stomach, pulling me towards him. "Mmm," he mumbled into my neck. "I love you, you know that right?"

"Course," I responded.

Sirius yawned and stretched his arms above his head, sitting up in bed. The blanket fell down and his bare stomach was exposed. "Shall we go back outside with the kiddies?"

"Eventually," I said as I moved to sit on his lap. "Right after round two."

Later that night Sirius and I were sitting in the common room with James. I had my head resting on Sirius's lap and my legs were hanging over the the arm of the couch. I was reading my Transfiguration book and writing down study notes. Sirius was playing with my hair while reading him the animagi book I had given him for Christmas.

I chewed on the end of my quill, my thoughts transferring from Transfiguration to another thought that had been rolling around in my mind. "Sirius," I said.

"Hmm?" He groaned.

"I've been thinking," I said slowly.

"Good for you love," Sirius said, kissing the top of my head.

"I'm not finished," I laughed. "I've been thinking about how in the Order I'm going to be fighting, and while my shields are strong I need to learn how to duel better. I'm more than capable at protecting myself but I'm not the best at attacking. You and James are the best I know at dueling, help me." Sirius's hand untangled from my hair and remained silent. "I'm going to be doing this anyway, I may as well be better prepared." I defended automatically.

"I think it's a good idea," Sirius said abruptly.

"You do?" I asked, not quite sure I had heard Sirius correctly. Ever since I've joined the Order it seemed any other idea I had was immediately shot down and considered dangerous.

"Anything that will protect you I am willing to do," Sirius said brushing my bangs away from my forehead and kissing me there.

"I've actually been thinking something similar with Lily," James chimed in. "Once she's healthy of course, she's driving herself mad from not being able to study to her 'full potential' because she's sick. And Avery you can help us with defensive spells."

I opened my mouth to agree but our conversation was cut short by a loud bang as the common door room opened and a blaring Cassi came streaming in followed by Peter. "Oi, Avery, get your head out of Sirius's lap and into your room. I've got the best dish ever and I'm stealing you."

"Cassi never does anything quietly, does she?" Sirius sighed as I sat up from the couch and kissed him on the cheek.

"Of course not, but that's why we love her." I said before Cassi took me by the arm and dragged me to my dormitory.

She shut the door loudly behind her when we walked into my room, the sound jolted Lily awake from her bed. Her nose was red and her face was pale, her hair was sticking up in every direction and when she talked it sounded like she was plugging her nose and drinking water. She glared at Cassi as Cassi ignored Lily's sickly state and flopped onto my bed. Cassi and Lily were friendly enough but I wouldn't say they were friends. Cassi's loud mouth turned Lily off, and her ability to get along with James angered Lily even more. Cassi, being the friendly outgoing person she was, didn't notice Lily's hostility. The one thing that kept them bonded was Cassi's knowledge of all school gossip, and Lily being the secret gossip whore that she was, ate it all up.

"So what's cause the big disruption in the common room?" I asked, flopping next to Cassi on my bed.

"Well," Cassi said drawing out the anticipation as she played with the hem of her skirt. "I was merely taking a trip down to the the dungeons where Peter had left his backpack when something, well, I should say someones caught my attention."

"Who?" Asked Lily eagerly as she struggled to sit up in bed.

"I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes."

"Oh flipping Merlin, tell us already!" Lily yelled.

"I saw Amos Diggory snogging."

"As if that's big news," Lily said, crossing her arms over her chest, disappointed with the news.

"Oh, there's more," Cassi said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I saw him snogging a boy!"

"What!" Lily yelled, falling off her bed from the pure shock of it. I myself was sitting on my bed, paralyzed with shock, unable to do anything but let my mouth open and close soundlessly.

"Oh yes," Cassi said rubbing her hands together conspiratorially.

"Who was the other person?" I asked, finally finding my voice.

"That lad from Ravenclaw, sixth year, Gareth Whim."

"I thought I saw him checking out James' bum the other day." Lily mused out loud, still sitting on the ground, the blanket wrapped around her legs. "So," Lily said with a conspiratorial look in her eyes. "How long do you think we can use this against him for."

"Oh," Cassi said leaning back on her elbows. "I have no intention of telling him I know, just merely...hinting at it."

"Hinting, how?" I asked.

Cassi looked at me and winked, "you'll see."

The next morning at breakfast was an eagerly anticipated affair. Lily and I had joined Cassi at the Hufflepuf table, waiting for Cassi's attack or "hinting" as she called it. If seemed like ages until Amos showed up and when he did Lily was so excited she started choking on her toast.

"Oi, Diggory," Cassi called.

Amos turned around looking startled at Cassi's acknowledgment. "What is it you want, Ames?"

"I saw you by the dungeons last night," Cassi drawled out slowly.

Amos looked around nervously, his left eye began twitching and a thin layer of sweat formed on his upper lip. "So?" Was all he managed to come up with. "Not like it's a crime to be in the dungeons."

"Oh I'm not accusing you of anything," Cassi said absentmindedly as she played with her finger nails. "Why?" She asked looking up at him and quirking an eyebrow. "Were you up to no good?"

"N-n-no," Amos stuttered.

"Oh don't get huffy Diggory, it's alright if you were experimenting, it's only normal."

"Experimenting?" Amos practically screeched.

"Of course," Cassi said in an offhand voice. "I experiment with potions all the time."

"Oh," Amos said as if catching onto a joke that he had been left out of and only just joined in on. "Right, a potion. 'Course, that's what I was doing. What else would I be doing?"

"I don't know Diggory, hopefully nothing someone would shake a finger at."

"Course not, as I said, I was doing potions."

"Right, of course, well have fun experimenting." Cassi said in a dismissive voice.

Amos looked confused for a moment, not sure whether he should stay or leave. Eventually he turned and left the Great Hall, his fists balled and mumbling to himself. Lily and I burst out into a fit of giggles that seemed to echo in the Hall. Our laughter was uncontrollable as our bodies shook and eyes teared.

"Did you see the look on his face?" Lily said between gasps of breath. "He looked as if he were going to piss himself."

"Serves him right," Cassi said, whipping a tear away from her eye. "Complete plonker if you ask me, no merit to his name."

"He's got about as much personality as a slug, and the personality of a thorn." I said, my laughter finally dying down as the moment passed.

"In all fairness he's got, well he's sometimes, he can be." Lily searched for one good thing to say about Amos but in the end she came up with nothing and accepted defeat.

"He's got enough hair gel to grease all the floors of Hogwarts," Cassi said, our giggles once again ringing out in the Great Hall. "So, what's on the agenda today ladies?" Cassi asked as she helped herself to a large portion of bacon.

"Classes, then studying with Lily and Nial in the library." I sighed as I haphazardly twirled my fork in my hashbrowns.

"Merlin you guys are about as interesting as a pair of used socks."

"Don't completely disregard socks, they can be quite amusing when inebriation is involved and a hand with many characterized voices." Cassi and I turned to Lily and gave her a questioning stare. "Another one of Remus's stories from the Winter Bash of '76."

"Hey babes," Sirius said scaring the living piss out of me as he snuck up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders.

"Don't do that Sirius," I said putting my hand over my heart, willing it to slow down.

"Sorry love," he said nuzzling his nose in my neck. "It's just I've put my shirt on backwards and I require your assistance to fix it, erm, in my room." I rolled my eyes while Cassi and Lily sniggered. "I'd do it here but you know," Sirius said puffing out his chest and glancing around the Great Hall. "I don't want all the girls to pass out from the site of my naked chest."

"Of course Sirius, always thinking of other people's best interest," Cassi said condescendingly.

"See, Cass gets me," Sirius said ruffling up her hair.

"Oi bugger off and go shag your girlfriend," Cassi said, slapping away his hand and attempting to sort out her hair.

"Ta," Sirius said taking me by the hand and dragging me out of my seat.

I looked back to give Cassi and Lily an apologetic look but Cassi was already puffing out her chest and gaining a manly stance as she made fun of Sirius.

Sirius and I barely made it to History of Magic in time. We practically sprinted to class and while this was going on I was pulling on my shoes. A task that was made more complicated by my inability to walk properly even with both of my shoes on. We burst into the classroom just as the bell rang. Sirius looked unperturbed by being late for class, the only reason he was running was for my benefit.

Luckily Cassi had saved us both seats in the back, saving us from having to sit in the front. I tried to be discreet as possible walking towards Cassi but my shoe laces were still untied and more than once I tripped. Luckily Binns didn't really give a toss about anything and ignored my loud trapeze over to my seat.

"You look flustered," Cassi said with a click of her tongue as she took in my appearance.

"Shove off," I muttered under my breath as I retrieved my parchment and quill.

"Play nice Avery," Peter said with a smile as he wrapped an arm around Cassi's shoulder. "It's not Cassi's fault that you came in looking like you've wondered into a nest of cornish pixies."

Cassi smiled fondly at Peter and kissed him on the cheek. Peter blushed furiously and removed his arm from her shoulder and tried to be more discreet by taking her hand under the table. Public displays of affection were never really Peter's thing, even when he was with Tina. Cassi, however, he made an exception for here and there.

I turned my attention to Binn's as he droned on as to what's to be expected on our up-coming NEWT's. I tried to pay rapt attention and take notes but like always, my attention started wavering and I let my mind drift off as I stared out. I was soon snapped out of my trance by a nudging on my right. I looked over and saw Sirius staring at me expectantly, pushing a piece of torn parchment in my direction. I picked up the parchment and read it.

I'm bored, you should unbutton your shirt a little for entertainment purposes.

I rolled my eyes and wrote back.

You just saw them only a few minutes ago, I think you'll survive.

Sirius picked up the piece of paper and frowned before scribbling an answer.

But I've already forgotten what they look like.

I took the piece of paper and drew two circles next to each other with a dot in the middle of each.

There you go, a drawing. Happy?

Babes, yours are far more detailed than that. You've got a lovely mole just below your-

This time I had been watching him write his message and quickly snatched it from him before he could finish. I ripped up the parchment and threw it into my backpack to hide the incriminating evidence. Sirius looked like a wounded dog as he watched his words being shred to pieces.

"You are such a perv," I scolded Sirius as we walked out of History of Magic.

"Well if you'd just be a bit more lenient with your buttons we wouldn't have this argument." I scoffed and nudged him with my shoulder. "It's my hormones babes, you can't blame me."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but smile at Sirius's immaturity. He leaned down and kissed me on the cheek as we walked down the hallway and towards the Great Hall for lunch. Our journey was cut short however when we were stopped by Dumbledore outside of the Great Hall.

"Ms. Muze, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you immediately follow me to my office. It seems we've had an unexpected turn of events."

A/N: Ooooohhh a cliffy! I know most of this chapter was a filler but I have enjoyed writing the banter between everyone. I'd kind of stopped doing that for a while because things got more serious and with the new characters added I figured I needed to establish their personalities. Hope you guys like it! I'll try to get out a new chapter soon :)