Sirius kept a watchful eye on Aly. She found him watching her even when she didn't need him to.

When he was MIA, Remus was there.

She also tried to give the boys some of the time without her. James seemed the most grateful, actually going out of his way to thank her.

Still, even with the Marauders always around, Aly felt lonely. She missed Lily.

One day, she wandered into Professor McGonagall's classroom before class. She was reading the upcoming chapter when she sensed a movement in the room. She looked up.

"Hey."

Sirius seemed to have followed her into the room. He hovered over her awkwardly.

"What's up?" she asked blandly.

"Well," he paused and wrung his hands.

"Yeah--" Aly edged him on.

"There's a ministry ball coming up, and my mom always makes me go, and I figured maybe it wouldn't be so boring this year if someone went with me."

Aly, who was puzzled, just stared at him.

He took a deep breathe and blurted out, "Willyougototheballwithme?"

The shocked look upon her face made Sirius' ears burn red. "It's okay if you don't want to…"

"Sure," Aly answered, finding her tongue.

"Oh," his body relaxed with relief. "You sure?"

"I'll go with you," she told him with a shrug.

"Great!" he beamed. "I'll get you the details when I have them." With that he left the room.

Aly sat there thinking about what she had just done. She had heard about this annual ball. Her father went every year. She had always purposely avoided it. In fact, she went out of her way to avoid it, and she had just consented to going. With Sirius, no less.

She could picture it now: her sitting by herself, bored, having to pretend to know people who remembered her when she yea-high while Sirius flirted and danced with all the different ministry brats.

She considered backing out all through Transfiguration. McGonagall even pulled her aside after class to make sure everything was okay. She had assured her that she was.

Aly decided to make a beeline for Remus after dinner though.

"Remus!" she called after him.

He stopped awkwardly. "Yea?"

She ran up to him, "You got a minute?"

He looked out the window wearily. Aly looked too. It was twilight. There must've been a full moon ready to rise.

"I'll make it quick," she pleaded.

He seemed to struggle then said, "Sure."

"Any idea why Sirius asked me to the ministry ball?"

This was obviously not what he expected, and his face showed it. He stood silently for a few moments, and Aly began to lose her patience.

"Time's a tickin'" she told him.

He shook his head, and said, "I dunno." He walked away quickly.

"You do to!" Aly followed him. "Please tell me." She grabbed his arm and held on tightly. "Is it a joke? Is he trying to play a terrible joke on me? Is it a bet? Did someone pay him to do it? My dad?"

"Aly!" Remus cut her off. "Did you ever stop to think that maybe, just maybe, he asked you because he wants you to go with him?"

Aly stood and looked at him and considered that.

"Do you realize what he's been going through this year? What he's done for you? His home life has been falling apart, and he still puts on a happy face for you when you need it. He swore off random girls. He makes sure that---"

"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa." Aly stopped him. "He what?"

Remus looked at her like he couldn't believe it was taking her this long to see all this.

"I have to go, Aly." He looked at her like he was disappointed in her.

She frowned and watched him disappear down the hall.

XxXxX

The day of the ball Sirius took her to his parents house. Aly had decided to go into the ball with an open mind, especially after what Remus had told her. They arrived at the empty house.

"This way," Sirius said, guiding her upstairs.

Aly looked around, mesmerized. "Wow," she breathed as she examined all the intricate snake decorations throughout the house.

"Uh," he stopped between two doors. "Give me one minute," he said and disappeared into a room before Aly could say anything. He reappeared within seconds holding a lump of cloth.

"You can change in my room. I'll just be across the hall."

She smiled and walked into the room he had just vacated. She looked around amazed by the sight she saw. It was messy, but not too messy. It obviously hadn't been lived in for a while. There were posters of bikini clad muggles on the wall as well as the many different types of Gryffindor paraphernalia. She took off her travel clothes and realized, for a second, that she was almost naked in Sirius' room. She blushed at she quickly pulled on her dress robes. With a flick of her wand, her hair was up in a elegant half bun with the rest of her hair cascading into her natural curls below it. She stepped out of Sirius' room found herself face to face with him on the landing.

He cleared his throat as he looked at her.

"What?" Aly asked looking down at her sparkly robe.

"You look--uh--mph, very nice."

"Thank you," Aly answered sincerely.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Are you?" she asked, one eyebrow up.

"Yeah. Why? What's wrong?" he asked trying to look himself up and down.

"Hold still," Aly ordered him. After a few moments of steam pressing Sirius' wrinkled robes with her wand, they were ready to go.

They arrived at the ballroom, and Aly let out a low sound of amazement. The room was gold everywhere: the walls, the ceiling, the floor. It glowed beautifully in the soft light of the hundreds of candles that magically floated in the air. Sirius chuckled. "Ready to make our grand entrance?"

"Grand entrance?" Aly asked startled.

"Yep. Everyone gets announced. It takes up like half of the ball." He looked at the fearful expression on her face. "It'll be okay. Promise."

He lead her along the way to the doorway into the ballroom. He handed her her name card for the announcer and moved forward. Aly leaned down to adjust her shoe strap. She didn't want her grand entrance to include falling down the stairs. She heard the announcer call out, "Introducing Mr. Sirius Orion Black."

Aly ran through the double doors and handed him the slip, "And Miss Alyson Patricia Dumbledore."

Aly looped her hand through the crook in Sirius' elbow, and he lead her down the stairs. "Thought I lost you," he whispered.

Aly heard the buzzing start immediately. She looked around and realized that the buzz was for her and Sirius. Little did she realize, that as the lights from the room hit her silver robe, she lit up like the angel that sat upon her christmas tree back at school.

She looked at Sirius, who looked back at her and wiggled his eyebrows. They were swarmed by people as the reached the bottom stair. "Alyson Dumbledore!" "Oh, it is so good to see you." "What a cute couple!" "Beautiful." "Imagine the children!"

Aly felt the blush rise throughout her face. Sirius placed his hand over the one of hers that was now clutching his elbow tightly. He steered her through the crowd and eventually managed to pull her out to the side.

"Sit," he said pulling out a chair.

"Thank you," Aly breathed. She felt lightheaded and mortified. Never in her life had so many people wanted to talk to her, to touch her, to be near her.

Sirius disappeared from her side. Benefit of the doubt. Benefit of the doubt, Aly reminded herself over and over again. She sighed loudly 10 minutes later when she was still alone. Well, Remus was wrong about one thing. She got up, ready to go find a way back to school, when she felt a hand on her lower back.

"Leaving?"

She turned to face the person. "You're back?"

"Of course." Sirius looked hurt that she'd ask that. "I got drinks." He motioned to the cups he had placed on the table.

Aly's mouth formed an "O" shape.

"You thought I'd bring you and then ditch you?"

Aly sighed and bit her lip.

"It's ok," he said with a shrug, "I've earned that."

"No--"

"It's ok. Really."

"No, Sirius, it's not."

"Really, it is."

The argument would've continued had an older woman not appeared and pulled Sirius into a hug. "Hey, Mrs. Potter," Aly head him say through the old woman's hold.

"And who is this?" she asked turning her attention to Aly. She had a sweet voice, the kind Aly would always put with her mother when her dad told her stories about her.

"This is Aly," Sirius told her, straightening out his robes.

"Oh, look at how beautiful you are. That robe is just lovely on you," Mrs. Potter said, pulling her into a tight hug.

Aly was taken completely off guard. She had never received a real mom hug before from anyone other than Mrs. Evans. She felt tears fill her eyes as any unknown emotion filled her. She quickly wiped her eyes.

"Oh, you two are so cute. Look at that. Stand next to each other." She pushed Sirius next to Aly. They stood uncomfortable next to each other being examined, "Oh, Iris is wrong," she commented to the older looking mad behind her. His hazel eyes sparkled as he scanned the pair. They were identical to James'. "The babies would have brown eyes. I do hope they get her curls."

Aly blushed, and she saw that Sirius' ears lit up red as well. He moved around and faced her, "Wanna dance?"

"Yes, please," she answered in a small voice.

He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her out onto the dance floor. Aly was caught by surprised yet again as Sirius moved her gracefully around. "Where did you learn to dance?" she asked in awe.

He smiled at her and said almost bitterly, "I told you I have to come to these things every year." He lightened his tone as he went on, "And no one is allowed to sit. Everyone in this room will have danced by the end of the night. Even your dad."

Aly laughed, trying to picture her dad dancing, They moved off the dance floor when a slow song came on. Well, Sirius pulled her off the floor. They were instantly mobbed by old women. All of them wanted the two of them to stand next to each other just like Mrs. Potter did. As soon as the song tempo changed, he pulled her back out to dance. They spent most of the evening this way. Every slow song meant that old busy-bodies would get their chance to comment on their future children, arguing which features they'd get and from who.

Aly made a move to the sidelines when a slow song came on, but Sirius held onto her and pulled her close. Her breathe caught in her throat in surprise. "You don't want to hear more about our children?" she asked.

He held her close, his hand in the middle of her back, keeping her very close. He kept his chin over her shoulder, and Aly turned her head up to look at him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said shortly.

She said nothing else. He suddenly looked down at her and said, "Sorry."

"Bout what?"

"All these people. I didn't realize what an uproar it would cause bringing you."

Aly shrugged. "It happens."

He smiled a sad smile.

"Seriously, Sirius."

He laughed, but his laugh was cut short.

"May I cut in?"

Aly's heart froze in terror. The hand she had on Sirius tightened.

Logan was standing behind her looking at Sirius.

"No," Sirius said glaring at him.

Aly pulled herself all the way to him, putting her cheek on his chest. She closed her eyes and waited for it all to end. Her ears buzzed from all the blood rushing to them. She could hear herself breathing from inside her head.

"Als," she heard Sirius whisper to her.

She looked up at him.

"He's gone."

She felt her chest loosen. "How'd you get rid of him?"

"Mrs. Clearwinter came up and insisted her dance with her."

She felt the fear in her heart rise again. "Don't worry," he said into her hair. "He won't bother you again."

She thought she felt him kiss her hair, but she wasn't sure.

The music picked up, and he pulled her back to where their drinks had been. "Looks like the house elves have been here," he explained were the cups had disappeared to. "I'll go get us more."

He started to leave, but she made a desperate grab at him, "Don't." She was still shaken by the appearance of the Logan.

He looked back at the pathetic figure she knew she must make. "Please," she pleaded.

"Okay." He came and sat down next to her. They watched people dance for a while. Their novelty seemed to have worn off, but Sirius assured her that it was because the champagne was always brought out after all of the entrances had been made. "Never before everyone has to walk down the stairs. Imagine all the petticoats that would go flying." She giggled at his comment.

James found them. "Hey," he said sitting down at their table.

"Hey," Sirius said not taking his eyes of the scene before him. A drunk old woman had taken ahold of one the young boys, a Slytherin Aly recognized. She was dancing with him, his face being pushed into her large, sagging bosom. He apparently couldn't breathe. His face was turning purple and every time he managed to pull away for air, she pulled him back in. Sirius was keeping track of how long he was going without being able to breath.

Aly turned to greet James. "Enjoying the dance?" she asked.

James glanced at Sirius and then at her.

"We aren't here together," Aly quickly told him.

Sirius' eyes left the smothered Slytherin, but his body didn't move.

"We are here together," Aly corrected herself. "Just not together-together."

James' eyes caught Sirius'. Aly saw Sirius' barely nod.

"That's cool," James said, smiling at her. Aly thought it looked a little too forced.

As they sat, the two boys filled Aly in on the misconduct of the year before, pointing out the culprits as they passed.

Suddenly, Mrs. Potter reappeared. "Oh, Jamesie, you found them. Good!"

James rolled his eyes. "Mom, really?"

She came over to him and using her spit tried to flatten his hair. "Mooo-oomm! Stop!" James whined. Aly smiled at the intimate scene. She felt her heart squeeze and realize quickly that she was jealous of James.

"You kids having fun?" she asked as she continued to work on James' stubborn hair.

"Yep," Sirius said, grinning largely at James. James scowled back.

"And you Aly, Enjoying the ball?"

"It's wonderful," she beamed.

"Good. Good." Mrs. Potter had given up on James' hair and came over to her. She put her hand on her shoulder and leaned down as if to whisper, but what she said was loud enough for the two boys to hear. "You know you've been hogging the best dancer, right? Sirius normally give all of us old hens a thrill. We aren't used to having to share." She winked at her and stood.

"I'll leave you be. I would advise that you take Aly out on the floor, Sirius. I hear Lilac Limenstien is on her way over to steal you away. And you know, she won't give you back." Mrs. Potter left with a swish of purple robes.

"I love your mom," Aly told James.

James made a face and opened his mouth, but, before he could speak, Sirius was pulling her up and onto the floor.

Sure enough, mere moments later, a scary looking woman came up to them.

"Aw shucks. I wanted a chance," she said staring greedily at Sirius. "Maybe next dance?" She fluttered her glued on eye lashes at him.

"Sorry," Aly said in a sugar sweet voice, "He's mine for the night."

The woman stared Aly up and down and apparently decided that she was too much competition. She left with a "humph," pinching Sirius' butt as she went.

"Thanks," he mumbled, rubbing his tush.

"I owed you one."

"If you're talking about Logan, no, you didn't. That's not a save. It's a right to be left alone by psycho former boyfriends. He best leave you alone." His face had turned dark.

She wanted to argue with him, tell him that Logan wasn't crazy. She just hadn't ended it right. She didn't though. She wanted to lift his spirit, not argue with him.

"So, where's this champagne you spoke of?"

He raised his eyebrows at her. She moved hers in response. "Right this way, my lady."