Author's note: So, I don't think I've mentioned this before – I'm too lazy to look back and check – that I wanted to rewrite some of the opening chapters to this story because I feel they need doing, when I first starting writing it was rushed and I feel I can now do them more justice, so overall I've been rewriting the opening chapters as well as this one. I'll update two rewritten chapters every time I update a new chapter and I'll let you know which ones I do so you can go back and reread them if you want I won't change the plot at all, just alter the writing to make it sound better! If for any reason you don't like the new chapter and would like a copy of the old one, just drop me a message and I'll send you it now – on with the new chapter! (PS, I've updated chapters 1 and 2 so check them out too!)
Chapter 37:
The tension in the common room was somewhat awkward, Sirius and Hestia still weren't talking, and everyone was attempting to ignore the fact, but the tension that hung in the air was undeniable. The group were huddled around the fire, Sirius sat alongside Remus and James as they played Wizards Chess, Lily and Hestia sat across the table from him. Lily was watching the game intently and advising James on which moves to take whereas Hestia's head was apparently buried in a book. Although Sirius knew her too well, she wasn't reading, just trying to ignore the awkwardness that everyone knew was there but was ultimately attempting to pretend wasn't.
Everything seemed to be getting better, Sirius and Hestia had been talking and joking throughout dinner, but then Bailey Cooper appeared at the Gryffindor table Gryffindor table to see Hestia; she smiled appreciatively and flirted, she giggled and tossed her hair at exactly the right moment, blushed at his lightly suggestive remarks and kept just the right amount of attention on Bailey to make him feel special without overstepping her mental mark.
At this point most of the group took their leave and left, only Jessica, Lily and Sirius remained and although Lily and Jessica didn't notice Hestia sending Sirius slight looks, he had. She was doing this on purpose, to get a reaction from him. He balled his fists and looked stern, but tried to keep any visible indicators of his true feelings hidden, much to the disappointment of Hestia, who gave up her flirting and filed back to the common room with the others.
Halled up in the squashy armchair, the one she usually shared with Sirius, Hestia scowled as she tried to finish the chapter of the arithmancy textbook they'd started in class, but her mind was not focused on it, instead she focused on Sirius sat on the opposite side of the table. They had been avoiding each other's gaze and pretending to read, or concentrate on the game of Wizard Chess unfolding before them. Sirius was confused, it was not a feeling he liked, he didn't know where he stood now, Hestia hadn't cheated on him, but she'd got close, the way Bailey's eyes lingered on her lips made him think he'd try and kiss her if given the right opportunity. Yes, he'd been flirting a bit with Samia Rain, but it wasn't like the way Hestia had flirted with Bailey, Sirius hadn't intended to take it any further, whereas he had no doubts that if Hestia thought that would get a reaction out of him, she would.
She was watching him, he noticed and looked towards her, their eyes locking for a second and then he took his opportunity. Gesturing towards the dormitories with his eyes, she rolled hers, but followed him when he got up and made to leave. No-one said anything as they left; quite glad that they were actually going to talk or, well, scream, but at least it was progress.
"What?" Hestia demanded, slumping down onto Sirius' bed. She lay against the head rest, her knees pulled tight around her chest. Her blue eyes scanned Sirius' figure as he leant against the bedpost, watching the floor, as if waiting for her to make the first move, but Hestia Jones was stubborn. He'd brought this all on himself, he was the one flirting with Samia Rain, Bailey Cooper had just been retaliation. Sirius was the one who suggested they come to his dormitory; he was the one who could make the first move. He hadn't responded to her initial question and she felt her patience wear thin, if he didn't say anything soon, she was going to up and leave. She knew they should sort this but she was not in the mood right now, she rolled her eyes and he looked up to watch her. He looked down at his feet for a second and then back to her without speaking a word. She'd had enough.
"Look, if you want to try it on or something, or if you just brought me up here so we could make out, hurry up I have work to do." Hestia eventually snapped, her brows furrowing slightly.
"No I didn't. I'm not just interested in that Jones." Sirius almost snarled, she flinched at the sound of her last name.
"Fine, Black. If we're back to that, then I guess you won't mind if I just go." She stood up to leave, but Sirius caught her hand and pulled her back, their eyes lingered on each other for a second and then his lips met hers. Neither one of them was sure which one had initiated the kiss but Hestia felt her resolve crumble as Sirius' lips brushed against hers, he kissed her lightly sending shivers down her spine. Pulling her closer, his hand crept from her waist up her back, his fingers caressing every contour of her body; the other hand entwined itself with hers. Tracing feather light kisses down her jaw, Hestia sighed contentedly. Hestia's breath caught in her throat as Sirius moved his kisses to the top of her neck; every bad thought now evaporated from her brain, every thought now involved Sirius and the way his kisses were driving her crazy. Sirius chuckled slightly, showering every inch of the exposed flesh on Hestia's neck with kisses. Her delicate fingers danced along his face and through his hair. She manoeuvred him back to her lips and allowed his tongue entrance to her mouth; he pulled her closer still, his hand now resting on the bottom of her spine. With no further hesitation, she moved her hand from his hair down his face, lightly scratching the soft flesh of his cheeks with her nails; finally she found his school tie and pulled, guiding him towards his bed. Falling backwards onto it, he fell on top of her; he propped himself onto one of his elbows and deepened the kiss. Hestia held his face with both her hands, Sirius' fingers trailing up her side and across the bare flesh of the stomach where her shirt had ridden up; he delicately traced his fingers across her chest until his hand rested by her face.
"Sirius." She moaned, his kisses finding her neck once more, pleasure coursed through her body, her back arching against his body. He lessened his weight on his elbows and pressed his body against hers, his weight now on her completely, the contours of his body slotting into hers. Weaving his now free hand through hair and he trailed his other down her face and neck, finding the buttons on her shirt, he skilfully undid each one, his fingers lightly skimming her skin each time. Her exposed flesh tingled at his light touch and she longed to feel his skin against her own. Fumbling, she managed to untangle his tie and clumsily undid his buttons, his flesh finally coming into contact with hers as he struggled to free himself from his shirt. Without breaking the kiss Hestia pulled his shirt from him and she shrugged off hers. The kiss continued, but slower and deeper, his whole mouth pressed against hers, his tongue exploring her mouth, she tasted of pumpkin juice and hours ago toothpaste. Every time their flesh came into contact sparks flew, the inconsistent contact was brain driving her crazy, adrenaline running through her veins she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him as close to her as she could, the silky fabric of her bra coming into contact with his tanned skin. His skin was warm against hers and she could feel his heart beating fast through his chest against hers; her whole body longed to be in contact with his, but he pulled away, once again returning to his elbows above her.
"Hestia." He croaked, just content for a second to watch her. She looked radiant laid on against his pillows, her chocolate coloured curls fanned out around her face, her blue eyes watching him confused.
"Sirius?" she asked, one hand still loosely hung around his neck, the other pressed against his chest. Her lips were slightly swollen from kissing and her cheeks were flustered, her tanned skin glowing in the dim evening light, she looked perfect to him. Her eyes trailed across his face and rested on his lips, how she needed those red lips against her own. He noticed her staring and pressed his face nearer to hers. Her breath warm on her cheeks.
"Do you love me?" he asked, longing to feel her skin beneath his fingertips but resisting the urge, he needed to know. Sure, she'd said she it before, but that didn't matter, right here, right now, he needed you know.
"Of course I do, you idiot!" she answered, pulling his face towards her own and kissing him lightly. "Of course I love you." he pulled away as she ran her fingers through his hair. They studied each other intently for just a moment, her eyes focusing on his mouth again, betraying how much she wanted him to kiss her again, as Sirius tried to take in the beautiful girl who had just told him that she loved him, but there was something else Sirius needed to know. He admired her exposed chest then back to her face, compiling his Gryffindor courage.
"Do you love Bailey Cooper?" he asked, it was only up close that Hestia saw the doubt in his eyes, and she realised she'd caused that. She had never meant to hurt him; she loved him for Merlin's sake! She'd been jealous when she'd seen him talking with Samia and wanted him to feel the same, but she'd gone too far, she'd caused him to doubt everything that she had taken so much care to build up.
"Of course not baby." She whispered, she felt tears congregate in her eyes but she subdued them. Sirius half smiled and planted a single kiss on her lips. "I'm so sorry." She attempted to say but he cut her off with another slightly longer kiss, his lips lingering against hers.
"And I don't love Samia." He added smiling, kissing her lips again before his lips travelled across her jawline and to around her ear. "I love you." he whispered into her ear, before showering her face with kisses, she giggled and wriggled beneath him, he laughed too and kissed her again. Nothing was said, but it was implied – no more mucking around, they were both serious about his relationship so no others, no petty arguments, just them.
"I love you so much." Sirius moaned against her lips.
"You'd better do." She replied, trailing her fingers down his abdominal muscles which appeared more defined in the oncoming darkness and towards his waist, lightly scratching the exposed skin. "Because I bloody love you." She added as she popped the button on his trousers open and he laughed as he proceeded to remove more of her clothing.
"I do, I do, I do. I bloody love you Hestia Jones."
"Do you think it's safe to go back up there?" Remus asked gesturing to the dormitory two more games of Wizards Chess later. Darkness had overtaken the castle and the common room was only dimly lit by the torches lit around the room. James looked up at the stairs for a moment and then shook his head, before making a fatal move to which his chess pieces scolded him.
"Check mate." Lily said. "I win." She beamed, her own pieces cheering and pulling rude faces at James' who did not look best pleased at being beaten.
"Want me to go check?" Peter yawned.
"Go ahead." James replied. "But don't go in, just listen at the door. What you see inside might be visually scarring." He added as an afterthought. Peter nodded and scurried from his position on the floor up the stairs, he was only gone for a matter of seconds before he returned again.
"Well there are giggles and lots of squealing – I'm guessing that's a good sign?" Peter asked, not quite knowing what to make of the situation. Remus raised an eyebrow and exchanged a look with James.
"Yes." James replied. "I'm guessing we're sleeping in the common room tonight then boys!" he added, rubbing his hands together with apparent glee.
"Why are you sleeping in the common room?" Jessica asked, crossing the virtually empty common room from the portrait hole with Alice, only the seventh years and a pair of sixth year girls remained, although they were tucked in the opposite corner working on a transfiguration project so didn't seem bothered with the seventh year conversation.
"Sirius and Hestia are in ours." Peter replied. Jessica and Alice shrugged.
"So?" they asked in unison.
"Making up." Remus said a mischievous tone to his voice. The thought hit Jessica and Alice simultaneously.
"I think he's getting lucky." James added.
"Oh." Alice replied, causing the others the laugh at the girl's naivety. Lily packed away her chess pieces and pinched Alice's cheeks and cooed, Alice scowled at her before breaking out into giggles too.
"We're not sure what they're doing up there, so we thought it best to sleep in the common room." James explained, packing away the wizard Chess set and yawning.
"You can't do that, it'll be freezing! Grab your stuff – you can sleep in our room." Alice offered. The boys looked between themselves and shrugged, Jessica and Lily exchanged glances, was this really a good idea?
"Sounds like a plan." Remus added with a grin. "Thanks girls." Alice smiled and headed up to their dormitory. Lily and Jessica stayed with the boys while they summoned their things from their room - a sight which must have been hilarious for Sirius and Hestia as stuff randomly vanished from the boy's dormitory, that was if they weren't too engrossed in each other to notice. James summoned his broom and as he was the best flier, he took the majority of the boy's things up to the top of the staircase and put them on the step outside the girl's room, avoiding the trick staircase; Jessica took them in and piled them up on the spare bed. Lily chauffeured the broom down the stairs for Remus to fly up on, and then finally for Peter who nearly fell off half way up. Lily pushed open the door to the dormitory and James placed his broom down behind the door.
"So girls it's a sleepover!" James squealed, his voice an octave higher than usual.
"I always knew you were secretly a girl." Lily replied with a wicked grin.
"Oi! Get lost you." James countered, shoving her playfully before kissing her temple lightly.
"Right, Remus you can have Hestia's bed and Peter you can have the spare one, James you'll have to share with Lily. That alright?" Alice asked, the boys all nodded.
"And no funny business you two!" Jessica joked, pointing between James and Lily as she walked into the bathroom to change.
"Me Miss Silvers?" James asked pretending to be thoroughly offended. "I'm the picture of innocence, Miss Evans here though – she's the one you should be watching!" Lily shoved him this time. "See what I mean! She just assaulted me!" James laughed, pulling Lily close and kissing the top of her head. Alice clapped her hands together and ushered them all into bed, her usual mother hen routine.
… Maybe having the Marauders to stay in our room wasn't such a good idea Alice mused, as Peter brushed her remark off and began talking with Jessica, who had now returned pyjama clad, about some homework piece. What have I let myself in for? She mentally sighed.
"Morning you." Sirius whispered sleepily, kissing Hestia's nose. The half-asleep girl smiled unconsciously.
"Morning to you." She yawned, pulling Sirius close and kissing him lightly before rolling over and attempting to fall asleep again. Sirius laughed.
"Hestia Jones get up, I want breakfast and you're coming with me." He complained, still laughing lightly.
"But it's Saturday, I don't want to get up." Hestia moaned.
"Well, if you don't come with me, who is going to fight off Samia rain when she comes and tries to chat me up?" Sirius replied with faux innocence as he climbed out of bed and pulled on a pair of jeans from his trunk – on second thought it might have been James' trunk, oh well they were clean. Hestia had now rolled back over and was watching him with her eyebrows raised.
"You're a git, you know that?"
"You love it." Sirius countered. He turned around as he pulled on a black t-shirt, Hestia admired how his shoulders muscles rippled, he noticed her watching in the mirror beside James' bed as he pulled on a black shirt over the top and fastened the bottom, leaving it open at the top, he turned back to face her. "Are you checking me out Jones?" he asked mischievously, winking at her.
"Definitely not Black!" Hestia giggled, throwing a pillow towards Sirius, he ducked and it missed, landing the other side of James' bed.
"Alright, you keep telling yourself that because you were so checking me out." Sirius teased, leaning over and kissing her cheek. "Get dressed. I'm off to find the boys then I'll meet you in the common room. Fifteen minutes?"
"Ugh… okay." Hestia moaned, it wasn't even half past eight on a Saturday and she was already getting up, this would have been unheard of in the girl's dormitory. Sirius grabbed his wand, stuffed it into his pocket as well as a few other things from his bedside table and left the room to find the other Marauders; he had a good idea where they would be.
"I love you!" Sirius called from half way down the stairs, and Hestia beamed to herself, covering her face with her hands. Sirius loved her; she would never quite get over that. She yawned again; the tired part of her brain told her she could quite easily stay in bed for another half an hour and only get up when Sirius came to find her, but the rational part told her she should probably get up. As she decided on which bit she should at on, a knock at the window collided with her thought bubble and popped it. Reluctantly she peeled back the duvet and wrapped Sirius' dressing gown around herself, making her way over the window. She noticed it was an owl, one she vaguely recognised, that had knocked at the window. Struggling with the lock she finally managed to prise it open far enough to untie the letter from the owl's leg and for it to peck her finger, hard enough to draw blood.
"Ow!" Hestia cursed, putting the finger in her mouth to stop the bleeding. "Damn owl." She muttered under her breath as the owl, sensing its letter had been delivered, flew off. She expected that the letter would be addressed to one of the Marauders, after all this was their dormitory, but she was surprised to find it addressed to her. Even stranger when she opened the envelope she found not a letter, but what looked like the top of her favourite pair of skinny jeans. Hestia noticed on the inside flap of the envelope there was writing, the familiar looped writing of Lily Evans, she smiled at the sight and began to read:
'Hestia, as you didn't spend last night in our dormitory I'm guessing you have no clothes to change into and to save you the walk of shame back to our dorm, I, being the bestest friend ever, managed to put an extension charm on this envelope and fit your jeans and a shirt in, hope it's okay.
Love Lily xx
PS they might be a bit creased, even with an extension charm, it was squeeze! Jess and I ripped three envelopes trying!'
Hestia beamed, oh Lily, where would she be without her? Changing quickly, Hestia was relieved to find a comb and her mascara at the bottom of the envelope, something Lily had forgotten to mention. After attempting to make her hair presentable, she applied a few coats of mascara. Standing back to survey her appearance in the bathroom mirror, she didn't think she looked too bad considering her limited resources, unfortunately the boys bathroom was not equipped with her full make up bag, favourite bottle of perfume or a set of eyebrow tweezers, there was however a can of hairspray which she used, deciding not to question why the boys had hairspray in their bathroom.
Returning to the boy's room, she bundled up yesterday's school uniform, leaving it in a pile on Sirius' bed that she could retrieve later, and slipped on her comfy black pumps that she'd been wearing yesterday and slowly made her way down the stairs towards the common room. Sirius was nowhere to be seen but she wasn't too disappointed, she settled in an armchair and began with her arithmancy textbook that she had been so distracted from yesterday that was still lying discarded on the table.
"Wakey wakey!" Sirius chanted upon entering the girl's dormitory. Lily and Jessica were the only ones awake – unusual as the two of them were normally the latest risers. Lily yawned, she still wore her pyjama bottoms, despite wearing a floral printed vest top and white cardigan with her hair pulled up in a loose bun.
"Morning Lily!" Sirius called out, but received a frosty glare, Lily might have been awake, but she was not in a good mood. Jessica however was completely dressed and was attending to her hair in the bathroom mirror; she stuck her head out and waved upon hearing Sirius' shouts.
"They won't get up." Lily moaned "and if I'm up then they have to be." The redheaded witch complained. The 'they' Lily was referring to was the Marauders who were all still dozing (Sirius guessed they'd be in here) and Alice who was wide awake but refusing to get out of her bed. Sirius nodded, and tried to formulate a plan to get them up. Lily sensing that this might be noisy, grabbed her leggings and make up bag and joined Jessica in the bathroom, where she could finish getting ready in peace.
"Hey, Al?" Sirius asked in his most polite tone.
"No." Alice answered, as Sirius made his way over to Alice's bed.
"Help me wake up the others? You can shout at them?" Sirius offered, sitting on the edge of Alice's bed. Alice contemplated Sirius' offer, he noted that her dark blonde hair stuck out at odd angles in the morning, but chose not to comment on it.
"Fine." She agreed, pulling off the duvet and jumping out of bed. "Right, can we tickle them until they get up?" Alice asked.
"I was just going to suggest we shout in their ears, your plan is much better!" Sirius concluded, he liked the mischievous side of Alice, a cheeky grin suited her.
Remus was their first target, but after approximately four seconds of tickling he was wide awake and out of bed, complete with a furious scowl. Peter took longer, 15 seconds of tickling was all he lasted and they never even got to James, he told them if they touched him he'd curse them into next week as he reluctantly climbed out from Lily's bed.
23 minutes later the whole group was washed, clothed and ready for breakfast.
"Come on guys." Sirius urged. Peter climbed on the back of Sirius' broomstick and he ferried him to the bottom. James clambered sleepily onto his own and joined his friends at the bottom. Remus, too tired to bother climbing down the stairs waited until everyone else had made their way to the bottom and the put his foot on the first step. At the male contact, the staircase transformed into a slick ramp rather than a set of stairs and he slid all the way down. James high fived him.
"Good thinking Moony!" James congratulated. "Now, breakfast?" he offered.
"Yes please, I'm starving!" Hestia answered, popping up from behind them; Sirius raised his eyebrow but said nothing.
"Alright then, onward march troops! To yonder breakfast table!" Sirius commanded and the group scrambled out the portrait hole and towards the Great hall.
"Do you have to do that at the breakfast table?" Jessica asked. Sirius smirked; Hestia was sat in his lap and she too grinned.
"I don't know what you mean Jess?" Hestia replied feigning innocence.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Sirius added, as he leant in and kissed Hestia enthusiastically. Hestia giggled and Jessica mimed being sick.
"Don't you want me to feed you too Jessica?" Alice teased, holding a piece of toast in front of her best friend's face and waggling it around just like Hestia had done for Sirius moments before. Jessica glared at her.
"Just because they do it doesn't mean you have to Al." Jessica moaned. Lily chuckled from across the table.
"Oh lighten up Jess; at least it's better than them fighting." Lily suggested.
"Hmm, I don't know." Remus interrupted, eyeing Sirius and Hestia who were nuzzling each other and dropping kisses all over each other's face.
"I think I prefer the bickering." Jessica concluded, dropping the toast she was eating, it seemed public displays of affection made you lose your appetite. James leant into Lily and whispered in her ear.
"We're not like that are we?" he asked.
"No we're much classier." She replied, kissing his cheek and returning to her breakfast with a cheeky grin. Peter chuckled at Lily's comment.
"Come on Jess, at least Bailey Cooper isn't coming over here every five minutes now." Alice hissed.
"True, where is our favourite Hufflepuff?" Jessica laughed.
"Over there sending death glares towards Sirius." Remus chuckled; the group took turns to turn and see Bailey's expression, a mixture of anger, confusion and what Lily suspected was longing. Reg Cattermole was sat at his side, chatting away about something but Bailey didn't seem to be listening anymore, he had noticed Hestia's friends looking at him and shifted his gaze to his breakfast plate in front of him.
"Doesn't look too happy does he?" Alice noted, before she took a bite out of her seeded bagel.
"Hit the nail on the head there Alice!" Frank interrupted before taking a seat next to Alice. "Morning love." He added, affectionately kissing Alice's cheek and taking a slice of toast from the wrack. Jessica through her arms in the air dramatically.
"Am I the only one here who is not completely loved up?!" she complained.
"Me and Remus aren't." Peter replied, Remus blushed slightly; Jessica appeared to have got over her infatuation with Remus, however he couldn't say the same for her, there was still a small feeling of butterflies whenever he looked at her. Jessica nodded as if in thought.
"I'm going to go out and fly for a bit, see you guys later?" she asked, rising from the table.
"Later Silvers." James and Sirius chorused, Lily and Hestia waved and Alice blew a kiss and promised to meet up later so they could work through their homework together.
"What does she see in him though? I just don't get it!" Bailey Cooper ranted; his blonde hair was perfectly arranged around his face to frame his amber coloured eyes. His ginger haired friend Reginald Cattermole rolled his eyes, that was the fifth time Bailey had asked that question that morning. "Look at him, he's nothing special, he's a pureblood, so what? He's been kicked out of his own house and he's a troublemaker! What would she want him?!" Bailey added. Meghan Daley, their fellow seventh year responded this time.
"Maybe because he's Sirius Black." She answered as if it was obvious. Bailey stared at her confused, Meghan was a relatively ordinary looking witch, shoulder length Black hair and a heavy side fringe which hung over her dark blue eyes, but there was something intriguing about her, something that Bailey had never quite been able to put his finger on. She took a bite of her toast and then returned to her point. "He's gorgeous, he's popular and he's a Gryffindor, not to mention he's her boyfriend!" Meghan hissed, her voice low and harsh. "You really think she'd leave her boyfriend of how long for a quick fling with you? Because that's all that you want isn't Bailey?" even Reginald recoiled slightly, Bailey looked furious as Meghan's scathing words. Meghan and Hestia weren't exactly what you'd call friends, but they'd been paired together several times in herbology and they got along well so Meghan felt the need to stand up for Hestia as best she could, fair enough Hestia had taken the flirting a bit far but it had always been obvious she wasn't serious about Bailey.
"Well, I guess we've seen your true colours now haven't we Daley?" Bailey retorted bitterly, his eyes now focused again on Hestia who had kissed Sirius goodbye and was exiting the Great hall, alone.
"Here's my chance." He retorted, with a snort in Meghan's direction, she rolled her eyes as he stood and followed Hestia out of the hall.
Hestia walked slowly up the stairs and along the first floor corridor, stopping to admire the view from the window; the sun was shining, the blossom was in full bloom, the lake shimmered and the sky was virtually clear, the day was set to be beautiful. Her eyes lingered for another second on the view before she dragged herself away from the window and along the corridor, taking the long route towards the Gryffindor common room. Maybe she'd gather her cloak and go and watch Jessica fly, she might even take a walk through the grounds seen as though the temperature had risen from bitterly cold to relatively pleasant. Hestia's brain was swimming with the possibilities for her day until she was interrupted by a shout of her last name.
"Jones!" she turned to see Bailey Cooper at the end the corridor, he'd been running but now he had her attention he dawdles towards her, hands in pockets.
"Bailey." She smiled, fair enough she was done with using him to make Sirius jealous but that didn't mean they couldn't be civil to each other, even friends if he was so inclined. He returned her smile. As he closed the distance between them, he surveyed her figure, her simple white t-shirt clung to her curves, highlighting every contour of her skin and her skinny jeans did the same for her legs, without trying Hestia had managed to highlight every curve of her body. Hestia noticed his eyes trailing over her body and suddenly felt self-conscious, but he wasn't staring, he was admiring, still she felt uncomfortable at his gaze. "Cooper?" she asked, regaining his attention. He was now stood only inches from her. Roughly he slithered his hand around her waist, his hand dangerously close to her rear.
"What do you say, we skive off today? Spend the morning in my dorm getting to know each other better, my dorm mates won't be back until this evening." He asked suggestively, his amber eyes glittering only inches from hers. Hestia's uncomfortable feeling doubled.
"Um… I don't think so." She replied trying to wriggle from his grip, but he stood firm.
"Your dorm? I'm not picky." He countered, slithering his other arm around her waist, pulling her to face him. Hestia's skin crawled, was Bailey really trying this?
"Look Cooper, I have a boyfriend." Bailey flipped off her remark.
"I won't tell if you won't." He whispered, leaning into her ear, his breath tickling her ear, she recoiled and attempted to push his hands off her waist. "And call me Bailey, I think we're past last names don't you Hestia?" this time he tried to kiss her, his lips skimmed the sensitive skin on her neck and she took advantage of his momentary lapse of attention and pushed his arms from and stormed down the corridor.
"Come on Hest, surely you're not afraid of me?" he teased, following her and matching her pace.
"No, I'm not afraid of you Cooper." She hissed emphasising his last name. She stopping dead in her tracks and faced him. "And don't call me Hest, only my friends and my boyfriend can call me that." She snapped, once again taking up her furious storming. Seriously? What was wrong with Bailey? Why was he all of a sudden so touchy feely and suggestive?
"So you really don't want me?" Bailey asked, once again matching her pace, his tone confused but there was an edge, anger maybe?
"Dead on Cooper, I don't want to be with you, I have a boyfriend who I'm in love with. You were just something to make him jealous." She spat, it sounded harsh but she didn't care, she just wanted him to leave her alone. Bailey increased his pace and stopped in front of her, blocking her path. "Move." She asked, but he ignored her.
"So you basically used me." He hissed.
"I did." Hestia replied shortly, there was no need for niceties anymore, they'd passed that.
"So you'd rather be that blood traitor Black than me?" he bitterly asked, his face contorting into one of rage.
"Don't you dare say anything against Sirius." She warned. Bailey snorted and stifled a laugh. "What's so funny?" she demanded, folding her arms in front of her chest.
"They were right all along about you Jones, those other guys that is. They said you were nothing but a tart looking for a cheap thrill." His lip curled, he knew he'd hit a nerve.
"Care to repeat that?" she dared him, she was furious now. How dare her call her cheap, or a tart?!
"You heard what I said." He smirked. "And you might want to brush up on those concealment charms by the way, if you're really going to let Black maul you like that. After all, we wouldn't want anyone getting idea's about you now would we?" Bailey added with faux innocence, gesturing to the violet mark just behind her ear. She'd felt Sirius leave his mark last night but at the time thought nothing of it, then this morning she'd realised just how bright the mark was as she struggled with a concealment charm to try and cover it. She unfolded her arms and unfurled her fists. The slap was sharp and unexpected, knocking him slightly off balance.
"Git." She hissed, before taking off up the hallway once again, determined to spend the whole day sulking in her dormitory.
The other seventh year Gryffindor's, having decided to leave breakfast had followed Hestia from the hall and coming up the corridor they'd seen the whole scene unfold before them, hearing every word, unbeknown to Hestia and Bailey. Lily stifled a laugh, Bailey was watching Hestia storm away with a confused expression across his handsome features. Alice couldn't help but admire the perfect red handprint which was now imprinted across Bailey's cheek.
"That's my girl!" Sirius laughed, Bailey spun awkwardly around at the sound of his voice, trying to retain his arrogant air but it was wavering. Sirius smirked, quickly closing the gap between himself and the Hufflepuff student. "Try it on with her again and I'll hex you. Got it?" he threatened his tone suddenly more serious.
"You wouldn't dare Black." Bailey countered, his cocky smile returning. Sirius absently rolled his wand between his fingers, red sparks shooting from the end of it.
"Oh I think he would." James interrupted, and Bailey suddenly realised he was severely outnumbered and wouldn't gain anything from starting a duel with Black.
"Out my way." Cooper demanded, pushing Sirius out the way and scurrying down the corridor away from the small group of seven year Gryffindor's.
"Did I mention that I hate that bloke?" Sirius asked, his eyes narrowing as Bailey turned the corner at the end of the corridor.
"I think it might have slipped out once or twice." Remus grinned.
"Come on, let's go find Hestia." Lily offered and they all followed in the direction Hestia had taken off in.
Authors note: Phew! Glad that's all finished – it seemed to take forever to write! Hope you like it A rewritten version of chapters 1 and 2 is now up, so check them out!
And because I just want to overload you with my writing, check out a one shot I put on about Petunia attending Harry's wedding thank you, remember to review! xxx