And here's the next chapter. Same Disclaimer.

The Christmas Ball


"What is it?" James asked rattling the gift I had handed him.

"If you open it you'll find out, sport." Mr. P answered. I smirked and watched James rip the paper off.

"It's a ... box." He glared at me when he realized what it was.

"I could just be me but I find opening boxes helpful most of the time." Mr. P said. I hid a smirk as James opened the box. He pulled out another box and glared at me. I just motioned him to open the box. He glared at me again but continued the process finally narrowing it down to the smallest box.

"There had better not be another box in here. If there is I can't promise you I won't hurt you." James said. I just motioned for him to open it again. He opened the box and this time his jaw dropped. "How'd you ..."

"Now maybe you'll stop nicking the school's."

"What is it?" Sirius asked.

"It's a snitch." James answered taking it out of the box.

"Did you notice what it says?" James looked closer and grinned.

"You stole my idea." He said. That was true, two years prior he had gotten me a snitch with initials engraved on it. The difference was mine said SRB and his said LME. I didn't get why he would engrave those but now I'm kinda iffy about it. He says one day I'll be thankful for it.

"Only if you want to get technical about it."

"What does it say?" Sirius asked. James told him and Sirius smirked. "You two are insane."

"Then open yours Padfoot; I want to see what you got." James answered. Sirius rolled his eyes but did as James had asked. I watched his expression as he pulled the paper off then opened the box. I had gotten him a t-shirt from his favorite muggle band along with a box of Honeydukes' best and biggest sugar quills. Sirius' jaw dropped and then he smiled.

"Thanks Amanda." He said sincerely.

"Sure." I answered shrugging. He leaned over and hugged me. I tried not to blush but it felt nice. We sat there for a while enjoying each other and the day. Then the floo was activated as James and his dad were playing chess and De and Sirius were talking. I was sorting through my gifts making an inventory of who to thank for what when I heard it.

Out of the fireplace came Remus laden down with gifts. He had mastered the floo somehow managing to stay upright but still was covered in a bit of soot. "Boys." De said looking at James and Sirius. They jumped up and helped Remus clean the soot from his clothes then in turn gave him a manly hug.

"Happy Christmas Moony." They said.

"Happy Christmas guys, Mandy, Mr. and Mrs. P," Remus said.

A few more greetings were exchange before Remus set a bag down at his feet. "Presents." James and Sirius said.

"Yes, here you go." Remus said handing us gifts. "James you should probably go first."

James and Sirius both hated what he had gotten them but that was precisely the point. When I opened my gift it gave me mixed feelings. It was a bunch of photos from the night I had been doused in honey. Remus then opened his gifts from James and Sirius before looking at me.

"Will it bite?"

"Nope." I answered. He tore the paper off and then looked at me.

"You got me a pen?"

"Go ahead click the end." I was trying so hard not to laugh.

"Ah!" He screamed dropping the pen. "What kind of pen is that?"

"It's made of Aluminum calm down. It's called a shocker. A bit of electricity runs through it when the circuit is completed and you receive a shock. Cool ain't it?"

"Yeah it is. Hey Sirius do you want to try it?" After playing with Remus's new toy for a bit we opened our real gifts. From Remus I had gotten a supposed three month supply of Honeydukes' best chocolate. I knew however that it would only last about six weeks.

"Thanks Remy." I said. A bit later on I could feel Sirius' arm against my shoulders and his fingers would occasionally brush one shoulder; to tell the truth it was starting to freak me out.

Remus looked at me with a sorta strange look that I wasn't sure how to interpret. "Shouldn't you be going?"

I looked at him and realized what he meant. "Oh yeah, thanks Remy. You're coming tonight aren't you?" He nodded and I stood grabbing the bag I had put everything in. I said goodbye to everyone and went home to change. I dressed in a pair of sweatpants and oversized sweatshirt before calling to my mom, "Mom, I'll be back later." I grabbed the gift Mike had given me and thought hard. When I opened my eyes again I found myself on the bank of a river that ran on the edge of his parents' place. "You know ... Somehow I knew you'd be here."

"How'd you get here? You can't apperate yet. And how'd you get through the wards?"

"I just did. It's a trick I've been able to do since I was a little girl."

"Right, so what brings you here?"

"Have you opened your gift yet?"

"Nope, it's right there." He said pointing to a rock next to me. I saw the gift and smiled.

"Do you want to open them together?" He nodded and we opened our gifts. I smirked as he pulled out a thick blanket in Slytherin colors with a snake emblazed upon it. He smiled and thanked me. I pulled off the paper on my gift and my jaw dropped. I was staring at a copy of Children's and Household Tales by the Brothers Grimm. This book was written and published in 1812 and had 86 of their fairy tales. I flipped through it and realized that it was handwritten. "This is supposed to be really rare. They say there are only ten copies of this in the world." I said.

"Actually there are 15 handwritten ones, and only five of them are in English to include the one in your hands. I guess it helps to have a family like mine." He said.

"They didn't kill anyone for this did they?"

"Nope, my mom had taken me into a kinda questionable shop and persuaded the owner to let us see her rare books. We went back into the back room and after looking around I found that book and convinced my mom to get it. She didn't know why I wanted it but I wouldn't let up and she let me have it. Once I got back to Hogwarts I ran every test I could think of on it and so did Professor Erickson." He said. "There's nothing on it and it's perfectly fine."

"Thank you so much." I don't know what overcame me but in the spur of the moment I leaned over and kissed him. When I pulled back we were both blushing so I switched the topic. "Are you coming tonight?" I asked looking out at the creek.

"Yeah, my parents said it was ok."

"Great."

"You may want to get going though."

"Probably. Thanks again Mike."

"Of course, think nothing of it. Thanks for the gift."

"Sure, bye." I thought hard and ended up back in my room then ran down stairs and after grabbing some food I went back upstairs and got in the shower. My shower was long and hot and melted away most of my confusing thoughts about Sirius and Mike. After that I got dressed back in my sweat suit and got comfortable on my bed to begin reading James's book.

"MANDY!" My mom yelled later on. She went on to say something but I was too into the book to realize what she was saying.

"Yeah sure." I answered when I heard her stop. Only when the doorbell rang did I realize that it was dark outside.

"Mandy get that." I heard Dad yell. I ran down the stairs and pulled open the door.

"Hi." I said looking up at the ginger haired man.

"Good evening. Well don't you look all fancy like," he said looking me over. "You must be Ms. Hunter. I'm Fabian Prewett."

"Er. Yeah." I said. I spotted his dress robes and looked at him confused. "Is there something I can do for you Mr. Prewett?"

"It's Fabian please. I was informed there was a Christmas ball here tonight." He said holding out a sheet of parchment to me. I read it over and blushed.

"It's already six o'clock? Please do come in." I said remembering my manners and stepping out of the doorway. "The ball room is down the hall, second door on the left." He nodded and after I shut the door I scurried into the kitchen. "Why didn't you tell me it was six already?" I asked my mom.

"Remember when I yelled, 'Mandy, stop reading that book and get dressed. It's nearly time?' And your response was 'Yeah sure?'" She said.

"Oh that's what you said." I said looking at my feet.

"I thought you heard me."

"Uh ... define heard."

"Get upstairs and get changed. Who was at the door?"

"Some guy named Prewett. He seems sweet."

"He is, you should dance with him tonight."

"I'll think about it." I answered before running upstairs. I changed quickly and when I opened my door and looked down into the foyer I saw about 10 people standing around talking. I watched for a bit and then caught Jason's eye. He coughed and jerked his head to the stairwell. I watched as every head turned in my direction and slowly made my way down the stairs. My dad smiled as Remus and Talon's jaws dropped.

When I reached the bottom my father offered me his hand. I took it and he spun me around. "And of course my beautiful daughter Amanda." When I stopped spinning I looked at Remus and Talon.

"You're drooling boys," I taunted. Instantly Remus's mouth slammed shut but it took Talon a few seconds longer. Remus had a cute brunette on his arm and of course Talon had his arm wrapped around Parker.

"Children." Dad said. I nodded and looked at Jason who offered me his arm.

"Shall we?" Jason asked. I nodded again and we made our way into the ballroom. We talked for a bit near the entrance before Mom came in and sent us to mingle with the guests. A little while later it was nearing seven p.m. Exactly at seven my dad would start his opening speech which ended with me opening the dancing. After scouring the room three times I couldn't see James and my dad was starting his speech. I walked over to Sirius.

"Hey where is James?"

"Not now I want to hear this." He answered.

"Sirius where is James?" I asked again prodding him in the stomach.

Sirius huffed and glared at me before he said, "At home with his dad, give the guy a break." I looked around the room but I still couldn't find a guy I knew that knew how to waltz.

"So please give ..." I heard my dad say before I sighed and turned back to Sirius.

"Can you waltz?"

"Pureblood crap, we all had to learn it." He answered.

"Do you remember it?"

"Sure why?"

"My daughter Amanda Hunter and her friend James Potter." My dad said. I swallowed and grabbed Sirius's arm.

"Good, now come on." I drug him onto the dance floor. "Hello everyone. Unfortunately due to a schedule conflict with James's dad he couldn't make it tonight. Thankfully I have found his replacement who is just as good and is his good friend so please give a warm welcome to Sirius Black." The crowd cheered but soon the music started and the crowd quieted. "Waltz." I hissed taking my position. He sighed but waltzed with me around the dance floor. "I never knew you could dance like this." I said.

"Like I said it's pureblood crap, although now I use it mainly to woo the ladies. Impressed?" He answered.

"Barely."

"James didn't tell me you opened the dance."

"He probably had to surprise you to ..." I gasped as he dipped me instead of spinning me. "Don't do that, to get us both to cooperate."

"You know ... this isn't the only kind of dancing I can do." Sirius commented.

"I don't want to know the other kinds."

"I meant I can also tango and foxtrot."

"That's the same kind of dancing as this. It's all ballroom."

"I bet you can't do the other kind."

"You mean like club dancing? The stuff that shouldn't even be considered dancing?"

"Maybe you think that because you haven't had the right partner or because you can't dance like that."

"Maybe, but is that what you meant?"

"Yes."

"You're forgetting I did grow up with James, he's taught me a lot of things I didn't ever want to know."

"Club dancing is an art form. It's like expressing your soul and creativity through dance. You just let go of everything and let the music flow through you and take you to a place you've never been. You just let your problems melt away and move with the beat." I shrugged and soon the song ended. It was sad because I was starting to see the softer side of Sirius. He led me to a table where Remus was talking to Michael.

"I never realized we had so much in common." Remus was saying.

"I guess it's part of me being a Slytherin. You're held away because of the house rivalry so we don't talk." Michael answered.

"Hey guys." I said sitting down.

"You're both still alive I see." Remus said.

"Of course, my parents are still in the same room, I don't dare kill him just yet."

"You want some punch? I'll be right back." Sirius said before walking away. I looked at Michael and Remus and shook my head.

"Who is he and what the hell has he done with Sirius Black?" I asked.

"That there is the charmer and softer side of Sirius Black. He knows the pull you have over your dad and if he tries to upset you, you'll go crying to Daddy and poof he's gone." Remus said.

"I'm not sure I like this new Sirius."

"I'm still the same old me." Sirius said from behind me. I glanced back at him and then saw his smirk so I took my cup and then looked over at Michael. His chair legs had disappeared. I looked at his face but he seemed as calm as ever.

"Uh Mike ... Is your chair floating?" I asked.

"What?" He asked me. I pointed to the missing chair legs and he fell off his chair.

"Cool trick ain't it." A voice said from behind me. "Scared the crap out of Mickey in Transfiguration one day. The legs of her chalk board just up and disappeared then it looked like they were following her as she paced back and forth."

"Concealment charm right?" Remus asked.

"Along with transfiguration and animation charm. Professor Flitwick loved it. Mickey didn't; landed us in detention for two weeks."

"Us." I said finally looking back to see the ginger haired guy from earlier behind me.

"Yeah, me, Jason, Max Miller, and my brother Gideon."

"You're Fabian Prewett?" Sirius asked.

"Yup that's my name and pranking's my game." Fabian answered.

"Wow, James will be upset when he finds out he missed this. You and Gideon were like the coolest pranksters to roam the halls." Sirius said in awe.

"Fabian this is Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, two of the now famed Marauders, and Michael Smithheart, my favorite Slytherin."

"It's nice to meet you all. I hear the Marauders are still trying to live up to our reputation."

"Yup but it seems we've gained us some competition this year from a group called the Toon Squad." Sirius said.

"You'll think of a way to out prank them. Trust me." Fabian grinned and then looked at me. "My sweet Mandy, would you like to dance?"

"Uh ... sure." I said taking his extended hand. We spent a lot of time dancing together and I learned a lot about him until he turned the subject around and started prodding into my childhood and time at Hogwarts.

Sirius's PoV
I watched as Fabian and Mandy danced for nearly an hour trying to shake the feelings of anger running through my veins. "There's no need to be jealous, Sirius." Remus said smirking. I lifted an eyebrow looking at him. "Prewett isn't into her."

"What are you talking about Moony?" I asked.

"Watch him not her and you'll see it too Padfoot. See how he's talking to her? Now watch his eyes, more often than not they'll drift over her head to the blonde in Jason's arms."

"Remy, come dance." A brunette said.

"Padfoot meet my cousin Sasha, she goes to school in France and is visiting for the holidays." Remus said. "Sasha this is my best mate Sirius Black."
"Pleasure now come dance." Sasha answered tugging on Remus's hands.

"Remember what I said Sirius, him not her." Then he left me to wallow.


There you have it. I'm sorry if you don't like this story but I promise in like three chapters there will be new stuff you've not seen before. But unless I get a couple reviews this is where the story ends so, no reviews no new chapters.