It's a hot summer day and my sweat is sticking my uniform to my back. The loud buzzer that sounds, confirms our victory and I run to congratulate my fellow players when I notice someone standing in the distance. His long black hair shines in the sun but when I look away he's gone.
After the game ends, I walk over to the black haired boy. He smiles and introduces himself,
"Hi my name is Sirius Black!" I look at him, confusion evident on my face. He continues,
"I think we will be going to school together in the fall. Are you excited?" Who is this Sirius Black and why is he talking to me about school during the summer. No 11 year-old in their right mind would do that.
"Um why would you be asking that it's the summer? Don't you want to spend your days having fun and not talking about the school year?"
"You don't know do you? About Hogwarts? I thought you weren't a muggle!"
"A muggle? What is that?" He brings his palm to his face.
"Where are your parents? I know your magic there's no way you aren't! Show them to me please." In confusion I lead him to my parents. I pull them aside,
"Mom this is Sirius, he wanted to talk to you about Hogwarts." I watch as my mom's eyes widen. She ushers us to a secluded bench located under an old oak tree and proceeds to explain to me Hogwarts, muggles, magic, and everything else I apparently should have known.
When she finishes she sighs and I look at Sirius for reassurance that this is actually real and my mom just hasn't gone bonkers. He nods his head and I now know why I was always slightly different than the others, and it feels good, as if I'm let in on this big secret everyone else knew but wasn't telling me.
6 years later
I rush down the stairs and am greeted by my two younger brothers who are both in fourth year. I grab a bowl and cereal and quickly eat. Noticing their confused looks, I explain,
"Good morning Jakey and Johnny. I'm going to James's birthday party today and am getting picked up in 5 minutes!" They nod, understanding why I'm in such a rush. I'm usually late so I'm hoping Lily will accommodate, but I know she won't as she can't stand being late. Complete opposite the two of us are, but for some reason we click and I don't know anyone I trust more than her, besides Sirius.
Finishing my cereal, I rush back upstairs and pull on a pair of leggings, black top, and sweatshirt, paying special attention that my shoes are tied. Sirius and James loves to play tricks on me and I don't want to be thrown into another prank war with those two, although I always win.
I hear a car pull into my driveway and I know it's Lily. I quickly brush my hair then halfway through decide to ditch the efforts and just put it in a bun. I practically jump down the stairs and see my best friend standing in my kitchen talking to my brothers. I run and hug her,
"Can we PLEASE ditch these losers and go to the party." They stick their tongues out at me
"How long have you been waiting?" I ask, scared for her reply.
"Not long but if you don't want to be late then we have to leave now!" I wave goodbye to the twins and call up to my parents,
"Bye Mom! Bye Dad!" Once finished, I race her outside into her mom's car.
After driving for almost an hour, we finally reach James's house and me and Lily jump out of the car, presents in hand. We quickly walk up the steps of the house and are greeted at the door by James. We walk inside then exchange our greetings. He hugs me then reaches in for a hug from Lily who jumps out of his way, making him stumble and fall onto me.
"Owww James you fat slug get off of me!" I shout. Laughter echoes from the living room where my friends are gathered. I finally manage to push him off of me.
"No big party this year?" I say, surveying the room. I spot the familiar faces of my friends then turn back to James.
"No I decided to keep it smaller this year. I don't think anyone would even come because of you and Sirius's prank last year." I roll my eyes.
"That prank was pretty good though!" I notice Sirius, Remus, Alice, Jane, and Peter all sitting together in the Potters living room and grab Lily and James's hands and walk over to them.
"Hey everyone! I haven't seen you all since last year!" We all exchange hugs and start chatting about our summers and how much we miss Hogwarts. A game of exploding snaps begins and turns increasingly dangerous. I quickly pull my hand away but exclaim a loud "Ouch!" as my finger gets toasted. I get up and stomp into the kitchen, angry at not winning the game. I am a competitive person by nature so it is normal for me to get grumpy when I don't win.
I hear the sound of feet approaching the kitchen and turn around, expecting Lily. What I'm met with is Sirius, and I smile. Sirius has been my best friend since first year. After he told me about being a wizard we were basically attached at the hip.
"How's your finger? You seemed to burn it pretty bad. Although I wouldn't put it past you for burning it in a game." He reaches down, hiding his smirk, and grabs my hand, inspecting the burn. I pull my hand back and stick out my tongue.
"I'm fine! I don't need your grubby little hands all over it! You'll probably give me a disease!" I start running cold water and put my finger under it.
"Don't use cold water, use room temperature. It helps it heal faster. Also, I don't have grubby hands!" He reaches around me and turns the faucet. My cheeks flush red and I whip around.
"Hey! I don't need you doing stuff for me I just burned my hand! I'm not paralyzed!" He just sighs. He knows my temper and knows it's best to not fight me
"I'm sorry." He sighs. Suddenly he looks up at me with a sparkle in his eyes. "Do you want to see something cool?" I reply without any hesitation.
"Yes." Grabbing my hand he reaches for the door then pauses, turns around, and yells to the others.
"Me and Addi are going for a ride, we'll be right back!" I give him a quizzical look but continue rushing out the door. That is the thing with me and Sirius. We trust each other and we know everything about each other. We tell each other everything.
My heart is pounding as I get on the bike. I'm so excited and Sirius can tell. He laughs and instructs my hands so I don't fall off. My grip on him tightens as he starts the bike and we zoom off. I lean my head back and take in the night sky. Sirius parks the bike and I jump off. In front of me is a gorgeous beach. It is completely secluded except for us and he grabs my hand, pulling me to the water.
Once we arrive I dip my toes in and roll up my leggings as far as I can. Realizing it isn't going to work, I take them off. I look at my sweatshirt and realize that is going to have to go as well. When I'm finished I am only wearing a blue bra and underwear
"Stop it!" I yell as Sirius smirks, "It's like I'm in a bathing suit. You've seen me in a bathing suit before." Rolling his eyes he starts taking off his shorts.
"Hey hey hey! Let me stop you right there. I took off my leggings and sweatshirt because they would get wet if I went into the water. But you're wearing shorts, you don't need to take them off!"
"Don't hey hey hey me! You just basically stripped in front of me! If you get to be half naked, I get to be half naked. It's only fair." I huffed then allowed him to continue. He took off his shorts revealing a pair of pink boxers. I snorted and he realized what I was looking at.
"Why are you looking! You little perv!" He scolded, I giggled then looked away.
"Are you decent-oof" I am grabbed from behind by Sirius and I laugh. He lifts me up onto his back and walks out into the ocean. The continuous crash of the waves is peaceful. I wrap my legs around him and lean my head on Sirius's shoulder and feel my eyelids droop. It's fine because we're best friends, that's all we are…
I feel as Sirius lightly shakes my shoulder and I rub my eyes. I raise my arms above my head and stretch, trying to wake myself up.
"Hey sleepy head. Ready to go back to the party?" Sirius says softly and I nod my head. I grab my clothes and put them back on and he does the same. We walk back up to where Sirius's bike is parked. I keep my eyes shut and wrap my body around his arm so I don't fall.
"Are you sure you can hold on. Maybe we should just walk back…" I quickly open my eyes, the fear of walking back overpowering my want for sleep.
"No I can! I can! Pleaseeee don't make me walk back!" He looks as if he's thinking about this decision. I can't tell if he's just messing with me or actually considering it.
"Fine I guess we can ride back. Just promise you won't fall asleep on the way back." I extend my pinky for a pinky promise and he accepts, entwining his pinky in mine. We hop onto the bike and ride back to James's house.
Once we arrive, I hop on Sirius's back, tired from the trip and not wanting to have to walk on my wobbly legs. I haven't used them since I got on the bike and don't trust myself to walk up the stairs leading to James's house. I wrap my arms and legs around Sirius and rest my head on his shoulder.
Everything is muffled as we walk in. I'm only half asleep. I can still hear everyone, but my eyes are closed.
I hear the others welcome us back. Sirius rests my on the couch next to James and Sirius sits on my other side. I finally open my eyes.
"Hi James." I smile which he returns. I rest my head on his shoulder as I feel sleep call for me again. I was never very good at late night parties. I'm usually out at the latest 10 so 11 is definitely pushing it and I'm not surprised at how quickly I fall asleep.
I can feel someone shaking me but I ignore it and reach up to whack whoever is trying to wake me.
"Ow!" I hear as I make direct contact. I open my eyes to see who I hit and laugh. It was Sirius.
"Do you want to move? James needs to move and was scared to wake you." He turns to James "Wimp!"
"Hey I'm not the one who got hit." James retorts. At this I bonk James on the head.
"Shouldn't have been a wimp." I shrug and get up. "You could have just asked me yourself."
"But then you would have hit me!" James says.
"Well you got hit anyways." I say back. "Who else is staying over?" I ask as I notice the inflatable mattress laid out on the floor.
"Just you me and Lily. The others all left and Lily is in the bathroom brushing her teeth." Sirius informs me, then sniffs, "Speaking of brushing teeth you should probably do that. Yours stink!" I open my mouth then decide instead on violence and punch him in the arm. He lets out a loud "ouch!" but I ignore him and take his advice and grab my toothbrush from my bag.
When me and Lily return from the bathroom, we are met with sleeping arrangements.
"Ok Addi your sleeping on the mattress with Sirius and Lily your sleeping on the couch with me." James smiles innocently at Lily.
"There's no way I'm doing that. Why can't I just sleep on the mattress with Addi…" Lily trails off realizing I'm already half asleep on the mattress. She sighs and looks at Sirius.
"Please can we switch! I don't want to sleep on the couch with that oaf! He's your best friend pleaseeeee." Lily pleads to Sirius.
"Aww Lils I'm not that bad!" James says to Lily who completely ignores him.
"Sorry Lil but I can't fit on the couch with James." Sirius explains to Lily. I roll over, done with the arguing.
"I'll just sleep on the couch with James. Move over you oversized baboon." I get up and bring my blanket to the large couch James is laying on. I cuddle up next to him but can't keep myself from wishing he was someone else.