(Disclaimer: I own nothing.)
Chapter Twenty Seven
Remus walked down the hall with James. "You should just ask her, how hard can it be?" he asked.
James sighed. "Someone's probably already asked her."
"And you know this how?"
"Just look at her, don't say you can't figure out why half the male population here at Hogwarts wants to ask her," said James with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, so what, she only likes one guy, it's obvious and if you haven't seen it, then you're blind as a bat."
"The plan is well thought out, Master," said Requillo. Voldemort turned his piercing gaze upon the man who didn't flinch like the rest always did. This often troubled him for the idea of someone not effected by his stare meant that the man wasn't afraid or fearful of him.
"Thank you, Requillo. Now all we must do is wait 'till the time is right." Voldemort looked to the sky. "They know not was is to come, and when they do, it will not be a pleasant sight."
Requillo looked at his master. The man's pitch-black hair gave his blanched white skin a hauntingly lifeless look. His eyes, which bore deep into one's never, sent a feeling of fright through him. It was strange really, but it didn't. Voldemort never had power over him, though he always pretended that he did. His rebellious side, however, and now it was slowly coming out. A feeling of loneliness that he had never felt before was starting to rise in him and he couldn't decipher its strange meaning.
"I said, Requillo, what is on your mind?" repeated Voldemort in aggravation.
The man looked up and ran a hand through his white blonde hair. "'Tis nothing of importance, master," he replied. "Please excuse me." And then he walked away and back into the castle. He had to get rid of this feeling, and any other feelings he may have. Feelings showed weakness, feelings made one give in when they mustn't
First he must find the cause of this feeling of loneliness. What was it? His family. But no, he doesn't have one. They were gone and were no more. Hadn't Voldemort taken care of them already? His family was extinct and was never coming back, and he didn't need them. He had all he could ever want. But then why does he feel so empty?
She walked down the hall and heard someone call out her name. Hallie turned around to see Sirius running towards her. "Wait up!" Grinning, she turned back around and kept walking. And then he was next to her. Breathing hard, he said, "I guess you didn't hear me."
She shook her head. "Nah, I heard you perfectly, I just decided to take no heed to it," she said with a sweet smile to him. His insides turned and he swallowed.
"Right – er – will you go to the Winter Dance with me?" he muttered softly. She looked at him in wonder.
"Sorry, I couldn't hear you," she told him.
He stopped and took her hand to make her stop too. She looked down at their intertwined hands and felt a feeling of warmth run through her. "Will you go to the Winter Dance with me?" he repeated again. Hallie looked up at him.
There's a catch somewhere here…yup, I see that look of corruption in his eyes. "No." And then she walked on.
Sirius watched after her and sighed. "You're going to me, Hallie, whether you know it or not," he said with a small smile on his lips.
She scribbled on her notebook and sighed as she found that a new one would soon be needed for the periwinkle one she held was running out of pages. Hallie put down her quill. She picked up the guitar from her bedside and strummed the strings.
"It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word you can light up the dark
Try as I may I could never explain
What I hear when you don't say a thing
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all."
She smiled at how the song sounded so far.
"All day long I can hear people talking out loud
But when you hold me near, you drown out the crowd
Old Mr. Webster could never define
What's being said between your heart and mine
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all"
Courtesy to Allison Krauss
For "When You Say Nothing At All"
Sighing again, she put down the guitar. Slowly she got up and put the curses and spells back on the book again and hid it under her bed. She then walked out of the room and ran into James. "Oh, hi!" she said.
He grinned. "Penny for your thoughts?"
She shook her head. "They're worth so much more than that."
He looked at her for a moment, then said, "Did Sirius ask you to the Winter Dance?"
With mild surprise, she said, "Yeah, why?"
James grinned and shook his head. "Nothing." He paused. "What did you say?"
He was responded by a look. "What do you think I said?"
With a semi-triumphant look he said, "No?"
She laughed. "He wasn't being serious was he?"
James looked at her searchingly for a moment. "Maybe he was." She smiled and shook her head.
"So when are you asking Lily?" she asked.
He blushed. "Who said I was going to ask anyone?"
Hallie smiled. "James, if I tell you something, do you swear not to repeat it again? And if perchance you do repeat it, don't say it was me. Do you swear?" she asked. He looked at her for a moment and then nodded. "Lily told me she likes you. We were talking and she wants you to ask her to the Winter Dance." She bit down on her lip and looked guilty. "You promised." He nodded again and tried to suppress the smile creeping onto his face. She smiled softly. "Ok, now tell me you're going to ask her so that my telling you she likes you has a good outcome."
James grinned. "Of course I'm going to ask her! Don't tell anyone though, okay?" Hallie agreed.
"You're really going to do it?" she asked as she clasped her hands together.
He laughed. "Yeah."
"Good! Hey, Lily! Get over here!" she called down the hall. James, in a panic, looked at the girl coming over. He turned on his heels and ran off. Hallie laughed so hard she had to bend over and grab a stitch at her side.
"What is it, Hal?" asked Lily when she came over.
"N-Nothing at all," was the reply.
That night, Hallie and Sirius met in the common room. He smiled when he saw her and they left the school through a secret entrance. "How'd you know about this exit?" asked Hallie on their way out.
He turned to her with an evil smile. "It's a secret."
She laughed then rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say." They took their seats in the Three Broomsticks and each got a butter beer. It tasted delicious as for it contrasted with the bitter cold outside.
"So, will you go with me to the Winter Dance?" he asked her trying to look sincere, but he knew he didn't.
She looked at him squarely. "Why are you asking me this?" she asked softly. He wanted to look away but found he couldn't. A smile spread across her lips. "Well?"
"I-I…" Should I give away the bet? What do I say? "Er – I…" he stammered.
"Was it James and the gang? Or was it Lily and the other girls? Come on, Sirius, it's just you and me here," she told him. She looked down and took a sip of her butter beer.
He looked away for a moment and then back to her. She brushed away a strand of charcoal black hair from her face. Hallie looked up at him and he leaned back in his chair. "Sorry, I can't tell you."
"Oh, well, that makes me want to go with you all the more," she said sarcastically.
"Really?" he asked in incredulity.
With a laugh she said, "No, you nitwit. What makes you think I'll go with you if, number one, you don't like me, and number two, you have a reason you're keeping from me of why you want to take me to the dance?"
"I do like you," he said with an irresistible smile. Hallie's stomach did a turn but she just made a sweet smile back.
"As do I you, but I'm not going to the dance with you." He pouted playfully and she laughed. "Anyways, I told James Lily wanted him to ask her to the dance."
He leaned in with interest. "And…?"
"He said he'd ask her, you just had to see his face! And so I called Lily over and he turned and bolted away," she said with a laugh. Sirius joined in.
"I wish I could have been there to see it!" They laughed for a while. "Well, it's going great so far. They obviously like each other so when we finally get James to ask Lily to the Winter Dance, they'll get used to each other."
Hallie nodded. "They're just so shy when they're with one another. When they get together, it'll be better then."
"This was a very good plan, Hal," said Sirius, taking another sip of his butter beer.
She smiled. "I know." He swatted at her playfully.
"Well how lady like of you, and how very humble!" he said.
She swatted back at him. "Thank you."
"Aw, Janice, isn't it sweet how the young 'uns are together?" drawled a voice nearby. Hallie looked behind Sirius to the old couple who was looking at them.
"Yes, dear Albert, it's awfully adorable!" exclaimed the elderly woman. Sirius turned around and shot them a charming smile.
"Well, hello, sir, madam," he said politely.
"And so civil as well!" said Janice with a smile. She patted his cheek. "Such a handsome young man." He stood and offered her his seat and pulled up another for the man and himself.
"Thank you, young man. My name is Rick and this is my wife Janice," he introduced.
"Nice to meet you," said Sirius as he shook their hands. The two older people turned to Hallie.
"And who might this pretty young lady be?" asked Janice.
Hallie smiled at them sweetly. "I'm Hallie, Hallie Forester." They shook hands. "Where are you all from?"
"We're from her actually," said Janice.
Rick nodded. "And we just came back from a tour all over Europe." Hallie's eyes lit up.
"Oh! That's wonderful! I've always wanted to go there!" she said with a beaming smile. Sirius grinned.
"Oh, yes, dear, it's marvelous. It's the most beautiful place in the world. I loved Greece especially. It's humorous of what the early muggles thought of creation," said Janice.
Rick nodded. "The statues and such are quiet a wonder though, it's extraordinary."
"What would you young kids be doing here at this hour?" asked Janice suddenly. A line of worry suddenly crossed in her eyes.
Sirius looked at Hallie and under Janice's and Rick's stares, he blushed slightly. "Just…er – having a night out is all," he said with a small smile. Rick smiled in understanding but Janice frowned slightly. "We were discussing an important problem you see," he continued sharing a glance with Hallie.
She nodded. "Our friends…well, they're obviously meant for each other."
At this, Janice clasped her hands together with a bright smile. "A lovers quarrel dears?" she wondered. Sirius muffled a laugh and Hallie narrowed hers down to a smile.
"Er – something like that, ma'am. They both like each other very much, but they refuse to do a thing about it. So…Sirius and I are trying to get them together."
Rick looked at them both with a childish grin. "Doing a bit of match making, eh?"
Sirius laughed. "Yes, sir. Any advice?"
"Well…who are these dear children?" asked Janice, gazing at them inquiringly.
"Their names are Lily and James," said Hallie.
Rick and Janice shared a look and then smiled at the two kids. "They sound good together."
Janice nodded. "I'm truly very sorry dears, but I'm awfully fatigued." She and Rick stood. "Would you mind it terribly if we left now?" she asked.
Hallie and Sirius stood and he said, "Of course not, Hallie and I should probably leave as well." They said their farewells.
"Oh, and Sirius," said Rick, "don't be shy about talking to any girl," he finished with a wink. Sirius looked at Hallie and they both held their breaths until the elderly couple was out the door before bursting into rounds of laughter.
(Author's Note: Thank you to Myanda and Foxy77 for your reviews!)
