Chapter 11 – A Kiss At Midnight

o

They walked out of the room, arm in arm. Remus and Sirius behind them. The Potter home was big, not gigantic, but it did have a small ballroom. There were a lot of older people in the room, and she was happy she didn't recognise any of her father's friends or acquaintances.

"Let me introduce you to my parents." James tugged her forward before she had a chance to reply. James's parents were older than most of the parents were, having James at a later age. But they were so friendly and welcoming, they insisted she called them Effie and Fleamont. After a handful of introductions later, James guided her to a door in the back of the ballroom, leading her into a smaller sitting area.

The room was filled with kids their age. Sirius and Remus were already there, they were talking to Marlene and Mary. Izzie turned to James.

"Isn't Lily coming?"

"No, I asked but her parents wanted her home."

"I'm sorry, but you can always kiss Sirius at midnight." She snickered. "I'm kissing Remus, so he's taken."

"But he is taken. Why kiss him?"

"It's tradition and innocent. R-" She cleared her throat. "Remus's boyfriend." She corrected before she spilled his name. "Knows all about it."

"Innocent? Like the kiss Sirius and I stumbled upon?"

Izzie's eyes were large as she looked at him, a frown on top. "I think you need new glasses, Potter. I was kissing his cheek."

"Oh, well." He rubbed his neck nervously.

"Why do you care about who I kiss?"

"I don't, it's-" He snapped his mouth shut. And he was saved from answering when Mary and Marlene came over. They dragged her to the other side of the room where other kids were dancing on the music. James wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand before he walked over to Remus and Sirius. They were leaning against the wall, looking at the dancing girls. Remus had a soft smile on his lips as he watched his best friend dance freely, laughing with the other girls. Sirius was looking at her as though he wanted to put her against the wall and snog her. James nudged his side to break his obvious gazing. He blinked a few times, making James grin before he turned to Remus.

"She has a scar on her leg." He said with a frown.

"Shit, they missed one." Remus muttered. Both James and Sirius opened their mouths to reply but Remus cut them off. "She got that from falling down at slide when she was young. Stupid kids' accident, that's all."

Sirius and James looked at each other, knowing Remus was lying but it wasn't his story to tell, so they dropped it. They knew well enough by now when to ask questions and when to shut up if it came to Isabelle Miller.

"Aren't you going to ask her to dance?" James asked Sirius, and Remus's head snapped to them, his eyes a little narrowed.

"I am, when it's closer to midnight." He answered with a twinkle in his eyes. "Then when the countdown starts..."

"Ah, you hit a snag there, Pads." Remus grumbled a little. "You see, Izzie and I have a little tradition."

"They always kiss at midnight." James said, looking a little sad at Sirius.

"But-" He turned from James to Remus. "You're seeing someone!" He pointed out.

"Really?" Remus gasped, pushing himself off the wall. "How could I forget? He knows, Sirius. It's not the first time one of us is seeing someone at New Years, it's all out in the open." He looked from Sirius to Izzie. "I'm going to get a new drink." And he darted to the bar.

"I think he's figuring out how much you like her."

"Like who? Don't know what you're talking about." Sirius said, tilting his chin.

"Alright, let's pretend I'm oblivious." He held out his hand as Sirius opened his mouth to retort. "When is the last time you hooked up with someone?"

"I-uhm." He frowned, thinking back as his eyes darted around the room. "Madeline."

"And when was that?"

"That time in the library when I bumped into you and Izzie, two weeks or so ago."

"More like over two months, it's New Years, Sirius."

"No, can't be that long." He shook his head, not meeting his eyes, but James saw that his brows were knit together.

"Okay, since you don't like her, I think I'll ask her to dance." James smirked when he couldn't go one step towards her because Sirius had pushed him back.

"I don't think so." He said, his hand still against James's chest. "You already snogged her." He grumbled over his shoulder as he made his way to the dancing girls.

"You were saying you don't like her?" He laughed as Sirius flipped him off.

o

Sirius appeared in front of them with a bright and beaming smile. "Hello, ladies."

"Sirius, can I help you? Or are you going to knock me off my feet again?" She asked, and, oh how he loved how she said that first sentence.

"In a way." He shot her a charming smile which made her roll her eyes. "Do you mind if I steal Izzie for a dance?" He said turning to the two other girls. Marlene and Mary looked at each other before giggling and walked away without a word. Sirius frowned at their retreating backs. "Okay then."

"So, are we just going to stand here or are we dancing?"

"Right." He looked back to the reason he was there. "Dancing, of course." The music had slowed down and Sirius knew with hundred percent certainty it was James's doing. He glanced from her hips to her eyes. "May I?" He asked, gesturing with his hands. He had never asked a girl that. Most girls literally grabbed him the moment he was close enough.

"Yes, Sirius." She smiled shyly as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He swallowed harshly and his fingers trembled a little as he placed them on her hips. They were dancing slowly, but their bodies weren't touching. He didn't mind, this was enough for him, to have her in his arms. She looked up at him smiling. "I finished the essay."

"You did?" He asked in surprise, looking at her beaming, beautiful smile which made his heart thundering fast in his chest.

"I did, just before Remus told me about the party actually, which was only fifteen minutes before we arrived."

"He forgot to tell you? Damn, Moony." He grumbled.

"It's okay. But I didn't have much time to get ready so that's why I'm so underdressed and... well rather plain." She had felt like that the moment she stepped in this room. All the boys were dressed up, some in robes, some in stylish muggle fashion. And the girls, oh the girls were all dolled up, long wavy and colourful dresses, that nearly made her green with envy. She only had simple dresses, because that's what her father demanded, not to stand out.

"You, Isabelle Miller, are anything but plain." Sirius voice was soft, but he looked so sincere. "You are without a doubt, the most beautiful girl here tonight. I wanted to say how gorgeous you looked the minute I slammed into you." His lopsided smile in place.

"I-" She shook her head, looking down. "You don't have to say that to me just because-"

"It's the truth?"

"Just because of Remus."

"Remus? Why would I do it because of Moony?" He must've looked utterly confused. "If he knew I said that to you, he would curse me into the next year."

"Well, the next year isn't too far away, so it's not that bad." She looked up again, smiling a little.

Sirius laughed and pulled her closer to him, slowly, so she had a chance to step back but she didn't. "I meant every word." He said softly.

She leaned her head against his chest, breathing out softly. His heart was beating so fast at this point, there was no way she couldn't feel it against her cheek.

"Thank you." Her voice so quiet he nearly missed it. She wondered if he would say the things he said if he saw the real Izzie. If he saw all the scars scattered over her body. "You look very handsome tonight."

Sirius beamed and puffed up his chest. "Oh, I know."

She pulled her head back, pursing her lips to hide a smile. But Sirius missed the way her head rested on his chest already. "Don't be big headed. Remus is still more handsome than you."

"Yeah, Remus is way too handsome for his own good, the little shit. He always needs to be the most handsome one in the room." He chuckled. She smiled up at him and the chuckle died in his throat as she leaned her head back against his chest. His grip on her tightened a little. "Is this okay?"

He could feel her fingers in intertwine in his hair before letting out a content sigh. "Yeah, this is okay." She murmured against his chest. The whole time they danced, his chin was resting near her temple, he had a dopey smile on his face, and he couldn't care less if anyone saw.

o

"Oi, Izzie!" Remus called over and dragged her out of Sirius arms. "It's nearly midnight."

"Right." She nodded but looked a little flustered. She turned back to Sirius and squeezed his hand. "Thanks for the dance, Sirius."

"Any time, love." He leaned down to kiss her hand. A movement he was sure to make her roll her eyes, and when he looked up, she did just that.

"Oh, James said he wanted to kiss you at midnight, so you better hurry up."

Sirius grinned wickedly at her. "I'm going to give him the kiss he's never going to forget."

"I'll bet." She snickered before Remus twirled her under his arm, away from Sirius. "I thought you would have saved me long ago." She said once she landed against Remus's chest.

"Didn't look like you needed saving." He said deadpanned.

"No. It was nice dancing with him." She said honestly. "But I really wanted to dance with my best friend who happens to be the most handsome man in the room."

"Well, if I knew you were so desperate to dance with me, I would've snagged you away from him within minutes." He chuckled. The countdown started, and almost everyone in the room was chanting. Remus and Izzie glanced around the room as everyone coupled up. Sirius was standing next to James with a glint in his eyes. Marlene and Mary were standing next to each other near the fire, counting down loudly with the others.

"Happy new year, Remus." She said when the countdown was at three.

"Happy new year, Izzie." Two, one. Remus leaned down slowly and kissed her softly. It was a sweet and innocent kiss, like most have when they kiss for the first time when they are thirteen or so. Mary and Marlene had shared a kiss, a bit more than the innocent kiss Remus and Izzie shared. They turned just in time to see Sirius land one of James. James's eyes were large behind his spectacles and his eyebrows nearly disappeared behind his hair. He tried to step away, but Sirius had his head in both of his hands. The room started to cheer, and Remus laughed loudly next to her.

"Wow! Go, Sirius!" Izzie yelled between her laughter. The sound of her voice made Sirius pull back from a still shocked James. He grinned at her broadly, the twinkle in his eye was even visible from the other side of the room. James clapped Sirius on the back of the head, but he didn't care. He was looking at Izzie with his largest smile as she smiled back at him.

Remus and Izzie danced the rest of the night. Once in a while Mary, Marlene or James interrupted and demanded a dance with either one of them. Sirius didn't ask again, he was standing in the corner watching everyone dance. Talking to someone absently, nodding once in a while when they spoke. When it was nearing two o'clock, Fleamont said it was time for everyone to go home. Izzie and Remus wanted to help clean up, but Fleamont wouldn't think of it. He said Sirius and James can clean it up in the morning, the muggle way. James was already sleeping in one of the chairs, his head lolled to the side, a drooling spot on the armrest.

"I'm happy you came." Sirius said as he walked them to the floo.

"Yeah, me too." She smiled. Remus had stepped into the fireplace with floo powder in his hands.

"Night, Pads."

"Night, Moony." He looked back to her with a soft smile. "Goodnight, Izzie."

"Sleep well, Sirius." She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. "Happy new year."

He was beaming and practically floating on air when she pulled back. "Happy new year, love. Oh, and four." He whispered the last part for only her to hear, lifting four fingers in the air. He was happy to note the slight blush on her cheeks. The moment they disappeared in the flames, Sirius touched the place she had kissed.

"Yeah." James's voice came from the doorway with a snort. He looked over and saw him leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed and a grin plastered on his face. "If you don't like her, I'm a blast-ended skrewt."

Sirius shot him a jinx that made him hang upside down in the air. He walked over grinning. "Goodnight, James." He patted his cheek before he darted upstairs.