Chapter 22
That Friday Harry let his group go early, thinking that they deserved a night off just as much as he did. He spent a leisurely half hour in the shower, and came out bright-eyed and refreshed. He pulled on some boxers, and then walked around the room while he towelled his cropped hair fiercely.
Once he was done, he threw the towel onto the rack, and walked over to his cupboard. He selected a clean shirt, and best robes, wishing he could wear some of his own clothes for a change. He stowed his wand and the few blades he had decided to carry, lightly picked up his silver capped staff, and walked out to meet Sirius in the Entrance Hall, stopping to give Ginny a quick kiss on the way.
He was met by a similarly dressed Sirius, who was followed by a young woman who Harry loosely recognised as a member of the Swords. Just as Harry opened his mouth to ask her name, Sirius interrupted.
'This is Helena, Fletch's sister. She's her to make sure we don't spend the entire evening discussing business.'
Harry noticed the way Sirius reached for her hand as he spoke, but dismissed the thought as he held pout his hand.
'Pleased to meet you, Helena. I'm sure we'll enjoy the evening much more in your presence.'
Harry grinned as he shook her hand lightly.
'Likewise, Hawk.'
Harry was struck by her appearance, and the warmth in her eyes. Sirius shifted uncomfortably, and spoke.
'Shall we go?'
'Of course.'
Helena linked arms with both Sirius and Harry, and they walked down to Hogsmeade discussing Quiddich. The topic was the same as they ordered drinks, making sure to ask for a private table. Though he acted as lively as ever, Harry could see that Sirius had his mind elsewhere. He decided to wait and push the matter only if Sirius did not bring it up himself.
They enjoyed a good starter of potato skins, and were soon digging in to their main courses. Though he had been moaning about how hungry he was, Sirius did not eat with his usual appetite, playing with his food rather than eating it. Finally he cleared his throat, and addressed Harry.
'Look, there's a reason I asked you to come her tonight. This is going to come as a real shock, but there is something I.we need to ask you.'
'We?' Harry put down the fork of food half way to his mouth, intrigued.
'We. I've asked Helena to marry me, and with your permission we'll be engaged.'
Sirius reached under the table and clasped Helena's hand tightly, not taking his eyes of Harry. He was gob smacked. It took a few seconds before he was able to reply.
'But this wonderful! I mean, on the condition that you invite me to the wedding.'
Sirius began to grin like a madman. He looked across at Helens as a schoolboy looks at chocolate, then turned to Harry again.
'Then you're sure you don't mind?'
'Mind? Of course I don't mind. This is the best news I've had in months! And it's about time you had some female company, though, by the sounds of it you've been getting more than I've realised.'
Harry grinned as a slight tinge of red appeared in his godfather's cheeks. While Sirius recovered himself, Helena leaned over and exchanged a kiss on the cheek with Harry. Her voice was sincere.
'Thank you. Your opinion means so much, to both of us.'
'You're welcome. Though I expect a front row seat at the wedding!'
Harry warned, trying to look imposing. Sirius spoke.
'You have it, with all our hearts. Now come on, it's time for dessert. Lets eat!'
The rest of the evening passed with an atmosphere of happiness that had been neglect from most of their lives for the past few months. Just after eleven, they left the Three Broomsticks and walked back up to the castle. As they reached the School Gates, they felt the light patter on their shoulders, and looked up to see the first snows of the year descend.
And Harry left the two standing alone, enchanted by the scene around them. Not feeling the cold, he went inside, and unable to sleep sat in the common room, the warm flames of the fire dancing in his eyes. After a few hours had gone by, though they seemed like minutes to Harry, he broke out his thoughts, and stretched. Realising there were but a few scant hours before the start of another hard day, he rose, and went to his bed, trying not to awaken his friends in the darkness.
The next day dawned bright, with the sun reflecting of the snow- layered grass, its surface unbroken in the early morning. It would not be that way for lo0ng, and soon the groups of students, Guards, Swords and Guardians were beginning the routine that had become such a part of their lives, enjoying the newness that the air seemed to hold.
Deciding to liven the proceedings, Fire sneaked up to Dragon, and let loose a volley of well aimed snowballs. Of course Charlie led his group in a retaliatory action, and soon the entire Grounds were covered with fighters covered in snow, trying to make a last snowball out of the diminishing supply the night before had brought.
Unfortunately for everyone else, The Guardians had used a charm to make a huge pile of snowballs in front of the Entrance Hall, and assailed anyone who approached with a deadly accuracy. Finally a War Council was called and after much deliberation, everyone simply rushed the doors at once. It was chaos, and it lasted for what seed like an age, before the Guardians lay panting on the grass, having finally been defeated.
It was with much chatter that classes resumed, and Harry spent much of the day laughing at stories from the morning. It was with a sense of dread that Harry responded to his Mark, going to hear the news that would force him to endanger the lives of his friends once again.
That's it. Hope you enjoyed it. Next, some decisions. Should be up sometime in the next two days. Thanks for any reviews. - Pose
That Friday Harry let his group go early, thinking that they deserved a night off just as much as he did. He spent a leisurely half hour in the shower, and came out bright-eyed and refreshed. He pulled on some boxers, and then walked around the room while he towelled his cropped hair fiercely.
Once he was done, he threw the towel onto the rack, and walked over to his cupboard. He selected a clean shirt, and best robes, wishing he could wear some of his own clothes for a change. He stowed his wand and the few blades he had decided to carry, lightly picked up his silver capped staff, and walked out to meet Sirius in the Entrance Hall, stopping to give Ginny a quick kiss on the way.
He was met by a similarly dressed Sirius, who was followed by a young woman who Harry loosely recognised as a member of the Swords. Just as Harry opened his mouth to ask her name, Sirius interrupted.
'This is Helena, Fletch's sister. She's her to make sure we don't spend the entire evening discussing business.'
Harry noticed the way Sirius reached for her hand as he spoke, but dismissed the thought as he held pout his hand.
'Pleased to meet you, Helena. I'm sure we'll enjoy the evening much more in your presence.'
Harry grinned as he shook her hand lightly.
'Likewise, Hawk.'
Harry was struck by her appearance, and the warmth in her eyes. Sirius shifted uncomfortably, and spoke.
'Shall we go?'
'Of course.'
Helena linked arms with both Sirius and Harry, and they walked down to Hogsmeade discussing Quiddich. The topic was the same as they ordered drinks, making sure to ask for a private table. Though he acted as lively as ever, Harry could see that Sirius had his mind elsewhere. He decided to wait and push the matter only if Sirius did not bring it up himself.
They enjoyed a good starter of potato skins, and were soon digging in to their main courses. Though he had been moaning about how hungry he was, Sirius did not eat with his usual appetite, playing with his food rather than eating it. Finally he cleared his throat, and addressed Harry.
'Look, there's a reason I asked you to come her tonight. This is going to come as a real shock, but there is something I.we need to ask you.'
'We?' Harry put down the fork of food half way to his mouth, intrigued.
'We. I've asked Helena to marry me, and with your permission we'll be engaged.'
Sirius reached under the table and clasped Helena's hand tightly, not taking his eyes of Harry. He was gob smacked. It took a few seconds before he was able to reply.
'But this wonderful! I mean, on the condition that you invite me to the wedding.'
Sirius began to grin like a madman. He looked across at Helens as a schoolboy looks at chocolate, then turned to Harry again.
'Then you're sure you don't mind?'
'Mind? Of course I don't mind. This is the best news I've had in months! And it's about time you had some female company, though, by the sounds of it you've been getting more than I've realised.'
Harry grinned as a slight tinge of red appeared in his godfather's cheeks. While Sirius recovered himself, Helena leaned over and exchanged a kiss on the cheek with Harry. Her voice was sincere.
'Thank you. Your opinion means so much, to both of us.'
'You're welcome. Though I expect a front row seat at the wedding!'
Harry warned, trying to look imposing. Sirius spoke.
'You have it, with all our hearts. Now come on, it's time for dessert. Lets eat!'
The rest of the evening passed with an atmosphere of happiness that had been neglect from most of their lives for the past few months. Just after eleven, they left the Three Broomsticks and walked back up to the castle. As they reached the School Gates, they felt the light patter on their shoulders, and looked up to see the first snows of the year descend.
And Harry left the two standing alone, enchanted by the scene around them. Not feeling the cold, he went inside, and unable to sleep sat in the common room, the warm flames of the fire dancing in his eyes. After a few hours had gone by, though they seemed like minutes to Harry, he broke out his thoughts, and stretched. Realising there were but a few scant hours before the start of another hard day, he rose, and went to his bed, trying not to awaken his friends in the darkness.
The next day dawned bright, with the sun reflecting of the snow- layered grass, its surface unbroken in the early morning. It would not be that way for lo0ng, and soon the groups of students, Guards, Swords and Guardians were beginning the routine that had become such a part of their lives, enjoying the newness that the air seemed to hold.
Deciding to liven the proceedings, Fire sneaked up to Dragon, and let loose a volley of well aimed snowballs. Of course Charlie led his group in a retaliatory action, and soon the entire Grounds were covered with fighters covered in snow, trying to make a last snowball out of the diminishing supply the night before had brought.
Unfortunately for everyone else, The Guardians had used a charm to make a huge pile of snowballs in front of the Entrance Hall, and assailed anyone who approached with a deadly accuracy. Finally a War Council was called and after much deliberation, everyone simply rushed the doors at once. It was chaos, and it lasted for what seed like an age, before the Guardians lay panting on the grass, having finally been defeated.
It was with much chatter that classes resumed, and Harry spent much of the day laughing at stories from the morning. It was with a sense of dread that Harry responded to his Mark, going to hear the news that would force him to endanger the lives of his friends once again.
That's it. Hope you enjoyed it. Next, some decisions. Should be up sometime in the next two days. Thanks for any reviews. - Pose