"Sarah? What are you doing here? I thought you girls were going to buy dresses," James asked as Sirius and himself came in from Quidditch practice. Sirius went up to his room to change as James sat next to her in his half mud-soaked clothes.
"I'm not going," she told him simply as she went back to her work.
"Why not?" He demanded; "if it's because you have to go alone, I'm sure there's someone who would go with you."
"No it's not about that. I'd like to go with someone but that's not the reason I can't go," she told him not making eye contact.
"Then what?"
"I'm not allowed to go," she told him.
"What do you mean your not allowed? Who would stop you from going to the," he paused for a second; "Sarah? Did your parents say you couldn't go?"
"I need to study."
"Let me see the letter," he told her tiredly. Gently she handed it over to him; "this is bull shit, I'm writing to your grandmother about this," he told her after reading it.
"No James you'll only make it worse," Sarah said jumping up after him and grabbing his hand away from a quill. "Just leave it alone James. I wouldn't have had a good time any ways, dances are for couples."
"Oh Sarah," he whispered concern all over his face.
"Don't worry about it James," she chuckled; "I'm use to it by now." With that she collected her books and went up to her dorm room to finish her studying for the night.
"What's wrong Prongs?" Sirius said frowning as he came back down from their room.
"I think Sarah's got a crush on someone," he said; "our little sister's growing up."
"So who is he?" Sirius asked.
"Don't know," James said; "but I want to find out."
"Are you sure you can't come?" Lily asked placing her green masque of a peacock over her eyes. She had a beautiful green dress on which sparkled in all the different lights and the halter top allowed her to show some back off. She had her trademark red hair wore up with it all piled on top of her head in curls.
"Yes."
"Are you positive?" Rachel begged. She wore an elegant light blue satin dress with a high cut in the front. Her dirty blond hair was woven in an intricate knot with a few rhinestone pins holding it up as she placed a bird masque on also.
"Yes, I'm sure. You guys look beautiful," Sarah smiled at them; "get going before the guys think you've stood them up." Sarah would be the only one left in the tower since the third years and below were having a party of their own on the seventh floor of the school.
"Alright," Lily sighed; "we'll see you tomorrow and fill you in on all the details."
"Bye," Sarah waved to her friends as she heard them leave the common room a few minutes later laughing and having fun.
She was still in her room thirty minutes after her friends left; "they'll start dancing soon," she murmured to no one when a tapping brought her out of the trance. Looking over she saw her grandmother's owl, Mel, sitting outside her window with a very large package. Letting the owl in Sarah picked up the package and started to read the attached note as Mel warmed by her fire.
Sarah,
I heard about the dance and your parent's point of view. You're a Gryffindor Sarah, remember that always and remember this: 'you can only live once.' As for not being able for you to come see me for Christmas, I am sorry dear. Say hello to all your friends for me, and I want a letter from you about what happened at the dance. Merry Christmas my dear. I love you with all my heart.
God's speed,
Gram
Sarah ripped opened the package and gaped at the contents. A slim black velvet dress gleamed up at her, with an open back and somewhat low scoop front, her gram always did go over the top. Black strap shoes that were custom made fit her feet perfectly. Sarah reached for her brush and let her hair fall down to her mid-back; she never wore it down and she hoped that the change would throw people off her trail. It was a masquerade after all, people weren't suppose to know who she was. Finally at the bottom of the package there was a black panther masque, putting it on she looked at her self in the mirror.
When she saw this person she almost fainted, it couldn't possibly be her, could it? Normally Sarah wore over sized robes because they were more cost efficient to her parents, glasses that were only for reading she wore all the time because she was always reading, and her hair would be piled on top her head. The woman before her was just that, a woman, with a curvy figure that would make any girl jealous, beautiful long deep brown wavy hair, and an awesome dress that hung in all the right places. "This will be fun," she told herself before leaving.
Sarah almost lost her nerve but found it again as she heard the Warlocks bellow out another tune. As quietly as she could Sarah walked in a side door heading for the punch bowl, she refused to turn around as they started another song.
"Excuse me?" A voice asked and Sarah turned around to see Charles Demas standing there. He was the captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, a seventh year prefect, movie star handsome with his beautiful blond hair and one of the most sot after guys at Hogwarts. "Would you like to dance?" Sarah blinked a minute then nodded in agreement as he led her to the dance floor where they danced to a couple sounds together. "So why haven't I seen you before?" He asked; "you must be a seventh year, I know that much."
"Looks can be deceiving Charles," she told him as he spun her out.
"So you know my name, can I have yours?" He asked.
"No way, it's a masquerade, no one gets to know," she told him as the song stopped.
"Demas mind if I cut in?" A voice asked this time from the head boy, Tallis Grant.
"Go ahead Grant," Charles said making a nod to Sarah then leaving the dance floor.
"I am sorry for Charles' sad behavior," Tallis said taking her hand; "I'm afraid he has the maturity level of a three year old and often doesn't like to share beauteous woman with others."
Sarah blushed a bit; "that's alright." The night continued like this for Sarah going between the jocks and the intellects, all of whom didn't know who she was, or what house, or what year, making it very enjoyable.
"May I?" A deep voice asked from behind Sarah. She turned to find Sirius bowing deeply, his nose almost touching the floor. He wore a black shirt with black and, of course, a black dog mask to top off his attire.
Sarah smiled and curtsied back; "I would be honored."
Sirius grinned roguishly as he scooped her up and the proceeded around the dance floor. "You're a great dancer," Sirius smiled at her after dancing with her only for an hour.
She smiled again; "but I've got to get some punch and relax for a while before the slow songs start or I won't be able to make it."
"All right Blacky," he smiled taking her hand and leading her to the punch bowl and poring her a drink.
"Who you calling Blacky, Black?" She said sipping her punch.
"No fair!" He pouted; "why do you get to know who I am but I can't know who you are?"
"Well maybe if the marauders weren't so obvious I wouldn't have," she smiled.
"Pray tell, what do you mean?" He said taking her arm and leading her somewhere.
"Lily and James both wore green, Rachel and Remus both wore blue, poor Peter wore yellow, and dear Sirius Black you wore, naturally, black," she smiled at her observations.
Sirius pouted; "the girls made us."
"You're cute when you pout," Sarah smiled and kissed him on the cheek. Sirius grinned and Sarah saw where they were going to, the marauders' table. There were only six chairs around the table one for Peter, his Hufflepuff date had another, Lily and James occupied one together, then Rachel and Remus each had their own.
"We're running low on chairs Padfoot old boy," James smiled from behind his stag masque which sported green eyes to match his green shirt.
"That's all right, I don't think my new friend would mind sitting on my lap," Sirius said sitting in the last seat and pulling Sarah onto his lap. "Now the only rules while sitting here my dear Blacky," Sirius informed her; "are as followed: do not take your eyes off your glass, and if you do don't drink from it again. Don't say anything bad about the England's Quidditch team or mad man Potter will shove it down your throat. Oh, and insult the Slytherins as much as possible."
"I'm not that bad," James pouted.
"Yes you are," Lily laughed.
"So who are you?" James asked taking a sip of punch.
"Sorry," Sarah said shaking her head; "mums the word."
"Finally someone who's not telling," Lily said.
"I like to call her Blacky," Sirius smiled wrapping arms around her waist as Sarah moved one around his shoulder.
"Should I watch out for Snape's hair to turn green?" She smiled at Sirius; "or have flowers sprout out of his ears?"
"That's great! James write that down! Flowers sprouting out of Snape's ears!" Sirius smiled kissing Sarah's cheek.
"Don't give them any more ideas," Rachel said shaking her head and standing. "Well it's a ball and I'm going to dance. Remus do you want to come or should I ask Snape?"
"I'll dance with you Miss Edwards," Lily said getting off of James' lap bowing deeply then offered an arm.
"Hey what about us?" James called after them; "come on Remus let's go rescue them before the Slytherins start hitting on them. You coming Wormtail?" Peter nodded in agreement offering an arm to his date as they went to the dance floor. "Now if he miss behaves himself at all you have my permission to spank him. He is a dog after all," James smiled running onto the floor so Sirius couldn't attack him; it was true though Sarah had known about the boy's changes at night for almost six months.
"Do you want to keep dancing?" He asked, "I think it's going to be slow songs from here on in."
"Sure," Sarah smiled getting off his lap as he put his jacket back on which had been draped over the back of the chair.
He took her hand again leading her to the middle of the dance floor and spun her into him. It was perfect they way they fit together, he wrapped his arms around her waist as she wrapped her around his shoulders. Slowly they circled and Sarah leaned her head on his shoulder breathing him in. He moved a hand up and rubbed her arm smiling; "do you want to get some fresh air?"
Sarah nodded gently as he lead her out to the gardens, Sirius knew the perfect spot to sit. It was a little cove where you could see the crescent moon and the fountain; "Sirius," she breathed smiling. Pulling out his wand he conjured up a blanket for them to sit on and helped her sit down. Sarah shivered a bit; "you cold?" Sirius asked and put his coat around her shoulders allowing her to lean into him.
"So," he smiled, "what do you like to do?"
"Hang out with my friends, go to Hogsmeade, read, watch the marauder's pranks, oh and I like to fly."
"Do you play on a house team?"
"No, my parents wouldn't approve," she whispered.
"Why not?" He asked.
"My parents believe that I went to school to learn and that should be it," she told him as she shifted to look in his eyes.
"Then why are you here?" He smiled devilishly.
"I'm breaking the rules," she smiled back; "I wanted to see my crush."
"And who's that?" He said.
"Do you even have to ask?" Sarah said amazing herself. She was being the most bold she had ever been in her natural born life.
He shook his head grinning; "I keep getting the feeling that I know you, but there's no way. I would of noticed you before if I did."
"How do you figure?" She asked.
"Because I would of already done this," he said moving forward, gently hooking a hand around her neck and kissing her. Sarah pulled away a few seconds later to take a breath, god, he was a good kisser. "What was that?" Sirius asked; "I've never felt anything like that before."
She blushed a lot as he got his breath back then looked at her; "thank you," she said rubbing her lips.
"Huh?" He asked then cocked his head to the side; "was that your first kiss?"
"No of course not," she said but didn't convince him; "all right yes."
Sirius smiled wrapping his arms around her pulling Sarah dangerously close to him; "it was probably the best kiss I've ever had so I'd say you have a fine future ahead of you."
"Why thank you Mr. Black," she said rolling her eyes as he kissed her again.
He was so passionate when he kissed her and Sarah just wanted to melt into him. His tongue begged for entrance to her mouth and she gave it, his tongue explored her mouth as his hands explore her exposed back. "God you're beautiful," he said pulling away from her; "I wish I could see your face though."
She put her head down; "I can't."
There was a long silence and Sirius ran his fingers through her hair then suddenly stopped and reached for his wand saying a spell to produce a necklace. Slowly he let his hands drop from around her and pulled something off his hand and placed it on the necklace. "Wear this," he told her putting it around her neck.
"What is it?" Sarah asked as she looked down at the ruby ring.
"Just a ring," he smiled; "promise me you'll wear it."
"Alright," Sarah smiled; "but it's going to be under my Hogwarts robes so you won't see."
"I will find out who you are," he smiled.
"Let the games begin," she smiled back. "Oh no what time is it?"
"Eleven thirty," he said looking at his watch; "the dance ends in half an hour."
"Crap!" Sarah said jumping up; if this night was going to stay a secret she would have to return to the tower before everyone else. Sarah made it to the great hall until she turned back around and went back to Sirius. He had his jacket back on and the blanket was already gone, he smiled when he saw her. Quickly she moved forward and kissed him as deeply as she could; "thank you for tonight."
"Anytime," he smiled as she left.
A/N: I promise everything will end in happiness, it just takes time...