Chapter 2 ~ Interesting Beginings
It was school as usual. Potions to master, new spells to memorize, historical
figures to make up, and seemingly twice the homework they had last year. Only
now there was one difference: relationships to fit in.
Ariella sat with Fawkes at a window in her dorm room late one night thinking.
Sure flirting with boys had always been fun, but now. . . well now boys had
other intentions it seemed - and Ariella was getting curious.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
Ariella smiled at Fawkes. "You know I really wonder what people will think
if the see me talking to a bird."
"Not just any bird I'll have you. I am a phoenix."
"Oh and so talking to you makes me less weird because of that?!" Ariella
laughed. She ruffled his feathers, and stared out the window while stroking his
feathers back into place. "Tyler asked me to go with
him to Hogsmede this weekend."
"And you said?"
* * *
"YES?!" Lily exclaimed, "You're going with Tyler Bronte to Hogsmede?!"
"He's been asking me for two weeks now to go with him" Ariella said.
The girls all sat around the breakfast table in the great hall giggling, as the
guys entered.
"That's great," Lily said as James sat down beside her, "You can
come with me and James if you want."
"Who's going to Hogsmede?" James asked.
"Ari and - " Lily stopped mid-sentence to grin at the blonde and
lanky boy who had just come up behind Ariella. "Hi Tyler."
"Hi Lily, James. Is this seat taken?" He asked Ariella. She smiled,
blushing. "No, please sit."
"Well congratulations, love birds" Sirius said, ruffling Ariella'
hair. "You're the latest talk of the school." He laughed sliding in
on the other side of Ariella. Remus Lupin, another frequent of their group
plopped down beside Sirius. "Gee Black, looks like everyone's going -
think we should tag along? Peter Petigrew sat next to James, across the table.
"Yeah - I've heard Zonko's has a new shipment in."
Sirius elbowed Remus laughing, "And you never know what beauties we could
meet over a butterbeer. I say we go."
So later that day they all headed down to Hogsmede, and spent the day laughing
and having a ball.
Tyler pulled Ariella
aside as they were all heading back to Hogwarts, at the end of the day.
"I'm really glad you said you'd come with me, Ari. I had a really good
time."
She smiled, "I had alot of fun too, Tyler."
He reached down and took her hand, and held it as the walked back to the Gryffendor
common room.
"Password?" asked the Fat Lady.
As Ariella was about to reply, Tyler leaned down and kissed
her softly on the lips. "Flabbergasted" Tyler replied as Ariella
blushed.
The Fat Lady smiled. "Exactly, my dear." She swung open admitting
them to the warm common room where everyone was waiting expectantly.
After they had sat around discussing events, Ariella decided to say goodnight,
and climbed the stairs to her room. Fawkes was waiting as she opened the door.
"So how'd it go?" He asked.
"You sound like the girls." Ariella laughed.
"Well I am your friend too, shouldn't I be interested in the happenings of
the day?"
She smiled. "Yes, and I thank you. It went well." She touched her
lips. "A little unexpected maybe but very well indeed."
Fawkes flew from his perch to land beside his friend on the bed. "What was
so unexpected?"
"He kissed me."
The door burst open, and Ariella's four roommates tumbled in. "HE KISSED
YOU?!" Lily attacked Ariella with questions: "Where? How? Was anyone
around? What did you say? What did he say? What was it like? Is he a good
kisser?"
Ariella blushed profusely and told the story of her and Tyler's walk back
to Gryffendor.
***
Sirius
heard the girls' screams from upstairs as he opened the door to his dorm room.
So he kissed her. He thought. Well that's an interesting turn of events… Tyler and Ari, who'd have thought… I mean she's pretty enough, but really – Who are you kidding Black? She's more than pretty. Ariella's gorgeous and you know it. And she's funny, and smart, and … what am I doing?!
Sirius shook his head as he sat on the edge of his bed, and started taking off his robes. She's just a friend, besides she's happy with Tyler, you saw them today. He sighed remembering Ariella's blush at Tyler's compliments, and the look on her face whenever he would lead her off so they could talk on their own.
You should be happy for her. Tyler's a good guy… at least it's not someone from Slytherin. I guess it could be worse… The door creaked open, and Sirius looked up to see Fawkes fly in through the crack.
"Get
annoyed with all the girls?" He laughed. Fawkes rolled his eyes in agreement
as he perched beside Sirius' bed. "Well you're always welcome here, you know
that. Its too bad Ari's the only one who can understand you. I'm so confused
right now… and well you just seem that you'd understand. I'm sorry. Maybe it's
just me. Sleep tight Fawkes." He flopped back on the bed as his roommates
entered the room and pretended to sleep… he wasn't really in the mood for
talking.
"Hey Fawkes, spending the night?" laughed James.
"Can't blame 'im" Replied Peter, "I wouldn't want to be in there with all those banshees."
Sirius sighed, I would. I would put up with all of them if it meant I could
have Ariella.