I know!! Please don't yell at me!!! I should have done it so much earlier, maybe written a little each day so I could post it!! But I didn't so here it is, finally!!
I'm sooooo sorry!! But in February school started and I've had sooooooooo much homework (yr. 11 is hard!), and being a model student and all (yeah right!), I had to concentrate on my studies!!
But anyway it's finally posted!! Yippee for me!! I should really be studying for my Litr essay but I decided to write instead!!
I'm so glad people are beginning to like the Sirius/Bella thing, they're my favourite characters and I'm happy people are saying that they like the love/hate thing going on. I tried to put all different sorts of romances in this story so we have the friendship turned something more - Lily and James, the sweet crushing on each other romance - Remus and Ashleigh, and the love/hate - he loves her she hates him pair - Sirius and Bella.
Well anyway here's chapter --- Hey I've forgotten!! I think it's chapter 5 or 6, but anyway it's the Hogsmeade chapter and it's got a different style to the way I've seen other writers do the whole "shopping for the ball" thing, for starters the girls DO NOT go with each other, and were going to see some l/j and r/a lovey dovey action, and some breaking of the ice between Sirius and Bella (wooooohooooo!!), but not too much.
Anyways, enjoy............
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ROLLERCOASTER- CHAPTER SIX - A TRIP TO HOGSMEADE AND A CHANGE OF HEART.
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The Christmas holidays had begun! Every student was overly excited as the festive spirit bestowed itself upon the castle.
The ball was looming on the horizon, sending girls into fits of panic and giving the all the boys headaches. Every girl was planning to visit Hogsmeade on Saturday - whether it was to buy dressrobes, or nailpolish for the final touch to their outfits.
The fact that Lily and James were now a couple stayed no secret to the rest of the students. Gossip tended to spread quickly in Hogwarts, and Lily and James getting together was no acceptation. Most people were happy for them, save a few heartbroken girls and guys who were convinced that either Lily or James was destined to be their true love.
The rest of the group had taken awhile to adjust, but now found it quite normal to see Lily and James together.
To top of all the excitement, new additions were being added to the group. Ashleigh had begun to sit with them at dinner and sometimes in the common room (she usually sat with Samantha, the final Gryffindor girl), and Peter's date for the ball a cute, short fifth year Hufflepuff named Rosie shyly sat next to Peter every now and then.
This didn't mean that everyone in the group was happy. There were two that weren't (A/N: duh! Wonder who? Should I even tell you?), Sirius and Bella.
To them, everybody had become happy little couples, and this made them fairly miserable.
Bella missed Li. She knew the guy was a jerk but he was cute! And when she was dating him she had a strange feeling that she was falling in love. So now she could be spotted staring forlornly over at the Ravenclaw table at meal times, looking nearly on the verge of tears.
Sirius had spotted this of course. And was angry that Bella could still have feelings for 'that barstard'! So this accounted for why he was so miserable, that and the fact that he hadn't played any good pranks lately. Sirius needed to be naughty like he needed air, and everyone being so absorbed in one other wasn't helping the problem. He also didn't have a date for the ball yet. But he didn't see the point in asking some other girl, when the only girl he wanted to take didn't even notice him.
Bella and Sirius were both so caught up in being miserable themselves, each failed to notice how miserable the other was.
This opportunity presented itself on Hogsmeade weekend, however.
Bella who assumed she was going shopping for robes with Lily and Ashleigh (and maybe Samantha), was angry when she was told they were going with their boyfriends.
'I hope you don't mind' Lily said airily, tucking her hair behind her ear ' It's just James can be such a baby, he needs to learn how to shop! Did you know his mother buys all his clothes for him! I bet he hasn't even been in a clothes shop!'
Bella smiled weakly and nodded, but inwardly she was just about crying.
And when she asked Remus if she could tag along with him and Ashleigh, he also said NO. (It was the night before the Hogsmeade trip, and Bella was making her regular nightly visit to the boys' dorm.)
'Don't get mad Bella' Remus said cautiously as he pulled on a t-shirt and climbed into bed, ' It's just well, you know, Ash and I...' He grinned
'Gross!'
'Hey! You asked if you could come' he looked at her apprehensively, as if waiting for her to pounce and attack.
'Fine!' Bella sighed
'Now get out' said Remus ' I need some sleep'
'Petey?' Bella turned to Peter, a sad, begging look in her eyes.
'Uh - uh' Peter held up his hands in defense 'Don't try that on me, I'm going with Anna'
'Of course!' Bella groaned and flopped helplessly to the floor, upon which James, who had just returned from brushing his teeth, started to laugh.
'Shut up Potter!' came her muffled voice from somewhere behind her hands. She lifter her head to glare at him, Remus' beanie flopped awkwardly on her head.
'Why don't you wear your own clothes?' James asked, as he walked over to her and lifted her from the floor.
'Because Remus' are comfy.' she stated simply, "But not as comfy as Sirius jumper!" she thought to herself before taking it back - "no"
She wriggled out of James' grasp and re-opened Remus' curtains, plonking back down on his bed.
'Hey!' Remus mumbled incoherently 'Get out!'
She grinned at him, 'No'
He yawned 'I'm too tired to argue!'
Bella rolled her eyes ' Alright then' she crawled over and hugged him 'Night Rem, sleep tight, don't let the beg bugs bite.' she pulled away and frowned ' Or dream bugs for that matter they'll get to you. Did you know that once when I woke up-'
'I get the picture!'
Bella laughed 'I know, I'm going!'
She jumped off his bed and shut the curtains
'Night Rem, Love ya!'
'You too' he said and she smiled contently.
'Scandal' James said 'Bella and Remus love each other. I should tell Ash!'
Bella rolled her eyes, but smiled as she heard Remus' snores.
'I love you all!' she said, as James and Peter both pulled their curtains shut ' But I'm not sure you all love me.' She headed for the door 'Making me go alone on a Hogsmeade trip, it's just downright cruel, I could get murdered, or mugged, or raped, or beat up, or-' But she was cut off.
'You could go with me.' It was Sirius. He had been quiet during most of her visit and she had suspected him to be asleep. But now he was sitting up looking at he hopefully.
Bella hesitated, before putting out the candles with a flick of her wand.
' 'Night Sirius.' She said quietly, she shut the door and disappeared from view, down the steps.
Sirius sighed and lay back down. He had been stupid for asking, right? I mean why would she want to go with him?
He was broken out of his thoughts however by the patter of feet bounding up the steps and the door creaking open.
'Sirius?' Bella creeped up to the end of his bed, and stood facing him. Sending thoughts through his mind that he definitely would NOT want her to know about.
'Yeah?' He whispered back, he could just make out her face in the moonlight.
'You're on!' She grinned, causing his stomach to flip. She did look as if she was having a hard time saying it though.
'I just hope you know what you're getting yourself into!' she added and then made her way back to the door ' 'Night' she whispered, and with that she was gone again.
'Night' Sirius returned softly before laying back down, grinning like mad.
Sure, It was no proclamation of undying love. But it was something.
Bella also smiled slightly as she climbed into bed.
"He deserves some recognition" she though, as she lay down. "He did tell Li off!" she frowned "But I still don't like him! No, definitely not!... atleast I might be able to finish the list!"
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It was Saturday morning, and Bella awoke to the sounds of the other girls in her dorm getting ready to go to Hogsmeade.
She got up and started to get ready herself. After taking a shower, she got dressed and brushed her shoulder length, medium brown hair, which, when dry, would fall into loose curls.
She had decided to borrow one of Remus' jumpers (suprise, suprise). She didn't have one thick enough, and disliked wearing her cloak.
As she was heading up the staircase, many boys came down, smiling and winking at her as she passed, and she entered James, Sirius, Remus and Peter's dorm with a smile firm on her face. Remus was getting dressed, and Bella wolf-whistled as he pulled on his pants.
'Hey Bella' He said, then looked at her warily, obviously wondering if she still was upset about last night.
'Where are the others?' Bella asked, sitting on the end of James' bed.
'James and Peter have gone to breakfast' Remus answered, pulling a t-shirt over his head 'And Sirius is having a shower.'
'Oh' She stood up and headed over to him 'I'm borrowing one of your jumpers.'
Remus rolled his eyes 'Of course you are. Look, I gotta go. Meet Ash, you know.'
'Yeah' she opened his jumper draw and began searching through it.
'Are you right going on you own?' Remus asked looking worried 'Because, you know, if it's not too late-'
'Rem!' Bella cut him off 'I'm fine! I'm going with Sirius!'
She lifted her head from the drawer, waiting for his reaction.
'What!?'
'I know, I know' she made a noise of disgust 'But since you boys deserted him aswell!'
Remus grinned.
'Atleast I know Sirius will keep you safe!'
Bella groaned 'Shut up!'
But Remus continued 'He'd fight to the death for his fair maiden!' he made a motion as if he was pulling a sword out 'Take that evil comrades!'
Bella scowled at him. 'I don't know where you get off doing that, I wonder what Sirius would say if he knew you were making up crap about him!'
'I'm not!' Exclaimed Remus 'Why don't you ask him yourself?' he glanced at the door. 'Look I gotta go.'
'OK' She smiled and gave him a hug 'Have fun'
'You too, fair maiden!' He called as he ran out the door
'Whatever!' Bella said as she pulled out one of Remus' red jumpers.
She held it out. It would go alright with her skirt and tights. She pulled it over her head and put on her scarf.
She sat down and began waiting for Sirius, she could hear the water running in the shower.
" God! What's taking him so bloody long!" She thought to herself, and was just about to barge into the bathroom and tell him to 'Hurry the hell up!' when a strange sound met her ears.
It took Bella all of 2 seconds to realise that Sirius was singing, not that he was good at it.
' You've got a cute way of talking.
You've got the better of me!'
Bella grinned, she knew that song. Bella loved muggle music, and owned a Leo Sayer c.d.
"I wonder how Sirius knows it though?" She thought.
'Just snap your fingers and I'm walking,
Like a dog, hanging on your leash!'
Sirius' voice rose to a new level of awful screeching and Bella happily thought "blackmail time!"
'Blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah!
Blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah!'
The shower turned off and Bella waited for him to come out. "Oh boy! This is gonna be good!"
'You make me feel like dancing,
gonna dance the night away!
You make me feel like dancing,
gonna dance the night away!
You make me feel like dancing,
I feel like dancing, dancing,
dance my night a- WAH!!!!!!!!'
Sirius had entered the dorm, a towel wrapped around his waist, and had spotted Bella, who he was now staring at in shock.
But he wasn't the only one rendered speechless.
Bella couldn't remember the last time she had seen Sirius shirtless. Probably Fourth Year, because after that he seemed to have a problem changing in front of her.
But he sure looked better without a top on now.
Bella was shocked at how 2 years could change someone so much. Bella didn't really go for muscled, butch guys, and Sirius wasn't. He was slim and his chest and arms were firm and strong, without looking bulky. Bella could see a definite trace of a six-pack, and supposed he had got it as a result of quidditch, because Li had one also.
Then she snapped out of it. Li! How could she be gaping at Sirius like this! Li had a much better body. Besides she didn't even like Sirius!
But, nonetheless she grinned at him (and if Remus had been in the room, he would have known the grin had NOTHING to do with what she was about to say.)
'Nice singing Black'
Sirius blinked a few times.
'uh-er' He blushed and turned away.
'er- Arabella, what are you doing here?'
Bella swung her legs off the bed, her mary-janes falling with a thud and sat looking over at him.
Sirius groaned inwardly. Why did she have to dress so cute like that? And here he was, in nothing but a towel!
'Waiting for you of course!' , she said, and then assumed a questioning expression, 'I mean you're still coming, right? You haven't found anyone else to go with?'
'No!' Sirius exclaimed hastily 'course not.' he moved to get changed.
Bella sat watching him.
'Er... Bella?"
'Yeah?'
Sirius smiled sheepishly 'You mind turning away?'
'Fine!' she turned around 'I don't see what the big deal is! I see Remus and James and Peter change all the time! And you boys have seen me get changed enough times to!'
She saw Sirius flinch uncomfortably in the corner of her eye and grinned.
'By the way Sirius' said Bella in an airy tone 'Nice muscles!'
And she would have sworn he went tomato red.
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Remus and Ashleigh had arrived at Hogsmeade, snow had fell lightly the night before, making the village look like rows of frosted gingerbread houses.
'Bella and Sirius? Are you kidding?'
Remus had just filled Ashleigh in on who Bella was coming to Hogsmeade with.
She was now grinning at him, quite amazed at the concept.
'5 galleons says she kills him. She's already threatened to a million times before!'
Remus chuckled,
'And Sirius wouldn't do anything about it' he said, putting his hands infront of him defensively in a wild gesture 'Please Bella! Don't! I love you! Please don't kill me!'
Ashleigh laughed
'We'll find him drowning in a Honeyduke's Barrel!'
'Ah, well. It will be a sweet death. Sirius loves lollies.'
Ashleigh raised her eyebrows 'So does Bella, she crams them under her bed. If those two stopped fighting -'
Remus cut her off 'It's Bella who does most of the fighting lately!'
Ashleigh rolled her eyes 'If BELLA would stop fighting she would see how much she has in common with him. It's really quite stupid. They're both loud and ALWAYS getting into trouble. I'd expect they'd be perfect together.'
Remus smiled and slipped his palm into Ashleigh's
'Just like you and me, eh?'
Ashleigh smiled at him, and squeezed his hand,
'Just like you and me.' she repeated.
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James was bored, very bored. He was stuck in a robe shop with his robe obsessed girlfriend who was making him carry -what else? - robes.
For the past half an hour he had been following Lily all over the shop. Every so often she would pull a robe out of the rack and shove it onto the huge pile he was already carrying. The weight was beginning to get to him, and James was a pretty strong boy.
'Lily! Are you finished?' James asked from behind the huge pile he was lugging.
Lily ignored him and instead pulled out a pair of robes, one green with elongated sleeves, the other yellow with a plunging neckline.
'Which one?' she asked, and James had to crane his neck to see.
'The yellow one.' he said, and Lily looked at him in disgust.
'You're just saying that because of the low neckline' she plunged the robe back into the rack 'Pervert.'
She moved onto the next rack. James moved to catch up to her, stumbling on the sleeves and hems of robes that were coming loose from the pile.
'I'm your boyfriend' he said defensively 'I'm ALLOWED to perve on you.'
Lily scowled at him, adding another robe onto the pile.
'Whatever' she moved swiftly to another row of robes.
James shrugged 'It's my boyfriendial right.'
'I said whatever!' Lily said angrily.
James could tell Lily was getting snappy, she always did when she was shopping.
'No need for you to get angry.' he said 'Who's followed you around for nearly an hour? Who has been your personal robe rack?'
Lily turned to him and pushed down the robe pile, looking him straight in the eye.
'These are for you to you know! The least you can do is help me carry them.'
'Yeah, well, they're getting bloody heavy!' James retorted.
Lily sized up the pile, noting the several robes dragging on the floor.
'You're right.' she said 'C'mon let's go try them on.'
And with a flick of her deep red hair she was off toward the change rooms.
'Finally!!!!'
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For Bella and Sirius the short carriage ride into Hogsmeade was fairly quiet. They had never really been on their own together, except in detention and younger years when they spent most of their time screaming at one another.
Bella kept her eyes staring out the window, Sirius shyly trying to make small talk, but recieving only replies of 'yes' 'no' or 'maybe'. Eventually he grew fed up and he too turned his attention to the carriage window and watched snow covered trees pass by.
They arrived in Hogsmeade around half past ten, and set off down the frosted street swarming with other Hogwarts students. It was Bella who spoke first as they strolled past the many shops and people, she had spotted a small store across the street -
'oooh, Sirius, look! The pet shop!'
So they crossed the street and entered "Enchanted Creatures".
Bella headed straight for the back corner, to look at the kittens.
'I've always wanted a cat.' she stated simply to Sirius as he watched her wiggle her finger at a small white kitten in the enclosure 'Remus won't buy me one though, the meanie.'
'I didn't know that.' said Sirius peering in at all the small animals.
'I wouldn't know which one to pick though,' she said softly, 'They're all so cute!'
After the pet store, Sirius and Bella went to Honeydukes. Sirius was rather happy.
Even though Bella wasn't talking to him much, she wasn't ignoring him either, and she was somewhat trying to be friendly to him.
They found it rather funny walking down the main road of Hogsmeade. Bella and Sirius were famous for their huge fights, and although the major fights had come somewhat to a stand still, many students still found it unbelievable that Bella and Sirius were in Hogsmeade together. And Bella couldn't blame them.
'There's Simone Hardwell' Sirius said as they passed a petite blonde girl whose mouth was open in shock as she watched Sirius and Bella stroll by.
'It's ok Simone!' Bella called past her shoulder 'I still don't like him.'
Sirius assumed a hurt expression but this faded as he spotted a familiar face a little way up the street.
'Arabella!' he whispered urgently 'It's Trent Brocklehurst!'
Bella looked and a smile creept onto her face.
In their third year Bella and Sirius had a terrible row, one of their worst ever. It had been in the common room one afternoon, and anyone who had any sense had made themselves scarce. Poor Trent, however, then an innocent first year, had forgotten his charms book. He tried to grab it unseen, but ended up toppling over one of the small tables. The result wasn't good.
Bella and Sirius hexed him so many times that Trent had to stay in the hospital wing for three weeks. Even though because of the incident they had recieved their harshest punishments ever, he had been scared of either one alone ever since.
But now here they were, in Hogsmeade, together.
As Bella and Sirius drew closer, Trent seemed to have become temporarily paralysed, the look on his face was priceless.
Once they had passed, Sirius and Bella dissolved into hysterics. Bella hadn't laughed so hard in a long time, and reluctantly leaned on Sirius for support, so she wouldn't break down.
It was at this exact moment Remus and Asheligh chose to walk by, each throwing knowing looks and the gigling pair.
Bella knew Remus had discussed the whole Sirius liking her concept with Ashleigh, and she wasn't happy about it.
'Oh sod off!' she called to him after they had passed and Sirius could just picture the stupid grin on Remus' face.
Sirius had the smallest feeling that Remus MIGHT have tried to tell Bella that he liked her, actually he knew Remus had told her, but he was happy to see Bella obviously thought the whole concept was rubbish.
Sirius' eyes scanned the street for other potential spying friends, Lily and James perhaps? But all he could see was a pack of third years crowded infront of Honeydukes and a big fat ugly -
'In here!' Bella found herself being pushed into a shop hastily by Sirius.
'What? What's going on?'she asked trying to turn as he guided her to the back of the store.
'Nothing' he answered back in an undefinable tone, but she noticed he was watching the window looking outside at the front of the store rather warily.
What Sirius had seen was a big fat ugly HEAD, that belonged to one of his least favourite people - Li. He didn't want to keep his word of bashing the barstard up when he still had a full day with Bella infront of him. He also didn't want to upset Bella. Whenever she saw Li she looked on the verge of tears and this made Sirius feel - well he didn't know, it was an emotion he had never felt before. It was like insane jealousy and sadness mixed into one. Sirius just couldn't figure out what Li had that he didn't. Regardless, he just didn't feel like an enounter with the fat headed prick right now.
And so Sirius was extremely relieved that when they did emerge out of the shop (it had been a second hand store) onto the street once again, Li was nowhere to be seen.
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'What about this one?'
'It's perfect.'
'Will you stop bloody saying that!'
Sirius and Bella were in Cedar's formal robe shop. And Bella was getting very, very annoyed.
Whatever robe she tried on, Sirius said it looked perfect. It wasn't the fact that he was trying to complement her that was getting on her nerves, but the fact that she knew he was lying.
Bella tugged at the robe that she was now wearing, it was blue and a bit too big, it dragged on the floor and she thought it looked ridiculous.
'Will you quit lying!' she turned from the large mirror in the changing area to face Sirius who was looking rather stupid in a red silk robe.
Sirius frowned 'I'm not lying!'
'Yes you are!' Bella said angrily and stormed off to her change room 'And by the way that robe looks disgusting.'
'It doesn't take a genius to figure that out!' said Sirius before pulling the curtains of his own change room shut.
Bella sized up a white robe and started to pull it over her head
'Sirius?' she asked
'Yeah?' came his muffled reply
Bella sighed 'Can you be honest please? Or I'm gonna look worse than I already do on ball night.'
She exited the changeroom and made her way over to the mirror, the curtains of Sirius' changeroom were pulled violently open.
'What do you mean worse than you already do?' he asked hastily, tugging at the sleeves of the emerald green robe he had pulled on.
Bella ignored him, looking at herself scrutinizingly in the mirror, and Sirius stopped when he saw her.
Bella didn't know this, but Sirius thought she was the most beautiful girl in the school, and the robe she had on really was perfect. It was white with a short hood and short slightly puffy sleeves (A/N: Just think of those short sleeved hoodies J.Lo wears), it touched the floor and diamantes trailed down the edges where the robe split in the middle, one sleeve fell of her arm exposing her bare shoulder in true Bella style.
Sirius turned away, his face creeping up in a blush. He tried very hard not to look at Bella, as he suddenly had an extremely strong urge to kiss her.
"God Sirius!" he thought to himself "If you can't control yourself now, how are you gonna be on ball night?"
Bella frowned at herself in the mirror.
'What do you think?' she asked turning to Sirius 'Hey! You're not even looking!'
She went over and pulled him to the mirror, Sirius hoping very much that his blush had faded. He looked up and into the mirror.
The hazel eyes of her reflection pierced into his and it took him several seconds to snap out of it and speak.
'It's perfect, and I'm not joking this time. I mean it.' he said softly.
Bella cocked her head to one side.
'It'll have to do.' she turned to Sirius looking him up and down.
He wasn't to bad, really.
"Oh get over it Bella! He's bloody gorgeous!"
Sirius with his deep brown eyes, olive skin, rougishly messy chestnut brown hair and mischievous smile made most of the girls at Hogwarts swoon. He wasn't tall tall, just about 15cm or so taller than herself and had ( as Bella had discovered earlier) an almost perfect body.
Bella knew he was funny and always getting in trouble, just like herself and it didn't suprise her that many Hogwart's students and teachers alike would rather it be that they didn't get along. Many people feared the day Bella and Sirius became friends, the two notorious sixth years would be a worse pair of troublemakers than the Sirius and James team.
And as Bella watched him gazing at himself in the mirror she couldn't help but understand why girls thought him a good catch. He was cute, a good friend (so Remus said) and fiercely protective. But why her? Why did her like HER? Out of all the girls at Hogwarts, all the PRETTY girls............... it was too confusing to think about.
'Get that robe' she said finally 'It makes your eyes stand out'
Sirius over looked at her in confusion, was that a compliment?
Bella sighed and looked at herself once again 'it's not like a fancy robe is gonna help me anyway.' she said and started to move back to the change room.
She was stopped, however, by a strong hand grasping her bare arm.
All of a sudden, as quick as lightning, a chill ran up her spine, and a warm soft tingle spread from the place on her arm Sirius was touching . She looked up at Sirius, who had hasily pulled his arm away.
Had he felt it too?
He obviously had, as he turned away and spoke in a nervous voice.
'Bella - you -you know that's not true.'
'What?' she asked a puzzled look on her face
He turned and looked her straight in the eye, and Bella, who had never really spent to much time with Sirius before could see his eyes were a deeper brown than she had ever seen them.
'You're beautiful Bella.' he said simply, before turning away, wondering whether he should of opened his big mouth or not.
Bella said nothing and went quietly back to her change room.
As she was changing, a thousand thoughts rushed through her head.
Why was Sirius acting so strange? Why didn't he tease her and pick on her like he used too?
Sure, there were fights, but now they were about different things, like why she was talking to certain boys, or why didn't Sirius use her as target practise in quidditch training, when he used everyone else?
Why did he talk to Li like that?
Why, for the past two years, and especially this year, did he seem so protective of her?
And why, why did he think she was beautiful?
Deep down she knew the answer. Remus had told her that very day she had overheard Sirius talking to Li. She had known it all along, and Sirius telling her she was beautiful had made it so blatantly obvious it wasn't funny.
Because Sirius thinking she was beautiful was the final thing on the list, and she couldn't ignore it anymore.
____________________________________________
A roar of laughter echoed through the Three Broomsticks Pub.
James, Lily, Remus and Ashleigh were seated around a table in the corner, each holding a warm tankard of butterbeer.
Finally, discussion of Sirius and Bella had ceased.
Lily and Ashleigh began showing each other their purchases while James and Remus discussed the latest model bromstick in Quality Quidditch Supplies.
The ball was only a week away and there was still alot to be done. Girls had to finalise their outfits, some boys had to finalise their dates.
Remus had to make a (hopefully) short visit to the shrieking shack. Bella had to make a not too dramatic, not too tearful goodbye to Remus (the group was praying for this one) - no matter how many times she had to see Remus disappear down the tunnel for his transformations, Bella still hated the idea of him going through such pain.
Last year the boys had sat her down and told her they really weren't to bad, that Remus was fine really (that was when they had begun with the stupid nicknames!) and she shouldn't worry. Did they honestly think that would stop her? She still cried and wasn't herself during the days Remus was away. To her it was a part of herself going through those horrible nights at the shrieking shack, her best friend for God's sake! And she hated it.
James and Sirius still also had to sneak into Hogsmeade one day to buy presents and some firecrackers for chirstmas day, it was a tradition for them to let them off in the common room at the stroke of midnight to annouce christmas day to the rest of Gryffindor (much to their displeasure). And last years firecrackers display had been most memorable as Remus and Bella decided to start their own christmas tradition attaching some fireworks to Mrs Norris - needless to say the consequences were dire, but worth the memory of seeing a sparkling Mrs Norris zooming down the corridor at the speed of a shooting star.
And last but not least there was the preparation for the ball itself, which truly promised to be a wonderful event. Even the boys were getting rather exited about it.
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And so it was with great enthusiasm (on James, Lily, Remus and Ashleigh's behalf), dissapointment ( Sirius) and deep thought (Bella) that the group returned to Hogsmeade that evening.
That night Bella had a chat with Remus in the boys dorm, she always did before his visits to the shrieking shack, while the rest of the group stayed downstairs.
'So how did your day go?' Remus asked looking over at her, he could tell something was bugging her, and he wanted to know what.
'I finshed the list' Bella said quietly, before sitting on the edge of a bed, that Remus noticed with faint amusement, belonged to Sirius. A bed she had hardly spent time sitting on before, usually only to spite Sirius in earlier years.
'Did you?' he replied and she looked over at him in suprise.
'So you're not at all shocked?' she asked, looking quite unsure of herself.
Remus shrugged 'Why should I be? It was a long time coming?'
Bella didn't reply, only stared at him.
'The question is,' Remus continued 'What are you going to do about it?'
'I dunno' said Bella ' He was awfully nice today, I'll give him that.'
'And....'
'And, well, I just don't know what to think anymore!'
Remus could tell the conversation was coming to an end, he stood up and made his way over to Bella.
'What has he really done to you that has been bad, in the past two years Bella?' he asked, pulling her up and looking her straight in the eye.
She didn't answer, only gazed back at him, her eyebrows furrowed.
'Look' Remus said reasoningly 'I know you still like Li Bella, but you've got to make a decision here. What do you want?'
Bella smiled at him.
'Thanks Rem' she said hugging him 'You're always there for me.'
'No worries' Remus grinned ruffling her hair and giving her a small kiss on the cheek 'What are best buds for?'
They made there way to the dormitory exit.
'But Rem?'
'Yeah Bella?'
She stopped at the doorway and looked over at him, frowning
'What if I don't want either of them?'
'Fine by me Bella, fine by me.'
And with that they headed back down to trhe common room.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
JOY TO THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At last I have finished this chapter! Which was a bugger to write I might add!
I have spent so much time just staring at it, praying for words to come out of my head so it could just be finished!
But finally it's done, posted and out of the way!
The problem was I just had no ideas for this chapter, I knew the stuff I had to put in, just not how I should write it.
But, anyway, thankyou so much for having patience and waiting so long! And just to show you how appreciative I am I'm going to give you three things that are happening in future chapters:
1. Were going to get a new, adorable couple people! (Three guesses which pair this might be?)
2. The quidditch final is coming up! YAY!
3. There's going to be a chapter called 'The 'L' word"
Ok that's all for now folks! Please read and review as it is very much appreciated!
Cheers,
Luv Weasley-kid xoxoxoxoxoxox :)
I'm sooooo sorry!! But in February school started and I've had sooooooooo much homework (yr. 11 is hard!), and being a model student and all (yeah right!), I had to concentrate on my studies!!
But anyway it's finally posted!! Yippee for me!! I should really be studying for my Litr essay but I decided to write instead!!
I'm so glad people are beginning to like the Sirius/Bella thing, they're my favourite characters and I'm happy people are saying that they like the love/hate thing going on. I tried to put all different sorts of romances in this story so we have the friendship turned something more - Lily and James, the sweet crushing on each other romance - Remus and Ashleigh, and the love/hate - he loves her she hates him pair - Sirius and Bella.
Well anyway here's chapter --- Hey I've forgotten!! I think it's chapter 5 or 6, but anyway it's the Hogsmeade chapter and it's got a different style to the way I've seen other writers do the whole "shopping for the ball" thing, for starters the girls DO NOT go with each other, and were going to see some l/j and r/a lovey dovey action, and some breaking of the ice between Sirius and Bella (wooooohooooo!!), but not too much.
Anyways, enjoy............
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ROLLERCOASTER- CHAPTER SIX - A TRIP TO HOGSMEADE AND A CHANGE OF HEART.
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The Christmas holidays had begun! Every student was overly excited as the festive spirit bestowed itself upon the castle.
The ball was looming on the horizon, sending girls into fits of panic and giving the all the boys headaches. Every girl was planning to visit Hogsmeade on Saturday - whether it was to buy dressrobes, or nailpolish for the final touch to their outfits.
The fact that Lily and James were now a couple stayed no secret to the rest of the students. Gossip tended to spread quickly in Hogwarts, and Lily and James getting together was no acceptation. Most people were happy for them, save a few heartbroken girls and guys who were convinced that either Lily or James was destined to be their true love.
The rest of the group had taken awhile to adjust, but now found it quite normal to see Lily and James together.
To top of all the excitement, new additions were being added to the group. Ashleigh had begun to sit with them at dinner and sometimes in the common room (she usually sat with Samantha, the final Gryffindor girl), and Peter's date for the ball a cute, short fifth year Hufflepuff named Rosie shyly sat next to Peter every now and then.
This didn't mean that everyone in the group was happy. There were two that weren't (A/N: duh! Wonder who? Should I even tell you?), Sirius and Bella.
To them, everybody had become happy little couples, and this made them fairly miserable.
Bella missed Li. She knew the guy was a jerk but he was cute! And when she was dating him she had a strange feeling that she was falling in love. So now she could be spotted staring forlornly over at the Ravenclaw table at meal times, looking nearly on the verge of tears.
Sirius had spotted this of course. And was angry that Bella could still have feelings for 'that barstard'! So this accounted for why he was so miserable, that and the fact that he hadn't played any good pranks lately. Sirius needed to be naughty like he needed air, and everyone being so absorbed in one other wasn't helping the problem. He also didn't have a date for the ball yet. But he didn't see the point in asking some other girl, when the only girl he wanted to take didn't even notice him.
Bella and Sirius were both so caught up in being miserable themselves, each failed to notice how miserable the other was.
This opportunity presented itself on Hogsmeade weekend, however.
Bella who assumed she was going shopping for robes with Lily and Ashleigh (and maybe Samantha), was angry when she was told they were going with their boyfriends.
'I hope you don't mind' Lily said airily, tucking her hair behind her ear ' It's just James can be such a baby, he needs to learn how to shop! Did you know his mother buys all his clothes for him! I bet he hasn't even been in a clothes shop!'
Bella smiled weakly and nodded, but inwardly she was just about crying.
And when she asked Remus if she could tag along with him and Ashleigh, he also said NO. (It was the night before the Hogsmeade trip, and Bella was making her regular nightly visit to the boys' dorm.)
'Don't get mad Bella' Remus said cautiously as he pulled on a t-shirt and climbed into bed, ' It's just well, you know, Ash and I...' He grinned
'Gross!'
'Hey! You asked if you could come' he looked at her apprehensively, as if waiting for her to pounce and attack.
'Fine!' Bella sighed
'Now get out' said Remus ' I need some sleep'
'Petey?' Bella turned to Peter, a sad, begging look in her eyes.
'Uh - uh' Peter held up his hands in defense 'Don't try that on me, I'm going with Anna'
'Of course!' Bella groaned and flopped helplessly to the floor, upon which James, who had just returned from brushing his teeth, started to laugh.
'Shut up Potter!' came her muffled voice from somewhere behind her hands. She lifter her head to glare at him, Remus' beanie flopped awkwardly on her head.
'Why don't you wear your own clothes?' James asked, as he walked over to her and lifted her from the floor.
'Because Remus' are comfy.' she stated simply, "But not as comfy as Sirius jumper!" she thought to herself before taking it back - "no"
She wriggled out of James' grasp and re-opened Remus' curtains, plonking back down on his bed.
'Hey!' Remus mumbled incoherently 'Get out!'
She grinned at him, 'No'
He yawned 'I'm too tired to argue!'
Bella rolled her eyes ' Alright then' she crawled over and hugged him 'Night Rem, sleep tight, don't let the beg bugs bite.' she pulled away and frowned ' Or dream bugs for that matter they'll get to you. Did you know that once when I woke up-'
'I get the picture!'
Bella laughed 'I know, I'm going!'
She jumped off his bed and shut the curtains
'Night Rem, Love ya!'
'You too' he said and she smiled contently.
'Scandal' James said 'Bella and Remus love each other. I should tell Ash!'
Bella rolled her eyes, but smiled as she heard Remus' snores.
'I love you all!' she said, as James and Peter both pulled their curtains shut ' But I'm not sure you all love me.' She headed for the door 'Making me go alone on a Hogsmeade trip, it's just downright cruel, I could get murdered, or mugged, or raped, or beat up, or-' But she was cut off.
'You could go with me.' It was Sirius. He had been quiet during most of her visit and she had suspected him to be asleep. But now he was sitting up looking at he hopefully.
Bella hesitated, before putting out the candles with a flick of her wand.
' 'Night Sirius.' She said quietly, she shut the door and disappeared from view, down the steps.
Sirius sighed and lay back down. He had been stupid for asking, right? I mean why would she want to go with him?
He was broken out of his thoughts however by the patter of feet bounding up the steps and the door creaking open.
'Sirius?' Bella creeped up to the end of his bed, and stood facing him. Sending thoughts through his mind that he definitely would NOT want her to know about.
'Yeah?' He whispered back, he could just make out her face in the moonlight.
'You're on!' She grinned, causing his stomach to flip. She did look as if she was having a hard time saying it though.
'I just hope you know what you're getting yourself into!' she added and then made her way back to the door ' 'Night' she whispered, and with that she was gone again.
'Night' Sirius returned softly before laying back down, grinning like mad.
Sure, It was no proclamation of undying love. But it was something.
Bella also smiled slightly as she climbed into bed.
"He deserves some recognition" she though, as she lay down. "He did tell Li off!" she frowned "But I still don't like him! No, definitely not!... atleast I might be able to finish the list!"
___________________________________________
It was Saturday morning, and Bella awoke to the sounds of the other girls in her dorm getting ready to go to Hogsmeade.
She got up and started to get ready herself. After taking a shower, she got dressed and brushed her shoulder length, medium brown hair, which, when dry, would fall into loose curls.
She had decided to borrow one of Remus' jumpers (suprise, suprise). She didn't have one thick enough, and disliked wearing her cloak.
As she was heading up the staircase, many boys came down, smiling and winking at her as she passed, and she entered James, Sirius, Remus and Peter's dorm with a smile firm on her face. Remus was getting dressed, and Bella wolf-whistled as he pulled on his pants.
'Hey Bella' He said, then looked at her warily, obviously wondering if she still was upset about last night.
'Where are the others?' Bella asked, sitting on the end of James' bed.
'James and Peter have gone to breakfast' Remus answered, pulling a t-shirt over his head 'And Sirius is having a shower.'
'Oh' She stood up and headed over to him 'I'm borrowing one of your jumpers.'
Remus rolled his eyes 'Of course you are. Look, I gotta go. Meet Ash, you know.'
'Yeah' she opened his jumper draw and began searching through it.
'Are you right going on you own?' Remus asked looking worried 'Because, you know, if it's not too late-'
'Rem!' Bella cut him off 'I'm fine! I'm going with Sirius!'
She lifted her head from the drawer, waiting for his reaction.
'What!?'
'I know, I know' she made a noise of disgust 'But since you boys deserted him aswell!'
Remus grinned.
'Atleast I know Sirius will keep you safe!'
Bella groaned 'Shut up!'
But Remus continued 'He'd fight to the death for his fair maiden!' he made a motion as if he was pulling a sword out 'Take that evil comrades!'
Bella scowled at him. 'I don't know where you get off doing that, I wonder what Sirius would say if he knew you were making up crap about him!'
'I'm not!' Exclaimed Remus 'Why don't you ask him yourself?' he glanced at the door. 'Look I gotta go.'
'OK' She smiled and gave him a hug 'Have fun'
'You too, fair maiden!' He called as he ran out the door
'Whatever!' Bella said as she pulled out one of Remus' red jumpers.
She held it out. It would go alright with her skirt and tights. She pulled it over her head and put on her scarf.
She sat down and began waiting for Sirius, she could hear the water running in the shower.
" God! What's taking him so bloody long!" She thought to herself, and was just about to barge into the bathroom and tell him to 'Hurry the hell up!' when a strange sound met her ears.
It took Bella all of 2 seconds to realise that Sirius was singing, not that he was good at it.
' You've got a cute way of talking.
You've got the better of me!'
Bella grinned, she knew that song. Bella loved muggle music, and owned a Leo Sayer c.d.
"I wonder how Sirius knows it though?" She thought.
'Just snap your fingers and I'm walking,
Like a dog, hanging on your leash!'
Sirius' voice rose to a new level of awful screeching and Bella happily thought "blackmail time!"
'Blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah!
Blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah!'
The shower turned off and Bella waited for him to come out. "Oh boy! This is gonna be good!"
'You make me feel like dancing,
gonna dance the night away!
You make me feel like dancing,
gonna dance the night away!
You make me feel like dancing,
I feel like dancing, dancing,
dance my night a- WAH!!!!!!!!'
Sirius had entered the dorm, a towel wrapped around his waist, and had spotted Bella, who he was now staring at in shock.
But he wasn't the only one rendered speechless.
Bella couldn't remember the last time she had seen Sirius shirtless. Probably Fourth Year, because after that he seemed to have a problem changing in front of her.
But he sure looked better without a top on now.
Bella was shocked at how 2 years could change someone so much. Bella didn't really go for muscled, butch guys, and Sirius wasn't. He was slim and his chest and arms were firm and strong, without looking bulky. Bella could see a definite trace of a six-pack, and supposed he had got it as a result of quidditch, because Li had one also.
Then she snapped out of it. Li! How could she be gaping at Sirius like this! Li had a much better body. Besides she didn't even like Sirius!
But, nonetheless she grinned at him (and if Remus had been in the room, he would have known the grin had NOTHING to do with what she was about to say.)
'Nice singing Black'
Sirius blinked a few times.
'uh-er' He blushed and turned away.
'er- Arabella, what are you doing here?'
Bella swung her legs off the bed, her mary-janes falling with a thud and sat looking over at him.
Sirius groaned inwardly. Why did she have to dress so cute like that? And here he was, in nothing but a towel!
'Waiting for you of course!' , she said, and then assumed a questioning expression, 'I mean you're still coming, right? You haven't found anyone else to go with?'
'No!' Sirius exclaimed hastily 'course not.' he moved to get changed.
Bella sat watching him.
'Er... Bella?"
'Yeah?'
Sirius smiled sheepishly 'You mind turning away?'
'Fine!' she turned around 'I don't see what the big deal is! I see Remus and James and Peter change all the time! And you boys have seen me get changed enough times to!'
She saw Sirius flinch uncomfortably in the corner of her eye and grinned.
'By the way Sirius' said Bella in an airy tone 'Nice muscles!'
And she would have sworn he went tomato red.
_____________________________________________________
Remus and Ashleigh had arrived at Hogsmeade, snow had fell lightly the night before, making the village look like rows of frosted gingerbread houses.
'Bella and Sirius? Are you kidding?'
Remus had just filled Ashleigh in on who Bella was coming to Hogsmeade with.
She was now grinning at him, quite amazed at the concept.
'5 galleons says she kills him. She's already threatened to a million times before!'
Remus chuckled,
'And Sirius wouldn't do anything about it' he said, putting his hands infront of him defensively in a wild gesture 'Please Bella! Don't! I love you! Please don't kill me!'
Ashleigh laughed
'We'll find him drowning in a Honeyduke's Barrel!'
'Ah, well. It will be a sweet death. Sirius loves lollies.'
Ashleigh raised her eyebrows 'So does Bella, she crams them under her bed. If those two stopped fighting -'
Remus cut her off 'It's Bella who does most of the fighting lately!'
Ashleigh rolled her eyes 'If BELLA would stop fighting she would see how much she has in common with him. It's really quite stupid. They're both loud and ALWAYS getting into trouble. I'd expect they'd be perfect together.'
Remus smiled and slipped his palm into Ashleigh's
'Just like you and me, eh?'
Ashleigh smiled at him, and squeezed his hand,
'Just like you and me.' she repeated.
_____________________________________________________
James was bored, very bored. He was stuck in a robe shop with his robe obsessed girlfriend who was making him carry -what else? - robes.
For the past half an hour he had been following Lily all over the shop. Every so often she would pull a robe out of the rack and shove it onto the huge pile he was already carrying. The weight was beginning to get to him, and James was a pretty strong boy.
'Lily! Are you finished?' James asked from behind the huge pile he was lugging.
Lily ignored him and instead pulled out a pair of robes, one green with elongated sleeves, the other yellow with a plunging neckline.
'Which one?' she asked, and James had to crane his neck to see.
'The yellow one.' he said, and Lily looked at him in disgust.
'You're just saying that because of the low neckline' she plunged the robe back into the rack 'Pervert.'
She moved onto the next rack. James moved to catch up to her, stumbling on the sleeves and hems of robes that were coming loose from the pile.
'I'm your boyfriend' he said defensively 'I'm ALLOWED to perve on you.'
Lily scowled at him, adding another robe onto the pile.
'Whatever' she moved swiftly to another row of robes.
James shrugged 'It's my boyfriendial right.'
'I said whatever!' Lily said angrily.
James could tell Lily was getting snappy, she always did when she was shopping.
'No need for you to get angry.' he said 'Who's followed you around for nearly an hour? Who has been your personal robe rack?'
Lily turned to him and pushed down the robe pile, looking him straight in the eye.
'These are for you to you know! The least you can do is help me carry them.'
'Yeah, well, they're getting bloody heavy!' James retorted.
Lily sized up the pile, noting the several robes dragging on the floor.
'You're right.' she said 'C'mon let's go try them on.'
And with a flick of her deep red hair she was off toward the change rooms.
'Finally!!!!'
_____________________________________________
For Bella and Sirius the short carriage ride into Hogsmeade was fairly quiet. They had never really been on their own together, except in detention and younger years when they spent most of their time screaming at one another.
Bella kept her eyes staring out the window, Sirius shyly trying to make small talk, but recieving only replies of 'yes' 'no' or 'maybe'. Eventually he grew fed up and he too turned his attention to the carriage window and watched snow covered trees pass by.
They arrived in Hogsmeade around half past ten, and set off down the frosted street swarming with other Hogwarts students. It was Bella who spoke first as they strolled past the many shops and people, she had spotted a small store across the street -
'oooh, Sirius, look! The pet shop!'
So they crossed the street and entered "Enchanted Creatures".
Bella headed straight for the back corner, to look at the kittens.
'I've always wanted a cat.' she stated simply to Sirius as he watched her wiggle her finger at a small white kitten in the enclosure 'Remus won't buy me one though, the meanie.'
'I didn't know that.' said Sirius peering in at all the small animals.
'I wouldn't know which one to pick though,' she said softly, 'They're all so cute!'
After the pet store, Sirius and Bella went to Honeydukes. Sirius was rather happy.
Even though Bella wasn't talking to him much, she wasn't ignoring him either, and she was somewhat trying to be friendly to him.
They found it rather funny walking down the main road of Hogsmeade. Bella and Sirius were famous for their huge fights, and although the major fights had come somewhat to a stand still, many students still found it unbelievable that Bella and Sirius were in Hogsmeade together. And Bella couldn't blame them.
'There's Simone Hardwell' Sirius said as they passed a petite blonde girl whose mouth was open in shock as she watched Sirius and Bella stroll by.
'It's ok Simone!' Bella called past her shoulder 'I still don't like him.'
Sirius assumed a hurt expression but this faded as he spotted a familiar face a little way up the street.
'Arabella!' he whispered urgently 'It's Trent Brocklehurst!'
Bella looked and a smile creept onto her face.
In their third year Bella and Sirius had a terrible row, one of their worst ever. It had been in the common room one afternoon, and anyone who had any sense had made themselves scarce. Poor Trent, however, then an innocent first year, had forgotten his charms book. He tried to grab it unseen, but ended up toppling over one of the small tables. The result wasn't good.
Bella and Sirius hexed him so many times that Trent had to stay in the hospital wing for three weeks. Even though because of the incident they had recieved their harshest punishments ever, he had been scared of either one alone ever since.
But now here they were, in Hogsmeade, together.
As Bella and Sirius drew closer, Trent seemed to have become temporarily paralysed, the look on his face was priceless.
Once they had passed, Sirius and Bella dissolved into hysterics. Bella hadn't laughed so hard in a long time, and reluctantly leaned on Sirius for support, so she wouldn't break down.
It was at this exact moment Remus and Asheligh chose to walk by, each throwing knowing looks and the gigling pair.
Bella knew Remus had discussed the whole Sirius liking her concept with Ashleigh, and she wasn't happy about it.
'Oh sod off!' she called to him after they had passed and Sirius could just picture the stupid grin on Remus' face.
Sirius had the smallest feeling that Remus MIGHT have tried to tell Bella that he liked her, actually he knew Remus had told her, but he was happy to see Bella obviously thought the whole concept was rubbish.
Sirius' eyes scanned the street for other potential spying friends, Lily and James perhaps? But all he could see was a pack of third years crowded infront of Honeydukes and a big fat ugly -
'In here!' Bella found herself being pushed into a shop hastily by Sirius.
'What? What's going on?'she asked trying to turn as he guided her to the back of the store.
'Nothing' he answered back in an undefinable tone, but she noticed he was watching the window looking outside at the front of the store rather warily.
What Sirius had seen was a big fat ugly HEAD, that belonged to one of his least favourite people - Li. He didn't want to keep his word of bashing the barstard up when he still had a full day with Bella infront of him. He also didn't want to upset Bella. Whenever she saw Li she looked on the verge of tears and this made Sirius feel - well he didn't know, it was an emotion he had never felt before. It was like insane jealousy and sadness mixed into one. Sirius just couldn't figure out what Li had that he didn't. Regardless, he just didn't feel like an enounter with the fat headed prick right now.
And so Sirius was extremely relieved that when they did emerge out of the shop (it had been a second hand store) onto the street once again, Li was nowhere to be seen.
___________________________________________
'What about this one?'
'It's perfect.'
'Will you stop bloody saying that!'
Sirius and Bella were in Cedar's formal robe shop. And Bella was getting very, very annoyed.
Whatever robe she tried on, Sirius said it looked perfect. It wasn't the fact that he was trying to complement her that was getting on her nerves, but the fact that she knew he was lying.
Bella tugged at the robe that she was now wearing, it was blue and a bit too big, it dragged on the floor and she thought it looked ridiculous.
'Will you quit lying!' she turned from the large mirror in the changing area to face Sirius who was looking rather stupid in a red silk robe.
Sirius frowned 'I'm not lying!'
'Yes you are!' Bella said angrily and stormed off to her change room 'And by the way that robe looks disgusting.'
'It doesn't take a genius to figure that out!' said Sirius before pulling the curtains of his own change room shut.
Bella sized up a white robe and started to pull it over her head
'Sirius?' she asked
'Yeah?' came his muffled reply
Bella sighed 'Can you be honest please? Or I'm gonna look worse than I already do on ball night.'
She exited the changeroom and made her way over to the mirror, the curtains of Sirius' changeroom were pulled violently open.
'What do you mean worse than you already do?' he asked hastily, tugging at the sleeves of the emerald green robe he had pulled on.
Bella ignored him, looking at herself scrutinizingly in the mirror, and Sirius stopped when he saw her.
Bella didn't know this, but Sirius thought she was the most beautiful girl in the school, and the robe she had on really was perfect. It was white with a short hood and short slightly puffy sleeves (A/N: Just think of those short sleeved hoodies J.Lo wears), it touched the floor and diamantes trailed down the edges where the robe split in the middle, one sleeve fell of her arm exposing her bare shoulder in true Bella style.
Sirius turned away, his face creeping up in a blush. He tried very hard not to look at Bella, as he suddenly had an extremely strong urge to kiss her.
"God Sirius!" he thought to himself "If you can't control yourself now, how are you gonna be on ball night?"
Bella frowned at herself in the mirror.
'What do you think?' she asked turning to Sirius 'Hey! You're not even looking!'
She went over and pulled him to the mirror, Sirius hoping very much that his blush had faded. He looked up and into the mirror.
The hazel eyes of her reflection pierced into his and it took him several seconds to snap out of it and speak.
'It's perfect, and I'm not joking this time. I mean it.' he said softly.
Bella cocked her head to one side.
'It'll have to do.' she turned to Sirius looking him up and down.
He wasn't to bad, really.
"Oh get over it Bella! He's bloody gorgeous!"
Sirius with his deep brown eyes, olive skin, rougishly messy chestnut brown hair and mischievous smile made most of the girls at Hogwarts swoon. He wasn't tall tall, just about 15cm or so taller than herself and had ( as Bella had discovered earlier) an almost perfect body.
Bella knew he was funny and always getting in trouble, just like herself and it didn't suprise her that many Hogwart's students and teachers alike would rather it be that they didn't get along. Many people feared the day Bella and Sirius became friends, the two notorious sixth years would be a worse pair of troublemakers than the Sirius and James team.
And as Bella watched him gazing at himself in the mirror she couldn't help but understand why girls thought him a good catch. He was cute, a good friend (so Remus said) and fiercely protective. But why her? Why did her like HER? Out of all the girls at Hogwarts, all the PRETTY girls............... it was too confusing to think about.
'Get that robe' she said finally 'It makes your eyes stand out'
Sirius over looked at her in confusion, was that a compliment?
Bella sighed and looked at herself once again 'it's not like a fancy robe is gonna help me anyway.' she said and started to move back to the change room.
She was stopped, however, by a strong hand grasping her bare arm.
All of a sudden, as quick as lightning, a chill ran up her spine, and a warm soft tingle spread from the place on her arm Sirius was touching . She looked up at Sirius, who had hasily pulled his arm away.
Had he felt it too?
He obviously had, as he turned away and spoke in a nervous voice.
'Bella - you -you know that's not true.'
'What?' she asked a puzzled look on her face
He turned and looked her straight in the eye, and Bella, who had never really spent to much time with Sirius before could see his eyes were a deeper brown than she had ever seen them.
'You're beautiful Bella.' he said simply, before turning away, wondering whether he should of opened his big mouth or not.
Bella said nothing and went quietly back to her change room.
As she was changing, a thousand thoughts rushed through her head.
Why was Sirius acting so strange? Why didn't he tease her and pick on her like he used too?
Sure, there were fights, but now they were about different things, like why she was talking to certain boys, or why didn't Sirius use her as target practise in quidditch training, when he used everyone else?
Why did he talk to Li like that?
Why, for the past two years, and especially this year, did he seem so protective of her?
And why, why did he think she was beautiful?
Deep down she knew the answer. Remus had told her that very day she had overheard Sirius talking to Li. She had known it all along, and Sirius telling her she was beautiful had made it so blatantly obvious it wasn't funny.
Because Sirius thinking she was beautiful was the final thing on the list, and she couldn't ignore it anymore.
____________________________________________
A roar of laughter echoed through the Three Broomsticks Pub.
James, Lily, Remus and Ashleigh were seated around a table in the corner, each holding a warm tankard of butterbeer.
Finally, discussion of Sirius and Bella had ceased.
Lily and Ashleigh began showing each other their purchases while James and Remus discussed the latest model bromstick in Quality Quidditch Supplies.
The ball was only a week away and there was still alot to be done. Girls had to finalise their outfits, some boys had to finalise their dates.
Remus had to make a (hopefully) short visit to the shrieking shack. Bella had to make a not too dramatic, not too tearful goodbye to Remus (the group was praying for this one) - no matter how many times she had to see Remus disappear down the tunnel for his transformations, Bella still hated the idea of him going through such pain.
Last year the boys had sat her down and told her they really weren't to bad, that Remus was fine really (that was when they had begun with the stupid nicknames!) and she shouldn't worry. Did they honestly think that would stop her? She still cried and wasn't herself during the days Remus was away. To her it was a part of herself going through those horrible nights at the shrieking shack, her best friend for God's sake! And she hated it.
James and Sirius still also had to sneak into Hogsmeade one day to buy presents and some firecrackers for chirstmas day, it was a tradition for them to let them off in the common room at the stroke of midnight to annouce christmas day to the rest of Gryffindor (much to their displeasure). And last years firecrackers display had been most memorable as Remus and Bella decided to start their own christmas tradition attaching some fireworks to Mrs Norris - needless to say the consequences were dire, but worth the memory of seeing a sparkling Mrs Norris zooming down the corridor at the speed of a shooting star.
And last but not least there was the preparation for the ball itself, which truly promised to be a wonderful event. Even the boys were getting rather exited about it.
____________________________________________
And so it was with great enthusiasm (on James, Lily, Remus and Ashleigh's behalf), dissapointment ( Sirius) and deep thought (Bella) that the group returned to Hogsmeade that evening.
That night Bella had a chat with Remus in the boys dorm, she always did before his visits to the shrieking shack, while the rest of the group stayed downstairs.
'So how did your day go?' Remus asked looking over at her, he could tell something was bugging her, and he wanted to know what.
'I finshed the list' Bella said quietly, before sitting on the edge of a bed, that Remus noticed with faint amusement, belonged to Sirius. A bed she had hardly spent time sitting on before, usually only to spite Sirius in earlier years.
'Did you?' he replied and she looked over at him in suprise.
'So you're not at all shocked?' she asked, looking quite unsure of herself.
Remus shrugged 'Why should I be? It was a long time coming?'
Bella didn't reply, only stared at him.
'The question is,' Remus continued 'What are you going to do about it?'
'I dunno' said Bella ' He was awfully nice today, I'll give him that.'
'And....'
'And, well, I just don't know what to think anymore!'
Remus could tell the conversation was coming to an end, he stood up and made his way over to Bella.
'What has he really done to you that has been bad, in the past two years Bella?' he asked, pulling her up and looking her straight in the eye.
She didn't answer, only gazed back at him, her eyebrows furrowed.
'Look' Remus said reasoningly 'I know you still like Li Bella, but you've got to make a decision here. What do you want?'
Bella smiled at him.
'Thanks Rem' she said hugging him 'You're always there for me.'
'No worries' Remus grinned ruffling her hair and giving her a small kiss on the cheek 'What are best buds for?'
They made there way to the dormitory exit.
'But Rem?'
'Yeah Bella?'
She stopped at the doorway and looked over at him, frowning
'What if I don't want either of them?'
'Fine by me Bella, fine by me.'
And with that they headed back down to trhe common room.
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JOY TO THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At last I have finished this chapter! Which was a bugger to write I might add!
I have spent so much time just staring at it, praying for words to come out of my head so it could just be finished!
But finally it's done, posted and out of the way!
The problem was I just had no ideas for this chapter, I knew the stuff I had to put in, just not how I should write it.
But, anyway, thankyou so much for having patience and waiting so long! And just to show you how appreciative I am I'm going to give you three things that are happening in future chapters:
1. Were going to get a new, adorable couple people! (Three guesses which pair this might be?)
2. The quidditch final is coming up! YAY!
3. There's going to be a chapter called 'The 'L' word"
Ok that's all for now folks! Please read and review as it is very much appreciated!
Cheers,
Luv Weasley-kid xoxoxoxoxoxox :)