Above All Else
Chapter 7: Best of Enemies
Ok… this chappie is going shorter! It's just about Sirius and Daniella… I kno, I kno, I'll get back to the L/J stuff soon! And then of course, it's Daniella's b-day! I just thought of this chapter and had to put it in! This is a transitional chappie! Kinda pointless to the main storyline but changes certain relationships!
Thanks a ton to everyone who has read and reviewed my story! I appreciate it tons!
A special thanx to aniangel for being my most constant and loyal reviewer!
DISCLAIMER: JKR is a genius and she owns all HP memorabilia! You kno the drill… what you notice from HP stuff is hers… the rest belongs to moi!
Ok… lets get this chappie going! It's 11 o'clock at nite and I'm just starting to write.
PLEASE R/R!!!!
~~~~~******CHAPTER 7*****~~~~~~~
"Sirius Black, talk to me!"
An exhausted Daniella Flynn had been trying for half an hour to get the former to speak with her and was so far completely unsuccessful. The clock struck midnight as the day became October 16 and Sirius had now isolated himself for a full week. Those who knew him best, whether they were friends or rivals, noticed that the normally outgoing boy was missing a certain glimmer of happiness from his eye. James, Remus, Peter, Collin Patil, Andrew Potter, Adella Potter, Kristoff Wood, Arthur Johnson, and even Lily Evans had all tried to get him to open up. Every time anyone questioned his sudden attitude change he would merely laugh and ask what they were talking about. Daniella Flynn, though telling herself that she was only talking to him to get her enemy back, really was worried about the boy who she had spent over five years arguing with.
"What is it, Danni?" Sirius, having finally become tired of all the pestering, sat down on the couch in the Common Room, where they were the only two still up.
"Siriu… I mean Black, you have to stop this. Listen to me! I can't take this anymore! You are ruining me!" Daniella taunted him, hopping onto the couch next to him.
"How so, DanniBoy?"
"Don't call me that!"
"Fine Dan"
"Ugh!!! Just stop being a prick for one bloody second and hear me out! You and I aren't exactly friends… more like enemies. But we are good enemies, as a matter of fact we are great enemies." Daniella's voice had now reached a softer tone. She turned from her seat to face Sirius.
"Yeah, we are. Remember that time I turned your hair blonde?" Sirius smiled to himself and laughed at the memory. "Man, you were too mad to even yell at me for a whole week. You always did love being a brunette." Sirius laughed some more as he turned to meet Daniella's gaze.
"Well excuse me for liking my natural hair color. You know blonde clashes horribly with my… well, you know…"
"Yes, I do. You know, I am sorry for teasing you about your freckles back in first year. That is what started up this whole little war." Sirius chuckled a bit. Daniella turned to face him, checking to see if he was serious about his apology. She was rather surprised to find sincerity etched over his handsome features.
"Yeah, well, what's done is done. Right? Anywho, you're still making me mad. You did manage to just get me off topic again. So, why are you acting so serious?"
"Silly Dan! I am Sirius!"
"You never learn, do you? That pun is so overrated."
"You really wanna' know why I'm acting like this?" He asked, his eyes boring into hers.
"Yeah, I do. It bugs me to know that I can no longer enjoy tormenting my enemy, because his heart isn't in it." Daniella's eyes twinkled, showing the faint signs of a smile.
She's smiling at me! Well almost! But still, Daniella Flynn's never smiled at me before! She's smiles at Andrew all the time now though! What's she going out with him for anyway? Bloody hell, what am I thinking? Here I go having a chat with myself again! I'm turning into Wormtail! MERLIN! Save me! I must just be feeling bad for Andrew, having to put up with Danni. Sirius still couldn't shake the warming feeling of having her smile at him though.
Sirius, having mentally smacked himself, began to talk. "Truth be told, I don't really know why I'm acting strange. Something just doesn't feel right? Ya' know? I just have this strange feeling, started on Hogsmeade Weekend, I think. I just can't quite figure out what."
"Strange your telling me this, isn't it? Normally enemies don't talk like this."
"Even if we are good enemies?" Sirius said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Even if we are good enemies." Daniella stated. "Well Sir Bloody Eyes," Sirius laughed at the nickname, "You better change back! For some reason, I haven't been enjoying myself this week with you all mellow. Feels like all Hell has frozen over!"
"Nice to know you are so affected by my wellbeing," Sirius added in jokingly.
"Please, don't flatter yourself. Your head's big enough as it is. But I'm serious," Daniella was interrupted here by Sirius insisting that he was Sirius, not her. "Enough with the joke. But really, even if I do hate you, my day still isn't interesting without the risk."
"What risk?"
"Oh, the risk of having my hair changed colors, being forced to burst out into song, having clothes stolen, being given a makeover I'm definetly not willing to get, that sort of thing. Kind of takes the fun out of lots of stuff knowing that I'm not going to be facing any potential pranks or having to start yelling at a certain someone 24/7." Daniella did smile here, a full fledged smile. Sirius' stomach flip flopped again. Dammit! Guess I'm hungry again.
"You smiled." Sirius said.
"Yea, I do it all the time."
"Not to me." Sirius replied, smiling at her.
"Things change, Black, things change," again Daniella's eyes glowed and the corners of her lips twitched, threatening another smile to break loose. With that, Daniella bent over and gave Sirius a soft peck on the cheek. As the color rose in Sirius' cheek, Daniella turned and began walking towards the Girls' Dormitory Stairs. While Sirius was scolding himself for blushing (Why the bloody hell am I blushing? I don't even like the girl! Must be because I'm embarrassed) , Danni turned back right before she reached the stairs.
"And Sirius?" Daniella walked back over to where he was sitting on the couch.
"Hmm?" Sirius said, wondering what else she had to say.
"Great enemies?" Daniella stuck out her hand.
"The best." With that, he took the offered hand. Daniella then again turned and walked towards the stairs.
"DanniBoy?"
"Yea, Black?" Hmm, she didn't even yell at me for calling her that! I do believe I've just witnessed a miracle.
"Happy Birthday." Daniella again smiled slightly at him. Man, I'm on a roll. That's two smiles in one night!
"I didn't think you knew."
"I'm never one to forget a fine damsels birthday," Sirius said, laughing slightly.
"Oh yes, fair knight in shining armor! Take me onto your white horse and lets ride away off into the sunset," Daniella said, laughing all the while. "Sirius, remember this. Above all else, I will always…"
"Hate me?" Sirius finished. He had heard the 'above all else' saying many times and could finish it for her by now.
"Remember you." And that being said, the beautiful blue-eyed girl walked up the stairs, leaving Sirius to grin to himself. Well it's an improvement!
~~~****~~~
At eleven o'clock the next morning, Daniella Flynn opened her eyes and nearly fell out of bed at the sight that met her!
"SURPRISE!!!!!" Seven voices all yelled to her from their places around her bed.
"Bloody hell! What are you trying to pull here? Nearly giving me a heart attack… that's what…" Daniella began muttering to herself about 'crazy people' and 'evil plots'.
"Happy birthday, Dan!" Lily leaped onto her best-friend starry-eyed, hugging her tightly.
"Hey, why does she get to call you Dan?" Sirius said pouting.
"Shut it, Sirius," Charisma murmured. Sirius bouncing on their beds had woken the Marauders up that morning at 7 o'clock. While annoyed to be awoken "so early" on a Saturday, they were extremely happy to find that Sirius Black had returned. He was back to his usual flamboyant self. They were even more shocked to find that he was up at that time, when normally he would've preferred five more hours of sleep. After the boys again snuck through the Meadow Portrait, they insisted they join the sixth year girls in a small celebration for Daniella's birthday.
"Happy birthday, Danni!" Madison said brightly.
"Yeah, happy birthday, Dan! My little baby's all grown up now! I can feel the tears coming on," Charisma wiped away an imaginary tear and then shouted "Group Hug!". Maddie and Carrie both jumped on top of Lily and Daniella and the girls all fell to the floor, causing them to only laugh harder.
"Women," muttered James.
"Watch it Potter, your lucky we even let you in. I was only going to let in Remus and Peter, but since Sirius insisted that he was Daniella's favorite enemy, I took pity on you. I still don't understand why you all wanted to come in, though. And I swear, if you try to prank Dan on her birthday you'll wind up in the Hospital Wing before you can say 'arsewipe.' Clear?" Lily glared at James.
James just grinned back cheekily, "Crystal."
"Happy birthday, Daniella," Remus and Peter both said.
"Happy birthday, DanniBoy," James said, tossing in the old nickname for a bit of fun.
"Thanks guys, and James…. Shut it," Daniella said, suppressing a grin.
Sirius then caught Daniella's eye. "Ah yes, my damsel! Dear Dan, I wish you the best birthday for the best enemy!" Sirius said dramatically, flourishing his hands about in the air.
And then, Daniella Flynn did something that no one else expected, she laughed. Not just any laugh, a full-fledged one. Tears formed in her eyes from laughing so hard and then she did something even more unexpected….. she hugged Sirius Black. Sirius, while bewildered that she was being so different, grinned widely and hugged her back.
"BLOODY HELL!" The six others all yelled, causing Sirius and Daniella to look back at them.
"What are you doing?" James and Lily said together, then glared at each other.
"Your friend bewitched mine!" They said in unison, glaring at each other.
"Stop copying me!" The two both yelled again.
"Ugh! STOP IT!" James and Lily screamed. Madison and Remus both stepped forward and took hold of their friend.
"They're meant for each other," Charisma murmured to Daniella, who didn't respond. Daniella, while agreeing with Carrie, did not want to be unloyal (A/N: yea yea yea… I know it's not a word. But can't a girl have a little fun?) to her best friend so chose not to answer.
"So…." Sirius said, trying to shift the focus off of himself and Daniella being civil towards one another.
"LET'S OPEN PRESENTS!" Daniella screamed. The others laughed and rolled their eyes. Daniella was by far the most youthful of them all. She never lost the glow in her eyes and always delighted in the joys on childhood and fun.
Lily had given Daniella a series of books titled Revenge: The Basic Guide to Trick Your Foes and Belittle their Defenses. "Oh, Lils! Thanks so much…" Daniella cried, hugging her best friend again. "You know how much I wanted these! This is the greatest!"
Next she opened a joint gift, from Charisma and Madison. As she opened the parcel she gasped. "Oh it's beautiful…" Her voice trailed off, held in her hand was gorgeous dress robes made of silk. The light blue flowy material would be sure to bring out her eyes. She next embraced Carrie and Maddie.
"Aren't you going to try them on for us?" Charisma asked.
"Well….. all right!" Daniella took the material and walked into the bathroom. A minute later a gasp of delight could be heard from the bathroom.
"Dan! Come on, we want to see it!" Lily yelled out to her best friend, smiling happily.
"Coming!" Daniella opened the bathroom door and stepped out, where she twirled around to model the robes. The three girls lets out gasps of delight.
"Oh, they're gorgeous!" Lily sighed happily. "Perfect for the Winter Formal!"
James let out a low whistle, Peter gawked, Remus grinned and complimented her, and Sirius just stared. Thankfully, James nudged him in the ribs before anyone else noticed Sirius' dreamy-look.
"I almost forgot about the ball! Andy already asked me!" The girls all giggled. Lily and Daniella both started jumping up and down.
"Oh! I forgot to tell you, Danni! I'm going with Arthur Johnson! He asked me after quidditch practice last Tuesday!" Lily said happily, grinning brightly. The girls again burst into giggles. It was Sirius' turn to nudge James'. Both boys had looks of loathing on their faces. Both had the same thoughts running through their minds, Why are they going together? I don't believe it! Damn it, they're taking her away from me! Soon enough, she isn't going to even want to get into prankfests!
"Oy Prongs, Padfoot! Danni's opening our gift now." Remus muttered to his two best friends. Both snapping back to reality, watched as Daniella tore off the wrapping paper on a long rectangular package.
"Bloody hell," Daniella and Lily muttered in unison. Both being avid quidditch fans and players themselves, knew much about broom models. Daniella had just unwrapped a Thunderbolt, the very latest model. The Thunderbolt was a standard professional broomstick and cost over a hundred galleons. "Oh my gosh! THANK YOU!!!!" Daniella ran over to the boys and jumped on top of all four Marauders, sending the group tumbling to the ground. (A/N: Please note that James, Sirius, and Remus are wealthy so they can afford this. And I know that Sirius is hated by his mum, but that doesn't change the fact that he has plenty of money)
"Don't mention it, Flynn. You know, we just thought you better have a good broom if we want any chance of winning the Quidditch Cup," James said, showing a smile. Daniella who was too happy to get mad at that comment, just jumped up and examined her broom some more. Lastly, she received some new muggle clothing and a beautiful snowy white baby owl from her parents and younger sister. The young baby girl owl was named Aureus (A/N: meaning beautiful or shining in a golden glow in Latin)
As Daniella Flynn fell asleep that night she couldn't help but feel happy at having become more good-natured towards Sirius Black. While still not having a friendship, she now felt that the rivalry would be much less hostile and a lot more fun between the two. The only worrisome thoughts on her mind that night was when exactly the Induction would be….
~~~~****AUTHORS NOTES*****~~~~~
Muawhahahaha! That was a pretty pointless chappie… but fun to write nevertheless. I know that had practically no L/J but don't hate me. There is good reason why I'm making Sirius and Daniella get along a bit in the chappie… it'll all help in the great scheme of L/J romance later on.
NEXT CHAPTER: THE MERLINS FOUR INDUCTION! DUNDUNDUN! Find out about the strange wandless magic! I feel like this story has been kinda all over the place so far and I'm asking you all to bear with me. Everything will fall into place in the next two chapters. Then there will be tons of pranking, a ball, romance, classes, friendships being built, and jealousy. It'll all be a lot more together shortly. Thanx so much to everyone who has read this story!
Luv always,
MissANXIOUSBlueEyes