32 reviews for the last chapter! 18 comments about Pirates of the Caribbean, eye-liner and my personal belief that Johnny Depp is 'gorgeous' personified! A very big thank you to all my reviewers but especially to ScullyCat Marie and Give the World for Mr. Black, who wrote two of the loveliest reviews… *blinks back tears*… that I've received.

~An Entry to Remus Lupin's Journal, Sunday 17th October~

Two months ago I would have been shocked to walk in on Sirius applying makeup. Now this doesn't bother me. Only it wasn't makeup that Sirius was putting on when I came to see him this morning (it's his last day in the hospital wing), he was sewing. Sewing! I think he must already be working on his costume for the Halloween ball. So now I'm scared because I have no idea what to go as. God, I hate costume balls! But at least this time I have a partner. And a rather sexy one at that…

Costume Idea for the Halloween Ball is:

A werewolf.

~An Entry to Remus Lupin's Journal, Wednesday 20th October~

Costume ideas for the Halloween ball are:

A muggle,

A woman,

A wizard.

Now why do I get the feeling that Sirius won't be too impressed with any of those?

In other news, have managed to brew a potion that counteracts the effect of truth potion. Found the recipe in the restricted section of the library (must thank James for the use of his invisibility cloak later). This potion means that Professor Death can no longer use truth potion against any of the Marauders as long as they have a mouthful of my potion within four hours of truth potion exposure. It sounds bloody complicated but I know it'll come in useful any day now…

~An Entry to Remus Lupin's Journal, Friday 22nd October~

Better costume ideas for the Halloween ball are:

A king,

A vampire,

Julius Caesar,

A goblin,

A glam rock star,

A ghost,

Professor Death (on second thoughts- NO!!!!!!!)

~An Entry to Remus Lupin's Journal, Sunday 24th October~

Have settled on a costume at last. I am going to the ball dressed as a king- this way I get to wear lots of gold jewellery and deep purple velvet fabric without looking too gay! Now where can I get a crown?

 

 

~Remus' POV Monday 25th October~

          Potions with the Slytherins used to be my worst nightmare (aside from the odd worries about my monthly transformations and vague hints of the terror inflicted at the hands of those dark wizards who keep appearing, of course.) Anyway, my point is that I used to dread Potions but I don't any more. Right now I'm sitting between Sirius and Peter in the Potions dungeon and I'm leaning against Sirius' arm and watching his long, slender fingers with their blue nail polish drumming on the desk, and I'm remarkably happy.

Professor Death enters the classroom, glares at all the Gryffindors and clears her over-size throat. "Good morning class!"

          "Good morning Professor Death," chorus the class. I glance at Sirius and see a mad, maniacal grin plastered across his face.

          "Are you sure we're immune to truth potion?" whispers Peter in my ear.

          "Yes," I hiss back. I'm not risking another two-week's detention.

          Professor Death notices Sirius. "Glad to have you back, Mr Black. Perhaps now that you've had a knock on the head you might learn how to make some of the more simpler potions." The Slytherins in the classroom laugh but Sirius remains impassive. "Now turn to page seventy-three for preliminary reading on disease-immunity drafts," she says before giving James, Peter, Sirius and myself an evil leer and settling herself at her desk.

          Most of the class begin to read page seventy-three but none of the Marauders bother. We're too busy watching the blackboard behind Professor Death. It isn't long before spindly writing appears across the board:

          Professor Death- they call her a witch,

Though In fact she is a perfect bitch,

          Ugly as hell,

          Evil as well,

          With about as much charm as a snitch!

          There is a hastily stifled chuckle as James alerts the Gryffindors on the row behind to the writing. Within a minute the whole Gryffindor side of the classroom are eagerly watching the blackboard. 

          However, instead of another limerick or some more insults, a picture of Professor Death begins to appear on the blackboard. In the picture, Professor Death is hideously fat with layers of chins and a huge nose that dominates her entire face. Her teeth stick right out of her mouth and are yellow and pointed like fangs and her hair hangs down in long and greasy strands. This particular caricature was drawn by Peter (a surprisingly good cartoonist) and then charmed to appear on the blackboard by me. The first audible giggles sound in the row behind me.

          "What are you laughing at?" asks Professor Death suspiciously. "What's so funny?"

          At this the quiet giggles become uncontrolled laughter. I can see tears of mirth rolling down James' face.

          "WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT?" bellows Professor Death.

          "There's a drawing of you appeared on the blackboard," says Severus Snape in a superior tone.

          Professor Death spins round to face the blackboard. She gasps. "If I catch the filthy-" But she stops dead as yet more charmed letters appear on the blackboard:

          Some say that she's good at potions,

          I say she needs beauty lotions,

          And perfume as well,

          To cover her smell,

          And maybe some human emotions…

          "Whoever did this will pay for it! GOD, I SWEAR I WILL HAVE THE LITTLE TOE RAG EXPELLED! Does anybody know who did this? What sick, conniving, evil, little-"

          Severus Snape clears his throat loudly. "It was Remus Lupin, Professor. He's the only one good enough at charms to do it and he's already tried to undermine your authority once this fortnight." All the Slytherins nod eagerly- they love seeing a Gryffindor punished. Professor Death promptly storms into the storeroom adjoining the classroom and leaves all the pupils alone.

          I can feel Sirius tensing up beside me. "'Undermine your authority,'" he cries indignantly. "Says the same bastard who knocked me off my broom last week!"

          "That wasn't me. You fell, Black. Fell off your broom!" Some of the Slytherins chortle at this remark. "Although, I suppose it's only to be expected that a boy who wears make up can't stay on his broom!"

          "Nice one, Snivellus. At least I didn't have to bribe my way onto the quidditch team," growls Sirius. "Although now that you're on the team I guess there's a chance of you getting a girlfriend. Then again, maybe not…"

          "LOOK WHO'S TALKING- GAY BOY!"

          A shocked silence greets this remark. Even Sirius seems lost for words. I clear my throat. "Personally, Snape, I can think of a lot worse things to be called that 'gay'. And as it happens, I saw you aiming for James with that bludger last-"

          Professor Death enters the classroom waving a tiny bottle of truth potion and all talk finishes. "COME WITH ME, MR LUPIN! LET'S SEE IF SOME TRUTH POTION WON'T GET A CONFESSION OUT OF YOU!!"

          I stand up and am about to follow Professor Death, who seems happy to abandon her lesson, when Sirius stands up, and ignoring the jeers of Snape and his cronies, kisses me on the lips.

            ~The Halloween Ball, Saturday 30th October~

          James and I are waiting in the Gryffindor common room. James is dressed as Carl O'Malley, the England quidditch team seeker. He's wearing England quidditch robes and has dyed his hair pale blonde and charmed his eyes to bright blue. The effect is so dramatic that just a minute ago I didn't recognise him.  

"Do I really look alright?" I ask James.

          "Yes but stop tugging at your robes and Oh for Christ's sake! Leave that crown alone!"

          Lily Evans comes down the stairs talking to Peter. Lily is dressed as a fairy and Peter is dressed as a- pumpkin. James and I double over with laughter. Then James takes Lily's hand and Peter the Pumpkin waddles off to the other end of the common room to find his date. I'm left standing alone- a king abandoned by all his courtiers.

          "Are you not going to say hello, Moony," says a deep silky voice in my ear. I turn round to find Sirius standing behind me. Bloody hell…

          The top half of his face is masked- a black mask trimmed with red sequins. He's wearing a white ruffled shirt like those worn by gentlemen in the 18th century, black boots with spurs, a long black cloak also trimmed with red sequins, a wide-brimmed hat with a huge red plume and a sword and a pistol hang hang at his side. He's also wearing extremely tight leather trousers.

          "You like?" asks Sirius mischievously.

          "I like the leather trousers," I say truthfully. My God, I have never in my life seen anything as sexy as a glittery Sirius in those trousers. "I just have one question."

          "What is it Your Royal Highness?" asks Sirius pulling me towards him.

          "What are you?"

          "I'm a glam rock highwayman. I was the usual 18th century highwayman but then I decided that a few sequins and the leather trousers, which you seem to like, added to the outfit!"

          "They do!"

          Sirius offers me his arm. "May I escort you to the ballroom, my Lady."

          "Don't think you're the man in this relationship, Sirius. You're the one who's dressed as a glam rock highwayman," I say.

~Later~

          I'm dancing with Sirius. In fact, I've been dancing with Sirius all night. I don't think I could ever dance with anybody else. Right this moment we're dancing to the chorus of 'You're All I Need' and Sirius is describing Snape's hideous costume in my ear (vampire!), as I still haven't seen him yet. 

'You're All I Need' by the Magic Mushrooms ends eventually and Sirius and I move off the dance floor. "Should we go outside for a while?" shouts Sirius over the next song and I nod. We walk past James and Lily dancing slowly together despite the fact that a fast dance is now playing. Then we see Peter the Pumpkin sitting all alone in a corner but neither of us have the heart to join him.

          "Was that James with blonde hair?" asks Sirius once we get outside.

          "Yeah."

          "He definitely should go blonde!"

          I look to see if Sirius is joking or not but I honestly can't tell. So I keep quiet and focus on not tripping over my long velvet robes or losing my crown as he leads me down to the lake. "Darling…" says Sirius and then not even bothering to remove his mask he tilts my head upwards, leans forwards and kisses me so softly that I think my heart should melt.

          There is only this moment: no past and no future. Only this king and this vagabond, this press of bodies, this play of tongues, this warmth, this sense of belonging, this night, this life and this love. Had this moment been in a muggle film then the camera would move slowly away from the two of us and then up into the sky, where it would pan out across the castle, and the lake sparkling with the light of a thousand stars, and the great primeval mountains surrounding Hogwarts.  

          And for once I won't wish that Sirius and I could have a happy ending because there is no ending: only this one perfect moment in this one perfect night.

            ~~~

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