Sirius sat on his bed in the boy's dormitory, trying to work on his Transfiguration essay. The shrill sound of a bell ringing echoed in the room, signaling the start of dinner. From below, Sirius heard the clatter of students putting their stuff away and heading downstairs. Sirius waited until the noise died down before standing up and leaving his room.
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When Sirius entered the Great Hall, he expected to see everyone talking and laughing, but instead he saw everyone silently watching Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster. Professor Dumbledore was standing at the end of the Hall, looking as though he was about to make a speech. Sirius took an empty seat close to the doors leading into the hall so he could eat and leave, avoiding Remus and Peter in the process.
Dumbledore glanced around the room, making sure he had everyone's full atention, then began to speak. "I am pleased to announce that this year, Hogwarts will host its own Christmas Ball. On Christmas Eve, anyone who wishes to come will dance the night away." Dumbledore paused, letting everyone think about what he had just said. "At the end of the ball, students will vote for their favorite couple. The winning couple will lead us in the final dance!" Dumbledore smiled at the audience, then sat down.
Immediately, the Hall burst into life as everyone began to talk about the ball. A group of third-year girls sitting a few places away from Sirius were talking about who they should ask to the dance. The two words most commonly brought up in their conversation were 'James' and 'Sirius.' Barely anyone noticed when the food magically appeared on their plates. Only Sirius, who was sitting alone, seemed to notice. Sirius ate a few bites of food but soon decided he wasn't hungry. After finishing his goblet of pumpkin juice, Sirius went back to the dormitory and fell asleep as soon as his head touched his pillow.
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'Sirius was walking along a cobblestone road in the middle of a forest. Ahead of him walked James, who didn't seem to notice that Sirius was there. Sirius sped up to catch up with James, but James remained the same distance in front of him. Sirius tried to run but it did no good. Then, out of the corner of his eye, Sirius saw a man hiding up in a tree. The man was holding a crossbow and was aiming it straight at James. Sirius tried to shout, to warn him of the danger, but his lips were locked tight. Before his eyes, he saw his best friend in the world collapse onto the ground, an arrow lodged deep in his chest. Sirius ran as fast as he could over to James' body. His eyes were stinging, tears began to stream down Sirius' face. Sirius knelt beside James, hugging his body to his chest. James was barely breathing, and there was nothing Sirius could do. Sirius bit his lip to keep from exploding into tears as James' last breath escaped from his body. He was gone.'
Sirius woke himself up with his screams. He was breathing heavily and sweat was pouring down his face. He heard the rustling of sheets and a muffled voice coming from the bed next to him said, "Sirius, what's going on?" The candles, which had been blown out for the night, flared into life, illuminating the dark room. Remus was sitting up in bed, his wand pointing towards one of the candles he had just lit. Peter was peering out fearfully from under his blankets. Sirius was sitting up as well, looking panic-stricken. "What's going on?" Remus repeated. "You look like you just saw a ghost." Sirius looked over at Remus, his eyes dark and distant. Sirius was clearly scared; his whole body was quivering. "I..." Sirius started. Then he remembered his dream. Jumping out of bed, he ran towards the door. Remus grabbed his arm right as he reached for the doorknob. "Sirius!" Remus half-shouted, "What is going on?!?!" Sirius tried to jerk his arm free of Remus' grasp. "I need to see James!" he cried, fresh tears streaming down his face. "It's four in the morning! Can't it wait?" Remus demanded. Seeing that Sirius was still struggling to get free, Remus added, "Calm down, or I'll hex you."
Sirius took a deep breath. His breathing slowed and his heartbeat was returning to normal. He looked up and met Remus' eyes; they were wide with shock and fear. "Remus, I want to visit James," Sirius whispered, his voice soft and desperate. Remus sighed, then nodded. "Alright, but we need to make it quick. And while we visit him, you have to tell me why you were so upset. Peter, we're going to go visit James. Don't wait up for us," Remus ordered. Sirius grabbed James' invisibility cloak, which was sitting neatly on top of his bed, and threw it over Remus and himself. Then they walked out of the dormitory, through the common room, and into the dark halls.
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Poor Sirius! And did something happen to James? Too bad you won't find out till the next chapter (which I'll start during my next homework break; I have two big projects to work on)! Oh, and sorry about how long it took me to write this. My teachers give me soooooooooooo much homework! I've already had about 10 big assignments in history alone! But I will try to write more as often as possible. Thanks again to all my wonderful reviewers! Hope you like this chapter! ~ Skyfire
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When Sirius entered the Great Hall, he expected to see everyone talking and laughing, but instead he saw everyone silently watching Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster. Professor Dumbledore was standing at the end of the Hall, looking as though he was about to make a speech. Sirius took an empty seat close to the doors leading into the hall so he could eat and leave, avoiding Remus and Peter in the process.
Dumbledore glanced around the room, making sure he had everyone's full atention, then began to speak. "I am pleased to announce that this year, Hogwarts will host its own Christmas Ball. On Christmas Eve, anyone who wishes to come will dance the night away." Dumbledore paused, letting everyone think about what he had just said. "At the end of the ball, students will vote for their favorite couple. The winning couple will lead us in the final dance!" Dumbledore smiled at the audience, then sat down.
Immediately, the Hall burst into life as everyone began to talk about the ball. A group of third-year girls sitting a few places away from Sirius were talking about who they should ask to the dance. The two words most commonly brought up in their conversation were 'James' and 'Sirius.' Barely anyone noticed when the food magically appeared on their plates. Only Sirius, who was sitting alone, seemed to notice. Sirius ate a few bites of food but soon decided he wasn't hungry. After finishing his goblet of pumpkin juice, Sirius went back to the dormitory and fell asleep as soon as his head touched his pillow.
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'Sirius was walking along a cobblestone road in the middle of a forest. Ahead of him walked James, who didn't seem to notice that Sirius was there. Sirius sped up to catch up with James, but James remained the same distance in front of him. Sirius tried to run but it did no good. Then, out of the corner of his eye, Sirius saw a man hiding up in a tree. The man was holding a crossbow and was aiming it straight at James. Sirius tried to shout, to warn him of the danger, but his lips were locked tight. Before his eyes, he saw his best friend in the world collapse onto the ground, an arrow lodged deep in his chest. Sirius ran as fast as he could over to James' body. His eyes were stinging, tears began to stream down Sirius' face. Sirius knelt beside James, hugging his body to his chest. James was barely breathing, and there was nothing Sirius could do. Sirius bit his lip to keep from exploding into tears as James' last breath escaped from his body. He was gone.'
Sirius woke himself up with his screams. He was breathing heavily and sweat was pouring down his face. He heard the rustling of sheets and a muffled voice coming from the bed next to him said, "Sirius, what's going on?" The candles, which had been blown out for the night, flared into life, illuminating the dark room. Remus was sitting up in bed, his wand pointing towards one of the candles he had just lit. Peter was peering out fearfully from under his blankets. Sirius was sitting up as well, looking panic-stricken. "What's going on?" Remus repeated. "You look like you just saw a ghost." Sirius looked over at Remus, his eyes dark and distant. Sirius was clearly scared; his whole body was quivering. "I..." Sirius started. Then he remembered his dream. Jumping out of bed, he ran towards the door. Remus grabbed his arm right as he reached for the doorknob. "Sirius!" Remus half-shouted, "What is going on?!?!" Sirius tried to jerk his arm free of Remus' grasp. "I need to see James!" he cried, fresh tears streaming down his face. "It's four in the morning! Can't it wait?" Remus demanded. Seeing that Sirius was still struggling to get free, Remus added, "Calm down, or I'll hex you."
Sirius took a deep breath. His breathing slowed and his heartbeat was returning to normal. He looked up and met Remus' eyes; they were wide with shock and fear. "Remus, I want to visit James," Sirius whispered, his voice soft and desperate. Remus sighed, then nodded. "Alright, but we need to make it quick. And while we visit him, you have to tell me why you were so upset. Peter, we're going to go visit James. Don't wait up for us," Remus ordered. Sirius grabbed James' invisibility cloak, which was sitting neatly on top of his bed, and threw it over Remus and himself. Then they walked out of the dormitory, through the common room, and into the dark halls.
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Poor Sirius! And did something happen to James? Too bad you won't find out till the next chapter (which I'll start during my next homework break; I have two big projects to work on)! Oh, and sorry about how long it took me to write this. My teachers give me soooooooooooo much homework! I've already had about 10 big assignments in history alone! But I will try to write more as often as possible. Thanks again to all my wonderful reviewers! Hope you like this chapter! ~ Skyfire