CHAPTER SEVEN

It was the next day and Sirius was singing again.

"Shut up." argued James

"Noooooo-o-o-ooo.!" sang Sirius.

Remus rolled his eyes.

The boys were all hanging around the Lupin's living room accompanied by Remus's new girlfriend, Aurora.

"So what is this mystery woman like?" Aurora asked from Remus's lap, "Remee tells me none of your friends have met her."

James started cracking up and Remus turned red when Aurora called him "Remee".

Sirius on the other hand had stopped singing and was sitting on the arm of James's chair. "Well she's kinda, er, complicated."

"Complicated? How so?"

Sirius took a breath. He really didn't feel like telling his friends and Aurora about Todd and Emma being a muggle and all. "Just is."

Remus raised his eyebrows, "Would it possibly have anything to do with the fact that she's a muggle?"

Sirius cringed; he hated to think about that detail.

"A muggle? Really." Aurora seemed mildly interested. "I once dated a muggle," then with a dreamy look in her eyes, "Great guy Benjamin Gobblestop was."

Everyone but Aurora and Remus burst into laughter.

"W-was that his real name?" James choked out, "Gobblestop?!"

"Yes! And a name doesn't mean anything!" Aurora protested.

"Just Benjamin is bad enough!"

"Well we called him Ben, so it doesn't matter." she snapped. "And he was a very nice guy!" she added.

"Hey now, lets not forget me!" Remus added, sounding slightly put off.

"Well of course I didn't like him as much as I like you! Or else we would still be together."

Remus smiled and pulled Aurora in closer, "You really mean that hun?"

"Of course I do sweetie!"

"I love you precious!"

"I love you more!"

"Do not!"

"Of course I do!"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Why did you and Ben break up?" he cut in.

"Oh," Aurora seemed slightly startled as though she didn't want to tell him. "Well you know.." Her voice trailed off.

"Know what?"

Aurora shifted uncomfortably, "Well just because it didn't work between us doesn't mean that it won't work between you and this muggle girl of yours."

"So it was because he wasn't a witch or wizard?"

Aurora seemed to be searching for the right words, "He-he found out what I was once, and it just didn't work."

Sirius nodded, "Oh."

"So who's up for a game of wizard chess?" James said, trying to change the subject.

"We're in!" said Aurora and Remus in unison.

Everyone looked at Sirius. "Naw, I have to go make a call."

"A what??" James asked

"I need to find a phone, a muggle object. I told Emma I'd call her."

"Oh."

~*~

Sirius fumbled with the piece of paper with Emma's number on it. He read it over and over again before punching the numbers into the pay phone.

It rang several times before someone picked it up.

"Hullo?" The voice was a young girl's; Sirius guessed it was Emma's little sister.

"Hi, uh, can I please speak to Emma?"

"Yeah, hang on."

Sirius could hear her shuffling around and calling Emma.

"Hello?" It was Emma. Sirius felt his heart quicken.

Why am I getting nervous over a girl? He though to himself, I never have before.

"Hey Emma. It's Sirius."

"Oh hey!" she sounded pleased to hear from him.

"So how are you?"

"Good, you?"

"I'm good."

There was an awkward silence in which Sirius nearly dropped the phone.

"So err, did you want to do something tomorrow?"

"Yeah sure, like what?"

Sirius tried to think, "I dunno we could just hang out or go out to eat."

"Yeah. Actually you know what would be really fun?"

"Uh, what?"

Sirius could hear Emma laughing. "A picnic!"

He gulped. "Uh, sure." "Well it's just an idea." She added hastily.

"No no, it sounds good. Do you want me to meet you someplace?"

"Yeah. What about by that lake in Little River Park? I could bring the sandwiches and drinks if you can get a blanket."

"Okay. Well I'll bring some food too, I'd feel bad to make you bring it all."

"Alright. So does noon sound fine?"

"Sounds perfect." Sirius grinned

"So I'll see you there!"

"See you there. Bye Emma."

"Bye."

Sirius hung up and looked around deciding that he hated payphones. He left and headed back to Remus's house. He smiled as he thought about the look on his parents face if they knew that he was seeing a muggle.

But was he really seeing her? He thought, She has a boyfriend. But she doesn't like him. Yet he's there. So what is there to do about him?

Sirius tried to erase that thought and focus on what he was going to bring to the picnic.