Sometime past midnight the party broke up. While there were a few scragglers off to bed much later, everyone made sure to be up in time to make it to the game after lunch. After lunch had come and gone, many students were to be found in the common room and their dormitories primping and prepping for the big game. Game time was still a bit off, but some people decided to leave early. Sirius, Remus and Peter were making their way towards the door when Sirius noticed Ava sitting in the chair in the corner, eyes glazed over while some guy was babbling at her.
Sirius tapped Remus on the shoulder stopping him for a minute. He walked over to the guy, some sixth-year named Marcus? He couldn't really remember the prat's named and didn't really care. He looked at him and jerked his head to the side, telling the guy to get out of the seat and go away. Ava was still gazing unfocused out the window, occasionally nodding and mumbling a response. Sirius sat for a moment waiting her to notice that the idle prattle had stopped. Finally she did.
Ava shook her head bringing her self out of her daze. She looked over to see why Marcus had stopped talking, not that it mattered. She practically jumped out of her chair to see Sirius sitting there. He gave her a toothy grin. "Hello."
She gently rapped him on the shoulder. "You scared the life out of me."
"Some how I doubt that," he sent her a wicked grin. "Besides, it looked like you could use some help."
"I was just sitting here, minding my own business. Dying to be outside. Lily's up with the rest of the female population, save me, primping for the game. And I guess I looked in need of boredom. He comes over and talks my ears off. Have you seen them by the way?"
"Yeah," Sirius grinned. "They're outside." He stood up and gestured towards the marauders waiting for him. "Come on, we're headed out now, you can come with us and meet up with Evans later."
"Deal." Ava hopped up and ran over to Remus and Peter, Sirius walked up behind them and gestured grandly towards the door.
"Let's go." He looked back at the rest of the poor male population waiting on their female friends and dates. He snickered and left.
They got almost out of the castle before Ava stopped. She gave them a sheepish grin, "gotta stop in," she gestured to the girls bathroom. "The ones up there were all busy, sorry. You guys can go ahead, thanks for getting me out though." She gave them each a genuine smile and went inside.
Peter's eyes went big. "Well, she's a girl, alright. Gotta use the bathroom now of all times. Like there aren't some down there."
Remus laughed. "Like those wouldn't be full too. You know how they are down there. All wandering around in packs." He referred to the elusive species known as girls.
Sirius, a small smile on his lips, looked at Remus and gave him a small nod to the door. Remus smiling nodded back and grabbed Peter around the shoulders, "C'mon mate. Since you're in such a hurry. We'll get you that seat."
Sirius leaned up against the wall, one foot up for support. He crossed his arms as he prepared himself for a long wait. But, to his surprise, Ava was out shortly. She didn't seem to notice him and walked towards the doors outside.
Sirius walked up behind her, "That would be two in one day." He could have sworn she jumped five feet in the air.
"Merlin!" she put her hand on her chest, taking a few gasps of air. "Yes, that would be two times you have scared me silly."
"Might be three yet." He grinned as they slowly walked towards the pitch.
They walked along talking excessively as they did so. It was such a nice day there was no real reason to rush. Before they got to the stadium they stopped at a part of welcoming grass to sit and chat as they watched the rest of the houses heading up to the stands. Many people stopped to talk along the way before heading up to the stands. Lily told Ava she'd save her a seat, giving her a meaningful smile. Sirius didn't have to even wonder at the good faith of Remus to save him a seat.
Sirius and Ava talked some more before standing up to head in to the stadium. Sirius groaned inwardly as he saw a group of Slytherins walking up from behind Ava. He raised an eyebrow at them, "what?"
Ava turned around to see a face very similar to Sirius' if not slightly younger. The hair was cut shorter and spiky, giving the boy an angular looking face, his features severe. His eyes were such a dark brown they looked almost black.
"Missed you at home big brother." He spoke with a voice that seemed tried to seem harsher than it actually was. "Well, that is to say I did, but I suppose mother and father didn't notice."
Sirius looked around unamused before meeting his brother's eyes. "They send you as their little messenger, Regulus? Or did Bellatrix plant it in your head?"
Regulus glared at him. "Narcissa says to tell Andromeda that she is welcome to stay with you." He gave Ava a look up and down before raising an eyebrow in question to Sirius. He walked off his following trailing after him.
Ava's eyebrows were raised in question but didn't say anything. Families were funny things, she would know of all people. She remained quiet until Sirius spoke.
"Sorry about that, family…" he drifted off bitterly. "Regulus, he's, was, a decent guy at one point. But slytherins are poison."
Ava nodded awkwardly, unsure of what to say. "Yeah, well, I have a messed up family too."
"Oh yeah?" Sirius turned to her truly interested. He had trouble relating to the people in Gryffindor when it came to his family. No one ever really talked about. The only ones who truly knew the details of it were his marauders. "Droms and I are the only ones not in Slytherin. She's a sweetie though."
"Andromeda?" Ava said the name as she tried to remember which girl that was. "Yes, I think I have talked to her. Fifth or sixth year? Yeah. Dark hair light eyes? I should have realized you were family. And, well the obvious 'Black' name."
"'The noble and most ancient house of Black.'" Sirius said with an edge and bitterness to his voice, mocking the very name.
Ava's eyes grew, as she touched her hand to her mouth unaware. "Bellatrix is your cousin. Shit. And I said that stuff to you the other day. I'm sorry I-"
He cut her off with his hand. "It's okay. We might have some of the same blood and last name. But that's where the connections stop. She's –" he shook his head at a loss for words.
"Black," Ava shaking her head felt so stupid for not even thinking at the connections. There were quite a few Blacks at Hogwarts now that she thought about it.
"Really," Sirius put his hands on her shoulder, staring into her eyes, "it's not a big deal. I don't even like them."
He looked around as the last bit of students walked in. He could hear the cheers of the crowd suggesting that the players were zooming around for a warm up.
"So," Sirius testing the waters, "You don't get along with your family either?"
She looked uncomfortable, but still answered him. "There are definitely problems there, let's just say that."
"You can tell me, can't be any more screwed up than mine." Sirius smiled. "I live on my own now. Sometimes a meal and a warm bed at Potter's. Whole family's deatheaters or at least dabbling in the dark arts. Open book." He gestured with his arms out. He really didn't talk that much with any one about his family, but he felt comfortable with this girl. He wanted her to open up to him. "I'm either related to half this school, or have dated the other half." He tried to lighten her up.
"I'll tell you some day okay?" She smiled back at him. "I know I said I was a mellow fan, but we're missing the game!"
"Well than, by all means." He held his arm out to her. She took it and they headed up to their seats.
"I have been converted just for this game, let me warn you." Ava looked over at Sirius as they climbed the many flights of stairs, the cheers getting louder. "Today I am a loud-and-proud-all-for-Gryffindor-jumping-up-and-down-in-the-stands fan. Slytherin…" She drifted off but she had a huge smile on her face as she shook her head negatively at them. She gave him the thumbs down sign.
"Hah! So you aren't mellow, you liar!" Sirius laughed with her. He couldn't help but be euphoric over her loyalty to him over the whole Slytherin debacle.
As they got to the top of the stands, Ava spotted Lily waving at her. She gave Sirius' arm a gentle squeeze and shot him a smile before going off to sit with her friends. Sirius' eyes followed her before going to sit with his crew. They always sat in the same spot. He sat down and cheered for the team as the game continued already in progress.
The Gryffindor victory party carried well into the night. Sunday would not be an exception. James had started a tradition of bringing the snitch back with him after a win. He liked to watch it flutter around the room. Some people would see it clearly, thought not be able to keep track of it like he did, and others would only catch small glimpses of it.
Even their Head of House was able to join them for a bit of fun. Though Professor Acrew was getting up in the years, he still managed to, on occasion, let loose and have a good time with his house. Things didn't get really rowdy until after he left.
James watched the snitch fly around and visit other people. Keeping an eye on it he managed to converse with everyone quite well. The snitch, James had decided, had taken an appropriate liking to Lily. Using this as an excuse, he walked over to her. He smiled at Ava, catching his eye and finding some excuse to wander off. He could see one of the many reasons Sirius was head over heels for this girl. James laughed at the fact that Sirius would completely deny it. 'Just friends' and all.
"What are you laughing at, Potter?" Lily eyed him suspiciously.
"Oh, C'mon Evans," James smiled innocently at her. "You let me take you out, can't we move on to first names?"
"You just called me Evans," she pointed out.
"Just waiting for permission is all." His eyes sparkled at her. "Lily?"
"James?" Lily tested it out. Inside she could feel the butterflies in her stomach. She held her muscles at the urge to smile.
James mentally smiled as the snitch fluttered behind her red mane. He gave her a brilliant smile as he slowly reached behind her. Taking his time, he finally slipped his fingers around the snitch. He left his hand slightly behind her ear.
"Going to pull a quarter out?" Lily cynically bantered. James didn't say anything as he revealed the snitch in his hand. Her eyes grew as she looked down at it. She had never had an official game snitch to hold in her hands. He took her hand in his as he set the snitch in it. His fingers placed on it in a way that held on to it but didn't hinder its wings. She took it from him carefully.
He delighted in the way she marveled at it. He just watched her watch it for some time. Devon, a fellow seventh year, wandered over to the two.
"That is so sweet," She put her hand on James' shoulder. "Giving your girlfriend the snitch." She smiled at them both and wandered back off, oblivious to the two blushing frantically.
They looked at each other. James raised an eyebrow at her in gentle curiosity, wondering what she thought of that. Lily met his eyes and smiled shyly looking away after a minute. She looked back at him to see he was still gazing at her. She raised her eyebrows together at him, smiling and with a deep breath she gave a slight nod.
James crowed as he took a big step towards her and swooped her up in his arms, the two of them laughing. The whole room broke into cheers and clapping. The two smiled at each other and the rest of the house.
Devon pointed at herself, "That was me, I was the final straw that broke that camel's back."
Remus laughed as he wrapped an arm around her. It was good to finally see James and Lily finally together. The whole house saw it coming but had patiently waited on the side lines.
Ava, across the room talking with Heath, holding his guitar as he showed her chords, looked up at the new couple. She laughed with a smile as she looked over at Remus, who met her eyes and gave a look upwards and a gesture with his free arm, mouthing the words "thank you" to the powers that be above.
She looked over and saw Peter and Sirius grinning at their love struck friend that was James. Sirius looked over at her, not having to say anything at all, he simply smiled. She held his eyes for a moment than turned back to Heath, looking down at he guitar while she tried out a chord. James took Lily face in his hand as he planted a kiss gently on her lips, moving up and kissing her forehead lightly.
Gryffindors, it was said, knew how to have fun.
::Aw, how sweet. Those two love birds finally getting together. And our Avie and Siri bonding! Woo Hoo!!
Nik: You're the best!
The all mighty and powerful*M: it's going to get better too!!
Seiko: Thanks! I'm writing fast!