Wooh, this is a long chapter. *love me* ^_^
To naoko-san; thank you for all your comments, they make me feel all fluffy inside *smirk*
To murgatroyd; my sincere apologies. I know I am a bad writer when it comes to forgetting about characters, and my omission of him in chapter 2 is pretty much unforgivable. But I think you'll find in chapters 3-5 they are all either on holiday or at James' and Peter, well, isn't. Just because he isn't there doesn't mean he won't appear later on. I also find him hard to characterise, because he lacks the flamboyance of the others. If you'd help me on this, I'd be grateful.
To My Friend James B; you still reading?
Anyone else reading, REVIEW! Leave constructive criticism and modest compliments! I live on reviews, and I'm starving here! Naoko-san is my only friend!
That day was the last of the holidays, so they spent it in Diagon Alley. It was uneventful on the whole…well, as uneventful as you could get in the company of three Marauders and Lily Evans.
In other words, before they left all of their hair had changed colour at least twice, Lily had pranked James, Sirius had been thrown out of Madame Malkin's for flirting with the pretty assistant and they had had a long and messy ice-cream fight at Florean Fortescue's. Luckily Florean found it just as funny as they did, not least because of the amount of attention they were drawing.
"Well, well," came a cold voice. "The Marauders, I see, making fools of themselves as usual." They all whipped around (A/N; whipped? Get it? As in ice cream whip? HAH! My sense of humour exceeds even my expectations!) to find Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy, Sirius' little bother Regulus and his cousins staring disdainfully down their noses at them.
A glob of ice cream slid down Sirius' nose to land messily on the front of his robes. There was a short silence, then James, Sirius and Remus all picked up the remains of the ice cream and lobbed it high in the air. It landed right on target.
The Slytherins turned tail and fled, trying to retain their dignity whilst dripping melting ice cream, and pursued by the Marauders' raucous laughter.
They were still breaking into short bouts of hysterics five minutes later, when Sirius spotted Lindsay.
His face transformed; he shot down the street like an arrow from a bow. "Lins! Hey, Lins!"
James buried his face in his hands. Remus frowned slightly.
"Unsubtle," James muttered, "Or what?"
Lily shot him a warning look. "I seem to remember a certain Gryffindor seeker running up to me just like that only last year," she remarked to the air. James blushed crimson.
"Lins!" Sirius embraced her as though there was no tomorrow. "You didn't write," he said into her hair.
"No."
Something in her tone made him look up into her face, concerned. "Lins?"
Lindsay smiled condescendingly. "Sirius?" she mocked, kissing him on the mouth. He relaxed fractionally, relief flooding his veins. "I want you to meet someone."
She beckoned the 'someone' forward. Sirius was disconcerted to see that it was Walden Macnair (A/N; eeeeew! And yes, that is his real name…it's in HP3.), a particularly ape-like Slytherin in their year. He frowned. "What are you doing hanging round with Macnair?"
Lindsay was laughing now, and it wasn't an altogether nice laugh. Sirius' stomach fluttered with foreboding. "I finally got bored of you, Black," she said loudly. People turned in the street to stare – Lindsay and Sirius were the second most celebrated couple at Hogwarts, next to Lily and James of course, and their potential break-ups were a source of some excitement to the students.
Sirius couldn't think of anything to say. With his fellow-pupils looking on, there wasn't much he could say…but inside he was in turmoil. How could she do this to him, when he had spent the whole holiday missing her?
"Why – why now?" he stammered. Then he saw Macnair again. "And why him?" he demanded angrily, some of his spirit returning.
Lindsay shrugged, still smiling her perfect smile.
Suddenly the sight of her face annoyed Sirius intensely. Before he realised what he was doing he had slapped her flawless cheek, much harder than he had meant to. He turned on his heel and walked swiftly away from her before he could do anything else idiotic.
Before he was even halfway down the street Macnair had caught up with him. Feeling the large, meaty hand land on his shoulder he stiffened, but ignored it.
When he tried to carry on walking, however, he found it a physical impossibility; Macnair's hand simply held him in place. The crowd which had gathered around he and Lindsay before began to transfer it's attention to Macnair, sensing further entertainment. Sirius gulped. Being beaten up as well as publicly humiliated in one day was too much, even for him.
"I suggest," said a cold voice, "That you release my friend. Or I will make it my business, during the coming year, to ensure that you cannot turn a corner without being covered in dragon dung."
There was a titter from the crowd. Macnair released Sirius' shoulder with a snarl and Sirius turned, just in time to see James take a bow.
Remus raised a tentative hand. "If I might add something to your admirable words, Mr. Prongs?" he inquired. James nodded courteously.
Remus turned to Macnair. "I know a spell," he told him ominously, "Which makes dungbombs drop on you as soon as you get out of the bath." The crowds gathered around them laughed harder.
Remus winked at them, grinning.
"I still think I could have handled it," Sirius said grumpily. The others all groaned; he'd been going on about this for the last hour.
"Face it, Padfoot," James snapped. "We saved your ass back there."
Sirius was about to protest, but then he changed his mind and shrugged instead, grinning. "Maybe..."
"I s'pose a thank you's too much to ask for?" Remus huffed.
"Yuh!"
A while later everyone except Sirius and Tulah had gone up to bed. The two friends were sitting comfortably on the sofa. Tulah's head rested on Sirius' shoulder, and he was running his fingers absently through her silky blonde hair.
"I can't believe it's over with Lindsay," said Sirius in a tiny voice, a flash of pain flitting across his face. Tulah put a comforting arm around his slumped shoulders.
(A/N; I did make it clear that they're really good friends, right?? And Rem really isn't the jealous type!)
Sirius' jaw was set. "I really cared about her," he muttered. Tulah nodded silently, and then waited patiently for him to be ready to continue.
The next thing she knew, Sirius' lips were exerting gentle pressure on her own…which were responding enthusiastically, quite without her consent.
She pulled away at once, pale with shock.
"Sirius!" she cried indignantly.
"What?" he said rebelliously to the floor, then looked up at her, so woebegone that all her indignation melted away.
"You can't do that," she chided quietly, meeting his eyes squarely. "A minute ago you're telling me that Lindsay means the world to you, now you're kissing me?"
"You mean a lot to me too." He was addressing the carpet once more. She gripped his chin with gentle fingers and turned it upwards until his chocolate-brown eyes met her blue ones.
"Yes," she agreed. "I know I do, and you mean a lot to me as well, but we're friends, Sirius. Just because you care about someone doesn't mean you have to go kissing them." Sirius pouted like a petulant toddler. "Besides," added Tulah softly. "I'm with Rem, remember?"
Sirius nodded, suddenly subdued. "Sorry," he muttered reluctantly.
"That's ok." Tulah suddenly grinned. "Not surprised you tried it…I'm irresistible," she bragged.
Sirius raised one unimpressed eyebrow with a twitch of his mouth that could have been the beginnings of a smile. "Uh-huh…?"
"What d'you mean, uh-huh?" Tulah picked up a cushion from where it lay discarded on the floor and lifted it threateningly. "Apologise for that, Mr. Black, or you're in trouble."
Sirius merely raised the other eyebrow, his smile widening.
Tulah pounced.
The next morning, chaos reigned. James' parents, who should have been back to take them to King's Cross, had had their flight delayed…plus, everyone apart from Lily had forgotten to pack…
"Where are my socks?"
"Sirius! That's my shirt!"
"Lily, I can't find my trunk!"
"NO! It's mine!"
"Mine!"
"Where are my socks???"
"Mine!"
"Sirius, GIVE ME BACK MY SHIRT," shrieked Tulah.
"No! It's mine!"
"I can't find my trunk!"
"SHUT UP!" Lily bellowed. There was immediate silence. She breathed a sigh of relief. "Right. Sirius, Tulah, that's my shirt," She took it briskly from Sirius' limp hands, "James, your socks are drying on the stove, and Remus, you put your trunk in the car, remember?"
Remus stared blankly at her. "What car?"
"The one Sirius is driving us to the station in," said Lily in a strained voice. Her patience was wearing very thin and she was definitely not looking forward to being driven on muggle roads by Sirius Black, the boy famous for crashing his motorbike into the one tree in an otherwise bare field.
"Are you sure that's not my shirt?" Sirius whispered hesitantly. Lily death-glared him. "Ok… no… it's your shirt," he consented, cringing.
They arrived at King's Cross after an incredibly uneventful car journey – Sirius only swerved once, though Tulah suspected he had simply been trying yet again to make Lily scream.
They all piled into the only empty carriage on the train with ten seconds or so to spare, much to Lily's relief.
Sirius, Remus and James threw themselves at once onto the spare seats; Lily set off on a quest to find her two best friends, Caz Bartram, and Anna Fitzgerald.
Half an hour or so later, the door of the carriage rolled open and a veritable crowd of people poured in.
"Here's Anna and Caz," Lily announced. "And I found Peter." Peter, a small, fat boy with a rather ratty face, smiled. "Umm…hi guys."
There was a chorus of greetings all around; Tulah sank lower in her seat. She still wasn't used to dealing with new people, and so many at once just made her want to sink into the ground. Sometimes she longed to be invisible again…
Sirius slid down to her level. "Hello down there!"
Tulah gave him a rather weak smile. Sirius frowned. Tulah had been quieter than usual ever since last night…he wasn't sure if it was to do with him, but this was a good chance to find out…
"Is something bothering you?" he asked softly. Tulah's head jerked up.
"Wha-? No…no, everything's fine."
Sirius raised a slender eyebrow, supremely unconvinced. "Oh look," he remarked conversationally, glancing out of the window. "A flying pig." Tulah giggled. "That's better," he said approvingly. "Now, what's up?"
"It's nothing, Sirius, really."
"There's that pig again…"
Tulah sighed, unsure how to begin. "It sounds so stupid."
Sirius grinned and made an idiotic face. "Stupid is my specialty! Out with it!"
Suppressing another giggle and envying Sirius his ability to cheer anyone up, Tulah obediently came out with it. "It's just…you guys all have your little groupie thing…" she struggled to find the right words. "I don't want to intrude," she finished lamely.
Sirius pretended to consider the problem, secretly relieved that this was all it was. He should have guessed this was coming, knowing Tulah. "Mmm…you're right, that is stupid." Tulah turned a lovely shade of scarlet. "Well," Sirius continued, "You can, of course, go back to how you were last term. If you want to, which I take it you don't."
Thinking of last term, Tulah shook her head slowly. "I don't," she confirmed.
"Or…you can hang around with us like you have all holiday without any of this rubbish. Honestly Tuls, don't you think we'd tell you if we didn't want you here? What about Rem? Do you think he minds you being here?"
Memories flitted shadowlike through Tulah's mind; she flushed. "No…"
"Right! Problem solved," said Sirius cheerfully, getting to his feet. "Now, come and meet everyone."
A little while later, just when they had all settled down a bit, the trolley rolled around and there was an immediate scramble for Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans and Chocolate Frogs.
James and Sirius, having eaten all twenty of their own Chocolate Frogs and several of Remus', went on a 'sacred quest' for a turnip-flavoured bean.
"Gah, no! Brown bread!" Sirius choked. (A/N; How can anyone eat the stuff??)
"Peanut butter," announced James happily, holding up a golden-brown one.
There was a knock on the door of their compartment. Sirius, doubled over and still choking on the bread-flavoured bean, coughed, "C-come in!"
Silence fell. Sirius looked up, curious.
Lindsay leaned against the doorframe and smiled angelically at him. "Sirius, sweetie! Can I talk to you outside a second?"
Sirius nodded numbly, apprehension fluttering in his stomach, and allowed her lead him out.
"What do you want, Lins?" he asked wearily, as she pulled the door shut behind them.
"You, silly!" she laughed, reaching up to kiss the corner of his mouth. For a moment Sirius seriously considered letting her…but the memories of yesterday, still fresh in his mind, lent him strength. He pushed her gently away, ignoring her whine of disappointment.
"Siri? What's wrong?" she pouted. "I'm sorry about yesterday…"
"Are you?" asked Sirius, surprised. In the two terms he'd dated her last year, she'd never once apologised for being unfaithful to him.
Lindsay wrinkled her nose. "Well…not for being with Macnair…but I'm sorry he tried to hit you."
"Oh." She hadn't changed then.
"Siri, come on! I don't know what's the matter with you today!"
Sirius was amazed at her nerve. "You…" he began, and then had to stop and try again. "You…you were with Macnair yesterday, and now you're trying to tell me we're together again, just like that?"
"Umm…yeah!"
"…"
"Siri! I'm getting cross," she warned. Sirius fought down the urge to laugh at her. "Yeah, and I'm trembling in my little cotton socks," he countered.
"Why are you being like this?" Lindsay almost shouted. "Me being with other guys was never a problem before!"
Sirius had had enough. "Never a problem for you," he told her wearily. "It was never a problem for you. Bloody hell Lins, you knew how I feel…or how I used to feel. You saw what it did to me, watching you with them…how could you keep on doing it?"
Lindsay shrugged, smiling her perfect smile. Sirius felt the anger welling up again, and for a moment he had to concentrate hard on not hitting her. With a final effort he thrust his emotions aside and forced a smile onto his face. "Sorry babe. It's over…on my terms this time."
Lindsay's lip curled. "Whatever," she sneered, and flounced off.
Sirius rejoined his friends, grimacing. James threw a questioning glance his way; Sirius shook his head. "Tell you later."
James shrugged and nodded. Sirius supposed he must have told the others as well, because no one else asked him anything. He sank back into his seat and closed his eyes with a groan; rows with Lindsay had always exhausted him.
By the time they had reached Hogsmeade station Sirius had recovered enough to play, and win, a couple of games of exploding snap with James. Both Marauders tried every cheating method in the book throughout the game, though not many got past Remus and Lily, ever-vigilant referees.
"Sirius seven; James three," announced Lily just as the train pulled up. James let out a howl of rage; Sirius sniggered happily. Life was good again.
In dorm later on, Remus, James and Peter pounced on Sirius.
"Ok, you've been in mourning long enough," James said ominously. "What went on out there?"
Sirius sighed. "I just wanted to finish it properly," he explained. "Lins didn't see it in quite the same way I did…"
James swore loudly. "That little cow," he said viciously. "I'll kill her…I swear, I'll rip her apart!"
"Patience is a virtue," said Remus cryptically, with his usual absent smile.
James snorted. "Maybe…but revenge is sweeter!"
(A/N; Cue little devil horns on all their heads…)
Sirius was the first to grin; James followed suit. At the sight of their "we've got an evil prank to play" faces, Peter looked terrified and Remus rolled his eyes towards the ceiling, searching for a way to persuade them that getting into trouble on the first night of term was not such a great idea...
OOH…what are they gonna do?? Well…if you're good little readers and review, I'll tell you…