Chapter 4

That night Claire spent the night in Lily's Head Girl room. Claire had been depressed. She often felt worthless and had confided in Lily. This was one of those nights where Claire just couldn't hold it together. Claire, as strong as she appeared, had been diagnosed depressed in their fifth year because her sister had died and she had been put on anti-depressants. But they didn't work. They never helped relieve Claire.

It was midnight and Claire had just broken down. She had been getting memories of Jade, her sister. They weren't really memories but rather snapshots. Claire had found her dead. She could not seem to remove the image of Jade's black hair swept around her pale face, her blue eyes unmoving. Then just when Claire had regained herself a man emerged from the stairs that lead to James' room. Claire turned away from the fire as the figure stepped out of the velvety shadow, it was Sirius.

"Oh, sorry for interrupting you two, I was just getting some...umm...stuff from the kitchen, me and James are hungry," he said nervously.

Claire glanced up and looked into Sirius' chocolate eyes, quickly the ghastly scene from her sisters death faded. Claire had always thought Sirius was hot, and they had always had Quidditch together but she had never worked up enough courage to talk to him.

Lily nudged Claire and told Sirius, "It's no problem but hold on a second let me...just give me a second." Lily looked at Claire. Lily saw something in her eyes. It was like Claire was stargazing. She sensed that Claire liked him. Lily's mind raced. Maybe if she left them alone for a second Claire would talk to him.

"Ok," Sirius said looking confused as Lily darted up the stairs.

"So..." Claire said in attempt to break the awkward silence.

Sirius turned away. This is odd, he thought, most girls he wasn't nervous around but Claire was different. He felt stupid in front of her even though he had always known her. He had always glanced at her during practice. He found her entrancing, addicting. She was so unique, so beautiful in an unusual way that made her stand out. He was just normal in comparison to her.

Claire watched him turn and run his hand through his shaggy brown hair. She wondered where Lily had gone.

"Umm...Claire?"

"Yes?" Claire said and looked into his chocolate eyes.

Sirius was just about to summon up the courage to ask her out when those deep blue eyes caught his hold. He swallowed and took a deep breath summoning up all of his courage and said, "Would you like to go to the Halloween Ball with me?"

Claire was quite taken aback by this, especially because he sounded nervous. Sirius was never nervous with girls.

Claire took so long in answering him that he turned to go, "Wait Sirius!"

He turned around and faced her, "What?"

"Of course I'll go with you. Saturday, right?"

"Yea, so I guess I'll see you there," he said smiling and turned to go back up the stairs forgetting his intention to go to the kitchen.

Lily walked back in with a smile but it was no match to Claire's. Finally Claire had found someone. But even so this was Claire's first date. She worried that maybe Sirius was not the best first guy to date. A little thought popped into her head, Claire can handle anything even a stupid little boy. She is strong enough.

"So I guess you overheard?" Claire said looking up at Lily.

"Of course what are friends for?"

"Well I guess I won't be going single with you. I really hope that's ok. If it's not don't worry I'll go cancel with Sirius," Claire said in a hurried slur.

Though Lily did feel lonely she could not ruin Claire's happiness. This was her first chance for a boyfriend and Lily wasn't going to destroy it. "Oh it's fine Claire, you and Sirius, Dylan and Remus...who would've thought."

Lily knew it would be uncomfortable for her and James now that their four best friends were going to the Ball together, although maybe Dylan and Remus wouldn't go together. She hadn't asked him yet.

But just as the thought crossed her mind Dylan ran in out of breath.

"Dylan! It's one in the morning! What in the world are you doing here?" Claire exclaimed.

"Did you ask Remus?" Lily said knowing that was what she had come to tell them.

"Yes! And he said yes! Yes, Yes, Yes!"

"That's ironic Sirius just asked me to go with him," Claire said shyly.

"Awesome Claire, when I asked Remus he was so happy. He told me that he liked me a lot. And then he hugged me and went to bed. So I just had to see you two."

"Well this means we'll just have to go to Hogsmead for our dresses," Lily said. And just on queue the sighs came.

"Argh, Lily you know we hate shopping. Can't we just send you for us," Dylan said falling into a couch.

"Yea, we'd just get in your way. And we would get on your nerves," Claire said from the corner.

"Nope you two are coming with me because you love me," Lily said as if that closed the matter.

"Oh alright," Dylan said with a sigh, there was no changing Lily's already set mind. It was impossible.

"But only for two hours. The rest of the day we're going to go exploring through the Forbidden Forest." Claire said hoping that this would save them from parading around all day in search of something to wear.

"Fine," Lily said satisfied.

The three fell asleep that night content with themselves.