CHAPTER 7 – The Invitation
By: Sweet 16 Movie Buff!
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"May I interest you any dessert? Some coffee?"
"No, no, I think just the check when you have it," said the portly gentleman as he dabbed at his mouth his napkin.
Jillian whipped out the check from her pocket and with a polite employee-like smile said, "Just take that up to the front when you're ready. Enjoy your day."
She strode away towards the back of the café to grab the next order from the cook. Toby Williams, one of Jillian's best friends and a Ravenclaw as well, came out, balancing a tray of sandwiches on her shoulder. She was a rail-thin, dark-skinned girl with a crown of russet red ringlets adorning her head.
Toby grinned at Jillian, "Take a break, McKee, you're making me look bad!" in a quieter tone she added, "There's an owl for you waiting out in the back, a real pretty brown one."
Jillian smirked and rolled her eyes at Toby as she set her tray aside on the counter and told Warren, the cook, she was taking a quick break before ducking out into the ally behind the café. The owl Toby had referred to as 'a real pretty brown one', was perched on a trashcan, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
She untied the lengthy piece of parchment from his foot and gave him an affectionate stroke, "Thanks."
The owl did not leave. He nipped gently at her knuckles clutching the parchment and sat back on the trash lid, waiting. Sighing she worked loose the seal, muttering, "Fine. You want me to open it? I'll open it . . ."
It was an invitation on thick heavy parchment; the calligraphy was in bottle-green ink that read as follows:
You are cordially invited to . . .
The 664th Annual Black Ball
To be held at Welmstone Manor, Maidstone
On the 8th of July from 9:30 evening to 12:00 midnight.
Jillian frowned. The Black Ball? What sort of nonsense was this? Then she noticed the slip of parchment attached to it and noticed the familiar handwriting to belong only to Sirius.
Dear Jillian,I hope this invitation finds you well and conjunctivitis cleared.
She grinned at the reference to his last run-in with Snivellus Snape two days before the end of the second term, when Snape had attempted to jinx Sirius with the curse and had hit Jillian with it instead. She had let Madame Pomphrey tweak her vision ever so as she had performed the counter curse and had since disposed of her glasses. She read on.
I think it would please you to know that he got off the train with one more tail than he had before. (She laughed hard at this) Don't worry, I wasn't caught, though I don't doubt he'll have his chance for revenge next year.
Anyway, this Black Ball . . . it's sort of a very formal family reunion except Mum insists on inviting all the pureblood families in Britain. It's dreadfully dull and a chance for all the ancient ruins to reminisce about the old days. I'll understand if you don't want to come, but I'd hope you would consider it as a favor to a friend.
Please send your reply back with Gabriel.
SiriusJillian glanced up at the large brown owl. "I can't give you a reply just yet, but if you go to my house I can give you an answer later."
Gabriel ruffled his feathers in reply and flapped his large wings, lazily lofting himself out of the ally. Jillian watched as he flew out of sight.
It'd be nice to go to a ball, even if it is a bit frivolous, she mused. Jillian went through the rest of her shift in a daze, mixing up several orders and getting short-changed for tips more than once.
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Sirius lounged idly on his bed, reading for the hundredth time that day the copy of the Quidditch Edition magazine James had lent him on the train. He knew it front to back and could probably quote Frankie Turnrelic's article back to anyone who so asked. With a groan of annoyance, Sirius sunk low on his pillow and flipped the Quidditch Edition over his face.
He had never been trapped in this house for so long without connection to the outside world. James and Mr. and Mrs. Potter had seemingly disappeared for the week, where James did not say. Remus had not sent any mail, seeing as he had only sent owl post two days ago and Peter was still contenting himself to his vacation in Spain that he had told them just before the summer holiday. Sirius was utterly alone.
There was a tap at the window and he scrambled up. It was Gabriel, his own owl, probably with Jillian's reply. He unlatched the window and hurriedly took the owl to his cage. As Gabriel drank, Sirius untied the reply from his leg and read it. A thankful smile washed over his face.
Of course I'll come. Mum's all okay with it, just so long as I'm home by one. I promise I won't embarrass you.
Until then,
Jillian
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THIS IS FOR YOU GUYS, MY REVIEWERS (ALL OF YOU!)Moon Burst – Whoa, whoa, whoa! Sirius is so mine jk. I don't know if I read this on one of your stories or on another story I was reading, but it said that Sirius's death is real important in the sixth book so maybe (oh God, just maybe) that means he comes back. I'd love to e-mail back and forth (I don't have IM, my dad's real weird about it), but its gonna have to wait until after next week, since I'm gone that entire week.
BubleBubleBuble – I loved the CSI/Harry Potter thing. It rocked! The sad thing is, and I forgot to put this in my review, is that the show fired Sarah and Nick because they asked for more money! Can you believe it? It's not like the show makes not enough money. But to answer your question (will Sirius and Jillian ever be more than just friends), you'll have to read and see. :P
Whimsical Firefly – I'm so sorry, I screwed up your pen name in my first thank you! I must have been having trouble reading, I am SOOOOOOOOOO sorry! Anyway, please forgive me, and these three chapters are dedicated to you because you seemed so anxious to read them. : )