CHAPTER 11 – Diagon Alley
By: Sweet 16 Movie Buff!
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The summer air was sweltering in Diagon Alley that August the twenty fifth. The magical community, out for their shopping, were sweating profusely in their robes, huffing along the streets with their bags and boxes. The canopy of a purple umbrella provided some relief for the three Ravenclaws, dressed comfortably in Muggle clothing, as they sat eating chocolate raspberry nut sundaes at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.
"I still can't believe you kneed Lucius Malfoy in the groin. I would have paid a thousand Galleons to see that," said Toby Williams, a dark-skinned, russet-red haired girl. She watched carefully as a plump witch in black waddled along with a very stubborn mule in tow.
Jillian grinned as she swallowed a bite of her sundae, "Where did that come from?"
Wordlessly Toby pointed with her spoon at the mule. Carly sputtered on her drink and stifled her fits of laughing and hacking into her napkin. Jillian laughed outright, leaning back in her chair; she had told both them as much what Sirius had called Lucius and his mother and Toby and Carly had deemed it exceedingly appropriate.
Carly wiped tears away from the corner of her eyes as she settled back down. Carly Spocker was a pale girl with flaxen ringlets that fell to her shoulders. "Wow. It's amazing how that never ceases to be funny."
"You should have been there. It was even funnier."
"So are you and Sirius . . . um . . . well you know . . . Friendly?" Carly asked in a hush voice.
Jillian's brow furrowed in confusion, "What?"
"Well he took you home and slept over at your flat. But did he . . . well . . . sleep over, sleep over?"
"You're bleeding cracked, Carly. No, we didn't shag," Jillian snorted, shaking her head.
"Well at least it's clear he fancies you then, heh?" Toby asked, leaning across the table, clearly interested.
"Sirius Black does not fancy me!" Jillian said indignantly, "We're just friends, honest."
"He fancies you," Toby said certainly, slumping back into her chair. "What bloke says that you're beautiful and doesn't fancy you?"
"He doesn't fancy me, Toby."
"Does to."
"Doesn't."
"Does to."
"Doesn't."
"Does to."
"I'll bet you two Galleons that he doesn't," Jillian said finally. Toby's eyebrows shot up several degrees at this; she was hardly one to back away from a bet.
"Done." They shook hands on it. Toby looked around, "So . . . when are we gonna find out the result of this little wager?"
"How about right now," Carly nodded in the direction of a group of Gryffindors strolling along the shop windows, their hands full of school shopping.
"Excellent." Jillian waved widely in the air, "HEY, SIRIUS!"
Sirius Black looked up at the mention of his name and so did the rest of the diners on the patio. His face broke into a grin and he strode across the street.
"Hello, Miss Perfect. How's you're summer been?" he asked with a mischievous smile.
She grinned back at him, "Pretty decent. And yours? I hope I didn't get you into too much trouble after the ball."
He waved the thought away and pulled up a spare chair, "No more than I would have gotten into for nearly blowing Lucius to kingdom come."
"Well I'm glad. But the real reason I called you over - "
"Wasn't for my pleasurable company?"
She waved a way the notion as if it were a bothersome fly, "Not at all. Not at all, Black. Never for your company."
Sirius roared with laughter. Jillian smiled, "Actually we – Toby and I – were wondering if you'd settle a wager for us."
"What sort of wager?"
"Toby here seems to think that you fancy me. I personally think it's a load of codswallop."
Sirius's brow rose at this and shaking his head, he said, "Well, I hate to say it, Williams, but Miss Perfect is quite right. I don't fancy her in the least."
"Buttocks!" Toby slammed the Galleons onto the table.
With a maniacal laugh, Jillian sat back, rubbing her hands together. "Thank you, Sirius. You've just earned you and your friends a sundae."
"What's this about a sundae?" a bespectacled boy asked as he approached.
Sirius pulled up another chair, "Take a seat, Prongs, and place your order. McKee here is paying."
"Does that include us, Padfoot?" asked a thin, exhausted-looking sixth-year as he swung his leg across a chair and settled down at the table. A twitchy, plump boy sat down as well, darting a pleading glance at Jillian.
"Of course," Carly answered. "We aren't going to let you starve, Remus. You look like you need something to eat."
"Excellent," Remus said with a slight nod and smile at Carly. Carly smiled warmly back.
"You may want to watch Carly there, Remus. I think she fancies you," said Toby with a wicked grin on her face as she moved aside to make room for James. "OUCH!"
They all laughed as Toby rubbed her shin and shot glares at Carly who put on an appearance of complete innocence. Jillian ordered the sundaes and gave her money to Mr. Florean just before he hurried away. The group fell into conversations of their own as they waited for the sundaes to arrive.
Remus and Carly mused about who might be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher since Professor Stuttard was dismissed for using severe force on a student. James and Toby were debating heatedly who would win the House Quidditch Cup this year with Peter adding his own two cents every so often, while Sirius and Jillian were contenting themselves to games of rock-paper-scissors.
"That's a load of crock, Potter and you know it!" Toby exploded. "You bloody well know that there's no way Gryffindor can win this year. It's Ravenclaw all the way."
"Ravenclaw placed third out of four teams! And the year before that they even tied for last with Hufflepuff. Gryffindor has placed second four years running and this year - "
"It's always this year! This year we'll win, this year'll be ours I can feel it in my bones," Toby rolled her eyes heavenward, "If you've even checked the rosters you'll see that Gryffindor's entire crew of Chasers is gone. That means you'll have to train double time to get your freshies up to par!"
"Oh Merlin, here we go again!" Sirius groaned as James dove into a detailed explanation why Ravenclaw's offense wasn't exactly perfect either.
Jillian was apparently fascinated by it. "How long do you think they'll keep it up?"
"James could go on for years about one Quidditch season," Sirius confided, leaning on the back-legs of his chair.
Jillian jerked on the back of his chair, causing him to sit up sharply. She grinned, "Ten to one says Toby's worse. Our first year she tried to explain what football was to a boy with magical parents."
Sirius chuckled taking a bite of Jillian's ice cream, "I still think James could top her."
She slapped his hand away, "That's mine!"
"It's good," he said defensively as he reached for another spoon-full.
She grabbed his wrist, "Don't even think about it, Black."
He raised a daring brow and with his free hand, grabbed for her unprotected side.
"NO!" she shrieked, trying to fend off his hands as they searched for her ticklish spots and the spoon that was trying to steal her ice cream. The spoon flew from Sirius's hand and clattered across the table towards Carly.
She looked up as the two wrestled for control laughing and struggling.
"Sirius stop, people are watch – No, lay off the cherries!"
"Yield, McKee?"
"Never! Oh, that's my boob!" she breathed scandalized.
"Sorry, I didn't know you had any."
Jillian guffawed and attempted to kick him in the shins.
Carly nodded at them to Remus. He turned in his seat and grinned. Toby and James too had paused long enough to watch the match between Jillian and Sirius. Toby nudged Carly.
She whispered in her ear, "I say by the end of the year they're a couple."
Carly shook her head; "I don't think so. Jillian seemed quite adamant about them being just friends."
"Fifteen Galleons says they are."
"You're on."