There was a soft knock at Sirius' door early the next morning. He opened
his eyes and gazed around the room trying to remember where he was and why
he felt sad. Then, in a sudden rush he remembered that he was at the
Potter's and that Auria's father had been killed. There was a second knock
and James poked his head into the room.
"Hey" he called quietly. "Are you up yet?"
"I am now," growled Sirius, rubbing his eyes.
"Look, I'm really sorry about yesterday. I wasn't laughing at the fact that people had died, I was laughing because you fell off the chair," said James tentatively as he sat down at the end of Sirius' bed.
"I know you were," replied Sirius sighing. "I shouldn't have called you those things. I didn't mean it. I just wasn't exactly in the mood for laughing after I read the article."
"Don't worry about it" said James, looking extremely relieved that they had made up. "Who died anyways?"
"You know that girl that I was talking to after the potions exam in the Great Hall, and you guy were lau"
"Oh the one who thought you were 'so good looking'" replied James in a mock dreamy voice. "My God! She died?" he added in a completely serious tone.
"No, you git, you didn't let me finish. Anyways, it was her father that died. Death Eaters killed him because he worked for the Ministry in the Department of Muggle Relations. Bastards" he added.
"I'm sorry mate," said James. "At least she's coming back to Hogwarts right?"
"Yeah right" snorted Sirius. "So she can tell me all about her date with Snivellus."
"Sorry, I'd forgotten about that," said James apologetically. "Well there's no point in wasting your summer worrying about it. You don't see me lying around thinking about Evans all the time. Come on, let's go play some quidditch in the back yard."
Sirius nodded in agreement. They grabbed their broomsticks and headed outdoors.
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For the remainder of the summer Sirius took James' advice to heart. He did not think too much about Auria or worry about having to face her with Snape at school. Sirius and James spent the last month of the holidays playing chess and quidditch, and generally messing up the house. By the end of the summer, although they would never admit it, Mr. and Mrs. Potter were glad to see them leave. The two boys had nearly eaten them out of house and home and they were tired of repairing the back windows that had been broken everyday by bludgers.
The day before school began they headed up to Diagon Alley to collect their school supplies. Sirius was looking around for Auria so much that at one point he walked right into the glass display window outside Florish and Blotts.
"I don't think she's here Padfoot," said James laughing as he helped Sirius pick up his textbooks. James turned out to be right; for they had still not spotted her by the time they reached the fireplace inside the Leaky Cauldron to head home. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
The next day Sirius and James woke up very early to pack. It took them so long to fit all their possessions, including quite a few dungbombs, inside their trunks that they nearly missed the train. They had just stepped onboard when the clock rang 11 and they were quickly hugged by Mrs. Potter not a second before the Hogwarts Express began to move down the track.
They quickly found a compartment with Lupin and Pettigrew and settled in. While discussing their various summer adventures Sirius kept checking the door to see if Auria walked by. When they heard the compartment door slide open Sirius leaned back in his seat and let his hair fall into his face and purposely loosened his tie.
"I hope you're not trying to look good for me Black," said a menacing voice from the compartment doorway. Sirius looked up to see Snape standing in the entrance laughing at him.
"Believe me, I wasn't Snivellus," he said coldly and whipping out his wand.
"Just a little jealous that I got to go out with Auria?" Snape said cruelly as he pulled out his own wand. Sirius' stomach hit the floor when he realized that she had actually gone on a date with Snape.
"She probably just did it because she felt sorry for you, because you're a loser" retorted Peter.
"Well then there's hope for you" replied Snape.
"I believe Snivellus," said James triumphantly. "That you just called yourself a loser."
"Yes, I really think you did" said Sirius and muttered a curse so fast that Snape was hanging upside down in the compartment. As his cloak few over his head to reveal ugly grey pants Sirius added, "Now Snivellus, I thought we told you last year to wash those dirty pants of yours."
"Yes" said James, "and your hair too." In a flash Snape was upright again and completely drenched in soapy water.
"Now leave us alone," said Lupin, finally deciding to join in. Snape stormed out of the compartment, leaving a large puddle on the floor. As Remus cleaned up the water Sirius sat back down, determined to find out exactly what happened on Auria's date with Snape.
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The four friends arrived at Hogwarts tired and starving. As they entered the Great Hall Sirius glanced over at the Ravenclaw table to see if Auria was there yet. She wasn't and rather disappointedly, Sirius sat down. He kept looking over at their table as the nervous first years walked in. Auria had still not appeared by the time the sorting ceremony was over, and Sirius was now getting rather nervous. "Maybe she's not coming back to Hogwarts now that her father is dead. Maybe she doesn't have enough money?" he thought to himself. He was shaken out of his thoughts by the sudden silence in the room. Dumbledore had stood up to make his year opening greeting.
"Welcome to Hogwarts first years, and welcome back everyone else," he began. I usually don't do announcements until after the feast but this year I must make one quick one." There was a collective groan, the loudest coming from the four Marauders. "It has come to my attention that the sorting hat, like very one else, makes mistakes." There was a large gasp. "The hat has informed me that sixth year Ravenclaw student Auria Jacobs has been sorted into the wrong house." Suddenly, as if from nowhere, Auria appeared beside Dumbledore. Sirius gazed at her and noticed that she looked thinner then the last time he had seen her, and her eyes were filled with sadness. Without seeming to notice her presence Dumbledore continued on. "Tonight that error will be fix, as Auria will be placed into her new house, Gryffindor." There was some scattered clapping at the Gryffindor table and boos from the Ravenclaw's.
Sirius clapped the loudest and could not believe his luck. Now he would have all the time in the world to get to know Auria, and to steal her away from Snape. She came and sat down nervously between Lily and Peter, diagonally across the table from Sirius. She kept her face down and silently stared at her plate. Sirius knew that she was trying very hard not to cry.
Once they had filled their plates Lily decided to introduce herself.
"Hello, I'm Lily Evans and welcome to Gryffindor" she said sticking out her hand.
"Auria Jacobs and thank you" replied Auria shaking the outstretched hand.
"Oh" Lily continued pointing down the table. "This is Anne Summers next to me and across is Samantha Berger. Then she looked down towards the Marauders and Auria followed Lily's gaze. "That's Peter Pettigrew there beside you, and beside him is James Potter," a hint of dislike in her voice. "Over there is Remus Lupin and next to him is Sirius Black," she finished. As soon as Auria's eyes met Sirius' she looked away, but to Padfoot's surprise they had been filled with sadness instead of anger. Auria did not speak another word throughout the rest of dinner.
Once the feast was over all the Gryffindor's headed up towards their common room. Auria walked behind Lily, her head still bowed. Sirius slowed down on the 4th staircase and waited for Auria to catch up. As she did he began to walk beside her but it took another staircase before he had the nerve to say anything.
"I'm really sorry about your dad," he said quietly.
Her head snapped up and looked straight at him. Her eyes were filled with tears. "Thank you," she whispered back and Sirius realized that she had completely forgotten about their argument last year.
Sirius didn't know what else to say to her so they continued to walk in silence. It was Auria who finally broke the silence. "How did you know he died?" she asked.
"It was in the Daily Prophet," he replied.
"Oh" she said, and then added, "you read the Daily Prophet?"
"No, not usually, but I did this summer."
"Why only this summer?" she asked quietly, looking around the castle.
Sirius had no idea what to say. He couldn't tell her the truth, that he had done it in case there was any news about her. So he made up a lie.
"I wanted to see if, um, they had come out with any new broomsticks. I heard that they were going to come out with the Comet 1500."
"Oh, I see" she replied.
"Do you play quidditch?" he asked her as they entered the common room.
"Yeah" she said slowly, taking in the room. "At home, with my dad." She quickly turned around to hide the tears and Sirius had the sudden urge to hug her.
"Great, I've made her cry twice," he thought to himself.
"Maybe you can try out for the Gryffindor team this year, we need a new chaser," he said in an effort to cheer her up. When she didn't respond he added in a hopeful voice, "I can show you how to get to Great Hall from here before breakfast tomorrow."
At this she rubbed her eyes and turned around. "Yeah thanks, that would be great," she said with a small smile and her eyes full of appreciation. Sirius pointed out the girl's dormitory and they headed up to bed. Sirius could not wipe the happy grin off his face as he changed into his pajamas, and didn't even complain when he friends began to laugh at him.
"Hey" he called quietly. "Are you up yet?"
"I am now," growled Sirius, rubbing his eyes.
"Look, I'm really sorry about yesterday. I wasn't laughing at the fact that people had died, I was laughing because you fell off the chair," said James tentatively as he sat down at the end of Sirius' bed.
"I know you were," replied Sirius sighing. "I shouldn't have called you those things. I didn't mean it. I just wasn't exactly in the mood for laughing after I read the article."
"Don't worry about it" said James, looking extremely relieved that they had made up. "Who died anyways?"
"You know that girl that I was talking to after the potions exam in the Great Hall, and you guy were lau"
"Oh the one who thought you were 'so good looking'" replied James in a mock dreamy voice. "My God! She died?" he added in a completely serious tone.
"No, you git, you didn't let me finish. Anyways, it was her father that died. Death Eaters killed him because he worked for the Ministry in the Department of Muggle Relations. Bastards" he added.
"I'm sorry mate," said James. "At least she's coming back to Hogwarts right?"
"Yeah right" snorted Sirius. "So she can tell me all about her date with Snivellus."
"Sorry, I'd forgotten about that," said James apologetically. "Well there's no point in wasting your summer worrying about it. You don't see me lying around thinking about Evans all the time. Come on, let's go play some quidditch in the back yard."
Sirius nodded in agreement. They grabbed their broomsticks and headed outdoors.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For the remainder of the summer Sirius took James' advice to heart. He did not think too much about Auria or worry about having to face her with Snape at school. Sirius and James spent the last month of the holidays playing chess and quidditch, and generally messing up the house. By the end of the summer, although they would never admit it, Mr. and Mrs. Potter were glad to see them leave. The two boys had nearly eaten them out of house and home and they were tired of repairing the back windows that had been broken everyday by bludgers.
The day before school began they headed up to Diagon Alley to collect their school supplies. Sirius was looking around for Auria so much that at one point he walked right into the glass display window outside Florish and Blotts.
"I don't think she's here Padfoot," said James laughing as he helped Sirius pick up his textbooks. James turned out to be right; for they had still not spotted her by the time they reached the fireplace inside the Leaky Cauldron to head home. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
The next day Sirius and James woke up very early to pack. It took them so long to fit all their possessions, including quite a few dungbombs, inside their trunks that they nearly missed the train. They had just stepped onboard when the clock rang 11 and they were quickly hugged by Mrs. Potter not a second before the Hogwarts Express began to move down the track.
They quickly found a compartment with Lupin and Pettigrew and settled in. While discussing their various summer adventures Sirius kept checking the door to see if Auria walked by. When they heard the compartment door slide open Sirius leaned back in his seat and let his hair fall into his face and purposely loosened his tie.
"I hope you're not trying to look good for me Black," said a menacing voice from the compartment doorway. Sirius looked up to see Snape standing in the entrance laughing at him.
"Believe me, I wasn't Snivellus," he said coldly and whipping out his wand.
"Just a little jealous that I got to go out with Auria?" Snape said cruelly as he pulled out his own wand. Sirius' stomach hit the floor when he realized that she had actually gone on a date with Snape.
"She probably just did it because she felt sorry for you, because you're a loser" retorted Peter.
"Well then there's hope for you" replied Snape.
"I believe Snivellus," said James triumphantly. "That you just called yourself a loser."
"Yes, I really think you did" said Sirius and muttered a curse so fast that Snape was hanging upside down in the compartment. As his cloak few over his head to reveal ugly grey pants Sirius added, "Now Snivellus, I thought we told you last year to wash those dirty pants of yours."
"Yes" said James, "and your hair too." In a flash Snape was upright again and completely drenched in soapy water.
"Now leave us alone," said Lupin, finally deciding to join in. Snape stormed out of the compartment, leaving a large puddle on the floor. As Remus cleaned up the water Sirius sat back down, determined to find out exactly what happened on Auria's date with Snape.
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The four friends arrived at Hogwarts tired and starving. As they entered the Great Hall Sirius glanced over at the Ravenclaw table to see if Auria was there yet. She wasn't and rather disappointedly, Sirius sat down. He kept looking over at their table as the nervous first years walked in. Auria had still not appeared by the time the sorting ceremony was over, and Sirius was now getting rather nervous. "Maybe she's not coming back to Hogwarts now that her father is dead. Maybe she doesn't have enough money?" he thought to himself. He was shaken out of his thoughts by the sudden silence in the room. Dumbledore had stood up to make his year opening greeting.
"Welcome to Hogwarts first years, and welcome back everyone else," he began. I usually don't do announcements until after the feast but this year I must make one quick one." There was a collective groan, the loudest coming from the four Marauders. "It has come to my attention that the sorting hat, like very one else, makes mistakes." There was a large gasp. "The hat has informed me that sixth year Ravenclaw student Auria Jacobs has been sorted into the wrong house." Suddenly, as if from nowhere, Auria appeared beside Dumbledore. Sirius gazed at her and noticed that she looked thinner then the last time he had seen her, and her eyes were filled with sadness. Without seeming to notice her presence Dumbledore continued on. "Tonight that error will be fix, as Auria will be placed into her new house, Gryffindor." There was some scattered clapping at the Gryffindor table and boos from the Ravenclaw's.
Sirius clapped the loudest and could not believe his luck. Now he would have all the time in the world to get to know Auria, and to steal her away from Snape. She came and sat down nervously between Lily and Peter, diagonally across the table from Sirius. She kept her face down and silently stared at her plate. Sirius knew that she was trying very hard not to cry.
Once they had filled their plates Lily decided to introduce herself.
"Hello, I'm Lily Evans and welcome to Gryffindor" she said sticking out her hand.
"Auria Jacobs and thank you" replied Auria shaking the outstretched hand.
"Oh" Lily continued pointing down the table. "This is Anne Summers next to me and across is Samantha Berger. Then she looked down towards the Marauders and Auria followed Lily's gaze. "That's Peter Pettigrew there beside you, and beside him is James Potter," a hint of dislike in her voice. "Over there is Remus Lupin and next to him is Sirius Black," she finished. As soon as Auria's eyes met Sirius' she looked away, but to Padfoot's surprise they had been filled with sadness instead of anger. Auria did not speak another word throughout the rest of dinner.
Once the feast was over all the Gryffindor's headed up towards their common room. Auria walked behind Lily, her head still bowed. Sirius slowed down on the 4th staircase and waited for Auria to catch up. As she did he began to walk beside her but it took another staircase before he had the nerve to say anything.
"I'm really sorry about your dad," he said quietly.
Her head snapped up and looked straight at him. Her eyes were filled with tears. "Thank you," she whispered back and Sirius realized that she had completely forgotten about their argument last year.
Sirius didn't know what else to say to her so they continued to walk in silence. It was Auria who finally broke the silence. "How did you know he died?" she asked.
"It was in the Daily Prophet," he replied.
"Oh" she said, and then added, "you read the Daily Prophet?"
"No, not usually, but I did this summer."
"Why only this summer?" she asked quietly, looking around the castle.
Sirius had no idea what to say. He couldn't tell her the truth, that he had done it in case there was any news about her. So he made up a lie.
"I wanted to see if, um, they had come out with any new broomsticks. I heard that they were going to come out with the Comet 1500."
"Oh, I see" she replied.
"Do you play quidditch?" he asked her as they entered the common room.
"Yeah" she said slowly, taking in the room. "At home, with my dad." She quickly turned around to hide the tears and Sirius had the sudden urge to hug her.
"Great, I've made her cry twice," he thought to himself.
"Maybe you can try out for the Gryffindor team this year, we need a new chaser," he said in an effort to cheer her up. When she didn't respond he added in a hopeful voice, "I can show you how to get to Great Hall from here before breakfast tomorrow."
At this she rubbed her eyes and turned around. "Yeah thanks, that would be great," she said with a small smile and her eyes full of appreciation. Sirius pointed out the girl's dormitory and they headed up to bed. Sirius could not wipe the happy grin off his face as he changed into his pajamas, and didn't even complain when he friends began to laugh at him.