HARRY POTTER AND THE BREATH OF LIFE
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any other known character from the Harry Potter series. I do own the plot and a few characters.
Chapter 4 – The Marauders year five – Christmas
A whole month passed, yet Sirius still hadn't found the right moment for the big announcement. Iris was starting to become upset about this. She thought that the two of them should tell their friends. Together. But every time she had tried to force Sirius to say something he would usually change the subject. Finally Iris's patience reached a dead point.
" This has to stop, Sirius Black." She yelled to him.
They were under a tree next to the lake, even though it was freezing and snow was threatening to fall soon. Sirius was sitting and Iris was pacing back and forth, her face red from the anger.
He knew he was in trouble. He had learned that when she yelled and called him by his first and last name he had done something wrong.
Good thing she doesn't know my middle name. That would be even worse. He thought to himself.
" Look, honey. You don't understand." He started, trying to sound unnerved.
This caused Iris to stop and look at him with a look of pure disdain.
" What-don't-I-understand-Sirius?" she asked pausing at each word to make sure he listened. Each word full of hate.
" Well – er – first you must understand that James doesn't think I'm capable of keeping a relationship with anyone. Second they will be all over me, tormenting me about this. 'Oh Sirius has a girlfriend. How long will she last?'" Sirius pulled a high-pitched voice to imitate one of his friends. " I don't think I can deal with them taunting me."
" Then if you can't deal with your friends why do you even bother dating with me?"
" Why is our friends opinion so important to you?" he was getting angry.
" It's not their opinion I want."
" So what is it? Their approval?"
" No, I
don't need their approval either."
" Then what?" he asked angrily.
" You haven't figured it out? I thought you were smart. You really don't know what is troubling me?" she asked calmly.
" Sorry but no, I don't."
" It's my sister."
" What?"
He hadn't seen this coming. He got up and looked deep into Iris's eyes.
" Your sister?"
" Yes, my sister. She is a control freak. Little Miss Perfect that likes to keep track of every single move I make. I'm sure she suspects I'm seeing someone. She is probably dieing to know who it is. We have to tell her. Do you understand now? If you are there with me when we break the news she can't say anything. If I tell her alone, you are in serious trouble. She knows your reputation. She is going to slice you into pieces if anything happens to me and it happens to be your fault."
Sirius looked to the floor and mumbled something to it.
" Did you say something?" Iris asked him.
" I said that she can catch me alone at Quidditch."
He was right. They had Quidditch practice and she was going to lecture him before or after one. (A/N: forgot to mention it but Sarah is now Quidditch captain, Sirius is a Beater and James a Seeker. Sorry about that.)
" Well, if
you hang out with James she won't."
" Iris, if that is your problem, let's deal with it." He said, walking to her. He
placed his hands on her face and looked into her eyes again. " We will tell
everyone on Christmas day."
" It's a week
until Christmas." She announced.
" Consider it as a present."
" You promise?"
" I promise." He said sweetly. Then he leaned to her and they kissed. He was going to accept whatever Sarah had to say to him.
Christmas came faster than they expected. Sirius was starting to act strangely and the rest of the Marauders were thinking that their friend had lost his marbles.
" Are you felling all right, Padfoot?" Remus asked two days before Christmas.
They were all inside because there was a blizzard. The four Marauders were sitting by the fireplace in their common room. Sirius was looking at the fire and didn't seem to notice anything around him. Remus pressed again.
" Earth to Padfoot. Respond Padfoot."
No response. James waved his hand in front of Sirius's eyes and had no response as well. It was Peter who succeeded in bringing Sirius back to life. He pocked him in his ribs, right next to a bruise he had made during a Quidditch practice. He yelped in pain and got up in an attempt to spank Peter, but he was faster and started running away. They ran around the common room, dodging a few first years, until Iris came down the girls' staircase. Sirius immediately stopped and panting welcomed Iris.
" Hi." He said casually.
" Hi to you too. What is going on here?"
" Well, Peter hurt me and I was chasing him around. But he is a little 'mouse' and is difficult to catch."
Peter looked at Sirius in disbelief and received a grin of comfort.
Iris shrugged and smiled. She didn't catch the inside joke. Everything was the same way.
On Christmas morning, James awakened Sirius. He was jumping in his bed screaming at the top of his voice.
" IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!! WAKE UP YOU LAZY GIT."
Sirius roared and getting up threw James out of his bed.
" Do you really had to do that?" he asked exasperated.
" Sorry, mate. But you can't deny that it was efficient." James said, grinning. "Look, presents." He continued, pointing to the end of Sirius's bed.
Suddenly it hit Sirius. Today was day he was announcing his romance with Iris. Yet he didn't feel bad. He was feeling confident and happy.
You won't have to leave the common room anymore just to kiss her. He thought while looking at his presents.
Then, out of nowhere he jumped and started ripping out the paper from his presents.
The first one was from his mother, who gave him a very old looking book entitled «Pure and Mud don't mix.» by Salazar Slytherin. Sirius looked at it with pure disgust.
" Who knew that Slytherin had written a book?" He asked aloud.
Everyone in the dorm looked at him in disbelief.
" You're kidding, right? What's it about?" asked James.
" Its called 'Pure and Mud don't mix'. And who cares what's it about? It is going straight to the garbage can." Said Sirius. " What the hell does she think she is doing? Old hag."
He threw the book to the wall and continued opening his presents. He didn't notice that his friends were eyeing him. He opened James's present. It was a stuffed black dog. He smiled at his friend. The came Remus's present. It was also a stuffed black dog. Sirius was taken-aback. Rather reluctantly he opened Peter's gift.
If it's another stuffed dog, I'm going to kill them. He thought to himself. And he was right. It was another stuffed black dog. The dogs were exactly the same. His friend had played him a prank. And in Sirius's opinion, it wasn't very funny. But Remus, James and Peter were laughing their hearts out. James was gasping for breath and Remus was grabbing his own stomach. Peter was rolling on the floor. Sirius ignored his friend maniac behaviour and proceeded to open another present. This one didn't have a signature but Sirius had an idea about who had sent it. He opened it to find a square box and a note. He read the note.
" Inside this box is my heart. Don't break it, don't lose it and don't throw it away. Cherish it and it will give you something in return. Love, Iris."
Sirius carefully opened the box and what he saw inside it moved him. It was a pendant with a little heart. In the front of the heart were engraved the letters I.R. Sirius couldn't believe his eyes. Iris had given him her heart. He smiled broadly and took the pendant from the box. Then he wrapped it around his neck. He placed the note inside the box and without attracting attentions he carefully stowed the box in his trunk. Then he looked at his friends – who were still laughing – and said confidently.
" Guys! Stop laughing for a while. Meet me in the common room in five minutes. I have something important to tell you."
The Marauders stopped laughing and saw Sirius exit the dormitory. Then they looked at each other and resumed laughing.
Sirius reached the common room to find it deserted. How was he going to call Iris if he couldn't go to her dorm? He sat down in the nearest chair.
This is just brilliant. Now I have to wait until she decides to come down and that can take all day. I could owl her. No, that takes a while and the guys are coming down any minute. Please Iris come down here. He thought and looked at the girls' staircase. Two seconds later he heard footsteps. Two seconds more and Iris appeared in front of him.
" You called?" she asked smiling.
He looked at her completely stunned.
" You – er – how did you – I didn't –" he stuttered. He didn't understand what just happened.
" I guess it's magic. You did think of me, right?"
" Yes, but –"
" Don't try
to figure it out. It is beyond your knowledge."
" That was weird."
" Connection. What do you want anyway? I was opening my presents." She said
grinning.
" I'm
waiting for the guys. I want to tell them now."
" Ok. I'll go get Lily and Sarah." And she went upstairs.
A few seconds later came the Marauders. They were now very serious but their faces were red from all the laughing.
" I see you've stopped acting like total maniacs." Sirius said calmly, but he was smiling.
" You're not mad at us are you? It was a joke." Said James, nervously. He seemed afraid that his friend would attack him at any moment.
" It all right. The toys were kind of cute. I liked them. Thanks."
The three Marauders sighed in relief.
" What did you want to tell us?" Asked Remus, sitting in a chair next to Sirius. The other boys did the same.
" Wait a second. You'll know soon." And he got up.
They waited for almost five minutes before they heard footsteps coming from the girls' staircase. Iris was pushing down the stairs a very sleepy looking Sarah and an even sleepier Lily.
" Why can't I sleep? It is Christmas and I'm tired." Complained Sarah.
" I totally agree with Sarah. I mean why do we have to came down here anyway? And on our pyjamas." Grunted Lily.
" Shut up and sit down next to the boys." Ordered Iris.
The girls reluctantly obeyed but Lily had a reason to be pissed.
" Wanna sit on my lap, Evans?" James asked before Lily sat down in a chair behind Remus.
She looked at him in disgust.
" The day I sit on our lap will be the day I die. I hate you, Potter." She turned to Iris. " This better be good, Renata. I can't stand to stay in the same place with Potter very long."
" Very well. Sirius if you please." Iris said.
" Guys. Me and Iris, we are a couple."
After saying this they both watched their reactions. Peter moved slightly to the left, Remus sat up straighter, James looked like he already knew, Lily didn't seem to have listened and Sarah was fully awake and looking at her sister. A few seconds later James got up.
" This is great. Since when?" he asked statically.
" Well, to tell you the truth, a month ago." Sirius answered looking at Iris.
" I knew
it." Yelled Remus. " The bathroom thing. I knew it."
" You're right Moony. We have been going out since that day." Said Sirius.
" Well not exactly 'going out'. Unless you count 'going out' as leaving the common room or going to the forest." Said Iris smiling.
" Congratulations, mate. This one will last, I'm sure." Said James shaking hands with his best friend. He sounded honest.
" I agree with Prongs." Said Remus, patting Sirius in the back.
" I share their opinion." Came the voice of Peter from the chair where he was still sitting. Peter was a little afraid of Sirius.
" Thanks
guys."
" Congratulations, Miss Renata. You have conquered the heart of the Most
Desirable Boy in Hogwarts." Said James, bowing to Iris and holding a hand.
" It wasn't that hard." She said smiling.
Lily finally gave signs of life.
" Good luck friend. But then again maybe Black isn't as bad as Potter. Can I go to bed now?"
" Sure. And
thanks."
" No problem. See you at lunch."
Before leaving Lily hugged Iris and tapped Sirius on the shoulder. Sarah was still sitting in her chair, her gaze stuck on Iris. The young Renata noticed this.
" Aren't you gonna say something?" Iris asked her sister.
She got up and looked at the new couple.
" Congratulations. I'm going to bed again. I'm still tired."
She glanced with a hard look at Sirius and kissed her sister' forehead. Then she left to her dorm.
" That went well." Iris said sarcastically.
" Don't worry. She will get used to it." Said Sirius.
They looked at each other and kissed. It was a big, long kiss and the Marauders had to intervene to break them up.
" Get a room you two." Said James loudly.
The couple smiled but decided to ignore them.
" Don't
mind them. Its j-e-a-l-o-u-s-y."
" Uh, he can spell! We are so impressed." Mocked Remus before dragging the rest
of the guys to their dorm.
" Sirius?"
" Yes,
honey?"
" Hug me."
" Sure thing ma'am."
They hugged tight.
" Iris, I like you." Said Sirius and kissed her cheek.
" You have my heart." Was her reply.
They kissed again. They were officially a couple and they were happy.
Not so sure that was a small chapter. *scratches her shin* Gotta work on that. Anyway, thanks for the reviews.
Next chapter: Quidditch. :-)
