A/N Okay, as far as reviews go, we've almost reached the two-digit mark. Woohoo! I really appreciate those of you who have told me your thoughts on this story. Every thought is extremely encouraging. Do note as well that the story will get more involved and detailed as it develops, and I ask your patience as I use the first few chapters to develop the plot. Anyway, here we go...
Gemini- glad you like "my style". (. I defiantly will continue to write, have no fear. In fact, after school is out (one more week, yay!) then I'll probably be able to post about a chapter a day.
Siriuslives001- you're one hundred percent correct, SIRIUS IS NOT DEAD! Lol. Please keep reading! I hope I'm doing the most wonderful character ever justice...
Star of the Muses- the reason the chapters were short is because they had all the information they needed to contain. I know it's a little dissatisfying but the chapters will get longer, I promise!
MidnightPrincess- I'll keep writing, don't worry! Anyway, how could I not with such wonderful reviewers such as yourself giving me such positive feedback? You're great, and thanks very much.
Naoko-san- I'm really glad you like it so far, thanks for reviewing!
Snuffles2984- Yay! You reviewed me again! That makes me so happy! I'm also really pleased that you think that I'm portraying the marauders in a good light. I was really afraid I might not do it successfully. Thanks again, and please allow me to compliment you for your excellent job on chapter ten of Fallen. You're amazing I admire you so much!(.
Disclaimer- JKR wrote Harry Potter. I'm sorry for stealing the characters and all, but its all just so damn fabulous!
IF YOU DON'T SUBMIT A REVIEW THEN I'LL COME AFTER YOU WITH A KNIFE! Anyway, carry on...-
CHAPTER #3 The First Encounter
Sirius yawned. He had been dreaming, and while he lay there, half asleep, he could have sworn that he was not, in fact, in his bed. He had strong, half awake feelings to the contrary. Images of an endless field covered with the look and smell of heather stilled played in his mind. Eyes still closed and fighting to keep from going back to reality, he tried to remember the music, like pipes, that had seemed to drift enchantingly from a distance. There had been an unexplainable good feeling about this dream, and Sirius did not want to let go of it. When finally the pictures faded from his memory, he gave up, opened his eyes, and reluctantly pulled back his canopy hangings to look out the window to the right of his bed. The Hogwarts grounds were dancing in a soft glow of sunlight. It was dawn.
With a yawn, Sirius gingerly let his feet touch the cold floor. When he looked up, he found the rest of his roommates going through a simi;ar systematic process. There was an unspoken mutual agreement amongst the fifth year boys that a teenage male's morning should be spent in silence, and without any immediate social interaction. This would obviously prevent any stupid, pointless rows that might occur during everyone's temporary early crankiness. They dressed in silence.
Once they had left their dormitory and gotten a few bites to eat downstairs, however, James. Peter, Remus and Sirius were finally ready to talk. "So," began James thickly through a mouthful of scrambled eggs. "I think our map is nearly done, we just need to finish looking out for more secret passages. I was thinking we could visit old Filchy tonight..." he gulped. "Yeah, that's an idea," said Sirius eagerly. By now he had nearly completely forgotten any distracting thoughts that may have entered his mind earlier. "I can say that I need a set of office keys for my prefect's patrol on the fourth floor. Then we could get into Filch's office. He always hides his old maps and records in there..." suggested Lupin. "Or we could get James's cloak and just use a knife to pick the lock, because I know you can't use Alohamora on his door," added Sirius. "I don't know if we'll need to do it the muggle way, but I don't care. "What d'you reckon, Wormtail?" James asked Peter, who was watching a group of girls gather at the other end of the Gryffindor table with his moth hanging slightly open. "I don't know," said Peter distractedly. "But there's your girl, Sirius." He pointed rather rudely to the girl from the previous night.
Though slightly taken aback, Sirius didn't show it. On the contrary, he recovered his surprise instantly as he flashed a cheesy, James bond-type smile and said in a debonaire voice: "She's only my girl if she wants to be my girl, Peter."
He swept up rather spontaneously where the girl sat. She looked slightly awkward as she carefully wrapped her napkin round her metal fork and lifted it, staring at it as though it were the most frightening and curious thing she had ever seen.
She didn't seem to notice as Sirius boldly hopped onto the spare seat across from her and said, "Hello," still flashing the same smile. The girl started, dropped her fork, and slowly lifted her funny eyes to Sirius's gaze. He looked at her eyes for a moment. Perhaps he had only imagined that they had been gray, for they were now striking at an obvious, forget-me-not blue.
"Hello," she said, as if she were on her guard. When she didn't press on, Sirius continued: "I can see you're new here. But don't even worry about it. If you ever need help finding your way around or anything, don't hesitate to come over and ask me. You'll like it here, I think. Hogwarts is a good enough place as long as you stick with the right people. And I'm Sirius, just in case you were wondering."
He said all this very fast and in an overly genial and eager manner. Apparently, though, the girl seemed not at all impressed by what Sirius thought had been general hospitality. "Sirius, eh?" she asked. He nodded. "Well, I'm sorry but if you think I'm daft or whatever else then you can shove that grin right up your arse because I'm not. I know that I don't look like every other girl here and that I may be a bit strange to you, but I'm not gonna have you comin' over here to poke fun at me only to leave and laugh it up with your little boyfriends. I'll not stand for it. Leave me be."
Sirius stared. This was far from any reaction he'd imagined he'd get from offering this girl his greetings. Her rough Cornish accent had spit out every word like a dagger aimed straight for him. It was like she was defending herself from a verbal attack rather than a welcome. With a brief understanding of why she had been sitting alone, Sirius bowed respectfully as he rose and said: "I guess I'll be asking you for your name later, then?" "If I had my way you'd never know it, you proud bastard," she spat in a low voice.
Utterly perplexed and shaking off the unusual encounter, Sirius made his way back to his original seat, where the eyes of his three friends followed him warily.
"She didn't look too happy," said James obviously as Sirius took a seat.
"Nah, just a bit defensive. But she'll warm up, I think," replied Sirius, trying to sound unconcerned. He didn't really feel like telling his friends she had snapped at him, but he didn't quite know why.
"You know, I really don't think she's a normal witch. She's got to be mixed with something. Part vela, maybe. Or faerie, even. I don't know. I suppose it would be nice to have a fellow half-breed to talk to if she were one, though," speculated Lupin.
"She's right freaky-looking, if you ask me," said Peter.
"No one did ask you, mate," said James with a smirk.
"Well, I mean, look at her-"
Bt Sirius interrupted.
"Are you lot gonna stop staring at her, then? I sure wouldn't want you to, if it were me."
The truth was, Sirius didn't quite know why he was defending the still nameless girl. After all, the only thing she had said to him so far had been quite rude, and she was no real beauty, at that. At least not in an ordinary way. But there had been something about her from the very beginning which had sparked a rare interest in Sirius...
A/N apologies for format problems. If you have any suggestions as to why this program is such a bitch, enlighten me and add the answers to my problems to your reviews. thanks for reading, and sorry if I sounded a bit frustrated just then...