Thank you to all of my reviewers! I'm sorry for the long update, but like some many others I had to visit my family for the holidays. Best wished to all, and nows here is the next chapter!!
They entered the ball slowly, walking somewhat elegantly down the entrance hall stair way. Everyone seemed to stare up at the group for Sirius, James and Peter seemed to be the only ones dressed in Hogwarts robes. "I thought everyone would be more formal than to wear dress robes. Sheesh, I feel so foolish wearing this silk robe, " Sirius whispered to Rhys, who in turn smiled at him.
"I know, but you look such like a princess I don't think I could go could the whole evening with out commenting," Rhys said in enjoyment.
The Halloween Ball was already in full swing, when the band of friends had arrived. James, being dateless as he was, observed everything with the bored, kill-me-now-and-let-my-bones-rot-in-dust sorrow and embarrassment that those poor, unfortunate souls suffer those bachelors and bachelorettes.
The great hall gleamed with orange and black. Rhys looked happy not to have missed the spectacle on the count that Remus was not there. Sirius was not paying close attention and had his mind to preoccupied on the coming nights events and of course... "FOOD!" Sirius yelled as he dug right into the chicken as his friends watched in amazement.
If one thing was for sure, even if the skies ceased being their lovely shade of blue, it was that Sirius's stomach was always, always a bottomless pit. He thought with his belly, not with his mind. This made him the constant end of the stick when it came to jibes about health, weight, and general appearance though he always maintained to look handsome. It made for good blackmail, and also, good bribes. If anyone wanted anything from him, wave a spoonful of tapioca pudding and he was yours.
Peter was whisked away by his lovely date Gwen on to he dance floor. Rhys, wanting to follow their good example, pulled at Sirius's sleeve, who paid no heed to it and kept on munching away. "You're good for nothing you, know?" She said sarcastically.
Sirius grunted in agreement as Rhys pulled James away to go dance and he was left dateless and alone. After finishing his large meal, in which he ate half of the food placed at the Gryffindor, he sat there quite alone and desolate while the Slytherins jeered at him. "Annoying, aren't they?" cooed a soft, melodious tone.
Sirius stared up into dark, midnight blue eyes. Long, black hair swept over her dress robes and a pretty face stared back at him. "Yeah," Sirius said in a melodramatic tone.
"Are you just going to sit there all night?" She asked trying to push him into asking him for a dance.
Sirius missed the hint and responded, "Well... yes until my date decides to come and collect me."
"Typical, stupid, dense-headed boys," the girl muttered under her breath. "My name's Rei."
Sirius stared as she managed to introduce herself so politely after uttering a insult to the male gender, not even five seconds before. "I'm Sirius," He said quietly, knowing that if Rhys saw him he would most likely get it.
Sirius sat and talked to the girl for quite some time until a familiar, angry face stared at him. Sirius stopped talking and stared up at his date. "You're just in time," He said excitedly. "Rhys this is Rei and she's—"
"Sirius! Where were you?" Rhys asked in an urgent tone. "You are required to dance with me because you are my date and if you don't want to I can find another date."
"Knowing you I'm sure you would have no problem finding someone,… but I will not make you go through such an effort as to find some poor, helpless soul how just wants to be alone."
Sirius whisked Rhys off onto the dance floor. He danced only one dance with her until he departed with Peter and James. Peter had apparently hit it off with his date and did not want to go. Sirius and James could not believe his friend's good fortune for Peter was quite the geek in their eyes.
The boys left the ball and began to walk back to Gryffindor tower. "Can't we just go into the forest now?" Peter asked anxiously.
""Well, that would ruin the surprise," James said with a smile on his face.
"This better be good James because I don't feel like wasting time," Sirius said in a hurried voice.
"Trust me it will be good," James said in a reassuring voice.
The boys reached their dormitory and James reached under his bed and pulled out his trunk. "Wow James that's so helpful," Sirius said sarcastically.
James shot Sirius a glare as he pulled out a long, thin clock. It seemed to have some sort of inscription in a different language around the edges. James smiled as he wrapped the cloak around his body.
Peter disappeared for James's body had disappeared from sight. "An invisibility cloak!" Sirius said excitedly.
Peter stood beside Sirius awe struck. "We should be on our way because 'I'm not going to waste any time,'" James said, poking fun at Sirius.
The boys huddled underneath the cloak and began to walk out of the common room and headed toward the forest. When they were less than five steps (in Sirius's shoes) toward exit that led straight out to the Dark Forest Lily Evans walked straight in front of them. "They said they were going to be here. I heard them in the library talking about it," Lily said pacing in front of the door.
Rhys and Gwen both leaned against wall. "Look Lily they aren't here maybe you misheard them, or maybe it wasn't even them," Rhys said turning her back as if to walk to out of the room.
"But I'm positive," Lily said, trying to justify her case. "I saw them leave the library; I know they're going to be here."
Rhys simply walked away and Gwen followed. Lily frowned as Sirius sweated heavily for he was worried Lily would find them or worse, walk right into him. After a few minutes Lily trudged out of the room muttering under her breath. Sirius sighed deeply, in relief and the boys continued toward the forest.
As soon as they had reached the out bearings of the forest Sirius throw off the invisibility cloak. "That's the last time we talk in the library, thanks to James's girlfriend," Sirius said angrily.
"It was not Lily's fault! And most importantly SHES NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!" James answered back
Both boys glared at each other clenching their wands in their pockets. "Will you to settle down? We're in the Dark Forest and all you want to do is fight! This is an once in a lifetime opportunity," Peter said rashly.
Sirius and James immediately cooled down and looked around at their surroundings. To Sirius, this was the most interesting thing he had ever seen. Though it was dark, he could make out large, haunted looking trees, with their roots sticking high up out of the the ground. Vines snaked across and eerie lights seemed to be shining. "I think I'll build my summer home here," Sirius said jokingly.
James and Peter laughed as the group worked its way further into the forest. The eerie light seemed to grow and surround them. A howl came from what seemed to be under ground. Peter jumped, falling backwards over a root hitting the ground hard. James bent down to help him up. Sirius suddenly felt the feeling of being watched, and that Peter falling had alerted something of their presence in the dark forest. "I think we better go," Sirius said in a hushed tone.
James nodded and Peter whined. "I can't get up," Peter said sounding as though he was crying. "My leg hurts."
James and Sirius each grabbed one of his pudgy arms and began to, some what, tow him back to the castle. "James you have your invisibility cloak right?" Sirius asked casually. "Now would be a good time to use it."
"Its right…" James soundly went quite. "I must have left it back in the clearing."
Sirius gulped and started to feel adrenaline rushing through his veins. "WE're going to die!" Peter cried." They'll catch us for sure and expel us. I don't have anywhere to go."
"Hush Peter or something's going to eat you before they can expel us." James said in an annoyed voice.
"I would say so." A low, growling voice said from behind.
The group immediately set off sprinting like they never had before. They heard, what ever was behind them, swift foot steps. Sirius howled as something grabbed as his back with sharp claws. He felt as though his back had been ripped off and ti began to sting.
Not knowing in which direction they were running, they felt the thin disappear from running them. "Humans I see," said a strange voice whose words were slurred as though it was speaking through large teeth. "They have good blood."
To yellow eyes came out of the dark. At tall man suddenly became visible. He had extraordinary pale skin with black hair. He wore an all black suit, and in anthers eyes, would seem to be very handsome. "My name is Igor, and I will be sucking your blood today," He said calmly, with an evil glint in his eyes.
Sirius, reverting to muggle methods for he seemed to forget he was a wizard, stepped hard on his large, bony foot and the boys ran in the opposite direction in which they came faster than they had ever run before. Though everything was pitch black, Sirius could feel that he had run out of the forest, for the air seemed less dense.
The boys ran up to the castle and, surprisingly, made it inside with out anyway one knowing, or they didn't really care. They ran through the crowded common room, in which they got some very strange looks, and into the boys' dormitory. James and Sirius flopped Peter down on his bed who sat there and nursed his knee. "Sirius.. what the hell happened?" James said more shocked then Sirius had ever heard anyone, and a tad bit scared.
Sirius put his hand to his back and felt it begin all wet. He slowly pulled his hand forward knowing that he must have been bleeding and stared at his bloody hand in dismay. "We've got to get you to the Hospital Wing," James said in a worried tone.
Sirius nodded feeling that he had no more energy to speak. Peter sat straight and whined, "You're better take me with you."
Sirius draped his heavy winter cloak over his shoulders in attempt to hide the injury, as James grabbed Peter's arms as they hobbled down the stairs. Arthur Weasly stood up and started to say something as the boys bonded out the stairs," Not now Arthur," James responded brushing him off.
Arthur Weasly's face turned bright red as he pointed a certain finger in their direction as they left the room. The boys wondered down to the fourth floor and into the Hospital Wing. Madame Pomfrey stood shocked as they boys hobbled in, their faces concentrating at the floor. "What on Earth happened?" She asked in a worried tone.
The boys stood silent for a few seconds until Sirius blurted out, "Peter and I feel down the stairs. It was quite embarrassing."
"You did not fall down the stairs and get a scrape like that Mr. Black." she stated while helping Peter to a bed.
"I slide off the stairs and onto a rug. I believe it to be bad rug burn unless you're suggesting that someone hexed me behind be back."
Madame Pomfrey shook her head at the story and offered Sirius a bed. Sirius began to walk toward the bed, but in attempt in trying to reach, he felt the power in him surge out and he was left in darkness.
Sirius awoke with all of the first year Gryffindor surrounding him, staring at him. "He's awake Madame Pomfrey!" cried James.
All of a sudden, Sirius was asked an alarming number on questions in which he had no answer to. He felt light headed and heard Madame Pomfrey shoo his friends away so he could get rest. "Between you and I Mr. Black, I know where you were and what happened to you, but after talking this over with Professor Dumbledore I decided not to present this situation to Headmaster Dipet," She said in a cautious tone. "Don't do it again, Mr. Black. This matter will rest between you and I, and I except to see you here every day after dinner for two weeks to help me tidy up the place. Is this understood?"
Sirius nodded as she turned around and closed the curtains to his bed area. "Get some rest Mr. Black you've already missed to days of school I'd hate for you to have missed any more."
Sirius smiled to himself, knowing he had slept his way out of a transfiguration test, as he slowly fell back into a deep sleep.
Another chapter done! I'd like to now take the time to point out that I never said Lily had red hair I said she had brown hair (unless I am mistaken) and you must be confusing her with Rhys. I hope to update soon for James needs to get back his invisibility cloak!