Author's Note: No time for responses, sorry! Or excuses! Just read, and review, and be done with it!

Chapter 6: A Secret Admirer


Ramona Franworth's POV:

Ever since the day Mona found that bundle under her bed, strange things have been going on. Nothing too bad, but just subtle things. Eleanor and I didn't really talk to Mona after that, but we still noticed the differences. After all, we were her Gryffindor roommates. Every time we saw her, she was going on about how she simply adores marigolds and irises, or else she'd be thinking aloud about who her secret admirer was.

And every time Lily was there listening to her, something would indicate Lily's uneasiness. Eleanor noticed it too, but typically, she didn't care. Phyllis would listen patiently to Mona's ramblings too, so we guessed that she probably already forgave Mona – she was often too forgiving for her own good. Lily's behavior, however, was interesting enough. When Mona got started on a rambling, Lily would always frown uneasily and busy herself, or find an excuse to not listen. She even snapped at Mona one day for talking about it too much, but Mona dismissed it as mood swings. I didn't think so. It was certainly something else. Eleanor may not care, but I did.

We were in the common room once, Eleanor, Mona, Phyllis, Lily, and myself, discussing the upcoming Hogsmeade date. Mona had made no move whatsoever to signal the idea that she regretted not having us there, so Eleanor and I sat in our own corner of the room while Lily and Phyllis spoke with the ravenhead. We were close enough, however, to listen in.

"You'll still be seeing that conceited git then," Lily was grumbling, her eyes intent on the fireplace. Mona frowned but didn't snap back.

"Of course she is," Phyllis insisted. "Why wouldn't she? And he sounds nice enough, if a bit cocky. We could wait in the common room for you Mo, if you want," she added to Mona. At that moment, Eleanor turned to me, wearing an incredulous look.

"Will you believe it, Ramona," she asked dubiously, watching Phyllis with an uneasy eye. "She's already forgiven Mona, even when Mona disregarded her kindness." She shook her head in mild disbelief. I smirked, amused at Eleanor's wonder.

"It's called a best friend, Harper." I grinned indulgently at her. She snorted and mock-smiled sweetly at me over the table.

"Yes, Franworth, I am aware of their friendship. Still, not all best friends are stupid, you know," she snapped bitingly at me. I raised my eyebrows, but this was all just play. Eleanor and I always bickered playfully when we were in the mood, and evidently this is how we became best friends. And moreover, we used each other's surnames when squabbling.

"Forgiving," I corrected for her, turning my attention back to Mona, Lily, and Phyllis. "Not all best friends are forgiving."

Eleanor scoffed, but I paid no attention. Lily was wearing a clearly worried expression, and Mona was wearing one that showed evident displeasure. I strained my hearing to hear their conversation.

"Please, Mo," Lily was pleading to no avail. "Don't get too carried away. You can't trust guys, and that's why people who marry face a great risk. You don't know what kind of guy this is."

A furrow developed in Mona's brow, and she bit her bottom lip. "You don't know this guy either, Lily, so I don't see why you'd be warning me like this. Trust me, and trust him."

I saw a brightening in Lily's eyes, and I noticed fear in the way she decided not to say anymore. It was too obvious, really. Still, Mona was too angry to realize that Lily knew. In the way Lily looked at her when Mona spoke… Lily knew. And I realized something more; and suddenly I feared for Mona. Lily knew who Mona's secret admirer was, and by the way she worried about Mona, it wasn't someone so prone to commitment.


Hogsmeade (Third-Person Narrator)

October 15, Hogsmeade morning, dawned crisp and full of foreboding for Mona and Lily. Phyllis, however, began the day blissfully unaware of the drama stirring among the Gryffindor sixth-year girls and had looked forward to Hogsmeade with a feeling of happiness on Mona's behalf. Mona had woken early then, waking Lily and Phyllis early as well, and had been brighter than they had ever witnessed her. She took a quick shower (Lily could've sworn she heard Mona singing – and Mona wasn't that bad) and had even put her straight, black hair into a neat ponytail, with a single gracious strand trailing down at the side of her face.

It would be an understatement to say that Lily was worried.

When Mona had finished her shower, she asked Phyllis and Lily if they wanted to go down with her to breakfast, but Lily had refused. Phyllis then noticed that something bothered Lily, and had tried asking what was wrong more than once, but she always got the same answer: "Worried? What? How could I be worried, especially today? Why do you think I'm worried? I'm not worried! Very happy I am, yes, not worried!" (Yes, she always got an answer just like that, or something to that extent.)

So, apparently, Phyllis knew for a near-fact that Lily was, indeed, worried.

Breakfast that morning was noticeably different from its usual routine. Lily had breakfast seated between Eleanor and Ramona, as she had successfully avoided Mona – and lucky for her, Mona was too nervous to care. Too many thoughts preoccupied her mind, and she felt it all too important to take note of each thought, just to be cautious.

Her thoughts: what if it was a joke, a big prank played on her by some Slytherins? Wait, were the Slytherins smart enough to get into the girls' dorm? If they were, they'd have to be Ravenclaws… then what if it was a joke pulled by some Slytherins and one Ravenclaw? But then how did they get the Gryffindor common room password? So then a Gryffindor was in it too… Mona gasped, startling Phyllis.

"Phyllis, do I have enemies in Gryffindor?" Mona asked frantically, staring at the people seated at her table with a sort of panicky look. Phyllis stared at her at first, and then sighed exasperatedly.

"How many times.." the blonde began, gritting her teeth, and then instantaneously she calmed, taking up her sweet patience again – or something resembling it. "You have no enemies, Mona Pristina, in our House, and most likely this is not a joke. Nor is it a shot at revenge, because if this person's idea of revenge is hooking someone up with yet another someone, then that person needs some lessons in retaliation."

Phyllis bit into a butter-coated crumpet with a tiny sigh. Mona glared at her, seething.

"Don't you sigh at me, Miss Shirley Temple, miss. And don't use my middle name again." It wasn't really the sigh that angered her; really, it was more of Phyllis's use of Mona's sophisticated middle name.

Phyllis glowered in response and scoffed. "I am NOT a Shirley Temple; I still find it amazing that she managed to further degrade herself with a song of animal crackers in soup. Really. And I sighed because the crumpet tasted good, not because you had your knickers in a knot. Why would I waste my breath on that?"

A glare-filled silence, which also served as a sorry excuse for peace.

Eleanor broke it with her jubilant, whooping laugh, sending several people at their table into a perplexed silence. Heads turned, eyes stared.

"Hmm… Lily seems to be rather jumpy today, doesn't she? And worried out of her mind too… accuse her of being worried and you'll see what I mean," Phyllis said, looking over at Lily's direction. Because Lily sat right beside Eleanor, people were bound to notice how she smiled sheepishly on Eleanor's behalf.

"And this is new…?" Mona drawled, pouring herself another glass of iced pumpkin juice. Phyllis turned and gave Mona that falsely innocent look; that look was trademark to Phyllis, and while it allowed Phyllis to ask any question she desired while seeming innocent, it was a cute face that guys constantly found attractive.

However, it just annoyed Mona and Lily to no end.

"What do you want?" Mona snapped, narrowing her eyes. Phyllis shrugged lightly and continued on with that vague, questioning look. The ravenhead did her best to ignore this penetrating stare, and just when it seemed like she could actually finish her breakfast in an artificial sort of peace, Phyllis broke the silence with a question; the question was just as vague as her look.

"Why would you think that Lily is always so worried?"

"Because Lily is Lily. She is someone who finishes her essays the day they're given, someone who screams bloody murder at her roommates when she's missing a sock, someone who labels everything on her bloody side of the room. Does that sound worried enough to you, or do I need to describe that manic paranoia/obsession phase thing she went through last year?"

"She's avoiding us now, I hope you noticed."

"I noticed."

"And you don't mind?" Phyllis's eyebrows shot up, her cerulean eyes dulling with confusion.

"No, not really; she might need her space, or just some time to breathe… or maybe she's having those mood swings of hers. I didn't ask. Could be James though… ask him if he tried to kiss her in a broom closet again or something. Then that'll explain it."

The blonde wrinkled her nose distastefully at Mona's bluntness, but somehow she honestly couldn't bring herself to argue with this. Ludicrous as this sounded, Mona could be right; the whole secret-admirer thing did seem to bring Lily to an all-new, record-breaking level of anxiety, so maybe Lily just needed time to herself. And Ramona and Eleanor, since the two were endless fun.

Still… there was a sense of worry in Lily that Phyllis had never seen before (or not).

"I still think she's worried about something in particular," Phyllis said doggedly, her expression lofty. "I've taken note of almost every level of unease Lily's been through, and this one definitely doesn't occur on a regular basis."

Mona smirked. "Every level of unease? Hmm… that bored, weren't you?"

Phyllis glared and almost accidentally-on-purpose spilled pumpkin juice on the front of Mona's school robes. Almost.

No, Phyllis thought with a hint of sarcastic sweetness. I am too nice for that.

Both girls ended their playful bickering (well, most of it was playful) when the Marauders, led by a frustrated looking James Potter, made their way over to where Mona and Phyllis sat. The seats beside the two girls were occupied, of course, so James and Sirius were forced to remain standing.

For once, James didn't really seem to care how he made himself look. Although he really did improve his attitude (for Lily and Lily only, I might add), he was still a prick.

"Phyllis, Mona… I blame you!" he blurted, glaring behind his spectacles. Of course, it wasn't a scary glare, considering he wore glasses that squashed the impressive air. "Lily's not speaking to me, not even when I tried to ruffle her hair. Usually she whips out her wand and starts snapping, but she didn't even do that. What did you do?"

Phyllis and Mona stared at him indignantly; a crumpet dropped and two pairs of eyes glowered their worst.

"Oh yes, and we aren't suffering either, even if she is our best friend who refuses to talk to us… yes, life is harsh, isn't it? And we are to blame…" Mona snapped impatiently, her tone thickly covered in sarcasm.

James' brow relaxed and his frown faded; but it wasn't replaced by a smile. "She isn't talking to you two either? Then why is she over there with Remora and Eliana?"

"Well, it's only a theory, but we think she uses them to relax her nerves. You know she was born a nervous wreck. I don't know how RAMONA and ELEANOR calm her though; their endless bickering can drive anyone up the wall."

Sirius, who was standing behind James, sniggered and raised his eyebrows; this act made several girls nearby – who were caught up in the process of beholding his oh-so-godliness – take in a sharp breath.

He looked good when he was cynical.

"And you and Phyllis don't? Bicker, I mean." Sirius said, smirking.

"Well, we do… it's just not over other people's heads."

James and Sirius gave her identical that's-what-you-think looks, and shrugged.

"We won't say anything," James contributed.

Suddenly, something lit up Sirius' face, and his eyes darted fervently towards Mona. However, when he spoke, he spoke to all.

"So are you all going to Hogsmeade in a bit?" he questioned suddenly, making James' eyes widen and turn into angry little slits behind wire-framed glasses. "Seeing as it's Hogsmeade weekend and all, and it doesn't happen everyday,"

A hot blush suddenly made its way to Mona's cheeks, flushing her normally fair face into a light pink.

"Erm, yes, actually. Phyllis is going over to Honeydukes to restock her candy collection, and I'll be by the Three Broomsticks. No idea what Lily's doing, though."

James' shining eyes dulled. "Dammit."

Mona shrugged in apology.

Their conversation (if you could call it that) ended when Phyllis eagerly rushed Mona (correction: dragged) out of the Hall; she was mumbling about needing more Chocolate Frogs and Drooble's Best Blowing Gum and something about not wanting to be around any pricky warts. Somehow, Mona had a feeling that she didn't mean James.

As they walked away (well, one did, anyway) Sirius stared after a particular one with a steady gaze. He fell silent and a sad sort of aura surrounded him. James and Remus (not Peter – he wasn't perceptive enough) noticed this and silenced, leaving Sirius to his thoughts.

She just had to bring Phyllis, didn't she?


It was a breezy, chilly day – the kind of weather that didn't promise the best for the hopeful. Phyllis and Mona had decided to take their scarves with them, and try as they might, they just couldn't persuade Lily to join them. Whenever they asked, she'd frown and say no in that obstinate way that everybody hated. Well, everybody except James. James loved everything about the redhead, stubborn or no.

"No, no, and no. It's too cold outside and I have homework to do. And prefect duties. You two can go, but I'm saying here." Lily had repeated this excuse countless times until the blonde and ravenhead just groaned in exasperation.

Shrugging, the two made their way to the Entrance Hall, signed out, and strolled to Hogsmeade.

As they walked, Phyllis asked quite tentatively, "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"

A dark flush came to Mona's cheeks, for the second time today. It was rather odd, really, seeing Mona blush this often, but amusing nonetheless.

"No, that's all right, Phyllis. I'll handle this myself. You can go off to Hogsmeade now, and I'll meet you at the Three Broomsticks later." Mona managed a meek smile. She should get an award for that, thought Phyllis. She can still speak with diplomacy while nervous. I don't think that's possible for me. Lily's pretty at that too, come to think of it.

"Are you sure?" Phyllis asked again, her darling blue eyes sad.

Mona looked back with a shadowed smile, her raven eyes just as sad. "Yes, I'm sure. But thanks anyway."

The two hushed, and uncomfortable tension fell between them. Phyllis was forgiving, but she was emotional; speaking simply, she was still hurt. And what made everything all the more odd and distressing was the fact that Mona didn't change her mind. Mona didn't really need them, did she?

With a curt nod and a tight smile, Phyllis turned and walked off. Mona did not react, but watched her walk away. Then she turned and made her way to the Three Broomsticks, lost in thought and – occasionally – daydreams.

This guy had better be worth it.

When Mona arrived at the Three Broomsticks, there was only the mild crowd of students milling in and out of the facility. Nobody – most especially no boy – deliberately hung around the entrance, as though waiting for somebody in particular to arrive. Mona's heart fell, and suddenly she grew pessimistic. She glanced at her watch.

3:05.

Oh, cripes. And Mona thought herself late. What if it was a joke, and she really did fall for it? Mona glanced hastily around, and when she saw that nobody appearing to be watching her, she still remained unconvinced.

Why, oh, why did she have to be so weak? Whenever somebody told her she was pretty in a light way, she'd smirk and say that perhaps they should worry about themselves first. Whenever somebody said she was pretty in a sincere way, her face would soften considerably and she'd say they didn't look so shabby themselves, complete with an affectionate gaze. Whenever somebody took the time to write a love letter, accompany the letter with flowers and candy and Butterbeer, and claim to be her secret admirer, she melted, becoming a moonstruck puppy who'd eagerly jump and roll through any ring.

Attempting to compose herself, she took a deep breath, but the one she exhaled was shallow. What if… but Mona shook the thoughts away. He'd come with a gift, her fears would prove for naught, she'd tease him about the goofy way he introduced himself, he'd charm her with a smooth reply, and they'd live happily ever after. There was nothing else to it.

Oh, but Mona simply loved being in control. She thought Lily's compulsive powers were bad, but Mona could rival her. Mona loved being the dominator.

But she could barely believe these optimistic whims. She grew paranoid and checked her watch so often that her neck grew sore. 3:15… 3:30… 4:05… 4:29…

By 4:40, Mona was ready to crack. Her head aching with self-disgust and exhaustion, she turned strictly on her heel and left the Three Broomsticks. She knew Phyllis would be arriving in a few minutes, but she barely cared. She wanted to stomp to her dorm, throw the curtains around her with great force, and just scream her heart out. She was so stupid.

This was not going to happen again.

But the next events came quickly: as Mona turned, somebody was opening the entrance, and the result was a bum-aching collision. Mona wasted no time in yelling at the stranger, and she didn't care when the stranger began yelling back, but as they took the time to stop rubbing their heads to look up, silence fell.

A roguish smile grew across Sirius' face, and Mona gagged.

"Oh, dear Merlin," Mona choked out, rubbing the back of her neck. "That was you?"

"'Course it was. Who were you expecting? Peter?" Sirius sneered. "And I meant the inner entrance, Mo. It's a bit stupid we waited for one another for nearly two hours, while we were just separated by a stupid glass panel the whole time. Do you agree?"

Mona grimaced. "Oh, don't play wise-crack with me, Siri. You made me fall on my bum; apologize to it." She narrowed her eyes, but the conversation was growing playful. The two were so immersed in thinking up retorts for one another that they didn't realize a small crowd of students forming at both outer and inner entrances. Mona and Sirius were blocking the doorways.

Sirius laughed, a sound like a playful dog's bark. "That's the first time I've ever heard that."

Mona made a 'hmph' noise under her breath. "And it won't be the last, I promise you."

Sirius raised his eyebrows in that cynical way of his, and then, his black-brown eyes softening a little, he handed her a tiny wrapped box with a silver silk ribbon tied around it. Mona, taken aback for she had never received a gift like this before, took it and opened it with shaking, careless fingers. Sirius grinned as she gaped in wonder at the gift inside.

"Merciful Merlin…" Mona breathed, taking out the thin, diamond-plated choker of silver. It, literally, took her breath away; even as a wealthy Pureblood, she had barely seen anything like this without it being behind a thick protection glass – let alone got a chance to own it. And it was a lovely idea as well. Necklaces or bracelets or rings were just too clichéd, and a silver choker was the perfect accessory for a formal occasion. Additionally, the price of such a bit of jewelry alone was enough to impress a woman. Mona wasn't shallow, but a gift like this often brought out the vanity in her, as it did to better women.

Still… it was so weird. Sirius had been such a good friend of Mona's – not a best friend, mind, but a really good friend nonetheless – and then he just had to hit her full-blast with a love letter, flowers, candy, a date, and a freakishly expensive choker. It wasn't healthy for their friendship, but maybe it could start something new. Yet… this wasn't what Mona had expected. And though it was much more pleasant than what she had imagined, it was not any easier.

Mona stroked the choker with a weightless touch, and she sighed regretfully. Startled, Sirius frowned and glanced at Mo, confused. Didn't she just like it? Why was she suddenly so disheartened? He had thought so hard on this, unlike the gifts he had given to other girls. Those "other girls" received necklaces and bracelets, but he had always saved the choker idea for someone special. It would be an understatement to say that he had hoped she'd enjoy it.

His heart sunk into his stomach.

"Siri…" Mona began in a weak voice, looking up at him with an odd look. "This is just so bizarre. You've been my friend for only Merlin knows how long… and now this? Why did you ask me out for today, Sirius?"

Needless to say, this completely blew Sirius' thoughts into a muddle of gunk. Women were completely unpredictable. This wasn't what he thought she'd say at all. Not in the least. She didn't look angry, but she wasn't so ecstatic either… rather, she was regretful. Merlin's beard, what does it take for a man to win a woman over?

"Well," Sirius began frankly, as though it were the most plain thing in the world. He was losing his ladies' charm, and he didn't even know it. "Isn't it obvious? I've liked you for a while, so I decided to just take a chance one day –"

He was cut off from his I-am-saying-a-load-of-crap-that-will-get-me-killed-and-I-don't-even-realize-it speech when somebody pushed through the protesting crowd. Mona and Sirius swerved around, and saw a figure making her way violently through the mob of angry spectators.

"Move it – MOVE IT! Yes, I'm talking to you! – I need to get through! I have to meet my friend – oh bugger it. Mo? Are you in the crowd?" Shoving two tiny little first-years aside with more force than was necessary, Phyllis' petite form made it past the rabble. Gaping at Mona, she turned her gaze and her jaw dropped upon the sight of Sirius. Revulsion was evident on her face.

"Him?" Phyllis inquired incredulously, her brilliant blue eyes dulling over with blazing anger. But she didn't need answer; Mona's noticeably magenta blush on her pale face was a more than satisfactory response.

"Phyl, you're not mad, are you?" Mona asked, her voice slightly pleading. It was the first time anyone had ever heard her talk with such a tone, since she always carried a proud sort of dignity and poise. It was something she had grown up with as a Pureblood.

Phyllis' face tightened and hardened until it resembled something carved out of stone. Her gaze crossed over Sirius for a final time, and something was different in her eyes. Anger, yes, and lots of it, but that wasn't all; they were sad, and heartbroken. Turning back to Mona, she shook her head, and straightened with no apparent effort.

"Angry? No. He's your admirer, and you two should be happy together. I was just… shocked, is all." A shadow fell over Phyllis' face, and the smile she put on was strained. Mona saw through it instantly. Although Phyllis tried, her nature just didn't allow her to hide her feelings correctly.

Guilt painted itself all over Mona's face, and she stared at Phyllis as the blonde turned on her heel and push back into the crowd. Of course, more puny little first-years fell over and the students decided they didn't need to be blocked from The Three Broomsticks just because of drama.

Mona gave Sirius a desperate look before they were pushed and trampled by the students.


Later in the common room, the portrait doors clanged open, and just as loudly, they clanged shut. A dark-haired figure stomped her way in, sighing and looking on the edge of tears. The day was so trying, and she felt so torn. What to do, what to do… it just had to be Sirius. Out of all the Gryffindor bachelors in Hogwarts, it just had to be him. How come it wasn't Remus, or even Peter?

Wait, no. Not Peter. Scratch that thought.

Throwing herself onto the Gryffindor couch, Mona began to scream, but it was empty. That was good. She kept on screaming.

She hadn't been tricked, and her frets and worries had been for naught. Still, nothing came out right. She still needed to scream.


Author's Note: While I was doing this, I was chatting to a newly-made friend, so had it not been for Kay's (my best friend) motivation (i.e. – threats, blackmail, etc.) this wouldn't have been completed. So give her credit, or I am a dead, cooked, grilled-with-some-basil-on-the-side salmon.