Authoress' Note- Hello! How are you all? Missed me? I apologize for the lack of humor in the chapter, but you'll see why it's necessary by the end. I can't think of anything to say just read AND review! You can do two things for little old me, can't you? E.D.J.
Thanks for the reviews!
Amelia Blibson- I'm glad you liked Lily's line about shoving a fork down Gavin's throat! I found that line most amusing too!
La Conquistadora- Glad you love the idea of Emmeline has a Marauder! Guess what? I'm almost done with the first Protector of the Small book! I'll probably pull a Conquistadora (yeah we can call it that instead of your actual name) and be up till 2:00 a.m. reading it! Actually I don't think I have that much left so maybe just 11:00 p.m! I have the 2nd one too (the one you skipped you evil conquering book skipper!) so maybe I'll finish that one too but I doubt it! Ack just writing to you makes "Sir Robin ran away... bravely ran away away..." start playing in my head! Sigh... we're quite sad be able to quote nearly all of Monty Python, but it's entertaining!
MagicFairyDuster- I'm glad you love Sirius! He's most loveable, but I do love Remus more because he's just too sarcastic and dreamy for his own good!
Professor D.S. Silvers-Glad you like the chapter! Hope you get everything in your account fixed soon!
hilaryous- Glad you liked it!
abi freeman- I'm so glad you think this is easy to read, effortless, and entertaining! Three compliments in one review! Yay!
Ch. 16- Reflections
Monica lay on her bed listlessly like she had been for the better part of the week since her date with Gavin. She still was not speaking to Emmeline, who conveniently hadn't been around much anyway. Monica was still fuming from Lily and Hestia's judgments against to Gavin too, but she had said a few chose words to them each time they knocked on her door, inquiring if she was alright. They'd given up after a few days and Emmeline apparently didn't give a damn if Monica hadn't stepped outside her room in a little less than seven days.
She sighed and continued watching memories flick beneath her eyelids.
The things I do for entertainment now, she sighed.
Monica was on the train to Hogwarts again.
Ok does anyone care about Sirius' comfort level?" asked Peter, glancing around.
No one raised his or her hand.
"I fell so unloved!" complained Sirius, his eyes bright with (completely fake) unshed tears.
"Oh give it a rest Black!" snapped Monica, throwing a copy of Witch Weekly at him.
"Oh touchy," observed Sirius. "I wouldn't mind be loved by you, Mon!"
He scooted closer to Monica.
"I feel so honored," said Monica sarcastically. "Geroff Black!"
She shoved Sirius away from her and he backed off, looking forlorn.
"Rejection, it hurts," stated Remus with a slight smile.
She grinned slightly at the blow to Black's ego. He could be such an annoying dolt. She focused on the next picture that formed in her mind.
"Hey Hest..." began James, recognizing his schoolmate. Then he glanced past Hestia and saw who was standing behind her.
"Bloody hell no!" he yelled jumping backwards and knocking into Sirius.
Sirius yelped and moved away from James rubbing his injured shoulder.
He looked up at the doorway and swore loudly saying, "All four of them HERE!"
Sirius rubbed his eyes muttering, "I MUST be having a nightmare! Wake up! Wake up!"
He opened his eyes. The girls were still standing there with very annoyed looks expressions on their faces.
Sirius groaned and slumped to the ground swearing colorfully under his breath as Monica met his eyes and gave him a venomous glare. Sirius glared back and stuck his tongue out at her.
"Childish prick," Monica muttered.
Exactly. Black had to be more immature than the entire first-year class put together.
"So Mon..." said Sirius casually, "seeing anyone at the moment?"
"Of course! I can see James, Lily, Emmeline, Remus, Peter, me, and you! I'm not blind you know!" snapped Monica, deliberately twisting Sirius' question. "I wish I couldn't see you though."
She gritted her teeth and focused on keeping herself from punching Sirius in the face.
"Touché Mon," replied Sirius dryly. "Side-stepped that one didn't we?"
"Clearly," muttered Monica through clenched teeth.
And him asking her out every moment he got a chance? Didn't he know the meaning of the word "no"? She'd finally taken to avoiding the question entirely and skipping to her using various insults and threats against him, which didn't seem to have had an effect at all. Monica could feel the anger and resentment begin welling up inside her, threatening to burst forth in a string of filthy words and hexes even though there was no one in the room to curse. Monica sighed and rubbed her forehead tiredly.
Against her will, she suddenly focused on a memory that was entirely different.
"So Mon, how are you?" asked Sirius, flashing her a winning smile as he sat down next to her.
"Lovely just lovely!" said Monica, her face grim.
"So I was wondering..."
Monica scowled. "Can we just skip to the part where I tell you to sod off and to never bother me again, Black?"
Sirius laughed. "But perhaps you won't want me to sod off, what then?"
Monica sighed. "Alright what were you wondering?"
"Er..." said Sirius. "I was wondering... when you thought we'd get our O.W.L.s results?"
Monica was taken aback. No sickening charm? No asking her out? Very suspicious. What was his angle?
"Uh... my guess would be mid July?" said Monica warily. "Why do care anyway? I thought your perfect self was above such mediocre concerns like O.W.L.s."
Oh damn! Did I just say he was perfect! Ewww... Why am I so daft?
Monica sat wincing, waiting for Black's insinuating comment.
None came. "Quite the contrary, Miss Longbottom. I am very concerned about my O.W.L.s."
"Really?" said Monica, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course," said Sirius, sitting down next to her. "They're what decided my future and I am very concerned about my future career."
Monica rolled her eyes. "That's a load of bull and you know it."
"Ok you caught me," said Sirius, raising his hands in defeat. "I don't give a damn about the future and I'm only a bit concerned about my future career. I like the here and now."
"I knew it," said Monica smugly. "Though it would have been quite convincing from someone else. Well played."
She stuck out her hand for him to shake.
Sirius grasped her hand and kissed it lightly.
What the...? Monica thought.
She quickly pulled her hand away and felt her face go red.
Monica felt her face heat up again at the mere thought. Angrily, she pinched herself and the wave of emotion past, but slowly. She had just been in the moment, Monica told herself sternly. It could happen to anybody.
She threw up a barrier against any further thoughts and stood up shaking her head to clear it. Glancing in the mirror, Monica frowned at her pale skin and stringy blonde hair, realizing what a mess she looked.
Instantly, she began digging in her trunk for a bottle of shampoo and clean clothes. Then making her way to the bathroom to clean up, she tripped over a stiletto that had been thrown haphazardly on the floor and her concentration broke. Memories swarmed over her and Monica fell to her knees, clutching her head in frustration.
I need a Pensieve, she moaned as a wave of emotion washed over and Monica was swept up in her own thoughts again.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Oh come on Bla...Sirius. Everyone knows your family has more money than Hestia and James' combined."
Sirius eyes darkened a bit. "Yeah, but a whole lot of good it does them. They're still slimy pureblood gits no matter how much money they have."
Monica heard and saw the change in Sirius and patted his hand without thinking. "Sirius, Lily just meant that..." It was surprising how she had no difficulty calling him Sirius when they were all forced to use each other's first names.
The scene quickly changed again and a cry escaped Monica's mouth as she tried to block it out.
"Longbottom!" Sirius panted finding her surprised face within the group. "We're..." He trailed off, noticing the guy who had his arm wrapped around Monica's shoulders. "Uh...leaving," he said quickly. "Lunch."
"Alright Black," said Monica casually, standing up. The guy stood up too. Seeing Sirius' red face, she suppressed a smirk and added, "Oh and this is Gavin. We're going out tomorrow night."
"Out?" asked Sirius disbelievingly.
"Yes, going out Black," said Monica, rolling her eyes. "Do you need us to spell it out for you?"
"No that won't be necessary, thanks," muttered Sirius gruffly.
Hurt showed in Sirius' grey eyes and Monica's heart went out to him as she watched him try to shake it off. The rigid set of his back made it seem as if Sirius was trying to keep from slumping over in defeat. A cold, hard glint had settled in his eyes too as he turned away from her and trotted down the beach, deliberately staying a few feet in front of her and Gavin. The memory shifted yet again.
Monica shook Ambre's hand. "I'm Monica. I'm on holiday here from England."
"So is my date!" said Ambre excitedly. "Perhaps you know of 'im? Sirius Black?"
"Sirius Black?" breathed Monica horrified. "Oh dear Merlin."
"You do know of 'im!" said Ambre. "'e is most 'andsome is 'e not? Come I will bring you back to say 'ello."
Monica let Ambre lead her out of the bathroom, too shocked to tell Ambre that she most certainly did NOT want to tell Sirius Black hello. But then, she was in front of a table and Sirius was sitting faced away from her.
"Sirius!" cried Ambre. "Look who is 'ere!"
Sirius turned around and Monica's stomach dropped suddenly at the sight of how roguishly handsome he looked. Sirius was staring at her, horrified.
"Black," Monica said evenly.
"Longbottom. I've seen you've met Ambre."
"Yes, she's quite lovely."
Ambre beamed, not noticing the strain starting to show on the edges of Sirius and Monica's smiles. "Monica's dress is most becoming, don't you zink Sirius? What is ze name of ze designer?"
Sirius nodded wordlessly.
Monica tore her eyes away from the interesting pattern of the carpet and confessed she didn't actually know the designer of her dress because it belonged to a friend.
Suddenly, someone walked up behind Monica and she saw Sirius' face darken.
"Gavin!" she said falsely happy, whirling around to face her date. "Look who's here!"
"Sirius, mate! How are you?" said Gavin clapping Sirius on the back.
"Fine."
"FINE? You're in such a beautiful restaurant with so many wonderful people! You should be dancing for joy!" said Gavin, grabbing Monica and whirling her around.
Monica stood, watching the scene, as Gavin and her memory self twirled around. She glanced at Sirius and noticed the hard line that had become his mouth. It was the same look Monica herself got when she was trying to hold back a string of curses or angry words. This strained expression of restraint had never appeared on Sirius' face before. He always seemed to speak his mind, but here he was holding himself back for her sake, to not able to disturb her happiness.
Her memory seemed to draw up pictures of Sirius and Gavin and Monica felt a wave of anguish flow over her at the thought of what she was doing. She was comparing Gavin, the loveable, but, she had to admit, crazy one and Sirius, the bloke with more girls attached to him than could ever be thought possible. Monica had vowed never to be one of those girls, but what was she doing now? Debating between the guy who she'd thought she'd despised and a nutcase who needed some kind of containment spell to keep his mouth shut and to keep him from jumping off buildings in attempt "to fly like the pretty birdies".
Monica breathed in and out, trying to clear her muddled thoughts. Why did this happen? When did she start fancying Sirius bloody Black? It certainly hadn't happened overnight and she was certain she'd hated him during the whole of fifth year. What had changed? Did she change? Did he change? Monica had no idea. All she knew was that she had to do something about it.
With that, she picked herself up off the floor and, with one last shuttering gasp, strode out the door, head held high.
Oh...oh... I'm practically screaming with glee! -screams with glee- She's realized it, she's finally realized! BUT... what will Sirius do is the real question? Who wants to know, anybody? I know it was a LOT of flashbacks, but I hope the in-between-stuff was good enough for you guys!Review and I'll update when I find to write the next installment! -scream of glee- E.D.J.