{I give you all permission to skip this next chapter. It revolves entirely around Sirius and Ophelia, it had to be done.}

CHAPTER TEN An Escape from Utter Boredom

With the arrival of November, the weather had taken a dramatic turn. A few feet of powdery white snow ('Perfect packing-snow', James reminded them constantly) had blanketed the school.

On one particular afternoon, following a very tiresome week of classes, and an even more tiresome full moon the night before, Ophelia was sitting alone in the common room.

It was a Hogsmeade weekend, and she had planned on going with Lily. But Prefect duties had called her away.

Sirius paraded into the room and collapsed next to her on the couch. "Hullo."

"Just getting up?" she asked.

He shrugged. "I had a late night. Why aren't you in Hogsmeade?"

"No one to go with. Talia's not feeling well, and last I saw, Lily was bringing a few first years to McGonagall's office."

"Why don't we go?"

"Yeah, I guess that would've been alright. But they've already left."

He smirked. "That's not a problem. Come on, I know another way."

Sirius led Ophelia out of the common room and down a long hall, where she had only ever been down once.

They came to a stop in front of a statue of a one-eyed witch.

She crossed her arms over her chest. "What are we doing here?"

Sirius poked the witch in the eye and muttered, "Dissendium."

The statue opened to reveal a fairly small hole.

"You want me to climb into the backside of a hag?" Ophelia chuckled. "There are some things even I won't do, Padfoot."

"Come on," he urged. "You're not scared, are you?"

Those were the magic words.

Ophelia hoisted herself inside. "Hardly."

She fell down a long slide and came to an abrupt landing. Sirius fell down beside her.

"Lumos." she mumbled, illuminating the tunnel. "Where the hell are we, Black?"

He pulled a worn roll of parchment from inside his robes. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Lines of ink spread outward from the center of the parchment. Ophelia could have sworn she saw a stick drawing with her name above it.

"The Marauder's Map?" she read aloud. "You made a map?"

Sirius nodded happily. "Isn't it great?"

"Yes, fantastic. Now where are we?"

"This is the quickest and most direct path to Hogsmeade."

"I guess I should have figured you would be taking me into the underbelly of the castle."

They walked in silence until they reached a dead end.

Sirius peered through the trapdoor above them, ignoring the dust that was falling upon him. "It's clear."

He threw the door back and hopped up. Sirius then stretched a hand down and pulled Ophelia through.

She stood up, glancing round. They were in a cellar by the looks of it ; a very dull, very dusty cellar.

He held a finger to his lips and motioned for her to follow.

A few moments later they emerged in Honeydukes, and after replenishing their supplies of sweets, headed outside.

"Where to?" he asked, stowing his bag away inside his robes.

"The Three Broomsticks?"

When they arrived, Sirius offered to get their first pitcher of Butterbeer if she found them a table.

He sat down across from her. "Have I told you that you look rather lovely today?"

Ophelia took a sip from her mug. "What do you want?"

"Help with my battles essay."

"Fine." she agreed. "Remind me when we get back."

"Are you getting sick of me yet?" he asked. "I warned you back in September..."

"Considering we didn't speak for most of the last month and I almost got you killed?" she chuckled. "No, I have a good few weeks left in me."

"Ha ha." he replied dryly. "Has anyone asked you to the Ball yet?"

"Yes, Colin and Drake, but I don't fancy going with either of them. What about you? Are you going with anyone yet?"

"Let's see, Pandora's asked me. And, oh yes, Pandora, and some girl named... Pandora, I think?" Sirius howled. "I thought the men were supposed to do the asking."

Ophelia nearly choked on her Butterbeer at his last two statements. "Er, Sirius? This is 1975, if a girl wants to ask a boy- emphasis on boy, Sir -to a dance, she can. In these days, witches are even allowed their own wands! Go figure on that one."

He rolled his eyes. "I only meant that I thought it was customary for us to ask."

"You're not going with her, are you?"

"Right. I'm taking Pandora to the Ball." he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. His eyes lit up suddenly. "Why don't we go together?"

"You and me?"

"Yeah, it's brilliant. We won't have to go with people we don't like, and we won't look like complete losers. Besides, we'll have fun."

"We would." she slowly agreed. "Alright. Let's do it."

"You'll go with me?"

"Will you dance?"

"Yes." said Sirius grudgingly.

"Then yes."

"Excellent, two mates suffering together."

Ophelia laughed. "Yes, there is no one I would rather suffer with than you."

"Thanks. It's a bit tragic, though. My mother will be so pleased that I'm taking princess Ophelia to our first formal."

She shrugged. "Don't tell her. The last thing I want to do is please your mother."

"Yes, that is on my list of things to avoid." A wave of slight concern washed over his face. "As is upsetting Remus. I don't think he'll be too pleased that I'm taking you."

Ophelia rolled her eyes. "Scaredy cat. Fine, I'll tell him. As if he'll care."

Sirius set down his mug, the leftover foam running down the side. "Shall we go?"

She finished the last bit of her Butterbeer. "Sure, I'm ready."

They stood up and buttoned their jackets.

"Wait!" called Sirius, a smirk spreading across his mouth. He pulled her pink cap down over her eyes. "You forgot this."

Ophelia pushed it up on her forehead. "Thanks." she replied dryly. "Where would I be without your help?"

He stuck his arms out in front of him and closed his eyes, bumping into empty tables. "Oh! I'm lost, I'm lost!" he mimicked. "If only I had my hat... or my Sirius."

She waved good-bye to Rosemerta and headed outside, with Sirius tagging behind.

"So where are we off to now?" he asked, peering into his nearly empty sweets bag. "Back to Honeydukes?"

"Okay, I'll stock up for over holiday."

"Stock up?" he repeated. "You're not leaving, are you?"

"What? And miss my chance to see you in dress robes? I don't think so." she chuckled.

"Well, take a picture because it'll be the first and last time you ever see that."

"What about when you get married?"

"Married? Who said anything about marriage?"

"Natural progression of things, I suppose. Everyone gets married."

"I won't. I wouldn't want anyone to be forced to marry into the Blacks."

Ophelia laughed heartily. "You're so daft. I can name at least ten witches who would gladly give up their wand to go to the Ball with you."

He scrunched up his nose. "They're all so.. screechy. And girly. I can't have a conversation with the lot of them."

"Thanks for that."

Sirius blushed furiously. "I didn't mean you of course. You're not really a girl, you know? You're more li--"

"Black?" Ophelia interrupted. "Stop talking."

"An exception to the rule." he grinned, pleased with his recovery.

"Well thank you." she said, buying a pack of sugared dragon scales.

They found their way back to the cellar and once again climbed into the dark tunnel.

They began their long trek when something scuttled against Ophelia's leg. She lost her balance, falling against Sirius.

He took out his wand. "Lumos."

A light flared from the tip, throwing light on a scraggly rat.

"Wormtail?" they said in unison.

The grey rodent transformed into a hunched over Peter.

"What are you doing here?" Sirius asked suspiciously.

Pettigrew's short, stubby fingers twitched nervously. "Just coming back from Hogsmeade."

"Were you meeting a lady-friend, Pete?" Ophelia giggled.

"Yeah, right. Lots of ladies." replied Worm laughing.

"Can we cut this short? I want to hurry and get to supper."

She slapped his arm. "It's not like you're starving, is it? You just polished off a half pound of sweets just now." She gave him a push towards the exit. "Well?"

Sirius led the way through the tunnel, his wand held aloft.

When they reached the castle, they one-by-one toppled out of the statue.

Ophelia ripped off her dusty jacket and marched to the Great Hall.

"Hey Phe! Wait for me." Sirius called, as they casually joined the clusters going to dinner.