CHAPTER NINETEEN Musical Revelations
Ophelia and James hung back from their friends and discreetly took out their wands.
"So tell me once more why you're taking part in this." said James, making sure to keep close to her side.
She shrugged. "No particular reason, really."
Panting, Lily caught up to them. "W-What is wrong w-with you guys? Could you have ran in here any faster?"
"Sorry Lil." replied Ophelia, hastily shoving her wand back into her pocket. "Where's Tal? Maybe you'd rather han--"
"Where do you think? She and that Ian guy got away from the group faster than Sirius. Sorry." she added.
James frowned. "What are you sorry for?"
"Does Phe like Sirius?"
"No." she said quickly.
"No what?"
"I mean... er, Lil's just being silly. Aren't you?"
She nodded. "That's me, silly Lily. Ha! That rhymes."
"Right, well. Let's try and find Sirius and what's-her-face."
"Becca." said Lily. "You know full well that her name is Becca."
"Tart name, if you ask me." muttered Ophelia.
James nodded in agreement. "Absolutely."
Sirius joined them, his face a flush. "No offense, Phe, but what is wrong with that friend of yours?"
"Becca?"
"Yeah. And finally had to tell her that... James had.. something I needed."
"We'll see how long that lasts." she grumbled.
The lights dimmed and a loud electronic sound filled the air. A second later, the band took to the stage and began their set.
"What?" hollered Sirius, leaning into James. "Can't hear you, mate."
Lily squeezed Ophelia's hand. "Can you believe it? We're in the same room as the freaking Who!"
She laughed. "Sorry we can't get closer, Lil."
"What?"
"Sorry we couldn't get closer!"
Lily dismissed it with a wave of her hand. "Don't think on it."
The four of them passed the concert not speaking, with the exception of 'I love this song!' and 'Was that Talia that I just saw floating over the crowd?'
Once the concert had finished, James, Lily, Sirius and Ophelia waited outside the derelict building, waiting for Talia to come out.
When she did, her hair was sticking up in random places and a long scratch ran the length of her cheek.
"What the hell happened to you?" cried Lily, as she made her way over to them.
Talia shrugged. "Doesn't hurt."
Once she had said goodbye to Ian, they hailed a taxicab back to Uncle Adolphus'.
"Who wants to go first?" asked James, holding the dish filled with Floo powder.
Ophelia pushed her way to the front. "Me! Me!"
She took a handful of the fine, gray powder and threw it down. "Lupin Manor."
A few moments later, once the green smoke had vanished, she looked around to find herself back home.
She calmly walked throughout the rooms, checking that odd things were still in their place.
Lily came next. Followed by Talia, Sirius, and lastly James
In one motion, they all collapsed onto the couch.
"I'm so tired." yawned Lily.
"No you're not." said Ophelia, taking her by the hand. "Come on, I have to talk to you."
She brightened. "Okay. Night everyone."
The two girls climbed the stairs up to her bedroom and shut the door behind themselves.
Lily leaned against the door. "So? What did you need to talk about?"
Ophelia perched herself on the edge of the bed, thinking about how to phrase what she was going to say. "It may.. be a possibility.. that.."
"That...?"
"I like Sirius... more than... I used to."
"Be less cryptic." Lily smiled.
"I like Sirius." she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes!" squealed Lily. "I knew it!"
Ophelia clamped a hand over her friend's mouth. "Do you want them to hear you?"
"Sorry." she whispered. "So what are you going to do about it?"
"I have to do something about it?"
Lily giggled. "I'm afraid so. Are you going to tell him?"
She thought for a moment. "No. I'm sure I'll get over it."
"You don't have to get over it."
"He's Sirius. Sirius." she said again. "Remus's best friend, remember? Besides that... Sirius would laugh if I ever told him."
"I wouldn't be so sure."
"I am. It's fine, Lil. I'll just remind myself of the reasons I never liked him in the first place."
"Right, right." she agreed. "Like the fact that you were both eight?" Lily shook her head. "I'll let you think about it. I have to get to bed."
Ophelia flopped back onto the soft covers and fell asleep. She dreamed that the Who had had an accident and needed a last minute replacement, when Worm volunteered to take Peter Townsend's shoes.
