{A/N: This entire chapter is dedicated to Karen, who is a fountain of brilliant ideas, including the basis for this chapter.}
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX The Disastrous Night
The next morning, Ophelia was up bright and early to see the sunrise. She crossed the day-- 30 June --from her calendar and gently shook Lily awake.
"Mwhat?" she moaned, rubbing her eyes. "Is it time to go already?"
"No, but there's a really fantastic sun. Get dressed and we'll go outside to see it."
Lily complied and pulled on a pair of trousers and a sweater. She followed Ophelia outside and to the courtyard.
They sat down on the stone bench and watched the pink sun stain the early morning sky.
Lily grabbed her wrist. "Oh, I'm completely daft. What happened between you and Sirius last night?"
Ophelia grinned, the memories of the previous night flooding back to her.
"Er.. Sirius asked me on a date."
"I knew it!" she cried triumphantly, slapping her knees. "When are you going? Where is he taking you? What are you going to wear?"
"Tonight, it's a surprise and something from my wardrobe?"
"Oh, this is exciting, this is incredible, it's... terrible! How could you do this to me?"
"What have I done?"
"You're leaving me with James. All alone. In a quiet house."
"You won't be alone." laughed Ophelia. "Rem and Tal and Pete will be there as well."
"I suppose you're right."
"Still sore about yesterday, then?"
"Phe, he was a complete prat." said Lily. "Like he always is."
"James isn't a prat..."
She raised an eyebrow. "He's an arrogant boy who thinks the entire world rotates around him and his friends. You don't see it because... you don't want to believe he isn't perfect. Which isn't a bad thing," she added quickly, "It just shows how loyal you are."
Ophelia pulled her knees up to her chest. "I don't know about that."
"I'm only saying that once you stop looking at James as if he was still that same six year-old boy who let you tag along behind him... you might see him for the bullying git he is."
She shook her head and looked over the grounds. A thin, silver mist clung to the grass, making Lily shiver.
"It's nearly July." she said. "Why is it so cold?"
The sun was now hanging above, only a few clouds daring to spot the sky.
"Don't know." replied Ophelia. "But if it's all the same, I'd like to go back inside."
By now, throngs of students were making their way towards the Great Hall for breakfast.
They joined the crowds and sat down at their usual for the final time that year.
Lily and Ophelia sat down next to each other.
As was their way, Lily pushed two goblets in front of her friend and she immediately filled them with pumpkin juice.
Ophelia set the glass down in front of her, as Lily placed several muffins onto a gold-rimmed plate.
They looked up, giggling, once they realised what they were doing.
Talia plopped down across from them, looking rather pale.
"What's wrong with you?" asked Ophelia.
She shrugged and pointed her wand at an empty platter, seconds later burnt strips of bacon appeared on it.
Talia happily munched on it, ignoring the acrid smell that hung in the air.
They both ignored her and started on their breakfast.
A few moments later the Marauders sat down across from them.
"Morning all." James chirped. "Isn't is a beautiful morning?"
"Yeah." grinned Sirius.
Ophelia looked away, blushing like mad.
"Wouldn't you agree, Evans?"
She sighed heavily. "Is someone speaking to me, Phe?"
"Are you still on about yesterday?"
"More of an annoying buzzing, really..."
"We were just having a little fun!" he cried.
"There it is again. I wonder what it could be?" she said, glancing about the ceiling.
"Stop it!"
"I'll only stop it when you stop being such a git!" snapped Lily.
"Oh, so you can hear me."
"Of course I can hear you! Your's is the loudest and most obnoxious voice in the entire Hall!"
Several students were now staring at the two.
Lily cleared her throat and took a sip of juice.
"Wow, so now that you have that out of your systems.. " said Remus, shaking his head.
The meal was nearly finished when Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet, signaling that he was to make an announcement.
"I would like to congratulate all of you on completing yet another year," he began, "As you leave the protection of these grounds, you will be bombarded with news of this new Dark Lord. He is the same who attacked Hogsmeade during the winter break. What we once saw as no more than a passing threat is becoming something of a danger to all."
Ophelia rolled her eyes. 'This doesn't concern us. Why does he insist on lecturing us on it?' she thought to herself.
"I entreat you all to take every necessary precautions when you are not at home." he continued. "On a lighter note, however, I believe it is time to award the House Cup. As it is, the points stand as such. With two-hundred twenty-nine points, we have Ravenclaw."
A round of courteous applause echoed round the Hall.
Sirius and James sank lower into the table, trying desperately to become invisible.
"In third place, with three-hundred sixty-two points, is Slytherin."
The green-clad table thundered with cheers.
"With four-hundred seventy points is Gryffindor."
A collective gasp went around the Hall. Sirius and James hid their faces behind their hands.
"Which means that Hufflepuff takes the House Cup, with five-hundred twenty points." announced Dumbledore.
The noise the Hufflepuff table made was deafening, and was carried throughout the castle as the students headed back to their dormitories.
"So why am I inclined to believe you two are the reason we lost the Cup?" asked Lily, as they left the Hall.
"Three, Lil. I was there too." Ophelia reminded her.
"Keep your voice down." muttered James. "Don't want ol' McGonagall to hear you."
"I didn't get a chance to thank you both." she said.
James clapped her on the back. "Don't think on it."
"Yeah, you know.. all in a day's work." chuckled Sirius, taking Ophelia's hand, "I'm a gentleman like that."
"Right." she laughed. "That's what immediately comes to mind when you're mentioned."
"Y-Yes," gasped Lily, wiping her eyes. "Sirius Black and his gentlemanly ways."
"I'm so hurt."
"No you're not. Don't lie."
Remus groaned angrily. "And so it begins.."
"So what begins, Moony?" asked James, as he sent a second year Hufflepuff soaring down the corridor.
"Never mind." he replied, shaking his head.
They boarded the train an hour later, after packing their trunks and having them collected.
Lily and Ophelia found an empty compartment in the first car and threw themselves inside.
Talia ran in a few seconds later, giggling like mad and hastily buried her face in a thick book.
The Marauders followed and took their seats, with James and Sirius on either side of Lily and Ophelia.
"Bugger off, Potter." said Lily coolly.
"I know that you really don't want me to move."
"Is this how it's going to be all summer?" asked Pete nervously. "Because if it is... I may want to spend the it at my house."
"Can't you call a truce, or something?" Ophelia suggested. "For our sakes, if not your own?"
James grinned. "How 'bout it, Evans?"
She bit her lip, as she usually did when she was deep in thought. "Can you try to behave?"
"Er.. yes?"
"Deal." said Lily finally. "But it ends the minute we board in September."
"Shake on it?"
She grudgingly shook his hand.
"Great." beamed Ophelia.
"Now that that's all sorted out," began Remus, "Can we go to Hogsmeade tonight? I have the biggest craving for a warm mug of Butterbeer."
"We have Butterbeer at home." Talia reminded him.
"It's not the same."
Sirius and Ophelia exchanged a nervous glance. She dug her elbow into his side.
"Ow, what the bloody hell was that--Oh right." said Sirius. "Er, Phe and I... have other plans for tonight."
"Like what?" Remus replied incredulously.
"Like... our date."
"So you can't go on your date with us?"
Ophelia frowned. "No, that's kind of the point. To be by ourselves."
"By yourselves?" he repeated. "I still think I should come along, if only to--"
"Moony, just let them go." said James, stretching his arms out behind his head. "What's the worse that could happen?"
"Why on Earth would you say something like that?" cried Ophelia, slapping his arm. "You've as good as jinxed us now."
"James is right." grinned Remus. "Nothing bad could possibly ruin your night."
Lily took out her wand and pointed it squarely at him. "Stop that this instant. I wouldn't want to hex you but I would. Your sister has been looking forward to this for quite some time now and the least you can do for her is pretend you are happy."
Sirius smirked. "You have? For how long?"
Ophelia shook her head. "Like I'm telling you."
"Tell me."
"Nope."
"Please?"
"That's a first," she giggled, "I've never heard you say please before."
"I'll tell you." he said, ignoring her last comment.
"No, I won't--You'll tell me?"
Remus groaned. "This is disgusting." But he quickly held his tongue when Lily waved her wand at him.
Sirius nodded. "Yeah, do we have a deal?"
Ophelia thought for a moment and glanced round the cabin. "Fine, I'll tell you tonight. But only if you tell me first."
"Great." said Sirius, shaking her hand as James had done with Lily moments earlier.
"When do we get the results of our OWLs back?" asked Talia, looking up from her book.
"In two weeks." replied Remus and Lily in unison.
"Oh, I hope I got at least an O on my Astronomy." She said.
"Which reminds me," began Ophelia, "Why were you late?"
"Late for what?"
"Er... late for the Astronomy OWL."
"Oh... just, you know... things that got in the way."
"Like what?" asked Lily.
"You're both awfully nosy this afternoon." Talia huffed. "I was a few seconds late, let's not turn this into some big deal, alright?"
Ophelia and Lily shrugged and exchanged yet another of their looks.
"Anyway, to get back to my question earlier, what are we non-dating people going to do tonight?" said Remus. "I want to do... something now that the OWLs are behind us."
James shrugged. "I guess we could go to Hogsmeade. But really, is the effect wearing off for anyone besides myself?"
Talia raised her hand, not taking her eyes from her readings. "It's fine and everything for school weekends, but we're not limited to a certain borders like we are at school."
"I'm sure we can find some other pub that serves Butterbeer." said Pete, as the trolley witch passed.
They bought up cauldron cakes and pumpkin pasties, enough for all of them to be filled.
James conjured a pitcher of banana juice and handed everyone a glass.
"Thank you... James." Lily replied, with much effort.
"You're welcome, Evans."
She gritted her teeth. "You know, you can call me Lily, like everyone else."
"I prefer Evans."
"But I am asking--politely, mind you --to call me Lily."
He was about to reply, but Remus ever-so-slightly shook his head, warning James to obey her demands.
"As you wish... Lily."
She smiled. "Thank you James."
"Aw, wasn't that nice?" giggled Talia. Lily glared at her, making her turn back to her book.
A knock sounded at the door.
Pandora was hovering in the hall, as she had been a year earlier.
"Why have you... graced us with your presence yet again?" asked James.
She grimaced. "I came to see if Regulus was telling the truth."
"What is my dear brother going on about now?"
"He said you and Lupin were dating."
"I guess that depends which one of us Lupins you were referring to." laughed Ophelia, as Remus gave her a sharp kick to the knee. "Bugger! That really hurt, Rem."
"I knew it wasn't true." Pandora replied triumphantly.
Ophelia bit her lip, unsure of what to say,
"Then you would be wrong." said Sirius, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
Her face twisted in furry. "Is that so?"
" It is." smiled Ophelia.
Pandora set her jaw. " You've made your decision. You will regret this before long." she quickly turned on her heel, nearly losing her balance.
James dusted his hands off dramatically. " Well I think that takes care of Pandora."
"I have waited nineteen years for this moment to come. I will take my time to enjoy it. Just like I enjoyed killing your friend; didn't even beg me to spare her life. She deserved what came to her. So do you."
Ophelia gasped and clutched her chest.
"What's wrong?" Lily and Sirius chorused.
She shook her head. "N-Nothing. I'm fine." she said, sipping at her juice.
They arrived at the Lupin Manor several hours later, fairly exhausted from the trip.
Ophelia tramped up to her room and collapsed onto the bed. If she hadn't been so excited over her date with Sirius that night, she would have gone directly to bed.
A few moments after her head rested against the squashy pillow, a soft tap echoed round the room.
"Come in," she called, as Remus peered around the door.
He smiled and sat down at her vanity, glancing at the pictures displayed on the shelves.
"So... you know why I'm here." he began.
She nodded slightly. "Sirius."
"Right. I just want you to.. er, be careful. I don't have the best feelings about--"
"Wait, was I the reason for the row the other night? You drew your wand on your best friend over me?"
"It was more the meaning behind it."
"That your mate--"
"Likes my sister!"
"What is your problem lately? You're so... stressed."
"You're changing the topic."
"It's what I do." she growled. "Listen.. you need to let me get on with my life. If this... thing with Sirius is a mistake, which I honestly don't think it is... I must make that mistake. You have to let me make it."
"I don't understand you."
She laughed. "Who does?"
"I don't. Not anymore at least."
"Don't be such a git. You and me are fine."
Remus shrugged. "I don't know.."
"Well I do." she said, punching him in the shoulder.
He stood up, "Well, I'll let you get ready for your... date."
Lily walked into the room, her arms full of clothes. "Bye Remus." she chirped, escorting him out. "I am here to fulfill my duties as your best friend and help you pick out what to wear for tonight."
Ophelia leapt across the room and tackled her friend in a tight hug. "Oh Lil! Thank you!"
Lily put a Led Zeppelin record on and they danced around going through piles of clothes, the discarded outfits mounting on the floor.
As 'Over the Hills and Far Away' ended, they had decided on a white dress Ophelia had bought the previous summer but had yet to wear.
She and Lily made their way downstairs to join the others. It was around eight o'clock, and the sky was setting a pale grey.
"It's supposed to rain tonight." said Talia casually as she walked by.
Sirius and James looked up from their game of chess.
He grinned. "You look--"
Remus cast him a dangerous look.
"Great." he finished.
"So you're off then?" asked Remus. "Where to?"
"Rem, mind your business."
"Sorry." he muttered.
Sirius and Ophelia left, leaving the others gathered around the dining room table.
"Well," James began awkwardly. "What are we going to do tonight?"
A strange glint came to Remus' eye. "I have an idea."
"Well?" prodded Pete. "Out with it."
"We check up on our friends..."
"Are you suggesting we spy on dear Sirius and Phe?" James chuckled.
Lily shook her head sadly. "That's terrible, Remus. You should be ashamed of yourself."
"You're telling me that you're not the least bit interested in what happens tonight?"
"Er... well maybe a... tiny bit curious."
"So then it's decided." he answered.
"Before we do this, you do realise how furious they'd be if they found out?" James warned. "And how badly Sirius could hex us?"
"Yep."
"Alright, as long as we know."
They quickly tailed after their friends, ending up outside of the Vittoria Restaurant.
Talia hung back from the rest. "I don't think this is such a good idea."
"You were all for it a while ago." Pete reminded her.
"We'll just have a look inside and go." said James, "No one needs to find out."
She reluctantly followed him over to a window that overlooked the entire dining room.
The five friends pressed their faces against the glass, all of them struggling to get a clear view.
"That's my foot, James!"
"Ow, do we have to be this close?"
"I think I see them, was Sirius wearing a top hat when he left?"
"That's not Padfoot."
"Ahem!"
They looked up to see an extremely annoyed waiter standing over them. "May I help you? Or would you care to stay where you are?"
Lily straightened up and brushed her slacks off. "We were just, er..."
"Looking to see if there was a free table." finished Pete.
The man looked at them, as if deciding whether or not they were telling the truth. "Party of five?"
Remus nodded. "Yes please."
As they entered, Talia spotted Ophelia and Sirius laughing at a table in the back.
She elbowed James. "Look!" she hissed.
The waiter handed them their menus. "Right this way."
Hiding their faces behind the open menus, they were led to their table.
In the back.
"Is there another table, perhaps?" asked Pete.
"You have come on our busiest night, I am afraid." answered the waiter. "This is our only available table. Unless you would prefer to dine outside."
A crack of thunder shook the restaurant, as sheets of rain began splattering against the window panes.
"Er.. no, this will be fine. Thank you." said Lily, glancing over to the next table, which was only separated from theirs by a thin ladis. She took a seat between James and Remus.
James grinned wickedly, surveying the Muggles that now surrounded them.
"Did you bring your wand?" muttered Pete, as if reading his thoughts.
"Not in here." Talia said, "We can't draw any attention to ourselves. By all rights we shouldn't even be here."
Remus peered through the space in the divider. "I can see them!" he whispered.
"Well? What's going on?"
"I think... he's stabbed her!"
"What?"
"Well, she's covered in blood!"
"That's not blood," she cried, squishing beside him. "It's spaghetti sauce! Oh, poor Phe!"
James clapped a hand over his mouth to keep himself from laughing. "She's covered in spaghetti?!"
Lily slapped his arm. "It's not funny."
"No, no. Course not."
"Are you ready to order?" asked the waiter loudly. "Or would you prefer to continue gawking at our other guests?"
"Uh.. we'll order." replied Talia, as Remus and Lily returned to their seats.
"I will have the pasta."
The man faked a smile. "This is an Italian restaurant. You will have to be a tad more specific."
"Right," chuckled James. "Why don't you bring us something with, er, marinara sauce... and.."
"Meat." Talia finished.
The waiter took their menus from them. "I'll see what the chef can do."
"What are they doing now?" said Pete out of the corner of his mouth.
"I can't see all that well." Remus answered, returning to his spot at the latis. "It looks like... they're laughing."
"That's great." said Lily and James in unison. She quickly looked away.
"They're finished their meal." he continued. "They'll probably leave soon."
"What are we going to do then?"
"Stay and leave them to their date?" Talia suggested.
"Or.. we could leave before them and wait in the alley." replied Remus.
"Okay, this has just crossed the line from fun spying to creeping stalking." she said.
"Well then what is your suggestion, Tal?"
"Does that.. sound like Remus?" came Sirius's voice.
"Get under the table!" he hissed, as the five of them ducked under the tablecloth.
"Even he wouldn't dare follow us here." Ophelia answered.
Remus squeezed his eyes shut, feelings of guilt washing over him.
When they emerged from beneath the table, she and Sirius had left.
"Should we go after them?" asked Remus.
"We have no idea where they've gone." Pete squealed.
Lily frowned. "That's not entirely true."
"You know where they went?"
"Sirius asked me this afternoon what movie he should take her to and I recommended one."
"Well?"
"I told him that the Rocky Horror Picture Show was supposed to be good."
"Then what are we sitting around here for? Let's get to the theater."
Sirius shut the heavy door behind themselves.
"So where are we going?" asked Ophelia.
"First to some restaurant uptown--"
"First?" she repeated. "As in you have more than one thing planned for tonight?"
Sirius smiled. "Yes, careful planning has gone into this evening."
"Well, that's, er.. nice." she blushed.
They continued walking down the darkened street.
"It feels like it's going to rain. Well at least Talia said it was going to. Funny thing, the rain; I myself enjoy it most times," she rambled, "But I know Pete finds it ann--"
"What are you doing?" Sirius chuckled.
She took a deep breath. "I'm not sure. I think I'm a bit... nervous."
"Me too." he admitted.
"But why? I mean, it's you. And me. We've never been nervous around each other before. Except that one time when we snuck away to Hogsmeade. And then again at the Ball. Come to think of it, I've been--"
"You're doing it again."
"Sorry."
"Don't be. I think it's because.. you know, we've never done this before."
"Done what?"
Sirius smiled. "Gone on a date."
Ophelia shook her head, her swaying locks turning a slight pink. "That's not fair." she muttered.
"Don't think on it." he reassured her, "I like it."
They entered the restaurant and were escorted to their secluded table.
Sirius pulled out her chair for her.
"Thank you." she said, sitting down.
He pushed it in, scraping her elbow off the table's edge.
"Ow." she winced, rubbing the newly forming bruise.
"I am so sorry." he apologised, sitting opposite her.
"It's alright. It doesn't hurt much." she lied.
"I am such a prat."
Ophelia squeezed his hand. "No, you're really not."
"Thanks." he smiled, as the waitress approached.
"Good evening." she began in her thick Irish accent. "Have you had a chance to look at the menu?"
"We'll both have the spaghetti with pesto sauce."
"I'm allergic to pesto." she whispered quietly, so the waitress wouldn't hear.
Sirius flushed. "And when I said with pesto right then, I actually meant with anything but pesto."
The woman nodded. "And to drink?"
"The house wine."
"Very good. I'll be back in a moment with your drinks."
"I'm sorry." repeated Sirius. "I should have remembered you were allergic to pesto."
She giggled. "It's not a big deal."
"Right. And you were just about to tell me how long you've liked me for. Since we met, right?" he said, returning to his confident self. "Even as a six year old I was so damn charming."
Ophelia laughed loudly. "Uh-huh. You're so right."
"It's not that unbelievable."
The waitress set down their dishes.
"As I recall, you're supposed to tell me first."
"Er... since September." he muttered quickly.
"Really?' she cried, knocking her plate over.
Thick, red tomato sauce went flying onto her dress.
"Oh god, oh god, oh god..."
"No, no I can fix it." said Sirius, taking out his wand.
"You can't, there's Muggles around." she reminded him. "Bullocks! I really liked this dress!"
He soaked a napkin in a glass of water and attempted to dab it out. When he realised he was rubbing her chest, he pulled back in embarrassment.
"I am so sorry."
"Don't worry about it." she chuckled. "At least nothing else could go wrong tonight." A moment after the words left her mouth she regretted it.
"No, no. You're probably right."
The waitress returned. "Would you like another dish?"
He and Ophelia exchanged a look. "No, that'll be all. Thank you."
"Well then what is your suggestion, Tal?" came a voice from the other side of the partition.
"Does that... sound like Remus?" asked Sirius.
"Even he wouldn't dare follow us here."
"I wouldn't put it past him." he sighed.
They payed the check and left the restaurant.
"Remus is just being a prat." said Ophelia, taking his cold hand in hers. "He'll get over it. I'm just sorry this is causing so much trouble.."
"Being here is worth it." smiled Sirius, pointing his wand at her. "Scourgify."
She blushed. "Thank you."
"But you know what would make me feel better?" he smirked.
"I've liked you... s-since last summer." she stuttered.
"I wasn't talking about that." said Sirius, leaning down to kiss her.
She giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck.
They broke apart, smiling.
"I could get used to that." she replied quietly.
"So could I." Sirius hesitated. "Will you.. be my girlfriend?"
Ophelia grinned. "You have to ask?"
"Alright. So I'm you're--"
"Yes."
"And you're my--"
"Yeah."
"Great." he said, "Er.. right. We're going to the movies."
"Muggles movies? As in film?"
"I know, isn't that perfect?"
"Completely."
