Revised and Extended

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE Caradoc Dearborn

The next morning Ophelia woke up for the second time that summer with Sirius' arm wrapped securely around her waist.

She smiled and closed what little distance lay between the, breathing in the familiar smell of pumpkin juice.

Sirius took a deep breath and and peered out of one eye. "Good morning." he sighed.

"Morn--"

"Are you up yet, Phe?" called Remus, banging on the door. "Come on! We want to get there bright and early, you said it yourself."

"Oh bugger!" she cried, "We're going to buy our school things today!"

In one smooth motion Sirius ducked under the covers, just as Remus threw the door open.

"Good morning, sleepy eyes."

"S-Same to you." she stuttered, splaying across Sirius' hidden form.

"Well come on!" chuckled Remus. "We don't have all day. Get up, get dressed."

Ophelia nodded. "Yeah, just as soon as you leave."

"Okay. I have to go wake up the others anyway."

"No!" she screeched. "L-Let them sleep in, I'll do it."

"Thanks Phe." her brother said, as he shut the door behind himself.

Sirius sat up, his hair sticking up all over the place, a wide smirk breaking across his face. "That was a close call, eh?"

"Very. I shudder to think what would've happened if he realised you were slinking around in my bed." As soon as the words left her mouth she regret it, a bright pink rushing to her cheeks.

"Slinking around in your bed?" he repeated. "Is that what we've been doing all this time?"

Ophelia hit him over the head with a squashy pillow. "You shut your mouth. I just saved your behind from getting jinxed for eternity by my brother. You should be on your knees thanking me."

"Would you settle for a kiss?"

"Eww, not until you wash up and brush your teeth."

Sirius frowned. "That's a new response to snogging if I've ever heard one."

"Trust me Sir, there will not come a time in the near future that I will not want to kiss you. Except when you've gone to bed the night before without cleaning your teeth."

He reluctantly made his way to the washroom.

Once the door clicked shut behind him, Ophelia sprang to her feet and went around the rooms waking the others up.

Lily sat up in bed, a wide smile playing across her lips. "So what time did Sirius leave last night?"

"Er.. morning, Lil. Let's get a move on, shall we? Plenty to do." she answered, returning to her room.

Sirius was sitting at her desk, flipping through a dusty book. He looked up at her and smiled.

Ophelia stood by the door. "Alright, Sir. See you in a bit."

He remained seated, but finally threw the book down and got to his feet. "Fine."

"Don't pretend to be upset." she said, closing the door behind him. She made her way over to the calendar pinned on the wall and crossed off the square that read 16 August.

Ophelia hurriedly dressed and joined the others in the kitchen. Only Remus and Lily were rather awake, beaming round at everyone in the room.. James was slumped over the counter, his glasses slowly falling down the bridge of his nose.

"Smile guys." began Remus finally, walking into the sitting room. "This frees up the rest of our summer."

"Hurrah." said Sirius unenthusiastically, as he entered the kitchen wearing the same clothes as the night before.

James smirked but remained quiet. "Good morning, Padfoot."

"Good morning, Prongs." he repeated, shooting his friend a stern look.

Talia looked up from her dining room chair. "Can we go please? And get this bloody day over with... I have such a headache."

"That will teach you to drink on the same night you were in hospital." laughed Lily.

"Don't remind me. Alright, all have your lists?"

Everyone held up the strip of yellowing parchment they had been sent a few days prior.

"Excellent." replied Remus, ushering them all in front of the fireplace. "You all know what to do, I'm sure."

One by one, they took the Floo to Diagon Alley. Once there, Remus explained his plan of how to tackle everyone's list.

"I have already made a list of where we'll find what." he said. "First we have to stop at Flourish and Blotts. We all need books and the such."

"And the such?" Ophelia mocked. "Radagast, you are a teacher."

Through the grimy window, she could make out a greasy mass of black hair. "Oh great." she thought to herself, as she followed the others inside.

Fortunately, the black-haired man was not Snivellus, as she could only guess what a meeting with him would bring.

She scrolled down her list; titles such as 'Wizarding Laws: Old and Amended' by Roger Piggins, and 'A Beginner's Guide to Defensive Potions' by Amelie Cathrart.

"This'll be a fun year." muttered Sirius, as if reading her thoughts.

"Just wait until we get to uni. That will be... "

"Yeah."

"Caradoc!" called Lily into the crowd. A few moments later, an attractive, vaguely familiar-looking wizard emerged in front of them.

"Oh sweet Merlin."

Ophelia looked to Talia who was now blushing like mad.

"How's your summer been?"

He grinned. "Fairly well. I've made Head Boy."

"Car, that's incredible, Congratulations." replied Lily. "Oh, I'm so daft. These are my friends. You know Remus of course, but you haven't met James, Ophelia, Sirius, Mai and Talia."

Caradoc went down the line nodding politely, until he came to Talia.

"Hullo." he smiled. "Talia, is it?"

She made a slight noise and cocked her head.

"I'll take that as a yes?" chuckled Caradoc. Talia nodded. "Can you talk?"

"She uh--"

"I just hexed her." Pete lied, "She won't be able to talk for a few more minutes."

"Oh. Well you'll have to show me it some day. Teach my younger brother a lesson." he winked. "So what have you been up to?"

Lily shrugged. "I've spent the entire summer at their house." she replied, motioning to Remus and Ophelia. "Just relaxing, getting over the stress of OWLs."

"Don't remind me." he groaned. "I have my NEWTs this year."

"We're having an... end of the summer barbeque kind of thing." said Remus suddenly. "You should come."

"Did you know about this?" whispered Ophelia. Sirius shrugged.

Caradoc threw a glance to Talia. "Sure. That sounds good, better than sitting round home, anyways. When is it?"

"Friday." said Remus, at the exact moment that Lily answered, "Saturday."

"It's a weekend-long... party." James explained.

"Right. That's why.. it's Friday and Saturday."agreed Lily quickly.

"Caradoc?" an older witch called from the other side of the shop.

He glanced around. "That'll be my mum. So send me an owl or something, alright? I definitely want to come."

"Will do." said Lily, as he disapeered back into the throng of people. "Bye!"

"B-Bye." Talia stuttered.

Sirius smirked and opened his mouth to say something, when Ophelia elbowed him sharply in the ribs.

He sighed. "Fine. Can we get our things now?"

She kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks Sir."

"You owe me. That would've been good."

Ophelia rolled her eyes and made her way over to Talia. "So... what was that all about?"

"Did you see him?" she shrieked, "He was the most gorgeous guy I have ever laid eyes on."

"Aw, was it love at first sight?" she giggled, "Are you going to marry him?"

"I would give my wand arm to marry him." said Talia in all seriousness.

"Well you better get over you're little... speech impediment if he's coming over in a few days."

A faraway look came to her eyes, and Ophelia knew she had lost her friend to some distant fantasy. She linked her arm through Talia's, "Come on."