I do apologise for the delay….I will have the next two chapters up quicker. Enjoy….

Black Six

Raine took a deep breath of fresh air to calm her nerves. Hogsmeade weekend was supposed to be fun, particularly when one was out with close friends. Raine knew she shouldn't be thinking of seven hundred and fifty two reasons to dispose of them, but this was different.

The week leading up to the Hogsmeade trip, Sirius had cancelled all lessons, "As a treat," he said. More likely he was getting unnerved with Sara walking me back and forth to the lessons, mused Raine. Who would think that the big bad Black was scared of a girl? This made her smile as she imagined Sirius jumping into the lake to hide from Sara, who had been finding an excuse every second to talk to him.

Sara no longer had a bubbly attitude when it came to the Hogsmeade weekend - she had been completely heart broken when Black decided to take a fifth year Ravenclaw on a date. Raine had tried the usual pick-me-ups, making Sara drink butter beer at the Three Broomsticks and eat large amounts of chocolate from Honeysuckle. But Sara was too cut up about Sirius, asking Raine if she looked beautiful compared to this girl or that, or was she fat, stupid or invisible? Responding kindly to all of them with a strong 'no' helped a little, yet Sara still was awfully quiet. And it was raining now.

"Look," said Raine, quiet determined to end the silence, "there is no point in sulking about Black. He is an idiot!" Raine put her hand up to stop Sara interrupting. "If he can't see what a lovely and caring person you are, then he doesn't deserve you!"

"But he is The One," cried Sara. "I just know it!"

"I don't care if he happened to be the last man on earth," said Raine, "The fact is that Black is the greatest moron on the planet, and it would be better for the whole population for you to not reproduce idiots with Sirius Black."

Raine did not notice that her voice was rising as she got into her role as best friend, and therefore had no idea that she shouted out the last few words. However the fact that the surrounding area went quiet and few people turned in her direction made it obvious. Raine went bright red, as she was not used to being the centre of attention.

"I wouldn't let Sirius catch you saying that to his face, if I was you Raine," said Remus from behind the girls.

Spinning around, Raine stood dumbstruck as Remus, James and Peter grinned at her like Cheshire cats, trying unsuccessfully to hold in laughter. If Raine could go any redder, she did. She blushed greatly as the three Marauders looked on.

"Oh, I wish Padfoot had heard," James said, rubbing his hands together as he imagined the scene.

"Wait 'til we tell him," sputtered Peter. "He'll have a fit!"

"No, no, no, no!" Raine exclaimed, waving at them energetically. "He would play a prank on me and be horrible. And I have to pass transfiguration!" Raine was about to start begging and pleading for mercy.

"I think it's a bit late to prevent Sirius finding out," mentioned Remus.

"What? Why?"

"Cause I think someone bet us too it." Remus pointed over Raine's shoulder and they were greeted with the view of a sixth-year Gryffindor in an intense, whispered conversation with Sirius that involved much waving of arms and pointing at Raine.

"Oh, I'm dead," whispered Raine. Her nightmare about how Black was going to murder her stopped short as Sara giggled uncontrollable. "What so funny? Your friend about to die at the hands of a mad man, and you're laughing!"

"You - you always seem to - to screw up," Sara managed to say through gaps.

Raine pulled a face. "Well, it's time to make our exit quickly." She smiled sorrowfully at the Marauders, who burst into loud chuckles again. She didn't need to turn round to know that Black was making a beeline in their direction, probably with a scowl on his handsome face.

Getting cold and thoroughly wet, Raine dragged Sara into a small boutique across the road, which she had never heard of, and dived in. Shaking out their wet garments, Sara and Raine took in their surroundings. It was a very posh frock shop. It seemed to hold every colour and style on its racks of every girl's dream dress. The shop was empty, which made Raine feel happy: she hated shopping especially at a busy time when everyone except her knew what they wanted.

"They're beautiful," breathed Sara, in reference to the dresses

Raine smiled. Why hadn't she remembered that dress shopping was one of Sara's favourite things? For Sara, it was like becoming eight again and dressing up as a Princess for her Prince Charming.

"Well, why don't you try on some," suggested Raine.

"I couldn't", responded Sara. "There're too many…"

"You can try on every one, I don't care," said Raine. "As long as we are in here, Black is out there. You're saving my life by doing this."

Sara giggled and nodded, walking to the nearest aisle and glancing at the dresses.

"You know," Sara voiced, "I really could do with something new for the Christmas Ball. Are you coming this year?"

"I wasn't invited."

"But you can come as my partner," Sara said brightly.

"I'm staying at Hogwarts this year Sara," said Raine. "And I don't think Dippet would allow you to take me, especially should my mum hear about it."

"Well it was an idea," sighed Sara. "And you never know, maybe Black will grow some brains before then and ask me to go with him."

Very unlikely. "That's the spirit girl," stated Raine.

With five dresses in her arms, Sara glided to the dressing room to change. Raine was to be the voice of reasoning, as Sara wanted something classic and unique. Great. How the hell am I suppose to know.

By the time Raine had seen the third dress, it was clear to her (if not to Sara) that all the dresses Sara had picked were quite sluttish, and nothing of the Audrey Hepburn style she had wanted.

"We just need help," Raine told her friend.

At these words, a small lady with flowing white hair appeared behind them. "Can I help you ladies," she asked politely. Her voice was like music, and put the girls at ease at once.

"My friend," Raine said, indicating Sara, "would like something classy and unique for a posh Christmas ball." She gave a pleading look to the lady and the old dressmaker returned it with a wink. Raine smiled.

"Well of course, my shop holds everything you need, girlie." With that she steered Sara to the back of the shop, into a corner. "Let's give one of these a try, shall we?" In seconds Sara was returning to the changing rooms with three promising dresses in hand.

Between the periods of fitting the dress, the old lady turned to Raine. "Aren't you going to have a try?"

"Oh no," said Raine. "No offence, I think you dresses are wonderful, but I'm not planning on going anywhere, so there would be no point on trying one. I'm just here for my friend."

"I have noticed," smiled the old lady. "But please try one on for this old dear."

"I wouldn't know which one to pick," stuttered Raine, trying to find any excuse to get out of trying on the dress. No one will see you. Just do it. You can't resist it, secretly. "Ok," Raine said quietly.

"Good. I haven't lost my charm then," stated the old lady. "I think this one is for you."

Reaching behind them, the old lady whipped out a forest-green satin dress, in an off the shoulder style, making the skirt swirled around a little. However, the stunning feature of the dress was its low back, allowing as much skin as possible to show.

"I don't know," hesitated Raine.

"The quicker you try it, the quicker its done," said the lady with a hopeful smile.

"Fine." Grudgingly Raine walked to the changing rooms as Sara came out.

"Are you trying something?"

"Yes"

"That's great. I always knew that deep down you liked shopping!" Sara smiled happily as she had managed to decided that the black dress with a elaborate design of silver flowers on the side was for her.

Raine sighed. Why am I doing this? Damn the nice old lady! It won't suit me! After undressing, Raine quickly slipped into the dress, which fit her perfectly. As she smoothed the material to sit properly she smiled. At least now Sara can never say that I haven't worn a dress in her presence.

"Here I come," called Raine from inside the cubical.

Closing her eyes she stepped out to face her audience of two. She nervously fiddled with her hands, waiting for a response, any response. Her hair shaded her face, blocking out the stares, which she was grateful for.

"What do you think?" she asked nervously after minutes of silence. What's wrong with them? Do I look that bad?

A low wolf whisper announced another spectator. Raine's head shot up quicker than a deer caught in headlamps. There stood the old lady with a smile of appraisal and a definite twinkling in her blue eyes, while Sara had an expression disbelief and slight annoyance on her face.

And there was Sirius Black grinning suggestively at her and looking extremely handsome as he leaned against the entrance to the changing rooms. Why do he look so good in every situation? mused Raine.

Gaining the control back in her limbs, Raine started to make a move to the cubical but was stopped when the light pressure of a hand meet her back.

"You look very pretty," whispered Sirius just below her ear. "But you need something to fix that hair."

"And what do you suggest, oh wise one?" Raine said sarcastically, angry with Black's attempt to beautify her.

"This." Without waiting for permission, Sirius gently pushed Raine's hair away from her face and twisted it into a loose bun, which he secured with his wand. Some strands escaped his style, but the transformation helped to show Raine's pale skin in better light and emphasise her light blue eyes. Sirius's throat contracted. She really has the mystery look working for her, if only she'd show more of her good features instead of hiding them. He lifted his hand to her cheek, softly brushing against her skin to swipe a strand of hair away from her eyes. He didn't realise that he had moved so close until he could feel warmth of Raine's sharp breath on his face. What am I doing? thought Sirius. I can't take advantage of her. McGonagall would kill me – that is, if Raine would even let me. He continued to gaze at the features of Raine's unusual face, unsure what was attracting him so much.

"Sirius!" called another female, "What do you think?"

Black spun around, moving a good step away from Raine and remembering his date. She had been the one to drag him in here, though it did give him the perk of looking at the other girls freely. But he was bloody delighted when he spotted Sara, knowing that Raine would be close by, and he needed to get back at her for the unprompted statement of his being an idiot. He was about to prank her with a favourite of his – stealing all the clothes of the victim and hanging them about Hogwart's halls. He still had a priceless image from when he'd done it to Snape. Yet when he'd seen Raine in the revealing dress, the thought had disappeared from his mind. Damn!

The Ravenclaw girl swirled suggestively for Black, but his mind was too far-gone with his pupil that he could only smile absentmindedly in answer.

"Then I'll take it." She giggled and disappeared again.

Turning back, Sirius wanted to say something, anything to Raine, but she was gone and so was Sara. Instead the old lady coughed lightly from behind him. "I think this is yours," she said, handing him his wand. "You got yourself into a little bit of a mess, haven't you?"

"No!" protested Black.

"That's what they all say." The old lady smiled again and with that, walked to another corner of the shop leaving Sirius with his thoughts.