Chapter 20 – The Pieces fall into Place.

The first week of being heart breaker, Sirius Black, girlfriend was frightening as many pretty girls at Hogwarts took offence against Raine's lack of beauty and flirty nature. She started questioning herself again at what Sirius found so entertaining about her but Lily, noticing her downcast mood, had a small chat with her in the library before breakfast.

As Raine stared aimlessly at the opposite wall, Lily sneaked down beside her. "You do know that Sirius really likes you, in fact I would be bold enough to say loves you, which I might add is something I thought I would never see."

Raine jumped out of her skin at hearing her voice.

"I would never admit this to James but… I had a hard time from some of the seventh year girls." Lily twinges at the memories of the many threats, "When they found out that James actually received a 'yes' from me, they weren't that nice to me in the corridor and although being with him is the most wonderful thing. It still hurts to think people can be that cruel – the worst of it was being called Mudblood daily. James would have hexed them into a black hole."

"That's awful Lily," said Raine, "I know your right. But sometimes it gets to me…yet Sirius has appeared when the girls have surrounded me and whisks me away." Raine started to ponder over Sirius' protectiveness.

"If he is doing that, then he definitely loves you," laughed Lily, "and please don't tell me it's only to show you the nearest closet."

Raine blushed profoundly as Lily laughed heartily gaining a look from the librarian but also a strange look from Black who entered to see his girlfriend looking extremely embarrassed. Walking up to Raine, he quickly dropped a kiss on her cheek then gazed over her head at Lily to determine what had happen but Lily was saved by her other half calling for them all to hurry at Remus was likely to eat a horse today and that meant no food for the rest. Lily rushed to catch up with James, leaving Raine and Sirius to saunter behind with their arms wrapped around each other waist.

"Morning love," he murmured as he captured her yielding lips for a proper morning greeting. He could still taste the honey from their first encounter under the mistletoe and smiled as he broke away from Raine.

"Your happy," mentioned Raine as they headed into the Great Hall and walked to where the rest of the Marauders where as well as Lily and Zel.

"That is because I have you to think about morning, day and night," whispered Black huskily knowing that it would set Raine's face alight again with the added touch of fingering the back of her neck.

As they sat down, Sirius noted that some glares were still being flung in Raine's direction, most were disbelief glances, and he knew there were still rumours about her drugging him with a love potion. Sometimes he wished it was true, then he could have his wicked way with her but Raine was too honest a person to do a thing like that. Sirius on the other hand was more open-minded. He grinned at his good luck and fortune as he settled himself very close to Raine and placed a hand on her knee, giving it a quick squeeze before she made a move to slap it away.

The breakfast was a busy affair when sitting with the Marauders. They all ate if it was their last meal and some onlookers could call it disgusting how they rammed their food down throats. Occasionally Lily would point it out but she now was quieten by James' puppy dog eyes or by kissing her passionately that she would become so dizzies to remember what she was annoyed at. However, though rarely, Lily would blow up at Prongs for spilling something, particularly if it was on her homework and stomp off only to be chased by Potter for a long 'reconciliation.'

Nevertheless today's atmosphere had excitement as well as fun. Raine noticed how Sirius, Remus, Peter and James kept on glancing at one another especially when Lily was occupied with Zelda. Then it fell into place for Raine, there was going to be a prank sometime today and they were trying to keep it from Lily.

As James recaptured his girlfriend's attention as he accidentally spilt hot tea on his hand. Zelda winked at Raine from across the table as she noted the dawning expression on Raine's face. Raine felt that Zel knew a lot more about everything than she was letting on and turned to Sirius.

"Sirius?" asked Raine in his ear, "Do you feel that Zel knows …knows all that's going on?"

Now Black had been slightly distracted from the warm breath tickling his ear but he answered as best he could, "Of course she does. She has the Sight …though she only said a week ago to me. Think of the pranks we could have done!"

Raine covered her hand over her mouth to stop giggles escape as she noticed Sirius' distracted face and moved in closer to his ear. "Sirius you are a terrible man", as she spoke very slowly emphasising each word Black moved in as he shivered slightly as his mind went to the gutters. Overwhelmed by the power she had over him, Raine clapped her hands very loudly at Sirius' ear which made him jump three feet in the air and crashing down to his seat. The rest of the group laughed out loud and applauded Raine.

"You have a lot of control over him", noted Lily which brought a scowl from Black.

"I think it's a very good thing if one of us can rule such a dog," smirked James and the others smiled secretly.

"How do you do it Raine?" said an amazed Lily as she ruffled Padfoot's hair affectionately which Black tried to pat down after whispering "I'm not James" under his breath.

"Do you hold power over him with sex?" piped Peter as the whole of Hogwarts knows Sirius' past.

Exclamations of "Wormtail!" came from James and Remus while Lily went for Peter's shins after under the table and Zelda choked on her toast that brought Lupin to her rescue.

Sirius' expression resembled a black cloud and the look of murder was in his eyes. Peter realising his mistake went bright red as did Raine who was unsure to answer. She tried to talk but started stumble yet she was saved.

"Peter…", Zelda trying to speak through gasping for air, "everyone… knows that Sirius …is still a virgin … the rest are vicious rumours."

The eruption of laughter brought everyone's attention to Zel which allowed Black the opportunity to see how Raine was handling Peter's idiocy.

"I'm sorry Raine," he whispered, "I think Peter has left his brain behind from the Christmas holiday."

This got him a weak smile and the twinkle returned into her eyes as Raine muttered, "Virgin, are you?" Sirius shrugged his shoulders looking unperturbed that the joke was at his expense as he leaned into to Raine.

"I can always show how much of a virgin I am," replied Sirius as he ghostly kissed below her ear and several more down her neck until he recalled his surroundings and stopped. He got what he wanted - a very beautiful, rosy cheeked Raine looking embarrassed though her eyes told him not to push it.

"Zelda Macgregor and Severus Snipe, my office now!" bellowed McGonagall from the Great Hall's doors.

As Zel stood up and visible twitched under the sudden attention on her.

"What have you done, Zel," laughed James.

"I helped Sara find her way to the inside of the Lost Closet", muttered Zelda.

A collection of "Woos" from the group as it was often severe punishment for being caught.

"I wished you didn't feel the need to do it on my account," spoke out Raine. It had been a shock to see the amount of help her new friends were willing to do to fight her battles with her.

"Well at least I'll have company with Snape."

"What does he have to do with it?" growled Sirius.

"He helped," said Zel simply, "never judge a book by its cover." And with that statement she walked of with her head high and met Snape half way before reaching McGonagall.

Sirius watched keenly as he saw Zel linking arms with Severus. It took him, as well as Snape, by surprise though seemingly Snivellus was not objecting too much. Half of seventh year Slytherins looked puzzled particularly Malfoy's face. What is she playing at? mused Black but he was distracted for the rest of the time by James reliving an adventure of the Marauders.

"Could I have your attention," voiced the Headmaster from the teacher's table. Professor Dippet in his long green robes looked quite small standing behind the podium though it did not hide the high regard that many felt he had earned. "I wish only to announce the final Hogsmeade trip of the year since the exams will be approaching soon then the holidays. The date will be posted in each common room. I would like to warn certain individuals that bad behaviour will lead to a ban on this privilege." Dippet's gaze was at the head of Gryffindor as he said this. "You many go to your classes now."

"Fantastic", squealed Lily which gained a few looks from the group, especially from James who had research Lily's moods for the last three years. Serious Lily Evans had just done something girly on her own accord. "What?" she asked everyone. "Well wouldn't you be excited to go to Hogsmeade if it meant shopping for your graduation dress for the up and coming ball?" Lily again was surrounded by funny looks which made her start to fume slightly.

"Lily dearest" interrupted James, "we haven't told them about the Ball. It was suppose to revealed tonight at the Prefects' meeting."

Lily was about to argue until she was rendered speechless at her mistake. "Oh dear I've ruined it. I can't believe I got so excited over a dress! What will Professor Dippet think of me!"

"He'll probably be relieved to know that Head Girl, Lily Evans is in fact human," quip Sirius which earned him to slaps on the head one from Lily and the other from James, though he was slightly smiling at Padfoot.

Reaching a fork in the paths, the group spilt up however Sirius lagged behind James to have a few moments with Raine.

"RainewouldgototheBallwithme?" Sirius said it so fast that Raine thought she imaged him speaking at all.

"Sorry?"

"Please be my partner for the Ball," begged Sirius and put the added touch of his puppy dog eyes. Now this was a horrible thing to do; as Raine had no resistance against such an adorable look. With his dark fringe falling into his gorgeous black eyes that sparkled, even when pleading and his soft lips pulled into a pout, Raine just smiled to herself and crossed her arms.

"As much as I would love to go Sirius," stated Raine, "It is only for seventh year."

She was a tad disappointed about the strict rules on being allowed to go to the Ball but the rules were there for a reason. More upsetting for Raine was knowing that the majority of beautiful seven year females would try to dig their claws into her handsome boyfriend. And although Sirius promised that Raine had changed his viewpoint on love and relationship there was a nagging thought that he might crumble and why not any man was be delighted at the many girls throwing themselves at him.

"Well," dragged out Sirius, "I think Lily and James would be willing to bend the rules just for little old me", Raine widened her eyes at his plan, "chiefly if I take an oath not to spike the punch and no pranks. And if I pitch it that none of this will happen because my lovely girlfriend has a tight reign on me then they will be begging you to come."

"If you put it that way," smiled Raine, "how can I refuse?"

"Precisely! That's what I thought too," acknowledged Sirius as he pecked her on the forehead before flashing his winning smile. "See you at lunch, love." Without a backward glance, Black ran down the corridors to make it to DADA on time.

Raine was on cloud nine and the beam could not be shifted from her glowing face as she walked into Charms. The sight of Sara with green hair and purple zigzags across her face went unnoticed by Raine as she sat herself down at the back of the class to day dream about a certain wonderful person.

Who could I ask to help me? mused Raine as the lesson went over her head. I want this to be special for Sirius and show the rest of them that I can be drop dead gorgeous…ok I'll go for pretty instead. I don't know anything about shopping! Or make up or hair style. Merlin I'm such a novice just like Black said. Who will help?... Zel!

Zelda could still hear the ringing of McGonagall's voice in her ears as she made her way slowly down to Potions. She sighed at receiving two weeks of detention in the trophy room but looking for a brighter angle, at least she had the moody company of Snape. Of course, this was not exactly brilliant but it would suffice. At least she wouldn't have to talk to herself.

"What are you thinking MacGregor", came a voice behind her, which startled her.

"Just the detention Severus," she replied, "and how I'm happy not to be doing it on my own."

"What are you up to", demanded a suspicious Snape. He did not know what to think of the Ravenclaw in front of him. He knew that she had a good idea that he was a Death Eater yet ignoring that wanted him to be friends. He also guessed that she had a wider grasp on things happening around them than he had given her credit for in the beginning. She was not ditzy as most people were lead to believe - her eyes were her let down. They were wide with feeling and Snape could tell that she had seen much pain recently but there was determination in the violet swirls to indicate that she was a fighter until the end.

"I want to help," said Zelda honestly.

"With what?" enquired Snape who did not like being in the dark.

"I want to help you decide if you're going down the right path," uttered Raine, "because you are going to have to choose soon."

"What are you getting at?" Severus was getting quite angry and swiped his greasy locks of his forehead to study Zelda's face better. However his observation was broken as Slytherin appeared from the opposite hallway. Snape registered the young girl from being in seventh year and her name was Noboveck, medium build with long black hair and piercing blue eyes. She kept herself to herself even away from the Slytherin most of the time. To Severus, it seems that the girl was more in shock at being stared at than seeing a Slytherin and a Ravenclaw in discussion. Nobovek scuttled past the pair, ducking her head to avoid eye contact.

As the girl was no longer in hearing, Zelda let out a small laugh. "She likes you", Zel commented before continuing down to the dungeons. "I would ask her to the Ball if I was you Severus. The time is shortening for us to have fun. Soon there will dark times."

"I see." Snape wavered in his strong character and ideals as Zelda disappeared from sight. Does she know about Theo's planning? How can she possible know the dangers Raine is in?

Please review and tell me what you think! I really do apologise about my spelling and grammar but I'm not very good at it and I have seemingly lost contact with my beta reader. Please tell me if you like the way it is going or you think that I could improve on. However thank you for all your lovely comments; they make me smile that so many of you enjoy the story. Weather in Scotland is horrible at the moment!