I'm just as shocked as you guys: it's finally here! (Unless you remember the previous chapter – skim through it quickly.) Stop reading this and get on with the chapter!!
It was somewhere between the memory of trying to cut his own hair at the age of five and the passing recollection of watching his father fix his hair in the mirror that made Sirius finally fall asleep. Somewhere in the recesses of his mind, where dreams seemed real, and living could fall into falseness… Some place which the mind reaches between the mindset of asleep and awake… between thought and action… between like and love… Between all the betweens the brain could come up with. All the polar opposites, the poetically beautiful or insignificantly mundane.
It was there that Sirius found the ability to let himself nod off, drift asleep, and let loose the awakened world… whatever phrase suited the instant.
Sirius didn't dwell on wording that moment; he couldn't. He was asleep. He was finally, absolutely asleep. No more late nights and too early mornings. That night he was to sleep many hours and heartily enjoy each one.
Any dreams, flashes of images in successions that made sense when newly awakened, but escaped explanation later in the day, failed to stir him from his slumber.
The new moon, invisible to the unaided eye, passed over the stoned tomb of slumbered beings. Some awake, for sleep such as Sirius' had evaded them that night, some prowling hallways, others sneaking off to unspeakable places for unspeakable reasons. The clear sky, with its inky background and star sparkling foreground, belied the cold that set the trees still, forest silent and creatures to rest. The lake water had not a ripple in its slick ice state. Scratches and grooves danced around its closer regions, proof of playful students, but faded and ebbed the further the lake span from the school.
Mountains surrounding the granite and rock development of classrooms, halls, tunnels and dormitories that, to many eyes, held memories of good and bad, ideas and hopes for futures, despairs and faiths, were patterned with streaks of flattened snow. Channels dove down, swerved like veins through each other and passed over to the next line of descent. A scattered surplus of holes met at the bottom of each hill, only to trudge and deepen as they met and crawled back up the large ice and snow covered mound. A couple wooden sleighs waited silently in the chill to be used the following day, tied to trees nearby in the valley, lingering thoughts of which hill it would be ridden upon when the shining sun rose, classes were finished and before dinner was to be eaten.
Sirius, however, took no heed of the hidden moon in the clear sky, the scarred ice over the smooth lake or the thin lines down the large hills.
Sirius was asleep.
- - - - - - -
Flutters of light dotted his eyes. Lines of red and green sailed across his freshly awakened eyes behind eyelids. He did not want to open them. In fact, he was so bloody comfortable in his bed that he didn't want to move a muscle, twitch a nerve or quirk a lip.
That was why he was not very pleased when a pillow decided to make its landing on his chest. A very forceful and heavy landing. One that accompanied a shout, laugh and a sigh; all from different benefactors.
Muffled words and phrases fixed their way into his ears and probed his thought into work. Not something he wanted. Names, faces and features attached themselves in his head to each voice that dared to wake him further.
"Moony… really now… time to… he's already slept through the morning…"
Ah yes, James, please try to justify your actions…Wait – through the morning?A hand slapped onto his head and scruffed up his hair and James' voice unsurprisingly accompanied it. "Up you get, Padfoot."
Sirius cracked open one eye and saw only a bright sparking light that distorted his vision. It somehow reminded him of his newly polished Quidditch bat… and if he worked his imagination enough, it was attached to a Bludger. And Sirius was a Beater, wasn't he?
That is why, Sirius Black explained later that day, he took James Potter's shining glasses from his face and then hit him over the head with them.
Remus and Peter laughed as James stumbled back, hand on his head. Sirius' arm hung limply over his bed, glasses hanging on his index finger.
"I thought you said you wouldn't hit a man with glasses, but with a brick," Peter reminded the sleepy man who then snorted once into his pillow.
Sirius brought his arm back onto the bed and pulled it beneath his body as he rolled over, back to his friends. "If you found me a brick," he began in a tired, flat tone, "I'd make do with that instead. Now bugger off."
"Someone's cranky," James tutted, picking up his glasses and blowing off the lint.
"Someone's a bastard for waking me up," Sirius retorted, voice still monotonous.
"Someone obviously doesn't want to get up," Peter stated the obvious.
"Someone missed breakfast," Remus told the lump that was Sirius' body on the bed.
Sirius cursed quite colourfully, but didn't make a move to get up. "What's so bloody brilliant about today that you found dire need to wake me from my slumber?"
"We had many reminders from half the female population in the school, teachers and James here that tonight is the New Years Ball," Remus informed him. "So, in that aspect you're very lucky to have missed breakfast."
"Good," Sirius mumbled, deciding now was a good time to get lost in sleep once more.
"And we've acquired a group of Veela to prepare a song and dance for you," James said, eyes narrowing, watching Sirius' breathing level out.
"Mmhm…"
"Stark naked and performing it mostly around your bed," James tried, getting a snigger from Peter and an eye roll from Remus.
"Brilliant." Sirius let out a sigh and snuggled deeper into his blankets.
"Bloke's tired, I guess," Remus said in a voice that meant their job was finished. "We should get going then, eh?"
"And do what?" James asked. "Lily's already getting her clothes and make-up laid out."
Remus grinned toothily. "I believe Ol' Hauler is still tied to the birch near the northern mountain, is he not?"
The Head Boy's eyes lit up. "Last one in his winter clothes and at Ol' Hauler secretly dreams of Snape!" James exclaimed, leaping to his trunk and getting his cloak, gloves and toque on in record time. Outdoor clothes were flying everywhere as the three boys dared not to be last. James darted out the door with the other two close behind him. Peter was running with only one boot securely on, trying to do up the other with each step. Remus was still pulling on his cloak, opting to leave his scarf behind.
Peter had to undergo childish taunting for the rest of the tobogganing time from the bespectacled boy.
- - - - - - -
"I'm not sure whether this dress robe was the best of choices," Jen said unsurely as she fit into it for what must have been the fifteenth time that afternoon. Its scarlet colour looked velvety in certain lights, but felt like suede.
The Gryffindor seventh year witches were in their dormitory preparing for the Ball for that evening. The mid-afternoon sun sparkled through their windows, shining on most of their robes, over their beds, upon bottles of hair potions, lipsticks and a surplus of other items to make the girls look their best.
"I told you you look fine," Ara snapped lightly, with a sigh. She stood before the bathroom mirror, a magazine before her with hair designs and tips for wand work. She glanced at it once more and began twisting her hair with the tip of her wand. "I really think she's just fishing for compliments now."
Mel, twisting tiny braids into Lily's hair, secured another loop of hair to the back of the redhead's head and waved her wand over it. Letting go, she was pleased to see it stayed. "Should we call her Fisherman Jen?" she asked.
Sitting on the floor before Mel's legs, who was seated on her bed, Lily made a small fishing motion, pretending to cast a line into water.
"Something like that," Arabella said offhandedly; for some reason she couldn't get the charm to work properly. Her curls wouldn't fall correctly… in fact, they weren't falling at all. Lily withheld her chuckles as she watched all the curls stick straight out.
"Well," Jen tutted, "I was just sharing my worries, so you can't all look back on this night five years from now and say I looked whorish."
Lily raised an eyebrow and Mel frowned. Arabella, however, was the one to comment. "In five years we'd say that whether you looked it or not, so you might as well go either way." She cursed and dropped her wand into the sink. "I give up. I'll just go to the Ball like this, then."
Lily let a couple chuckles out. "I think Ryan would die from your beauty if you kept it like that." Ryan Patron, a seventh year Hufflepuff, had asked Arabella to the Ball only the week prior to the holidays, saying that he wasn't sure whether she'd been asked already or not. His eyes had kept on darting to her friends off to the side and Ara kept wondering who he had been looking at.
"Beauty or laughter?" Jen asked, seeing Ara's reflection walk behind her.
"Laughter," Ara grumbled. She turned her head to face Lily and opened her mouth.
"Yes, yes, I'll fix it when Melissa's done with me," Lily said with a roll of her eyes. "If you promise not to touch my hair."
Mel snorted. "Oh shut up," Arabella said, sitting beside Mel on the blonde's bed and crossing her legs. "Speaking of hair," she continued, "is James going to attempt combing his?"
Lily shrugged. "I really wouldn't know."
"Not that it'd matter much," Jen said drawled. "She's only going to mess it up anyways." Lily could only glare at her from her spot on the floor. "Oh don't give me that. You know it's true."
"And not just true about me, is it Jennifer?" Lily shot back, grinning evilly.
"Oh you know it." Jen winked. "If you find Remus and I missing for miscellaneous patches of the Ball, don't come looking."
"Do we ever?" Mel asked casually, patting Lily on the head. "And I'm done with you."
"Good," Lily responded, gingerly getting up, "because my bum is numb…"
Ara snorted and rolled her eyes. "This is becoming an interesting day… I can't wait for the actual excitement to kick in."
"What do you mean 'to kick in'?" Lily asked, walking oddly to her bed to grab her opal robe. "It's horribly exciting already. I'm enthralled."
"You're easily amused, that's what you are," Ara muttered. She then demanded, "Now do my hair."
Lily raised an eyebrow and started getting changed. "I've been sitting for half an hour. Give me at least ten minutes before I have to sit again."
Jen quietly walked to the window and sighed. Lily and Ara, still bickering, didn't notice. Mel did, however. The blonde went to stand next to her friend and nudged her lightly.
"What's on your mind?" she asked softly, looking out of the window as well.
Jen shrugged unimportantly, but looked as though the weight of the world was just dropped onto her shoulders. "I was just thinking." Mel could have come up with a few cheeky comments and Jen was happy when she didn't.
"About?" Mel asked instead.
"About all the shite that's happened. I'm looking forward to the Ball and am trying to keep a happy face on… but I'm still very, very unhappy." Jen looked to Mel, the sun reflecting off the snow and shining over her tanned skin and in her eyes. "I didn't see him very often, but I really miss my dad." Her brows twitched inwards and she fought tears. Her eyes stung and she muttered a quiet curse.
Mel wrapped a comforting arm around the slightly taller girl's shoulders.
"And I want Remus to have a good time, so I've been telling myself that one night of happiness won't be betraying my father… but it's just so hard to keep up. I am looking forward to tonight, I really am, but it's just been difficult." Jen firmly shut her eyes and finished quietly, "Very difficult."
"I understand," Mel said, her voice undeniably understanding. "I utterly and completely understand."
'Of course she would', Jen thought sullenly, 'she's gone through this as well; with both parents.'
The door to their bathroom slammed shut and both girls spun around, eyes immediately widening.
Lily was leaning back on the door, panting and clutching her chest with one hand. The other was holding the door closed. Though there was a huge smile on her face, she was also horribly relieved. The wooden door was being banged upon from inside the bathroom and shaken, and Mel and Jen could distinctly hear Ara yelling.
"I'll kill you myself, Evans! I wanted soft curls – not bouncy, childish curls!!"
Jen hastily wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
Lily frowned and tilted her head. "Jen, are you alri- ah!" She fell backwards as Ara opened the door.
Mel couldn't help a twitch of a smile hit her lips. She glanced at Jen and saw her turn back toward the window, shoulders shaking with laughter. She was happy to see her friend smiling. Mel glanced back at Arabella and saw the reason to Jen's humour and Lily's relief of hiding from Ara.
"You look like Shirley Temple," Mel commented humorously. Lily, laying on the bathroom floor still, chuckled evilly.
Pointing a menacing finger towards Mel, Ara said just as threateningly, "I don't know who the bleeding hell she is, but I'm taking it as an insult."
"My Grandparents love watching her on the telly," Mel continued as if Ara had said nothing. "Reruns and such."
Now sitting up against the frame of the door and watching Ara pull out her fashion magazine again, Lily began to murmur a song. "Animal crackers in my soup, monkeys and rabbits loop the loop…" She bobbed her head with the lyrics and tapped her foot.
Mel chuckled and tugged Jen away from the window and back to where all the fun was happening. "Sing it, Lily," she said.
"Gosh oh gee but I have fun, swallowing animals one by one," Lily continued, adding little hand motions and circling a hand over her stomach to emphasize the lyrics.
"I'm afraid I don't know this song," Jen said, back at the full-length mirror, adjusting her bodice.
"In every bowl of soup I see, lions and tigers watching me…"
Ara had tried to ignore Lily's singing, she really did. But in the damn bathroom mirror she could still see Lily's annoying hand movements and her bopping head, even though the Head Girl was still seated against the doorframe. And that damn foot was still tapping…
"I swallow them up just like a goop-"
"A what?" Ara exclaimed as she looked at her friend, letting her hand fall, with her wand, to the counter.
"Those animal crackers in my soup!" Lily finished the song and bowed her head to her audience.
Mel was the only one to clap and she did so only a few times.
"You're brilliant, Lily, you know that?" Jen mumbled, pinching together the neck of her dress robe and eyeing it critically in the mirror.
"I try," Lily responded.
Ara was about to respond with 'Any harder and you'll hurt yourself', but at that moment, Lisa Perks, the fourth year who had put the "No Curse" on Ara and Sirius early in the year, came bursting in. Her face was red and she looked slightly hysterical. Her dress robes were wrinkled and a faint scent of smoke drifted in with her.
"I – I didn't know where else to go," the dark blonde haired girl stuttered frantically. She grasped her slightly singed hair and continued to the stunned silence, "I was performing some hair spells and then poof! Things were set on fire!"
Lily stood up immediately and went out the door. "What floor?" she called and Lisa turned tail and ran along behind Lily.
"Two up-"
Ara blinked a few times and almost smiled. "Now that I think about it," she said in a considering voice, "I wasn't doing too bad earlier." She smirked to her still-stunned friends.
"I wonder what she lit on fire," Mel said pensively. She glanced at Jen who was back to nit picking the breast of her robe. Slapping her hand away, she said, "Will you stop toying with that thing?"
Lily had come back; smudge mark on her cheek and shaking her head with amusement some twenty minutes later, muttering about bloody hair magazines, younger years, and stuffed bears and curtains that lamented being extinguished.
She had also thrown something down on Jen's bed, a completely smug look about her face.
- - - - - - -
"I think you broke my nose…"
"I'll hit it again if you don't shut up," Peter threatened James on their way back to the Tower.
"You didn't hit me in the first place, Wormtail," James reminded him, voice thick as if he had a cold. He held his gloved hand over his precious nose, snow being used instead of ice. "You tumbled into me and sent me crashing down the side of a mountain without a sled. But you did not hit me."
Remus, for a while now, had been trying to keep his laughter to a minimum. "You want to go to Madam Pomfrey, muffin?" he teased, chuckling when James sent him a glare. "Then stop complaining."
The three of them reached the Fat Lady, the snow in James' hand now measly water soaked into his gloves.
"Holly jolly Christmas," James muttered to the tinsel decorated woman inside the frame, not feeling any of Christmas' left over holly or jolly.
The Fat Lady allowed them entrance after briefing them the correct way to approach a Lady of such high regard this time of year. They had all glanced down and seen the many glasses of champagne she had consumed that lay by her feet.
They trudged their way through the Portrait hole, across the Common Room and up to their dorms. They opened the door, each quietly wondering if Sirius had awoken.
He had, and the sight that greeted them was of their tanned friend rummaging through his trunk, towel around his waist and his dark hair still wet. Water trailed down his back and drops of water dripped onto his neatly folded clothes.
"How many girls in this school alone would love to be us right now?" James whispered, ungloved hand still over his nose. Sirius seemed to not have heard them open the door.
"We could horribly embarrass him," Remus whispered back, but apparently he wasn't quiet enough.
Sirius' head turned around and he nodded once to them. "You blokes haven't seen my dress robes, have you?" he asked, once again rummaging through his belongings.
The three guys closed the door behind them after they stepped in. They went about removing their outdoor gear.
"Did you look in your closet?" Remus asked helpfully.
Sirius made a sound that was supposed to represent a 'yes'.
"Any of our closets?" Remus continued, tossing his wet clothes into the hamper in the bathroom, the other two following suit.
"All of our closets." Sirius stood up, hands on hips, and looked around puzzled. "I remember taking it out of my trunk when we got back after Christmas and putting it nicely into my closet… I know I was tired, but I'm pretty sure I laid it out on my bed before I showered."
"You're too clean for your own good sometimes, Padfoot," Peter said, shaking his head and getting his own robes out.
"Yea," James agreed. "Look where it's gotten you."
"But I'm positive that I…" Sirius stared at James, still with a frown. "What the bloody hell happened to your nose?" he asked.
James glared at Peter.
"I socked him," Peter said triumphantly.
Sirius' eyebrows rose considerably, much different from the frown he had been wearing since they entered. "Is this true?"
"No."
"Yes!"
"Remus?" the towel-wearing man asked, turning to his friend.
"Sort of."
Sirius blinked a couple of times. "That doesn't help me much," he stated in an undeterred fashion.
"Peter sort of crashed into James-"
"On my way to sock him!"
"- But James tumbled down the hill-"
"Mountain."
"- And hit his nose repeatedly, apparently," Remus finished, glaring at the other two for interrupting. Sirius' bangs were the only part of his hair that seemed to be drying and it looked sort of humorous from a side angle, Remus noted.
"And why would Peter want to sock James in the face?" Sirius asked, fishing out a pair of trousers from his closet.
Remus and James laughed; James louder than his friend. "Because he dreams about Snape."
Sirius' movements stopped immediately. He did not turn around and didn't have to to know of Peter's reaction to that statement. The smallest man huffed and went barrelling towards James, but Remus put out an arm to catch the blond boy before he broke James' nose, if it wasn't already.
Sirius turned, an amused eyebrow raised. "I hadn't known, Sperm Whale," he said.
Remus felt that the nickname hadn't needed to be used at that exact moment in time…
Peter struggled away from Remus and threw his head up in pride. "What you say doesn't bother me," he said stiffly. "I have a girlfriend."
The corner of Sirius' lip twitched upwards. "Yes," he said quietly. "And I wonder what she'd say about all this…"
"She'd tell you to bugger yourself," Peter said hotly, snatching his dress robes from his bed and marching to the bathroom.
Sirius had opened his mouth to retort, but Remus said in low, warning tones, "Sirius, leave it."
Sirius didn't look about to leave it when Peter slammed the bathroom door.
"Just drop it, Padfoot," James added, finally re-entering the conversation. "I bothered him enough as it is this afternoon." He seemed to regret some of the things he had said earlier.
"I still can't find my robe," Sirius said and the others were happy that he did drop the comment from Peter. "All I have is this one from second year…"
"You do have your Christmas present from Jen and the girls," James said in both a cautious and mischievous tone. "Though it offsets your broad shoulders and-"
"James," Remus groaned. "Your nose is already bruised…"
James checked himself in the mirror and let his eyes roll to the back of his head with a deep growl. "I'm going to Madam Pomfrey quickly," he said bitterly, grabbing a cloak and stomping off.
Remus glanced to Sirius, but Sirius was still rummaging through his closet. "I can't believe he told me to bugger myself…"
Remus grinned and set about getting ready for the Ball that night.
- - - - - - -
"So I just… took it," Lily finished unimpressively.
Jen reached forward and once again held up the black material before her, shaking it once to smooth it out. "And what did you think would come of it?" she asked, still not comprehending.
Lily shrugged. "Some simple mischief never hurt anyone," she explained simply, grabbing the robe. "Maybe he'll resort to using our Christmas gift…"
"So you extinguished the fire, and on the way down two floors, passed our dorm, strolled through the Common Room, up the Boys stairs and into your boyfriend's dorm?" Jen asked, as confused as the other two girls in the room were.
"I wanted to ask James to check on the other boys in the Tower to make sure they weren't burning anything either. I knocked, no one answered. I opened the door and heard the shower running in the bathroom… and I saw Sirius' robe neatly folded on his bed." Lily bit her lower lip to keep from laughing. "So I just… nicked it."
The three girls were silent and still watched Lily warily as they had when she had come back a while before.
"In an odd, twisted way," Mel began slowly, "you're a genius."
A knock surprised them all and Lily quickly hid Sirius' robe behind her back. "Yes?" she called.
"Can I open the door?" James voice carried through the thick wood.
"But it'll ruin the surprise of what we look like," Lily said.
"It's not our bloody wedding, Lily," James said exasperatedly.
For some reason, Lily was slightly hurt by that comment.
"I don't mean to sound like a prat, but the last half an hour has been a bit hellish, so may I please open the door?"
It was a simple request, so Lily walked over to the door and pulled it open. "Yes?" she asked. Her eyes widened when she saw her boyfriend's face. "What happened to your nose?" she asked, reaching a hand up to touch his cheek, forgetting she was also holding Sirius' robe in the other hand.
"I fell," James said both lamely and truthfully. When Lily gave him a chastising look, he continued, "Down a mountain."
"Oh James," she said, shoulders slumping. "Have you been to Madam Pomfrey?"
"I was on my way, but thought I'd stop by to ask if any of you were involved in the knapping of Sirius' dress robes?" Though the question was innocent enough, he eyes had obviously spotted the black robe in Lily's hand. A smile started on his lips and he leaned forward to kiss Lily on the forehead. "Thanks for finding it for him, love, but he really does need it back."
"So soon?" Mel called from across the room. None of the other girls could see James, but they could hear him perfectly fine.
James poked his head around the door and Lily, and was about to respond until he spotted Ara's hair. "What the bloody hell happened to your-"
"You'd know what's best for you if you never finished your sentence, Potter," Ara said coldly. "Just how I'll never ask why your nose is ballooning up."
James' face went red. "For all the trouble we've been through today," he said, standing back in the hallway, "this Ball better be bloody brilliant."
"I hear you on that, James," Lily said quietly. "The fourth year girl's dormitories were set on fire today," she continued in a tired voice, hand rubbing her forehead, face looking down.
"Was that before or after you gave Ara a perm?" James asked her, shaking his head.
"I don't know… before or after you broke your nose?" Lily shot back.
"Before or after you stole Sirius' robes?" James asked childishly, eyes narrowing.
"Ok kiddies," Jen said quickly, stepping between them. Neither had heard her approach. "Get your butt down to the nurse before your nose becomes unfixable." She turned to Lily. "And you fix Ara's hair. I'll return Sirius' robes." Jen pushed passed the two and went on her way down the stairs.
Lily and James were silent for a few moments till James mumbled, "I'd better go," and turned to leave.
"I hope she gets you better," Lily said, voice trying to sound light.
Though his steps grew slower, James turned his head to look at his girlfriend. "Your hair's very pretty," he said, not sounding his most mature. He stumbled over his feet once and Lily was scared he was about to tumble down the stairs. James quickly turned and grabbed onto the railing. Sending Lily a quick, sheepish smile, James ran down the steps.
Lily closed the door and leaned against it with a sigh and smile.
"You two are disgusting sometimes, you know that?" Ara commented, sending a humoured glare to her friend's direction.
"I love that man," Lily said distantly, eyes unfocused to a spot on the opposite wall.
"All very bloody great for you, but my hair is still ultra-curly and you have orders to fix it."
Lily walked over to her friend and got to work on uncharming each curl. James was right: for all the trouble each of them had been through that day, the Ball had better turn out freaking perfect. Not that they hadn't had fun along the way… but she really wanted the New Year to come and come fast.
Jen knocked on the door to her brother's dorm. Dennis answered it, brown eyes looking confused to see her there, and then a bit worried.
"Mel hasn't changed her mind, has see?" he asked.
Jen smiled softly. "No, she's still going with you. I've come to return this to Sirius." She held up the dress robe.
Dennis looked over relieved. "Oh thank Merlin. He's been prattling about it for too long." He stepped aside and Jen entered.
Sirius was sitting on his bed, bare-chested and wearing only trousers. Peter was fixing his robes in the mirror and paid no heed to Jen when she strolled in. Sirius looked up and his eyes widened.
"Oh thank Merlin," he said, falling back onto his bed. "I was actually contemplating charming that blasted ugly robe you girls got me…"
Jen chuckled and tossed the robe onto Sirius body. "Now I don't think I should have returned it…"
Sirius sat up, shaking the robe before him. Eyeing it, he asked, "You didn't do anything to it, did you?" He only just glanced at her, but at once glance his eyes widened and he jumped up. "You aren't seriously wearing that, are you?" he demanded.
Defensively, Jen responded, "What if I am?"
"That's just part of your robes… there's a sweater to go with it, right?" Sirius continued to stare at her choice of robes.
Hands on her hips, Jen looked around. "Where's Remus-"
"Nowhere he'll see you, that's for sure," Sirius said immediately. "Now you're going to go back to your dorm and find something else to wear-"
The bathroom door opened and Remus stepped out, freshly shaven. He glanced up, confused.
Sirius immediately stepped in front of his twin, arms out. "You can't see her."
"Jen, what the-"
"Back!" shouted Sirius, pointing to the bathroom. Jen gave the largest eye roll of her life. "Turn around, walk in and shut the door."
Wordlessly, Remus turned, hands in the air. "Ok, I can't see her Sirius… is something the matter?"
"Everything's the matter," Sirius muttered. He glared at Dennis and Peter, who respectively went back to looking at anything else than Jen.
"Sirius, stop being so bloody annoying," Jen said in frustration. "It's not like Remus is going to maul me-"
Sirius growled under his breath at her comment and faced her again.
"Oh really now; if I wasn't your sister, you'd pay good money to see this robe on some hot witch!" she exclaimed, grabbing a fistful of her scarlet robe by her thigh.
"But you are my sister… and never say anything like that again," Sirius retorted, scrunching his nose.
"Sirius, really, I've seen her in those robes-"
"Shut up, Remus!" Sirius yelled over his shoulder. "Now, you'll take one of my robes, put it on over that and go back to your dorm-"
"No." Jen glared at her brother and took a step back from him. "I'm sorry that I have breasts, Sirius, and that that fact bothers the shit out of you, but a little bit of cleavage never ruined anyone!" Jen now had her hands over her breasts and would later find that fact highly, highly humorous.
All the boys in the room were stunned to silence.
"And it's not like he hasn't seen them before-" Remus' head was heard repeatedly banging on the bathroom door, "- and you're showing more skin than anyone else right now, so I wouldn't be talking if I were you." With a triumphant humph, Jen crossed her arms and waited Sirius' response.
Jaw quivering in anger, Sirius spoke, "Listen young lady, don't talk to me like that-"
"You sound like a father-"
"Someone's going to have to if you insist on dressing like this-"
Slap.
Jen's hand immediately recoiled after she hit Sirius across the face. Remus was already halfway to them while the slap took place and was now holding Jen back, one arm around her waist. Her slapping hand flew to her mouth.
"Sirius," she whispered, tears beginning in her eyes. Sirius' eyes were closed, but his lips were parted. "Sirius I'm so sorry…" She struggled loose of her boyfriend's grasp and lunged herself into Sirius' body, holding him tightly.
He held her firmly, not opening his eyes, but burrowing his face into her neck. Their breathing seemed to be the loudest sound to fall on everyone's ears and none of the other three boys moved. It seemed that one or both of them had needed to crack to one another.
The only upside was that it happened in a dormitory and not in front of half the school and staff later in the evening.
"I'm sorry, Sirius," Jen repeated, her tears dripping onto her brother's bare shoulder.
"I don't want this family to fall apart anymore than it already has," Sirius confessed, fingers tensing and relaxing on her back. "I really don't…"
"It won't, Sirius, it won't…"
To some people, the scene before them could cause them to cry, but for the men in the room, they were only standing in shocked silence.
Jen sniffed and pulled away from Sirius. "Good thing I haven't put on any make-up yet," she said, gesturing her face and her pink eyes.
Sirius looked at her in the eyes and said, "But you will have something over it, right?" His tone was hopeful instead of demanding, like earlier.
Jen let the smallest of smiles grace her face. "If it gets cold, Remus will give me his cloak," she said, running her hand over her brother's shoulder to dry it.
Sirius glanced at his friend and Remus nodded mutely.
"I'll see you guys in a bit then," Jen said slowly and a bit awkwardly. She turned and nearly walked right into her boyfriend. She shyly glanced up at Remus and gave him a small shrug. She whispered, "I'm sorry if he berates you when I leave…"
Remus' lips curved into a grin and he leaned down to plant a kiss on Jen's lips. "Might as well let him get it out before the dinner, hm?" he asked quietly, kissing her once more.
Someone cleared his throat, and the couple wasn't sure if it was Sirius who was levelling Remus with his eyes or James who stood at the door, confused and back to normal.
"I've seriously missed something here," he commented, stepping in and moving away as Jen walked quickly past him.
"Is what she said true, Remus?" Sirius asked immediately, eyes narrowed. "That you've seen… that she had… that, that…"
Remus sighed and admitted to himself that he had somehow gotten himself into this, though he hadn't the foggiest as to how he did it.
"Well, is it?"
Might as well get the bloody talk over with, eh, while they were all confronting each other. Knowing that what he was about to do would be dangerous; he merely raised an amused eyebrow and said, "What do you think, Padfoot?"
He was very happy that James had returned healthily to block Sirius from battering him in his new robes.
- - - - - - -
As it was, only a couple other dorms throughout the castle set fire during the pre-Ball preparations, and luckily no students were harmed.
Couples and dates met in Common Rooms, before statues and in front of the Great Hall, complimenting one another in their choice garb.
Jen, though she loved her brother, did not wear a sweater over her robes.
Sirius left before the others to meet his date, Halle Manning of Hufflepuff, by her Common Room entrance. She hadn't questioned how he knew his way there. Peter had followed him with a jog, since his date and girlfriend, Laura Hennessey, was in the same House. Though neither had spoken since Peter slammed the bathroom door and told Sirius to bugger himself (Sirius still couldn't believe Peter said that…), Peter followed Sirius' footsteps down past the kitchens and to the Hufflepuff entrance.
Lily and James, Jen and Remus, Mel and Dennis and finally Arabella left the Gryffindor Tower. Arabella, in her long maroon dress robes, was thankful that Ryan was waiting outside the Portrait Hole for her.
They chatted quietly, each all feeling some stress slowly ebb away. Planning and getting ready for the Ball was too frustrating that Ara had exclaimed that she might as well not attend. After a moments silence she had laughed and proclaimed herself momentarily insane.
With the looks the other girls held, they had obviously agreed.
A throng of students, fourth year and up (unless a younger year was invited) waited both patient and impatiently before the large doors into the Great Hall. Most were chatting without much of a care in the world. Girls compared hairstyles, dress robes, shoes, make-up and dates. The boys mostly stuck together and talked about nearly everything else.
Our main group spotted Peter and Sirius with their dates off to the side, Sirius leaning casually against a statue. He nodded their way when he spotted them.
"Anything exciting or surprising going to happen that you should warn us about, James?" Sirius asked casually when they arrived. The girls began chattering away. "Fireworks, poison, confetti, champagne and the undoubtable drunkenness that would follow?"
"Is undoubtable even a word?" Dennis asked, frowning.
"No," Remus said, positive of it. "But surely you'd know that he makes up his own words now."
"I do, but sometimes I forget," Dennis said with a roll of his eyes. The males were silent for a minute, glancing around, adjusting robes or casually waiting down the time until they were to enter the Hall. "How much longer?" Dennis asked.
"Not much," James said. He'd have muttered it, but he doubted anyone would have heard him over the excited chatter and giggling going on around them.
One of the giggles was coming from Halle.
"No really," Jen said, "he was considering wearing the robes we got him. Mind you with a few adjustments and colour changes."
"Oh I don't know what I'd have done if he showed up in something he made himself," Halle said, shaking her head, blonde hair twisted in an elaborate up do. She glanced to the mouse-brown haired witch beside her. "We'd have had to fix him up, eh Laura?"
Laura smiled and nodded her head a couple times. She was a very quiet girl, easy to blush; fitting for Peter's girlfriend.
Valerie, another Hufflepuff and a Pureblood, came strolling over to the group of girl, her coffee brown hair straightened. Much different from its many curls that she usually spent hours perfecting. "I've lost my date," she said in an annoyed, yet bored tone.
"Sure he didn't run off on you, Val?" Halle teased, smirking at her dorm mate. The Gryffindor girls glanced at each other.
With an eye roll, Valerie sighed. "Perhaps," she concluded. "Though I don't know who he'd go after when he has me."
"We're all both enthralled and shocked," Halle mumbled, looking away.
Ignoring the last statement, Valerie shook her hair over her shoulder. "If you see him, send him my way," she said in an uncaring tone.
"If they find who?" asked a deep male voice from behind Valerie, belonging to none other than Leo Rockshoot. The Slytherin gazed at the other girls, his cold blue eyes scrutinizing and looking regal in his deep blue, obviously expensive robes. Still looking at the girls, he kissed the side of his date's neck. "Care to find some other's to talk to?" he asked.
"I think that would be in your best interest, Rockshoot," said James from behind.
Mel, dressed softly in smooth lavender, let out a sigh she hadn't known she was holding and noticed a few of the other girls did the same.
"I think the doors are opening," Lily said, trying to stop anything before it started. She didn't fancy James breaking his newly fixed nose.
With his arm around Valerie's shoulders and a mock bow of his head to the group of seventh years, Leo and Valerie left them and made their way into the Hall.
"I hate that bitch," Halle muttered before putting on a smile. She reached around James and took Sirius' hand. "But enough frowns, we're here for fun."
The couples paired off and made their way, one by one, into the Great Hall.
The first thing everyone noticed was the colours. Royal purple and gold adorned the tables, balloons, streamers and the many other bobbles that decorated the large, glittering Hall.
The staff table was in its original place, with the dance floor before it and reaching to near the entrance doors. To the left of it was the stage where a live band would be playing. Situated around the dance floor and throughout the Hall were many tables, seating up to eight. Each table was a half moon shape, the flat side facing the dance floor. The tables were draped in white, with a royal purple sheet covering some and hanging off the edges. All the cutlery and dishes were gold and tiny firework designs were painted purple on the centre of the plates.
On the centre of the tables was a golden jug of ice water and a golden carafe filled to the brim with noisemakers and other such New Year assortments. Floating above them were two balloons shaped into sevens.
At first there was some confusion with the nametags that were on the plate sets on the tables. It had taken Lily, James and the Prefects many, many hours to perfect the seating arrangements, but in the end they had decided that not everyone could be happy and just hoped no fights broke out. They certainly didn't know who had previously dated whom, and whether someone's ex-best friend would take their ex-lover to the Ball and be forced to sit through dinner together… they wouldn't be bothered with such details.
Lily and James did have the task, however, deciding how to split each other up. It was difficult, but with the number of students attending, tables of eight fit better.
They made it to their seats and sat. Remus pulled out Jen's chair and pushed it in when she was seated. James, Sirius and Ryan all glared at him for making them look bad. He sat and frowned at the other guys, not knowing why they were looking at him like that.
"What?" he mouthed silently, ignoring the soft giggles from a couple of the girls. Jen took Remus' hand in hers and patted it.
Many of the students had entered the Hall and were going table-to-table, looking for their appointed seats. During breakfast that morning, McGonagall had announced that none of them were to switch their tags and try to move to a different table until the dinner was over. Her only explanation was that it was for their own good.
The students were left to ponder it for the day.
Dumbledore stood at the middle of the staff table, before his seat, watching the students enter with a smile on his face. The Hall was a kaleidoscope of colours with all of the different coloured robes and the design of the Hall itself. When the majority were seated, McGonagall rapped her fork to the side of her crystal goblet. Students hushed their voices and the few remaining standing, sat at their seats and were attentive.
"It has been a few years," Dumbledore began, voice loud but pleasant, "since we have held a Ball here at Hogwarts and what better way to bring it back than on New Year's Eve?" There was an appreciative murmur amongst the students. "It pleases the staff and I to see you all participate and work together to make this Ball a success. Your prefects and Head students worked long hours and I think they are in deserving of an applause." Dumbledore started with a couple claps of his hands and soon nearly the entire Hall was clapping and cheering along with him. After a minute of the reverberating sound, it died down and the Headmaster raised his hands. "Yes, thank you. I know you would all rather be eating a delicious meal than listen to me blether on, so may the Feast begin!"
A few students cheered again, but most talked amongst themselves and grabbed their menus.
"Á la carte," Remus commented, holding his menu. "Very posh."
The choices on the menus seemed endless: roast beefs and chickens, rice dishes and pastas, vegetable soups and stir fry's, multigrain and white breads. Drinks listed down a side column, all alcohol-free, except for…
"What's this?" Sirius asked, lifting his menu higher. "Champagne? We're allowed champagne?"
"You can thank Lily for permitting that and persuading Dumbledore to agree to it," James informed him, nodding to his girlfriend.
"Then what's this part?" Jen asked next, pointing to below the champagne. "'You are not of age'," she read aloud. "What's that?"
"Exactly what it says," Ara said slyly, noticing that her column ended with 'Drink responsibly' instead and then listed a few choice drinks she could order.
Ryan glanced over her shoulder and sighed. "Lucky witch," he grumbled.
Remembering that she was of age as many plates in the Hall filled with food ordered from their menus, Sirius asked, "And what's to stop you from sharing with us?"
"Just the simple fact that I like to watch you suffer, Sirius," Arabella told him honestly. She looked to her menu and said pensively, yet clearly, "I believe I'll get a Fizzing Whizzbee Daiquiri." A few at the table groaned. "Yes," she said, "I hope you all are envious." Her drink appeared before her: bright blue slushy, swirled with white. The rim was crusted with sugar and a large, lone Fizzing Whizzbee sat atop the drink. A long red straw was stuck in and Ara took a sip. Grinning madly at all her awaiting company, she drawled, "That hits the spot…" She then giggled, a known effect of the Fizzing Whizzbee. If too much was consumed too quickly, it would cause levitation. And, eyeing the size of the glass and the candy atop the drink, Ara was going to take it in short, few sips.
The others seated at her table ordered their plain and simple drinks (though Sirius protested that a butterbeer was anything but simple) and they all ordered dinner. Meals ranged from carnivorously profound to beautifully decorated vegetarian plates.
Mel and Peter at a different table with their dates and chatted about simple issues and enjoyed their dinners. Although they were both a bit disheartened by sitting away from their friends, they took it in stride. The tables were set close to one another, so it wasn't like they couldn't hear the other conversations and throw in comments from time to time.
"But the next game is between Hufflepuff and Slytherin, so we've all got a lot of time to perfect moves," Janna was saying to her friends Piotrek and Hunter, her date for the evening.
Piotrek sighed and Hunter leaned to Janna's side. "Can we not talk about the game for one night?" he asked his date. "At least tonight?"
Picking at the Portobello mushroom on her plate, Janna nodded. "Sorry," she mumbled. Lifting her face, with a new resolve in it, she continued, "But I thought of such a good strategy while I was getting ready-"
"No."
"But really, I don't want it to escape-"
"No."
Janna moved her veggies aside and used the sauce that covered them to map out a Quidditch field on the surface of her plate. "Just listen for a minute, ok? It's a tweak on the Woollongong Shimmy-"
"No," Hunter finished forcefully, using his own fork to put Janna's veggies over her quickly drawn Quidditch field. "Tonight we imagine that there is no such thing as Quidditch."
From her table, Lily's head poked up. "Shall that be a rule for tonight?" she called to Hunter.
"I'm enlisting it as one now," Hunter nodded.
"Excellent." Lily took her napkin from her lap and whacked James on the back of the head. "Stop talking about bloody Quidditch for the evening." When James looked confused and a bit angry, she elaborated, "It's a new rule."
James looked to Sirius, who he had been having the discussion with, but found no help. Apparently Sirius had begun to learn that getting involved in any of their arguments did not work out in his favour. There was also the small fact that Sirius had found it difficult to talk with Lily or look her in the eye for too long. Lily had been tremendously hurt by Sirius' comment over the holidays and Sirius himself hadn't wholly apologized… It was a difficult topic to breach and neither seemed too adamant about touching upon it.
"Then you can't talk about hair and make-up and… and all that other girly stuff you witches talk about," James said in defiance, holding his head high.
Lily tried best not to laugh. "Then that leaves me to talk about you," she said with a sparkle in her eye. The redhead turned towards Jen. "Did I tell you about the poem James wrote me for-" James' hand manoeuvred around his girlfriend's face and clamped over her mouth. Lily fought him off. "For Christma-" James wrapped his other arm around her waist and tried to turn her around in their awkward position.
"I never wrote such a thing!" he tried to protest, but his table, and a couple around it, were watching humorously. "Keep quiet," James whispered in his girlfriend's ear. He could feel Lily's cheeks bulging with a grin on the palm of his hand. "Promise?" he asked.
Lily nodded and James let go. Righting herself and checking to make sure her hair was good, Lily ignored the anxious looks around her.
"What did the poem say?" Ara asked greedily from across her friend.
"What poem?" Lily replied innocently, adding an angelic grin to finish their little dramatic display.
While others had watched with great attention, Sirius had tried to ignore the whole ordeal and casually eat his dinner. Halle looked him over and put her hand on his. "I don't know the whole story behind your holidays, except what I've read and have been told…" She paused and waited for a response… None. Her blue eyes quickly scanned the table and she was grateful that they were ignoring her one-sided conversation. "But could you please, please, please kind of let go tonight? I want you to have fun and, honestly, I'm going to be selfish and say that I want to have fun, too."
Sirius, who had his head rested on a hand, drummed his fingers and glanced his date's way. Halle was pouting childishly. With a small one-sided quirk of his lips, Sirius said, "I'll try."
"I'm going to need a bit more than that," the Hufflepuff said airily.
"I will try my best to make this the night of your life," Sirius said with a bit more conviction, sitting up straight and reaching for Arabella's drink. "But I may need some help."
Arabella protested, but couldn't grab it back because Sirius was already tipping it back. She waited for it to disappear in Sirius' normal drinking habits, but none seemed to go past the rim…
"What gives?" Ryan asked, taking the glass from Sirius and holding it upside down… none fell out. All the blue and white drink gathered at the rim, but stayed in like there was a lid. He sighed and placed it right side up before Ara. "I hate magic sometimes."
The meals progressed and some students ate themselves to nearly bursting. At five to nine the dishes began to disappear and only goblets and the ice water jugs, with water trickling down their golden sides, stayed.
A small stage, which had hid inconspicuously until now, appeared at the left side of the staff table. A local Hogsmeade band was recruited only a few weeks beforehand. They struck up a few chords, a last minute practice of their instruments.
"The Cleft Wizards have graciously agreed to play this evening," Dumbledore said over the sound of chairs scraping and chattering. "I hope to see each and every one of you on the dance floor at least once."
"Shall we dance?" asked James, putting out his hand for Lily to hold. Lily smiled and took it, placing her napkin on the table.
"Wish me luck," she mouthed to the others as James guided her to the floor where a small group of students had already gathered. She got a few thumbs up from a select few.
Lily was led to outside the sparse group and wrapped her arms around James' neck the second they stopped moving. "This is lovely," she in his ear. She would have whispered it, but the band was playing loudly, even for a slow song, and doubted James would have heard her otherwise.
James didn't respond, but smiled against her neck and held her closer.
He was granted with a tap on the shoulder. They both lifted their heads and saw no one. Another tap. They looked the opposite way and saw McGonagall standing with her hands on her hips.
"I expect you two to set an example for the younger students," the Transfiguration teacher told them.
Grinning cheekily, James said, "So we should find a room, eh?"
"Just don't get too close, Potter," McGonagall said, before walking off to have a dance with Professor Lupin.
Lily and James faced each other. James was still smiling and Lily had an eyebrow raised. She took a small step back and sighed. "I guess we're stuck like this until she leaves…"
"We could leave," James said quietly, still smiling.
"But we won't," Lily countered with authority.
James gave a dramatic sigh and continued with their dancing.
Back at their table, Halle was trying to urge Sirius to dance.
"But why not?" she asked exasperatedly. She was holding on to the sleeve of his robe, ready to go down to the floor and beg.
"I don't feel like-"
"-Like it, I know," she finished for Sirius. "But I do believe you said you'd try your hardest to have a good time for me."
"I said I would and that Arabella's drink would help me on my way, but we all saw that didn't go according to plan." Sirius huffed out a breath and leaned back in his seat.
"What you're saying is that you can only have fun with me tonight is if you're drunk off your British ass?" Halle snapped, eyes narrowing.
Sirius paled considerably. He still remembered third year when he had joked about Hufflepuff and was on the receiving end of one of Halle's Bone Burning Hex. He had actually had a nightmare about it one night a couple weeks earlier, the night after he had asked her to the dance.
"I suppose a few dances wouldn't hurt," he said quickly.
Halle lightened up immediately and stood just as fast. "Let us dance, then."
Many more couples and dates took to the floor to let loose on the upbeat tunes that were crooning out of the magical instruments. The lead singer was singing in high-pitched tones that Remus had never heard men sing, and was pretty sure he wasn't singing in English either.
After their fourth dance together, Jen and Remus decided to sit out the speeding song. Every verse it went up in tempo and the students tried to match their moves to it. Remus poured them some water while they watched the dancing. It looked like some people were hurting themselves…
Sirius sat down a few seats from the couple and reached for a glass of water. He chugged back half the glass and set it down on the royal purple cloth atop the table.
"Halle is dancing with Yurt," he explained to his friends.
Remus nodded and Jen replied, "Poor girl." Remus chuckled and draped his arm over her shoulders. "Actually Sirius this proves well for you, seeing as you owe us a dance."
"I owe who a dance?" Sirius asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes as his twin stood up and took him by the arm.
"Your female equivalents," Jen said in an obvious tone. "It was part of your deal if you were to wear that lovely hobo-orange robe."
The siblings went to the dance floor. Sirius placed his hand on her hip and Jen her hand on his shoulder.
"Just like mum and dad taught us," Jen said quietly.
Sirius didn't respond, but turned them across the dance floor. He spun her out and twirled her back in. Trying to hold back a laugh, he said, "And you still try to lead."
"I can't help it if you dance slowly," Jen laughed, stepping with her brother; moving forward a few steps, backwards a few.
"Mum always said you took it too quickly, Jennifer," Sirius said. "You have to relish the moment." He stopped and twirled her once.
With an eye roll, Jen slowed her movements a notch and said, "I'm relishing, I'm relishing."
"That's better," Sirius complimented her, his face turning serious again.
Jen noticed his sombre mood and said softly (though loud enough to be heard over the music and chatter), "I'm really sorry about today."
Her brother shook his head. "Don't be, I was being unreasonable."
"But I really shouldn't have slapped you," she insisted as their sing slowed to an end.
Clapping with the rest of the students and teachers, Sirius said with a quirk of his lips, "No you shouldn't have." He looked to Jen as he walked her back to the table and added, "It took some good spells to hide the redness."
"Don't try to make me feel guilty," she warned, "or I'll bring it right back." She kissed his cheek and sat with Remus, taking his hand.
"Where's Halle?" Sirius asked suddenly, frowning and looking around their table.
"I told her of your obligations and she said she was going to head to the ladies room for a minute," Remus told him casually. "Then she was going to rest for a while at the table."
"So I should scout out the other ladies and allow them a quick dance before she's rested up?" Sirius asked. The couple shrugged.
Sirius left them and ventured out to the floor where he remembered seeing Mel dancing with Dennis. He cut through the thick groups of dancers and, after a few pushes, found them. He tapped Dennis on the shoulder. "Excuse me, but I believe I have a duty to pursue."
Dennis looked confused. "And that would be?"
Realisation hit Mel's face and she laughed. "Oh yea – he owes us each a dance!" She looked at Dennis and said, "For the robe thing before Christmas."
Dennis chuckled. "The rumours were true? You never said that, Sirius."
"It's not a story I enjoy telling," Sirius said evenly. Dennis stepped back and offered Mel to him. "Thank you."
Just like he did with Jen, Sirius began dancing with Mel. The song was slower than the one before, but not quite a slow dance song.
"I'm a little bit upset you didn't wear your Christmas present, Sirius," Mel said in a pout, trying her best to follow Sirius' steps.
"I nearly did," Sirius said with a grim smile. "It was my last option. I had very nearly gotten out my Charms books."
"It was very spontaneous of Lily to nick it, though," Mel continued, "none of us expected it."
"Lily nicked it?" Sirius asked. "I didn't know. I thought it may have been Jen or Arabella." Sirius twirled Mel once. "That's interesting."
"She wasn't being offensive or anything," Mel added quickly. "She was looking for James, but said she saw it there... and just sort of nicked it. She had no better explanation."
"It's alright Mel, I'm not upset or anything," Sirius chuckled, but part of him took it a bit more offensively than he would have it was any of the other three. He and Lily hadn't talked much since Christmas; he didn't expect her to pull something like that off.
Their song finished quickly, as Sirius interrupted in the middle of it, and Mel excused herself to the little girl's room. She left him with a quick peck on the cheek.
Sirius was thinking of heading back to their table to sit for a bit (if he could remember which way it was…), when he was tapped on the shoulder. A slow song strummed up and Sirius turned to see Arabella waiting for him.
"Apparently it's my turn," she said, looking very innocent in Sirius' eyes, in her deep maroon robes. She seemed a bit unsure of how to dance with him: the way he had danced with the other girls or a bit more personal, because of the song playing. The singer had switched with the lead guitarist and now the voice singing was deep and falling heavenly on everyone's ears.
Sirius lifted her arms and placed them around his neck. Ara rested them there, but didn't step too close. Sirius lightly held onto her hips, holding back a swallow. It was suddenly a lot warmer under his collar. Sirius led them slowly, his eyes not leaving the brown of Ara's irises. A few circles into their dance, Sirius chanced moving his hands further around to her lower back. The action caused Arabella to take a small step closer.
"I love this song," Ara said quietly, closing her eyes for a moment.
"It's beautiful," Sirius agreed, quickly glancing over Ara's shoulder to make sure they weren't going to hit anyone.
Ara opened her eyes and smiled. "I wasn't sure if you'd like this music. Sort of faerie-like, with the flutes and reeds…"
"I can handle it," Sirius said in a brave, yet soft, tone.
The song slowed to a finish and Sirius gradually let go of Ara. He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead; Ara closed her eyes. When she opened them, she, along with everyone else, was clapping.
"Thank you for the lovely dance, Sirius," Arabella said, nodding once.
"My pleasure Arabella, light of my life," he replied jokingly.
Ara pushed him and shook her head. "Always a joker," she muttered, walking with him back to their table.
They both sat and grabbed a drink of cold water.
"Your feet sore yet, Sirius?" Peter asked, seated in Lily's chair.
"Thoroughly, Wormtail," Sirius responded, propping them up on a chair from the table beside theirs. "I thought McGonagall said we weren't supposed to switch seats and then hinted at something bad happening."
"That was just during dinner," Halle said, leaning on her date. "Are you done with your predestined dancing?" she asked.
"No, he still has Lily to dance with," Jen said, glancing at Sirius and then to the dance floor, looking for the said witch. "Then he's done."
"I think I'll rest for a couple songs," the black-haired boy said slowly, looking down.
"Just wait until James and she decide to take a rest and then ask her," Jen said.
"Well, she'll want to rest-"
"Sirius, can I talk to you for a minute?" Jen interrupted him, standing up.
Sirius nodded and followed her. She walked past the many half-moon tables and through the Great Hall doors. Passing many loiterers, the two went behind a statue a few metres from the doors.
Jen rounded on her brother. "I know that you're not very happy with Lily right now, but that's no reason to treat her like this."
Sirius' mouth dropped. "Treat her like what?"
"You practically ignore her!" Jen exclaimed. "It's very uncomfortable being her best friend and your sister when you're both on such frail terms. Not to mention James. It's not her fault, Sirius. She didn't ask for this life that's been given to her; she didn't ask for some mad man to creep into her life! Father was in a dangerous business and a few others were killed right along with him." Jen wiped at her eyes. "He knew it would get to us; to you, to me. He knew, Sirius. Any amount of Veritiserum would make father or anyone else tell anything and I wouldn't put it past Him to use it, if not crueller ways.
"So you're not going to try and procrastinate the whole night." Jen finished with a deep breath.
"I never said I was going to procrastinate," Sirius shot back, though his voice was much softer than before.
"Oh no?" Jen laughed humourlessly. "'I want to rest a few songs. She'll want to rest. The band will want to rest. The whole bloody ball will want to rest until I feel comfortable.'"
Through clenched teeth, Sirius said, "I never said that."
"You would have gotten to something similar, if given the time, Sirius." Jen clamped her mouth shut when a few students passed them, heading out into the courtyard. "Look, I'm still very upset myself, but I'm making the most of this night: we'll never have another one. I'm doing it for Remus; I'm doing it for Lily – but most of all I'm doing it for myself. I want to have fun, Sirius."
"I am having fun," Sirius said to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "We just go about it differently. "I want Halle to have fun, Jen. I want you to have fun; I want the whole bloody school to have fun! It's just difficult. I'm sacrificing a bit of myself to keep this happy face up and you're here telling me that it's not enough."
"I'm not saying that your sacrifice isn't enough, Sirius," Jen said softly to him, fixing his hair a bit. "It's just, I mean…" She sighed. "You're not sacrificing to Lily. Let go of the pride or embarrassment or whatever it is you have and just apologize to her already." Sirius avoided her eyes. "Or do you feel you were justified in saying that it was a mistake that she was born?"
"No," Sirius said softly. "I was going to dance with her, Jen."
"I know," Jen replied, tilting her head. "But the longer you waited, the more it would have hurt Lily. You danced with each of us in a row, Sirius. You had a little system going. It stopped with her and it could have stung the longer you waited." Jen wrapped her arms around his neck. "I've been rough on you lately."
Sirius hugged her back and replied, "It's nothing I'm not used to."
They went back into the Hall and Jen bee lined back to the table. Sirius went to the dance floor in search of the Head students. He found them in the middle of the crowd, of course.
James had seen him coming and slowed down their quick dancing. Lily looked at James in confusion until she too saw Sirius.
"I need to speak with Lily," Sirius said in undertones to James, who leaned forward. "Can you get the band to play something slower?"
James nodded and smiled at his best friend. "I'll leave you with this man, Lily," he said, kissing her cheek. He left towards the band.
"Mind if I cut in?" Sirius asked, offering his hand.
Lily took it and placed her other on his shoulder. "Of course."
The song cut halfway through and amid the groans from some of the dancers, a slower ballad struck up. People paired off, but more left the floor.
After a withheld sigh, Sirius started them up. The first few turns, neither said anything nor looked at the other.
Remembering his and Jen's conversation, Sirius cleared his throat. "Lily?" Lily looked at him. "Everything between us has gotten rather… awkward." He was sure they both noted the amount of space between their bodies at that moment. "A lot of stuff has happened since the beginning of sixth year and even more since December began." He spun her out and brought her back in. "I wanted to apologize for anything I've said that hurt you. I'm sorry."
Lily smiled, but it was apparent that she was fighting tears. "I've missed talking to you Sirius." She let go of his shoulder momentarily to wipe her eyes. "I've missed you hitting on me and everything else that we got up to. I'm sorry that I've caused this mess for you-"
"No, Lily. No. That's not your fault," Sirius said, closing his eyes and remembering again Jen's words. "He was in a tough job and he'd always reminded us what may happen. I wasn't ready for it, though. I don't think I ever would have been ready for it."
Lily stopped their dancing and embraced him in a tight hug. She kept her forehead in the crook of his neck and cried. Sirius, though a bit surprised, held her back just as tightly. "We shouldn't have to live like this," Lily said, a sob breaking her sentence a couple times.
"No we shouldn't, Lily," Sirius agreed, rubbing her back. "But we are and we have to remember who our enemy is and not to lose sight of that." He looked up and saw that many people were looking at the two of them as they danced. Sirius didn't care at that moment. He gave her a final squeeze. "Alright, Lily?"
Lily nodded on his shoulder. "Sorry," she said. "I've gone and gotten your robes wet."
"It's nothing."
"And now I look a mess, don't I?" she asked, gesturing her face as they began to dance again.
Offering her a flirtatious smile, Sirius said, "You've always been the most beautiful flower here, Lily."
Lily laughed out one last sob and sniffed. "See, I've missed that."
With an eyebrow raised, Sirius asked, "So you've been playing hard to get all those times and eye rolls?"
Lily rolled her eyes. "Yes Sirius, I want you badly."
"I knew it," he whispered. "We could escape quickly to the Tower, grab my broom and fly off into the night…"
"I'll think about it," Lily replied dryly.
Their song slowed down and finished on a low whistle from the flute. Sirius gave her a kiss on the cheek and the two of them clapped along with the rest of the Hall.
Dumbledore climbed the stage and took the microphone with a short bow to the musicians. "Thank you for some great entertainment, Cleft Wizards. And now it's a few minutes until midnight. If you would all go back to your tables in your assigned seats, the champagne should appear momentarily."
Sirius and Lily left with the other groups of students and headed back to their table. Jen was smiling largely and Remus pat Sirius on the back when he sat. James came back as well and his last dance partner, Janna, sat at the table next to them. When all the seats in the Hall were sat upon, the tall wine glasses on the tables filled with the bubbly liquid. A bunch of students cheered.
"In just one minute now," Dumbledore said, holding his champagne glass up high. The students and teachers followed suit, standing and holding up their glass.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven," the Hall chanted, "six, five, four, three, two – Happy New Year!"
The Hall erupted in cheers and fireworks exploded outside and above the transparent ceiling in a multitude of colours and shapes.
James turned to Lily and brought her close. With a grin he swooped down and kissed her. Lily threw her arms around his neck and they nearly stumbled in the crowd of cheering, laughing and dancing students. They pulled apart and looked around the Hall at all the magic happening; natural and mystical. James shook Peter's hand while Lily hugged her friends. Sirius grabbed James' hand afterwards and pulled him into a manly hug.
"Happy New Year, Prongs," he said.
"You too, Padfoot," James grinned.
He turned to find Remus, but found that he and Jen were still kissing, completely forgetting where they were it seemed. Taking a glance to Sirius, James was surprised to see him take it to his advantage and had the ignored glasses of champagne in both hands and toasted the sky. Lily stood next to James and wrapped her arms around his waist. Sirius tipped the drinks back…
None disappeared. With a dramatic sigh, Sirius looked at the champagne in their glasses. "How can you tell you don't belong to me?" he exclaimed.
Ryan grabbed Jen's glass from Sirius' hand and flipped it upside down, peering at the drink as it spread flat against the rim. With a snarl he muttered, "Bloody magic…"
Oh my god – I've finished it. Feels very, very, very good. Now I know that none of you will remember what you wrote in your reviews (unless you reviewed very recently), so just bear with me – I'll try not to confuse you. (Let's see if I remember how to do this the fast way…)
oobergoober: Aw, I made you cry with the last chapter. My favourite part of your review? "Thank you for not making me wait another three months." How about six? Is six better? Thanks for the review!
i o u a name: I hope you enjoyed the minimal fluff I could offer in this chapter. :) Thanks for the review!
Star19: Ah yes – we were having some sort of chat about proverbial hats… I recall that now. Lol - Thanks for reviewing!
Princess Pixie Ice: Thanks for the review and all that suchness!
LadyArwen14: Well, I s'pose your bronchitis is gone and done with? Good. If not – get your butt into a hospital. ;) Thanks for the review!
mystikalolo: I loved James' present to Lily as well (the Quidditch pj's, if you forgot). Thanks for the review!
Cladis: Was it cheerier for you? I didn't exactly update within a month this time, eh? Thanks for the review!
Danni is Divine, James is Mine: Have you made your pyjamas that say: "Danni, Owner of James Potter", yet? Thanks for the review!
Inu Lover: Hm, must work harder to make Inu Lover cry… Thanks for reviewing!
Kat44: Ok – question answering time… I will make the story probably another five chapters in length or so. That's my wild guess. I'll be going through the story and to their deaths. I warn you now: the last chapter [of the third instalment] won't be good until it has me crying. Thanks for the review!
Beaver Buddy: Breaking things is always fun. And the mum's name is Celica Black. Thanks for the review!
Seriously Sirius: I know you say to never write one for you – but take that! You reviewed twice, too. I'll get to the other one eventually…
Whippy Bird: Yes. "Anywhozims" is a new word. I used to use it in speech, but had never written it down. Thank you for reviewing!
They Call Me Mellow Yellow: Howdy. You better have finished that math homework by now. (If you didn't, you'd be like me in high school.) See you on MSN and thanks for reviewin'!
Marauders Magelet: Well Miss Hopeless Romantic – I hope you enjoyed the squeezed in fluff :) Thanks for the review!
The Spiffinator: Hey Spiffs. Sorry I didn't update faster, but hey, I'm just bad like that sometimes. lol - Thanks for the review!
little key: I was looking forward to replying to your review :):) I replied to your e-mail and you haven't written back – so I hope you're doing well. Thank you for your lovely review! You always make me laugh.
Braney: That's right, eh? As the author I have the power!!!! ahem Hope you liked the chapter and thanks for the review!
Manny2003: Well Manny, I lifted the horrible mood of the Marauders at the end of this chapter. Mostly. Thanks for the review! Hm – I see you reviewed again (I remembered writing yours…) Yes, yes. Forever is much longer than six months ;)
Hannah7: Thank you very much, Hannah!
Heather: Did you know that your e-mail still makes me laugh? I hope you didn't check every few days for an update this time… oy. That'd be many hours wasted! Thanks for the review!
Lily Smith: Well I'm happy you cried. That means I'm doing something right :) Hit your boyfriend the next time he laughs at you for crying. And if he seems confused, say, "Lamina says you suck."
jac: Thanks for the review!
vamperfly: lol – thanks. had to scroll back up to her thank you I see you reviewed again. I decided to wait an extra four and a half months to spite you. ;)
Narwen: snorts Did I get this chapter out quickly enough? Thanks for reviewing.
Lady Abbey Bartlet: Nah, I wasn't offended by you plugging other people's fics in your review. Well, I don't recall being offended. Thanks for the review.
Jlee1031: Thank you :)
Luna-Elentari: Lol – all five stages of grief, eh? You got it pretty bad. Thanks for the review!
Tinkerbellhp07: Thank you for the wonderfully random review!
Alej: I love how you called me "LC". Really – love it. The compliments really make me blush. Thank you.
MandaB: Thank you very much.
licensed-to-thrill: Yes, I'm writing until the deaths of James and Lily. And trust me; it won't be good enough until it has me crying. That's a warning. Thanks for the review!
Willowwand: Thanks for the review!
Grimm Sister: It is in my hope that your stress has depleted. Forsooth, most likely it has. My most gracious thanks for your poetic review!
Tar-Silmarien: Yup – the final instalment of my story will be titled, "And Be Loved In Return". Thanks for the review!
nerdypurdy: I'm a bit unimaginative right now too – it's past midnight. Thanks for the review!
Tracey: Hmm, a hooked reader, eh? Excellent. I love catching those ones! Thanks for the review!
Winky27: Oh your proverbial sentence makes perfect sense to me! And hey – I don't even think 'proverbial' fits in that sentence up there, but whatever, I'm tired and yes – I don't care that much to make sense at this moment. But like always: Thanks for the review!
tinkerbell: As you can see – if you're still with me – this isn't finished. Many more tales to come!
Hungry Hippo: You know that was one of my favourite games growing up? Not sure whether I've told you that before – and if I did, I've told you again! Thanks for the review!
ferahgo: You'd like a mustard coloured dress robe? Oy.
jess04182: Yes, yes. Sirius is yours – until death do you part, if you don't mind the small joke. Thanks for the review!
elysia: Ooo – I get you high? Didn't know I had that affect. You're welcome and thank you for reviewing.
LimeJuiceTub: Mind if I ask where you got your name? And no, it'd be one helluva a rollercoaster ride to try and finish it all up in the last chapter, eh? Did you need your tissues this time at all? Thanks for the review!
Twiglet: You got a little bit of S/A action there. ;) I knew the S/A shippers would love that part. It had me cooing. Thanks for the review!
Mythology: I updated as soon as I could! Well, not really, but trust me – better taking my time than rushing it!
hotty: Ok, not the nicest of reviews/e-mails I got to see what was going on, but… yea. I don't think many people were getting pissed.
sissy-6: Aw, thank you. I hope your anticipation didn't build enough that you didn't enjoy this chapter! I hope you did and thank you for reviewing!
siriusforeva: Aw, thanks for the review!
kitty228806: Oh no… not the lack-of-periods thing… that and all-caps-lock throws me off! Ciao!
agangel33: Oooo – new reader! I swear it doesn't usually take this long for me to update!! Thanks for the review!
Steph: Thank you!
songbreeze: Ooh, I brought tears to your eyes! Thanks for the review!
sour-peach: Thank you – though I didn't update too fast, eh?
Goldilocks31890: I posted.
LupinLuva: Oh yes – I remember you. Shouldn't be writing this seeing as you won't be back. snorts I have to admit that a couple things stung, but I mostly laughed.
Veruwen: Thank you very much. Really – your review came the day after and I just loved it to death. I'm said to say s/he's a fan of Lupin with a poison tongue like that.
Jenna/Black's Gurl: Right – thank you!
kj-11913: Thank you!
butterflyer: Yes I read all your reviews, and thank you. They get sent to your e-mail, so I read each and every one of them! Did this chapter beat the last?
Oy – finally done for the chapter fourteen thanks! Now quickly through the other chapters!
Thank you to: (I must say this name makes me laugh my ass off) lesbian sex rules, lily-james-potter, Willowwand, nerdypurdy, jac, Hungry Hippo, clothespeg-rules, Skittles713, shorty69, songbreeze, sour-peach, Twilight66, Manny2003, butterflyer, Jenna/Black's Gurl, InLoveWithU, Tinkerbellhp07, ACMAgirl, LimeJuiceTub, BrightEmeraldEyes, cH0c0LaTe kiSseS, icedfirestar, agangel33, LoopyLupin, SiriusSweetie7 and finally Duckqt07!
Wow – do you guys know how long that chapter was? Over twelve thousand words in length. Thank you all for sticking with me and reviewing so nicely :) I'm not giving any promises as to when I'll be updating next. Honestly – I don't know what's coming, but hey – I'll think of something, eh?
See you all later and have a lovely time between this chapter and the next!
PS. I hope you'll all enjoy PoA next Friday or whatever day you might see it (cause my guess is that if you're reading fan fiction, then you'll see the movie).