A/N: Here is the second part to this chapter, I hope you are all enjoying
this story.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything just the plot and some of the characters.
Chapter 8 ~ The Halloween Festival
~ Pies, relaxation time and Dancing ~
The group left the Quidditch pitch and wandered through the stands, Sirius and Remus did very well at the games and won some prizes for the girls, and miraculously so did Peter. James joined them during his break and together they went to the concession stands.
"Are you sure you should eat Sirius?" Asked Katie as she bit into her cotton candy.
"Why shouldn't I eat?"
"Well, you're on your way to the pie eating contest, you might get sick."
"No I won't, besides, I'm hungry."
"Maybe you should reserve that hunger for the contest." Said Remus.
"But there are still fifteen more minutes for the contest and I'm hungry now."
"If there are only fifteen minutes left then maybe we should go. You don't have time to eat anything." Said James.
"I can take something to go."
"No you can't, we have to go now."
"But I want some cotton candy."
"You can have some after."
"But I want some now."
"Honestly Sirius! You are being childish. We'll go to the contest now and after you're done we can come back and you can have as much cotton candy as you want." Snapped Katie who obviously had enough.
"Promise?" Pouted Sirius.
"Promise. Now let's go."
"All right." And for a second time that day, Sirius was denied his cotton candy and walked dejectedly toward the contest site.
"Poor Sirius, maybe we should get him some cotton candy." Murmured Savialia as they walked to the contest.
"Don't worry, he will be fine." Whispered Peter.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, he will not die because he couldn't eat some cotton candy."
"We just have to get him here after the contest and he will be fine." Said James.
"If you say so."
"Are you going to stay with us much longer James?" Asked Remus.
"No, I'll just walk with you lot to the contest and then I will go back."
"Oh, all right, we'll see you again before the dance competition won't we?" Asked Emma.
"Yes, I have some free time then."
"Very well, meet us at the dance floor then, we'll be dancing for a while before the competition begins." Responded Remus.
The group had arrived at the place where the pie eating contest was taking place, there had been others that had gone on before and so far a boy in Hufflepuff was taking the lead. Sirius perked up the moment he saw the crowd and his usual sunny countenance graced his face.
A smile started to bloom and gleefully he rubbed his hands. "This is it." He exclaimed as he started to look around the crowd.
In front of the crowd was a stage, three tables were placed in the middle; the two tables at each end were for the competitors to sit and eat, the table in the middle held the pies the competitors would have to eat, once each competitor had enough, a count was made and recorded, then the next competitor would go next and see how much he could eat, at the end of the afternoon the recorded counts would be sorted and decided who the winner was, if there was a tie then a face off would be needed.
"Do you think you are ready?" Asked Peter who up to now had been busy eating some ice cream.
"Of course I am, I need food, you lot have been starving me the whole day."
"Oh Sirius, you like to make a tempest in a tea cup don't you? That's an exaggeration and you know it." Snapped Katie.
"I am not! You haven't let me eat anything since this morning."
"Oh please!"
"I'm a growing boy, I need my meals."
The group snorted at this and the girls broke into giggles.
"What's so funny?" Sirius glared.
"Nothing, why don't you go up and get prepared." Urged Remus who clearly saw that his friend was losing his temper fast.
"Yes why don't you go up, I'm sure that you will win." Said Peter, he knew that Sirius was easily angered if he was hungry.
Sirius walked away from the group, mumbling to himself.
"Honestly, you would think he was a child by the way he acts." Sighed Katie.
"You knew that from the beginning." Said Emma.
"He is funny, I find him very entertaining." Commented Savialia.
"That's the understatement of the year!" Chuckled Remus.
"What are you lot up to? Has Sirius gone up yet?" Lily had finally been able to get away and get some time off.
"It took you long enough to get here." Exclaimed Katie as she spied her friend.
"I know, but you knew that there was a lot for me to do."
"As long as you're here, that's good enough." Said Emma.
"Are you going to take some time off later?" Asked Remus.
"Yes, I have the half hour before the dance competition off."
"Really?" Four pairs of eyes scrutinized her.
"What?" Asked a confused Lily.
"Nothing, we were planning to go to the dance floor after Sirius is done, so we'll meet you there." Said Remus.
"Very well. Has Sirius gone up yet?"
"Not yet, we barely got here."
"Do you think he will do good on this, I know he eats a lot but really, how much can a person eat?"
"You obviously haven't seen Sirius when he's hungry." Snorted Remus as Peter chuckled.
"But he cannot be hungry, I mean, he has probably eaten everything in the snack stand by now." Exclaimed Lily.
"He hasn't eaten a thing since luncheon." Responded Katie.
"What? Don't tell me he has been abstaining from food just so he could win this thing." Lily looked scandalized at the idea.
"No, he has been trying to eat everything, but every time he gets ready he has to go to another competition. He just hasn't had time to eat. He hasn't been very happy about it." Responded Peter.
"I can well imagine, how have you lot managed him."
"It hasn't been easy. It is his own fault really, he just had to sign up for everything." Emma said.
"It is a matter of ego I suppose, he just wants to show everybody that he is as good as everybody thinks he is." Expressed Remus.
"That makes sense, and it certainly explains a lot about him. I wonder how he will go on after Hogwarts, he really doesn't seem to be ready to grow up at all." Sighed Lily.
"Don't worry, he will find a way." Commented Katie.
"Look, he is starting. Good luck Sirius." Yelled Savialia as she waved her arms.
The group cheered and clapped and Sirius waved and smiled from the stage, the crowd increased as people noticed who one of the competitors was, and some of the people who had already gone up and competed groaned. Everybody knew how much Sirius could eat, and some prayers were heard hoping that Sirius had eaten enough snacks.
The competitors were given their first pie and count began. It was clearly seen from the start who the winner of the competition would be. Sirius ate three pies in a matter of minutes when it had taken most of the others a little more than five minutes to eat just one. People knew that their prayers weren't heard as they saw Sirius eating pie after pie, he seemed to be non stoppable, and very hungry.
"He is going to be sick if he continues eating like that." Said Savialia.
"No he won't." Said the others in unison, they had seen Sirius eat after all.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, just enjoy the sight and don't worry, he will be fine." Said Katie.
"If you say so."
"Oh don't worry Savialia, he's having the time of his life." Said Peter as he put his arms around her waist to give her a quick hug.
"Lord, how much can he eat, he has already eaten twice as much than the rest. There is no way anybody can catch up on him." Exclaimed Lily.
"He could eat a whole hippogriff if he was really hungry." Said Remus.
"Let's just hope that no hippogriff is left in his care then, the poor animal wouldn't know what hit him." Laughed Emma.
"Oh, not to worry, there is no way that Sirius would be given a hippogriff, that person would be really mental to do so." Said Peter.
"Or very desperate to get rid of it, maybe trying to hide it after the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures sentence it to death." Said Katie.
"Really Katie, how do you come out with ideas like that?" Laughed Emma.
"That would never happen, that is very far fetched." Exclaimed Lily.
"Oh really Lily, I was only joking, I know that it would never happen."
"How did this conversation start?" Asked Savialia who was obviously getting confused.
"I don't know but I'm tired of it." Complained Remus.
The girls threw dirty looks at him, which he completely ignored and just looked at Sirius who had finally had enough pie and was waiting for his count to be recorded.
"How did he do? I didn't bother to count." Said Peter.
"I don't know I really wasn't paying too much attention." Said Lily.
"I didn't either." Said Emma.
"He will tell us as soon as he join us." Said Katie.
"Do you think he will win?" Asked Savialia.
"Most likely." Responded Remus.
They all waited for Sirius who wore a very smug smile on his face. He obviously did very well.
"I don't think we need to ask how it go." Said Remus as he slapped Sirius on his back.
"I did very well, they said I ate three times more than the one who had the record so far." Said Sirius.
"Oh really Sirius, you're going to have nightmares tonight." Said Katie.
"Why would I have nightmares?"
"Because your body will hate you for all you've put it through today."
"No it won't. Now let's go to get some snacks."
"You must be joking!" Exclaimed Katie.
"No, I want some cotton candy and you told me I could get as much as I wanted after the contest."
"I cannot believe that you would eat candy after you have eaten so many pies." Said Emma.
"Why not? I could still eat some more but I wanted to leave room for the candy."
"You are unbelievable." Said Lily as she shook her head.
"Yes I am."
"And modest too." Chuckled Emma.
"Of course, I'm perfect." Smiled Sirius.
"Well let's go to get him some snacks, he'll bug us if we don't." Said Remus.
"Well, I'll meet you at the dance floor later, I have to go back." Said Lily as she left the group.
"See you Lily." Waved Emma.
"James will join us so we'll be all together." Said Katie.
Lily stopped when she heard this and asked "James is going to be there?" The group nodded, "well, I suppose I'll see you then." And she continued of her way.
"This is going to be great. We have to get them together." Whispered Emma to Katie.
"I know and we have to do it before that Jezebel becomes a problem." Katie whispered.
"You are right, did you see how shamelessly she flirted with James today?"
"I saw it, do you suppose James likes that?"
"If he does then we have to do something about Lily, I don't think she knows how to flirt."
"We can teach her if it ever comes to that."
"I don't think she would do it willingly."
"We'll think of something when we cross that bridge."
"What are you two whispering about?" Remus asked as he noticed the duo falling behind.
"Nothing just making plans for the dance, we want to get James and Lily together." Said Katie.
"That's easy, I'll ask you to dance, Remus will ask Emma, and Peter will ask Savialia, that leaves James and Lily and James is so chivalrous he won't leave her by herself and will ask her to dance." Said Sirius, who thought it was the obvious solution.
"That will work for one dance, but what about after, the whole point is to get them together for the whole half hour, one dance will only last ten minutes at the very most." Said Katie.
"We can ask the band to play a set that will last half an hour, it will be the last set before the competition after all, and people who won't be participating will want to dance." Said Remus.
"That will work, we have to ask them before Lily and James join us, it wouldn't do for them to guess what we're planning to do, they will never get together if they do." Responded Emma.
"You're right, they are both so stubborn they will probably try to go against us just for spite." Replied Sirius.
"We have to think the songs we want the band to play, it would be best if the set was only romantic music, to get them in the mood you know." Said Katie.
"What mood do you want them to get into?" Sneered Peter while the others chuckled.
"Not the kind of mood you lot are thinking of, honestly!" Snapped Emma.
"What kind of thoughts do you lot have?" Glared Katie.
"The kind that all seventeen year old males possess." Replied Sirius.
"Oh seriously!" Exclaimed Savialia.
"Let's get away from this lot, they obviously need to clear their head." Said Katie as she took the arms of the other girls and marched past the boys.
"What else do they expect from us?" Asked Sirius as he saw the girls walking away from them.
"I don't know but we obviously have to do something, because I don't want to dance by myself." Said Remus.
"That would make us the laughing stock of the school." Groaned Peter.
The boys spent the rest of the afternoon trying to 'sweeten them up' they didn't know that they didn't have to, the girls had already forgiven them but when they saw how the boys tried to be extra nice to them then they decided to leave it be, they were going to take advantage of it. They went to the Festival games, where the boys won several trinkets for the girls, they ate candy and ice cream, and bought several memorabilia items. The group had their hands full with all the things they had bought, and decided to go to one of the tents that had been erected for resting purposes.
The tent was decked in comfortable surroundings, designed to give students a relaxing atmosphere in which to rest. There were three day beds where those who preferred a little nap could do so, five comfortable looking armchairs where settled in a circle in the middle of the room with a tea table in the middle. A table laden with food and drinks stood by one of the walls, and in one corner a stack of wooden boxes stood where students could store items and not having to carry things all over the place.
"Oh, this looks perfect, I think I would enjoy lying down for a bit, I never thought I would so tired." Said Katie as she walked toward one of the daybeds.
"Oh, that sounds lovely, I would enjoy lying down for a while as well, regain my energy for the dance competition." Sighed Savialia.
"That's a good idea, I will rest for a while as well." Said Emma and the three girls settled in the daybeds to rest.
"What do we do? I don't feel sleepy, even if these chairs seem comfortable and big enough for me to sleep on." Said Sirius.
"We could play, there is a set of chess here." Said Peter who had spotted a set by the door.
"I suppose, nothing better to do." Said Remus.
"All right, but it's still boring." Complained Sirius.
The boys played chess for at least an hour until the girls started to stir.
"What have you lot been doing?" Asked Katie as she started to get up from the bed.
"It's about bloody time for you to wake up." Snapped Sirius.
"I think you need to rest Sirius." Said Emma glaring at him.
"Don't mind him, he has been a bear the whole time." Said Remus.
"Why?" Asked Savialia.
"He is bored." Said Peter as he started to put the game away.
"There's nothing new in that, he's always bored." Said Katie.
"That's the reason why he has been such a prankster, boredom." Said Emma.
"What has been James' excuse?" Asked Savialia.
"The same, they are like two drops of water, if you didn't look very closely you would think they were twins." Said Katie.
"Lord can you imagine having twins that love pranks as much as these two do?"
"The poor mother."
"Hogwarts would never survive it." Exclaimed Remus.
"Dumbledore would never survive them, it's a miracle this pair hasn't given him a heart attack." Said Emma.
"Well, let's hope that Hogwarts won't see another pair just like this one." Said Peter.
"Do you mind? I don't like being talked about as if I wasn't here." Complained Sirius.
"Oh really Sirius. You're such a baby sometimes." Snapped Katie.
"I'm not."
"Are too."
"Don't start that, you know he could go on forever if you do." Warned Emma.
"Are we going to get ready to go to the dance floor? We are meeting James and Lily there in half an hour." Said Savialia.
"Oh, we never discussed about what we were going to do?" Wailed Katie.
"Yes we did, did you forget already?" Asked Sirius.
"Oh, now I remember, we should go now then so we could get to the band before anybody else."
"Very well let's go, do you girls have your things, I don't want to come back because you have forgotten anything." Said Sirius as he started walking toward the entrance of the tent.
The group got to the dance floor just as the band was finishing playing a set, Sirius and Katie rapidly went to the stage and whispered to the lead singer for a couple of minutes, by the time they returned to the group they found Lily and James waiting with them as well.
"Where did you go?" Asked James.
"Just to look for something, Katie thought she had lost it." Replied Sirius.
"How did the competitions go James? The few competitors we saw were very serious about it." Said Emma.
"Serious? They're obsessed with it, take Sirius here for example, he was one of the most competitive people out there but compared to others he wasn't too bad. Lucius Malfoy actually tried to hit the keeper and tried using a wandless spell to catch the snitch, and there were others just like him. I was just glad that most were Slytherins and not Gryffindor, I wouldn't have felt comfortable giving detention to my own house because they tried to cheat." Said James shaking his head.
"Oh dear, was it really that bad?" Asked Lily.
"Yes, you will not imagine how many wands we had to confiscate today. You should've seen Snape's face when we caught him with his wand tucked into his belt. Honestly, you would think that seventh years would know how to act." Complained James.
"I'm sorry James, I thought that you would have fun doing the Quidditch competitions." Apologized Lily.
"Oh, don't get me wrong I enjoyed myself it wasn't very often that we had problems, some funny things happened as well. For instance, do you know Sean McGregor from Hufflepuff?" When Lily nodded her head he continued. "Well, as he tried to catch the snitch he tried to hook his leg around the broom so he would keep his arms free but he forgot to keep the leg still and he just succeeded in losing control of the broom and fall. Fortunately he wasn't very far from the ground and had no injuries, but it was just funny seeing him fail at a very basic stunt, I knew he wasn't going to make it the moment I saw him hooking his leg." Scoffed James.
"Well James, you cannot expect everybody to be a good player, you know there are some silly people out there." Said Lily.
"I suppose."
While Lily and James conversed, the group whispered among them making plans.
"Now that they are so caught up with each other it's our chance to leave them alone." Whispered Katie to the group.
"But what if they don't want to stay together, you cannot expect them to like each other just because you want them to." Said Savialia.
"They like each other, as friends, we're just trying to nudge them into something further." Explained Peter.
"But you can't do that, they won't appreciate it." She responded.
"Honestly Savialia, don't burst our bubble, you'll see, they'll end up together sooner or later." Said Emma.
"We should be getting ready to start the set, the band will begin soon." Said Remus.
"We all know what we have to do, just make sure nobody cuts in between James and Lily, if you see somebody trying to just make sure the we get there first then we just have to switch partners again." Said Sirius.
"Let's go, they will notice us." Said Katie.
"Will you honor me with this dance, my dear?" Bowed Sirius in an exaggerated way which made Katie giggle.
"But of course dear Sir." She chuckled.
"Mental, both of them." Said Peter shaking his head and taking Savialia to the dance floor.
"Shall we join them?" Said Remus as he offered Emma his arm.
"As you wish." She said fluttering her eyelids that only served to make them both laugh. Lily and James finally noticed that their friends had left them alone and that the band was getting ready to play a set.
"I suppose we should join them, we look like a pair of fools standing here waiting for them." Grumbled James.
"That was very gallant of you, I'm sure I would feel blessed dancing with you." Snapped Lily.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I supposed I shouldn't have said it like that. But dash it all, I don't like to dance, is so boring." Complained James.
"You better start thinking before you say anything else. You are not helping your case." Said Lily as she crossed her arms and glared at him.
"I did it again didn't I? Sorry. Shall we dance, my lady?" And he bowed before her offering his arm.
"Now you are just being silly." She said, but James was pleased to see her smile up at him. The couple joined their friends at the dancing floor, the song currently playing was fast and energetic, and everybody enjoyed showing off their dancing skills. Especially Sirius who seemed to be the most proficient of the group, he twirled Katie in every direction and miraculously didn't do any damage to her or to anybody in their proximity. Katie seemed not to mind, she quite enjoyed a fast paced dance.
"Really Sirius, you are going to rip her arm off if you don't slow down." Teased Remus as Sirius and Katie managed to do a complicated dance step with out hurting themselves.
"Oh, not to worry Moony, we know what we are doing." Laughed Sirius.
"Moony? Why do they call you that? I've heard them call you that before." Asked Emma.
"Oh nothing especial, they say I keep my mind on the moon too often." Responded Remus.
"A dreamer, are you?" Emma teased.
"Well of course, one of us had to be one. We have the lunatic, the leader, the dreamer, and I'm not sure what Peter is." Said Remus.
"I don't think anybody does." Emma chuckled.
"Sirius, slow down you are going to make me sick." Complained Katie who felt the speed of the dance catch up to her.
"Oh, sorry, don't want you to get sick now do we." Said Sirius as he slowed down to a more moderate pace.
"Oh, that's alright, I like to dance fast too, but I think I ate too much candy today." Said Katie, feeling her stomach settle down once more.
"Hmmm...I'm glad then that I didn't each much today."
"Didn't eat much? Sirius you ate twelve pies, how can you say you didn't eat much?" Exclaimed Katie.
"That was nothing, besides, the pies weren't really big, they were quite small, I could've eaten more, but I wanted to have room for candy and snacks."
"Oh really!"
"Are Katie and Sirius a couple?" Asked Savialia to Peter as the song changed to another.
"Not at the moment, but he does want to be. Why?"
"Oh, just curious."
"Are you planning to throw your handkerchief his way? Because if you are I must warn you that he is very smitten with her."
"Oh, you don't mind if I do?"
"No, why should I? Every time a girl wants to get near any of them they come to me first, I just see it as testing the waters as it were."
"That is a unique way to put it."
"Oh, but a lot of fun." He laughed.
"You are definitely different from the rest."
"Of course, we all are."
The couples were now twirling to a slow song.
~I, I've been in love before
I thought I would no more
Manage to hit the ceiling
Still, strange as it seems to me
You brought it back to me
That old feeling~
"I like this song, don't you?" Asked Lily as she and James twirled around the dance floor. They seemed to dance as one, perfectly matched.
~I, I don't know what you do
You make me think that you
Possibly could release me
I think you'll be able to
Make all my dreams come true
And you ease me~
"I suppose, I'm not really into this kind of music." James responded as he led her into another twirl.
~You thrill me, you delight me
You please me, you excite me
You're something I'd been pleading for
I love you, I adore you
I lay my life before you
I'll have you want me more and more
And finally it seems my lonely days are through
I've been waiting for you~
"Don't you believe in love?" She asked.
"Of course I do, I just don't think I have encountered it before."
"Oh how sad for you."
"I don't think so, I just believe that when the right girl comes I will be able to truthfully say that I had never felt like that before."
~I, I'm gonna make you mine
You're gonna feel so fine
You'll never want to leave me
I feel you belong to me
Someday you will agree
Please, believe me~
"I think she will be a very lucky girl."
"Let's hope that she does too."
"Oh, don't worry, she will."
~You thrill me, you delight me
You please me, you excite me
You're something I'd been pleading for
I love you, I adore you
I lay my life before you
I'll have you want me more and more
And finally it seems my lonely days are through
I've been waiting for you
Oh, I've been waiting for you~
The song ended and James and Lily noticed that they were alone on the dance floor, everybody was looking at them and applauding. Lily blushed and James glared at his friends who were all grinning and winking at him.
As soon as the next dance commenced people joined them on the floor and the dance continued.
"What are you lot doing?" Snapped James as the group joined them.
"Nothing, just dancing." Said Sirius with an innocent smile.
James snorted. "You lot are up to something." He glared.
"Just leave them, we'll figure it out later, let's dance, people are looking at us." Said Lily as she grabbed James' arm and started to dance.
"That was close." Said Remus as he passed Sirius.
"We have to be careful now, we don't know what he'll do." Said Katie.
"What about Lily, she's not going to like it either." Responded Emma.
"There is no need for her to find out." Said Sirius.
"I'm just glad they are not in the dance competition, there would be no point competing if they were." Said Savialia.
"You're right, did you see them dance, I've never seen anything like it." Exclaimed Peter in awe.
"They are experts in ballroom manners, they take part of the season every summer after all or their social standing would suffer." Said Katie.
"I didn't know that Lily took part of the season, I haven't seen her around the ballrooms." Said Sirius.
"Not the magical season silly, the muggle season. Her family is very well respected in society as well as very well off." Responded Katie.
"Oh, well I didn't know that. James I knew, there is not a day during the season in which his every step is reported on the Daily Prophet's society page." Replied Remus as he and Emma danced close to the rest.
"The poor boy, it is no secret that he dislikes it all, especially with his mother harping on about duty and marriage. No wonder he doesn't have a girlfriend this year." Said Emma.
"But that isn't natural, a guy needs to have a girlfriend." Exclaimed Sirius.
"Oh really, and why is that?" Asked Katie giving him a penetrating look.
"Because we like to be near pretty girls all the time of course." He said giving her a wink.
The group laughed and mingled among the crowd, none of them noticed a trio standing by the stage.
"Do you think something is going on between them?" Asked Narcissa, she was really enjoying herself watching Jezebel's jealousy.
"There is nothing between them, she is not the kind of girl his family would accept." Jezebel replied as she followed James and Lily's every step.
"How do you know that?" Asked Maureen.
"Because of who his family is of course. His family is just like mine, well respected and among the wealthiest in our world, they would never accept a muggle born." Said Jezebel.
"But the Potters are also very radical, I don't think they would mind a muggle born daughter in law, they would only care that their son is married and happy." Replied Narcissa.
"That is true, remember James' cousin Edgar, he married a muggle and the family didn't really cared, they have a son now I've heard." Said Maureen.
"Well, I still think that there isn't anything between them, James wouldn't feel comfortable with a girl like Lily, and I don't think Lily would even consider James as a boyfriend." Said Jezebel.
"Stranger things have happened, you never now." Leered Narcissa.
"If something does happen there are ways to break them up if necessary." Said Jezebel with a cold smile.
"What would you do?" Asked Maureen.
"You'll see if the time comes. There is no need to think of it."
"Are you so sure the time will never come?" Asked Narcissa.
"I'm sure." Jezebel replied. If she would've listen to a conversation taking place in the dance floor she wouldn't have been so sure.
A/N: The song that James and Lily were dancing to was a song of 1975 by ABBA, the title is I've been Waiting for You. Coming up the dance competition and the Halloween Feast.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything just the plot and some of the characters.
Chapter 8 ~ The Halloween Festival
~ Pies, relaxation time and Dancing ~
The group left the Quidditch pitch and wandered through the stands, Sirius and Remus did very well at the games and won some prizes for the girls, and miraculously so did Peter. James joined them during his break and together they went to the concession stands.
"Are you sure you should eat Sirius?" Asked Katie as she bit into her cotton candy.
"Why shouldn't I eat?"
"Well, you're on your way to the pie eating contest, you might get sick."
"No I won't, besides, I'm hungry."
"Maybe you should reserve that hunger for the contest." Said Remus.
"But there are still fifteen more minutes for the contest and I'm hungry now."
"If there are only fifteen minutes left then maybe we should go. You don't have time to eat anything." Said James.
"I can take something to go."
"No you can't, we have to go now."
"But I want some cotton candy."
"You can have some after."
"But I want some now."
"Honestly Sirius! You are being childish. We'll go to the contest now and after you're done we can come back and you can have as much cotton candy as you want." Snapped Katie who obviously had enough.
"Promise?" Pouted Sirius.
"Promise. Now let's go."
"All right." And for a second time that day, Sirius was denied his cotton candy and walked dejectedly toward the contest site.
"Poor Sirius, maybe we should get him some cotton candy." Murmured Savialia as they walked to the contest.
"Don't worry, he will be fine." Whispered Peter.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, he will not die because he couldn't eat some cotton candy."
"We just have to get him here after the contest and he will be fine." Said James.
"If you say so."
"Are you going to stay with us much longer James?" Asked Remus.
"No, I'll just walk with you lot to the contest and then I will go back."
"Oh, all right, we'll see you again before the dance competition won't we?" Asked Emma.
"Yes, I have some free time then."
"Very well, meet us at the dance floor then, we'll be dancing for a while before the competition begins." Responded Remus.
The group had arrived at the place where the pie eating contest was taking place, there had been others that had gone on before and so far a boy in Hufflepuff was taking the lead. Sirius perked up the moment he saw the crowd and his usual sunny countenance graced his face.
A smile started to bloom and gleefully he rubbed his hands. "This is it." He exclaimed as he started to look around the crowd.
In front of the crowd was a stage, three tables were placed in the middle; the two tables at each end were for the competitors to sit and eat, the table in the middle held the pies the competitors would have to eat, once each competitor had enough, a count was made and recorded, then the next competitor would go next and see how much he could eat, at the end of the afternoon the recorded counts would be sorted and decided who the winner was, if there was a tie then a face off would be needed.
"Do you think you are ready?" Asked Peter who up to now had been busy eating some ice cream.
"Of course I am, I need food, you lot have been starving me the whole day."
"Oh Sirius, you like to make a tempest in a tea cup don't you? That's an exaggeration and you know it." Snapped Katie.
"I am not! You haven't let me eat anything since this morning."
"Oh please!"
"I'm a growing boy, I need my meals."
The group snorted at this and the girls broke into giggles.
"What's so funny?" Sirius glared.
"Nothing, why don't you go up and get prepared." Urged Remus who clearly saw that his friend was losing his temper fast.
"Yes why don't you go up, I'm sure that you will win." Said Peter, he knew that Sirius was easily angered if he was hungry.
Sirius walked away from the group, mumbling to himself.
"Honestly, you would think he was a child by the way he acts." Sighed Katie.
"You knew that from the beginning." Said Emma.
"He is funny, I find him very entertaining." Commented Savialia.
"That's the understatement of the year!" Chuckled Remus.
"What are you lot up to? Has Sirius gone up yet?" Lily had finally been able to get away and get some time off.
"It took you long enough to get here." Exclaimed Katie as she spied her friend.
"I know, but you knew that there was a lot for me to do."
"As long as you're here, that's good enough." Said Emma.
"Are you going to take some time off later?" Asked Remus.
"Yes, I have the half hour before the dance competition off."
"Really?" Four pairs of eyes scrutinized her.
"What?" Asked a confused Lily.
"Nothing, we were planning to go to the dance floor after Sirius is done, so we'll meet you there." Said Remus.
"Very well. Has Sirius gone up yet?"
"Not yet, we barely got here."
"Do you think he will do good on this, I know he eats a lot but really, how much can a person eat?"
"You obviously haven't seen Sirius when he's hungry." Snorted Remus as Peter chuckled.
"But he cannot be hungry, I mean, he has probably eaten everything in the snack stand by now." Exclaimed Lily.
"He hasn't eaten a thing since luncheon." Responded Katie.
"What? Don't tell me he has been abstaining from food just so he could win this thing." Lily looked scandalized at the idea.
"No, he has been trying to eat everything, but every time he gets ready he has to go to another competition. He just hasn't had time to eat. He hasn't been very happy about it." Responded Peter.
"I can well imagine, how have you lot managed him."
"It hasn't been easy. It is his own fault really, he just had to sign up for everything." Emma said.
"It is a matter of ego I suppose, he just wants to show everybody that he is as good as everybody thinks he is." Expressed Remus.
"That makes sense, and it certainly explains a lot about him. I wonder how he will go on after Hogwarts, he really doesn't seem to be ready to grow up at all." Sighed Lily.
"Don't worry, he will find a way." Commented Katie.
"Look, he is starting. Good luck Sirius." Yelled Savialia as she waved her arms.
The group cheered and clapped and Sirius waved and smiled from the stage, the crowd increased as people noticed who one of the competitors was, and some of the people who had already gone up and competed groaned. Everybody knew how much Sirius could eat, and some prayers were heard hoping that Sirius had eaten enough snacks.
The competitors were given their first pie and count began. It was clearly seen from the start who the winner of the competition would be. Sirius ate three pies in a matter of minutes when it had taken most of the others a little more than five minutes to eat just one. People knew that their prayers weren't heard as they saw Sirius eating pie after pie, he seemed to be non stoppable, and very hungry.
"He is going to be sick if he continues eating like that." Said Savialia.
"No he won't." Said the others in unison, they had seen Sirius eat after all.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, just enjoy the sight and don't worry, he will be fine." Said Katie.
"If you say so."
"Oh don't worry Savialia, he's having the time of his life." Said Peter as he put his arms around her waist to give her a quick hug.
"Lord, how much can he eat, he has already eaten twice as much than the rest. There is no way anybody can catch up on him." Exclaimed Lily.
"He could eat a whole hippogriff if he was really hungry." Said Remus.
"Let's just hope that no hippogriff is left in his care then, the poor animal wouldn't know what hit him." Laughed Emma.
"Oh, not to worry, there is no way that Sirius would be given a hippogriff, that person would be really mental to do so." Said Peter.
"Or very desperate to get rid of it, maybe trying to hide it after the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures sentence it to death." Said Katie.
"Really Katie, how do you come out with ideas like that?" Laughed Emma.
"That would never happen, that is very far fetched." Exclaimed Lily.
"Oh really Lily, I was only joking, I know that it would never happen."
"How did this conversation start?" Asked Savialia who was obviously getting confused.
"I don't know but I'm tired of it." Complained Remus.
The girls threw dirty looks at him, which he completely ignored and just looked at Sirius who had finally had enough pie and was waiting for his count to be recorded.
"How did he do? I didn't bother to count." Said Peter.
"I don't know I really wasn't paying too much attention." Said Lily.
"I didn't either." Said Emma.
"He will tell us as soon as he join us." Said Katie.
"Do you think he will win?" Asked Savialia.
"Most likely." Responded Remus.
They all waited for Sirius who wore a very smug smile on his face. He obviously did very well.
"I don't think we need to ask how it go." Said Remus as he slapped Sirius on his back.
"I did very well, they said I ate three times more than the one who had the record so far." Said Sirius.
"Oh really Sirius, you're going to have nightmares tonight." Said Katie.
"Why would I have nightmares?"
"Because your body will hate you for all you've put it through today."
"No it won't. Now let's go to get some snacks."
"You must be joking!" Exclaimed Katie.
"No, I want some cotton candy and you told me I could get as much as I wanted after the contest."
"I cannot believe that you would eat candy after you have eaten so many pies." Said Emma.
"Why not? I could still eat some more but I wanted to leave room for the candy."
"You are unbelievable." Said Lily as she shook her head.
"Yes I am."
"And modest too." Chuckled Emma.
"Of course, I'm perfect." Smiled Sirius.
"Well let's go to get him some snacks, he'll bug us if we don't." Said Remus.
"Well, I'll meet you at the dance floor later, I have to go back." Said Lily as she left the group.
"See you Lily." Waved Emma.
"James will join us so we'll be all together." Said Katie.
Lily stopped when she heard this and asked "James is going to be there?" The group nodded, "well, I suppose I'll see you then." And she continued of her way.
"This is going to be great. We have to get them together." Whispered Emma to Katie.
"I know and we have to do it before that Jezebel becomes a problem." Katie whispered.
"You are right, did you see how shamelessly she flirted with James today?"
"I saw it, do you suppose James likes that?"
"If he does then we have to do something about Lily, I don't think she knows how to flirt."
"We can teach her if it ever comes to that."
"I don't think she would do it willingly."
"We'll think of something when we cross that bridge."
"What are you two whispering about?" Remus asked as he noticed the duo falling behind.
"Nothing just making plans for the dance, we want to get James and Lily together." Said Katie.
"That's easy, I'll ask you to dance, Remus will ask Emma, and Peter will ask Savialia, that leaves James and Lily and James is so chivalrous he won't leave her by herself and will ask her to dance." Said Sirius, who thought it was the obvious solution.
"That will work for one dance, but what about after, the whole point is to get them together for the whole half hour, one dance will only last ten minutes at the very most." Said Katie.
"We can ask the band to play a set that will last half an hour, it will be the last set before the competition after all, and people who won't be participating will want to dance." Said Remus.
"That will work, we have to ask them before Lily and James join us, it wouldn't do for them to guess what we're planning to do, they will never get together if they do." Responded Emma.
"You're right, they are both so stubborn they will probably try to go against us just for spite." Replied Sirius.
"We have to think the songs we want the band to play, it would be best if the set was only romantic music, to get them in the mood you know." Said Katie.
"What mood do you want them to get into?" Sneered Peter while the others chuckled.
"Not the kind of mood you lot are thinking of, honestly!" Snapped Emma.
"What kind of thoughts do you lot have?" Glared Katie.
"The kind that all seventeen year old males possess." Replied Sirius.
"Oh seriously!" Exclaimed Savialia.
"Let's get away from this lot, they obviously need to clear their head." Said Katie as she took the arms of the other girls and marched past the boys.
"What else do they expect from us?" Asked Sirius as he saw the girls walking away from them.
"I don't know but we obviously have to do something, because I don't want to dance by myself." Said Remus.
"That would make us the laughing stock of the school." Groaned Peter.
The boys spent the rest of the afternoon trying to 'sweeten them up' they didn't know that they didn't have to, the girls had already forgiven them but when they saw how the boys tried to be extra nice to them then they decided to leave it be, they were going to take advantage of it. They went to the Festival games, where the boys won several trinkets for the girls, they ate candy and ice cream, and bought several memorabilia items. The group had their hands full with all the things they had bought, and decided to go to one of the tents that had been erected for resting purposes.
The tent was decked in comfortable surroundings, designed to give students a relaxing atmosphere in which to rest. There were three day beds where those who preferred a little nap could do so, five comfortable looking armchairs where settled in a circle in the middle of the room with a tea table in the middle. A table laden with food and drinks stood by one of the walls, and in one corner a stack of wooden boxes stood where students could store items and not having to carry things all over the place.
"Oh, this looks perfect, I think I would enjoy lying down for a bit, I never thought I would so tired." Said Katie as she walked toward one of the daybeds.
"Oh, that sounds lovely, I would enjoy lying down for a while as well, regain my energy for the dance competition." Sighed Savialia.
"That's a good idea, I will rest for a while as well." Said Emma and the three girls settled in the daybeds to rest.
"What do we do? I don't feel sleepy, even if these chairs seem comfortable and big enough for me to sleep on." Said Sirius.
"We could play, there is a set of chess here." Said Peter who had spotted a set by the door.
"I suppose, nothing better to do." Said Remus.
"All right, but it's still boring." Complained Sirius.
The boys played chess for at least an hour until the girls started to stir.
"What have you lot been doing?" Asked Katie as she started to get up from the bed.
"It's about bloody time for you to wake up." Snapped Sirius.
"I think you need to rest Sirius." Said Emma glaring at him.
"Don't mind him, he has been a bear the whole time." Said Remus.
"Why?" Asked Savialia.
"He is bored." Said Peter as he started to put the game away.
"There's nothing new in that, he's always bored." Said Katie.
"That's the reason why he has been such a prankster, boredom." Said Emma.
"What has been James' excuse?" Asked Savialia.
"The same, they are like two drops of water, if you didn't look very closely you would think they were twins." Said Katie.
"Lord can you imagine having twins that love pranks as much as these two do?"
"The poor mother."
"Hogwarts would never survive it." Exclaimed Remus.
"Dumbledore would never survive them, it's a miracle this pair hasn't given him a heart attack." Said Emma.
"Well, let's hope that Hogwarts won't see another pair just like this one." Said Peter.
"Do you mind? I don't like being talked about as if I wasn't here." Complained Sirius.
"Oh really Sirius. You're such a baby sometimes." Snapped Katie.
"I'm not."
"Are too."
"Don't start that, you know he could go on forever if you do." Warned Emma.
"Are we going to get ready to go to the dance floor? We are meeting James and Lily there in half an hour." Said Savialia.
"Oh, we never discussed about what we were going to do?" Wailed Katie.
"Yes we did, did you forget already?" Asked Sirius.
"Oh, now I remember, we should go now then so we could get to the band before anybody else."
"Very well let's go, do you girls have your things, I don't want to come back because you have forgotten anything." Said Sirius as he started walking toward the entrance of the tent.
The group got to the dance floor just as the band was finishing playing a set, Sirius and Katie rapidly went to the stage and whispered to the lead singer for a couple of minutes, by the time they returned to the group they found Lily and James waiting with them as well.
"Where did you go?" Asked James.
"Just to look for something, Katie thought she had lost it." Replied Sirius.
"How did the competitions go James? The few competitors we saw were very serious about it." Said Emma.
"Serious? They're obsessed with it, take Sirius here for example, he was one of the most competitive people out there but compared to others he wasn't too bad. Lucius Malfoy actually tried to hit the keeper and tried using a wandless spell to catch the snitch, and there were others just like him. I was just glad that most were Slytherins and not Gryffindor, I wouldn't have felt comfortable giving detention to my own house because they tried to cheat." Said James shaking his head.
"Oh dear, was it really that bad?" Asked Lily.
"Yes, you will not imagine how many wands we had to confiscate today. You should've seen Snape's face when we caught him with his wand tucked into his belt. Honestly, you would think that seventh years would know how to act." Complained James.
"I'm sorry James, I thought that you would have fun doing the Quidditch competitions." Apologized Lily.
"Oh, don't get me wrong I enjoyed myself it wasn't very often that we had problems, some funny things happened as well. For instance, do you know Sean McGregor from Hufflepuff?" When Lily nodded her head he continued. "Well, as he tried to catch the snitch he tried to hook his leg around the broom so he would keep his arms free but he forgot to keep the leg still and he just succeeded in losing control of the broom and fall. Fortunately he wasn't very far from the ground and had no injuries, but it was just funny seeing him fail at a very basic stunt, I knew he wasn't going to make it the moment I saw him hooking his leg." Scoffed James.
"Well James, you cannot expect everybody to be a good player, you know there are some silly people out there." Said Lily.
"I suppose."
While Lily and James conversed, the group whispered among them making plans.
"Now that they are so caught up with each other it's our chance to leave them alone." Whispered Katie to the group.
"But what if they don't want to stay together, you cannot expect them to like each other just because you want them to." Said Savialia.
"They like each other, as friends, we're just trying to nudge them into something further." Explained Peter.
"But you can't do that, they won't appreciate it." She responded.
"Honestly Savialia, don't burst our bubble, you'll see, they'll end up together sooner or later." Said Emma.
"We should be getting ready to start the set, the band will begin soon." Said Remus.
"We all know what we have to do, just make sure nobody cuts in between James and Lily, if you see somebody trying to just make sure the we get there first then we just have to switch partners again." Said Sirius.
"Let's go, they will notice us." Said Katie.
"Will you honor me with this dance, my dear?" Bowed Sirius in an exaggerated way which made Katie giggle.
"But of course dear Sir." She chuckled.
"Mental, both of them." Said Peter shaking his head and taking Savialia to the dance floor.
"Shall we join them?" Said Remus as he offered Emma his arm.
"As you wish." She said fluttering her eyelids that only served to make them both laugh. Lily and James finally noticed that their friends had left them alone and that the band was getting ready to play a set.
"I suppose we should join them, we look like a pair of fools standing here waiting for them." Grumbled James.
"That was very gallant of you, I'm sure I would feel blessed dancing with you." Snapped Lily.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I supposed I shouldn't have said it like that. But dash it all, I don't like to dance, is so boring." Complained James.
"You better start thinking before you say anything else. You are not helping your case." Said Lily as she crossed her arms and glared at him.
"I did it again didn't I? Sorry. Shall we dance, my lady?" And he bowed before her offering his arm.
"Now you are just being silly." She said, but James was pleased to see her smile up at him. The couple joined their friends at the dancing floor, the song currently playing was fast and energetic, and everybody enjoyed showing off their dancing skills. Especially Sirius who seemed to be the most proficient of the group, he twirled Katie in every direction and miraculously didn't do any damage to her or to anybody in their proximity. Katie seemed not to mind, she quite enjoyed a fast paced dance.
"Really Sirius, you are going to rip her arm off if you don't slow down." Teased Remus as Sirius and Katie managed to do a complicated dance step with out hurting themselves.
"Oh, not to worry Moony, we know what we are doing." Laughed Sirius.
"Moony? Why do they call you that? I've heard them call you that before." Asked Emma.
"Oh nothing especial, they say I keep my mind on the moon too often." Responded Remus.
"A dreamer, are you?" Emma teased.
"Well of course, one of us had to be one. We have the lunatic, the leader, the dreamer, and I'm not sure what Peter is." Said Remus.
"I don't think anybody does." Emma chuckled.
"Sirius, slow down you are going to make me sick." Complained Katie who felt the speed of the dance catch up to her.
"Oh, sorry, don't want you to get sick now do we." Said Sirius as he slowed down to a more moderate pace.
"Oh, that's alright, I like to dance fast too, but I think I ate too much candy today." Said Katie, feeling her stomach settle down once more.
"Hmmm...I'm glad then that I didn't each much today."
"Didn't eat much? Sirius you ate twelve pies, how can you say you didn't eat much?" Exclaimed Katie.
"That was nothing, besides, the pies weren't really big, they were quite small, I could've eaten more, but I wanted to have room for candy and snacks."
"Oh really!"
"Are Katie and Sirius a couple?" Asked Savialia to Peter as the song changed to another.
"Not at the moment, but he does want to be. Why?"
"Oh, just curious."
"Are you planning to throw your handkerchief his way? Because if you are I must warn you that he is very smitten with her."
"Oh, you don't mind if I do?"
"No, why should I? Every time a girl wants to get near any of them they come to me first, I just see it as testing the waters as it were."
"That is a unique way to put it."
"Oh, but a lot of fun." He laughed.
"You are definitely different from the rest."
"Of course, we all are."
The couples were now twirling to a slow song.
~I, I've been in love before
I thought I would no more
Manage to hit the ceiling
Still, strange as it seems to me
You brought it back to me
That old feeling~
"I like this song, don't you?" Asked Lily as she and James twirled around the dance floor. They seemed to dance as one, perfectly matched.
~I, I don't know what you do
You make me think that you
Possibly could release me
I think you'll be able to
Make all my dreams come true
And you ease me~
"I suppose, I'm not really into this kind of music." James responded as he led her into another twirl.
~You thrill me, you delight me
You please me, you excite me
You're something I'd been pleading for
I love you, I adore you
I lay my life before you
I'll have you want me more and more
And finally it seems my lonely days are through
I've been waiting for you~
"Don't you believe in love?" She asked.
"Of course I do, I just don't think I have encountered it before."
"Oh how sad for you."
"I don't think so, I just believe that when the right girl comes I will be able to truthfully say that I had never felt like that before."
~I, I'm gonna make you mine
You're gonna feel so fine
You'll never want to leave me
I feel you belong to me
Someday you will agree
Please, believe me~
"I think she will be a very lucky girl."
"Let's hope that she does too."
"Oh, don't worry, she will."
~You thrill me, you delight me
You please me, you excite me
You're something I'd been pleading for
I love you, I adore you
I lay my life before you
I'll have you want me more and more
And finally it seems my lonely days are through
I've been waiting for you
Oh, I've been waiting for you~
The song ended and James and Lily noticed that they were alone on the dance floor, everybody was looking at them and applauding. Lily blushed and James glared at his friends who were all grinning and winking at him.
As soon as the next dance commenced people joined them on the floor and the dance continued.
"What are you lot doing?" Snapped James as the group joined them.
"Nothing, just dancing." Said Sirius with an innocent smile.
James snorted. "You lot are up to something." He glared.
"Just leave them, we'll figure it out later, let's dance, people are looking at us." Said Lily as she grabbed James' arm and started to dance.
"That was close." Said Remus as he passed Sirius.
"We have to be careful now, we don't know what he'll do." Said Katie.
"What about Lily, she's not going to like it either." Responded Emma.
"There is no need for her to find out." Said Sirius.
"I'm just glad they are not in the dance competition, there would be no point competing if they were." Said Savialia.
"You're right, did you see them dance, I've never seen anything like it." Exclaimed Peter in awe.
"They are experts in ballroom manners, they take part of the season every summer after all or their social standing would suffer." Said Katie.
"I didn't know that Lily took part of the season, I haven't seen her around the ballrooms." Said Sirius.
"Not the magical season silly, the muggle season. Her family is very well respected in society as well as very well off." Responded Katie.
"Oh, well I didn't know that. James I knew, there is not a day during the season in which his every step is reported on the Daily Prophet's society page." Replied Remus as he and Emma danced close to the rest.
"The poor boy, it is no secret that he dislikes it all, especially with his mother harping on about duty and marriage. No wonder he doesn't have a girlfriend this year." Said Emma.
"But that isn't natural, a guy needs to have a girlfriend." Exclaimed Sirius.
"Oh really, and why is that?" Asked Katie giving him a penetrating look.
"Because we like to be near pretty girls all the time of course." He said giving her a wink.
The group laughed and mingled among the crowd, none of them noticed a trio standing by the stage.
"Do you think something is going on between them?" Asked Narcissa, she was really enjoying herself watching Jezebel's jealousy.
"There is nothing between them, she is not the kind of girl his family would accept." Jezebel replied as she followed James and Lily's every step.
"How do you know that?" Asked Maureen.
"Because of who his family is of course. His family is just like mine, well respected and among the wealthiest in our world, they would never accept a muggle born." Said Jezebel.
"But the Potters are also very radical, I don't think they would mind a muggle born daughter in law, they would only care that their son is married and happy." Replied Narcissa.
"That is true, remember James' cousin Edgar, he married a muggle and the family didn't really cared, they have a son now I've heard." Said Maureen.
"Well, I still think that there isn't anything between them, James wouldn't feel comfortable with a girl like Lily, and I don't think Lily would even consider James as a boyfriend." Said Jezebel.
"Stranger things have happened, you never now." Leered Narcissa.
"If something does happen there are ways to break them up if necessary." Said Jezebel with a cold smile.
"What would you do?" Asked Maureen.
"You'll see if the time comes. There is no need to think of it."
"Are you so sure the time will never come?" Asked Narcissa.
"I'm sure." Jezebel replied. If she would've listen to a conversation taking place in the dance floor she wouldn't have been so sure.
A/N: The song that James and Lily were dancing to was a song of 1975 by ABBA, the title is I've been Waiting for You. Coming up the dance competition and the Halloween Feast.