Disclaimer: yea yea blah blah blah

OK so here it is. It's deffinetly not one of my best chappies, but I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 15. Of Darkness, Parties, and Wretched Letters

Please forgive my raving mouth! I don't know where in the world my mind runs of sometimes. I am-officially-an idiot.

Last night, right as Sirius and I had finished scrubbing the shelves, he gave me a note. Idiot mistake number one: I looked like I was opening a bomb. Really, you should have seen how confused Sirius was at my expression.

As if he doesn't already think I'm a nutter, I've got to go and achieve the 'I'm about to crap in my panty' look.

Well what dya know! It was an invitation to a party!

Remus' surprise birthday party, to be exact.

It's supposed to be in the Room of Requirement.

The only other time I've had to use that room was when we had to charm tea cups to spin in Flitwick's class in our first year. I accidentally conjured up a rat instead, and received quite a fright.

I know what you're thinking. Would someone really get so scared of a rat and run out of the classroom and into the Room of Requirement to hide for 5 minutes?

Well, would you expect any less of me?

Anyway, the escape to the room is tonight! It's all very elaborately planned for the birthday boy.

At 5 p.m. tonight, James, Sirius, and Peter will kidnap Remus (such kind and careful friends) and tie him up (seriously, are they trying to rob him?) and stuff him into a body bag.

……….Wow?

I'm a bit brighter then to question the Marauder's plan. Who knows, tomorrow I could turn up stuffed in a shiny black bag as well.

So the Marauders aren't trying to do me in, as I so smartly thought.

The idea of a party, after all of my mind boggling stress, seems to be a tempting prospect.

Of course, there comes the little trip of actually getting a present for the old boy.

Hhm…what to do?

Well Graham, being the creative genius that he is, wants to make a rap for Remus turning 18. Yes I do believe that is the sorriest excuse of a birthday present that I've ever heard.

Naturally, Anni and I turned down his offer to join his little skit.

So the current score is 0 presents for Remus.

I tried convincing Anni to join a present with me, but nooo she wouldn't have any of it.

That leaves me. All alone. Left in the dust. Present less. I seem to be a very good friend.

And then, as if it was destined, there lays a glorious magazine, left invitingly in the Commons.

Yes, it's one of those catalogues where you can order odds and ends and it'll come by 2 hours post. Being a witch is so convenient.

The Sodding Book of Sardonic Sarcasm. That's what I got him! Before you go off and fashion that look of scorn, hear me out! It's actually a book cover which you can slip onto any of your school textbook. When you open your book, all over everywhere there's little parenthesis marks with sarcastic little sayings that had me snorting in the air when I used it for a test run.

Test runs can last for over 3 hours… right?

I'm telling you; History of Magic would be as exciting as a hot potato with this book cover. Yes, yes, a hot potato. Come on, without it it's about as exciting as the hum of a car engine.

Hot potato is a total upgrade.

As always my mind has ventured far off from reality. Back to Remus' party.

"Santasia quit writing in that diary and come here! We've got to get ready you know!" Anni stood wearily by the body mirror with her hands on her hips.

Oops. I've been caught.

It is a wretched moment, when one realizes they have to dress up and have nothing in their wardrobe except for black robes, plaid skirts, and white blouses. Unless Remus' party theme is dressing up as a yuppie, I'm going to have to pull out the muggle works.

"Well…the food was nice at least…and it was really very thoughtful of everyone-"

"Shut up Lupin. Don't try and tell us you're actually having fun", James gruffly spoke from the far left corner. I couldn't see him but I could just imagine how pissed he must have been.

Why exactly couldn't I see James? Well actually, I couldn't see anyone. It's a strange and sad tale that led us to this morbid little place. Whatever it is.

I suppose I have to backtrack a bit, before you get any more confused.

It began with James and Sirius' brilliant plan on having the party in the Room of Requirement, which was quite successful at first.

After Graham's bright little rap about "turning the Big 1 -8" James decided it was time for something to…err…pick up the mood.

Really we could all blame Graham for this, but then I suppose they would've pulled out the fireworks eventually.

Whoever invented in-door fireworks can eat my plaid skirt. Or better yet, live worms covered in dirt.

Yes that would definitely be a good punishment.

Well, James and Sirius had gotten the in-door fireworks from a friend of theirs in Gryffindor. Ernie Mayes, from what I've heard, is a hot headed little scientist who lurks in the depths of the school's black market.

No, I'm really just being melodramatic; it's not that big of a deal.

But apparently, the fireworks had been tampered with.

Everything was going brilliantly at first. Everyone was eating and laughing and the fireworks were sputtering high little squeaks and giving off a nice little show of colorful sparks.

What happened after that was a bit unclear. One of the fireworks seemed to have indecisiveness that rivals with mine. Instead of shooting overhead, it rocketed towards the door of the room and with a loud smash it left a bludgeoned door, which soon disappeared as well. We were then left with walls.

Quite suddenly, the remaining fireworks seemed to go bullocks and began attacking us with… sparks.

It may sound silly but for the record: I was not, in fact, the only one screaming.

As soon as it had begun, it abruptly stopped and we were all stuck in this endless darkness. It's been at least 27 minutes and my eyes have not adjusted to the darkness, as I had to learn the hard way when my head was banged into the wall when I tried to itch my foot.

Currently: everyone is pissed off and lost. We've tried lumos with our wands but the most peculiar thing happens every time; instead of spreading light, the wand tip just glows coldly. There is no way to see absolutely anything!

"I'm going to maul Ernie if it's that last thing I do", Sirius growled from somewhere to the right of me.

"Do you think Ernie did this then?" Susie questioned from… I swear it sounds like she spoke from the ceiling.

"Do we think? Of course he did this. He must have been getting back at us for something", Pettigrew said thoughtfully. Is it just me or is his voice echoing?

"I can't wait until we get out of here. I'm going make Ernie's life a living hell", James huffed, and this time, his voice sounded as if it was coming from directly behind me.

But wait. That couldn't be; there's a wall behind me.

AM I GOING INSANE? BLOODY BULLOCKS WHERE THE HELL ARE WE?

"Wait", goodness, even I was surprised to hear these words come out of my mouth. Where exactly could they go anyway? "Perhaps Ernie was just a bit upset because you asked for such a big favor for a party which he wasn't even invited to?"

There was silence for a moment, and I wondered if anyone had heard me or if I'd just imagined the conversation.

Sirius moaned, "Oh. So that's what I forgot to do", he spoke quite lightly, as if that had not in any way affected this strange little party.

Groans were noticeably heard around the-er…area. Were we even in a room anymore?

"So what do we do?" I asked sheepishly, hoping that this time the question wouldn't have quite the terrible results. Graham had asked it much earlier and you could just feel the glares as if they were non-committed laser beams, since no one really knew where he was sitting.

After a thoughtful pause, Remus spoke up, "What if we all stood up and tried walking around for a way out… or at least get a hold of someone."

"It's completely dark; do you really want to risk it?" Ben said uncertainly.

"Oh what else can we do anyway?" Anni spoke from…oh hey right next to me!

"All right…everyone, get up", James ordered in his "Head-Boy" voice.

Getting up was probably not the brightest idea after all.

I heard the rustle first, of everyone standing up and brushing off their clothes. Without a second to spare, people started screaming and cursing profanities as we all bumped into each other.

I couldn't help smiling at the thought of what we all looked like at that moment.

Quite briskly, someone had caught my arm and pulled me aside as at least 7 people stepped on my toes.

Getting up was a really bad idea.

"All right who is that?" I asked, irritated.

"Oh sorry, it's James. Is that Santasia then?"

"None other than."

"Ok here", he pulled me again until I was directly next to him, and unless I'm mistaken (Which I very well could be) it felt like he was handing me over to someone else.

Really people I'm not a toy!

"All right, so now who's the lucky boy to put up with me?" I mumbled brightly. Well excuse me for finding a bit of humor in this bizarre situation.

"Um, I think that would be me."

"Oh", was all that could escape my mouth. So he was to be my 'arm partner'. Really could my life be any more predictable?

"I suppose we should-erm-stay by the wall instead of wandering around. We could walk the perimeter?"

Even for Sirius, that was quite a practical thought. I definitely will stop underestimating him so much.

Eventually.

It was utterly weird to walk around the room, or perhaps, walk along side the wall in such darkness. All I could here were the continuous conversations consisting of "I'm going to keep away from partying for a while", or, "This was a supremely bad idea", or, "If you step on my toe one more ruddy time I'll skin you with my blunt finger nails."

I swear I heard Jenni saying that last bit.

Who knows how much time passed? At one point there were so many people in one huddle that Sirius and I were just an eyelash apart. Mind you that was very awkward.

Though, I couldn't help noticing his hands on my waist. Of course, that could very well have been someone else trying to get past us.

Wishful thinking I suppose.

Note to erratic self: to avoid further 'wishful thinking' avoid Mr. Black entirely.

Yes and also don't forget to wash the dishes and finish your homework as soon as it's assigned.

Another thing to add onto my extended list of things that will never happen or are too good to be true.

Succumbing to my aunt's match making and wholeheartedly eating Nanny Emma's 'surprise' sandwiches are among the top five on the list as well.

And OH-

Not I must have imagined it…

Was that…

Could it be a…

No way…

By the feel of it, Sirius and I had approached either a very big niche or an arc in the wall, and it seemed to lead… out!

To where exactly? Any place is better then this.

"You guys! I think we've got a way out!"

Shouting that was a big mistake on my part.

Remember how everyone's voice was wandering around? Well the effect took over everyone else as well. They scurried around in a mass of dangerous bodies in the dark, trying to track the place they had heard my voice.

With quick and strangely simultaneous thinking, Sirius and I grabbed the nearest people to us. I had about three in my hand while he had about the same in his.

It felt like we were strange herders in the dark.

Oh God. Is this what hell was like?

…No, it couldn't be. Running out of sweets to eat is much worse.

"Ouch! What the hell was that for?" Someone (Was that Graham?) asked as I accidentally pinched him.

"Quit elbowing me!"

"Whoever's yanking my hair needs to stop right now!"

"If you don't stop letting your hands wander I will take drastic actions!"

"If everyone doesn't shut up right now I'm going to start shooting off stunning spells!" Well that certainly quieted them.

Ushering everyone one of those people was a LOT harder then I had imagined.

"Well, I suppose surprise parties are out of the question as of now?" Remus chortled playfully at the abashed look James and Sirius delivered him.

It was at least two in the morning and there was a small congregation of the party goers currently sitting by the Gryffindor fire.

If I was to brief you on how exactly we got out of that wretched room, I may shock you into convulsion.

Let's just say it involved mud, un-identified buggers that pulled on our legs, and a putrid smell that stank suspiciously like droppings.

I can only hope that the mud was just that; mud.

I was still in a bit of a daze from the night's events, so I gladly sat in the peace of conversation in the Commons.

It took me quite a while to notice the consistent tapping of a beak to a window. There was an owl outside, who in my opinion, was quite impatient!

What I realized next still haunts me to this day.

The howl was dark brown with amber eyes, and looked peculiarly like the same one that had almost pecked me to death when I was seven.

Sirius apprehensively got up to open the window for his Aunt's owl. He exchanged a dark glance with me, which I returned gladly.

I highly doubted this letter was going to tell us the villa get together had been canceled.

Dear Sirius and Santasia,

My do your names sound good together! (This is where I began to twitch convulsively. It was part of my pre-villa syndrome) I'm just posting to tell you that we're going to have a cab pick you up from London. It's a Wizard Cab so don't you worry, it'll get you here as fast as floo powder! (Wow, could it get any better? Just what I need. To get to the Villa faster.) I can't wait to see you both! Don't forget to pack your jammies.

Love,

Aunty Cecil

All right. I'll go off and sulk now for what may be the last moments of my wretched and short life. Just remember, at my funeral, I want white lilies.

Well that was the latest installment. Hope it was OK.

SO guess what comes in the next chapter? THE TRIP TO THE VILLA!

OK so I've been itching to start writing that whole garble so I am very excited. As always-

Review

Back again,

Cetesy