Under the Sapphire Moon
By Rayven Darkheart
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OCs.
Prologue
"Moony, will you hurry your ass up, please? We've got places to see, people to do." Frustrated, Sirius finally went and grabbed his friend's arm. "My Merlin Moony! Only you would be mesmerized by a book."
Moony looked at his friend with a frown. "Padfoot, what do you want? What's the harm in looking around the store before we leave? Besides, Prongs is still looking at his school books."
Grumbling something under his breath, Sirius strolled over to his friend, James. He tapped him on his shoulder, getting ready to whine about being in the bookstore so long when James grabbed the books he purchased off of the counter. "Ready to go?"
Sirius jumped up and down in glee, like a child, and ran out of the store. Remus shook his head at his friend and gathered his things. "Sometimes I wonder how old Paddy really is."
James let out a hearty laugh and slapped his friend on the shoulder. "He's just not the academic type. Don't mind him."
Remus shook his head again and grabbed his books. "Prongs, I can't really see. Let me know if anyone is ahead of me." James nodded in agreement and started out.
Moony followed slowly, expecting to hear any moment that he was going to run into someone. James's warning came too late and he ran head on into someone, knocking everything out of his and their hands.
Mumbling his apologies, he reached down to pick up his things and bumped into the other person's hand, a very feminine hand. He stopped what he was doing and looked up. What he saw almost took his breath away. Kneeling in front of him was one of the most beautiful girls he had ever seen. Her skin was pale and set off by the darkest onyx hair he had ever seen. Her delicate features seemed to hide something behind them, a depth that most his age did not hold. Her cerulean eyes scanned his tawny ones and a stain of red fell upon her high cheekbones.
He thought he had somehow died and gone to heaven when his angel spoke. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going. Here are your things."
She handed his books and new robe to him with a shy smile. He murmured thanks. Then he noticed it. She was wearing a necklace. One that looked familiar. She saw him looking at her throat and covered the necklace with her hand. "I need to go. Perhaps I'll see you around." She got up quickly and ran off.
Sirius walked up to his friend and offered him a hand up. "What the hell was that all about Moony? I've never seen a girl run off so quickly."
"I wish I knew Padfoot. I really wish I knew."
Peter Pettigrew ran up to his three larger friends in a huff. James gave him a strange look and patted his shoulder gently. "What's wrong, Wormtail? Is there a cat after you?" All of the friends gave a hearty laugh.
Except Peter that is. "Prongs, there's a… girl in our usual compartment. I've never even seen her before. What are we going to do about it?"
Sirius looked up with a grin and started toward their compartment. "Watch and learn." The other boys looked at each other before following their companion. Sirius walked right into the compartment and sat right beside the girl that Peter had such a fit about.
Remus watched his friend through the glass of the door along with James and Peter. They stayed out of sight from the inside. His breath hitched when he realized that it was the Angel from Diagon Alley. He watched his friend, slightly jealous that she seemed to laugh so easily at his jokes.
Sirius turned around and waved the guys in. One by one, they filed in. Remus sat across from the girl and gave her a shy smile. She returned it as Sirius gave out introductions. "I would like you to meet James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus Lupin. Guys, this is Ebony Masters. She's new at Hogwarts this year."
She smiled at each of them in turn. After a long silence, James broke the silence. "What brings you to Hogwarts, Ebony?"
She seemed to squirm a bit but quickly answered. "I was schooled at home before now. I, um, lost that chance this year." Noticing her discomfort, the subject was quickly dropped for a different one.
Remus looked over at James. "Prongs, what did Dumbledore want to talk to you about over the summer?"
James gave Ebony a knowing look that made her twitch. He cleared his throat a bit. "He wanted to talk to me about a howling good time." He looked over at Remus and winked slightly, making it clear that he would tell him about it later.
At the word howling, Ebony's hand flew up to her neck, a gesture that did not escape Sirius's notice. He made a mental note to watch her closely for a bit. "James, Ebony here is bunking with Lily. Isn't that great?"
James gave his best friend a dirty look. "Who says it matters who Evans is bunking with? She'll be mine this year. She can't resist my charm for ever, can she?"
Ebony spoke up. "It sounds to me like you aren't sure if she can or not."
The dirty look that James had been shooting Sirius soon turned to Ebony. "We shall see. I'll have her. You all can bugger off. You'll see."