"There you are!"
Both Sadie and Sirius jolted awake at the sound of Lily's voice. She was standing over them with her hands on her hips, looking irritable.
"Do you have any idea what time it is? We've got to leave for the train in an hour! You've still got to eat breakfast and finish packing! And Gideon has been looking for you all morning!" She eyed them disapprovingly. "I would avoid telling him whose bed you slept in if I were you."
"Relax, Lils," Sadie grumbled as she reluctantly removed herself from Sirius's arms and climbed out of bed. "I don't have that much packing left to do. And Sirius and I sleep together all the time. We were just up late last night..." She trailed off and smacked her forehead, eyes going wide. "Shoot! I've got to talk to Kettleburn! He needs to know about the forest!"
Sirius shushed her, sitting up with a stretch. "Relax. Go talk to him. You said you don't have much packing left. I'll run to the kitchens and grab some things for breakfast. You can eat in the carriage. No stress."
"You still have to pack too though!" She argued. Sirius grabbed his wand and flicked it, watching in satisfaction as all of his things flew into his trunk and folded themselves neatly. Sadie rolled her eyes. "Sometimes I hate you. Why have you not taught me that?"
"Just go!" Sirius insisted with a slight smirk. She stuck her tongue out at him but did as he said, rushing out of the room. Sirius stared after her for a moment with a bit of a goofy grin on his face until he noticed Lily watching him carefully. He cleared his throat and assumed a neutral expression. "Anything else I can do for you, Evans?"
She hesitated for a moment, thinking over her next words. "She's really happy with Gideon, you know."
Sirius fought back a groan of irritation. "I had picked up on that, oddly enough."
"Right," Lily laughed uncomfortably. "Of course. It's just...I guess what I'm trying to say is...she's really happy now, and that's great. But Gideon is graduating this year, and I just can't imagine that they'll stay together much longer than that. She'll still have two years of school left, after all. And if and when they break up...well...you should tell her how you feel."
Sirius felt his face heat up. He stood and knelt down at his trunk to pull out his clothes for the day. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Lily rolled her eyes exasperatedly. "Sirius, I'm pretty sure the only person who doesn't know you're completely head-over-heels in love with Sadie Potter is Sadie Potter."
He stilled and looked up at her wearily. "She really doesn't know?"
Lily sighed and shook her head. "Somehow she's as oblivious as ever. But, all I'm saying is that, as happy as she is with Gideon, I think she'd be happier with you." Sirius closed his trunk with a sigh.
"The thing is, Lily, it doesn't matter how happy I could make her if she doesn't have feelings for me." To his surprise, Lily's eyes began to sparkle.
"Well, who's to say those feelings aren't there? Maybe they just need a little...coaxing out...so that she can stop pretending they don't exist." Sirius gaped at her, but, when he started to speak, Lily held up her hand. "That's all I have to say. Take it or leave it."
Sirius opened his mouth to persuade her to tell him more, but, at that moment, the bathroom door swung open, and James stepped out, still wet from his shower and wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his hips. Lily's jaw dropped, and James's eyes widened when he saw her.
"Evans!" He choked. "I didn't...what are you..."
"I was just leaving," she interrupted in a clipped tone. Sirius noted with a grin that her face was rapidly turning red, and she was having a hard time looking away from James's bare chest. "Just think about what I said, Black. And don't forget to get breakfast for Sadie. You know how she gets when she hasn't been fed." And with that, she turned on her heel and marched out the door, tripping just slightly on her way.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Sirius burst into loud laughter. James seemed to be in a bit of a daze as he walked slowly over to his bed and sat down.
"Am I...am I dreaming?" He asked weakly. Sirius stood up and clapped his friend on the shoulder before quickly changing clothes.
"Not dreaming, mate," he smirked. "So I'm going to let you process that. I've got some things to do." And it was with a considerable amount of cheerfulness that he exited the room and made his way to the kitchens.
An hour or so later, the boys were looking around anxiously as they waited their turn to climb into one of the carriages. Just as one of them pulled up, Sadie came flying through the castle doors. She spotted them immediately and raced over to them, clamoring into the carriage after them just in time.
"How did it go?" Sirius asked her.
Sadie sighed. "Well he seemed a little skeptical, but he said he would look into it, so I guess that's something. Oh Godric, I love you!" She exclaimed, eyes going wide as Sirius handed her a plate filled with raspberry sweet rolls, scrambled eggs, and a little dish of fruit. Then he handed her a cup of hot cocoa, and she looked as though she might cry.
"I did promise you cocoa," he shrugged, trying not to appear too pleased with himself. The other boys gave him knowing looks but didn't say anything.
As usual, Platform 9 3/4 was packed with parents eagerly awaiting the return of their children. The train pulled up, and Sadie beamed as she caught sight of her parents standing toward the front of the crowd. Gideon slipped his hand into hers and gave her a warm smile as the train came to a stop.
"Christmas Eve, right?" He asked. Sadie hummed happily and rested her head on his shoulder for a brief moment.
"Christmas Eve," she confirmed. He kissed the top of her head and gave her hand a squeeze as they followed Sirius and Cynthia out of their compartment and made their way to the exit.
James had already been seized by their mother who was fussing over his hair, much to his chagrin. Sadie grinned to herself, knowing he secretly loved it. Sirius was the next to reach them, and Euphemia instantly pulled him into tight embrace, which he returned without hesitation. She pulled away and patted his cheeks with an adoring smile.
Sadie, who was not far behind Sirius, found herself wrapped up in her father's arms before she could say 'hello.' He gave her a tight squeeze and kissed the top of her head.
"There's my Bee!" He said gruffly. "And who is this gentleman?"
Sadie smiled and reached her hand back out for Gideon. He stepped forward and cleared his throat, giving Fleamont a firm handshake.
"Gideon Prewett, sir. It's wonderful to meet you."
"Ah, so you're the young man that my daughter has been writing about all year!" Fleamont's eyes twinkled as Sadie flushed.
Gideon chuckled and slipped an arm around her waist. "Well, I certainly hope so, Sir. I'd hate to find out there was some other guy she was writing home about."
Euphemia had decided that she had fussed over her sons enough and that it was time to move on to her daughter. She took Sadie's face in her hands and pressed a kiss to each of her cheeks.
"Oh, Sadie, I've missed you so much. And this must be Gideon! Sadie has told us so much about you!"
Gideon shot his blushing girlfriend an amused grin. "So I've heard!"
"Well, you simply must come for dinner sometime over the break. Sadie told us she's going to spend Christmas Eve with your family, which is wonderful. Perhaps we could steal you for Boxing Day?"
"That sounds amazing, ma'am," Gideon smiled sincerely.
"Perfect!" Euphemia clapped her hands together once. "It's settled then!"
Fabian appeared suddenly at Gideon's other side. "You ready?" He asked his twin. "Molly's got the kids with her, and you know how much of a handful they can be."
Gideon winced. "Yikes. Yeah, I'm coming. Let me just say goodbye." Sadie's parents politely turned back to converse with James and Sirius as Gideon pulled Sadie in for a lingering kiss. "I'll see you on Wednesday. And we'll write in the meantime, yes?"
Sadie nodded happily and pressed her lips to his one last time before he turned and disappeared with Fabian into the crowd. Euphemia slid an arm around her daughter's shoulders.
"Well, he seems lovely!"
Sadie smiled, happy to be with her parents again, and allowed her mother to lead her toward the exit, where Fleamont and the boys were waiting.
"I missed you, Mum," Sadie said quietly. "Let's go home."
A/N: Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think