Ch.11, Valentines Day and Dares Fulfilled

Valentines Day was approaching the castle, and so prefects and the Heads were called upon more and more often to decorate the place. Many times Melissa and Sirius were left behind, and they learned a lot about each other. One thing that made Melissa's heart soar, he only dates a ton of girls now to keep his rep up. He was starting not to date so many, and Melissa found herself thinking about him more and more. Meanwhile, Lily and James were trying to convince Dumbledore that a Valentines Day ball would increase the morals of the students greatly. It didn't take much convincing. It would take place after the Hogsmead trip was over. About 9 o'clock it would start. Len and Remus were planning to meet for lunch after Lily, Len and Melissa did all the shopping they needed. Finally the day came. Lily even charmed heart shaped candles to float around the Great Hall. Until the Hogsmead part of the day, Lily and James were never sighted out of a one-foot range of each other. Len and Remus were never apart. The teachers did nothing if a couple was found in the library or a closet. Finally, James, Sirius and Remus headed to The Three Broomsticks, and the girls headed for a dress shop.

"So, what sort of dress are you ladies looking for?" the store clerk asked.

"We're not exactly sure. Could we just look around?" Lily asked.

"Certainly! I assume you're here about the Hogwarts ball? The ball gowns are over there." The clerk said.

"Thank you. (they walk that way) this place is filled with girls… we better get looking, before all the good ones are gone." Len pointed out.

Each girl set about looking for something. The dress code was simple. Something either white, red or pink. Len soon found something wonderful and affordable. She left to try it on. Lily also found a beautiful dress, and did the same. Melissa was having trouble finding something. She didn't even have a date yet! Finally, something caught her eye. It was a tad expensive, but affordable. She went to try it on, and it fit perfectly. She went to the cash register, and found Lily and Len paying for their dresses. She did the same, and the three girls found themselves just in time to meet the boys.

"Shall we?" James said, holding his arm out to Lily. She giggled, and they left towards the castle. Len and Remus had already left and Len's head was resting on his shoulder. They were off to Madame Puddifoots, a new café near the end of the main road. Melissa and Sirius were left alone.

They had a great time. Melissa's crush for him even deepened. As did Sirius's. By the time they left, Sirius was walking up to the castle with her, and he turned to face her.

"Erm… Melissa…"

She turned to face him. "What?"

"Um…"

Melissa stared. Sirius Black nervous? "Well, spit it out!"

"Um… you probably already have a date, but if you don't, will you go to the ball with me?"

Melissa was stunned. When she didn't respond, he said, "It's alright if you don't, I understand…"

"No, Sirius, wait! I was just stunned that's all. I-I would love to go with you." Melissa said, blushing the same shade as her dress.

"R-really?"

"Yeah. Well, see you then, then." And she walked off.

Sirius practically skipped to the dorm. He didn't even pay attention to the 30 or so girls running around frantic in the common room. When he entered his room, Remus asked him what he was so happy about.

"I'm going to the ball with Melissa." He said dreamily.

"You're going to the ball with who?" James asked as he stepped out of the bathroom.

"Melissa." He replied in the same dreamy voice.

"Well, you better get ready, or are you going to the ball in Hogwarts robes?" Remus said. He was dressed in the same robes as the Christmas ball. James pulled his on, and Sirius showered and put his on. They went downstairs to wait for the girls. It was quarter to nine when they came down. Their date's jaws dropped.

Lily was dressed in a low-cut dress that was the exact same shade as her hair. It was halter style, and the skirt part had little pink hearts sewn on. She had charmed all three girls' hair to literally sparkle, and she wore matching gloves.

Len had a dress that reached the floor, and the top was completely white. There were stripes of pink that swirled around the ball-gown style skirt. It was low-cut, and it was held up by white straps at her shoulders. Just like the rest of them, her hair, which was in a bun, sparkled.

Melissa was wearing a blood-red dress, and it was held up in the same style as Len's. She had elbow length matching gloves, and her hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail. Her feet were in dark red shoes, and she wore the same heart pendant that the other two wore around her neck. It had a silver chain, and three pink hearts on it.

The boys were in awe. The girls laughed, and several looked on, jealous that their dates were the most popular boys in Griffindor. They went down to their dates, and that seemed to wake them up. All three boys offered their arms to their respective girls, and they left the common room. James did have to admit, being taller than Lily had advantages. He was 6 feet, and she was 5'6. Len was 5'6, which made her three inches shorter than Remus, and Melissa was 5'8. Unfortunately for Sirius, he was only 6'0.

When they got to the great hall, the festivities began. The hall was gorgeous. Pink and red candles were floating around, and the tables were red. All the couples had a great time, and their nights contained only dancing at first, but then they each found places to kiss with their partner, but Melissa and Sirius stayed behind and just learned more about each other. Though, he did have to admit, he liked the feeling of her body against his. They were just going to go to the common room. They had left early, but Sirius had wanted to talk to her alone. When they got there, he turned to face her.

"Melissa, I was wondering, I had a great time tonight, and I was wondering if you'd be my girlfriend?" he stuttered.

She through her arms around him and said, "I'd love to."

No one saw them for the rest of the evening.

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When Melissa joined the girls in the dormitory, they turned to face her.

"And just where have you been?" Lily asked.

Melissa blushed. When she didn't answer, Len said, "I guess Sirius asked her to be his girlfriend" she said, and both girls had teasing expressions on their face.

"Oh shush both of you. Yes, he did ask me to be his girlfriend, and you don't need to know where we were." Melissa replied as she pulled on her PJs and went to bed.

The girls laughed and did the same.

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Sirius walked confidently into the boy's dormitories later that night, and was immediately confronted.

"Sirius, where have you been? It's nearly midnight!" James shouted.

"I was with my girlfriend Melissa." He replied dreamily.

Remus opened his mouth to argue, but then faltered. "Wait, your girlfriend Melissa?"

"Yeah. I asked her, and she said she'd love to. Well, goodnight." He said and promptly climbed into bed.

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The next morning, the boys decided it would look good on them if they waited for the girls to take them down to breakfast. Soon, Len came down the stairs and was immediately greeted by Remus.

"Hi Remus." She said and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Hi Len." He said and returned the favour.

"Hi Len. Do you know when Lily's coming down?"

"Yeah, and Melissa?"

Len started laughing hysterically. "Both of them saw you guys at the bottom of the stairs, and are currently fixing their hair!"

An angry-at-Len Lily came down the stairs, with a scowl, but with perfect hair. "Gee Len, you make it sound so funny. Hi James, how are you?" she said, turning from ticked to nice.

"I'm good. You?"

"Great. I enjoyed last night by the way…" and they were off to the great hall.

"Well, lets go. Oh, one more thing. MELISSA! SIRIUS IS WAITING!" Len shouted up the stairs. Then she and Remus left for the great hall, splitting their sides laughing at a blushing Sirius.

Melissa pretended not to hear, but when she came down blushing it said differently. She greeted Sirius with a quick peck on the cheek and laughed when he put on a puppy dog face. She mouthed "later" and he cheered up right away.

When the newest couple got to the great hall, hand in hand, there were several cries from the different tables, as the female population at Hogwarts saw Sirius with a girl. Since Sirius was the most popular boy after James stopped dating so he could go after Lily, he was the most sought after.

The couple ignored the bunch of girls that glared at Melissa, or looked wishfully at Sirius. They went and sat down beside the others, and the girls were laughing at a prank the boys had once pulled. They ate in peace for the most part. Until the mail came. Sirius and Melissa were bombarded by Sirius's fan club mail. All the girls were either angry at Melissa for going out with him, or they were angry at Sirius for going out with her. The group went to DADA, and on their way Lily re-charmed the parchments. But she left out the private message thing, because they never used it. They sat down at their normal desks, about halfway up the room. They took out their things and made like they were taking notes, glancing up every once in a while. (you know the fonts, but in case you forget, Lily, Len, Melissa, James, Sirius, Remus. Everyone who didn't say the last line. Things in brackets are what happens in the classroom.)

Len, before you even ask, we all know what he is teaching, it's boggart review for goodness sake.

I wasn't going to ask.

Okay, today is the day that you guys fulfil your dares. Sorry James, you still have to jump in the lake, but Sirius, unfortunately your girlfriend got you out of yours.

Yay! Thank you Melissa!

Don't thank me yet. You have to agree to jump in the lake too, if your not gonna flirt with McGonnagle.

Hey, no problem!

Well how about we keep playing T or D Three Reprieves?

Sounds good! Since it was Remus's idea, he goes first.

Thank you Len. Now… Sirius, truth or dare?

When will I ever pick truth? Dare.

Okay, how about after you jump in the lake, you have to fly your broom around still in swimming trunks, and no drying spells.

Sheesh, you guys all like the cold don't you?

You're the one making James jump in the lake!

Oh yeah, I am aren't I? Okay, I'll do it. Melissa, T or D?

Well, I cant say I was expecting that… no way I'm doing dare with your mind… truth!

Okay, what do you girls do on GNs?

Reprieve.

Oh come on!

Nope. Okay, Len, truth or dare?

I've been picking truth to much. Dare!

Well that was unexpected. Okay, you have to… eat ten Sherbert balls at once and not be noticed by the teachers.

Now?

No, at dinner.

Okay, sure. Um… Lily, t or d?

Uh… dare!

Ok, you have to…any ideas guys?

No way am I saying anything.

How about she joins James and Sirius in the lake?

How about she has to s-

Don't say anything along those lines!

What, I was just about to say what James was thinking!

(Lily glares at James)

I wasn't thinking that, honest!

How about she has to break a rule?

Most of those are good suggestions, but I prefer Remus's idea. Lily, you have to join James and Sirius in jumping in the lake with nothing but a bathing suit on!

I'm not dreading tonight as much anymore…

James, T or D?

Dare!… I really shouldn't've said that, should I?

No, you shouldn't've. Okay, James, for that other line above my question, you also have to ride around on your broom!

Oh, come on! Give me a break please?

(Lily nearly bursts out laughing at the puppy-dog face he is giving her. However, this gives them away to the teacher, and to avoid suspicion, they have to stop there.)

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"I c-cant believe I agreed to do th-this." Lily stuttered as she shivered.

The three of them were standing by the lake, with nothing but bathing suits on. Actually, James didn't look upset at all. He was directing his gaze to a bikini-clad Lily who was shivering with her arms crossed over her chest. And he was receiving slaps from said girl.

"Okay, on three… one…two…three!" Sirius shouted as he cannonballed in. James and Lily followed suit. In seconds they were out, and since it wasn't past many peoples curfews, practically the entire school was staring at them. But Remus, Len and Melissa were rolling on the ground laughing. Then McGonnagle came up and said "Miss Evans, Mr.Potter and Mr.Black, get out of there before you catch cold!" Then she went into the 'I-expected-more-of-you speech, and the where-did-you-get-such-a-crazy-idea speech.

After she went away, Lily dried herself off and changed behind a towel held up by Len and Melissa, and warded off James with threats of embarrassing spells. Meanwhile, Remus was off getting their brooms. After Lily changed and the brooms arrived, James and Sirius got on them, shivering, and flew around the staring and laughing school. The landed and saw that to their utter horror, that Len had everything on a muggle camcorder. Lily wouldn't do it because he was her boyfriend, and Melissa and Remus didn't know how to use one. As the boys dried off, she passed the camcorder to Lily and ran off towards the castle with the tape. Of course, she had a head start because James and Sirius didn't know it was the tape that mattered, and were trying to get the recorder from Lily. Then, a laughing to the ground Lily told them (after seeing that Len was in the castle) that the recorder didn't matter, just the tape that Len had run off with. Both boys stared at the spot that she had occupied and swore. That was perfect blackmail material! They ran off, ignoring what Lily and Melissa shouted their way about the fact that she would've already reached the girl's dorms.

She had indeed reached them, and made several fake copies with her wand. She hid the real one of course, but then went downstairs with the fakes and put them all around the common room. Just as she was about to put some in the bookshelf, James and Sirius raced in, and saw all the fakes. They obviously thought they were real, because they looked very scared. Len smiled and pointed around the room, where people were picking up the fakes. They ran around frantically and picked them all up, not knowing that Lily had explained to Remus how to use the camcorder. Len saw this and nearly burst out laughing at the thought of what excellent blackmail this would be. Two tapes, one of James and Sirius flying in swimming shorts and dripping wet in the middle of February. The other one of the same two people running around the common room still in swimming shorts and pulling fake tapes out of other people's hands. Their fun was short lived though, as said men soon saw this, and, while shouting 'traitor' ran after him. As he rounded a sofa, he saw Sirius coming to head him off. So, he tossed the tape to Len, who caught it and ran up the girls' dorm stairs with adrenaline type speed. The boys cursed and followed, hoping that if they stepped on the stairs, they would slide and so would she. Len was halfway up when Sirius stepped on it. The entire staircase turned into a slide, and all of them, including her, were surprised when she jumped and held onto the railing. Her grip was slipping, so while James and Sirius (still in bathing suits) were hoping that she would drop the tape so she would hold on, she tossed the tape up the stairs, where it stayed, and put the other hand to use. She climbed up the railing, and at the top smiled at the stunned looks on the common room's face. (by that, I mean everyone in the common room.)

"What, it's not like I cant climb! Oh, and James and Sirius, those are fake tapes, so they wouldn't work anyway! I have the real one hidden, blackmail material like that comes around once in a lifetime! See you later, Remus!" and with a blown kiss at her smiling boyfriend, she walked to her dorm, the tape in her hand.

The common room exploded with laughter at the two dumbfounded boys standing in front of the girls' staircase.