Revenge Comes Box-Shaped

Lily and I made our way back to the common room after what had turned out to be a disappointingly uneventful day.

Don't get me wrong, I loved Lily. She was the best friend a person could ask for. But if things were already dull, her Prefect status meant she probably couldn't always be counted on to liven them up.

I needed a heavy dose of Marlene, or Sally, or-

Or no-one.

.o.

As we reached the portrait hole, Lily stayed behind to chat with the Fat Lady and I was left standing there amazed by it all.

I mean, honestly, was she just friends with everyone? I wouldn't know the first thing to say to a painting. Er, hi, how's your oils today...?

In the end I left her to it, calling the password over their chatter and making the Fat Lady harrumph.

"No patience these days..." she moaned, bla, bla, bla and so forth.

As I walked across the room in search of a familiar face, I spotted Sally perched on the small worn leather sofa, deep in conversation with Remus. She seemed in a very animated mood.

When she caught my eye, she called over to me with a smile. "Hey Cheryl! Over here!"

I thought I saw Remus shoot me a strange look as I sat down with them, and vaguely wondered what, if anything, Sirius had told him about our time in the bathroom.

Had he admitted he'd apologised?

"We were just talking about the big Quidditch match that's coming up soon," Sally told me. "Remus says James can get us tickets. Fancy it?"

"Who's going?" I wondered.

"Me, Remus and James obviously as they're his tickets... Peter, Dorcas, Marlene and... Sirius."

Was it just me or did Remus and Sally exchange a glance at the mention of Sirius? It had been a school holiday for the past week and I hadn't seen him long enough to have any sort of conversation. I wasn't sure how I felt about us all meeting up together now. It would probably be awkward after what had happened the last time we spoke.

"Oh yeah, and Lily if she's up for it," Sally continued. "I hope she is, but you know what she can be like."

"Well, if you can manage to get Lily to go I'll come along," I smiled weakly, knowing full well Lily would probably still never openly go anywhere with James.

.o.

Lessons had officially restarted, and I walked out at the end of an extremely hectic Potions class feeling more than a little abused.

Slughorn had kept us incredibly active for the whole hour and a half. Like he was trying to make up for the entire week we'd had off.

Fetching ingredients, boiling arrowroot, sending 'absolutely vital' messages to the attractive, young Ancient Runes teacher, Professor Babbling.

I had been volunteered by Slughorn for one such quest, unwillingly taking the note, and I could've sworn I'd heard Black ask to use the men's room just before I reached the door, but it seemed like Slughorn declined him, insisting they were far too busy to even think of such things as natural bodily functions.

The closest I'd been to him all lesson was reaching for the same piece of horn of goat at the Potions desk.

After classes had finished for the day, I made my way to the nearest source of fresh air, exiting the castle onto the covered bridge. I had crossed about halfway when I leaned over the bannisters to look out at the lake. It was still; disturbed only by the odd ripple from a gust of wind or a rogue fish.

Taking a deep soothing breath in, my exhalation was suddenly interrupted by a sharp bark echoing from some distant space to my right.

My breath caught in my throat.

Ever so slowly I forced my gaze in the direction of the noise.

Liquid steel eyes met with my own, now mere metres away from me. The great black beast stared boldly back, and an unuttered scream threatened to choke me there and then.

I had not yet seen it in daylight.

It's foreboding presence erred with the serene surroundings. It belonged as a looming monster in the shadows, not in everyday life. Especially not in my everyday life. But the way it just sat there now, it looked more and more like an ordinary dog, if a little big.

I stared back at it. Its eyes were squinted slightly, its expression strangely calm. It looked as though it was enjoying the light breeze against its face.

"What do you want?" I asked it, in no mood to be terrified to death.

It peered dolefully back at me.

"It's been a bad day," I, for some unknown reason, found myself apologising aloud.

Moving warily, I held out my hand towards it, testing its reaction. I knew I was probably insane for doing so, especially since the attempt I'd made to stroke it had resulted in me nearly losing a hand to its overlarge canines. Something I very much believed it was still more than capable of.

But this time it just looked back at me with its bizarre, intelligent eyes.

Its dark glossy fur looked soft and inviting in the light, the dog's body huge but sleek.

With it still unwilling to approach me, I crouched down, pulling my hitched skirt down over my tight-covered legs and holding my arm back out towards it.

When it did eventually lift itself up from its haunches, I had to fight the impulse to stand quickly back up; its height making it considerably taller than my crouching frame.

But I held my nerve, and it strolled lazily over to me.

At first it sniffed my outstretched hand, moving cautiously. And then when it had satisfied itself, it moved a bit closer, sitting down in front of me expectantly.

Ever so gently, I brought the very tips of my fingers down onto its head.

Though the contact made the creature start a little, it didn't flinch away, keeping its grey eyes locked on mine as it watched my movements.

Emboldened by its new temperament, I dared to flatten the palm of my hand against its neck; its long fur just as soft as it looked.

I studied its large, impossibly serene face. It really was a handsome looking thing. I had my suspicions it was male, purely from its intimidating size and previous aggression.

"Good boy," I marvelled quietly, running my nails up and down its cheek as it leaned into my touch. "Had a change of heart since the other night?" I asked softly.

Unexpected footsteps on the bridge made the both of us jolt, and the creature snatched its head away from me in the process.

The darkness of twilight had already started to overpower the day's pale sky, and the oncomer was almost on top of me before I could even make them out.

"Anthony," I stated, rising quickly to my feet.

"Who's your friend?" he asked, his voice noticeably cool, but not altogether as harsh as I'd expected considering Black's fake kiss after his bizarre love note.

"No idea," I admitted, "a stray, I think." I felt more than a little uncomfortable at being alone with poor Anthony. Alone apart from the over-large canine.

"I'm so sorry about what happened in the pub that day, Ant." I blurted the words out like verbal diarrhea.

Ant frowned back at me. "I hadn't really given it a second thought if I'm honest, mate."

Mate?

"Ok," I replied simply, unsure what else to say.

"I was probably just drunk to be honest," he continued dismissively. "We were in a pub afterall. Maybe we should just try and be friends, I mean it's not like we really knew each other anyway."

Why was he making it sound like he was letting me down gently?

"Ok..." I replied again slowly.

I glanced down momentarily only to find the great dog had vanished, leaving me alone with him now. For some reason the brute had felt like my safety net. With him gone I wanted out of there.

"So anyway, I guess I'll see you around then," I said, making to walk away.

Anthony called after me. "So that thing in the Broomsticks, was it just for my benefit, or...?"

I thought I'd got away with Black's very-public kiss too easily. "It was just my friend's idea of a joke," I explained weakly.

"Your 'friend', huh?" he snorted. "Never knew you were so chummy with Potter and co."

"I'm not," I corrected quickly, embarrassed now. Friend, the idea of Black and I being friends must've seemed ridiculous. To everyone. I hated to admit it, in popularity stakes at least, Sirius was well out of my league.

Ant's expression softened. "Well if you ever want to be 'not friends' with someone else, you know where to find me," he murmured.

"What happened to 'It's not like we even knew each other'?" I demanded.

Ant brushed his thumb against his lower lip briefly. "Just because I know we're never gonna get together, doesn't mean I don't find you sexy," he shrugged, the corner of his mouth tugging upward cheekily.

At once I felt the whole of my face and neck flame a particularly unflattering shade of cerise.

Well. This was a first.

.o.

"Where've you been?" Sally eyed me suspiciously as I walked in.

One glance around the room told me Mary was present, reading a magazine on her bed. This meant any mention of Ant was officially off the cards. I couldn't cope with any more of her irrational outbursts.

"Just went for a walk, " I replied dismissively. "Did you know there's a stray dog roaming around the grounds?" I asked, changing the subject.

Dorcas looked back at me like she'd seen a ghost. "Of course," she replied, all the colour now drained from her small, round face. "It's like a spirit. Only ever seen at night, in the shadows. Chasing down any one who happens to pass by."

"I heard it killed someone," Marlene added solemnly.

"Don't be ridiculous," Mary cut in.

"You mean you've all seen it?" I asked incredulously.

"Everyone claims to have seen it, Cheryl," Sally replied. "It's like a Hogwarts horror story or something."

"Have you seen it?" I asked her carefully.

She looked back at me as if actually thinking about her answer. "I dunno. It's just a myth," she finally replied.

"Why do you ask anyway?" Dorcas asked curiously.

They were going to think I was mad, I thought grimly. "It came over to me just now on the bridge outside. It's absolutely massive, but it's just an ordinary dog," I added quickly, talking over their gasps.

"It was probably a completely different dog to the legend that's why," Mary intejected, putting in her two pence worth as usual.

"Anyway," I continued as if she hadn't spoken, still sore about her telling everyone I fancied Sirius all those weeks ago. Including Sirius. "What have I missed?"

Marlene's face morphed into a cheek splitting grin and she motioned for me to hang on.

She rummaged around in her bedside trunk until she pulled out a large flat box and handed it to me.

It was decorated in some sort of richly coloured purple fabric with a particularly intricate brocade. The box alone looked incredibly expensive.

"What's in it?" I asked curiously.

"Only one way to find out," Marlene grinned knowingly.

I opened it up a crack at a time, not really trusting my friend not to have put something disgusting in there.

But when I looked inside there was nothing there except the red satin lining of the box.

I looked up at the girls questioningly. "Is it supposed to be empty?"

Sally, Marlene and Dorcas all inexplicably cracked up with laughter.

"Am I missing something?" I asked, unable to keep my lips from quirking upwards at their infectious giggles.

Marlene gave the seemingly empty box a tap with her wand and muttered a brief spell.

In a second the lush purple box was brimming with a set of equally luxurious black silken dress robes. "How on earth did you afford these?" I marvelled.

"They're just a set of old calico robes from lost and found that we charmed," Dorcas blurted out excitedly.

"But why?" I asked, baffled.

"Check the tag," Sally replied.

I obediently picked up the small gold embossed card hanging innocently from the side of the box and read it aloud.

'To Sirius,

Wishing you many happy returns for now and the future.

We hope you have a brilliant birthday and make good use of our gift!

Best wishes,

Mr Mrs Potter'

Marlene let out a maniacal laugh.

But I still wasn't getting it. Was the joke that the box would be empty when Sirius first opened it on his birthday? Or perhaps that the luxury robes he thought were from the 'Potters' were actually just stinky old calico stolen from lost and found?

"Try them on over your clothes," Sally pressed.

I did so. The robes were a little big on me, but they would likely fit Sirius perfectly.

I walked over to the mirror to inspect them but was frozen to the spot when I saw my reflection.

The robes were gone.

I looked down quickly. Sure enough the black silk still hung fetchingly over my clothes, but when I looked back in the mirror the robes were nowhere to be seen.

"It's another particularly brilliant charm," Sally explained proudly.

Suddenly it all fell into place.

This was what they had been planning all this time. Ever since Black headed the mirror stunt against us leaving us in just our underwear.

I had never expected my friends to actually go through with it though.

"We're going to leave this gift from 'James's parents' in the boys bedroom on Sirius's birthday," Marlene smirked. "When Sirius comes down to breakfast wearing it, all Sally has to do is give one shake of her wand and voila! The robes disappear leaving old Siri in just his undercrackers."

"Just like he did with us," Dorcas added.

"Sirius'll never be none the wiser," Sally laughed. "He'll be getting all these looks and have absolutely no idea why."

"He'll be completely humiliated," Marlene smirked.

.oOo.

I sat at breakfast the next morning listening half-heartedly to the girls talking about the upcoming Quidditch tournament that Sally and Remus had mentioned briefly the other day.

Apparently it was a bigger deal than I had thought. Some sort of semi-final match between England and Ireland.

According to Sally it was the first time in around forty years that England had reached the semi-finals. That news didn't really surprise me.

"You coming to the match then, Lily?" Sally demanded, interrupting the red head's demolition of a fruit salad.

Lily grimaced. "Not really my thing though is it?" she appealed.

"Well if you don't come Chel's said that she won't come. And that'll be two people that are being boring. So COME."

"Cheryl's a big girl. I'm sure she can go without me," Lily replied simply.

I shot her a look, shaking my head almost imperceptibly.

Lily didn't seem to understand that I had only used her as an excuse not to go. Sirius would be there, and I just couldn't face it.

The more time that passed between our embrace the other evening, the more I'd chance to realise that it had all just been part of the game for him. Testing how far I would have let him go.

And I'd fallen for it. Hook, line and sinker.

"Er, you're drooling." James Potter's voice interrupted my reverie. He was gesturing at me with his half eaten sausage sandwich, grinning from across the table.

I looked down with a jolt. It was just the milk dripping off my still raised spoon. "Har har," I replied.

"So you decided who's coming this Saturday then, girls?" He asked us, focusing on Lily's response. "If I'm gonna get tickets I need numbers."

I hadn't even noticed him and Peter come over. Remus was sat at James' other side.

Sirius was nowhere to be seen.

Without really thinking my eyes scanned the busy breakfast hall.

"He's still in bed," Remus answered my unspoken question, casually munching a slice of toast.

My cheeks burned.

Oh god, I realised...Remus was right.

I really had been looking for Black.

"Alright mate!" I vaguely heard Potter call the greeting through the dull ringing noise that had started up in my ears. "Thought you'd never get out of bed!"

I looked up only to find a familiar figure strolling over to our table.

My insides gave a squirm. In my peripheral vision I could see Remus studying my reaction closely.

Sirius really did look shattered, like he had rolled straight from his bed to the hall. His hair rivalled even James.

Coming to a halt behind Peter, he stretched his arms up, revealing a sliver of his lower stomach in the process.

I forced my eyes away from it and took a breath in through my nose in a bid to keep my mind focused. This was not good. Out of everyone, I asked myself, why him?

"Didn't get much sleep to be honest, mate," he admitted, letting his arms fall down to his sides. "Haven't been able to in a while."

After he took a seat opposite mine next to Remus, the others all went back to tallying up the price of nine Quidditch tickets - Lily and I apparently going whether we liked it or not.

Helping himself to half a dozen slices of bacon, his eyes skimmed over the other plates of food until he reached out for the stack of bread just in front of me.

As he took it, he happened to glance up, catching my gaze. He held it only briefly before going back to eating his food.

The morning post dropped a letter in front of James and it skimmed the milk jug expertly.

"It's from my parents," he stated, making short work of tearing it.

"Looks like the folks know it's your birthday tomorrow, Padfoot," he said, scanning the contents. "They're sending a present over with tonight's post."

Sirius raised his eyebrows. "Nice of them," he commented.

My eyes darted over to Marlene and Sally and they smirked back at me. The letter had come from them all right. Looked like tonight was the night Sirius would receive our little gift.

I looked over at him now. He was focused on eating, sucking sauce from his thumb distractedly.

Sirius in just his underwear, I mused.

The idea wasn't as unappealing as it should have been.

.o.

After breakfast Sally and I made our way over to yet another lesson of Potions. We skipped in just in time before Slughorn heaved the door shut marking the start of the lesson.

"Mr Potter, Mr Black, would you kindly take your seats, gentlemen?" Slughorn berated good humouredly.

The pair had been hovering over Severus whose face was left looking extremely sour at whatever they'd had to say.

It wasn't just my life they'd been making a misery all these years. I don't know why I had thought Black had changed, but the idea of him still tormenting Snape left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Once class had finished, Severus grabbed his textbook roughly from the table, and in his haste to escape knocked a spare conicle of water flying. The glass smashed loudly against the stone floor, and Slughorn looked up over his reading glasses.

"You'll have to clean that up I'm afraid, m'boy," he chided.

Severus rolled his eyes. There was only a few of us left in the class by this point, and Black was amongst them. It was obvious Snape didn't want to be stuck in there alone with him.

The pale, greasy haired boy murmured a drying spell, casting a perfect Reparo on the shattered flask.

As soon as it was done he bolted for the door like a whippet. But Black was quick. He was on Snape's heels before he'd even left the room.

"You coming?" Sally prompted me.

We walked just behind the two boys, Black flanking Snape's right. Neither of them had seemed to notice us, and Black was busy spitting furious words into Snape's ear.

"You can't seem to keep your abnormally large nose out of other people's business, can you Snivellus?" He sneered derisively.

"If you really want to find out where he goes every month, why don't you come see for yourself tomorrow night," he dared him.

"You always suspected it had something to do with the Whomping Willow's existence, didn't you? " he continued, his smirk twisted, unnatural. "What if I told you you were right all along? And it couldn't be easier to follow him, all you have to do is-"

Leaning in closer, Black whispered something frustratingly inaudible in Snape's ear.

"That's if you're not a snivelling coward as well as a slimey Death Eater, eh Snivellus," he said as he lifted back up.

"You know, it's funny," he said, shaking his head, "even my brother can't stand you... You really don't fit in anywhere, do you?"

With one last cold laugh, he walked away without a second glance.

Severus said nothing, keeping his head down as he walked briskly down the corridor leading to the Slytherin common room and away from us.

Sally and I looked at one another in shock. "Severus is a Death Eater?" She uttered in disbelief.

I narrowed my eyes, "What did Black mean, 'If you want to find out where he goes every month see for yourself tomorrow night?' Where who goes? And what's the Whomping Willow got to do with anything?"

Sally just shook her head. "Wish I knew."

.o.

Later that evening, Marlene rubbed her hands together excitedly and filled her plate with the piping hot chicken and mushroom bake. "This is gonna be so gooood."

"The food or the prank?" I half-joked.

"Both," Marlene grinned, "But mainly all of that yummy humiliation."

We had arrived at dinner as soon as the doors had opened, not wanting to miss Black's big entrance.

To my right Dorcas giggled randomly to herself.

"She's been like this all day," Marlene gestured at the smaller girl.

"She can't wait to see Sirius in his undies that's why," Sally said teasingly.

"Hey!" Dorcas laughed, but a blush crept onto her face nonetheless.

"How can you be sure he won't just save the present for his birthday tomorrow anyway?" I asked curiously.

"Sirius always opens his presents early," Sally replied simply.

"Hey, don't look now," she gestured to the entrance.

Remus had just entered.

Peter trailed just behind, his eyes already absent from his head and out devouring the masses of food, and James followed closely after that, but then... nothing.

No Black.

"Where is he?" Sally spoke our thoughts aloud.

"One of us should go wait at the entrance and let the others know when he's coming," Marlene stated matter of factly.

"Sally needs to stay here to cast the charm on his robes," Dorcas commented.

"I'll go," I offered. Considering our past it felt fitting somehow.

It would also prove to myself once and for all that there was no way I could have developed feelings for an outright bully too.

Positioning my body just behind the outer frame of the entrance hall doorway, I held back so that at first glance I would be obscured from view.

So many people seemed to walk by before I spotted someone even remotely tall and dark haired. It was Black all right. And he was wearing the long trick robes, just like we had planned.

The outfit actually kind of suited him. Pity for him it wouldn't be hanging around for much longer.

I sent a vibration through my wand all the way back to Sally's, a sign that Black was on his way.

With just a tiny flick of her wrist and a few murmurings, Black's clothes obediently started to fade as he walked, and he strolled straight past me without even realising I was there.

The few students that were still loitering outside the hall had already started to notice the change in his clothing, muttering and gesturing to one another bemusedly.

When he reached the large open doorway and surveyed the hall for his friends, I could already hear a few gasps littered around in there.

Expecting to see Black in just his underpants I turned around to laugh, but I quickly realised something had gone slightly awry.

There, with his back to me, facing into the student packed hall, stood a completely naked Sirius Black.