I feel rather guilty about leaving you at a cliff hanger – no worries. I shall be good for once.
Of course I own Harry Potter... in my dreams.
Likely Alliance
It was the last week before Christmas. Lily hadn't spoken to June since Halloween. What with the mock tests, and Marlene setting her up with every boy she could find, she hadn't had any time whatsoever. She approached June's table cautiously.
"Mind if I sit down?" she asked gently.
June looked up from her work. "Su-sure," she said simply.
Lily sat down, and there was an unspoken agreement before them, a sort of alliance. June was wary of the telepathic alliance, since the last time she had an ally, things hadn't turned out the best.
"Any plans for the weekend?" asked Lily.
She shook her head.
"That's responsive," said Lily with a laugh.
June gave her her half smile.
"Why don't you come for the dance night tonight?" Lily asked.
June said nothing.
"Something on your mind?" asked lily.
"No," said June evenly.
Lily said nothing. It seems she would have to start from scratch where June Leto was concerned.
June, on the other hand, hadn't been keeping well. After the passing of Halloween she had fallen steadily into depression. She couldn't read, she couldn't write. She hadn't eaten in days. She submitted essays half heartedly and her marks had dropped drastically. She had done terribly in her mocks, barely passing in most of them.
She had wanted to speak to Sirius, but Sirius had avoided her well and proper. After a while she had given up.
She remembered nights and nights spent in moaning myrtle's bathroom, practicing in front of the spotted mirror.
She had shut her eyes and stood in front of the mirror, meditating to herself. She was in the girls bathroom haunted by moaning myrtle – the only bathroom with privacy. That didn't include Moaning Myrtle herself.
But Myrtle mostly left June alone apart from the occasional question. Even Myrtle got tired of June's silence. June was very monosyllabic. The only thing June was sure of was that Myrtle didn't mind her since she felt that June didn't say anything about her to anyone. That was Myrtle's biggest fear - being slandered behind her back.
June opened her eyes and practiced. "Hi Si-Sirius. Wo-would you li-like to mee-meet some-sometime?" she asked the mirror evenly.
She shook her head and bent over the basin.
A good three weeks had passed since Halloween. Mock tests were coming closer and closer. But June couldn't shake the feeling that whatever Lily and the marauders had done on Halloween needed to be uncovered.
"He-hello Bla-black. I ne-need a wo-word."
That sounded strange, even to her.
"Bla-Black, ca-can yo-you help wi-with this tran-transfiguration assi-assignment?"
That sounded fake.
"Si-Sirius, I ne-need your he-help."
Needy.
"Si-Sirius, we ne-need to ta-talk."
Confrontational.
"Sir-Sirius, do you ha-have a min-minute?"
Conspicuous.
"Sir-Sirius I nee-need some he-help with this es-essay."
Stupid.
"Gaaaaah!"
That's just silly.
"What are you practicing?" asked Myrtle curiously from behind.
June had shrugged and slung her bag over her shoulder.
"Is it a boy you like?" Myrtle shouted from behind.
June walked away.
But that had been weeks ago.
She walked out of the library, in desperate head ache. The words on the pages of books squiggled and wiggled in front of her, searing her forehead. Her handwriting had become and illegible set of sprawls, spreading leisurely on the pages. She simply could not eat. She was terribly sad.
June Ellen Leto
Age: 15 years old
Date of Birth: 4th May, 1959
Physical attributes: Medium height, blonde hair, blonde eyes.
Guardians: Adopted. Lives with her adoptive father, who is separated from his wife. Current whereabouts of adoptive mother unknown.
Address: 235 Jocelyn Crossing,Tottenham Court Road.
OWLS: Received twelve 'outstanding's in her OWLS.
NEWTS: Not received yet.
Performs in her classes well, appears to be sufficiently well placed with her house mates and seems to be a cheerful child.
That was it. It seems even Hogwarts didn't know anything of her beyond the usual things. The last line made it sound like she was a nice, normal, happy kid. But the June Leto he knew was not cheerful. She was not well placed with her house mates.
Sirius picked the file up again, and flipped through the pages, deep in thought. Something caught his eye.
There was a compartmentat the back of the file. Curiously he tore the back out. There was single page with neat, elegant handwriting.
I, Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, have made numerous notes on each and every child that has graced the halls of Hogwarts, yet none had surprised me as much as this one. June Leto did not require the usual one page set of notes that I make, but a full folder of them. Nevertheless I have produced a set of notes well and good for this child.
The minister himself had come to tell me that this child was supposed to come to this school. It was a memorable day, when he told me that on no account was this child to be revealed to the outside of the school, and specially not to any other country with a working ministry. She was given the title of 'a completely ordinary muggle born' and I dispatched professor McGonagall to get her to the school.
She had seemed like a shy child to me, certainly nothing to merit a visit from the minister of magic himself. She spoke politely enough, even with her stammer. She seemed to be a forgettable child, since none of the professors paid attention to her during classes. Professor McGonagall herself said nothing of the child except that she was obedient and submitted good homework.
When I saw some of her written essays, I was quite shocked. She seemed to grasp concepts beyond that of her age, and her writing was very well done. I watched her in class, only to find that she performed most spells without a word and without a struggle. She seemed to be a brilliant child. Why did none of the professors recruit her and train her for advanced classes?
The second time I brought it up to the minister, I asked him why she seemed to be so afraid of everything that came near her. While the minister didn't have an answer for that, he did give me a slightly vague reason for his interest in the girl. Her magical prowess was immense, and the ministry needed soldiers of her stature with the upcoming scenario of the war.
She is a rare witch, you see. She has a strand of magic powerful enough to wipe out armies.
I have read about this particular strand. It exists very rarely in people. Merlin himself had this magic in him.
While that seems all well and good, I do not understand why the girl seems to be afraid of her own shadow.
I chose not to say anything to anyone at that moment. The professors would have to discover this remarkable girl on their own. But it has been six years since June Leto joined the school, and she remains as invisible as ever.
Sirius had shut the file slowly. This complicated matters.
So on Friday afternoon, right during the lunch hour, he found her at her usual sanctuary, sitting on the railings - as usual - and thinking.
Sirius coughed to announce his arrival. June jumped and almost toppled over, before turning to him.
"Wh-what do yo-you wan-want?" asked June defiantly.
"What happened to you?" asked Sirius, befuddled.
June shrugged.
She looked terrible. She seemed to have lost the little weight she had. Her eyes had dark circles underneath. Her lips looked dry and chapped. She seemed to be so sad.
"An-answer the que-question," she said, determined for once.
"I wanted to see you," Sirius said, annoyed. "clearly the same cannot be said for you."
"Ex-excuse me fo-for no-not wan-wanting to mee-meet my tor-torturers." she said sarcastically.
"Fine," Sirius said angrily, "I might as well go and meet Matilda Arnold,"
June waved him away. She had known about his date with Matilda. She knew about all the girls he had dated, simply because it was hard to evade social gossip. She knew about Joanne Andrews, about Ira Hathings, about Millie Carp, and the endless others.
But the piece of news didn't have the effect he had expected on June. She barely batted an eye lid.
Friday also happened to be the last turn to go to Hogsmede before the holidays descended upon them. Everyone emptied the castle and disappeared to the cobbled streets of the pretty village, like insects drawn to a light. In this case, the light happened to be the disappointment in the eyes of your family if you didn't get Christmas presents which were better than the standard pair of socks.
And of course everyone was also very excited about dance night.
The girls filed in after lunch and dressed up quickly. With ruffles and sandals, with screams and shouts and pillow fights of all sorts.
While the last footsteps echoed off of the cheery halls of Hogwarts and the last paper rustled and fell on the floors, June poked her head out of her sanctuary and got dressed primly. It was dance night at the Three Broomsticks, and while June actively avoided gatherings of such sorts; unlike her previous display of no emotion, she was curious about Sirius' new girl.
There was a bit of acidity in her, as if him going out with that girl was a bit nauseating – which was a ridiculous idea. But June wasn't going to entertain the thought in her head for even a minute. She was going simply to please Lily. Nothing else.
If you would excuse my interruption – sure she was.
So she went to her dormitory and pulled out the only dress she owned. It was a rather drab dress, actually, colored white and with half length sleeves. It fell at the knees prettily, but that was about it. June pushed a white clip in her hair, and wore her plain black sandals, and gave herself a once over. She would blend into the surroundings and no one would notice her in this dress. That was reassuring.
She poked her head into the three broomsticks, to be greeted by a lot of loud laughter and singing. The band had not started yet but gay voices and cheery songs could be heard everywhere.
"June!" came the ecstatic voice of Lily Evans, "What are you doing here?" Lily looked extremely pretty, in a striped black and purple dress with a black denim jacket. She was wearing black heels and her hair had been left open.
June shrugged. "You ask-asked me to com-come," she said sheepishly.
"You look... nice," Lily said, giving her a glance.
June shrugged. "I did-didn't bother too mu-much," she confessed.
"Here," Lily said and took a black shrug from the coat stand. "It's Marlene's. She won't mind."
June put it on without a word. The effect was good. She looked nicer.
"And open your hair," Lily instructed, "Let go of the clip."
June shook her honey blonde hair open, and half smiled at Lily. "That's good," Lily encouraged. "Come with me."
Lily led her to a round table where James, Remus, Peter, Marlene and Mary were sitting laughing at something or the other. Marlene and James seemed to have entered a drinking contest, and were swallowing huge gulps of butterbeer at a time. Peter and Mary were cheering, while Remus laughed halfheartedly.
"Everybody!" Lily called for attention, "James, do stop drinking, butter beer is pouring out of your nose!"
James looked up from his drink and wiped his drink conspicuously. Marlene hiccuped and grinned. "Who's this?" she asked.
"June," Lily said, "June Leto."
"Oh! You're the one!" Marlene said happily, "Lily told us about you."
June half smiled again and sat down on the chair Lily indicated. Sirius collapsed down at that moment, and gave a surly 'hey' to everyone. "Where's your date?" asked Remus curiously, while James resumed the drinking game.
"She got the flu," said Sirius grumpily. He looked at June once, and asked Lily "Who's that?"
Sirius was glaring at June.
"June, you know," Lily said evenly, "June Leto."
"Right," said Sirius, a bit annoyed.
"Don't mind him," said Remus gently to her ear, "He's just disappointed he didn't get the easy girl."
June smiled artificially and nodded at Remus.
"Where's Dorcas?" James asked Lily suddenly, looking up from the drink he was currently drinking (his fifth).
"She's had a bee in her bonnet since you told her of Julia Tryst kissing Benjamin Fenwick," said Lily accusingly.
"I did not tell her that." James corrected immediately, "If I recall correctly, that was you."
Lily waved him away, "Potato, Potahto."
"She ha-has noth-nothing to worr-worry about," June said absently (more to herself than anything. June had a habit of talking to herself when alone, and since she was almost always alone, she did not realize what she did at that moment until it was done), "Try-Tryst is on-only goin-going out with Fen-Fenwick to make Long-Longbottom jealous."
Everyone's eyes swiveled to her.
"What?" asked June innocently.
"How would you know that?" Marlene tested.
"Er – I do-don't want to ge-get any-anyone in trouble," June said slowly, weighing her words.
"You mean you don't want anyone on the gossip register," Mary said dismissively, "but go on."
"I – uh – I no-noticed that Juli-Julia's pupils dilate wh-when she's around Fra-Frank," June said, as if that explained everything.
The seven pairs of eyes – fourteen eyes in all, June was almost fainting – waited for an answer.
"Um – Pup-pupil dila-dialtion means you wa-want that particular ob-object," June said.
"Since when?" asked James.
"Science." June said as if it explained everything.
Lily proceeded to explain what science was and how it worked. June explained stutteringly how certain variables triggered involuntary reactions.
The band had started playing.
"But how does that explain that Julia likes Frank?" asked Remus curiously.
"Notice the wa-way she is dress-dressed," June said simply, "Far too care-carefully for a thi-third da-date."
"Impeccable dress, wonderful jacket, tasteful scarf, pretty make up. I see what you mean," Mary said.
"How do you know its a third date?" asked James confused. The band had emerged fully now, and people were dancing left right and center.
All the girls gave a collective sigh. "Trust me, its a third date," Marlene said.
"She's was-wasting her time tho-though," said June, "Frank is da-dating Ali-Alice. And Fen-Fenwick likes Mea-Meadows."
"Okay, what?" Sirius spoke for the first time. "Frank is dating who?"
"How do you know that?" asked Marlene while Mary blanched.
"You know about this?" asked Lily, tossing her head.
"We walked into them kissing on Halloween," Mary said, dismissively again.
June smiled. "Co-count to te-ten. Bo-both will lea-leave together." she instructed.
"Ten," said Lily, "Nine, Eight."
Both of them stood up from their chairs.
"Seven," continued James, "Six, Five."
They both gave excuses to their friends.
"Four," Sirius said, "Three, Two."
They both went to different exits.
"One." finished Remus, and they both disappeared outside.
"How on earth did you know that?" asked Sirius – almost - admiringly.
June shrugged.
There was a small silence where the song the band was playing seeped into their ears.
"You," James said, pointing at Lily, "Owe me a dance."
"Alright, idiot," said Lily laughingly. She got up and held his hand as they made their way to the dance floor. Peter shyly asked Mary for a dance. "Sucks to not have a date," Marlene said moodily.
"Come and dance then," Remus said at once. Marlene grinned at him and they evaporated to the dance floor. Sirius and June were the last ones left.
"Care for a dance?" asked Sirius grudgingly.
June shook her head vigorously.
"Why? Afraid I might eat you?" he asked tauntingly.
June leaned forwards conspirationally. Sirius copied her move.
"I've ne-never dan-danced in my life," she whispered.
Sirius burst into laughter. She looked positively adorable when she gave these little ridiculous confessions. His anger melted away. "Then now is a nice time to start," he said and got up. He yanked her out of her chair and dragged her to the dance floor. He held her waist with one hand and her hand in his other. June gingerly placed her hand on his elbow. Sirius rolled his eyes and said "On my shoulder Leto – no excuses."
June half smiled ruefully and delicately placed her hand on his shoulder and concentrated on his chest, since she really didn't think she could face his eyes. The song was a fast one so Sirius pulled her into a jiggish sort of dance. June was surprised by the sudden motion. She gasped while Sirius grinned.
"Squa-square dance?' asked June, as Sirius pulled her into one.
"Yes. You're the first girl who knows that," Sirius said.
She blushed. "I read it in Pri-pride and Pre-prejudice."
"You like the classics?" asked Sirius curiously. She nodded, and smiled.
And he did all sorts of dances with her that night. They did an Irish jig, they did waltzed absurdly across the room. Actually, he danced and June followed. She was having fun for the first time in her life. She smiled as well – even though it was too dark for Sirius to see her. And laughed – even though it was too loud for Sirius to hear her.
Her face felt sore after the smile – as if her muscles had forgotten what it was like to smile at all. Her voice box was hoarse after her laugh – as if the whole idea of laughter had run dry.
She felt happy.
At around eleven she collapsed into her chair, breathing heavily and feeling exhilarated. Mary had had a fair share of dance partners through the night to everyone's surprise. Marlene was usually the one with multiple dance partners, but she had somehow stuck to Remus. Lily and James had been dancing all night, and she had finally told him that she really must eat.
After dinner, the slow songs were playing and couples wandered off to the street to exchange kisses and such. June was inclined to leave after dinner, but James found her and asked her for a dance.
James proved to be an excellent dance partner, and he kept the conversation fascinating. He asked her many questions about muggle subjects, and June had told him painstakingly with her stammer. He had been incredibly patient with her.
Another boy asked her for a dance. Michael Croft. June had been extremely shy and very unresponsive, but he was also patient with her.
Finally, nearing one in the morning, the band declared their last song, and Sirius cornered her.
"One more dance," Sirius said gently.
She couldn't refuse. Excuse my interruption (once again) she's kidding with herself. She could refuse.
So they made their way to the dance floor. Sirius held her waist again and they revolved slowly on the spot. "It's be-been a good da-day," June said softly.
"Right," said Sirius with a grin. "It's nice to let go, isn't it?"
June half smiled. The capacity to smile properly seemed to have vanished as soon as it came.
Sirius was reminded of the time he had made her cry, and of the time he had said all that horrible stuff to her. He also remembered the fact that he had used her for slave labor essentially, at the start of the term.
"Sorry about making things bad for you," he said grudgingly.
June shook his apology away.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" asked Sirius, careful to look anywhere but her face.
Nothing, stammered June. She was worried about what may come next.
But Sirius didn't say anything. At that moment one of the Hogwarts girls came and dragged him away, and June was left alone. She didn't mind. The conversation was entering dangerous territories.
She walked back to the school, and shut the door of the dormitory, leaning against it.
June tumbled into her bed, eyes wide open. She bit back the frustrated scream that kept coming to her every other second.
What was this dull, throbbing pain? It had never been there before. Even if it was, she had never noticed it until he came into the picture.
She rummaged through her trunk and pulled out a magic eight ball.
It was an odd sort of thing for her to have, but the circumstances under which she had procured it hadn't been the most normal. She was being bullied by some boys and had hidden in the back alley near a novelty shop. The man of the shop had taken her inside, and showed her some of his merchandise.
She had only been eight then.
She had confessed that she couldn't afford anything.
"I'll give it to you at half price, if you can afford that."
Against her better judgment she had bought the ball. She had paid for it later, for 'losing' the money she used to buy the ball.
That had been the only time she had done something for herself.
She turned it over, and nose centimeters close to the smooth black surface, whispered, "I-I th-think Li-Lily Ev-Evans is my fri-friend." She turned the ball over.
It is certain.
She turned it over again, bringing it closer, so that her nose brushed gently across it, and whispered, "I-I th-think the marau-marauders, Ma-Marlene and M-mary ca-can and m-may be m-my fr-friends."
You may rely on it.
This was the big question. The one that mattered.
She brought the ball closer and pressed her lips against it as she asked.
"I-is Siri-Sirius Bla-Black my fri-friend?"
She hoped against hope that this one would fall under affirmative. It wasn't because she wanted Sirius as a friend. She was worried about what him being not a friend would entail. She wasn't sure she'd be able to face the overwhelming feelings that were bubbling to the surface if Sirius wasn't her friend.
When she lifted the ball, the strangest answer met her.
There's more than a friendship in that.
June had to supress a gasp of shock as she read the words that confirmed her doubts.
On her own bed, Lily Evans grinned as she tucked her wand under he pillow before June saw it. It had been a nifty bit of magic, that changing of words.
She saw June glance around to catch the conspirator and then turn again to the eight ball, and notice that peculiar foretelling had disappeared. June shook and shook, but she never found that foretelling ever again. Finally, a bit annoyed, she dumped the eight ball in the trunk and walked out of the dormitory, very sure she wouldn't be able to sleep with the eight ball in the same room.
Plenty of fluff in this one, eh? In any case, I had a question: I hope the fic isn't too serious. Are you guys getting an appropriate number of laughs? Otherwise my writing skills will lie in question. Also, in case anyone is wondering, I researched the eight ball, and it was first invented somewhere in the nineteen forties. These happen to be the 1970s. Lily knew of the eight ball since she is a muggle born. That's all!