I am so sorry guys. I promise to update sooner. You have full liberty to badger me and PM me if I don't update in a week. Special mentions go to the amazing OmenProphecy whom I have greatly wronged, and the wonderful Miss Cinammon, who managed to urge me into writing.
And no matter how many fics I write about the Harry Potter fandom after this, I will never, not ever, own Harry Potter. Trust me. I know.
Romance? No.
Unfortunately for June, people have an unerring capacity to go through painful lengths for information. Hence, she found her dormitory lying awake, waiting for her to come back from her detention.
"Alright, you little minx," said Marlene as soon as June entered the room, "Spill."
June smiled dreamily, and sighed.
"Hello," she said vaguely.
"And... she's broken again," said Mary, flipping a page of her magazine, "I'm going to kill Black for this."
"June?" asked Marlene, poking her on the shoulder, "Something up?"
"Um," said June, "I had a good time."
She was smiling like an idiot again.
"I can see that," said Marlene with a wink.
"Oh, leave her alone, Marlene," said Dorcas.
"But she's got a freaking grin plastered all over her face!" said Marlene. "I want details!" she whined.
"We didn't even kiss, Marlene," said June honestly.
"Bullshit," said Marlene, at once.
"We didn't," shrugged June.
"Wait – you didn't kiss?" asked Lily.
"Nope. On the cheek, yes. Not on the lips," said June, and she sighed and smiled again.
"Why the hell are you so happy then?" asked Marlene.
"Because – it was nice," said June.
"What was?" asked Mary tentatively.
"Everything," sighed June.
"Okay, she's definitely broken this time," said Mary.
"Did we give her enough toast in the morning?" asked Lily.
"No, I'm sure it's because of the invitation Slughorn sent her," said Dorcas.
Marlene slapped her palm to her forehead, "Yes!" she said, "That would explain it!"
"McGonnagal looked at her in class too," nodded Lily.
"Yes – she complimented her on her essay and everything!" exclaimed Mary.
"I remember now – she asked her if June wanted to take high level transfiguration!" said Dorcas.
"Damn you idiots," said Marlene, "You couldn't have stopped it, could you? You just had to allow her systems to crash!"
"Hey, you haven't helped the most either!" said Lily.
"I have too!" said Marlene, "I have totally held a bet against James that she's going to be fine."
"Oh, are you going to lose that one," said June with a snort.
The last match of the season was always a huge affair. This time was no exception. Everyone was vying for the best possible seats to witness Gryffindor and Hufflepuff battling it off for the cup. Gryffindor had not won in many years – there was a huge amount of speculation as to what the outcome of the match was going to be.
Then again, there was Sirius Black and his armada of suitors – all the girls waiting to see him in his Quidditch outfit.
And so, June went downstairs, unhappy at the prospect of seeing Sirius' many suitors. However, just as she reached downstairs, Sirius Black caught up with her.
"June!" he called, and June turned around.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Wear this," he said, handing her his Quidditch jersey.
"W-what?" she asked.
"My Quidditch jersey," he explained.
"I can see that," said June, "Whatever for?"
"You're coming to the match today, Leto," said Sirius, "I don't care about anything else."
"I am?" she asked.
"Yes, you are," Sirius informed her, "Now put that jersey on!"
"But -" began June.
"But, what?" asked Sirius.
June's voice dropped to a whisper - "It's your Quidditch jersey!"
"I know that!" Sirius replied in a dramatic whisper.
"Girls die for this jersey!" June said, by way of explanation.
"I'm ensuring that you're the only girl that doesn't," said Sirius.
June blushed.
"So – put it on!"
She quickly put it on, blushing as she did so. The red and yellow looked wonderful with her golden-yellow eyes, not to mention her hair. Big black letters said 'Black' on the front and the back. Her hair got a bit mussed up, but she pushed it behind hurriedly. "How do I look?" she asked.
"Gorgeous," he said, and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before rushing to the changing rooms.
June was standing there, blushing.
She walked into the Entrance Hall, and an immediate barrage of whispers met her.
"Is she wearing Sirius Black's jersey?" came a carrying voice.
"Oh my god, where did she get that from?"
"Did she steal it?"
"Who on earth is she?"
Some firm grounds of law had been shaken by Sirius' action of handing out his jersey – where there was a permanent belief in every girl's mind that Sirius Black's girlfriends lasted only about a month. This was a truth. Now, however, this belief was shaken.
Not one of those girls had ever worn his Quidditch jersey.
"You're wearing Black's jersey," said Marlene flatly.
"Yes," blushed June.
"You're blushing," continued Marlene in that monotonous tone.
"Yes," repeated June.
"Are you in love?" Marlene asked her.
"No," said June immediately, blushing even more violently.
"Rubbish," said Marlene.
"Alright there, June?" came the cheeky voice of a tiny redhead.
"Perfectly fine, thank you," said June.
"You know – I placed a bet with James Potter that you and Black are going to get together today," said Annie.
"Oh my god, I wish I had thought of that!" exploded Marlene, "I would have raked galleons!"
"Oh, I know," said Annie, "I placed the bet in front of Black to subtly inform him to get a move on."
June fell silent at that, and Marlene eyed the second year.
"June, I love this girl," said Marlene, "She's perfectly diabolical. I like her, and I want to keep her. Can we keep her?"
"Go ahead," said June impatiently. "You made a bet?" she asked Annie.
"Oh, yes," said Annie sagely, "I figured it was about time Black understood that he had to get a move on."
"Oh my god, I love you," said Marlene, "Sit beside me and eat breakfast. Which is your favorite wizarding band?"
Annie slid into the bench with a grin, "The Dragon Hunters, hands down."
Marlene turned to June, "This is my new best friend, you hear me?" she said, "This is my new best friend. I don't care if she's a titch from third year."
June didn't say anything, because Mary and Lily had just arrived, and spotted her. She blushed again, and motioned them to come over.
"Are you wearing Black's jersey?" asked Mary incredulously.
"She is, and she likes it," said Annie with a wink.
June only blushed and nodded.
"He gave it to me!" she exploded.
"I don't care who gave it to you," said Lily, "This is practically branding you with Black's mark!"
"No, it's not!" said June.
"June, he's putting a stamp on you that says 'mine'," said Marlene, "I can't believe you didn't figure that out for all your brilliance."
"And it looks like you don't mind it," added Annie.
June blushed, looked at her knees and muttered, "Maybe I don't. So what?"
"Excuse me?" asked Mary.
"Did she just say what I think she said?" Lily queried.
Marlene turned to Annie, "Well done, little minion," she said, "You have ensured that you win your bet."
"Any chance for a romance?" asked Lily.
"Romance? No," June said at once.
Annie snorted loudly.
"I love her," said Marlene.
"We don't even know what house she's from," June pointed out.
"What house are you from?" asked Marlene.
The redhead bit her lip, and looked slightly nervous. "Slytherin," she said, quickly – as if she were ripping a band aid.
"Slytherin?" repeated Marlene.
"Yes," she said, "Slytherin."
"Oh, good," said June in an oblivious way, "I was sort of wondering. I personally had you pegged as a Hufflepuff."
"Excuse me?" said Annie, indignant, "Me? A Hufflepuff? May that day never come!"
"Well, what's wrong with Hufflepuffs?" asked Mary.
"Aren't they too nice?" asked Annie.
"Well, Slytherins are terribly mean," Lily pointed out.
"I suppose the house stereotypes go to far," said Marlene, "I know plenty of Gryffindors meaner than some Slytherins. I know plenty of Hufflepuffs smarter than Ravenclaws. I know plenty of Ravenclaws braver than some Gryffindors."
"Just so," nodded Annie, "Oh, look. The match is about to start."
Somehow, today's match meant a lot to Sirius Black. Firstly, he wanted to win the cup. Secondly, he was going to win the little Leto.
He was covering up his nervousness with false bravado. He grinned at his teammates, and said loudly, "Hufflepuff doesn't know what's going to hit them!"
The team cheered loudly, and Sirius grinned at them again. James nudged him with his elbow. "I've never seen you nervous before," he whispered.
"Oh, it's not the match I'm worried about," Sirius said.
"Then?" asked James, from the corner of his mouth.
"I have a girl to get. And, she's more wily than a snitch."
"I've never seen you nervous about a girl either," said James, "This should be fun."
Sirius smiled at James. "She annoys me, is all," he said. "Infuriating, that girl is."
"Oh, absolutely," said James cheerfully, "It's because she is infuriating that you want to kiss her so badly."
"Exactly," said Sirius, "Infuriating girls pack a lot punch."
"So, she's nothing more than another girl?" asked James.
"No! No. She's… she's. I have no idea what she is, but I love her."
"Wait, you love her?"
"I don't think I have ever loved anyone more."
James was quiet for a moment, taking the information in.
"Well, I am seriously offended, Sirius," said James. "You love her more than you love me? Is this what our friendship means to you? Bros before hoes, Sirius. Bros before hoes."
Sirius laughed. "It's alright, Prongs dear. You will always be my first love."
"I better be. Now let's go win this match."
June watched as the players flew up in the air nervously. "Why so serious?" asked Marlene.
"Isn't the Beater prone to a lot of body damages?" asked June.
"Are you joking? It's the seekers one has to worry about," Annie said, nodding at the third year called Malcolm.
"No, it's the chasers," said Lily - she was watching James nervously.
Everyone turned to Marlene.
"Oh please don't let me interrupt your Quidditch breakdown which seeks to answer the vital question."
"And what question might that be, Marlene?" asked Mary, scanning the pitch with her binoculars.
"How badly is my significant other is going to be hurt?" said Marlene in a sing-song voice.
June and Lily flushed red. Annie rolled her eyes.
"I'm going to see you folks later. I can't stand to see these two swoon at every move their 'significant other' makes."
"I love her," sighed Marlene as Annie left.
"Me too," said Mary.
"I have strongly mixed feelings," said June.
"You're disowned!" yelled Annie at June over the seats she had already crossed.
"Very strongly mixed feelings."
"Hush, Leto," said Marlene. "Match is beginning."
The players kicked off with the chasers aiming for the Quaffle. The Gryffindor seeker had already disappeared. His tiny frame had a high advantage. The Ravenclaw seeker was swimming around the stadium. His build was stronger.
June, however, was watching Sirius.
"And the Quaffel is in Gryffindor's possession – James Potter swerves around the Slytherin captain Belby, and passes onto Alicia Jones. Jones looses possession of the Quaffel, thrown off by a bludger hit by one of the Slytherin Beaters –"
Sirius was aiming a bludger at the Slytherin chaser in possession of the Quaffel. June shut her eyes tightly as he shouldered the bludger heavily in his direction and only opened her eye when she heard the resonating crunch of the bludger reaching it's target.
"Gryffindor in possession! Quaffel in the hands of Melissa Roberts, passes on to Toby Williams. Toby shoots, SCORE! 10 to 0 in the favor of Gryffindor!"
June bit her lip as she saw Sirius almost fall of his broom trying to avoid a bludger.
Sirius was having the time of his life.
He had never played a better game. He was whacking bludgers left right and center, shooting down more people than he had ever thought of. Every time his arm sagged, he caught the look of June, watching him anxiously from the stands, looking positively beautiful in his jersey.
There was no way this game was going wrong.
Meanwhile, James was gritting his teeth and catching the quaffel again and again, passing and scoring with speed. They were ahead by nearly sixty points, even after Ravenclaw scored twice.
Just then, Sirius noticed the Ravenclaw seeker rush in a particular direction.
He didn't think about it, he whacked a coming bludger in that direction.
"June, quit chewing your nails!" screamed Marlene, dancing on the stands with excitement. With Gryffindor leading so well, everyone was running around screaming.
June was began chewing her lip at that. She was anxious to see Sirius with both feet planted firmly on the ground.
Her eyes darted as she saw Sirius aim yet another bludger and hit bang on target. All his shots were going exactly where they were supposed to today. June stared at his jersey.
Suddenly, almost as if he heard what she was thinking, he looked at her and flashed a grin.
June grinned back with happiness.
There was a music playing in the background as they looked at each other. Their look was mischievous and hiding, like both of them were sharing a secret. There was a humming victory song which filled June's ears.
Right until a bludger hit Sirius from behind.
"No!" screamed June.
Sirius' vision felt blurry.
"Sirius!" someone was screaming.
He forced himself to open his eyes.
"Wuzzgoingon?" he asked the sea of colors.
"We won, Padfoot!" grinned James. There was a blurry fish of a Gryffindor seeker waving a bit of shimmering gold.
"Whothatbe?" asked Sirius.
He tried to focus.
"Are you okay?" asked a female voice crouched near him.
June's face swum into focus.
"Funny, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with me now," said Sirius seriously.
June half laughed, half cried and kissed him in the lips.
The whole school erupted.
Sirius grinned at her as she gripped him.
"I knew I would get you in the end," he said smugly.
June wrinkled her nose. "I'll let that pass for now."
"Of course you will," said Sirius and he pulled her down for another kiss.
The celebration lasted till three in the morning.
Sirius honestly didn't remember most of it.
He remembered Benjamin Fenwick coming in at twelve to kiss his girlfriend, Dorcas goodnight and everybody cheering him out. He remembered Evans and Prongs dancing like they didn't have a care in the world. He remembered Remus talking to Marlene animatedly. He remembered the cheeky Annie Burns coming in to congratulate June at one.
"Shouldn't you be in bed?" June asked her.
"Bed? What bed? I'm a vampire," Annie said.
"Seriously. You're in third year. It's unhealthy for you to stay up this late," said June.
"Pshh," said Annie dismissively, "Let me have fun while I can."
Sirius remembered going for a walk with June in the middle of the night to collect snacks from the kitchens. He remembered kissing her in a broom cupboard when they took a detour.
He remembered dancing with her a lot.
He remembered drinking a lot of… things.
He remembered somebody being turned into a hyena.
He remembered blurry bits here and there.
And then when he woke up, he found his new girlfriend in his arms on the common room couch.
Again you guys. I'm sorry. And I love you. Please don't leave me.