Chapter 28

We joined the crowd around the entrance hall, filled with milling students, impatient for the giant double doors to swing open.

I looked around me at the excited faces. I smiled when my eyes fell upon James and Lily. He truly looked captivated by her and it wasn't difficult to see why, perhaps something would finally click for them tonight?

I felt a twinge of sadness when I saw Sirius, surrounded by a swarm of swooning girls. He did look extremely good tonight in his impeccable dress robes.

I bit my lip.

I was finally starting to believe everything Lily told me. But I guess he didn't like me after all, otherwise why would he refuse to go to Hogsmeade with me? Stop it Bella, he probably had a very good reason...one which he couldn't even have the decency to tell me about.

I mentally slapped myself.

Here I was on the eve of one of the most memorable nights in my second last year at Hogwarts and I was being depressing before it even started.

I shook myself and turned to talk to a few Ravenclaw students who were standing near me.

"Bells" I heard Sirius' voice behind me.

Turning to face him, he was smiling down at me with soft eyes. "I wanted to tell you before but you look beau-"

"Sorry? I can't hear you over this chatter Sirius" I strained my ears over the buzz of noise around us.

He started to pull me towards the edge of the crowd when the doors finally swung open.

I gasped along with the rest of the students.

The massive Great Hall was aglow with a bright orange-yellow glow.

"Welcome students, to the annual Halloween Ball, I hope you all have a tremendous night, enter." Dumbledore's voice echoed from inside the Hall.

The crowd of students immediately rushed through the doors and filled the Hall.

I looked about me with wonder.

Floating jack-o'-lanterns filled with flames illuminated the massive room, shining spider webs adorned the walls and corners and the fresh scent of musk and pine filled the hall.

The orchestra was playing soft music and dancing couples had already begun to form around the room.

I instinctively backed towards a wall.

"Come on my Lily-flower! Just one dance" James pleaded with Lily.

"James! No! A-and stop calling me that!" A blushing Lily retorted.

"...YOU CALLED ME JAMES!"

"Oh no..." Lily muttered under her breath.

"Can my heart be more gladdened than this?"

"Go away!"

Remus chuckled beside me. "Will they ever change?"

"I hope not" I smiled.

Courses and courses of food were served on the smooth round tables that were placed sparsely across the floor. The elves had outdone themselves. Quiche, cheese platters, buffalo wings, lasagne, garlic and ham rolls, chicken and ham pie, mashed potato, boiled vegetables, roast pork and beef, lamb cutlets, treacle fudge, chocolate pudding and layered strawberry shortcake were all served.

I leant back in my chair, stuffed and content.

Looking across the room I saw Rodger his friends. I sighed. I realised what I felt for him wasn't exactly romantic and I felt a lot calmer about the situation than i did a few weeks ago, but despite the clarity, I hated the distance and thinly veiled negativity between us now. He was a good person and I just wanted to put the whole thing behind us.

With that thought, I stood up and headed across the floor to where they were standing near the drinks table.

As I made my way near them, I could hear his friends snickering and whispering under their breath. I ignored them and stared unwaveringly at Rodger.

"Hey can we talk?" I asked him neutrally.

"Sure" he replied after a pause.

We headed to the balcony. The cool breeze ruffled my hair and felt pleasant against my skin.

"How are you doing?" I turned to him with a smile.

I wanted things to be normal between us as quickly as possible.

"Alright I guess. What did you want to say Bella?"

A bit cold. Well I can't blame him I sighed.

"I just wanted to apologize. Truly. You were an incredible boyfriend, loyal and kind. You didn't deserve what I did to you. I'm so sorry that I hurt you, it was all my fault and there's no excuse but I was just hoping that maybe one day you'll be able to forgive me and we can be friends. You really are a wonderful person Rodg."

He looked taken aback by what I said and a few uncomfortable moments passed before he sighed and smiled.

Finally.

"It's fine Bella, I know you didn't do it intentionally, you're too good of a person. And I'd love to be friends."

I smiled. he awkwardly stuck out a hand for me to shake.

After looking at it, I burst into laughter, he followed soon after.

I hugged him around the middle and he was taken by surprise again, but he eventually hugged me back.

After pulling away, he asked me, "can I have a dance my lady?" He asked with a wink.

I giggled and took his hand as he led me back into the hall, and we shared a dance.

"POTTER!"

"Oh not back to last name basis are we Lily flower?"

"STOP calling me that!"

Rodger chuckled at the arguing couple near us. "Well they're as spirited as ever. Potter sure is having fun tonight, just look at that gleeful face."

"Lily is too" I smiled knowingly at my blushing friend who was desperately trying to draw attention away from her crimson face by pulling her most irritated faces, ones that only I could see through.

I felt like a weight had lifted off my shoulders. He's not upset with me anymore. Thank goodness.

I leant against the stone of the balcony once again.

Half the night had gone by and some people were starting to leave.

I had danced with Rodger, Remus, Peter, twice with James and a very polite Hufflepuff fifth year.

Sirius hadn't asked me to dance. In fact, I had hardly seen him the whole night. But I wasn't too bothered. I was happy once again.

I looked up at the twinkling sky and thought about how grateful I was for each of my friends.

"Oh come on Sirius, don't be such a stick in the mud." I heard a grating voice coo.

I looked around.

I thought no one was here out on the balcony except me. Although I was fairly certain the rustling and smooching sounds coming from behind that bush there could only mean someone was having a bit too much fun tonight.

But the voice I heard was unmistakeably Abigail's.

When had she come out?

"I said no Abigail."

I jumped, startled. That was Sirius.

The voices were coming from behind the door.

What should I do? If I go now they'll see me.

I stood awkwardly in the middle of the balcony, listening to the last conversation I wanted to hear at the moment.

"Look I'm not asking to get back together, just...a little moment together. No one even has to know about it, everyone is too distracted they won't notice."

I fought the urge to gag.

"Look Abigail, we're over and I have no intention of reviving any 'moments'. I'm sorry." Sirius said curtly. I felt an involuntary sense of elation at his firm tone.

"You've changed. The old Sirius wouldn't have said no to a casual snog, whether it was from an ex-girlfriend or otherwise. The old Sirius wasn't a boring wet rag."

I heard him sigh. "Well he is now I guess."

It was silent for a moment, and I could imagine Sirius was running a tired, frustrated hand through his hair.

"It's her isn't it."

"..."

"It is! It's always been Bella hasn't it."

"Yes." Curt. Short. Abrupt.

What?

A storm of butterflies erupted into flight in my stomach and I felt my face heating up.

Footsteps.

I quickly jumped behind a wide stone pillar just before Sirius walked out.

I brought a hand to my cheek which was aflame.

I hope he didn't see me.

I stood there frozen on the spot. Minutes rolled by.

"Bella?"

"AAAHH" I jumped out of my skin when I heard Sirius' voice.

"Woah, are you alright? Sorry I didn't mean to startle you" he looked surprised at my outburst.

"Sorry...sorry I was just...lost in thought."

"Uhm. How long have you been standing there?"

"Oh! Not long! I just got here why?" Stop it Bella, act natural.

"Oh nothing...well I there's something I haven't yet been able to tell you tonight Bella" he said, taking a few steps until he was inches away from me.

I gulped. Oh Merlin here it comes.

"Really? And what might that be?"

In a flash he bent down and kissed my cheek. It lasted an instant but I could tell my face was completely flushed.

"That you look beautiful."

"Oh...thank you."

"Would you like to dance?" He grinned down at me.

"Here?" I asked.

Instead of answering, he pulled me away from the pillar and before I knew it, I had danced away three songs on the balcony overlooking the dark grounds, under a starlit sky with Sirius Black.

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How was the Ball? And who was excited to see our favourite character Abigail again? Wooo.

- Stay sweet :)

Sugar~