I anxiously sipped on my glass after dinner.

We were seated around the Potter's square dining table; James, Peter, Sirius, myself, James' parents and my parents. Having just finished eating a sumptuous meal of beef and parsnip pie with fresh salad, and a cherry cheesecake for dessert, we sat reclining in our chairs, pleasantly stuffed.

I however, was nervously tapping my foot on the floor and chewing on my lip.

Tonight, Sirius was going to ask my parent's approval of our relationship. My mind was telling me to relax, but my git was churning with nerves.

Sirius reached for my hand under the table and gave a gentle squeeze.

After the idle chatter had lapsed into a peaceful silence, Mrs Potter began to collect the plates, my mother rising to help her.

"Mr Harper, I would like to speak with you." Sirius rose and spoke formally.

Silence echoed through the hall as the mums froze momentarily. All eyes were on Sirius.

Mum began flicking her gaze between Sirius and myself, a knowing look coming to her face, while dad's face hardened as he unwaveringly stared back at Sirius.

Slowly, he rose and cleared his throat, "let's step outside then."

My heart began hammering against my chest as James, Peter and I excused ourselves to gather in James' room.

"It'll be alright Bells." James assured me.

"Yeah, no one can ever say no to Sirius, I mean how could he entice girls into a broom cupboard with him if he didn't have a coercive tongue?" Peter paused, and giggled at his own joke

This did nothing to ease my nerves or put me in better humour and I sat on the bed with a huff, levelling Peter with a blank expression.

James swiped the back of his head and walked over to me, giving me a comforting shoulder pat. "You know he's serious when it comes to you Bella, your parents will see that."

I gave him a half hearted smile and flopped over onto my stomach.

Edwin stared hard at Sirius.

"So you would like to date my daughter Sirius Black."

"Yes sir." Sirius cringed as he had never called hi sir before but it seemed fitting in this situation.

"And how long have you been intending to do so?"

"Uh, quite a while actually."

"Well. It's a good thing you came to me before you initiated things, I appreciate that."

"...oh, well actually...I.." Bollocks Sirius thought.

"Should I interpret your stammering to mean that you have already initiated things with her without coming to me first?" Edwin leaned forward, burning a hole through Sirius head with his menacing glare.

"um...yes" Sirius replied in a quiet voice.

A few long moments passed by as Sirius tried his best not to quiver under Mr Harper's stare.

At last Edwin leaned back and gave a loud merry laugh.

Sirius blinked.

Mr Harper kept laughing, "Oh, oh dear Sirius my boy-" chortle "-your face, you look like you're about to be chewed out by a grindylow! Oh!"

He kept laughing in this manner until Sirius joined in, somewhat cautiously.

Once they had settled down, Mr Harper placed a hand on Sirius shoulder, "Sirius. I knew you would care for her well ever since you paid our house debt, which we will repay you-"

He held up a hand when Sirius went to interrupt, " will of course grant you permission to date her."

Sirius beamed, "thank you sir!" Then he hesitated, "you...are you sure you don't mind that I'm...that I'm a Black?" He averted his gaze, looking at the ground.

Edwin looked surprised, but then leaned forward, "I think your heart is as noble as Godric Gryffindor himself, so no, I don't mind." He said firmly.

Sirius stared at him wide-eyed, "thank you" he said quietly. Edwin nodded.

He rose to go.

"Sirius." Mr Harper called again.

"Yes?" He answered, turning.

"Hurt her, and I will personally use one of the three unforgiveable curses on you." He said with a calm expression on his face.

Sirius gulped. "Yes sir."

Edwin watched Sirius go with a look of mirth in his eyes.

"Edwin, there was no need to scare the boy" Simona came and placed her hand on her husband's shoulders. She spoke with a stern voice but he could tell she was suppressing a chuckle.

"I had to dear, its one of the greatest moments of a father's life!" After a pause he added, "and you should be glad! Merlin knows I practically gave Sirius the royal treatment compared to the hell your father put me through!"

Simona gave him a light slap on the shoulder.

"But it was well worth it my dear" He laughed, and she smiled at that.

"She's growing up so fast." Simona said, welling up. "First Eve, and now our baby too!"

"She's not getting married yet love" Edwin said with a chuckle.

They smiled as they saw Sirius and Bella walk out into the backyard holding hands.

"I'm so happy for you Bella!" Lily smiled after I told her everything.

The first week of the holidays had passed by and I could barely contain myself with happiness but I wanted to tell my best friend in person so here we are at Diagon Alley, slurping away at our ice creams from Florean Fortescue's parlour.

Sirius had whined at not being able to come and so had James once he found out I was meeting Lily, but I stubbornly told them that they were not allowed to interfere on our girls day.

"When are you going to tell Mary and Marlene?" She asked.

"I've already wrote to them asking when we can meet up, you should come too Lils, but I needed to tell you separately" I smiled.

"Well duh, especially since I have had this pegged since 3rd year."

"Alright alright, how long are you going to keep rubbing it in my face?"

"Forever."

"So..now that that's settled, what about you and James?"

She gave me a look.

"Oh come on Lily! The boy is mad for you! I think it's more than clear that he is serious about you! And I know you like him back!"

"What?! That's preposterous!"

"Admit it! He's growing on you!"

"Well maybe I'm less irritated by him but I wouldn't say I like him."

"Yet."

"Bells.."

"Well maybe just give him a chance this year, see how it goes!"

"..."

"At least say something."

"I'm saying nothing."

I sighed.

"How are you enjoying your ice creams girls?" The owner of the shop walked up to us, smiling.

"Delicious as always Mr Fortescue!" I beamed, holding up my cone of berry fondue trifle.

Florean grinned. "If you girls are in search of any holiday galleons you can always work here! Your sister Eve certainly did enjoy herself during the summers!"

"Thank you sir! That's a kind offer!" Lily smiled.

"Bella!" Someone interrupted.

We turned to see Gilderoy Lockhart striding up to us.

Florean rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath and walked away. I inwardly groaned, while Lily had a smirk in her eyes.

"Seems like only yesterday I saw you here, when in fact it was last year! How time flies eh?"

He beamed, showcasing his rows of white teeth, unphased at our blank expressions.

"You certainly frequent this place don't you! I must say it has no effect on your cutting figure!" He dropped a wink and I blanched, Lily unsuccessfully hiding her burst of laughter as a cough.

He then dropped a wink at Lily and leaned on the counter.

"You must be wondering what I'm up to after graduating!"

"Not really" I murmured.

"Sorry I didn't catch that"

"Nothing.."

He shrugged and continued. "Well, I'll be embarking on a dangerous quest in a few weeks time actually, I'm travelling to Germany to investigate a particularly nasty cousin of the blast ended skrewt that's been terrorising some villages there-"

"That's fascinating." Lily cut in.

"Indeed, in fact I might even be extending my trip to the mountain ranges near the north where there have been rumours of-"

"I'm afraid we're actually running late for an appointment," Lily interrupted again, "So you must excuse us from your intriguing tale"

I shot Lily a look of gratitude.

"Ah well, never mind then" he said, good naturedly. "I actually wanted to ask miss Harper here if she would like to accompany me on a fantastic dinner before I leave, I mean it's not as if there's any danger of me not returning since I am an exceedingly skilled wizard" he broke off with a pompous chuckle, "but still, the sentiment remains you know."

I stared back mouth agape.

"I'm terrible sorry Mr Lockhart, but I think my boyfriend would have certain issues with that so I'm afraid I will have to decline your offer."

"Oh I..Oh I see." His face barely fell and he faltered only slightly, "well, if it doesn't work out let me know" he dropped a wink and guffawed before turning and striding out with the same bounce in his step that he had when he came in.

At last when he was out of the door Lily burst into fits of giggles that she had evidently been holding in as seen from her reddening face.

I stared back at her unimpressed and waited for her to finish.

"Th-that was the f-funniest thing I've ever seen! Oh Merlin!" She collapsed into gasping laughter.

I succumbed and burst into laughter of my own.

"Oh merlin what a knob" I wiped a tear from my eyes, still chuckling.

"I'm so t-telling Sirius!"

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- Sugar