Girls' Night

He found Eilidh exactly where she said she would be; in the chamber off of the Great Hall. There was a fireplace opposite the door and portraits lining the walls. The girls sat in front of the fire, their heads snapped to his attention the minute the door opened. The first thing that he noticed was that Persephone Machault was with them. The second thing was that Marlene was not.

"Hey," he said awkwardly, "sorry. I just…" Just what? Let Remus convince him that telling Eilidh his half-insane theory was a good idea.

"Is everything okay?" Eilidh asked, thoroughly concerned. Of course, she'd be worried. He had interrupted what she had titled 'girl's night.' It was important, especially now that their friendships were all newly reformed.

"Yeah," Sirius said, brightening, an idea striking him. "I was just wondering if you lot were hungry. I was just over by the kitchen and whatever the house elves are making smells delicious."

Eilidh squinted at him. He smiled wider.

"Well, since you're offering, Sirius, I am absolutely famished," Lily declared.

"Seconded," Persephone said, raising her hand.

"Third," Mary grinned.

"You'll probably need help carrying everything," Eilidh said, beginning to stand.

"No," Sirius blurted, then recovered, "I'm fine. They always give me a basket to carry everything when I'm making a run. I'll be back in a mo."

Sirius sprinted down to the kitchen, wondering what he would do if Eilidh ever interrupted 'boys' night.' He'd probably welcome the intrusion but this was different, he had been the wedge that separated Eilidh from her friends.

In the end, he convinced the elves to give up the biscuits they made for Dumbledore's tea, a large thermos of warmed butterbeer, and enough sandwiches to fill them twice over. He made up his mind that he would wait to discuss this with Eilidh when he discussed this with James in the shack. It would be much harder having to convince both of them at once. Especially since they had both made up their minds; James was convinced that it was hitting his head so hard when Snape had knocked him down, Eilidh was convinced that it was her fault. At least now he could come up with a plan of attack.

"Sandwiches, biscuits, and butterbeer, enough to feed an army so you shouldn't run out," Sirius said.

"What a gentleman," Lily grinned.

"Indeed. He puts Mr Sexy to shame," Eilidh smirked.

Sirius laughed. "Thank you, dearest divine. Should you need me, I'll be in the common room," he said and attempted to bow out gracefully.

"Absolutely not," Mary exclaimed, grabbing his arm to stop him.

"You can't just offer food and not join us," Machault said as if that were obvious. "It's rude."

Sirius looked to Eilidh for help.

"You're welcome to join us if you'd like," she said instead.

"Yeah, Sirius, come and protect your soot covered girlfriend," Lily said, looking at Eilidh.

"Okay, Lil, there's no need to start bragging," Eilidh, with soot-covered fingers, picked up a deck of cards that was put to the side and started shuffling.

"I wouldn't if you hadn't been so arrogant before we started," Lily said. Eilidh ignored her. "Are you sure you want to do this? I never lose! You guys must like getting your arses kicked."

The girls all laughed. Eilidh pursed her lips to keep from laughing. Sirius found a place to sit in the wide space in front of the fire between Eilidh and Persephone.

"So where's McKinnon?" Sirius asked.

"With her mature friends," Lily said, sticking her nose in the air.

"She's with Alice, who she grew up with and hasn't been able to see very much because of your friend Frank," Eilidh corrected. Lily mocked her silently.

"Yeah, I heard about that," Sirius commented. "Frank's pretty hung up on her."

"I think Alice is too," Eilidh said.

Sirius would have responded had he not noticed that they were being watched by both Lily and Mary. Persephone was politely ignoring them and drinking the butterbeer straight from the thermos. He had forgotten to bring cups.

"Maybe you two should go on a double date with them," Mary suggested.

"I think they're still pretending that nobody knows about them," Eilidh said. "Who's turn is it to deal?"

Lily took the cards from Eilidh's hand. "Let's play truth or dare instead."

"Let's not," Eilidh said.

"Why? You like getting your arse kicked?" Lily challenged.

"No, because you are the most prying prat in all of Hogwarts. Bertha Jorkins included!" Eilidh poked at Lily's sides until she jumped away.

"All those in favour of playing truth or dare, say aye!" Lily raised her hand. Eilidh sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Aye!" Persephone grinned.

"Only if we promise not to dare each other to do something horribly embarrassing," Mary said.

"Sirius, tell your girlfriend to stop being boring," Lily said.

Eilidh was staring irritably at the door, almost as if she was searching for a good way out. The idea of playing truth or dare with Lily seemed ominous to Sirius so he was hoping that she was successful in coming up with something. Eilidh inhaled deeply through her nose and looked at Lily with an expression Sirius swore to himself he'd never be on the receiving end of. Lily merely smiled at her.

"Sirius, truth or dare?" Eilidh asked, her eyes still on Lily.

"Erm…" Sirius hesitated, wishing he could read her as well as he could read James. He couldn't. Should he assume that she knew him well enough to know that he would want to pick dare or should he bank on her being a risk taker and chose truth? Every eye from the portraits around him was on them. Mary and Persephone watched him expectantly. Sirius looked at his wrist watch. He didn't have time to play this game. Curfew was still a few hours away. "Actually, I can't play. Sorry but I've got plans with my friends." Lying was getting easier.

"Right, we should go," Eilidh said.

"What? Come on!" Mary protested.

"What happened to girls' night?" Lily challenged.

"We've had girls' night, now we need to study," Eilidh said, the lie coming easily to her too. "Unless you think school isn't important?"

"You suck, Nicnevin," Persephone said.

"Professionally," Eilidh whispered and winked. Mary snorted.

"I certainly hope that's not what you're leaving us for," Lily said, crossing her arms.

"Good night, Evans," Eilidh said, pulling Sirius out.

"Night, Nicnevin!"

The door was shut. He was sitting in Professor Slughorn's chair at the staff table. She kissing him. Her body heat growing closer and closer until there was nothing at all but a burning fire. She pulled away to rest her forehead against his.

"Hi," he whispered, his head spinning slightly, his stomach squirming incredibly.

"Hi," she grinned back. "Did you really have plans?"

"Not until curfew," he said.

"Okay," she said and kissed him again. This time he pulled away.

"As much as… I love the change in scenery, we are dangerously close to your friends who haven't quite warmed up to me," he said.

"You brought them food, they'll love you forever," she smiled. "But you're right. Did you have someplace in mind?"

"You have to swear on everything you hold dear that you will not let this secret out," he said.

"Where's the trust, Black?" she smirked and held her hand over her heart. "I do so solemnly swear."

"All right," he stood and pulled her by the hand towards the entrance hall. "I might have to blindfold you before we actually get there."

"Erm, why?"

"It's not my secret and I promised Remus you wouldn't know exactly how to get into it," Sirius explained, his hand on the doorknob to the castle grounds. "We're going to where he transforms. He's sensitive about it."

"How do you know -?"

"No more questions!" Sirius grinned and pulled her out.

*** Thank you Love Fiction 2018

Son of Whitebeard, Shakespeare has always been very Sirius to me, I don't know why. :)

***I am later than I said I would be but you're still getting it early so shhh.

By tomorrow afternoon I'll be in the sunny state of California so you won't hear from me until... later.

Thanks for reading. :D

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Until next time,

XO.