Ch. 5- Home Sweet Home

A/N: alrighty, here we are with chapter five- kind of a filler chapter and not much action with Addi and Sirius, but more pureblood history and we get to meet Addi's parents! wOOt, well, not really. anyways, I'm gonna stop rambling now and let you get on with it. ps- Sunshine readers, I am just about ready to post the sequel for Sunshine and I really serious this time, so keep an eye out for it!

DISCLAIMER: honestly, if anyone truly thinks I am JK Rowling, please go check yourself in the St. Mungo's ward for mental people...

You want apologies,

Girl, you might hold you breath

Until your breathing stops forever (forever)

The only thing you'll get

Is this curse on your lips

I hope they taste of me forever

Chicago is So Two Years Ago- Fallout Boy

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"Hey, Addi," James said sitting down at lunch a few days later. "Look, are you doing anything over break?"

"Just going to Zoey's," I replied casually. "Why?"

"Oh, well, see my parents have this Christmas ball every year and I was wondering whether or not you wanted to come," He replied with a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders. "Well, you and Zoey, I mean."

"Yeah, that'd be great," I said nodding. "I dunno about Zoey, I'll ask her, but I'm sure if Remus is going she'll want to go."

"She likes Moony?" He asked and I smirked. This was my little side project- trying to set up Remus and Zoey.

"Oh, yeah, you couldn't tell?" I said with a little laugh. "She practically died when she found he was her partner in Transfiguration."

"Now that you mention it, she does seem to be quite taken with him," He replied laughing too. "Well, I'm not sure how he feels, but I could find out. Besides, Moony will definitely need a dancing partner."

"Bloody brilliant," I said an evil grin playing on my lips.

"As will Mr. Black," He added shooting me a sideways glance.

"Oh really now?" I said trying to seem disinterested. "Well, I wonder how he will ever find one."

"He doesn't have a problem of finding one," James said, "it's more of getting the girl he wants to accept."

"And who might this girl be?" I asked looking at him.

"Oh just a girl, you know," He said shrugging and I could just see the smug, knowing look on his face.

"Well, then, I guess I'm left with someone to find," I said indifferently.

"There's always Wormtail," He suggested and I must have looked highly offended and disgusted because he laughed. "Oh, honestly, Addi, you're something else. Don't worry, there will be plenty of young, eligible guys there."

"Including you?" I asked and it was turn to give him a smug, knowing look.

"Actually, Miss Pogue, I will not be eligible, although I shall save you a dance, if you would like," He replied in chivalrous voice.

"So, a certain Miss Evans has taken a sudden liking to you?" I asked not able to keep the curiosity out of my voice. I had only heard the date had gone over well, I hadn't heard the details yet.

"You know, I think she has," He said nodding excitedly. "The date went well, anyway. I was kinda nervous at first, and was being a bit of an idiot, but it went on I loosened up. She actually liked me, Addi! It was like a dream come true."

"Well, good, I'm happy for you," I said sincerely. "It's about bloody damn time too. I thought you were never going to get together."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" He asked indignantly.

"Just that everyone else can see that you and Lily belong together," I replied shrugging. "You're both stubborn, hot-headed, and short tempered."

"I am not hot-headed!" He exclaimed indignantly.

"My point exactly," I said laughing at him and he pouted. "You know, you look almost as ridiculous as Sirius does when you pout. And no it doesn't work on me."

"You're just jealous of my amazing pouting skills," He replied haughtily. "It's okay to admit it, we all have flaws. Well, except for me and Padfoot, that is."

"Padfoot and I," I corrected him automatically. "Honestly, James, good English and grammar wouldn't kill you."

"That's funny that you say that," He said looking suddenly thoughtful, "because Padfoot is always the one to correct me about that. Bad grammar, I mean."

"Sirius knows grammar?" I asked raising an eyebrow. This wasn't really surprising, though, he was a pureblood after all.

"Yeah, well, he doesn't do so much anymore, especially since he ran away. But when we were younger it was a bit bizarre." James said nodding. "I always expected Moony to be the one to be a stickler for stuff like that, but Padfoot was worse than him! Must be his crazy family's rubbish, eh?"

"Yes, well, it spread across all the 'respectable' pureblood families, because I was brought up the same way," I told him and he looked at me somewhat amused.

"Yes and now look at what that society has done to you," He said shaking his head in mock sorrow. "It had taken the ability to be improper away from you. D'you know how long it's taken me to revert Sirius' way of life?"

"What do you mean?" I asked confused.

"Well, first was the way he dressed, I had to teach him how to be sloppy. I still catch him tucking and buttoning to perfection every so often." He replied with a sigh. "And then of course was the way he spoke and corrected everything that was grammatically incorrect. Oh, and my favorite one was teaching him how to slouch and belch!"

"So it's your fault he's a complete disgrace to the society," I said pretending to have realization dawn on me. "And here I was thinking he was just trying to piss his hag of a mother off."

"Yes, well, I take full credit for his transformation into a normal human being," James said mocking modesty.

"You're really something, James," I said laughing at him.

"I know."

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"And you're sure that Remus will be there?" Zoey asked for the fifteenth time that night.

"Yes, I am positive," I said somewhat irately. "You two will dance, be merry, and kiss." I added with a flourish.

"You really think so?" She asked hopefully and I just shook my head.

"You really should just tell him how you feel," I said and she looked at me like I was mental.

"No! I can't do that- if he didn't feel the same way, I'd never live it down!" She exclaimed melodramatically.

"Stop being a drama queen," I said wryly. "He's too nice to reject flat out anyways."

"Oh, thank you, Addi," She said her voice dripping with sarcasm. "That makes me feel loads better!"

"Mmhmm," I replied offhandedly.

The last week of term dragged by, but it finally ended. Zoey and I found an empty compartment on the train and spent the first half of the trip detailing our plan for the first couple of weeks when we came back from break. We were keeping careful notes on everything we came across so that we could monitor the changes in behavior closely. Zoey told me this was how muggle therapists did it- I just went along with it because I had no idea what a therapist was.

Then, Sirius and James crashed through the door to our compartment, clearly running from something. They hurriedly pick themselves up, sitting next to us. I gave Sirius, who was across from me, a quizzical look.

"We just pulled a harmless prank on Snivellus and he doesn't know for sure it was us," He explained quickly, stretching out to look as though he'd been there for a while. "So, as long as you guys will back us up, he can't really do anything."

As much as I wanted to be angry at him, I just kinda stared at him in disbelief. And then, I started laughing. It was just so funny the way these guys seemed to think that they could get away with everything. What was even funnier was the fact that usually did get away with it. But before anyone could ask me what I was laughing at, the compartment door was wrenched open.

"Potter! Black!" It was Snape and he was furious. They had somehow made him break out in a sort of chicken pox-boil combination.

"Why yes, Snivellus?" Sirius asked airily, looking up as though he had no idea as to why Snape was there.

"Oh don't act all innocent!" He snarled scratching at various places. "I know that you two did this to me!"

"I am deeply and utterly offended," James said looking highly affronted. "I can not believe that you would accuse us of something so heinous!"

"I must agree with dear James on this one," Sirius chimed in shaking his head. "I am far too insulted for words."

"Oh stop playing coy," Snape spat at them. "Just get these bloody boils off of me!"

"Er, Severus," I said somewhat hesitantly, "do you have any proof that they were the ones who actually did it?"

"I don't need proof! I know it was them- it's always them!" He said still scratching away. I had to admit that it was highly entertaining to see Snape standing there, scratching himself. I could hear Zoey trying to suppress her giggles.

"Well, I can vouch for James and Sirius," I said more confidently this time. "They've been in here the entire train ride."

"Liar!" He shouted angrily.

"No, it's true," Zoey said calming enough to talk without laughing. "They've been charming us with their wit and talent. Besides Snape, you've got so many enemies how can you possibly think it's these two every time?"

"Nobody asked you, filthy mudblood!" He said spitting at her feet. "You are not worthy to even be in the same carriage as me, let alone the same school. Go back to where you belong!"

This sobered all of us up. I stood angrily as Zoey sat there stunned. Sure, the Slytherins had call her that before, but never so violently. I had my wand out before Sirius and James could stand and I was facing Snape, hatred coursing through my veins.

"I'd watch myself, Severus," I said dangerously. "You are no position to go around insulting my friend like that."

"Oh and I suppose a girl like you is going to stop me?" He said amusedly. "You're a pureblood bred girl; you were brought up to respect a man and not to interfere."

"I brought up to respect the pureblood men of my society," I corrected him, a humorless smirk playing on my lips. "As you do not fulfill either of those requirements, I have no such obligation to you."

"What are you on about?" He said narrowing his eyes, clearly wondering just how much about him I knew.

"Oh, you thought I didn't make it my business to know about all the pureblood families deemed worthy enough to be in the presence of my family?" I said with a dry laugh. "I didn't have a choice, Severus, and guess what I found out?"

He just stood there and I could see that he was trying to figure out if I was bluffing or not. I could see the wheels turning in his head and that he was trying to work out how lucky he could get.

"You're family is not registered as a worthy pureblood family," I continued not taking my eyes off his. "In fact, I couldn't find you're surname anywhere in the pureblood records. Surprising, seeing as I knew all the other names that were sorted into Slytherin."

"Shut up," He snapped and I detected a hint of fear in his voice.

"You know, I do believe that you're mother was disowned," I said not lowering my wand as I taunted him. "In fact, your grandparents tried to get her erased from the records. Shame they couldn't, really. But as it were, I found some very curious information."

"I said shut up!" He all but yelled, but I kept pushing.

"I think it's very interesting that you're a Slytherin," I went on in a quiet, deadly tone. "They don't usually let half-bloods in, do they? I could be wrong, but the last time I checked they didn't take too kindly to your sort. Tell me, Severus, how does it feel to not be worthy of your house?"

Instead of answering, he whipped his wand out. He moved so fast that I didn't have time to react. He made a slashing movement with his wand and I felt a gash appear on my cheek. Blood started spurting from the wound and my hands flew up to my face, my wand falling to the ground. It all happened so fast that nobody reacted for a second.

"That should teach you where your place is," He sneered turning on his heel. Zoey sprang up and helped me sit down.

"Oi! Snivellus, get back here!" Sirius roared going after Snape. A moment later there was thud and the sounds of a fight.

James went out to help Sirius as Zoey tried to heal the gash. It didn't feel very deep, but I was sure that Snape could have done much worse damage. After a couple of minutes James and Sirius returned.

"Are you okay?" Sirius asked squatting down in front of me.

"Yeah, I'm alright," I muttered as Zoey finished closing the gash.

"Well, there's a bit of a scar, but you can get some ointment to take of that," She said as I waved my wand to clean up the blood.

"That bloody bastard!" James said handing me my wand. "What did he even use? I've never seen a curse like that."

"I dunno, but I think he was going easy on me," I said shaking my head and rubbing my face.

"So, what you said about him being a half-blood," Sirius said after a second, "was it true?"

"Yes, all of it," I replied nodding. "My father insisted that my brother, my sister, and I all know which families we were to consort with and which we were to stay away from. James, I am sorry to say that I was under no circumstances to talk to any of the Potters. They might have tainted my image and, Merlin forbid, actually try to get me to cross over to their way of thinking!"

"Well, if your father could see who you're associating yourself with now," He replied in mock horror. "He'd disown you for sure."

"Yes, well, sometimes I wish they would just cut me off." I said darkly. "As it were, they haven't. Sometimes I think they don't because they know it's what I want."

"That's rubbish," Zoey said rolling her eyes.

"Yes, well, you've never met my parents," I replied evenly.

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"I have to make a stop at my house before we catch the underground to yours." I told Zoey as we walked out of the station. "I need a gown for the ball on Christmas Eve- you borrow one of mine if you want.

"Alright," She said cheerfully. "Let's go."

"Why are you so chipper?" I asked sulkily. A trip to my house was the last thing I wanted to do- especially with Zoey in tow.

"Well, it's just you've never invited me over to your house before and I've never met your parents and all of that," She replied shrugging.

"Zoey, there's been a reason for all of that," I said slowly. We'd had this conversation a million times, but she still seem to believe that my parents weren't as crazy as they really were. "My parents are crazed pureblood maniacs. They will literally try to kill you if they find out you're a muggle born. So, for the sake of your life, whatever you do, don't tell them you're a muggle born." I added as clearly as I could.

"That's mental, Addi, why would they try to kill me?" She asked shaking her head. "Just because I wasn't born of wizarding blood, they're going to go completely bonkers?"

"Yes, as matter of fact," I replied seriously. "Look, Zoey, just do this for me. As far as my parents will know you are an unknown pureblood. The reason they don't know your surname will be because your family isn't native to these parts of England."

"You're really not joking are you?" She said finally catching on. We were walking down a crowded street and Zoey was trying to flag a taxi down.

"No, I'm not," I said. "Just let me explain you and they won't be any the wiser," I added as we climbed into a cab.

The ride out to my house took a good half hour and once we reached the gates I was dreading going in more and more. I had gone home for two days over summer vacation and then promptly spent as much of it at Zoey's as I could. I would come home for a few days and then disappear for a couple of weeks. I hated being in my house and around my family. My sister, while being brilliantly smart, had absolutely no backbone. She had married the first guy to propose to her and now she was in a marriage like my parents. I knew she didn't agree with everything they believed, but she was too worried about observing the proper etiquette for a pureblood woman that she could have cared less.

The house before us was an old style mansion. My father never did anything in a small way and so coincidently we had more room in the house than we needed. Zoey was staring at the grounds and the house in amazement. I knew she had never seen anything like this. This, in itself, made me squirm with even more dread. I never wanted her to see my house, but there was no way around this visit. Not only because of the ball, but I had some other unfinished business to take care of.

As Zoey and I made our way up the walk I tried to control my breathing. It had been becoming increasingly harder to just sit back and listen to my father go on and on about Voldemort this and purebloods that. More than once in the past couple of years I had spoken out against him and contradicted the things he had said. This, of course, earned me a backhand across the face, but at least I wasn't sitting by idly letting them decide my future.

"Alright, remember no mention of muggles at all," I whispered as we reached the porch and walked up the steps. "If my father asks you for an opinion on pureblood issues just play dumb."

I rang the doorbell and waited. Speck, our house elf, opened the door.

"Young Mistress Addi," He squeaked in surprise. "Speck has not seen young Mistress since July."

"Yes, I know Speck," I replied uncomfortably. "Are my parents home?"

"Yes, Mistress, they are," Speck said showing us into the entrance hallway. "This way please."

He led us through down a small hallway and stopped us at a door. I could see my parents lounging on the couches in the sitting room and I wondered how much of a welcome I was going to get.

"Master and Mistress Pogue," Speck addressed my parents, "you have visitors. Shall I show them in?"

"Yes, I suppose," Came my father's bored drawl.

"Presenting Mistress Addi and her guest," Speck said bowing us through the door. I tugged nervously at my sweater- I knew I was in the improper attire to be greeting my parents. I also knew they would make a snide comment about it.

"Well, finally decided to pay us your respects, have you?" My father said as I led Zoey to stand in front of him. My mother looked up half-heartedly from the book she was reading.

"I've merely come to gather some of my belongings," I replied back with no emotion, "if that is alright with you, of course," I added quickly, dropping in a curtsy.

"And who is this?" My father continued, ignoring my request. He was eyeing Zoey suspiciously.

"This is Zoey Carson," I said quickly praying that he wouldn't suspect a thing. "She's in Gryffindor with me," I added.

"Hm, and are you a pureblood, Zoey?" He asked sneeringly.

"Yes sir, I am," She said and I could tell she didn't want to be here.

"Well, I have never heard of the Carsons," He said matter-of-factly.

"That's because Zoey's family is ranked lower than the Weasleys on the pureblood list," I said and my father looked at me.

"Is that so? Weasley- biggest bunch of blood traitors," He said looking disgusted. "Well, then, your family must be even more so if you're ranked even lower than the Weasleys."

"Er, yes, I suppose," Zoey said uncomfortably.

"Well, better a pureblood traitor, then not a pureblood at all, I guess. Honestly, the nerve of letting mudbloods and half-bloods consort with our kind," He continued on savagely. "The audacity of it all!"

"Well, I just stopped to pick up some belongings and then we'll be on our way," I said turning to leave, pulling Zoey with me.

"Adira Iris Pogue," He said sternly. I seriously debated whether or not to just ignore him, but then that would just cause more problems.

"Yes?"

"You may be a Gryffindor and traitor to your own kind, but I will not have you turning your back on me," He said standing up. "You are still under my control, you are not yet of age. You shall observe the proper rules and give me the respect I deserve."

"The respect you deserve?" I asked, knowing that I would more than likely pay for this later. "You deserve all the respect of a baboon. C'mon, Zoey, let's go."

We left the sitting room, where my father was more than likely planning how to punish me for my cheek. I honestly didn't care anymore- I just wanted to get the hell out of there. I led Zoey up the grand staircase and down a long corridor. Finally I opened the door to my room and we stepped in.

"So, those were my parents," I said with a bitter edge to my voice. "Weren't they just oh so charming?"

"You're father seems, well," She said slowly, as though looking for the right words.

"He seems like a bloody wanker obsessed with blood rank and a muggle hater," I offered for her and she nodded. "Look, Zoey, don't take it personally- he's like that all the time."

"I just…I really wanted to put him in his place, y'know?" She said frowning.

"Yeah, I know," I said quietly as she sat down on my bed. "But enough of that, let's take look at these gowns," I added opening the wardrobe.

Inside, exactly as I'd left them, were dozens of gowns, each a different style, color, or length. Every year for holidays, birthdays, and other such occasions it was common for pure blood girls to get gowns from their parents. It was unacceptable to wear an out of date dress.

"Wow, Addi, you never told me that you had dresses like these!" Zoey said breathlessly, coming to examine them.

"Yeah, well, these are just the ones that I favored. I have others in the main closet that I'll probably never wear again." I replied shrugging. "Anyways, take your pick."

"What? Addi, there's no way I'd be able to fit into one of these!" She exclaimed indignantly. "You're way smaller than me, and besides what if I did something to it?"

"Zoey, are we or are we not witches?" I asked her laughing. "I can alter it magically and, look, I have a hundred others to choose from if you were somehow able to ruin it."

"Well, if you're sure," She said slowly and I just waved my hand at her. She gave an excited squeal and started rummaging through the wardrobe.

"Oh, this one," She said pulling a powder blue gown from the wardrobe.

"Ah, good choice," I said taking it from her. "I wore this one at a coming out party for dear cousin Mary. Go try it on."

"Addi?" She said a few minutes later from the bathroom connected with my room. "It won't zip."

I went into the bathroom, pulling my wand out. I'd learn this spell when I was twelve because my sister hadn't been measured properly for a gown. Once it had arrived my father refused to pay for it, saying that if they weren't going to do the job right then they didn't deserve to get paid. My mother taught me how to do the spell, obviously thinking I would need it someday.

"Alright," I said tapping the gown with my wand. I zipped the dress up and she turned around.

"So, how does it look?" She asked nervously.

"Go look for yourself," I said grinning at her.

The gown, which was floor length, conformed to her body perfectly. Zoey had a fuller figure than I did, something I had always been envious of. The dress had off the shoulder straps and was sleeveless. It had a lacy over layer and a three flounce petticoat underneath the skirt. Tight up top and extenuating her curves and then flowing gracefully from her waist into the skirt, the dress was perfect. Well, almost perfect; the only thing amiss was-

"That color is all wrong for you." I said shaking my head. "Hm…let's try a more subtle color."

I tapped the dress and it turned a pale pink, but that look worse than the blue. I tapped it again and again, but the colors were just all wrong. And then I had a sudden idea. I tapped the dress and it turned black. I tapped the trimming of the edges and that turned a blood red.

"That is much better!" I said admiring my work.

"Addi, this is…gorgeous, I don't know how I'll ever be able to pay you back for this!" She said gazing at herself in the mirror.

"I don't expect you to pay me back," I said frowning at her in the mirror. "No, this is so you'll look absolutely beautiful for Remus at that ball."

"Thank you, Addi," She said smiling.

"Yes, well, let's see," I said smiling back, "I have these shoes that match the dress." I added holding up a pair of now black pumps and I handed them to her.

"Perfect!"

"Okay, let me pick out a dress and then we should be just about done." I said going back over to the wardrobe. "I like the style of this one, what do you think?"

I held up an elegant gown that was emerald green and had silver rope like lining around the edges. It was strapless and tight at the top like Zoey's, but mine had a five flounce petticoat and lacked the lace over layer. Instead the top layer was kind of like a silky robe- it was closed at the top, but from the waist down it parted in front to reveal the petticoats underneath, which were gauzy material in a lighter silver color than the lining. It was beautiful and the only one of the gowns I'd never worn. It was supposed to be for my 'coronation' into Slytherin at Christmas of my first year, but seeing as I was sorted into Gryffindor I wasn't a part of the ceremony.

"Addi, how did you ever manage to get a gown like this?" She asked taking it from me and examining it.

"It was supposed to be for my coronation into Slytherin, but since I never made into that despicable house, I never got to wear it," I told her. "It will need a little tailoring, but I think I can make it work." I added slipping into the bathroom.

When I came out, I looked in the mirror. I'd had to let out the back a little bit and I had to lengthen it a lot, but the effect was worth it. The dress fit me like no other gown had before. Perhaps it was because I'd never worn it before or because it was so unique, but this was the gown I'd be wearing to that ball.

"Okay, now, as for these colors, I do not think it would be acceptable to show up in Slytherin colors, especially to the Potters," I said thoughtfully. "Therefore, the only solution would be this." I added tapping the gown.

The emerald turned to a deep, ruby red and the edging to gold. The petty coat became a paler gold and I took the shoes and changed them to a ruby color as well. I did a little spin for Zoey.

"Much better than those awful Slytherin colors," She said. "Red and gold are much more becoming of you."

"You know, I was thinking the same exact thing." I said smiling. "Alright, well, let's get this stuff packed up and get out of here. The less time I spend here, the better."

We packed up the dresses, the shoes, and various other items and made our way downstairs. I passed right by the sitting room without going in to say good bye to my parents.

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alright, there you have it, chapter 5. the ball will be in the next chapter, as well as some more Addi/Sirius action...as always, leave me a review. I only got four last time our of 134 hits...I'm not complaining- a review's a review, but still those of you who aren't reviewing it'd be nice to hear from ya. questions, comments, statements of how much you hate/like it, whatever, I'm open to everything except flames (unless you really feel that strongly about it). anyways, that's it for now thanks for reading:p