I'm finally off of my hiatus. I've been mainly doing one shots and 2 shots over the past few months, but I'm finally coming back to my multi-chaptered fics! Sorry for the wait, I promise it'll be worth it, I have everything beta'd and I know how everthing is working out now- so let's do this! Enjoy!
Unlike most Saturdays, Jacquelyn woke up fairly early. The girl's dormitory in Gryffindor tower was in a flurry of excitement as all the girls from third year to seventh were busy fixing themselves up for the first outing of the year to Hogsmeade. Around the tower, bits and pieces of conversations could be heard as everyone talked about the screams everyone claimed to hear from the Shrieking Shack, counted galleons for Zonko's, sighed over dates in Madam Puddifoots Tea Shop, and relived days spent in the Three Broomsticks.
Jacquelyn changed out of the sports bra she usually wore to sleep and into her favorite black one with the green lace design she'd bought from a muggle store over the summer. She flipped through her wardrobe for a minute and finally decided to go with something comfortable; she was heading out with the guys so she didn't see much of a reason to dress up too much. She threw out a pair of paint splattered skinny jeans that she was sure would work for her legs and went on to look for a top that would match. While she was still figuring out tops, Lily threw open her curtain holding up two shirts
"Red?" she asked waving the one on the right, "Or pale pink?" waving the blouse in her other hand.
Jacquelyn considered it, "Hmmm, I'd say go with the pink- wait what pants?"
"My black skinnies," she answered somewhat breathlessly.
Jacquelyn conjured the image in her head. "No, go with your grey 'll look too thin in black. The grey ones work better."
"Yeah, guess you're right." Lily muttered, still scrutinizing the outfit.
Jacquelyn nodded smugly and chose a green blouse for herself; she threw that over her head then undid the top four buttons. Over the blouse she chose a warm, light-grey hoodie to shield her against the chilly, late-October winds. She ducked under her bed and pulled out her knee-high boots and quickly laced them up. The sixth year then critiqued her own reflection in the mirror. She sprayed some Sleakeazy hair potion in case it rained and decided to leave her dark, wavy brown hair down. She then snuck some mascara and a hint of eyeliner from Alice - she wasn't a very big fan of make-up in general and really didn't find much purpose for it unless the occasion called for it. She liked to say she thought she didn't need it, but reality was: she was too lazy to bother.
Alice had already left to meet up with Frank in the Great Hall, so Lily and Jacquelyn headed down to the Common Room and caught up with James and Sirius, who were also on their way down.
The old caretaker, Apollyon Pringle, was taking headcount in the Great Hall by the time they arrived. The Great Hall was decorated with Jack o' Lanterns and live bats that swarmed in the high, enchanted ceiling and the smell of pumpkin pie and cinnamon wafted throughout the halls thanks to the usual festivities that were celebrated during Halloween at Hogwarts.
As students all climbed into carriages, Jacquelyn looked up at the sky, where there were grey clouds collecting and a low rumbling in the distance.
"Damn, I didn't realize it was going to rain, should've brought my umbrella," Jacquelyn said, pulling up her hood just in case.
Lily noticed too, "Don't worry, if we're lucky we'll get back before the rain comes down."
They all climbed into the carriage together and only when the last students were sitting snugly within the carriages did they finally set off.
Lily and Jacquelyn fluttered around Honeydukes, which was filled to the brim with students, stocking up on Cackling Caffeine Caramels, Sugar Quills, and solid blocks of chocolate. They paid four Galleons and twelve Sickles to a smiling Mrs. Flume and headed toward Zonko's.
Sirius and James had already beaten them there, blowing galleons upon galleons on instruments of mayhem. Three fake wands, two jibbering toffees, six Filibuster wet-start fireworks, and a case of five nose-biting tea cups later they finally left the joke shop.
It began to rain rather heavily as they were leaving Spintwitches, the Quidditch equipment shop, and were forced to take refuge in the local pub: the Three Broomsticks. Thunder rumbled over them as they slumped together in one of the booths. The pub was loud and crowded with people trying to escape the weather, but the atmosphere was pleasant and lively.
"Damn it, I'm soaked!" said Sirius, shaking water out of his long hair like a puppy, making the rest of the gang wet as well. "What time do we get back?"
Lily checked her watch, "It's still only three- we don't need to get back for maybe another 2 hours or so. Maybe we'll still have time to pass by the Shrieking Shack?"
"Not in this rain, we won't," said James. "Right now I could really use a warm Butterbeer," he shivered.
Jacquelyn took off her hoodie and hung it on the side of the booth next to her and eyed her friend. Lily had been rather warm to James lately, who had definitely been trying hard to keep to the "guidelines" Jacquelyn had given him. The two were talking more easily than ever to her delight – and she really had to give James credit, he was doing great. All they needed was some one-on-one time.
Jackie's eyes met Sirius's; she motioned discreetly to James and Lily, who were now fighting flirtatiously over her hat. He shrugged his shoulders.
"Hey, er- help me get the Butterbeers, would you?" she said.
"Nah, I'm good. Maybe a firewhiskey, Jackie." he replied rather hastily as he was aiding Lily in trying to cram James's head into her orange and pink knit hat.
"Padfoot, I really think you should help me out with 'em" she said again, trying to point to the two as discreetly as she could. He hardly heard her as he bewitched Lily's hat to smack James with the tassels whenever he tried to take it off.
Jackie kicked him sharply under the table, annoyed that he didn't get what she was trying to tell him. "Ow! Shit! Ok, ok, I'm coming!" Sirius said through gritted teeth. They pushed their way through the crowded pub to the front.
"Don't worry about this, I'll cover it," Sirius said eyeing her as she fumbled with her purse looking for the fifteen sickles to cover the Butterbeers. Miss Rosmerta, the daughter of the owner of the pub (and very attractive and curvy), came over to them and asked for their order. In five minutes, Sirius had his shot of fire whiskey and their Butterbeers as well as an invitation to accompany a certain barmaid for "entertainment, on the house."
He turned around on the high stool and handed Jacquelyn her Butterbeer, looking fairly satisfied with himself.
"Okay. Now, please explain why my shin is throbbing?" he asked her curiously before taking the shot.
"Because those two," she motioned towards Lily and James, "need to finally talk to each other on their own."
Sirius looked unconvinced "Uh-huh. I can promise you they're gonna do more than just talking at this rate. So James's is going to finally get laid, this has to do with us how…?"
Jacquelyn rolled her eyes "Don't be so blunt about it," shesaid, shoving him a bit.
"So what if they get together? It was only bound to happen eventually. How 'bout you?"
"You're sweet," her voice dripping with sarcasm, a bad habit that was usually triggered whenever Sirius was within 3 meters of her. "What do you mean 'how bout you'?"
"I mean you should stop fussing about what they're doing and focus on yourself, what about your fun?" Sirius said, leaning back.
"I'm not catching what you're saying, Padfoot."
Sirius groaned loudly, "Y'know you can be a genius when you want to be, but other times you're justso thick!"
"Shut up, I could say the same about you."
"I know." He snorted.
Sirius ordered another round of shots for them. Just as Jacquelyn downed the chilled firewhiskey, her eyes smarting and her throat searing from heat, she heard a rather loud "Fuck!" out of Sirius.
He bowed his head and inched toward Jacquelyn, she looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "What?"
"Don't turn around", he hissed at her, his eyes darted towards a booth behind where they were sitting. She turned on her stool to see, but Sirius pulled her back, "Don't!"
She fought against him and managed to crane her neck to spot a small group of 6th years. "What's the problem, Padfoot?"
"It's Lara Bridgeworth" he said in a hushed tone, as if the girls could hear them over the din, "You can't let her see that I'm here!"
Lara was an attractive blonde who had been second chaser last year for only a term after a rogue bludger broke an arm. She and Jacquelyn lost contact after she dropped off of the Gryffindor team, she could only wonder what she had to do with Sirius now.
"Wait, but why are you avoiding her?"
"I, erm, kind of owe her a date…today."
"I'm not even sure I want to know how you managed to do that."
"It was actually rather simple. I had a hard problem that she offered to solve if I promised to take her out Hogsmeade weekend"
"And now you're hiding from her. Makes perfect sense."
He ducked as one of the 6th years made their way to the door past them, then continued when it was a different girl, "I told her I was already seeing someone today."
"So basically you lied?" Jacquelyn said.
"Lara's great and all, but she freaks me out, that girl's has some kinks."
That's your problem! Don't promi—"
"Shit,Jackie, quick she's getting up."
"You know, not many people can manage to screw up this badly. I applaud you."
"I need you to pretend you're on a date with me!"
Jacquelyn nearly spilled her butterbeer down her front "Wait- what? Oh no,no—"
"Merlin's ballsack, just play along she's coming this way!"
"Bloody hells, you're mad!"
"I swear I'll owe you, just kiss me!"
"Are you kiddi—" Jackie could see Lara's strawberry blonde head making its way to the bar, "Fine"
She pressed her lips against his almost roughly as her hand settled on the back of his neck. She tried to inch closer to him, but with the gap between their stools, nearly ended up in his lap. He grinned against her lips before capturing them again as his hand drifted to her lower back. She had a vague idea that Lara was still by the bar, very aware of them, but that, though, was soon out of her mind because man, could this boy kiss. She nipped his lower lip as his hand brushed against the top of her jeans, trying to send the message to not get too encouraged. It was fair enough to say that he did not as she felt a brush of his tongue hint at her lower lip- Merlin.
Finally, Lara headed back from the bar, but not without her friends noticing them too.
Jacquelyn pulled away, "Uhm, she left. You can stop trying to cup my arse now."
"But why? I thought we were getting really into it." He smirked.
"Mind you that's the last time—what am I saying? You're the only dumbass who could get themselves into a situation like that!" she ranted. Her face felt a little hot and she made a little prayer hoping it wasn't red, he was right: she had got too into it.
"And that's why I love you."
"That's why you owe me," Jackie corrected, she felt heat creep on her face even more at the smirk curling Sirius's lips.
He leaned back on the stool and eyed James and Lily who were still talking comfortably, "Hey, c'mon lets head back to the school, those two aren't leaving anytime soon."
Jacquelyn thought about it. "Yeah, I guess you're right." She grabbed her hoodie and finished the rest of her Butterbeer. They made their way to the door and completely regretted opening it.
Rain pounded on them mercilessly before they'd even had time to open Sirius's umbrella. Since they only had one they were forced to squeeze under it together, an easy enough feat if Jacquelyn was with Lily or Alice, but Sirius took up most of the space. She grabbed his forearm tightly as they made their way down the main street as he had his arm around her waist. The two stood under the doorway of a closed shop while they waited for one of the carriages to arrive. Jacquelyn's hair was plastered unto her face from the rain and was soaking wet, Sirius similarly so.
"Padfoot, your hair's sticking everywhere!" she said, laughing at the sight of it. She ran her hand through his hair, her giggles stopping when she realized their faces were hardly an inch apart.
Sirius moved his hand from around her shoulders to the back of her neck; Jacquelyn had barely registered what had happened until it did.
Sirius pressed his lips against hers, softly, parting his lips slightly at contact with hers. He pushed against her, but Jacquelyn could feel he was holding back. This wasn't like the kiss at the 3 broomsticks. Wasn't for anyone else's show. After a few moments she pulled back, feeling heat rise up to her face. Sirius raised an eyebrow at her, giving her a small smirk all the same. "Well?" his eyes seemed to ask.
"Oh, fuck it," she muttered as she brought her mouth back to his.
Chapter 5 is getting polished off now, so I'll be updating that very soon.
Tell me what you think! All types of reviews are appreciated: tell me what you liked, what you didn't, what you you're looking forward to, I respond to everything!
A Thank you to everyone who has reviewed before and story alerted/story favourited!