Chapter 5- Sleepover
Applauding themselves on a job well done with their fake break up, Sirius and Renee decided to meet in the kitchens after dinner from now on to discuss Sirius' game plan. Or lack thereof, considering he had yet to even talk to Tarin.
"Honestly, Sirius," Renee cried, "Just put on your big girl knickers and talk to her! She won't bite."
He attempted to put on a show of bravado. "I'm not scared-" but quickly gave that up. "What if I look like an idiot?"
She laughed. "Oh, you will. In fact, I'm kind of looking forward to laughing at you. But Tarin will think it's 'so sweet' and 'adorable' that you're nervous."
He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, because that makes me feel so much better."
She finally convinced him to just talk to her, and they parted with a few agreements on each side. She would find Tarin and explain the whole break up fiasco, then tomorrow Sirius would start talking to her. Also, they decided that it'd be easier to explain to their year mates that they hadn't really been dating.
Saying goodbye to Sirius, Renee set off to find Tarin. However, it ended up being Tarin who found Renee, demanding an explanation.
After Renee explained the whole ordeal, Tarin laughed. "You guys went to all that trouble just for a few stupid girls? Er, why?"
"Mate, they were probably planning to impale me with their talons and heels. I was bloody scared." Renee said defensively.
When Tarin started laughing again, Renee hastily changed the subject. "So, that fool is finally going to talk to you tomorrow."
That instantly made he squeal. "Eek! No way! Why didn't you warn me? What am I going to wear?"
Renee rolled her eyes. "Considering tomorrow is Tuesday and we have lessons? I'd recommend your uniform. And what am I doing now, if not warning you?"
Tarin for once looked mollified. "You're right. Sorry. Thanks for the heads up. I'll talk to you later, I'm going to go get ready for tomorrow."
With a quick hug, she ran off towards the Hufflepuff common room. Laughing at her best mate, Renee went to clear things up with Lily, Alice, and Mary.
The next morning, Renee was cornered by none other than James Potter, or that 'annoying toe rag', as Lily spat out when he approached them. As he practically dragged Renee out of the Common Room, she asked, "What can I do for you, Captain?"
He grinned down at her. "Oh, not much, just wanted to chat."
"Is that why you kidnapped me? Couldn't you have just talked to me at breakfast?" She complained, only half kidding.
"I figured some people might not appreciate this information being known by the general public," He said, growing somber, "Why are you helping Sirius? I mean, he doesn't exactly have the best reputation when it comes to girls."
Renee stared pointedly at her arm, which he was still gripping; he dropped it, then she answered. "Well, James, it's rather a long story. I assume he told you about the whole fake break up thing?"
He nodded, then added, "He also said you're helping him with White."
"Right well, mainly because I think he's genuinely serious, pun intended, about Tarin. I don't think he'd intentionally hurt her and I'm hoping if I help, he won't unintentionally either." And she left it at that, not saying anything about the whole being-ashamed-of-her-best-mate thing. She didn't really think Mr. Big Shot Loyal Gryffindor would be cool with that.
"Yeah, that makes positively no sense. But whatever." Then he switched gears, a boyish smile now on his face. "Now, what I really want to know; will you help me with my darling Lilyflower?"
I laughed. "Boy, do you think I'm running a dating service? No!"
Seeing the truly heartbroken expression that replaced the hope he had before, she softened. "Ugh. Fine. But only when this whole Sirius and Tarin thing has calmed down. I can't do everything at the same time. And I'm not making any guarantees, anyway. Tarin's my best mate, so I know her best, which will help. I don't know Lily nearly as well."
He beamed and hugged her. Bloody hard. When he finally put her down, he asked her to sit with him and the other Marauders.
She shook her head. "Thanks, but no thanks. Sirius and I just 'broke up', remember? I don't want his fan girls to get all territorial again. I'll see you around then, I suppose."
With that, she continued on to the Great Hall, where she enjoyed an interrogation-free breakfast.
The rest of the week went by quickly. Sirius and Tarin were talking, pretty much non-stop. Renee got caught in the middle, both of them gushing about each other to her. She was scared for when they actually started dating; they hadn't even gone on a date yet.
Soon it was Saturday and time for the Quidditch math. Tarin was supporting Gryffindor, showing the first sign of Quidditch enthusiasm since Renee had known her. It was pretty obvious who was the cause of her sudden interest in the sport, as even Renee could hear her screaming when Sirius was announced. Flying above the stands, Renee grinned menacingly and prepared for a tough game; Ravenclaw had a good lineup this year.
Gryffindor won, though by too thin a margin for comfort; even with them catching the Snitch, they only won by 20 points. As Gryffindors streamed onto the pitch to greet the victorious team, Sirius was obviously scanning the crowd for a certain person.
When he saw a beaming Tarin running straight for him, a matching grin overcame his aristocratic features. He flew to meet her and with her on tip-toe, they kissed a victorious kiss, that went on for quite awhile, causing the observing students to wolf whistle. When they finally resurfaced, their faces defiantly devoid of a blush, they only had eyes for each other. Observing this from amongst the crowd, Renee grinned and hoped that this would turn out better than she had originally thought; Tarin and Sirius both looked like they would be happy together forever.
Sunday night, Tarin and Renee had their monthly 'sleepover' in the Room of Requirement. Lounging on a beanbag chair, Tarin sighed contentedly. "Nay-Nay, have I ever mentioned how extremely glad I am that we overheard those fifth years talking about this place all those years ago? Because I am. This room is amazing."
Renee nodded and took a bite from her licorice wand, just one of the snacks they had stolen from the kitchens.
"So, darling, how's life as Sirius Black's ex-girlfriend?" Tarin asked sarcastically.
Renee grinned. "Great. We still snog in the broom closet between classes."
Tarin laughed. "You know, if you said that to any other girl in Hogwarts, you'd probably get your eyes scratched out."
She shrugged, silently acknowledging the truth of the statement. "So, how's life as Sirius' current love interest?"
That got her started. "Oh my Merlin, it's amazing. He is the sweetest, deepest, and well, most amazing bloke I've ever known."
Renee tried to cut in and stop her before she really got rolling, but it was too late. "We snuck away from the party last night and went up to the Astronomy Tower and talked for ages. Well, okay, there might have been a little - or a lot, of snogging. But then it got cold and we went back to the party and we spent the whole evening together. I swear, we danced every single song together until the party finally broke up."
Renee was starting to tune out, and Tarin finally registered her expression. "Blimey, I'm hogging the whole conversation, aren't I? What's new in your life?"
She laughed. "Trust me, my life is so boring nothing has happened in ages. Really, the most exciting thing was Sirius and I dating, and that wasn't even real."
Tarin scoffed. "Oh, whatever. I bet tons of stuff has happened."
Renee wrackedher brain. "Er, well James Potter wants me to help him get a date with Lily Evans."
"No way! What'd you say?" Tarin asked, always fascinated with new gossip.
"Well, I was going to say no, but, I mean, it's James. He just did his whole heartbroken little kid thing and so I said I'd help once my current matchmaking job was settled. AKA, when you and Sirius are official," Renee said with a wink.
Tarin groaned and threw herself back on the pillows. "Ugh. I think you should change your terms. I don't think he's ever going to ask me out."
Knowing her obligations, Renee flopped down beside her. "What are you talking about? The bloke's bonkers for you!"
Tarin groaned again. "I don't know, I just have this really bad feeling that I'm just another girl to him, just his flavour of the week."
Shaking her head resolutely, Renee denied it. "You're bonkers! The bloke is head over heels for you. Just trust me." She didn't mention that she thought Sirius was just Tarin's flavour of the week.
Looking at her uncertainly, Tarin asked, "Are you sure? There have been so many other girls…"
She reassured her again. "I am absolutely, 100% positive that you are special to him."
Tarin still didn't look convinced, but didn't press it. Instead they talked about the current rumour going around Hogwarts: McGonogall and Dumbledore.
"I'm calling bullshit. I mean, yeah, they're both old, but she's probably still like half his age." Renee said.
"I don't know… I think they'd make a cute couple." Tarin said, smiling sweetly.
Renee looked at her oddly. "Yeah, and the Great Squid is my secret lover."
They dissolved into giggles before finally going to sleep, thoughts full of a weird mixture of the Giant Squid, Sirius, Dumbledore, and McGonogall.
There, we get to see Tarin in a normal and friendly light. She's not really confident, which is a big factor later. Not that you guys can know anything about that, of course. Muahaha. But yeah, decent length chapter, plus a bit of pure silliness at the end. All I know is that if I were a student, I would've definitely thought McGonogall and Dumbledore had a thing.
So, review and tell me your thoughts on their secret love affair. Oh, and the chapter, too. If you feel like it.
Also, not that I've been feeling very creative lately (at all), but I thought I'd offer: whenever this story is done would y'all like me to start writing Renee helping James and Lily get together? I don't really have any ideas, but if you want me to write it then I'll start thinking of some. And you could give me ideas, since my creativity = 0 right now:)
-Nikky