Title: Girl of His Dreams
Disclaimer: I don't own the Marauders, but I sure wouldn't mind if I did. ;P They belong to J.K. Rowling. I do, however, own Leah Matthews and the other OCs. Don't steal, please!
Summary: Everyone knew that Sirius needed a steady girl to keep him in line. It was also common knowledge that only one woman could handle a man like Sirius Black, and Sirius couldn't agree with his fellow students more. OC STORY, PLEASE READ
Girl of His Dreams
Chapter Two: How They Have Fun
"Leah…" A voice softly called out to her, and she was pulled from her peaceful slumber. In irritation, she slapped feebly at the hand that shook her shoulder, and there was a soft chuckle.
"Good morning, sunshine! We're at Hogwarts. Wouldn't you like to get off the train now?" Sirius stood in front of her, a smile on his face.
Leah sat up quickly, looking around to see their car nearly empty. "Ah, damn it. Are we late?"
"Nope…but we will be if we don't hurry." Sirius grabbed his jacket and led her off the train, weaving through students that crowded around horseless carriages. When they reached a dark lake, he turned to Leah, pointing to a small boat that floated toward them. "These are the boats that the first years ride. We're supposed to take the carriages," he said, pointing over his shoulder. "But Moony and I decided that technically you're a first year."
"Where is Remus?"
"Right…there!" Sirius said, pointing into the darkness. Leah couldn't see anything, but soon a figure appeared in the dark. "He was securing us a boat."
"Stealing, more like," Remus muttered. Sirius shrugged and jumped in the boat, helping Leah in beside him. Remus climbed in with a bit of difficulty, but soon they were off, the boat skimming over the surface of the lake smoothly. The lake was large, but it didn't take them long to reach the shallow water around the castle.
"SIRIUS BLACK!!" A loud, piercing cry rang out from the shore and the silver-eyed boy laughed nervously at Remus, who looked edgy as well, shaking his head and trying to duck down behind Sirius. The silver-eyed boy grinned disarmingly, using as much charm as possible on the woman.
"Good evening, Professor McGonagall…"
"What in Merlin's name do you think you're doing?!" A woman in a neat green cloak stood by the shore, tapping her foot impatiently. She had bronze-colored hair, up in a bun. "Why couldn't you just take a carriage like the other seventh years?"
"Well, you see, Professor…Leah is new here. So, technically she's a first year, and we decided since it's her first and last year at Hogwarts, she should take the boat," Remus said honestly.
"Oh, Miss Matthews is with you! Welcome to Hogwarts, my dear." Leah climbed out of the boat with Remus' help while McGonagall chastised Sirius.
"Um, Professor? I'm still a little confused on how things work here," Leah interrupted with false shyness. She glanced back at Remus and Sirius pointedly and said, "I asked them to come with me so I wouldn't get lost, and I'm a bit afraid of the dark…"
"Well…in that case, I award Gryffindor 10 points for helping a fellow student in need." The Professor began to walk quickly back up to the castle. "Come along, or you'll miss supper."
Leah sighed in relief. "Being a new student has its advantages… That was me paying you back for the immunity," she told Sirius with a wink. She followed after Professor McGonagall, eager to explore the castle. Sirius stood, frozen to the spot, and Remus looked back at him questioningly.
"Moony…" Sirius' voice was just a whisper. "I think I'm in love." Remus huffed and shoved his best friend forward to get him walking.
"Of course you are, Leah's a pretty young girl who you haven't sucked face with yet."
"That's just a bonus," he protested. His eyes flashed and he grinned. "Did you just say 'yet?'" Remus just rolled his eyes and walked away. When they met up with the new girl in the Great Hall a few minutes later, she was standing by the door with Lily and James.
"Oi, Padfoot!" James grinned mischievously. "McGonagall wants us all to show Leah around the castle after we all eat."
"No way, she said that?"
"Well I am Head Boy," he pointed out, "and I just invited you guys along. Let's hurry and eat, this will be fun." He pulled out a folded piece of parchment, causing Sirius to grin.
"Oh yes it will…" He held out his arm to Leah. "Shall I show you the way, milady?"
"I can walk myself," Leah said, blushing slightly. James cuffed Sirius upside the head lightly, laughing at his best friend.
"You're scaring her," James joked. He and Lily began walking toward the long, crowded tables, and Leah waited for Remus to catch up to them. He smiled at her gratefully.
"You didn't have to wait," he said. "Thanks."
"No problem," Leah said. She walked with him and Sirius, and many of the other Gryffindors introduced themselves to her as she sat down. It wasn't long before she heard someone whisper about how she was hanging out with the Marauders. She assumed that Sirius and Remus and James must've been the Marauders. Minutes later, she was sure her face was bright red from all the attention, and Sirius poked her cheek, laughing at her.
"Lay off for awhile, guys, she's blushing like mad!"
"I am not," she protested. "I'm just…uh…"
"Thirsty?" Remus handed her a goblet. "Have some pumpkin juice," he said. Leah accepted the goblet and stared into it questioningly. It was a thick orange liquid.
"What is it?"
"Pumpkin juice," he answered. "I was surprised when I first tried it too, but it's very good."
Leah tipped the cup up to her lips and sipped it, surprised by sweet, yet tangy taste the pumpkin juice held. It reminded her of apple cider, for some reason. She blinked in surprise, and turned to Remus.
"Wow, it is good! I've never had anything like it!"
"Pumpkin juice is really good," the girl across from Leah said. She had introduced herself as Melaina, and had short black hair and dark eyes. She held up a mug. "It's like tea!"
"Yeah," Leah said. "I've already eaten so much of these little meatball things…" She poked at one on her plate and scowled. "I wouldn't be surprised if I puffed up just like one of them soon…"
"It's getting kinda late, guys. Let's give Leah tour," Sirius said, rising to his feet. James nodded, and Remus stood, as well. Lily smiled up at them.
"Unfortunately, I don't get to baby-sit you guys this evening. I have to lead the first years to the Common Room," she said. "Don't get into any trouble, or else."
"Of course not," James said with mock hurt in his voice. "I can't believe you think I would do such a thing…"
"Off with you, Potter." She turned her head, and he sighed, turning back to his friends. Lily glanced at Leah with a smirk on her face. "He's all ego and no brains," she joked. "Don't let his arrogance fool you!"
"I'll keep that in mind," Leah agreed, rising to her feet with a smile. Sirius and Remus were arguing again, and Leah growled softly shoving firmly past Sirius. "Hey, cut that out you two."
"Oi, we were just playing," he said. He tied his long black tresses back into a messy ponytail that looked good on him and grinned. "Did you want my attention, Matthews? I'm sorry! I won't ignore you any longer!"
"Oh, shut up."
"If you wanted me all to yourself, you should have just asked!" The four of them walked out of the Great Hall and into the main corridor, talking and joking loudly. James sighed and stretched, reaching up to the ceiling as he rearranged his bag on his shoulder.
"I've missed Hogwarts," he said. "I don't know what I'm going to do after it's all over."
"You could be a professional Quidditch player," Remus suggested. Sirius wrapped his arm around Remus' shoulders, his other arm around Leah.
"I don't know what I'm going to do," he said. "What about you, Leah?"
"I'm not sure," she said. "I want to be one of the witches who fight evil wizards, I think. I've always liked dueling."
"That's a lot of excitement," James agreed. Remus shook his head. "I'd like to help the Ministry, but I'd have a hard time getting a job."
"Why?" Leah looked over at him, confused, and everyone became quiet. Remus paled, and James laughed nervously. "Sorry," she said quickly, hoping to change the subject. "Anyway, James, where are we going first?"
"I thought we'd show her to the common room first," Sirius interrupted. James fumbled for his words and merely nodded. Leah twirled to face them all, a smile placed on her lips.
"Does Hogwarts have a big library, Sirius?"
"Oh, don't tell me you're another bookworm," Sirius said, disappointment laced in his words. Leah huffed, reaching back to flick her ponytail back over her shoulder in irritation.
"Reading makes you smart, Sirius, something you might want to look into." He smirked at her roguishly in response and James snickered.
"She's got a quick mouth, that one. I'd say she's way out of your league, Padfoot."
"Oi! Don't be such a prat, Prongs!" Sirius pulled Leah closer to him. "I'll make you love me or die trying," he teased. Leah smiled wickedly and replied,
"Don't get my hopes up." James laughed at the disbelieving look on Sirius's face, and Remus chuckled as well.
"I think that's the first time you've ever been flat-out refused," James said through his laughter. "I like you already, Leah." They finally reached the end of the corridor, and there before them was a set of white, stone stairs, and James took the lead, followed by Sirius. Leah turned to Remus, who was walking quietly behind them, a distant look in his golden eyes.
"Is everything alright back there, Remus?"
"Yes, I just…about earlier…I didn't mean…" He looked distraught, and Leah smiled, trying to make him feel less awkward.
"What do you mean, Remus? …We've all been just joking around, remember?" Sirius winked at him from behind her.
"That's right, mate. You must've imagined it."
"Oh, I see…" The smile on his face was brighter than Leah had ever seen it, and she felt strangely proud that she had cleared his mind. "Well, I suppose I should keep my head out of the clouds." Leah nodded, laughing.
"Oi," Sirius said suddenly, ducking behind a pillar. He vaguely reminded Leah of the spies on the American TV shows. "First years are coming, dead ahead! Shall we, Prongs?"
"Leah, you're about to watch a prank done Marauder-style!" Pulling his wand out of his belt, James muttered a soft string words as his wand tip began to glow a soft green. He walked forward until he stood before a painting of a rather large woman in a pink dress, stooping slightly to draw a long green line on the ground. Four lines connected to make a rather large rectangle, and the lines disappeared. He dashed back, stifling his laughter the whole way.
Leah looked confused; the ground where he had drawn the box lay looked perfectly normal. What had he done? "You know," she said randomly, "I once heard that you can tell a lot about a person by how they have fun."
"Well you're about to know a hell of a lot about us," Sirius snickered.
Suddenly a troop of younger kids began filing up the stairs, headed straight for the stone floor beneath the portrait. Leah waited with bated breath, eager to see this hidden prank. The girl in the lead had long brown hair, and was talking animatedly with a young boy who looked as though he really didn't care. She took a step past where he had drawn the box and suddenly the floor vanished, revealing a large pool of green slime instead. The girl toppled in, and several other classmates falling in after her, for not paying attention. Unfortunately, the majority of the ones who fell in were girls, and they immediately began whining about their hair and clothes.
"Awesome," Leah whispered. "But I think I should add something. Do you mind?"
"Not at all," James said, grinning. "Here, take this." He pulled a bunch of silvery fabric out of his bag and handed it to her. "You know what this is?"
"An invisibility cloak," she whispered, amazed. "I've read about them, but…Wow, you're so lucky!"
"Yeah." James draped it around her, not surprised a bit when she vanished from their sight completely. "What are you going to do?"
"You'll see." And she walked away. She stepped lightly toward the pool of slime, though she doubted anyone would hear her over the girl's crying. Well I'll give them something to cry about, Leah thought with a short laugh. She pointed her own wand, made of ebony, at the lime green goop.
"Sepentralis." Brown and green ribbons slipped from her wand, forming the shapes of snakes. She was glad she had learned this in her second year as a prank to play on the girls who always played in the pool. They were harmless, after all, being made of rubber.
"Oh, what's that?" A girl asked suddenly. Screams followed immediately, and Leah strode back to the others, a grin on her face. Once she was behind the pillar, she slipped off the cloak, snickering when they jumped lightly. Sirius grinned.
"Snakes? Bloody brilliant, but watch this!" He crouched and said softly, "Arachnos."
"Oh!" Leah watched as tarantulas burst from his wand, scuttling forward on hairy legs toward the pool where the first years stood in shock and confusion. The girls in the pool of slime began wailing. They didn't want to stay with the snakes, but they certainly didn't want to climb out and play with the spiders. "No where to go now," she snickered. Sirius laughed, too, as James folded his cloak and put it away.
"Where's Lily?" Remus seemed to be the only one who noticed she wasn't with the first years, and everyone began searching the crowd of students for her. Suddenly, from behind them, a very angry feminine voice asked,
"Having fun, Potter? Black?"
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A/N: CHAPTER TWO!! Well, how was it? It was longer than most of my chapters, but that's what happens when you have fun writing this story!! More of Leah's story will be revealed later! Thanks for reading, PLEASE REVIEW!!