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 Three: Feeling A Connection
James froze, his typical reaction to her angry tone, and Sirius jumped as Leah gave a soft cry of surprise. Remus merely walked away to help the first years clean off, humming softly as a victorious smile lit is features.
"Oi, why does he get to leave?"
"Because, Black, he's never in on it!" Lily stomped her foot. "What did those first years ever do to you?"
"Aw, it was just a harmless joke…" James ruffled his already messy hair. "Look, Moony just cleaned them up and sent them inside. No big deal!"
"They're probably traumatized," Lily scolded. "I told you, no pranks!"
Sirius slowly backed behind Leah, but he had to crouch, considering he was over a head taller than her. Lily didn't even seem to notice he had moved, as she was busy chastising James on maturity.
"Let's split," he whispered into Leah's ear. "She's too busy trying to get James to grow up."
"What'll happen if we leave them alone?"
"They'll argue, he'll ask her out, and she'll get pissy and leave," he said matter-of-factly. Leah shrugged and edged away from the red-headed girl, sighing with relief once they were in the empty corridor. The first years must have left for the Common Room without them noticing, because only Remus stood there. The giant pit of slime was still remained untouched, but the spiders and snakes were all gone.
"I don't know why nobody listens when I try to tell them you're not as innocent as you look," he said, scowling. He stood on the edge of the pool of slime, looking into it blankly. Remus chuckled.
"I'm not as much of a delinquent as you, Padfoot, that's all that counts."
"It's my first day and I'm already a delinquent…?" Leah sighed. "You guys are a bad influence."
"Oi, you already said that you were expelled," Sirius said. "I'm not that bad, at least."
"Yes…that is true," she said, narrowing her eyes slightly as she thought back. She allowed a smile, although sad, to fall on her lips. "I'm not ashamed of what I did. That's all that matters." She looked up at them, almost pleadingly. "Wouldn't either of you make sacrifices for what you believe in?"
Sirius looked apologetic when he nodded, and Remus remained silent. Leah shrugged the topic off to lighten the mood and noticed that Remus and Sirius were standing at the edge of the pit of slime. She stepped forward, hiding a smile, and placed a hand on their shoulders.
"I'm sorry, you guys."
"For what, Leah?" But she didn't have to answer the golden-eyed boy, because he was suddenly shoulder-high in sticky green slime and speechless. Sirius clawed his way toward the edge, swearing loudly as he slipped and became immersed in the slime once more.
"Ack!" Remus ignored Sirius' difficulties and waded over to the edge where Leah stood, calmly extending his hand to her. "This is highly uncomfortable," he said. "If you please…?"
"Wait, me too! I can't get out!" Sirius flung himself toward the edge. "Help me!"
Leah laughed loudly and gripped one of their hands in each of hers, ready to pull them out of the pool, but Sirius grinned, and she realized her mistake. Before she could release their hands, Remus and Sirius dragged her in.
"Oh, gross! It's warm!" Leah shuddered in mild disgust, glaring at the boys menacingly. "You, my friends, are a horrible, horrible people."
"I love you, too," Sirius answered sarcastically. Remus laughed as the blonde-haired girl struggled to wipe the ooze off of her face.
"You started it, Leah." Before she could answer, a loud, "CANNONBALL!" erupted from over their heads, and James leapt into the pool, causing it to splatter everywhere.
"DAMMIT, Prongs! I JUST got it out of my hair!" Sirius sighed and slumped into the slime, wiping it from his face. Just as he finished, Leah scooped up a handful and shoved it against his forehead, whistling innocently as it dripped down his cheeks. He spluttered and rubbed furiously at his face, but everyone was content with throwing slime in his face once he had it cleaned. "Knock it off!"
"So, guys, are you ready to learn your lesson about playing pranks?" Everyone looked up, confused, as Lily tapped her shoulder thoughtfully with her wand. James looked horrified and leapt for the edge of the pool in a desperate attempt at escape, but slipped and fell instead. "I don't think so, Potter." Her wand flashed, and the thick green slimed dried and hardened back into the stone floor of the corridor.
"I can't move," Sirius said, trying to pull himself out. "We've been cemented!"
Lily smirked and said, "Lunara scorpem." The painting of the obese woman swung open, and the red-haired girl stepped inside, closing the painting back behind her. Remus blinked.
"Did she just leave us here?"
"Did she just walk through the wall?" Leah asked in surprise. James shook his head. "That's the entrance to the Gryffindor Common Room," he said. Everyone became quiet, and Sirius said suddenly,
"Hey, I still have my wand in my hand!" He grinned. "I'll just blast us out of here…"
"You're going to blast our legs off," Leah mumbled. Sirius rolled his eyes at her lack of faith, and said quietly,
"Reducto!" Remus cried out as the stone exploded, sending him flying back down the hall, while James was merely tossed up into the air, yelling out in surprise. Leah, however, found herself knocked back over the railing of the stairs, and before she knew what had happened, she began to plummet toward the ground, several stories below.
"LEVI CORPUS!" Leah squeezed her eyes shut against the sensation that she was falling. It wasn't until strong arms wrapped around her that she opened them, only to see Sirius embracing her. "Leah, are you alright? Damn, I shouldn't have done that…" His voice seemed shaky, but Leah was sure it was just her imagination.
"Am I dead?"
"No," he said, chuckling. Leah sighed in relief.
"Then I'm fine," she replied, laughing shakily. She pointed her wand at the ground, repairing the hole in the floor before cleaning herself and Sirius off. Remus stumbled toward them, a stern look in his golden eyes as he helped James up off the floor.
"We," he said firmly, "are never doing that again."
Leah couldn't help but laugh, and soon the three boys were laughing with her. James wiped off his glasses and yawned.
"I think this was the best first day back ever," he said. "Thanks, Leah. You're really making our last year one of the best."
"Oh, but…" She blushed. "We just met, and I haven't really done anything special…"
"Don't be ridiculous," Remus said kindly. "There's something about you that we all have in common, and it gives us an almost instant connection."
"There aren't too many girls like you around," Sirius agreed. "You're one of a kind."
"Thank you," Leah said, trying not to blush. "I'm glad I have friends so soon."
James struck a valiant pose in front of the portrait, but after a moment, turned to Sirius and Remus. "What was the password again?" They deadpanned and lowered their heads in defeat, but Leah just shook her head.
"Lunara scorpem," she answered. The portrait nodded and swung open, revealing a wide opening into a brightly lit room. They scrambled through the entrance to see the rest of the Gryffindors lazing about and conversing. James rolled up his sleeves, having spotted Lily by the fire, talking with a couple of girls.
"I'm going to give Evans a piece of my mind," he said. Leah tugged him back by his shirt, shaking her head.
"Tell you're sorry and walk away," she said. He looked at her like she was crazy, but rolled his eyes and did it anyway. Lily glanced at him evenly before turning back to her friends: a blonde girl with big, blue eyes, and a brunette who was kind of portly but looked very nice. James opened his mouth to say something snide, but Leah cleared her throat in warning and he sighed.
"Sorry, Evans." He turned and walked back to them, looking annoyed. "There, was that all?"
Sirius and Remus watched with amazement as Lily stopped what she was doing and turned to stare at James in surprise. Slowly, a smile bloomed on her face and she turned her attention back to the other girls, who began talking excitedly. Leah smiled at the boys, who looked at her like she was – well, magic.
"A little responsibility goes a long way," she explained. "The more defensive you get, the more she's going to compare you to an immature child." Soon after, Lily approached them, smiling kindly at Leah.
"Leah, I noticed your stuff upstairs in the dorms. If you'd like, I could show you where it is. There was a package on your bed, too. It was sort of long and rectangular."
"My broom," Leah cried out happily. James looked at her in surprise.
"You fly?"
"I haven't in awhile, but I loved to back in America. We had weekly races that I used to compete in," she explained. Sirius sighed romantically and clutched his heart.
"Is there anything you can't do, Miss Matthews?"
"I'm not very good at swimming and math," she said, placing a finger on her chin thoughtfully. She hummed and shook her head. "Other than that, I think I'm pretty good at everything."
"Well her ego matches Padfoot's, that's for sure…"
"Please, James, like you're one to make fun of anyone's ego," Lily said.
"Aw, now you're just being mean, Prongs…I'm a lovable guy, right?" No one said anything and he huffed, folding his arms over his chest. "Bloody traitors…"
Leah smiled. "I'm actually pretty tired, guys, I think I'll head to the dorms a bit early." She stifled a yawn and scratched the back of her head sheepishly.
"Yeah, that's a good idea," Remus said. "We start our classes tomorrow."
"Damn it." Sirius knocked his head against the wall slightly. "I forgot about school."
"Maybe we'll have some classes together," Leah said hopefully. "Today was a lot of fun, thanks guys."
"Goodnight, Leah." Remus headed toward the boys' dorms, and Sirius followed, waving to Leah as he called out,
"Have sweet dreams about me!"
James winked at Leah and Lily before running off after his best friends. Lily shook her head. "I don't know what's come over me."
"Love?" Leah ducked as Lily swung her arm out, and laughed. "Just kidding, just kidding! I guess it's true what they say about the red-haired temper…"
"Would you like to find out?"
"No way!" Leah raced up the stairs in record time, Lily following after her, laughing. Leah turned to the red-haired girl and smiled as she began to unpack. "I think I'm going to like it here after all," she said. Lily smiled back.
"I hope so. I like having another girl around who knows how to put up with the Marauders."
The lights went out a few moments later, and Leah rolled over in her bed to face the uncovered window, showing her a nearly full moon. She sighed. It's almost time for the full moon…will Heather be okay when she transforms?
Setting her restless thoughts of home aside, she burrowed beneath the covers and allowed herself to fall into a peaceful sleep.
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A/N: So, unless you didn't catch it, there's one little clue to a piece of Leah's past. More coming up! Also, PLEASE REVIEW!! It's encouraging to get good reviews that I should continue the story. :D Thanks for reading!