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 Five: Something Strange
It was almost Halloween, and Leah was sure she was going to have a heart attack. Not only had her Marauder's started playing pranks on one another to celebrate the upcoming holiday, but now they were playing pranks on her, as well. And it wasn't just James, Remus, and Sirius pulling the pranks; everyone seemed eager to introduce to Leah how the Hogwarts' students celebrate Halloween. Harmless pranks were one thing. She could find the humor in chocolates that turned her tongue blue, or even in the jokes that forced her to pick up her scattered scrolls and books from down the hall. There were some jokes, however, that totally crossed the line. And the only creature who dared cross that line was the one thing that she couldn't physically maim with her well-known temper: a ghost.
"PEEVES!! GET BACK HERE WITH MY CLOTHES!!"
The portly ghost cackled and disappeared through the wall of the girls' shower room, leaving Leah in nothing but a towel. She looked around for her wand, and remembered with horror that it was in her bag, which Peeves had just taken away. Now she was stranded there. It was only a little ways down the corridor from the common room. She might make it without being seen if she ran fast.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," Leah cried as she sprinted down the empty hall. "I'm going to get caught and OH MY GOD, FIRST YEARS!" She threw herself behind a tapestry and waited for them to pass, but then the bell rang. She bit back a rather unladylike curse and shifted from one foot to the other. It was very cold, and she was still wet from the bath. After most of the rush died down, a familiar voice caught her attention.
"Hey, look at the map, Prongs. Leah's around here somewhere." He seemed confused. "In the hall? That's weird, the hall's empty."
"Leah?" She heard Remus' voice and sighed with relief. "I could totally kiss you guys right now."
"Sounds good," Sirius said. He followed her voice and pulled the tapestry back slightly to peek inside. His eyes widened. "Why in Merlin's name are you in a towel?!" He slipped off his cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders.
"Peeves took my clothes from my dorm and then what I was wearing and my wand while I was in the shower," Leah said, teeth chattering slightly. "I was going to go back to the common room to wait for you, but the bell rang…"
"That bloody – Are you alright?" His hand brushed her arm and he flinched. "Damn, Leah, you're freezing!"
"I'm fine," she replied. Remus looked at her concernedly, and James kept watch for other students roaming the halls. Sirius nudged her gently toward Remus and smiled.
"Me and James have to go to detention with McGonagall," he said. "Moony will take you to the common room, though. Moony, can you grab her some of my clothes, until Peeves decides to give hers back?"
"Sure. Come on, Leah." Remus wrapped an arm around her back comfortingly, but it didn't give her the tingle of warmth she felt when Sirius did it. She turned just in time to watch Sirius and James disappear under the Invisibility Cloak.
"Why would Sirius and James need the Invisibility Cloak to go to detention?" Leah stepped into the common room and was grateful that no one was around. Remus smiled.
"They're going to go get your clothes," he said. "Sirius was very angry."
"He looked normal to me," Leah said. "But you know him better, of course." Remus disappeared up into the boy's dorm, returning with a pair of satiny black pajama pants and a white t-shirt.
"Sorry, he doesn't have any…" Remus blushed. "Undergarments for women."
"That's fine," Leah said as her cheeks matched Remus' in color. "I'll manage until they get back." So she headed up into her room to change, sighing happily as Sirius' musky scent drifted up to her nose. She smiled. It felt like it was him wrapped around her, and not his clothes. A morose feeling settled over her heart. He was much too popular to be interested in the likes of her. When she padded lightly down the stairs, Remus had started a small fire in the fireplace with his wand and pulled out his book, sitting down in a chair. Leah sat on the couch beside his chair, and he looked over at her.
"Is something wrong? Besides your missing clothes."
"Am I likeable, Remus?"
"Of course." He looked surprised. "You're an excellent friend, Leah."
"I mean, more than a friend," she said, staring into the fire. "Am I…attractive?"
"Oh, well…I…um," he put down his book and scratched his head. "I'm not sure how to answer that." She frowned and nodded in understanding, and Remus sighed, trying again. "You're a beautiful young woman, and you're smart. And you're so fun to be around. I don't see how anyone could not fall for you," he said. She couldn't hold back her shy smile, and he affectionately ruffled her still-damp hair as she stretched out on her back the couch. "Tell me what you're thinking," he asked politely.
"I think I like someone," she said quietly, "but I don't think he likes me."
"How do you know?"
"Well he's popular, and sweet, and funny, and all the girls like him. I wouldn't stand a chance," she said. Remus nodded.
"Does he pay attention to these other girls, or does he pay attention to you?"
"A little of both," she admitted. "He talks to other girls and flirts with them, but once I come around, he doesn't even glance in their direction."
"Sounds like Sirius," Remus said knowingly. Leah gasped and rolled over to look at him, her stormy blue eyes pleading with him.
"Please don't tell," she said. "I don't want things to be awkward because of me!"
"You can trust me," Remus reminded her kindly. "You know that."
"Yeah," Leah agreed, laying down again. "Yeah, I knew that." Remus chuckled softly, and soon all that Leah heard was the ticking of a clock, the whisper of the flames in the fireplace, and the slow, steady rhythm of pages being turned in a book. Closing her eyes, Leah decided that she could get away with a small nap before Sirius returned.
--
"Sshh! Don't wake her up, Lily, she's sleeping," Remus' voice said. Leah stifled a groan, sighing mentally. She really hated being a light sleeper.
"Poor girl! I don't fancy having to run through the halls in just a towel," a feminine voice said quietly. "Peeves sure is going to get a talking to from Dumbledore."
"I should have exorcized that bloody git," a more familiar voice growled. Someone sat down onto the couch slowly, and Leah moved her feet to allow them room. The husky voice chuckled and sat down, pulling her feet into his lap. "Morning, Sleeping Beauty."
Leah yawned, opening her eyes and looking around. Sirius lounged beside her on the couch, while Lily and James stood in front of her, while Remus remained in his chair. "How long was a sleep, Remus?"
"About two hours," he told her. She nodded and tried to get comfortable again, and Sirius handed her a soft pillow.
"Here you go. Lily brought all of your things upstairs," he explained. Leah, trying to keep her eyes open, looked over at him.
"You found them?"
"Yeah."
"Thank you," she said sleepily, reaching out to him. A grin appeared on her lips. "You've come to my rescue again, Mr. Black…" Sirius grabbed her hand and smiled back at her.
"That's why I'm here."
James and Lily snickered at their 'moment' and turned to go patrol the halls as Head Boy and Girl, waving to Remus and Sirius as they left. Leah's steady breathing alerted them that she had fallen asleep again and Sirius sighed.
"Moony, what am I supposed to do?" The werewolf didn't look surprised at his best friend's sudden question. He turned to Sirius.
"I don't know," he said, "but you and Leah have something special, Padfoot. Can't you see the way she smiles when you're around? It's a brighter smile than when you're not there." He tried not to get too detailed for fear of breaking his promise to Leah. "It's obvious you like her, why don't you just keep doing what you're doing until you get the nerve to ask her out?"
"Yeah," he said, still troubled. "That makes sense. Thanks, Moony."
"That's why I'm here," Remus said, quoting Sirius from just moments ago. Sirius smiled distantly as he toyed with Leah's hair.
"Oi, she looks pretty cute in my clothes, doesn't she?"
"Yes, Sirius, she does." Remus rolled his eyes and continued reading his book on Egyptian magic, trying not to laugh at the obvious love in his best friend's eyes when he looked at their newest friend.
--
A/N: So? How was it? It took a bit more organization for this chapter. The next chapter has more to it than this one, which was just fluff, really. Stay tuned, readers! Thanks, and please review!