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 Six: Letter Home
When Leah woke again, it was because the sun was shining over her eyelids through her window. She hissed in discomfort and rolled over, dragging her silky pillow over her head, and beside her, someone giggled.
"Good morning, Leah. Up, up, up!" Lily's voice was bright and cheerful, and it seemed to contrast awfully with Leah's thoughts. She dragged herself out of bed and tried not to glare at the happy witch.
"Don't you have something better to do than wake up comfortable, sleeping friends?" Leah's voice was light, and she knew that Lily would take it as a joke.
"Sorry, but Sirius and Remus are going to Hogsmeade later, and they wouldn't leave me alone until I agreed to come up and ask you if you'd go with."
"You could have pretended to, and told them I'd think about it," Leah grumbled. Lily put her hands on her hips.
"Anyway, James and I are going to be studying-" at this, Leah's eyebrows shot up, and Lily blushed. "We are actually going to do some studying, thank you very much."
"I see. I'm not really in the mood for going anywhere," Leah started, but stopped. She couldn't let one bad dream get her down. Besides, she thought. It went without saying that Sirius and Remus would be able to cheer her up. "Alright…I'll be down in a bit," she said, faking a smile. When Lily had gone from the room, Leah began to collect the things she would need in the shower. Her eyes fell upon a single picture in her trunk; two girls, laughing, with their arms around each other's shoulders. One with wavy blonde hair, and the other, more fragile-looking, with dark brown.
"Let's take a picture together!" A young girl, just 14, raised a small camera toward another girl, who sat at a desk and was immersed in a rather thick book. The studious one looked up at her best friend, many nights without sleep showing in her glazed, cerulean eyes.
"What for, Heather? It's not like we're going anywhere."
"Come on, Leah! Something to remember me by, in case…you know," Heather replied sadly, brushing her hair behind her ear. She fiddled with the camera as Leah laughed.
"Don't be ridiculous! I'm not going to let you get caught. We just have to be super careful when you transform. I'm working on a spell that will help you, you know."
"No spells can help a werewolf, Leah."
"I'll make one then!" Leah grinned and put her hands on her hips. "I'll be famous for it, you'll see."
"Well then, let's just take one picture," Heather said, smiling at her best friend's bravado. Her green eyes flashed with hope. "Come on!"
"Alright, alright." The blonde girl stood, closing her book with a thud. "I don't want to read anymore, anyway. I'm not getting anything done this way!"
Leah frowned at the picture. What was she doing in England, anyway? She wasn't going to be able to help Heather from across the planet. With an inaudible sigh, Leah headed to take a shower; hopefully the hot water would help clear her head.
When she walked down the stairs, Sirius was the first to greet her.
"Ah, my beautiful, beautiful flower! Did you sleep well?"
"Of course," Leah said, failing at an attempt to smile. "Those beds are lovely." Sirius glanced at Remus, who shrugged, and Leah tried again to smile. It was obviously not working, because Sirius' face took on a look of concern.
"Oi. Are you…?"
"Fine," she interrupted with false cheeriness. "When were you planning on heading to Hogsmeade?"
"Oh, right!" Sirius scratched his head. "Probably just before ten tonight," he said. "The party here starts at midnight, so that gives us a couple hours to show you around and all."
"Sounds great!" She ran a shaking hand over her vest, smoothing imaginary wrinkles in her clothes as she shifted her bag more comfortably on her shoulder. "I'm going to go to the library, I have an essay to write."
"The library?" Sirius made a face. "Have fun."
"You know," Leah said, mock hurt on her face. "I could be getting murdered in the library and you wouldn't know because you never go near it."
"That's not fair…" Sirius gave her his most charming puppy dog pout, which she was sure he had perfected while in his dog form. Remus stood, collecting his books.
"Don't worry, Sirius, I'll protect her." He smiled at Leah. "If you're okay with it, that is."
"Of course," she said. "The more the merrier!" As they opened the portrait, she smiled back at him. "Last chance, Sirius!"
"I think I'll pass," he said, winking at her. "I'd just distract you, anyway."
"As if," Leah retorted loudly. As soon as they were in the corridor, Remus' smile faded, and Leah hurried to redirect his thoughts from his obvious desire to ask what had upset her.
"I'm going to write a letter to Heather," she said. "Will the owls make it all the way to America?"
"Of course," he answered. "Why has it taken you so long to write to her?"
"…I was afraid to," Leah said after a minute. "I haven't done anything since I got here…I feel like I ran away."
"I'm sure she doesn't feel that way. I think she's glad that you're not in danger anymore."
"That sounds like her," Leah said, sighing. "I'm so worried, Remus."
"I know." Nothing more was said until they reached the library, and while Leah scratched out a long letter to her best friend, Remus was content with merely giving her his company.
Dear Heather, she wrote,
How are you? Sorry it's been so long since I've talked to you. Life is a little hectic here. My first day was a blast, I made some new friends who are just like me! Can you believe it? I told you I wasn't the only one.
First, there's Remus. At this, Leah looked up at Remus.
"Do you mind if I tell her about your condition? I don't want to give it away or anything." He smiled and shook his head, and watched as Leah continued writing, a faraway smile on her face, as if she were remembering good times.
First, there's Remus. He's like you, with the same "condition" and everything, you know? I must attract you people. Would you call that animal magnetism? Anyway, Remus is a great guy, Heather, you'd love him. Literally.
Sirius is the first person I met here at Hogwarts. He's really handsome and playful. The trouble-maker type, I suppose, but he's brilliant. Sometimes, anyway. I guess it's the tattoos that get me. Haha! I'm not sure what it is, but he's just…so likeable!
James and Lily are the classic example of a love-hate relationship. James is a bully and a showoff, and Lily's the smart, pretty girl who thinks he's a complete moron, and somehow they fell in love. Even if they won't admit it yet.
This school is amazing, Heather, I wish you were here with me. It's a castle, an actual, full-scale castle! Secret passage ways, dungeons, and ghosts included. It really is awesome. If you were here, you know what would happen, right? I'd drag you around in the dark and you'd scold me for getting us in trouble and I'd tell you that you were worrying too much.
Speaking of worrying… I've been so worried about you, Heather. Are you well? Besides the obvious of course… Write me back and tell me what's been happening! I don't hear anything about America in the British news.
Your best friend,
Leah Matthews
Leah sighed and reread her letter to make sure it was perfect. She blew on it a while until the ink was dry, and rolled it carefully. "I'll take this up to the Owl Room real quick…Be right back!"
"Alright." And she was off, jogging out of the library and up the eastern tower to where the owls were kept. She picked the strongest-looking owl she could find, though she had no idea how to tell, and slipped her scroll into it's canister.
"Alright, owl. Fly safe to America, and take this to Heather Jenkins." She led him to the window and he shot out like a rocket, spreading his wings against the autumn wind as he took off towards the mountains. With anxiety in her heart, Leah turned to go back to Remus.
--
"Hogsmeade during Halloween is beautiful," Remus told Leah excitedly. "There are jack-o-lanterns everywhere, and they sing!"
"The pumpkins?"
"Yeah. They chant really spooky songs at night, to scare people." He handed a large chunk of foil-wrapped chocolate and smiled at her. "Here, have some chocolate, Leah. Happy Halloween."
"Thank you," Leah said, taking it from his grasp. She slipped it into her pocket and smiled at the young werewolf. Seeing the usually calm, weary boy nearly skipping with excitement was infectious, and she could see Sirius grinning as well.
"What's the matter, Leah?" Sirius looked at her curiously as Remus strode excitedly ahead of them, pausing every now and then to wait for them to catch up. Leah shook her head, and Sirius frowned. "Don't give me that, Lily said you were acting strange this morning."
"I feel fine," she protested half-heartedly. "I'm just a little homesick."
Sirius said nothing more, not wanting to upset her, but he did wrap an arm around her shoulders, and Leah deeply appreciated the small act of comfort. Remus called back to them, his gold and maroon scarf twisting gracefully in the breeze.
"Come on you lovebirds! They've lit the lanterns!" The sky was dark and clear, with thousands and thousands of pricks of light, like glitter, scattered across the darkening velvet. There was a dull glow emanating from the small town of Hogsmeade, and Leah ran forward, eager to see the subjects of Remus' excitement.
"Amazing," she breathed, staring wide-eyed at the town. Jack-o-lanterns lined every road, all singing softly about the headless horseman and other spooky stories. The town was very active, although it was nearly ten at night, with people bustling about and talking merrily.
"It is," Remus agreed. "Let's go to Honeydukes!"
"Oi, I promised James I'd stop at Zonko's," Sirius argued. "Blimey, where should we start? There's so much for us to show you and so little time!"
"It's okay," Leah said, smiling softly. Both boy noticed that the smile did not quite reach her eyes. "We can always come back another time."
"Alright, you heard the lady." Remus stepped forward, holding his arm out for Leah to take, and smiling when Sirius linked his arm to her right one so that they were all walking arm-in-arm. "To Honeydukes it is!" Together the three of them headed down the hill and into the center of the town, stopping in every shop and pub along the way. Leah ended up with an armful of assorted treats and new, fancy quills, while Sirius held a bunch of prank products.
"This chocolate should last me awhile," Remus said, motioning toward the bag he carried. "In any case, we should probably head back…" He glanced at his watch. "Blimey, it's already midnight!"
"We'd best head back," Sirius said. "James is going to get mad at us for being late."
"The prank products should help him cool down," Leah reminded him, licking tentatively at red lollipop. "Ooh, strawberry."
"I love strawberries," Sirius said, snatching the lollipop away. Before Leah could protest, he popped it into his mouth and lathered it with saliva. He laughed and handed it back to her, and she shook it off lightly before sticking it back into her mouth.
"You're a twat," she said. She turned to see that Remus had fallen behind slightly, and they paused to wait. "Oi, hurry, Remus! We're going to be late!" She laughed at the look on Sirius' face when she used his famous word.
"Don't pick up on Sirius' habits," Remus begged. "Please don't…anyone but Sirius…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" He smirked sexily at Leah. "I think it's cute."
Leah blushed and rolled her eyes, stalking ahead of them at a quicker pace. Sirius and Remus jogged to catch up, and soon they were chasing each other across the grounds towards the castle. The game ended once they entered the Gryffindor common room. James stood at the door, tapping his foot impatiently.
"Where were you?" James asked hotly, taking the jokes from Sirius without question. Leah had barely walked into the common room before Lily had snatched her aside and questioned her about Sirius. Leah calmly stated that nothing had, or was going to happen, and that she should drop it.
"Hello, Sirius, Remus." Peter waved to them, and he turned his shy eyes to Leah. "Hello, Leah."
"Hi, Peter." Leah handed him a white package. "Pumpkin pasty?"
"Thanks!" He snatched it away and took to nibbling it while he watched a game of exploding snap. Leah thought he looked rather like a rat. It wasn't until several hours, laughs, treats, and bottles of Firewhiskey later, that everyone finally staggered to their assorted beds.
"But Lils, I'm not even ssssleeeepy," James protested. He laughed at something only he found funny, and Lily rolled her eyes as she heaved him up the stairs.
"I liked you better when you were just an arrogant prat," she said, panting slightly. "I don't think I can handle a drunk and cocky James Potter."
"Aw," Sirius whined. "Don't pick on poor Jamy! Don't worry, mate, I love you just the way you are! Glasses and all!"
"Heeey, what's wrong with my glasses?" Lily sighed at him, exasperated.
"Nothing, Potter. Sirius is just joking."
"Am not," the boy blurted from behind them. James began whining again and Lily shoved him unceremoniously onto the floor of the boys' dorm room, effectively shutting him up.
"There," she said, dusting her hands off. "Finally."
"I'll get Sirius," Remus told Leah, putting his wand away. She stood, helping Sirius to his feet. He stumbled and leaned on Leah for support.
"I thought you said you weren't drunk," Leah accused. Sirius chuckled.
"I'm not drunk! Blame gravity!" He sagged a bit more for emphasis. "It's pulling me down…"
"Stop that," she said, trying not to laugh. "Remus! Take him before he crushes me!" Remus managed to half-drag the drunken boy up the stairs, and from inside, a loud shout was heard as Leah began climbing the stairs to her own bed.
"Good night, Leah! Dream about me!"
"Good night, Sirius!" Leah shook her head at Lily, who was laughing quietly at the top of the stairs of the girls' dorms. They heard a loud curse from Remus and a heavy thud, followed by James' boisterous laughter, and both the girls decided to go to bed before they were further witness to what could be murder.
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A/N: Ta-dah! My longest chapter yet, to make up for the time delay. Things are about to get a little more serious. Or should I say… Sirius? Stay tuned, readers! Thanks, and please review!