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!
Girl of His Dreams
Chapter Nine: All for Nothing
"Hey, babe." Sirius gave his girlfriend a quick kiss on the cheek, smiling at her. "You look unbelievably sexy in that Quidditch uniform."
"Thank you," Leah said, looking him over. "You don't look too bad yourself."
It was nearing the end of the Quidditch tryouts, and Leah was happier than she had ever been at Hogwarts; she had just been assigned as a chaser for the Gryffindor team, and their captain, Jeremiah Greeney, had said she was a spectacular flier. He had given her a uniform, and, though it had taken several minutes to explain to Sirius that no, he could not watch, she was able to change into it. They'd only been going out for a week and he was already like an overprotective watchdog. No pun intended of course, Leah thought to herself, giggling softly.
"Red and gold look good on you," Remus told her, smiling warmly. Before she could reply, Jeremiah called everyone on the newly formed team to stand around him for a last talk. The team huddled around, eager for their first 'pep talk.'
"Alright, team. We have both veteran and new players, and this is good. We don't have lots of time to practice, since the first game is in a week-"
"What?!" One of the other chasers, Ashley, pushed forward. "Why so soon?!"
"It's actually very late in the year to start the season," he told her. "We were having trouble getting students to play."
"A week, huh?" Leah looked around at the other players. "We can do it, guys. We're all really good, and both James and Jeremiah have been playing Quidditch all seven years here. It'll be easy, with their help."
"She's right," Ashley said. "Besides, our first match is against a bunch of Slytherins! We'd win even without practice!" The rest of the team laughed, and Jeremiah clapped Leah on the back happily as the team began joking around.
"Nice job, Matthews. I didn't know you were an inspirational speaker, too!" Leah blushed, and Sirius wrapped his arms around her from behind, kissing her hair softly.
"I told you," he said. "You're a fast learner, and you're the kind of spirit Gryffindor is famous for."
"Thanks, but I still feel like I just swallowed a thousand rabid butterflies," she said, sighing. "I'm all talk."
"Rabid butterflies?" Remus scratched his chin in thought. "Those can't be very dangerous…"
"They are once they're in your stomach," Leah argued pathetically. "They eat at your insides until you're nothing but a gutless coward."
"Woe is you," Sirius sighed. "My poor baby has to play Quidditch against the big bad Slytherins…" He shrugged. "You can always sit out if you're afr…" He drifted off when Leah's wand jabbed him lightly in the ribs. He looked down into her suddenly fiery blue eyes and she quirked an eyebrow.
"Finish that, I dare you."
"So…Remus, what do you want to do after class?" he asked. Leah grinned and put her wand away, and Sirius chuckled into her hair. "I love you… even if you do pick on me."
"I love you, too," Leah said softly. Jeremiah scheduled practice for the next day and everyone went their separate ways; Leah and Sirius, walking hand-in-hand and accompanied by Remus, headed to the common room, so that the couple could change before their next class. James, however, ran off to find Lily and most likely show off his new uniform.
"Charms should be fun," Leah said. "I didn't get to completely transform Bellatrix's hair pink last time."
"It was more of an odd orange," Remus recalled. "She almost cried."
"Serves her right," Leah huffed. "No one insults my friends and gets away with it."
"So protective," Sirius said, swinging their arms. "Blibbergut." The Fat Lady portrait swung open, and they filed inside. Leah released Sirius' hand and pranced up the stairs, humming joyously.
"I'll be right down!"
"Hurry," Remus called back, as Sirius disappeared into his own room. Leah quickly stripped out of her uniform and changed into her school outfit, twirling in front of her mirror one last time before leaping down the stairs and snatching her bag from Remus.
"Thanks Rem!" She stopped. "Oh, is it okay if I call you that? Sorry, I forgot to ask earlier…"
"It's fine," Remus said, surprised. "I'm honored that you've given me a nickname."
"Would you two hurry up? Blimey," Sirius' voice called from the door. "We're going to be late, and Flitwick may be small, but he does have a temper…" Leah ran to meet her boyfriend in the hall and leapt on his back, laughing as he pulled her further up. "Oh, a piggy back ride, is it?"
"I'm tired from not using my legs at all during tryouts," she teased. Sirius shook his head as they started walking, and Remus sighed in disappointment.
"We're going to be late again," he groaned. Leah smiled.
"Relax, Rem. Everything is going to be fine. Professor Flitwick won't mind, once he knows we were at tryouts."
That was in fact, the case.
"Congratulations on making the team, Miss Matthews." Remus muttered something about having teachers wrapped around her finger, while Flitwick stood on his podium and began giving the class instructions on how to perform a basic disguise charm. "You must focus on the change," he squeaked. Leah bit her lip in concentration and pointed her wand at the back of Bellatrix's head, smirking as Bella's hair turned a sickly green. Remus looked at Leah and noticed no difference in her appearance.
"Nothing's happening," he informed her. "Are you focusing?"
"Very much so," Leah said with a laugh. Remus looked over and saw Bella's hair shrivel, and the Slytherin girl reached up in confusion, only to have her hair fall out in chunks around her. She shrieked in horror as Leah bit back her laughter. Remus rolled his eyes. Flitwick waved his wand to return Bellatrix to normal, glancing at Leah questioningly.
"Miss Matthews, have you tried to disguise yourself?"
"I'm actually Sirius," she lied. Beside her, Sirius raised a shy hand.
"I'm Leah," he said softly. "We switched seats."
"Oh, very very good! Amazing… I couldn't even tell… Ah, Professor McGonagall, how wonderful to see you! Sirius Black is right there," he said, pointing to Leah. Sirius laughed at the questioning look on McGonagall's face walked forward.
"I haven't done anything," Leah said, faking bewilderment as she continued to act as Sirius. McGonagall frowned and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Miss Matthews, if you'd please come with me to my office?" Leah stopped joking and nodded, confused, as she stood. Sirius tightened his grip on her hand for a second before allowing her to walk away with the Professor. Leah turned to McGonagall as the classroom door swung shut behind them.
"Professor, what's going on?"
"Miss Matthews, I'm afraid I have some bad news." They hadn't reached her office yet; in fact, they were barely ten feet away from Professor Flitwick's door. Leah felt her heart pound in her chest, her hands shaking uncontrollably as a painful wave of cold fear washed over her.
"Is it Heather? What happened? What's…What's gone wrong?" Leah's voice was frantic, and McGonagall placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Your letter came back," she said sadly, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a slip of paper. "This note was with it." Leah snatched it from McGonagall's grasp and began reading it, her fingers growing more numb with every word.
I don't have long, Leah. They found us. I'm so sorry I won't get to greet you when you come home. I'm sorry I never got to meet Sirius. The hunters are on their way, there's nothing we can do, okay? Don't feel bad. None of this is your fault.
Leah let out a disbelieving gasp as she tried to keep her hands still, and McGonagall wrapped an arm around her to try and comfort her. The ink was smudged and the writing was sloppy, Leah noticed. Heather must have been in a hurry when she was writing it.
Keep working on that potion, okay? Do it for Remus. He still has a chance. Thank you for everything, my sister. You did so much for me. Goodbye.
I love you,
Heather.
PS: Be happy
"I'm terribly sorry," McGonagall whispered. "She was found dead soon after this was sent."
Leah heard someone screaming 'no' over and over, and didn't realize it had been her until Sirius and Remus bounded out of the classroom, looking frightened. McGonagall released her immediately and Leah staggered into Sirius' arms, unable to hear anything other than her heavy breathing and Sirius' hushed words of comfort and love. This couldn't be happening… It couldn't… Sirius held her tightly in his arms, stroking her hair and kissing her temple. She vaguely heard McGonagall say,
"Mr. Lupin, would you please collect Leah's bag and take them to the common room for her?"
"Of course," he said, and rushed back into the room to get their things. Leah began to tremble slightly and Sirius removed his cloak, wrapping it about her protectively as he wiped away her tears, and she gave a shuddering sigh, not looking at him.
"I couldn't save her," she murmured brokenly. "It's over…" She blinked to try and clear her vision, but the tears didn't stop. "I couldn't do anything for her."
"What's going on?" Sirius was scared. Scared and confused. His silver eyes flickered over to the paper she clutched in her hand, and his fingers gently covered her trembling fist. "Let me see it, babe. It'll be okay."
"Okay," Leah echoed loudly, her eyes still wide with shock. Her fingers finally released the letter and Sirius grabbed it before it could flutter to the ground. Quickly, his eyes skimmed over it and he looked up at McGonagall.
"Is this true, Professor?"
"I'm afraid so," she said softly. "I can arrange for you to go back to America…"
"Go back?" Leah's voice still sounded strangely empty. "Why?"
"Wouldn't you like to go to her funeral?"
"No…" Leah shook her head. "I haven't finished it, yet… I can't face her until I've finished the potion," she said. Sirius rubbed soothing circles into her back.
"Don't worry," he said softly. "You'll figure it out. Heather will be so proud of you." Remus slipped out of the classroom just then, three bags in his arms. Sirius took his and Leah's, and handed Remus the note.
"Professor, we'll be taking Leah to bed, now." Sirius didn't wait for permission before he led his girlfriend away, holding her hand tightly within his own. McGonagall pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes, and Remus offered her a gentle smile.
"Don't worry," Remus told her. "She'll be upset for a while… but we can help her." And without another glance, he shot off after Sirius. McGonagall sniffed lightly and turned, striding back toward her office with her handkerchief clenched in her hand. She hated bearing bad news.
--
"Sirius," Leah said softly. The silver-eyed man rubbed her back and looked down at her, and the heartbroken look on her face was almost too much to bear. He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat and embraced her tightly. "I don't know what to do," she cried weakly. "I don't know what to do…"
"Sshhh…" Sirius rocked her gently, and Remus, who had just caught up, stared wide-eyed at the scene, almost afraid of this broken girl he had once known to be bubbly and cheerful. "It's going to be okay," Sirius murmured, sniffing softly. Remus turned away toward the portrait of the Fat Lady, afraid that he, too, might start crying, and said,
"Blibbergut."
The portrait swung open, and Sirius led Leah inside. She started to trudge toward the stairs, stopping when she realized that Sirius was no longer with her. He smiled encouragingly.
"Sorry, Leah. Boys can't go up there." She nodded and continued to climb the stairs, the door closing gently as she disappeared inside the dorms.
"She'll be okay, Moony… Won't she?" Sirius' voice was quiet, and Remus collapsed into a chair beside the fireplace, holding his head in his hands.
"I really hope so, Padfoot."
"Leah!" Lily busted into the common room, James right behind her as they looked wildly around. "Sirius, where's Leah? What happened?"
"She's in bed," he replied. "Don't go asking questions about it, either. She's upset enough as it is."
"You don't have to be a twat about it," James said. "Lily didn't do anything."
"James, stop." Lily put a hand on his shoulder. "Leah's upset, and Sirius can't help. He's just frustrated." She gave Sirius an apologetic glance and climbed the stairs to see her friend.
"She's right, sorry, mate." James held out his hand to help Sirius to his feet. "Come on. Let's go to supper. We'll grab Leah some food when we head back. I know she didn't eat at lunch or breakfast today," he added as he tugged Sirius off the couch and onto his feet.
"Why not?" Sirius asked. He wasn't awake in time for breakfast, and he had detention during lunch, so he hadn't been with her to know.
"She was at the library, looking up something on Potions. She said something about Heather," James remembered.
"That's the Potion that Leah was making for her," Remus said, a pained expression on his face. "She's been working so hard on it, and it was all for nothing!"
"Not nothing," Sirius said, skimming through the note once more. "She'll keep working on it."
Remus nearly growled. "Heather's already gone, Sirius! Why would she keep working on it?"
"For you," he replied simply.
--
A/N: I know, I know… I'm awful. A great, bloody git. It's kind of important to the story, though, and it gets better, so please just keep reading! Thanks, and PLEASE REVIEW!