We are not nor have we ever been JK Rowling, therefore we can be sued though we hope that we won't! Anyways here's a lovely Valentine's Day surprise for everyone that's depressed about not having a boyfriend and are sitting in their room eating chocolate and fighting away tears. Also blame Meranda for the delay on this chapter she was taking forever because she's reading the Hunger Games right now and can't put it down (not that we can really blame her those books are fantastic!) Anyways Enjoy!
Chapter Eight
Even though this new change of attitude toward Sirius still confused and worried Casselle, she had to admit she liked having someone she could laugh with during Divination.
"Dear it seems that your tea leaves are suggesting a terrible experience is coming your way." Professor Freya said staring into her tea cup.
"Are you sure? I thought it represented a flower, which means you will be given a surprise." Black said referencing the book.
"No, no what you saw as a flower is really fire, which means danger and fear are coming your way."
"I'll keep that in mind," Casselle said trying to hide her smile.
When she finally left their table, Sirius smiled over at her, "I guess you should just stay in your room for a few weeks."
"Yep, no sharp objects or fires for me I'll just walk around in a bubble for the rest of my life. Though sometimes I think that is what she wants us all to do."
"No she just feels we live with no worries, and we need to be more miserable."
"That's terrible!" Casselle replied with a laugh, though she thought Sirius might be on to something. "Anyway I promised I'd meet Jonathon so you'll have to walk back to the common room alone today."
Sirius frowned, "You're still with Smith then?"
"Of course why wouldn't I be," Casselle replied readjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder. "Bye!" She called taking a left at the next corridor; she was supposed to meet Jonathon on the third floor near the library.
"Hey I was beginning to think you wouldn't come," Jonathon greeted pulling her into a kiss.
"Yeah Divinations ran over with a rather ominous prediction about my life," Casselle teased returning the kiss with enthusiasm.
Jonathon smiled, "Which is exactly the reason I took Muggle Studies instead," he murmured nuzzling her neck. "Come on I have a little surprise for you."
Casselle grinned as Jonathon took her hand and pulled her down the corridor leading her to the staircase. The two climbed the stairs in silence, Casselle wondering the whole time where they were going.
Jonathon led her to the North tower, which was entirely out of bounds to students not in astronomy class, no that Casselle minded.
He opened the door and Casselle's eyes widened as she took in the lavish picnic Jonathon had set out for them.
"I thought we could have dinner up here," he whispered wrapping his arms against her waist.
"It's perfect," Casselle replied leaning up to kiss him.
Jonathon pulled her down onto the blanket he had spread across the stone floor he grabbed a plate and filled it full of food before handing it to her. "Nothing's to perfect for you."
Casselle gave him a small smile taking the plate from him.
"Would you like a glass of wine?"
Casselle hesitated; she had had small amounts of alcohol at special functions but never a whole glass by herself. "Maybe just a little," she conceded.
Jonathon took one of the goblets and poured her a glass of burgundy liquid.
The two ate in a comfortable silence enjoying the food and each other's company. For their meal Jonathon had gotten all of Casselle's favorites, Chicken roasted potatoes and treacle tart.
When her plate was clean and her head was buzzing with the after effects of the wine. Jonathon leaned over and poured her another glass smiling at her before lifting his own goblet. "To our three month anniversary," he toasted grinning at her.
A pang shot through Casselle's abdomen, she hadn't realized that it was their anniversary. "Oh erm right to our three month," she replied awkwardly taking a sip from her glass.
"You forgot didn't you?" He asked his grin fading from his face.
"No of course not!" Casselle replied hurriedly.
"You're an awful liar," he muttered running a hand through his hair.
"Look I'm sorry Jonathon, I just have a lot on my mind right now with it being OWLs year and all."
Jonathon sighed, "Sometimes I wonder if you're just dating me because I was there…"
"No of course not!" Casselle exclaimed sitting up a little straighter. "No really Jonathon. I like you, a lot and I know I haven't been the-the best girlfriend in the world but I'll do better."
Jonathon managed a small smile and wrapped an arm around her pulling her closer to him, "I don't mean to nag," he whispered brushing his lips against hers.
Casselle smiled slightly, "Know your right I haven't been completely fair to you."
Jonathon pushed his lips to hers pulling her closer to him.
Casselle smiled into the kiss wrapping her arms around his neck. His lips tasted like wine as they moved against hers.
Casselle sighed letting him ease her back so that they were both lying on the ground her hair fanned out behind her.
Casselle focused on the feeling of his lips against hers feeling more content then she had in a long time.
Maybe she'll let me tonight
Casselle opened her eyes as her brow furrowed, "What?" she asked pulling away from him.
"I didn't say anything," Jonathon replied moving his lips to her neck.
God I want her
"Pardon?" Casselle asked again sitting up.
"What?" Jonathon asked clearly confused. This better not be an elaborate way of saying no its been three months for Merlin's sake
It took Casselle a moment to realize that Jonathon's lips hadn't moved, she was hearing his thoughts. She shook her head in confusion; she hadn't heard thoughts without meaning to in years. It must be the wine, she thought to herself. "Sorry I'm not feeling very well," she muttered cradling her head in her hands.
Great she's going to give me some crazy excuse and run off, so typical
"I am not," Casselle snapped standing up. "I think I need to go lay down. I'll see you tomorrow," she huffed hurrying from the room.
"Wait!" Jonathon called scrambling after her.
Casselle hurried away from him ignoring his calls. Luckily she was able to slip into one of the short cuts behind a tapestry Sirius had shown her.
She waited behind the tapestry breathing a sigh of relief as she heard Jonathon hurry past. She sat down deciding to wait awhile before returning to the common room. She needed to digest what had just happened.
Divination class was turning out to be increasing horrible for Casselle; Professor Freya seemed to enjoying telling everyone that Casselle was going to experience something horrible in the near future. Normally she was able to laugh these things off with Sirius, but after her row with Jonathon for ditching him in the North tower she was beginning to wonder if Professor Freya was onto something.
Even though Jonathon had been furious with her for her abrupt departure he did forgive her, perhaps a little begrudgingly. Though he seemed to think her apology extended beyond the verbal.
Every time their snogging sessions grew heated in the last week she would have to push him away for going too far, much to his displeasure.
"Come on Casselle!" He said after a particularly long snogging session the Friday after their fight. "We've been dating for three months now!"
"And that gives you the right to just do what you want with me?" She asked frustrated. "I'm sorry but no guy is going to decide for me when I want to have sex, and if that's how you feel maybe we shouldn't be together. You've been getting more and more pushy since our fight last week and I'm not putting up with it," She snapped standing up.
"No Cass wait!" He called hurrying after her stopping her at the door of the empty classroom.
She folded her arms glaring at him. "What?"
"I'm sorry. It's wrong of me to pressure you, we can take is a slow as you want."
"You mean it?" She asked skeptical.
"Yeah I do," He said leaning down and capturing her lips in a kiss.
She leaned away slowly with a small smile on her face, "Good. Now we should probably head back to the common room I promised Lily we would work on Charms together."
"Alright, I'll be there in a second I have to do some prefect stuff," He replied kissing her on the cheek before turning in the opposite directions.
She narrowed her eyes after him thinking, he never said anything about prefect duties before. In fact he seemed to shrink his responsibilities most of the time. She shook her head deciding she was being ridiculous and turned to head back to the Gryffindor common room.
"Hey," Lily said as Casselle walked into the common room. "You're back early? Where's Jonathon?"
Casselle let out a sigh as she sat down next to her friend, "He said he had to go do some prefect stuff... We had another argument."
"Another one? About the usual?" Lily asked.
"Yeah. I don't know Lil. He's so nice sometimes, but then when sex comes into play he gets really annoyed with me. But I'm definitely not ready I mean aren't you supposed to love someone before you have sex with them?"
"If he can't wait for you, Cass then he's not worth it," Lily said laying her hand on her friends giving it a friendly squeeze. "Though if you don't love him I think you need to think about the reasons you're with him…"
"You're right," Casselle replied thoughtfully. "Now let's get this homework done," She said putting a smile and pulling out her books. Lily watched her friend carefully but dropped it and turned to her homework as well.
The next week, Casselle hardly saw Jonathon he always making excuses when they were supposed to hang out, but she let it go, knowing that it was his NEWTs year and that he needed to keep up with his homework. They hadn't had a chance to talk about their argument, though he didn't push the issue any of the times they managed to get together.
Divination continued to be a stressful hour for Casselle. In Casselle's tea leafs Professor Freya predicted a betrayal by someone close to her every class for the last two weeks.
Thursday Casselle and Sirius walked out of Divinations together, "I don't know I'm worried," Casselle said thinking about the recent prediction Professor Freya made.
"What's to worry about, she always predicts stuff like that," Sirius replied with a grin.
"Yeah, but usually it's about my death. I'm used to those but lately…it's been different." Casselle said a little uneasily.
"How so?" Sirius asked.
"Well when has she ever predicted an argument or confrontation? I mean that seems a little undramatic don't you think? Not even close to her usual piazza " She replied thinking about how Freya had said she would be confronted with a shocking revelation that was going to lead to an argument with someone close to her earlier in the lesson.
"I don't know maybe she just got bored of always predicting death, so she decided to mix it up," Sirius said with a shrug. "What do you think you and Evans are going to get into some argument or something?"
"I don't know…" Casselle trailed off her mind flashing to Jonathon.
As they passed a dark corridor they heard a noise and stopped, Sirius squinted his eyes before clenching his fists. 'We should leave," He said shortly taking Casselle's arm.
"Why? What is it? Someone snogging? I'd think you'd want to embarrass them," She said looking into the corridor and stopped as Sirius tried to drag her away.
"Cass…" Sirius said sadly.
"Jonathon?" She gasped causing the pair snogging to turn, reveling Jonathon and a sixth year Ravenclaw.
"Casselle I-" Jonathon started.
"Don't! This is why you've been making up those shit excuses! You've found someone easier to relieve you! Well you can have him, because I don't want him!" She shouted turning on her heels to leave.
"Casselle wait it's not what it looks like!" Jonathon called but stopped as Sirius whipped his wand out pointing it at him.
"I'd watch it, you're on rocky ground," He threatened angrily.
"Get out of my way Black, this has nothing to do with you," Jonathon growled.
"Sirius leave him alone," Casselle said. "He's not worth it," She spat.
"Casselle come on! What was I supposed to do? We were dating for three months and not going anywhere!" He yelled.
Casselle turned to him, her eyes darkening. "Not going anywhere? Because I wouldn't let you shag me! You were supposed to wait! If you cared about me you would have waited! Not run off to the first tramp you saw!" She shouted pulling out her wand. "Levicorpus!" She yelled as Jonathon flew into the air, she flicked her wand again causing his pant to fall around his ankles and stick there. "Have a good life Jonathon. Oh and nice underwear," She said with a smirk noticing the light blue boxers with fluffy clouds on them. "Very masculine."
She turned and left leaving Sirius to smirk at Jonathon before hurrying off after her. "Cass!" He called catching up to her. "Are you okay?" He asked.
"I'm fine Sirius," She said softly.
"Are you sure? I mean that…" He didn't know what to say.
"What do you want Sirius?" She asked coldly.
"I just want to see if you're okay?" He asked.
"Why? It's not like you're any better." Casselle said.
"What do you mean! I would never cheat on someone!" Sirius said taken aback.
"No because you don't have relationships with girls, just shags," she hissed. "Please leave me alone." She said walking off toward Gryffindor tower.
Sirius stared after her sadly at a loss for what to say.
Casselle didn't cry over Jonathon she was too mad at him for that, but she did become very reserved for a few days. She didn't understand, why would he cheat on her? Was it so bad that she wanted to wait to become intimate with someone? Lily had told her over and over that it wasn't bad and Jonathon was just a toerag, but Casselle couldn't help thinking Lily was wrong. She mostly stayed in her room when she wasn't at class or eating.
"Alright Cass, come on let's go down to the common room." Lily said waking Casselle up.
"I don't wanna I'm sleeping!" Casselle mumbled.
"Well too bad," Lily said pulling the sheets off of her. "Sirius said you have to come down stairs right now."
"Why?" She asked furrowing her eyebrows.
"I don't know, I don't pretend to know what Sirius is thinking. Just come on, you need to spend some time with other people even if it is Black!"
Casselle grumbled before sitting up, "This better be good. Or I'm going to hex Sirius."
"That's fine with me," Lily said. "Now throw on some clothes. He wanted us to hurry."
It was Saturday so Casselle threw on a pair of sweats and a shirt before shuffling down the stairs. Emma was sitting with the marauders when Lily and Casselle walked down.
"What's going on?" Casselle asked walking up to them.
"Finally!" Sirius said exasperated. "It took you long enough, you almost missed it." He said standing up.
"Missed what?"
"Just sit down, and wait," Sirius said ushering her into the chair that he previously occupied.
"What's going on?" She asked again looking to each of the marauders.
"Shh and just watch," Sirius said sitting on the arm of the chair.
Casselle furrowed her eyebrows looking up at Sirius, but before she could say anything there was a yell from the boy's staircase. She opened her mouth, but Sirius put a finger to his lips indicating that she stay quiet.
Seconds later the sixth year boys were running down the stairs in their boxers. They were covered in what looked like a purple dust, but as they tried to rub it off it only spread staining their bodies a hideous shade of purple.
Casselle covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
"Why isn't this coming off!" Jonathon yelled rubbing furiously at his arms.
The entire common room interrupted in laughter as they watched the boys frantically try to rub the purple off of their skin.
"I don't know!" Another boy yelled frustrated. "Maybe if we took a shower it would come off." He said and hurried back up to the dorm followed by the other boys.
Casselle burst into laughter, "What did you guys do?" She asked looking over at Sirius who was bent over laughing.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Sirius said smirking.
Casselle shook her head smiling as the boys gave each other high-fives.
"Little do they know, no matter how hard they scrub that stuff isn't coming off for a least three days," James said snickering.
"Are you sure you are going to be okay on your own here during Christmas break?" Lily asked Casselle for the hundredth time that week.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Besides I heard James is staying to." Casselle said not wanting to really think about her best friend leaving in a few hours.
"Yeah, but Black is also staying. Maybe you should come with me?" She suggested.
"I don't know Lily, maybe Casselle has been lying about this new found friendship with Sirius, and they are really together," Emma said waggling her eyebrows at Casselle. "Nothing better than spending some time together in the common room after everyone's left."
"Please, I can honestly say that is not why I am staying behind. I'd love to go with you Lil, but it's a little late to make the arrangements. Don't worry it won't be that bad. I have a ton of studying to catch up on for our OWLS in a few months."
"Alright, I'm going to miss you," Lily said sadly.
"Yeah me too," Emma said. "You can always come with me and hang with my obnoxiously large family."
Casselle laughed walking over to her best friends, "I think I'll pass, but I'll miss you guys too." She said hugging them each. "Now go have fun with your families, I'll be fine."
Casselle walked down to the nearly empty common room, with her transfigurations book deciding to study by the fire instead of in her room.
"Hey Casselle want to join us for a game of exploding snaps?" James asked looking up.
"No, I'm going to catch up on my studying." She said settling into one of the overstuffed chairs.
Casselle passed the day studying but before dinner James and Sirius talked her into a game of exploding snaps which she enjoyed very much.
They all walked down to dinner together taking in the extravagant decorations that took over the great hall. None of them had every stayed behind for Christmas before, and they were mesmerized by the ten foot tall trees that were decorated with lights and elegant Christmas bulbs, the wreaths that dominated the walls and the garland that hung from the ceiling.
They all dug into the Christmas turkey and potatoes hungrily, it was the greatest Christmas dinner Casselle had ever experienced. There were only two other Ravenclaws that stayed for the holidays and they were at the other end of the table.
They were all starting in on their pudding when an owl swooped in and dropped a letter in front of Casselle.
"What's that?" James asked curiously looking at the red letter.
"That's a howler," Sirius said backing away from the letter. "You better open it, it will be worse if you don't."
Casselle picked it up with shaking hands, she had worried about this. She opened it, as it started shrieking.
"CASSELLE MARIE DAWSON!" The sound of her father's voice coming from the letter no doubt with the help of her mother to perform this magic. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING? NOT COMING HOME, YOU KNOW IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS! YOU CAN'T BELIEVE OUR SURPRISE WHEN YOUR BROTHER COMES OFF THE TRAIN ALONE! YOU ARE NO DOUBT DOING DEGRADING THINGS WITH THE BOYS THERE! I WILL NOT HAVE THIS CASSELLE YOU ARE TO COME HOME IMMEDIATELY! YOUR MOTHER IS WRITING TO YOUR HEADMASTER AS I SPEAK ARRANGING IT! I EXPECT YOU HOME BEFORE THE NIGHT IS OVER CASSELLE MARIE!" And with that the letter tore itself up. Casselle sat shaking as she stared at the remains of the letter.
"Casselle?" Sirius said as he put his hand on her shoulder. She jumped looking over at him, before running out of the Great Hall in embarrassment. She didn't want to face anyone after the scene that howler had just caused. She ran straight to the Gryffindor common room and fell into one of the chairs by the fire. Pulling her knees to her chest as her breathing hitched from the sobs that were rising in her chest.
She couldn't go home, that was the only thought that went through her head as she stared into the fire, and tears fell from her face.
"Hey Cass?" Sirius called softly walking up to her. "It'll be okay, James and I won't let you go home. I promise." He laid a hand on her knee as he kneeled down next to her.
"You can't promise something like that, he's my father they won't listen to you over him." She sobbed knowing her holiday would be ruined. He might not even let her come back after the holiday is over. He might lock her up forever for disobeying him.
New sobs formed as she thought of this. Sirius got up and pulled her onto his lap, hating having to see her like this. "Hey, it'll be okay. Dumbledore will see through that scumbag and won't let you go home. My parents can't even fool him and they have magic. You won't have to leave." He stroked her hair as she cried softly into his chest. Finally after a few more minutes Casselle started to calm down, her sobs finally subsiding. She wiped away the tears from her cheeks, and looked up at Sirius. He had a funny look on his face, and she knew it would be a waste to try and sneak into his mind.
"What?" She asked her voice cracking from the sobs. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Sirius shook his head. "Nothing, that's just the second time you have cried on me, and I really hope you don't plan to make a habit of it."
Casselle swatted at him, "Don't worry I won't, you're the last person I'd go to for comfort."
"Well in that case maybe you should get off of me, if you don't appreciate my sensitive side."
Casselle blushed as she hurriedly got off of him sitting on the farthest side the couch from him.
As she sat down the portrait hole opened, revealing Dumbledore, with James close on his heels. "Miss Dawson can I have a word with you. In private," He said turning toward James and Sirius.
"Professor you can't let her go home," Sirius said standing up defiantly.
"Mr. Black this is a conversation for Miss Dawson and I, now will you and Mr. Potter please go to your dormitories?"
James and Sirius reluctantly turned and headed up the stairs to their dormitories.
"Now Miss Dawson I have spoken with your father and mother, and they seems pretty determined that you are to leave for home today-"
"Please Professor I can't go home. You don't understand. I can't!" Casselle pleaded slightly hysterical.
"Miss Dawson, I will not force you to go home if you do not want to go. My first concern is and always will be my student's safety. If you feel it is best that you stay here I will make sure that happens. Now I will go see to it that your parents are calmed down."
"Thank you so much Professor." Casselle said not knowing how to express how grateful she was towards Dumbledore right now.
"It is my job Miss Dawson, no need to thank me. Now you should go tell Mr. Black and Mr. Potter before they worry too much."
"Thank you Professor, I will." She smiled so happy that she was able to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays.
When Dumbledore left Casselle hurried to the stairs, "Hey Black, Potter!" She called.
Seconds later she heard them hurrying down the stairs. "You don't have to go do you? We can talk to Dumbledore, make him understand. You shouldn't have to go." James and Sirius rambled when they saw her.
"Relax, I'm not going," She replied with a smile.
"Really? That's great!" James said pulling her into a tight hug and spinning her around.
Casselle laughed, "Will you put me down you psycho."
When James put her down Casselle turned to see Sirius staring at her with that odd look again. She cleared her throat feeling nervous for some reason. "Erm, thanks for standing up for me."
"No problem." Sirius said shortly. "I'm glad you get to stay."
James looked from Casselle to Sirius curiously. "Well now I think it is time to celebrate!" James called.
"What do you mean?" Casselle asked.
Sirius smiled slyly, "Are you hungry?" he asked cryptically, while James just smiled and hurried back up the stairs, coming back seconds later with a long cloak.
"What is that?" Casselle asked curiously.
James grinning explained, "This is my invisibility cloak, and you should feel very special because only the marauders know about this. It's how we get away with so much stuff."
"You have an invisibility cloak! Those are so rare! How did you even get one?" Casselle asked examining the silky material.
"My dad gave it to me. It's been passed down for generations." James shrugged, "Now enough questions, let's get some food."
"Are we going to the kitchens?" Casselle asked excitedly.
"Of course, though I'm surprised you know about them," Sirius said holding the cloak over her head so she could get under it.
"Well when a girl needs her chocolate she will go to any measure to get it," Casselle said sliding under the cloak.
Sirius shook his head in disbelief, "You are full of surprises Dawson."
They walked to the kitchens mostly in silence, until they came up to the painting of fruit, and James reached out and tickled the pear causing the picture to move aside revealing a high ceiling kitchen swarming with house elves.
They stepped out of the cloak and immediately three house elves came up to her asking if they could get her anything. "hmm…how about chocolate cake?" She said looking to one of the house elves to her right. It hurried away and the others crowded around Sirius and James enthusiastically. They obviously came here a lot more often than the girls did.
"Can you get us some brownies, three butterbeers, some sandwiches and ice cream?" Sirius said as the house elves nodded, bowed and then hurried off to prepare the food.
"That is a lot of food," Casselle said worried they wouldn't be able to provide it. Casselle, Lily, and Emma usually asked for one or two things, but it seemed the boys come down here to have a whole other feast by themselves.
"It's fine, they love waiting on us, they have everything here, and if they don't they can get it in a flash." James explained.
When the house elves returned with multiple plates loaded with food, the three of them ate. "So how many times do you guys come down here?" Casselle asked eating a spoonful of ice cream.
"I don't know, a lot. It's hard to remember all the times we come, usually twice a week I guess," James said popping a brownie in his mouth.
Once they were all full they headed back to the common room. As they entered James got an idea, "I think we should all sleep in the common room, so Cass doesn't have to sleep alone tonight."
"I don't think that's such a good idea," Casselle replied shifting uncomfortably. "I mean it's not exactly proper is it?" She asked a blush creeping up her neck as Sirius smirked at her.
"Please, like we would try anything on you, you'd send us into the hospital wing in seconds if we tried. Come on it'll be fun," James said giving her puppy eyes.
"Fine," Casselle exhaled and Accio-ed her bedding down to the common room.
Casselle smiled at the two boys with her, "I'll go change," she whispered.
Casselle climbed the steps to her dormitory smiling to herself, Black and Potter might be arrogant but they could also be incredibly kind. She bent over her trunk rifling through her belongings trying to find her most appropriate pair of pajamas. She normally slept in a thin tank top and short shorts but that hardly seemed appropriate for a coed sleepover.
She finally found a pair of sweats in the bottom of her trunk and decided she could wear those with her usual tank top. She threw off her uniform and pulled on the comfy clothes. She sighed loving the freedom that ratty clothes could offer.
She bounced down the staircase feeling a million times better. Her eyes widened as she entered the common room, in her absence the boys had built the most extravagant blanket fort she had ever seen. It looked almost like there was a little Hogwarts in the middle of the common room.
Sirius grinned opening one the entrance, which was made of two sheets, for her to step through.
She ducked under the opening only to be surprised once again at the inside of the fort. The boys had obviously used magic, there were candles floating around casting a soft light over everything. They had thrown the bedding in a line against the far side, James on the left, Cass in the middle and Sirius on the left.
"Wow you guys work fast."
The two marauders grinned sitting down on the mountain of cushions that was their bed for the evening.
"You know us, we never do anything halfway," James replied.
Casselle sat timidly next to James and Sirius feeling awkward for the first time that evening. "So where are Remus and Peter?"
James and Sirius shared a quick glance, "Well Peter went home for the holiday and erm…so did Remus," Sirius replied.
Casselle's brow furrowed something about their behavior was making her skeptical but she decided not to push it.
"So what do you guys typically do at sleepovers?" Casselle asked leaning back against her pillow.
Sirius smirked, "talk about girls."
James rolled his eyes, "When are you not talking about girls mate?"
Sirius laughed, "Fair point Prongs."
Casselle shook her head, "And when you're not talking about girls?"
James and Sirius looked at each other and shrugged, "Play exploding snap that kind of stuff."
"What do you do at sleepovers?" Sirius asked a perverted grin gracing his lips.
"Nails, movies that kind of thing," Casselle responded, "Nothing X rated like you're thinking of Black."
Sirius grinned, "Ah well a guy can dream." He leaned back into his pillow his arm resting against Casselle. She shivered at the contact shifting slightly to put some distance between them not liking the way his skin against hers made her stomach squirm.
Sirius also shifted leaving his arm less than a centimeter from Casselle's. The close proximity was driving him crazy he could feel the heat off her skin and he longed to reach over and hold her but he fought the feeling knowing that she would only push him away. One thing at a time, he thought to himself.
"Let's do something," James suggested.
"Like?" Casselle asked, amused at how energized James seemed to be all the time.
"We could…tell scary stories?" James suggested with a grin.
Sirius laughed at the horrified look on Casselle's face, "What's the matter?"
"I hate scary stories."
"That's not very Gryffindor of you Dawson! Come on where's your courage?"
Casselle scowled at Sirius, "I am not a coward, I just prefer things with a happy ending."
"Come on Cass we won't let anything happen to you," James replied with a charming smile.
"Ugh fine do what you want."
Casselle soon regretted her decision, it seemed James and Sirius knew a number of truly terrifying stories all of which happened to be true.
They had put out the candles before starting and as James told the second story he used his wand to project the images. It was almost like a movie but instead of clear colored pictures they were shadows that blurred and changed shape with the narration.
At the climax of James tale the shadows twisted into some kind of creature and emitted a horrible growl. Casselle jumped emitting a little shriek her hand grabbing onto Sirius's arm. The boys started laughing and she quickly joined in.
"Maybe I should've been a Hufflepuff."
"Nah you're pretty brave when it matters Dawson," Sirius replied taking her hand from his arm and locking his fingers with hers.
Casselle blushed but didn't pull away; the heat of his hand against hers was comforting.
James raised his eyebrows at the exchange making a mental note to ask Sirius about it later. "Okay I think it's time to sleep, the House elves won't bring presents in if we're still awake"
Casselle and Sirius nodded and she gently removed his hand from hers as she laid down. "Goodnight guys…and thanks again for everything" she leaned over and kissed James on the cheek and then did the same to Sirius. "This has been the best Christmas in a long time"
The boys grinned sheepishly as they climbed under the covers, "No problem Cass"
She smiled as she closed her eyes drifting off to sleep almost instantly.
Sirius laid awake long after the two around him where asleep. He watched Casselle surprised at how peaceful she looked in her sleep.
She muttered something intangible turning so that she was facing him her arm falling out so that her fingers brushed his arm. Sirius smiled taking her hand in his before closing his eyes and falling asleep.
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