Hey there! The sheep are on vacation and I'm high on yogurt today! It's a pretty good day.
It was November, and though outside the walls of Hogwarts, things were getting chilly, inside, things were heating up.
Other pranks stirred up by both sides of the all out war (see chapter 5, if you're a bozo who hasn't read it yet) were wild, effective, and creative enough to put even Peeves out of his usual place as the 'lord of pranks', being the poltergeist he was.
(A/N: I'd mention them, but truth be told, I don't have any ideas. If any of you do, I promise to put it in and give credit to the 'suggester person')
Rose was now busy balancing her secret life; her best friend and their plans; McGonagal's lesson; and now, as Christmas neared, going to visit her mother.
Not that she was so enthusiastic about the visit, but she wanted nothing else for Christmas than to see her mother smile.
At least, even with her low expectations, Rose would have the possibility to see her mother smile again.
That is, if her mom would let her see her at all.
Thus, the explanation of Rose's lower and darker than usual aura as Christmas neared. The only thing that made that aura go away (along with the dark purple color of her 'mood' hair) was when she took on Mare and wrote to Sirius.
Hey, holidays are coming up. Got plans?
After the Christmas ball, surely. I'll be gone by Christmas day.
Okay. Do you want to go, or do you already have one?
One what?
Partner. I was hoping you'd go with me.
Without even a proper meeting? Anyway, it's three weeks from now.
That's why I'm making sure nobody got to you before I did.
Okay Mr. Possessive. How about we meet? Tonight?
What? But… I can't.
Why?
Something really important. Please understand, there's nothing I'd rather do than see you, but this is for a friend.
I understand. But you'd better be okay tomorrow. Either then or never.
Okay!!!! Promise!!!
Sirius pumped the air in joy. He was finally going to meet her.
It was unfortunate that it couldn't be tonight. But there IS still Remus to think about. Sirius sighed, but still felt good.
Rose was cracking under her pressure. Why the hell did I tell him that? I can't appear as Rose! It'll all be over!!! She silently screamed.
"I know. I'll just take a bath. A rose bath. Like my mother used to give me. I'm sure I can get some privacy if I can get Myrtle to help me." She said, sighing.
Myrtle was sort of a friendly acquaintance to Rose, which is even a feat for anyone. Moaning Myrtle though, thought that Rose was an interesting person, and was able to tease her as other living girls teased Myrtle. Rose tolerated it.
Now Myrtle was returning the favor of their tolerant relationship and agreed to keep the bath doors locked as Rose set her relaxing Rose bath, conjuring up rose petals.
But just as she dozed off, the supposedly locked bath doors opened and a lone figure entered.
"Huh? Who…" Looking behind her, Rose found the same black dog from before, wagging its tail and looking up at her.
"Oh, it's you." Rose smiled, still keeping the rest of her body under the water, covered by red rose petals on the surface.
She turned around carefully, then reached out to pet it. "I wonder how you got here. Oh well, I'm glad. This bath is my stress-reliever, but you're my comfort." She grinned.
Whether or not it was her imagination, the dog seemed to scratch itself in an almost… embarrassed way, and Rose laughed.
"You're so cute. I guess I don't need this bath to make me feel better anymore." Rose said.
She just about stepped out of the bath, then put on a towel, but when she looked back, the dog was gone.
So much for my comfort. Oh well, I'll force Belle to do that. She thought.
"Bloody… Sirius, tell me you didn't!" Remus exclaimed, his hand to his forehead.
"Umm… Okay, I won't tell you." Sirius mumbled.
"You ACTUALLY sneaked into the girl's bathing room?! That's bloody brilliant, Sirius! Who'd you see in there?" James demanded with glee.
"Erm… Nobody in particular." Sirius stuttered.
"What do you mean, nobody in particular?!!!!! Sirius, Rose was in there!!!!" Remus screeched.
"Well, yeah… there was that." Sirius muttered.
"Umm…. Did you see her?" Peter asked uncertainly.
"You'd better have not…" Remus threatened.
(A/N: We regretfully interrupt the story. As you know, Rose is Remus' friendly acquaintance. In no way WHATSOEVER is Remus getting paired up with anybody here)
"Well… I got out of there before she stepped out…" Sirius said.
"Okay then… It's good that you did, right Padfoot?" Peter piped up.
But Sirius stayed silent.
"Sirius? Oh well, let's go eat." James said, and the three of them left the absent Sirius.
Well, one thing was settled. Sirius lied. Even if it was only two seconds tops, he was sure he was going to have certain dreams that night.
Luckily, they weren't going to sleep that much. It was full moon again, and they were going early. Unfortunately, someone followed them that night.
What is it they do there? I'm finding out. Rose thought determinedly, her form, a small lizard.
She was relieved as she got out to the grounds, and turned into her favorite cat form. (Lizard was too small to be easy, and cat felt comfortable)
The moon shone over the ground, and so Rose carefully slinked around shadows and trees.
I wish I had an invisibility cloak. Rose thought annoyedly, trying to hear where the three were already.
She then noticed the Whomping Willow move about, then stop immeadiately as a small rat pressed the knot.
What? Is that… Rose watched as two figures: Sirius and James, appeared from under the cloak, and transformed.
What? But they… Are they animagi? Peter must be the rat, James the deer, and… Oh my god. Rose nearly screamed (if a cat could scream) as realization hit her.
The dog from beside the lake… and the one in the bathroom… She was n a plain state of shock but snapped out of it as she saw the tree start moving again.
The cat hurried to the tree but too late, as the willow started thrashing again.
I'm such an idiot, missing my chance like that. But wait… I remember dad tell me something before I entered first year.
She changed again, this time into a fast-moving owl, and flew to the knot of the tree, pressing it hard as she could.
It worked, and the thrashing stopped. Now to find where this leads. She returned to her cat form and entered.
Man, it's dark. Well, finally, I thought I'd never get anywhere. Rose mused as she got to a door. She changed back to a human and carefully pushed the door, trying not to be noticed.
That wasn't the best idea, as she was greeted by something no less than shocking.
The passage was to the shrieking shack, and though there were stories of ghosts and spirits, Rose knew now how those rumors came to be.
A werewolf. It was one with gray fur, a fierce look on its face, and recognitionless eyes, as it charged towards Rose.
She tried to move out of the way, but not quick enough as it ripped at her robes, and nearly her skin had it not been for a large black dog pulling her out of the way.
James Potter emerged from one side of the room and said, "Sirius! Get her out of here!" He then changed to a stag and held back the werewolf as Rose felt someone pull her away, this time the human form of Sirius.
Getting her through the door and out of danger, Sirius panted and then…
"What the hell were you thinking?! You were nearly killed back there! I won't always be there to save your sorry backside, do you understand that?!!!" He shouted.
Rose sat there in shock, thinking about what she just saw.
"Remus… He…" She started.
"Yes, he's a werewolf. If you tell anyone, I swear I'll…" Sirius stopped when he heard her.
She was sobbing into her hands, both frightened and ashamed.
"Hey… Stop, you're okay now, and nobody got hurt… That is… Are you hurt?" Sirius asked.
"No… But I… Remus… It would've been my fault if he hurt me. He'd never do such a thing! It's my fault!!!" she wailed.
"Shut it! Listen, I'll get you back to the castle. Only if you promise to never tell a soul." Sirius said firmly, gripping her by the wrist.
"I won't. Never. I…" She cut off, looking down. She was silent the rest of the time as Sirius got her back.
They went back under the invisibility cloak, and just as Sirius was going back for the others, Rose spoke up.
"Thank you."
"Don't. Anyway, this doesn't change anything, because don't expect that we'll go easy on you on the next trick." He grinned.
"Huh, Belle? What are you doing here at this time of night?" Rose, to her surprise, found her friend sitting on her bed.
"I came from the hospital wing for stomach-ache, and you know what I find out? That my best friend, who promised not to lie to me, kept the fact that she was in love with Sirius Black!!!!!" Belle exploded.
"Okay, okay, shhhhh. Muffliato." She muttered, making everyone asleep stay asleep, the buzzing in their ears a pleasant lullaby.
"Thank god for snagging Snape's book." Rose muttered.
"Explain to me this, as well!" Belle said with growing aggravation.
She showed her some parchment, which turned out to be Rose's drawings and lists and letters (A/N: And doujinshi comics concerning her and Padfoot, chibi and normal alike, and… what? Oh yes, she is a mangaka manga artist)
"Okay… I give. I'll tell you. Remember when I nearly drowned one time? And I said before that I was in love with the person who saved my life?" Rose started.
"Sirius saved me. And ever since, I've been sending secret letters to him, not letting him know it's me. I've been under the name Mare." She explained.
"I expect those letters are love letters?" Belle said.
"Yes. Are you angry?" Rose wondered nervously.
"Yes. But I'm also deliriously entertained by this! Oh, Mare, you make my life so much more interesting!" Belle exclaimed, giving Rose a crushing hug.
"Okay, okay. Thanks for forgiving me, and I'll thank you for not killing me if you let go…" Rose forced out.
"Sure. Well then, this tale of love is progressing!!!" Belle rang out dramatically.
"Okay, now can you go back to your own dorm? The spell won't last much longer, and if anyone else finds out, I swear you won't either." Rose threatened.
"Okay! Goodnight, lover girl!" Belle said in a sing-song voice, finally going.
Yes, she found out and there were fluffy moments. Yay fluff!!! More later on, wait up for Sirius finally meeting Mare!