Chapter 3- Daddy's and Dates.
Sirius POV
I woke early on Saturday morning to prepare for the Hogsmede visit; I stretched out lifting my arms over my head and yawned while sneaking a peak at the bed that Charlie occupied next to James' bed. I lay on my back arms behind my head staring at the ceiling I started replaying the events from yesterday, when I got back from Dumbledore's office.
I walked out of the headmaster's office, shut the door behind me and turned so suddenly that I nearly knocked in to James.
"How'd it go mate" he asked
"I only got a week's detention, thanks to McGonagall, the slimy git got three so guess I can't argue" I shrugged my shoulders.
He looked at me and clapped me on the shoulder obviously reading my facial expression about the whole deatheater circle thing that Malfoy had mentioned.
"Old Voldy isn't going to get anywhere near her "He told me with determination in his voice. I knew damn well he would get nowhere near my daughter and I didn't care if I died trying Charlie was my life so if anything happened to her what was the point of living?
"Where is she" I asked suddenly remembering her calling for me as I reluctantly walked out of the room.
"She's back in the common room with Lily, I told her to take her so that she could calm down"
We started walking back and I knew that I had to ease the tension in the air; normally we always had something to talk about.
"So you actually had a conversation with Lily huh?" I smirked in his direction
"Yeah... It felt good." He perked up at the mention of his 'lovely lily'
I shook my head at him,
"Mate... you've got it bad" I laughed and he joined in, as we continued back to the common room our conversation topic about James' plan to get Lily on a date for Hogsmede tomorrow which had me in stitches, this would be his what 100th try at getting her out but I couldn't help but go along with it after all he was my brother.
As we walked in the common room I heard Lily singing 'constant as the stars above' to Charlie, while she rocked Charlie on her lap who was now holding her blankie and sucking her thumb. I knew she had been crying from her red puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks, if anything could break my heart it was seeing my Charlie-bear cry.
I hurried forward
"Charlie" I called her
She snapped her head up and pulled Lily's arms off her as she climbed off her lap. When her short legs touched the floor she ran at me, her black curls bouncing off her back.
"Daddy" She squealed and I bent down to her level and opened my arms, tightening them around her as she crashed into them, I stroked her hair as she nuzzled my neck and stood up never letting her go. I walked over to the couch and sat down with Charlie on my lap, I pulled her away from my neck to look her in the eyes.
"Charlie its okay Daddy's here" I murmured to her softly.
"Why you no love me daddy" She asked her voice full of hurt and innocence, I heard Lily gasp and I nearly had to get up and find Malfoy and punch him again, how dare he make Charlie feel like this,
"Baby I do love very much" I told her while trying to keep the venom of hate out of my voice silently cursing Malfoy to the deepest pit of hell and from the look on the guy's and Lily's faces they were thinking exactly the same thing.
"Bu he said-"I cut her off not wanting her to remember what Lucius had said to her.
"He was lying baby I love you so does everyone in this room even the teachers, we will all protect you I will always love you" I told her sincerely,
"Me too" Lily said
"Me also" James and Remus added in smiling at Charlie who finally managed to show us all her cheeky grin.
"Can I have some ice cream then" She giggled and we all laughed as her maraudette side came out, I tickled her stomach thankful that at her age she forgot about things quickly, soon enough me, James, Remus and Lily were all chasing Charlie around the room letting her outrun us and pretending to trip over when we got near her. After we had all calmed down I told Charlie about the preschool, she was hesitant towards it at first, not wanting to leave me but with some persuasion and bribes (which were made by herself, all including ice cream) she agreed but I had to pinkie promise to pick her up which I did, wrapping my large pinkie around her tiny one.
I heard little footsteps on the other end of the room, I turned my head to see Charlie walking over to Remus' bed and quietly climbing on his bed, standing up and knee dropping on Remus who jolted awake and tried to reach for his wand, I couldn't help but laugh Charlie really wasn't the most graceful person in the world. She began giggling and Remus laid back down obviously trying to recover after his mini heart attack.
I got up and went to Remus' bed,
"Morning Daddy." Charlie smiled at me and held up her arms for a snuggle.
"Good morning big girl" I said as I picked her up taking her over to the wardrobe to get her ready for the day ahead in Hogsmede, where I knew for a fact that two dates were being set up in our group.
Maddie POV
I woke to Kayla and Rhiannon arguing over something, probably an item of make-up of clothing. I had never been as close with those two as I had been with Lily and Alice and I knew the other girls felt the same, it's not as though we didn't like them, we just never talked to them or got to know them, there were far worse people to share a dorm with for 7 years.
I turned my head and let out a mini scream as Lily and Alice were lingering their heads over mine smiling,
"Jesus guys" I said when i got my breath back and slowed my heart rate to a healthy speed.
They both started laughing and i couldn't help but join them and soon we were in a complete laughing fit on my bed, when we regained some kind of composure we sat up,
"You know Maddie we should start getting ready for Hogsmede" Alice said grinning and i knew something was up.
"Umm okay then" I felt unsure about what was going on but couldn't help the excitement that crawled into my belly I loved Hogsmede.
We spent a full hour and a half getting ready and we all looked well pretty good if I say so myself. Lily was dressed in a pair of blue skinny jeans, a beige jumper with a blue pattern across the front and a pair of block heeled beige ankle boots. Alice was wearing black leggings and a long red top with 'I'm just too cute' on the front and cream flats. Me, well in all honesty I thought I looked over dressed but the girls (after they chose my outfit and dressed me) assured me I looked fine. I was wearing a knee length dress with a lace collar and shoulders which then connected with white material covered in red roses, underneath I wore grey knitted leggings and white ballet pumps. Then Alice did my hair in loose curls to fall around my face with one side clipped back with a slide clip, while Lily did my makeup (which again I thought completely unnecessary) it was simple but noticeable, with my silvery glitter eyes, black mascara and eye liner and a touch of clear lip gloss.
When we were done we had gone down to the common room where we saw Charlie and James singing and dancing on the coffee table and couch while everyone was watching it was an adorable sight.
Then I saw Remus and by the look on his face I think he saw me, he was so handsome and kind, and it wasn't every day that you could find someone as beautiful on the inside as the out, but he was. From the corner of my eye I saw Lily and Alice looking at me and nudging each other, inwardly I sighed so this is what the whole dress up thing was about.
My thoughts were interrupted by a beautiful sound,
"Maddie you look amazing" My head shot up to Remus' face, eyes widening which was becoming increasingly difficult with the heavy weight from the mascara.
"Umm thanks Remus" I stuttered.
"I was going to the three broomsticks when we get to Hogsmede and I was just wondering if maybe you would, well you don't have to, but if maybe you would like to join me" he asked me, uncertainty flashing across his face. I smiled Remus Lupin had just asked me out on a date my brain was screaming at me to say yes and quickly before he thinks I'm an idiot and asks someone else.
"I would love to" I answered still smiling, a look of relief crossed his face and he held his arm out for me to take as I did I saw Sirius and James high five then throw a wink over to the girls who were doing a happy dance, then the adorable voice of Charlie broke through the room as she started singing again,
"and they call it puppy love" she sang and everyone in the common room awed at the little angel sitting in Sirius' arms, but I couldn't help but blush the colour of Lily's hair when I realised she was talking about me and Remus, who when I looked up was also turning crimson.
"Shall we go" he asked
"Yes" I replied and with that we left to go on our first of many dates.
Sirius POV
After stepping off the carriages I realised that it was just me and Charlie in Hogsmede and that was never a good sign because if I had someone with me I was less likely to spoil Charlie however when I was on my own I always ended up buying double what I came out for, well Black I guess you will have to set a limit... but your screwed anyway when she gives you the puppy dog look, I sighed well good bye well saved money.
Maddie and Remus had headed off in the direction of the three broomsticks for their date (finally) Alice was meeting Frank Longbottom who had been waiting for her when the carriage stopped taking her hand to help her down whilst she was blushing like crazy. However the biggest achievement of the day, when James asked Lily if she wanted to go to Honeydukes and she said yes! I will never get the look form Prongs' face after she did say yes, in fact I think he was so prepared to be rejected he started to turn around, he took her arm and this of course led Charlie off into another chorus of 'Puppy love'
I looked down at Charlie who was looking around excitedly at the busy shoppers and excited students; she looked back up at me with those irresistible eyes,
"Zonko's Daddy pwetty pwease" she said in an adorable voice, which could melt the manliest guy in the world's heart.
"Come on then" I sighed knowing this would be interesting; Charlie was definitely the next marauder generation.
As we entered the shop the sweet smell of different powders and spices filled my nostrils, Charlie began to let go of my hand,
"Charlie don't leave this shop and don't talk to anyone okay" She nodded her head quickly and ran over to the nearest shelf, while I stood back watching her, I turned around to look through the window and I couldn't believe what I was seeing but Maddie and Remus were snogging openly on the corner of the streets and I couldn't help but think wait a go Moony.
Charlie's voice broke my thought process and as I turned around to see my little three year old arms full of products that would make McGonagall's hair greyer than it already was if she knew Charlie even knew about them.
"Daddy, I'm finished" I smiled at her,
"Really you don't want anything else" I asked her sarcastically
"Can I have some more then" She questioned and I lost my smirk,
"Time to go" I grabbed her hand, paid and left before she could put me into debt.
Alice POV
He was perfect. I couldn't believe I was sitting here with Frank Longbottom, drinking butterbeer on a date. His thick brown hair and chocolate brown eyes that captivated me whenever he spoke. I couldn't help but smile and blush every time our eyes made contact. We finished our drinks and headed outside into the breezy autumn air, I shivered and he put his arm around me and I smiled up at him just as he dipped his head down to meet mine, the kiss I had dreamed of for so long was now happening, his lips felt so soft against mine and in perfect synchrony they moved against each other while my hands clutched his hair his remained around my waist holding me close to him, as we broke apart now words were needed as our smiles reflected our happiness enough and with that we re-joined lips.
Lily POV
The look on James' face when I said yes had me confused whether to feel amused, happy or guilty maybe all these years he had felt something for me.
As we took our seats in the three broomsticks away from Maddie and Remus as to give each other our privacy, James ever the gentlemen (believe it or not) pulled out my chair to sit down I smiled my thanks to him as he took his own seat opposite me. He ordered our drinks and I anxiously waited for that awkward first date feeling to settle in, but he just looked at me and started talking,
"So how are you" I just looked at him, he was really using that as a conversation opener, not a 'you finally said yes' or 'what made you say yes' but a real conversation, I recovered myself enough to answer,
"I'm fine thank you, how are you" from those two sentences we deepened our conversation talking about almost everything from first signs of magic to muggle items, quidditch, future careers and plans.
James leant over the table and looked me squarely in the eyes,
"I've had a lot of fun today Lily" he said
"Believe it or not I have too" We both laughed
"I was just wondering but only if you want to, maybe we could..." he trailed of but I knew what he was trying to say,
"I would love to" I smiled at him trying to ease his panic
"Great so maybe one night at the weekend we could ask Dumbledore to let us use his fireplace to go to a restaurant" he explained as we began to walk out.
"Sounds great" and to both our surprise I leant forward to kiss him on the cheek. Then we both walked off to find Sirius and Charlie.
Remus POV
The date had been perfect, everything that I ever hoped it to be. Maddie looked amazing so beautiful I had to keep reminding myself that I was even on a date with her rather than her with a load of staring boys, but I knew that Maddie was not the type of girl to want attention, one of the many reasons I really liked her.
We stopped outside of Honeydukes to look in the window; however it wasn't the window I was looking at. It was Maddie, when she caught me looking at her she blushed and lowered her head down and I knew it was now or never so I put a hand under her chin and leant my head down to hers which had tilted up to meet my lips eagerly. As our kiss deepened we walked backwards so Maddie was now in a sandwich with the wall and my body, we broke apart gasping for the air that we had taken from each other's lungs,
"Maddie I..." I really didn't know what to say
She just smiled at me "I know"
"I have liked you for so long now it feels unreal" I told her
"I know the feeling" She giggled
"Maddie will you go out with me?" I asked her fully preparing myself for rejection, why would she want to be with me I was a monster.
"Yes" that one word was all it took for me to kiss her again, but not just Maddie anymore, I was kissing my girlfriend.
James POV
My cheek was still tingling from Lily's kiss, the small but innocent gesture made me want to ask her out but then I remembered Sirius telling me that I should stop asking Lily out if she was to think that I really did like her and it wasn't just some game.
We walked around the corner and Charlie was sitting on Sirius' lap and they were both in deep discussion about the products that covered one of the cafe tables, Sirius was explaining to her the proper way to set up the pranks and which items were the best to use and of course the safety hazards.
"Looks like Sirius spent a bit too much on Charlie again" Lily said pointing to the various bags that covered the floor space around the table.
"Indeed" I agreed whole heartedly, admiring her laugh.
We continued walking over to the table where I saw Alice, Frank, Maddie and Remus come around the corner each boy and girl holding hands, my eyebrows shot up and Lily made an excited squealing sound in the back of her throat which was adorable.
"I knew it, I knew that they would get together, now they both owe me money" She said delightfully
"Owe you money for what" I questioned
"I bet them that by the time the Hogsmede trip ended Maddie would be with Remus and Alice with Frank, so I just made 20 galleons" she said in glee
"Nice one" I congratulated her, not really paying attention to what she was saying but focusing on her moving lips.
"Hey guys" Alice waved with her free hand, the conversation developed into first kisses and boyfriend/girlfriend love scenes, I couldn't help but feel slightly jealous about the couples in the group, but I was happy nether the less.
"Uh oh" Charlie said loudly
We all turned to look at her, as she jumped off Sirius' lap and tried to pull his hand,
"Come on Daddy quickly, we have to run, there coming" she cried desperately, by now all of us were looking worried at the young girl,
"Baby what's..." but Sirius didn't get to finish before Charlie started shouting at him to run,
"DADDY NOW!" we all jumped up panicked
"Charlie what's wrong who's coming" I asked urgently
There was a moment of silence until she said,
"The snake man daddy" Sirius paled and looked around just as the explosions began.