Chapter Nineteen

Keep holding on,

'Cos you know we'll make it through,

Just stay strong,

'Cos you know I'm here for you,

There's nothing you can say,

Nothing you can do,

There's no other way when it comes to the truth.

'I honestly don't know what all the fuss is about,' Evangeline sighed as she sat down beside Izzy in the greenhouse, 'It's only a dance.' She was getting incredibly annoyed at everyone rushing around attempting to find dates to 'the most important social event of the year', sending letters home to their parents asking them to find them the perfect dress robes, and every other girl in the school asking her what colour their dress should be. Frankly, she didn't give a damn.

'I know it's only a dance Evie, but it's the one night that everyone gets to dressed up to the nines and actually gets noticed, ' Izzy reasoned with her, 'But you know what's annoying me? Three girls have actually had the nerve to ask Remus right in front of me to go to the dance with them,' she said, snarling, 'Knowing that I'm his girlfriend!'

'Well, that's what happens when you date one of the most handsome guys in Hogwarts,' Evangeline said smirking, she opened her textbook at the correct page; How to replant a Growling Geranium.

Izzy sighed and glanced dreamily over at Remus who was sitting a couple of desks behind them, beside Sirius, who was sitting back casually in his chair, gazing around the room, 'He's so-'

'Not this again,' Evangeline snapped, rolling her eyes, 'I know you love him. I know you think he's the most wonderful person to ever walk the face of the earth … and yes Izzy, I know you fancy the pants off him!'

Izzy smiled, 'I'm glad you know all that Evie, it shows that you care,' Evangeline rolled her eyes, so Izzy quickly changed the subject, 'So has anyone asked you to the ball yet?' she asked inquisitively, 'I saw Jamie Nicholson talking to you yesterday …' she said wiggling her eyebrows, clearly something she had picked up from Remus.

'As a matter of fact I am going to the ball with someone, but it's not Jamie Nicholson,' Evangeline replied, not bothering to watch for Izzy's reaction but kept her eyes to the front.

Izzy gasped, 'Who is it?!' she asked impatiently, tugging on Evangeline's sleeve.

Evangeline hastily pulled her arm out of Izzy's reach, and looked at her best friend oddly, and ignoring her, she turned back to the front to listen to what Professor Sprout was saying about how dangerous the plants were.

'C'mon Evie! Please tell me,' Izzy pleaded, shoving Evangeline so hard that her chair began to wobble.

'Okay!' Evangeline hissed agitatedly, 'But only if you promise to stop pestering me about it afterwards,' she warned.

A huge grin appeared in Izzy's face, 'Okay, I promise,' she said innocently, awaiting Evangeline's confession.

'I'm going with Sirius,' Evangeline said manifestly, not noticing Izzy nearly fall off her chair as she attempted to grasp onto what her best friend had just said.

'Sirius Black? The Sirius Black? Your like … best male friend? Why?!' Izzy asked her, as Evangeline turned round to stare at her, 'I mean, you're Evie Potter, hottest girl in fifth year and you're taking your best male friend … to the Masquerade Ball,' she said bewilderedly, gazing wildly at Evangeline for some sort of reply.

'Well he asked me, so I thought it would be polite to accept,' Evangeline reasoned, 'And anyway, that was when I had just broken up with Jacob, so I didn't really want anything to do with guys for a while,' she said, shrugging her shoulders.

'Sorry for stating the obvious, but Sirius is a guy!' Izzy said rather loudly, causing Sirius to sit up straight in his chair at the sound of his name.

'Keep your voice down loud-mouth!' Evangeline said, 'I know he's a guy, but he's different. He would never hurt me,' she reasoned, 'You know that he's just as protective over me as what James is, he'd never let anything happen to me.'

'I know about all that,' Izzy said, but then a giant smirk appeared on her face, 'But do you know what this means?' she asked Evangeline.

'What?' Evangeline replied, totally baffled.

'Every girl in the school is going to hate you once they find out,' Izzy grinned, 'Well, apart from Lily and me, but still; Evie Potter, public enemy number one,' she laughed.

'Yes Izzy and that's just so hilariously funny!' Evangeline said, 'They'll probably start filing their nails into talons so they can scratch me to death,' she shuddered, glancing over at Cerys Neill and her cronies who were sending flirtatious looks towards Sirius.

'What are you worried about? You could beat her up any day,' Izzy reassured her, then laughed when she turned round to glance at the Ravenclaw, 'She's still got that massive bruise down the side of her face; serves her right, repulsive pilfering hussy,' she hissed, Evangeline laughed, 'What?' Izzy asked her as she spun around in her seat.

'I'd love to see you say that to her face,' Evangeline giggled.

'Yeah, and I'd slap the other side of her ugly mug too,' Izzy growled, 'She had no right to steal Jacob from you, it was a good thing you saw them at the match then you could actually do something about it,' she said.

'I'm over him now anyway, cheating son of a bitch,' Evangeline snarled, glaring over in his direction, 'But … I found out he was cheating on me before the match.'

'What?!' Izzy gasped, 'Why didn't you tell me? Aw Evie, that's horrible! How on earth did you concentrate on the game?'

'I don't know … it was a spur of the moment thing I guess,' Evangeline said smiling apologetically,'I guess I just tried to forget about it, well Sirius knew something was up and he asked me in the changing rooms,' she said, ' But I still haven't properly plotted my revenge against Cairnryan yet, I'm waiting for the right moment.'

'Well, you gave him two black eyes,' Izzy said, glancing over at Jacob.

'No I only gave him one,' Evangeline said, glancing over to look at Cairnryan's blackened face.

'Well then who gave him the other one?' Izzy asked confusedly, as she and Evangeline glanced at each other.

'Sirius,' they said simultaneously, but loud enough so that the people surrounding them could hear.

Suddenly something hit Evangeline on the back of the head, she glanced round angrily but her expression softened when she seen Sirius smiling at her smugly, pointing towards the piece of parchment that had landed on the floor. She reached down, picked it up and glanced back at him suspiciously. She turned round to face the front, gradually unfolding the note, her eyes glanced quickly down it;

Listen, I know that I'm incredibly good-looking, handsome, sexy (the list goes on), but will you please stop saying my name out loud!

What are you and Mrs Moony talking about anyway?

Padfoot xox

Evangeline rolled her eyes, and snorted at his so-called modesty. She ripped a small piece of parchment off the bottom of a page and began to scribble a reply;

Okay then hotshot. What's wrong? Not like all the attention?

Handsome? (possibly) Good-looking? (moderately) Sexy? (Pfft have you looked in the mirror lately?!) And I seem to have misinterpreted .. the list goes on? What list?

Mrs Moony and I were talking about you asking me to the Masquerade Ball actually ..

AND .. YOU GAVE JACOB A BLACK EYE! I told you not to ... but honestly, I'm glad you did.

I don't have a special nickname yet!

Enilegnave x

Evangeline folded up the parchment, pulled out her wand, she quickly swished her wand at the note, sending it flying high speed across the greenhouse where it hit Sirius on the cheek, making him jump in surprise. Evangeline laughed at his reaction, causing him to glare back at her and mouth, 'That wasn't funny.' To which she replied, 'Actually, it was,' and she stuck her tongue out at him. She quickly turned round to face the front, and pretended to act interested in the demonstration before Professor Sprout would notice that she was sending notes across the classroom.

'Who were you sending that note to?' Izzy asked her in a whisper, so quiet that it was barely audible.

'Sirius,' Evangeline replied softly, but keeping her sight resting on their Professor, who had now grabbed the vicious plant and was about to place it into a very large metal pot.

'Now you must watch out for these large spikes, they contain paralysing venom,' Professor Sprout said, as she wrestled against the roots of the large plant.

Evangeline was just about to raise her hand and ask if there was an antidote to the venom when she was hit in the head with such a force that it caused her to sway forwards. She glanced towards the floor, and ball of parchment was violently rolling back and forth, she quickly picked it up and unfolded it.

'Is that from Sirius?' Izzy asked, as she read over Evangeline's shoulder.

Since when do you call me hotshot? And I do like attention … you must know that by now.

And by the way darling, I look in the mirror every morning, and I think I look pretty sexy, so shut your face *laughs evilly*

Here is the list;

Handsome, good-looking, sexy, tasty, hot, beautiful (in a manly way) intelligent, loyal, mischievous, strong, muscular ... I can't be bothered thinking of more.

Really? Well I'm very glad you accepted. What colour are your dress robes? You know, so we can colour-code .. x]

Of course I gave that skank a black eye, I was hardly going to let him do that to you and then not make him pay.

We'll think of one soon .. how about claws? Haha Peter still hasn't figured out how you made up the nickname in your note!

Paddy xoxo

'Oh my word, even I knew how you made it up!' Izzy said laughing, 'Peter is such a dunce.'

'That's exactly the reason he didn't make it into Ravenclaw,' Evangeline said as she began to reply to Sirius' note;

Since that's what you think you are =P

We all knew that Padfoot, I don't know any other guy that has his hair sitting perfectly in the morning, well apart from Nigel Gray in Hufflepuff … but he's gay.

Oh you forgot ... stupid, grotesque, outrageous, offensive. Only joking (: You're none of those, quite the opposite.

It's so obvious you're a wealthy pure blood .. colour coded. They're dark red .. not red. Dark red.

Claws? Are you being serious? Don't answer that.

Enilegnave xox

She waved her wand and transfigured the piece of parchment so that it looked like a small bird, she gently pushed it into the air and watched it glide over the heads of Lily and Emilie towards the back where Sirius,Remus, James and Peter sat, where it landed on the desk right in front of Sirius.

'What colour are your dress robes Iz?' Evangeline asked her best friend, who was gazing out of the greenhouse.

'Oh,' Izzy said as she snapped out of her daydream, 'They're a turquoise colour, spaghetti straps, it's a really floaty material too,' she said, 'What about yours?'

'Dark red satin halter-neck that reaches the floor,' Evangeline said uninterestedly, 'Mum got me it last year for some party she was for holding, but I escaped from the house and didn't go so I never got to wear it,' she said, 'And my mask is just a plain red one with black sequins around the edge and diamond shape eye holes.'

'It sounds really pretty, I bet you'll look stunning,' Izzy said, smiling.

'Thanks Iz, I'm sure you will too,' Evangeline said, 'Remy will be drooling over you,' she said laughing.

'Hopefully he won't or he might ruin my dress!' Izzy giggled.

Evangeline laughed in response, but tried to concentrate on the instructions that their Professor was giving them. Unexpectedly, it felt as though someone was breathing lightly on the back of her neck, making her hairs stand on end and a shiver run down her back. She closed her eyes to try and keep her focus, but when she opened them again, a small piece of parchment was configuring in front of her, she picked it up and words slowly began to appear;

So now you're comparing me to a gay guy … great.

You could call me all those things, but I wouldn't care because I love you! That was Moony.

You're a wealthy pure blood too! But it's so obvious you're a woman .. no not your protruding feminine parts .. you have to be so bloody precise.

I am going to answer that question =P Yes I'm being serious, because I am Sirius!

Class I nearly over … five minutes. See you after (:

Yours,

Mr Padfoot xoxo

P.S Moony wants to talk now ..

Evie, hello. Meet me after class, I need to talk to you .. urgently. Remus

Evangeline scanned over the note again, especially where Remus had asked her to meet him after class, his writing was different, not his normal neat and meticulous writing, it was messy and abjuratory. Something was wrong, but she couldn't figure out anything that could be. She glanced at the clock above the blackboard, one minute of class left.

'Okay, I'm setting you all an essay on how to replant the Growling Geranium,' Professor Sprout began, 'You should find it relatively simple if you had been listening to everything I said and demonstrated. You may now pack up,' said their Professor, who pulled off her dragon hide gloves.

Evangeline quickly jumped out of her chair, and began to throw her books into her bag which he swung over her shoulder, 'I have to go Iz, I'll see you at dinner,' she said promptly to her best friend and jogged out of the greenhouse, dodging past everyone. She walked quickly down the path, until she came to the edge of the greenhouse, she scanned around the grounds to see if she could see Remus, but he wasn't there. Evangeline turned right and walked round the back of the greenhouse they had been in, she was coming to the end of it and Remus walked out in front of her.

Evangeline gasped, and jumped in surprise, 'Shit Remus, you scared me,' she said holding her hand to her heart, then she noticed his sorrowful complexion, 'Are you okay Remy? You look awfully pale,' she said bringing her hand up and touching his arm comfortingly.

'Come with me, no one else can hear this,' Remus said quietly and began to walk between the NEWT level greenhouse and the one that they had been in, 'What date is the Masquerade Ball on? It's the twenty-third isn't it, that's four days away,' he said, not looking at Evangeline, who was struggling to keep up with his pace, 'Evie,' he said, turning round and staring her straight in the eye, 'Do you know what's special about that day?' he paused for a while, 'It's a full bloody moon,' he spat, the remaining colour in his face drained immediately.

Evangeline's eyes widened, 'Fuck,' she cursed quietly, looking towards the ground and shaking her head at her friend's misfortune, 'That means you can't go to the Ball doesn't it,' she said, looking up again into his tearful, but angry eyes.

'Yes,' Remus managed to utter, 'It also means that I'm going to have to tell Izzy that I can't go with her,' he said, spinning around and pacing up the path, 'I don't know what to do Evie!' he cried, throwing his hands in the air, then stopping to hold his head in his hands.

Evangeline rushed towards him and put her arm around him consolingly, 'Tell her,' she whispered, Remus' eyes snapped up, 'This is the best chance you'll get Remus,' Evangeline said, 'She'll understand, she's a decent girl, she won't care.'

'But how do you know that?' Remus asked her impatiently, 'How do you know that she won't spread my secret? How do you know that she won't run off and never talk to me again?!'

'Because she loves you,' Evangeline said bluntly, putting her hands on her hips, 'I think you're talking this totally the wrong way, it's not your fault you are what you are. If she can't take it then she's a bad person and she's seriously fucked up,' she said, 'But it will take her time Remus, I know it's not ideal, but how would you feel if you never knew you were dating a werewolf?'

It took Remus a while to answer, 'Angry that I was never told, confused as what to say and sad because of the pain that the person has to go through,' he said quietly, sticking his hands in his pockets.

'Exactly, but then again she might not react that way at all,' Evangeline said, 'She might just shrug it off, understand, deal with it and not think anything of it.'

Remus sighed heavily, 'When should I tell her? Now? Before dinner? After dinner?' he asked questioningly, each question between a rapid intake of air.

'Not now, she'll be confused why you and I left early, think that we're having an affair and that you have come to confess everything,' Evangeline said, before answering Remus' expression, 'Girls think about things weirdly … Not after dinner, because if she takes it the wrong way she might throw up over you, so just before dinner.'

'Are you sure?' Remus asked, his expression painfully sad.

'Yes because if she takes it the wrong way it gives her time to think things over on her own, when everyone else is in the Great Hall,' Evangeline said.

'Right, okay,' Remus said, his breathing was worryingly fast. He paced back and forth in front of Evangeline, who was watching him cautiously.

'Remus, go and sit down somewhere,' Evangeline ordered him, 'You're a wreck! Calm yourself down and then go and get it over and done with. I'll be with Izzy before hand, so I'll clear up any suspicion,' she said, grabbing hold of Remus' arm and dragging him out from behind the greenhouse and into the sunlight, 'Go and sit in my spot by the lake,' Evangeline said pointing over to the small embankment by the lake, 'It always calms me down,' she said, giving Remus a small push of encouragement.

Remus turned around to face her, a small smile appeared on his face, 'Thanks Evie,' he mumbled, before turning around again and walking slowly towards the lake.

_-_-_

'I thought I'd find you two here,' Evangeline said as she sat down on the bench beside Izzy, who gave her a suspicious look, to which Evangeline replied, 'What's wrong Iz?'

'Where did you go to?' Izzy asked, her eyes narrowed warily.

'Maurauder business with Remus,' Evangeline replied, she had thought through her excuse as she wandered round trying to find her two best friends, 'A Christmas prank is sounding possible at the moment,' she said, glancing around thoughtfully.

'Oh, I wondered why you had rushed off,' Izzy said, finally smiling, 'Remus was gone too, I thought maybe … forget it.'

'I would never steal your man Izzy,' Evangeline said, 'As much as I love him, he is not the guy for me.'

'Izzy told me you're going to the Masquerade Ball with Sirius, Evie,' Lily said, smirking at Evangeline, 'Is he the guy for you?' she asked mischievously.

Evangeline's eyes widened, 'W-What?' she stuttered, and then realised that Lily was joking, 'We're just going as friends Lily,' she said sternly, 'Anyway, who are you going with?'

A light shade of pink rushed to Lily's cheeks, she smiled innocently and mumbled, 'Amos Diggory.'

'No way!' Evangeline and Izzy said simultaneously, both of them flabbergasted.

'James is going to go green with envy!' Evangeline laughed, 'His Lilyflower, going to the Masquerade Ball with pretty boy Diggory, I actually can't wait to see his face,' she exclaimed, but her happiness turned to anxiousness as she saw Remus walking up the other side of the courtyard, 'How about we go to dinner now?' Evangeline said rapidly, jumping to her feet, beckoning her best friends to follow her.

'What's wrong with you?' Lily asked, who stood up and studied Evangeline.

'Evie, you've gone all … white,' Izzy said lightly touching Evangeline's cheek, who jerked away, 'You're freezing too! I think maybe we better go inside,' she said, locking Evangeline's arm in hers.

They walked across the courtyard, towards the Transfiguration corridor, where coincidently Remus was waiting, he began to walk slowly towards them, his face sullen and bloodless. Evangeline felt such pity for him, she knew he loved Izzy, he would do anything for her and now if she reacted badly to what he was about to tell her; he would lose her.

'Izzy,' Remus began quietly, 'C-Could I talk to you for a moment please? I'll be in here,' he said nodding towards the empty classroom. He didn't look up nor make eye contact with Izzy this caused her body to tense up in anxiety and vexation. Without waiting for an answer, he turned around and trudged into the classroom.

Izzy was breathing fast and heavily, her grip on Evangeline's arm was tighter than ever, 'H-He's going to break up with me, he's going to break up with me isn't he? Isn't he?' she breathed.

Evangeline took hold of Izzy's hands and spun her around so that she was facing her, she looked comfortingly and reassuringly into her eyes, 'He's not going to break up with you, he loves you. He's told me so many times,' she said, 'This is going to be hard for the both of you, so just listen to what he has to say.'

'What? Why does he want to speak to me if he isn't going to break up with me?' Izzy asked, confusedly, 'Evie do you know something?'

'Listen to me,' Evangeline said, 'Remember what I am going to say, don't think about it now, 'she said, and she leaned closer to Izzy, who was shaking, 'Love the people closest to you because of who they are; not what they become.'

Izzy's eyes furrowed in confusion, but Evangeline gently guided her towards the door of the room, she opened it for her and softly pushed her inside, 'Remember what I said,' Evangeline uttered before closing the door on a conversation that she would never hear.

She turned round to see Lily smiling sympathetically back at her, 'This is about Remus' furry little problem isn't it?' she asked Evangeline, who sighed deeply.

'Yes, that's what Remus wanted to talk to me about before, not Maurauder business,' Evangeline confessed as the walked towards the Great Hall, 'I just hope Izzy takes it the right way,' she said.

'It'll be so hard … for the both of them,' Lily said, frowning sadly, 'I can't imagine how Remus feels, and I don't know how Izzy will react, it could end happily or in tears.'

'Hopefully it won't end in tears, I don't think I could bear it,' Evangeline said as they entered the Great Hall to find the majority of it filled, they trudged quietly to the Gryffindor table, Evangeline sound a seat beside Sirius and Lily sat down beside her, they both sat silently waiting for an outcome.

But their silence was interrupted, 'Where's Remus and Izzy?' Sirius asked, it was obviously directed at Evangeline and Lily, who just glanced at each other.

Evangeline looked at Sirius misty-eyed and mumbled, 'Remus had to tell Izzy something.'

Evangeline's wide, sorrowful eyes gave away what that meant instantly, Sirius gently swung his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer, 'They'll be okay, they love each other .. nothing can get in the way of true love,' he said comfortingly.

Evangeline tried to keep her mind on something other than the either happy or disastrous outcome of the conversation that was currently being held, but when she glanced up from her plate she seen Remus, slowly slumbering towards them. Evangeline's heart fell into the pits of her stomach. Her worst fear had been confirmed, she nudged Sirius who looked up, his face too fell into a doleful frown. Evangeline couldn't think of anything to say to the mournful figure that was walking towards them.

'REMUS!' a voice yelled.

Evangeline glanced towards the door of the Great Hall, and sprinting towards them was Izzy, her tear-streamed face, worried and dismayed. She ran full speed towards Remus, who had spun around in confusion. Izzy through herself upon him, Evangeline couldn't help but sigh in relief.

'I-I-I don't care about that Remus, I love you and that's all that matters,' Izzy cried as she held Remus' face in her hands, 'I love you, I'm so sorry for how I reacted,' she sobbed.

All Remus could do was smile, actually, he grinned and picked Izzy up and spun her around, 'Guess what?' he asked her smiling at her lovingly, 'I love you too,' he said and kissed her gently in front of the whole student body.

Evangeline felt a tear trickle down her cheek, normally she wasn't emotional over things like that, but her friends meant so much to her and she was so happy that they had worked things out.

'You aren't crying are you?' Sirius asked her, as she smiled down at her.

'I'm allowed to get emotional, okay Sirius!' Evangeline snapped, wiping away the stray tear, 'Just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon,' she laughed and rested her head on his shoulder, 'They look so happy together,' she whispered into his chest, as she admired Remus and Izzy who were now sitting opposite them.

'They do, don't they,' Sirius agreed, and kissed the top of Evangeline's head, 'You looking forward to the Ball then?' he asked her.

'I honestly can't wait,' Evangeline sighed, because she knew that it was going to be perfect.

Hope you liked the chapter!! REVIEWS!!! Constructive criticism and stuff … Tori xoxo