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 Seven: Hope

The autumn weeks flew by on the icy breeze they brought with them, and as the days became shorter, the air grew colder and the nights became longer. It was practically winter, Leah thought to herself, as she passed by an open window in the hall. She looked down at the Potions exam in her hand, and the perfect score that was written boldly across the top of it. She giggled excitedly. She couldn't wait to tell the others at lunch. She checked her watch- she was right on time to meet Sirius by the Transfiguration room. Right as she stepped around the corner that would lead her to her destination, she heard a familiar feminine voice.

"Come on, Siri... let's go snog for a bit! There's a broom closet just around the corner, remember?"

Leah ducked back behind the stone wall, unsure of why she was hiding anyway, and glanced at the door labeled 'broom closet' with a look of disgust. With a sneaky glance back around the corner, she watched Sirius and a girl- oh, it's that snob, Melaina- conversing.

"Actually," Sirius said, looking around for help. "I'm waiting for my girlfriend."

Leah huffed. Either he was jumping to conclusions, or he was using her as an excuse for escape. Judging by the blatant look of disgust on his face, she'd guess the second one. Either way, she didn't like it. She folded her arms and grinned. She'd wait for a bit, and watch him squirm.

"Since when do you have a girlfriend?" Melaina asked, her hands on his chest coyly. She stared up at him, licking her lips seductively with a twisted smile on her face. "Whatever, what she doesn't know won't hurt her..."

"That's true," Sirius agreed, "but what she eventually finds out will hurt you. And me. Quite the violent type, she is."

Leah snickered at what she considered to be a compliment.

"She sounds... charming," Melaina scoffed sarcastically, her finger moving further and further down his chest. He knocked it away and took a step back, and Leah decided enough was enough.

"Sirius!" She clenched her Potions exam in her fist and ran toward him, a bright smile on her face. "Sorry I'm late! I was talking to the Professor." She leapt up into his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist as his arms wound around her body, pinning her close to him.

"Hello to you, too," he growled seductively, kissing her ear roughly. He grinned. "How did you do?"

"I aced it, of course," she replied happily, her cheeks flushed. What are you doing? She asked. It's just a show. Stop getting so worked up!

"Of course you did," he replied, laughing. "I knew you could do it, babe!"

This is pretend, Leah repeated. But it felt so real, and she didn't have to fake her smile, or the way her eyes lit up when he kissed her gently on the cheek. She turned to see Melaina staring at them with a shocked and disgusted look on her face.

"Oh, hi, Melaina. Sorry, did I interrupt something?"

"No, of course not… I just didn't know you two were actually dating," she replied.

"Oh, he didn't tell you?" Leah asked, raising a brow at Sirius. He grinned up at her in response.

"Sorry, love. I figured the entire school knew, by now."

She kissed the tip of his nose. "Who in their right minds could resist the handsome Sirius Black?" She asked Melaina, laughing. "I know one thing, he certainly can't keep his paws off me!" The anger returned in Melaina's eyes and as Sirius hid his laughter in her shoulder, the dark-haired witch stammered something about having to meet someone and stormed off.

"You owe me," she said firmly, dropping her messenger bag so she could pry herself away from him. "Now put me down, please."

"Look, they are dating!"

"I knew it!"

"You owe me two sickles, Dane!"

Leah blushed and they turned to see a large group of Gryffindors standing in the doorway of the Transfiguration room, all staring at the couple. She glared at Sirius half-heartedly.

"This is all your fault. Now the whole school really is going to think we're dating... Put me down."

"I don't know, Leah, I think I like the idea of the school thinking that." He smiled innocently at her, but set her down all the same. "Alright, alright…" While he collected their scattered belongings, Leah turned to the crowd of sixth years in the classroom.

"Oi, what are you looking at, you little gits?" They scrambled back into the classroom and she laughed evilly, turning back to Sirius as he held out her messenger bag. She stopped when she realized he was smiling at her. "What?"

"Oh, sorry!" He laughed lightly and handed her the book bag she had unceremoniously dumped at his feet. "Here you go. I was just thinking."

"Uh-oh."

"Cranky today, aren't you?" He glanced back at the fourth years in the doorway, who looked too scared to come out. "Those poor kids."

Leah folded her arms across her chest in indignation and started the trek to the Great Hall. "Sheesh, this is what I get for doing you a favor?"

"Yeah, yeah…By the way, nice dog pun. I can't keep my paws off you, eh?"

"It was a nice touch, if I don't say so myself."

He ruffled her hair affectionately and rubbed his arms as they took the outside shortcut. "Blimey, it's getting really cold…"

"Christmas is in a month, of course it's going to get cold. It snowed a bit yesterday, but it all got blown away..." Leah shrugged. "This is nothing compared to Alaska. It's practically bikini weather!" Sirius wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close against his side.

"Keep me warm," he teased. "You have enough body heat for the both of us."

"Oh, thank you," Leah said sarcastically. They quickened their pace until they were inside again, and the heat from the castle seemed to thaw them immediately. "Oh look, there's Remus!" She waved and sat beside him, greeting Lily and James as Sirius sat beside her.

"How was your Potions exam?" Remus handed her plate of toast. "I'm sure you got a perfect score as usual."

"I did," Leah said, accepting a piece. "I didn't think I would, though, some of the recipes were switched around to trick me."

"Look, that's Sirius' new girlfriend." Leah heard the hushed voice and turned her head slightly to see Melaina pointing at her. The girl with too much makeup that sat beside Melaina, laughed.

"No way! That's his flavor of the week? What's so special about her?"

All who heard watched as Leah's smile faded and her eyes narrowed sadly. Sirius pretended like he hadn't heard the girls, and finished his egg-on-toast sandwich.

"Here, Leah, try a bite. It's delicious."

"Um... Okay." Leah leaned over and bit into the sandwich, her mouth watering immediately. "Oh, wow, that is good."

"He looks like he really, really likes her, though," Melaina's friend added suddenly. Sirius smiled as Leah bit into her own ham and Swiss sandwich, knowing by the new smirk on her face that she, too, had heard the last part. Suddenly, a loud screech rang through the air, and a swarm of owls swooped through the windows to deliver assorted mail. Leah blinked slowly as an unexpected letter dropped in front of her. She glanced at the front, dropping her sandwich as though it had burned her.

"It's from Heather," she exclaimed happily. Unable to keep the grin from her face, she tore through the envelope and unfolded the letter. It had been a month since Leah had written, and when she hadn't gotten a reply within a few weeks, she'd thought the worst. Now, all her fears had dissipated, and she could already imagine her little adopted sister's voice.

Leah!

You're such an idiot, you know that? Why'd you have to go and get yourself expelled? I miss you so much. It's so boring here, and you're having all the fun in the world. I'm so jealous! Maybe I oughta go to England, too, and meet this Remus guy. He sounds very nice. Is he hot?

I'm doing fine, so stop your worrying, okay? It's taken so long for me to write back, I know. We had to move again, and we couldn't contact anyone for awhile, but we'll make it. Just have fun while you're there. This is your last year in school, make some nice memories! That way you can tell me all about them when you get back. I'm sure, like always, I won't be able to get you to shut up.

So, now to more 'Sirius' matters… That's such a cool pun, you should use it more. Anyway… I have reasonable suspicion that you, my dear friend, are in love.

Leah blushed and leaned back slightly to make sure no one else was reading over her shoulder, though the current topic of the letter was stuffing his face, oblivious to her embarrassment.

It's obvious. And you've never really had a boyfriend, so why not go for it? I haven't heard much about him… Tell me more! I want to know how he acts around you, what he's into, everything! He might be my brother-in-law someday. Ha-ha. Just kidding… Maybe… Tell everyone I said hi, and thank them for taking such good care of you, okay? I'm sure you're babying Remus the same way you spoiled me, so stop it! He can take care of himself! He's a big boy now. And before you start- I know. You can't help it. Oh well, I'm sure he enjoys it anyway.

Write me back soon or else!

Love, Heather

Leah shook her head, smiling, and placed the carefully folded letter into her bag. Remus glanced up from his biscuits to smile at her.

"How is she doing?"

"Good. She says I should stop babying you."

"Aw," he whined. "Does that mean no more belly rubs?"

Sirius dropped his sandwich in shock. "You give him belly rubs? How come I don't get belly rubs?"

"He was joking, Sirius," Leah assured him, laughing out loud.

"You're so mean," Sirius pouted, picking up his sandwich once more. Leah huffed.

"You know, I'm actually quite nice. It's those rumors you tell other girls that make me seem awful," she pointed out.

"You're the only girl they won't mess with," Sirius said in his defense. "Besides, you're the only girl I actually trust in this school, besides Lily. And I really only trust her to get angry at me and James, so that still leaves you." James laughed as the red-head beside him gave Sirius an indignant glare.

"It's true, Evans."

"Maybe if you two weren't such bullies, I wouldn't have to be angry at you!"

"Alright, alright." Leah sighed and glanced at her pumpkin juice. "What you said to Melaina was pretty clever, though, Sirius."

"Oi, you heard that?" Realization dawned on him. "You were there the whole time?"

"Not the whole time, Siri. Just most of the time."

"Don't call me that," he said, shuddering. "If you hadn't shown up, she probably would have attacked me and had her way with me in the hallway."

"Oohh, kinky," Leah replied jokingly. Sirius' eyes widened as he inhaled a large bite of egg, and he started choking. Leah snickered at his reaction, while Remus just reached around and smacked Sirius on the back until the egg flew out of his lung… and hit Melaina in the face.

"Ew!" She incinerated it with her wand and sent a threatening glare at Leah, who was laughing uncontrollably. Sirius was laughing as well, but he covered it up with coughing.

"S-Sorry, Melaina... Wrong tube." He coughed again for emphasis.

"I'm going to go write Heather back," Leah said, snickering as she returned Melaina's death glare. "I'll be in the common room if you need me, guys!"

"Alright," they agreed. Leah waved to them all, and cast Sirius one last glance, her eyes sparkling happily, before she disappeared into the main hall.

"If you don't see it by now, you never will," Remus said suddenly. Sirius scowled and pushed his plate away, no longer hungry.

"I know, I know… I'm just waiting for the right moment."

A/N: (2200 words) Yay, the sixth chapter is up! (PS: to all you reviewers that read the old one... can you believe I edited and rewrote chapters 2-9 all in one night so far? I'm on a roll!) To you new-comers... This next chapter is mostly Leah's letter to Heather. Stay tuned to find out what Leah truly thinks of Hogwarts! (And Sirius.) Thanks, and PLEASE review! They keep me warm at night, and I live in Alaska, so I need as much warmth as I can get!