Chapter Fourteen

The best thing about Nicola's New Year parties was that her parents never insisted that we stay around. They were Muggles and vegans at that, so we welcomed the moment they said, "All right Children – you can leave" because it meant we could go explore Muggle London, get some real food and have a bit of a laugh. Last year Arron hadn't been invited, but I was glad that he was here this time so that Sirius being there wouldn't be so awkward. Nicola, although shocked that he'd been staying with me over the break, had welcomed Sirius to the party knowing her parents wouldn't mind at all. I was happy to leave the house with Sirius and mingle with other people because I worried that we'd run out of things to say to each other. It wasn't ever an uncomfortable silence, but the past week had been the most consecutive time we'd spent together and I was sure he was getting a bit sick of seeing my face. Although Sirius waved me off when I told Nicola and Arron this, the smile on his face seemed to show that he was happy to be around other people for a change. The four of us stood around the party drinking juice while the grown-ups drank champagne and waited anxiously for their 'Magic words' saying we could leave and find our own party.

"So you have these every year, Nicola?" Sirius asked, curiously. He was wearing his school shirt with jeans since he didn't have any Muggle formal wear and had his hands shoved in his pockets awkwardly.

"Yeah, Bridget's been coming since First Year – it's a tradition. But this year you and Arron can join in," she said with a smile. "Where's Emmeline for the holidays?"

"She's in France. Her grandparents live there," he said. "She's keeping me a secret for the time being. Seems to think her parents would have a hard time approving of me," he added nonchalantly.

Arron chuckled. "Can't imagine why."

Sirius grinned. "Me neither. I mean, it's not as if I'd show up to dinner on my motorcycle...at least not when I'm meeting the family for the first time."

We all laughed at that but I saw Sirius' expression shift slightly. Probably thinking about James again. He's gotten gifts from James' parents I noticed and though he smiled and pulled on the knitted jumper, he was still gutted that his friends seemed to have purposely forgotten about him. I didn't push the issue too much, knowing that there wasn't much I could say to make him feel better but I hoped that the boys would forgive him when we got back to Hogwarts, because even though I enjoyed spending so much time with him, I knew he missed them desperately. Not to mention we would probably stay friends longer if he didn't have to see me every waking moment of every day.

"Children, you may leave," Nicola's mother said, approaching in her tie-dyed dress and ruffling Nicola's hair. "Have fun and Rain, don't be back too late. Lovely to have you all here," she said in her dreamy voice before heading away to the party guests.

Arron's eyes widened and he stared at Nicola who was watching her mother in horror.

"She must be drunk..." she muttered under her breath. "I told her not to say it..."

"Did she just call you...Rain?" Arron spluttered looking at Sirius and I like it was the best day of his life. I stifled laughter and Sirius threw me a curious look as Nicola reddened.

"Okay fine – my parents are nutters! They named me Rain but thankfully my middle name is Nicola and I haven't been forced to use my real name since I was eleven. Happy?"

Arron held back laughter as Sirius looked at her with wide eyes.

"Are you telling me that when we were eleven – McGonagall read out the name: Hobbs, Rain and I haven't managed to tease you about it yet?" he asked as we all burst into laughter at Nicola's red face.

"Why does this feel so familiar?" Nicola grumbled as we left her house and set off to find somewhere to spend the New Year's Countdown.

"Because it's just like the time you had the bean stuck up your nose," I laughed and Sirius nudged my shoulder knowing it was one of the first times I'd brought that day up by myself.

"I'm always the butt of everyone's jokes!" she pouted as Arron threw an arm around her.

"Not true love, Matt usually gets the 'short' end of the stick," he said, making her grin and Sirius bark a laugh.

"Well done, O'Reilly," he applauded. "Are any of you of age yet?" he asked us as we approached a reasonably crowded Muggle pub. We shook our heads and he sighed, wrinkling his forehead.

"Why? You aren't eighteen anyway – we can't get in the Muggle pubs. We could try the Leaky," I suggested.

"Nah, they definitely won't serve you there – much tighter security than Hogsmeade at the Leaky. I was just asking because I thought someone else could help me with the Confunding Charm, but don't worry – they're sort of a specialty," he said, smiling at us mischievously as we headed to the burly doorman in front of the pub.

"ID," he said, boredly looking at us like we were fools to try to get past him on New Year's Eve.

"Hello," Sirius said, waving his wand and wordlessly confunding the man. "We've just shown them to you."

"Oh," the man said looking dazed. "Right you are, go on in and have a good time. Happy New Year!" he said, waving us all in to the smoky, crowded pub playing loud music.

"I love being of age," Sirius whispered with a grin.

"You won't get in trouble for using magic on a Muggle?" Nicola asked as she glanced back the Bouncer who was shaking his head as he looked at the next set of IDs being presented to him.

Sirius shook his head. "Nah, the Ministry's too busy busting the idiots who send up shooting stars instead of those Muggle firethings. Come on – what are we all having?"

Sirius looked excited to be around so many Muggles and I saw a couple of girls who looked about eighteen eying him up interestedly. He didn't seem to notice and was much more interested in the names of the drinks on the menu.

"Wow, this is great," he said as he sipped on some Muggle whiskey and laughed at how weak it was.

"Yeah, it is kind of a laugh – normally Nicola and I would just wander about on the street," I smiled as we watched Nicola and Arron dancing amongst several inebriated Muggles while sipping something called Ginentonic or something. I was trying something called Vodka and though it burned a bit more, I was surprised to taste that it was just like Gillywater.

Sirius clinked our glasses together and sighed.

"It's times like this that I sort of wish Emmeline was around."

I raised an eyebrow. "What? Wouldn't Lover Girl tell you off for Confunding that man?" I asked.

He chuckled. "Of course she would but she'd forget and we could have a bit of a snog and maybe then I'd forget about my mates hating me."

I sighed laboriously. "Sirius, they don't hate you. We're back on Monday – you'll see."

He shrugged. "Anyway – don't you miss Chamberlain?"

I reddened. If I was being perfectly honest, I didn't miss Ollie at all. He sent letters every few days and I would write back careful not to mention that Sirius was staying with me. Sirius agreed that it would probably be too much for my boyfriend to handle or understand but I found that I was much more interested in talking to Sirius than reading about the sights in Spain.

"I don't know," I lied. "A bit."

"Why do you always lie about him to me?" Sirius asked, casually and I looked at him in shock.

"I don't lie – I really do miss him a bi-bit," I stuttered.

Sirius smirked. "That bloke is really not right for you, you know."

I scowled. "What do you have against him? He's the nicest guy I know."

Sirius shrugged as he polished off his whiskey and bought another round. Luckily Nicola had a Muggle bank account and we were able to pay her the equivalent in Galleons so that she could open a tab for us. He handed me another Vodka and watched me take a sip before speaking.

"I think that's the problem – he's too nice. You're much cooler than he is."

I huffed. "Ollie is one of the coolest people in my House."

He patted me on the back. "I thought you said there weren't 'popular' people in Ravenclaw?"

I blushed. "Yes, but girls really fancy him. I've had tons of girls tell me how jealous they are of me."

Sirius laughed at this. "So? Do you think he's cool?"

"It doesn't matter Sirius! He's nice and sweet and really likes me. I've liked him for ages."

"Yeah, you told me you used to like him. Are you sure you still do?"

"I'm going out with him, aren't I?" I snapped, throwing back a big sip and cringing.

Sirius shook his head. "You're too good for him Bridge. You deserve someone who'll make your heart race." He smiled his irresistible smile at me and I couldn't help but feel my ears get warm and my stomach do that annoying flip.

"Oi, let's do some shots," Arron said as he and Nicola approached us looking happy and a bit sweaty. I noticed Nicola's lipstick wasn't on her lips anymore and smiled.

"Man after my own heart," Sirius said as he ordered some shots for us.

"These are on me, love," The bartender said. "Watch the clock, it's almost midnight!" she added, pointing at the large clock in the room that everyone on the dance floor was looking at and counting back from thirty.

"To the New Year!" Arron said, raising his shot. We all clinked the glasses and knocked back the drinks, wincing slightly as we put them on the bar.

"Come on, let's get a better look!" Nicola exclaimed, grabbing Arron's hand and pulling him to the middle of the dance floor and wrapping her arms around his neck as they began to count. Twenty seconds now.

"Too bad there's no one for us to snog, eh?" Sirius said taking a swig of his drink and smiling around the room at the people coupling off. He winked at me and smirked.

"Let's settle for a friendly hug," I said, staring at the ground and trying not to blush more.

"Ten seconds," Sirius said, draining his glass and putting an arm around my waist, pulling me to him. My heart started beating faster as I tried not to stand uncomfortably in his arms while we watched the clock.

Nine.

It's just a friendly hug.

Eight.

Nothing more.

Seven.

It's only because we're stuck without our boyfriend and girlfriend.

Six.

And he's a little drunk. His arms were pulling me against him tighter and we were already hugging.

Five.

"Finish your drink! It's bloody cold on my arm," he said and I jumped, moving it away from his arm and finishing it off.

Four.

If only my heart could stop pounding.

Three.

Ollie.

Two.

Emmeline.

One.

Sirius...

He pulled me in, burying his face in my hair and lifting me off the ground as we heard cheers and yells and horns and applause. It almost felt as if this moment was for us rather than the beginning of 1977. I felt everything slow down as he put me slowly to my feet, leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my cheek right beside my mouth.

"Thanks for being here for me," he whispered in to my ear as we hugged once more.

"Happy New Year," I whispered back, trying to stop my heart from racing.

Because I couldn't. I absolutely couldn't have feelings for Sirius Black. Not now.

A/N: Sorry I've been MIA - I know this one's short but hopefully you enjoyed :)