Crying is a weakness; Malfoy's aren't weak, but then again I'm not a real Malfoy any way. I do hate crying through, but I can't help it. My baby was all I had left and technically I didn't even have him yet. I'm alone now, completely alone. It's sort of refreshing in an odd way though, at least now I can fully try to focus on my lessons. I can't cry anymore after two weeks I'm all out of tears. I've locked myself in the Potter's guest room since that night December 16th, I'll never forget that day, the day I lost someone I've never met. I missed the Christmas celebration, which is fine by me, even though the boys tried their best to get me to come down. They check on me regularly every day, every two hours, just to see if I'm still breathing. They should be coming soon, and as if on cue there was a knock on the door.

"Ava?" James asked peering through the door.

"Yeah?"

"Please come down tonight, if only for a minute" he pleaded.

"I can't, I'm sorry besides I look horrible, you wouldn't want to frighten away your guests." I sighed.

"Well maybe if you'd eat something you'd look and feel better." he said.

"Yeah, yeah"

"Will you at least come down for dinner?"He asked.

"Only because I can't resist the face you're giving me."

"Yay!" He smiled.

"But, I'm leaving as soon as dinner is over." I said shoving him towards the door.

We passed the window and I stopped to see the guests arriving already. I recognized the Weasley's and the Prewit's, followed by the Malfoy's. I met my uncle's gaze and he showed that horrible thing some call a smile. My blood began boiling throughout my veins I wanted to hurt him, but instead I shoved my hand through the window.

"Ava, are you okay?" James asked putting his hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah" I replied watching my uncle enter the house. "I'll be ready in a few minutes."

"All right?" he said leaving.

"You will escort me right?" I asked still not looking away from the window.

"Of course, just please fix your hand first."

"Okay."

I pulled out my wand and healed my hand, and then I walked over to my trunk and pulled out the maroon dress Sirius had gotten me in Hogsmeade. I slipped out of my sweat pants and t-shirt and slowly pulled the dress up over my head and into place. It was a little big so I shrunk it to fit me like a glove. I walked over to the mirror and said a spell that curled my hair in loose curls. I applied some light make up then slid on some flats. I opened the door to find James in his suit. He looked handsome as ever, if he wasn't already Lilly's I would take him for myself.

"You look amazing" he said linking arms with me.

"No, James you look amazing, Lilly is a very lucky girl hold onto her tight."I told him as we made our way downstairs.

He stopped us half way down, "Here drink this it will help," he said handing me a flask from his belt.

I gulped it down quickly, it tasted horrible, but I was already feeling slightly better. I decided I was going to try and enjoy myself tonight to show my uncle he still hadn't won. It's just going to be a hard task to fulfill.

"What was that?" I asked.

"Vodka" he said placing the flask back at his waist.

"Thanks"

We entered the ballroom and it was magnificent I felt like a princess. There were lights strung from the ceiling like a circus tent. There were flowers on every table and every one had a smile on their faces. Glitter was floating down from the ceiling ever few minutes.

The diner had already been served and everyone was beginning to eat. We made our way over to where are friends we seated.

"Holy shit Avery, you look stunning." Sirius exclaimed choking on his food.

"Thank you" I said as James hit him on his back.

"You really do look gorgeous, are you feeling any better?" Lilly asked.

"A little" I said looking around, until I locked eyes with Lucius.

"I'll be right back." I said making my way over to him. When he was within three feet a jumped on him and hugged him.

"Thank you so much for saving my life." I said into his chest.

"I wish I could've done more," He said setting me down.

"Please don't, it was meant to happen like this I guess." I sighed.

"I'm still sorry, but I want you to go have fun, you of all people deserve it. You've probably been locked away, which I don't blame you, but you need to move on." He said nudging me towards my friends then disappearing into the crowd.

I walked over to the refreshment table and downed at least five glasses of champagne when Sirius and Remus walked over and took the bottle from me.

"Come dance" Remus said.

"I can't, I'll fall on my face and eat shit" I said shaking my head.

"Come on it'll be fun." Sirius said as he and Remus pulled me onto the dance floor.

We danced for what seemed like forever, bumping and grinding. The adults were either doing the same or too busy to notice. It was quiet fun until we couldn't stand anymore from dehydration. So we drank more until we were all shit faced.

"Sirius, show me to my room." I slurred out, which I guess he understood because he started leading me upstairs.

"No wait, we're going to miss the countdown." He whined pulling me down the stairs again.

"I'm tired you go, I really have no interest in any countdown, except the countdown into sleepy land."

"Oh all right, but you owe me." He said opening the door to his and James' room.

I dove right onto James' bed and was almost asleep when Sirius shook me.

"You can't sleep in that, it's too stiff."He said pulling me to my feet.

"All my shit is further upstairs." I whined trying to lie back down.

"Here sleep in this" He said throwing me a t-shirt and a pair of boxers.

I ran the boxers up my legs without moving the bottom of my dress, but I had to take it off before I could put the t-shirt on.

"Turn around" I demanded.

"Okay, but it's not like I don't know what they look like." he said smiling.

"You've never seen me naked."

"Actually that night, oh shit sorry."

"It's fine I'm over it, but still turn around." I said remembering that night in the classroom, where he saved me.

I got the dress off after struggling but I could not get my head through the right hole in the shirt.

"Siri, help!" I screamed.

"But you said to turn around" He said chuckling.

"Just help" I growled.

"Fine" he said pulling the shirt correctly over my head. He had already changed while I was struggling. "Now let's sleep." He said falling onto his own bed.

I laid down on James' bed again and curled up under the covers.

"Sirius?"

"Yes Avery?" He mumbled.

"We'll always be best friends right?"

"Of course, why do you ask?" He said propping himself on his elbow.

"It's just everything I care about I lose, I don't want to ever lose you"

"You won't I promise." He said laying his head down and falling asleep.

"Sirius, I love you." I whispered but he was already snoring. So I laid my head down as well and found sleep quickly.

I woke up the next morning, and a shiver ran up my spine making me cringe. I tried to get comfortable again but there was something in my way, a warm something.

"Sirius why are you in my bed?" I asked pushing him out.

"Hey" He yelled, you madam are in my bed."

"But how did I get there" I said before rushing into the bathroom. I leaned over the toilet and began empting my stomach, Sirius holding my hair back. "Thanks" I said when I was done.

"No problem." He then picked me up and laid me on his bed, bringing a trashcan along. Next he kicked James off his bed. "Wake up prongs."

"I'm up, I'm up." James said holding his hands in the air. "Sorry for moving you last night Ava, I just wanted to sleep in my own bed, I hope he didn't kick you."

"No he didn't, but I wish he would have last night when I started drinking."

"Here take these" Lilly said appearing in the door with three mugs. "It will help with the hangover."

"Thanks" We all chanted.

"Oh, and breakfast is ready" She said moving out of the way just in time as James and Sirius went bolting out of the room. "You'd think they were starved as children"

"Sirius was, Lilly" I said getting up.

"Oh that's right, sorry poor thing."

We entered the kitchen and it smelled like that place muggles go to when they die, oh yeah heaven. I sat down between the guys and began eating. It was delicious, better than Hogwarts and that's saying something.

"All done" The boys yelled slamming their fists in the table.

"Let's play quidditch." Sirius suggested.

"Yeah, you girls want to play?" James asked.

"Not yet, we'll meet you later." Lilly said.

James and Sirius raced out into the yard leaving Lilly, Mrs. Potter and I alone.

"So you and James seem close now." I said raising my eyebrows towards Lilly.

"Yeah, I guess he asked me out again last night"

"And?" Mrs. Potter and I asked at the same time.

"I said yes" We all squealed, yes squealed we're girls come on now.

"That's great" I said hugging her.

"Now I'll get the red headed babies I always wanted" Mrs. Potter said.

"We're not that serious yet" Lilly said.

"Oh child, I know I was only joking." She laughed.

"So Avery you and Sirius are getting pretty, um serious." Lilly giggled.

"No, no we're just friends, really good friends. And besides he has a girlfriend, remember Laura?" I said.

"But you're so much better than her"

"It doesn't matter what any of us think about the matter, only what Sirius thinks, and he likes her so we deal with it." I said.

"But?" she started.

"No Lilly, this discussion is over."