Why So Unshakable?

Author's Note:: I'm still trying to figure out the way that Eirian interacts with the Marauders and Lily, so here's a bit of a test run. If you have any comments or ideas, let me know!

The Great Hall 1976

It seemed that every year, Dumbledore's speech grew more boring. Last year he thought that it had hit the cap, but this year, James just wanted to cut either cut off his own ears, or glue Dumbledore's tongue to the roof of his mouth. However, James would rather not spend four days in the Hospital Wing or a week in detention. Instead, he decided to occasionally glance over at Lily Evans, and by "occasionally glance over", he meant stare.

Sirius was too busy messing with the Slytherins to notice, Remus had smuggled in a book, and Pettigrew was actually intently listening to the speech. It was the opportune moment. With everyone already otherwise engaged, they wouldn't notice that his head wasn't angled up the way it should have been if he had actually been looking up at Dumbledore. He probably would have gotten away with staring at her, if it hadn't been for the fact that two minutes after Dumbledore had invited them to "tuck in" he still hadn't even reached for a bite of food.

"Hey mate, if you're not careful your face will freeze like that." Sirius joked. Remus and Peter laughed as James' head whipped back around to his friends.

"Like what?" James asked defensively, beginning to pile food onto his plate.

"All lovesick. It's quite disgusting. I mean could we at least finish our food first?" Sirius continued, sending Peter into hysterics. Remus looked at Peter and chuckled shaking his head.

"He's got a point, you know."

"I'm just strategizing. It's more than you can say, Sirius. It's been, what, four years and you still haven't made a move on Eirian."

"I've had distractions." Sirius said, eyeing Karen Enders who smiled back. "And you can't say I haven't tried. I did, I do. Once every year. Remember, I tried to kiss my challenge." Sirius shoveled some mashed potatoes into his math.

"What haven't you tried to kiss?" Remus asked, and James almost choked on his pumpkin juice.

"James goes after Lily way more than you go after Eirian. You hardly even talk to her except when she's with Lily and you're with James." Peter chirped. Sirius glared at him.

"It's true." Remus said standing up for Peter. "You can't pretend anymore that she's not your type. She's breathing and beautiful."

Sirius looked down the table to where Eirian was smiling as Mary MacDonald animatedly told a story. He was right. Eirian had finally grown out of her quirky look and become undeniably attractive. Her curly blonde hair which had previously been cut at an odd shoulder length haircut, now hung long. Her fair skin, which had previously appeared grey, was like porcelain. She had grown to be about 5'7" or 5'8" , almost as tall as he was. The only thing that had stayed the same about Eirian (besides her personality) was her big, bright, beautiful blue eyes. For the first time, Sirius looked at her as if she wasn't just a part of the bet, but actually a dateable girl. The change had happened over time, but it was only now that he actually noticed.

"You know mate," he said turning to James. "This year I will try as hard as you do. Starting after I finish this meal." James laughed and Remus rolled his eyes.

The Hallway In Front of the Great Hall 1976

Dinner cleared finally and people began to file out. Lily had left the table with Remus to help him escort the first years to the common room, leaving Eirian on her own. Rather, on her own with Mary and Sonia who were giggling to themselves. The three moved through the crowd, with general ease until Eirian realized that Sonia and Mary were no longer by her side. "Great." She grumbled but continued on her way. She hated it when Sonia and Mary left her alone. Suddenly she wasn't alone.

"Walking by yourself can be dangerous Saise, you ought to know that." Black said putting an arm around her shoulder. "Good thing I'm here to escort you."

"Yeah, because there are so many dangerous things inside of Hogwarts. Now get off me." Eirian said storming out from under his arm and up the stairs.

"C'mon, Saise." Sirius said, following her. "Walk with me. Talk with me."

"Don't you have Potter for that?"

"I have Potter and you have Lily, but here we are alone." Eirian noticed Peter Pettigrew trailing behind them.

"I wouldn't say alone." She commented before walking up ahead of him. Eirian heard a few cross words and smiled to herself. "So easily distracted. One of these days I may actually have to thank Pettigrew." Unfortunately, she found Sirius by her side again.

"You can't get rid of me that easily, Saise. Has anyone ever told you that you're beautiful?"

Eirian was caught off guard, but quickly tried to hide her shock. "You're like the plague." She narrowed her eyes.

"That's not an answer." He said, shooting her his most dazzling smile. If Sonia had been here she would have been all over him, giggling and flirting. "It's true, though. You're stunning. "

"If you expect me to fall for this, you seriously underestimate my intelligence. I'm not a tart."

"I would never-"

"Go away, Black."

"We're going to the same place." Eirian groaned inwardly. "C'mon, Saise. You can't say that there's no chemistry between us." Sirius insisted.

"Don't make me laugh. Why don't you go back to Potter? You can tell him you've made your annual attempt at me, and then let me alone."

"Why would I want to leave someone as beautiful as you alone?"

"Because if you don't I may have to push you down the stairs."

"You have spirit Saise, I like that." Sirius said trying to corner her into a wall.

"Let me get to the common room." Eirian said patiently.

"Why are you in such a rush?"

"I'm always in a rush to get away from pigheaded boys like you." Eirian glared.

"You love me."

"Drop dead. You're a cruel, egotistical jerk. If you think that I'm going to fawn over you like the other girl because out of the blue you've decided to go after me, you have another thing coming. You're sudden interest in me is completely unbelievable. I'm not interested in being another one of your pranks or jokes, or whatever it is you want to call it. Now let me pass." Eirian ranted, from her position against a wall, between his hands.

"This isn't sudden. I tried striking up a conversation on the train too. You're just listening to me for the first time, instead of whipping out your wand right away."

"I'm the one who whips out their wand right away?" Eirian asked, taking a stab at his alleged promiscuity.

"Now that's not fair or even true." Sirius chided.

"Since when did you ever fight fair?" Eirian smirked, finally giving up on convincing him to let her alone, and ducking under his arm, pushing him to the side. She hurried off to the common room, leaving Sirius there.

James and Peter came up from the stairs. James placed his hand on Sirius' shoulder. "Better luck next year." James remarked.

"Not next year." Sirius shook his head looking at him. "No, this is the year I win our bet. She's interested in me; otherwise she wouldn't have stuck around so long." James laughed.

"That's why she pushed away from you twice."

"How much fun is Quidditch when the Snitch comes to you?" Sirius countered.