This was the third time this week that Ellie had blown off Rose to hang out with James.

At least she assumed that was where she was. Ellie hadn't even bothered to say what she was planning to do with their afternoon off, just sort of assumed that she would want to be alone with Sirius. But she didn't, really, just wanting to relax with Ellie and get some work done.

And considering that her best friend had never done this before, Rose was left to assume that this was all James' fault. Or he was at least partially to blame.

Which did not improve her attitude.

He had started to seem a little too good to be true. Did he really like Ellie, or was he just playing? Did he deserve her? Would he make some stupid mistake or take some stupid risk that would get her hurt? Would he break her heart? It seemed like all of these things were making a very new and much less attractive picture of James Potter in her head. Someone who she should trust under no circumstances, yet was forced to include in almost every secret. It was stressful.

Rose had been planning to choose costumes for the masquerade which was now only a week away, but with no Ellie, she was forced to actually do schoolwork, something that the teachers seemed particularly keen on giving them since the OWL exams loomed so near on the horizon. She was nestled in the nook of her favorite tree once again, bright Gryffindor scarf wrapped tightly to avoid the cold that was growing worse each coming day.

"Finished that charms essay yet? Although, I suppose you can just worm your way around doing it by sucking up to the teacher," called someone from behind the tree.

"Afternoon, Oliver. Got the guts to come around and face me, or planing on keeping the conversation through the tree?" She replied, not even bothering to look up.

"In fact," Oliver continued, ignoring her. "You're quite clever around all of the professors. I'd even go as far as calling it manipulative. Charming, even. Are you sure that you weren't meant to be Slytherin?"

"That's quite rich, coming from you Oliver. Killed any first years in your sacrifices to satan lately? I hear good grades are quite expensive nowadays. Two or three souls at least," she contemplated, not bothering to watch him as he came around the side of the tree, hands in his pockets, dark hair neatly combed.

"Four actually. But I've been getting a good deal from a friend of mine," he replied absentmindedly, watching something flying across the lake.

Then he noticed the dress designs that were on one of the pages of her many notebooks, drawn in enchanted ink that let the models spin in place and walk, the fabrics of the painted dresses shimmering as the printed figures moved. Another page showed a matching set of dress robes, for the male partner, all with masks that were decorated beautifully.

"Who'd you think's going to want to go with you to the dance? A house elf?" Oliver asked rudely, meaning no jest, only insult.

"Well, I, unlike you, am not an insolent arse, and I haven't had any trouble finding a date," she replied, smirking. "I doubt Marielle Midgen would even go with you. Even she has some sort of standards, though they must be low, considering the length of her skirt. I heard her say she'd rather date a muggle, in fact," she said, somehow knowing that associating him with the most sultry girl in the year, a Ravenclaw who was obsessed with Muggle Studies, would make him even angrier.

"How hard is it to cast the Imperius curse? I suppose that's the only way you could ever get someone to agree to go with you without them committing suicide at the thought," he smirked, thinking he would hit a nerve. She had stood up by now, and had discretely pulled out her wand, which now was pointed at him.

"Would you like me to show you? Or would you prefer that you learned that trick from a master?Like your dear old dad," she challenged, not because she was angry, but because she loved a good fight, and knew she could easily take him.

Oliver's father had been a follower of the most powerful dark wizard ever, Gellert Grindelwald, and even though his mother had left him and brought Oliver with her, it was still a sore subject for him, while his old man rotted away in Azkaban. He raised his wand and pointed it towards her.

"Ha. At least I haven't-"

"Got any manners? Yes, you haven't even bothered to say hello. Not to mention nosing through other people's notes and insulting the best Imperius curse I've ever seen," complimented a voice that dropped down from the tree.

"Sirius-" Rose turned, protesting.

"Hush dear, the curse was completely unnecessary. I would have come without complaint if you had simply asked," he grinned, sweeping around behind her and pulling her in close with a spin. She couldn't help but laugh. Oliver looked a bit shocked, eyes wide.

"And really, I truly think I dress a bit too nicely to be a house elf. You might want to get your eyes checked," Sirius said to Oliver. "I do believe that you're the house elf looking one. Or at least based on the abnormally large nose you have that seems to keep getting into everyone else's business."

"I only meant-" Oliver stuttered.

"To insult my absolutely perfect girlfriend, I know. Now why don't you run along and find some first years to sacrifice to the devil? I'm sure your arithmacy grade could use some improvement," he finished.

The pair turned around and headed back to their side of the tree that she had left her things at, and she breathed a sigh of frustration. Oliver was hurrying back to the castle.

"You couldn't let me get one good hex in?" She asked.

"You'll thank me when you don't have to sit in detention all weekend," he replied knowingly.

"How long were you in that tree?" She asked curiously.

"Not long. I was about to come down when he showed up," he shrugged.

"Taken a liking to my tree, have you?" She asked, looking up at the few leaves that remained.

"It really is quite comfortable," he said, sliding a hand around her waist and moving closer.

"And you saw my dress designs?" She asked, breaking away to grab the notebooks that had been scattered.

"I must say, I'm very impressed. And you're making both of our costumes?" He asked, watching the model man that bore a certain resemblance to him as it moved along the paper, spinning to show off the dress robes.

"I'll need a bit of help. Maybe that house elf, Nori," she responded, again lost in her own thoughts. They both sat down at the base of the tree.

"And I'm not good enough?" He questioned.

"I saw you trying to mend your socks last month. I wouldn't let you near a needle and thread any time sooner than the end of the world," she replied.

"That hurts!" He laughed.

"The ego, or the needle-pricked fingers?" She teased.

"Both." He reached to her over the notebook and brushed a stray piece of her hair away.

"Sirius... Were you serious when you said I was your girlfriend?" She was quite solemn and her voice had dropped to a quieter tone.

"Only if you want me to have been," he replied, carefully.

"Well, then I suppose you're officially unavailable," she said smiling a little.

"Exactly how I was hoping to be," he responded.

His eyes were a stormy grey, made bright by the afternoon sunlight, his gaze intense and deep. She was leaning towards him, almost without realizing, drawn in, until their lips were nearly touching. She turned her head a little and felt as he moved forward, pressing the two of them together, carefully, softly, but still deeply enough to be satisfying. They were interrupted by a bell signaling the end of their free session, and pulled apart reluctantly. He helped her gather her belongings and stuff them hurriedly into their bags as they rushed back into the castle and up several floors, showing up only a few minutesi late for their next class.

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LOVE THis chapter! Oliver and Sirius? HECK YES. IM also super pumped for the ball. (OH and PS, I'm American, so if you ever see me using the wrong lingo, let me know) Thanks loves, Feel free to review with any thoughts! Thanks for reading, and don't let the muggles get you down!

post edit: yo when i finish editing i can start posting a bit of the new bits ( no promises as i havent gone too far yet) bur that will be nice, i think. Thanks again for reading and reviewing and dealing with all the issues.