A/N: Hullo:)

I was planning on having this chapter finished within a couple hours of the last update, but now it's after midnight and I've gotten so into this that there's no way I'm going to be able to sleep anytime soon. Thank God it's Saturday.

Please review, reviews make the world spin 'round. My world is spinning kind of slowly right now, although I suppose that's all on me right now.

Everything in the world of Harry Potter belongs to the fantabulous Ms. JK Rowling. And while we're on that subject, can we just all freak out about The Cursed Child for a minute? I still haven't stopped. Every time I hear about it I get more and more excited.

XOXORose

PS - has anyone else ever gotten to trill on a trumpet, because I get for four measures in this one song and it's great!

-DdLM-

Oh my head!

Oh what have I done to my poor innocent head?

"Mistress Dia?"

"Morning Minky… What time is it?"

"One thirty in the afternoon, Mistress Dia. Happy New Year!"

I groaned.

"Wake me up in May. Preferably after exams are over."

Somebody knocked gently on the door. The sound pounded like the inside of my head.

"Winky let them in so they'll stop that bloody racket."

"Yes, Mistress Dia!"

"Here, Dia. Drink this."

"I'm not sure it'll stay down, Remus."

"It'll get rid of your hangover."

"Give it."

He chuckled.

"You've never gotten drunk before, have you?"

"I wish. My mother would never let me drink my way through Christmas at home. She monitored my champagne intake very closely."

"Technically we aren't supposed to get drunk either, since we're still underage, but I don't think Mum and Pop really cared with you around. Mum especially likes having another lady in the house, as she puts it."

I choked down the potion. It was horrendous but I immediately felt better.

"Bloody - ! The hell is in that?"

"You don't want to know. Did it help?"

"Makes having to put it anywhere near my tastebuds worth it."

"I'll take that as a yes. Now that you're feeling better, I can make you sick again. Sarah stayed over. I thought I should warn you. She's being extra bloody sweet towards Sirius, pretending to be an ill little baby. She's making the rest of us ill, but Sirius seems to be enjoying the attention."

"God, that prat!"

"Well… yes. Is there a specific reason?"

"He kissed me last night. Told me he would give up Sarah to have me. Told me he wouldn't be able to stay away from me. First sign of Sarah he went running back. I can't believe him!"

Remus sighed and shook his head.

"I know he's an idiot, but don't be too harsh. He doesn't know what's good for him, and he certainly doesn't feel like he deserves it."

Remus left. I felt like I had been slapped. Eventually I managed to get myself out of bed and downstairs with everyone else.

James was sitting on the couch trying to eat while Lily was flopped over sleeping on him, Jay and Tracey were sitting at the table, heads drooping. Remus was across from them with a cup of tea, and Sirius was sitting in an armchair, Sarah draped across him, sitting in his lap. I opened my mouth to say something to him, realized I wasn't sure what would come out of my mouth, shook my head, and went and sat by Tracey and Jay.

"So…" I gave Tracey a sly smile. "How was Amos."

"Oh, Lord, you remember that?"

I grinned at her.

"Well, I'd say I got pretty lucky with him."

Sarah leered at us from Sirius' lap.

"I'd say Sirius got even luckier last night."

I felt sick again and I couldn't look at either of them. The image of them in his bed scorched itself to my brain. I knew what had happened, but her saying it made it real. I didn't want it to be real. Tracey handed me a cup of strong coffee, some cream, and the sugar bowl, then acted like Sarah had never said anything.

"Oh, Dia, he's so great. You're going to absolutely adore him! He's so sweet and caring. I've never met a guy like him before. Not even James is this kind to Lily. He's a perfect gentleman, never even tried to kiss me. We danced for hours and then sat up talking until four in the morning. I think he could be the one, and we've only known each other for a few months!"

"You look so happy just talking about him. I wish I could meet a guy like that… Someone who truly cares about me, cares about my well being. Someone I feel like I could talk to about anything, and just be happy being around them. Someone I could love that would love me back just as much. Someone I could trust to go out and never even look at another girl because those other girls aren't me. I mean, if I could find a guy like that I'd never even think about another guy. Not even if I saw the most attractive man in the world."

I refused to turn around and look at Sirius. Remus was cringing and James had frozen with toast halfway to his mouth. I knew if I turned around I'd either throw up or cry. I could say whatever I wanted, but it wouldn't make me feel any better.

I heard him get up from behind me. He dropped Sarah on the chair and stormed upstairs. She She ran up behind him, calling after him, grabbed his arm. My hands were shaking.

-DdLM-

"Dia, you little whore."

"Wha-?"

"You tried to steal him right from underneath my fingertips!"

"As I remember it your fingertips were all over that Durmstrang boy."

"Crucio!"

I had never felt pain like this before. I couldn't even scream. It was unimaginable. Eventually she let up. I just lay on my back, panting, crying. I couldn't believe it. I don't think she could either.

She left me. Lying on the floor. Crying.

How could I tell anyone? I had already insulted Sirius and complained about Sarah before that. Nobody would believe me.

"Dia?"

"Hang on, Lils. I'm changing."

"I'm coming in anyway."

I quickly ducked into my closet like I was searching for clothes.

"You know we should drag Jay and Trace out to Hogsmeade. Have a girl's day out."

"I just saw Sarah walk out of here."

"She just insulted me for a while. Same old insults, too. Honestly I just blocked it all out."

"Wear your gray sweater."

"With these boots?"

"And those red pants I wouldn't be caught dead in."

"You want to borrow them?"

"Red is not my color."

"You're a Gryffindor."

"Bugger off."

-DdLM-

"So Sirius kissed you and then shagged Sarah after she was caught kissing Mister Durmstrang?"

"He's a fool."

"Tell me something new."

"And he told you that he'd never be able to stay away from you? Men are pigs!"

"Except for Amos!"

"Cheers!"

I snuggled back into the booth at the Three Broomsticks, warm butterbeer clenched in my hands. I could joke all I wanted but I was still shaken by the incident with Sarah. I just couldn't let them know.

Mrs. Potter had gladly sent us off to Hogsmeade, telling us to be back in time for dinner, and Mr. Potter had joked that we should watch out for Death Eaters. While neither one had seemed worried, I knew they were being extra cautious. They flooed ahead to some of the shopkeepers to ask them to keep an eye on us. My mother would only have flooed ahead if she thought she could get me married while I was out. It was kind of nice to be worried about. It was new.

"Dia? You still with us?"

"Yeah. Just still tired from last night. I hope Mrs. Potter doesn't expect us to eat anything at dinner. That potion this morning helped but it didn't cure me."

"Well, how about we go to Honeydukes anyway and get something for later?"

"Agreed!"

We linked arms and walked to Honeydukes, chattering along the way about anything but Sirius. I could tell Lily knew I was lying about what happened with Sarah, but she didn't push, which I was grateful for. I was still shaken and completely on edge, but much more relaxed being out of the house and away from Sarah.

"We should grab some chocolate for Remus. His stash is running low."

Jay grabbed a few blocks of chocolate. Lily's eyes lit up.

"And some pasties for James! They're his favorites, and he keeps stealing mine!"

"Ooh, Lily!"

Lily flushed and quickly changed the subject. We spent the next half hour figuring out what to buy, then flooed back to Potter Manor. Minky was the only one in the sitting room.

"Minky, where's everyone gone?"

"Outside. Mister Potter said there was trouble come to call, told the others to stay inside, but Missus Potter told him she was going with him, and the others all snuck out to watch."

The girls and I exchanged looks, dropped the sweets on the sofa, and crept outside. There was a tall woman standing there. She had haughty, regal features, and a sheet of gray hair.

"Sarah, I won't have you around these people! Especially that boy! If he isn't good enough for that family, he isn't good enough for you!"

"Mum! He's perfectly fine for me!"

"Really, now! Be reasonable!" Mr. Potter's ears were going red and Mrs. Potter looked downright furious.

"I will not have you talk that way about my boy!"

"Sarah, come home. We'll find you a suitable young man."

"Mum, he's perfectly fine. So he has a few flaws! He was raised as a Black, how bad could he be?"

"He's a traitor!"

"He needs guidance!"

Realization dawned on everyone's faces. Sirius extracted his hand and James and Remus pulled him back. Mr. and Mrs. Potter stepped in front of the boys.

"Sirius! What are you doing? You love me!"

I stepped forward.

"Darling, that is not how Sirius works, and if you really think you're special, I would like to remind you how he didn't care that you were all over your Durmstrang toy as long as he was there to pick up your pieces."

"You bitch! Someone ought to teach you to hold your tongue. I've heard it's easier if you don't have one!" She lunged me, and I screamed and fell backward. Her mother grabbed her around the waist and apparated out of there, taking her daughter with her.

"Dia!" Lily dropped down next to me, checking me over for any injuries.

"I'm okay, Lily, I'm okay! I'm okay! I'm okay."

"Are you sure? It looked like she was going for your throat!"

"She missed me, I'm fine. Besides, now she's gone. There's no way she's getting anywhere near any of us. I'm okay, Lily, really."

Lily grabbed me and hugged me, squeezing me so tightly I could barely breathe.

"I'm going to have Minky make some tea."

Mrs. Potter went back inside, take Mr. Potter with her by the hand. Jay and Tracey pulled us up and then hugged me as well.

"Loosen up! I can't breathe!"

"Don't ever do that to me again! I've been worried sick having her around you all the time. And then this morning! I'm so glad she's gone!"

"Dia, what happened this morning?"

"I caught Sarah coming out of her room after the whole incident! Dia tried to tell me everything was fine, but of course I didn't believe that!"

"It was fine! Nothing new!"

"Dia! Nothing new is nothing good!"

Lily, Tracey, and Jay all hovered around me, shrieking about Sarah, and how worried they were, and how glad they were to have her gone, and dragged me inside leaving three very confused Marauders behind.

"Wait, wait, wait! Stop talking all at once! What are you all talking about?"

At once the three of them shut their mouths and looked at me.

"I'm taking a bath."

"You're going to have to explain at some point."

"Or we could all just forget about it."

If there was one thing I never wanted to talk about it was that morning. I extracted myself and hid upstairs in my bath. Minky brought me tea. I hid until the water ran cold, and then just sat on my bed in a dressing gown and brushed my hair.

Someone knocked on my door.

"Dia, love. Time to eat."

"I'll be down in a moment."

I slipped on a nightgown and wrapped my dressing gown around myself once more, steeled myself for the inevitable, and went downstairs.