"I miss the weekend already," Alice groaned Monday morning as she reached across the table for a piece of toast.
"I don't," Frank replied, as he buttered Alice's toast for her.
"So you're glad you have double potions this morning?" Alice laughed.
"No I'm glad I don't have to get up early for any Qudditch practices," Frank responded.
"Agreed," Ginny giggled as she bit into her toast.
"I don't know how you eat it like that," Sirius said, as he nudged Ginny.
"Eat what?" Ginny responded.
"How you can eat plain toast, at least try and be civilized and put jam on it, even butter is less vile than plain crunchy toast," Sirius said shaking his head as he spread raspberry ham onto a piece.
"I didn't realize civilized people put jam on their toast," Ginny laughed.
"That's because you haven't tasted mum's jam," James leaned in excited.
"Nothing is as good as hers," Sirius agreed grinning.
"It's settled then, I'll write to mum and tell her to send you some," James proclaimed as he enthusiastically bit into his toast.
"Oh! James you forgot to remind me to write to mum," Lily spoke up.
"I'm sure your mum understands your busy, look she probably even sent you an owl," James responded, lazily waving the knife he used to spread jam on his toast in the direction of the morning post that was flying in.
"Sent me an owl wondering why I haven't been writing!" Lily squealed.
"That's why I don't write to my parents," Sirius laughed.
"Bugger off you know mum goes crazy every time you decide to write," James laughed.
"What like one every few months?" Remus laughed.
"You're just jealous that she likes me best," Sirius grinned.
"Who would be writing to you Ginevra?" Peter asked, pulling the boys away from their playful banter as a sleek dark coloured eagle owl landed lightly in front of Ginny holding out his left leg.
"I don't know," Ginny shrugged her heart racing as she thought of the letters she used to receive from her mum.
"Don't be rude Peter," Alice scolded.
Ginny untied the letter, and the owl took off instantly, without waiting for a treat.
Ginny felt the smooth parchment in her hand and recognized the gold swirled and cursive writing immediately. Her eyes automatically rose to the Slytherin table. A quick scan didn't locate Regulus but her eyes locked with those of Lucius Malfoy, and she instantly looked away.
"Aren't you going to open it?" Peter asked, as he craned his neck trying to see what was written on the envelope.
"No need, I know what it is," Ginny responded as she slid the envelope across the table to Sirius.
Sirius who was eating jam out of the jar, put his spoon down to pick up the letter.
Sirius turned the letter over in his hands a few times before he handed it back to Ginny unopened.
"I think you should go," Sirius responded to Ginny's questioning look.
Ginny didn't want there to be secrets between her and Sirius, if Regulus was inviting her to another Malfoy ball she wanted Sirius's blessing before going.
Peter leaned across the table and snatched the letter, opening it before anyone could stop him, and read it aloud in his nasally voice
'Abraxas Malfoy would like to extend a personal invitation to Miss Ginevra Dunaham to attend the annual pureblood's Easter ball at Malfoy manor' Peter stopped reading to look over at Ginny in disgust.
"Moved on from Black to Malfoy, any other pure blood family's you'd like to-"
"Good thing Pettigrew isn't pureblood, I'd hate to see her step down," Sirius replied instantly.
"Sirius!" Ginny cried.
"Why do you always defend him?" Sirius responded.
"Why do you always defend her?" James asked.
"James," Lily exclaimed shocked.
"Padfoot, she knows how you feel about your brother!" James lectured Sirius. "And Ginevra!" James started turning on her "after the state I found you in that night, I won't be there to wipe your tears when this ends badly."
"Regulus didn't invite her," Sirius responded calmly. "Abraxas Malfoy personally invited her, now I don't know about you lot," Sirius said shooting his friends a disapproving look. "But I for one know that no one turns down a personal invitation from Abraxas Malfoy."
"I wasn't aware that he ever gave any," James responded.
"Exactly," Sirius grinned.
"Besides," Sirius whispered so that only Ginny could hear. "After what we saw on Valentine's Day, I think it's a good idea to find out just what they're all up to."
Ginny grinned, as she reached under the table and grabbed his hand, maybe she couldn't confide in Sirius about her past, but he shared her views on how he wanted the future to play out, and right now that was good enough.