Sirius' POV

I sat in the corner of the huge dressing room, trying to face away from the gaudy lights hanging over all the mirrors. I pulled a bit at my tie, but otherwise tried to stay still. I didn't want to attract any attention to my displeasure. I really wanted James to have his day, and as a best man, it was my role to reassure him that everything was fine and he was allowed to be happy without having to worry about anything.

"Relax." Remus smiled knowingly at me. He and Peter were sitting beside me in the room while James was putting on his suit.

"You're too tense," Peter said, poking at my shoulder.

I half-scowled before I caught myself. I just nodded. "I'm fine, I swear," I said, moodily slouching back and sticking my hands in my pockets.

"What's wrong?" Peter asked me, studying my face.

"Padfoot's not good at these sort-of events," Remus grinned. "Celebrating the expression of feelings… It's too stuffy and mushy for him. And don't forget, he's best man. He's probably nervous about not messing up today."

"I said I'm fine," I said grudgingly.

"Oh, look," Peter pointed across the room. "There are some of the bridesmaids."

I looked across the room and sure enough, there was Marlene, Dorcas, and Alice. They all had on cream-colored dresses and had flowers braided into their hair.

When they saw us sitting together, they came over.

"Are you boys ready?" Marlene asked, smiling. She was always effortlessly beautiful.

Remus nodded and asked, "How is Lily doing? She's not too nervous, is she?"

"She's gorgeous, is what she is," Dorcas replied. "But yes, she is a bit nervous. We left the calming down to Raylynx, though, since she's the maiden of honor."

"Raylynx is good at that," Remus said warmly, and I knew he was thinking of the past few weeks.

"What about James?" Alice asked. "Is he all right?"

"Giddy as a school boy. He'll jump straight out of his pants if he doesn't hold onto them," I replied.

Marlene smirked, but Dorcas said understandingly, "But of course. He's liked Lily since ages ago at Hogwarts. Who would've guessed this day would have actually come?"

Remus' smile strangely seemed a little forced, but he got up composedly and said, "I think it's time we line up. Come on, now. Let's follow after James to pick up his pants on the aisle."

Raylynx barely made it in time. She came running up to us and sort-of slid to a stop, grabbing Remus' arm to steady herself.

"Sorry," she breathed out. "Had a bit of a mess back there."

"A mess?" Peter questioned, but Raylynx just took a deep breath and gently patted her hair to make sure the flowers were still in place.

"You look perfectly fine," Remus assured her. "Not a hair- er- flower, out of place."

Raylynx's face broke into a smile at his comment.

He was right, though. She looked perfect.


The entire procession was as weepy and bubbly as one could have wished for. But at least James did manage to keep his pants on, even as he slid the ring on Lily's finger and then kissed her numb. Golden flowers blossomed over them as they kissed and white ribbons sprang out from the flowers and flowed down. Lots of pictures were taken. Raylynx took one as well, with her Muggle camera. Then, the reception began.

James held out his hand to Lily, and they shared a slow dance as everybody looked on with warm smiles.

I watched as well, but somehow my mind felt a bit hazy. I hadn't even drunk alcohol yet, but I kept getting distracted. My eyes kept being drawn elsewhere…

I didn't even think that she looked pretty. I really didn't. But she just… she just felt… warm. She wasn't radiant. She wasn't gorgeous. But she looked like she would fit perfectly between my arms. I thought maybe, I could shield her from being hurt any more than she already had been.

What am I thinking? Raylynx Kingsley? Are you mad, Sirius?

I uneasily shifted on my feet and tried to look back at Lily and James, who had just finished their dance to uproarious applause. Then, the crowd began to disperse as couples began dancing and light refreshments were served.

I took a step forward, then stuttered and stopped, confused.

A hand appeared from the crowd and grabbed my shoulder. "Sirius, mate!" It was James.

"Congratulations, Prongs," I smiled at his goofy grin.

"Thanks, Padfoot. I appreciate that a lot," James said, beaming. But then he leaned closer to me and spoke directly in my ear. "I see where you're looking."

I stared at James. Was I that obvious tonight? It's not like that. Really. I just want to protect her, that's all.

James shook his head. "But mate, you can't. Not this time."

"What are you talking about?" I said, trying to stay calm.

"You know, I've never said anything to you before, mostly because it concerned random girls, but this time you can't. Let Remus have his chance, all right? And…"

James looked at me with a strange gaze. For once, I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"What, Prongs?" I asked bluntly.

James shook his head. "Let's just say, as your friend, I feel like you might have missed an opportunity. That's all."

Then, he casually strode away to greet other guests.

I walked over to the tables to sit down. My mind was buzzing. What had James been saying to me? All I could really pick out from that conversation was "Remus and Raylynx". Remus and Raylynx. I tugged at my tie again.

"The poor thing will break if you keep doing that."

I looked up to see Marlene taking a seat beside me.

Why can't I just like her? I was the one who hurt her when we broke up, too. Why can't I just choose to like her?

But I knew that Marlene didn't like me as deeply as she thought she did. She still believed in some conjured-up image of me in her head, one that I could never live up to. When she bought me all those shirts for my birthday, they were just shirts, but anybody who knew me would know that they didn't fit me. I would never wear them. I was more suited for simple things, like a single sad plaid button-up. Raylynx had always seen that, maybe intuitively, I don't know. But she always saw right through me, and that had always bothered me. I held back a sigh.

Why is Raylynx suddenly in my head so much? Tell her to get out. Especially if it's true what James said, and she and Remus are getting along so well.


Remus' POV

During the reception, I spotted James approaching Sirius.

I began to walk towards them as well, when pieces of their conversation drifted my way.

I barely heard them. They were talking rather quietly, their faces close to each other. I knew that if it wasn't for my werewolf senses, I wouldn't be hearing them at all.

"-you can't. Not this time."

"What…talking about?"

"…never said anything…before… random girls…you can't. Let Remus…"

What? Are they talking about me? I thought they were talking about girls…

"…Prongs?"

I saw James shake his head and mutter something before walking away.

Confused, I stayed where I was and watched Sirius.

I saw his head turn slightly and I followed his gaze to where a single girl was standing alone in the corner, looking rather pretty in a simple cream-colored dress.

I hesitated. Raylynx? Sirius is thinking of Raylynx? But then, why my name? …Random girls?

Suddenly, it hit me. I nearly laughed. James thought I had romantic feelings for Raylynx and he must have been warning Sirius to keep away from her for my sake.

How ironic. James just married the girl I've loved most for the longest time, and yet he considers it his duty to protect whatever romantic relationship I might have with Raylynx…

I sighed. A pure heart and a clear mind, too transparent to have a heavy consciousness or conscience about anything… What a wonderful combination to have. You really did get lucky, not only with Lily, but with your personality too, James. Congratulations.


Raylynx's POV

I sat at the table with a glass of champagne in hand. I was speaking to a charming fellow from James' side of the family. He was telling me stories of James as a toddler, though nothing too embarrassing. I was laughing as I pictured a young James with already too-big glasses and messy hair that stuck up in the back, scowling when he realized how long he'd have to wait until he had a wand of his own. I downed my fourth glass of champagne and reached for another. I was feeling a bit giggly and bubbly.

"Excuse the interruption." I looked up to see that Sirius had approached our table. "But as the best man and maiden of honor, I think we're supposed to dance."

"Oh." I looked across to my newfound acquaintance, but he merely smiled and said, "Please do."

I smiled at him before rising from the table.

Sirius walked away and I followed him, a little regrettably.

As we approached the dance floor, Sirius offered me his arm.

I took it and we started to dance a simple waltz.

He didn't strike up a conversation and I was beginning to feel a bit awkward.

"You know, if you're doing this to appease James and Lily, I don't think they'd notice anything but each other right now," I said. "I bet by the end of the night, they'll know the number of flecks the other has in their eyes."

Sirius didn't respond, just twirled me slowly.

"Listen, if I can dance and talk at the same time, so can you. Especially given the fact that I'd had three- no four, drinks."

Silence.

I sighed.

Another couple nearly bumped into us, and Sirius tightened his hand on my waist and drew me to him.

That's when I noticed-

"The necklace. It's gone."

"Well, I'm planning on giving it to James as a wedding gift."

"Ah, and he speaks!" I said teasingly and smiled at Sirius.

Sirius ignored my teasing and as he spun me out, he asked, "You're not upset that I gave away the necklace as a gift, are you?"

"No, of course not," I said, returning to him. "I think it's a wonderful idea."

"It was the best gift I could think of," Sirius said quietly.

I looked at him curiously. "Does that mean you think it works?"

"Well, given what you've told me, how could it not?"

"If it worked for you at all, I'm glad," I said honestly.

We continued dancing the simple waltz, holding each other formally at arm's length, but I could swear that his hand on my waist was much more pressing than normal. I could feel the heat from his hand emanating through the soft tulle of the bridesmaid dress I was wearing.

"Are you all right?" I asked him, cocking my head to look at him.

"Fine," he said, avoiding my gaze.

"You seem a little worked up, is all," I said.

"I don't perform well in formal situations," Sirius admitted.

"You don't have to perform, Sirius," I replied. "It's your best mate's wedding. James just wants you to be as happy as he is himself. That's all."

"I know." Sirius dismissed my words and shook his head. "I just don't... take to the atmosphere."

"How can you not take to this kind-of atmosphere? We're celebrating our best friends' marriage. Friendship and love. Isn't that what everyone wants?"

Sirius suddenly scrutinized me. "Is this what you want?" he said doubtfully.

"I mean, sure, if I find the right person." I shrugged. "Why not?"

Sirius fell silent for a bit. Then, he spoke up, "You think you've... found that person? You know, with true love or whatever...all that rubbish."

I laughed. "Oh, I see. You're uncomfortable because you're Sirius Black and you refuse to have anything to do with sentimentality."

Sirius didn't laugh. "Just don't see the value in it, is all," he muttered.

"Well, I didn't either but..."

"But?"

"I don't know," I said, the words spilling freely from my lips, no doubt courtesy of the champagne, "You see Alice and Frank, and Lily and James, and it sort-of defies you not to believe, doesn't it?"

The song ended. He bowed and I curtsied.

"Thank you for the dance. I'm glad we followed through with being a proper best man and maiden of honor." I smiled at him. "Well, try and enjoy yourself, won't you?"

Then, I went and found Alice in the crowd.


Sirius' POV

I sat in front of the fireplace of James and Lily's house, turning over the necklace in my hand over and over again.

I stared at it, glinting in the light of the fire. I felt spellbound by it. It was unexpectedly difficult to part with this necklace. But I knew it needed to be done.

"What's up?" James said, appearing from out of nowhere to clap a hand on my shoulder. He was beaming with happiness, and I couldn't help but smile in return.

"I didn't give you a present at the reception," I told him.

James shook his head. "I don't need anything material from you, Pads. You were at my side as best man, that's all I needed."

"Well, I've got something for you now," I said. I held out my hand.

Surprised, James held out his hand too. I dropped the necklace into his hand.

"A necklace?" James said. He grinned. "First a mirror, then a necklace? Who do you think I am?"

"You're a narcissistic prat. Marriage won't change that," I said, and we both chuckled.

"That's a charm," I explained. "A protection charm."

I remembered what Raylynx had told me. "That necklace… my mother gave it to me. After what happened to Jamie, that was her way of trying to keep me safe in a world she had no control over… Even a Mudblood parent attempts to keep her child safe… So I guess I just wanted to know if it even made a bit of difference… If what she cared so much about mattered at all…Or if none of it is worth anything, in the end…"

"It's imbued with the most powerful magic," I told James. "Magic you can't get anywhere else."

"Oh yeah?" James studied it closely. "I can't detect any magic on it."

"That's why it's powerful," I explained. "It's not flashy magic. It's real. Wear it, Prongs. I'm giving it to you to use it."

James held it a bit tighter in his hand.

"Well, thanks, Pads. And thanks for being my best man. It wouldn't have been the same without you as my right-hand man," he said, and then he grinned sheepishly.


Sirius' POV

With Benjy gone, Remus away, and Caradoc missing, our numbers were dwindling quickly. As it was, Dorcas required a new partner during her night shift.

To my surprise, Dumbledore assigned me to partner with Dorcas. But then, I reasoned, he probably doesn't have much of a choice. I walked up to Dorcas' flat. I knocked on the door and spoke the password.

The door opened.

"You?" Dorcas Meadows said, cocking her head to one side in mild confusion. "It's you?"

"Yeah," I said gruffly at the less-than-warm welcome.

But Dorcas laughed, reading my emotions in my face faster than words in a children's book.

"Oh, come on, don't be so offended. I was just surprised because some people were slandering you and I was wondering if Dumbledore was actually listening to those dunderheads."

"You don't think it's me?" My heart lightened. Speaking with Dorcas was refreshing. She was too much of a know-it-all, that was for sure. She was even worse than miss-goody-two-shoes Lily, but at least Dorcas was straightforward about it.

"No, it's not you." Dorcas waved a hand airily. "Don't be silly. To last this long, the traitor's got to be a person with brains. That leaves you out." She grinned at me, but all the tension in my heart flooded out with her back-handed insult.

We sat together at the table in front of the fire place.

"How's Jay?" I asked.

A shadow flickered in Dorcas' eyes but she managed to smile as she said, "He's fine. He's fine for… you know, being in this horrid war and all that."

"Has he talked to you about it?" I asked, thinking that if anyone could make Jay feel better through words, it was Dorcas' wit. But Dorcas shook her head.

"No, but he's writing a lot," Dorcas said, slowly twirling her finger in the air to mix the sugar into her coffee. "That's how I know something's wrong." She sighed and stopped twirling her finger.

"But enough about that," Dorcas said, sitting up and smiling at me.

"James and Lily are finally married," Dorcas said excitedly.

"Yeah, James couldn't be happier. He's floating higher than a balloon." I snorted.

"And Lily's terrified." Dorcas rolled her eyes. "Same old, same old. That relationship will never change."

"Thank goodness for that." I replied honestly. "Neither of them are perfect, but that's what makes them good for each other."

Dorcas stared at me curiously. "Did you just say something mature? Albeit with a grammatical mistake."

I blinked. "What?"

"You've changed..." Dorcas said, looking mildly impressed.

I scoffed. "Impossible not to, don't you think? I can't help but change if I want to protect others during a time like this."

"Whoa, there you go again. Guess the first time wasn't just chance. Weird." Dorcas shrugged.

"You never really had a high opinion of me, did you?" I said sarcastically.

"So what's put you in such a reflective mood?" Dorcas asked. "Spit it out."

"What do you mean?"

"You're rolling around the same problem over and over again in your head, aren't you? So tell me what's occupying your thoughts."

"How did you know?"

"People mature when they face an issue they can't easily solve. Now spit it out."

At a loss against her sharp tongue, I ended up spitting out the truth. "I don't know how you- I mean, how do you know if you like someone?"

"What?" Dorcas' eyebrows furrowed together. "Shouldn't you know that best of all? Hourglass shape, long hair, flirtatious eyelashes, nicely-shaped rump-"

"No, I don't mean that kind of like. I mean, as in…" I struggled to find the right word.

"Cooties?"

"No."

Dorcas smirked. "Then what? Look, why don't you tell me specifically? Your tiny brain can't handle abstraction very well."

I glared at her. "It isn't about somebody."

Raylynx doesn't count. She can't… This isn't about Raylynx. It's not about her. I'm just acting strange. It's just me. I tried to explain further. "It's about me and my own feelings."

"Oh, finally confronting your narcissism?" Dorcas quipped.

"Damn you."

Dorcas laughed out loud. "All right, I'm sorry."

"But really, what do you do?"

"Hm." Dorcas said thoughtfully. "Well, with Jay, I made him stand still and I hugged him for a bit. It helped me sort out what was going on in my mind and all."

"You hugged him for a bit?" I said, staring at her with incredible skepticism.

"Yeah, cause if you think you like someone, you get really nervous around them all the time. So it's hard to figure out if it's just you in your own mind or if you've actually caught feelings for them."

"Exactly." I snapped my fingers and pointed at her to show that she had nailed the problem. In the span of five seconds, Dorcas had changed me from an utter skeptic to a deep believer of unnecessary emotional embraces.

Dorcas shrugged. "So I hugged him until I felt calm, and then I tried to see if my heart was still…you know, fluttering and whatnot."

"Fluttering?" I repeated skeptically.

"Fluttering."

"Oh," I said, my brow wrinkled. "I see…fluttering."

I should have noticed the guffaw on Dorcas' face, but I was too busy thinking about how I was going to execute this admittedly absurd plan.


Raylynx's POV

Sirius randomly dropped by that evening. He appeared a bit flustered and out of sorts.

"Sirius?" I said, rising quickly from my seat at the kitchen table.

I was working on editing the list of wand wood qualities. Ollivander and I had recently made some more fine-tuned discoveries about cedar and yew.

"What is it? Are we needed?"

"No," Sirius said hastily. "Everything's fine. It's just that- Well, there's something I need to check."

I nodded, expecting him to speak immediately.

When no reply came, I prompted him with a, "Yes…?"

"Can you just stay still for a bit?"

Before I could answer yes or no, he crossed the distance between us in one step and pulled me to him. I felt his arms wrap around me and he held me tightly.

Startled, I immediately fidgeted and tried to push him off.

"I said 'a bit'! Sirius said, not letting me go.

My heart beat furiously in my chest. I counted in my head to ten and then struggled against him again.

"Will-you-stay- still?" Sirius tightened his arms and I squirmed.

About three seconds later, we were wrestling each other full on. Any hint of romance or friendship had sailed down the drain, and was replaced by a full on toddler-level fight.

"I-said-a-bit!" Sirius said through gritted teeth.

"It's been a bit! More than a bit!" I shouted back and finally managed to slide out of his arms. Stepping back and trying to pat down my roughed-up hair, I said to him, "What the bloody hell was that about? Why'd you spring that on me?"

"I just needed you to stay still for a minute! Is that so difficult?" Sirius asked angrily. Suddenly, he adopted a far more pleading tone as he continued in a rushed voice, "But did you feel any flutterings?"

"Yes, I felt flutterings!" I replied back to him, cringing and rubbing my arms as though to get the feeling off.

"You did?" Sirius said, his eyes widening at the thought that this ridiculous farce might actually be successful.

"Yeah, flutterings like a spider was crawling on my skin. That felt wrong and weird!" I said, shaking my head.

"Wait-you-what?" Sirius sputtered in disbelief. "Of all the crazy things we've experienced, sirens and whatnot… and this is too 'weird' for you to handle?"

"Yes," I said stoutly. "Yes, this is by far the most weird. Even being strangled by a siren felt more natural."

Sirius stared at me. And stared.

"What?" I said, suddenly extremely self-conscious.

When he didn't respond, I started to grow impatient and annoyed. "What?" I pressed.

"You're right," Sirius said. "I must have been crazy. Absolutely bonkers, thinking I'd ever have that for you."

"Have what for me?" I said, confused.

"I knew it. I knew it was just a momentary lapse of sanity."

"Momentary lapse… What?" I said, not understanding a thing he was saying.

"How could I ever think that it was a possibility? No, right, that's out of the question. Completely mental." Sirius suddenly started to laugh, but it was a deeply cynical laugh and then he muttered furiously under his breath, "Damn you, Dorcas. Damn you to hell."

"Sirius?" I moved forward to try to touch his forehead. "Are you sick?"

Sirius dodged my hand lightning-fast. "Don't touch me. I'm fine. I'm healthy again. Don't ruin it."

"Ruin it?" I said, my brow furrowed. "But I'm not sick. I don't have anything to pass onto you."

"Don't touch me! I'm warning you!" Sirius almost yelled, holding out his hand to keep me at bay.

I dropped my hand to my side. "All right, then?" I said, bewildered.

"I'm going now, all right?" Sirius said, backing away towards the door. "I'm going, I'm going- I'm gon-"

His voice died in his throat when he saw Marlene and Dorcas at my door.

"Marlene," Sirius said, his voice suddenly as cool as a breeze.

"What's going on? What was that just now?" Marlene asked, her eyes piercing and her arms crossed.

I suddenly felt dread sprout in my stomach. Although I really didn't consider whatever strange encounter Sirius and I had just had anything close to an actual embrace, to Marlene, it must have looked like Sirius and I were actually embracing.

"That wasn't-" I started to say, but Dorcas stepped in first.

"I can explain," Dorcas said curtly.

"Please do," Marlene said, her eyes turning into slits at Sirius.

"I dared him to do it," Dorcas said flippantly.

Oh. Reason started to function in my mind again and understanding clunked into my brain. Okay, Dorcas dared him to hug me for thirty seconds. I see. That makes sense.

But I couldn't quite shake off the feeling that this time was different. It wasn't an isolated event this time. But I wasn't sure how to feel about it. I gave up on him ages ago. I stopped seeing him that way long ago… right? Then, Marlene's face slipped into my mind and I sighed.


Dorcas' POV

"So." I said to Sirius later that night during our shift.

"How was it?" I asked, trying to hold back my laughter.

"What are you talking about?" Sirius said gruffly.

"Have you figured out whether you have any flutterings for our dear Raylynx?" I asked, waggling my eyebrows. I couldn't help but laugh in Sirius' face.

He became sullen and muttered grumpily, "Sod off, Dorcas."

I laughed in his face again. "Yeah, right, sod off. When I've finally figured out the object of your affections and the girl in your daydreams? I don't think so."

"Your ridiculous game was off-the-charts stupid," Sirius said, more than a little peeved.

"You know, for having once been a prankster yourself, you're not very good at taking one yourself," I said, highly amused. "But tell me, how does Ray appear in your daydreams? Are you planting trees together or baking cookies-?"

"I don't daydream about her," Sirius said curtly, cutting me off. "And you're wrong. Because I didn't feel any flutterings."

"You didn't?" I said in mock surprise. "Ah, what a shame. What a shame that you felt nothing."

Sirius opened his mouth, then hesitated, and then he opened his mouth again. "Well, it wasn't exactly… I mean, I wouldn't call it nothing."

"Hm?" I said knowingly. "What was that?"

I peered into his face. "Come again, Sirius?"

Sirius shot me a fierce glare. We had an intense eye contact battle for a good thirty seconds, before he finally blinked and sourly looked away.

"All right, fine, yeah, I felt something. Happy?" he muttered, shoving his hands deep in his pockets.

"Felt something? C'mon, give me more. What do you mean by 'something'? What exactly are you feeling?" I asked.

"I felt -you know," Sirius stuttered, blushing a bit. "Feelings… I'm feeling… feelings."

Inside, I felt a weight settle in my heart. This would break them both, Marlene and Raylynx. Marlene would not take this news lightly and Sirius was far too obvious with his emotions to hide it from her. Besides, it was high time Raylynx deserved honesty. Marlene was like my sister, but I didn't want to prioritize her feelings over Ray's just because Marlene tended to be a bit more dramatic. I had let myself do that during the TriWizard Tournament and I had regretted it ever since. I tried to ignore my feelings and focused on lightening up Sirius.

"Good," I said, patting his shoulder. "Good boy. Good, mature boy. Here. Clara stella."

A shimmering gold star appeared in front of me. I grasped it and held my hand out in front of Sirius.

"You deserve a shiny gold star."

Sirius took one look at it and said in an annoyed voice, "Enough with your bizarre humor, Dorcas."

A minute later, he said, "I don't think Raylynx was too happy when you explained it was just a dare."

I sighed and said, "Honestly, no matter what, she won't be too happy. None of you will. I said that not just to protect Marlene, but to give you an escape route. Because the minute you explain that you feel some way for Raylynx, it'll force everyone to have to choose a side."

Sirius fell quiet for a moment before he nodded and said, "I'll remember that."

"You will?" I said in surprise.

"Well, I'll try not to do anything rash," he said, grinning rather sheepishly.

"That's a dangerous expression on your face," I warned him.

"Don't worry," Sirius said. "I won't do anything to hurt either of them."

I considered this for a moment before I smiled. "Good boy," I said again. "Good, mature boy. Here. You deserve a shiny gold star. Clara stell-"

"Sod off!"

"Sure," I teased. "I'll be right off… to Ray's! She'll be very interested to hear what I've got to say."

"Meadowes, don't you dare!"

"Try me."

Sirius growled in frustration. Finally, he said in a meek voice, "I'll… I'll buy you a meal."

"Nah." I waved that off. "Jay's a good cook."

I paused, then said, "Buy me sweets."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "How much?"

"As much as you want me to keep my mouth shut."

Sirius groaned and then got off the couch.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"The damn bakery."

I smiled as I heard him trudging towards the door.

"Quicker! Lift your feet!" I shouted.

I heard him start to jog, and then the door shut.

I let myself laugh before I sighed. Boy, what a mess he's started. If we make it out of the war alive, how are we going to get out of this love triangle unscathed?

But I couldn't help but smile. You know, Ray, he's not so bad. You should give him a chance.