"So, are we all ready for tonight?" Sirius said as he lazily flicked his wand at a suit of armour as he walked down the corridor.
The suit of armour, burst into life and it's arms swung out scaring a group of first year Slytherins. After they had ran away, the armour slumped back into its usual position and once again became dormant.
James nodded, watching the first years run away with a grin on his face and said, "Yeah, Lily's making the potion in the girls dormitory as we speak".
Sirius nodded, and said "And when are we leaving?"
"After dinner" said Peter, "It'll be dark by then, so we'll have to hurry".
James nodded saying jokingly as he clapped Remus on the back "Yeah, wouldn't want Moony changing in front of everyone, it'd scare the living daylights out of them!"
Remus nodded grinning weakly.
The impending full moon was taking its toll on Remus's body. All week he'd steadily been getting paler and quieter. Bags had started to form under his eyes from lack of sleep and his appetite was decreasing. As a result, Remus had been spending more and more time tucked away in the confines of the library. In his opinion, the less people saw of him, the less chance it gave them to develop suspicions of his sicknesses that seemed to appear like clockwork every month.
"So, will Miss Spooks be joining us this evening?" Sirius said offhandedly as he put his hands in his pockets.
James frowned as he tucked his invisibility cloak, which was steadily falling out of his robes pocket, into his trouser pocket and said confusedly "Why would Dakota come?"
Sirius shrugged saying "Oh, I don't know, it's the first full moon they've had as a couple, I thought she might like to tag along" he finished grinning.
"It isn't a date Sirius," Remus snapped glaring, "And no, she isn't coming, it's too dangerous" he said nodding resolutely.
"Oh I don't know Moony," Sirius said thoughtfully, "I think she's more than capable of taking care of herself".
"She is NOT coming!" Remus said angrily.
Sirius put his hands up casually and said, "Fair enough mate, it was only a suggestion".
"Well keep your silly little suggestions to yourself" Remus snarled.
Sirius frowned and said sulkily "What's got your wand in a knot?"
"Well," Remus said sarcastically, "incase you hadn't noticed Sirius, it's the full moon tonight, and I'm tired, I've got a splitting headache, I'm swamped with revision and I look like hell. I don't need you stressing me out even more by conjuring up idea's of how to put my girlfriend in danger!" Remus said angrily.
James coughed awkwardly watching Remus throw angry glares at Sirius as they walked along the corridor and quickly turned to Sirius saying with a smirk "Speaking of girlfriends, when are you and Ebony going to get together Sirius?"
Sirius huffed and rolled his eyes saying in what was supposed to be a girls voice "When I 'understand that a relationship is a commitment between two people, not three, not four, two. That means no flirting with other girls, no going for a quick snog in the broom cupboard when you feel like it or when you see a pretty face'. Oh and that 'girls aren't rags you can just throw away on a whim, they have feelings you know, and you have to respect that, you've got to stop all this going from one girl to another in the space of a week, I don't want someone like that'".
James whistled lowly to himself, saying, "She said all that to you?"
Sirius shook his head sadly saying, "Tip of the iceberg mate, that's just the tip of the iceberg. But we are going to get together" Sirius said firmly.
"So that's why you haven't had a girlfriend in so long then?" Peter clarified, "Because Ebony told you not to?"
Sirius pulled a face saying "Don't say it like that it makes me sound like a..."
"Pushover?" Remus suggested.
"Weakling?" Peter quipped.
"Lovesick fool?" James said grinning as he folded his arms.
Sirius glared round at his friends darkly, and was about to retaliate when he saw a flash of strawberry blond hair disappear round the corner.
He turned, and quickly started to jog in that direction shouting "Ebony!"
Remus, James and Peter watched him run down the corridor with grins on their faces, and as they did, James laughed saying "Definitely a lovesick fool".
"Ebony!"
I stopped in confusion when I heard Sirius's voice.
I looked around, trying to spot that mop of glossy dark brown hair, and soon found him, jogging up behind me.
I smiled as he reached me and said "Alright Sirius? What have you been up to?"
He shrugged saying "Oh you know, a little of this, a little of thatthe usual".
I raised an eyebrow saying slowly "Ok then".
Sirius shook his head, and after a moment, he put his arm around my shoulders saying, "Walk with me..."
My eyes narrowed slightly, something about him is very...off.
"So, what are they for?" he said gesturing to the vials in my hands.
"Oh," I said rolling my eyes, "Lily had run out of ingredients, and was stressing out saying the potion wouldn't be done on time. So I told her to go and get some from the potions classroom, then she started giving me a lecture about how it was stealing, and it was wrong and how she would never do something like that. But to be honest," I said grinning slightly, "I got bored halfway through and decided it'd be easier to get them myself. So, here I am!" I finished, waving my arms about for effect.
Sirius laughed lightly to himself, and said, moving his arm to around my waist and pulling me closer "Sounds interesting. Say, how about when you've done that, you and me go down to the lake?"
I frowned slightly, his offer was awfully tempting, it was the first sunny day we'd had in ages, and classes were finished.
I sighed sadly and said shaking my head "I can't. Spooks gave me a detention. Apparently 'I wasn't performing to my full potential'" I said glaring at nothing in particular, "As if he knows what I'm capable of or not. Anyway, I've got to go. He really does mean it when he says he can think up things that Filch could only dream of".
My eyes softened when I saw Sirius's expression drop. I know he was really becoming fed up with me now, but I honestly had a detention to go to, and if I could, I would skip it.
I grabbed his hand and gave it an affectionate squeeze saying "Soon Sirius. Very soon..."
I glanced down at my watch, well Lily's watch; she said my timekeeping was appalling so she gave me her watch in hopes that I wouldn't be late, but as I noticed were the hands were, I noticed that I was already a few minutes late.
So much for not being late again.
I groaned to myself and quickly started to run down the corridor shouting over my shoulder "I'll see you later Sirius!"
Sirius sighed, and glumly put his hands in his pockets as he turned around and slowly started to walk back the way he came, kicking a stray piece of parchment as he went, that went rolling down the now empty corridor.
"How utterly pathetic" a nearby voice sneered.
Sirius's head shot up as he stopped in his tracks. His eyes narrowed as he looked around the corridor and when he couldn't see anyone, he said "Not being man enough to show your face whilst insulting someone is pathetic...Snivellus".
Snape stepped out of the shadows with his usual sneer plastered on his face. His school robes hung limply off his scrawny frame, and his long, greasy black hair hung lifelessly in front of his dark eyes, contrasting drastically with his deathly pale complexion.
"And people wonder why Regulus doesn't associate with the likes of you. Running after blood traitors, no wonder your family is disgusted by the mere sight of you. But, I suppose it's only natural for Mudbloods and Bloodtraitors to stick together," he said smirking; "you're a dieing breed after all".
Anger flashed across Sirius's face, and before Snape could even blink, Sirius had his wand out, and pointing in his direction threateningly saying, "Oh, and you'd know all about being loved, Snivellus? "
Snape's eyes narrowed angrily and as he reached for his own wand he sneered, "You always were a cocky brat, Black. Lounging around the castle as if you owned the place, no one likes a brat".
Sirius advanced towards Snape angrily saying "Oh, that means a lot coming from you. The one who skulks around the halls, following in others footsteps and damning all people who have actual connections with others, because you can't form any for yourself, you're just a pitiful excuse for a wizard!"
Snape and Sirius were now inches away from each other as Snape said menacingly "Those ties will mean nothing when you and all those filthy mudbloods and Bloodtraitors around you are lying in your graves, will it Black?"
Their wands were now at each other's throats as Sirius hissed "Trying to insinuate something, Snivellus?"
Raging stormy grey eyes, bored deeply into a pair of cold, almost black ones. Each was pushing their wand forcefully into the other's neck and each refused to back down to the likes of the other. Their egos would not allow them to be seen as a coward in the other's eyes.
"Sirius?" Lily's voice rang out clearly down the chilly dark corridor, but her arrival did nothing to the two people at the end who were still glaring into the other's eyes.
When Lily heard no response, she quickly started to make her way down the corridor, frowning slightly, she could see him, but he wasn't answering her.
"Sirius?" She said irritably, "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be with James in th- Severus? " Lily finished taken aback, with wide eyes.
As Lily reached the two of them, she took in the situation before her. Both Sirius and Severus were pressed up against each other, if you didn't count the murderous expressions on their faces or the wands pressed against each other's necks, one would mistake them for giving each other an armless hug.
"Sirius...Severus...what are you doing?" Lily said warily.
"Nothing," Sirius replied distractedly, and said as he pushed his wand further into Snape's neck, causing him to wince involuntarily "Now, you go back to the Common Room".
Lily saw Snape wince and said angrily "No! Now the both of you stop this! Sirius, take your wand away from his neck this instant!"
"I'm not removing my wand" Sirius hissed through clenched teeth.
"Usual Gryffindor pride" Snape said disdainfully, "it's not that you have anything to be proud of".
"Oh," Sirius said raising an eyebrow, "and Slytherins do? Tell me, murdered anyone recently Snivellus?"
"Sirius stop it! Just let him go!" Lily shouted.
"Killed any innocent muggles? Bet that's what makes you proud innit?" Sirius urged disgustedly.
Lily started to tug on Sirius's arm now saying, "Sirius, if you don't stop this, I'm going to report you!"
"Tell me," Sirius said as he faked a thoughtful tone, "do you just like to hear the screams as you walk away from a muggle household, knowing that in there a family is being tortured to death? Do you get a kick out of it? Is that what makes you tick?" Sirius finished angrily, taking his anger for the deatheaters out on the only one he could.
"Sirius that's enough! I'll get James!" Lily shouted warningly, though, she inwardly debated if that was a good idea or not. After all, Sirius and James were uncannily alike; he'd probably want to join in.
Snape did not reply, he merely glared into Sirius's eyes with an uninterested sneer on his face.
At his lack of response, Sirius grew furious, and shook Lily off his arm, and brought his fist down hard on Snape's face, causing him to stumble back from the force, and dazedly slide down the wall until he slumped on the ground.
Lily gasped and shouted "Sirius! Get off him!"
Lily rushed to Snape's side, and attempted to help him up, but he angrily shook her off, and stood up, swiping the blood away from his lip with his sleeve and spat "You just can't win a fight without resorting to you're fists can you? Pathetic!"
Lily frowned slightly and said quietly "Severus, are you ok?"
Snape glanced at her momentarily, but he focussed back on Sirius, when he stepped up to him and whispered so Lily couldn't hear "You want to duel? Meet me at the Womping Willow at midnight, tonight".
Sirius leant back from Snape, smirking smugly, and after a moment, Severus nodded once.
Lily looked between the two saying, "I heard the word midnight, are you going to do something tonight? Tomorrow? What are you two planning?" she finished frustrated.
But neither of them paid attention to her, Snape, after throwing Sirius one last dirty look, turned away and started to make his way down the corridor, his long robes billowing out behind him.
Sirius glared after him, and after he'd turned the corner he turned back to Lily, only to be greeted with a fierce glare. Sirius frowned and said defensively "What? What have I done?"
"What have you done!" Lily shouted in disbelief, "You punched Severus for no reason at all! Why?"
"Oh there was a reason Lily, you arrived half way through" Sirius said glancing back at the way Snape had gone with narrowed eyes.
Lily frowned for a moment, but then shook her head saying "Maybe so, but there was no reason to hit him, you made him bleed!"
Sirius looked at her for a moment, before putting a hand on her back and steering her in the right direction and saying as he began to walk "Come on, let's get back".
Lily's mouth dropped and she said, "Don't ignore me!"
"I'm not!" Sirius shouted back, "but unless you want to miss dinner, then I suggest we get going".
Lily huffed, and walked along beside Sirius with her arms folded and her emerald green eyes narrowed in fury.
After a while, Sirius grinned, and said recalling something Lily had said, "You're going to report me? Surely Lily by now, you know that that's no threat, everybody knows we get reported for one thing or another on a daily basis, why would one more thing matter?"
Lily stopped, causing Sirius to come to halt as well, and as they stood before each other Lily glared at him angrily and shouted, "You're so infuriating!" before stomping off down the corridor.
Sirius shook his head with a chuckle and said quietly to himself "At the prospect of being embarrassed, she gets all moody. She's been hanging around Ebony far too long" he finished with a sigh as he made his way towards the Great Hall.
"That boyfriend of yours is so infuriating!" Lily said angrily as she paced in front of the Common Room fire.
Ever since I got back she's been in an angry mood, she practically pounced on me when I walked through the portrait, and ever since then, she's been ranting on about Sirius, I don't have a clue about what she's saying, I've been slightly preoccupied.
"I don't have a boyfriend Lily," I said distractedly as I forced a thorn out of my finger, and added it to the small, but steadily growing pile on the table in front of me.
Spooks had made me go and collect some ingredients for Madam Pomfrey, from Professor Sprout's green houses. Yes, that meant I had to actually touch her plants.
In true Spooks style, he gave me the trickiest plant of the lot, it moved on it's own, it had thorns everywhere and he said Madam Pomfrey needed the bud in the very centre of the plant.
So, I'd spent hours, hopelessly ploughing through the evil plants, with my bare hands, and he comes strolling in hours later asking why I hadn't just sprayed them with warm water, which they apparently hate, and cower away from. He'd said anyone who does Herbology would know that.
But, I didn't do Herbology did I? And he bloody well knew it!
Oh I could have murdered him when that smirk appeared on his face when he saw the state of my hands and arms, ruddy murdered him.
But no matter, when it's my turn to duel in his class, I can't be held responsible if I accidentally fire a curse in the wrong direction and it just happens to hit him square in the face. Let's see him smirk when he has a face full of painful boils!
"-he just punched him in the face!" Lily finished shouting exasperatedly.
I looked up at that and said curiously "Who punched whom?"
"Sirius punched Severus!"
I frowned, "When did this all happen?"
Lily shook her head in disbelief and said, "Have you not been listening to a word I've said?"
I shook my head saying "No".
Lily sighed, and sat down, going through her rants once again, and this time I paid attention.
No time to dilly, and no time to dally! Now, off to the results with you for a sneak peak, you privileged person you! ^_^
Right, no sneak peak for today i'm afriad, i've got too much to do.
Toodles!
< !-- BEGIN CBOX - www.cbox.ws -->
< !-- END CBOX -->
