Mischief Managed (Xxbutterfiywings & JingleKaileiJangle)

Started by xxbutterfiywings, December 22, 2009, 07:26:42 PM

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xxbutterfiywings

Riley Walters made her way slowly onto platform 9 3/4 at King Cross station, blue eyes looking around as she would look for bright red locks which belonged to her best friend. They were in their seventh year now and it all seemed to good to be true. She had met Lily Evans in her first year and the two had been inseparable ever since then. She pushed a few brown locks away from her eyes as she finally caught sight of the ruby haired girl and she waved quickly.

"Lily! Over here!" She called, running with her luggage over to her best friend and hugging her tightly. Riley was also a muggle but unlike Lily's parents, her father really didn't approve of her magical nature. Since her family didn't approve of Hogwarts of her magical education, Riley never got to see her friends from Hogwarts over the summer.

"How was your summer Lily?" She asked with a bright smile, glad to be back at the platform and waiting anxiously for the train to arrive.

*~*

James Potter yawned as he moved onto the platform with his parents and he sighed. "Mum, dad do you really have to come to the platform with us?" He asked them, running a hand through his black locks and he looked to Sirius before hitting his best mate on the arm.

"Look, there's Evans" He said with a bright smile before kissing his mum on the cheek. "The train will be here any moment mum, please you two can go now" James said pleadingly glad when his parents finally decided to turn around and head off the platform. He grinned to Sirius and raised an eyebrow.

"Mind if we go see how her summer was?" James asked Sirius, sighing however when the Hogwarts expressed pulled up to the station. "Perhaps we'll be able to snag a seat with them" He mumbled kind of disappointed and started to load onto the train.

Kaileikehi

Lily was perched on top of her trunk, red hair blowing in the slight summery breeze. She had left her mother and father on the other side of the barrier this year. Her sister, Petunia, had newly married and refused to come see her off, which, on the outside, Lily was perfectly pleased about, but on the inside, she was actually a bit put out. She did love her sister, even if they didn't show it much. The wedding had been a big to-do. Everything was Tuney, Tuney, Tuney, and Lily had been cast aside when it came to most things unless it was helping out. She laid back on her trunk the long way, happy that summer was ending and she could get back to school where she wouldn't be invisible completely.

"Lily! Over here!" Oh that voice! Lily sat up automatically at the sound of that familiar longed for voice. It'd been two months since she'd heard it. She rose up off of her trunk and bolted for her best friend, a beaming smile emerging on her face.

"Riley!" Her arms went out and she caught hold of the other girl tightly. "Oh! It's soooo good to see you! Summer.. bit of a bore really. How about your's?" She let go, still smiling, but left an arm around her best friend, giving her an extra squeeze before letting go completely. She was a hug junkie, Lily was.


Sirius was being much more welcoming about James's parents' presence than his best mate was. Partly because he adored them, and partly because it annoyed the snot out of James, the reaction was always hilarious. "It was a pleasure spending the summer with you again, Mrs. Potter." He put on his charming face and kissed her on the cheek and gave her a hug before shaking James's dad's hand. "Hope to see you soon, Mr. Potter." As soon as they were gone he turned on his heel and looked in the direction James had his eyes glued in and whistled. "That is one fine girl, Prongs."

Sirius spent the next five seconds admiring the brunette, looking very much like a nearly drooling dog before his eyeballs nearly fell out of his head when the girl turned. "Correction, it's just Walters." Truth was, he was rather taken with Riley, not that he'd ever admit that fact to anyone, even himself.

"Ha, sure. But you'll be lucky if we even get a compartment anywhere near them after that slime prank we pulled end of last year." He grinned, remembering how they had filled the entire common room with five feet of slime and then purposely screamed about fire before stepping on the girls' stairs to morph them into a slide so the girls would all tumble unexpectedly into the goo below.

xxbutterfiywings

Riley was glad to see that Lily was just as happy to see her as she had been to see the red headed girl. She didn't mind that extra squeeze, needing it after the long summer which was now thankfully behind her.

"I am beyond glad that the end of summer is here! Can you believe we're going to be graduating soon?" She asked excitedly and giggled just so happy to see her friend again. Her heart jumped in her chest as the Hogwarts Express pulled up and she instantly picked up her bags and pulled Lily towards the train.

"Summer was horrid like always." Riley said with a roll of her eyes, never really explaining much about her summer. It was hell living with her father and all she wanted was to escape reality with her fantasy world of Hogwarts.

"Why was summer so boring? Usually you have an interesting summer." She said honestly moving onto the train and looking for an open compartment and she set her bags on the rack above the seats. She sat down on seat and took a deep breath as she looked out the window and saw Potter and Black boarding the train as well and she rolled her eyes.

"I'm always happy to come back to Hogwarts until I see them" She mumbled, pointing at the two boys as they boarded and she looked back to the red head.

"So tell me bout your summer! How was Petunia's wedding?" She said excitedly, bouncing in her seat a little. She highly doubted that Lily's summer was that bad, especially since Riley had been trapped in her house the whole three months. 



James raised an eyebrow when he heard Sirius whistling and he made sure he was looking at the right girl and he laughed instantly. "Pads! You do realize that the fine girl over there is Walters right? She'll hex you into oblivion harder than Evans ever would!" He said honestly patting Sirius on the back before picking up his bags and he moved towards the train.

"I think you forget that we are the Marauders, the sneakiest blokes in the wizarding world. I'm sure they would forgive us if we buy them some chocolates and charm the pants off them" He said with a smirk and quickly boarded the train. He found the closest compartment to the girls as possible, throwing his stuff up on the rack before looking to Sirius with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Well are you up for it Pads? I want to try to at least talk to Evans sometime today and since you fancy Walters, this might be your best shot." He said with a laugh and grinned. Ah, he enjoyed hanging out with Sirius all summer but he was happy to be back at Hogwarts because that meant he got to see the red headed beauty daily.

Kaileikehi

"I know, it's weird! It feels like just yesterday we were learning how to hold our wands, and now look at us." Lily grabbed her trunk, dragging it along behind her as Riley dragged her, onto the train.  "Nine more months and we'll be thrown out into the world to do whatever we can to scrape up enough to survive!" She placed a hand dramatically to her forehead, knowing the facts were that they would probably both do just fine. She lugged her trunk up and pressed it into the luggage hold above them, setting her messenger bag down on the seat before flopping down next to Riley and leaning her head back on her friend's shoulder. "We'll have to live paycheck to paycheck in a tinchy little flat where the beds fold out of the wall with only our friendship and spaghettios to keep us going!" She giggled and sat up, pulling her legs onto the seat, tucking them up to her body, and resting her back against the wall contently.

"Oh Merlin, the wedding..." She rolled her head exasperatedly, banging her forehead on her knees repeatedly. "That horrid wedding. I was up to my eyeballs in tulle and frothy peachy..." She shuddered. "..frills. My mother insisted I be a bride's maid, and Tuney, of course, agreed, just to put me in peach and nearly force feed me salmon." She made a face that clearly stated she despised the fish. "I brought it along though, the dress. So we can burn it tonight. Who?" She perked up and peered out of the window.

"Ugh. You'd think he'd have stopped strutting after all the times he's been kicked in the nether regions, but no." Lily made a face of such distaste one might think something foul was in her mouth and she wasn't allowed to spit it out. "I just hope they don't try to join us like they did last year. But hey, it's our last year." She looked back at her friend with a smile now. "We can finally hang out outside school when it's done. Any chance of your parents letting you come for winter break this year?"


"So I'm aware." Sirius groaned and grabbed up his trunk. "She's such a pain in the arse, Walters is." He followed James up onto the train, letting him lead the way today, his mind a bit occupied. "Chocolate? Mate, they'd probably melt it til it was boiling and send it right back at us. Charming them is like trying to charm a bunch of Hungarian Horntails protecting their nests, it's not going to work."

Sirius was bad with rejection. He could have just about any girl he wanted (and oh how he had), yet, there was never any true satisfaction behind any of them when it came down to it. Most were just an easy snog, happy to get attention from Gryffindor's best Beater. He chucked his stuff up into the luggage rack as well.

"Fancy her!? Detest her is more like it! Honestly, Prongs, I'd much rather stay here than go in where that devil woman is unless of course..." He mimicked his best friend's grin. "It involves some chocolate filled water balloons?"   

xxbutterfiywings

Riley laughed at Lily's dramatic display of their future and she nodded her head in agreement. "I think we should get a cat so that way we'll have a little kitty as well to hold us together!" She said excitedly, knowing that their future wouldn't be as horrible as the professor's liked to describe it. She knew that they would be just fine especially if they found rich wizards for husbands. She tried her best not to smile too brightly at that last thought of course. They didn't need boys to be competent women!They would be fine just by themselves!

She playfully rested her head on Lily's when the red head rested upon her shoulder and she listened to the stories about the wedding and her face contorted instantly at Petunia's color of dress. "Are you bloody kidding me. Peach?!" She asked, feeling as if her stomach was going to hurl out something unpleasant. "No wonder the wedding was horrid. I can't wait to set that thing on fire, after I laugh at it of course" Riley said with a bright grin and laughed at her friend.

" I wish you had pictures of yourself in that horrible dress so i could get a good laugh." She said with a playful laugh before their conversation changed back to the two boys and she smirked.

"You know... maybe he struts like that because he has been kicked so many times there." She said honestly and instantly her blue eyes would look towards the window when the red head brought up hanging out during Christmas break. "I'm not sure, I'll have to ask them and beg like I usually do." She said with a small smile. She highly doubt her father would allow her to go. But she was half tempted just to spend the break at Hogwarts anyway. It would be more pleasant being in a castle all by herself instead of going home for their break.

"But you never know, maybe I can convince my dad this time around!" She said trying to lift up both of their spirits and she grinned before running a hand through her brown hair. "Considering this is our last year, I hope that we find boyfriends. But our choices are kinda limited here at Hogwarts." She said honestly, being around the same boys for almost seven years, they knew exactly what their pick of the bunch was.



"You know Pads, the way to a girls heart isn't chucking chocolate filled water balloons at them" James said, even though it wasn't like he had won Evans over yet and it wasn't like he ever had a long term girlfriend technically. He too was more for the snogging short term relationships. However, when it came to Lily, he would be willing to give his life up for that girl.

"But then again, you're probably right. At least we were trying to be gentlemen by giving them chocolate in one shape or another. Shall we go find the trolly?" He asked with another mischievous grin before heading out of the compartment once he felt the train start to move. He knew that the trolley wouldn't have started moving yet which meant it was still in the first car. Once they found it, he bought three galleons worth of chocolate. Half of the chocolate being for the water balloon while the other half was for him.

"I wonder why girls are so difficult anyway. Especially Evans" He mumbled as he ran a hand through his messy hair and used his wand to melt some of the chocolate. He smirked watching as the dark liquid slid into the water balloon and he looked to Sirius signaling that he was ready. Ah, he really hated pulling pranks on Lily, but maybe this would get her attention at least.


Kaileikehi

"Oh a cat! And we can name him something regal! Like, Sir Hamilton the fourth of Cambridge! And bring him to visit Tuney, so he can get hair all over her couch and make her sneeze for a month!" Lily beamed. The idea of a cat had always been very intriguing to her, though she had never been allowed one due to her sister's distaste for animals, especially the ones that made her sneeze. She would have adored to have had a pet, any type of pet, growing up. But it had just been one of those things that had always gone unnoticed every birthday that she had asked for one, because Petunia would always find a reason to dispell the idea.

"Yes. Peach. With my hair, at that." Lily tugged at one of her dark red locks, turned her body and flopped backwards to land her head in her friend's lap. "Appearently it's Tuney's new favorite color." She rolled off of the seat and climbed up, pressing her trunk open and digging into it. She brought out the dress, presenting it in all of it's hideous peachy, lacey, frilly glory. Now, Lily wasn't typically one to knock lace or frills, so long as they were used properly, but this thing was overkill. Even the lace had lace and the frills had more frills and the lace had frilly lace frills trimmed with lace. "Just look at these sleeves!" They were puffy sleeves... the kind that gave one's arms the appearence of bein full of air. She dropped the dress into her friend's lap and flopped back down.

"Well, technically speaking, you're of age, so he can't tell you what to do, but I know how parents can be. Even though we're grown up basically, they still seem to have that strange parental power over us..." She gagged. "It would be nice though, to have you come. Mum and Dad would adore you and we could terrorize Tuney." She grinned at the very though of it before frowning. "Meh. You know, maybe having a boyfriend is over rated. I mean, boys grow up so much slower than girls, we're better off waiting until we get out of school and can find someone a bit older than us who is more level with our maturity than the schoolboys we know."


"If she's got a decent sense of humor it is." Sirius countered, grinning when his friend agreed to his plot. He gladly followed him out of the cart on a quest for the trolley. "Oh, if the trolley lady knew what we were going to do with the chocolate we're going to get, she'd refuse to give us any. But then, maybe she's the kind of woman with a sense of humor. Wouldn't know though, as we've never taken the chance to get to know her..." He pondered this for a second. "You'd think after seven years worth of train rides, we'd at least know her name, and yet, all we know is that she provides us with enough sugar to make it through until the feast."

Sirius grinned as they innocently bought the chocolate and retreated back to their compartment. He held gladly watched it melt, filling his water balloon as full as it would go before tying it off. "This is going to be great. We'd better get it on with, so the chocolate doesn't go solid before we can chuck it. I mean, getting them messy is one thing, bruising them is another." He tossed the balloon a few times in his hand, testing it out. "Still nice and warm." He laughed and snuck out of the compartment, quietly making his way towards the girls' and motioning for James to follow him.

xxbutterfiywings

Riley tried her best not to giggle too much as she thought of their cat absolutely tormenting Lily's sister and she nodded her head in agreement. "Perhaps you like getting your revenge on your sister too much Lily dear. But I do say that would be a wonderful idea. Especially since your sister made you wear that horrid dress for her wedding!" Riley stated, not sure if she really wanted to see the peach frilly horror that the red head continued to mention. She hoped seeing the fabric wouldn't blind her in the long run.

When Lily flipped into her lap, Riley played with those fiery red locks and she smiled. "You do have a problem when it comes to your hair color clashing with a lot of a colors, but I highly doubt Petunia would take that into consideration" She said honestly raising an eyebrow when Lily would stand up quickly to dig out that dress and blue eyes widdened in complete fright.

"Bloody Hell! I think even my grandmother could pick a better looking dress than that ugly thing!" Riley said honestly putting her hands to her eyes and she screamed plafyully. "Ahh! It's blinding me Lily, put it away for godsakes!" She said with a giggle, looking at the fabric that was being placed in her lap and she sighed shaking her head. "Maybe we could try to do something with this ugly thing..." She mumbled honestly, picking up a few of the frills and trying to imagine if they weren't there.

The brown haired girl nodded when Lily mentioned she was of age now and she smiled softly. "Well we'll just have to see." She said honestly before blinking when she heard the compartment door start to open.



James started to follow behind Sirius with the chocolate filled balloon behind his back and he sighed. He was starting to rethink this whole idea. How many times had Lily yelled at him for not being mature enough and yet here they were about to throw a chocolate filled water balloon at the red head. He took in a deep breath. Maybe he could get away with one last prank on the red head before becoming the mature James Potter in which he wanted her to be.

He smirked, moving up right behind Sirius to peak into the girl's compartment window and he raised an eyebrow. "Ugh, that dress is ugly! Sure hope that isn't Evans dress." He muttered and playfully hit Sirius on the back. "And I sure hope you don't see Walters wearing that thing, cant say you would fancy her then now would you" He tried his best not to laugh, loving that he was giving his best mate a hard time about the girl. He just liked the whole idea that Sirius was in the same situation as he was, being in love with a girl whom could hex them into night fall.

"Alright on the count of three..."James mumbled getting his water balloon ready as he watched Lily plop herself back down. He put up each finger as he counted. 1. 2. 3. In just a moment after that third finger had been put up into the air, the compartment door had been flung open and his chocolate water balloon had been flung at Evans. Of course he hadn't put too much strength behind it, just enough so that it would actually hit the girl.


Kaileikehi

Lily plucked at a frill and sighed. "My sister always takes it into account. When we were younger she would always pick a dress color that wouldn't work on me, just because she knew I'd get it as a hand me down and mum would chase me about the house to force me into it." Lily pondered this for a moment, knowing full well she and her sister had gotten along fairly well until she had started Hogwarts. "Or she just liked watching mum chase me, it was always a laugh."

"Perhaps you're right and something can be done with it. I mean, it would be pretty, if not for the too many frills and color. And the sleeves of course. One could make a matching dress for a toddler out of each of them they're so big." Lily hugged onto Riley's arm and rested her head down on her shoulder again, as was typical for her, and breathed in that scent that was so familiar and safe. "I missed you." There was nothing like a summer away from your best friend to make you appeciate their existance all the more. And then, it happened.

One second she was sitting there, being all content and cuddley, the next, she felt the hard splat against her shoulder, and then, the pop and splatter  that sent chocolate spraying all over the both of them. Her mouth moved, and it was an instant reaction. "POOOOTTERRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!" And then she was up and running towards the door, her wand coming out. After that slime incident at the end of last year, she was not going to take any of his pranks lying down.


Sirius grinned. "Mate, if I liked her, I wouldn't be chucking a chocolate balloon at her, now would I?" He was slow in their journey to the door, slipping down into a crouch when they got there and peering over the edge of the glass. "Oh Merlin, that thing is hideous! When you two get married, you pick out the dress, because I can't stand next to something that looks like that for an hour."

Sirius handled the balloon lightly, not wanting to break it's heaping chocolatey mass open by mistake. If Walters took this well, he thouht he should kiss her... er... for being a good sport and all. Not because he liked her. He gulped as he spotted her plucking at the dress, and his face softened. Did he really want to do this. They were sitting there so nice like... It was the perfect moment... for some chocolate.

Grinning, Sirius looked at James and caught hold of the door with his free hand. He counted down with him in his head. One. Two. Three! He slide the door open quickly, rose, aimed, and chucked his balloon at Walters as hard as he could. He watched as James's hit Lily and quickly jumped into the compartment to get out of the way as she went after his best mate while he held his stomach and tumbled into one of the seats laughing.



xxbutterfiywings

Riley tried her best not to laugh hearing Lily's story about Petunia and her mother and she smiled softly. She wished she had a family like that. She was an only child however and her parents rarely got a long unless they were fighting. She couldn't remember a time when her family was actually happy. "Well I think that was just Petunia's way of showing she cared for you" Riley said with a smirk before her blue eyes turned back towards that peach dress and she sighed softly.

"I think we can definitely make a whole new dress out of this. Keep it around and if it doesn't turn out to be a success, we can burn it!" She said with a grin quite excited about possibly making a whole new dress out the fabric. She really did love designing things since she barely got new clothes while she was at home. Her blue eyes shifted to the red head as she would rest upon her shoulder and she nodded.

"I missed you too Lily. A summer is way too long without hanging out with you" She said honestly resting her head upon Lily's before that door slid open and she glared at the two boys.

"What exactly do you two want?" She asked, gasping as she saw that flying balloon being flung at Lily and then herself. She growled instantly looking down at her outfit which was now stand with chocolate and her blue eyes glared at the boy was just laughing on the seat across from her. Within seconds her wand was out and pointing at the boy and she made sure to corner him.

"Won't you ever grow up Black? Really, you're bloody seventeen years old now aren't you?" She asked poking her wand into his shoulder gently and her blue eyes continued to glare down at him.



James eyes widened when he heard that instant reaction from the red head and he laughed instantly as he patted Sirius on the shoulder. "See you later Pads! Good luck!" He said playfully as he bolted out of the compartment dodging people left and right.

"Pardon me while I run away from Evans! Her cheeks are almost as red as her hair!" He said and laughed as he continued to run down the narrow aisle towards the back of the train. It only took him a few moments to realize that the train probably wasn't the best place to try to run away from Evans since there was no where else to go once he got to the end of the car.

James turned towards her, putting his hands up in the air and he pouted. "Come on Evans, you wouldn't hex me right?" He asked her with a charming smile, even though there was a desperate look in his eye.

Kaileikehi

"Potter!" Lily bolted down the corridor after him, skirting students who knew all to well what might happen if they didn't get out of the way fast enough. Her red hair flew out behind her, legs moving fast, wand out, face furious, chocolate dripping down her face. "Potter!" She jumped a ducking first year and skidded to a stop when James came to a halt.

Staring at him, Lily kept her wand raised, glaring. "Why shouldn't I, Potter? Why shouldn't I send a whole flock of birds in your direction? Give me one good reason as to why I shouldn't cause your hair to fall out and your skin to turn green with a Slytherin serpent on your forehead and the words Slytherin Rocks? You are the most vile, lowsome being I have ever had the misfortune to meet. I would like nothing more than to hex you right now."


Sirius stopped laughing as soon as that wand was in his face. He reached a hand out and grabbed the end of Riley's wand, forcing the tip away from his body, grinning at her. "Not so fast miss poor sense of humor. I, was being a gentleman, and giving you some chocolate just like a gentleman should." He smirked up at her, rising to his feet upon the seat and towering over her. "Growing up has always been over rated. You'd be better off learning to have a little fun once in a while Walters, instead of putting me down. I hardly ever see you crack a smile."

Sirius kept a firm hold on her wand, tilting his head down to look her straight in the eye. "You don't want to be considered the girl who never smiles, now do you?"


((Sorry it's short... ))

xxbutterfiywings


James was honestly afraid that Lily was going to hex him this time. He looked to the girl, his brown eyes showing a desperate attempt at trying to be charming.

"Convince you not to hex me? But Evans, I was just being nice and showing you some attention. I could have chosen any other girl to throw chocolate at but I chose the prettiest girl in the school and that was you" He said with a wink and grinned but then ran a hand through his black locks when he noticed that Lily wasn't impressed.

"Er- um... another reason why you wouldn't hex me is... ugh..." His hand quickly shuffled through his already messy locks, gasping suddenly as the train would jerk all of a sudden and Lily Evans was all of a sudden pressed up against him. His brown eyes were wide as he looked down at her, a pink color coming to his cheeks as he decided that this would be his escape. He leaned down quickly while she was still thrown off by the jerking of the train and pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of his lips.

However as soon as that kiss was placed on upon Evans' face, he would bolted once again. "Nice seeing you today Evans!" He yelled with a nervous laugh, sprinting as fast as he could and hiding in one of the random compartments.



Riley watched as Sirius gripped the edge of her wand and she continued to glare at the boy even though he was grinning at her. She didn't find any of this amusing especially when the chocolate started to drip down her cheek. She listened to Sirius' words however, watching as he smirked as he told her that she didn't have a sense of humor and that she would be better off learning how to have a little fun once in a while.

Riley stayed quiet, tears slowly starting to gaze over her blue eyes as he stared her straight in the eyes and slowly she pulled her wand away from his grasp. "Just leave Black." She mumbled, not really wanting to get into a conversation with him. But he was right. Riley barely smiled a true smile but she could blame her parents for that. She barely laughed or seemed happy when around her classmates. Heck, she was almost always fake when she was with Lily too. Or at least she thought. She really didn't know anymore until Sirius said those words.

"I'm sorry... for not having a sense of humor by the way" She said softly as she would turn away from the dark haired boy as she felt those tears start to fall down her cheeks. She closed her eyes quickly trying to keep the tears locked away.

Kaileikehi

Lily's wand remained poised and ready. She was going over a list of hexes at that very moment, trying to determine whether she wanted to make him bald or cover his face with boils. At his comment, she blinked slightly. She knew she wasn't the prettiest girl in school, far from it. And she'd just been an easy target for the chocolate balloon because he always made her a target whenever he could. She wasn't exactly sure why. Maybe it was his own poor attempt at trying to get her to take more notice of him, or he just really disliked her and covered it up with a seemingly innocent boyish crush.

Lily raised her wand, finally deciding on the perfect hex, when the train lurched. This was normal. Trains lurched, people stumbled. She lost her balance and fell foreward into James in surprise. She blinked, staring up at him, her eyes shocked for a moment before turning into a glare as she went to pull away and instead, was given a kiss on the corner of her mouth that boggled her even further. She blinked and stared at him as his face filled with color and her own felt really hot all of a sudden. And then he was gone. She watched as he bolted down the corridor, his black hair visible above the students who got out of his way, knowing she might be coming after him at the pace he was going. Eyes stood there, watching, wide and curious. She shook her head, turned on her heel, and headed back the way she had come.

Why had he kissed her, she wondered. What had prompted such behaviour from the boy who had always seemed to get such great joy out of pranking her and picking on her? Yes, he had asked her out many a time before, but she was sure that was just another joke. She figured as soon as she caved to one of those possible dates, she'd be covered in some sort of disgusting goop and stood up. Shaking her head again, Lily bit her lip and slowly, made her way back to the compartment.



Meanwhile, in said compartment, Sirius's grin had turned into a frown as he watched the pretty girl tug her wand from him. Yes, he had to admit, that especially that close up, Walters wasn't as bad looking as he always said she was. She was actually quite beautiful. And it shocked him, when all of a sudden, miss stone cold's pretty blue eyes brimmed with tears right before him before she turned away. "Walters?" He hopped down off of the seat.

"Bloody hell... Walters..." Sirius moved towards her, face gone from laughing to concern he didn't normally show, at least, not in public, and not around anyone but his very best mates who knew him well. "I didn't mean to make you cry, Walters. It was just a joke... the school house elves will get any stains out... they're good at that sort of thing. I just.. I just thought you might like some chocolate... girls like chocolate don't they?" He dug into his pocket, not good with this sort of thing, and pulled out the remaining bit of his chocolate, unmelted and still wrapped.

"Here..." Sirius moved up behind her, reaching an arm over her shoulder and offering up the candy as though it were some sort of peace offering and would make everything better.
   

xxbutterfiywings


James was lucky enough to find the compartment which he and Sirius were sharing when he had went on his mad dash to get away from Lily. He plopped down on the seat and instantly ran a flustered hand through his black locks and took a deep breath.

"Bloody hell James, what did you just do?" He mumbled to himself as his hand moved to cover his face and he felt that his cheeks were still quite warm from the kiss he had planted upon Lily's cheek. He leaned back in the seat and looked up at the ceiling. Now Evans would never talk to him. He saw how red her face had gotten. It was either anger or.. maybe embarrassment? He really didn't know but he decided it would probably be best to let the red head cool off for a week or so before he decided to bother her again.

He blinked however realizing that Sirius wasn't back yet and he stuck his head outside the compartment with a raised eyebrow. Hopefully Padfoot hadn't been hexed by Walters. He was sure lucky enough to not get hexed by Evans!! In a way, he almost wished he was hexed, it would had stopped him from doing something stupid like he just did!



Riley heard those words coming from Sirius' mouth but none of them seemed to be sticking at the moment. How had she gone through life being so cold and fake like she had? A few more tears started to fall down her cheeks and she quickly wiped them away before she heard his comment about girls liking chocolate and she smirked softly.

"I like chocolate." She said honestly, slowly turning around to look at the piece of chocolate and then into Sirius' eyes for a moment. It was weird, never in her life did she think that she would be having a moment like this with Sirius Black.

"Well thank you... for the chocolate and... for showing me who I really am Black" She said and took the piece of chocolate from his hand with a gentle smile. It was probably the first real smile he had ever seen from Riley, but she would try her best not to make it the last.

She pulled her wand out again and mumbled a cleaning spell so that the melted chocolate disappeared from her clothes and face. "How are you always so... happy?" She asked him curiously but then shook her head before pushing him gently out of the compartment. She was not going to have a decent conversation with Sirius Black, that would just be absurd!

Kaileikehi

Lily was wandering aimlessly at this point. She wasn't quite sure where she was going now, just that her feet were carrying her. Her mind was much too preoccupied. She was in a state of pure confusion, not knowing why he had done that. Why had Potter kissed her? Was he purposely trying to mess with her mind again? Yes, that had to be it. He had done it to confuse her as much as she was now, that made much more logical sense than anything else she thought of so far. No way it could be because he liked her that way, just no way.

A small hand reached and touched her cheek... his lips... they'd been so warm and inviting... if she had wanted she could have turned her head slightly and.. no. No. She mustn't think things like that. It'd been a joke. Thinking about those types of things would be playing right into Potter's hands. She must hex him next time she saw him. That would be the perfect way to get back at him... it had to be a really good hex though.. for both the chocolate and the kiss.


Sirius grinned, happy to have made her smile, even if it was just a small one. "Ah. See now, that one actually made your eyes kinda do that lighty uppy thing smiles are supposed to make people's eyes do. You should do it more often. And don't say you don't have anything to smile about. You've got a bunch of friends. Who cares what the rest of life is like so long as you've got a couple good friends to make everything worth it?" He dug into his pocket again, extracting another piece of chocolate, unwrapping it and popping it into his own mouth thoughtfully.

Sirius blinked as he was ushered out of the compartment all of a sudden, but he grinned, feeling she was acting a bit more normal now. "Don't think about the bad stuff, and you'll always be happy too... Oh! Heya Evans! How's Jamesey?"


Lily ignored Sirius blankly as she pressed into the compartment.

Sirus shrugged and made his way back to his own compartment, wondering what sort of state he'd find his best mate in. He tugged the door open and flopped down on a seat across from James. "Well, you don't seem any worse for wear. No pustules, unless she got you in the nether regions? I just had a decent conversation with Walters... strange huh?"

"Potter just cheek kissed me..... Have you been crying?" Lily's confusion broke into concern as she went to wrap her arms around Riley.

xxbutterfiywings


Riley was really surprised that Sirius could be so...inspirational when he wanted to be. Perhaps he wasn't just an immature git who liked to pull pranks on people. There had to be some sort of wisdom in that knucklehead brain of his. She smiled softly as he was fully pushed out the compartment and she nodded her head.

"I'll make sure to do that Black. See you soon" She said honestly and looked to the red head who seemed a little bit out of it. "Lily are you okay?" She asked her friend and her blue eyes widened hearing what Potter had just done.

"What?!" She asked not sure what to think of what had just happened and she instantly shook her head when the red head asked her if she had been crying. "Tell me what happened with Potter and i'll tell you what happened with Black" She said quickly pulling out her wand and cleaning Lily up before she plopped down and waited for the red head to tell her story.



James sat on the seat, dark eyes staring off into space as Sirius came back into the compartment and slowly he looked at his friend. "Well Evans really didn't have time to hex me honestly." He mumbled but then shook his head and sighed. "I'm kinda worried about what's going to happen next time I see her though" He said honestly and he raised an eyebrow hearing that Sirius had a decent conversation with Riley and he smirked.

"Maybe you're the one that should be worried about Riley wearing that peach dress" He said honestly with a chuckle and then ran a hand through his hair once again looking really flustered.

"I kissed her Pads... well just on the cheek! Bloody hell i dont know what I was thinking but I know the next time I see her, she's going to hex me until the sun doesn't shine!" He said and plopped back against the seat. He just really didn't know what to do.

Kaileikehi

Lily groaned and flopped down on the floor, laying flat on her back with her hands over her face. She was rather confused, but she did also want to make sure Riley was ok... She peeked up at her from between her fingers. She had definitly been crying, but it seemed to have passed. "Well... I chased him, and then he stopped running, and I told him I was going to hex him, and then the train lurched me into him and he just stared at me and then he kissed me, right here." She poked her cheek. "But I'm pretty sure he's just trying to confuse me."

Rolling up and schooching over, Lily rested back against Riley's legs, the solid presence calming her and clearing her mind. She tilted her head back to look up at her. "Are you ok though, I mean..." She dug a tissue from her pocket and offered it up. "I doubt those were tears of joy with Black in here and all. He can be pretty nasty sometimes. Tell me what happened now? If he invoked tears it's much more important than my little tiff with Potter, and I'm going to have to think up another good hex, because nobody makes my best friend cry and gets away with it."


"She's not so bad, Walters. She barely even threatened to murder me." Sirius pondered it, remembering how those blue eyes had filled with tears, making him frown. "Well, she went sort of weird and stuff, but I guess that might be just how girls are sometimes. Weird. Merlin knows none of their heads ever got screwed on properly." He sat there quietly for a few moments until James's outburst.

"You didn't! Oh, she's gonna kill you! I wouldn't be surprised if she was making her way here now, ready to set your arse on fire. Altough she did seem out of it when I was her... but I'm sure by now she's set her mind to do something horrible to you." He got up and peeked out the door. "Look! There she is! Oooh ad she looks pissed, mate! Hide! Quick!" Of course, Sirius was only joking. Lily wasn;t coming, he just wanted to see James's reaction.

xxbutterfiywings


Riley knew that the red head was concerned but it really wasn't a big deal, she was feeling better now and half of her knew that it was because of Sirius. Just what he had said made her upset yet happy all in the same moment. It was almost like she was free from her lifeless shell that she used to hide to behind. But now twenty minutes later, it was like she was leading a new life. She smiled softly as Lily rested back against her legs and she playfully started to braid the red locks as she listened to the story unfold about how the two had almost kissed.

"Trying to confuse you? Lily... James adores you!" She said instantly as gently tapped the other girl on the head to wake her up. "He's only asked you on hundred dates by now. Ever since first year that boy has had his eyes on you. Haven't you considered taking him up on that offer?" Riley asked her curiously before the subject would be turned to her and she looked into those green eyes with a shake of her head and she smiled.

"No, Black didn't do anything to me." She said, her blue eyes looking away from those green ones and she sighed. "He just made me realize how serious I am. I don't want to be known as the girl who never smiled." She mumbled honestly and then petted Lily playfully on the head and giggled. "He gave me chocolate when I started to cry, I think it scared him a bit." She lifted Lily's head up again and undid the braid in which she made and pulled the red locks into a fancy pony tail.


James raised an eyebrow as Sirius continued to go on about Riley and he smirked shaking his head. "Oh Pads, you fancy Walters just as much as I fancy Lily" He said honestly playfully hitting the boy on the arm and then he laughed hearing the others explanation about a woman's head not being screwed on right. "I agree. I'm glad I don't have a girlfriend that I need to figure out" He mumbled and sighed when Sirius started to express his feelings on what had happened with Lily just moments ago.

"I know she's going to kill me! When I least expect it Pads! She's going to come out of no where and then she's going to hex me!" He said, a slight sense of fear filling his face and his eyes widened when Sirius looked out the door.

"Bloody hell mate! Are you kidding me?" He asked quickly jumping out of his seat and looked out the door and glared at Sirius when he realized that his friend was lying. "That wasn't very nice of you." He mumbled and playfully pushed the other boy. "Maybe i'll go and tell Walters that you're in love with her." He said with a smirk, wanting to get his revenge on his best friend now.

Kaileikehi

Lily frowned, pondering what Riley was saying. She wasn't sure about Potter, she never had been. She couldn't tell when he was joking and when he was being serious sometimes, because she was so used to being the target of his jokes. "If he liked me he wouldn't be so grade schol about it. He picks on me constantly. I'm sure if I ever took him up on a date offer, he'd somehow have plotted a way to cover me in something sticky and gooey as well as standing me up and making me look like an absolute fool for thinking he'd been serious about wanting to go on a date with me in the first place." She stayed still, allowing the other girl to play with her hair, she liked when Riley did that. It was a safe and familiar, a strange kind of comfort that kept her calm at the moment.

"Black gave you chocolate? As in, unmelted and not in a balloon chocolate?" As soon as the ponytail was in, Lily climbed into Riley's lap as she tended to do sometimes. She was an overly cuddley being. She wrapped both her arms around the other girls neck and snuggled up to her comfortabley. "I'm glad he had the balls to tell you though. You smile... but for a while it's been this forced fake thing that doesn't make your eyes do that sparkley thing they do when you have a real smile. It's like... someone put a light out. You're there, but not fully. I know why, and I know you don't like talking about it, but you don't need to worry about your parents much anymore, because you're of age now, and while they'll always be your parents, you can make your own decisions on what you want to do. Don't think about what your parents want, think about what you want for once. Doesn't mean you love them any less, just that you're your own person. It's kinda strange how Black keyed into you... but then, I've heard the whole lot of his family sucks too, so maybe he understands."


Sirius frowned at his best friend, pondering over what he had said before gripping his hair. "I will not say that I have a thing for walters... but I also won't say that I don't. And if you tell anyone, even Moony, I will murder you in your sleep." He grinned jokingly, but there was a seriousness behind his words. He couldn't think what would happen if his brothe found out and r told their parents that he had a thing for a muggleborn. But then, he did enjoy seeing his parents freak out about things, like the bikini clad muggle girls he had put up on his bedroom walls and couldn't be taken down due to the pernament sticking charms he had placed upon them. He smiled at this thought and then laughed at ames's outburst.

"Meh, I don't think she'd murder you. She's too nice. Probably just get you in the hospital wing for a couple weeks. Really, mate, I wouldn't worry about it too much." He grinned. "But if you do, I will give Evans your exact coordinates right on down to the last centimeter just to get it over wil and not have you hiding behind me for a month while she cools down.

xxbutterfiywings

Riley laughed softly and shook her head with a sigh. "Lily, you really are naive sometimes" She said with a roll of her eyes and playfully patted the girls red locks as she crawled into her lap. Her arms wrapped around the other girl instantly and she smiled as she thought about how much teasing Potter did to his best friend.

"Teasing is how a boy expresses he likes you. It's just what they do... they're not very bright about it and they won't tell you straight out. It's just... a boy thing I guess" she said with a nod, not like Riley had much experience with boys or anything. She had read a ton of muggle romance books however and it seemed that a lot of the times, the girls figured out the boys feelings because he would constantly tease her. She raised an eyebrow hearing how so insecure Lily was about James and she shook her head.

"I highly doubt that's the case, especially since he kissed your cheek today. He may just be too scared of rejection if he asked you. Maybe you should try and talk to him on a more serious manner?" She asked the red head curiously and sighed when the subject changed to her and she closed her eyes as she rested her chin on Lily's head. She hadn't realized that Sirius' family was bad as well, perhaps he would understand. But why would she ever talk to Black about her family? It was bad enough he saw her emotional display of affection today anyway. Now she knew what she had to change about herself, that was the only reason why Sirius Black had come into her life for a brief moment.

"I know..." She mumbled softly and closed her eyes with a soft yawn. She was exhausted already and they had a long train ride ahead of them.



James knew how serious the situation could get if his mate did decide to pursue Walters. At least his family didn't have a problem with muggle borns, but the Black family did. He had no clue what would happen to Sirius if his family found out. "I don't think this could be any worse than those posters on your wall ya'know. At least you wouldn't post Walters to your family's wall with unremoveable sticky tack" He said with a soft laugh and he sighed when the subject came back to Lily.

"I hope you're right Pads... I'm just worried. I feel like I should be paranoid right now" He said and then laughed when the other boy said he would give out his hiding place. "Oh thanks mate" He said playfully and sat back down in his seat feeling a little bit more relaxed now that it didn't seem like Lily was going to pop out of no where and hex him.

Kaileikehi

Lily laughed right on back, doubting and serious when she spoke next. "Maybe in grade school yeah, but honestly, I've seen better behaviour from a five year old. By now you'd think if he actually did like me, he would have shown it instead of outwardly covering me in some sort of gunk every other day. I think he honestly hates my guts to the point in which he feels to need to torment me." She made a face, laying her head down on Riley's shoulder. "I'm fairly certain he kissed me just to confuse me even more than he already does."

Letting out a big sigh, Lily watched her friend's expression carefully as she turned the subject to her. She didn't like what she saw, and her arms gripped tighter, trying to hug whatever bad feelings Riley was experiencing out of her, even though she knew you couldn't exactly hug away bad feelings anymore than you could get your tongue off a metal pole in the dead of winter without some hot water or a hair dryer. She snuggled up to her as close as possible, offering as much comfort as she could without saying another word about it. Mimicking Riley's yawn, she closed her eyes and let her mind rest for now, as the train headed off to that beloved castle.


"I wouldn't have to. Lovely Bella, Cissy, and Regulus would squeal as soon as they found out, and you know how mum would come barreling up to the school and withdraw me or threaten to do something hideous to Walters's family. I dun wanna see her cry again... it was awful..." He sighed, laying down across the benchlike seat and stretching out as far as he possibly could, resting down.

"Well, you should be paranoid. She's not going to be happy next time you see her, but it'd be better to just get it over with right?" He shrugged knowing full well that the rage of a female, especially of the red haired variety, was something quite scary. And Evans was especially red haired and rageful. Sirius rolled over, closing his eyes. No one knew why, but for their class, the Hogwarts Express always seemed to induce a sleepy state of naptime, ever since they were first years. He curled up, tugging his old bear like dog toy out of his robe's pocket and curling an arm around it. Hey, a guy liked to have something to hold onto as well on days like these and he'd had little Padfoot for ages. Not that he would ever admit it to anyone but James that he still enjoyed having a cuddle buddy when he slept, he was much too manly for that. No need for anyone to know he was a big old softy on the inside.

Sirius remained pretty much asleep until the train jerked to a stop and he fell out of his seat onto the floor. Noise erupted throughout the train. They had arrived.

xxbutterfiywings

Riley took a deep breath as she looked around the Gryffindor common room a week later and she nibbled on her bottom lip. It seemed that she barely saw Black anywhere around except for in classes. It was almost like the boy was avoiding her or something. It's not like anything bad had happened, it could've been much worse. She could've hexed him and turned him into a clucking chicken or a scrawny ferret. But that didn't happen at all. She thought they had a good moment together. And it was a moment that the brown haired girl couldn't stop thinking about all week. It was the reason why her blue eyes continued to search for him every night in the common room.

She shook her head for just a moment, deciding that tonight probably was going to be another unsuccessful night when it came to finding the boy and she plopped down on the comfiest couch. A potions book was opened in her lap as she started to study one of the new spells she had learned in her advanced potions class and she mumbled to herself softly while making hand gestures if she read the words 'stirring' or 'pouring'. Riley was one of the top of their class along with Remus and she knew that her grades had to stay up if she wanted to continue attending Hogwarts.

The common room area was quite quiet and that surprised the girl. Usually it was bustling with students chatting or playing wizards chest. But she enjoyed the quiet, taking in the comfort of the couch and the heat of the fire which burned in front of her.



James felt beyond paranoid the last week. Every time he saw a streak of red, he would hide behind Sirius or behind a statue if one of his best mates weren't around. He just couldn't help it. He was worried that one moment he would be standing there and then the next he would be hexed and turning into some embarrassing creature. He was pretty sure that Evans had quite a few good spells up her sleeve. Especially if she really wanted to get her revenge.

He sighed softly as he moved out of the great hall with Sirius after dinner. "Well one week down of avoiding Walters and Evans, another week is a head of us though" He said to his best mate. Even though Sirius didn't say aloud he was avoiding Walters, James knew better . But he could understand in Sirius' case why it was probably a good idea.

Kaileikehi

Lily had taken to her very most favorite spot in the common room. She had pressed a chair up against the wall beneath one of the higher windows, climbed up upon it, and then up onto the very wide windowsill. She adored this space the best, because she didn't have to deal with the ruckus that typically went on down below during these hours of the day.  She would lean her back against the side of the window, crook one leg, and typically let the other dangle from the knee down. Despite the quiet of today however, Lily had tugged the curtains shut, and the only indicator of her being there was the small bit of light blue covered in golden snitches of her socked foot peeking out from among the crimson drapes.

Six feet from the floor, Lily was content, to just sit and rest her head against the cool glass of the window and block out the rest of the world for a little while. It was here that she came after a long, hard day, or a fight with Potter that had her head reeling. She knew that Riley of course, would always be able to find her when she was here, as could most of the other Gryffindors, but they tended not to bother her unless they were seriously struggling with their charms work and needed the help she was more than willing to offer. When she wasn't trying to be alone, she left the curtains open. Not tonight though, tonight she needed a little time to get away. It had been a long week full of lots of work, and she just needed fifteen minutes to herself.


Sirius was happily nomming at one of the mini pies he had brought from dinner. He usually did this, hording snacks in his pockets in case they missed a meal and didn't have time to get down to the kitchens. Moony had had to line his pockets with plastic to keep things sanitary. Sirius did try to keep his doggy biscuts separate from the goodies, and those separate from his quills and ink and parchment. Right now he was packing pastries in the goodie pockets and dug into one to offer James a treacle tart. "It won't last. We're going to run into them at some point this weekend when we least expect it."

Sirius sighed. He wished avoiding Walters and Evans was an easier task, but it hadn't been. They had to actually avoid dinner times and the common room if the girls were in there. He would actually be willing to be in the same room with Walters, so long as he wasn't left alone with her, but those girls kind of came as a package deal. Where ever the pretty brown haired one was, the redhead was never far behind, sort of like him and James. He led the way up to the common room, said the password, and peeked in. "We're in luck! Walters is here and it's calm, but crowded. And I don't see any sign of Evans, so you're in the clear. She's probably already gone to bed."

xxbutterfiywings


Riley noticed that more people were starting to pile into the common room just as she started to get into the most difficult part of her studying and she sighed softly. She hated how this always happened. At least however, she wasn't as popular as her best friend since she wasn't that social when it came to the other students. She liked to keep to herself, and that was probably why Sirius pointed it out to her.

She closed the book for just a moment, debating on if she wanted to head to the library instead and she stood up from her comfy couch and then over to the chair which was pressed up against the wall. She stood on the chair and tugged playfully at Lily's light blue sock. "I'm probably going to head to the library, just wanted to see if you wanted to join me" She said honestly  and stood on her tip toes to playfully look to see what the red head was up too.



James took the treat happily and then sighed. "I know it's not going to last forever. But I would like to stay human as long as possible" He mumbled as he took a bite of the food that had been handed to him and he nodded his head.

"We can go in... let's just go slow just incase she's hiding somewhere." James said after he swallowed the treat and took another bite. He didn't trust Evans, especially when she was seeking revenge. She always just popped out of nowhere before James could see her. He moved inside the portrait hole, stopping for just a moment as he peeked once again and then let out a sigh of relief.

"It seems Walters isn't even here anymore. One more day hexed free!" He said excitedly with his grin and then laughed at the happy thought.

Kaileikehi

Lily was just getting cozy when she felt the tug on her foot. She peeked down at Riley and smiled brightly. "Actually, I think I'll stay here tonight if it's alright with you." She was in one of her solitary moods. She liked her Lily-time, and though she loved Riley, Lily-time couldn't be spent in the library. That, and she'd already been in the library all morning doing research. She also didn't mind the noisiness of the common room. It was normal at this hour. A lull and then bam, the storm would hit and it would be a nice lively, warm place to be. She could understand Riley's need to get away though, and normally she would opt to go with her, but tonight, tonight she felt like being in the common room.

"You go on and just remember to be back in before midnight, otherwise you'll get in trouble for being out past curfew." Lily stated this seriously, still grinning. "Or I'll come get you, in case you get caught up in your work or a book again, ok?"


Sirius grinned, grabbing another treat from his pocket and chewing away at it. "We're lucky tonight, for sure. And I don't see any sign of Evans so you're safe, mate. And Walters appears to be long gone for now." He flopped down into a chair and sighed contently before slamming his hand against his forrehead. "Bloody hell... I left my bag in the library before we went to dinner... because you thought you saw Evans coming and dragged me out, remember?" He regretfully stood up from the chair. "I'll be back."

Sirius dragged himself out of the common room and down the corridor, not wanting to go all the way back down to the library now, but he had to. If Madam Pince found his bag, well, it had the Marauder's map, and the book of pranking plans in it because most people would be to scared to stick their hand in there, afraid of finding something goopy and alive most likely.

xxbutterfiywings


Riley could tell that Lily needed time to herself, knowing her best friend really well and she nodded her head with a smile. "Alrighty, I just thought I would ask." She said honestly stepping down from the chair and then laughed softly when she heard Lily's motherly voice and she playfully rolled her eyes. "Yes mum. Thank you mum." She said with a soft giggle and then moved out of the common room. She really had to get some studying done and tonight, the common room was just not working.

Riley usually preferred to be in the library because no one would really bother her. Everyone was so quiet in the library and it was the one place that she knew she could go in order to actually study in successful manner. Her blue eyes widened however when she noticed who was about a few feet ahead of her and she nibbled on her bottom lip. Should she go and talk to him? What if he had actually been ignoring her? She took a deep breath, trying to gain some courage before she started to jog towards Sirius. She grinned playfully as she would sneak up behind up and gently tap him on the shoulder once she caught up.

"Haven't seen you around lately Black. Quite surprised since you have such a big mouth" She said with a soft giggle. Obviously she had taken his advice on not being so serious all the time.



"Sorry about that mate. Not a lot of girls have red hair in this castle, could've sworn it was Evans" He said honestly watching as Sirius made his way out of the common room and his eyes widened when he saw Walters stepping down from the chair.

"Oh bloody hell!" He mumbled to himself, quickly standing up from his plopped seating position on the couch and he tried to act not so suspicious as Walters made her way out of the common room. He let out a deep breath before running a hand through his hair. That was close! But who was behind the curtain. She probably wasn't just looking out the window. He nibbled on his bottom lip. Was Evans in the common room as well? Oh dear lord... this may be the night he got hexed!

Kaileikehi

Sirius was halfway to the library when he felt the tap on his shoulder. At first, he figured it was just James, but then he heard her voice. He jumped, her presence catching him completely off gaurd. He spun around, eyes wide in surpise, shaking his head as though to clear it. "Bloody hell Walters!" He stared at her... gosh she was gorgeous... he shook that thought from his head as he regained composure. He smiled at her, despite his nervousness, running a hand over the back of his head. "Hi. Yeah... I guess my best mate is a bit finicky about your best mate pouncing out and hexing him lately... so that's probably..."

Sirius blinked, staring at her. Was she smiling? And was that a giggle? "Did you just laugh?" He grinned at her then, glad to see a happy face instead of a somber one. "Quick! Somebody alert the Daily Prophet! Walters just laughed!" Nervous? Yes he was. But he was skillfully trying to cover up that fact with humor... bad humor. "And I do not have a big mouth... What are you doing out here anyway? Shouldn't you be with Evans, plotting James's demise?"


Lily sighed, pressing her face up against the glass. She hadn't told Riley, but she was thinking about that kiss again and what it meant. She still felt that it might be just a plot to confuse her, but what if Riley was right? What if Potter really did like her and wasn't trying to trick her? She sighed, banging her head gently against the window and letting her dangling leg sway, causing the curtains to move and her socked foot to show even more so. Truth be told, they weren't her socks. She had borrowed them from one of Gryffindor's chasers and her dorm mate, Molly Sinf. All of Lily's socks were in the mail... yeah, the red head had forgotten something important. She had been borrowing socks from her dorm mates all week, not that any of them minded. Lily's feet were typically clean, as were the insides of her shoes... she wasn't fond of the dirty feet smell, so she used a spell to keep her shoes and socks fresh.

Anyways, Lily had borrowed her socks today. Not such a big deal, except for the fact that this particular pair in question (not that Lily knew it) had been given to Molly (a great sock fan) as her secret santa gift last year when the Quidditch team had decided it would be fun to do a secret santa. Molly's secret Santa had been James (who would surely recognize the socks if he saw them), not that she was about to tell Lily that. She just thought it was going to be funny when she told her before bed later.

xxbutterfiywings


Riley gasped when Sirius was caught off guard and she jumped as well, her blue eyes wide and she grinned seeing how surprised he was. "Well i'm glad I surprised you" She said playfully, walking next to the boy before she raised an eyebrow. "Finicky about Lily? Why is he being all finicky?" She asked curiously and then heard the part about Lily pouncing out and hexing him. She laughed softly and shook her head.

"Well, you can tell Potter that Lily isn't going to hex him anytime soon. I think she's been thinking about last week every single day. She hasn't said it, but I can read what she's thinking, it's a best friend thing." She said playfully, her cheeks becoming a bright red when he would call attention to her smile and giggle and she looked down at the floor instantly.

"That's not nice! Don't make fun of me" She said with a playful pout before playfully hitting him on the arm and glad that the subject was changed. She looked up at him, the crimson color fading from her cheeks and she looked down the hall. "Well i'm heading to the library to get some studying done. What about you? Usually you don't go anywhere without Potter" But then again, she didn't go anywhere without Lily either so this was actually a rare occurrence.



James was just about to sit down, feeling a little bit more relaxed when he came to the conclusion that it wasn't Lily. If it was the red head, she would've followed Walters by now. He blinked however seeing those snitch socks peaking out from behind the curtain and he raised an eyebrow. What was Molly doing all the way up there anyway? He smirked, deciding to go bother the chaser. He slowly moved over to the curtain, climbing up on the chair and pulling that curtain away quickly.

"Hey Mol--" He was just in the middle of his yell when he noticed that it was Evans and his eyes widened in shock. Oh dear lord... now he was really going to hexed. "Er.. sorry..." he mumbled, stuck in his current position as he continued to stare at the red head. The way the moon glistened on her red hair, it was just absolutely stunning.

Kaileikehi

"Good. So he can stop hiding behind me then whenever we pass you two in the hall." Sirius laughed. "Or maybe I won't tell him and just keep watching to see what happens." He pondered this seriously, wondering what James would do if he found out Lily wasn't going to hex him and he hadn't told him. "It is pretty funny to watch... he gets all skitterish, kinda like a fly in a spider web..." He peeked sideways at her and continued to grin.

"Nah, it's good that you're smiling." And your whole face is lighting up and it's damn beautiful... he added in his head. He kept walking in the direction of the library, keeping beside her. "I'm heading for the library too... The fly spotted red earlier and dragged me out without my bag... which I need.. for er... homework." Now of course, this was stretching it a bit, but just a bit. Sirius didn't need to do any of his homework... at least not tonight. He could do it over the weekend. But no way did he want Madam Pince or anyone finding the Marauders' secret plans for prankings.


Lily blinked and tore herself from peering out the window as her quiet revere was broken. She had been perfectly happy sitting there by herself in the quiet of her own private little windowsill and he just had to come and ruin it didn't he? Especially when she had been thinking about him when he had done so. She was still so boggled. And she didn't know how to explain it to Riley about her being boggled until she figured out why she was so boggled in the first place.

Seeing Potter there, something in her head clicked, and she stared at him, not with rage or even the slightest bit of hatred. She didn't reach for her wand. She merely cocked her head to one side as she did when curious about something, and seemed to be pondering something for a moment before the words tumbled from her mouth without her even thinking them beforehand. "Why did you kiss me?"

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Riley took a deep breath as she felt her hands start to become clamy and her stomach start to turn in knots. What was going on? It was almost like she was getting nervous over walking with Black to the library. That didn't mind any sense at all! She nibbled on her bottom lip for just a moment almost completely missing what the dark haired boy was saying while she was thinking about him. She giggled softly and shook her head.

"That wouldn't be very nice... but I think you should do it!" She said with a grin, referring to Sirius hiding the fact about Lily from James. She blinked however hearing Sirius talk about homework and she looked at him in a surprised manner.

"I don't know you very well Black, but I heard you have more detentions then completed homework assignments. So what exactly is in your bag that you don't want Madam Pince to find?" She asked with a knowing grin, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. She definitely couldn't wait to hear what was in his bookbag that was so important, Riley was in Gryffindor after all!


James waited for what seemed like an eternity for his dark eyes to unlock from Lily's emerald ones. He also waited to see that flash of her wand coming towards him. However neither of those actions happened when she asked them question. He blinked for just a moment, being knocked back into reality and instantly his face flushed red. This was probably one of the first times that he had blushed, not wanting to ruin his reputation of course. But this time the action was kind of inevitable.

"Er... why did I kiss you?" He asked, his hand instantly moving to mess with those black locks and he took a deep breath before shrugging. "Well... it just kind of happened I guess. Sorry if it made you uncomfortable" He said with a nod. Ha! Like he was going to admit aloud to Evans that he liked her... he was a Gryffindor, but he wasn't that brave! Especially since he wasn't sure exactly where her wand was.

Kaileikehi

"Well, f course it isn't very nice, but it's hilarious. Have you seen him get all jumpy?" Sirius laughed outwardly at his best friend's strange ways. He walked along, shoving his hands awkwardly into his pockets as they went along. He tugged a mini pie from his pocket and offered it to her, not sure really, what she would think of it.

"Or maybe I just have more detentions than homework assignments?" Sirius opted, trying to save himself, but looking into those beautiful eyes, he found himself unable to lie. "Some stuff that's detention worthy. I dunno as you'd be able to handle it though Walters. It's pretty extreme stuff." He grinned at her playfully, his tone slightly mocking, but outwardly joking in a way to show he didn't actually mean it. He didn't want her to think he didn't like her or anything, well no, he did, just... in a different way... He didn't want her to think he liked her in the way he did.


Lily remained still, eyes locked to those hazel ones she had never really taken the time to look into unless she was yelling. She was silent, turning his words and tone over in her head, the gears moving and pondering everything he had said and wondering, if he was tellig the truth or not. She tilted her head the other way, indicating that she had finished processing and was going to speak again.

"You... confuse me. Kisses don't just happen, at least, not like that. It was intentional. The question is though, why was it intentional?" Lily reached into her pocket and drew out her wand. She held it up, knowing full well it's presence was probably why he suddenly seemed to have a bit of fear in his eyes. She didn't like that. She raised her wand up, and then promptly dropped it. Or rather, she gave it a little flick as she dropped it, causing it to land and roll on a nearby table down below where it wouldn't be stepped on. She knew she could trust no one to take it. They were after all, in their own house.

xxbutterfiywings


Riley shook her head when Sirius asked if she had ever seen James all jumpy. "No i haven't...but like you said, he does have a tendency to hide behind you when Lily and I come around" She said honestly and blinked when he pulled a pie from his pocket and smiled with a raised eyebrow.

"Are you a pie bandit?" She asked him playfully and grinned as she took the pie and took a bite from it. The brunette looked into his eyes as well, looking away after a few seconds and continuing to munch on that pie he had given her.

"Extreme stuff?" She laughed softly and shook her head. "I highly doubt anything you show me will be too extreme for me." She said honestly and poked at his arm playfully with her free hand. "Will you show me this extreme stuff? I'm kinda curious now" Her blue eyes were sparkling with that mischievous glint once again but it was also very apparent she was beyond happy being here with him.


James could tell that the wheels in her mind were turning and he took in a silent breath, hoping she would figure it out for herself. He really didn't want to say it a loud. Once again his eyes widened when she actually took out her wand, but the fear disappeared when the wand was actually away from Lily and he smirked softly.

"I think my biggest fear is that you're going to turn me into a ferret or something." He said with a soft chuckle, trying to ignore her question for a few more seconds before he would finally give in.

"Because Ev--Lily, I've liked you ever since first year. I thought it was pretty obvious." He mumbled lightly, hand once again playing with those black locks, thanking the heavens that her wand was far away at the moment. "I didn't mean to confuse you, I just thought my intentions were pretty obvious."

Kaileikehi

"Not pie solely, no." Sirius grinned, waggling his eyebrows and tugging an eclair from his pocket and biting into it himself. He nommed away at it for a while, and didn't say another word until they reached the library door which he tugged open and held for her. "I'm more of a pastry badit, actually. Be careful, Pince hates it when food enters the library... it goes in... but it never comes out."

Grinning, Sirius waiting til she had gone through the door before following after her and heading for the table his bag was sitting under. "Are you sure about that Walters? Most girls wouldn't be able to handle such things... besides, they're top secret. I can't just go around showing anyone who asks. We'd have to hold a meeting first and dicuss whether you're trustworthy enough to let into out secrets, ya know?"


Lily stared at him for another moment and shook her head. "Oh yeah, because covering me in every possible sticky thing you can get your hands on just shouts 'I like you." She glared at him, almost wishing she hadn't put her wand down so quickly, but then she remembered the fear in his eyes and decided it was for the better that she wasn't armed right now. After all, she could always get him later once she had her wand back. "Honestly Potter, do you expect me to believe that?"

Sitting there, looking him dead in the eyes, Lily almost did believe him. But she wasn't going to let him off so easily about it. Because he did boggle her so, she figured it was only fair she get some answers and then boggle him right on back. Why? Because she could. The boy deserved it, as far as she was concerned. Some nice good boggling would be good for him for a change.

xxbutterfiywings

Riley laughed instantly at those wiggling eyebrows and she blushed instantly. He hadn't expected to see him doing that but it made her think of him almost as a pervert. She continued to laugh as she saw that eclair being pulled out of his pocket and she grinned before shaking her head.

"You're just full of surprises aren't you Black?" She asked him playfully and quickly finished up her pie when he mentioned that the pie wouldn't make it out with her if Pince saw it and she nodded. "All taken care of" She said with a wink and grinned before heading into the library and raised an eyebrow. This time her blue eyes turned a little bit more serious and she smirked.

"Are you saying that because I'm a girl, I can't handle whatever is in your bookbag? I don't think you know me too well Black." She said with a smirk as she saw his bag and playfully picked it up and held it behind her back. "What would happen if I look in there now Black? Would something gross come shooting out at me?" She whispered noticing that Madam Pince heard their loud voices and she looked up into his eyes with a soft smile. Ah, she was going to give him a hard time just because he didn't believe she could be as mischevious as he could.


James sighed knowing that this wasn't going to be easy. If it was him in Lily's situation though he probably wouldn't believe it either. He had played some pranks and tricks on the girl... she probably just thought this was a trick as well.

"Well... I guess when your Sirius or I, you would know that pranking is our language of love." He mumbled honestly, running a hand through his messy black locks before he looked into her green eyes and took a deep breath and held her chin with his fingers gently so that she would continue to look at him.

"I can still remember the first time I saw you our first year. You were the little red head girl bouncing around on the platform as you stood with your mum and dad waiting for the train. I remembered that they both kissed you on the cheek as the train pulled up and you had tears forming in your amazing green eyes but a smile was still on your face." His hazel eyes turned away from those green ones as he took a deep breath. How embarrassing... this is not how he wanted to tell Lily about his feelings, but it seemed that the red head wasn't going to let it go.

Ever since then... I just couldn't get you out of my head Evans. I don't know why... maybe it was because I knew that I would have an enormous crush on you for the rest of our Hogwarts years. Ever since that day I tried to win your attention but my pranks seem to only make you hate me." He mumbled this last part before looking in her eyes once again and he sighed shrugging his shoulders.

"If you don't believe that, then I don't know what to tell you."

Kaileikehi

"Well, not because you're a girl persay..." Sirius pondered, sitting down at the table and staring up at her. He didn't even attempt to to take his bag from her. It wasn't that he actually believed she couldn't handle it, or that she was a girl, it was more a mark of friendship with his fellow Marauders, that he wasn't going to show her. He grinned, knowing that the Marauder's map, and the notebook itself, wouldn't show their information to just anyone, though it would be bad for Pince to fun the dozen dung bombs and other joke goodies in his back and have it confinscated with the map and the plans still in it. He didn't care much about the bag, just that notebook and bit of parchment. "By all means, have a go into my bag."

Sirius smiled at her, resting his head on his hand. "Of course, I won't be sharing with you what everything is for, you'll have to take that up with Prongsey."


Lily continued to contemplate James with that tilted head of her's, eyes purely curious. She listened intently, nodding along to his words to show she was doing so. She kept her attention focused to his eyes and his voice, drinking in both of them. Her head tilted the otherway suddenly, as though she had come to a conclusion while he was speaking, and then, it tilted again, as though unsure of whether she was sure about her conclusion or not.

When James had gone silent, Lily kept staring. She didn't say a word, however, instead, she scooted forward on the large windowsill and let her other leg fall over the edge, sitting sideways with her back to the window, letting both legs dangle. She tugged the curtains closed, blocking herself and his top half from the veiw of the others in the common room and then she leaned. She raised her hand, as though to hit him, but instead, it gently came to cup his cheek and she ever so hesitently and shyly, gave him the smallest of pecks on his cheek.

As soon as she had done it, she sat up, her face a brilliant scarlet and looked down at her lap, her hands twisting together there, long red locks falling to hide her face from him. She opened her mouth, and the sound of air minus words came tumbling out, as though she were trying to speak and couldn't quite get up the nerve to do so.

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Riley sat down at the table as well, waiting to hear his explanation as to why she couldn't be as mischievous as Sirius and his friends and she raised an eyebrow playfully. "You'll actually let me go into your bag?" She asked the dark haired boy once again feeling quite bad since he was going to allow her to do that. But he was an interesting boy and if he didn't care, then she might as well take a peak.

Slowly her hand dug into that bag, blinking when she felt a piece of parchment and a notebook. Riley also felt those familiar prank items but kept them in the bag so that Sirius wouldn't get in trouble. She giggled softly and shook her head. "I am not surprised about a few of those things but..." She pulled out the piece of parchment and examined it. "This is an interesting way to fold an ordinary sheet of parchment." She said playfully. Hopefully Sirius trusted her enough to know that she wouldn't snitch. If anything this was her way of flirting with the boy.

"Maybe I will ask Prongsey?" She asked and then raised an eyebrow. "Would that happen to be your pet name for Potter?" She asked and giggled once again. She loved learning about this side of Sirius.


James didn't know what to expect when the red head kept silent but for some reason he didn't really fear the hand that was coming towards his face. He took in a gentle breath as he felt those precious lips against his cheek and he closed his eyes for just a moment to savior the moment. He was in bloody heaven, and he wanted to jump off that chair and just start dancing. Was this the start of a relationship with Evans? He wasn't sure... but maybe it could be!

He watched as she pulled away and gently brushed those red locks away from her face and smiled softly. "You know... it's a Hogsmeade weekend in a few weeks. Would you like to go with me Evans?" He asked her, obviously not playing any type of joke. Even though he hadn't been playing a joke all the times he had asked her before either. But maybe, she would believe him this time and say yes.

Kaileikehi

Sirius laughed as he watched her expressions change to represent so many emotions one by one. It made him curious, as to how one person could feel so much in the course of a minute, and yet, it didn't surprise him at all. Walters was an interesting girl, so strange and foreign to him in so many ways, and yet, also so very similar in ways he knew not of yet. So, when she pulled out the map, he continued to grin. He knew she'd be curious about that, it was after all, a strange bit of parchment. He also knew she would never figure it out or how to use it, without him telling her. "Oh, yeah, it is, isn't it? Too bad for you I'm not telling. That's top secret, and I can't share it with you without dicussing the matter with James and Sirius first... it'd be going against their trust to do so, ya know?" She was pretty yes, but he wasn't about to blow his friendships for a girl.

He slid his chair a little closer to her and took the parchment from her hand, pocketing it in his robes. "And yes. Prongs." He nodded, confirming her question. "Just like how sometimes you call Lily that weird name, what was it? Beansprout or some other weird plant? How the hell did that come about, I'd like to know." He rolled his eyes, playfully, leaning towards her. "And she calls you Rowdy doesn't she? Because it's another term for when a person is being riley or unruly, yes? But then, you look more like a Ri-Ri, than than a Rowdy..."


Lily kept her face down, biting at her lower nip ever so nervously. Her stomach was doing jerks and leaps and she couldn't understand it. Popular and seventeen she may be, but she'd always had terrible luck with boys, especially the cute ones. The pimple ridden, dorky boys were the ones she was more friends with, because of her charms and potions skills, and her taking to just about anyone who was human who'd let her. She loved people, so long as they weren't bad, mean and nasty.

Very slowly, she moved her eyes to glance at him as he asked her that question he had asked her so many times before in the past. And very slowly, she pondered it, and then, for the first time, nodded her head. Just once, but it was a very clear nod. She couldn't speak she was so very anxious. Her hands were all tangled up in the hem of her skirt and she purposely reached one up to remove the hair from behind her ear, letting the red curtain fall to hide her face again, too embarassed of her own blush to show it. 

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Riley playfully glared at the boy when he said he wouldn't tell her how to use it and she sighed playfully with a smile. "Alright, alright. Go ahead and ask Remus and James first. But let me know as soon as you do!" She said with a quick nod and continued to smile. It was nice being able to talk to the boy. This was one of the first times that she actually enjoyed hanging out with someone of the opposite sex. Usually she scared them away or they were just plain annoying. But Sirius had changed a bit so that he wasn't annoying anymore.

She blushed hearing that nickname that Lily called her and she nodded her head. "Yes, Lily calls me Rowdy and I call her beansprout. And if you want to know the answer, you'll just have to wait until I get my answer." She said with a wink and grinned before putting the piece of parchment back in the bag and pushed the bag along the table so that Sirius could take it back.

"What are you plans for the rest of the night?" She asked him curiously and smiled softly. She pulled out her potions book making it obvious that she was going to study but she wouldn't mind if he stayed of course.


James watched as Lily continued to stay quiet and he almost leaped off of the chair when he saw that head nod once and he smiled brightly.

"Are you bloody serious?!" He asked excitedly, continuing to smile as he wrapped his arms around her tightly in a hug and then stopped his actions before pulling back. "Er... sorry. Got a little excited." He said with a chuckle and he pressed a gentle kiss to her red locks.

"I promise, you won't regret saying yes." He said with a nod, wanting to plan the best first date. Of course he had many first dates before they hadn't been with Lily.

Kaileikehi

"Or..." Sirius grinned right on back at her. "I could just as Evans." He stuck his tongue out at her and flicked a lock of her hair away from her face, not liking how it had blocked one of those pretty blue eyes. He stared at her, and got lost. He almost couldn't bring himself to look away from her, and it was very hard to do then, when he turned his head to look up at the clock on the wall. He heaved a great sigh and rose from his seat.

Clapping Riley on the back gently and in a very friendly, playful manner, Sirius looked back down at her, grabbing his bag up from the table. "I'd stay, but I really should get back and see if Prongs has discovered Evans on the windowsill. You'd think, the way he watches her, he would have noticed by now that that's where she hides. And I really want to see his face when she comes out, it's going to be priceless. But I'll see ya soon, aye Walters? You know...." He wandered for the door and then turned his head back to look at her. "You're not so bad... when you're not being somber. Keep smiling, it's pretty..." He let the words slip out before he could stop them and quickly retreated from the library before she could take them in. He promptly turned and banged his head on the wall a few times. "Stupid, stupid, stupid, now she's gonna think you're some sort of deranged bugger." He sighed, and started his way back to the common room.


Lily let out a very small mixture of a squeal and yelp when he hugged her. She actually relished the feeling of his arms, strong and tight around her, and his scent.... it was lovely really. But then he let go and it was over almost before it had begun. She smiled at him shyly still, her mouth still shut, but her eyes said it all. They sparkled happily, showing that she wasn't just doing this because she wanted to get back at him for the kiss, but rather because the time had finally come, for her to at last, give him a chance.

Pondering it over, she'd never really had a date before, at least, not one that didn't involve going in a group with a bunch of others on their dates. Most of the boys were too scared that Potter would hex them into oblivion if he found out that they had chanced to ask out Lily Evans, the girl Potter had had an unspoken male claim of first dibs should any dating be done since the first feast of their first year was halfway through. Truth be told, she was actually kind of giddy and excited over it.

When his lips touched her hair, she just about melted as her instincts took over and told her she had turned into chocolate and his lips were adding fire to her. Her smile was bright, as she tugged back the curtains of the window, and slipped her bottom off the edge of the windowsill so she fell to land on her feet on the floor below. She crossed to the table and picked up her wand, turning her head to look back at him as she made her way to the portrait hole. Time had passed quickly, and she needed to get Riley before curfew hit.

xxbutterfiywings


Riley's blue eyes widened and she playfully glared at Sirius. "You wouldn't ask Lily... she wouldn't answer you anyway" She said in a playful snotty tone and then blushed lightly as he would flick that piece of hair away from her face. She wasn't expecting that but it seemed that everytime his eyes met hers, she just couldn't look away. A light frown came to her lips when Sirius would stand up from the table and she looked up at him.

"Yeah, I was wondering about that also. I'm pretty sure he spotted Lily when I was leaving the common room." She said honestly and then nodded her head. "I'll see you again soon. Don't try to hide from me this time Black!" She said with a light giggle but was totally caught off guard by his next statement. Had Sirius just called her pretty? Noo... she had to be hearing things right? Never would Sirius Black think she was pretty. He went out with one of the most beautiful girls in their year, there was no way that she could compare to that. She shook her head and opened her book, wanting to forget about what he had just said.


James didn't want any of this to end, afraid that all of the actions were just a dream. The smell of her hair under his nose, the kiss of her lips upon his cheek, god... he really didn't want any of this to go away. But he knew that it would have to eventually. They weren't dating yet! He would have to make a good impression on her if he wanted to keep her around.

Once she climbed down from the window, he would step down from the chair continuing to smile like a boy who had just gotten a lot of chocolate for Christmas. Oh dear lord... he really hoped he didn't mess this up! "See you soon Evans" He said with a smirk in her direction when she looked back at him and once she was out of the portrait hole he would jump up and dance around the common room.

"I'm going on a date with Evans!" he said in a sing song voice as he continued to sing and dance.

Kaileikehi

Lily could hear James singing and dancing in the common room even after the portrait hole had been closed. She leaned up against the wall and pressed her hands to her lips, stifling a giggle that threatened to escape and blow that fact that she had stopped in the hallway. She took a couple moments, to calm herself down, though she was still jittery. In order to try and calm herself, or at least get rid of some of the sudden energy she had, she started skipping down the corridor, hair bouncing behind her, a small smile on her face.

She skipped right on past Black, heard him as her a question, saw his face fill with sudden dread, but didn't respond to it as it didn't entirely click in her brain as to what she saw. She just continued her way to the library, bouncing in on through the door and over to the table where Riley sat. She climbed onto the table, sitting on it in front of Riley with her legs crossed. She reached foreward, grasped Riley's book, and slammed it shut know what she was about to say wold be more interesting than the book.. "I have a date with Potter."


Sirius went slowly down the corridor, pondering over his conversation with Riley. Now that he thought about it, had she been flirting with him? He had noticed the winks and the staring of course, but he'd been so caught up in her eyes and smile and conversation, that he hadn't really thought about it until now. He shook his head. Nah. That was stupid. No way would Riley flirt with him of all people, she was much too pretty and smart for him.

As he was passed by a bouncing redhead, Sirius's face got confused. Why was Evans so happy? Oh Merlin... "Evans? What's got you smiling like that?... Evans...?" But she didn't appear to hear him as she continued on her way. He blinked, and bolted down the hallway, hoping James wasn't hexed too badly. Hadn't Riley said she wouldn't hex him? This was bad... He shouted the password before he even got to the portrait and it swung open. He dived up into the hole, and ran the length of the small tunnel to the common room where he knew he was going to find something he dreaded. "Prongs! Are you ok? Did Evans get you?"

xxbutterfiywings


Riley really hadn't been able to study ever since Sirius left the library, so when Lily came and sat in front of her, she hadn't been too much of a distraction. She raised an eyebrow however as her book was slammed shut and she pouted playfully. "You know... I was studying" She said with a soft smile, not wanting Lily to know that she had been hanging with Black for the moment. She wanted to get her feelings in line before telling her best friend.

Blue eyes widened however when she heard that comment about having a date with Potter and Riley was speechless for a few moments, her eyelids blinking a few times before she could come up with any words. "I told you so! Even though, i honestly wasn't expecting it." She said honestly and packed up her book before she stood up and helped Lily off the table and took the red heads arm.

"You have to tell me everything that happened!" She said, beyond excited for her friend.


James looked to the common room door when he heard someones feet quickly pattering against the ground and he raised an eyebrow when he saw it was Sirius who was running. "Someone chasing you Pads?" He asked his friend but then the smile came back to his face and he would think about Lily and he shook his head.

"She didn't hex me, but I do have a date for next Hogsmeade weekend!" He said excitedly and continued to dance and sing around the common room. Sirius was probably looking at him like a mad man but James was beyond excited to have Evans as his date.

Kaileikehi

Lily was glowing. Now, when most women are refered to be 'glowing' they're typically pregnant. Lily, on the other hand, was such a ball of sunshiney happiness this morning, that she didn't need to be pregnant to appear to be glowing. She had woken much earlier than usual and hopped in the shower, getting every bit of her clean and nice soapy smelling and letting the hot water ease her nerves for a little bit before she shut off the water, wrapped a towel around herself, and wandered out into the girls' dorm. Now the girls' dorm was a bit different from the boys. The girls had two vanities to share and a floor length mirror inbetween. It was to one of these vanities that Lily went. She sat down and ran a comb through her wet tangle of hair that always misbehaved when she wanted it to behave the most.

Once she had finished putting the brush through her hair, she got up and hopped over to Riley's bed, climbing onto the sleeping girl and letting her wet hair drip onto her face. "Wakey wakey Rowdy, Lily needs help to get ready for her daaa-aaate." She sing songed excitedly.


Sirius groaned as the sun hit his face. Why was it that his bed was closest to the windows? He rolled over and tugged his pillow back over his head, hoping to Merlin that James would stay asleep. It was the day of 'The Date' as his best mate had been calling it ever since that night, and he would very much like it if he didn't have to spend the wee morning hours helping his friend pick the right clothes or something stupid like that.

Sirius closed his eyes and smiled as a particular brunette entered his dreams as he drifted back to sleep. Damn she was gorgeous.

xxbutterfiywings


Riley was having an amazing dream. She was hanging out with Sirius just like they usually did except this time they were at a beautiful garden. She watched as he leaned over, his hands moving to her face to pull her gently closer as his lips pressed against hers. "Riley, I..." The deep voice turned into a familiar Lily sounding voice and she groaned lightly. She opened one eye, nibbling on her bottom lip trying not to get too upset at the red head knowing that she was excited.

"Good morning beansprout. I can see your excited about your date huh?" She asked playfully and sat up even though Lily had climbed onto her and she pressed a kiss to Lily's forehead. "Let me brush my teeth and then I will help you" She quickly stood up from the bed, not wanting to keep her friend waiting. It only took her a minute or so to get ready and she made her way over to Lily and she smiled.

"Do you have any ideas of what you would like to wear?" She asked the girl, already pulling out her friends trunk to look through some of her nicer clothes.


James was already awake, singing in the shower as he prepared himself for the day and he walked back into the boys dormitory and he started to throw some clothes around. "Hm... what should I wear." He mumbled softly, wondering if he should really be this worried about his clothing choice. But he wanted everything to be perfect when he was with Lily. He didn't want to lose her just when he got her.

He looked over to Sirius' bed and pulled out a few shirts before pulling that pillow away from Sirius' head. "Hey mate, can you help me for a moment?" He asked with a bright smile holding up the shirts he had picked out. "Which one do you think Evans would like better?" He had picked out a t-shirt with wizarding rock band, a nicer looking blue polo shirt and then an actual white dress shirt.

Kaileikehi

Lily blinked and sat on the end of her bed, looking down into her trunk before shaking her head slightly. She got up and went to the wardrobe the girls had to hang their dresses and tugged out her pretty little green one. It was emerald, like her eyes and her absolute favorite. "Or should I go for a skirt... or maybe..." She pondered for a moment before tugging a pair of jeans out of her trunk, laying them on the bed and then laying the dress over them. "How about like that?"

She was a strange girl, Lily was. She never really conformed much when it came to clothes and styling. It was hard to find colors with her hair, but managable. "Oh, and maybe..." She dug deeper into her trunk, tugging out a old emerald tie of her father's that he had allowed her to bring to school with her her first year, as sort of a comfort item. She liked to wear it sometimes, as a belt or hairband. Today, she placed it above the dress... a hairband. "Maybe? And my denim jacket? Or am I just challenged again today...?"


Sirius groaned as he heard James come out of the bathroom. He tugged the covers up over his head when his pillow was taken. He peeked out from beneath them, to look at what James had chosen for options and sighed. "The blue one. The other's are too casual and too dressy. Add some jeans and shut up." He went back into his hidey hibernation hole.

Sirius liked his sleep as much as the next dog, and so he tended to be a bit grumpy in the morning when risen from his slumber. His words were said with love... and pure irritatedness. He knew James was excited and all, but he was damn tired. 

xxbutterfiywings


Riley looked at the clothes and scrunched her nose a  bit in thought. "Well since it's just Hogsmeade. I think the dress would be a little too classy and I would save that for a later date" She said with a grin as she would put the dress aside and then looked to the jeans or the skirt. Both of those would be cute.

"Well... do you think James would dress up? I've seen him on dates before and usually he just wears a t-shirt and baggy jeans. But I think today he'll try a little better?" Riley said thinking a loud as she would pick up a jean skirt that Lily had packed away and then a nice green shirt to go along with it.

"What about this? You'll look cute and sexy all in one" Riley said with a wink and giggled as she would take that green tie and put it in Lily's hair as a head band. "Do you know what you guys are going to do today? Did he tell you?" She asked curiously, feeling a little jealous since Sirius hadn't asked her on some sort of date. But then again she didn't even know if the boy liked her anyway. He had just said she was beautiful, that didn't mean he liked her right?


James couldn't help but laugh at his friend. Nothing could ruin his mood today, even if Sirius was being a bit crabby. "How late were you up last night Pads? Were you talking to Walters til the early hours of the morning?" He asked in a playful taunting voice. He knew he was going to annoy his friend, but he just couldn't help it. James was beyond happy and excited for this day to be here. He had probably been driving the Marauders nuts these past few days!

Kaileikehi

Lily shook her head. She never had much liked the jean skirt... it hugged her too tightly and was too short for her liking because it made the backs of her legs stick to things. "How about my other denim skirt? The layered one that flies up when I spin?" She dug into her trunk and tugged it out. This one, didn't reach her knees, but it did keep her legs from sticking to seats. "You can actually have that other one if you want. I just... no." She shrugged and grabbed out some under things as well, taking her clothes into the bathroom and tugging them on quickly. She readjusted the tie slightly on her head before skipping out of the bathroom barefoot and spinning. "Is this ok?" She dug into her trunk, searching for her green flip flops or sandles, or something to go with her skirt, when a knock came upon their door.

The door opened slowly and McGonagall stood there, looking a bit harried. She was frowning. "Ah, good, you're already up. Miss Evans, if you could please come with me, I have something important to discuss with you." She eyed Riley and sighed, knowing it would probably be better if Evans had a friend with her. "Miss Walters, you had better come as well."

Lily's smile faded from her face and she quickly tugged on her flip flops and looked at Riley, not understanding what was going on. Normally though, when one of the heads came looking for a student, it was to give them news about their family. The redhead nodded, and started for the door.


Sirius chucked a pillow at his best mate. "She's actually a really great conversationalist, if you must know. I can't help it f we accidently lose track of time." He then rolled over and would be dead to the world for at least the next half hour.

xxbutterfiywings


Riley had no clue that Lily didn't like the jean skirt she had picked out and she raised an eyebrow. "Ohh! That one should be cute too!" She said with a smile. The red head always doubted herself a lot with fashion, but Riley didn't know much either, it was just the idea of another opinion that helped her through her fashion woes. She waited for Lily to change, pulling on her pajama pants and brushing her hair as she waited.

She grinned when Lily came out of the bathroom and spun around and she nodded her head. "It looks absolutely amazing. I'm sure you'll knock James' socks off!" She said with a grin, her eyes instantly turning to McGonagall however when the woman entered the girls dormitory. Whatever could be wrong? Usually the news was bad when a head professor came to deliver news.

Riley looked to the red head and she instantly took her friends hand into her own. "No worries beansprout, i'll be with you" She said softly, squeezing the red heads hand as she walked out of the room with her friend.


James smirked at his friend and changed into the clothes that Sirius had suggested for him. Now he just had to wait until the afternoon started.

Kaileikehi

Lily nodded and grasped Riley's hand tightly as McGonagall led them out of Gryffindor tower and down the hallway to her office where she sat them down and brought forth a rolled up newspaper. She hated this part of her job, but someone must be there for the students in times such as these, and if it was she who had to deliver the news, then so be it. McGonagall opened the newspaper and set it down on the desk. "I wanted to show you this in private, before you saw it at breakfast..."

"S-sixty three d-dead in Small S-surrey V-village of..." Lily's breath hitched and her hands clenched around the hem of her skirt as she looked down, shaking her head. Her mind was exploding. No. It couldn't be her parents, it was probably just McGonagall wanted to let her know her town had been attatcked... to make sure she knew... that there might be someone she had known gone now.. but not her parents. They were still...

"Miss Evans, I know it is much harder to hear, than to tell, but your parents...." McGonagall paused, watching as the red head's head shaking became much more severely obviously. "Your parents were killed in the attack. Death Eaters were searching for the home of a well known and protected family.... and everyone else got caught in the cross fire... I'm so very sorry... If you need something, all you have to do is ask. We're all here to help you and those who have also lost their family members in...."

McGonagall didn't get to finish her sentence. A scream, similiar to that of a banshee, so full of pain and strife, echoed strangely out of the redhead as she collasped into wailing sobs. She stood quickly, knocking her chair over, and ran from the office.

xxbutterfiywings

#48

Riley's blue eyes looked down at the newspaper which was placed on the desk and her eyes widened instantly. Did that mean that Lily's parents were... Her thoughts instantly came to a stop as she heard McGonagall's voice bring reality to what she had been thinking and she shook her head as well. This was bloody insane! How could Lily's parents be dead? This must be a mistake? She jumped hearing that scream and she let go of her friends hand as she collasped.

"Lily..." She whispered softly, not able to register everything as the red head ran out of the room. Riley instantly ran after her friend but then stopped when she heard McGonagall's voice once again.

"Ms. Walters... I think it would be best if you gave Ms. Evans some time alone." She said honestly and Riley nodded her head but still made her way out of the woman's office. Even she was having a hard time processing the information.


*~* A few hours later *~*
James stomped down the hallway towards the fat lady portrait, his face red with anger. Had Lily really stood him up? He had been waiting at the Hogs Head waiting for her just like they had planned. But the girl had never showed up, and it made him look like a complete fool in front of his best mates. Was this Lily's way of getting her revenge instead of hexing him? He growled lightly at the thought as he yelled the password at the fat lady and then stomped inside. It didn't help that his eyes instantly went to that window sill where the girl usually sat and he saw her there. James pulled the curtain back, his hazel eyes filled with anger.

"Why the blood hell weren't you at Hogsmeade Evans?" He asked, standing on that chair as he stare at her but he didn't make any motion to touch her. Sure, he was angry but he wasn't that angry to do anything mean.

"I was waiting and waiting for hours, is this your idea of a joke? Some type of revenge? Were you laughing with Walters as you sat here, thinking Potter is a bloody fool for waiting there for me!" He yelled at her, feeling his anger instantly grow as he would jump down from the chair afraid of his own anger for the first time in his life.

"You're a pretty good actress Evans. I thought you were just as excited as I was, but it seems that you were only making fun of me. Weren't you?" He asked, hazel eyes once again looking up at her with that angry glare in them.

Kaileikehi

Sirius had a lollipop hanging out of his mouth as he wandered down the hall quickly, seeing if he could find Riley and Evans before James did. He had seen his best mate barreling out of the Hogs Head and checked there first, to see if evans was there and what she might have done, but she hadn't been there, so he figured James had been stood up. And if that was the case... with how excited the boy had been... well, there was no wondering at how angry he would be. Now, Sirius had only seen James actually seriously angry two times in his life. The first when they were twelve and some Slytherin decided that tricking his sister into stealing Evans's clothes while she tried to clean herself up after an explosion in potions class was a good idea. James had just about beat the kid to a pulp before Sirius could pull him off of him. The second time was when Sirius showed up at his door over winter break a couple years ago.. his mother hadn't been very pleased with him and let's just say he wasn't a very pretty sight to behold. James was furious, but there was nothing he could do about it.

It was a relief then, when Sirius saw that familiar head of brown hair, but also, it twisted his stomach because there wasn't a red head beside her. "Riley!" He sprinted the rest of the way down the hall to where she was walking and grabbed her by the shoulder, tugging her around. "Riley, where's Evans? She didn't meet up with James... and he's pissed by the looks of it... if he finds her, the entire school's going to hear him yelling... why didn't she show? I thought you said she was actually excited, for sure?" He stared down at her, noting that her face was not happy at all... and it wasn't because that was how she normally looked, this was more than that unhappy. He blinked, not liking seeing her like that. "Something happened..." It wasn't a question. He knew it, just looking at her, he knew it. He tugged her to him, his arms holding her very tightly to his chest, resting his head on top of her's and keeping her close, needing her to smile.... to say no, he was wrong and that everything was just ducky.


Lily looked down at James, her face and the tips of her hair soaking wet with her own tears. Her hair stuck to her face as she shook, from fear and grief. She was curled up in a sitting up ball, her arms around her stomach, knees bent, looking very much like she just wanted to be held now... she had had time to scream and cry and kick things and be very angry at the world, but that wasn't Lily. She could only do that for so long before she needed someone to take her into their arms and keep her tight, to hear someone else's heart beat and calm her. When she had seen James she had almost bolted to him, but then she'd seen his anger, and he's started yelling.

When James was yelling, she tried to muster up something to say, tried to interrupt him as she'd always been so good at doing. Even when he finished yelling however, she just hiccuped, eyes wide, staring at him, wet and fearful and so, so very sad. She looked like a lost child, only bigger. Hiccupping again, she opened her mouth, and no sound came out, just a strange gurgle, and then no more than air, as though her voice was lost to her. She stared at him... and burst into a fresh set of tears. She flung herself off the windowsill to the floor, landing in an almost cat like manner, and bolting up the girls stairs in tears, her own terror of him bluntly on her face, knowing he couldn't follow her up to the dorm because the stairs wouldn't allow it.

xxbutterfiywings

#50

Riley had been wandering the halls aimlessly, feeling almost lost without her best friend at her side. Not to mention, she just didn't know what to do to help Lily. She just wanted the red head to be alright but that was hard to expect especially since Lily and her parents had been so close. To loss them so suddenly, it must be devastating to her best friend. She blinked however hearing Sirius' calling after her and she turned around to see the dark haired boy. Instantly her slender body collided with his, needing to feel that familiar hug especially right now.

Her blue eyes widened hearing that James was pissed and she tried her best not to get too upset right now at the other boy. "She was excited! She woke me up bloody early to help her get ready and everything. But then McGonagall came in and then..." She paused and shook her head before grabbing the boys hand and making a run for the common room. Riley wanted to find James before he had a chance to yell at his friend. She didn't deserved to be yelled at. After all this wasn't even her fault. She said the password to the fat lady and her blue eyes watched as Lily ran up to the girls dormitory.



James felt guilt instantly fill his whole body when he noticed that Lily was crying and it didn't seem like she had just started crying either. "Oh merlin's beard..." He muttered not being able to apologize to the red head before she ran upstairs and instantly he was met by a very upset Walters.


"What the bloody hell were you thinking Potter? We could hear you yelling all the way down the hall! It wasn't even her fault that she didn't make it to Hogsmeade today! Don't you have any decency to ask before you get your knickers all up in a bunch?" She asked, her hands instantly moving to grab her wand from her cloak, ready to hex the boy for yelling at her best friend like that but then she stopped she knew that this wouldn't help the situation at all.

James wasn't expecting Riley to be as upset as she was, but he had acted the same way when Sirius had gotten hurt as well. He stopped her hand from moving towards her cloak and he shook his head. "I-I didn't realize she was crying... s-she had the curtain closed." He muttered and he blushed as he felt Walters arms wrapping around his slender body.

"Sorry...I didn't mean to get all upset." She said before pulling James and Sirius to the couch and she sat down on the floor in front of them. "Lily's parents... they're gone. The death eaters were looking for some distinigushed family is Surrey and well... they decided to tear the whole place apart. That's why she didn't make it to Hogsmeade today. She wasn't trying to stand you up, she was beyond excited before McGonagall came into the room." Riley said softly and nibbled on her bottom lip feeling tears coming to her own eyes.


James listened to what Walters had to say and instantly his head fell into his hands feeling the guilt fill him once again. He was such a bloody git. He didn't deserve Evans after what he did today. "I-I'll be back" He mumbled, making his way out of the common room feeling his whole chest become empty. He had lost his chance with her now for sure and she probably wouldn't even let him near again.

Kaileikehi

Sirius looked down at Riley sitting on the floor. He listened to her speak, not happy at all to hear about Evans's parents. "That's bloody awful!" He watched as James seemed torn with himself, got up, and left, and then, looking back at Riley, found her eyes brimming with tears. That killed him right there. He slipped off the couch and pulled her to him, awkwardly rubbing at her eyes with his sleeve and stroking her hair. "It'll be alright Ri-Ri." He brushed her hair away from her face with his hands, cupping her cheeks and planting a friendly little kiss on her forehead. "Sucks right now, but it'll be fine. I'm gonna go find James. You should probably go and..." A little hiccup from the bottom of the girls' stairs averted his attention and he looked up. A sad smile came onto his face as he saw Evans there, looking very much like a forlorn little creature, instead of the strong girl he knew her as.

Sirius rose from the floor, tugging a tissue from his pocket and wandering over to the red head. He offered it and she took it without a word. He gave her a small hug, awkward, but he didn't care. And then he patted her back and sent her off towards Riley before turning and heading out of the common room. He ran down the hallway again, skirting a corner to find James there, walking slowly. "Hey..." He caught up with him and placed a comforting hand on his best mate's shoulder.


Lily was glad for Sirius's hug, needing it. She dabbed at her face with the tissue and wandered over to Riley. She flopped on the floor and climbed into the other girl's lap, curling up and getting as close to Riley as she possibley could, as though she were trying to hide inside her almost. She gave a very small whimper, but made no other sound as she started crying again, pure anguish all over her. Her body wracked with silent, tearless sobs... her tear ducts had run dry at this point, she had no more left to shed until after she'd rested. All she wanted right then, was her parents to not be gone, and if they had to be gone, she wanted to snuggle with her best friend and not lose sight of her... ever.

xxbutterfiywings


Riley was surprised when she saw Sirius sliding down on the floor and she couldn't help but snuggle into his warm body, feeling his fingers running through her hair. She closed her eyes for just a moment, knowing that she could get lost in this embrace for the rest of her life if she wanted too. But... she had to remember that it wasn't going to happen. Sirius deserved so much more than what she could give. Her blue eyes looked up at him after he placed the gentle kiss upon her forehead and she nodded her head. "James needs you, I can take care of Lily." She said softly before heading that sniffle coming from the other side of the room.

Her eyes instantly saw Lily and she was just about to stand up when she saw Lily coming towards her. Riley knew the routine, letting the red head crawl into her lap and she instantly wrapped her arms around that slender body. She kept the red head close and pressed a kiss to her soft hair. "I love you beansprout, you'll always be my sister." She whispered softly just holding Lily in a comforting manner as she closed her eyes. Riley just wanted her best friend back but she knew that would take some time.


James had only wandered a little away from the Gryffindor common room when he felt that hand on his shoulder and he paused his wandering steps. "Pads... I blew it." He mumbled not even bothering to look back at his friend. "How could I not notice how upset she was? I'm a selfish git. I don't deserve Lily Evans, that's for sure" He muttered as he would press his hands to his face once again trying his best not to get too emotional. But he had just lost his chance with the girl he had crushed on since their first year. It felt his like heart had been completely torn from his chest.

Kaileikehi

It took a little while for Lily to calm back down. She rubbed at her now itchey, tired eyes. She was worn out and it showed. She slipped out of Riley's lap and stood up, grasping the other girl's hands as though scared to let go. She tugged and nodded towards the girls' stairs. Her question was clear in her eyes. Come upstairs with me... Her mouth, however, remained closed, as though she couldn't muster the strength to even speak at this point.

Lily felt as though her body were another being entirely. She was so out of it, it was like all of this was a dream. All she wanted to do at the moment, was cling to Riley and sleep. Torn between the two as she was, she needed the other girl to go up to the dorm with her, to stay with her.


"Mate..." Sirius sighed. "You know you never think straight when it comes to that girl. There's no way you could have known to ask first, what with your sometimes one track mind. Evans will probably forgive you. Riley said she was super excited, so she must at least like you a little... that and she's probably one of the kindest souls we know. Remember when she was even friends with Snivellus? She probably just needs some time to get over the shock first, and then a little more time to realise you were honestly hurt when she didn't show up."

xxbutterfiywings


Riley stood up with Lily, allowing the red head to pull her up the stairs and into the girls dormitory. She wouldn't even think of leaving her best friend alone at a time like this. She yawned softly, feeling as if the day was long as well and she laid down on Lily's bed pulling the girl next to her. "Now try to sleep beansprout" She whispered softly and wrapped her arms around the red head, letting her fingers gently brush through those crimson locks until the girl fell asleep.


*~* One month Later *~*


James took a deep breath as he headed into the common room. It was a saturday evening after a Hogsmeade visit and he had bought a present for Lily. He just couldn't understand why the red head refused to talk to him. He was charming after all right? So was she still mourning? Was that why the girl continued to not talk to him?

He had been zoned out all during dinner and now that it was time to head back to the common room, he felt all jittery. It was almost like he was telling the girl his feelings again. Except this time he had more of a possibility of being hexed, especially if the red head hated him. He took a deep breath before heading into the common room, hazel eyes looking around for the red head. 



Riley sighed softly as he stretched her arms above her head and looked down at her potions book. She couldn't study anymore, and she knew that if she tried too, she would have a very furious red head coming to the library to find her. She closed her potions book and stood up slowly since she had been in the library for over five hours. Slowly she made her way out of the quiet room and into the hallways, knowing that she had missed dinner because their were many students heading back to their respected dorms.

"Oh bloody hell" She mumbled, trying to remember if she had any hidden treats in her trunk or not. She sure hoped she did.

Kaileikehi

Lily had decided to give Riley a little time to herself, despite not wanting to be away from her. She'd become sort of an attatchment since that horrid day, never leaving the girl's side, typically found hanging off the back of her robes or onto her hand like a small lost child. She had stayed with Riley in the library for a few hours or so, but then had braved leaving to go to dinner, not that she every really ate much. Mostly she just pushed her food around on her plate, chewed enough to please the eyes of the worried professors who had been observing her, worried about her lack of appetite and falling asleep in class. She was taking the loss of her parents pretty rough, and she hadn't said a word in weeks. She'd whimper and scream in her sleep, but other than that, she only really communicated with Riley, and that was mainly through nods, shakes, tug, pushes, and her eyes.

After dinner, Lily had headed up to the common room and curled up on her windowsill. She never sat in the chairs anymore, and everyone knew to leave her be now, since she would normally just sit there staring blankly at the fire anyways.


Sirius had gone to dinner... and he had noticed there was a lack of Riley, since he usually sat with her when she was there. There was just something about that girl he couldn't get enough of, and he knew where to find her. Whenever she missed dinner, which wasn't too often with Lily clinging to her lately, she was in the library, so that's the direction Sirius went. He grinned when he spotted her, snuck up behind her, and caught her up, taking her from her feet and swooping her into the air over his shoulder.

"Ha! Gotcha!" He looked around. "No duckling tonight? Strange. All the more reason for me to tickle you to death." He grinned at her butt, reaching his free arm over to have a go at her stomach.

xxbutterfiywings


Even though his hazel eyes had looked around for the red head, he had secretly wished that she would be chatting away with the other Gryffindors like she used too. Or at least sitting down with everyone else. But unfortunately his eyes caught a glimpse of her sitting in her usual spot. He nibbled on his bottom lip for just a moment before he would move over to the window sill, his present still behind his back. He stood up on the chair and pretended that he was looking out the window and he smiled softly at the girl.

"It's a beautiful day outside isn't it?" He asked the red head before pulling a bouquet of chocolate roses from behind his back. "But it's not more beautiful than you." He said softly holding the chocolate flavored roses out toward the girl with a light blush. James Potter had never been this corny but he just couldn't get his mind off of Lily when he had went to hogsmeade today.

"I'm sorry Lily... for being a complete and utter git." He mumbled and sighed before shaking his head. "I just want to see you smile again, or at least talk to Walters. Hell, i don't care if you don't talk to me as long as I hear your voice every now and then..." He ran a hand through his black locks waiting for her to hex him or something.


Riley let out a big gasp when someone picked her up from behind and she playfully pouted when she noticed it was Sirius. "Darn, i thought you were my knight in shining armor." She said with a soft laugh and shook her head. "Lily isn't with me right now... she was a few hours ago. Was she at dinner?" The brunette asked blinking however when she was placed on his shoulder.

"Sirius... what do you think your---" Her words were cut off by his fingers tickling at her stomach and she instantly started squirming as she laughed. "Sirius Black!" She panted out with a light growl as she continued to laugh. "If...you...don't...put...me...down..." She started to say between laughs but then stopped at her stomach growled.

A deep red blush came to her cheeks and her blue eyes looked down at her friend as she gave him a sheepish grin. "Guess I'm a little hungry." She mumbled, kind of embarrassed that her stomach picked that moment to be hungry.

Kaileikehi

Lily, skittish as a doe these days, lost her balance and nearly went tumbling off the window sill when James approached her. She had been admiring the view again, glad the window was between her and the world beyond. The tower was ginormussly up there, and she wasn't that fond of heights, but she was fine so long as the window was there. Her mouth opened as though to let out a little yelp of surprise, but no sound came out, instead, her face said it all. She blinked and looked at him. Merlin's pants! Where'd he come from?

Face turning scarlet at his comment, Lily turned her face towards her lap, but her eyes, kept glancing up at him, more shyly than they'd ever been, frightened. She started shaking, as though scared he was going to start yelling again, but when he didn't, she calmed a little bit, only giving the occasional shake now. She opened her mouth, to say something, to make herself speak, but her mouth only moved, forming words that couldn't be heard, air rushing out of her lungs in an effort to make it into sound. She frowned, and tried again, and still again, and no luck. She hid her head in her arms,, peering up at him over them again. She was embarrassed... she couldn't speak... she wasn't sure as to why, but she just couldn't. Something about the trauma that day had had on her had silenced her.  And she'd kept her father's old green tie, tied around her head, the actual tie part hanging down and flopping against her cheek. She liked it best that way, to see it, to feel it's presence.

Spotting the flowers, Lily gaped at him and turned even read. Potter... She would have whimpered had she been able to do so out of sleep. Trust me Potter, I wish I could hear my voice too. But I can't... I just can't... Thank you though... She tried to tell him all of this, with her eyes. She reached a hand out and plucked a petal from a rose, knowing what they were. They were a confectionery miracle, chocolate that looked like real roses, but was delicious. She placed it in her mouth and sighed. She forced her head up, and gave him a very small, very sad little smile, forced and unhappy, but showing, that she forgave him.

Sirius laughed, spinning in a circle, but keeping a very good hold on her was he did so. "Whacha gonna do about it Riley? Huh?" He stopped spinning abruptly, purposely trying to make her dizzy. After years of amusedly chasing his own tail, it took a lot to make this dog dizzy. He tickled her again and again, until her felt and heard her stomach growl. He laughed harder then, and slid her back down to her feet gently, smiling at her.

"Yeah, I figured, you weren't at dinner." Sirius dug into his pocket and tugged out a very large tupperware container full of all of Riley's favorites. He would never tell, but he did watch what she liked to grab the most of at meal times.  "So I went to the kitchens and nicked some stuff for you. It's still hot... and it doesn't look like anythings mussed together too badly." He grinned at her, offering it to her as he dug his hand back into his pocket to retrieve a fork which he brandished after a few moments of searching. "You're sword, m'lady. I've got dessert in here when you're ready for it too. And I know, it's a lot..." His cheeks tinged a bit pink. "But you uh, don't have to eat all of it, I just wasn't sure what you'd be in the mood for." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, but still grinning.

xxbutterfiywings


James felt guilt swarm through his whole body when he saw the red head start to shake and he shook his head for just a moment. He didn't mean to make her scared of him. He was just so upset that day... but now he was going to make up for it. And he sure hoped that Lily forgave him. He couldn't help but laugh when he saw her cheeks turning red and he smiled softly. He was going to do his best to make things better for the boy.

"I'm glad you like them." He said softly watching as she plucked a petal off of one of the roses and he decided to scoot himself onto that window sill with her. "I wasn't too sure what to get you honestly. I just couldn't get you out of my mind while Sirius and I were at Hogsmeade. So i figured some chocolate roses were the best when it came to you. Unique and sweet." He said with one of his charming grins as he would playfully pluck off one of the petals as well as eat it.

"I'm sorry again Evans, for being a complete and utter git." He mumbled even though he had seen her small smile and he gently wrapped his arms around her body. Maybe if he hadn't yelled at her, she would be talking right now. 


Riley closed her eyes as Sirius would start spinning around in a circle and she giggled instantly while trying her best to yell at the dark haired boy. "Sirius Black! You will regret this!" She said, even though there was no malice behind her words. The boy was way too cute to actually harm, or at least he was now. If someone were to ask Riley a few months ago, that definitely would not be the response they would have received.

She let out a sigh of relief when she was finally put down on the ground and she blinked as he reached into his pocket. She laughed seeing the large tupperware full of food and she playfully looked into his pocket. "How do you fit so much in there?" She asked him with a grin and took the food happily along with the fork.

"Thank you!! I'm actually starving...but i guess you could tell huh?" She asked him with a light blush before she would pull him over towards a nearby staircase and she sat down. She made sure Sirius was sitting beside her and she cuddled gently against the boy. Instantly the lid of the tupperware would be pried off and her fork would dig in.

"You picked all my favorites! Good guessing!" She said with a grin and then her eyes widened hearing about dessert as well. "Wow, I think someone has been watching me while I eat." She said with a soft laugh and winked at him.

"How was Hogsmeade today?" She asked him curiously and she continued to eat.

Kaileikehi

Lily plucked another petal, popped it into her mouth, and let it melt. Being Lily, she woould have prefered a simple peice of mint salt water taffy. It was her absolute favorite flavor, mint was. Though she did adore chocolate too, and the roses were quite gorgeous, even if she did like tulips best. But she appreciated them anyways, because it was a thoughtful gesture and she snuggled up under James's arms, resting her head on his shoulder and cuddling up to him. She breathed him in, a strange mixture out outdoors, chocolate, and boy deodorant, and gave a content sigh.

Quite relaxed now, Lily took another decadent little petal and slipped it into her mouth. She smiled up at him, nuzzling her head under his chin, still forgiving all of his yelling a month ago. She was more than happy to forgive and forget, when she liked him this much. He smelt good, and he was a warm body to cuddle up to, who could ask for more than that?


Sirius grinned at her, tugging out a fork of his own and plucking up some mashed potatoes with it. He had been more concerned with getting her food, than feeding himself. And he, being a teenage boy, was almost always hungry anyways. "Actually, I just got most of what I like best." Of course, that was a lie within a truth. He did like most of the same foods Riley did, but he had watched her when she ate, wanting to know every little bit about this strange girl who intrigued him so very much.

"Besides..." He scooped another bit of potatoe into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. "It's kind of nifty, just the two of us having dinner." He smiled at her, before continuing. "It was alright, would have been better if you'd have come along though. James was all in a frenzy. He got Evans some of those weird chocolate roses and is going to beg for forgiveness the first chance he gets... Think she'll like them? I mean, you would know right? You're a girl, do girls like chocolate roses? Or is that more of a mum thing?"

xxbutterfiywings


James really had no idea what Lily would've liked from Hogsmeade, but at least he had gotten the girl something and it seemed to be getting him brownie points. He tried his best not to blush when he felt the red head snuggle up against him and he smirked as he pressed a gentle kiss to her red locks as she rested her head on his shoulder. Now... it was getting Lily to talk again. Hopefully she would find her voice, James surely did miss the girl.

"I'm glad you like the flowers. I thought Sirius was going to bloody kill me because I couldn't decide what you would like best. Next time you'll have to give me a hint on your favorite candies." He said with a soft smile and took another petal and stuck it into his mouth. He laughed softly feeling her nuzzling his recently shaven chin and rubbed his chin gently against her in a playful manner.

"Thank you for forgiving me lily." He said softly hugging her tightly to his body with a soft sigh. He felt a lot better knowing that the girl at least decided to forgive him.


Riley laughed softly seeing him pulling out another fork from his pocket and taking some of her mashed potatoes. "You never stop amazing me Black." She said playfully with a grin as she would take a bite of mashed potatoes as well as she blushed hearing him comment that it was just the two of them having dinner. It was cute...and very date like if she had to put a label on it. She allowed her dark locks fall against her cheeks to hide the very red color of her cheeks.

"I guess we're always surrounded by hundreds of other students huh?" Riley said, not even realizing it until now. It was so easy to get used to eatting in the great hall after all these years.

"I hope next time I can come with you to Hogsmeade. I haven't been there in a while." She said honestly, usually studying for tests and hanging out with Lily instead. She raised an eyebrow looking at the boy in disbelief.

"Potter got Lily chocolate roses?" She asked and then a bright smile came to her lips. "I think she would love them, even though her favorite candies are salt water taffies." She said with a nod and took another bite before grinning at the boy.

"And if I have to tell you all of the secrets towards winning a girls heart, chocolate roses are probably one of the most romantic things a boy can get a girl. The first would be real flowers of course." Riley said honestly, never receiving either of those things in her life. Her blue eyes noticed a few Slytherins making their way down the hallway and sending glares in their direction. She sighed softly and pulled away from Sirius just a little bit, managing to keep the food in between them.

She was off her rocker thinking that the two of them could actually be together at one point in time. But then again, she highly doubted that Sirius would want a girl like her anyway. Riley was dreaming when she thought about those things anyway.

Kaileikehi

When they had completely depetaled one of the flowers, Lily took up the green stem and slipped the end into her mouth. If she knew where her voice was, she would have squealed in delight. It was mint, the stem was. The perfect combination... chocolate and mint. She beamed up at James with that candy stick in her mouth and hugged him round the middle tightly in pure thanks. As soon as she had nommed the stick into oblivion (aka: her stomach), she took up another rose, flipped it upside down, and popped the stem in her mouth as though she were addicted to it.

Snuggling and all together being generally Lily-ish, Lily shifted herself until she was in his lap. She cuddled up to him that way, resting her head on his chest and closing her eyes as though she found comfort in his presence. She nuzzled him further, yawning as she carefully held the rose so as not the drop it from her mouth.


Sirius smiled at her, helping her eat away at the contents of the container for a while before he spoke again. "Well, next time there's a Hogsmeade trip, you and Lily should both come with. You guys could come to the Potter's for the holidays too, if you want. That way you're not stuck here by yourselves." He contemplated this seriously. He would love it for Riley to come meet Mr. and Mrs. Potter. He knew she'd love them as much as he did, and it might be nice for Lily to have a little parental doting upon. He watched the Slytherins, glaring right back at them with a look that said if they so much as said a word, he would kill them.

"Really? So, you'd like flowers best then... if someone were to get you something..." He pondered this over, storing it away in his list of what Riley liked and what she didn't. "And I hope you like chocolate, because I nicked a couple of these from James when he wasn't looking." He tugged two wrapped chocolate roses from his pocket and offered one to her. "Nothing like dessert before dinner's complete, huh? I think the stems are spearmint as well."

xxbutterfiywings


James had seen how her green eyes had lit up when she put the stem of the candy into her mouth and he laughed softly as she looked up at him excitedly with the stem in her mouth. He could smell the mint aroma and he smirked.

"I'm guessing you like peppermint?" he asked her playfully and hugged her back just as tightly. He blushed lightly when the girl would crawl into his lap and he wrapped his arms around her waist with a light yawn as well.

"Next time i'll have to look for something mint... wait a minute! Are you the one who likes mint salt water taffies?" He asked her with a grin and then blushed a bit. "I mean... I didn't watch you in Hogsmeade almost every time you visited Honeydukes." he said with a soft laugh and rested his chin on her shoulder. It had been a long day, and all of his nervousness through out the day had actually made him quite tired. But just holding the girl in his arms like this made his dreams come true whether he was asleep or not!


Riley was still taken aback by the Slytherin's to even think about the holidays. Maybe she shouldn't be with Sirius right now? She was just getting him in trouble with the other pure blood wizards. She nibbled on her bottom lip trying to keep down the guilt that she felt before she'd look up at the dark haired boy when he invited her and Lily to the Potter's house.

"That would be nice as long as it's alright with James' parents. I think it would do Lily good." She said honestly, pushing around some of the food that was left on the plate and her blue eyes widened a bit when she heard him saying that she would like flowers and Riley instantly shook her head.

"I-I don't want anything! Really...I don't deserve it anyway" She mumbled the last part, not even catching on to how obvious Sirius was being. She was too caught up in her own insecurities. She placed the container of food down on the step and covered it up for now before her blue eyes looked to the boy once again and she nibbled on her bottom lip as he held that rose out to her. Why was Sirius doing this? Acting all cute and boyfriend like... it wasn't fair. It's not like the boy would ever like her in that way anyway.

"I... uh, thank you" She said with a small smile and took the rose as she would look at the flower and then giggled softly. "Well Lily will like the mint part at least." The brunette said honestly and slowly pulled away the wrapper. It felt so weird getting a chocolate rose from a boy she wasn't dating. But she didn't mind the chocolate, hopefully it would calm her emotions.

Kaileikehi

Lily nodded and mowed down the rest of the candy stick and the flower petals before she yawned a chocolately minty yawn and snuggled up to him more so to the point where she was so cuddley and warm, she could probably have fallen asleep right there, wanting nothing more than the comfort of his arms and body at that moment. Somehow, she felt impossibly secure with his arms about her, like she always had with Riley or her parents, when they'd been alive. There was just something purely wonderful about the way they fit around her... as though they belonged around her. Lots of people hugged her, but she rarely found a person who's arms seemed to know the exact spot she liked them when being hugged, or which contoured around her body in the most absolute perfect, comfortable fashion imaginable.

This is how Lily Evans fell asleep, not restless, and not screaming, for the first time in a month.


Sirius smiled at her. "Good, because I've already asked them, and they're really excited about meeting both of you, if you guys can come." He beamed at her brightly, biting into his own chocolate rose happily before he heard her speak again. "Riley..." He stared at her sadly, as she said she didn't deserve things and he set his rose down in his lap, tugging her to him and hugging her tightly.

"Riley Walters, don't you dare ever say you don't deserve something like flowers or chocolate. Every nice, awesome, warm hearted girl deserves those things. You're brilliant. You've taken good care of Evans, you study way too much, and you're smile is a bit intoxicating to anyone who sees it. Of course you deserve some goddamn flowers." He cuddled her to him and kissed the top of her head. "And don't let those Slytherins' looks get to you. They're just jealous because you're way prettier than any of them."

xxbutterfiywings


James' arms gently held Lily as she fixated herself in his lap and he smile softly as he saw her eye lids slowly closing. He rested back against the wall, his head resting gently upon hers as he too relaxed. He didn't fall asleep until the red head in his arms had done so. This was the first time in a while that he wouldn't have to go to sleep worrying about Lily. At least now he had her in his arms and knew that she would be fine.


Riley's eyes widened hearing that Sirius had already asked the Potters if they could visit and she smiled softly shaking her head. "You do move fast, don't you?" She asked him blushing however as he would tug her into his embrace and she instantly molded into the hug. Her cheeks instantly turned to a bright red when she heard his words and she didn't dare to look up at the boy. Why was he saying all these things to her? She wished he would just stop so that she wouldn't think there ever would be a chance for them to get together.

"I...uh, thank you I guess" She mumbled lightly not really sure what to say especially since she became utterly speechless feeling that kiss upon her dark locks and she tried her best to ignore the nice comments as well as she could. Slowly she pulled away and looked up at him.

"Shall we head back to the common room to make sure Potter is okay?" She asked him with a smirk, still a little out of it. But she definitely wasn't going to tell the boy what was on her mind.

Kaileikehi

~*~One Week Later...

Lily was snuggled up between Riley and James on one of the benches of the long Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. She was contently chewing away at a piece of bacon and silently making James's plate into a masterpiece, her own empty and unused still. But she was eating, if still just little bites. So far, she'd turned his breakfast into a smiley face with toast for ears and a grape for a nose and was currently contemplating on whether or not to make it's mouth from bacon or the small rind of a piece of melon she'd eaten a few minutes ago. She looked at James questioningly, holding up both pieces wondering which to use and wanting his input.

In the past week, Lily had gone from being glued to Riley, to being glued to either Riley or James, something that had shocked the Hogwarts population a great deal. They weren't a couple of course, at the moment, he was just her friend, a very cuddley one at that. That night they had spent on the windowsill, despite cricks in the neck, had been the calmest night she had had in weeks.


Sirius was nomming happily away at his breakfast on the other side of Riley. He had a doggy biscuit on the side of his plate though, half eaten. He liked them, though he'd never say why. At the moment, he was deciphering the crossword in the newspaper. "Hey, anyone know a ten letter word for a flying object?" He looked up as the second rushof mail owls swooped in. Only so many could fly through the air at once inside here without hitting one another, so the came in waves.

"James! Your mum's sent us a package!" He grinned, holding up the paper wrapped box over the heads of the two girls between them for his best mate to see. "You want to open it, or should I? "

xxbutterfiywings


James ate the food around the smiley face that Lily was making on his plate and he playfully took the melon from Lily's hand when she held them up to him. "Put the bacon down, I've had enough for today and it's most likely I wont eat that" He said honestly with a smirk as he would put the piece of melon into his mouth and he wrapped his arm around Lily's waist as she snuggled next to him.

"Ten letter word for a flying object?" He mumbled for just a moment his attention totally straying away from the crossword puzzle however when the second rush of owls came swooping down and he grinned seeing that they got a present from his mum.

"You can go ahead and open it mate. Probably just some chocolates." He said honestly and playfully pulled Lily close to his body and hugged her tightly. "Is your smiley face almost done? I may be having second thoughts about that piece of bacon..." He said with a laugh and then grinned innocently.


Riley watched as the red head happily made a smiley face on James plate and she smiled softly. It was nice to see that James and Lily were growing closer together. She knew that the boy was good for her friend, it just took Lily a little while to see that. Her blue eyes shifted towards the crossword puzzle that Sirius was working on and she giggled.

"Broomstick?" She said, wondering exactly why that didn't pop into Sirius' head at first and she playfully patted his dark locks. Her blue eyes didn't even bother to look up at the second wave of owls, knowing that she wouldn't ever get anything from her parents. However, a brown scrawny owl came flying down towards her, sitting on the table to drop off a letter and then flying off once again. She raised an eyebrow, seeing the envelope was addressed to her in her mothers handwriting and she rolled her eyes.

The white envelope was slipped into her book bag knowing it was something that she should read by herself. "Open your package" She said turning her attention back to Sirius and giving him a gentle smile. She was just as curious as he was since she never received an actual package before.

Kaileikehi

Lily placed the bacon down on the plate, giving the smiley face a frown. She added a few drops of maple syrup for tears and sighed before takin a fork and smashing the face by swirling the for around on the plate. She did this sometimes now, one moment she'd be bright, the next, something would have reminded her of her parents and she'd go into a depressive mood. When this happened, she tended to get very clingy or very pushy.

Pressing closer to James, Lily slid herself up into his lap and stared down at his plate. She leaned back against him, closing her eyes and taking a few deep breaths, letting the bad feelings pass over now and going back to trying to smile. She reached down and began rearranging his plate again, this time though, she took his scrambled eggs and gathered more bacon to make a golden snitch, even though he was a Chaser... the snitch just happened to be her favorite ball. She looked up at him for approval before. She did notice Riley slipping something in her bag. She'd ask later. 


"Broomstick! It's perfect!" Sirius beamed and wrote it in before he set down his quill and took up the package. He grinned, ripping off the strings and wrappings. He then tugged open a cardboard box and peeked inside. He grinned and tugged out four brightly colored smaller little boxes tied with bows and a note which he read, his smile brightening. He handed a blue one to James, a purple one to Riley, a green one to Lily, and a red one he kept. "They're Christmas hints. Each year the Potters send us a box with a hint in it as to what they've gotten us this year... We used to spend hours trying to figure them out when we were kids, didn't we James? We're a bit old for them now, but it's still a cool tradition."

He tugged open his box and smiled, pulling out a swatch of cloth. "See? It could be damn near anything."

xxbutterfiywings


James had a feeling that the package from his mum probably wouldn't be the best for Lily to see. But he would be there for the red head whenever she needed him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and watched as she started to the play with the food again and he grinned seeing the snitch. "Maybe you should become a culinary artist or something of the sort" He said with a chuckle and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek as he would look down at the present that Sirius had passed to him.

"Would you like to open your hint together? Or would you like to wait a little while longer Lils?" He asked her softly, willing to wait to open his as well whenever she was ready. He looked to Sirius who already had his opened and he laughed softly.

"Someone's a bit excited huh Pads?" He teased his friend as he wrapped his arms tighter around the red head.


Riley laughed softly seeing Sirius beaming and she playfully rolled her eyes, not sure what she was going to do with the dark haired boy. She looked down at the little box and nibbled on her bottom lip. Why had the Potters gone through all this trouble to get her and Lily a gift? Well of course the red head deserved it, but she really didn't. She hadn't received a Christmas present from her parents in her whole life. Yet now, she had James' family sending her a present and they never met her.

"Are you sure this is okay Sirius?" She asked the boy, nibbling on her bottom lip as she looked over to Sirius' swatch of cloth and she smiled softly. They seemed like a really caring family. Her attention turned to the red head however and she held Lily's hand for a moment until the girl started to play with James' food.

Slowly her fingers would untie the bow from the purple box and she nibbled on her bottom lip. She took over the cover and blinked when she saw a piece of parchment which had a certain aroma drifting from it. Her blue eyes looked to Sirius and raised an eyebrow. "Why do they make the hints so hard?" She asked him curiously, her eyes turning towards the clock however. They would have to get going soon if they wanted to get class on time. Or at least in Riley's mind. She liked to be to class a little bit earlier than everyone else. 

Kaileikehi

Lily's fingers found the bow on the box and she gently untied it, looking up at James with a smile smile. She tied the ribbon into her hair, just above her ear, and took the cover off of the box, reaching in and taking out a small piece of cotton fluff. She blinked. What was it? Her body shook with silent laughter and she blew at the puff , letting it float off her fingers for a few moments before she caught it back up, placed it in the box, and then slipped it into her pocket.

She knew James was worried... knew he watched her out of the corner of his eye when he thought she wasn't looking. But she really was doing so much better, with his and Riley's support. She hadn't found her voice yet, she was't sure she ever would, but she was doing better. And that was what mattered.

Reaching down, she took the little blue box from him and tugged off the ribbon, placing it in her hair above her other ear and then offering him the box, wanting him to open it. The package had saddend her slightly, knowing she'd never get one from her parents ever again, but it had passed.


"The Potters are amazing. It's definitly ok." Sirius hugged her to him, wishing she wouldn't be so hard on herself. He hated that... she deserved so much more... more than he'd ever be able to give her... she'd never want him. "They love just about anyone who'll let them. I bet, if you come, first thing Mrs. Potter does is hug you so tight you can't breathe, but you don't want her to let go either. And Mr. Potter's hilarious. He jokes around all the time, so you have to be careful where you step, but they're always good natured."

Sirius stroked her hair gently. "Well, they're hard because they're hints and we're not really supposed to figure it out. Just do a lot of guessing, they're never what we think they'll be in the end."

xxbutterfiywings


James watched as the red head tied the bow in her hair and he smiled softly, playfully pointing at the bow and then tapping Lily's nose. "You look absolutely adorable." He whispered softly in her ear watching as she would finish unwrapping that present and he raised an eyebrow seeing the cotton fluff.

He laughed softly when he saw how the girl interacted with it and he smirked. "Well at least if you don't like your present, you always have the fluff to keep you entertained." He said with a wink and he allowed her to take the bow off of his present before lifting off the cover. He laughed when he saw an empty box and he shook his head.

"I think that's my fathers doing, he always kids around that I shouldn't get anything for Christmas" He said with a grin but of course his father was only kidding around. He was surprised that his mother actually allowed the older man to do that though.


Riley snuggled into Sirius for just a moment listening to the description of the Potters and she smile softly. At least James had nice parents and it seemed like Sirius was even becoming their son now. She smiled softly looking up at Sirius as he ran his fingers through her hair and her blue eyes looked back at the clock.

"I should probably head to advanced potions now. Don't you all think you should head to class as well?" She asked them playfully, even though some days the other three usually stayed around a few more minutes in the great hall.


James looked to Walters and playfully rolled his eyes. "Always on time Walters." He said playfully and hugged the red head to his body with a soft sigh. He didn't want to go to class. He just wanted to spend the whole day snuggling up to Lily.

Kaileikehi

Lily grinned and took up the last of James's bacon, nibbling at it before breaking it in half and offering part of it to him while the other hung out of her mouth. She still had not a single word to say, but she did speak, with her eyes. At the moment, she was trying to let him know how very much she liked having his friendship. When she couldn't have Riley, she could have James, and vice versa. It kept her more sane, balancing and leveling her emotions by having her friends around her. She beamed, laughing inside, her face lighting up when she saw how James's box was empty. It was perfectly hilarious. She turned and hugged him tightly, silently giggling.

Schooching out of James's lap at Riley's words, Lily then stood up, climbing off of the bench. She, too, had advanced potions. She excelled in that class, and in Charms. Transfiguartion, however, was a completely different story. Bright she may be in just about everything else, she had never quite managed to change her toothpicks into needles as fast as the rest of their classmates.
 

Sirius groaned and tugged at Riley, not wanting her to go to class just yet. "We have half an hour before classes even start, that's at least twenty more minutes to not be in there...." He sighed, grabbing her to him and giving her a good hug before pushing her away playfully. "Go on and get to class Walters." He grinned at him. He knew she liked getting there early.

Sirius hated being to class before the bell rang signaling they had all better be in their seats. He was always running in just in time, and e managed, somehow, to never receive a detention for being late, because he was always right on time.

xxbutterfiywings


James laughed softly as she would take the piece of bacon into her mouth and he playfully bit the piece of bacon, taking half for himself. "Thank you" He said with a grin before he would pout when Riley said that it was time for them to go to class and he sighed. "I guess you should go to class as well huh?"

He hugged the red head tightly before she got up to leave and smiled. "See you later Evans" He said with a playful wink and looked to Sirius once the girls were gone. "You know... we could learn from them and head to class early too" He said with a chuckle even though he made no intention to move


Riley blushed when Sirius would tug at her and then pull her close. She smiled softly and shook her head. "Lily and I need to set up our stuff for our experiments. I already told you that before silly." She said and playfully patted his head before hugging him tightly as well.

"Have fun being late to class" She said with a playful grin and made her way out of the great hall with the red head.

*~* After Potions Class *~*

Riley looked to Lily and raised an eyebrow. "Don't you have transfiguration now?" She asked the red head since they didn't have the same transfiguration class since the brunette was better at transfiguring than the red head.

"I'll walk you to class and then go to my own." She said with a smile and took the red head's hand and walked with her down the hall to her class and she hugged her tightly.

"I'll see you after class. Black and Potter should be joining you soon anyway. I need to hurry up and get to transfiguration" She said with a grin and left Lily in front of her transfiguration class. The brunette sighed as she ran a hand through those brown locks. She hated lying to Lily but she really wanted to read that letter in private. Riley really had no plans on going to her next class because they were only doing a review for the test.

The brunette made her way towards the Gryffindor common room, knowing that it was unlikely that anyone would actually be in their now since everyone should be in class. She crawled into Lily's usual hiding space and pulled the curtain so that no one would see her. Slowly her slender fingers slipped the envelope out of her book bag and undid the seal as well. She took a deep breath as the letter was unfolded and blue eyes started to read her mothers delicate hand writing.

Dear Riles,

It seems that not only has that wizarding school made you into someone your father and I barely know anymore, but it has also corrupted your mind and heart. We were both looking forward to seeing you this Christmas break but you would prefer to stay at that school and visit your wizarding friends. If that is what you prefer, then perhaps you should just find a permanent residence with your friends as well. Your father and I never really needed you in our lives anyway, you were a burden upon this family and I hope you cast the same burden upon your friends as well. They will see soon just how undeserving you are of their friendship just as your father and I have come to see that you are undeserving of our care. We are thoroughly disappointed in you as our offspring and plan on having all your belongings left at home sold. Please do not come back, or we will deny you as our child.


Riley didn't even want to continue reading feeling the tears slide down her face as she nibbled on her bottom lip. It's not like her parents had ever cared for her in the first place... so why were they so upset about her not coming home? She whimpered softly as she tore up the letter and screamed in a frustrated manner. She hated her family, she was glad that she didn't have to see them ever again.

Kaileikehi

The bell rang not before long, and Sirius met up with the others. He, James, and Riley, were all in the same Transfiguration class, with the other seventh years who always passed with flying colors. "Where d'you think Riley went? She didn't show up. Maybe she went with E-..?" He paused as he saw the red head coming towards them down the hallway.

Transfiguration was the only class Lily didn't have with the others. She struggled so, McGonagall had decided to keep her back with the sixth years, just for this term, until she had caught up to where she could join the seventh years. She just needed a bit of practice. So, instead of Transfiguration, she'd been in the special advanced Charms class that she, and a couple others, had made it into. The red head had spotted James and Sirius not that far off from her and hurried to catch up with them. She came to a kind of bouncy stop and blinked, looking between them. Now, it was fairly easy to see the two boys over the heads of others and assume Riley wasn't tall enough to been seen, but she wasn't with them. Immediatly, Lily looked between the two boys again, stared at them inquiringly.

"She wasn't in class..." Sirius provided the silent girl, looking to James for confirmation as well. "Dunno where she went to."

Lily's head tilted, wheels turning for a moment. Then she remembered the letter Riley had gotten and put in her bag at breakfast. Her head tilted the other way and she slammed the palm of her hand to her forehead before turning around and bolting down the corridor. If Riley had received a letter from her parents, if might not exactly be a good thing, hell, it was never a good thing.

xxbutterfiywings


James shook his head when he heard Sirius suggest that she was with Lily. "Walters has never missed a single class though. Maybe something happened?" He asked, not sure where the brunette had gone off too. He was even more confused when he saw the red head bouncing towards them without a brunette as well.

He watched Lily's inquisitive eyes, knowing well that something must've happened when the red head didn't even know where her best mate was. "No she definitely wasn't in class..." James didn't even have a chance to finish his sentence as Lily bolted down the hall. His brown eyes looked to Sirius and he patted his friend on the back.

"Maybe you should go with Lily as well mate, I'll let you know what happens in class. You won't miss a thing." He said with a smirk. Through out the semester they had both mastered each others voice in order to gain attendance points. It's not like the old muggle history professor noticed anyway.


Riley took a deep breath having sometime to calm down since her out burst and she nibbled on her bottom lip. Even though she had time to calm down, it still didn't help the thoughts that ran through her mind. She was worthless and undeserving of her friends. Why was she even at Hogwarts anyways? Even though she tried her hardest to help Lily, the red head still couldn't talk. Maybe it was all her fault for not going to her best friend right when she needed her.

She brushed away the tears that started to glaze over her blue eyes and shut her eyelids for just a moment. She had managed to come so far... to actually believe that her friends needed her in their lives and now it just all seemed to crumble around her. They would leave her soon, just like her mother had said. They were see how much of a burden she was and then they would leave her.

Even though her eyelids were closed tightly, the tears still slipped to her cheeks. She gripped her school uniform tightly taking a few deep breaths trying her best not to get too emotional again.


Kaileikehi

Lily's legs moved fast. She passed right on by the library, something in her gut telling her that Riley wasn't in there. She skirted around corners, and took the stairs two at a time, downright determined. Up, up she went, to the seventh floor, where she only paused at the portrait of the Fat Lady, suddenly unable to go any further. She couldly say the password, what was she to do? She was sure now, that Riley was in there, she could feel it, and yet, she was a bit useless.

"R-rumplestiltkin!" Sirius panted. As soon as James had told hims to go off, he had patted him on the back and was off like a rocket after Lily. He wasn't far behind her after all, and when he saw her pause, he shouted for her, passed her, and scrambled into the common room. "Riley?" He looked around. The room was empty, or it appeared to be.

Lily climbed into the portrait hole and hurried after Sirius. She didn't even pause to look. She knew. She made her way over to her window and abruptly tugged back the curtians. She stared up at her best friend's wet cheeks, and climbed into the chair to climb up on the windowsill beside her and grab her to her. She held her close, kissing her head and rockings her back and forth.

Sirius stared, making his way over. He saw the note and reached, taking it from where Riley had it... and he read. As he did so, his expression became more and more angered. He stared at the note, hands shaking. ""Right then. Riley, let's burn this paper of lies and trash. Let's burn it because it doesn't need to exist. You're not a burden. You deserve soooo much, you're such a good person, and a wonderful friend. Your parents don't know how lucky they were. But you know, we're the lucky ones now. Because you belong to us, and there's no way in hell, we're ever letting you go or pushing you away because we want you. I want you. Lily wants you. James wants you. We love you and dnothing is ever, going to change that."

xxbutterfiywings


Riley heard Sirius yelling the password outside of the portrait door and for a moment she froze. It was so easy believing that somehow she would cause the people she cared about pain and hurt. Why couldn't they just leave her alone? She didn't want to hurt anyone anymore. Especially not Lily, Sirius and James.

A gentle hiccup escaped past her lips when the curtain was pulled back and she couldn't stop the tears, wanting to pretend that she was alright. She didn't want them to see how upset she was because she didn't deserve any type of relationship with them. Her blue eyes widened when the red head climbed up and pulled her towards her and soon her body was trembling as more tears fell down her cheeks.

Riley closed her eyes trying her best to block out all of Sirius' words afraid that he was lying to her. They would leave her, he couldn't predict the future. But then again how could she? She shook her head trying to stop those thoughts as she nibbled on her bottom lip before her eyes looked up at Lily and then Sirius. Would they really stay with her? Even if she were to only be a burden upon them all?

"D-Do you promise you wont leave me? P-Please?" She asked, her words barely audible as a sob escaped from her lips and she hugged the red head even tighter. "I-I don't want to hurt you guys... you're all I have now" She said honestly rubbing at her eyes trying to make the tears stop.


Kaileikehi

Lily mades 'shhing' motions with her silent mouth, stroking Riley's hair gently and using her sleeves to help dry her face, even though she knew more tears were still falling and she'd have more drying to do. She hugged her ever tighter and listened as the girl stammered out her request. She looked her dead in the eye, and held up her pinky. That was one thing about Lily. If you pinky swore, she took it seriously. There was no going back on it by either party in the swearing. As she held it up now, it was to show Riley just how much she meant it.

Oh Rowdy, I could never leave you. I love you too much. She kissed the girl's cheek gently and lovingly, burying her face against her neck and nuzling affectionately as she did sometimes as of lately in order to show her how much she cared about her even if she couldn't actually say it aloud.


Sirius moved foreward, attatching himself to the only bit of the girl he could reach at the moment, one of her hanging legs. He stared up at her. "Til death do us part, Ri-ri, we shall never leave you. Well, unless it's to go to the bathroom or something, cause I'm pretty sure you can't go in the bloke's room without questions being asked, but you get the idea." He gave her a smile, obviously kidding as it was just as obvious that she meant on a grander scale than just physically. Although he wouldn't have minded being with her constantly, even handcuffed together he'd be happy.

"Riley, judging by this crap load of shit here..." Sirius held up the letter. "It appears that we're all you've ever really had. Hogwarts, this world... you belong here with us. Not with these loser freaks who write such appalling things to their lovely daughter who had done nothing wrong. I mean, it's one thing for my mother to write me appalling letters, I was no more than a disappointment to her for what I had become. But at least she loved be before I was a Gryffindor. And you're parents, don't seem to have really loved you at all. They don't deserve you. And they know it so they're trying to make you feel bad by saying you're the undeserving one. But Riley, now things are going to be different. You never have to see them again if you don't want to." He threw down the letter and stepped on it. "These aren't parents, this isn't a mother. They should never have been allowed to procreate and keep the product. If you want to see parents, just wait until we get to the Potters. Mrs. Potter's always wanted daughters... I know she's going to hug you, and then you'll see what it feels like, when someone who truely cares about you, can put that caring into a hug, because that's what mum's do. They have special funky mum hugs that make you melt and practically suck your thumb and ask to be read a story."

xxbutterfiywings


Riley smiled softly when Lily would raise her pinky and she looked at the red head girl knowing that she definitely meant it. The brunette would never have to worry about being alone even if her that was what her parents wanted for her. She reached her pinky out to Lily and hooked it with the other girls. She would never break her promise that was for sure, she would never leave Lily alone as long as the girl didn't leave her alone.

"Thank you beansprout" She said softly, rubbing at her eyes once again before she would feel Sirius hugging her leg and she giggled softly before gently pulling away from the red head and she slid down from the window sill. She wrapped her arms tightly around Sirius and she hugged him tightly.

"Thank you also Sirius. It would be nice to know what real parents are like" She said softly, blushing after a moment when she realized how horrible she must look and instantly she used her hands to rub at her cheeks and eyes once again. "I must look horrible" She mumbled before she would pull away from the boy and she took a deep breath. Her blue eyes looked down not sure what to say now. She almost felt silly for getting so upset. But it hurt to think that her parents didn't want her anymore. That they only saw her as a burden. But at least now she knew that they she had her best friends.

Kaileikehi

A few weeks later, Lily was staring out the window of the Hogwarts Express, watching as buildings came into veiw and big fat snowflakes fell everywhere. It was gorgeous, the snow. Something she adored with every ounce of her being. She shivered slightly, tugging her cloaked tighter around herself as the train began the slow. It had been quite the trip, fairly silent, but it was a calm, happy silence, sometimes broken by jabbering laughter.

It was finally winter break, and they were on their way to the Potters. Lily was anxious... nervous... she hoped they liked her, because she didn't know what she'd do if they didn't. And she also certaintly hoped they wouldn't think badly of her not speaking... she did want to, just couldn't. Still blocked and silent she was, as though that scream from that day had been the last of her voice. As the train finally came to a halt, she shuddered and looked at the others nervously, excited.

Sirius was happily sitting on the floor of the train, attempting building a card house out of a deck of Exploding Snap cards and doing his best to try and complete it before it blew up in his face... again. He laughed as it exploded for the fifth time, singeing the tips of his hair and his eyebrows, but he didn't mind it. He was much too happy for anything to bring him down. He was headed to his favorite place on earth, besides Hogwarts.

"I can't wait. Mrs. Potter will probably have something hot and awesome waiting for us at the house, don't you think Prongs? Like she always does. And then, we'll sit and have cocoa before bed and in the morning... in the morning we can go sledding and ice skating in the back garden. And we can build snowmen and stuff. And then there'll be more cocoa!" He laughed as his cards exploded once more and began collecting them as the train stopped.

xxbutterfiywings

James was happy to be heading home, even though he could tell his house would be a full one this time around. He didn't mind of course, at least he was spending the holiday with everyone he loved. He wrapped his arms around Lily as she shivered and playfully nuzzled his nose in her red locks. "I'll keep you warm" He whispered softly in her ear looking out the window for just a moment.

He enjoyed the snow, it was always fun to pack snowballs and throw them at the Slytherins, but he also loved just being home with his family. He noticed that nervous expression on Lily's face and he squeezed her tightly in a hug. "Don't worry about my parents. They'll love you" He said with a nod before he would look to Sirius who continued to rave about his parents and he laughed softly.

"Yup, mum always has soup waiting for us." He said honestly. It was almost a family tradition it seemed to enjoy the cup of soup and then talk before having some cocoa. He smirked seeing how excited Sirius was about the whole trip and he laughed hysterically seeing those cards explode again.

"Maybe you should've been paying more attention to your cards Pads instead of sharing your cocoa desires with everyone."He said with a chuckle before he would stood and he took Lily's hand with a smile.


It seemed like the train ride had passed Riley by considering the girl had slept almost the whole way to the Kings Cross Station. Since they had mid terms right before the Christmas break, she barely slept a wink. She breathed lightly, her head resting on the seat since Sirius was on the floor and slowly her eyes opened when she felt the train coming to a halt. The main reason why she had felt asleep was due to the fact that she didn't want to get her nerves all worked up. But also, she had been exhausted in the first place and she didn't want to be crabby when she met James parents.

A smile came to her lips when she heard Sirius talking about cocoa and more cocoa and her eyes widened when those cards would explode. She sat up slowly, her fingers playfully pulling some card pieces out of Sirius' black locks and she giggled softly. "You're a mess" She said with a wink before she would stand and put on her winter coat and gloves.

Kaileikehi

Lily forced a worried smile, snuggling up to James for warmth before she slipped away from him and tugged on her hat. It was a bunny that hat, white with long floppy ears and a face with button eyes. The strings hung down her shoulders, getting lost in her hair as she tugged on her matching bunny eared mittens and shivered again. She loved the way the snow was falling, but she wasn't fond of the cold. Soup and cocoa sounded great.

She bit her lip and shyly reached her mittened hand out, taking James's and looking down at her feet anxiously. She rarely took his hand, letting their relationship stick mainly to the random cuddling that happened every now and then, and only when she was feeling especially clingy. But today she wanted his hand, something safe and sturdy to hold onto in case her knees went out from beneath her or she slipped on a patch of ice or something.

Opening her mouth, Lily made another attempt at saying something, and still nothing. She frowned and sighed, giving up again as her voice remained lost. She wanted it back though, was ready to have it back.


Sirius laughed. His eyes gleamed with excitement and he rubbed his hands together. "Your mum's cocoa is amazing though. It's enough to make anyone have some desires." He grinned and shoved the cards that hard started repairing themselves into his pockets, making sure to gather the pieces from all around him so that he didn't end up with a deck of strangely shaped cards. He smiled up at Riley and got up, slipping his cloak around himself and reaching for her hand. He liked holding her hand.. it was small, and soft, and warm, and just so perfectly fit in his that he couldn't help it. He did it in a purely seemingly friendly way though.

"Of course I'm a mess, would you expect anything less of me?" Sirius grinned micheviously, and suddenly wrapped an arm around Riley's waist, scooping her up and over his shoulder. "Alright then. Here hold this." He lowered her enough so she could grab her bag and picked up his own, marching out of the compartment and down the corridor to the door of the train.

xxbutterfiywings


James stood up once the train completely stopped and he slipped on his cloak as well as his gloves before seeing that Lily's hand had taken his own and he smiled softly. "I can't say I have ever seen your winter garments. Quite cute, it suits you well." He said with a chuckle, not making fun of Lily as well. He did think that it made the red head quite cute.

He frowned seeing that Lily had open her mouth to say something but nothing came out and he sighed softly. "It's okay Lils. Just a little bit longer and you'll have your voice back" He said with a nod before leading her outside the compartment after he grabbed both their bags with one hand and then lead her off the train. His brown eyes looked through the crowd of family members and he smirked seeing a man who looked almost identical to him and then a woman who was a little shorter than his father but still had black hair as well.

"There's my mum and dad." He said with a grin, getting more excited as he would lead Lily over to his parents and hugged his mom tightly before doing the same to his dad. "Mum, dad. This is Lily Evans. Lily this is my mum, Sara and my dad Tom." He said to the red head before looking back at Sirius and Riley and he playfully shook his head.

"The brunette that Pads is carrying is Riley." He said with a chuckle.


Sara hugged her son tightly and smiled seeing the red head who was holding her son's hand and she turned to Lily. She hugged the girl tightly and smiled brightly. "It's so nice to finally meet you Lily, James always talks about you." She said with a laugh and pulled the girl into another hug. She was just so happy to see everyone spending the holidays together.


Riley gasped when Sirius lifted her onto his shoulder and she sighed knowing that Sirius wasn't going to put her down anytime soon. " I am not going to meet the Potters on top of your shoulder. You better put me down." She said and took her bag from Sirius but pressed a gentle kiss to the top of his head.

"Thank you for dragging me a long for the holidays" She said with a soft smile and blushed for just a moment. She really wished that the boy had some feelings for her.

Kaileikehi

Lily gave a very tiny squeak, which was normal, as Mrs. Potter hugged her so tight. She sighed and hugged her just as tightly back, getting a bit clingy and breathing in that scent that all mother's seemed to have. Gosh, she missed her mum. As Sara let go, she gave a tiny whimper and retreated to clinging to James as though he were some sort of life line she refused to let go of. Her arms went around his torso and she buried her head against his shoulder.

Trying very hard not to cry, Lily bit her lip and attempted to keep a brave face before she ended up letting go of James and bolting foreward to attatch herself to Mrs. Potter in a very childish manner indeed, but she was having a rough time of this. She clung to the older woman in a way reminiscent of a five year old instead of a seventeen year old, of age, witch.


"I'm glad you're glad. And even if you hadn't come willingly, we'da packed you in our bags somehow." Sirius laughed brightly, spinning around with Riley before setting her down gently and brushing her hair back from her face. He grinned at her ever so tenderingly before that tenderness disappeared behind the mask of boyness he typically had on. He darted and hugged Mrs. Potter around Lily and then shook hands with Mr. Potter. "I've missed you guys. Yeah, this is Riley Walters." He reached and tugged Riley foreward. "Riley, this is Sara and Tom Potter, the best surrogate parents a guy could ask for."

Tom beamed around at all of them, hugging his son and shaking Sirius's hand before capturing Riley up in a tight, loving hug. "It's great to see you too Sirius, and it's wonderful to have you girls joining us. I expect Sara was growing tired of having a houseful of men."

xxbutterfiywings


James frowned when Lily clung to him and he gently kissed her forehead knowing exactly what the red head was thinking about. He wasn't surprised however when Lily instantly moved to his mother for another hug and he smiled softly as he looked at his mother. She was an amazing woman and he knew that he was lucky to have both his parents in his life, especially when he was surrounded by friends who didn't have them anymore.

"Don't cry Lil's we'll have lots of fun at my house alright?" He told the red head, gently rubbing her back as she clung to his mother.


Sara watched how the slender girl clung to her son and she frowned for just a moment. James had told her what had happened, so she knew that it must be hard for Lily. She opened her arms and accepted the girl when Lily would attach herself to her and she smiled softly. "Thank you for coming to visit us Lily. I think it would be good for you, not to mention I would like some girls in the house." She said softly with a laugh and hugged Lily as tight as she could without hurting her. She knew that Lily needed a mothers love right now.


Riley smiled softly and let out a sigh of relief when she was put down. "Thank you for finally putting me down." She said and grinned blushing a bit when he brushed the hair from her cheek and she turned around to face the Potters. A sheepish grin came to her lips feeling a little embarassed but it didn't seem like the couple wasn't used to this kind of silly nature.

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Potter." She said about to extend her hand out to the man when she was pulled into that hug but she took it happily. She had never recieved a hug from a parent before and it was actually kind of nice.

"Well, it's an equal amount of men and woman now, hopefully it wont be too chaotic with these two around." She said and playfully pointed at James and Sirius with a soft giggle.   

Kaileikehi

It took Lily a few minutes to have her fill of 'mommy scent', at least for now. She smiled, kissed the older woman on the cheek in thanks and moved to contently take Riley's hand before reaching to take James's as well because she felt like having one on each side. She tugged them to her, hugging their arms with one each of her's and smiling happily. She was glad she had such lovely friends to spend the holidays with.

Sirius kept grinning, placing a hand on top of Riley's head. "Only because the Muggles might get curious and we wouldn't have fit in the car. But as soon as we get to the Potter's, it's back up you go." He patted her head and then wrapped his arms around her from behind, snuggling her face down into her hair affectionately for a moment. He was in such a good mood today. He adored the Potters.

Tom smiled as he watched the kids. He took up the girl's trunks. "Chaos? We'll be lucky if the neighbors don't think the house has exploded again, but then, maybe you ladies will be able to keep them out of too much trouble. You can blow up the neighbor's dog again, but you may absolutely not blow up those stupid little lawn gnomes of their's. The carnage was just too much to take, and all that yelling..." He shuddered and started for the car. "Better stick to the dog."

"We don't really blow up the dog... just make it look kinda singed. And if he were a nice dog we wouldn't do it, but he's probably one of the biggest jerks of a dog we've ever met."

xxbutterfiywings


Riley took a deep breath as she looked at herself in the mirror. Mr. and Mrs. Potter were way too generous by offering their house to three extra teenagers beside their own son. She looked over at the red head and smiled before running a hand through her long dark locks once again. "Are you nervous beansprout? I sure am" She said honestly not sure why she had run up the stairs to check her make up. Riley knew that the butterflies were due both to the new atmosphere but also since Sirius continuously looked at her with beautiful eyes, and touched her with his soft skin. Another deep breath escaped her lips as she heard Ms. Potter call up the stairs to them.

"Ready to head back downstairs?" She asked with a grin and held her hand out to the red head. "Dinner was quite yummy huh? Maybe Ms. Potter can show us some cooking spells" She said excitedly, glad to have a motherly figure in her life for the time being. It's not like her mother ever took the time to teach her simple muggle tasks like cooking. 


"Girls! Come downstairs and have some hot chocolate!" Sara called up the stairs. She looked towards the two boys who were joking around and she raised an eyebrow. "James can you bring this tray to the kitchen while I grab the other one?" She asked her son pointing to a tray of mugs filled with hot chocolate while the tray she grabbed had toppings like whip cream, chocolate syrup, sprinkles and sugar pieces. She put the tray on the coffee table in the living room.

James smirked as he punched Sirius in the arm before grabbing the tray like his mother had asked. "Wonder why the girls ran up stairs..." He mumbled, shaking his head in misunderstanding. and he raised an eyebrow as he looked at the various toppings his mother provided on the other coffee tray and he laughed.

"Bloody hell mother, do you plan on making us plump?" He asked her playfully and then looked to Sirius with a chuckle. "I'm sure pads wouldn't mind gaining ten pounds from sugar."


"Not plump, just want to add a few pounds to your thin bodies. You boys look like you don't eat at Hogwarts! Perhaps i should write the headmaster." She said with furrowed eyebrows as she looked over the boys to make sure their clothes weren't dangling over their bodies.

Kaileikehi

Lily nodded, bright and happy. She had bolted straight after Riley, wanting to make sure her best friend was ok, but also to make sure she looked alright as well. She was quite sure she had slopped soup all down her shirt at one point, and didn't want to make a poor impression upon the Potters by it soaking through. Sure enough, as she peered down it, her face lit up red and she plucked a noodle from her bra. Tugging up her shirt, she took it all the way off and then dug into her bag, getting a clean one and pulling it on. She then quickly ran a brush through her hair and pulled it back out of her face into a pony tail. She moved up behind Riley and hugged her tightly, kissing her cheek, as though to tell her it would all be alright. They could be nervous and anxious all they wanted, the Potters seemed very nice so far.

Upon the call of hot chocolate, Lily took Riley's hand in her's and led her out and down to the living room, shooting her a reassuring smile. They would be just fine. Somehow, just somehow, she knew this already.

Tom laughed, passing by his wife, the tray of hot chocolate mugs already in his hands. He held it high above his head with one hand while he tugged her to him by the waist and planted a loving kiss upon her lips. "James, don't swear at your mother. If she says you're too thin, you're too thin. But then, she's always said I'm much too thin as well."

Sirius grinned and plucked a candy cane from the tray, popping it in his mouth and crunching down on it. "The way your mother cooks, Prongs, I don't care if I turn into a ten ton blob monster." He looked towards the foot of the stairs and a brighter smile lit up his face. He plucked two more candy canes from the tray, strode over to the stairs and got down on one knee before them, holding out the candy canes between his fingers while his own stuck out of his mouth. "Ladies."

Lily smiled and took the candy cane from Sirius, patting him on the head and placing it in her mouth. They were her favorite, candy canes were. She let go of Riley's hand and made her way over to James, taking the tray from him with a smile and moving to place it down on the coffee table. She then spun around and hugged her male best friend around the middle, staring up at him brightly.

xxbutterfiywings


Riley let out a surprised gasp when Lily would suddenly pull her out of the room and she smiled back at the red head when she saw that reassuring smile. She took one last breath before they were at the edge of the stairs and that candy cane was being placed out in front of her and she laughed softly at Lily's reaction.

"I think Lily is in heaven." She said playfully and looked into Sirius' eyes for just a moment. He was such a romantic and every time he did something like this... it made her heart flutter. "Thank you sir" She said and playfully curtsied and took the candy cane. "How could I ever repay you for such a noble deed?" She grinned and unwrapped the candy cane before sticking part of it in her mouth.



James smirked hearing Sirius comment about becoming a monster and he nodded his head. "She sure is a good cook, I'm pretty thankful for her." He said smiling before his eyes turned towards the stairs and he saw the red head. He allowed her to take the tray and wrapped his arms around her tightly. "You and Walters disappeared for quite some time, I was starting to think I was going to have to lure you out with something minty." He said playfully and kissed her forehead gently.

"Mum has a lot of minty items you can put in your hot chocolate. I kinda let it slip that you like it a lot." He said with a grin and picked up a mug for her and handed it to Lily.



Sara gasped when Tom pulled her close and she returned the kiss and hug lovingly. "You both are two thin, I don't care what you say." She said with a sigh and tugged on Tom's hand. "Now have some hot chocolate everyone, don't let it get cold." She said picking up a mug for herself and one for Tom as well before putting some whip cream and sprinkles on her own.

Kaileikehi

Sirius rose to his feet, crunching away at his own candy cane, taking Riley's hand and leading her over the the rest. He took the candy cane from her and set both of their's down upon the table, grinning micheviously. "Oh, I don't know my lady.. maybe... a little..." He got her around the waist and lifted her up onto his shoulder as he had earlier, spinning her around in a circle before setting her down on the couch and tickling her mercilessly. "I've got you, Riley!" He laughed and reached a hand over, gripping the whipped cream and spraying just a wee bit onto the very tip of Riley's nose. Lily smiled softly, sucking hard at her candy cane. She nuzzled her face against James's chest before she took the mug and stuck her candy cane in. She practically purred with happiness as she sipped at it slowly, enjoying how warm and delicious it was. She set her mug down on the table and grabbed hold of James again. She pressed him towards a chair and sat down on the floor herself in front of the table, decorating her cocoa with what seemed to be a moutain of green whipped cream. Somehow or other, his mum had made minty whipped cream and Lily was like a fly to honey over it.

Tom grinned at his wife, taking his mug and loading it up with chocolate syrup. He was the kind who liked his cocoa extra chocolatey and the more it stuck to his mouth the better.

xxbutterfiywings


Riley blinked when Sirius would take her candy cane and place it on the table and instantly she knew she was in trouble when she saw that mischievous grin. "Sirius Black... you better keep that silly grin to yourself." She said with a raised eyebrow, gasping instantly however when he would pick her up. She laughed as he spun her around in a circle and closed her eyes for just a moment. It always felt like she was flying when she was with Sirius. The dark haired boy made her feel like she had wings, that she could do anything as long he was in her life. Once, they stopped spinning she opened her eyes once again and looked down blushing lightly when she caught a glimpse of his butt. She shook her head, sitting down on the couch when he placed her there and she smiled triumphantly.

"Is that all you were planning? I could ---" She gasped as his fingers started to tickle at her sides and instantly she squirmed in her seat laughing loudly. "P-Pleaseeee s-stop." She laughed out and blinked when she felt the cold whip cream on the tip of her nose. She pointed to her nose and pouted. "Why is that there?" She asked him blue eyes looking into his and she blushed lightly. She hated knowing that she wanted to kiss but also knowing she had no chance with this amazing boy.


James watched as the red head would dunk her candy cane in the hot chocolate and he followed Lily over to the chair. He watched as she would decorate her hot chocolate and once she was done, he would gesture for the red head to come over to him. Once she did, he pulled her into his lap and grinned as he playfully took a sip of her hot chocolate. "You really do like mint huh?" He asked her playfully and rested his head on her shoulder for just a moment.


Sara took a few sips from her own hot chocolate before she would suddenly jump up. "Oh! Did you kids hear about the celebration Diagon Alley is having for New Years Eve? They're supposed to have fireworks and butter beer, I think you lot would have a wonderful time." She said with a grin not kicking the teenagers out of the house of course, but it wasn't like they had any special plans for the new years. If anything, she and Tom would just cuddle and have some wine. They were getting too old for all that partying.

James heard his mothers idea and then smirked. "Perhaps we could invite Remus and Peter and make an event of it huh Pads?" He asked the boy and then looked to the red head in his lap. "Would you like to go Lily?" He asked her with a bright grin. Even though he mentioned Remus and Peter, he was honestly thinking of making it almost date like since they didn't have a date due to unfortunate circumstances

Kaileikehi

"Because, I'm making you into something edible, now hold still." Sirius pretended to be concentrating really hard as he ran the whipped cream down her cheek and then the other, getting most of her face. He laughed, bark like, as he lapped at her cheek. "Mmm, Riley." He took up some of the cream with one of his fingers and offered it to her. "Want some?" He grinned at her. If only she knew how very much he adored her. He hadn't put any whipped ceam on her mouth, he hadn't been able to get himself to, for if he had, the temptation to kiss her would be much greater than it already was. He feared what would happen if he were to open that door.

Lily beamed at James, snuggling up to him, her body meshing to his perfectly. She sipped at her cocoa, getting the cream on her face but whiping it off qquickly as a blush crept up into her cheeks and forehead. She ate away at the cream slowly finishing off her mug rather quickly, the cream having cooled it. She yawned and closed her eyes, curling up more so, hugging her mug, only perking up a bit when Mrs. Potter mentioned the fireworks. She blinked and nodded. Yes. She would very much like to go see the fireworks and celebrate the new year. That would be fun.

xxbutterfiywings


Riley blushed instantly when she felt the whip cream being spread across her cheek and her eyes widened as she felt his tongue lapping at her cheek. The dark haired girl however did not find this situation humorous, if anything, it was quite embarrassing for Riley. Her eyes narrowed when he grinned at her and she squirmed away from him. "I'll be back" She mumbled putting her hot chocolate down as she made her way up the stairs once again. As she quickly stomped up the stairs, she felt tears come to her eyes. It almost seemed like Sirius was playing with her emotions. It was almost like he knew how she felt about him and just wanted to toy with her mind. It was driving Riley crazy, not to mention it was hurting her more and more every day just by being near him. She quickly moved into the bedroom that the Potters set up for she and Lily and closed the door. She plopped down on the bed, hugging her pillows to her body as the tears started to slide down her cheeks.


James let his fingers gently run through those red locks as she curled into him and he chuckled seeing the whip cream on her forehead. "Silly Lily." He mumbled playfully, feeling exhausted as well and he grinned seeing how the event had perked her interest. "Well then, we should go on new years eve to diagon alley. We could even make it a date, if you would like." He said with a smile, sipping at his hot chocolate before his eyes turned towards Riley who was heading up the stairs and then looking to Sirius for his reaction. "Hm... wonder what happened." He said softly hoping that the two weren't in a tiff, he really wanted to make it a double date if possible.

Kaileikehi

"Ri, I wa sjust...." Sirius stammered, unable to understand why she was suddenly unplayful and against the whipped cream. He frowned, feeling very much like an idiot. How was he suppose to win her over if she didn't seem to like most of the things he did? Sure, they got along just fine, but sometimes it felt like he just pushed all the wrong buttons when it came to that girl. Confused, Sirius slumped down on the couch, feeling very much defeated. He looked at James and sighed. Perhaps later he would talk to his best friend, admit his feelings and try to get some help. He looked at the stairs, where she had disappeared, and buried his face in a cushion.

Lily was distracted from James's question, not hearing it as Riley seemed to have some sort of internal outburst and marched up the stairs. She slid out of James's lap, kissed his cheek and hurried off up the stairs after her best friend. She knocked lightly on the door, entering without waiting for an answer, but giving Riley enough time to hide her face if she wanted to. She moved over to the bed, sitting down on it and resting a cautious hand on Riley's shoulder, the way she always did when she knew something was wrong.

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Riley heard the knock on the door and instantly hid her face in her pillow. She had a feeling that it was Lily, but she just didn't want her friend to see her so upset. Not to mention, she didn't want Lily to see her so upset so upset about Sirius. Riley was just so tired of flirting, she either wanted to know his feelings or all of this flirty nonsense to stop. Slowly she would let one of her eyes peak out from the pillow when she felt that hand on her shoulder and she frowned.

"I'm sorry for getting so upset bean sprout." She said softly rubbing at her eyes as she slowly sit up and hold the pillow against her chest, only allowing her eyes to peak out from above the fabric. "I just...I really like Sirius. And it's so hard when he done those silly things because I know, i know there's no way we could possibly be together. He probably doesn't even like me and yet he continues to flirt with me. I just wish he would tell me if he what he's feeling" She said, her blue eyes filling with tears once again as she would put the pillow down and nuzzle the red head. She missed hearing Lily's voice and her calming words. It just wasn't the same without hearing the red head say the words aloud.


James nodded his head as he felt that kiss upon his cheek and he looked to his friend with a sigh. He moved over to Sirius and sat down next to his friend. 'What's up mate? Girl troubles?" He asked him with a smirk and ran a hand through his messy black locks.

"It didn't seem like you didn't anything wrong by the way... I think Walter's is just a bit frustrated." He said honestly. It was really obvious that they both liked each other. It was obvious to everyone except for the Riley and Sirius it seemed!

Kaileikehi

Lily cuddled up to her buddy and pondered the situation over in her head. She wasn't quite sure what Riley should do really. It took her a few minutes before she grinned brightly and jumped off the bed. She grabbed the small notebook and pen she carried in her pocket and began scribbling on it rapidly. When she had finished, she handed it off to Riley.

I'll talk to James and see if he can ask if Sirius like you or not, casually of course. Or you could just ask him to be your date for the New Year's fireworks, and make sure to imply that it's more than just a 'just friends' date.

Lily smiled, kissing Riley's forehead, trying to calm her. She too, wished she could get the words out to make her feel better.


Sirius groaned. "Girls. Are. Bloody. Crazy." He sat up. "No matter what I do, I always seem to do the wrong thing. I mean, yeah, it wasn't wrong wrong, just she didn't like it. I was trying to.. I just... It's hard to be around her so much and not be able to.. to..." He sighed. "Mate, can I tell you a secret?"

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Riley watched as Lily jumped off of the bed and grabbed the notebook. She watched as the red head scribbled on the piece of paper and she took the notebook once Lily was done. She read over the words and she blushed instantly seeing that they should go on a more than just friends date and Riley took a deep breath. "But what if he says no...?" She mumbled softly and sighed before she hugged Lily tightly and cuddled the girl. "Maybe i just need some sleep to gain the courage. Will you stay with me for a while please?" She asked the red head, still not sure what the morning would bring but she knew that she was exhausted at the moment. She was still confused on what she wanted to do, but hopefully she would come up with a plan in the morning.



James listened to his friends confused thoughts and he smirked raising an eyebrow. "Pads, are you implying that its hard to be around Walters without wanting to kiss her?" He asked his friend, wanting to save Sirius some of the embarassment. It would be nice to finally hear one of them admit their feelings. He patted his friend on the shoulder. "You can tell me anything, but i have a feeling that I already know, and the whole wizarding world knows what your going to say." He said with a soft chuckle and looked towards the stairs, wondering if Lily was calming down Riley just like he was helping Sirius.

Kaileikehi

Lily smiled and nodded, snuggling up to Riley affectionately. She would stay, definitely. Whenever Riley needed her, she'd be there, snuggling and cuddling just like she was now, with words to help and make things look a little brighter. She knew, oh how she knew, Sirius was smitten over her best friend as much as Riley was over him. She and James liked to roll their eyes at them when they weren't looking. She took up the notebook again and wrote on it before showing it to Riley again. He won't say no.

The next morning the sky was clouded over and soft big flakes of snow were falling down, coating the world with a wonderful whiteness that made it sparkle. Lily yawned. She'd stayed awake, stroking Riley's hair until she fell asleep, and soon after, Lily had been out cold. She'd been too tired to move into her own bed, so she'd just stayed with Riley, snuggling close and comfortably. She rubbed at her eyes and snuggled close to Riley again, not quite ready to get up yet, intoxicated on cocoa and minty goodness aftermath she was. She very much wanted to go back to dreamworld... where there was a lot of minty whipped cream and candy cane castles.


"I... I..." Sirius gulped. "James,... I think I might be in bloody love."

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Riley had fallen asleep the moment she had laid down in her comfortable bed. She snuggled against the red head the whole night, having comforting dreams of Sirius actually saying yes to the date. But in the back of her mind, she was still scared and absolutely nervous. She didn't want to lose Sirius just because of her feelings. She woke up a few times throughout the night for a few minutes at a time, but other than that the dark haired girl stayed asleep most of the night. When she felt Lily moving however early in the morning she would roll over slowly to look at her best friend and smiled softly.

"Thank you for being my friend Lily. I don't know what I would do with you." She said softly kissing the red heads forehead before her eyes looked at the window once again seeing the snow and her eyes widened in excitement. "Would you like to go wake up the boys? Perhaps we could play a christmas prank on them." She said with a bright grin and bounced a little in the bed. Her whole attitude seemed to change, but today she was confident that she would ask Sirius out on a date. Even though that fact didn't take away the nervousness.



James hadn't been surprised by Sirius confession and he did his best to reassure his friend that falling in love wasn't a horrible thing. He knew that the dark haired boy was used to quick relationships, but he had a feeling that whatever was developing between Walters and Sirius would be m,ore than just a short relationship. He was very much cuddled in his own bed at the moment, underneath most of his covers as he dreamt about the red head. He was glad that he and Sirius shared a room wanting to make sure his friend was okay after whatever had happened with Riley. Even though Sirius was a prankster, he had seen how much Riley's reaction had confused and possibly hurt him as well. He sighed in his sleep as he held Lily in his dreams. He was on cloud nine, so glad that finally the red head was opening up to him.

Kaileikehi

Lily yawned and slipped off the bed sleepily, but there was a michevious grin on her face. She kissed Riley's cheek back and grabbed her bag. She opened it right on up and dug into it, pulling out a few cans of silly string, plastic wrap, honey, teeth floss, and a big jar of vaseline. She waggled her eyebrows and got her notebook, writing down her evil little plot to Riley. Oh she knew at some point they'd have to do this on their vacation. She was prepared.

1. Plastic wrap over their toilet seat.
2. Honey on the floor around their beds.
3. Not sure what to do with the floss yet, but I'm sure we'll think of something.
4. Vaseline on the inside of the doorknob.

Wake em, spray em, slam door behind us?


Sirius was off in his own dreamland, but it wasn't so sweet. He was chasing Riley through a garden but he couldn't catch her like he normally would. She kept slipping from his grasp. he would whimper and moan in his sleep, trying to get her, trying so very hard to wrap his arms around that beloved girl, but to no avail. 

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Riley blinked seeing Lily grabbing her bag and she laughed instantly seeing the items that were being pulled out. "I do love our connection bean sprout" She said with a giggle before she would look over that note which was being written.

"How about we put honey on the floor and then spray them with silly string so when they try to run after us, they'll just get sticky." She said with a grin as she would instantly run over to the mirror and make sure she didn't look like a walking nightmare. The brush was instantly combed through her dark locks and she fixed her nightshirt to make sure that it was below her knees. She really didnt want to show off her ducky undies to the boy she planned on dating.

Her blue eyes looked to the red head and then grinned. "Ready when you are!" She said excitedly and grabbed the bottle of honey making sure Lily grabbed the silly string before tiptoeing out of the room towards where the boys room was. Once they were down the hall, she put a finger to her lips as a smile spread across her face. It was going to be so hard not to laugh, but she really wanted to get them back for all those pranks they pulled on the girls over the years.

Slowly she opened the door pointing towards the honey and she opened the cap. Riley looked to Sirius frowning a little bit hearing his whimpering and moaning. Hopefully he was alright... she shook her head and started to put honey around the bed, making sure not to step in it herself.


James purred lightly in his sleep as he would slowly roll over, not even noticing what was going on around them...


Kaileikehi

Lily nodded, grinning brightly as she did her own hair, but she didn't brush it just yet. She undid her pony tail and tied it back up, that way it wouldn't look too messy, but she wouldn't have to deal with the snarls until after she'd had a shower and her hair was a bit tamer. She tugged on a shirt, having gone to bed in just a bra and a pair of girly boxers covered in snitches the night before. She loves jammies, but not the restraint they sometimes inflicted upon her. She tiptoed across the room with Riley and made the trek down the hall to the boy's room, peeking in at their sleeping forms. They looked almost too innocent to prank when they were so sound asleep like this, but knowing what they were capable of when they were awake ruined that image.

As Riley got busy with the honey, Lily rubbed the inside doorknob all over with the vaseline, so not only would the boys get sticky, the girls would have a better chance of getting way if they couldn't open the door right away and had to wipe it clean first.


Sirius smelt her and finally, in his dream, caught Riley. He smiled and peacefully now, rolled over, snuggling down deeper.

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Riley had to bite on her lip so that she wouldn't laugh when she saw Lily putting vaseline on the door knob and she moved to James bed, spreading the honey around as well and she would look to the red head with a bright smile. She couldn't believe that it was their turn to get the boys in a prank for once. She made sure not to step in any of the honey herself once she was done spreading it around the beds and she moved over to the red head. Her blue eyes looked around the room, wondering exactly how they were going to wake up the boys. She nibbled on her bottom lip for just a moment and looked to Lily. "What should we do to wake them up?" She mouthed to the girl, looking to the beds to make sure that the boys weren't going to wake up anytime soon. 


James smiled softly in his sleep and a gentle laugh escaped from his lips. He reached for his pillow and pulled it to his chest thinking it was Lily in his dream

Kaileikehi

Lily pondered for a few moments, looking around the room curiously. She'd never been in James's bedroom and now that she was, she figured she might as well take it in. She spotted what appeared to be some well worn toys on a shelf in the corner and her face lit up. She tiptoed over to the shelf, picking up an old wind up monkey holding cymbals. She held it up in triumph and then wound it up, holding the cymbals together to make sure it didn't go off too soon. One it was wound, she gingerly stepped over the honey and set the monkey down on the table between the two beds. She let go and made a mad dash to Riley, careful of the honey.

The monkey was loud, banging is cymbals fast and crazy. Sirius jolted awake almost at once, jarred from his comfyness into the world of the livng. He groaned and slipped out of bed to get at the monkey, and then... what was that on his feet? He looked down and his eyes widened, Honey. Sticky, gooey, yucky honey. Sprays of silly string hit him and he jerked his head in that direction, glimpsing the girls. "You're dead!" he laughed before he took off after them.

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Riley had to put a hand to her mouth when she saw Lily finding that toy monkey and soft muffled giggles could be heard as she watched the red head wind up the toy and place it between the boys beds. She quickly handed Lily her own can of silly string as the boys started to be jarred awake and she laughed in a playful evil voice. "This is for all those pranks you played on us!!" Riley yelled laughing as she would spray both of the boys with silly string. Her eyes widened when Sirius and James started running towards them and she gasped grabbing Lily's hand. "Time to scoot!" She said quickly pulling the door shut behind them as they ran out of the room and down the hallway. Once she got to their room, she closed the door as well and instantly jumped into her bed, afraid of what the boys were going to do or more like what they would come up with.



James jumped up from his bed blinking when his feet hit a sticky ground instead of cold wood and he looked down for a few moments. "What the bloody..." He paused, hearing giggles coming from across the room and he smirked with a raised eyebrow. So after all these years, the girls had finally got them back. "Get back here you silly girls!" He said with a laugh as he would try to open the door knob and his face contorted at the slippery substance. "I believe all the pranks have made our girls very knowledgeable." He said with a chuckle and sighed as he slowly made his way over to his wand. Every time he stepped, his feet stuck to the wood floor. "How do you suppose we get them back pads?" He asked with a grin, oh he was sure that they could come up with a wonderful prank.

Kaileikehi

Lily's body shook with silent laughter as she splattered the boys with silly string and ran, a pair of wands on her hands. Oh, she'd been wise, she had. She'd taken them when she'd placed the monkey down and she wasn't about to give them back. They'd have to get out the muggle way. She raced after Riley and landed on her bed, rolling about. The looks on those boys's faces would forever be engraved in her mind. She motioned to Riley, holding up the boys wands and grinning like she'd won a great price. She then tucked both wands under her bed.

"They got us good." Sirius laughed, lifting one foot and then the other, listening to the smacking noise they made when he peeled them off of the floor each time he stepped. "Wand? It's right on the table here..." He turned and reached for the table, only to find nothing but a lamp and the noisey monkey who had worn out his wind and stopped clanking by this point. Sirius plucked some silly string off his face to be sure he was seeing right. "Prongsie, I believe we have been outwitted beyond even our own standards."

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After a few moments, when Riley didn't hear sticky footsteps coming down the hallway she started to laugh. The looks on their faces were priceless that was for sure. Never in a million years did she think that they would actually pull a prank on the historical pranksters of Hogwarts. But she was very proud of she and her best friend for pulling this off. Her eyes widened when she saw those wands and she instantly laughed, hugging Lily to her tightly before she would start bouncing the bed. "Can you believe we totally pulled that off bean sprout? I feel like we should be crowned the queens of pranks!" She said with a laugh and continued to bounce on the bed. The day was getting off to a good start at least.


James couldnt believe his eyes when he saw that both of their wands had been taken by the girls and he laughed instantly shaking his head. "I believe your right Pads." He said with a smirk pulling silly string off of his own body as he would look towards the door knob and then grinned. "Perhaps we should wait a few days before we pull our own prank. Let them think they're in the clear before we do anything. What do you think?" He asked his friend with a sigh as he would move towards his dresser and pull out a shirt he wasn't planning on using. He tried his best to wipe the vaseline off of the door knob picking up his feet every now and then to unstick them.

Kaileikehi

Lily nodded, snuggling up on the bed and hugging he covers about herself. She hadnt realied how chilly it was until just then, but that was ok. It was probably just from being warm and cozy all night and then being exposed to the air beyond the blankets and her best friend's body head. Smiling, Lily climbed off the bed, dragging the covers with her and peeking out the door. Seeing no sign of the boys she signaled for Riley to follow. She had placed her gifts for the others under the tree in the Potter's living room the night before and while she didn't really expect to get anything herself, she very much would enjoy watching the other's open their's. She could smell coffee from down there as well, signaling that Mr. and Mrs. Potter were awake.
 
Sirius rubbed at his feet with a sock, trying to get the honey off and failing. "Aye, a few days, maybe a couple weeks, make sure theyre feeling really secure about themselves, maybe pull a few pranks on other people to make sure to keep them off the scent and then go in for the kill when they least expect it." He threw the sock down onto the floor and stickied his way over to the door. "Oh eez, vaseline, right? Well, I hope they didn't put that stuff on the toilet seat too, cause I really gotta go." He gave a twitch and helped James get the vaseline off the door enough to get a grip on the knob and press it open. He then sticky footed his way to the bathroom.

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Riley watched as Lily would make her way to the door and she nodded when the girl would give her the signal that it was clear. She stood up also, slipping on a pair of shorts under her night shirt before she headed towards the door. A gentle sigh escaped her lips as she smelled the coffee brewing through out the house and her eyes widened hearing the sticky footsteps in the hallway. The boys had made it out! She could see Sirius down the hall and she nibbled on her lip. Riley still needed to talk to him sometime today... but that could wait until later. "I hope you enjoy being sticky!" She yelled playfully to him and giggled.


James nodded his head knowing that waiting a few weeks would probably be best. That would also give them time to come up with a really good prank. "Yeah, vaseline is definitely what they used. But i guess we deserved it huh?" He asked and threw his shirt to the side once the door knob was cleaned off and he laughed as Sirius walked to the bathroom, hearing that sticky steps. He grinned as he saw Lily and Riley coming out of their room and instantly he ran up to the red head and pulled her into a  tight hug, his fingers tickling her sides. "You just think your sooooo funny don't you lils?" He asked her playfully with a laugh and kissed her cheek.

Kaileikehi

Lily wriggled and snuggled James, very pleased with herself. She yawned, still somewhat tired as she made her way down the stairs. It was still kind of early to be up, but she was glad of it, for they had gotten the boys good and they all knew it. She skipped down the stiars and into the living room, admiring the pretty tree. It really was a sight, with all of it's shimmering lights and the pretty star atop it. Mr. and Mrs. Potter came into the room with a tray of coffee for everyone, with plenty of sugar and cream to go around... and some candy canes of course. Lily gladly took a cup and did it up with plenty of sugar, cream and a candy cane. She liked her coffee best cool instead of hot. And with peppermint it was even better. She snuggled up on the couch next to Mrs. Potter, getting just a wee bit clingy. Christmas had been her mum's favorite time of year.

"Aye! Sticky!" Sirius howled with laughter as he closed the bathroom door behind him. It took him a few minutes to get the honey off his feet, but he did it and then he headed after the others, making his way downstairs to join them in the living room. He caught Riley from behind, hugging her tight and moving to grab up his own cup of coffee before sitting down in a chair.

"The time has come." Tom settled down in front of the tree, a camcorder in hand, as was tradition in the house, and picked up the first parcel. "James. This one has your name on it."

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James smiled feeling the girl snuggle into him and he pressed another kiss to her cheek before he would notice that Sirius had exited the bathroom and he smiled softly. "I'm going to wash up and then i'll meet you downstairs." He said before he moved towards the bathroom to get the honey off of his feet and the vaseline off of his hands. Once he had completed his task, he made his way down the stairs to see Lily cuddled up to his mother. He smiled softly and moved towards the seat next to them and his eyes watched as his father moved around with the camcorder. He was so lucky to have wonderful parents like them when his friends didn't. He knew he could never take them for granted. He put his mug of coffee down when his father handed him the first gift.

"Thank you dad." He said with a smile and he started to unwrap the wrappings with a light blush. Usually it was just his parents and Sirius. But now the girls were there as well. It seemed almost like a really big family now. He laughed when he saw that the present was from his parents. "My clue didn't have anything in it this year... im worried you didn't get me anything." He said playfully and opened the cover. His eyes widened when he saw a book and he laughed.

"The biggest book of magical pranks! Just what i always wanted!" he said with a grin looking towards the two girls with an evil playful laugh.


" That was all your fathers idea, I was against it of course." She said with a smile, even though she thought it was a good gift for their son even if she didn't agree with it. "Go ahead and hand out the next gift, love." She said gesturing for James to go to the tree.

James stood up from his seat and picked up a gift that didn't look familiar to him. "This one is for Lily from mum and dad." He said handing it to the red head and he smiled.

Riley couldn't help but laugh when she heard Sirius yell down the hallway and she moved down the stairs with the red head. She took in a deep breath as she looked at all the presents. It seemed almost unreal. Her parents never gave her presents before, she wondered if she would actually get a present. She didn't even know if she could take a present from anyone...it would just seem too weird for her. A light blush came to her cheeks when she felt those arms wrapping around her and she smiled. "Good morning Sirius." She said softly and grabbed a mug of coffee as well before she would sit down on the floor in front of him. She watched as James opened his present and now it was Lily's turn. She smiled towards the red head... she wanted her friend to be happy. This must be so hard for her right now.

Kaileikehi

Lily smiled, taking the brightly wrapped package from James curiously. She prodded it a bit before she ripped it open at the seams. She was very glad to be surrounded by such wonderful people today. It was much better than staying at Hogwarts for the season, because while she knew she was cared for by the teachers, nothing could compare to this feeling of family, of belonging. She hadn't realised it until they had all gathered here, but they were like a family, a strange one, but a family all the same. Once she'd peeled the paper back from the present she beamed and brought the super soft cloth to her face. It was a light blue blanket, covered in fluttering, flying golden snitches. The bit of fluff... light as a feather... like a snitch's wings. She promptly hugged Mrs. Potter tightly, kissing her on the cheek and not letting go.

"We heard you liked snitches." Tom laughed.

Lily nodded and slipped down off the couch. She'd already tied the blanket around her neck like a cape. She picked up the next present and carried it over to Riley, still smiling brightly. The tag said 'For Riley, with love, the Potters.'

Sirius smiled and slipped down onto the floor behind Riley, pulling her into his lap and hugging her around the middle. "Good morning beautiful." He almst bit his tongue for slipping up, but he couldn't help it. She was aboslutely gorgeous to him. "Ah, it looks like it's your turn. GO on then." He smiled. Knowing more about Riley than he used to, he knew she hadn;t really recieved much in the way of gifts, except for  ones from Lily of course. And she deserved so much more than a life like that. Sure, material items were just that, material, but there was the point of the love and thought behind them. A gift from a parent has much more meaning behind it than the object itself, Sirius knew that for sure.

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James already knew what the red head was getting, and he couldn't help but smile proudly when Lily ripped open the wrapping paper. He watched her reaction, hoping that she would like it and he let out an unconscious sigh of relief. He of course had tipped off his parents on the red heads gift, so it would've been really bad if he had been wrong. He laughed watching as she beamed and he pressed a kiss to her red locks. He was just so happy that they were all here together.



Sara was so happy to see Lily beaming because of her gift and she instantly hugged the girl and pressed kisses all over her face with a bright smile knowing that Lily would've said thank you if she could. "You are so welcome Lily. You're such a wonderful girl." She said honestly holding her when Lily didn't let go.



Riley was surprised when Sirius slipped behind her and she leaned back against his strong body. She took a deep breath when he said those words and she pressed a kiss to cheek. "Mm... maybe later, can i steal you for a little bit?" She asked him softly but soon her attention turned towards the red head and that gift being held out to her. She nibbled on her bottom lip and took it slowly. Her blue eyes looked towards Tom and Sara. Could she really except this gift? These people barely knew her and yet they bought her a present, but her own parents who created her and 'raised' her never even thought about her on the holiday. She felt tears come to her eyes as she would slowly undo the wrapping paper. When the paper finally came off, a notebook would be sitting in her lap. It looked almost like a diary, something she never thought she would ever own. She opened up to the first page and felt a few tears slide down her cheeks as she read neatly printed writing. "To: Riley. With love from the Potters She brushed the tears away and instantly stood to give Tom and Sara a hug. It was weird to receive a present with this much love from parents.

"Thank you for the gift, I love it so much." She said with a smile feeling a little embarassed now for crying but she shook her head and grabbed a present from under the tree and laughed when she saw it was for Sirius from the Potters. She handed it to the handsome boy and sat down next to him as he opened his present.

Kaileikehi

Lily took a seat in James's lap, watching as Riley opened her gift. She knew it meant a lot to Riley, to recieve something from parents, instead of just from a friend. When the notebook came into veiw, she grinned. Of course, it was perfect for Riley. SOmehow, the Potters seemed to know them already, despite having just met them less than a day ago. The tears were happy, and so long as Riley was happy, she was content. She cuddled up to her blanket. So soft and comfy and buried herself up against James.

"We're glad you like it. We weren't sure exactly if it was right." TOm smiled, hugging the girl tightly and planting a kiss on top of her head in that fathery fashion of his. She was a sweet child. Whatever she had known growing up, well, it wasn't worthy of her. She was too good for it.Sirius smiled as he watched Riley open the present, knwoing how much it meant to her. He was beaming when she started crying and he hugged her tight until she got up to go hug the Potters. It was a very nice feeling, to see the one he loved so very pleased. He was still beaming very brightly, lost in thought at how nice it was to see her so happy when she was back and handing him his present. He blinked, jarred from his trance. "Huh? Oh! My turn then!" He smiled and tore open the packaging. His grin widened. "Oooooh, excellent!" He brandished a hat in his favorite Quidditch team's colors and plopped it down onto his head before he got up to hug the Potters as well. "Thanks guys."

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James smiled softly as he rested his head upon Lily's red locks and he closed his eyes for just a moment. He was so content and happy right now, words couldn't even describe. He playfully wrapped his arms tightly around her waist as she cuddled against him, making sure that the blanket was tightly wrapped around her slender body.



Sara laughed softly when Sirius put the hat on his head and she hugged him tightly. "Ohh your welcome Sirius. We couldn't get both you and James pranks, you two would blow up the house if that were the case." She said with a smile and playfully pushed him towards the tree. "Keep the gifts going love, otherwise we'll be here all day." She said lovingly. Not that she minded of course, she loved seeing how her family continued to grow. It was one of the greatest things Sara had ever experienced.



Riley watched as Sirius would open his own present and she grinned seeing his present. When he sat back down, she would playfully take the hat from his head and place it upon her own with a small giggle. "I have a feeling this may become a habit." She said with a wink and she moved back into his lap to cuddle with him. Her eyes moved back to that notebook however, feeling as if she was dreaming at the moment.

Kaileikehi

Wrapping paper strewn about the living room and the section beneath the tree was quite empty. James's grandparents, on his mother's side, had shown up halfway through with their own bundle of presents. Mrs. Potter and her mother had gone into the kitchen to prepare some Christmas dinner while the Mr. Potter and his father-in-law headed out to the garage for some man-time. The children had been left to gather the wrapping paper and put it in a garbage bag to be taken out later. They'd already basically finished and Sirius was picking up the last few pieces. He shoved them into the bag with a grin of triumph. "That's the last of it. I'll be right back." He tied off the bag and carried it into the kitchen where he was praised and kissed a few dozen times by overly happy older women (haha) and through the back to the little screened in porch. He set the garbage bag down in the corner with a couple of other ones and looked around. The porch was a bit chilly, but it had a perfect veiw of the bg backyard and all the falling snow at the moment, and it was a wonderful place to hang out in the summer. He gave a great sigh, admiring the shimmering trees and soft powder. They'd have to go out later.

Lily had curled up on the couch again, with a second cup of coffee that was more peppermint cocoa than coffee, but she did enjoy the mixing lflavors. She was admiring the tree again, amazed by the lights, but even more amazed by the bespectacled boy beneath it. Setting her coffee cup down on the table, Lily slipped off the couch and crawled through the mess of unwrapped presents and into the boy's lap when he was least expecting it. She pressed against him til he fell backward and sighed happily, lying down next to him on the floor. She curled herself round him, resting her head on his chest and an arm around his waist. She pointed upwards, at the all the lights of the tree that they would look up at from beneath. They looked so pretty this way, like little colorful stars surrounded by a sky of green. She pulled Fluttery (as she had deemed her blanket) up over them and snuggled ever closer. It was like she was trying to say 'Merry Christmas' without a word.

"Funny how this is what we count as man time." Grampa stated with a laugh as he saw his son in law's project and picked up some glue to help him.

"Well you know Sarah's always wanted a dollhouse and little girls. You know how she wanted a house full of little pittering, pattering feet, but even just James was a huge miracle to have after so many years and then we couldn't have anymore. Sirius came to visit us the first summer after Hogwarts, and it was like we'd found a second son. And he's our's now, in all of our hearts. And those girls, those poor girls. That Riley, from what the boys have told me, her parents have disowned her, and they never really wanted her in the first place, so all of this family stuff is brand new to her. The look on her face when she opened the notebook we got her, it was absolutely precious. She's such a wonderful child, hopefully she'll let us keep her. I'm pretty sure Sirius would quite agree there. It's easy to see they're smitten with eachother and just don't know it, so we'll see where that heads. And that Lily, I'm fairly certain she'll be a legal part of the family if James has anything to say about it. He's been after her since before he even knew it. Poor kid just lost her parents though, couple months or so ago. Hasn't said a word since. Sarah's become quite taken to her as much as James almost. She's a sweetheart. So, now that Sarah has her girls, I've decided this to be one of the best gifts I could get her. Even if the girls are too big to actually play with it, I'm sure they'll adore it. And it'll be nice for when we have grand children."

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Riley helped Sirius pick up the rest of the wrapping paper and she smiled softly looking at Lily and James laying on the floor. She could hear Sara and her mother talking in the kitchen and she nibbled on her bottom lip. She wished her mother would've been nice and loving... or at least cared about her. Her head shook to get those negative thoughts out and she blinked seeing that Sirius was heading out of the door. Quickly she headed up the stairs, grabbing a blanket and some slippers so that she wouldn't freeze. She made her way down the stairs and out the door where she saw the dark head boy head out. A smile came to her lips when she saw him looking around the back yard and she felt butterflies come to her stomach. Was she really going to do this? Would she open up a new chapter in their lives? She blushed and shook her head as she waved to the dark haired boy. "I was going to help you bring out the garbage and then i realized I didn't have any shoes. Aren't you cold?" She asked him with a giggle and held half of the blanket out to him.



James smiled when Lily came to sit in his lap and he held her close. He laughed when she pushed him back against the floor and his arm wrapped tightly around her torso, his fingers gently brushing her side. "Thank you for celebrating Christmas with us Lily." He said softly watching as she pointed upwards and his eyes looked at all the lights shimmering with that large golden star at the top. He pulled her up a little and pressed a kiss to her nose. "Merry Christmas." He whispered against her skin before grinning at her. "I'm glad you like your present, I knew if i gave my mom some hints she would pick out a wonderful present." He said with a chuckle and tugged her a little more to his body and held her close. Everything seemed almost too good to be true.



Sara laughed when her mother prided her on having three more children within the past year. "Oh mum, don't be silly. They're James' friends. But it's nice to have some girls around the house finally. I was thinking of inviting them both over once again for some girl time. I know Riley's mother never taught her anything about cooking and I'm not sure what Lily knows, but it would be fun." She said with a bright smile. It was always so nice when Sirius came over to the house with James, she had always wanted a bundle of children. But she had always wished for girls as well. Now she had gotten her wish it seemed.


Grandma nodded her head and smiled seeing how happy her daughter was. She stood up from her chair slowly and pulled out the old recipe book with a smile. "I think it's time we make a few copies of this don't you think?" She asked with a nod, knowing that the girls would be apart of this family for a long time. She could feel it in her old bones.

Kaileikehi

Sirius jumped, her presence surprising him as he was lost in his own thoughts. His face lit up with a bright smile and he moved to get under the blanket with her. "Come here, you." He slipped behind her, holding the blanket up and wrapping it tightly around them both before he led her over to the small wicker cushioned couch in the corner. He sat down and pulled her down to him, hugging her close. "There, we won't freeze. Isn't it pretty?" He pointed out the window at all the snow. "Now then, if I remember correctly, you wanted to steal me for a little bit, and it seems you have." He grinned at her, tickling her neck lightly with a finger before plopping his new hat down on her head. "Most of a person's body heat escaped out of the top of their head, so now you should be a bit warmer, dearest." He blinked, cursing himself internally for calling her that. He couldn't help it... but there was no way she'd like him like that!

Lily smiled at him happily, lifting her face to nuzzle at him and kiss his cheek before tucking her head up under his chin. She wished she could tell him how much his wanting her around meant to her, how much being here, with his family, meant. She adored this place and didn't think she would ever want to leave. It was much too wonderful. Hogwarts was too, but there was just something about the Potter's home that was so... warm and welcoming, even more so than the beloved castle.

"There. All finished." Tom grinned as he put his wand back in the pocket. He'd rushed the drying process on the glue and now the dollhouse was complete. He'd even painted it his wife's favorite color and decorated every bit of furniture perfectly. It was large, with ten rooms, three on each floor and then the attic. He had made sure it would have enough bedrooms to house the entire doll family he had made. He turned to look at Grampa who held up two new girl dolls he's just put together, one redhead, one dark haired. "THey're perfect. Let's bring it in and give it to Sara."

"Alright." Grampa raised his wand and levitated the dollhouse while Tom got the doors. "Honey, Sara! Come on into the living room please!"

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Riley smiled softly when Sirius wrapped the blanket around the two of them and she followed him towards the couch. She snuggled into him as he hugged her close and she giggled softly. "I'm glad we're not going to freeze, even though I think this is the one place I would want to be if that were the case." She said with a light blush and her attention turned towards where he was pointing. Her blue eyes shimmered as she looked at the snow and she nodded her head. "I really like the snow, its always so pretty and pure looking." She said honestly and giggled as his fingers tickled at her neck. She pouted until she felt that hat being placed upon her head. Her cheeks turned a light red once again hearing him call her dearest and she nodded her head. "I did want to steal you..." She nibbled on her lip for a moment before sighing softly not able to look at the dark haired boy. "Sirius...I'm sorry about last night. I just... sometimes I don't know if you're just flirting with me for fun or flirting with me for real." She said finally looking up at him once again and she felt her cheeks turn even a brighter color red. Her heart was pounding like crazy and her tummy was full of butterflies, she just hoped she was going to ruin her friendship with Sirius.



James smiled as he felt that kiss on cheek and he closed his eyes with a light yawn. Since they were so 'rudely' interrupted this morning, it felt like he and Sirius hadn't gotten enough sleep. He nuzzled his chin on those red locks once again before opening his eyes and cuddling into Lily and that soft blanket. "Lily..." He started to say but then paused himself. It was embarrassing to continue to tell the girl that he liked her, alot. He wondered if Lily felt the same, even though her actions were there, sometimes he just wished he could hear the words from her lips. He smiled and kissed her cheek again before his fingers would start to tickle her side and he laughed. "I have you in the best position right now." He told her playfully and grinned. His attention turned to his father and grandpa however when he saw that large doll house being levitated into the room. So that was the project his dad had been working on for his mom.



Sara was surprised to hear her fathers voice calling to her from the living room and she wiped her hands on a dish towel. "Coming!" She called back following her mother into the living room and her eyes widened as she saw that levitating doll house. "Tom...dad, did you two make this? It's beautiful!" She said feeling tears come to her eyes as she moved over to her husband and kissed him lovingly.


Grandma moved into the living area slowly and smiled seeing the doll house. "And look Sara, it even has two very familiar looking dolls to go with it." She said giving Tom a smile of approval. What a wonderful gift for her daughter.

Kaileikehi

Sirius gulped at her words, his face turning bright red. He hugged her close and buried his face in the back of her neck, snuggling up to her, unable to say anything at the moment. he was working on his courage. He was scared beyond scared, of what would happen, once he spoke the words he had so longingly wanted to let spill out of his pretty boy mouth. To tell her how much he wanted her, to let her know, that he needed her so very badly. She was his best female friend, and he didn't know anyone else like her. But how could one say all that? He pondered it over and took a deep breath. He picked his head up high and turned her head to his holding her chin and staring her directly in the eyes. He gulp, nervous as could be. "I flirt.... because.. I..." He squeezed his eyes shut tightly. "I...." He let go of her and stood up, pacing back and forth for a moment before he turned his back to her. He couldn't face her. He squeezed his eyes shut even tighter and balled his hands into fists, unable to stand it a moment longer. He threw his head back and practically shouted it to the heavens. "I'MINLOVEWITHYOURILEYWALTERS!!!!!!"

Lily snuggled up to James ever so sweetly until that doll house came into veiw. She was up and off the floor like a rabbit who had spotted a wolf, only opposite. Because the dollhouse wasn't a wolf. She moved to Mrs. Potter's side with huge round eyes, like that of a child, her mouth agape, as though she were speechless. Well, of course she was speechless, but it she could have talked she wouldn't have been able to. She moved and tugged at James's shoulder. And then she started clapping, not knowing how else to express how good a job she thought Mr. Potter and Mr. Grampa had done on the thing. She saw it on Sara's face... that that dollhouse was something the woman had longed for dearly.

Mr. Potter help keep it steady as Grampa lowered the house onto the coffee table so they could all get a good look at it. He hugged his wife to him lovingly. "Merry Christmas, my love." He kissed her hard and then let her go, leading her over to it. "Your dad made all the dolls, our whole family, see?" He motioned to the little living room, full with all of them who were at the Potter's today. "And when we have grand children, we'll make them too."

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Riley prepared herself for the worse when Sirius clung to her. Maybe she shouldn't of even brought it up? Maybe he was just flirting for the fun of it and heck, she should've been able to deal with that right? It's not like any other boy would ever flirt with her anyway, she should be honored that Sirius even wanted to be her friend. Her blue eyes looked down towards the ground and she nibbled on her bottom lip. She had dreamed so many times that Sirius would actually return her feelings...but those were just dreams weren't they? Her eyes widened when he would pick up her chin and stare directly into her eyes and she blushed. His eyes were so amazing and it was one of the many things she loved about him. She frowned however when he stood from his seat and she noticed how hard it was for him to get the words out. "Siri... it's okay..." She started to say, feeling her heart slowly break in rejection. The moment she shouted those words however, she jumped in her seat blinking a few times not sure if she had heard him right.

"D-Did...you say...your in l-love with me?" She asked him, her voice in a soft whisper as her eyes fell back towards the ground as tears filled them. She didn't deserve him... she knew that. And if they started a relationship, all the purebloods, they would give them hell because of Sirius' family. But...at this moment in time, she just wanted to be with him and for once in her life she couldn't deny herself happiness. She stood up slowly, her fingers moving to his cheek in order to look into his eyes once again and she smiled softly. "And I'm in love with you too Sirius Black." A gentle kiss was placed to his nose as she giggled softly and blushed.



James smiled seeing how astonished Lily was by the doll house and he chuckled when she clapped. He clapped as well in order to help Lily express her excitement. "The house is amazing dad! And so are the dolls Gramps!" He said with a bright smile and he pulled Lily to him tightly. He tried his best not to blush when he heard his father mention grandchildren. Good lord, he didn't even tell Lily he loved her yet and his father was already planning on them having kids! "Did you have a good Christmas?" James asked the red head, wanting to make sure she had as the day winded down.


Sara looked over all the dolls that were created and she smiled brightly at her husband. "Yes, when our children are grown then we'll start planning on the grandchildren love." She said with a laugh and kissed her husband once again. Her heart felt so warm by the gift she had gotten.

Kaileikehi

Sirius's face was beyond scarlet red and he thought he'd just had the wind knocked out of. She loved him to? He couldn't believe it! He had wasted all this time worrying that he'd be rejected only to find out she had felt the same at least part of the time he had? It was crazy, he knew, but hell he was glad of it. He captured her in is arms, hugging her so very tightly and picking her up off the floor, spinning around, laughing so very happily. "RIleeeeeeeeeey!" He set her down and kissed her forehead. "I thought you didn't like me like that... I don't deserve you, but dammit Ri, be my girl? please oh please oh please?" He bounced around her like a puppy on caffienne before hugging onto her again. "RIley riley Riley I love my Riley."

Lily sat down in front of the doll house, almost afraid to touch it, though she knew it'd be ok. She picked up the Riley doll and the Sirius doll and show them to James. She turned the dolls so they faced each other and kissed. She raised her eyebrows inquiringly, hopeing he'd know the answer to her qquestion. She knew Riley liked Sirius, but did Sirius like riley the way Lily thought he did? Either way, she set the dolls down on the little couch gently, placing Riley-doll in Siriu-doll's lap and patting their heads affectionately before moving back into James's lap and cuddling up again like a good girl. She looked at him and nodded. Yes. She had had a most splendiforus Christmas, it was the best yet, she thought.


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Riley gasped when Sirius spun her around and she laughed as well blushing once he finally sat her down and kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes and purred lightly. It felt so nice to be loved by someone. Of course she knew that Lily loved her, but this was different. Sirius would love her until the end of time or at least she hoped. Her eyes opened once again when she heard his rapid speech and she giggled softly putting a finger to his lips. "I'll only be your girlfriend if we both can agree that we deserve each other. And if you're okay with what's ahead. You know that this won't be easy Sirius, the slytherins are going to target us like crazy. But... i really want to be with you. I'm tired of not being happy and I want to know what it is to be in love." She said softly and pressed a kiss to his scruffy chin. 



James knew exactly what Lily was saying with the Riley and Sirius dolls and he laughed with a nod of his head. "Yes, Sirius fancies Riley just as much as she fancies him." He said honestly and held her tightly when  she climbed back into his lap. "I'm glad you had a wonderful Christmas. I did too, mostly because you were here with me." He said and kissed her cheek before reaching over and grabbing the gift he had gotten Lily. He had found the girl mint chocolate roses this time for her Christmas present.

Kaileikehi

Sirius barked/laughed happily, picking her up bridal style and kissing her head again. "Riley, I guess if you think I deserve you, then I do. And you sure as hell had better know you derserve so much better than just me, but if it's me you want, it's me you'll have for as long as you want me." He beamed at her very brightly and then his face fell. "We won't let them get to us or we'll keep it a secret. The Gryffindors won't tattle. though, I'd much rather shout it to the world... because you're just so precious and gloating about how wonderful you are would be awesome, but you know, I'd rather keep you, us, safe from harm."

Lily beamed still brighter. So then Riley would be ok after all. She had noticed the two missing, so she assumed Riley had finally gotten up her courage enough to spill her heart to Sirius. Upon seeing the minty chocolate roses, her eyes grew wider and she basically tackled James to the floor, snuggling him with such affection only one who loves the other dearly can manage. She took a rose from him and popped a petal in her mouth delighting in it and offering him one as well. She had had a terrible time trying to find the perfect gift for him, so she'd made one instead. It was a Quaffle pillow, embroidered with his name on it. She'd had to use magic to get it right, but she'd done it. He was, after all, one of the best Chasers ever to step foot in Hogwarts.

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Riley giggled as Sirius picked her up and she blushed hearing him say that she could have him as long as she wanted him. "Well good, I plan on keeping you around for a very long time." She said with a smile and then frowned lightly when his face fell. "But i want to tell everyone about us" She said with a sigh and rubbed her nose against his before shaking her head. "We can discuss this some more later Siri, how about we head back inside?" She asked him softly and kiss his cheek waiting for him to put her down before leading him inside.



James laughed when Lily tackled him to the ground and he pressed a kiss to her nose. "I'm glad you like it." He said with a grin and took the petal which she offered. "Thank you" He said with a smile and playfully tackled her to the ground this time. Ah, this had been the best Christmas he had had in a while.

Kaileikehi

"Oh trust me, I want to tell everyone too. In fact, i think I will." He carried her into the house, refusing to set her down at all. He carried her through the kitchen and into the living room for all to see. He then lifted her as high as he could without dropping her and proudly proclaimed. "This is mine for keepsies!" He then flopped down on the couch, Riley in his lap and snuggled her tight against him. "My girl."

Lily laughed, clapping. if she could have cheered she would've. She looked at James, beaming.

It was just under a week later, around seven o-clock in the evening, New Year's Eve. Lily was sitting behind Riley on the bed, fussing with the other girl's hair. The fireworks in Diagon Alley were going to be party like, and the Lily had decided she and her best friend needed to look their best for the boys. She was so very glad for Riley, to finally have Sirius the way she had longed for him. As more than just a friend. It warmed her entire being to know her best friend was so happy as of lately, though the under lying worry of what would happen when they got back to school lurked in the back of all their minds.

Lily's fingers worked on a braid, trying to make it perfect and then stopping to look at Riley, as though inquiring what she wanted her to do with it.

xxbutterfiywings


Riley was quite nervous about tonight considering it would be the first official date she and Sirius would be going on. But she also knew that Lily must be just as nervous since it was the first date for her and James as well. She stared off for just a moment, before she realized Lily was staring at her and she blushed. "Ohhh! The braid looks really pretty!" She said with a grin and Riley gently messed with her hair just a little. She loved how loose braids looked in her hair, leaving just a few of those curls to dangle down just above her ears.

"Now what would you like me to do with your hair?" She asked the red head, moving to sit behind her and she grinned as she bounced a little on the mattress. "Are you excited for your first date with James?" She asked the girl, running her fingers through those red locks as she smiled. 



James was proud of his best friend, glad that he finally was in a good relationship instead of those silly relationships Sirius had a tendency to get into. "I think I'm going to tell Lily my feelings tonight...i mean she knows, but maybe if i tell her again she'll see how serious i am." James said with a determined nod, but even if he did tell the girl his feelings. She still wouldn't be able to say it back. He sighed softly as he pulled on a nice dark blue polo shirt and wore a pair of jeans. Well... he was already set to go.

Kaileikehi

Lily grinned, happily tugging a hair tie into Riley's hair with a finishing flourish. She turned and let Riley mess with her hair, smiling. She turned her head and nodded, but then she frowned and pressed a hand to her stomach before forming both her hands into wings. She was positively nervous, even though it was just James and they'd hung out so many times before, just, never an official date. It wasn't like they'd planned it to be a date date, it had ust turned out that way after Sirius and Riley had gotten together. Lily was very happy about it, but she was extremely anxious. She didn't know what to do with her hair and sighed, looking at the things they'd scattered on the bed. She picked up a green ribbon and blinked. Her favorite green dress, of course, was what she was wearing, the dark, prett,y satiny one with the flowy skirt. The ribbon was the same color. She grinned and handed it to Riley, searching for another and giving that to her as well before tapping just above her ears. Just ribbon bows just above her ears.

Sirius was beyond himself, brushing his teeth repeatedly in the bathroom across from James's and his bedroom. the door was open and he looked over at his best friend, mouth full of toothpaste. "I'm so bloody nervous." He spat into the sink and then got the mouth wash, swirling it around and spitting that as well. "S'all good for you, she's not your girlfriend, but what if I screw something up and she breaks it off?"

xxbutterfiywings


Riley nodded her head, knowing exactly what Riley meant when she put her hand to her stomach. "I know, i have them too. Dates always seem so stressful at first, but i'm sure we'll both have lots of fun. And it's just James, you know he cares about you." She said with a smile and took the ribbons from Lily before tying them in the girls hair. She moved in front of the red head and smiled. "You look so pretty Lily!" She said excitedly and hugged her friend tight before she would move to the mirror to apply some make up. "You're wearing your green dress tonight right? I'm not sure what I want to wear..." She said honestly putting on some eye liner as she spoke to her friend. She finished with her make up before moving over to her suit case and picking out a dark blue dress that she had. She was glad that they both brought dresses on their trip!



James chuckled seeing Sirius' foamy mouth and he smirked. "Well if you head on your date looking like you have rabies, Walters may break it off with you." He said playfully and shook his head. "You'll be fine. Don't be nervous, it's just Walter's after all. That's what I keep on thinking with Lily." he said honestly, even though he was beyond nervous as well.

Kaileikehi

Lily nodded and grinned happily. She pointed at Riley and placed a hand over her heart and then fanned herself with the other, swooning. She giggled silently an went to grab her dress. She was so excited to wear it finally. She tugged it on up from her feet to her shoulders, so it wouldn't mess up her hair and then did up the discreet side zipper. No sleeves, but she'd wear her jacket and be just fine. She pulled on her boots, knowing she would look a little laughable with them instead of heels but then, she'd rather be warm than pretty all over. She tugged at Riley, it was almost time.

Sirius looked in the mirror. "Blood hell." He grabbed a towel, wet it and wiped his mouth clean of the sticky tooth paste. "I jsut want it to be perfect, y'know? It's our first actual date and I want her to enjoy it. I know she's just Riley, but James, that's just it. She's Riley." He adored the girl so much he couldn't quite help himself. He wanted her to have the best night of her life tonight. He sighed. "Well, we best get going, or they'll get at us for being late."

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Riley blushed as Lily started fanning herself and she giggled softly with a shake of her head. "You're silly bean sprout." She said with a smile and slid into her own blue dress before smoothing out the small wrinkles. The dress hugged her curves just right but she knew it would keep her warm for the cold night ahead of them. She too slid on a pair of boots and she blinked when Lily was tugging at her. She smiled and nodded her head. "I know i know it's time to go." She said with a giggle and made her way down the stairs and raised an eyebrow. "Did we actually beat the boys? Maybe we should give them a hard time." She said playfully and hugged Lily tightly to reassure her that everything would be fine tonight.



James watched as Sirius cleaned himself up and he sighed nodding his head. "I know Pads, but if you keep worrying about it, you'll just make yourself more nervous." He said honestly and pat the boy on the back. "Just be yourself, that's the way Riley loves you." He said with a smile before he would head down the stairs with Sirius to see the girls already there. His eyes set on Lily instantly and he moved over to the red head with a bright smile. "You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen Lily." He said softly as his wrapped around her tightly and held her close. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and let out a happy sigh. "We should probably get going soon so we can actually do some stuff in diagon alley before the big crowd heads in."

Kaileikehi

Lily practically burst out laughing. Normally it would be a girls turn to be late because she was having trouble finding something perfect. She guessed since neither of them had the entirety of their closets, they just had to make due, so there wasn't much choice except the dresses. But Lily figured they'd have picked these anyways. She embraced James around the middle tightly, shaking her head. No. And then she pointed at Riley. That was the most beautiful girl ever. But then, she was kind of like a mother hen with her chick when it came to Riley. She always wanted the other chickens to see just how splendid her chick was.
Sirius took one look at Riley and gulped. Suddenly the room was very hot and he wasn't sure why, but he tugged at his collar, made the last of the way down the stairs and stood in front of her, eyes wide. He gulped again and then smoothly and oh so very cool like, sputtered. "Y-y-you.... I... soooo... shit.... gorgeous." He managed it, before he actuallly got actual words out in a grammartically correct order. "You're the most gorgeous being in the universe..." He grabbed her to him, like a puppy with a bone and hugged her tight. "Yeah, we should get going."

xxbutterfiywings


James blinked when Lily would shake her head after his compliment and he looked towards Riley with a smile. Riley was a pretty girl, but she hadn't caught his eye for all those years. It was the red head in front of him he had fallen in love with. "Even if you don't believe me, in my eyes you're still the most beautiful girl in the world" He said softly to the girl before looking to the rest of the group and he smirked. "Well, lets get going then. Mum, dad we're heading out now!" James called to his parents.



Sara came out of the living room and smiled seeing the group of teenagers. "Well don't you all just look wonderful. Have fun and be safe!" She said hugging every single one of them before waving to them as they apparated.


Riley blushed when she noticed Sirius' reaction and she smiled softly shaking her head. "Thank you love. You look just as handsome." She said and placed a kiss to his cheek before hugging him tight as well. She smiled seeing Sara come out of the living room and she hugged the woman tightly. "Don't worry, everyone will return safely." She said not wanting to worry the older woman. Riley also felt like it was her responsibility to make sure everyone returned safe. She had always taken care of Lily, now it was her turn to take care of Sirius and James as well. She held onto Sirius' hand and held onto the port key. She smiled brightly to the rest of them, she was so excited to have a night out on the town. She gasped when her body was brought through the wizarding world and in the center of diagon alley. It took her a few moments to get her bearings before making sure everyone had arrived as well.

Kaileikehi

Lily hugged Mrs. Potter tightly, and smiling ever so widely, placed her arm through James's and a finger on the portkey. She'd never traveled by one before, but she'd read learned about them. She was a bit shaken when suddenly, she was jerked around her waist and by her finger and suddenly, she was flying through what felt like space and time, and then, she landed haphazardly, losing balance and tumbling down to the ground. She let out a teeny little 'oof' of air from her lungs and blinked, looking around. Everything was sparkling, there was tons of people, bu not so many that it was too crowded just yet. Most would probably just come for the fireworks and that would be it for them, such as the families with smaller children. She stood up, brushed snow off herself and looked around some more, this time for the others. She grinned, finding them right there, and bounced to kiss Riley on the cheek before ushering her that she could go off with Sirius by themselves if they wanted too, they hadn't had much time alone since they'd become a couple.

Sirius grinned, wrapping an arm around Riley's waist. "Here we are love." He tugged at her, waving at James. "C'mon. We'll meet you guys back at the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron right before the fireworks." He led Riley off into the crowd before catching her up and kissing her on the cheek. "You're so beautiful."

xxbutterfiywings


James tried his best not to laugh when Lily fell after being transported by the port key and he helped her up and brushed some of the snow off of her as well. He smiled to her and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Are you okay Lils?" He asked her laughing however as the girl was bouncing over to Riley and he took her hand once they had said good bye. "How about we go get some ice cream? Hopefully it wont be too crowded." He said honestly and walked with her towards the ice cream parlour. It was pretty interesting to see Diagon Alley all decorated for the new years eve. There were vendors in the street whom usually were there and he blinked however when a witch approached him.


"Try out your wizarding spells and win a doll for the lady!" The witch said to James.

James looked to Lily and then nodded his head, paying a sickle to the lady as he would take his wand out from his cloak. He concentrated on the death eater cut out and flicked his wand. "Bombarda!" He said and chuckled when the cut out turned into dust.

The witch looked to Lily and smiled. "Since he sucessfully blew up the death eatter you can pick any animal you like dearie." She said pointing to the plush dolls on the wall.


Riley pressed a kiss to Lily's check as well and smiled. "Have fun you two! See you in a bit!" She said and snuggled into Sirius as they walked down the street and she blushed at his compliment. "Just like you're absolutely handsome!" She said with a grin and pressed a kiss to his nose before playfully squirming out of his grasp. The dark haired girl ran a head of him to pick up a pile of snow and playfully throw it at him. "I don't think you can keep up with me." She said with a wink and she started to run down the street with a giggle. Thankfully it wasn't too crowded just yet so that Sirius wouldn't lose sight of her. 

Kaileikehi

Lily's eyes grew wide at the sight of all the vendors, and even wider as James paid for the game and blasted the death eater cut out to smithereens. Other wizards were doing it to,m but not one of them had made their's into pure dust. The lady laughed at her face as she pointed and Lily blinked. What had she just said? She looked at James and then the lady who was point... to a wall of plush. Lily blinked and grinned wide, scanning them. She pointed to the dark blue octopus covered in golden stars. The lady went to get him and Lily grabbed James around the waist, hugging him ever so very tightly and lovingly. She was so happy. She beamed as the lady handed her the octopus and hugged him tightly  before letting go ot James, grabbing two tentacles and dancing in a circle like a little kid would. She got out her notebook. 'I shall call him Squishy, and he shall be mine. Squishy.' She grinned and handed it to James, still so very lit up and bright. All her plushies had been lost when her house had blown up. Having just this one... well, it meant a lot.
Sirius chased after Riley, laughing as the snow hit him square in the face. "I'm gonna get you, Ri!" He scooped up some snow and aimed for her retreating back, still laughing, unable to stop. She was so pretty and fun... he couldn't believe his luck at all. He was the luckiest damn wizard ever. He picked up his pace, chasing faster and then grabbed her around the waist, tackling her down into a clean, soft snowbank and tickling her hard. "Told you I'd get you!"

xxbutterfiywings


James chuckled seeing how stunned Lily was and he looked to the plush doll that the red head had chose. It was interesting looking doll...but as long as it made Lily happy, that was all that mattered. He smiled as she hugged him tightly and he hugged her back, pressing a kiss to her head. "You're very welcome Lils." he said softly knowing that the girl was thanking him because of her actions and he blinked when she let go. He laughed at what was written on the page and he shook his head.

"As long as squishy doesn't take my spot, i've been waiting six years to be standing here with you. Squishy and I may have to fight to the death!" He said with a laugh and hugged her once again before pointing up the road. "Shall we continue on to get some ice cream?" He asked the red head and held his hand out to her once she put away her notebook. James didn't even realize how much the plush doll had meant to the red head, he just wanted her to be happy.



Riley let out a playful squeal as Sirius started to chase after her and she gasped as she felt that snowball hit her back. It was so cold! Thankfully she knew some warming spells to use if they needed them. She laughed as he wrapped his arms around her waist trying to squirm away but it was too late for he already tackled her to the ground. Instantly laughter filled the whole area they were in as his fingers started to tickle her sides and she squirmed like a mad woman in the snow. "S-S-Sirius!" She pouted as she laughed and instantly she picked up some more snow and plopped it down on the top of his head. She laughed with a bright smile and leaned up to kiss his nose. "I love you" She said innocently, almost like a child who had gotten caught doing something bad.

Kaileikehi

Lily laughed, well, she opened her mouth and her shoulders moved, her eyes closing as she was caught up in a silent fit of hysterical giggles. She would have ended up on the ground had it not been covered in slush and she was wearing her good dress. It too a few moments for her to calm down and gain composure, eyes leaking. She got out her notebook again, scribbling and handing it to James. Squishy and I are already engaged. We have a little octopuslet on the way as well. I'm sorry, but you'll just have to be my secret Spanish lover... cause Spaniards are sexy. She swooned a little bit and made a show of pretending to make out with Squishy before she grinned at James cockily. Oh, she knew she was going to get it for that one... playfully of course. She bonked James with her Squishy. Unable to help it, she went into another giggle fit and grabbed James's arm, dragging him towards the ice cream parlour while she tried not to stumble along the way. She hadn't had anything to laugh about this hard in a long while, and of course, since it'd been a while, she was having trouble stopping.

Sirius blinked as a pile of snow plopped onto his head. He sat there in slight shock as it began to melt and drip down his neck into his shirt. Riley kissed his nose, and his eyes followed her face before becoming rather distracted by the bit of snow tumbling off his head, and landing, right on the very tip of his nose. He laughed and shook his head, very much like a dog trying to dry itself after being out in the rain. He tugged Riley to him, hugging her hard and snuggling her. "And I love you, love. But now..." His grin changed to something rather evil. "It is time for payback!" He turned and began flinging powder from the bank allllll over her.

xxbutterfiywings


James smiled seeing that the red head was laughing even if there wasn't any sound coming from her lips. It was obvious that she was happy just by the sparkle in her eyes and the smile on her lips, that was all the black haired boy wanted especially after seeing Lily upset after the past few months. He blinked seeing her raising for her note pad once again and he laughed instantly even though his cheeks turned a bright red under his spectacles. It was weird to think that the girl thought of him as sexy but he was glad. It meant that obviously Lily had some sort of feelings for him and that was something that James cherished. He grinned and tugged the red head to him tightly, his arm resting resting on her waist as they walked. "Well, I'll just have to improve my sexy skills and make sure I become your permanent Spanish lover" He said with a laugh, the last part of the sentence he tried to use a fake Spanish accent. He saw the ice cream shop ahead and held the door open for Lily as they made their way inside. "Let me guess, you want some sort of mint ice cream?" He asked with a little laugh and kissed her head. He was absolutely falling in love with this girl.



Riley let out a surprised gasp when Sirius shook his head and the wetness of the snow started to fall on her. "Siri!" She whined with a giggle and snuggled him back when she was snuggled. She gasped again when he started to fling more snow at her and she pouted. "You're not nice!" She said playfully and kissed his forehead once again. She slid her wand out of her jacket and used a spell to dry them both off. "There now we're both nice and dry so we won't get sick." She said with a head nod almost like a mother watching out for her chick and she snuggled with him. A brightness came to her cheeks when she heard her stomach growl and she smiled at him innocently. "I think we should get some candy!" She said with a nod, feeling really happy since she was with Sirius.

Kaileikehi

Lily beamed, glad that he'd laughed at that. Most of the time, she had a bit of trouble making people laugh and be goofy, but with James, it was easy. It was like she wasn't scared of making a fool of herself by saying something she thought was funny and instantly regretting it when he didn't laugh... because so far he normally laughed. And when he didn't it was always because the words on paper didn't have the right tone to them that they could have had they been coming out of her mouth, instead of her pen. Up on tiptoe she went, and her lips met his cheek lightly, pecking it before she almost giggled and snuggled her head under his chin a bit before nodding. She scribbled down on her pad of paper again for him, knowing it'd be more difficult to point over and over again, trying to get the right flavour. Peppermint stick.

Sirius laughed and tugged her out of the snow gentley, hugging her to him tightly. He cupped her face in his hands and began kissing all over, trying to get every inch of it. "You.... are... a...maaaaz...zing." He cuddled her tight, kissing her nose, each cheek, her forehead, her chin, even her eyelids before he got to her lip and pressed hard, trying to get all that he was feeling, all that love, to her. He stroked her hair as he pulled away, looking down at her adoringly. "And positively scrumptious. Candy?" He perked up even more at the mention of sugar and looked around. "let's see... ah! Over there! CANDY!" He grabbed her hand and started dragging her towards a cart laden with sweets. "It's Honeydukes! They must have come all they way from Hogsmeade."

xxbutterfiywings

James smiled watching as Lily pulled out her note pad and he read over the words before nodding and looking to the cashier. "Can we have a few scoops of peppermint stick please?" He asked the woman, watching as she scrambled about to complete their order. "I figure we could share it" He said with a grin, his eyes moving to look around the ice cream parlor for just a moment. There were a lot of fellow students from Hogwarts, probably getting ready to celebrate the new years as well. The woman made her way back over to them and he paid her before taking their small cauldron filled with ice cream. "Where shall we sit?" He asked the red head following her to the place that she chose.

Riley blushed bright red as Sirius' kisses covered her entire face and she closed her eyes once he attempted to kiss her eyelids. Her body tensed for just a moment as his lips met hers, not realizing that their first kiss would be happening at this moment. She smiled softly however, returning the hard kiss and slowly her eyes fluttered open when he pulled away. "Candy?" She asked him with a starry look in her eyes. She had forgotten that they were on their way to get the sweet treat and she laughed as he pulled her along to the cart. "Seems like someone is excited." She said playfully with a wink and hugged him close.

Kaileikehi

Lily beamed at
James
, her eyes bright with excitement
as he ordered and then led
her over to a table. She sat do
wn and picked up a spoon, dipped I
t into the ice cream and slip
ped it into her mouth. Her entire b
eing lit up in an almost lightb
ullbish fashion, minus the actua
l light.She stared at James for a moment, tilting her head and then grinning at him, full and happy. She took out the notepad again and scribbled on it for a moment before holding it up to him. There were no actual words this time. There was however, the drawing of a snitch covered with candy canes and surrounded by a heart. She was sure he wouldn't get the message but she was kind of hoping he wouldn't wuite get it as she wasn't exactly ready to say it.

Sirus nodded, his currently nonexistant tail practically wagging as he took Riley's hand and headed for the candy shop. "Oh, I couldn't care less about candy when I've already got the very sweetest thing on the planet. However, I am a bit hungry and if I ate the sweetest thing on the planet it would be considered cannibalism which is quite frowned upon in today's society, particularly in public." He grinned at her and pushed open the door to the candy shop. "Pick whatever you want, love."

xxbutterfiywings


James smiled watching as the red head ate her ice cream and he did the same. He really loved the frozen treat but most importantly, he loved that he was with Lily Evans. He couldn't believe that he was on a date with the most beautiful girl in the world. He watched as Lily reached for her pad of paper and he raised an eyebrow at her drawing. Hm... what ever could the girl mean by that drawing? A snitch covered with candy canes surrounded by a heart? He hoped that he wasn't supposed to understand this message. He smiled and leaned over to press a kiss to cheek. "Your picture is cute but I have no idea what it means." He said honestly with a chuckle before finishing up his ice cream. He waited for the red head to finish up before turning his attention towards the crowd forming in the center of Diagon Alley.

"We should head towards the fire works soon. It seems like everyone is starting to line up" He said and took her hand into his before making his way out of the ice cream shop.



Riley blushed instantly when she heard Sirius' compliment and she giggled with a shake of her head. "Well, even if it weren't illegal, I don't think you should be eating me." She said with a wink and placed a kiss to the tip of his lips before picking out some candy for herself. Anything chocolate was her favorite. Her eyebrow raised when she noticed a group of Slytherin students looking at them with glares and she sighed before rolling her eyes. "Maybe we should just go see the fireworks huh?" She asked him with a hug and smiled.

Kaileikehi

Lily's mouth opened in the shape of a giggle without the sound. She tucked her paper pad back into her pocket, glad he didn't get it. It had been her eay of saying she liked him without actually saying it. Typiscal diversive girl stuff. He was the snitch, she was the candy cane, and the heart was her unspoken fellings for him. She wasnrt wuite sure as to whuy, but she absolutely adored this boy. She figured it was the snitch that threw him off since he was a Chaser, but she liked snitches better and wasn't so sure she could draw a discernable Quaffle, but she did one hell of a snitch. As they stepped out into the cold, Lily moved to snuggle up against his side, tugging his arm around her shoulders.She was shivery and snuggled up to him shaking but smiling still. A larGe boom erupted from above and the bright shining lights exploded in the sky. It was the minute warning, telling them it was time to star counting down.

Sirius smiled and tugged her to him, planting a kiss on to of her head. "Sure thing cutie. Oh! There's the minute flash. Let's hurry along." He took her hand again and tugged her quickly through the crowd. They were supposed to meet James and Lily in the center of the square in time for the fireworks. He blinked as the count down started.. Ten.. Nine.. Eight... He stopped midstep. They could find the other two after. Lriley, you are seriously the most anmazing girl I've ever met." Three.. Two... One The sky exploded with fireowkrs as the crowd cheered and Sirius scooped Riley right on up, kissing her hard and lovingly. A scream, this time not one of joy sounnded and Sirus blinkedM Dark masked figures were coming out of wvery alleywa, every buildingM He gasped and wrapped an arm around Riley as rthe square started to panicM "Death Eaters! RileyB RunB Don't let go of me!" He drew his wand and kept a tight grip on her hand as he started running.