#hw18

OCTOBER 6TH

“Darling, are you feeling okay? You’ve been a bit quieter this week?” Sirius had asked only six days into the month that you usually loved.

“Yeah, I’m fine, just a bit under the weather,” you had lied so simply, believing you’d be okay after giving yourself maybe a week or so to mope about.

Last year you had been so busy with readjusting that Halloween had come and gone and you only realized it the week off, leaving no time to really miss the festivities.

“Are you sure? We can skip class and head to Madam Pomfrey if you need..” he offered unsurely.

His unruly raven locks moved with his head as he turned a bit further to face you completely, they always looked so soft.

“Positive,” you smiled softly, though he could see it, your eyes were missing their normal glint.

“Just tell me, love. Whatever you need, whenever,” he promised, looking back to the fire that was raging before them as they sat on a sofa in the common room.

He was looking away and so he missed it, the small look of adoration that flashed before her eyes, she may be sad but she had him, and she was glad for that.

OCTOBER 18TH

“Love, you seem awfully aloof lately,” Sirius had mentioned to you one day after potions, Lily was with Remus doing their duties as prefects, James had a Quidditch practice and Peter had gone to watch.

“No idea what you mean, Black,” you had shot back with what you had hoped was your normal level of sass.

Honestly, you knew what he meant, you were quieter in conversations, often imagining the common room decked out for the end of the month, you imagined cobwebs on the big banister in the main hall and all along the railing of the ever moving staircase. You could almost picture the costumes your friends would choose, each of them having something very fitting. Lily would probably dress up as some brilliant Witch from the past, James a Quidditch player, Remus probably would hesitate to participate but with some sway from you imagined to be Sirius would dress up as a werewolf, of course, nobody would understand the full meaning. Peter would choose something a bit subtle that allows him to blend in and would ask for your help. Alas, being who you are, you’d help the mousy boy into a pair of light wash denim jeans and a red and white striped hat, give him a pair of James’ glasses and then a beanie turning him into the “Where’s Waldo” bloke. Sirius would choose something charming, or at least he’d try to and then you could almost imagine how it’d go down, the two of you dressing up as something together because you wanted something from some muggle movie and he’d want to be a part of it, that was, after all, who Sirius Black was.

“Bullshit,” Sirius had shot back at your weak attempt to dismiss his worries, “you’ve been weird for weeks now, love.”

“I’m okay, Sirius, really, I’m serious,” you had used the term knowing it would gain an eye roll and grumble that would successfully distract him from the conversation, he was so very much like a puppy sometimes.

“That isn’t funny, it never is,” he would add after as you walked together down the corridor.

You grabbed his hand swinging it over your shoulder the way it normally was when the two of you were stuck together, “I beg to differ,” you add with your head tilted upwards a small smile of accomplishment spread on your lips.

“I bet you would,” he grumbled, causing you to chuckle, though he wasn’t mad, he never could be, not with her.

OCTOBER 23RD

“What’s going on with you?” Lily shot as soon as you had entered your shared dormitory, the rest of the girls seemed to be missing, “is it Sirius? Did he do something? I’m going to kick his arse…”

“Hello to you too, Lily,” you rolled your eyes. “And no, you will not harm hair on his pretty head.”

“No pleasantries then, out with it! you’ve been keeping something from me, from all of us. You never pay attention when we talk, your mind always somewhere else!” Lily argued and you sighed.

You knew she was trying to be a good friend but this was getting to your nerves, it’s not like she knew how you felt, or that she could relate. You were the only American transfer in the school, no one had ever celebrated Halloween the way you did, and so no one could understand what you were missing. You knew your mother and father would be throwing their annual Halloween celebrations, there were always two, one for the muggles and one for the witches, both were entertaining and both held the promise to feed your sweet tooth.

“Just forget about it, Evans, it’s not important,” you huffed and she faltered, your voice had been a lot tougher than you had meant it to be.

Before she could get another word in you closed your bed drapes and lay there, staring at the red drapes.

OCTOBER 27TH

After a long chat with professor Slughorn over some issues with the most recent potion in class, a result of your daydreams, you had returned to your dorm and were extremely surprised to see Lily on your bed, a letter you had received from your sibling in her hands.

“That is not yours,” your voice had been cold as you addressed her and you remember the way she jumped in fright from being caught.

“I know, and I know how improper it is to snoop, but you’ve been miserable lately and well, it was laying there, open. On your bed clear as day for anyone to look at!” She attempted to defend herself.

You had to bite your tongue at this, you had rushed out of your dorm this morning as you had slept in a bit later than normal, the letter which you had spent the night reading and re-reading had been left a top your bed after the house elves came and made the sheets. Instead of shouting at Lily about personal belongings like you wanted to you sighed, those words that had bubbled were mean for the wrong reasons.

“I just...I miss them, Lily. I miss spending this time of the year with them. Jackson graduated last year and so he didn’t transfer with me and Maria hasn’t shown signs of magic yet, and so I’m alone. I’m across the Atlantic ocean from the people I love, and I can’t celebrate my favorite time of the year because all you stupid brits don’t look at Halloween the way we daft Americans do,” you had grumbled as you slumped onto the edge of your bed, head dropping to your hands.

“Oh, darling,” Lily’s voice was soft as she moved to rub one hand on your back. “You should’ve just told us, we would’ve done anything to help.”

“I know, it’s just what can you do?” You asked, and yoru voice cracked. “I live most of the year in another country, away from my siblings and parents now…” you exhaled before sniffing and wiping your eyes, “and I have to learn to live with it,” You straightened.

OCTOBER 30TH

“So everything’s in place then, yeah?” Sirius asked Lily, the two were in the common room, curfew had passed an hour ago and so the room was empty, the two had been hard at work.

After (Y/n)’s confession to Lily, Lily had decided to do whatever she could and so, while costumes wouldn’t be ready that didn’t mean the common room couldn’t become slightly spooky. Lily had enlisted Sirius’ help as she could see the way he had been carefully watching and analyzing (y/n)’s every move, looking for some sort of sign. When Lily had explained it to Sirius he had a determined look. And so the pair of friends found themselves string cobwebs around the Gryffindor common room and quickly carving pumpkins with the help of their wands. A few more hexed items set around the room and it looked almost like the muggle depictions of witchcraft and wizardry.

“Yeah,” Lily nodded looking around once more. “I reckon we did a swell job, Sirius. She’s really gonna love it,” she added as an afterthought.

Sirius looked at the animated cat skeleton which had been charmed to slink around the room, “I do too, goodnight, Red.”

“She’s lucky to have you,” Lily smiled softly at her friend.

“It’s the other way around, Evans, I’m lucky to be her friend,” Sirius shook his head.

“I didn’t mean as friends,” Lily gave his shoulder a squeeze before walking back up to her dorm.

OCTOBER 31ST

You were miserable as soon as your eyes opened, and as you got up for the day you found it odd that once you pulled your drapes back, the dorm was empty, usually, the other girls would be going about their routines to get ready. This only fed your sense of dread because as much as you missed home, you really didn’t want to be alone. It was seven in the morning when you grabbed your book bag and robe and began walking down the stairs to the common room. Your skirt fluttered as you moved your black stocking perfectly aligned and the Gryffindor scarf you had stolen from Sirius ages ago, was tucked around your shoulder. Your robe was thrown over your arm as you rubbed your eyes. When you stepped into the common room you froze and your heart began to race.

There were cobwebs hung on the walls, skeletons of spiders moved around on them, another skeleton of a cat slinked around the room between people's feet. You noticed a few cauldrons were bubbling with something that didn’t look too dangerous and that your friends were waiting for you beside the sofa all of them staring at you.

“You guys did this?” you asked in awe.

“I wish we could take credit,” Remus began, “but this was all Lily and Sirius.”

“You two?” you asked turning towards the pair who had stood up.

“You were missing home, I told you we would help,” Lily smiled to you, and your eyes watered as you rushed to hug her.

“Don’t worry about me, love, it’s not like I stayed up til midnight helping to set this up,” Sirius drawled and you let go of Lily to throw your arms around Sirius.

Your arms wrapped around his shoulders and his looped around your waist you squeezed him tight and he tightened his grip.

“Thank you,” you whispered.

“I told you, love, whatever you need, whenever you need it,” he whispered back and you're separated.

“Thank you, all of you,” you say turning back to everyone else.

“Now, let’s eat these sweets before we get caught,” James told the lot of you as Lily sat down beside him and you fell into the seat between Sirius and Remus.

“Where did you get these?” you asked, marveling at the collection of candies, the first trip to Hogsmeade wouldn’t be for another few weeks.

“Secret Stash,” Sirius winked as you all divided the candies up.

It wasn’t until you all had eaten one and the rest were in your bags that you left the common room for the great hall. You fell into step with Remus at first and he nudged your shoulder before leaning down to whisper in your ear.

“You know he borrowed James’ cloak last night and went to Hogsmeade, right?”

“What?” you whipped your head from Remus to look at Sirius who was talking to James at the moment.

“He used the shrinking shack passageway, and went into town to get the chocolate cauldrons for you. He mentioned that they were your favorite…” Remus trailed with a wise look in his eyes. “You know, he might not be that great with the words that matter but his actions to speak quite loudly…”

When Remus was done you noticed that your eyes hadn’t left Sirius since the first glance and now he was staring back at you, though you didn’t shy away or blush under his gaze, instead, you held contact as you tried to read his stormy grey eyes. Slowly you fell into step with him as he had stopped to wait for you.

“It’s improper to lie Sirius,” you reminded him, though your voice was soft and nearly a whisper.

“I am aware, love,” he smirked, “what exactly might you be referring to?”

“You said you got the candies from your stash, Remus mentioned that you were out of cauldrons, so enlighten me, Black, where did the sweets come from?” you ask him, though this time your voice isn’t condescending as it might normally be when you’ve caught any of the marauders in a lie, this time it’s full of need. You know why, you want to hear him say he went to get them, and he went for you because of how he feels.

For the year you’ve been here you haven't grown closer with anyone as you have with Sirius, the rest of the wankers you proudly call friends have never missed the opportunity to point out that the boy is head of heels for you, however, you had never really believed them. Not with the way Sirius used to go through girls when you had first met, but thinking back, since Sirius had grown closer with you, you couldn’t recall the last time he had a girl on his arm.

“Damn Mooney, sold me out,” Sirius grumbled looking away from you.

You grabbed his hands with your smaller ones and gave them a squeeze causing him to look back to you, “please, Sirius,” you whispered to him, you needed to know.

“Hogsmeade…” he stated. “You see, love, I don’t reckon you’ve noticed but for some reason, you don’t seem to leave my thoughts.”

A shy smile broke to your lips as you dropped Sirius’ hands and flung your arms around his waist, to pull him into a hug. You felt him envelop you as well and as your head fell against his chest, you could feel it, how fast his heart is racing.

“I happen to like you an awful lot too, you know,” you whispered to him.

“Talk to me next time, Love, please. I want to be there for you,” he said softly.

“I will, promise,” you nodded and he pressed a soft kiss to your head.

It wasn’t until your first break of the day while sitting with Sirius under a tree on the lawn watching as students zipped by and vaguely able to hear the shouts of the first-time fliers down by the Quidditch pitch.

“Thank you for the sweets,” you said, leaning your head on his shoulder.