Padfoot and The Mermaid

Chapter Twenty-Seven ~ To Like and To Love

Sirius frantically searched for (y/n) after ten long minutes of 'cooling off'. His searching was of course unsuccessful, in fact, the boy hadn't spotted any of his friends yet. Then Peter came into his view, though he was sitting alone. What happened to that date that he was so excited about?

Sirius rushed over to the perched figure, who was trying his best to contain himself. 

"What's wrong Peter?" Sirius asked, he could tell that Peter was distressed, so he resorted to using his first name, something he hardly ever did. The boy immediately shed his harsh and infuriated persona and instead replaced it with a more sincere and thoughtful mindset. For the time being he was focused on Peter, who seemed to be in the dumps. 

"She stood me up." Peter sighed, he crossed his arms and stared at the floor, he'd never expected it, not one bit. 

"I'm so sorry mate, this girl is simply an idiot, c'mon, let's get a drink." Sirius said, he stretched out a hand for Peter to grab on to, which he did without an ounce of hesitation. 

"Sure." Peter mumbled, he walked alongside Sirius towards the punch tables. "Where's (y/n)? I saw you two together earlier." Peter muttered, he sense a sort of hesitancy in Sirius, the other boy fell silent and took a long pull of his cider, acting as if it were some sort of brandy.

"I sort of messed things up, I was going to look for her, but-." Sirius began, he didn't wish to put the blame on Peter, since he was more important in the moment. Peter just chuckled and pat Sirius on the back.

"Well then, you ought to find her, I'll be fine." Peter said reassuringly, Sirius nodded and quickly sped off in one direction. Peter laughed again at the boy, Sirius could be such a goon at times, it was truly an interesting sight. 

Sirius could feel the weight lifting off of his chest after speaking with Peter, this had to be the terrible thing from his little 'preminition', which he still didn't know was false. And as luck would have it, Sirius had found (y/n) too. 

She was seated in a corner of the room, her cider rested in her lap, with two quivering hands clasped around it. She seemed to be looking for something, or someone?

"You're too pretty to be sitting here all alone, don't you think." Sirius teased, he was trying to seduce the girl, and it was backfiring horribly. (y/n) didn't even laugh out of pity, meaning that she was seriously down. She always laughed at Sirius' stupid jokes, just to make him feel better. Though this time the boy was left greatly embarrassed, his pick up lines never failed. 

"Look, I'm sorry about what I said, it's just that I was a little shaken up before coming here, but I should have never lost my cool like that." Sirius grumbled, a sincere apology was a rare thing from the boy, and this time it had finally managed to touch the girl. 

"I'm sorry too, you're not short Sirius." (y/n) said, the boy laughed at her, in pity, and reached out a hand for the girl to grab on to. 

"Well, this is a dance, I think that's what we should be doing right now." Sirius stated, he stood close to (y/n), standing as tall as he could. 

"You're right." 

...

(y/n) rested her head on Sirius' shoulder, she'd already taken off her heels, which made her feet ache so badly that the pain had begun to spread to her legs. She was eternally greatful to Lily, who'd brought along a spare pair of flats, which (y/n) slipped on in replacement to the small stilettos. 

"Is this supposed to be a slow dance, there isn't even any real music playing." Sirius scoffed, he was greatly disappointed in the live orchestra, who was being conducted by none other than professor Flitwick. Sirius bragged that he could surely play any orchestral instrument better than those who were hired for the dance, he also stated that he'd play his heart out rather than playing with, and I quote ' a stick up their arses'. 

He was a tough critic that one, and even more difficult to impress, in terms of music that is. 

"It's all they've got, it's not like we can just start playing rock and roll and expect everyone to enjoy it." (y/n) sighed, Sirius had made a fair point, though he was just a tad bit disrespectful with his snarky comments, this was a wizards ball after all, not a house party. 

"But everyone loves rock and roll." Sirius protested.

"I suppose you're right Sirius, we need a change or we'll all be put to sleep." Dumbledore said, since when was he on the dance floor? 

"You're really going to play rock and roll?!" Sirius asked, his eyes lit up and a smile spread across his face like wildfire. 

"Why of course." Dumbledore stated, he then disappeared in the blink of an eye the moment that (y/n) and Sirius had drawn their attention away from him. 

"Where'd he-" 

"I wouldn't question it, you'll be left feeling more confused than you started." (y/n) said, she'd seen her fair share of Dumbledore magic, he was truly a mystery. 

"I suppose you're right." Sirius chuckled, he stared contently into (y/n)'s eyes this time, he didn't feel that fear anymore, that pitiful fear that he couldn't understand. Remus' words had done a number on him, though perhaps he'd also come to break free from it on his own accord. 

"I love-." Sirius began, though he was quickly toned out by the Stones, who were playing throughout the halls.

"This song! I know!" (y/n) shouted, she grabbed the boys hands and began swaying to the beat. Sirius sighed and went along with the girls dancing, his face of disappointment eventually faded back to joy. 

(y/n) and Sirius danced out there for what felt like ages, but both of them enjoyed every second of it. 

"Now this is a slow dance." Sirius muttered, he had a wicked smirk on his face, making him nearly evil looking, he nearly resembled the mad hatter. 'Something' began to play overhead, and immediately all the music lovers rushed the stage, and the others who'd been made aware of the tune thanks to the Halloween party. 

They hadn't played any Beatles the whole night, perhaps due to professor McGonagols bitter hatred for the band. But even she was enjoying herself now.

(y/n) and Sirius stared at each other, they watched each other's lips as they sang the lyrics. Sirius had this little grin whenever he spoke excitedly, it was the most adorable thing, and his smile was so precious. A wild thought had swept through (y/n)'s mind as she stood there beside Sirius. Was she in love with him?

She wasn't entirely sure what love was, to be frank, she'd seen it with her parents, but that was love that had been there for years. It was older and built up upon. What did it feel like to be in love with someone, without them knowing?

(y/n) shook her head and sighed, this wasn't the right place to say a thing like that, and she still wasn't sure if that was what she was feeling, how could you tell the difference between like and love? 

On impulse, (y/n) kissed the boy, she had to quiet the thoughts that were running rampant in her mind, and this would surely distract her. She felt bad for kissing the boy without meaning, though he had done it to her many many times before. Before she knew it, Sirius had kissed her back, and soon enough they were making out, though (y/n) wasn't the type to do such a thing in public.

"Sirius, wait, not right now." (y/n) chuckled, she almost felt giddy from his touch, and she'd gotten back that nervousness that she used to feel back before they were ever official. 

"Why not, everyone else is doing it." Sirius complained, (y/n) shook her head. 

"Not right now." (y/n) said sternly, she meant what she said, and there was nothing he could do to change her mind. 

"Alright fine, wait, I've forgotten your present." Sirius said, he'd found the perfect present, and the perfect way to tell her the truth. Sirius said a quick goodbye and rushed as quickly as possible to the dormitories, what he'd forgotten was a necklace, a mermaid necklace of course, it was lovely, and Remus had helped him pick it out. 

The two were separated again, though it wouldn't last forever, the boy would return surely enough, and make everything right.