Wild Heart¹ ★ [Sirius Black]

Chapter 11

Valentine's day. A dedicated day each year for couples to spend lots of money on each other excessively and serenade one and other with balloons, chocolates, and any other romantic gifts they deemed acceptable to smugly carry around in public as if to make a point to those who carried around nothing.

At Hogwarts this day often included pink-based desserts and decorations in the Great Hall, couples professing their love for one and other, and lastly James's loud, over the top declaration of love for Lily which she would promptly decline.

The latter had just taken place during lunch in the Great Hall, and had included singing house elves and a transfiguration of a tree branch into the largest bouquet of roses ever seen, which Chloé had taught James how to do. In response, Lily charmed her strawberry mousse to fly across the table and land straight in the Potter's face.

To additionally worsen the festivities of the day, every year on Valentine's the Marauders would famously pull some sort of irritating prank which put everyone on edge until it happened. This year though, for the first time in her life, Chloé was actually looking forward to the day.

After her recent incident with Snape in potions Professor Slughorn had redone his seating chart to avoid another altercation and Chloé had ended up paired with another Slytherin, Barty Crouch Jr. He was by far the best looking Slytherin in their year, and he and Chloé seemed to get on like a house on fire in class so after two weeks of their friendship blossoming he had gotten the nerve to ask her to Hogsmeade for Valentine's.

Chloé had said yes in a flurry of excitement, and ever since then the Gryffindor fourth year girls dormitory had been a whirl of gossip and giggles in preparation for the big day. The day itself was a beautiful one with a thin sheen of snow covering the crisp grounds.

Chloé had dressed herself in a pair of sheer tights with a small black skirt which was decorated with red and white flowers. On her top she had a knitted one-shoulder, black sweater, and her silver shiny hair was neatly straightened down to her waist. She was making her way down out of her common room when she found the Marauders gathered around the fireplace clearly planning whatever scheme they had ready for the day. "You boys really ought to be less conspicuous with your plans or else one day someone will discover them"

James, spluttering in panic, whirled around and only relaxed when he saw who it was. "Well you ought to not be so nosy"

The girl laughed, and the other three Marauders also halted their important work to look at her. Every one of them was shocked to see how well dressed Chloé was since they were used to only seeing her in quidditch gear or school robes, and not only was she dressed, but dressed very nicely. "Where are you off to like that?" asked Peter

"Well, since you ask, I'm going to Hogsmeade with Barty Crouch" said Chloé

Sirius practically spluttered in shock and the whole group turned to him in alarm. The boy in question quickly cleared his throat and straightened his horrified expression. "Barty Crouch? As in the same boy who hangs around Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix"

Chloé's expression stiffened slightly, and she pursed her lips, angered slightly at the disapproving and cold undertone to his voice. "Yes. But he likes me and he's nice to me so I agreed to go out with him"

It was clear that this answer did not completely satisfy or assure Sirius, who clenched his jaw. He knew Barty Crouch since he was also part of the sacred 28 and while they had never really fought, Sirius disliked Barty's prejudices which he shared with his parents, so the thought of him being so close to Chloé worried him. "Okay" he said reluctantly "Have fun"

Chloé narrowed her eyes in confusion, but she nodded awkwardly and hurried off finally, making James, Remus, and Peter turn to Sirius in surprise. "What was that about?" asked the werewolf