And There Were Always Two... - oc x r. lupin & oc x s. black

- 18 -

"Fuck, shit, and a half," Mavis cussed. "What am I supposed to wear?"

The party was supposed to start in half an hour, but she stood with her hands on her hips, staring at her trunk which was still not unpacked. All her clothes seemed unsatisfactory. Jeans seemed too casual, and well... she didn't have anything fancy.

Ashley emerged from the bathroom sporting an ankle-length marmalade orange skirt, brown cable knit sweater with a white collar peeking out and dark blue Doc Martens. She had tied her hair back into a high ponytail, but a few black curls still hung around her face.

"Well, shit," Mavis grunted. "Now that you're all done getting ready, maybe help out your sister."

Ashley stuck out her tongue.

"Wear your black dress with your grey sweatshirt."

"Fucking brilliant, Ash!"

She immediately started digging through her suitcase for the items Ashley had named. After putting on her silk-strapped dress, she rushed to the bathroom to throw on some makeup. After meticulously drawing the thickly winged eyeliner, Mavis shoved her feet into her maroon converse. Her short hair needed no attention, as it hung in its wolf cut.

The two girls made it downstairs. The common room was strung with banners, one of which said, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BAD BOY BLACK", obviously James' doing. Music was pounding and the lights were dimmed. The two girls were surrounded by the Marauders the second they stepped off the stairs.

"Merlin," James exclaimed. "The Curron twins do clean up well!"

Mavis jabbed him in the stomach with her fist, not strong enough for a punch but enough to make him double over and let out an "oof".

Her eyes wandered over to the man of the hour, or more like boy. He was already holding a bottle of butterbeer. With his favourite leather jacket on and half his hair tied up into a bun held together by only his wand, he really did fit that "bad boy" image.

"Happy Birthday, kiddo," Mavis told Sirius, smiling coldly.

"Kiddo?" he asked, raising a brow. "I'm older than you."

"But not more mature," she said, flicking his shoulder and brushing past him.

She could feel his stare boring into her back, and she liked it. Mavis strutted all the way to the bar and got herself a butterbeer. Within a second she felt Sirius' hand tapping her shoulder. Another small victory. She turned around.

"Fancy a dance?" he asked.

Mavis smirked and took a sip out of her bottle.

"Maybe..."

He frowned.

"Whatever," he muttered and disappeared into the crowd.

Mavis blinked.

She wasn't sure what had just happened. One second she was making progress and the next he was gone. Mavis downed the bottle and went in search of fun.

The music was raging and everyone was dancing. It was hard to find the Marauders until the song "Mamma Mia" by Abba started playing. Sirius and James jumped onto the table and started bellowing out the lyrics.

Mavis smiled to herself.

"Mamma mia!" Sirius shouted, quite out of tune.

"Here I go again!" James sang into his beer bottle.

"My, my, how can I resist you?" Sirius winked at James.

The boys continued their terrible duet, dancing around each other and passing around the bottle of butterbeer like it was a microphone. Once the song ended, they jumped down from the table where Mavis was waiting for them.

"Quite the show," she commented.

"You know us," James said. "We're only the most dramatic people at school."

"You just might be," Mavis agreed.

She noticed Sirius approaching them but was disappointed when he went straight to James.

"I'm gonna get drunk," he growled. "Don't let anyone stop me."

Mavis watched him disappear into the crowd, looking for fire whiskey.

"Is he usually like that on his birthday?" she asked, looking back at James.

He was frowning.

"No."

And then James was off.

Mavis went off in search of Peter, who was sitting in a corner, watching the party. He was a natural wallflower if there ever was one.

"How dare you, Pete!" she joked. "You sitting here, while I'm all alone. Didn't I tell you that I only came because you're here?"

Peter looked up, eyes wide with fear.

"Relax, kid. Why aren't you dancing?"

Peter shrank back. "Dunno."

"Come on, then."

Mavis pulled Peter up onto his feet and dragged him to the dance floor. He looked like he'd rather die. Killer Queen by Queen was playing. She twirled him around, mouthing the lyrics. She rocked him back and forth and tried to tango. Peter cracked a smile and loosened up. Soon the two were dancing all out.

Peter wasn't bad looking. His light brown hair was shiny and his face was a chubby kind of cute. Mavis realised that all he needed was self-confidence. A Hufflepuff girl had been eyeing him all evening, and Mavis gave Peter a little push.

Soon the pair were dancing and Mavis was left all alone. She walked off to get another bottle of butterbeer when she stopped in her tracks.

Sirius was snogging the face right off Marlene McKinnon. The girl was running her hands through his hair.

Mavis could hear her heart breaking. She hadn't realised how much she liked Sirius until she saw him with someone else. Her hands formed fists and she wanted to punch a wall. She'd never been so utterly helpless in her life. She didn't notice James put an arm on her shoulder and pulled her away until her eyes left the pair.

"I'm sorry," he told her.

"And to think I fucking liked the prick," she growled.

James Potter, a childhood friend, pulled her into an embrace she didn't know she needed. She sobbed into his shoulder, clutching him for dear life. For some reason, tears didn't come, as if her eyes themselves were scared of making her mascara run.

They sat down in a little nook of the common room.

"Thanks for that," Mavis acknowledged.

"Sirius is a loyal friend, but when it comes to girls..." James explained, "the same can't be said."

Mavis snorted.

"What an understatement," she fumed. "Any chance you'll help me get revenge?"

"Now that's the Mav I know!" James rejoiced. "If you've got any ideas, just tell me."

She nodded.

"On a different note, can we be friends again?"

Mavis looked up at the bespectacled boy. He looked hopeful.

"Sure, whatever. You can't hurt me anymore."