Loquacious\\ Harry Potter Marauders

Eighteen\\ Hallow's Eve

"No one can hurt me without my permission."
- Gandhi

After their encounter on the Quidditch pitch late that night, Sirius and Adelaide didn't speak for many consecutive days, and Sirius managed to snag his seat beside James in Potions again. It wasn't that they were ignoring each other- quite the contrary; Sirius and Adelaide often acknowledged each other's presence, with a smile or quick nod in the corridors, but it was as if there was a mutual understanding between the two that they should lay off for a while. And that was fine with Adelaide- she couldn't deal with her feelings for him getting too strong. So the days passed and they didn't talk, they didn't smoke, they didn't flirt or joke or fuss. They didn't anything, really.

That was, until, two days before Halloween rolled around.

And Adelaide was stressed. It being her seventh year, the teachers piled on the exams, the tests, the homework. She was coming back from the library, arms loaded with books, when none other than Peter Pettigrew sauntered past.
"Hello, Pettigrew," Adelaide smiled.

Peter looked up, confused.
"Oh. Hullo Ad- Tanner," he corrected, seemingly remembering James' dislike for the girl. Adelaide rolled her eyes, shoved her books from her right arm to her left and smiled a bright smile at him.

"Hey Pettigrew," she repeated calmly. Peter looked as if he wanted the ground to swallow him up. He was fidgeting and gulping and his watery blue eyes darted around the hallways, searching for a way out of the current situation. Adelaide bit her lip and tapped her foot impatiently- what did he want? Pettigrew cleared his throat.

"I was looking for you, actually," he began timidly. Adelaide, ever the meddling cynic, eyed him suspiciously.

"Did you just wander the castle hoping to find me? Do I mean that much to you, Peter?"
She smirked. Peter looked taken aback, and made a desperate attempt to retrace his steps.

"No, no, I don't mean that. It's just.. Well- the Gryffindor's are having a party next week, for Halloween. Remus suggested we mix with some other houses, so I suggested we would- we could- if you wanted, to eh.. Invite you?"

It sounded like more of a question than a statement. Adelaide almost rolled her eyes- again. The invitation was muddled, the situation difficult, and very complicated, but pass up a Gryffindor party? Never.

"When is it?"

After lots of talking, charming, and stressing, Friday, October 31st rolled around. An excited buzz filled the Great Hall among the older students that evening at dinner, as any of them had been invited to the party and everyone who was lucky enough to be invited wouldn't miss it for all the sweets in Honeyduke's.

From fifth to seventh years, Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, an abundance of Gryffindor's and one Slytherin, people were beside themselves with excitement. There was chatting between the older years as boys fretted over girls and girls fretted over boys, people decided on costumes and outfits, chose who they wanted to dance with, if they wanted to drink alcohol.

Only one person with an invite sat alone, twirling her fork around her spaghetti. Her black hair framed her face beautifully, freshly washed and silky. She was frowning in thought and biting her lip delicately. Her emerald green eyes shone brightly and they stared straight across the room, to the Gryffindor table, where a handsome boy sat. And she was wondering what it would be like if he wrapped his arms around her, and held her tight.

But then she shook her head. A smile graced her face and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. No. That would never happen. The thought didn't beat thinking about, Her mind wandered away, and her eyes dropped to her food, and as she smiled to herself, she didn't see Sirius giving her exactly the same look.