You Are Cordially Invited (Sirius Black)

"I Must Say I'm Impressed."

In years to come, Aurora and Sirius would think about their first night out and never quite recall exactly what happened. After they indulged in a spliff things got a little foggy. In their haze Aurora went out in her short nightdress and Sirius got his head stuck in a revolving door at a Muggle shop.

Afterwards they went to the Muggle pub down the road where the knotgrass started wearing off but the alcohol took affect. Aurora got chatted up by every single man she met, which considering she was a beautiful lady wearing little more than lingerie it wasn't too much of a surprise. They had intended on Apparating to a brilliant pub up in Newcastle that Sirius had visited but he was too drunk to do it correctly, so they ended up in a London Muggle nightclub instead.

Things got crazier as they danced and drank. Aurora had her first taste of something called 'tequila' and four shots later she was hoisted up onto a podium to dance. After several ten-pound notes were stuffed down her bra she and Sirius left the club. The rest of the night remained fuzzy yet they did wake up on the couch together, Sirius wearing the London Tower Guard's uniform; Aurora wearing what looked suspiciously like the Crown Jewels.

*

Lily, James and Remus came to visit Aurora the next day. Although she was still dressed formally, Lily noticed she leaned against Sirius when they sat together as well as smiling and laughing more. It was as if her personality was starting to diffuse through the upper-class facade. She had baked a cake and shown Sirius how to make proper coffee for his guests.

"So what have you been up to since you stayed back?" Lily asked, taking a bite of the nicest cake she'd ever tasted. She never thought she'd see the day when the oven in Sirius’s flat was christened but here it was.

Sirius and Aurora shared a quick glance which didn't go unnoticed by their friends.

"Nothing exciting, really, we have just been out walking around town. I have enjoyed being in a different environment to my home. I know I must return home but at the moment I am enjoying my respite," Aurora answered, smoothing over the lie.

"It's a shame you have to go so soon," Lily said genuinely, "do you think you'll want to extend your stay?"

"I am not decided yet," Aurora admitted, "it was hard getting my parents to agree to my staying so I am not sure. Hopefully I will."

"Who's going to make me cakes and clean the kitchen if you go, though?" Sirius exclaimed with false horror. Aurora laughed and slapped his leg.
James and Remus exchanged puzzled looks.

"Well perhaps I will teach you this, too," Aurora smiled. Ever the hostess, Aurora took the empty cups to the kitchen. James nudged Lily who followed her out.

"So," James began the moment the women had left, "what's going on with you two? Are you together or something?"

Sirius instantly told James to fuck off but his cheeks had a distinct pink tinge.

"It's like she's suddenly become mistress of the house," Remus told him truthfully, which earned him a fuck off in return.

"Have you two shagged again?" James asked him bluntly. Sirius felt he was under fire from questions he didn't want to answer.

"I think he has, Prongs, look at his face!" Remus pointed out. Sirius stuck his fingers up at him.

"Mate, what's the matter with you? If you fancy her that's fine," James said.

"No, it's not that," Sirius said, glancing surreptitiously at the doorway. "Yes she's as hot as a Brazilian Bongleberry and okay maybe we have shagged-"

"-Told you!" James interrupted.

"-Well ten points to you, Prongs," Sirius said witheringly. "She's going back soon and that's fine, but we've been having so much fun. We went out the other night and it was mental. She's not the snobbish crazy hag I thought at first, she's such a laugh. And she's a lady, like a different level of class…" He trailed off, realising that he was in danger of caring for her and any such endeavour was doomed to failure.

James was madly in love with his wife and could completely understand anyone wanting to take a risk on a new relationship, however he too could see Sirius’s burgeoning feelings having a bad ending.

*

"Well I must say I'm impressed," Lily said to Aurora as they entered the kitchen. "I've never seen anything other than toast cooked in this kitchen!"

Aurora laughed. "Yes, the kitchen is particularly unloved. But I felt I should do something nice for Sirius. He's been so good."

"I hope I don't sound too interfering, Aurora, but I'm just going to say it: do you have feelings for Sirius?"

Aurora nearly dropped the cup she was holding but regained her composure quickly.

"Why would you say that?" She asked calmly.

"You seem comfortable and happy around him- not at all like your first meeting, and just, I don't know, you seem to have a connection."

Aurora turned to face Lily with a soft smile. "I care about Sirius a lot and he is so much fun. He likes to pretend he doesn't care about anything but he is a sensitive person underneath it. I do have feelings for him, though I couldn't say what they are."

Lily felt her heart swell with happiness: out of this messy situation something wonderful could emerge; through all of the approaching dark times two people could break through and make a spark of joy.

"Would you like to come for dinner on Friday? You and Sirius?" Lily blurted out. She felt compelled to help out. Aurora smiled and they went back to the lounge.

"Lily has invited us for dinner on Friday," Aurora said as they entered the room, only to see James leaning forwards and talking to him earnestly and Sirius rubbing his face. They jumped up as she spoke and sat back in their seats.

"I think we just interrupted a man moment," Lily said with humour. James smiled and held hands with his wife.

"Not at all, my darling," James said warmly. "You up for it, Padfoot? Dinner on Friday?"

Sirius looked at Aurora and raised his eyebrows, feeling that perhaps her acquiescence would give him a lifeline. She nodded at him.

"Sorted, mate, we'll see you then, Merlin willing."

Remus cleared his throat and took a sip of his coffee. "I'm busy Friday anyway so don't worry about asking me, I'm fine,"  he mused.

**