Brightest ✯ Sirius Black

✯ten✯

"this isn't a good idea, which is why I'm here, I guess"

"Where do you think she is?" James asked Sirius and Peter as they walked through the halls of the castle looking for their blue eyed friend.

"Wait, there's Luna," Sirius pointed up ahead. "Luna! Hey!" they called, making the girl stop and turn around until she found the three boys jogging in her direction.

"Hello boys," she said cheerfully. Peter gave her a small sheepish wave from the back, which she returned.

"Have you seen Cleo?" James panted.

"Good to see you too," she rolled her eyes. "I just left her in the Great Hall," she nudged her head in that direction before they took off past her.

"Great, thanks Loony!" James squeezed her arm as they rushed past.

"I hate that nickname!" she shouted after them, not knowing that it had a different meaning to the others now. 

"We know!" Sirius laughed over his shoulder.

They arrived to the Great Hall in a panting mess after running up and down 7 flights of stairs looking for her. "Bloody hell," James gasped, only to be immediately shushed by a few students in the table closest who were trying to study. 

"Where is she?" Sirius whispered.

"There," James pointed at a table, where Cleo sat laughing at something. Sirius went forward, but James stopped him by grabbing his sleeve. "Hang on," he said, looking at who Cleo was with.

The dark haired boy with the freckles was trying to balance three different quills on his nose while Cleo laughed as quietly as she could, a large grin on her face. Her eyes gleamed and she looked far happier than she had the past couple weeks.

"What are we waiting for?" Peter squeaked.

"Yeah, my thoughts exactly," Sirius commented, furrowing his eyes at the boy with Cleo before he shrugged James off and walked over.

"That was ridiculous," Cleo muttered.

"You thought I couldn't do it," he grinned.

"I said I don't think you should, there's a difference."

"Yes but you were impressed, weren't you?" he winked. Cleo rolled her eyes playfully.

"I think you're an idiot, that's what I think," she said, smiling.

"My thoughts exactly," a voice from behind said, and Cleo turned to find the dark-haired charmer with James and Peter tagging along behind.

"Oi, that's not very nice," Cleo frowned.

"I suppose not, my deepest apologies, Salamander," Sirius mock bowed towards him.

"Skander," he muttered.

"That's what I said," he nodded. "Cleo, can we talk to you?"

Cleo was suddenly angry. Not only had he interrupted a fun time she was having with a new friend, but he went about insulting him without getting to know him.

"No you can't, I'm busy," she said, turning back to Skander.

"Cleo, it'll only take a few minutes, please," James chimed in. She sighed and closed her eyes before opening them and mouthing a quick "sorry" to Skander, who smiled kindly and nodded.

She stood up and grabbed Sirius by the ear before dragging him out of the great hall and around the corner, wincing and groaning the entire time. James and Peter followed behind, casually waving at people who gawked at the sight.

"Make it quick," she said, letting go of him and crossing her arms.

"Bloody hell woman, what was that for?" Sirius rubbed his ear.

"You know what that was for," she scolded before turning to James with an expectant look. He glanced at Sirius in fear before turning to her.

"We need your help," he started. "You're one of the only ones whose mastered nonverbal spells in our year."

"I know how to do three spells, hardly mastered," she cut in.

"Nonetheless, you know how to do it," he said. "We need you to teach us."

"All three of you?" she asked, looking at all of them individually. "What for?" she squinted. Usually, they involved her in their pranks, or at least the planning part of it. She had no idea what they were doing this for, however.

"Something secret," Peter added, but Sirius jabbed his elbow into his chest.

"A prank," Sirius added. "We're tired of getting caught by Filch because we have to say our spells out loud," he smirked.

"Oh, also, we need you to sneak into Herbology and get us three mandrake leaves," Peter added. James pinched the bridge of his nose while groaning, "Peter..."

"What? You told me to-" 

"Bloody hell, what is this for?" she groaned, before stopping frozen in her tracks. "You aren't," she looked at them disbelieving. "Do you know how dangerous this is?" she whispered.

"Which is why we came to you, because out of everyone, you wouldn't tell anyone about this and you would help us," Sirius said quickly.

"But-" she stopped, sighing. "Animagi? Really?"

"So you'll help us?" James grinned.

"You could even join us, if you wanted," Sirius shrugged. Cleo laughed bitterly.

"Yeah, no thanks."

"Why not, Cleopatra?"

"Because I don't wanna go to Azkaban, that's why!"

"Oh hush," Sirius chuckled. "None of us are ever gonna go to Azkaban."

"Literally everything about this is illegal."

"You've never had a problem with the things we do before," James commented.

"Guess I hang out with Lily too much," she rolled her eyes. James perked up at the name.

"You hang out with Lily? Does she ever talk about me?"

"Only to complain about how much of an arrogant toerag you are," Cleo smirked.

"Toerag?" he scoffed.

"Look, Cleo, will you help us?" Sirius asked, ignoring James.

She thought for a moment. "On one condition: you all promise me that you'll be careful. I think I know what this is about, but he's dangerous on those nights. I don't need all four of my best friends in the hospital wing every month, alright?" she said, looking at all of them. They all nodded at her. "Fine," she whispered. "I'll help you become an Animagus." 

woo

k so i don't think i'm gonna get to the christmas chapters before tomorrow morning (lol) so its okay ya'll can just celebrate a hogwarts christmas with the babes after christmas no biggie

also i added a few new characters to the cast list if you wanna go check em out that'd be cool

vote and comment

mwah

MERRY FLIPPIN CHRISTMAS

em