The Game

The Summer of the Fifth

The summer of their fifth year was something Delilah was looking forward to greatly. While she loved the colder months because it meant cozy sweaters, being at Hogwarts, hot cocoa, and Christmas, she couldn't deny that her heart belonged to summer. She loved the parties her family threw, the cicadas and the fireflies, but most of all the warmth that filled the air. Summer was truly magical.Sirius had never disagreed with Delilah more. He hated Summer. For one it meant he had to leave the only place that truly felt like home, it made his hair frizzy with the humidity, he couldn't see his best mates for the majority of it, and he was trapped in a house with his blood status crazed family. Stepping of the train Sirius let out a deep sigh. Delilah glanced over and felt bad for the boy. One thing she would never admit to anyone, the only thing she hated about summer was not getting to see Sirius. Especially knowing he was miserable. She sent little gifts in all of James letters. Mostly candy, but sometimes special quills and books.
He was staring out the window with his head propped up on his hand with Delilah and Remus seated across from him.
"Well kiddies, I'm off to do my perfect rounds. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
He said giving Delilah's hair a tussle.
The door to the compartment closed behind the scar faced boy and Delilah took the opportunity to change seats. Sirius was so lost in self pity, he didn't notice.
"Hey."
She said snapping him out of his thoughts.
"My,my, is the Delilah Potter sitting next to me willingly?"
"The Delilah Potter is going to move seats if the Sirius Black is a twat about it."
Sirius chuckled but raised his hands in surrender.
"Are you coming to ours at all this summer?"
Delilah asked.
Sirius just sighed.
"Probably not, my parents are going to want me at home to mingle with the other pureblood supremacists and socialites."
"Hey our family is pure blooded!"
Delilah stated indignantly. At this Sirius just chuckled.
"Yes but your family associates themselves with muggle borns."
This time Delilah sighed.
"I'm sorry the summers always suck for you."
Sirius just smiled dryly.
James Potter entered the compartment with a loud thud and a Cheshire grin on his face.
"Am I interrupting something?"
"I was just telling Black how much of a tosser." Delilah said nudging the boy and smirking.
"And I was telling your sister how glad I am to be rid of her for the summer."
He said with a wink.
The two chuckled to themselves.
"You guys are weird."
James said squishing between them.
"Anyway back to me, why won't Lily give me a hug goodbye? Isn't she going to miss me?"
He said leaning his head on Sirius's shoulder.
Delilah rolled her eyes and stole another glance at Sirius. He still looked solemn but less like he wanted to jump out of the train, so it was a win in her eyes.
Remus and Peter rejoined the group shortly and the five enjoyed the rest of their train ride, with a game of exploding snaps.
By the time they had pulled back into kings cross station the group had gotten sad that they had to split, even if it was only for a short while. Remus and Peter would come over almost every day, but Sirius knew the coming months would be the worst of the year.
Hopping off the train the Potter siblings spotted their mother waving at them and turned to their friends.
"I'm going to miss you guys!"
James cried throwing his arms around Remus and Peter.
"James, we're literally coming over Sunday."
Remus said with a chuckle.
"Yeah but it's not the same as waking up in the same room every morning. You have no idea who you're leaving me with! She's mean!"
He said pointing at his sister, who hit his arm in response.
"You sure you can't come over at all?"
Remus asked placing his hand on Sirius's arm.
"No my mother is cracking the whip ever since Reg told her about our latest prank."
"The toads in the prefects bathroom?"
James asked with a chuckle.
"How could you not know? How many pranks did you pull this year?"
"Oh Delilah, if only you knew."
Delilah gave Remus and Peter a quick hug and the stopped in front of the black haired boy.
"Take care of yourself will you? And stay out of trouble. If James loses you he'll never leave me alone."
"Hello? I can hear you! I'm literally standing right here!"
James whined.
"I will, and Delilah?"
"Yes?"
"If you're going to keep sending me presents. Can you send more sugar quills?"
Delilah's cheeks turned bright red.
"I-how did you-
"I tried asking James and he's either really bad at covering for you or he didn't know so I kind of figured."
"It's just because I know you have rotten summers!"
"Delilah and Padfoot sitting in a tree...."
James whisper sang.
"Delilah it's fine, thank you."
He said and he leaned down to place a kiss on her cheek.
Delilah was speechless as the long haired Gryffindor walked off to where Walburga Black was waiting impatiently with Regulus.
James eyed Delilah's bright red face before taking off into a sprint while singing
"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"
"Shut up James!"
"First comes love!"
"I'm warning you!"
"Then comes marriage!"
"Don't you dare finish it James!"
"THEN COMES BABY IN A BABY CARRIAGE!"
"That's it! I'm going to kill you!"
She took off after her brother who had spot their mother and dove behind her.
"Mom! She's trying to hurt me!"
"He's tormenting me!"
"Delilah stop chasing your brother. James quit harassing your sister!"
Euphemia said with a laugh. She truly had missed their antics. With a wave to Remus and Peter, the Potters headed home.

The first couple weeks of summer went by uneventfully. Remus and Peter were over almost every day and things were good. Of course everyone missed Sirius, but they wrote to him and he seemed to be fairing well.
But he had let slip that his family was getting more extreme in their beliefs. Apparently the Malfoys, the Lestranges, and all the members of the sacred 28 had been over making plans Sirius couldn't talk about over owl. Darkness was creeping in on Delilah's perfect summer as the papers started to show muggles being attacked by dark wizards and people being obsessed with blood status. Delilah had never been more grateful to be a pureblood in her life.