Chapter 34- Fall to Pieces
I don't want to fall to pieces
I just want to sit and stare at you
I don't want to talk about it
And I don't want a conversation
I just want to cry in front of you
I don't want to talk about it
The next day over breakfast, James and Lily shared the new information they had acquired on their new professor, Venus
Adams. Their friends seemed shocked that Dumbledore would appoint such a woman to teach them and the six of them
watched the staff table closely that morning. Professor Adams was chatting stiffly with Professor McGonagall, who
didn't seem all that pleased with her co-worker.
Peter didn't bother to glance at the staff table as he had been secluding himself from the others activities. James noticed this but figured it was because Peter was single. The other Marauders didn't press on the matter.
"Do you think she'll be that rude in class?" Katy asked.
"I don't know but that woman is sending me a bad vibe," James said.
"Me too," Lily added, feeling a shiver go down her back.
"We'll have to see in class today," Remus said.
"Hey guys, did you post that pink notice?" Sirius asked Lily and James, pointing to a large pink sign that was taking up most of the school bulletin board. Lily and James shook their heads and walked over to investigate. Sirius followed, mainly out of curiosity. The sign read,
The James Potter Unofficial Fan Club
As many of you know, James Potter is Hogwarts Head Boy and was co-captain and Seeker of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. We feel that such a man should be recognized thus giving us ,Fawn and Sybll, the inspiration to form this club. If you are interested, please contact us.
Sincerely,
Sybll Trelawney- Fifth Year Gryffindor
and
Fawn Daniels-Fifth Year Ravenclaw
James read the message open mouthed while Lily and Sirius laughed hysterically behind him.
"Oh my god," James finally said.
"Hey, maybe I should sign up. Everyone knows that Jamie's my hero," Sirius said, batting his eyelashes and putting on a shrilly voice.
"Cut it out," James said, punching Sirius on the arm.
"I'm with Sirius," Lily said, laughing as Sirius began to fake cry.
James blushed with embarrassment. He gritted his teeth and tore up the notice. He walked back to the table and pretended that nothing had happened. He turned his head to see Snivellus laughing as Sybll and Fawn recovered the torn pieces.
James was muttering for the rest of breakfast Sirius acted out a typical meeting for the "JPFC". He was still red as he and Lily took their seats in Defense Against the Dark Arts. The class was talking as their teacher entered, casting her cold, dark eyes upon them. The entire class went silent except for Sirius who was singing.
"James Potter you rule, when we see you we drool and weeee act like a big fool. I know it's a fact, of you we often yack, of how you envy Sirius Black."
Sirius had opened his eyes and looked around, awaiting laughter or applause but all he found was the whole class staring at him, mesmerized, awaiting what their teacher was to do. Sirius saw Professor Adams and cowered down into his seat, next to Halle who was holding in her laughter.
Everyone's eyes were now on Venus Adams. She was glaring at Sirius, who was forced to glare back. She then, began to clap, slowly.
"Bravo, Mr. Black. What was that wonderful tune that you were singing?" Professor Adams asked, in a low and malicious voice.
"The James Potter fan club theme song," Sirius said without any hesitation. A few students laughed. James turned around and could have punched his best mate without any regret.
"How lovely. I bet it took you a lot of time to think of such a catchy tune. Well, I'd hope you'd put that much effort into your time in this class. Twenty points from Gryffindor for speaking or in this case singing out of turn. Out of tune would be a better reason."
Sirius was about to say "Unfair," when he felt Halle slam her foot onto his. He closed his mouth and was silenced.
"Now class, I am going to go straight into our lesson. During my years as an Auror, I have come to master certain mechanisms of defense. Today we are going to learn an important defensive spell called the Cruciatus Curse. Wands out," Venus ordered.
The whole class, slightly shocked, pulled out their wands. Venus pulled out a jar full of spiders from her desk.
"I am going to give you each a spider and you will practice the curse until you have it mastered."
She pulled out one spider and set it on her desk. Then she withdrew her own wand from the inside of her robes.
"Crucio," she said in her dark and wispy voice. The spiders legs contorted and it's limbs shook with pain.
"STOP!" Lily nearly screamed. "Please stop," she whimpered.
James saw her glancing at Halle, who was crying and rocking back and forth in her seat nervously. Sirius was holding out a comforting arm and he was a little shook up himself.
Venus stopped and the spider fell limp, moving it's legs weakly. She glared at Lily.
"Stop, Miss Evans?" she asked.
"Yes, please. Can we just stop this lesson and maybe move onto something in the NEWT curriculum. Maybe Patronuses would be better-" Lily said.
"Excuse me, who is the teacher here? I am. And also, I have this whole course written up already. I cannot just change the lesson plan, and I wouldn't because this is very crucial to your lives outside of Hogwarts. You will all perform the Curse until you have mastered it or else it's a detention with me every night for a month!" Professor Adams screamed.
"You boy," she said, pointing to Peter, "Pass out the spiders."
"This is illegal," Lily whispered to James. He nodded his head.
He put his wand away, with absolutely no intention of using it. To his dismay, nobody else followed his action. Even poor, trembling Halle was picking up her wand and watching the spider with sympathy in her eyes. Lily had performed the Curse on her third try and was now watching her spider writhe with pain, while sobbing. James sat with his arms crossed, watching his own spider scurry along the desk. Venus noticed James's behavior and walked over.
"Mr. Potter, why are you not performing your task?" she asked him.
"Because I've already mastered the spell," James said simply.
"But your spider is not harmed?" she asked him once more.
"You're a quick one. I can definitely see why Dumbledore hired you," James said sarcastically. Peter, Remus, and Sirius all sniggered quietly behind him.
"Five points from Gryffindor for your cheek and be glad it isn't more. How can you have mastered the spell without any practice?" Venus asked.
"I've practiced before," James said. The whole class had now abandoned their task and was now watching James and Venus.
"And who have you practiced on? Perhaps, Miss Douglas?" Venus asked.
"You sick woman. I would never do that to Halle, she's my friend. But, I have performed it on a Death Eater," James said. Many people in the class gasped in shock.
"You awful woman, you knew about Halle and you still did this lesson?" Katy asked, fighting tears.
"You're a sharp one girlie. As for you Mr. Potter, I'll refrain from giving you detention every night this month. I don't think I could tolerate that arrogant head of yours that long. Instead, you will serve detention one night, tomorrow, with me in my office. I'll get some manners through that thick skull of yours if it kills me," Venus spat. The bell rang. "Class dismissed."
Halle ran out of the class crying, Sirius following after her. Lily grabbed James's arm and pulled him out as he was staring at Venus with hatred burning in his heart. Remus and Katy walked out slowly, whispering quietly to one another. Venus grinned with delight as she saw other distraught people walk out of her class.
.¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸..¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸..¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸
"Remy, I need to find out what that woman is up to," Katy said, leading him to the library.
"Up to? Katy, how do you know she's up to something?" Remus asked.
"I can feel it, plus, James says he recognizes her name. His parents were Auror. I want to know what they said to him that stuck with him this long. Now, all we need to do is find out how he knows her," Katy said, with a determined look on her face.
.¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸..¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸..¸¸.·´¨»«´¨·. ¸¸
Halle paced the seventh floor corridor three times until a handle appeared allowing her to access the Room of Requirement. Sirius caught the door before it had shut and walked in. He entered a colorful room with a large canopy bed. Halle was sobbing into her pillow. Sirius walked over to the bed and sat beside her. She looked up at him puffy eyed and smiled.
"Why'd ya run?" Sirius asked.
"I didn't want you to see me like this," Halle said, wiping tears from her chocolate eyes.
"What? Beautiful? Because that's what you look like to me," Sirius said smiling.
"You think I'm beautiful?" she asked him softly. He held her face and kissed her forehead.
"I know you're beautiful. That's why I'm lucky to have you," Sirius said. She looked at him and then laughed.
"What?" Sirius asked.
"You're the world's biggest suck up," she said. "But I love you anyways."
"I love you too," Sirius said. He leaned in and kissed her on the lips, enjoying her taste. They kissed for a few more minutes until Sirius pulled away.
"What?" Halle asked.
"Hal, there is something we need to talk about and have neglected to since you returned," Sirius said sadly.
"I know, I just hoped we had moved on," Halle said.
"You broke up with me! And when you came back you expected me to ignore the fact that it happened?" Sirius shouted. Halle began to cry again.
"Listen, I'm sorry, I just need to ask you something," Sirius said.
"Anything." Halle said, sitting into Sirius's lap.
"Would you take it back?" Sirius asked. Halle and him sat in silence as she contemplated her answer.
"No," she said finally. "No, I would not take it back."
Sirius looked as if he had been slapped in the face and fiddled with something in his pocket. He stood up, sliding her onto the bed and began pacing. He frowned sadly.
"I wouldn't take it back because we wouldn't have recovered this strongly. I left you for a while and when I came back Sirius the boy had left and Sirius the man with whom I have come to love had replaced him," Halle said.
"Good sentiments," Sirius joked. "Well, I have something else to ask you. Yet, we'd have to keep it a secret.."
"Ok," Halle said, looking utterly bewildered. Sirius bent down on one knee and looked into her eyes. He pulled out a small box from his pocket.
"Halle Douglas, our relationship has lasted longer than any of my previous ones. I have conquered the impossible and fallen in love. I have come to realize that nothing else matters anymore. I love you for more than your looks, although they are rather nice, but find you intellectually stimulating and I love you for it. You are the person I try to be each day. The one I hope I'm good enough for. The one I want to make proud and the one I want to love each and every day of my life. So Halle, I ask you this, will you marry me?" Sirius asked. She opened her mouth in surprise and once more tears fell from her eyes.
"Oh Sirius, nothing would make me happier," Halle said crying. Sirius pulled out the ring and placed it gently on her finger.
"I have a house already. I don't think we should tell anyone other than our friends though. I can't risk you getting hurt," Sirius said.
"I agree, but I don't think I can wait very long," Halle said.
"You won't have to darling, you have a Marauder. A Marauder who happens to know all the passageways out of the castle and into Hogsmeade. We could do it. Tonight even. Just get married," Sirius said.
Halle nodded and smiled. She jumped up and leapt into his arms and kissed him.
"I love you Sirius Black."
"And I love you too, Halle Douglas."
They kissed happily, awaiting their future together, forever.
A/N: This was written before JKR's interview saying that Sirius never married. It was a bit cliché, but
tell me what you think; wedding & Venus Adams.