Unrelenting Fate: A Marauders Era AU

Chapter 36

New Years Eve, 1977-78

Not a week had gone by since Christmas at the Harthwood's, and James was still walking on clouds from the small kiss Adelaide had left on his cheek.

It was now the last day of the year, and he and Sirius were preparing to apparate to the celebration Adelaide's family was throwing tonight.

With two days left in the holiday break, he was counting the minutes till he would be able to see the Ravenclaw he adored so much around the castle whenever he wanted.

"Prongs, you ready yet?" Sirius asked, barging into James' room at Potter Manor, struggling to straighten his tie.

Waking from his trance over strawberry-blonde witches, James blinked up at his best mate and tried to think of something to say that wouldn't make him look like the lovesick fool he was.

"Y-yeah, I'm ready. Have the others said they were going to meet us there?" He managed.

"Peter is obviously going with Della, and I think that Remus has been with Lark and family for the last few days," Sirius said, finally getting fed up with his tie and throwing it onto the bed in frustration.

"So, you and I can now officially be classed as the lonely losers? Hanging out with my parents," James sighed, standing up and looking at his reflection in the mirror, hoping to Merlin that he appeared charming and handsome to the Harthwoods.

Fletcher intimidated him, but not nearly as much as Adelaide's brothers did, Collier especially.

If he could prove without a doubt that he was a good fit for her, worthy of even a single second of her time, then maybe he did have a chance.

"Relax, Prongs! You look like royalty!" Sirius exclaimed dramatically.

"I hope so," James whispered.

***********

Wren, for the first time in years, was nervous.

She could feel her blood pumping in anticipation for tonight.

It wasn't because of the Harthwoods, no she was used to the crazy family; they filled her with a warm feeling that showed her what it was like to have people who cared.

Something she and Adelaide had in common was that their biological parents wanted nothing to do with them.

Only Adelaide was lucky; she found a new love that burned so bright, it was almost blinding.

Wren wasn't worried about the Harthwoods, nor was she worried about the others coming to the party.

Remus, James, Peter, hell, even the Prewetts were easy enough to handle.

It was Sirius Black who made her nervous.

And this was brand new for her. Never in a million years had Wren thought that the egotistical, reckless, arrogant ... charming ... Gryffindor boy who made her blood boil would end up being the same boy who made her feel butterflies in her stomach or would be the one to make her blush.

Sirius confused her, and Wren didn't like that.

But he also showed her a different side of himself, standing up to her cold shoulder and mean nature.

He surprised her, and Wren found that it caused her to look at him in a new light.

So how was she supposed to deal with him tonight, because he was going to be there, wherever Potter went, Black followed.

Gathering up the plate of lemon curd cookies that she had baked earlier, Wren slowly made her way to the fireplace that took up nearly the entire wall of the sitting room in Gerrwick Manor.