☽☽☽
ATHENA STARED DOWN AT HER SUITCASE wondering why she suddenly felt as though she had nothing to wear to this party. That wasn't entirely the case, she'd been to many Gryffindor parties and worn many of the outfits squashed into her bag however in this moment none of them seemed quite right.
"Are you ready?" Tessa asked as she walked out of the bathroom looking pretty wearing orange flares and a blue flowy top. Her long brown hair had been tied up into a high ponytail that swished carelessly around her.
"Why aren't you ready?" The brunette frowned as she walked over, her clunky shoes making a rather loud sound against the floor, "it's quarter to seven"
"Can't decided what to wear" Rena sighed, "first party of the year you know?"
"Exactly so if you don't like the outfit you wear this time, you can wear a better one next time" Tessa smiled, "I'll be waiting downstairs with Tommy but don't take too long, we need you to get us into the party remember"
Athena nodded in agreement as she stared back to the colourful jumble of clothes lining her bag.
Eventually the girl decided that Tessa was right, it didn't even matter what she wore. Who was she trying to impress anyway? Athena settled with her favourite bright coloured jumper and a tight skirt paired with some boots that didn't quite match up to Dorcas' standards.
She rushed down the long winding staircase into the Ravenclaw common room looking around to see where her friends had gone. The Ravenclaw common room was the best one in the school (though Athena may have a bias opinion). It was blue themed with towered walls of books and two huge windows that looked out over the surrounding hills.
The twins were sat one one of the velvet arm chairs laughing to one another as Athena approached,
"There you are!" Tessa grinned jumped up in excitement, "gosh I do love a good Gryffindor party".
It was true that Gryffindor house threw the best parties imaginable, other houses tried to compete but none of them even came close.
"You look great" Tommy smiled as the three of them made their way to the door,
"Course she does" Tessa laughed, "you always look great Rena"
"Thanks Tessie" Athena smiled in response, "must get it from you"
The trio prayed that they wouldn't come into contact with any teachers as they snuck out of the west wing and down one of the changing stone staircases.
Athena mad made her way to the Gryffindor common room so many times that she wouldn't even have to have her eyes open in order to lead them there.
As they rounded the final corner Rena spotted Dorcas standing with her arms crossed outside the portrait of the Fat Lady (more politely known as Elizabeth). She was leant against the wall looking as though she'd just stepped out of a fashion catalogue in her stunning blue tie dress.
"There you are" she smiled in relief, "I was catching a chill out here"
"Sorry Dorcas" Tessa smiled, "someone couldn't decide what to wear" she side eyed Rena with a smirk.
"Well you're here now" Dorcas smiled as she grabbed hold of Athena's hand, "come on the parties just started"
"Doxies" Dorcas muttered to Elizabeth who swung open obligingly, she looked rather disgruntled probably because of the loud music ebbing from the tower.
Inside the Gryffindor common room had a completely different feel to the Ravenclaw one. There was a raging fire place warming the room and giving it a gentle glow.
Sofas had been pushed back to provide space to dance which was being used by students of all ages. Athena immediately spotted James and Sirius doing some sort of weird Irish jig in the centre of a circle.
The ceilings were high and many stone staircases led to many different rooms. The windows were smaller than the ones in Ravenclaw tower and looking out over the lake rather than the hills.
"Do you want a drink?" Dorcas asked as she slipped her arm over Rena's shoulder.
Tessa and Tommy made their way off to talk to some Hufflepuff's in their year who seemed to be watching the fun from afar.
"I'll take a butter beer" Athena shrugged.
Towards the back of the room sat a large drinks table with many bottles although few of them were actually alcoholic. James and Sirius were rather brilliant at sneaking into the kitchens, not that they told anyone how they did it. This meant they had a wide range of drinks that seemed never ending.
Dorcas grabbed two bottles of butter beer and passed one to Rena. She opened her own by hitting the cap off the edge of the table which effectively popped it off. Athena considered trying this herself but decided she'd probably end up smashing the bottle. Instead she took to using the bottle opener.
"Come on, they're sitting by the window"
Dorcas and Athena walked over to one of the larger windows where there was a few comfortable seats laid out. Remus, Mary, Lily and Peter were already seated there holding their own bottles and talking amongst themselves.
"I'm going to dance with Marls" Dorcas announced as she eyed the energetic blonde swaying her hair on the dance floor, "I'm guessing you're not up to dancing just yet"
"Give me an hour and I'll join you" Athena smiled as Dorcas turned and paced over towards her friend.
"Rena!" Lily smiled happily as the girl made her way over, "here, come sit with me" she moved along making a gap on the sofa that Athena lightly placed herself into.
Remus and Mary were currently sharing one arm chair and Athena decided it was best not to look at them right now. Peter was sat awkwardly on a foot stool as he stared wistfully as James and Sirius.
"I love your outfit" Lily gasped as she looked her over, "honestly Rena you could wear a bin bag and look incredible"
"You're too sweet Lil" Athena grinned, "don't feel like dancing?"
"James has already asked me to dance twelve times so I'm making a point by just sitting here"
"James isn't all that bad you know" Peter piped up, "he really likes you"
"Then he should take a hint" Lily shrugged, "I have nothing against him I just don't approve of how he treats others"
"I bet you'll end up with him by seventh year" Mary smiled lightly, "I can see you two being together".
The auburn haired girl just scoffed before taking a rather larger swig of butter beer.
"You two aren't dancing?" Athena asked Mary and Remus, her eyes collided with her best friends and she felt her stomach do backflips. Usually the two of them spent most of their time together however it seemed this year Mary was even more determined to be with him at all times.
"I tried to get him to dance but he's too proper" Mary joked as she smiled down at Remus who just flushed pink,
"I'm terrible at dancing" he muttered, "anyway it seems James and Sirius are doing perfectly well at performing every dance known to man kind as possible".
Athena turned to see that they had now taken to doing the tango, they strutted through the crowds barging people out the way as they went.
"Yeah I can see that" Athena laughed,
"They always have to be the centre of attention" Lily rolled her eyes before turning back to the group, "we have the better half of the marauders sitting right here"
Peter beamed happily at this statement but Remus just laughed in a way that suggested he didn't agree.
"RENA" a voice called from behind the place the group were sitting, heads turned to see Sirius and James running over, "when did you get here?"
"About ten minutes ago" Athena shrugged, "I think you were too busy doing the tango to notice"
"We we good though weren't we" James beamed, "I think it may be our speciality.
"If you're talking about making fools out of yourselves then yes, that's your speciality" Lily smirked
"Now now Evans we know you love it really" Sirius tutted, "anyway Rena now you're here, come dance with us"
His eyes twinkled down at her as he held out one of his perfectly slender pale hands.
"Um... yeah ok" she shrugged knowing she was bound to regret this later. She made one swift look back at Lily who seemed rather disappointed and Mary and Remus who were too busy staring at each other to notice.
The song changed and suddenly 'I Want You Back' by the Jackson 5 was blaring through the speakers.
"I love this song!" Sirius beamed as he grabbed hold of Athena's hands,
"What is it with you and your obsession with muggle music?" The girl laughed as Sirius spun her around energetically.
"It's so much better than wizarding music" he smiled down, "plus I started listening to it to rebel more against my parents which is a bonus" he added with a wink.
"You're not even ready for this Rena" James grinned as he and Sirius smirked at each other. As the music started the girl felt two hands on her shoulders and she turned to see Marlene beaming from behind her shortly followed by Dorcas.
"You've come at a bad time" Athena laughed as James and Sirius broke into song.
"When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around, those pretty faces always made you stand out in the crowd"
They sang while dramatically pointing at the girls who just laughed,
"But someone picked you from the bunch, one look was all it took, now it's much too late for me to take a second look"
"Oh baby give me one more chance" everyone belted out in harmony.
"To show you that I love you" James added in a deeper voice,
"Won't you please let me, back in your heart"
"Oh darling I was blind to let you go"
"To let you go baby" Sirius and James both added in this time.
"But now since I see you in his arms"
"I want you back"
"Yes I do now" Sirius yelled dramatically using his bottle as a microphone.
"Oh shit" Marlene's smile dropped as she stared over to the opening of the common room where five Slytherins had just entered.
"I was just having fun as well" Dorcas rolled her eyes as anger flashed over the faces of Sirius and James.
Snape, Avery, Mulicber, Regulus Black and Kennedy Vulpes were standing now looking around the room as the group stormed over.
"Get out" James barked, "no one invited you"
"Now now Potter" Avery smirked evilly, "we just want to join the party... the more the merrier, eh?"
"What's going on?" Heads turned to see Lily striding over, her eyes connected with Snape's who blushed immediately.
"I didn't invite him if that's what you're thinking" Lily snapped at Sirius who was raising his eyebrows at her.
"All of you get out" Dorcas stated calmly,
"I didn't want to come with them" Kennedy noted as she pointed between Avery and Mulciber, "I was just coming with these two but they followed us"
"You weren't invited anyway Vulpes" Sirius scowled, "and neither were you" he turned to his younger brother who just smiled at him sarcastically.
"Kenny can stay" Athena defended,
"Did you invite her?" Black piped up.
"No I didn't" Athena defended, "but I also don't see a reason to kick her out"
"Her being a psycho is enough of a reason" Sirius snapped, "wheres your little toy anyway Vulpes?"
"If you mean the bat I'm going to beat you up with, I left it in the common room" she smiled sweetly, "but I assure you that you will be seeing it soon"
"Right all of you out" James shouted, "throw your own party and stop crashing ours"
"But that's no fun" Mulciber smirked,
"No one wants either of you two here" Kennedy scowled at the two boys, "why'd you follow us anyway?"
"Severus invited us" Avery grinned to which both Kennedy and Lily scowled at the black haired boy.
"Let's just go back a bit" Sirius muttered, "no one wants any of you here"
"Rena wants me here" Kennedy smiled challengingly at Sirius, to which Athena avoided his hard gaze,
"Just let them stay" Marlene shrugged "what they gonna do?"
"They're not" James yelled in a fluster, "that's not— this is our party" he finished feebly.
"They're only looking for a fight" Marlene continued, "don't give it to them"
The blonde flipped her hair before walking the other way. Sirius glared at the group one more time before pulling James away back towards the dance floor.
"This is a bad idea" Lily muttered to Rena before she moved over to talk to Snape.
Kennedy beamed at Athena as she walked over,
"I promise I didn't actually invite those two idiots" Kennedy explained as they walked over to the drinks table, "I thought it was safe asking Snape but he's turning into them more and more everyday"
"They're vile" Athena agreed, "Avery and Mulciber that is... I didn't know you were friends with Regulus"
"Reg is sweet" Kennedy explained as she grabbed herself a butter beer, "much nicer than Sirius" she added with a scowl,
"You know I don't understand why Gryffindor's and Slytherins always feel the need to hate each other, you'd probably get on if you weren't so prejudiced about it" Athena rolled her eyes.
"You should tell them that not us" Kennedy frowned, "they're the ones going round bullying us for no reason"
"Kenny we both know it's not entirely one sided, how many times have you threatened Sirius with that bat now?"
"Not enough" she replied with a smile, "though I guess your right... anyway apologies for crashing the party, it was my idea"
"I thought it might be" Athena smirked, "you always seem to love coming places you aren't invited, how'd you know about it anyway?"
"Gryffindor always have a party on the first day" Kennedy laughed as she rested against the wall, "doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to figure it out"
"Fairs" Athena replied as she stared over at Avery who was making a very poor attempt at speaking to Marlene who was pointedly ignoring him.
"They're vile" Kennedy sighed, "in fact so is Sev at the moment, called some poor second year a mudblood on our way down here"
"He did what?" Athena snapped in anger,
"I think he was just showing off in front of those two slugs but I don't understand it, all the blood prejudice stuff like for fucks sake Mulciber can't even tie his own shoe laces so I don't think he's in any place to be judging other people"
Athena laughed lightly as her eyes drifted to the other 'slug' who's shoe laces were indeed untied.
"Anyway" Kennedy smirked, "I'd love to stay and chat but I've left poor Reg all alone"
Eyes shifted to the younger Black brother, his eyes were slightly brighter that Sirius' and his hair was slightly shorter and more curly but apart from that they looked rather similar,
"See you later Kenny" Rena grinned before the girl slunk off in her usual un bothered manned.
Athena looked around the room again to try and spot whether Remus had finally escaped away from Mary yet however she almost dropped her drink when her eyes landed on them snogging.
It didn't seem like Remus at all however she was sure he didn't instigate it, he looked rather awkward as he tried to figure out where to put his hands.
"Lovely isn't it?" Sirius drawled in a sarcastic manner, "now I may not be entirely classy but I at least find myself a room if I'm going to snog some girls face off,
"How charming of you Sirius" Athena laughed as she dragged her eyes away from her best friend,
"Finally escaped the psychopath I see" Sirius grinned.
"Kenny isn't that bad you just don't like her because she's a Slytherin who hangs around with Snape... and your brother"
"That's not true" grunted Black, "I don't like her because she keeps threatening to beat me up"
"I wonder why" Athena smirked presuming that Sirius had chosen to ignore her.
"You wanna get out of here?" Sirius turned back to her, his face to close to hers that Athena could spell the mint lingering on his breath,
"I'm alright thanks Sirius, I've known you long enough to know what that means"
"I'm not making a move on you Rena" Sirius grinned, "I've known you long enough to know that wouldn't work... I'm merely wondering if you want to go somewhere else... this parties getting rather boring since those Slytherins arrived"
"Fine then" Athena shrugged as she placed her drink down, she didn't want to have to see Mary snogging Remus for a moment longer,
"Great" Sirius smirked as he reached down and took Athena's hand, his touch was cold matching his icy eyes as the two of them exited the common room.
The corridors were completely deserted but footsteps could be heard as prefects paced round looking for students to reprehend,
"Shouldn't Remus and Lily be out doing this" Athena muttered as they rounded another corner, she had no idea where Sirius was taking her but she decided not to ask.
"Probably" Sirius shrugged, "surprised you didn't make prefect"
"Me?" Athena laughed, "have you met Claire, she's the most prefect person I've ever encountered"
"I guess that's true" Sirius continued as he led Athena up some stairs.
"Where are we going?" She finally asked having been walking for around ten minutes,
"My favourite place in the school" he muttered as they ascended one final flight of stairs.
"The astronomy tower" Athena gasped softly as they pushed their way through the entrance.
It was a large circular tower with a beautiful revolving sculpture of several moons that shone and curved around one another. The sides were open in order to get a good view of the stars which were particularly clear tonight against the darkened sky.
"You come here a lot?" Athena asked as the two of them took a seat by one of the large open walls.
"Yeah" Sirius sighed as he looked out at the sky, "it's amazing isn't it... how small we are in comparison to the world"
"I guess I've never thought about it" Athena replied, "I've always loved the stars though"
"My family are obsessed with them, think we're apart of them which is of course why we're all named after them"
"If I didn't know how terrible your family was I'd admire the name choices"
"Well Sirius is still a great name even if it was given by two self entitled pricks" Sirius winked.
"You see that one there" he lifted his hand to point at one of the brighter constellations, "that's the andromeda galaxy"
"It's beautiful" Athena murmured,
"It's one of the brightest galaxies ever" he explained, "also the name of my favourite cousin"
"Did I hear incorrectly or did you just say that you liked one of your family members?"
"Shocking I know" Sirius laughed, "Dromeda's different, left the family a few months ago to be with a muggle called Ted"
"I like the sound of her" Athena smiled gently, "fitting that she's named after the brightest"
"Didn't astronomy use to be your favourite subject?" Asked Sirius,
"Still is" Athena explained, "my sisters determined to be the teacher one day... said I should be too but I'm not sure I have the patience to teach"
"Why does she want to teach it?" He asked curiously.
"Well" Athena paused as she turned to look at him, the stars were reflecting in his eyes as he stared at her. She didn't love talking about this but in this moment she would have told Sirius everything. She felt weirdly close to him, she felt as though she could trust him.
"My brother" Athena smiled sadly, "he ... he loved the stars and me and Rory used to tell him stories about them and mythology and all that, he loved it, was his favourite thing in the world"
"I didn't know you had a brother?" Sirius frowned, "how old is he?"
"Um... he died" Athena whispered feeling her breath catch in her throat, "he would have been twelve now... was six when ... when it happened"
"Rena I'm so sorry" Sirius muttered as he pulled the girl close to his chest, "I shouldn't have asked... I'm sorry"
"It's alright... his name was Archer"
"Nice name" he smiled softly as he rested his chin on the top of her head,
"Tell me to fuck of if I'm being insensitive but... how did it happen"
Athena froze as she looked at the andromeda galaxy almost seeing the scene as it replayed before her eyes,
"Fire" she murmured quietly, "he died in a fire"
☽☽☽
A/n
Words - 3503
Published - 28th December 2020
If you're thinking 'I thought this was a Remus fic,'
Then don't worry it is
However there is no rushing things here it's quite slow burn
Also there may or may not be something
brewing between Athena and Sirius ...
We'll see what happens there
One last thing
There's more to to the fire storyline than meets the eye