Chasing The Stars | Marauders | Sirius Black

29 ~ Yesterday

After listening to list of at least one hundred reasons, surrounded by her friends, Eloise watched as Cameron was stood on Gryffindor Table, a single red rose in his hand,

"And that, Beautiful, is why you should go out with me" he concluded, grinning, his deep, blue eyes twinkling in excitement. Eloise laughed slightly and looked around, the majority of the Great Hall was clapping and some whoops came from the Ravenclaw table, presumably Cameron's friends. Lily was jumping up and down and Marlene was shrieking in excitement. Eloise turned her gaze to the boys and felt her heart drop slightly. They were all looking worriedly at Sirius, even Peter looked nervous. Remus had a hand on Sirius' shoulder, when he saw Eloise looking their way, he smiled weakly but Eloise knew him well enough to know it wasn't sincere. James had his arms crossed, scowling at Cameron, his hazel eyes narrowed to slits and his lip curled in distaste. Sirius had a face like thunder, his fists were clenched by his sides and he was doing that thing with his jaw. His eyes were brimming with anger and hurt, the multitude of different shades of grey swirling into one in the middle, like a tornado, his heart being thrown around at the eye of the hurricane. Eloise had a hard time looking away from them and her smile faltered at the sigh of the broken boy. She watched as he shrugged off Remus' arm and turned up his collar, walking out he glanced back, as he met Eloise's eye he didn't make a face or flip her off, he just looked at her, with a wounded expression on his face...no anger, no resentment, just pure hurt.

~~~

The cozy and welcoming ambiance of the Three Broomsticks was ideal for Eloise and Cameron's first date. They were sat opposite each other in a booth, their tankards of butterbeer warming their chilly hands, perfectly content in one another's company, that was until Cameron looked over Eloise shoulder and his eyebrow raised,

"Uh oh" he said with a smirk and Eloise frowned, Cameron leant forward and lowered his voice, "Were you aware of the fact that your brother and his best mate are watching us rather intently right now" he said good-naturedly and Eloise groaned. Sure enough, when she looked over her shoulder, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter were sat two tables behind them. James and Sirius not moving their eyes from Cameron, Peter was watching Madame Rosmerta behind the bar and Remus was smiling apologetically at Eloise, occasionally mouthing, "I'm so sorry".

Eloise turned back to her date and she had an idea, she grinned and stood up, moving to sit next to Cameron,

"Um, what are you doing Beautiful?" he asked, smiling slightly as she leant into his side,

"Let them stare" she whispered, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. Cameron caught on to what she was doing and snaked an arm around her waist, pulling her into him further. She grinned at him and glanced back at the boys, Sirius and James' stares had become more intense as their brows furrowed at the public displays of affection. "So, do you want to give them something to stare at?" she asked him, her voice lowered to a whisper and Cameron bit his lip,

"That depends" he told her, a sly grin on his face, "What in particular would they be staring at?" he asked and Eloise smiled, tapping her nose whilst Cameron leant in. Their faces inches apart, Eloise moved forward and closed the distance between them, lightly kissing him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and felt one of his hands in her hair when there was a loud cough from behind them.

They broke apart to see James and Sirius at their table. James stood with his hands on his hips and Sirius with his arms crossed, they both bore the same expression, an expression that Eloise had no doubt that they learnt from her mother, Euphemia Potter.

"What an Earth do you think you're doing?" James asked, his tone accusatory and his eyes trained on Cameron, however, Eloise answered,

"Leaving" she grabbed Cameron's hand and stood up, pushing past the boys, she left the pub. Hearing their footsteps behind them, she turned to Cameron,

"Do you want to know what it feels like to be hoisted into the air by your ankle?" she asked and he shook his head,

"Not particularly, no"

"Then, run!"

~~~

Seeking refuge in Honeydukes, Eloise and Cameron scanned the shelves of confectionary,

"So, what's your favourite sweet?" Cameron asked, his arm wrapped around Eloise waist. She grinned at pointed to a certain section at the front of the shop,

"Peppermint Toads!" she said, rushing over and picking up as many boxes as she could manage,

"Really? I've never much been a fan of peppermint" Cameron shrugged, picking up the boxes that Eloise had dropped. He didn't like peppermint? How could someone not like peppermint? She thought, deciding to ignore the huge, flashing warning sign that had just presented itself with Cameron's confession, Eloise took out her wand and levitated the chocolate she wished to buy,

"How about you?" she asked as they wandered around the sweetshop,

"For me it's always been Liquorice Wands" he said with a grin and walked towards the stand holding his preferred delicacy. Eloise had a look of pure horror on her face that Cameron fortunately missed. So he doesn't like peppermint, but he'd happily chew, swallow and digest black liquorice? It was safe to say, Eloise wasn't the biggest fan of aforementioned sweet so steered very clear of that particular area of the shop.

~~~

"Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away" Sweet singing and the strum of a guitar filled Eloise's ears as she was walking up the stairs to the boys dormitories looking for James,, "Now it looks as though they're here to stay" she followed it, moving closer and closer to the culprit, closer and closer to the dorm she realised belonged to the Marauders, "Oh, I believe in Yesterday". Once she had reached the door, she didn't go in, hoping to hear more of the boy, he sounded so familiar, but she had never heard that singing voice before, it almost sounded like...

"Why she had to go, I don't know" Eloise pushed open the door as quietly as she could. There, sat on his bed with a guitar, was Sirius Black. His eyes were closed and his fingers were gently strumming against the strings of the instrument, his voice filling the room,

"She wouldn't say

I said something wrong

Now I long for Yesterday

Yesterday

Love was such an easy game to play

Now I need a place to hide away

Oh, I believe in yesterday"

Sirius' eyes opened and he sang the last chord. His eyes were as wide as saucers and he hurriedly put down his guitar,

"Lou! I- uhh"

"Sirius" her voice was breathy and shocked, "That was beautiful" a blush rose on Sirius cheeks and he rubbed the back of his neck, "I mean, really! I didn't know you could sing" she said, walking over and sitting cross-legged on the end of his bed. Sirius just shrugged and Eloise knew he wasn't about to talk about it so she changed the subject, "Things with Cameron sort of went downhill after we left" she told him and his face lit up,

"Really?"

"Well, we had fun and I definitely intend on going on more dates with him" she said and Sirius' face dropped again, "But, he-he likes liquorice!" she shouted and Sirius gasped,

"No!" he said and Eloise nodded, a smile finding its way onto her face,

"Yes! And, get this, he doesn't like peppermint!"

"The nerve!" Sirius exclaimed, a grin on his handsome face. Laughter erupted and the pair were giggling hysterically. Sirius grabbed Eloise hand and pulled her into his chest for a hug, she wrapped her arms around his waist,

"I'm really sorry Puff, I was wrong and stupid. I know you weren't trying to attract attention, I think I was just jealous because you weren't giving me any" Sirius chuckled and Eloise smiled,

"Don't worry, I'm sorry too"

"Love you Puff" he said quietly and Eloise grinned into his shirt,

"Love you too Pads..." she pulled away from the hug and looked at him, "Don't think of me as a pushover for forgiving you Sirius Black...I just missed you, that's all" Sirius grinned at his small friend,

"Ditto Ickle Potter, ditto"