CHAPTER SEVEN !
↳ birthday boy!

                  THE NEXT FEW days went on pretty fast, and soon it was already the 3rd November, or in other words Sirius sixteenth Birthday.

And like every other year, the whole school was excited for his anual party in the Gryffindor Common room.

James drove the group of friends crazy for days now. The only thing he would talk about was the surprise party, they would throw for his best mate.

Sirius actually hated his Birthdays. He had never even told anybody that it was his birthday in the first place. But James, like he was, found out anyway.

Since then, the boy would annoy Sirius every year until the Black boy agreed to have a big Birthday Party.

Normally he ended up completely drunk because he tried to drown his sorrows in a bottle of fire whiskey. At last his friends dragged him back to the Domitory every time.

Josi thought that maybe his parents were the reason he hated his Birthday so much, but the girl always reminded herself that Sirius issues were not her business.

This morning, Sirius was still laying in his bed, having a really lovely birthday dream.

The room was quiet while James, Remus and Peter carefully tiptoed infront of his bed to wake him up, while singing Happy Birthday.

But as soon as James inhaled deeply to start singing, Sirius turned in his bed, mumbling something they couldn't understand.

James took a step closer. There was a moment of silence before Sirius murmured again. "Jo."

James eyes suddenly widened in shock. He exchanged a quick glance with Remus, who started chuckling as he pressed a hand over his mouth.

James was speechless. He stared down at his best friend and just as he was about to say something their dorm door swung open, revealing Josi, who entered the room.

"Morning, boys", the girl greeted the group of three as she quietly made her way over to James wardrobe. "Morning", Peter and Remus mumbled at once, but James just stared at her.

The brunette boy eyed his twin suspiciously before he slowly spoke up, his arms crossed over his chest.  "Jo, do you have anything you want to tell me?"

For a moment the brunette remained silent, thinking about things her brother would want to know. She shrugged with her shoulds, "No, I don't think so. Why do you ask?"

"Because-", James started his scentence but Remus quickly poked his sharp elbow in James side, glaring at the boy.

The two exchanged a look and ultimately James sighed before letting his hand hang down on his sides. "Nothing, I was just curious."

Josi walked past them with a frown on her face and opened James school bag, pulling out a quill. "What are you doing?"

"I can't find the quill mum bought me and the girls are in the great hall eating. So I just take yours", she simply stated as she pulled out his quill and walked out of the room without another word.

The three boys exchanged a look before they all turned back to Sirius, who was now slowly opening his eyes.

For the rest of the day James had the very important job to distract Sirius for half the day, so the other's could all decorate the Gryffindor common room.

The two boys had breakfast together with Remus and Peter, after that the James and Sirius pranked a few third year Slytherins.

And in the early afternoon the two decided to go to the black lake, they sat there for quiet some time just making jokes, talking about the years they had spent together and that school would be over very soon.

It was already their sixth year in Hogwarts and their time at the School came slowly to an end.

James stared out onto the lake as he suddenly spoke up, "I think I want to become an Auror, Padfoot."

Sirius turned his head and watched his best friend for a while. There was a moment of silence before Sirius nodded his head, "Me too."

James smirked at Sirius, before throwing a stone into the lake,"I will graduate, become an Auror, marry my Lily flower and have a little kid."

Sirius gave him a weird look but James sighed before he continued dreamily, "I have a feeling that it will be a boy."

Sirius couldn't hold himself back and let out a loud laugh, he shook his head. "Your insane, Prongs. Evans will never marry you! She would rather drown herself."

"Ehh, she eventually will warm up to me, mate. You'll see", James shrugged his words off and winked at his friend.

There was a moment of silence between them, only the birds chirping.

"So, what do you have planned after school? Except being an Auror", James suddenly questioned him curious. He pulled his legs up against his chest and placed his head on his knees.

Sirius shrugged carelessly without making eye contact, "I don't know! First of all, I want to leave my Family as soon as I'm off age. And I'm gonna take Regulus with me."

Their gaze met and James nodded his head with a serious look on his face, "Yeah, do that."

James agreed with him simply while they boyh looked at the lake again. "You know you and your brother will always have a home where I live."

Sirius gave him an appreciative smile before James eyes suddenly widened, "Oi, talking of future. I think that you will be my future brother in law. Jo's definitely warming up to you." He winked at his best mate playfully and poked his side.

Sirius laughed amused before he shook his head once more. "Don't be ridiculous Prongs. At the end of the 5th year she hated my guts. We're on speaking terms right now, let's be happy about that. And overall I think we are more on a friendship base."

He started smiling to himself and a smirk appeared on James face. "Yeah, yeah, lie to yourself. Well, maybe the fact that you don't snog everything with a skirt changed her mind." James chuckled slightly before he clapped Sirius onto his shoulder. 

"Shut up", Sirius said laughing as he took James into a headlock. The boys wrangle with each other until James pushed him away, still laughing out loud

James face expression then went dark, his eyes pricing through Sirius's, "Seriously, if you hurt her, I kill you."  Sirius released a deep breath as he held up his hands. "Prongs, relax mate, I'm not gonna do anything."

The two boys looked at each other before James sighed deeply and got onto his feet, "So, let's roll, it's time to get back."

When the two had finally reached the floor where their common room was located, Marleen carefully peeked out of the portrait hole.

The blond girl stated smiling as she spotted the brunettes messy head of James Potter.

The girl quickly ran back to the common room. "They are coming", the blond girl shouted towards the other's.

Josi quiet raised her wand into the air and whispered a short, "Nox."

The lights immediately went out and they all went silent. The room was completely quite and when the door to the Common room finally opened, they could hear Sirius voice. "Why is it dark in here?"

Josi couldn't stop herself form smiling before she waved her wand again, "Lumos."

The lights turned back on and they all screamed in union. "Surprise!"

Sirius jumped in surprise, "By merlin's beard!" They started laughing and at the same time the music started playing.

The group of friends then went to hug him one after the other. At last, it was Josi's turn, she had to stand on her tiptoes while she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Whispering into his ear, she smiled, "Happy Birthday, Sirius." He slightly blushed as she leaned back."Thank you."

The two stared into each other's eyes and their breathes hitched in their throats.

But the moment was interrupted by Alice, who came and dragged Josi over to the small group of people on the couch.

They sat there for a long time, drinking and chatting. But after a while, they noticed James and Sirius in the middle of the dance floor, moving like they were totally mental.

The girls started laughing uncontrollably before Josi stood up and grabbed Alice hand.

The brunette then dragged Alice over to the two boys and Lily and Marlene followed after them.

The music roared through the loudspeakers while the friends danced around each other, singing loudly.

Josephine and Marlene twirled each other around when Josi cought Sirius watching her. Their eyes met and the boy immediately looked away, which made Josi smile to herself.

The brunette girl shook her head to herself while she focused back on her friends.

Eventually the music switched to one of the slower songs. Every couple was immediately drawn to each other. Lily and Remus, Marlene and James as well as Frank and Alice stared dancing with each other, making funny faces at one another.

Josi slowly spun around and wanted to leave the dance floor until a hand appeared infront of her face.

The brunette looked up in surprise, to see a smiling Sirius standing in front of her. "Will you do me the honor and dance with the birthday boy?"

Josi have him an amused smile before she slowly shook her head, "I don't do slow dances." The brunette gave him an apologizing look, but Sirius took her hand anyway, trying to pull her back towards the other's. "Please, just one dance! It's my Birthday, Jo!"

The brunette was hesitant, but at last she rolled her eyes at him and placed her hand in his. "Fine, but only one dance!"

Sirius smiled widely at her. He softly placed his hands on her waist while Josi wrapped her arms around his neck.

They started swaying to the music while looking at each other.

A funny feeling spread through Josephine's stomach and she couldn't stop herself from smiling slightly. Sirius smiled back at her before the two started singing along to the music.

The two started laughing. "You know when someone would've told me a year ago that we would be dancing together, I would have said they are mental", Josi stated while they contiued to sway back and forth.

The boy looked down at her smiling. "What changed?", he then questioned curious, his grey eyes met her brown ones.

"I think we both became more adult over the last year, in other words, you're not a total jerk anymore", she laughed at the sight of Sirius Black, madly blushing.

The two teenagers were so absorbed in their own conversation that they didn't noticed James, Lily, Marlene and Remus watching them.

James started chuckling at the view of his twin and his best mate slow dancing with each other. "He got it bad."

"You just noticed? He's like this for months now", Marlene stated like it was obvious. In that moment they saw Dorcas Meadowes approaching the two lovebirds.

Sirius and Josi's head snapped towards the dark skinned girl, which was now standing right in front of them.

"Sirius, your brother is outside, waiting for you", Dorcas told the older Black brother with a nodd towards the portrait hole.

Sirius nodded at her, thanking the girl before he turned back to Josi. She started to push him towards the portrait hole, "Go Sirius, your brother is important."

He only smiled thankfully before he winked at her, "See you later." And with that he left the common room in a hurry.

                       IN THE LATE night, the party slowly came to an end. Most of the people had already left, but a couple of students were still in the common room.

The seven friends were seated in front of the large fire place, chatting when Sirius entered the Common room.

Josi immediately spotted the letter in his hand, which Sirius let quickly disappear into his jeans pocket.

The brunette could only assume that it was a letter from Regulus or his parents.

The boy had sorrowful wrinkles on his forehead as he flopped down onto one of the large armchairs. His mind traveling back to the conversation he'd just escaped from.

Regulus had wished his brother a happy birthday, but also informed him, that their parents weren't pleased that their eldest son would continue to surround himself with Mudbloods and blood traitors.

Sirius had snorted cynical. He really couldn't care less what his parents thought of his behavior. The boy only feared the punishmet which awaited him, when he would come home for the Holidays.

Sirius gaze wandered over his friends, his eyes still seeming absent. The boy then forced a smile on his lips, "You guys, you didn't have to stay up just to wait for me."

Remus eyed him and Josi could see that she wasn't the only one, who had noticed the condition Sirius was in. "Don't be silly. Of course we have to. It's your birthday, Pady!"

Now Sirius smile seemed a bit more authentic. His gaze wandering over them, there was silence, only the fire breaking through.

James shifted awkwardly in his seat before he grabbed a couple of sweets from besides him.

His gaze wandered off to his friends, "Oi, you know what? Mum and Dad have allowed you all to stay with us for a week after the annual Christmas party!"

Josi couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. "You moron! That was supposed to be a surprise." She scolded while hitting James over the head with a pillow.

"Oops", James eyes grew wide and the group of friends started chuckling. Marlene, Remus and Alice all agreed immediately to stay for the week but Lily and Peter had to talk to their parents first.

Sirius stayed silent the whole time, which didn't go unnoticed by Josi. The others were so excited that they didn't seem to notice Sirius sad face expression.

The brunette girl eyed him for a while, until the boy suddenly snapped out of his thoughts and met her gaze.

Josi gave him the most comforting smile she had to offer and then turned to join in on James and Marlene's conversation about the Holyhead Harpies and Puddlemere united.

Sirius continued to observe Josie, who explained that the Holyhead Harpies had won the last couple of games.

Until he suddenly heard Alice voice, which broke through to him. "Oi, Josi!  Is it true that your parents invited the MClaggen's?"

"Yes, indeed they did", Josi nodded in confirmation. Lily sighed from the other end of the couch. "Tiberius is so—"

"Hot", Marlene finished her sentence for her and Lily nodded dreamy.

James face expression darkened immediately, a frown forming on his face, "Tiberius is such a weird name."

"But he is hot, that beats the silly name", Marlene explained to him. Josi escaped a amused chuckle. "Oh and they also invited the Davis Family, so Edwin will be there as well.

Marlene's jaw suddenly dropped. "You're joking!?", she exclaimed while standing up.

"He is most likely the most handsome guy in this school!", she went on, while jumping up and down excited.

Edwin Davis was in sixth year and the very handsome Captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. He had those ocean blue eyes that you could drown in and those chocolate brown fluffy hair, which made the girls swoon over him.

"Oiii", Sirius shouted loudly from where he was seated. "Shut up, Sirius!", the group exclaimed in union while laughing.

Alice suddenly caught everyone's attention as she smirked widely. "And I think he fancy's Josephine." She winkined at the brunnette.

"Don't be silly Alice, he would never fancy me!", Josi spoke up looking into the fire. There was this awkward silence again, before Sirius suddenly spoke up. "Who wouldn't fancy you !?"

They all stared at him and Sirius suddenly realized what had just escaped his mouth.

The two teenagers blushed madly while the other's remained silent. After a moment Peter cleared his throat, changing the topic. "So let's give Sirius our presents!"

To Sirius relief they all quickly agreed to Peter's Idea. James gifted Sirius a prank set from Zonko's while Remus and Peter bought him all kinds of sweets from Honeydukes.

Lily on the other hand, had bought the boy the newest records from the Beatles and Marlene and Alice decided to get him a new Perfume.

Sirius had decided to opened Josi's present at the end. As he unpacked it his face changed to one of surpris, "You did not."

A wide grin made it's way onto his face. Josi smile lightly, praying that he would like her gift. "I hope you like it, I wasn't sure if it was the right choice. I mean you already have one so —"

The boy smiled widely while held up the black leather jacket for everyone to see. "Are you joking? It is perfect !" he stood up and tried the jacked on.

"It fits perfectly", he grinned, walking towards her, he embracing the brunette in a big hug.

The girl felt his warm breath against her ear while the boy pressed her small body against his chest. His voice was a low whisper, "Thank you, Josi."

The girl blushed a bit while she drew back from him. "Your welcome."