Black-Haired Girl in The Rain
Theme 70: Team


James landed to the ground with a clunk, spraying mud, water and more mud and water in all directions.

"That was awesome, team!" he said proudly, grinning despite the incessant rain. Sirius shook water out of his dark, messy hair, giving his best mate a thumbs-up.

"That was wicked, Prongs," he declared, as the two left the pitch together. And it had been wicked. For Sirius, the more dangerous things were, the better. Always.

That, and the fact he could see a certain, black-haired girl he adored blushing every time he winked down at her from a height.


The title is derived from Boney M's song 'Brown Girl in The Rain.'

Training Evil
Theme 81: Depression


“You don’t say.”

Bellatrix’s voice was curt. In her depression, Narcissa hid a sob. “I c-can’t b-believe h-he f-forgot m-my b-birthday,” she said tearfully.

“I certainly can,” Bellatrix said coldly. Sighing, she sat down next to her sister. “Cissy, look here.”

Narcissa looked up, right into Bellatrix’s heavy-lidded eyes. Steel – That was what they were like.

“Listen to me,” Bellatrix began. “You are a Black. You are also, unfortunately, my younger sister. Blacks do not cry. Bellatrix Black’s younger sister does not cry. Is that understood?”

Narcissa nodded. Satisfied, Bellatrix rose. Narcissa, she knew, had potential. She just needed training.

Merry, Merry Days
Theme 77: Cheerful


Walburga Black hummed to herself as she swept into the drawing room, her grand, sable robes flapping around her. Orion, seated leisurely, looked at her over his copy of the morning's Daily Prophet.

"You certainly seem cheerful today, love," he said, in his customary, good-natured way, laying down his newspaper.

But 'cheerful' was not the word. Walburga seemed ecstatic. She laughed blithely at his remark, looking as if she was fit to burst with delight. "Ori, I'm pregnant!"

Orion jumped up, clearly happy. "Why, that's wonderful, Burga!"

- It was going to be a merry, merry day.

Appearance Can Be Deceptive
Theme 71: Untie


Birthday presents!

Excited, though not showing it as Narcissa would have, Bellatrix Black dug into her heap of gifts. There was a set of expensive perfumes from her mother, unicorn-hair gloves from her father, a golden key that was meant to 'unlock any door' from Andromeda, Narcissa's usual, all-too-feminine gift of make-up...

But she was looking for Rodolphus's present, at the moment. Then she found it. Wrapped in Slytherin green, a colour she adored. With a flick of her wand, she untied the silver ribbon - and scowled heavily.

– Inside was a box of chocolates.

Gnomes For Company
Theme 75: Yodel


There was a loud screech. Sirius jumped up. "What's that?" he asked, looking at the group of people around him.

"Sounds like Percy yodelling in the shower," Fred suggested. "Don't worry, Sirius, it must be the gnome Luna brought with her," George related, laughing.

Apparently, it was. Because, seconds later, Luna trotted into the room, a gnome tucked under her arm. The poor gnome was not too happy, though it soon found out that trying to bite Luna resulted in no good.

Sirius, in his seat, could not help chuckling.

- Ah, it was suh-weet to have company.

Homework in ‘Ruins’
Theme 69: Slap


Working on her homework, Andromeda Black half slapped her forehead in frustration. “This is going nowhere,” she told Sirius unhappily, seated next to him by the considerably cold water of the lake.

“Why?” Sirius asked, curious to see what she had messed up this time, and pulling the parchment she was working on closer to himself. “Ancient Runes was never your strong subject, was it?” he asked, looking up from the ink-splattered piece of work with a faint smile.

Andromeda shook her head. “Nope. I wouldn’t get it if it chased me all over the grounds wearing your Quidditch robes.”

In Worrying Nights
Theme 68: Roar


Sweat trickled down Sirius Black’s forehead. Remus leapt at him again with a howl of rage, blood dripping down his injured paw.

“I don’t know how he escaped,” Peter whimpered, standing at the door. “I was guarding him, honest –”

“Peter, shut up,” Sirius yelled as, with another roar, Remus attacked him. A hoary stag swept past like a flash of lightning, holding Remus back. “Padfoot, hurry,” James said, changing to human form as Remus prepared to attack again. “Fix his paw, quick.”

Sirius nodded, his wand aloft. “I’m trying. Hold him back for a second – and wish me luck.”

All My Fault
Theme 97: Dictionary


“Mommy, what does romance mean?” three year old Nymphadora questioned, her wide, blue eyes shining with curiosity. Andromeda, laying down her patchwork, smiled at the Metamorphmagus that was her daughter.

“It means –” she began, but Ted cut across.

“Go look in your little dictionary, sweetie,” he told his daughter, whose eyes grew even wider as she contemplated the possibility. Once she had half crawled, half walked away, Ted turned to Andromeda.

“Let her search,” he advised. “She’s going to find something really unique for herself, someday.”

Years later, when Tonks married Remus, all he said was: “All my fault.”

Of Thirsts Unquenched
Theme 67: Quell


It was a hot, unhappy day. Narcissa Black, standing in the huge, Indian garden, wiped sweat off her face.

“Who said coming to India for the summer was a good idea?” she demanded, glaring at everyone. “It’s too hot for my liking.”

“Stuns me how you say that with those on,” Andromeda said, giggling as she pointed at what was Narcissa’s feeble excuse for clothes. ‘Ridiculously brief,’ Bellatrix would have called them – Which was exactly why Narcissa was glad she wasn't around.

“Well, they don’t quell my thirst,” Narcissa snapped, displeased.

“Mine, neither,” Andromeda answered, unable to resist her laughter.

In Lovely Dreams
Theme 66: Pace


She was pacing up and down the room, silver hair sweeping the front of her dress in the form of two, very thick braids. She paused when she heard the doorbell ring, then half raced down to open the door.

“You’re late!” she said accusingly, grabbing Regulus by the shoulders. Then she added, “You look lovely.”

Regulus laughed, sweeping into a bow. “Whatever you say, my lady,” he said, taking her hand to kiss it. “Now – may I come in?”

Geraldine blushed, stepping aside. “Sorry. I guess I got too excited,” she admitted, still not letting go of his shoulder.

Bellatrix Battles
Theme 65: Ooze


Bellatrix brushed dark hair out of her handsome eyes, examining her wounds. Blood oozed from her shoulder, and down her forehead. Instinctively, she rolled over on to her side – a jet of fatal green light flashed past, and someone fell behind her –

– Dead.

“Bella.”

It was a soft, familiar voice. Bellatrix barely had time to look up. His warm hands closed around her uninjured shoulder and, seconds later, Bellatrix was leaning against a wall in a dimly lit pathway, the noise of the battle somewhat fading.

“Get your breath back,” Lucius said quietly. “We can’t lose our number one fighter.”

What Nap?
Theme 64: Nap


"OW."

Narcissa sat up, her vision blurred. "Whoze zat?" she asked, rubbing her groggy eyes.

"Get up, pea-brain. You've been sleeping all day long," her eldest sister stated curtly.

Narcissa muttered something, then closed her eyes again.

"Narcissa Black, get up this instant!"

Narcissa opened one, bright eye. "Stop ruining my nap," she half snapped, half mumbled.

Bellatrix sighed. "Nap, my foot. It's been five hours straight, duffer! And, besides, Lucius is in the parlour," she added, quite unaffectionately.

At once, Narcissa sat up straight. "Lucius? Why? What? Where?"

"In my handbag," Bellatrix said, rolling her eyes.

A Vase to Remember
Theme 63: Mooch


Down the hallways, he wandered, Sirius Black with his shock of to-die-for dark hair and even more to-die-for grey eyes.

"What are your mooching around for?" a sweet but strong voice floated towards him, as a pretty figure stepped out from behind a tall voice: Andromeda.

"Nothing," he shrugged. "Um - Dro?"

"Yes?" Andromeda asked brightly.

"What exactly were you doing behind that vase?"

Andromeda cast a dark glance at the vase. "It's actually a secret opening to the thirteen sky," she confided, voice low.

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Andromeda giggled. "Hiding, you stupid."


The title is derived from Leo McCarey's 1957 blockbuster An Affair to Remember.

‘Accidental’ Compliments
Theme 62: Lope


Ted Tonks was walking differently, today. He would stop every few steps, then continue to lope along. Andromeda giggled to herself.

- He was cute.

She followed him half the day. At the end of it, though, she lost sight of him. Sighing, she left her cubicle.

- Only to spot Ted again.

"Um, hello, Ted," she said.

"Hello," Ted said, not unpleasantly.

Encouraged, she immediately said, "You're walking very differently today." She meant it in the best way, of course. Ted's brisk rejoinder shut her up, though:

"I had a muggle run his car over my foot, thank you."

Faerie Companions in Faerie Nights
Theme 61: Kiss


Geraldine's dress was a little too tight at the waist, but no one had told her so yet – fitted waists were the latest trend, these days. Add to this the fact that it was white to bring out the silver in her eyes, and you had the perfect recipe for a lovely, evening companion.

Apparently, Regulus, gently catching hold of both her hands and then spinning her around, thought the very same. Because, once the colourful night was over, he could not help silently leaning in to kiss her and say,

"I love you, Ger. More than my life."

Not a Jokey Drabble
Theme 60: Joke


Bellatrix, already having shot a not-so-pleasant curse Rodolphus's way, still seemed ready to hurl something - something large and heavy, preferably - at him.

"That was your idea of a joke?" she demanded, fury evident in every alphabet.

Rodolphus sighed. "Listen, Bella -"

"I'm not listening to anything, Lestrange!"

And then Rodolphus had had enough. Sudden fire sprung into his eyes. "Fine, Bella. I've finally realized how foolish you can be, at times. So I sent you a box of chocolates for your birthday. Big deal."

He turned and left, leaving a both stunned and angry Bellatrix behind.

Unsettling Thoughts – Dislodged
Theme 59: Ignore


He was ignoring her. Bellatrix, despite all of her pretence at fury, could not help noticing the change in Rodolphus's behaviour.

He's angry.

Sitting in her dormitory, she breathed deeply. So yes, he had sent her a box of chocolates. A mean, nasty box of mean, nasty chocolates. And yes, she had been furious. Very furious. But no, she should not have acted the way she had.

For a moment, it unsettled her, to think he did not want to talk to her - not at the moment, anyway. Then, standing up, she dislodged the thought from her mind.

Yawnniinngggg Tales
Theme 2: Muggle Studies


The new Muggle Studies Professor was at it again. Sirius, seated at the very back of the class, yawned audibly.

"Mr. Black, please don't - Yes, Mr. Potter?" - For James had just raised his hand.

"Yawns are very educational, you know, Professor," James said conversationally. "According to muggles, an excess of carbon dioxide and lack of oxygen in the blood can easily cause yawning, you know. What d'you say, Padfoot?"

Sirius nodded brightly. "Yes, I may even be suffering from acute respiratory diseases," he said cheerfully.

The Professor sighed - James and Sirius were now both yawning widely. Very widely.

Between Bell and Dro
Theme 3: Transfiguration


Walburga Black raised an eyebrow as, in a tantrum, Narcissa seized the nearest object - Bellatrix's copy of Transfiguration: Level Three - and flung it into the wall.

"My," she said, with a shake of her head, once Narcissa had left, and Bellatrix sat by her. "Your sister has a fiery temper, Bella."

Bellatrix frowned. "She has potential, you know, aunt. Lots of it. She isn't Andromeda - I saw that a long time ago. But I can't get her to tap it in, polish it."

Walburga stood. "I certainly hope she turns out more of you than Dromeda, Bell."

Laughing in the 'Ruins'
Theme 4: Ancient Runes


Sitting at the back of the class, Orion Black doodled on his parchment. Ancient Runes was not his favourite subject, and would never be - He knew it had been a mistake to take the subject in the first place.

Sitting to his right, Walburga giggled as she pulled his doodle-filled parchment towards herself. "Oh, wow, Ori, you're an artist," she teased him.

Orion had to laugh. He loved the way she teased him, even thought it got a little ridiculous at times - at a lot of times, in fact.

"Oh give that back, Burga," he said, still laughing.

Red Never Was For Mars
Theme 5: Astronomy


Ah, astronomy!

Regulus swiveled his telescope little to the right. Was that Mars? He was sure he had heard Professor Jerome say Mars was exceedingly red some days ago - And this, what he had in sight, was certainly red, red, and some more red. Strands of red locked with further strands of red. He blinked: The red hurt his eyes. Then he looked again.

Looked just as the fibrous mass of red moved, and a big, dark eyeball came into sight.

Oops.

- He had been staring at the back of Redmond Weasley's head, into his mane of red hair.

Divine Moments
Theme 6: Divination


Narcissa Black had to make quite an effort to conceal the excitement surging through her body, today. It was time for her first divination class and, like many, many other girls in her year, Narcissa was thrilled to bits.

Double divination – how engaging!

Up the trapdoor, into the heavily scented room full of comfortable sofas and huge cushions and steel grey stools she made her way, choosing a seat at the front, and happily opening her brand new schoolbag to draw out her Divination textbook.

Yes, it was going to be a fun, fun day. Narcissa just couldn’t wait.

The Professor And Fritz
Theme 7: Care of Magical Creatures


“And this here,” the Care of Magical Creatures Professor said loudly, over the excited chatter of the group of students clustered around him. “Is Fritz. Fritz, come here, boy.”

The shy, black ‘horse’ – for lack of a more appropriate term – stepped forward, footfall light. About to inch closer, Regulus found himself stumble.

“What the –” he said, looking around: a tall Ravenclaw had pulled him aside.

“Are you and Geraldine really together?” the boy demanded.

Regulus raised an eyebrow. “Yes.”

Heaving a frustrated sigh, the Ravenclaw stormed off. With a shrug, Regulus turned his attention back to the Professor and Fritz.

Heart-to-Heart: Black Versus Black
Theme 8: Potions


“We’ll start with a taste of your skills, then, today. Best potion here wins a little something,” the Professor said, with a secretive smile, once he had finished the usual your-N.E.W.T-Level-is-here lecture that every Professor had given them that day.

“Reckon we can do it?” James asked with a roguish grin.

Sirius looked sideways: They were having Potions with the Slytherins today. Bellatrix sat at her desk, handsome, black hair falling into her eyes, and the flames beneath her cauldron already laughing merrily.

“It’s going to be a tough, tough time,” he said softly, looking back up at James.

Ten [Plus One] Outstandings
Theme 9: Defense Against the Dark Arts


It was a happy day for the Blacks. Sirius and Bellatrix's OWL results were out, and both of them had done amazingly.

"After all that goes against him in this house, Sirius's grades showed up pretty well," Orion said, a slight smile on his lips.

"Nothing you say can console me on his account, Ori," Walburga said softly, turning away from him.

Orion sighed. At least Sirius had an Outstanding in Defense Against the Dark Arts – when he had been a student, that subject had ruined his aim for ten Outstandings.

- For Sirius, it had been his eleventh.