Annie's Fanfiction

The sound of Lupin shuffling around with his books woke Sirius out of a dreamless sleep, but he kept his eyes shut as he stretched himself, spread-eagled on the bed. He felt his right hand and foot press against something, and then a moment later, with a loud thunk, the 'something' hit the floor. Emerging from a mass of tangled red bedsheets was Mishti, her dark hair draped like a tangled curtain in front of her face. She pushed aside her hair to reveal a rather perplexed expression, and scowled at Sirius. “That’s the fifth time this week,” she reminded him, “and it’s only Monday.”

Sirius choked back a laugh, settling for an apologetic grin, and helped her back onto the bed. Mishti fell back onto the larger of two pillows, her hair fanning out across the satin. She puffed out her cheeks, pretending to be sulking at Sirius, who lay next to her and pulled her slight, reluctant frame into a giant bear-hug. She gave up pretending, and giggled. “You silly creature,” she laughed, drawing back from the hug so she could look in his dark eyes. “One more time you throw me off the bed, and I’ll be sleeping in my own room from tomorrow.”

Sirius rolled his eyes. “You’ve been saying that, every single day, for a year.”
Mishti stuck out her tongue at him. “And you’ve been tossing me out of bed, every single night, for exactly the same amount of time. What a gentleman.” she retorted.
Sirius contemplated the fact. “In my defense,” he countered, “I had wanted to toss you out of bed every night since much before last year, if only you had paid me a little attention.”

Mishti giggled. Sirius had been subtly flirting with her, night and day, since they were introduced to each other by Lupin, in their fifth year, but it took him a whole year, despite his smooth charm and adorable personality, to make her see how perfect he was for her. “Sorry about that,” she muttered, running her right hand slowly through his hair, that flopped over his eyes in the most wonderful manner. He smiled as their eyes met, and hugged her tight, again. It wasn’t until a shiver ran down Mishti’s spine, that the happy couple realized that it was, in fact, still a frigid November morning, and they were lying with all their blankets on the floor. Sirius sat up to retrieve them, and caught Lupin’s eye.

After a year of conditioning, Lupin was quite accustomed to to the romantic goings-on of the two, and hardly paid them any attention, but nevertheless gave Sirius a knowing smile before going back to his books. Why the boy woke up so early to study, Sirius could never understand. Then again, he didn’t understand why people studied at all. He had been getting top grades in everything but potions, yet had only ever seen the inside of a textbook in his fifth year, when Lupin threw a book at him in frustration and it landed, open, in his lap.

He heaved the pile of blankets onto the bed, and proceeded to arrange them artistically over Mishti, who had fallen asleep again. He slipped back into bed, pulling the blankets over both of them and cuddling up against her. She muttered in her sleep, but he couldn’t catch what she was saying, so he decided to assume it had something to do with him, and on that note, he fell fast asleep.

Mishti woke up to a sound much more annoying than Lupin shuffling around with books; James hexing his alarm clock into non-existence. “Oh James, would you put a sock in it?” she mumbled sleepily to the boy. He looked up and flashed her a cheeky grin. “I tried, but it kept ringing,” he replied. Laughter emanated from under the blankets; Sirius was awake, too. The source of the laughter sat up and grinned at James. “Did you think, perhaps, of just switching it off?” he enquired sweetly. James shook his head contemptuously. “I’m not a muggle, Sirius,” he declared, mimicking Lucius Malfoy. “Or a Squib!” Lupin chirped in. “Or a filthy, stinking Mudblood.” Mishti added, standing up on the bed, and tossing her head back, in a fairly good impression of the pompous Slytherin prefect who had made every Gryffindor’s life hell, for the first three years that the Marauders were in Hogwarts.

Mishti helped herself to Sirius’ hairbrush, and slipped on her black robes. She straightened his collar and frowned disapprovingly at the undone top button of his shirt. Sirius never wore a tie. Mishti could never understand why. He saw her expression and rolled his eyes.

Fifteen minutes of lame jokes later, the four found themselves in the Great Hall, Sirius sitting with his arm draped around Mishti, and James with his arm draped around some pretty girl he didn’t really know. Lupin had his arm draped around a pile of books. Mishti considered the pros and cons of starting her day with chocolate cake, deciding affirmative, and dumping huge slices of cake onto her own plate as well as onto Sirius’, getting a scowl from Sirius, who had his eye on a rather delicious-looking plate of flapjacks. “Now now, Sirius” Mishti reprimanded, like she had every right to be force-feeding chocolate cake to her unwilling boyfriend. “One does not scowl about chocolate cake. Ever.” Sirius shook his head sadly, but didn’t say anything. He had long ago accepted that Mishti wasn’t the sanest of people, and cherished her for it.

“So, have you completed your transfiguration homework?” Sirius asked, instead, digging into his share of cake. Mishti nodded. “Good girl.” He stuffed a generous amount of cake into his mouth, and chewed slowly. After a painfully long silence, he swallowed and added, “And have you finished mine?” Mishti nodded again.

A long, munching silence ensued, broken by a lament from James: “Why doesn’t she notice me?” Mishti stopped staring dreamily at Sirius for long enough to shoot a glance at James, wondering what he meant. He seemed very noticed up until a while ago. The pretty girl was gone; Mishti didn’t know or care when and why she left.

Remus was the first to figure out what James was talking about. Following James’ gaze, his eyes settled on the pretty redhead who was standing and talking to a friend in the corner. “Contrary to popular belief, Jameyboy,” Lupin began, with a smirk, “ignoring her and snogging every other female you find won’t increase your chances of Miss Evans falling for you. “ James rolled his eyes as Sirius laughed and Mishti grinned cheekily at him. Lupin didn’t drop the subject. “Why don’t you go talk to her?” he persisted. Sirius lowered his head to hide a smile and Mishti’s eyes shone with mischief. Lupin caught her eye and winked.

“Alright then,” James declared defiantly, “I’ll go talk to her.” He stood up, ruffled up his hair, and strutted off. Mishti let out a breathless giggle. “He’s not actually going to….?” she laughed. Sirius muttered something about a suicide mission, and stared at his empty plate like it was greatly amusing. He stole glances at James, not daring to openly watch his best friend be humiliated, yet again. Mishti and Lupin, however, watched intently, with their chins in their hands and identical grins stretched across their faces. “Here we go” muttered Lupin, as James reached Lily and, ruffling his hair up again, proceeded to greet her. He had his back turned to his friends, so they couldn’t see his expressions, but Lily’s expression of annoyance was enough to tell the trio that things were going brilliantly.

“I wish you’d stop doing this to him” Sirius admonished Lupin, hiding a smile. Lupin chuckled. “Then what would we do for entertainment?” he asked, innocently. Sirius shook his head, and stole another sidelong glance at James, who seemed to be getting an earful from a very miffed Lily. He chuckled reluctantly. Mishti cuddled him and laughed. “Stop pretending like you don’t enjoy this just as much as we do,” she teased, running her fingers through his hair. He smiled down at her, looking into her sparkling dark eyes. “Want to know what I enjoy?” he asked, lowering his voice seductively. Lupin made a disgusted noise and cleared his throat loudly. The couple paid him no attention. “What do you enjoy, Sirius?” Mishti played along. Sirius stared deep into her eyes before answering: “Quidditch.”  Mishti punched him playfully in the arm. “You goose!” she laughed. Lupin was shaking his head pitifully, at Sirius’ joke.  “Idiots” he muttered affectionately.

“Lets get going, then?” Mishti proposed, standing up and stretching. Sirius checked his watch. “What’s the hurry?” he inquired. “We’re only…. five minutes late.” Remus jumped up and looked at his own watch, his eyes wide. “Five minutes l…. oh, Sirius you git! You scared me!” Sirius chuckled. “Sorry,” he muttered, not looking sorry at all.

James had his back to the trio as they sauntered past. “Just one date, Lily” he was pleading, as Mishti dragged him away by the collar. “Sorry about that,” she muttered to Lily, who giggled. As soon as they were out of earshot of Lily, Remus turned to James, and with the most innocent expression he could manage, asked “So…. what did she say?” James scowled. “You bastard…” he muttered. Sirius laughed, and ruffled James’ hair affectionately. “Someday, she’ll say yes” he assured him, half teasing, and half genuine.

They filed into Transfiguration only seconds before McGonagall swept in. James led the way to the far corner of the room, and they flopped into their seats, just as McGonagall announced: “Turn to page 256. We’ll be beginning vanishment of animals, today”. James prodded at his textbook with his wand and it flew open to page 256. Mishti looked over at James. “How?!” she whispered. He grinned and passed her a scrap of parchment with an incantation on it. She poked the book with her wand and muttered the incantation. The book shot open and hit her sharply in the face, before falling back onto the desk, open to page 4. She scowled at James, who shrugged apologetically. “It takes practice” he muttered. Remus was staring intently down at his book, trying hard not to laugh. Sirius chuckled and slipped his arm around Mishti’s waist, reclining in his seat. Mishti rested her head against his shoulder and listened to McGonagall.

After school, Sirius and James had quidditch practice, and neither Mishti nor Remus considered it worth their while to sit for hours in the rain just to watch the team horsing around, so they stayed curled up in the Common Room, by the fire. “Do you reckon Lily will ever go out with James?” Mishti idly asked Remus. He smiled. “Oh, she will. She doesn’t hate him as much as she pretends to, you know.” Mishti nodded. “I know,” she replied, “but sometimes I wonder if she knows.” Remus contemplated that for a bit. “She’ll figure it out, sooner or later,” he decided.

Mishti stretched out luxuriously and snuggled further into the fluffy couch she was sprawled on. She pulled out her wand and summoned a roll of sour candy from her dresser. She offered some to Remus, who looked quizzically at it. “What… what is that?” “Sour candy. Muggle stuff,” she explained, tearing a bit off and nibbling at it. “It’s delicious.” Remus took some, and propped his feet up on the table before taking a tentative bite of the candy. He chewed slowly for a few seconds, then decided that he liked it and nodded approvingly at Mishti. “You’re right,” he muttered. “It’s good.”

They were both silent for a while; Mishti stared into the crackling flames, no doubt dreaming about Sirius, and Remus returned to his tattered copy of Transfiguration Weekly. “How’s Darrel?” Mishti enquired suddenly. Remus looked up sharply. “How do you know about Darrel?!” he demanded. Mishti giggled. “You’re my best friend, you goose. I do notice when my best friend is all lovesick.” She smiled at him warmly and he blushed, not meeting her eyes. “Does she… does she like you back?” Mishti asked, lowering her voice a little. Remus paused for a moment, and then shook his head slowly. “Have you even asked her out?” Mishti persisted, sitting upright and pushing her hair out of her eyes. Remus shook his head again. He didn’t meet Mishti’s eyes as he spoke: “She… she’s so pretty, Mishti. She’s so pretty and smart. And popular. Why would she ever date a… someone like me? Even if I weren’t… I mean… even if I didn’t have a… condition… she’d still be out of my league.” “Rubbish!” Mishti countered. “You’re the cleverest wizard in the school, and one of the kindest people I’ve ever known. Besides, if she really is a nice person, she’ll see you for what you are, not for the ‘condition’ you have.” Remus shook his head. “I’m not that great; you’re just saying that because you’re my best friend.” Mishti looked sadly at him. “No, I’m not… I mean every word of it,” she insisted, moving to sit beside him and enveloping him in a tight hug.

They met up with James and Sirius in the Great Hall at supper. Both boys were soaking wet from the rain and Lupin and Mishti sat on the opposite side of the table to avoid the pool of water they were creating. “Aren’t you cold?” Mishti asked, frowning with concern at Sirius. “Nope.” Sirius and James replied in unison. Mishti shrugged, and tucked into her food. Lupin was done with his first helping before Mishti was even done with her soup, and was helping himself to another steak when Snape walked by. “Hiya, Snivellus!” James called out, waving cheerfully at the boy. “Aren’t you going to stop for a chat, old boy?” Sirius chimed in. Snape scowled and muttered something indistinct about Sirius smelling like a wet dog. Mishti glared at him. “Shove off, Snape.” she growled at him, as he slunk off, muttering to himself. Sirius smirked. “Slimy git” he commented, staring at Snape’s retreating back. Remus frowned “He wouldn’t be all that bad if you two would just leave him alone,” he admonished. “Oh yes he would!” James retorted. “He’d certainly be “all that bad”, so long as he kept existing.”

Sirius looked over at Mishti and tilted his head slightly towards the doorway, raising an eyebrow. Mishti nodded and they stood up together. “See you, boys” Mishti chirped, smiling as she skipped off with Sirius, who led her outside. It was still raining torrentially and the grounds were enveloped in darkness. Sirius lit his wand, but the rain was too heavy for them to see very far, even with the light. They kept close to the castle walls as they walked around, stopping at a little sheltered alcove and sitting down. Sirius pulled Mishti into his lap and wrapped his arms around her. Her wet hair dripped onto his cheek as he leaned forward to kiss her on the nose. She giggled and kissed him back. He smiled at her, looking deep into her eyes, and suddenly he turned serious. “Mishti…” he whispered, just barely audible over the wind and the rain. “Hm?” she murmured, playing with his hair. “Mishti, we only have a few months left here… at Hogwarts… together. Once we graduate… will I ever get to see you? Will you still… y’know… want to.. uhm… date me? Or is this it? Will it just be goodbye?” he let a tear run down his face, indistinguishable from the raindrops that the wind sprayed onto him. Mishti stopped playing with his hair, and looked into his eyes, her hands clasped around his cheeks. “It doesn’t have to be goodbye. Unless… unless you want it to be…” she whispered in reply. Sirius shook his head and held onto her possessively. “No, I most certainly don’t want it to be!” he growled. “I… I don’t want that ever. I want to be with you… always.” his voice dropped back to a whisper, and he hesitated between each word like they were difficult for him to say. “I… I’m in love with you, Mishti…” he breathed the words into her ear. “I’m in love with you. I don’t want to lose you.” Mishti wrapped her arms comfortingly around Sirius and kissed him gently on the lips. “You’ll never lose me, silly. I love you too.”

A sudden blast of icy wind sent a violent tremor through Mishti’s petite body. Sirius responded by holding her closer, his arms wrapped tightly around her and his large hands rubbing her back gently, keeping her warm. Neither of them had the faintest idea how long they had been sitting out there, huddled up against the cold, but Mishti eventually figured it would be prudent to go back inside. She uncurled herself, limb by limb and stretched out, still sitting in Sirius’ lap, then clambered slowly to her feet and offered him a hand to pull himself up by.

“Why’re we leaving?” Sirius asked, squinting up at Mishti through the rain. Mishti shrugged. “We don’t have to if you don’t want to. I just figured there are a lot better ways to occupy ones’ time than dying slowly of pneumonia,” she replied, matter-of-factly. Sirius took her hand and pulled himself up off the ground. “You killjoy!” he scolded. “I was so looking forward to the rattling cough.”

Just as Sirius and Mishti scrambled through the portrait hole, the large clock chimed once. The common room was deserted, as any self-respecting common room would be at that time of the night, but a low fire still burned in the grate, dowsing the room in a golden glow. Mishti sighed as the warm air enveloped her, and she scampered up to the dormitory to get out of her cold wet robes, and into her warm flannel pyjamas. Sirius climbed up the stairs behind her, slowly. He stopped at the balcony and stood for a few moments, looking out onto the common room below. How he’d miss this place. He still had six months left… but what was six months in comparison to the six and a half years that had flown by? He loved Hogwarts; it was the only home he’d ever had.

Sirius pushed open the heavy oak door just as Mishti was slipping under the covers, looking toasty and happy. He changed into his soft red pyjamas and joined her, wrapping his arms around her waist. Mishti smiled and snuggled deeper into his warm arms.

“Be quiet, you two!” growled Lupin, from his bed. “Stop talking!”

“But we’re not-” Mishti began, and then checked herself. “He’s talking in his sleep again, isn’t he?” she whispered, giggling. Sirius nodded, a charmingly crooked smile fading from his face as he fell asleep.

When Sirius woke, it was still dark. He pressed a button on his watch and it lit up: 4:16 am. He groaned and felt around for his blankets; they must have fallen off; it was the cold that woke him. His blankets were no where on the bed; neither was Mishti. He grimaced and sat up, placing both feet on the floor.

His right foot had the cold stone floor under it, but his left foot stepped onto something warm and soft – his blanket! As he reached down to pick it up, however, he felt something else: Mishti lay curled up beneath the blankets, a pillow under her head.  Sirius jostled her gently. “Mishti!” he whispered. “Oy! Mishti! Up with you!” Mishti slowly rolled over and pulled the blanket down, uncovering her face. “What?” she murmured, her eyes still shut. “I’m freezing to death, that’s what!” Sirius whispered back.

Mishti clicked her tongue. “Well you should’ve thought of that before you tossed me off the bed four goddamn times tonight. I’m developing a bruise, look!” Sirius couldn’t look; it was dark. Thankfully, the dark also meant that Mishti couldn’t see the shade of red that Sirius’ cheeks turned. “Oh darling, do come back up. You can’t sleep on the floor. It’s so cold!” Mishti nodded, her blanket rustling as her head moved. “It is! But then again… I’d like to see you push me off the floor.”

Sirius thought about it for a moment, and then helpfully offered, “I could throw you out the window.” “How chivalrous” Mishti grunted, clambering on to the bed. “If you toss me off the bed, one more time, Sirius, I’lllevicorpus your arse, and then you’re going to have to find a way to sleep, upside down because God help me if I let you down before my bruises heal. I’m warning you. One. More. Time.”

Sirius shuddered at the thought. “Sorry love. I really don’t mean to do it,” he muttered, sounding very guilty. Mishti hugged him. “I know you don’t,” she murmured. “You just can’t help being a tosser. Haha, ‘tosser’…” Sirius rolled his eyes exaggeratedly, grateful for the pitch darkness. “That was a terrible pun. Even by your standards.”

It took Mishti’s sleepy brain a bit of time to register the insult, and by the time she actually got it, Sirius was fast asleep. Mishti cuddled up and fell asleep in seconds. In minutes, she was back on the floor.