( LEMONS / sirius black )
here i come     chapter four

september 15, 1976

            LENORE BISSET HAS NEVER been a fan of Quidditch but for the past few days, it's all she's heard about during both her lessons and in the Great Hall. According to the Slytherin girl, the sport is too rough for her liking. Growing up, her muggle brothers always used her as a punching bag and Quidditch is just another excuse for people to do the same. However, she tells her friends that she's never been the athletic type of girl, even though she played football for years back in primary school.

            But Wilkes is an athletic girl and feels the need to let everyone know it. Constantly, she can be heard ranting about her new broomstick and how fantastic she is at playing Keeper. She was permitted into the team during her third year and has upheld that position on the field ever since. Regulus has played as the Seeker for the past two years. Mulciber has always been one of the Beaters.

            One of the problems is that Avery tries for a Chaser position every year and never earns it. He's not a bad player on the field but his toxicity and all-around condescending nature has always kept the Quidditch Captain steering away from him, but with a new leader this year, he may have a chance. Often, after Wilkes and Mulciber get accepted to the team and Avery doesn't, they don't interact for an entire week. The whole affair seems unnecessary in Lenore's opinion and thinks it's all just a waste of time.

            But for the first time, Rosier is going for a spot and has dragged her out for a few of the training sessions to have her watch. He's not a bad Chaser but for half of tryouts, Lenore is paying attention to the one of the attractive Beaters who always seems to be looking her way. Her curly black hair and the muscles in her arms when she hits the balls has her drooling like an idiot. Only for that reason, she doesn't object Rosier's invites.

            Finally, the first Slug Club party has arrived, leaving Lenore anxious to impress. She still can't believe Sirius Black will be sitting at that table of favorites, but she casts it out of her mind while she gets ready. Lenore calls Wilkes up from the common room to have her do her make-up, which ends up being a large wing of eyeliner, dark grey eyeshadow all around and beneath her lid, and highlighter along her cheeks and nose. She even adds some sparkles in the corner of her eyes to give the look more flamboyance.

            "Do I look terrifying?" Lenore asks Wilkes as they both admire the outfit in the mirror. The dress is long, flowy, and made up of tattered black lace. It is quite old, but the aesthetic fits the eerie look in which Lenore has always tried to fit. She tugs at her fishnet leggings around her boots and grins satisfied at her appearance.

            "People will either be terrified or fall in love with you. Depends if they're kinky or not," Wilkes says. Her thick hair is pulled up into a messy top-bun and she's still dressed in her robes from the school day. "I think you look brilliant. Rosier will pass out when he sees you."

            Lenore hunches her shoulders as she sighs. "This isn't for Rosier. It's not for any boy. I want to be intimidating."

            Wilkes yawns. "Well, you got that right. You know what would seal the deal?"

            "What's that?"

             "A nose piercing!"

            Lenore laughs. "Piss off! I've already told you, no."

            "Last time it was a maybe." Wilkes has been trying to convince her to get septum piercing since last year. Her advances never work but at the end of fifth year, the girl did coax out an unsure maybe. According to Wilkes, it would 'make her look hot.' Lenore is terrified that if she does compulsively get the piercing, she'll regret it sometime in the near future.

            "I've got a party to attend," Lenore snickers before she dashes down the girl's dormitory stairs and into the bustling common room. She enjoys moments like that where Wilkes seems like a normal friend, not someone who would hate her if she knew the truth.

            As hard as she tries to make it out the door without being seen, the sound of Avery's voice by the fireplace makes her stop in her tracks. "Oh, look at Bisset all dressed up!" He mocks in a high-pitched, feminine voice. He's using his wand to burn several crumpled-up editions of the Daily Prophet.

            Mulciber turns around in his armchair and his jaw almost hits the floor when he sees the tight fabric around her chest. The sight of his wandering eyes has her debating whether to flee back up the staircase to change into something a bit less revealing. "Wow, you look wicked!"

           "I think she looks like a whore," Avery says sourly. His words don't stop his gaze on her body.

            "Just because a woman wears clothes that show her body doesn't make her a whore, Avery," Wilkes says from the bottom of the girl's stairs with her arms crossed. "And even if she were a whore, you couldn't land her in a million years so keep your eyes up."

            The lustful boy dismisses her words and continues. "If only Rosier were here to see this!"

            "Where is he?"

            "Who knows."

            Lenore scoffs. "Well, where's Snape? He told me he'd meet me down here to go to the dinner party. It starts in fifteen minutes and we can't be late."

            As if on cue, she feels a light tap upon her shoulder and a quiet cough by her ear. Severus Snape is dressed rather formal for his usual taste. He sports an all-black suit with the exception for a gleaming white bowtie fastened tightly around his neck. His raven hair is slicked back but tuffs of it stick out beneath his ears. In his left hand, he holds a container full to the brim with bright yellow pineapples along with a few stray grapes. He's pallor, which says a lot because his normal complexion is usually just as grim.

            "Ready to go?" Lenore asks.

            "Of course." Snape extends his arm out to her and she takes it without hesitation. Her long, black nails dig into the thick material of his overcoat as she anticipates the evening to come. An evening including Sirius Black.

            The two Slytherins rush from the room before Avery has time to put in another word about their outfits or the Slug Club. Practically all their friends find the group to be a laughing matter, except for Rosier, who has always been determined to receive an invite. As much as Lenore enjoys Rosier's company, she knows he wouldn't fit into the club as easily as he imagines. He'd find it rather boring because even Lenore does at times, and Rosier is known to have the attention span of a flea.

Lenore and Snape arrive at Slughorn's office at 7:55 in the evening, five minutes earlier than scheduled. When the Professor opens the door, he's so speechless at the sight of the duo before him that he has to take a few seconds to marvel in their presence. Perfect. Lenore's dark demeanor and Snape's overall malicious aura is enough to have anyone goggling. She's glad her outfit is a success.

"Miss Bisset and Mr. Snape, you two never cease to fail me!" Slughorn cries when he can finally choke out the words. He's wearing his own brown suit and tie and after a quick observation, his belt already seems to be straining against his large stomach before him. "I didn't know you two were together. You make a magnificent pair."

Lenore almost jumps out of her friend's grasp until thankfully, Snape answers for her. "No, sir, I'd get hexed by Rosier."

Slughorn has a troubled look on his face. "Who?"

"Evan Rosier, Professor. You have him in your Monday N.E.W.T. class. He sits beside me at the front," Lenore explains, shooting Snape a sideways glare.

"Ah, yes, of course," the teacher says. "By all means, come in, come in! Make yourselves at home." He moves aside so the two Slytherins can make their way to the long, rectangular table where only about ten or eleven of twenty seats are filled so far. Snape pulls out a chair for Lenore to sit in beside a dark-skinned, puny student named Adrian. Then unsurprisingly, he abandons her to sit across the table beside Lily Evans. The Gryffindor girl is wearing a navy-blue dress, accenting her curves beautifully and showing just the right amount of her pale skin to leave you guessing. As Lenore admires her, Lily looks up and gives her a small wave. She can't help but give her a small smile in return. It doesn't hurt to be nice every so often.

After looking at the rest of the present guests, Sirius Black is still absent. And as more attendants file in, the less likely it is that he will make an appearance. Ten minutes over the starting time leaves the entire table full except for the still empty seat beside Lenore. Sirius Black's seat.

"Well, if Mr. Black decides to come in the end, my doors will be unlocked!" Slughorn cries happily. The children quiet down and turn their attention towards their professor waddling to his large chair at the head of the table. On the wooden mantel a few feet away, various moving photographs display his most prized students. Lenore's eyes land on a few particular wizards and witches: one wild-haired woman flying a broomstick, a man with dark eyes holding up a large magical creature, and a woman grinning at a swirling cauldron upon her desk. "I presume you are all ready for supper. I had the elves whip us up a magnificent feast."

"Actually, Professor," Snape says hesitantly, barely raising his eyes any higher than the utensils organized in front of him. "I want to give you this small gift before we begin." He lifts his pale hands outwards holding the small container of fruit.

Professor Slughorn beams. "Pineapple, my favorite! Thank you, Mr. Snape. How are your classes so far?"

"Alright, thank you."

"You're just as bright as last year. Brilliant, brilliant boy. You've got a future in potions, you know?"

Everyone shifts impatiently around the table, spectating on the boring dialogue between the two. Lenore stares at her empty plate as her stomach growls. She hates nothing more than long waits. Her impatience can sometimes be her downfall. Thankfully, before her hunger becomes lethal, Slughorn turns away from the Slytherin boy.

"Enough chatter. Let us eat!" The teacher snaps his pudgy fingers to summon a tableful of exquisite, rich foods, ranging from turkey, ham, and roast to various vegetables grown out in the greenhouses. Lenore dives for the turkey and slivers of potatoes. Over the summer, the food provided by her parents was never as filling. After just a few bites of meat and vegetables, her stomach already feels satisfied. The butterbeer being divvied out between them makes the night so much better.

As Slughorn questions Adrian on his aunt's activities in Germany, Lenore can't help but look towards the still empty seat to her left. Sirius Black seemed so contempt on attending not even to show up. She grins to herself and takes a massive bite of her turkey leg. Stupid git. Down the table, she can see Lily giggling at something Snape whispers in her ear. Just the thought of them together makes Lenore want to gag.

Midway through dinner, a loud knock on the door has everyone turning their heads as Professor Slughorn stands up to welcome in the latecomer. Sirius Black stands in the entranceway, face slick with sweat and his hair pulled back into a lopsided bun. Unlike the other students, his clothes are anything but formal. He wears his maroon Quidditch uniform scuffed with dirt and mud all along the leather kneepads. In his right hand, he holds his broom and in his left, a dirty towel. He's panting like a dog as he steps past the threshold into the dining room.

"Sorry I'm late, Professor. Quidditch tryouts lasted longer than expected," he says, leaning his supplies up against the wall before looking up at himself in a nearby mirror to smooth out his raven hair.

"Not to worry! We've only just started dinner." Slughorn beams. "As everyone must know, Sirius is a special guest tonight. He brewed a perfect batch of Draught of the Living Death and earned himself a seat."

Some students give the Black boy a few claps to show their approval, but Lenore constrains herself from whispering some choice words beneath her breath. It's too late now to point out Sirius's obvious cheating. He grins crookedly at his praise.

"Now, take a seat here next to Miss Bisset. Do you two know each other?" Slughorn says, gesturing to the only blank chair at the table.

Sirius narrows his eyes while he takes her in. Her winged eyeliner, her fishnet leggings, her black lace dress... "We're familiar with one another."

The tension in his deep voice is noticeable but the professor pays it no mind. Lenore is left staring daggers in his direction as the conversation drifts into a different topic. Sirius lowers one of his hands almost under the embroidered tablecloth and gives her an obscene gesture, raising his eyebrows cockily while doing so, but Lenore just pierces her lips in response. He wants her to feel intimidated in his presence, but he should know better. Sirius Black may annoy her however she would never find herself sinking down to his level of foolishness and immaturity. If only her spell had hit him instead of Peter Pettigrew. It was aimed for him after all.

"Mr. Black, how is Quidditch looking for you?" Slughorn questions.

"Brilliant! I'm almost guaranteed a spot as a beater this year. James Potter and I have been practicing all summer. With James as a chaser and me as a beater, Gryffindor is in to win the championship this year!"

Lily finds it necessary to insert her opinion. "I've seen him and Potter. They're both really good."

Lenore can't help herself. "So, you find that spending all your time focusing on Quidditch will provide you more stability in life rather than your academic assets?"

"There's nothing wrong with having a bit of fun. You wouldn't know much about that. All your friends do all day is mope about," Sirius retorts. "Anyways, I'm really good. And I pass my classes just fine, thank you very much."

Lenore smirks wickedly. "Now I see why you had to use Lupin to cheat your way here."

"Enough of that, Miss Bisset," Slughorn halts the argument. The look on Snape's face says it all.

Finally, the conversation focuses on her. "So, Miss Bisset, I heard from Severus here that you have been using a lot of your free time to study. What do you aspire to be when you leave Hogwarts?"

Lenore scrunches up her nose. This question has always been hard for her to respond to confidently. There are so many options and they expect her to have a set decision already. But she doesn't let her uncertainty show. Instead, the Slytherin girl lifts up her chin. "I'd like to work in the Ministry of Magic, sir. I've been thinking either in the Department of International Magical Cooperation or the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. I've yet to decide completely."

"Interesting, interesting. Do either of your parents do ministry work?" he asks, spinning his fork through his food.

"Ah, yes. How are your pureblooded parents?" Sirius interrupts, leaning across the table as if to challenge her. The tone of his voice makes her fingers curl and her teeth clench.

"My parents are fine, thank you. And no, sir. My mother stays at home full-time and sews while my father works in the food industry." The sweet lies she's rehearsed for years spill off her tongue like honey. She imagines her fake family in her head as she continues, "Though my mother does sell some of her work."

"Fantastic," he says, clapping his hands. "Have you spoken parseltongue recently?"

"No, sir. There hasn't been a need."

Slughorn sighs. "Well, of course, dear. I'd love to see you show off your trick sometime."

Lenore grits her teeth at his words. Her ability often has others treating her like a carnival show pony. She likes the stability her parseltongue provides her lies, however, it can be quite a nuisance at times. People treat her differently just to get a glimpse of her power. "Definitely, sir."

The loud clank of Sirius's fork has everyone turning to face him. The ghost of a grin is already on his lips. "Professor? How can you be sure that Miss Bisset here is telling the truth? You've never seen her speak parseltongue personally and you'd be surprised by how much people tend to lie these days."

Lenore goes still, her blood boiling and heart pounding. What is he getting at? "Excuse me?"

"Well, I'm just saying. You never know what could be true and what could be a lie. Some people take lies too far. Don't you agree, Lenore?"

"I..." She tries to keep her voice steady, but she ends up sputtering the whole sentence. "I don't know what you mean."

Professor Slughorn looks lost as he raises his brows at the two staring each other down. "Lenore has no reason to lie about her ability. She is a pureblooded Slytherin and parseltongue often descends down that line."

Sirius leans back in his chair causing the front two legs to lift off the ground. He pops a broccoli sprout into his mouth with his bare hands. "Right, of course. For a moment there I forgot she was a pureblood."

"I'm glad you remember," she says sharply.

Dessert is brought to the table and everyone forgets about the conversation besides Lenore. The way Sirius emphasized some words and how he spoke of lying, it's almost as if he knew about her secret...

No. It's not possible. There was no one else around when she revealed her muggleborn identity to Snape only a few days beforehand. Sirius Black is just being an insufferable bastard like usual and Lenore feels the need to overthink it. Everything is completely fine. Why wouldn't it be?

Lenore glances at the distorted reflection of her face in her silver spoon before she scoops up some chocolate ice-cream. She racks her eyes across all the other students seated around her while she lets the chocolate dissolve on her tongue. Most are in the higher years but a few straggling second and third year students are present. Absentmindedly, Lenore's stare stays focused on a sixth-year Hufflepuff girl, Eva Summers, for a bit too long. The girl's lavender dress and silver dangling earrings have the Slytherin mesmerized and when Eva looks up and notices, she blushes. Lenore glances back down at her food quickly.

A nearby grandfather clock strikes nine o'clock and Slughorn almost jumps out of his seat before the end of the first gong. "Dear me, it's this time already? You all better be off before you're caught out past curfew. Especially you, Mr. Sanders. Second-years have been in their dormitories for an hour now."

The scraping of chairs and low chatter fill Lenore's ears as she surveys Sirius Black collecting his Quidditch supplies by the exit. The deep sound of his voice drifts across the classroom and she grips the edge of the dining table, digging her sharp nails into the wood. Everything about him annoys her. His disgusting hair, the way he talks, his slouched posture, his black leather jacket...

"Are you heading to bed, Miss Bisset, or am I going to have to kick you out myself?" Slughorn chuckles from her right, making her realize she's the only left in her chair.

She releases her hold on the table and stands up. With both of her hands, she soothes out the wrinkles that formed at the bodice of the dress. "Sorry, sir."

Lenore waves the teacher goodbye and then follows Snape and Lily down the hallway until they part ways. And as Severus tells her about his evening, she can't help but drift away into thoughts about Sirius Black's odd words and peculiar accusations.