XXXVI. 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE HALLOWEEN

Sirene Black had a tradition, as you call it, and it was to plan the scariest prank she could on Halloween. Of course, her friends had started becoming hyper aware of their surroundings around that time so she just stopped pranking them, instead she terrorized kids.

      It was fun.

      But somehow it seemed like everyone had made a collective decision to prank the 'newbies' of the friend group, a.k.a Lauren, Neveah, Lyra and of course - Andrew Rosier.

      "Ok, it can't be too crazy" Alice said as she flipped through the prank book, "We don't want to get expelled or anything like that"

       "Relax" Lily said skimming through a few pages herself, "No one's going to catch us, especially with me in the group"

       "I think we broke her" Sirene said to Marlene with a snort who just shrugged in return, "No matter how many times you say it, I'm just never going to get used to you breaking the rules, Lils"

      "Well, you should" Lily said with a smirk, "Because I dont think I'm going back"

      "I find that weirdly attractive" Marlene said looking at Lily who gave her a glare, "What?I'm just stating the truth!"

       "You have a girlfriend, McKinnon" Sirene said rolling her eyes, "Aren't you supposed to be in your 'my heart only beats for her and my eyes can't seem to find anything more interesting to look at but her' phase?"

      "I'm just being realistic" Marlene shrugged, "Anyone who says they don't find other people attractive while dating someone is clearly lying"

       "I think we're sidetracking a bit" Lily said sitting down on the bed next to Sirene, "What's something we can do that's nightmare fuel but doesn't scar them for their whole life?"

      "I don't think you can have one without the other" Sirene said furrowing her brows as Lily said, "Scarring them for their whole life it is!"

      "Um, no" Alice said from the other side, "Guys, I don't think we should-"

      "La da da di da" Marlene sang covering her eyes, "What's that? I can't hear you!"

      "Ok, fine!" Alice said with a frown, "Let's do it, but this is the last time I'm participating in pranks"

       "Alright then" Sirene said getting up with a mischievous glint, "I think I know just what to do"

      "Do tell, Ms Black" Lily said, "No, seriously tell us, you can have your evil villain moment later"

🥀

      "Wait" Sirius and James exclaimed together, "You're including us in your annual Halloween prank?!"

      "Yes" Sirene said eyeing them weirdly, "Don't be so weird about it"

      "I don't know how to not be?" James asked, "We've been on the receiving end of these pranks for years, but now we're in it? And Evans is in it too?"

     "Pretty much" Sirene shrugged, "Yeah"

     "Does this mean you finally consider me a best friend?" James asked with a hopeful grin Sirene furrowed her eyebrows.

     "We were always best friends?" She said with a confused expression, "You think I would tolerate you if you weren't one of the most important people in my life?"

      "Aw, that's actually really swee-"

      "Let's never speak of this again"

      "Ok, cool" Sirius said interrupting the two, "So, what are we doing?"

       "Here" Sirene said pulling up a big piece of parchment and handing it to him before taking out another, "And this"

      "Is this a fucking script?" Sirius said pointing at the parchments, "Really?"

      "Yes, really" Sirene rolled her eyes, "You're a horrible actor, Siri, I'm not going to just let you improv"

      "That's not true!" Sirius protested with an offended look on his face, "I'm a great actor!"

      "Hey, Pads, have you seen my chocolate bar stash?" Remus said as he came to sit in the common room sofa, "I can't seem to find it anywhere"

      "Hahahaha, what? Wh-why would you say that, Moons?" Sirius said awkwardly laughing at Remus who stared at him in disbelief, "I would never dream of doing such a thing"

      "You have to buy me new ones now" Remus said with an angry expression slumping down on the couch, "I can't believe you've done this again!"

      "I'm sorry!" Sirius exclaimed in an exasperated tone, "I'll get you a whole tray"

      "See, even Remus can see through your lies and he's oblivious like 99.05% of the times!" Sirene said to Sirius, "That's why we need a script for you"

      "I support the idea" James chimed in earning a glare from Sirius, "Also Moony we're pranking people again"

      "That's great" Remus said, "But I'm afraid I won't be able to function properly because someone" He pointed to Sirius violently, "Stole my chocolates"

      "I'll get you new ones!"

      "Well, then get me them!"

      "Every time" James said shaking his head at his two best friends, Sirene gave his shoulder a few pats of fake sympathy before walking away.

      Tonight was definitely going to be eventful.

🥀

     "Hey, Annie!" Sirene called out to the raven haired boy who turned around with a frown though it immediately melted away when he saw Sirene rushing through the crowds and making her way to him, "Hey!"

      "Hey back!" Andrew said with a grin, happy that Sirene was back to herself again.

      "Listen" Sirene said and then took a deep breath as she'd just run across the corridor, "We're having a party tonight, at the Gryffindor common room, you should come!"

      "I don't know..." He muttered unsurely and watched Sirene's smile drop, "I'm not really into parties"

      "Please?" Sirene said with a hopeful look on her face, Andrew looked at her for a few moments the hopeful look turning more and more cute every second (his words not mine), "For me?"

      "Ok, fine I'll come!" Andrew sighed making Sirene release a breath of relief, "What time does it start?"

      "Around eight" Sirene said and then waved back to Lily who was motioning for her to join them, "See you at the party tonight!"

       Turning around Sirene smiled to herself not realizing she was doing it at all, I can't believe I just said please and for me.

      Pathetic, to be honest.

      You know what? I'm not even going to try and argue on this one.

       'Cause you know I'll win.

      What? There is no winning and losing, you're my mind!

       Ok....loser.

       "So, did he say yes?" Lily asked the girl who put her books back in her backpack.

      "Of course" She said in an obvious tone, "Couldn't resist my charm"

      "You've been hanging out with James too much" Lily scrunched her nose at Sirene who's eyes widened.

      "Oh my godric!" Sirene exclaimed alarming Lily, "You just called him James!"

      "Yes, you moron" Lily said slapping Sirene lightly in the arm, "His name is James"

       "Ok, but you can't blame me?" Sirene said rolling her eyes, "For years it's been Potter with an extremely disgusted tone"

       "Well, he's not Potter now" Lily said with a small smile, "He's changed"

       Sirene thought Lily and James were sweet, she could see how much they admired each other and how much Lily appreciated that James was finally trying to change his bullying ways, becoming more and more of a better person every day.

      Sirene thought they were completely adorable, the kind of people who made you believe in love kind of adorable.

       Sirene's lips quirked up a bit remembering the chat she had with Andrew about that person in Slughorn's party.

       Merlin, could you imagine? Sirene Black and falling in love? Yeah, she couldn't either.

🥀

     "Ok, ok, she's going up to the bathroom right now" Sirene said excitedly to Lily who watched Neveah Ross go upstairs to their dorms, "Ahhh, I'm so excited!"

      "Me too!" Lily said releasing a squeal of excitement, "Thank god, she's taking a shower - gotta thank that drunk sixth year for spilling his drink"

      "I never even in my wildest dreams imagined that I'd be standing next to Lily fucking Evans talking about pranking someone" Sirene snorted, "Here I am"

      "Not for long" Lily said with a smirk, "Look, there's your date!" She pointed to Andrew who stood by the food table awkwardly, "Go on"

      "He's not my date" Sirene rolled her eyes at Lily but walked towards him nonetheless. He was wearing a white button down with blue jeans and a denim jacket, ok fine, Sirene will admit he was looking extremely fit, "Heyyyyy, Rosie"

      "Hey back, Ren" Andrew said with a small chuckle looking at Sirene who was wearing a red tank top with a leather skirt, tights and a leather jacket, she was looking really really fit, "I'm here as you requested"

       "Thank you for coming!" Sirene said suddenly getting very awkward, "You- you look good!" She felt her cheeks getting hot as she told him that, she immediately shook that feeling out of her head.

      "You too!" Andrew said hurriedly, act cool you dummy, "I- I mean you look good too"

       "Well, I'll let you help yourself with the drinks and the food" Sirene said composing herself and then motioning to the food on the table. She had no fucking idea why she was acting like this, it was almost like she saw him and boom - estrogen. Estrogen is always the damn problem, "Erm, you know what? Do you want to go for a walk?"

     Andrew furrowed his eyebrows at her strange behavior before nodding, "Sure, we can go"

      "Great!" She exclaimed excitedly before coughing and then continuing, "I mean, that's great, I'm gonna grab a few things from my dorm and then we can go"

      "Alright" Andrew said barely processing the next few moments as a Sirene walked away and then ran into a pillar.

      "I swear this wasn't here before" Sirene said chuckling awkwardly and then walking away, great you fucking idiot!

      "Come on, let's go!" Marlene said grabbing Sirene's arm and then dragging her up to the dorm, "It's almost time - I hope we didn't miss it!"

I hope Taylor Swift knows how much she means to me :)