For Static Lull

Orders Christmas

It was with great regret that Miss Emmeline Vance sat down across from that smug sod Sirius Black. How she hated having to be ever in the same room as him. In the previous six months she had managed to avoid conversation with him. She's normally stolen away to the far corner to stand next to Severus. Tonight, however, she had been running late. Work had held her up and she had been half a minute late for the Order meeting, where only one seat remained around the table. Opposite Sirius sodding Black. He winked at her as she sat with a quiet groan. She hated him. With his long dark hair and lopsided grin and his winking eyes and the way he'd always look at her. Eugh.

What she hated about him the most was how much she loved him.

They'd been in the same year at school, and he'd paid no attention to her at all. Just all those flirty, obvious girls. He'd never once looked in her direction, even though she was the only one that truly loved him, not just his reputation.

She sighed.

And then noticed everyone looking at her oddly.

"Are you all right Vance?" Sirius asked with a grin.

She glared at him, "I'm fine," she grumbled, "My apologies."

At the end of the Order meeting she stood to leave but halfway through the door, she felt a hand enclose her upper arm. She spun around to face Sirius Black. She stared up at him with sad, defeated eyes.

He eyed her with true concern, "Are you sure you're okay Em?"

She again sighed before regaining her Gryffindor courage, "Let me go Black," she growled harshly as she wrenched her arm free. "I have to go."

He pulled her back and wrapped his arms around her.

"Not until you tell me what's got you so upset."

"Eugh, Black, let me go."

"No," he replied simply with a chuckle as he tightened his hold on her, hugging her close, "I think what you need is a big hug."

She frowned up at him, "You're acting incredibly out of character there Black," she whispered softly.

"How would you know?" he asked gently, "You never got to know me."

He reached down and placed a tender kiss upon her lips and let go of her.

"Face it Vance," he grinned, "You like me, I tolerate you..." he trailed off before being smacked in the arm, "All right, all right. I like you too." he smiled.

She smiled at him too before reaching up and kissing him again. It looked like this Christmas would be very merry failed to notice the mistletoe hanging over their heads.

Fin.