At first, she stayed holed up with her books and over-summer assignments, only coming down when called for food. Usually being too unfamiliar for small-talk with the other residents as they sat to eat, she'd arrive at the foot of the stairs with her arms wrapped around a book to read at the table. They were apprehensive of her, and her of them, but the young Granger girl was happy to make small talk of books. They had even leant some to one another. Hermione was especially interested in her school work, thumbing through her previous 6th year books while she rattled off the Advance classes she was interested in taking. Eventually she and Ginny would sit in Lilith's room with her often when needing a break from the boys. Ginny was more stand-offish, but friendly enough. Lilith spent little to no time with the boys one-on-one.

It was mid-July when she began feeling comfortable enough to leave the confines of her room as she pleased. She began making regular visits to the small library in the Black's house, but often found she gained an audience while flipping through the pages of the Black family's collection of literature. Typically, this would be Kreacher, skulking about and muttering to himself, sometimes screeching when she reached for any particularly menacing bound book from one of the upper shelves. Today was a special treat, she told herself sarcastically in her head, when she felt the presence of something standing behind her - close, which Kreacher never dared. "If you don't want me in here, you could simply say so" her words were soft, not reflecting the irritation she felt.

Without Kreacher here to offer shrill reprimands, Lilith reached up toward the upper shelves of books, standing on the tips of her toes and leaning forward. A strong, calloused hand grasped her forearm just below her wrist from behind. She snapped her head to look at him from over her shoulder, glaring through long lashes. She made no movement with her hand, her fingertips frozen reaching out, but her body was clearly tensed. Sirius looked back at her, his brow furrowed - why was it always furrowed around her? Both of them let the moment of silence stretch, either too stubborn to speak first. She relented first, eventually: "'Simply say so' with your words, not with your hands" she hissed, not wanting to make a scene that'd attract unwanted attention.

Sirius relinquished her, shifting to cross his arms over his chest. She spun to face him, rubbing her arm gently where her skin tingled. "There's no need to be dramatic, I didn't hurt you" he muttered, nodding in reference to her caressing. She huffed in annoyance; apparently she had to ask outright "Of course it doesn't hurt. Do you not want me in here?" He was studying her, his gaze lingering where she still held her arm against her bosom. "You can come and go as desired, but I do not want you reading from the top shelves. They aren't just heirlooms," he spoke with a sense of finality. An argument would not be brokered. She bristled with rebellion - sometimes she thought her love of books alone is what brought her to Ravenclaw, and she hated being told she could not read. This wasn't the forbidden section at Hogwarts…not that she hadn't seen a number of those as well.

"Oh, I see, you think I'd be swayed to the dark side by some precious book of yours. I'd wager we have just as many 'heirlooms' in my home of the same variety; I can assure you I've skimmed them all." She couldn't help but pout though, debating in her mind what the consequences would be if she disobeyed. "The contents of your own home give you no warrant to search the contents of mine," he said with a casual shrug. Lilith caught his eyes moving to read her face, lingering on her lips. She wasn't naïve, and was now very aware of how close they stood. Something in her expression must have changed momentarily, because his eyes flashed back up to hers. She was just over a month away from being 18, one of the oldest students in her year, and wasn't unfamiliar with being looked at a certain way by men since she had grown into her shape years ago.

He must still fancy himself a young man. What was he, 34, 35? Perhaps his years in Azkaban stunted him - there wasn't much room for emotional maturation when surrounded by dementors. She must look like a lovely young thing to him, soft and curved, now with a rosy hue taking over her cheeks. Lilith took a very deliberate step back, now nearly pressed against the shelves and book bindings, her gaze holding his. He looked unashamed. She had a number of choice words for him; 'lecherous wretch' was on the very tip of her tongue. But she instead found herself looking him up and down, feigning disinterest, acting dismissive of the subtle intrigue he had for her.

She took more careful inventory of him than she intended. She'd spent the last month ignoring his looming presence, mistaking long stares for suspicion - perhaps it was both? Everyone here wore plainclothes rather than robes, and he followed-suit, wearing jeans imperfect in fit and a slightly loose long-sleeved shirt. He wasn't dressed like a model; if there was any hardness to his muscles he didn't make it readily apparent with his attire. His face looked younger and fuller now, not gaunt like in the papers…his skin was fair, and his shoulder-length hair was as dark and nearly as lustrous as Xander's. Both of them had grey eyes, but Lilith found Sirius' more striking.

She caught herself biting her lip now as she looked back up to him - he stood a head taller than she. Her attempt at disdain started off convincingly-so, but was undone when she worried her lower lip. He let out a bark of laughter, and she nearly jumped at the sound. She'd mutter "childish" under her breath instead, crossing her arms just below her chest. The look of laughter left his features, but his expression was still bemused. "Are you finished?" Lilith asked, 'ogling me, laughing at me, lecturing me?' as she continued the question in her mind, swiftly turning to face the shelves again in an effort to hide the blush fiercely rising on her. She snatched the nearest book and flipped it open. She was vaguely aware she'd been through this one before, but she was too embarrassed to correct her mistake. Lilith glanced up at the upper shelves with another longing look. "I think I'll stay" he said firmly when he noticed her head tilt up toward them.

She soundlessly drew in a deep breath to calm herself, her back still facing him, trying to get the heat in her cheeks under control before she turned again. She wouldn't be forced out of the room by his presence; Lilith would read through the late hours of the night until he lost interest if need-be. Her shoulders rose and fall with the quiet breath, making him shake with near-silent laughter and causing the rosy color to bloom anew on her face, thankfully unseen. She could feel and hear his footfalls as he trekked across the room from her, sinking into a leather chair in the corner.

Lilith bowed her head as she pretended to read the book in her hands more closely, tucking her chin in just enough to let some of her softly-curled brown tresses fall in her face. It took all her concentration to not literally scurry to the nearest chair that sat beside the book shelves - each step was careful and calculated to be slow, maybe just slightly stiff, until she lowered herself into the cushiony winged-back chair. She drew her legs up, her knees pressing against her chest and face hiding behind the book. Instead of reading, she stared at the words, her mind moving a million miles an hour.

The pages were turned at regular intervals. Every so often, she'd steal a glance from over the top of her book to him - he'd be in a just slightly different position from one stolen glance to the next, but always watching her silently. He caught her looking each and every time. When their eyes met this time in particular, he took a pondering glance at the top-most shelves before locking gazes once more with a raised brow. She inched her book back up to shield her face again just in time to hide her utter confusion. Did he see through her before, see her intentions? She hadn't made it obvious, but the meaningful look had her panicked.

Just then, Hermione poked her head through the open door. Lilith carefully closed the book and set it in her lap, offering a warm smile and welcoming the intrusion. It became wry when she saw the evident look of bewilderment on Hermione's face that Sirius would be anywhere near the library at will… 'dunderhead,' she thought to herself with pleasure. "Mrs. Weasley has dinner nearly on the table, so I thought I'd round you all up - oh, that book again? I thought you found it an absolute bore! I made a pile of books I thought we could go through together" Hermione began to prattle on about the tower of a dozen books a few feet away, not noticing the grin spread on Sirius' face…she had seemed so interested in reading this one. Oh Merlin, what was it again? Her eyes darted down the cover. The Goblin Wars of 1294? Lilith had better control over the faint pink coloring her cheeks this time. She rose hurriedly, leaving the book forgotten on her chair, and strode over to the column of books Hermione had placed on the floor. "Great, thank you, yes" she sputtered, accidentally interrupting Hermione when she spoke while grabbing the first three books. Granger simply beamed though, pleased she was so eager to take her reading suggestions (it certainly never happened with the boys), and the pair walked out leaving Sirius behind without another look.

Sirius was last to join at the table before they all dug in. Lilith made a point of not looking at him a single time through the meal. She laughed harder than she normally would have at the twins' antics, and snickered with Ginny at the awkward looks Ron and Hermione shared across the table. She even spoke animatedly with Tonks and Remus, being quite the social butterfly for once - anything to keep from seeing his face. Wand lore came up, and she happily chatted with Kingsley Shacklebolt regarding the different woods used; she explained her own wand, made of willow, made it easier by nature to perform non-verbal magic. Hermione leaned in curiously, asking if she had become proficient at all. Lilith had the decency to look humble as she explained only some of it came naturally, she had to study hard and practice often to get to the advance level that she'd only just reached. As the table cleared of food and the first few wizards and witches began taking their leave, Lilith leaned down to snatch her books from the floor and stood quickly. "I'm quite tired, I think I'll get to bed early tonight" she said hastily, her obvious nervous energy making some of them blink at her in confusion. She stole a glance at Sirius just as she made her way from the table and toward the stairs; he was glowering at her.