I'll Wait For You

By Hazelmist

Summary: This is a sequel/spin off of my Lily and James story I'll Fight For You but it's going to focus more on Grace Adams and her relationship with Sirius Black. I highly recommend you read I'll Fight For You first or you'll be very confused. If you want a summary, look at the top of the prologue chapter. In the prologue we see two very different first encounters between Grace and Sirius and Grace and Evan Wilkes in Diagon Alley before they start their first year (as well as glimpses of the Adams, Lily and James). Grace and James upset a shopkeeper, get separated and Grace gets dragged off by Evan Wilkes to Knockturn Alley. He corners her and tells her that her mother murdered his and put his father in Azkaban and that he's going to make her pay for that, but Sirius arrives in time to rescue her and bring her back to Diagon Alley to her family. Grace asks her father if it's true and he says it's not but the chapter ends with Evan Wilkes receiving the news that his father has been executed in Azkaban and him vowing revenge. This chapter connects to many things that were mentioned in the prologue but takes place roughly six years later when they are seventh years on their winter break.

Author's Note: Sorry my computer got a virus and I proceeded to fix it by getting the same virus on my sister's laptop as well. She was not pleased and I had to shell out a lot of money to get them both fixed. Yeah, I'm a real computer genius. Hope you enjoy this!

Chapter One: Six Years Later

December 30, 1976

And so he waited…

It had been six long years since their first encounter in Diagon Alley but never a day went by without him thinking about her. Standing by the window with his hands clasped behind his back, he gazed at the thick clouds gathering on the horizon. There was a storm coming, all one had to do now was wait for it. He took a deep breath, but it didn't slow his beating hard or stop his hands from trembling. Soon, he told himself, soon she would be his. But he couldn't calm down and the reassurances were all empty promises that had been building since the first day their eyes met. At that moment he realized that their fates were entwined and in the last year the bond between them had only grown painfully stronger. He drew in another breath and a part of him was aware of her taking a breath as well. He was so in tune with her that it both scared and intoxicated him. He'd never felt this way before.

He'd never felt anything.

A crack appeared in the window in front of him, splintering out like a spider web. With a touch he could shatter it and all of the windows in a twenty-mile radius, but instead he closed his eyes, slowly reeling the magic back in. When he opened his eyes the pane of glass was smooth and unblemished, more perfect than it had been before. He ran his finger over the glass, admiring his work.

He'd promised them that he would wait, but he knew that he couldn't control himself much longer.

But then again, maybe he didn't have to wait…

A sudden smile split his face as a plan began to form in his mind. Yes, he decided, tomorrow I'll see her again.

"I can't wait to see you all again."

Seventeen-year old Grace Adams smiled in spite of herself and shook her head. Lily Evans had been her best mate for the past six years and she adored her, but honestly this was borderline obsession. She'd just left a week ago to visit her muggle family for the first time in almost two years and already she was begging to come back to live with Grace and the Potters.

"For Merlin's sake, Lily, you'll see me in less than twenty-four hours!"

Lily Evan's laughter echoed through Grace's bedroom, even though she wasn't physically present. Grace unconsciously clutched the mirror closer, knowing that she'd never admit it but she had missed the red haired girl who's face was reflected in the mirror instead of her own. Lily's boyfriend James Potter who was in fact Grace's cousin had along with his best mate Sirius Black developed the pair of mirrors that could be used as a two-way communication portal. Grace had convinced James to loan her the mirror after threatening to tell Sirius that he'd filched his mirror to give it to his girlfriend for the week.

"I know it's only been a week, and James was just here yesterday meeting my parents but Petunia's getting married-"

"Someone actually wants to spend their entire life with your sister!" Grace gasped, horrified. She'd only met Petunia once but she still wondered how the hell Lily and that cow were related.

"I'm still trying to get over the shock too," Lily giggled. "But it's like they're soul mates. He's so dreadfully boring and ordinary that I think they'll be perfectly happy together for the rest of their dull predictable long lives." Lily wasn't laughing anymore, and suddenly it didn't seem so funny to Gracie either. Here were two young people, not much older than Lily and Gracie and yet they had their whole lives to look forward too. Their lives might've lacked the excitement and adventure of Lily and Gracie's, but at the same time, Grace wondered like she always did that if she had been born a muggle if her family would still be alive.

"Do you ever wonder what that would be like?" Grace mused aloud.

"What?" Lily asked.

"You know, not having to worry about Death Eaters, and evil lords hell bent on world domination, and dark magic, and powerful magical weapons that must not be named... Don't you ever wonder what it would be like to just be… normal?"

Lily took a moment to think over her answer. Grace knew that they had discussed this before, a year ago, right after Grace's father and little brother had been brutally murdered by Death Eaters. Last year, Lily's answer had been a firm no, but they'd both still been in shock and that had been before last April when Lily's former boyfriend had been murdered and Grace had almost been too. That had been before a powerful magical weapon had been thrust into Lily's hands and she had almost had to sacrifice her own lives and the lives of her closest friends to see that it didn't end up in the hands of Lord Voldemort.

"Yeah, I do," Lily confessed, surprising both of them. "I mean I still wished that I had met you and James, and Sirius and Tiffany, Alice and Frank, Mary and Eddie, the Potters, Ophelia and Rohan…Hope." Lily paused and Grace felt her throat tighten at the mention of Lily's former boyfriend and Grace's mother, both of whom had sacrificed their lives for her last April.

"But I kind of wonder what it would've been like if we did have ordinary muggle lives. I know it wouldn't have been the same, I mean, can you imagine Ophelia Lovegood as a muggle?" Lily asked, attempting to lighten the mood. Grace forced a laugh, but it was hard. She kept wondering what life would be like without this pain in her chest.

"And what would you and James and Sirius do without quidditch?" Lily continued, grinning.

"I suppose we'd take up hamball or runbee or that sport with the bat, the one with the insect name…" Grace trailed off, trying to remember the name.

"It's FOOTBALL and RUGBY and CRICKET," Lily corrected her, laughing. "Forget it. I could never see you as a muggle." Grace smiled.

"Hey, I could do it," Grace protested. "If I did a little research I'm sure I could do a reasonably good job fooling those muggles into thinking I was one of them." Suddenly an idea struck her.

"Speaking of muggles," Grace said, sitting up. "Keith Abbott invited us to a party in muggle London tomorrow night. I think we should go."

"I think you should go, seeing as he invited you not us."

"Lily, you know it's not like that! I dumped him three years ago. Besides, he invited half of Hogwarts and I don't have the foggiest idea how to get around muggle style."

"Muggle style," Lily snorted.

"Come on, we'll get Tiffany to go, it'll be fun!"

Lily sighed.

"I don't know, Gracie. It'll be New Years Eve and there will be a lot of muggles around. I don't even know my way around muggle London, are you sure we should be-"

"Keith can give us directions!"

"Okay, but Gracie are you sure that you're ready –" Lily stopped herself immediately, but it was too late. Grace caught the flicker of emotions in her eyes. "I mean, it's not really safe. We could get mugged by some muggles." Lily started babbling on about all of the things that could go wrong, but Grace knew that there was really only one thing that she was concerned about and it made Grace sick to her stomach because she knew that Lily had more than a valid reason to be worried about her. If only she knew…

"Hey, I think you've hogged my girlfriend long enough." A heavy hand came down on Grace's shoulder and a smile instantly spread across Lily's face as her eyes locked on to Grace's handsome cousin who was hovering over her. For once Grace was actually happy to have the conversation interrupted. She even handed the mirror over to James without a single comment about how the two love birds couldn't go more than ten minutes without seeing each other. She left James in her room with Lily on planet Potter and headed for the loo. She let the door swing shut behind her and went to the mirror. This time instead of Lily's red hair and almond shaped green eyes, Grace saw her own reflection.

Though it had been months since the attack and her lengthy stay at St. Mungo's, she wasn't the same as she had been before. She was so much thinner and paler. Her blue eyes seemed larger and unnaturally bright in her changed face. Her hair was straighter than it had been before she'd chopped it all off after the murders. She tested the length with her hands wondering if she should cut it all off again.

"Don't even think about cutting it," the mirror told her. Grace smiled, knowing that no matter what her thoughts were about having a muggle life, she would always call the magical world home.

"She's right you know."

Grace turned around and was only a little surprised to find Sirius Black in the doorway. At seventeen, her cousin's best friend hadn't changed all that much from when they had first met. They were still basically the same height, and he still had a nasty habit of getting into trouble and getting under her skin. And yet, just like the first day they met in Diagon Alley he was always showing up when she needed him most and she couldn't stop liking him no matter how much he teased her at times. It was very annoying and most of the time she expressed this annoyance by threatening to maim or kill him. It used to actually work, but not anymore. Their relationship had changed drastically over the past year as their two best mates had started dating, strengthening the bond that had been forming between them as they were thrust into even closer proximity.

"When someone's in the loo, it's sometimes polite to let them have their privacy," she informed him, sarcastically.

"Yes, but not when there's a crisis that needs to be averted," Sirius said, grinning. Merlin, didn't he know what that grin was capable of? Sirius must have been, because he closed the door behind him and approached her. He gently took her by the shoulders and turned her back around so that she was facing the mirror.

"What are you doing?" she asked him, alarmed. Her heart rate had tripled since the moment she noticed his presence. If he didn't leave now she'd probably have a heart attack.

"I'm averting a crisis," he repeated, as their eyes met in the mirror. He stood behind her and she felt his fingers suddenly in her hair. He spread it out between his hands and Grace thought that now would've been an excellent time to tell him to back off, but it felt nice. She closed her eyes as his fingers combed through it and then suddenly his breath was tickling her cheek.

"I like your hair like this," he said.

Grace's eyes snapped open and she smirked.

"Then I guess I'll chop it off," she declared.

"You would do that, wouldn't you?" Sirius sighed, stepping back. Grace immediately missed the warmth of his body. "But I think you'd be making a huge mistake."

"Oh, yes, the world as we know it would end if I were to cut it!" she quipped.

"You'd look a lot older if you cut it," Sirius said seriously, though he was smiling. "I think it would break Heather and Danny's heart to see their little niece looking like a lovely young woman."

Grace's breath caught. He'd called her lovely.

"Also Danny would have to reinforce the wards around the house to accommodate all the extra blokes that would be coming around. James and I would have to arm ourselves with baseball bats, beating off your hundreds of suitors in an effort to preserve your virtue –" Grace rolled her eyes because now he sounded more like the crazy Sirius Black she was used to.

"Okay now you're just being ridiculous and spouting nonsense," she laughed.

"I'm serious!" he protested.

"Yeah, I know," Grace said, acknowledging the old joke. Sirius spun her around so abruptly that Grace almost lost her balance. She reached behind her, steadying herself against the sink. Suddenly, she felt dizzy and she wasn't sure if it had anything to do with Sirius's close proximity. He must have just taken a shower or spilt his cologne because it was all she could smell.

"My lady, I am always at your services. If you need me to beat up Sir Abbott for making unwanted advances –"

"Is that what this is about?" Grace sighed, rubbing at her forehead. She was still really dizzy and though she really did like Sirius's cologne right now there was so much of it that it was making her nauseous. Or at least that was what she was telling herself. "How did you find out about that – right, you're a Marauder," she answered herself, because that was the answer to every question when it came to Sirius and James's eavesdropping and sneaky stealthy abilities.

"Abbott's a very shady and unreliable character. He sneaks around at night and I bet he has a bevy of women. He'd make a terrible boyfriend." Sirius went on, doing a perfectly bad job at coming up with excuses. Grace laughed because the seventh-year Hufflepuff displayed none of these characteristics and Sirius Black in fact did fit the description, and yet it was Sirius, not Keith that made Grace's pulse spike. Her heart rate was spiking now because his large hands were wrapped around her arms, or at least that's what she was hoping.

"Sirius, it's not like that. Keith's just a friend now," Grace reassured him, but she was too busy rubbing her aching forehead to notice the momentary glimpse of relief that spread across Sirius's face. "He invited me to his party along with the rest of the school, but I think he's really hoping that I'll bring Tiffany – ugh – can you let go of me for just one second."

Sirius stepped back immediately but Grace still wasn't able to breathe. The ache in her head had progressed to a pounding and she knew she was going to have to sit down or her legs would give out. She tried to sit down on the sink, but she slipped on the slick edge and fell. Sirius caught her and she sunk down to the floor dragging him with her.

"Are you alright?" he asked anxiously. Grace put her head between her knees and started to take deep breaths like she had been taught.

"Gracie, are you okay?" Sirius asked again, gripping her arm.

"I'm fine," Grace mumbled. Deep breaths. "Just something I ate," she lied. Deep breaths. Take deep breaths, she repeated like a prayer hoping that this would be one of the times when it actually worked. She didn't want Sirius, of all people, to see her like this. Please, just let it pass this time, she prayed.

"Grace –"

"Can you just be quiet for one second, please?" Grace pleaded with him, trying to focus on her breathing. She expected Sirius to ignore her but he shut up. She heard him moving and her arm shot out to grab his arm.

"Don't – I know you want to go get Auntie Heather but don't bother her. I just need a moment," she lied and let go of his arm to wrap her arms around her middle. The phantom pain was back and she grit her teeth and buckled down to ride it out in silence.

"Okay," he said, and she was vaguely aware of him rubbing her back, then there was nothing but the pain.

It could've been seconds, or minutes, or maybe an hour. She wasn't sure but when she came back to herself Sirius was still sitting beside her. Well, beside her might not have been the best word, perhaps under her would have been a more accurate description. She was practically in his lap. She had either crawled onto him or he had put her there. She had her head buried in his chest and his arms were around her, holding her against him. Thank Merlin, as mortifying as that had been at least it hadn't happened this time.

"I'm alright," she said, sliding off his lap and onto the tiled floor. She pulled down her sleeve and wiped the sweat from her forehead. She was still shaking and Sirius noticed.

"Grace, I think we should get Heather or Danny," Sirius suggested, concerned. It was rare for Sirius to suggest getting any kind of help, even if it did come in the form of two people he considered adoptive parents to both of them, Sirius was still more of an independent soul. Suddenly, Grace was glad that it had been Sirius that had been with her and not Lily or James because Sirius could understand. And therefore she might even be able to fool him.

"It's not necessary," Grace said, reaching up for the countertop. She ignored his outstretched hand and instead hauled herself to her feet. "I think I'm allergic to nutmeg, but I don't want to hurt Heather's feelings by telling her not to use it in her cooking anymore," she lied smoothly. She had been taught by the best of course.

Sirius eyed her suspiciously, clearly not buying it, but she already knew that he would accept it. Because buying the lie was so much easier than accepting the truth. It was why she had gotten away with it for so long. She was young, an excellent liar, and they loved her, and therein lay the problem.

She stepped forward and grasped Sirius's hand, making sure that he felt her strength. She twined her fingers through his and looked up at him imploringly, just like she had that day six years ago when they first met.

"Sirius, do you think that you could not tell James or Lily or Danny or Heather and maybe keep this between us?"

Sirius hesitated but she already knew that he would keep her secret, just like he had six years ago because he did understand her and he loved her even if he wasn't fully aware of it.

"Alright," he whispered and Grace closed her eyes in relief, letting her head fall forward onto his shoulder. Sirius wrapped one arm around her shoulders, holding her there and then he startled her by pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "It'll be our little secret," he promised.

"Thanks, Sirius," she said, smiling as she pulled away. "Night," she murmured, heading for her bedroom.

Sirius stared at the doorway that she had just passed out of and then he slumped back against the wall. She drove him crazy and yet he'd give her anything in the world if she asked him too. He'd never felt this way about anyone. Still, Sirius couldn't help but wonder if that pact they'd just made had been a mistake. It was such a small promise and he was probably overreacting, but he couldn't stop thinking about how hard she had been trembling. There was something she wasn't telling anyone, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to know. Shaking his head, Sirius reassured himself that she was fine but that he would keep a closer eye on her… just in case.

December 31, 1976

"This is bloody ridiculous!"

Seventeen-year old Grace Adams turned to flash a smile over her shoulder at her shivering companions. It was New Year's Eve and Grace had somehow managed to talk them into going to a party that a friend of a friend was having at their flat in muggle London, which meant they had to apparate to a point three blocks away and walk the remaining way. Normally, this wouldn't have been a problem, but Tiffany Crowley was walking in heels so high that she almost came up to Grace's chin, and it was freezing out so the fashionable fur coat she'd opted to wear did little to protect her from the cold, and she'd been cursing Grace every step of the way.

"You didn't have to come," Grace reminded her, tucking her hands into her more sensible black cloak as they crossed the street.

"I know I didn't have to come, but you wouldn't have any fun if I didn't," the blonde sniffed, pulling the furs closer. "I am the only one here that knows how to party."

Grace snorted as Tiffany slipped on the slushy cobblestones and latched onto Lily Evans.

"Ah, yes I can see that," Lily observed drily as she helped Tiffany regain her balance by looping her arm through hers. Her green eyes sparkled with mirth. "I imagine you're going to wow all the eligible wizards when you trip and fall flat on your face."

"Men love nothing more than to sweep a young lady off her feet," Tiffany said sagely.

Lily shared an exasperated look with Grace and rolled her eyes.

"I thought we had sworn off men," Grace said, moving to support Tiffany's other side.

"No, that's our New Year's resolution," Tiffany corrected her. "So, since we're going without men for the next 365 days, we might as well snog as many men as we can in the four hours remaining in this one."

"Well, you can start with me."

The trio looked up to see a pair of familiar faces emerging from the shadows. Both of the tall dark haired men that stepped into their path were attractive and cocky enough that they knew it, but only Sirius Black would have said something lecherous like that. James Potter only had eyes for one girl now. His grin widened and his eyes softened behind his glasses as Lily flung herself into his arms.

"I missed you," Lily sighed as her boyfriend wrapped his arms around her. Grace bit back the urge to point out that it had only been three days since she last saw James.

"I missed you more," James insisted and gave her a long kiss to prove it.

Sirius turned to Gracie and Tiffany with what must have been his "come-to-bed-with-me" grin and held his arms open invitingly.

"So, what do you say? Which one of you lovely ladies wants to snog Hogwart's Most Eligible Bachelor?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows. Grace laughed a little too loudly.

"Are you serious?" Tiffany sniggered, clearly unimpressed.

"Of course I am," Sirius said, leering at them. "I'm Sirius Black."

"I think it's time you got yourself a new line," Grace said, tired of the old joke and strangely relieved that Tiffany hadn't taken Sirius up on that kiss.

"Or a new name," Tiffany suggested, "Like Remus. Now, Remus is a cool name…" she trailed off, looking around hopefully as if she expected that their friend Remus Lupin was hiding in the shadows as well. Tiffany had a strange fascination with the mysterious member of the Marauders.

"He's waiting for you inside, sweetheart," Sirius said, anticipating the question with a wink. "And I think he could use a good shag." Tiffany swatted his arm but she hurried up the steps with impressive speed considering the heels. Grace made a move to follow her, but a large warm hand curled around her wrist, holding her back.

"I'm not snogging you," she told him before he could offer again. She didn't know if she'd be able to turn him down if he did. Sirius's smarmy grin wilted a little, but he shook his head. Grace's heart skipped a beat as he leaned in so close that his lips brushed over her ear.

"Actually, I had something more fun in mind," he whispered mischievously, turning her so that they both faced their two love struck friends who were still attempting to make up for the agonizing seventy-two hours they'd spent apart. He nudged her with his shoulder and Grace's eyes shifted to follow his. There was a small pile of snow on the curb that someone must've shoveled off their car or their stoop earlier. Grace looked back at Sirius to find that his grin had turned dangerously wicked and she knew exactly what kind of fun he had in mind.

Grinning like maniacs, the two of them hurried over to the curb and started packing the snow into their hands.

"On three," Sirius breathed, as they stood up with snowballs in hand. Grace nodded, as he softly counted down, "One, two, three!"

Grace pulled back her arm and let the snow fly at her target.

THWACK! It struck the back of James's neck.

"What the –" a bewildered James pulled away from Lily, just as Sirius threw the second snowball. It caught him full in the face, swallowing up the string of curses that would have followed.

"Are you alright?" Lily asked in concern, but her hand was curled over mouth as if she was trying not to laugh.

"You dirty dog!" James was already on the ground, retrieving his glasses and trying to figure out where they'd gotten the snow.

"Quick!"

Sirius's cold damp fingers threaded through hers as he pulled her back toward the apartment building, but they weren't fast enough.

"Winterio!" James hissed. They tore up the slippery steps as the slush hardened into slick ice beneath their boots. Sirius slid on the front stoop, slamming into her from behind. Grace found herself squashed up against the front door with Sirius uncomfortably pressed up against her.

"Damn it!" Sirius cursed as he tried to brace himself and remain standing upright on the ice patch James had created. Grace pounded on the door with the flat of her hand and Sirius stabbed at one of the glowing buttons on the side of the building.

"Come on! Open the do-" Sirius broke off as the door suddenly swung open. Grace toppled inside with Sirius and James piling in after her. James tackled Sirius, throwing him to the ground but a pair of arms caught Gracie before she could be pulled into the fray.

"Are you alright?" the young stranger asked, gently settling her back on her feet. A concerned pair of brown eyes scanned her from head to toe.

"Fine," Grace managed, blushing in embarrassment as his eyes lingered appreciatively on her. She was dimly aware of the fact that Lily was breaking up Sirius and James.

"Are you sure?" Grace looked up at him, taking in his fair skin and his mop of blonde hair. It was rare that a man was able to tower over her, but this young man who couldn't be much older than her seemed to have been gifted with the height advantage that she wished many of her other male peers possessed.

"Yeah, I –"

"Hey, Adams!" Grace was almost relieved when the interruption came in the form of Keith Abbot before she could humiliate herself further. "Thanks for coming!" the Hufflepuff said cheerfully, giving her a friendly one armed hug that would have been more suitable for one of the guys – it was one of the reasons why Grace and him hadn't lasted very long as a couple back in their Fifth year and also why they remained friends. Even so it drew a dark glare from Sirius Black and James Potter. Grace rolled her eyes at them just as Keith released her.

"Thanks for inviting me," she said graciously. Keith clapped the blonde Adonis on the shoulder.

"I see you've met Oliver," he said, grinning. Oliver grinned back at Keith, and Grace suddenly noticed that despite their dramatic difference in height they bore a slight resemblance to one another.

"I take it you go to school with my cousin as well?" Oliver guessed.

Grace nodded.

"When I told Keith my parents were going to be out of town I thought he might invite a few friends, I was unaware that he meant he was going to invite the entire student body," Oliver said dryly as Keith shrugged sheepishly.

"Come on mate, you needed someone to show you how to have a good time," Keith said jovially and Grace was reminded of Tiffany. "Oliver goes to Oxford," he said loudly, as if this was supposed to mean something to them.

"Oh, really?" Lily sounded impressed but she was the only one. "What are you studying?" she asked genuinely curious.

"Medicine," Oliver answered and it suddenly occurred to Grace that Oliver was a muggle.

"When I was a kid I dreamed of going to Oxford and studying medicine there," Lily recalled with a dreamy smile.

"Maybe you will," Oliver said kindly, "What school did you say you were from?"

Lily rattled off the fake name so quickly and Oliver accepted it so readily that Grace suspected that unlike whatever lies Keith was feeding Oliver, Lily's was a genuine muggle school, one that she might've actually gone to if it hadn't been for her Hogwarts letter. Sometimes Grace actually forgot that Lily was muggleborn.

"I don't think Oxford's in my future," Lily said regretfully, forcing a laugh. "When we're children it seems so easy to imagine growing up to be a doctor. We're too young to know what it really takes to save lives."

"You will," James reassured her, winding an arm possessively around her waist. He eyed Oliver as he pulled Lily in close and kissed her neck. Lily's laughter was genuine this time.

"James, that tickles!"

As much as Grace loved the fact that two of the people she cared for most had found happiness in each other, she didn't think she could tolerate any more of the lovey dovey behavior they were exhibiting. Fortunately the buzzer distracted them. Keith jumped for the door and Oliver sighed, catching Grace's eye.

"I don't know why I'm here. I think it would've been more practical to rent the place out to my cousin and spare you all the tiresome Oxford student that actually lives here sometimes," he said, as Keith enthusiastically greeted Hestia Jones and her silly younger sister Athena. Grace noted with some amusement that Lily made an extra effort to give Hestia a warm greeting but kept her arm around James. Athena, she observed, threw herself right into Sirius's arms. James may have been practically family to the Jones, but Sirius was obviously not. Turning away in disgust, she grinned up at the tall young man beside her.

"Well, I'm glad you're here, Oliver."

"Are you?" he asked, smiling slowly. "You just met me. You have no idea what a complete bore I turn into when faced with the prospect of a beautiful woman."

It had been a long time since a guy had looked at her like that, and it had been even longer since Grace had wanted to flirt back, but Grace was going to make the effort even if it killed her. It had been far too long since she'd had some fun.

"Yeah," she smiled and touched his arm. "Why don't you get me a drink and then let me be the judge."

"Alright, but if at any point I'm boring you –"

"Oh, I think I know how to shut you up," Grace giggled and sidled closer. "I like you," Oliver grinned and pressing a hand into the small of her back, he guided her into the living room. Grace didn't notice the way Sirius's eyes followed her out the door, tracking her movement like a silent shadow. If she had maybe she could have prevented what happened to the bubbly Jones girl at Sirius's side, who he later left without a moment's hesitation.

"It's bloody unfair that you wind up with the hottest guy here!" Tiffany Crowley laughed as she and Grace swung their hips in time to the music. "Seriously, Grace how did you manage to snag him? He's gorgeous!" She was practically shouting in order to make herself heard over the loud music but Grace didn't care. She didn't care that Sirius was dancing with Hestia's silly sister that wore enough makeup to make her look like a clown. She didn't care that they'd lost Lily and James almost as soon as they walked in or that Tiffany kept repeating herself because she was so bloody drunk. She didn't care that the room was sweltering and filled with way too many kids and she certainly didn't care that Oliver had given her enough alcohol to lower all of her inhibitions. She wanted to know where Oliver was now with their third round of drinks but instead her gaze kept going to Sirius.

Grace stopped dancing because in the sixty seconds since she'd last checked, Sirius had vanished. Hestia's sister was alone and glaring daggers at Gracie. Grace had no idea what she had done to the girl to make her look at her like that, until suddenly she felt a pair of large hands glide over her hips, fitting into her sides like they belonged there.

"Hey!" Sirius shouted in her ear. If Grace had been sober, she probably would've winced and shoved him away. His breath stank of firewhiskey. "I don't like that strange bloke that's been dancing with you."

"I'm not sure if I like him either," Grace confessed with all the honesty of a drunk. "But he's nice and he's gorgeous and he's really, really tall," she giggled. Sirius twirled her around as the tempo of the music got faster, pulling her tight against his body.

"I'm nice," he informed her.

"Sometimes," Grace admitted.

"And I'm tall."

"I'm taller," Grace lied, standing on tip toe so that she managed to overcome the inch or two that Sirius had on her. Sirius playfully tugged on her hips again, forcing her back down on her heels with a laugh.

"I'm gorgeous." It wasn't a question, it was a fact. The smile that he gave her was fool proof evidence. It was enough to make any girl swoon.

"Mmm," Grace murmured, doing just that. She leaned heavily against his hard chest, no longer caring that they were no longer dancing in time to the music. She knew that in the morning she would regret this, but right now she just didn't care about anything except him."Yes, you are."

"So, why did you spend the whole night dancing with him instead of me?"

Grace didn't really know the answer to that question. But she knew it had something to do with the fact that he was hot, really hot, even hotter than Oliver and there had been a girl that had thrown himself at her. Hestia's sister. Was it Athena or Aphrodite? She was really, really silly and Grace thought it was really, really silly of Sirius to go around dancing with a girl like that.

"You were dancing with Afro – afra –" Grace giggled, because it was really difficult to say Aphrodite and it was such a funny name. Sirius chuckled too at her slurred attempts at Athena's nickname. By the end of the night they would be calling her afro girl but neither one of them would remember it in the morning. In fact, they wouldn't remember much of anything that happened that night.

Grace would have a vague recollection of dancing with Sirius until the lights began to blur and all she was aware of was their bodies moving together in time to the music. It had felt so right, like their bodies had been meant to be joined like that. They were so in tune with each other. She hadn't wanted to stop.

He had stopped her though, dragging her out of the trance that the music and his body had thrown her into. He took her by the hand and into the shadow of a staircase. After that, she didn't remember what happened. But she did know this: she was ready to tell him the truth.

Maybe that was how she ended up sitting on an unfamiliar front stoop in tears. The streetlights blurred before her eyes. It was snowing. She forgot about crying as she studied each beautiful flake as it came down. It was so, so pretty like nothing she had ever seen before. The snowflakes melted and vanished as they landed on her hand. Nothing so beautiful could last. She wanted to cry again but instead she got up and walked unsteadily out into the snow.

She heard someone calling her name and she wobbled as she turned. A stranger was coming out of the shadows, running toward her.

She was so tired of running that she finally let them catch her.

"Gotcha," he said, wrapping his arms around her.

"You got me." Grace closed her eyes, and let her head slump against his chest. She felt his hand on her forehead, gently smoothing her hair back from her forehead. She sighed and let him pick her up and carry her back into the shadows she'd been running from. It was no use trying to escape, they always found her again.

He waited for hours and hours, biding his time. Many people passed him and each time he caught a whiff of a sweet scent, he thought maybe, maybe this time. But each time there was always someone else or something else that drove him back into the shadows. Finally, though, when the snow started falling and the sky was lightening, he found her.

She was walking unsteadily down the street, weaving back and forth. She was way too drunk to apparate. Even if she did have her wand on her, he knew she would be no match for him. It wasn't long before she sat down shivering. He knew he had to make his move now.

Stepping out of the shadows, he called her name. She looked up and once she saw him, she stood. She wobbled and tried to run, but he dashed across the street and easily intercepted her before she could make her escape.

"Gotcha," he said, wrapping his arms around her.

She blinked up at him, and then her eyes widened in horror. But she wasn't going to try and escape. He had waited too long for this. He placed one hand on her forehead and her eyes closed, her body going limp against him. He ran his hands over her body, feeling the contours of her body change as he picked her up in his arms.

"Hello, again Gracie," he whispered, smiling fondly as he carried her back into the shadows. "You're coming home with me."

Evan Wilkes turned on the spot and apparated away with the raven haired girl slumped in his arms and no one the wiser.

A/N: Cliffhanger! I know it's been forever but I simply couldn't leave this unfinished. I have two more chapters written that might need just a little bit of tweaking but I promise they'll be up within the next couple of weeks. It's a bit confusing now, but I promise that just like I'll Fight For You everything will come together in the end. Please let me know what you think and look out for the next chapter soon!