Chapter 3

Keira woke up feeling apathetic, and groggy. She had fallen asleep in her robes and her make-up, albeit she had cried most of her make-up off during the night but it just meant that she had dark black stains down her cheeks.

She decided to get showered and go down for breakfast early, the others could meet her down there, she didn't think they would mind or even think much of it really. So Keira strolled down to the Great Hall for breakfast, thankful that she wouldn't bump into anyone or have to talk to anyone. She just wanted to be on her own with her thoughts for a bit.

There were two other people sat on the Ravenclaw table when Keira entered the Great Hall. She sat on her own on the Gryffindor table, quite happy to be left to herself for once. There was no one asking her for advice, complaining to her or just generally talking whilst she was trying to think. She could think, for once, about anything without being interrupted.

She sat there for a while mulling things over in her head. She mainly thought about Sirius, about how she had treated him and what he would think of her now. Why do you even care! She thought to herself. After half an hour thinking everything through she was no closer to figuring it all out than when she had started. In fact she was more confused than before, if that could even be possible.

What is it about him? she thought to herself. I mean, he's just a friend right... so why do I get that... her trail of thought was cut off as someone else entered the Great Hall.

Sirius Black had woken up early. His eyes were red and puffy; he had cried himself to sleep the previous night, though he would never tell anyone that. It wasn't really that he was upset, or well he was but it was also through anger and frustration. Everything that had happened over the summer, leaving home, Keira and everything else just seemed to pile up into one huge mess.

'I'm just really tired is all' He had told James before heading down to the Great Hall early that morning. He thought maybe he could just sit on his own and think a few things over in his head before having to face the first day of school.

He opened the doors of the Great Hall to find only one person sat on the Gryffindor Table. Keira was sat about half way, up on her own, staring at a piece of toast and deep in concentration. As he walked up the table she looked up at him, bewildered from losing her train of thought. He sat down opposite her and just watched her for a while. Eventually she looked up at him.

'What' She snapped at him, though she didn't look angry. She looked really young actually. She had her hair tied back and no make-up on yet which gave a dewy glow that Sirius thought was very attractive. He couldn't say that about many of the girls at Hogwarts but Keira really was beautiful. Her face was contorted into a kind of forced frown, though he could see that she had been 

crying and reached out to touch her hand and tell her it was okay, but pulled back. She probably wouldn't have approved. She hated him.

'Nothing, I... uh, just wanted to apologise again, I didn't mean to knock you down yesterday' his voice was quiet and solemn.

'No, it was nothing... I just... never mind' Her voice trailed off as she got up and ran off. Again.

Sirius watched her leave. He thought he should be used to this by now. He helped himself to a piece of toast and waited for the others to come downstairs.

After a while people started to come down to for breakfast, and Sirius felt very aware of all the looks he was getting. A group of third year Gryffindor girls sat near to him on the table and began giggling and looking over at him. He knew they were talking about him, he knew they wanted him. Contrary to popular belief Sirius loathed the attention he got from girls, but that didn't stop him humouring them and having a little fun. He looked over at the third years, who were still laughing and talking.

'Stop it, he knows we're watching him. Come on, this is just embarrassing!' whispered one of the girls going a bright shade of scarlet. Sirius couldn't help but laugh to himself, and winked at the girls who all started laughing even louder.

'That was so for me!' one of the girls said with a great arrogance.

'Obviously not! He was looking at me Gwen!'

Sirius got up and left, leaving the girls to fight over him on their own. He started to walk, with no real idea of where he was going to end up, when, yet again he ran straight into someone.

'I really need to stop doing this' he breathed irritably as for the second time within 24 hours he was pushing himself up off of the floor. 'I'm so sorry'

'No, no it's fine, I should've been looking where I was going.' He had run into Claire, a recent ex of his.

'Oh, uh hey Claire' It always is awkward talking to someone you haven't long broken up with. Well, in fact it had been Claire who broke up with him. He had been cheating on her. He was actually cheating on her with a number of girls. It was widely known at Hogwarts that Sirius Black was a serial womaniser. He never stayed with one girl for long, and usually was never only with one girl at a time. He didn't do it for fun, or not wholly for fun, he had to admit that it was a little fun. But he was so focused on winning Keira, he was so in love with Keira that he just figured that he had no need for any real girlfriends, except if it were to be Keira. So if he was only going to be happy having Keira as his girlfriend then what need was there for other girls. Well, naturally Sirius found a need for 

them. He could take his mind off Keira and all his other problems by having a little harmless fun with them. He never took it too far, he actually had a conscience, he didn't want to hurt any of the girls or lead them on. He didn't sleep with many of them either, in fact there had only been three girls including Claire, because he didn't want them to get attached to him when he knew there was no possibility of him being able to love them back because his whole heart belonged to Keira.

'So, how have you been Sirius?' Claire asked. They began to walk together, out of the castle and down towards the lake.

'I've been good, left home this summer...' Sirius really couldn't think what else to say to her.

'Oh, why?'

'Just got fed up'

'I see...' Their conversation trailed off there as they sat on a rock near the edge of the lake.

'Hey listen, I'm really sorry for what happened last year.' Sirius said after a while, avoiding look at Claire. This was awkward enough already.

'Oh, it's okay I guess' She replied, also staring at her shoes as if they were going to explode at any minute.

'I never meant for it to happen'

'Don't lie, Sirius'

'Okay, so yeah I meant for it to happen, but I never meant for it to hurt you. You know, people say I'm this horrible guy who eats the hearts of pretty girls for breakfast' He said dismally. 'The truth is, I know I can't ever like someone, let alone love them, like they would me, it's complicated but I never mean to hurt anyone, especially you. You were so kind and loving... I'm sorry...' He finally looked up to find her staring at him, a tear falling down her cheek. They just sat there staring at each other for a while.

'It's okay Sirius – I forgave you months ago...' She leaned in to hug him and they just stayed, embracing each other for a while. Sirius pulled away and looked into her eyes. She was beautiful, not as beautiful as Keira, but certainly beautiful. She had bright blue eyes, and full, red lips. She leaned in further and their lips were almost touching. Sirius couldn't bring himself to do it though. It was wrong and he knew it, but at the same time he couldn't say no - that would just completely wreck her feelings after what he had said. It's just one kiss I suppose He thought before leaning in to kiss her.

Keira was walking down by the lake. Why couldn't Sirius just leave her alone, that's all she wanted was to be left alone. She was skimming rocks along the surface of the water and watching as the giant squid chased after them. She 

looked across the lake and saw two people making out. Why can't they just get a room, no one wants to see that she thought before realising who it was.

'Sirius!' She breathed. And for some unexplainable reason she felt a huge knot form in the pit of her stomach and her thoughts started swimming around her head. He was supposed to be in love with her. But why did she feel so angry, so upset, so disheartened. It wasn't unlike Black to go snogging girls in public, so why should she feel so... jealous now?