Let's see colours that have never been seen
Let's go places no one else has been
You're in my mind
All of the time
But I know that's not enough
If the sky could crack
There must be some way back
To love and only love
-Bono

Sirius sighed with relief as he heard her exit the room. In the last few minutes, he forgot all about being a gentleman as this ... wild beast took over him. All Sirius wanted to do was to shove her up against a wall, and kiss her until her lips were swollen to twice their size.

Now, he had another reason not to marry the Scottish Rose. Add that to another dozen of reasons. Now that Iris had come along, he actually had some one in his life who he desired. And desired not only in the sexual way, like other men. He absolutely adored talking to her for such rich words came from her beautiful lips, he wanted to comfort her and make her believe that magic could be found in the most unexpected corners.

Sirius ruffled his hair and walked back into his room. He threw himself on his King sized bed and groaned loudly into his pillow. Why was God being so cruel towards him? Why had he taken a fancy to a servant, of all people? If only she was the Scottish Rose...

The door suddenly opened and he saw James and Remus walk in, both of them drenched because of the rain but still wearing their good natured grins.

However, when they saw Sirius and his grave expression, they sat down and asked what was wrong.

"You were right," Sirius sighed, shaking his head.

"We're always right," Remus chuckled, "but what are we right about this time, Sirius? Is is because of that horse James -"

"I like her," Sirius said, interrupting Remus. James and Remus shared an alarmed look as Sirius said, "I like a maid. And she's so tempting. Like a glass of that firewhiskey we had in Northumberland."

Remus stared at him, not having regained his ability to speak but James said, "Padfoot, this will be so complicated. She's a maid. She works for you! There's no way you can marry her!"

Sirius frowned, "do you think I wanted to take a fancy to her? No! This will only make me more miserable that I already am!"

Remus sighed and whispered, "maybe it's just a crush. A passing feeling. Maybe it will leave your heart in a couple of days."

Sirius groaned, "I don't think it's a 'passing feeling', Moony. I actually like her and I think she is ... " Sirius could find the right word, she was so many things at once. Such a perfect and interesting girl he had never met in his entire life.

"She's not as pretty as the Scottish Rose," Remus tried to make Sirius feel better.

"I TOLD YOU I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT LOOKS! It's what she says that I find alluring! It's what she does that tempts me! And from my opinion, she's one million times prettier than that Scottish bimbo," Sirius finished bitterly. Why couldn't any one understand that looks didn't mean the world to him?

"What are you going to do, Sirius?" James asked, sympathetically. He knew how much pain and trouble his friend was going through and he wanted to do all he could to ease it and make the road a bit smoother.

"I guess I just...have to avoid her," Sirius sighed, shaking his head.

Remus bit his lip, "hang on, wasn't she appointed as YOUR personal maid?" When Sirius nodded, Remus looked at him pointedly, "well, I'm dying to know how you're planning on avoiding her then."

"I'll just have to figure something out," Sirius sighed and closed his eyes. Behind his closed lids, he saw her face. She wore a teasing smile and he ached to just brush his lips across hers and feel their softness ...

***

Iris stepped into Sirius' chamber and drew back the velvet curtains to reveal the gray clouds outside. There was not even a single trace of sunshine any where, but Iris didn't mind for she loved rain.

"It is time for you to wake up, Sire," Iris said, her voice soft and weak again as she took in the sight of his sleeping form. Sirius groaned and then sat up, looking at her with cold, hard eyes. Iris was taken aback by the sudden change.

"Thank you," Sirius said, his usual warm tone missing, "you can leave. Now."

Iris nodded and left his chamber, confused to his sudden attitude towards her. Just yesterday, he had asked her to take a walk with him ... and he had gotten her fresh clothes ...

She went to the Kitchens where Will worked as a cook. She sat down on one of the wooden stools and put her elbows on the table, wondering why he was being so rude towards her.

"What's wrong, love?" Will asked as he cooked the Queen's cheese omelet. Iris loved watching him cook because he did it at such a fast rate, and the food always turned out to be perfect despite how carelessly he prepared it.

"I don't know, Will," Iris sighed, "Sirius has suddenly changed ... he's acting like what you told me he was."

"Ah, well, he was bound to crack. No one can be a perfect gentleman for long. Probably just got moody," Will grabbed a plate and put two scones on it and handed then to Iris, "here, try these."

Iris brought the scone up to her lips and tried it. It was marvellous and after complimenting it, Iris hopped off the stool and washed her hands. She was about to leave when Will said, "Oh! And tell Prince Sirius that his parents request his company at breakfast."

Iris gulped and smoothed her skirt as she made her way to Sirius' chamber again. She knocked on the door and he allowed her to come in. She stuck her head through the gap and said, "Sire, the King and Queen request your company at breakfast."

"I don't give a damn about what they request," Sirius pulled on his riding boots, "tell them I would rather go crawl under a rock and die."

With such a hot head, he pulled the door open wider, startling Iris so that she jumped. He stormed past her and went towards the exit. Iris marvelled over his anger, and she noticed how he wouldn't even correct her when she called him "sire".

Her heart pounding in her chest, she went to the Royal Veranda where the Royal family would always have breakfast. When she stepped in and cleared her throat, King Orion and the Queen looked up and smiled at her. She was in their good books for she had managed to get Sirius to every family dinner, without him creating a scene.

"Yes?" King Orion asked.

When Iris spoke, her voice trembled, "His Majesty rejected your invitation and has gone to Master James' house for riding."

The Queen's face fell and she looked away, 'very well - very well - off you go -"

Iris sighed with relief and walked away from the Royal Veranda. She made her way back to the kitchen and spent most of the afternoon, talking and laughing with her only friend, Will. Now that Sirius had turned cold towards her, she had just one friend.

***

At six in the evening, Iris went to Sirius' chamber to ask him to join his parents at tea. She pushed open the door unwillingly and saw that Sirius was sitting on his desk, facing his friends, James and Remus.

"Good evening," Iris said, her voice trembling, "the Queen asked me to ask you t - to join her for t - tea."

James and Remus stared at Iris, wondering why she was so scared. Sirius looked up at her, his gray eyes cold, "Iris, can't you see that I'm entertaining some guests here? Tell the Queen that I wont be able to join her."

"She asked for Master James and Master Remus as well," Iris said, her face drained of colour and her lower lip trembling. What would the Queen do if she found out that she had failed to bring her son to a event twice?

"God Dammit, Iris!" Sirius raised his voice and Iris' eyes widened at his unkindness, "can't you see I'm bloody busy?"

Iris sighed deeply, "forgive me, Sire."

She was sure Sirius was about to say something but she slammed the door roughly, so that she couldn't hear him. It would be useless to deny the fact that she was hurt. She thought that Sirius was her friend as he has said so herself. And now his unkindness had her reduced to tears.

***

Sirius was in his room, reading a book by the fire place when some one knocked on his door. After allowing them to come in, he saw Dorcas, a maid who had been with them since before he was born. She was an old, plump lady who was very good hearted and kind.

"May I come in, Sirius?" she asked, her lofty voice making Sirius smile.

"Why, of course, Dorcas. You don't even need to ask," Sirius said, pointing to the chair across him. Dorcas smiled at him and heaved her great body on to the chair, wincing a little, "ah, my back will be the death of me."

Sirius bit his lip, "please get yourself checked, Dorcas. It could be something -"

"On to more important matters now, dear," Dorcas interrupted him, "now tell me, what have you done to that poor girl, Iris to reduce her to tears? She asked Marlene if she could resign today. She wants to leave."

Sirius felt terrible. His heart dropped down when he heard that he had made an angel cry. It went against all that he had tried to be in his twenty one years, "she...she wants to resign?"

Dorcas nodded, "she thinks you hate her. She's quite upset, mind you. What did you say to her?"

"I ... I was ... she thinks I hate her?" Sirius asked incredulously. How could she think that he hated her when his heart burned with the passion he felt for her? How was it even possible for her to think so? It seemed like such a ridiculous thought to him.

"I'm afraid so, dearie," Dorcas sighed, "she's going to make her leave official tomorrow in front of the King and Queen."

Sirius sighed mournfully and leaned back in his arm chair, closing his eyes. What had he done now? He didn't realize that he was being so unkind towards her that he made a woman cry. He had been so cruel that he had actually convinced her wordlessly to leave. "Can you ... can I see her?"

Dorcas smiled and slapped her thigh with delight, "ah ha! That's my boy! Now, I was thinking ... I know for a fact that she wakes up every morning at five to pray and to just watch the sun rise. The best time to go to her would be during dawn because it would be discreet. I will come and open the door at ten minutes past five. What do you say?"

Sirius nodded, "I think it's a good plan. Thank you, Dorcas."

So Sirius stayed up all night, reading a novel until the far away giant clock of the town told him that it was five in the morning. The first rays of sunshine were breaking out from the sky, making it seem like a pool of mixed paints. Pink, orange, yellow, golden ... it wasn't difficult to see why Iris liked to wake up every morning and watch the sun make it's way to the sky.

Sirius pulled on his black trousers and a pale blue button down. He grabbed the rope and climbed down towards the ground. As his feet touched the cool grass, that was still wet from the pouring rain earlier that night. He plunged his fists into his pockets and began to walk through the fields, towards the servant towers.

As soon as he reached the building, he pushed open the door. Thank God Dorcas had remembered, for she had a memory that could not be trusted. He walked by the lounge, and then up the stairs. Dorcas had told him that her room was at the top of the tower. Sirius sighed and began to climb the one hundred and three steps.

He reached her room and knocked very quietly. When he heard nothing, he entered for he did own this tower and it was his right. He saw that Iris wasn't really awake. She was asleep on her bed, wearing nothing but an extremely short dress that didn't even cover her knees. Her body was twisted with the sheets, her hair spread all over the pillow and her eye lids closed, a small smile upon her face.

Sirius felt the corners of his lips pull up in a smile. What a beautiful site she was! So feminine ... so sweet ...

Sirius smiled and went over to her bed. He sat down on the empty side and pulled his legs up, so that he was practically ON the bed with her. He ached to stroke her silky hair, but he clenched his hands ... stopping himself from doing so ...

But he couldn't help it. He reached out and pushed the hair that was covering her face away. His hand was as light as a feather but it still woke her up. She stretched a bit, mumbling something in her sleep. She yawned and then looked up and saw his face.

Iris gasped and sat up, pulling the covers around her body to cover it for she was dressed quite inappropriately. Her chocolate coloured eyes were wide with shock and (Sirius felt sad as he noticed) fear.

"Your Majesty - what - how -?" Iris stuttered, beginning sentences but not completing them. Sirius chuckled and sat up, so that he was at her eye level. He put his hands on her bare shoulders and she shivered.

"I don't hate you," Sirius whispered. Iris' eyes widened, but he continued, "I don't hate you one little bit. Actually, I like you quite a lot. More than I should. And I command you to stay. You are not to leave this castle, am I understood?"

Iris stared at Sirius for a moment before nodding. Her entire body was trembling, and she looked so afraid. Like a child, waiting for a spanking. Sirius felt so terrible because he was the cause for damaging the little confidence she had.

Sirius slid a finger under her chin, coaxing it up so that her head tilted back a bit. He pressed his lips to her forehead, and he heard Iris take a shuddering gasp of air. Sirius looked down at her and gave her a reassuring smile. He pressed down on the bed and then stood up.

"Good," he whispered, "because I don't fancy you leaving ... because you're the only personal maid I've ever had that I actually like."

He watched as her chocolate eyes lit up like a child and her trembling lower lip, joined it's partner in a smile that illuminated her pale face. Sirius smiled back at her and chuckled, "see you in ... three hours."

He left her room, feeling quite pleased with himself.