Chapter 4: Hogsmede

Sneak Peek: Then they stopped and she knew the person was right behind her. "Listen, whoever you are, can't you just leave me alone? If you haven't quite noticed, I want to be alone."

She heard a chuckle behind her and turned to see...

After Hermione had spent nearly an hour looking at all the books, Sirius was frustrated. But she had just finished and was now in line to buy her purchases. Seeing the opportunity to make himself look good, Sirius payed for all her books when they got to the counter.

"Sirius! No, I couldn't possibly let you pay for all of this! Its too much!" Hermione spluttered with a slight red tinge in her cheeks. It wasn't everyday that an incredibly gorgeous and sought after bachelor of Hogwarts bought her five books. Sirius just chuckled in good humor taking her arm and pulling her out of the shop and into the sidewalk.

"Nonsense, its nothing." Then he looked to her with a mischievous smile, "But... if you feel so strongly about it, you could always repay me." He smiled at her shocked expression.

Hermione just couldn't believe what she thought Sirius was insinuating. She definitely wouldn't to that if her life depended on it. "What exactly did you have in mind Mr. Black?" She ventured anyway. Eager to be wrong for the first time in her life. Because as much as she'd like to deny it, she harbored a slight fondness of one Sirius Black and didn't want to have any bad experiences with him. But she could swear her heart stopped at his next tongue's utterance was.

Sirius could feel his heart beating like a hammer on a drum against his ribcage. He would've sworn everyone could hear it as it was pounding in his ears. This is it. The moment of truth. He took one breath and put on a 'confident' smile, "Go out with me tonight? An evening alone, just the two of us. No studies, no homework, no marauders. Just you, me and whatever I plan. What do you say?" He tried to calm his nerves and twitchy hands by stuffing them in his robe pockets but he just knew he probably looked like a quivering mess.

Hermione's jaw fell slack in shock that Sirius sodding Black just asked her out! She could feel her heart rate speed up as heat rushed up to her cheeks. Was this real? She could never even imagine that Sirius would feel anything for her. Wait, how long had she been thinking? Oh no, Sirius looked so nervous, he looked ready to back out. Wait! "Yes!" Hermione blurted without thinking. She'd hoped to look appealing and sly and say something witty like a reluctant 'fine' or something but she just had to stutter like a starry eyed school girl.

Sirius just smiled,knowing this was a sign of her reciprocating his feelings, and held out his arm for her. She shyly smiled back and placed her hand in the crook of his elbow. He then led her to the Quidige shop. She was in a daze the whole time Sirius dragged her through the shop looking a broomsticks and gloves among other necessities. Soon they left to head over to the Three Broomsticks to meet the others.

"Ginny, you can't use this stuff at Hogwarts. Its against the rules!" Remus scolded for the billionth time. Ginny had gone into a frenzy, buying many practical pranking materials as she thought of her jokster brothers Fred and George. The light haired Prefect had tried and failed to talk her out of every one of them.

"Excuse me, but are you or are you not a Marauder? Hmmm? Live a little, Remus. Cross over to the wild side every once in a while." The second Ginny uttered that last bit she regretted it, but covered it up well with a mischievous smile. Remus could not help but let his werewolf problem enter his mind when she said the word 'wild'. That was also one of the reasons he didn't let himself get to close to Ginny. He hopelessly fancied her but could not let himself risk her safety.

He loved her brilliant red hair that matched her fiery personality along with her vicarious and flirtatious attitude and eagerness to live life as if she was a second away from dying. She always got him all flustered and shy around her and all he wanted to do was be with her. But he knew he could never be with her as well as anyone else because of his 'furry little problem'. He had to keep his distance to keep her from getting hurt. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he – intentionally or not – hurt her in any way.

Ginny knew where his mind was as they waited in line to buy her purchases. She wished she could get him to open up to her and tell her what she already knew but they did not know each other that long so she could understand him not completely trusting her with a secret like that. She smiled at him and he smiled weakly back before purchasing their – or rather Ginny's – merchandise and exiting the store to take a walk before they had to meet the others.

Angie stood, in the cold air, staring at the Shrieking Shack. Everyone else thought it was just a haunted old house, but she knew its real purpose. The Marauders used it every month for Remus' benefit. She sighed as thoughts of her mission came back to the forefront of her mind. What exactly were they supposed to do? They had gotten into the inner circle of the infamous Marauders and she had befriended Regulus Black. But was that enough. She knew she made it sound like they were sneaky little spies when they were genuine. They didn't even know if befriending these people was what they had to do. Dumbledore only told them to go back to this time, not these people. But still... what was so special about them that they were needed here for them to be able to win the war there.

Thinking just the word war brought memories and experiences to the forefront of her mind that she'd rather just forget altogether. But of course she didn't deserve to forget. She had to be cursed with memories of pain, death, depression, and world wide devastation that she had to live through.

Two quiet tears fell from her eyes as she remembered. Finding herself weak she stepped forward and gripped the gate before she collapsed. She leaned heavily on the wire and took a shuddering breath before closing her eyes letting two more silent tears squeeze out of her eyes.

Then her thoughts drifted to a certain Slytherin. No one was more surprised then herself when they had become friends. She just connected with him after she had started letting him in on her past. And then when she had broken down in front of him she could feel her last wall break down and crumble letting him charge in and seize her heart. Yes, it was true. Angie 'Moore' fancied Regulus Black. She didn't know how it happened nor did she want it to; but it did and she can't take it back. And she didn't want to take it back. She loved how he made her feel even if she didn't want to feel that way.

Suddenly she heard the crunch of a twig behind her and knew she wasn't alone any longer. She held her breath as she wiped her eyes, trying and failing to hide any signs that she was crying. She just kept still hoping whoever it was would just leave her in peace. But that hope was short lived when she heard the person's steps get louder – meaning the person was approaching her. Then they stopped and she knew the person was right behind her. "Listen, whoever you are, can't you just leave me alone? If you haven't quite noticed, I want to be alone."

She heard a chuckle behind her and turned to see a boy around her age with black hair. He looked so familiar but she couldn't put her finger on it. She squinted at him in confusion, "Do I know you?" She asked tentatively.

The boy smiled, "I'm in Gryffindor as well. I'm Frank Longbottom." extended his hand to her and she took it gingerly while internally screaming, 'so that's why I recognized him! He's Neville's father! They nearly look identical.'

"I'm Angie Moore. Its nice to meet you, Frank." She smiled at him as she shook his hand. He smiled back, "Likewise, Angie. I'm sorry if I intruded on your privacy but I saw you and thought you'd need company."

She smiled at his good intentions, "Thanks for the thought but I was only taking a moment for myself. Besides its time for me to meet my friends at the Three Broomsticks right about now. It was nice meeting you and I hope to see you around school soon. If you'll excuse me I'll be off now, goodbye Frank."

"I apologize. I'll walk to there. I'm meeting my Alice there anyway and being early never hurts a boyfriends chances now does it?" Frank chuckled in good humor and Angie smiled, agreeing with his logic as the set off on the trial.

Once they had walked into the pub Frank spotted Alice and left Angie's side. Angie smiled as she watched him greet his long-term girlfriend with a peck on the cheek. Then she spotted Sirius and Hermione sitting in a booth. She saw Remus and Ginny join them so she headed over. "Hey guys." The group collectively said hello and Sirius ordered a round of butterbeers. Sirius sat between Angie and Hermione across from Remus and Ginny. Angie sat on the edge of her seat and looked towards the door when she saw it thrust open. She saw none other than Regulus Black walked through with Snape and two other boys.

Their eyes met to the ignorance of their friends as he walked in the pub towards a booth by the door – in direct line of vision for Angie – and sat at the edge so he to would have a good view of her. Then James walked in with Lily on his arm. He had a bright smile on his face that could outshine the sun and light up the dark pub. He walked over to the group and they all greeted Lily before she was tugged away by Alice. James smile diminished before he saw Lily give him a fleeting glance riddle with apology and he felt better. He scooted in between Sirius and Angie causing Hermione to scoot over to the other side of the booth across from Sirius. Angie saw the disappointment on Sirius' face until he suddenly perked up and looked at Hermione with a – hem hem – hot and bothered look. Angie suspected there was a little game of footsie going on.

"Hey Angely! How are you?" James slung his arm across her shoulders and kissed her forehead before taking a sip of her drink. Angie smiled at James, "I'm fine Jimmy. How was your 'talk' with one Miss Evans. Finally get her to go out with you?" James laughed and shook his head, "Unfortunately no, but she did ask a lot about you. You were actually the main topic."

Angie rolled her eyes, "I stealthily leave you two alone and you spend your time talking about me. Unbelievable." Everyone laughed at her comment and James rushed to defend himself, "She brought it up so..." But the rest of his words were lost on her ears as she looked back to the group of four Slytherin boys and her eyes met those striking gray ones again. But this time they didn't match the indifferent expression his face sported. They raged with some emotion that seemed to be anger but not quite. Then Angie noticed that Regulus had a slight glare in his expression as if he were enraged. And then she noticed that he wasn't looking at her, he was looking at James' arm around her as if he were jealous. Angie got his attention by waving her arm – which went unnoticed by her company – and sent him a confused look. He shook his head and turned away quickly. Angie tried not to let the action hurt her but couldn't help the pang in her chest.

Angie turned her head to the conversation her friends were having and tried to act enthusiastic but anyone could tell by her expression that she was upset. James – sensing this – pulled her to him tighter and kissed the top of her head. Angie smiled feebly at him and rested her head on his shoulder.

When Angie had turned away, Regulus looked back at her. He glared at Potters' arm some more. How dare he put his arm around her? You just wish that were your arm around her. Regulus internally glared at his thoughts. He couldn't help the rage building up in his chest at the sight of another man so close to her. He would just imagine that other man being him and then realize that it wasn't. He could only describe this feeling as jealousy.

Angie looked towards him again and he quickly looked away. He couldn't be caught out by the very girl causing this jealousy. The second she looked away, he looked back. The cycle continued until Angie's group decided to head back to the castle.