Um, so… this is chapter five, and it's told in Sirius's point of view. I rather enjoyed writing and editing this chapter because I LOVE writing as Sirius. I used to do a lot of rping as him… so yeah. I really hope ya'll enjoy this. C/C is encouraged! Love, Aubree.

Chapter Five

Sirius's Point of View

Ask me about Jane Livings. Go on, ask me.

She's tall, curvy, with bland brown hair, pale eyes, and a horrible sense of humor--not to mention her favourite past time is studying.

Now ask me about Janie.

She's a firecracker; tall, same bland hair, pale eyes, and studying is still her oxygen--but I don't think I've ever loved anyone more in my entire life.

And I'd known it since day one, when we'd met on the Hogwarts Express. I'd insulted her intelligence and she'd responded with something witty, as was her style.

I'd known she was special. But when I was eleven, girls were still infested with cooties, and any bloke who liked one was weird. That's why I took up teasing Janie as a fun extra-curricular.

Back then I didn't fully understand what I felt for her, but as I got older, it became more apparent, and more and more of a threat. So being me, I teased her mercilessly. Prongs often told me to back off a bit on it, but I never listened. If I stopped teasing, I knew I'd feel other things for Janie that I wasn't ready to feel.

During the summer before my sixth year, I moved out of my house and in with the Potters. I'd had enough of my mother and father beating me, so after one fairly big argument, I went to my room, packed my things, and snuck out through the window. I found out a week later that my Uncle Alphard passed away. He'd left me a pretty hefty amount of gold from his vault in Gringotts. That seemed to be the last straw for my mother.

"YOU BETRAYER! HOW COULD YOU HAVE LEFT MY WRETCHED FILTH OF A SON SO MUCH, AND LEAVE MY REGULUS EMPTY-HANDED?" she screamed over and over when she'd made me Floo to the main house.

You see, my younger brother, Regulus Black, was the pride and hope of the family. Since I became the first Black in history to be put in a house other than Slytherin, everyone wanted Regulus to be the shining star. It really blew because he didn't have much say in the matter. If he wanted to live he had to stay away from me. No communication at all. And Regulus followed those rules... most of the time.

When our cousins graduated from Hogwarts, it became easier for Regulus and I to find time to see each other. I was glad because he could always get my mind off of Janie. Regulus would usually have information about Bellatrix and the others who had... how should I say... taken a liking to the upcoming Lord Voldemort.

The Marauders and I kept a close watch on all the Slytherins on our latest creation: the Marauders Map. It looked like an ordinary bit of parchment, but when the right words get used ('I solomly swear that I am up to no good!'), the parchment becomes a full scale map of Hogwarts. If you're trying to sneak around for some reason, the map can always find you. Pretty cool, eh?

Sometimes I'd watch the map to see where Janie was--and I think Moony and Prongs knew how I felt. They're the best kind of friends anyone could ask for because even though they already knew something was there, they didn't say anything to me about it.

That's the problem with you girls. You pledge to your friends that you won't tell a soul about whatever secret you're getting--and then you turn around and tell the entire school. It's ridiculous.

But I'm getting off topic. When I started my seventh year of Hogwarts, I knew everything was going to change... I could feel it.

And something did change.

Janie.

My feelings were stronger than ever before for her, and it was harder to argue without snogging her senseless in front of everyone. I could tell that she was becoming increasingly uncomfortable around me, too.

Which was a good thing.

Maybe I had a chance--but I didn't want to screw it up. Janie thought (like the rest of school) that I was a "ladies man". I mean, just because I liked to have a make out session every now and then did NOT make me a "ladies man".

After I got Janie and myself in Potions detention, I thought for sure that she'd warm up to me.

Bingo.

We became civil to one another. It was a miracle within itself because FINALLY something was going in the direction I'd wanted it to.

And people talked. I knew that it bothered Janie, but I didn't really care. People are always gonna talk about you, so you might as well accept it and move on.

Prongs and Moony and Wormtail cornered me in the dormitory about a week before Hogsmeade to question what the hell I was doing and what I was planning on doing.

"If you like her so much," Moony said thoughtfully as he munched on a bar of chocolate, "then just tell her."

"And that would work so well, considering she thinks I'm a walking snog machine," I retorted. "You're mental. Off your rocker. Janie and I are too different. You see us every day, fighting--"

"That was before you started getting cozy in detention," James quipped and I sent him a look.

"Shut up, Prongs."

"You like Janie. Who's to say she doesn't like you?"

"I'm in the same exact position as you, Prongs!" I swore loudly. "Lily hates you. Janie strongly dislikes me, no matter how much you deny it. End of story."

Peter took a drink of pumpkin juice (we'd been to the kitchens earlier) and sighed. "Maybe you could just ask her to go with you to Hogsmeade."

I shook my head. "She wouldn't say yes."

"But you don't know that!"

"And I'm not going to because I've already asked Eiley Miller to go with me."

Moony shook his head while Prongs beamed at me. "The jealousy trick? Sirius, I've never been more proud."

So on that Saturday, Eiley and I met up in the courtyard and went to Hogsmeade. She was pretty with really bright blue eyes and loved a lot of the things I did. I had fun with her, going into the Three Broomsticks, the Quidditch Supply Shop, and the other little shops around the area.

And then we ran into Janie.

That turned out to be the most awkward conversation of my entire life. "Hope you have fun on the rest of your date," she said in a hurt voice, and started for the castle. I let her go, too.

"C'mon, Siri," Eiley said (I hated that she called me Siri. Who does that?) jovially. "Let's get a Butterbeer! I'm absolutely parched!"

Oy, vey.