Of friends and lovers

Anna slowly opened the main door, trying not to make noise, because the whole house was most likely asleep. She took a few steps into the dark corridor and saw a light behind the half-closed door of the kitchen. The clock hung on the wall said four a.m. They were all supposed to be in bed. Suddenly, the door opened and revealed Sirius Black, concern on his tired face.

"Anna! Where were you? Don't you know what time it is? We were worried!" He shook her, pushing her against the wall, filled with anger. He gripped her shoulder so strongly that Anna groaned in pain. Then, he sighed and released Anna, taking a step backwards. She tried to reply, but was once again cut off.

"I know you were enjoying yourself," he sneered, "but you could have let us know you were safe! I hope you enjoyed Snape's cheerful company. Judging by the time you came home, I can assume you did!" He was practically yelling, and she could tell he wanted to shake her again.

Anna put a hand on his arm and looked into his eyes. She saw real concern for her, and felt guilty, but she allowed the guilt to roll off her since she hadn't done anything on purpose. Besides, she hadn't been in any real danger, so she wasn't really sure why Sirius was being so rude. Now he was so angry that she couldn't do anything but admit that she had made a mistake. That wasn't exactly the right moment to tell Sirius that she hadn't been in danger and that she had enjoyed being with Severus. While she was reassuring Sirius, her mind wondered about this last thought. Severus had been exactly the same: rude, sneering, and snappish. Anna was sure that he didn't enjoy her company. Indeed, he didn't seem to like many things, except for his sarcasm and his wit. But a voice inside Anna's heart told her that there was something that was different this time. First of all, he had returned her hug that evening; a fact that Anna had believed impossible just few days before. And he had really looked after her during the meeting.

"Anna? Are you listening to me?" Sirius' voice made Anna coma back to reality.

"Oh, yes, I am…" she muttered.

"And what was I saying?"

"Hem…. Well…"

"I was telling you, for your sake, that you mustn't go again with Snape to these meetings! Even if you are my boss, it's my duty to protect you from…"

"From?" she prompted.

"From that man, Anna! He's a spy, and not on our side, I know. He's just playing a role, and he's involving you. I consider you a friend, even if we don't know each other all that well, but I'm not going let him hurt you! He's such a mean, disgusting git! He's a fucking…"

Later, in her room, Anna tried to explain to herself what had made her yell at Sirius and pull him aside so strongly that he had lost his balance and fell to the floor before she storming away, not thinking about what she had done. Strangely, nobody had woken up, for the house was still silent. Anna pulled off her cloak and black dress she had worn all evening and dressed in a blue nightgown with silver stars. While combing her hair, Sirius knocked at the door.

"What's up?" she said coolly. Her shoulder was still hurting.

Sirius came in, still dressed, and approached.

"Do you know that, as your boss, I could punish you for insubordination?" said the girl. "I'm not going to do this only because it'll cause a lot of fuss, and by the present situation we really do not need any other troubles. I know you did it out of consideration for me," she added, when saw Sirius' mouth opened, "but I'm not three years old and I can look after myself. Severus can't do me any harm. Besides, why should he?"

"First of all, I'm sorry for hurting you. I was worried, because you didn't come home." He looked hopefully at her, and she smiled. "About Snape…"

"I didn't feel any danger with him tonight. ON the contrary, I quite like him."

"What?" Sirius asked, clearly astonished.

"No! Not in that sense! I mean, I think he's a good person, despite his inclination for sarcasm," Anna felt herself blush at Sirius' remark. She smiled a little, glad that Sirius could not read her thoughts, for she knew that she had meant it exactly the way Sirius thought she did.

This knowledge came to her suddenly, like lightning. She didn't know why, but here it was. She was attracted by him, by the aura of mystery surrounding him, and even because he had a very hard personality that provided a challenge for her to overcome.

"Only for sarcasm? He's a spy, he has a double life, and I'm sure he's betraying us! But, you know, it's impossible to talk to Dumbledore about this. He wears blinders when it comes to Snape."

"I think you have too many prejudices, Sirius. Honestly, you can't think he's a traitor only because you hate each other from school! You should try to get to know him better. It'll be difficult at first, but…"

"But I have no intention of trying! I'm right about him, I have known him for more than twenty years and, believe me, people like him never change."

"Oh, you are so closed-minded!" burst out Anna.

"Please, don't go with him again," Sirius pleaded.

"Cut it out, Black. Dumbledore asked me to do this, when there are particular occasions such as this one, and I'm not disobeying him, so calm down."

"I'll speak to Dumbledore!"

"Do it and I'll beat you up. That's a promise." Anna was beginning to lose her patience.

"I'm doing it for you!"

"I don't want your help, thank you!" she shouted back.

"I really can't think of you with him!"

"Why the hell not?"

"Because I love you," he admitted.

Anna was speechless, something that had never happened. She closed her eyes and sighed. She didn't want to look at him, because she knew she would burst into tears. Sirius was her friend, and she didn't want to hurt him, but she didn't love him and couldn't do anything but his feelings.

Fortunately, he seemed to understand.

"Sorry. Forgive me. I have no right to tell you what to do. Forget it," he said sadly, and turned away, closing the door behind him.