A/N: HI! yeah, I'm back really soon, a lot sooner than I expected to be able to update, but hey, making the most of it and all that. Once again, a slightly shorter chapter than usual, but I thought you'd appreciate me updating anyway :)

Disclaimer: I own nothinggg :D


Chapter Nine

OWLs were hell. After all the work and studying and revision, the exams finally dawned. Thankfully I ended up doing well, and I was very happy with my grades when they arrived by owl over summer.

Pass Grades:
Outstanding (O)
Exceeds Expectations (E)
Acceptable (A)

Fail Grades:
Poor (P)
Dreadful (D)
Troll (T)

Defense Against the Dark Arts – O
Charms – O
Transfiguration – O
Potions – E
Herbology – A
History of Magic – E
Astronomy – O
Ancient Runes – O
Arithmancy – E
Muggle Studies – O
Care of Magical Creatures – E
Divination – A

And so once again, a new year rolled around, and I was ever conscious of how quickly it was going, and how I had not yet got any plans for what to do for a career.
Sixth year began and working towards NEWTs was our new goal. The extreme amounts of work we received made studying for OWLs seem like fun. It was hard, and I was, as usual, determined to get the grades I wanted.

Luckily this year I was able to drop the classes I didn't want to continue, so that meant the end of Divination, Muggle Studies, and Care of Magical Creatures. I decided to continue with Herbology just incase I decided on a career in which it might be beneficial.

But what would I do? Work at the Ministry? Become a Healer? An Auror? Work in a shop in Diagon Alley? Become a famous Quidditch player?
I could certainly rule the last one out…

"Hey." A gentle voice pulled me out of one of my all too frequent reveries.

"Hey Sirius." I smiled, and he came and sat next to me on the sofa in the Common Room.

"You okay?" I asked. I noticed how down he looked.

"Yeah I guess. You?"

"I'm alright." I shrugged. "But you look like you need a hug." I said.

He nodded, and I shuffled closer and put my arms round him.

"What the matter, Siri-baby?" I said with a smile, trying to cheer him up by using my old nickname for him.

"Haven't heard that one in a while." He chuckled briefly.

"Yeah, I know." I smiled sadly over his shoulder, then let go of him.

"You don't have to tell me, just, I'm here for you okay? You're still my best friend…" …however things have been between us recently. I finished the sentence in my head.

"I know. I'm sorry about that, Roe. I've been a bit of a dick…" Sirius admitted.

"You have." I smiled playfully.

"Yeah… You know how things are for me at home. I've had enough. Can't handle it anymore." He paused. "I ran away over the Christmas holidays."

"What?"

"I ran away, am living at the Potter's now. Had a massive argument with Mother over some Voldemort crap-"

I stiffened.

"Oh." Sirius said. "Yeah… Dearest Mummy and Daddy are fully signed up Death Eaters these days. And Regulus isn't far off."

I felt my blood go cold.

"What?"

"Oh, sorry." He looked uncomfortable. "I thought you knew…"

Thoughts blazed through my head. Regulus? No. No, he wouldn't…

"Look, Roe, I only assumed, it's probably wrong anyway…"

"Yeah… probably…" I nodded slowly.

"Roe, sorry-"

"No, don't worry, it's fine. So you're staying at James'?" I changed the subject, pushing all unwanted thoughts away and out of my mind. I couldn't cope with it. Not now. I had to focus on NEWTs and stuff…

Sirius looked uncomfortable, but accepted that I didn't want to talk about it.

"Yeah, I stay at theirs most holidays anyway, so his mum was more than happy really…"

"Well that's good." I tried to smile.

"Yeah, I'm lucky to have them to help me out." He agreed.

"I better go, I said I'd meet Lily…" I trailed off. It was a lie, and both of us knew it. I was a really bad liar.

"Okay then. Uh, thanks for listening…" Sirius said, and I tried again to smile at him before I left and hurried up to my dorm room, fighting the panic in my chest.

For the rest of the day, I stayed in the dormitories. I shut the curtains on my bed, and no one bothered me, so there I stayed. Thinking.


I woke up next morning with a stiff neck. I seemed to have fallen asleep fully dressed, sat up against the headboard, with my head resting awkwardly on my shoulder.

I opened the curtains slightly, and realized the dormitory was still dark, so it was still early, probably about 4am.

I shuffled down in bed and got comfy, but there was no way I could get back to sleep.

Instead I sat up, straightened my creased clothes, and quietly slipped out of the dorm.

Murmuring what I hoped was a good concealment charm, I headed to the kitchens, knowing that to be one place no one would catch me out of bed.

Once I'd got in through the enchanted tapestry and taken off the concealment charm, a house elf immediately ran up to me.

"Hello Miss Munro! What can we do for you?"

"Just some hot chocolate please, Squeaky." I said.

"Right away Miss!" she hurried away.

Suddenly I felt quite tired after all, and sat down at a little table. I folded my arms and lay my head in them.

So Regulus was, or potentially would be, a Death Eater?

I shuddered. I couldn't come to terms with it. His parents, yes, I could see that. They were horrible people from what Sirius had told me.

But Regulus? He was the kindest, gentlest, most loving person I knew. The only time I'd ever seen him show any kind of anger was with those Slytherins in Third year.

And now they're his friends. A small voice reminded me in the back of my head.

Yes, and now they were his friends. They were the children of Death Eaters, probably aspiring Death Eaters themselves, and they were his friends.

So where did that leave him?

Maybe Sirius was right. Maybe Regulus was a follower of Voldemort. It would make sense, wouldn't it?

Sirius wasn't his parents favourite child because he was against the whole blood status thing. Regulus was the favourite child. And I had no idea on his feelings about blood status or anything.

Maybe I really didn't know him as well as I thought I did.

Panic and dread and worry seemed to well up in my chest like bile.

I shook my head, trying to clear these stupid thoughts from my head. Regulus, my Regulus was not a Death Eater.

It just couldn't be possible.

He could do the same as Sirius, he could rebel. Run away. Reject the evil ways of Voldemort and his parents and his friends.

But then who would he have? No one.

He would have me, I argued back with the voice.

"Here you are, Miss!" Squeaky said, reappearing holding a huge mug topped with whipped cream, marshmallows and grated chocolate.

"Thanks Squeaky." I smiled gratefully. This was exactly what I needed to cheer me up.

"Shall I get one for Mr Black too?" Squeaky asked.

My head whipped round to find Sirius standing by the door. Not Regulus.

"Sure." I nodded to Squeaky, who hurried away.

"Sorry, I-" Sirius started, looking sheepish.

"It's alright Sirius." I said, and he came and sat down next to me.

"I can come back later…" Sirius said.

"It's fine!" I snapped, "Sorry. Why are you here anyway?" I asked, taking a sip of the hot chocolate.

"Couldn't sleep. You?" He shrugged.

"Same." I nodded as Squeaky returned with another mug.

"I'm sorry for what I said yesterday…" Sirius said, looking down at his cup.

"It's fine."

"No, Aurora, I know you, and I know that hurt your feelings." Sirius said softly.

"But its not you, is it? Its him."

A look of hurt briefly flashed across his face. "I know it's him." He paused, "But I didn't have to be so insensitive about it."

"It's fine Sirius." I said again.

"Stop it Roe, just stop lying to me, to yourself. I know you, okay. I know you. I'm sorry he didn't tell you himself, I'm sorry I maybe made things sound worse than they are, I'm sorry I upset you, and I'm sorry… I'm sorry."

I didn't know what to say. Instinctively I reached out and put my hand on his.

"I'm… I guess I'm jealous of him." Sirius said, looking down as if ashamed.

"Jealous? Of the attention from your parents? Sirius, you're better off-" he cut me off.

"No Aurora, I'm jealous of him and you!" he sighed exasperatedly.

"What?" I said dumbly, the words not processing in my head.

"I've got to go. Sorry…" Sirius stood up abruptly and swept out of the room.

"Sirius?" I called after him, "Sirius!"


A/N: What do we think about that then? Do you think Regulus is a/going to be a Death Eater? Has Aurora realised Sirius' feelings yet? Any ideas for what might be happening next? Let me know!

-DaizeeG xXx