A/N: Thanks to Aurora, HPuni101, Petite Rogue and NaomiBassWife for your reviews of the last chapter :)

Aurora - thanks for your huge review, you know how much I enjoy hearing your theories on my storylines. Funnily enough two of your theories are pretty much both correct... I'm glad that you appreciate Aurelia's position at the moment, its a shame the Guest reviewer doesn't agree with us :P

Regarding the end of the story: I mentioned that it won't have a happy ending during the first chapter, but don't worry (Petite Rogue, here's looking at you) there will be plenty of happy bits in between!


Chapter Nine: Compromise

"Moony!" Sirius shouted from the castle doors, Remus was already 400 yards away so Sirius had to jog to catch up. It was late November and the air had gotten so cold that he didn't mind a bit of exercise to keep him warm. "Moony, hold up?"

Remus turned around and waited patiently for his friend to reach him, he was lucky that he always set out early for Care of Magical Creatures. "What's up?"

"I need you to do something for me," Sirius said breathily.

Remus felt his stomach knot uneasily, the last time he'd done something for Sirius he'd ended up with a months worth of detentions and a rather unpleasant telling off from McGonagall. "Why do I feel the urge to bolt all of a sudden?"

Sirius grinned. "It's nothing major, don't worry your little Prefect head about it." Remus just rolled his eyes but allowed him to continue. "You have Care of Magical Creatures with Aurelia, right?"

His eyebrows raised in surprise, he studied Sirius' face – he looked exceedingly casual, as though it were a perfectly normal enquiry. "Yes," he agreed slowly, "she's my partner actually and she won't be too impressed with me if I'm late, she's still pissed that I missed last months practical because of- well, you know." It had been a full moon that day so naturally Remus had been otherwise engaged.

Sirius just waved it off. "You won't be late. Now look, can you just tell her to meet me at 10pm by the painting of fruit that's down the stairs leading to the basement?"

"By the kitchens? What for?"

"I've just got something she might find interesting." Remus looked even more intrigued by that so he just shook his head and tried to wave it off as nothing. " It doesn't matter why, just tell her? Please mate?"

He sighed, Sirius rarely looked so imploring, he was generally pretty carefree but clearly whatever it was he had to give Aurelia was important. "Fine," he conceded grudgingly and turned to leave but Sirius called out again.

"And one more thing!"

"What?"

He shuffled his feet and ran a hand through his hair awkwardly. "Can you just-can you just keep this between us? The others wouldn't understand, especially Prongs."

Now he was really interested. What on earth was he up to? He never kept anything from James…or so he thought.

"Even if I don't, he'll find out some other way, with the map or something," he reasoned.

"Then I'll take the map with me!" Sirius insisted. "Please mate, you know I wouldn't ask if I didn't have to."

"Hmm," Remus mumbled. He hated keeping secrets. Unfortunately for him though, he was rather good at it and Sirius was just as aware of that fact as he was. "Just this once."

A wide grin spread over Sirius' face. "Great. Cheers Moony! Gotta go, I'll see you at dinner!" And as quickly as he'd arrived, he left again, leaving a seriously baffled Remus in his wake.


Aurelia pulled her cloak around her tightly as she descended the steps to the basement. She wasn't sure exactly how she felt about meeting Sirius tonight; they'd barely spoken over the last few weeks, they hadn't really had the opportunity to - so she was very surprised when Remus had passed on the message that Sirius wanted to meet her.

"Evening Peach," Sirius said pleasantly, stepping out from the shadows and holding out a hand to help her down the remaining steps, she ignored it pointedly.

"Sirius Black," she hissed, "what on earth do you think you're doing summoning me here at this hour, and through your friend as well! Did you honestly think that wise?"

"Nice to see you too," he grinned. She glared at him but to her annoyance it only served to improve his merriment. "Interesting painting this one, don't you think?" He asked casually, examining the painting as though it were a rare piece of fine art. "Such delicate brush strokes on the pear," he continued, reaching his hand out to stroke the work, as though looking wasn't good enough.

"I knew this would be a waste of bloody time- ARGH!" Within a fraction of a second, Sirius had grabbed her around the waist, put a hand over her mouth and hoisted her through the entryway that had just opened up behind the portrait. "Whaf the thell?" She shrieked, her words muffled by his hand. He released it, though the arm around her waist remained in place for a considerable amount longer before he dropped that too. "Where are we?" She asked, bemused, gawking at the room around her. "It's like the Great Hall only-"

"It's not." He finished for her. "Yeah I know, it's pretty cool right? Welcome, Aurelia Avery, to the Hogwarts kitchens!"

"Okaaaay," she said slowly, bringing her gaze back to him, "but I still have no idea why I'm here?"

Sirius waved a hand as though it were a rather trivial question and pulled her over to four long wooden tables, exactly matching those from the hall directly above them. "First of all, where do you want to sit?"

She sighed. Clearly she wasn't going to get an answer from him any time soon so she may as well join in his little game. "That one," she decided, pointing to the table nearest the huge brick fireplace on the opposite wall.

Sirius grinned. "Hufflepuff, I like it. Neutral." He winked, plucking at her Slytherin tie to make his point. She shook her head at him but allowed herself to be guided over to it nonetheless. They sat opposite one another, and were quickly approached by a house elf, who bowed so low that his nose nearly scraped the floor before offering his services. Sirius asked for some tea and pancakes, knowing that they were Aurelia's favourite and then turned back to her.

"So I suppose you're wondering why you're here?" He said calmly, folding his hands on the table top.

Aurelia rolled her eyes. "You don't say."

He smirked. "Now now, Peach, I know you get tetchy when you're hungry but no need to take it out on me."

Again, she rolled her eyes, a little growl going with it. She opened her mouth to snap a retort but just as she did, the elves placed a massive stack of pancakes in front of her and her anger instantly dissipated.

"Here," Sirius said, placing a jar in front of her, "you'll like it."

"What is it?" She asked, picking up the jar and examining its label. "Nutella? I've never heard of it?"

"No," he smiled, "you won't have. Just try it, honestly, you'll love it."

Tentatively, she opened the jar and scraped out a tiny bit of the spread on her knife before splodging it on the edge of her pancake stack. Still being cautious, she cut the section out with her knife and fork, and placed it in her mouth, chewing delicately.

"Oh my god," she moaned after the mouthful was gone, "that was incredible!" Throwing caution to the wind, she dipped her knife back into the jar and began slathering the stuff on, any pretence of delicacy completely ruined as she wolfed it down, moaning praises all the while.

It was only when she was chewing her final mouthful that she noticed that Sirius was watching her, sipping his tea and trying not to laugh.

"Aren't you going to eat?" She asked, horrified.

"I'm not hungry." He shrugged. She turned a violent shade of pink and started apologising profusely for her lack of manners. "Peach," he said firmly, "how long have we known each other? The time of me being disgusted by your eating habits has long come and gone, luckily for you I now find it somewhat endearing."

"Oh!" She squeaked, looking down at her hands. "Oh okay then!"

He couldn't help but laugh at that, she really was adorable when she didn't have her guard up.

"Anyway," he said, causing her to look back at him, "I was about to tell you why I brought you here."

"Oh yes! Go on."

He reached into his cloak pocket and pulled out what looked like a photograph. Curiosity piqued, she took it from him, a gasp escaping her lips as she surveyed it. It was a photograph alright, a very incriminating one as well.

"Is that?"

"Rob? Yes." Sirius nodded.

"And is he with?"

"A man? Yes." Sirius nodded again. "In fact if you keep looking, you'll see that the man in question happens to be Rabastan Lestrange." He offered mildly.

She looked back at the photograph, and sure enough, Rabastan Lestrange stopped kissing her cousin and looked around, as though checking if they were being watched. Aurelia couldn't help it, she threw her head back and laughed, a real, deep-bellied laugh that made Sirius' senses tingle with delight. He too started laughing, and together they continued until tears were streaming and the air in their lungs had become restricted.

Slowly, she managed to compose herself, occasionally letting out an odd chuckle here and there. "I mean that is quite a photograph, and I am very intrigued how you happened upon it, but I don't really understand why you're giving it to me?"

Sirius smiled mischievously. He took her hand over the table and gave it an encouraging squeeze. "That, my dear Peach, is your ticket to freedom."

He grinned at her triumphantly, expecting a sudden onslaught of thanks and praise but instead was met with even more confusion than before. He'd have to explain further. "You can use this against Rob to get him to agree to get Mulciber off your case!"

Aurelia's mouth formed a small 'o' as she comprehended this idea. "You're suggesting that I blackmail my cousin?" She asked warily.

"If it gets rid of that bastard Mulciber then yes, I am more than suggesting it."

She stared at him, mouth falling open and closed a few times before suddenly a huge grin exploded across her features. "Sirius!" She squealed, jumping to her feet and pulling him to his. "I can't believe it! This is genius!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. It was a gesture he could return with such ease that he felt his insides ready to explode with joy. When she pulled away, she was still regarding him with the same gleeful expression, only now it was coupled with admiration and…something else.

In a sudden urge, he leant forward and pressed a quick kiss on her lips, his heart pounding as he felt how soft they were, how plump. Slowly, he let his eyes open and meet hers, extremely relieved to find that pretty smile on her face again.

"You know," she said, pulling on his sleeve, "now seems like a great time to go for a walk, don't you think?"

"A walk?" He laughed. "Now? You know it's passed curfew, right?"

She turned back, nodding and biting her lip in a ridiculously sexy move, her eyes glinting with energy. "Yes, but you're Sirius Black. I'm sure you can find a way to not get caught."


After about half an hour of sneaking through the castle, Sirius, who had been walking slightly ahead the whole time, came to a stop in front of a manky looking tapestry. He turned and looked at Aurelia excitedly but was disappointed to find her surveying the tapestry with nothing short of disgust.

"Really? This is the best you've got?" She shook her head disappointedly. "A gross rag half way up the Astronomy Tower? Are we not even going to go all the way up?"

"Peach, Peach, Peach." Sirius folded his arms over his chest and looked down at her as a teacher might look at an ill-performing student. "Always so quick to judge! I must say I find your lack of faith in me particularly troublesome, but no bother, being the bigger man I shall swallow my pride and allow you thirty seconds to apologise."

She raised an eyebrow at him coolly. Aurelia Avery did not make a habit of apologising. She opened her mouth to retort but, in a similar fashion to earlier, Sirius lifted her right off her feet, muttered something odd to the tapestry, and walked straight through it as though it were no more solid than water.

"What the hell is this place?" Aurelia gasped. Somehow, hidden behind that thin length of tapestry was an entire room with a massive window stretching from ceiling to floor on the opposite wall. Plush cushions were spread across the floor, centred in front of the window and draped with dozens of thick blankets and throws. Aurelia looked back at Sirius who was watching her with a light smile, his deep grey eyes regarding her with more warmth than all of the levitating candles combined.

"You can apologise now."

She shook her head slowly, her eyes darkening alluringly as she retreated carefully to the window, stopping just when she knew the candlelight would illuminate her silhouette through her shirt. Sirius stared blatantly, barely able to believe his eyes. Surely this was a sign that she wanted him as much as he did her?

She turned to face the window, her rich chocolaty locks swinging down her back. He couldn't wait any more. He covered the distance between them in three long strides before wrapping one arm around her instinctively and brushing the hair from her neck with the other. She tilted her head to the side to allow him better access as his lips caressed her delicate skin, tasting her tentatively.

"Sirius?" she breathed, turning around to face him, her hands knotting into his shirt. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips parted, her eyes trained on his mouth. She dragged her gaze up to his with immense effort but he too looked so drunk off their proximity that it was all she could do not to give in and kiss him. "Should we be doing this?"

"Aurelia," he growled, sinking his fingers through her hair and tilting her head up so that their lips were mere centimetres apart. "I've waited too long for this. Don't make me stop now."

A soft noise, almost a moan, escaped her mouth – and it was all the confirmation he needed. He pressed his lips to hers for the second time that night, only this time he didn't pull away so soon. She pushed her body flush against his, her hands making their way up his chest, over his neck and into his hair, eliciting a deep throb in his groin. The intensity was building quickly, too quickly – he was going to get carried away. With one last flick of his tongue over her bottom lip, he pulled away, leaving both of them breathless and desperate for more.

Aurelia laughed softly, nuzzling her face into his neck just as she used to when they were younger. "So," she began, her voice muffled against his skin, "how long exactly have you been waiting for that?"

Sirius groaned, a warm laugh of his own bubbling through his chest and out of his mouth. He pulled away slightly to place a kiss on her forehead.

"You're going to torture me forever aren't you?"

She wore a provocative smirk and brushed her lips against his as she whispered. "That's the hazard of kissing an Avery, babe." She stepped away from him just before their lips could meet properly, earning herself a string of whispered curses from Sirius. "Come on," she laughed, pulling on his arm, "you can take me back now."


The seventh year Slytherin girls were making their way down to the Three Broomsticks pub, all huddled up in hats and scarves, the chilly winter air nipping at their exposed skin. There was a general feeling of discontentment amongst the girls, for the boys in their House were increasingly leaving them out. At first Aurelia hadn't really noticed anything, the boys would often huddle together to converse about Quidditch or something of the like, but they'd started to behave differently. They would speak in hushed tones, each of them turning their heads to check for any eavesdroppers every now and then, and if anyone did get too close they would promptly have a hex thrown their way. Aurelia had been rather wrapped up in the memory of her little rendezvous with Sirius so hadn't picked up on their odd behaviour until she heard Regulus tell Severus that he was going to meet her cousin Robert in Hogsmeade. She'd been incredibly offended, firstly because Regulus was ditching her yet again and secondly because Rob hadn't even written to her to say he was coming.

"Ucgh it's just so annoying!" Aurelia grumbled, her friends nodding sympathetically. "I know Reg is basically family but I'm Rob's blood! He should have written to me first!"

"It's all very fishy, that's for sure," Florence agreed darkly.

"Ah, there they are now." Elvira pointed to the pub where they could see a group of six or seven of their housemates gathered around a table with Rob at its head. "Wow, is it just me or is Robert looking good?"

The others laughed as Aurelia's upper lip curled with disgust. "Ew, Vira, that's my cousin!"

"Oh go on, Aurelia, help her out! They'd look cute together!" Lucinda cooed.

Aurelia snorted, her mind went to the photograph that was safely tucked away in her pocket; Elvira was definitely not someone that Rob would be interested in.

"Do you think she's his type?" Florence continued.

"I'm everyone's type." Elvira said, smirking egotistically at the girls.

The other three rolled their eyes in unison, entering the pub in single file. Elvira gave a third year, who was hogging a table near the boys, a withering glare, causing her to squeak and scrabble away, knocking into Rob as she did so.

He looked up, evidently furious that his speech had been interrupted, but then his eyes fell upon Aurelia and he positioned his expression into a far more pleasant one instead.

"Ah, Cousin," he greeted, standing to greet her with a kiss on either cheek. The other people at his table watched them irritatedly but knew not to say anything about the intrusion.

"Robert," she smiled politely, "how lovely to see you. I was rather surprised when Regulus informed me of your visit, having not received your letter, but of course it simply got lost somewhere; those damn owls, can never rely on them hmm?"

Rob's eyes narrowed somewhat, he didn't like being questioned. Aurelia, however, was rather enjoying her new position of power and decided to push her luck just a little further.

"Now Robert darling, I'm awfully sorry that I didn't send your card in the post but what with your birthday only being yesterday, I rather thought that you might appreciate receiving it in person. Shall we pop outside for a mo'?"

He fixed her with a hard glare and it was all she could do not to shiver. Rob, though he looked quite similar to her, had a kind of commanding aura about him; his eyes were as icy in colour as Aurelia's but a thousand times colder. They could flicker across hers for just a second but it would be enough to let her know that she was being watched, that there would be trouble if she put a toe out of line. Robert, just like Lewis, was a keen believer in corporal punishment. It was that knowledge that caused Aurelia's heart to race as she saw a very familiar malice flash over his eyes.

"I'm sure whatever you want to talk about can wait, Aurelia." He said stiffly.

"Actually, no," Aurelia said in a sing-song voice, "no it can't." She ignored the look of horror on Regulus' face by her blatant disobedience and smiled confidently at Robert. "Shall we?" She motioned to the door. Oddly enough, and probably only due to his own curiosity, he actually followed her out of the pub and round the corner so that they were out of the wind.

"What the hell do you think you're playing at?" He growled, any pretence of warmth or formality completely lost.

Aurelia raised a thinly arched brow at him, she wouldn't let him get to her – not today.

"I'll cut to the chase," she said coldly, "seeing as you're so busy with those boys – and other boys, apparently."

His gaze grew, if possible, even blacker. "What?" He snapped.

"I want you to tell Lewis Mulciber that he is to leave me alone. I will not marry him, or even be forced to spend time with him from this day onwards." She raised her nose in the air and folded her arms over her chest matter-of-factly.

"And why have you suddenly discovered a distaste for him?" He asked serenely, a slight smirk on his lips. It was clear that he thought her childish, pathetic – but he would humour her for now.

"He's disgusting!" She shrieked. "He leers at me, he hurts me – he takes it upon himself to punish me for things that don't concern him, he whipped me, Rob!"

"Are you quite finished?" Rob hissed, seizing her wrists and pushing her up against the cold stone behind her.

"No," she whispered, tears springing into her eyes. "He-he threatened to rape me."

"Yes," her cousin said slowly, releasing her wrists and looking off thoughtfully into the distance. "Yes I have spoken with him about that, but I do believe your friend Regulus Black saw to him proficiently. I can assure you that Lewis will not threaten you like that again. Now, Lewis is an excellent match for you Aurelia; he's the heir to his family's estate, allied with our family, and I believe he will go far as a servant to the Dark Lord. You will enjoy great status as his wife so I will not have you disrupting my father's plans for you."

She wanted to shake him. Anger quickly rising through her, she felt herself growing hot as she battled with the urge to shout at him. "His blood is dirty," she spat, "his family aren't even part of the twenty-eight. There are other men-"

"Who? Rosier? Or the young Black boy-"

"Not him," Aurelia interrupted. It was now or never. "I want Sirius back."

There was a pause. A long pause in which Rob's expression slowly transitioned from angry to downright manic. He raised his hand and brought it down hard against Aurelia's cheek, so hard that he cut her and she stumbled backwards, clutching her face.

"How dare you speak of that loathsome blood traitor! I will not humour you for another instant you ungrateful whore! You will marry Lewis Mulciber, you will be obedient and bear him a boy; end of story." He began to walk away, but Aurelia, still clutching her reddening cheek cried after him.

"I know about Rabastan Lestrange!"

Like a flash, Rob wheeled around pinned Aurelia to the wall again. She didn't miss the slight glimmer of panic that had come over him though. "Don't try and deny it," she hissed, "I've got proof." She pressed the photograph into his hand and watched his eyes widen at the scene before him.

"Where did you get this?" He snarled.

Aurelia just shrugged. "I have my ways. Now Rob, I think you'll find that my bargaining position has just strengthened considerably, no?"

His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What do you want?"

"Well, I've already told you, haven't I?" She reminded him good-naturedly. "I want you to call off your little lap-dog, Mulciber, and then I want you to convince Sirius' family to take him back and for our engagement to be reinstated."

Rob looked at her as though she were entirely deranged. "You honestly believe that I could convince them to reclaim him as their heir? The Black's will not hear of it!"

"Then find a way," Aurelia snapped. "Find a way or I will go public with that," she pointed at the photograph scrunched in Rob's left fist, "and I've got plenty more photos where that came from."

He glared at her, his teeth grinding together sickeningly. He began pacing up and down the alleyway that they were sheltered in, coming to a stop a few minutes later and turning to her, his face suddenly much calmer and yet scheming at the same time.

"There is a way," he drawled, "but it will involve a sacrifice on the traitor's part."

"Go on," Aurelia urged.

"The only way his parents would ever take him back is if he made a real commitment to our side, made it clear that he would never walk out and humiliate them again."

Aurelia nodded. "What does he have to do?"

"He'll have to take the mark."

Her hand flew to her mouth to cover the loud gasp that had just escaped it. "You want him to become a Death Eater?"

"He's a talented wizard, Aurelia. I could speak to the Dark Lord, try and convince him that Black will be an asset, that he will renounce his traitorous behaviour and commit himself to our cause. It's the only way that you will ever be able to have him without being disowned and killed yourself."

She let out a long breath, thinking fast. "Okay, so say I can convince him to take the mark, what will happen to Regulus?"

Rob's brow twitched, confused. "What about him?"

"Well, if Sirius is reinstated as the Black's heir then Regulus won't be needed, he won't have to join the Death Eaters! I think Sirius would do it if it meant he could protect his brother… Yes, that could work," she muttered, more to herself than to her cousin. "Right. I want you to promise that you'll stop trying to recruit Reg; I'm not stupid, I know you've been trying!"

The corners of Rob's mouth curled upwards, he looked almost amused. "Very well." He agreed eventually. "I shall speak with the Black's and you will do your part with the traitor. In return I shall leave Regulus be and you will destroy these images," he waved the photograph in front of her before flicking his wand at it and reducing it to nothing but a pile of ash that filtered through his fingers. "Do we have a deal?" He asked, hand outstretched.

She eyed it for a moment or two, wondering if she would regret it. But then, with a resolute nod, she shook his hand and said, "Deal."


Please review, I need something to cheer me up from the disgusting amount of work I have on at the moment :(

P.S: If you read my other story, I'm really sorry I haven't updated it for a while, I promise I will do so as soon as I can!