Warning: MMMMMMmmmmm...Sirius Black...

Moment 10:

A Plea for Help

It was one of those days that occurred during the end of the school year and the advance of summer, where the warmth and blue light of the sky makes it impossible to pay attention, and even teachers are easily pursued into letting classes be held outside. With all the things going on with classes and school ending, finals impending, and reality encroaching, Amelia was not inclined to pay attention in any class, and she didn't particularly feel she needed to. This was finals-time, review-time, the time that those students who had worked and paid attention and learned during the rest of the year had nothing to worry about, and only a minimal of things to do. Amelia, despite her appearances, was one of those students, and therefore had decided the robin's egg of the sky and the sun were calling to her, and skipping classes was not only something she could do, but something she must do.

So now she was in the tall grasses of the hill overlooking the lake and Hagrid's home, her robe spread out under her, her socks, shoes, and sweater beside her, and her bag of books left behind, forgotten, in her room. All that mattered to her right now were the sun, the sky, and the smell of the grasses. It was exactly what she imagined heaven to be like. The sounds of birds and winds and the giant squid relaxing at the surface of the lake made her smile, and she didn't bother to try to find her headphones, a good thing since they were back in her dorm with the rest of her things. The sun was warm on her eyelids and arms, and she was almost to the point of sleep when a shadow fell across her. Then a body.

"Hey!" She sat straight up, indignantly pulling off her headphones and preparing her most Unforgivable Curse-like glare. It was a guy who was now sprawled across her, severely hindering her ability to—"I can't breathe, you arse!" She gave him a vicious shove as he struggled to get up, sending him sprawling all over again, this time thankfully not on her.

"Uhf!" he snorted as he fell. "Jesus, be careful, would you?"

"Ex-cuse me?" Amelia drew herself up indignantly. "May I remind you that you fell on top of me?"

"I fell on you," he said, getting onto his knees and brushing himself off, "because you were in the middle of a field when everyone else is in class!" Amelia scowled, finally seeing exactly who it was who fell on her.

"And why aren't you in class, Black?" she growled.

"I—" he stopped, snapping his mouth shut and staring at her with wide eyes. She glared.

"What? Is there something on my shirt?"

"Uh—well, uh—"

"Jesus, Black, get your head out of your arse and use words," she sighed, exasperated, getting up and brushing herself off.

"Your—your shirt."

Amelia cast a glance down, seeing nothing marring her white shirt.

"Yes?" His mouth gaped open and closed like a fish. She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Why are you out here, anyway? Just to stare at me like what little brains you had dripped out of your ears?"

He shook his head. "Uh. No. I came out here to..." he cast a glance behind him, towards the area of the grounds Amelia knew held the Whomping Willow. His gaze returned to her. "To find you!"

She raised an eyebrow. "You did?"

"Yeah. To ask you, um…..to ask you…for help."

"Help?"

"Yeah. On History of Magic. We have the test, and I'm not doing well, and Binns recommended you for a tutor."

Her skepticism grew. "Not Lily?"

"Um…." He paused again. "He did, but I didn't want to ask her. Cause she's got so much going on and she gets worked up, and stuff."

Amelia pursed her lips; everything he said was true, but she couldn't quell the suspicion she felt. After moment, she gave in. She knew Sirius needed help, though he wouldn't admit it; Binns had approached her several times asking her to try and help him, as he was almost the bottom of the class. "Fine," she said finally. "We'll work on it tonight. Library at six."

"But that's dinnertime!"

"Exactly, it'll be entirely empty."

"But—"

"Tonight. Six."

Amelia gathered her things and set off across the field, still barefoot.

A/N: So...I tried to make it obvious where Sirius was staring (no, it was not her chest) but if you didn't get it, it will be in next week's post.

I think I have a serious young Sirius crush. Not so much greasy, stick-like, older Sirius of the books. But mmm...the Sirius of my head and this era is good looking. Majorly good looking.

REad and review, as always.

Best wishes to all.