Chapter 10

Sirius sat, once again, at a table on his own in the Three Broomsticks. He liked being by himself sometimes but now he was sat there trying to figure out why Keira kept running off whenever they were having a good time. Or at least he had thought they had been having a good time. Any time they were talking without arguing or passing sarcastic comments had to be a good time. He let out a sigh and took another sip of butterbeer, filling his body with the warm liquid and letting himself relax.

'Hey Padfoot.' James called, jogging to catch up with his friend.

'Hey, I'm going back to the castle now, if you want to stay here.'

'Nah, I need to disappear.' Sirius gave him a questioning look. 'Yeah well, it turns out that wasn't Amanda... it was Anne.' Sirius laughed his usual bark, unable to believe how stupid his friend could have been.

'I told you not to get involved with twins, but even so they have different colour hair you idiot!'

'A man doesn't look at a woman's hair' James spat back. 'If you know what I mean.' He added with a wink.

'Oh god, you really are such a fool mate.'

'Whatever, how was your day anyway?'

'Uh, Well I saw Keira, but she ran off...'

'Again?'

'Yeah that's what I was thinking but, well it was good while she was here. Oh, Cassie's awake by the way, that's why Keira left.'

'Oh, that's great! Do you think we should see her?'

'I doubt that would be appreciated to be honest.'

'Yeah, I suppose you're right mate. Hey don't worry about it I'm sure she'll be fine.'

'Oh no, I know she will it's just... Well, never mind it's nothing really important.' Sirius lied. He couldn't help but wonder had it been his brother and his Slytherin gang who had done this to Cassie?

'No way! You could have stayed, I mean I'd rather be with Sirius Black than with me like this, oh Sorry, that is I mean, I'd rather be with any one, in Hogsmeade than stuck with me in here.' Keira laughed, somewhat nervously. She didn't really like to talk about Cassie's condition but she had to be there for her too.

'No, seriously, I'm sure I'll see him again, and it's not like he's anything special, we're just sort of friends.'

'Just sort of friends?' Cassie raised her eyebrows at Keira. 'Come on! I've seen the way you two look at each other when you don't think the other, or anyone else for that matter, is looking. You two are both crazy about each other and you can't deny it!'

'I am not crazy about Sirius Black!' Keira blushed slightly.

'Yeah, right.' Cassie laughed, raising her eyes to the ceiling. 'Seriously, no pun intended, seriously though Keira, he likes you. It's way too obvious. At least give him a chance.'

Keira sat there silently for a moment thinking about what Cassie had said. She looked out of the window behind Cassie's bed, the grounds were covered in frost, little patches of white showing up here and there. The leaves were all turning a golden brown colour and the sky was starting to turn a shade of pink as the sun began to set.

'Don't you just love autumn?' Cassie asked, following Keira's gaze. 'The colours are all just so pretty, and the weather so mild. It's always been my favourite time of year.'

'Yeah, I know what you mean.' Keira replied in a sort of daze.

'I'm sorry I'm late, prefect duties' Lily rushed over to Cassie's bed.

'Oh don't worry, me and miss Keira have been having a very interesting conversation.' Cassie laughed, winking at Lily who's expression shifted into one of understanding. Keira shifted in her chair to look out of the window again, ignoring her two friends.

'Hey' Sirius looked up to find Keira standing next to him in the library. 'Wow, so Sirius Black actually knows where the library is.' She smirked.

'Of course, it's full of dark corners, perfect for getting up to... all kinds of mischief.' He winked at her to make sure she understood.

'Christ's sake Black! Do you never think of anything else?'

'Hey, you were the one who asked.' She pulled out a chair and sat down next to him. 'Hey, you're not going to run away this time?' He looked into her eyes, she looked hurt at this comment.

'I don't run away from you Sirius. I just happen to have something else to do most of the time.'

'Sure' He muttered, going back to his book. They sat in silence for a while, neither daring to say a word to each other.

'So... What are you reading?' Keira finally broke the silence.

'Oh nothing, it's just for umm, potions.' But Keira was lifting the book to see the front.

'Pride and Prejudice? What's that?'

'Nothing, it's just a muggle book. Very manly.' He closed the book and put it in his bag.

'What's it about?'

'Uhh... well, guy stuff you know, girls and cars and explosions.' Keira raised an eyebrow.

'For now I'll choose to believe you.' Sirius got up and started to walk away. Keira caught up with him.

'Wow, twice in a day, I feel special.' Sirius remarked sarcastically.

'Whatever, I just want to talk.'

'Just talk.'

'Yeah, I felt bad about leaving you on your own earlier so I'm making it up to you now.' She looked at him and smiled. Sirius couldn't help but smile back. She had the most gorgeous smile, the most gorgeous face he'd ever seen but she was the one girl he couldn't have. Because she didn't want him.

'Fine.' He laughed at her.

'So, Mr. Black. Perhaps we could go for that walk now?'

'Why of course Miss Lennox.' She linked her arm with his and set off.

'I love the lake at night.' She said looking out across the grounds. 'The way the moon shines on the water, it just looks so peaceful.'

'Yeah...' Sirius looked out across the lake. He turned to look at Keira. She looked so relaxed and, if possible, even more beautiful with the light of the moon on her face. Her long dark hair fell over her back and her eyes reflected the light, making them look like diamonds.

'It reminds me of that night.' Keira said quietly, sitting up and looking down.

'What night.' Now she looked at him

'You know what night.'

'Oh' She was looking straight into his eyes. She knew what she was trying to say. She was pleading with him to tell her the truth but he couldn't do that to Remus, what if she freaked and told more people, and also, what if she never talked to him again.

'Listen, Keira, I honestly don't know what happened...'

'There was a werewolf! I know there was and you can't lie to me.'

'I'm not lying!' Sirius' voice was starting to get louder now.

'Yes you are!' She shouted. She looked at the ground and said in a softer voice 'yes you are...' neither of them spoke, but both turned away from the other and stared back out across the lake.

'Sirius' She started, but didn't continue.

'What?' He asked after a while.

'I'm not trying to have an argument with you, that's the last thing I want to do. I just have to know the truth.'

He looked at her. She was looking out across the lake still. He put his hand to her face, she turned to look at him. He stared into her eyes, remembering how beautiful they looked the first time he saw them properly but now tears were falling from them. He wiped them away and looked directly into her eyes.

'Maybe... One day. You'll find out one day.' He promised her, though his voice was quiet and uncertain. She leaned forward into him, laying her head upon his shoulder. He put his arms around her and just sat there for a while. 'One day, I promise.'

Sirius sat at the Gryffindor table with the other Marauders at breakfast the next morning. As usual they were discussing their next prank but Sirius wasn't really paying attention. He sat at the table pushing his food around his plate with his fork and not really thinking of anything. He looked quite dishevelled. His dark hair was falling into his grey eyes which were bloodshot. His entire face looked drawn and gaunt, his demeanour seemed somewhat lackadaisical and his usual flamboyance was lacking.

'Sirius? Hey Padfoot?' James nudged him the ribs with his elbow. Nonchalantly, Sirius looked away from his plate and up at James. 'You look terrible, seriously, what's wrong?' The one thing about James was that no matter how arrogant or silly he appeared to others he was always there for his friends, he was a good guy at heart but the Lily Evans' of the world couldn't see through the mask he wore.

'I'm sorry, it's nothing I promise I, I just didn't get much sleep last night. A good hour's kip and I'll be fine.'

'Well I think you should take that kip now, we have big plans for today and you do not want to miss them.'

Sirius nodded and headed, slowly, back up to the common room.

Sirius stopped in a corridor, he didn't know which one and he didn't care. He didn't care if he was anywhere near the common room. He didn't care what happened next. He screamed, more in frustration that in sadness, and punched the wall.

'SHIT!' He yelled. 'No!'

Nursing his hand he slumped down onto the floor and put his head back against the wall.

'It's nothing I promise'

He hated lying to his friends. Of course it wasn't nothing. He kept replaying it over and over in his head.

'NO!' he yelled, more of a cry this time as he put his head in his hands.

He had gotten back to the common room after walking Keira back up. Things had been fine with them after that, she didn't even question his promise. Things had been fine.

He sat there in the corridor, head in his hands replaying the night before.

Sirius walked into the dormitory, everyone else, James, Remus, Frank and Peter, were all asleep. Stifling a yawn he went over to his bed and sat on the edge. He looked at his pocket watch that his Uncle Alphard had given him when he was only young. The watch read two thirty. He couldn't believe he'd been with Keira for so long. It just felt natural. He heard a light tapping at the window. He turned around to see a small tawny owl pecking at the window, a rather old looking piece of parchment was tied to its leg. Sirius stared at it in disbelief. No, it couldn't have happened. Not now. Not like this.

'This isn't happening. NO!' He whispered venomously. 'No not like this!'