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Disclaimer: Sadly I am not J.K Rowling. I do not own Harry Potter or Sirius or James or Lily, Remus, Peter…etc. But I do own Charlie and the plot. I suppose that's a start.

Chapter Ten: A Trying Day

Charlie trouped down to breakfast later than normal the next morning. She had barely slept the past two nights and was still dwelling on the kiss she shared with Sirius on Saturday; the kiss that she would never be able to share with anyone. The kiss she wanted to forget about, erase from her memory and wished she'd never had. The kiss she couldn't forget about, the kiss she loved, the kiss she'd remember until her dying day.

"'Lo freckles," called a deep voice from the hallway. Charlie whipped around and there stood Sirius, in all his shaggy haired glory, leaning against the cool stonewall.

"Black," Charlie said civilly. She was acting as though the kiss had never happened, as though she was not almost being swept under by her inner turmoil. Admittedly, Charlie shouldn't have let herself be so awed by it. She'd been trying to shake that kiss from her memory for two days. But nothing she did seemed to work. She was slightly disappointed that she had let herself be so undone by something so trivial. Where was he backbone? Sirius Black was just like any other boy. He was nothing special, unlike Evan.

It was just a kiss, she told herself. It didn't mean anything.

And yet she couldn't help imagining Sirius' arms around her body, his hands in her hair, his lips on her…

"So, how are you today? Sleep well?" he asked, shaking his dark hair out of his eyes.

"Perfectly," she lied, snapping back to reality. "You?"

"Not too well, actually. I decided to break it off with Melissa this morning."

"That's…good," said Charlie, her dark eyebrow raised questioningly. "For you."

Sirius cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Listen. Charlie. About the other night," he hesitated and hitched up his bag a little higher on his shoulder. "I just wanted to say…"

Charlie waved her hand, as though to clear the air between them. "No. Just forget about it Black. We must have been swept up in the heat of the moment or something. It was late, it was dark, we were squished under a cloak avoiding a teacher…we must have inhaled some weird fume to make us completely loose our minds…or maybe it was just adrenaline."

But, if Charlie was honest with herself, completely, utterly, and brutally honest, the kiss had felt so right, at least to her. But she was very inexperienced with kissing. Maybe you always felt like that when you were getting kissed. She didn't know. She planned on testing it on Evan, since he was the one she really wanted to kiss: him being her boyfriend of two and a half months and all. She bet it would be an even better kiss.

"Y-yes. Exactly the point I was trying to make," the handsome boy continued in a slightly strained voice. "Just an accident…"

"Yes."

"So…are you still with Rosier?" Sirius asked.

"Yes," said Charlie defensively. "I'm still with Evan. And things couldn't be better between us," she added.

"Well…right. Ok then," said Sirius, looking at his feet. "I'm, I'm off to find Melissa, then"

The beautiful boy began to walk away. "Black," Charlie called after him.

He turned to face her, his grey eyes looking hopeful. "Yes, Charlie?"

"I say we…put aside our differences and try to be civil to one another. What do you say?" Charlie stuck out her hand in front of her in a diplomatic way.

Sirius gripped Charlie's small hand with his own, larger and rougher one, and shook it. "I'm nothing but chivalrous to you, Freckles. But, I think that's a good plan," he smirked, flashing his white teeth.

"Great," said Charlie. . "And neither one of us will ever mention that kiss ever again."

Sirius nodded in agreement. Neither one of them let the other's hand go. They were just looking at one another: Sirius with that grin still playing about his mouth and his hair in his elegantly haughty face and Charlie with her big black eyes.

"Charlie," someone called from the stairs.

Charlie looked up and saw Evan walking toward her. She smiled at him. "Hi Evan," she called in greeting.

Evan stopped at Charlie's shoulder and looked from her to Sirius. Charlie noticed that Sirius was about three inches taller than Evan, something she'd never noticed before.

"Black," said Evan coolly.

"Rosier," Sirius said with just as much frost in his voice, though he kept his smile.

"What's going on here?" he asked, pointing at their hands, which were still gripping one another.

Charlie quickly let go of Sirius' hand as though she'd been burned. "It's nothing. Just a hand shake," she said nervously.

Evan put an arm possessively around Charlie's shoulders and bent down to kiss her. Charlie turned her face and his lips brushed her cheek.

She didn't know why she did it, but she didn't want to be kissed by her boyfriend in front of Sirius. Charlie risked a glance at Sirius, whose grin had broadened slightly.

"Well," said Evan, in a strained voice. "By-your-leave Black," he continued with a mocking sneer in his voice and on his face and he guided Charlie into the Great Hall.

"I don't like him," Evan whispered into Charlie's ear as they walked through the doors. "I just get a bad feeling about Black. Please stay away from him."

Charlie looked up into her beautiful, blonde boyfriend's eyes. They seemed rather hard and cold as they looked back at her, no longer the soft, caring eyes she was used to looking at.

"Well," Charlie began reasonably, not one that was easily told what to do. "I can't very well completely ignore him. We're in the same house and many of the same classes—"

"I said I don't want you to associate with him. Do you understand me?" asked Evan with a menace in his voice as he stopped Charlie and spun her to face him.

His fingers were getting tighter and tighter on her shoulders; he shook her slightly.

"Yes," Charlie said quickly with a wince.

"Good. I'll see you later then," Evan said as he released Charlie. He placed kiss on her tight lips and went to the Slytherin table.

Charlie continued to the Gryffindor table and sat next to Lily. She poured herself some pumpkin juice, and took a long, slow sip, still pondering her meeting with Sirius and what Evan had just done.

She couldn't' believe that Evan was so freaked out by her shaking Sirius' hand. Something else must be bothering him. He had never been that possessive. Did he see something in Sirius that Charlie was missing? Maybe she was teasing Sirius and she didn't know it. Charlie thought she probably would know if she was being flirtatious…but one never knows.

Maybe I should be extra cold toward Sirius so Evan can see…

"So, what happened Saturday night?" asked Lily, as she looked at Charlie over her morning Daily Profit.

"Nothing," sighed Charlie, looking down at her empty plate and pushing Evan and his cold eyes from her mind. "Just an…encounter in the corridor. Nothing important."

"Teacher?" asked Lily, leaning in.

Charlie looked up. "There was a teacher, yes."

"Someone else? C'mon Chars…you can tell me! You know you can."

Charlie looked up at her best friend and then down the table. "It was nothing. No worries," she smiled.

"Fine, keep your secrets. You seemed really upset when you came back into our room though."

"Well I was, but I'm over it now."

"Well…what about now? Is something wrong?" Lily pressed. "You look shaken."

"Evan just did something to freak me out a little bit. He just forbid me to associate with Black," Charlie said crossly.

Lily held her breath. She didn't like Evan, but she wouldn't say that to Charlie. He was Charlie's first love; Lily couldn't bring herself to tell her best friend that her boyfriend was probably the worst boy she could've picked out of the entire school.

"I can't believe him, he can't tell me what to do. Not that I'm doing anything with black, mind, because cause I'm not." Charlie said in a rush.

"Hmm…" Lily was biting her tongue.

"So, do you think I'm doing something wrong? Should I not talk to other boys? I don't want Evan to be angry with me…but I really don't think I did any thing wrong."

"That's because you didn't!" exclaimed Lily. "Evan's just freaking out over nothing. And you did nothing, hear that, nothing, wrong," Lily said, looking directly into Charlie's eyes.

Charlie smiled gratefully at her red-haired friend. She knew Lily didn't particularly like Evan, but she was still supportive. "Thanks Lils."

"So, just give him time to cool off. Meanwhile, I know something that will cheer you up. You'll never guess what we're having over—"

"Lily?" James Potter had drifted over to where Lily and Charlie were sitting.

"Yes James?" Lily asked, looking up at the messy-haired boy and smiling.

Charlie noted that Lily answered James civilly…almost in a conversational tone. She grinned to herself.

"Professor Dumbledore wants us by the head table for the Announcement."

"Ok," Lily winked at Charlie as James pulled Lily's chair back to help her up.

"This surprise?" called Charlie.

"It's coming," Lily called over shoulder.

Charlie watched at Lily and James made their way up and stood next to Dumbledore's chair. Sirius sidled into the Hall and made his way to the Gryffindor table, sitting next to Remus.

The Headmaster nodded at Sirius as he stood and surveyed his students with a smile on his face.

"Students," Dumbledore called. "I would like to make an announcement…"

The hall quieted immediately.

"As you all know, Halloween has come and gone and November is upon us. That means that the December is fast approaching. The Heads of the school, Miss Lily Evans and Mr. James Potter, have decided that, as a treat for the Christmas holidays this year, Hogwarts is going to host a Yuletide Ball on Christmas Day."

The Great Hall erupted into a thousand excited voices, all speaking at once.

"Yes, yes, I know it's exciting," Dumbledore said as he sushed the students. Once he had their undivided attention again, he continued, "But please note, that this dance is a privilege. Any behavior that a teacher deems unacceptable can result in that person not being able to attend the ball."

The mutterings started again, though almost inaudibly.

"I know everyone will behave as they should and this Ball will be a night to remember. So when the Heads decide on the theme of the ball, they will inform you. Now, thank you for listening," Dumbledore concluded.

As soon as the headmaster sat down, the Great Hall erupted in a torrent of high-pitched voices, mainly girls, discussing what they were going to wear, who they wanted to take them, where they were going to get their dresses, how they were going to do their hair…etcetera.

Charlie got up and walked to Lily, a wide smile on her face.

"A ball!" Charlie exclaimed.

"Yep," said Lily.

Charlie shook her head. "Brilliant. Hopefully this one'll turn out better than the last one, eh? I'll be sure not to ask Black to go with me," Charlie continued, poking fun at herself. As she said Sirius' name, she felt a twinge in her stomach, though she didn't know why.

"So, as best friend to the head girl…do I get some special details as to this event?" asked Charlie hopefully, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Well…funny you should ask that," Lily threw a conspicuously furtive glace around the Great Hall. "Follow me," and she threw one more look over her shoulder, winked at someone and walked into the Entrance Hall just as the morning's post owls started to arrive. Charlie followed, mimicking Lily's not-so-subversive spy movements. She noticed that when Lily had winked, it was directed at James Potter. Charlie suppressed a growing suspicion that the Anti-Marauder pact was soon going to be using the Date a Marauder if You Really, Really, REALLY Want To clause. .

"So? Inside information…go," Charlie smiled.

"Well," Lily began, her voice hushed. "I'm pretty certain it's going to be a masquerade. But keep it quiet."

The two girls giggled and hopped around hugging one another in excitement. There merriment, however, was broken by an explosion of noise, coming through the slightly open doors of the Great Hall.

The edged closer to hear what all the fuss was about and stood, peering through the crack, listening.

James watched Lily float from the Great Hall, a goofy grin on his face. He was going to ask Lily to go with him to the Ball. It was expected, after all. They were the head students after all. He walked back to the Gryffindor table.

"So," he looked around the table at Sirius, Remus and Peter. "What do you think?"

"Well," said Remus with a sigh. He looked at the surrounding tables filled with gossiping girls. When they noticed him looking, they immediately started to giggle. "I guess it's only a matter of time before we have to ask a girl to go with us, eh? Who'll it be this time?" he looked at Sirius.

"I don't know…" Sirius said. It was the first time that he wasn't eagerly scanning the crowd for a potential date. He was distracted. He didn't even notice as an owl swooped dangerously past his nose and landed further down the table in front of another student.

"I think I'm finally going to do it. I'm going to ask Lily," James stated.

"Good luck on that one…" Peter scoffed as he munched on some toast. "Yeah. That whole thing that you," he nodded his chin at Sirius, "said to me the other night, the thing about love, hate and fate? Yeah. It inspired me."

Sirius shook his head. "Sounds it," he laughed.

"Yeah, well…So, are you going to tell us what had you all bollockst up Saturday night?" James asked.

Remus and Peter looked up too.

"I might have kissed someone two nights ago," said Sirius, looking down.

"All right!" exclaimed James.

"Who?" asked Remus. "I'm judging not your girlfriend. By-the-way, who is it you're going with now?"

"No one anymore. I broke it off with Melissa. She and Derrick are going together now."

"So who was the kiss-ee?" asked Peter, leaning in now.

"It was…"Sirius began, just as a handsome black owl landed in front of him bearing a large red envelope. Sirius looked down and spotted the envelope, a howler. He paled. Oh no…

"What's that?" asked Peter.

"Howler," said Remus and James together.

"Marauders. Muffliatos, now," Sirius said, trying to stay calm.

All the Marauders started casting quieting spells onto their neighbors, so no one would hear the shrieking voice of Mrs. Black, yelling insults at her eldest son.

The entire hall was under the spell, and not a moment too soon, the howler was about to explode. Sirius broke the seal and the harsh voice of Mrs. Black pounded into the ears of the four Marauders.

"YOU, SIRIUS BLACK, ARE A WORTHLESS, HOPELESS, STUPID, WASTE OF THE FAMILY! YOU SOIL THE NOBLE AND MOST ANCIENT HOUSE OF BLACK! YOU ARE HORRIBLE! YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO OUR FAMILY! YOU ARE NOT LIVING UP TO THE FAMILY NAME! YOU'RE FRIENDS ARE JUST AS BAD. BUT YOU…YOU ARE MUCH WORSE! YOU ARE NO LONGER A BLACK! YOU ARE NOT MY SON!"

Sirius was resolutely staring at his breakfast plate, his jaw clenched, his face and eyes growing darker and darker. James, Peter, and Remus were all watching him apprehensively. Sirius' mother sent him howlers at least once every few months; Sirius was loathed by his family. Ever since the first day he was put into Gryffindor, he became a marked man.

The howler burst into flames and became ash, spreading over the white tablecloth.

James and Remus looked at Sirius, whose face was still stony. James put a hand on Sirius' shoulder, "You alright Pads?" he asked.

Sirius didn't say anything.

"Sirius," Remus asked now. "You know we don't think you're worthless and that we're always going to be here to support you…"

Sirius got abruptly up from the table and walked toward the exit, not saying a word. He was sick of his fanatical, pureblood mother, the expectations that were placed upon him because he was pureblood, and prejudices that he was automatically assumed to have. He walked briskly out of the oak doors and came face to face with Charlie.

Charlie looked up at him with her big, black eyes. They seemed to be filled with some emotion and were shining.

"Oh Sirius," Lily breathed, her small hands at her mouth as she looked at him from Charlie's right.

"Sirius," Charlie began, looking horrorstruck. "I'm really…"

"You know what?" Sirius looked from one girl to the other. His eyes came to rest directly on Charlie. "Save it. You don't really care. So don't bother pretending," Sirius spat as he pushed past the girls.

Charlie looked after Sirius, scowling. He was going to make her new, hate-Sirius attitude easy to pull off. "What a complete prat! I can't believe him! I mean I'm trying to say something nice and comfort him and, sure he just got a howler…but really! That's no excuse to be so—"

"You know why he's acting like that, don't you?" asked Lily, looking sadly after Sirius.

"Because he's an absolute idiot!"

"He ran away from home last summer, Charlie."

The dark-haired girl turned to face her green-eyed friend.

"His family has disowned him and they hate him; his mother especially can't stand him. He's been living with Potter for a year."

"I-I didn't know," started Charlie.

"Not many people do. James told me the other day. Don't say anything to anyone. It's a sore subject. Sirius doesn't like to talk about it."

"No, of course I won't say anything."

Charlie looked at the staircase that Sirius had just gone up. She started to wonder. What else didn't she know about Sirius Black; the boy who seemed to have everything he could ever want?

Charlie went to all her classes that day and Sirius didn't show up to any of them. James and Remus said he wasn't feeling well and was lying down in their dormitory, which all the teachers believed. Peter said nothing, which made Charlie suspect there was more to the story than the boys were letting on. He wasn't at lunch or dinner. She hoped he was all right. She thought she caught a glance of him as she was going to double potions that morning, but she was sure she had been wrong.

Well, there you go. A lot can happen in a very short stretch of time...breakfast. Yes. Well, I have to invoke the right of Pity Reviews...please! I'm getting my wisdom teeth out by the time you read this. So reviews will make me feel better, please!

Well, until next chapter; Keep a sharp eye ;)

Pupparoux