Howdy y'all. Had some free time, so, here I am with another chapter- I'm on a roll these days, so just take it as a good thing and run with it :D
Sooo, I was thinking, that I want to start a blog. I'm not sure exactly what I would write about- well that's a lie, I have a ton of ideas, but they all seem stupid after I have written them and then re-read them. Anyhow, I was wondering, would guys be interested in me writing a blog and if so, do you have any helpful topic suggestions?
Roses Roses And More Roses: Do you know what, I've started thinking a bit ahead, and I have some really exciting things planned for Sirius and Adelaide's relationship! I'm not going to say anymore about it, because I'm really excited, AND I have really big mouth. Crush on James? Oh no, I must have completely killed your perception of him! To be honest with you, I never really thought about James and Lily all that much. Then I started reading Fanfiction and I just kind of went crazy with the knowledge that I can make the characters however I like! I can't tell you how long he's going to be like this for, so just enjoy the chapter and let me know what you thought and be patient! It is a virtue after all. :P
Bird of the Summer: Wow! You are so nice to me! I love you now! I'm really glad that you are enjoying the story- I have to be honest, I absolutely LOVE writing it! That was also one of my fav parts! Thank you again for your wonderful review- it's things like this that convince me that yes, one day I will have written a novel, all new and shiny of own. Enjoy the chapter and let me know what you think, wonderful.
talyag: Hello! I'm so chuffed that you like my story despite it not being your usual type- it truly means the world to me. I hope you like this chapter and let me know what you think about it. Thank you for your wonderful review and enjoy!
Without further ado:
CHAPTER TEN
My eyes fluttered open as gentle beams of moonlight bathed the room. I tried to swallow, but my mouth was parched. Trying to move, I realised that Black was curled up next to me. Like last time, he had me nestled in his arms. Even in the limited light, I could make out the dark, unforgiving bags under his eyes.
Groaning, I tried to wriggle out of his arms.
"Black." I croaked when I failed to set myself free. "Black, wake up."
I giggled as Black snorted in his sleep and nestled his head closer to me. I rolled my eyes. I was supposed to be getting him away from me...not closer to me.
"C'mon, Black, wake up." I moaned, nudging him with my leg. He grunted in his sleep and pulled me closer still. I let out a low hiss as his arm draped over my right side. A sharp stinging sensation raked my entire right side. My body twitched madly as I tried to make the pain stop.
"Wh-wha..." Black shot up, taking me with him, sending another fresh wave of pain through me. I let out a distorted yell. "Shit...sorry." he said, letting go of me.
The relief was instantaneous; no sooner had he let go, my body relaxed and the stinging died down to a bear throb. I sat there, breathing heavily with my eyes closed for a moment, trying to calm my racing heart.
"Sorry, love. Are you ok, now?"
"M'fine." I mumbled, letting Black help me into a more comfortable position. He sat down next to me and rubbed his eyes in a tired fashion. I watched with a slight frown as his dark locks bounced with every move, reflecting the soft light of the moon.
"I know I'm beautiful, but do you really have to stare?"
I replied by fixing him with a glare that would have killed a lesser man.
"How long have I been out for then?" I asked, after a long awkward silence. Although my glare hadn't incinerated Black, like I had hoped, it had killed any conversation.
"A week today."
My eyes widened...A week? That meant that the term was almost finished.
"And you've been here all this time?"
"Pretty much...Dumbledore told everyone that I'm ill with a 'particularly severe' strand of flu. It's a load of rubbish obviously, but I don't think that anyone's any wiser about what's actually going on." He gave me classic Sirius Black grin. "Except Marlene...she has a theory that you've put some sort of a spell on me."
"Maybe she should have some buddy-buddy time with Pot-Head- I'd love to see her reaction when she finds out that it wasn't me who put the spell on you; but Pot-Head, Gryffindor's most -and I use the term loosely- eligible bachelor." I snorted, causing Black to smirk.
"You're being very mean. James has been up here every day- he's practically been living here." His tone was playful, but even an idiot could read the underlying message. He was asking for forgiveness, for both himself and Potter. "And besides...the kid's got it rough- what with being completely enamoured with a girl he wouldn't be able to get, even in a million years!"
"Sirius Black, you don't give him enough credit. What on earth makes you think that he couldn't get Lily, even in a million years?"
"Don't tell me you're on his side now!" be barked with appreciative laughter. "And in answer to your question- have you not yet noticed that Evans absolutely hates James. She'd rather go out with...Peter than she would dear old Prongs." I swatted his arm.
"Peter happens to be a very goo-nice person." I had been about to say good...but was that even right? Wouldn't Peter go on to betray his best friends?
"He is...I think we overlook him sometimes, though. He's a good person- and a great friend...but we rarely give him the opportunity to be one." He's become very serious now. "Before you came along, none of us really paid him much attention. He used to get all excited because of the pranks that me James would pull and stuff, but he just seems be much...better now. "
I smiled and sighed. Peter. Peter is still Peter. He isn't evil...yet.
"You know, he's so protective of you. He nearly tore James's head off when he heard that you were in the here. He just ran right at him and started kicking and punching. In all the time I've known him- no matter what we'd do to him, he's never-not even once- stick up for himself. But you? He'd be willing to murder his own friend for." He was staring intently at me now. There was a shadow of some dark, aggressive emotion in his features. At first it frightened me, but the more I looked at him, the more it enticed me. I could almost reach out and touch it. "He's a good friend."
Peter. Not a bad boy. Just a bad man.
"Yes, Black, he is."
"Anyway, the fact is that you're ok- and for that I'm grateful." He gave me an intense look; his eyes smouldering with passionate emotion. I swallowed, suddenly feeling very hot.
"Me too. It's not very fun nearly dying of coffee allergies." I laughed nervously, unable to break his mesmerising gaze.
"Tell me something." He whispered after a while of more awkward silence.
I gave him a puzzled look, not understanding his meaning. "Tell me something that no one else knows."
I blushed bright red. Why was he asking such an embarrassing question? It's was a good thing it's dark in here!
"You can trust me." He breathed after a moment, his voice light and husky. For some reason I believed him. I nodded breathlessly, fighting the urge to lean into him. "Give me a chance." He whispered, brushing his hand against mine. I took a deep breath and searched the corners of my mind frantically in search of something to distract me from...him. "Give me a chance, love. You know you want to." He was tracing patterns up my arm now. Every bit of my body was on fire.
Believe in him. Nikka's word's came back to me. Don't give up on your chance at happiness.
"I'm scared of butterflies." I blurted out after a long silence.
"Wha-huh?"
"For God's sake, Sirius, I'm scared of Butterflies. If you tell anyone, I will castrate you." I growled, jabbing him sharply in the chest with my finger.
"Butterflies?" he grinned, taking me in his arms and leaning back.
"Sh'up." I mumbled, my cheeks turning a bright shade of scarlet. "They're horrible...with their flappy-ness and wings and just they are evil."
"Don't worry- your secret is safe with me."
By the time morning came round, Sirius and I were still talking. It was strange- we were just prattling on about silly, inconsequential things- but since I had come to this new world, it had been the best night I'd had. It was the first time I could just relax and act like an idiot...with a friend.
When Madame Pomfrey came in, bustling about with various bottles of potions, she immediately began scolding Sirius.
"Honestly, Mr Black, I remember specifically telling you to come and find me if she woke up! It really wasn't that taxing a task!" she huffed at him, pushing him out of the ward and pulling the curtains shut forcefully. "Mrs Black...please remove your clothes."
"M-Mrs Black?" I spluttered, completely dazed. Though, I noted bitterly, I suppose she's right. I am, technically, Mrs Black. I heard Sirius snigger behind the curtains.
Muttering furiously to myself, I removed my top, leaving me in only a pair of jammie bottoms and my bra. I flinched slightly as the matron gasped in horror.
"How did you get those?" she demanded, immediately tracing her expert hands over my back.
"I was in a fire." I lied quickly.
The matron gave me a stern stare and pursed her lips. "Young, lady, I am a trained medi-witch; I know what burn scars look like."
Shit. I didn't think of that.
"I never said they were burn scars. That-" I pointed at my back. "-is the result of having half a building collapsing on me."
"Does it ever hurt?" she asked, prodding the tender skin roughly, sending throbs of pain through me.
"It does when you do that! " I half snapped, half hissed.
"There's been damage to your nervous system." Pomfrey said, to which I rolled my eyes.
"I'm aware of the fact." I retorted. Ever since the skin had healed, I had become limited in movement and I could no longer sleep on my right side. Hence the reason why I had been in so much pain when Black had touched me there.
"If you are aware, why have you failed to report it to me? I have a potion to repair the damage to our nerves; however it will require opening the scar wounds. It will be painful to say the least."
...
"Well, I didn't know that there was potion to fix it! I'm a..." What was I? "- I'm a something that has limited experience of medical potions. You know Dumbledore said that you were going to give me lessons." My mood was suddenly cheered up slightly at the thought of medical lessons.
"Sit down." She ordered. "Yes. However you were unconscious for the first lesson. You'll have to wait until after the holidays. Wait here."
Without skipping a beat, she parted the hospital white curtains, leaving them slightly apart as she left. I sat down on the bed and began drumming my fingers against my thighs; bored already.
"Adelaide." Sirius whispered.
Two stormy grey eyes met my own.
My heart dropped.
(Sirius pov)
I had been just stood out here for almost a quarter of an hour- Pomfrey was checking on Adelaide. Anyhow, I was trying to listen to what they were saying. Hey, I'm easily bored. Back to the point, I'm trying to hear what's going on. It's not an easy task though.
Someone gasped, and there was a lot of heated mutterings. Probably Adelaide. Not that I could blame the poor girl. Pomfrey isn't the most...hospitable person I know. She's probably getting an earful.
"It does when you do that! "
"-scar wounds. It will be painful to say the least."
"Well, I didn't know that there was potion to fix it! I'm a- I'm a something that has limited experience of medical potions. You know Dumbledore said that you were going to give me lessons."
"Wait here."
Suddenly the curtains pulled apart and I was met with Pomfrey, muttering angrily to herself. She briskly walked over to her office, so I decided to talk to Adelaide and try to make sense of some of what I had just heard.
I went through the slightly opened curtains, with a smile on my face.
She was sat on the edge of the bed, wearing only a pair of Pyjama trousers and a black lacy bra. Her long, pale fingers were drumming against her thighs. My eyes followed her slender arms to her chest. I smiled wider. I let my gaze wonder over her deliciously creamy body.
My heart stopped.
"Adelaide." It was barely a whisper...but all the anger, all the pain, all the worry...and all the- and all the love that I felt, were all packed into that one word.
She looked up at me, with her beautiful doe like eyes- brown, large and watery. She met my gaze; but all I could see was the red, bumpy...thing running down her right side.
"Adelaide." I repeated, though this time, I spoke clearly.
"Sirius." She offered me a weak smile and stood up. Turning away from me, she picked up her top and quickly slipped it on. Scarlet tinged her cheeks. She looked almost...ashamed.
"How?" I asked, wondering how on earth I could have missed that. It was huge! I'd never even seen it before- of course, she never wore short sleeves.
Adelaide opened her mouth as if to speak, but to my annoyance, and no doubt, her relief, Pomfrey bustled in, waving a blue phial around like she'd struck gold.
"Here it is! Oh...what are you doing in here? Never Mind. Why don't you go and get some breakfast- this will only take about twenty minutes."
Before I could even get a word in edgeways, the woman kicked me out of the hospital wing, and I found myself standing outside, my mouth slightly open. All I knew was that: Whichever bastard had dared to hurt her was going to pay.
"Padfoot!" I swivelled to see James running towards me, his robs billowing around him. "How is she?"
"She just woke up. Pomfrey is just doing a health check." I snapped, for some reason not wanting to tell him what I had seen. In fact, I hadn't told James about anything that Adelaide had told me about her past. Part of it was because I was yet to talk to Adelaide about it, myself. I mean, surely I should talk to her first...Mr and Mrs Potter were always telling me and James that marriage was all about compromise and talking.
"Alright- calm down. I was only asking." He replied, narrowing his eyes.
"Sorry, mate. Long night." I said, feeling guilty. It wasn't his fault that Adelaide was hurt.
I smiled inwardly. Just thinking about her. I knew that Adelaide was going through hell right now. I knew that she needed me. I knew that I would do anything to help her. I knew all that; but sweet Merlin, she'd called me Sirius. And she'd told me a secret- she'd told me something that no one else in the whole world knew! You have no fricking idea how goddamn cute she looked as she blushed. I could have died right there with a stupid smile on my face! Bloody hell; I had thought that I would make her fall for me and all this time, she's been doing this to me. The funny thing is, the girl probably doesn't even know what she's doing to me.
Running a hand through my hair I told James that I was hungry and that we should get some breakfast before seeing Adelaide.
To be honest, all I wanted to do was head back the way I had come and crawl into bed with Adelaide, smelling her.
I smiled again.
Her smell.
It's like...the sun.
Okay...shut-up. I realise that she can't physically smell like the sun. But it has the same effect, you know. All of a sudden, everything seems brighter, and I can't help but smile. And sometimes, if I look at her for too long, it starts hurting my eyes and my chest constricts; because it's too much brilliance. When she smiles at me...even when she glares at me; I just want to fall at her feet. And knowing that someone hurt her; God, it made me want to go on a killing rampage- even if it did leave me in Azkaban for the rest of my life!"
And James. All these years, I thought that he was mad; chasing after that crazy red-head, Lily. I get it now. You can't let go, because all you can see is her. Fucking hell, I barely even know her! Yet, I couldn't care less. He knows what it's like. He's felt it for much longer than I have. SO why is he so against Adelaide.
I mean, sure, she lied; but given the circumstances...surely she deserves to be forgiven?
"C'mon mate, let's eat." James said, leading me to some empty seats.
(Adelaide pov)
As soon as Madame Pomfrey was done feeding me a potion that- literally- tasted like bleach, (Yes I've tasted bleach before- I spent almost a year at torture camp, kids!) she rubbed a variety of colourful ointments into the skin on my arms and back.
I screamed.
This was almost as worse as that first night after the spell. Pain, clawed through me; as though it were inside of me, trying to get out and taste the air. It was like a knife being driven into my body, in and out, in and out. Each time, leaving a bigger wound.
"I told you it would hurt." The Matron stated simply as my breathing slowly returned to normal. I sat up as best I could and downed the glass of water she handed me so fast that I ended up spilling most of it. Pomfrey tutted and gave me a paper towel.
"Madame Pomfrey..." I asked hesitantly after a long silence.
"Yes, Mrs Black." She replied, making me blush.
"Does anyone else know?" she paused, looking at me with a raised eyebrow. "About me and Sirius."
"Oh- that...of course not. I only know because Mr Black insisted on staying the night. And in your bed too! The Headmaster had to explain to me- I was in quiet a shock." She gave me a small smile that brightened her usually scowling face. She was actually rather pretty when she smiled. "He's not all that bad. You could have done worse."
I snorted. It looks like a lot of people want me and Sirius together. Well people with brains.
"Well, I'll let you rest for now. I want you for a couple of more hours, just to make sure." She patted my arm and left me with a smile.
She's not all that bad. Even if she is a miserable prune most of the time.
"Do you think she'll try and kill me?" I looked up as I heard those words. Sirius and Pot-Head.
Crap.
Without missing a beat, I did a 360 turn and roly-pollied onto the bed whilst simultaneously pulling back the covers.
Loud footsteps echoed through the hospital as I desperately tried to slow down my breathing. This was ridiculous- I hadn't even blinked when Pomfrey saw my scars. Why the hell was I getting in a tizzy now?
"She looks asleep, mate." Someone-presumably Pot-Head- said.
"She looks asleep." Sirius replied, though he sounded sceptical. He's a perceptive little bugger, that one.
"Let's come back later." A pair of footsteps began walking away from me, but stopped shortly as Sirius spoke.
"You go on. I'll stay here and get some shut eye- I'm bloody knackered." I ground my teeth in frustration. Trust Sirius fricking Black to decide to stay.
"Right, me and the others will come by later on. We'll be by the Quidditch stands if you need us. Siya."
"Bye, mate."
After a short pause, I felt the mattress depress to my right.
I took a deep breath as quietly as I could and furrowed my face into my pillow, hoping to cover my eyes. As was his usual practice, Sirius enveloped me in his warm embrace. I could feel his hot breath through my pyjama top. This, for some reason made me blush. Since when did Sirius make me blush. Shit...Since when was Black, Sirius?
Mentally I slapped myself.
"I know that you're awake, love." Siri-Black said after a while, making me tense up-well more than I already was. It might have been mere minutes since I had started the ruse of sleeping; but to me, lying there in his hold, as rigid as a plank of wood, it felt like an entire lifetime. I felt long, strong fingers run through my brunette locks- almost lovingly. Meanwhile, my heart was pounding so hard that I was surprised I didn't break into a bout of hyperventilation. "But it's ok. When you want to talk-and we will talk- I'm right here, love." He murmured against my back; sending shivers through my spine.
I went beet red as he chuckled, holding me tighter. And to my horror, I realised, I liked how we seemed to mould against each other, and how his smell still lingered after every touch he placed on me. I didn't want this. Perhaps it was the height of irrationality, but as I lay there, in his arms, scenes from Russia flooded my mind. Suddenly I felt as though the walls were caving in on me. All I wanted was to scream.
Just breathe. Breathe. 1...2...3...4...Deep breaths. In. Out. In. Out.
"Black." I said in a voice so quiet that was almost inaudible. Still, his whole body became rigid. "Let go of me."
He was still for a very long moment, before slowly unwinding his arms.
"What's wrong?" He demanded, in a rough tone. Anger flared through me until I turned to face him and saw the worry etched into his features. His grey eyes watched me with this- beautiful warmth that seemed to reach my core.
I lay back on the bed, closing my eyes.
"Sorry." I whispered, as he eventually lay back down. This time however, he refrained from touching me. The fact that I both missed and was repulsed by his touch confused me.
"It was in Russia." I began, not sure if this was the right thing to do.
"Go on." Black encouraged me. So I took a deep breath, hesitating.
Should I tell him?
((()bjdmJNU))()()()9
This is mean, but I hope that cliff-hanger keeps you all up all night!
I know, I know, I know...that's horrible to say, but I am a writer and this is my delight! Anyhow, what did we all think? And more importantly, what do you think is going to happen? TELL ME! *coughs* Ahem. But seriously, do let me know about your conspiracy theories in regards to the next chapter- or just the whole story in general are. I know what will happen in the end as I have brainstormed this all out on a giant piece of paper; but I'm really interested to know what you guys reckon is going to happen.
Anyhow, I hope you all enjoyed that- go and have fun doing whatever it is that you're going to do and I will try and update as soon as I can!
Tootles, my little lovelies!