To
you, I would give the world
To you, I'd never be cold
'Cause
I feel that when I'm with you
It's alright, I know it's right-
Songbird by Eva Cassidy
Maisy's POV
Going back to Hogwarts is like returning home from a long trip abroad and falling back into comfort, relishing it like luxury. School is no exception. The four poster beds, the open fires, the echoic corridors, scents of cooking wafting up from the kitchens – all this, and more, is what I class as home.
Here with Sirius, it truly does feel like home is here to welcome us back with open arms. We're unpacked, we're studying, then we're talking, then we're sleeping, and before you know it, period one has crept up on us.
"Remind me why we take this subject again?" Sirius sighed from next to me. His voice was muffled from his face being led on the table.
"Because it was an easy option," I said, lifting his head up from the desk. "C'mon, we know this!"
"Right right, okay, the main function of a hairdryer?" he asked me.
I looked at him. Shit, I should know this!
"I've got no bloody idea, do you?"
He laughed, "No a clue sweet, not a clue!"
I looked around the rest of the class who looked in pain from the lesson. The professor had left momentarily to grab her notes. I saw Jason look over from the front of the class. Ha, the swelling had gone down.
"Ruby's staring at us," Sirius whispered to me.
"Weird, I was just about to say that Jason keeps regarding us with distaste." I said.
"It's cos you're so hot," we both said at the same time. We laughed, causing more glares from the rest of the studious class.
"Fine, we're both hot!" Sirius huffed, fluffing up his hair.
"But neither of us are intelligent in this field of work. LOOK! Name the three main parts of a bike? How am I meant to know this?" I asked, looking at him for help. He was restraining himself from laughing.
"Studying? I don't know. Something we should do more of!" he said.
"More studying?"
"No. More of this…" He leaned in to kiss me and we both fell off of our stools onto the floor. Nobody laughed, but the whole class seem to shuffle uncomfortably. I, however, was doubled over in laughter, pushing Sirius off of me.
"Did Jason see?" I asked him.
"Oh yeah, definitely." He said, and we both laughed again at our own immaturity.
*
"Everyone is staring."
"No they're not!"
"Everyone is staring except James, who's too busy with his chicken pie. Oh, and you, who has gone back to her lasagne!" I hissed at Lily. She sighed and put down her fork.
"Okay. Everyone is staring."
"I knew it!" I said, putting my head in my hands to sulk.
"What's up with her?" Sirius asked. Lily didn't reply. "Oi." He said, poking me with a fork. Romantic, truly thoughtful. "What's wrong?"
"Everyone's staring!" I pouted.
"No they're not."
"TAKE A LOOK AROUND THEN." I shouted at him, suddenly heated by the lack of response. He, in turn, sighed and put down his cutlery.
"Jason is staring. And Ruby just turned around too. Want me to kiss you again?" he laughed, wrapping his arm around my waist.
I continued to sulk, "No. You don't care, I hate it when people stare."
"Is it really bugging you that much?"
"Yes it bloody well is!"
"Okay, hold on."
He stood up on the bench and manoeuvred bowls of mashed potatoes and green beans to the side. He then stood up on the oak table and cleared his throat. What was he doing?
"Get down!" I hissed, pulling at his trouser legs.
"Maisy, I never knew you wanted that from me too," he teased, winking at me.
"No time for jokes Sirius, get down!" Oh god, now the whole school would be watching. He cleared his throat again, louder this time. Professor McGonagall straightened up in her seat and Dumbledore looked positively delighted by this deal of dinner and entertainment tonight. Professor McGonagall went to stand up by Dumbledore gestured her to sit down. She turned to watch Sirius, eyes mad.
"Hello Hogwarts. Right, I know you're all gossiping and spreading rumours right now, but if you could please listen up, thanks. Right. Maisy Heart is my girlfriend. We're together now. I love her too much to put into words. Okay? So, stop the staring, she doesn't like it, and I can't have my woman being all upset over you fools. Have a lovely evening."
And with that, he sat down. Some Gryffindors wooped and applauded, James being one of the loudest. Every person on our table was laughing at his forward manner, whereas the rest of the school was whispering incessively – Sirius Black has a girlfriend!
I think I even saw three girls leave in tears. Whatever.
"Sirius, that wasn't funny."
"Who said it was meant to be!" he said, feigning shock.
"Not funny! Everyone's whispering now…"
He swung his legs over the bench, indicating that he would stand up again, "Do you want me to sort 'em out?"
"NO!" I shouted. He laughed.
"I'm only joking love. I'm sorry I couldn't deal with any rumours really. Better to get things out in the open. Much better," he said, leaning his chin on my shoulder and looking up at me.
"Are you mad?" He said, through puppy dog eyes.
Ugh. "No, I'm not mad, Sirius." I said, smiling. I kissed him sweetly, a thank you for the long run.
"Good," he said, holding my hand on top of the table and picking at his pastry.
"How much did you have?" he asked seriously, pointing at my plate.
"Enough." I said.
"How. Much." He said again.
"Okay, not much, just some broccoli and a little bit of pie. But I'm full!"
He looked at me sadly and shook his head. "You worry me so much."
"It's fine, you don't need to worry. It's not like I go back to my dormitory and throw it all back up afterwards!"
"Don't you?" he said, hanging his head.
"No, I don't."
"WELL, I'm force feeding you dessert!" he said, suddenly elated.
"You are not." I said, glancing at the table still laden with main course dishes – thank god.
"Awh, c'mon! It'll be romantic." He nudged me playfully and laughed. I smiled.
"Tell you what would be MORE romantic?"
"Ooh, what?"
"Studying for that Transfiguration test."
"NOOOOOOOOO. Please no!"
"I can't do it though!" I said, pleading with my eyes. "Please help me! Pleasssse!"
"You know I would have helped you anyway, I just enjoy being dramatic." He smiled.
"Nawh, you truly are the perfect boyfriend," I said, leaning in for a kiss when I heard…
"OOOOOH LEMON MERINGUE!" from next to me. Lily's favourite.
While I'd turned, Sirius had grabbed a profiterole,
"Open wide!" and crashed it into my mouth, chocolate and cream spilling all around my mouth. I looked at him in mock horror, trying not to laugh.
"It's okay, I can get that off!" he said. "On second thoughts, we should probably do it in private, it's not for a PG audience." He pulled me from the bench and we ran through the hall and out into the Entrance Hall, only making it to the Second floor before his lips were crushed on mine, and the profiterole mess was history, the sweet kisses just an excuse to leave.
*
"I give up," I said, slamming the book shut and turning to Sirius.
"Why's that," he said innocently, rolling his eyes towards the ceiling.
"Because I can't study with you doing that!"
"Doing what?"
"Kissing my neck, caressing my waist, Sirius!" I said. He laughed, as per usual and led across my lap.
"Well I can't study with you doing that!" he said, in offence.
"I wasn't doing anything!"
"Yes you were, you were being all sexy and lovely and Maisy-ish." Bless him, aw aw aw! Fuck the test!
"I apologise," I replied, gazing down at him. He looked up at me in horror.
"Don't."
"Why?"
"Because you're perfect. I wouldn't have you any other way." I smiled and kissed him.
"GET A ROOOOOOOOOM!" Lily called from behind us.
Sirius sat up and rubbed his neck, he clicked it and I flinched.
"Don't DO that!" I said, pouting.
"Sorry," he laughed.
"Urrr yeah anyway, you told me to tell you when it got to ten, and it's ten now," Lily said, smiling at me.
"Thanks! Yeah I'm coming to bed now." I said. She smiled and left, as I got up to go upstairs.
"Don't go now!" Sirius said.
"Sirius, c'mon, I'm tired, I need sleep – beauty sleep!" I mocked.
"If you sleep for beauty then trust me, you could stay awake forever."
"Stop it! I need to go to bed!" I laughed as he tugged my arm and pulled me back into his arms on the sofa.
"A specific bed?!" he teased, kissing my neck repeatedly. I always melt when he does that. But no, not tonight!
"YES, MINE!" I laughed.
"Let's go then!" he joked, picking me up and carrying me up the stairs with ease. He dropped me at the door and kissed me on the forehead, lingering for a moment.
"Night, Maisy."
"Night Sirius."
We both turned to go into our separate dorms before crashing back into each other for a good night kiss.
"I thought you weren't gunna give me that!" Sirius said, smiling.
"I was thinking about it!" I laughed, pecking his lips quickly and disappearing inside my dorm. I heard him laugh from outside then shut the boy's dormitory. I sighed, a mellow sigh that only escapes when you're just blissfully happy.
"He just gets cuter and cuter!"
"Yeah, I know," I said automatically, falling onto my bed in a daze.
"I know right! Remus is just, beyond sweet and caring and kind and yeah, we're meant to be, I can tell!"
"Aww, that's lovely Ava," said Lily. Her voice was muffled, she must be eating again. Sure enough, when I got up to pull on some pyjamas, she was munching on a granola bar. I looked at her and she cocked her eyebrow,
"What?"
"Nothing," I laughed.
"You eat so much and you're so skinny!" Lea seethed from her own bed.
"It's my hardcore metabolism," Lily laughed.
"Well, lucky you. I hope Rich never sees me on a binge!" Lea added. Ava giggled.
"Who's Rich?" I asked.
"This guy who works in the village shop where Ava lives. He's totally gorgeous, and older! And he's promised to write while I'm here. I got a letter this morning. He's so sweet!" Lea gushed.
"Aw, everyone's in love!" Lily shrieked, delighted in the thought of us all being happy, I presume.
"It's nice," I said, falling into my fluffy pillows.
"Tis," Ava sighed.
"Yeah," said Lea, dreamily.
"All in favour of sleeping now and dreaming of their boyfriends, say I!" Lily laughed.
"I!" we all chorused.
And sure enough, knowing that Sirius was going to be there as soon as I woke up, lulled me to sleep like a lullaby, and he darted in and out of my dreams for the rest of the night, making me feel like I never wanted to wake up.