Disclaimer: Not mine.
Chapter 14 - Flashpoint: "What's going on, Jaz?" Sirius asked. The were in the seventh-year boys' dorm, sitting on Sirius' bed. No one was there, so they could have privacy. Jazlyn bit her lip. Sliding off the bed, she began to pace.
"It's... well, remember how I said that it was odd that my grandmother wanted me at the Christmas Ball?" She waited for his nod before continuing. "I found out why she wanted me there." Sirius gave her a quizzical look and seemed about to interrupt, but she shook her head. "Don't interrupt me. I'm nervous enough as it is, and I don't need a reason to stop. You see... my grandmother has decided to take my future into her hands. She doesn't approve of, of us, and she's decided to fix it. Her solution is... she's cooked up a betrothal between me and, and... your brother. They're trying to get me to marry Regulus."
Sirius' expression was akin to being clubbed over the head. "Regulus? You're joking."
"No. It could be worse, actually... Lucius Malfoy made that obvious..."
"What did he say to you?"
"He'd love to 'tame me', I believe was his phrase. But that's not important now; he's not involved. The thing is, Sirius, my family's shown they're capable of killing for defiance, what if they go after after me or you when I say no?"
"You mean you didn't already refuse?" He was furious.
"Well, of course not! I've been trying to find some way out of it, but I didn't think yelling at my grandmother was the smartest thing to do."
"Of course not, because you're still so damn scared of them! And I can't believe you actually are even thinking that you might not be able to get out of it, actually considering doing it." He was pacing himself now. Then he muttered, "I bet Regulus just loves this."
"Excuse me?" Jazlyn had been staring out the window; now she whirled. "What do you mean by that?" Her voice wasn't angry, it was calm, almost friendly.
"I mean, he's got to be thrilled. He was always the favorite, he was so smug when I got disowned, and now he's getting my girlfriend."
Jazlyn felt suddenly cold, but not with fear. It was anger. "So, you're saying, that if he's at all enthusiastic about marrying me, it's because he's stealing something from you?"
Sirius looked at her then, and seemed to realize he'd screwed up, because he said, "I, Jaz, I didn't mean it like that!"
"More like you didn't mean to let it slip," she corrected quietly. "I can't help but wonder now, Sirius. Are you so mad because you might lose me, or because your brother's 'getting' something you consider yours, even if only for now?" Sirius stared at her, wondering where she'd gotten that. But before he'd contradicted her, she'd walked out of the dormitory, leaving him staring blankly at the door as it swung shut.
A/N: Well, what did you think of that?