(JK Rowling owns all HP)
Chapter 14: Hiding Places.
The corridors and grounds of the ancient school, were quiet except for the occasional sound of a frog down at the lakes edge.
Jessica stirred in the bed in the infirmary, the effects of the sleeping draught starting to wear off. Slowly opening her eyes, a hazy figure seemed to dance around before her eyes, blinking several times, her vision cleared. Sirius stood at the end of her bed, not saying a word he just looked at her.
Jessica's cloudy thoughts starting a panic as the silence grew, 'what was he thinking'. "I'm….. I'm sorry about your mirror… I couldn't .." she blurted out, Sirius gave an odd smirk.
"After all you have been through.. and you're worried about the mirror?" he said with a shake of his head.
"Well I…. it… was yours … and I ", she struggled getting her brain and mouth to connect.
"Jess its alright, its just a stupid mirror, I can make plenty of them" he stopped and looked at her again, "I heard everything".
Feeling somewhat relieved that she didn't have to explain everything, not that at the moment she could even get her thoughts together, frowning she hesitated not sure what he meant by that, "Wait … what?.. which part?"
Coming down the side of the bed, he sat down next to her, "I heard all of it" he took her hand in his.
"What you mean even here?".
"Yeh even here" he said pulling out the Marauders map from his pocket, "You stood up to them" he seemed slightly surprised, "Evans is right Jess, if you do what they want, even with their threats, they win.
"But I don't want any of you to get hurt".
"Hey we can look after ourselves, I'm more concerned with how you are?".
"I'm ok just a few cuts and bruises" her thoughts more on the nonchalant attitude about them getting injured.
"More than a few" he corrected her, his finger tapping the map, "Like I said I heard everything".
Lowering his head, his thumb rubbed across her hand, "My cousin was involved wasn't she?".
"Um.., yes" Jessica quietly answered, knowing exactly what he meant by involved. She could clearly see his jaw clench at her response.
"Mr Black" Poppy's voice startling them both as she entered the infirmary. "Are you sick or injured?".
"No" Sirius frowned at her question.
"Well then out with you" she stood pointing to the doors.
"I'll see you later", sneaking in a quick kiss before he left.
After having her dressings removed and cleaned again, Jessica headed back up to her common room for a quick shower and then down to breakfast.
She couldn't help herself from hesitating as she looked over to the Gryffindor table, as she picked up her juice and toast she glanced over to the Slytherin table, to see Wilkes and Crouch looking in her direction.
"Jess, don't worry about them half-wits" Remus reassured her as she sat down next to him.
"How are you feeling this morning? Is you back.. feeling better?.
Jessica nodded at Lily's questions, again glancing over to the Wilkes, a nervousness seemed to grow inside her.
"Now, I'm just letting you know," Lily said leaning across the table to Jessica, "I've told Pip what happened and as I expected she is a little worried".
"Finally, someone with a bit of common sense". Jessica's reply earning her a disgruntled frown from Lily.
"So!" Lily continued, "She may keep her distance for a little while".
"Maybe you two should too" Jessica anxiously told her.
"Two?" Molly questioned. Sirius' inquiring smirk looking in her direction.
"I meant you … just you.. just Lil". Hastily shaking her head.'Merlin this is going to be harder than I though'.
Jessica was relieved when Sirius, changed the subject at the table, well maybe except for Remus.
"Hey prongs what would happen if you put a werewolf on the moon?"
Remus suddenly glared at Sirius.
"Hmm.. great question" James smirked looking at an increasingly annoyed Moony, "He'd explode and die, there's no oxygen up there".
"I never said I'd send him without a suit you tosser" Sirius laughed.
"You are both toe-rages" Lily snapped at them seeing how uncomfortable Remus was.
"Evans why are you going off at me?" James called as Lily, followed by Jessica and Molly got up and left the great hall.
"She hates you".
"Padfoot is right, she hates you" Peter added.
"Yep she does" Remus said with a grin of satisfaction.
"No she doesn't" James said confidently, "You'll see she'll come around".
The bell rang out for the first class of their sixth year, and as usual it was double potions. Grabbing their bags the boys headed off down to the dungeon class room.
Sirius strolled into the class room, walking over to the bench at the front of the class, where Molly, Lily and Jessica sat, he leaned on the bench, his hand sliding near Jessica's.
"Sorry Evans that was my fault, not James'". His sincere apology surprising Lily, she didn't even notice the little note he slid into Jessica's hand before leaving to sit at the bench behind them.
"Hmm" Lily said looking at Jessica, "That was unexpected".
"Yeh, maybe he's changing… James I mean".
"I don't think so" Lily stated rather firmly as she reached down pulling her book from her bag.
While Lily was distracted, Jessica read the note: Follow my lead.
"What the" Jessica muttered.
"What?"Molly questioned. Lily had left them to get a new book from the cupboard her gaze avoiding Severus as he sat at the back of the room right near the cupboard.
"Nothing, … I just… I need a new quill" Hopping off her seat she followed Lily to the back of the classroom, giving Sirius a curious frown as she passed him, he in return gave a cheeky grin.
"What was that about?" Remus asked. James preoccupied watching Lily as she walked back to her seat.
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with, Moony".
"Right today we are going to be making The Elixir Euphoria, Now who can tell me what it is?" Slughorn's gaze turned straight to Lily as always she was the first with her hand up.
"Its an Elixir that brings on Happiness and cures depression".
"Right you are Miss Evans, it is in your books on page 231, your ingredients are listed there and preparation notes. Ok get to it, you have one hour".
Reading down the list, Jessica once again followed Lily over to the shelves this time, gathering their ingredients. Sirius stood back watching as Jessica stretched up higher and higher, her school skirt getting shorter and shorter as she endeavoured to reach the Sopophorous Beans.
"Here, let me" He stepped in, effortlessly reaching the glass jar and handing to her.
"Thank you" she genuinely blushed. Slightly embarrassed.
The class room fell silent as everyone busied themselves, slicing, grinding and blending the ingredients in the small cauldrons, Jessica often glancing back at Sirius waiting for this unknown lead.
Lily's cauldron taking on a bright yellow colour and sweet smell. Jessica's more a brownish tinge and not so sweet smelling.
"How can mine be so different?" she asked looking into Lily's cauldron, "I did everything you did".
"Its all about application Miss Ciappara, Miss Evans knows just when to add the right ingredients".
"SHIT!".
Jessica looked back at Sirius, his clean white shirt now splattered with ink, his ink well suddenly exploding. James' as expected, finding it highly amusing.
"Go.. Go my boy and change your shirt" Slughorn ordered glancing at his pocket watch, "You, Mr Potter can help your classmate by cleaning this mess up". The smile quickly fading from James' face.
"Sorry mate" Sirius said picking up his bag.
Jessica's heart started to race, gathering her thoughts, she tried to casually take her cauldron over to the fireplace, discarding the failed potion. Returning to her bench, she cleared up her mess and then slowly picked up her bag, putting away her book and quill.
"Where are you off to?" Lily and Molly questioned.
"I… I Don't feel that well" she hesitantly told her friend.
"You do look a little pale" Molly noticed.
"I'll come with you down to the infirmary".
Lily's offer quickly rejected.
"No.. I'll be fine.. I just need to go to the bathroom, you know just freshen up a bit".
"You sure?".
"Yeh I'll be alright, I'll see you at lunch".
Picking up her bag she went over to Professor Slughorn letting him know she was 'unwell' before heading out the doors.
Jessica looked up and down the dark corridor, with no sign of Sirius she headed up the stairs. Another empty corridor greeted her, unsure where he went she headed along the walkway towards the grand staircase.
A screech echoed down the corridor as Sirius latched onto her arm, quickly pulling her into a tiny broom cupboard.
Sirius wasted no time, his hands brushing down over her hair, grasping her face, his lips instantly finding hers. Their bodies pressed together in the confined space. Barely taking a breathe, his hands wandered down, pulling her shirt out from her skirt. He groaned feeling her soft warm skin. Jessica flinched as he ran his hand up her back. Pulling back he looked at her, "Are you ok?" his husky voice whispered.
Without a word she pulled him back to her, she yearned to feel him against, that human contact, that need for intimacy.
His hands ran through her hair, pulling her head back, her neck exposed to him, his lips tracing kisses down to her chest and back up again to her waiting lips.
Their interlude was interrupted as students made their way to there next class. Sirius unbuttoned his ink stained shirt, Jessica couldn't resist, her hands glided over his smooth chest, groaning Sirius kissed her once more before grabbing her hands.
"If I don't stop you now, there's no telling what I will do next".
Jessica raised her brow smirking at him, he pulled a clean shirt out of his bag as he pulled it on, Jessica busied her hands doing up his buttons.
Pulling out the Marauders map, he checked to see if the coast was clear. Lily was heading to Runes class, behind her they could see James, Remus and Peter. Molly was on her way up Divinations, that was also Jessica's next class. Sirius went to open the door, but Jessica suddenly stopped him as Wilkes came running up the corridor towards the cupboard.
"Wait!".
"Its only that grub Wilkes" Sirius said as he folded the map.
"He's been…... sending owls to his mother about me" Jessica hesitated in telling Sirius, "And his mother has been telling Malaki and my mother".
"What?" Even in the dimly lit cupboard she could see Sirius' jaw clench.
"Please just leave it for now" Jessica pleaded, as she put her hand over his as he gripped the door handle.
"Jess!… all right" he unexpectedly smirked, "For now".
Opening the door he ushered her out into the quiet corridor, "You might want to tuck your shirt back in" He suggested before leaning in to give her a kiss, "See you at lunch".
He ran off down the corridor to join James and Remus in the Runes class. Smiling to herself Jessica climbed, the way too many steps up to Divinations.
"What happened to you" Molly laughed as she looked over at a very dishevelled Jessica. "Looks like you got caught in a twister".
Running her hands through her hair and tucking in the rest of her shirt in Jessica settled into the soft sofa.
Old Professor Crawley brought the class to order, quieting the giggles and chatter. Dressed in her usual long flowing bohemian dress;
Jessica drifted off into a day dream in the relaxed surroundings, the hint of sweet-scented incense wafting through the warm air. Closing her eyes, as predicted it was Sirius that popped into her pleasant thoughts.
Over the next month, Jessica discovered more cupboards and hidden tunnels than she had ever know about, there secret, becoming harder to hide especially from the perceptive wolf.