Note from the author: Hi guys, I know you've al been waiting impatiently for this part, but because of an error that occured each time I tried to edit this story, I wasn't able to put it up sooner. I hope you all enjoy reading this one. I do not know yet when Chapter 22 will be up. I'm feeling slightly sick and I can't really focus on my writing right now. I will do my best, since you all have written so many reviews. Thank you.

Cheerio,

Aribeth

Miranda's words came true, faster than she had thought. January and February went by without any particular events, but when spring finally arrived in March, something changed.

Students became more nervous, because the end of the year was close by. It was time to stop studying and to practice everything they had learned in the real world.

The growing threat of Lord Voldemort was also in the mind of every seventh year. More people went missing and families were torn apart by the many deaths he already had caused. Miranda's mother got attacked, but had been strong enough to protect herself. She was now hiding somewhere in Ireland; Miranda had no idea where.

The ministry was in bad need of more and more aurors and many students were thinking of becoming one. Yet, becoming an auror wasn't easy and only the best were selected. The library was filled with more than the usual amount of students who were trying to study as much as they could. Miranda was one of the few students who weren't nervous at all. She had already made plans for the coming years. She would travel around England and study with many known sorcerers who worked with magical creatures. After those years she would come back to Hogwarts and apply for a job.

Lily and James were thinking of joining the Order of the Phoenix. Lily had tried to persuade Miranda to do the same, but Miranda had refused the offer. She was scared and she wasn't ashamed to admit it. Because of her refusal, the first cracks appeared in her relationship with Sirius. He wanted to destroy Voldemort and could not understand why Miranda didn't want to do the same. When people were whispering that some Slytherins of the Seventh Year would join Voldemort, a thought crawled into Sirius 'mind…

One afternoon, Miranda and Sirius had gone to the library to do some studying. Sirius had only reluctantly agreed to go with her and it should have been a sign for Miranda to know that Sirius wasn't at all happy.

When Miranda noticed that Sirius wasn't paying attention to any of his books, she decided to ask what was wrong.

Sirius glared at her and then said:

"I should ask the same thing to you."

Miranda hadn't a clue about what he was talking and laid her quill down.

"I don't understand, Sirius. What's wrong?" she asked, worried.

Sirius looked away from her and opened a book.

"I don't want to talk about it," he mumbled.

Miranda frowned and then pulled his book away.

"Listen to me Sirius; this is only going to work if you're going to tell me what's wrong! I can't read minds, you know. And I don't mind if you want to tell me something I don't like to hear," Miranda said, while she looked straight into his dark eyes.

Sirius sighed.

"Fine then. Why don't you tell me why you don't want to join the Order?" he asked, while he leaned back against his chair.

"I told you, I'm scared. You, James and Lily... You've got what it takes to do the right thing, to fight against him. But me? Defence against the dark arts isn't really my best course, is it? And after all what has happened..."

"Well, that's it, isn't it?" Sirius interjected, "Your father and uncle are murdered by him and your own mother has to hide herself so she won't get hurt either. I would think that you would at least have the guts to defend her."

Miranda's face lost all colour. She looked away from him and felt an ache go right through her. So this was what everyone was thinking about her! They thought she didn't want to defend her own mother! She would do everything to prevent her mother from getting hurt, but entering the order would mean that she would put her life and the life of her mother in danger by fighting against him. She had much respect for every member of the Order, but she just couldn't do it. She wasn't good in using defensive magic. Her interests lay with animals and plants, not with disarming wizards or paralysing them!

"Well, what do you have to say about that?" Sirius asked, harsh.

Miranda looked back up to him and gathered her strength. This was going to be a tough struggle, she was sure of it.

"Like I said, I'm not good in using that kind of magic. And secondly, joining the Order would mean that I would put her life at risk," Miranda reasoned.

Sirius's look was an unbelievable one.

"Are you saying that you two would be better off if no one would fight against him?" he asked, unbelievable.

"No! I'm saying that you should leave the fighting to those who are good at it. Otherwise you only get more innocent victims. A bad wizard with a wand can do more bad things than a good wizard without one!" Miranda said, frustrated.

She wanted him to understand, but somehow she knew he would never understand her.

"That's a pathetic excuse," Sirius snapped. He stood up from his seat and looked down at her. She could see the disgust in his face and she was shocked to see it.

"I know why you really don't want to fight against him," Sirius continued.

Miranda rose from her seat as well and gave him an angry look.

"Really? Why don't you enlighten me then, since I don't seem to have a clue about it!"

"The only reason why you don't want to fight is because Snape is probably one of his death eaters. The thought that you could hurt him..."

"How dare you?" Miranda interrupted, her voice cold, "Is that what you think of me? If Severus would attack anyone of us, even if he would attack you, I would defend you with my life."

Sirius looked at her and Miranda could see that he didn't believe her.

"Believe what you want to, Sirius. I don't give a damn. I know that truth, and that's all that matters to me."

She grabbed her books and walked away from him. Before she left him, she turned around and said:

"If you truly believe everything you just have said, then you never knew me at all, Sirius. And that hurts me more then I could tell."

She saw he wanted to say something, but she turned around and left the library. She didn't feel any pain about leaving him there. The thought that he could believe in those things was horrific. After all she had been through... She just hated fighting. And if Severus would hurt any of her friends, then he should be careful. Miranda would give her life for all of them, even if that would mean that she would have to fight Severus. No matter what everyone thought, she would always protect those she cared about.

When she went to the common room later that day, she was greeted by James and Lily. There was a serious expression upon their faces and Miranda could already guess about what they would talk.

They went to the seats near the fireplace and sat down. Miranda could feel the eyes of both of them at her back when she placed her bag next to her and searched for a book. When she found it, she grabbed it and placed it upon her lap.

She looked up and stared straight into Lily's eyes. Miranda sighed and laid her book upon the table.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Why don't you start?" Lily asked, her tone friendly.

James leaned towards her and said, with a worried expression:

"We heard about the fight you had with Sirius. He didn't want to tell us much about it, but I can guess already about what it was."

Miranda smiled weakly.

"It was about the order," she said.

Lily frowned and then sighed.

"I should have known he wouldn't agree with you. But we do, Miranda. We understand that you aren't willing to take the risk. It's a big responsibility and you have already lost too many," she said, her voice strong. James nodded in agreement.

"Sirius is just... He cares a lot about you, Miranda. And those problems with his family and then those things about Snape..."

He got a look from Lily, but ignored it.

"I'm just saying, try to understand why he's feeling this way," James continued, a frown appeared upon his face, "I don't think he really has a problem with the fact that you don't want to join the Order..."

"Yes, he does," Miranda interjected hastily, "He thinks I feel the same way as he does, just because Severus and I..."

She went silent and shifted her gaze towards Lily. Her friend got the message and quickly went to her defence:

"We can't tell you everything about Miranda and Severus, James, but it's completely different to the situation with Sirius 'family."

James leaned back and looked at the both of them. He lifted his hands in surrender and then said:

"Just know that Sirius doesn't have it easy. He wants to cut all bounds with his family, he wants to take revenge for all the pain they have caused," James went silent and stared at the fire. He then turned around and gazed at Miranda, "I'm just curious. Why don't you want to take revenge?"

"James!" Lily said, shocked.
"It's alright," Miranda intervened. She smiled at James and then said: "Because I don't think I would be able to. You know I'm not that good in magic as you are and it would put the lives of those I care about in greater danger. Look, I've made my decision. It's final. If you need my help, you can ask for it, but I will not join the Order. Perhaps later, but not now."

James and Lily nodded and smiled. They got up and Lily gave her a hug.

"We understand, more than you think," she whispered.

Miranda smiled and hugged her back. She would miss Lily a lot in her travels.

When she too got up from her seat, she noticed Sirius entering the common room. He walked towards James, but then saw her. Immediately he changed his route and went to the boy's sleeping room. Miranda sighed. It would take long before Sirius would forgive her.

Days passed and Sirius kept ignoring her. Miranda tried to talk to him, but most of the time he just ran away or ignored her. Other students noticed this, but said nothing about it. Miranda had no idea whether they were siding with Sirius or with her. It didn't really matter. This was between her and Sirius and between no one else.

The problem was the Sirius was never alone. She couldn't just walk into his group of friends and drag him out of it. When she finally saw him alone, she grabbed her chance and walked straight to him.

"Sirius, please. If you really want to behave like a spoiled brat, then go on and ignore me!" she shouted.

That got his attention. Sirius turned around to face her and then said:

"Me? Spoiled? How can you say such things? My family..."

"I didn't mean that," Miranda explained, while she smiled, "I just wanted to get your attention."

She saw the surprise on his face, followed by a smile. But then the smile faded and she knew he was thinking about their fight again.

"Look, Sirius. I think it's wonderful what you want to do. I respect you for it. But please, understand that I'm not that strong!" she said slightly desperate.

Sirius sighed and looked away from her.

"You are stronger then you think. But I know that Severus has something to do with this, I just feel it."

"You're wrong," Miranda said. She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards her, "Severus means nothing to me anymore. I told you, if he would attack you, I would jump before you and catch every spell he would throw to you."

Sirius smiled and squeezed her hand.

"You promise me that?" he asked, his tone teasingly.

She grinned.

"Yes, I promise," she said truthfully.

He leaned over to her and kissed her softly.

"But I'll make sure you'll never have to," he whispered.

Miranda smiled and leaned against his chest. She could feel his arms around her and it gave her a safe and warm feeling. They walked both towards the Great Hall, but before they entered it, Miranda suddenly asked:

"Why did you think Severus has joined the Death Eaters?"

Sirius froze and she could feel the tension in his body.

"I don't know if it's true. I just have heard rumours that some of those Slytherins have joined their ranks," he explained.

"I'm sure Severus hasn't," Miranda lied.

She could see the frown appearing upon Sirius' face and quickly added:

"Not that it matters to me, but if Lily would ever hear about that she would be devastated."

Sirius let her hand go and Miranda saw his eyes go cold.

"Sirius, really..."Miranda tried.

"I think you would be devastated as well. You still care for him, don't you?" Sirius asked, coldly.

"Sirius... I..." Miranda didn't know what to say. Yes, she still cared for him, but she cared more for Sirius.

"I just can't believe this. After all he has put you through! How can you do such a thing to me? At least I was honest."

Sirius' ran a hand through his hair and he made a movement towards her, but before she could do anything, Severus suddenly jumped in front of her.

"What are you going to, Black?" he asked, his voice and eyes cold.

Sirius went mad. He didn't use his wand, but jumped towards Severus. They both fell to the ground and rolled over the flour. Sirius was trying to punch Severus, but Severus was faster and was able to hit Sirius more often.

"Stop it!" Miranda yelled, "Stop it, the both of you!"

But they didn't listen to her and kept fighting. Suddenly James appeared and he immediately pulled Sirius away from Severus.

"Let me go, James. He deserves it!" Sirius yelled.

James struggled with Sirius until his friend gave up.

"I'm sure he does," James said, "but this isn't the way."

He dragged his friend away and left Miranda alone with Severus. She moistened her lips and then walked towards Severus. Severus got up from the ground and looked at her.

"Are you alright?" she asked, with a tremble in her voice.

Severus stared cold at her.

"I'm sure this was what you wanted, Miranda. Two guys fighting over you, you couldn't have it any better."

He then left her alone and Miranda felt completely overwhelmed. Was he fighting to regain her love? She could feel the hope growing again and this time she would let it grow. There was more going on then everyone believed and she would get to the bottom of this...