So Many Things I'm Going Through, So Much I Wanna Do. It's Starting To Become So Clear To Me When Tomorrow Ain't Really Guaranteed. So Why Don't We Fall In Love?-"Why Don't We", Amerie

"One thing," Sephie muttered under her breath. "One bloody thing, and he can't even do that..."

"Hmm?" Sirius asked, raising his eyebrows as he entered the room. Sephie scowled at him. "You left the mugs out. Now look," she said, thrusting a mug in his face and showing him the brown liquid that had solidified inside. "Eugh..."he jerked his head back. Sephie nodded. "Yes, eugh." She picked up her wand and tried a few spells to clean them before scowling once more. "That'll have to do."

Sirius followed her into the kitchen as she put the mugs back on their tree and tipped water out of the washing up bowl.

"I'm so glad you live here," Sirius said, grinning. Sephie rolled her eyes at his goofy face. "Only cos you're lazy."

"Yep," he replied happily, walking to the fridge and taking out a chocolate bar. Sephie scowled again. "Sirius, it's nearly lunchtime.". He frowned at her, his mouth full of chocolate. "Yeah, and?"

Sephie rolled her eyes once more. "Living with boys is so much hard work..."she breathed, before making her way upstairs. Sirius shrugged, took another bite of chocolate.

"SIRIUS!" came the yell of Sephie as he took a third bite. He stopped. Bugger...

"SIRIUS ORION BLACK! GET YOUR ARSE UP HERE NOW!"

"Sounds like Walburga," he sighed as he made his way upstairs. Sephie was holding up the short he'd worn three days ago. The one he'd spilt curry down. "This is so gross," she said, raising her eyebrows.

"Sorry..."he said, pulling his best 'guilty' face. It seemed to be good enough, as she looked at his put and stifled a smile before chuking the shirt in the laundry bin. She tapped his nose playfully. "Do no let it happen again."

Sirius grinned at her, and she shook her head. "Come on, sandwiches," she said, dancing down the stairs to make lunch.

Not much had happened since the Order had taken their photograph, and neither Sirius nor Sephie were complaining (that much) about living together. But that morning, two weeks later, the Daily Porphet landed on their table and Sephie gasped.

"Sirius..." she said as she picked it up, the bird pecking her impatiently for a tip but being ignored. "Hmm?" he asked, turning to look at her. Her face was white.

"Marlene..."was all she said. Sirius scowled. "What about her?"

Persephone looked at him, her face stuck, and thrust the paper at him.

McKinnon Family Found Dead At Home

Ministry worker Marlene McKInnon and her husband, Derek, were found dead at their home last night along with children Lloyd and Grant. Investigators are treating the death as suspicious, due to signs of a struggle...

Sirius stopped reading. "Fuck," he said bluntly. Sephie nodded. "This is bad," she replied. "They're going after the Order."

"Shit shit shit," he said, starting to panic. Marlene didn't know where Sirius lived, so she wouldn't have been able to tell whoever killed her. They were safe, for now. A patronus appeared at the table. "I'm coming," it said. Sure enough, Kingsley entered through the garden gate, walked up the path and into the kitchen.

"What's your real middle name?" Sirius asked. Kinglsey grinned and rolled his eyes. "Amaretto," he said. "What's Persephone's mother's maiden name?"

"Falirikis," the two said in unison. Kingsley nodded. "Fantastic, well, I'm guessing you've read the prophet?"

The two nodded. Kinglsey looked down sadly. "Yes well...We've come to a decision. Everyone is to have their minds swept of where you live. Except for Lily and James. Two two will become secret keepers."

"What about Remus?" Sirius asked. Kingsley shook his head. "Too risky. James and Lily are the two closest to you. The least people know, the better. After Marlene's death..." he trailed off sadly. After a second he looked up and smiled weakly. "So, this will be the last time you see me in this house. We'll have to send James or Lily from now on." He checked his watch and raised his eyebrows. "I'm meeting Dumbledore now. James will write to you this evening." He nodded a goodbye before leaving.

Sirius and Persephone sat in silence for a second. Persephone put her small hand on Sirius's. He looked at her, green eyes on grey. "We'll be okay," she said, smiling. "We can look after ourselves." Sirius nodded, but looked down sadly.

"OH MY GOSH, GUESS WHAT?" Sephie bounded into the hallway as Sirius came in the door. He frowned, thought for a second, then smiled. "DID YOU MAKE A CAKE?" he asked excitedly. She frowned. "No...?"

Sirius sighed. "What?". Persephone swayed on the spot. "I've got someone I want you to meet..." she grabbed his hand and pulled him into the sitting room. His eyes caught a tiny tan bundle of fur sitting on the corner of the sofa.

"I got us a guard dog!" Sephie cried happily, clapping her hands. "Well, and something to keep me company while you bugger off with your job."

Sirius shook his head. "Oh good lord," he sighed but smiled. Sephie swayed coily again. "I named her Bear, cos she looks like one."

Sirius laughed. "You're looking after her," he said, taking a few steps closer to the shy bundle. She was definately cute. A chow chow. She looked up at him, working out whether she liked him or not. He stroked her head slowly and she yawned happily. "Of course I am," Sephie said, taking a seat next to the puppy who turned it's head to look at her. It got up and plodded across the sofa, stumbling slightly before nuzzling Sephie's leg and yelping. "Awww, Bear, do you like Sirius?" she asked the dog, picking her up and holding her to Sirius's face. "He's lovely. We like Sirius. Sirius is good." The puppy tilted it head, frowned slightly, before dashing it's tongue out to lick Sirius's nose. Sirius laughed and got up as Sephie started jabbering on to her new companion. As he climbed the stairs, he thought about what Sephie had said. He's lovely. He smiled.

It was two months since Marlene McKinnon's death. Although many other deaths were spread across headlines, they'd gotten used to it. Persephone and Sirius were sitting infront of the fireplace, a desperately cold night after the scorcher of the day. Sirius was reclining, as usual, and Sephie was curled up at the other end, her feet tucked underneath her and a pot of olives and some dip balanced in her lap. Bear had fallen asleep infront of the fire place, and her fur was rising and falling heavily.

"How can you eat them?" Sirius gave Sephie a disgusted look at she popped an olive in her mouth. She stopped and frowned. "I'm Greek.". Sirius shook his head. "Doesn't make them less gross."

"They're not gross, have you ever even eaten one?" She asked, raising and eyebrow. Sirius looked at Bear. "Well, James said they taste...they're not nice..". Sephie shook her head. "Just try one," she said. "No, I'm okay, I don't want to throw up."

"Sirius, just eat one-"

"No, No, I'm okay, really-OW!"

Sephie kicked Sirius hard in the shin, and as his mouth opened she threw an Olive at his mouth. It missed, hit him in the eye. "Ow, fucking hell, Seph. Alright, bloody hell, don't throw them at me..."

He leant forward, rubbing his shin and blinking, and took a green olive from the pot. He looked at it, as if he was going to eat a maggot. He closed his eyes tight and put it in his mouth. He waited a second before he chewed. He smiled a little, then his face dropped. He swallowed. "That was gross."

Sephie rolled her eyes. "You are such a loser."

"I'm not the one who once laughed so hard they spilt potion all down themselves and turned green for twelve hours," he replied smartly, raising his eyebrows. Sephie gasped. "How did you know about that?"

Sirius laughed and nodded his head. "Lily Evans. Fountain of All Knowledge.". Sephie scowled. "Yeah well, James told me about that girl who gave you a bit of a shock in the Gryffindor Quidditch cupboard. Braces...dangerous things to have when you're going down there..." Sephie replied, shaking her head and eating another olive. Sirius gasped. "I cannot believe he told you that."

"Oh, and Remus told me you once wanted to be in a muggle boy band," she said. Sirius gasped again. "I was like seven! That little wanker...". Sephie laughed to herself, dancing her shoulders as she grinned and popped another olive in her mouth. "Yep, I know all about you, Mr.Black."

Sirius scowled. "This isn't fair. Girls actually keep secrets. The worst thing I know about you is that you once sent a sexy letter to a boy you were seeing and his dad opened it by accident cos they had the same name."

Sephie shrugged. "That's not the worst."

"Tell me..."Sirius whined. Sephie laughed. "No! Why would I want you to know that?"

"Because..."Sirius whined, pouting the way he'd perfected since being able to turn into a dog. Sephie rolled her eyes. "That look doesn't work on me."

"Yeah it does..." he did it again, made his eyes big.

"No, it doesn't."

"Was it that your boyfriend's dad walked in while you were doing it, and it wouldn't have been that bad but it was the same guy you'd sent the letter to, and you were losing your big V?". Sirius said quickly. He saw the look on Sephie's face and nodded. "Alright, Sirius wins..." He punched the air in mock celebration. Sephie's eyes were wide. "Miranda is such a bitch..."

"Oh, no she just wanted some help getting Moony. I told her it would come at a price..." Sirius nodded, reminising the secret meeting.

"Okay, so we really do know everything about each other now," Sephie sighed. "How boring.". Sirius frowned, and thought for a second. "Well, there is one thing I've always wanted to know..."

Sephie tilted her head.

"Why weren't you put in Gryffindor?" he asked. Sephie laughed. "Because it would've meant I'd meet you sooner, and my life would be over."

Sirius scowled. "Not funny. No, I mean...you and Lily are kind of the same. She's just a bit...goodier than you. I always wondered why she wasn't put in Ravenclaw."

"Maybe they got us muddled," Sephie said, putting the now empty jar of olives on the table and stretching her legs out. Sirius grabbed her feet sunconciously and put them in his lap. They always sat like this.

"Well, what did the sorting hat say?" he asked. Sephie thought for a few minutes. "It said something about I would have to make a decision one day. Something about, because of what I could do, I'd have to chose. And it would take alot of bravery, good for Gryffindor. I said I'd want to know more first. Apparently that's a very Ravenclaw answer.". Sirius nodded. "Spose...but it wouldv'e been cool if you were in Gryffindor."

"What, because then you could try and shag me in the first year?"

"Hey!" Sirius raised his voice, but wasn't angry. "I did not have sex until fourth year."

"I do remember you coming into History of Magic that year and James shouting "No Way!" at the top of his voice," Sephie nodded. "Must've been then.". Sirius laughed. "Yeah. It was shit."

Sephie laughed. Thought again. "Why did you get put in Gryffindor anyway? Weren't all your family Slytherins?". Sirius put his hands on Sephie's small feet. "Well, I did ask not to be put in Slytherin. It said it could tell I wanted to be different. And to stand up against my own family was very brave."

Sephie scrunched up her face. "Aww, aren't you brave ickle Sirius..." she leant forward and squished his cheeks. "You're telling me you wouldn't decide to leave your family if they were like mine?"

Sephie shrugged. "Spose. But you could still sponge off them until you turned 17."

Sirius nodded and pointed at Sephie. "See, that would be the smart thing to do. That's why you were in Ravenclaw."

"Yeah, well, I don't have a family now anyway," she said matter-of-factly. "Luckily gits get to spend the whole time in Greece."

Sirius sighed and smiled. He reached out an arm and pulled Sephie onto him. She turned, back to his chest and lie between his legs, her head resting on his chest feeling him breathe. He brushed her hair out of her face and wrapped his arms around her. "Yeah, well, you've got me."

"Yeah, you're about the same as a twelve year old brother," she replied, grinning. Sirius kissed her head, her hair was messy and he had to tame it down a little to stop it getting in his mouth. Sephie closed her eyes, her own arms on Sirius's, holding them there. Her breathing slowed, got heavier. Sirius closed his own eyes.

They were awoken the next morning by the sound of screeching and barking. Apparently, an owl had tried to wake Sephie and Sirius, and Bear had thought they were being attacked.

"Bear! Calm down!" Sephie was yelling as the dog chased the bird around the room. Sirius grabbed the letter from the owl as Sephie calmed Bear down. The bird gave one last glare at the dog before flying off, Bear trotting back to her place infront of the hearth arrogantly. Sirius's eyes grew wide and a smile splashed itself across his sleepy face. "Seph, look!"

She took the letter form Sirius, and screamed. "OH MY GOSH!" She threw the letter aside and grabbed Sirius. "As if they're engaged!" She pulled away after the quick hug and grabbed back the letter just as Bear started sniffing it and re-read it. "We figured it's now or never with the way everyone is going..." She read aloud. "Hopefully we'll be getting married in September. Want to do it quickly! Can't believe she said yes, but she can't stop telling everyone. We're going to have a party so she can show off the ring. I'll give you another Owl with the details. Ooooh a party..." Sephie nodded and smiled. "I can't believe James is going to get married," Sirius said, sitting down and rubbing his hair. Sephie sat down next to him. "I know, and to Lily. Two years ago I would've gladly put a bet on this never happening."

"Oh, come on, it was going to happen eventually. He had to just stop being a dickhead," Sirius replied. Sephie laughed. "Oh, and you're a fine one to talk."

"I'm not a dickhead!" Sirius protested as Sephie walked into the kitchen. "Well, not anymore..."