It's Not A Secret Anymore, We've Been Through That Before. You've Got This Look I Can't Describe. You Make Me Feel Like I'm Alive. Still, I Wonder Why It Is That I Don't Argue Like This With Anyone But You. I Wonder Why It Is, I Won't Let My Guard Down For Anyone But You.-"Like A Star" Corrine Bailey Rae.

Sephie looked out of the window that morning, feeling let down. Bear was asleep in the garden, as usual. She'd want to go out later though, and that's the only outside time Sephie ever got. She didn't understand why Sirius was being so controlling. Well, she did. He was just worried too much. It's not like he didn't have problems of his own, though. He needed to sort this place out, she thought, looking around at the books and parchment scattered over the table. Sirius left to go to work, and Sephie was left in the house as usual. No word from anyone. She hated being this cooped up. It was ridiculous. She was just a nineteen year old girl. Her friends were getting married tomorrow. And she had to be home early. Early. James had finally managed to snag Lily Evans, it was their wedding day, and she had to be home early. And she was a bridesmaid. She was supposed to be sleeping with the best man, not going home at six o'clock. Wait a minute, Sirius is best man, she thought, laughing to herself at the irony. Well, she supposed she would be sleeping in the same house as him, that's close enough. But really, six o'clock? There was a good reason for the Order to believe something might disrupt the day, but they were all going to be there. And besides, surely she wasn't the only person Voldemort was interested in. As she stirred her tea dreamily, thinking about how much she'd rather stay up and party with everyone else, an owl fluttered in gently and landed infront of her. It was from Lily.

I know Sirius is being a bit OTT on this whole protection thing, but think you could slip out tonight for a few drinks? It is my last chance to regret talking to James, after all.

Lily Xx

Sephie smiled. At least someone was thinking of her. She highly doubted she'd be able to get out, but it wasn't like Sirius was her dad. Just a worrier. She smiled, thinking one night out wouldn't be so bad. It wasn't a high profile wedding, and would involve her girlfriends, some drinks followed by a journey straight home, and would make her feel a bit better about missing the celebration. She grabbed her tea and made her way happily upstairs, wondering what to wear. She heard Bear whine and follow her upstairs. She always helped Sephie decide what to wear. She thought about her black pencil dress, but knew Sirius would not be happy about her going out in it. She had to at least meet him halfway, and pulled out the masses of other dresses she had. She looked at a pair of jeans, but saw the look on Bear's face and threw them aside. Nope. She needed some new clothes. Bear was barking and pulling at something hanging at the end of the rail, and Sephie pushed the clothes away from it. Of course...it was the black halterneck sundress she wore on Valentine's Day, and when Sirius and her...you know. She'd forgotten about that. She doubted she'd still fit in it, staying at home and reading over Order things meant she ate alot of chocolate, crisps and pizza, which in turn meant she'd blossomed in the arse department. And the boob department, she thought. Thank God for that... Still, it was nice to keep it, and remind her of the days when the biggest problem in her life was making sure Jack Elwood never found out she'd undressed Sirius Black in a store room. Oh god, as if i undressed him...he nearly undressed me...she sat on the bed and remembered how weird that felt. He actually kissed her. Like, on the lips. And meant it. He always kissed her on the head or cheek, but that was just friendly. And there was that time where she was wrecked and decided to wind him up. But, Man, he actually went to town on her that time. She giggled slightly. Sirius had seen her in her underwear loads of times. But thinking of it still made her feel...naughty. In a cute way. She sighed and put the dress back, before noticing another...the one she'd bought on a spree in ome muggle shop called Topshop but never worn. It was red. And covered up her bum and boobs. Good enough for Sirius. And good enough for me, she thought, hanging it on her wardrobe door. She pulled out a pair of navy blue pumps, a navy blue bag and the heart necklace Sirius got her all that time ago. She giggled again. Man, they were cute two years ago. Whatever happened...

Sirius got home from work early, and happy. "Good day?" Sephie asked casually, watching him check himself out in the mirror. He turned to look at her and grinned. "Oh yes, I am awesome. Solved that little locket problem we've been working on for about ten thousand years. And.." he waved an envelope at her. "Got me a bonus."

Bear gave a toss of her head happily, trotted over to Sirius and nuzzled his leg, recieving her hello before going back to sleep. Sephie smiled and nodded. "Well, congratulations, I, however, have eaten a whole box of chocolate frogs, a whole pizza and drank eleven cups of tea," she said, equally as proud. Sirius laughed and kissed her on the head. "I'm sorry," he tossled her hair. "I know you don't like being kept here, but I'd rather do that than something bad happen.". Sephie thought for a second...he's sorry..."Well, I promise I'll go quietly tomorrow," Sirius raised his eyebrows in pride. Sephie continued. "As long as you let me go out with the girls tonight, for a kind of, drink and chat before Lily becomes a Potter, type, thing..." she trailed off when she saw him frown. "Oh, come on Sirius, I'm wearing a dress that covers me up completely and I'll be home early," Sirius narrowed his eyes. "Pleeeeeease?" Sephie pouted. Sirius walked into the kitchen and didn't say anything.

"Sirius?" Sephie frowned, following him and watching him take a beer out of the fridge.

"Look, I really don't think it's a good idea..."he began, but Sephie scowled. "I'm sorry.."

"You know what?" Sephie said angrily. "I have gone along with this whole recluse thing for ages. It's driving me mental, and I'm only doing it to keep you happy. For once, I want to go somewhere quiet, come home early, and you say no to that aswell? What's next? Am I not allowed to use the bathroom?"

Sirius sighed. "Sephie, look, Kingsley thinks..."

"Kingsley?"

"We're only nineteen, we don't know enough yet..."

"We know enough for us to join the Order, if I can be in the Order I'm sure I can handle a drink or two!"

"It's not that, I just..."

"WHAT?" Sephie yelled. "YOU JUST WHAT?". Sirius fell silent. Bear started whining loudly, hating to see the two argue, before leaving the room. He looked at the ground. "I'm responsible for you-"

"WHAT? SIRIUS, JUST BECAUSE I LIVE HERE DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE! I'M THE SAME AGE AS YOU, YOU KNOW!" She shouted, angry that her life was being cut up to nothing. "Sephie, I know, but I feel...I feel I have to...I want..."

"WHAT? WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?" she demanded, her long hair flicking about her shoulders as she held open her arms. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT?". Sirius looked down, and slowly put his beer on the table. "I don't know...I don't know..." she said quietly. Sephie shook her head in disbelief. "You don't know?" She asked. "Or you don't care?". Sirius jumped up angrily at the accusation, confused and upset at the same time. "I don't know, Okay? I DO NOT KNOW!" he yelled, feeling his face burn and his eyes prick. He hated seeing her be kept inside, but he was terrified of losing her. He couldn't meet her gaze. "I..I just don't know anything anymore..." he rubbed his face with his hands. Trying to articulate the mess of emotions twisting his insides when it came to Sephie and everything about her was the hardest thing he ever had to do. He was more nervous now than when Malfoy had arrived in Sephie's basement. He could fight of a band of Death Eaters at 19, but telling Sephie-the one person he could tell anything to-just how he was feeling at that moment was impossible. "I have to go," he whispered, before turning and leaving.

He walked along the street, the sun dancing on the cars. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, tried to think of what the hell was wrong with him. He used to be up for going out, living dangerously. Well, he still was. But why was he stopping Sephie? He didn't have a crush on her, he knew her too well and that was ridiculous. He thought she was beautiful, but not in a physical way. Well, she was pretty. He knew she was gorgeous. That's why he met her in the first place, anyway. But he didn't want to get her into bed. But he didn't want anyone else too, either...The thought made him feel sick. He missed her when he wasn't around. He didn't care if her hair was a mess or if she had no make-up on, like he did with other girls. But when he hugged her, he wanted his whole body to swallow her up. When she caught his eye he could tell everything she was thinking. Time stood still for a milisecond. He could conjure up the image of them perfectly, he knew exactly how thick the line of dark grey around the green iris was, and what shade they were. He knew the freckles on her nose better than any potion or curse and he knew every note and chord of her perfume. He could tell her everything and not be embarrassed. Except this.

He gripped something in his fingers.

Pulled it out.

Parchment.

Napoleon.

ti duskolon? to eauton gnoai.

When he got back to the house, Sephie had already made dinner. Pasta. She was sitting on the old cordoury couch cross-legged, reading over some Order documents. She didn't say anything as he entered, but carried on eating her pasta. Sirius watched her for a second, then made his way into the kitchen to find himself some food- but there was a bowl, filled with pasta with two slices of ciabatta bread wrapped in cling film on the table. It had a little piece of parchment with Sirius written on it. He smiled sadly as he saw it and closed the fridge. She can't hate him then. He took the cling film off the bowl, but put the parchment in his pocket with the other piece, and went into the living room. Sephie hadn't changed. Her hair was falling into her face to be pushed behind her ear by her hand as she took a bite of ciabatta. Sirius smiled. He went up behind the sofa, leant over and kissed her cheek lightly. She sighed. But smiled weakly. "I'm sorry I yelled," she whispered. "I know," Sirius replied. "I'm sorry too.". Bear was watching, one eye open, from her place on the hearth.

He let Sephie go out that night, but he didn't stop worrying. He felt lonely. Really lonely, being in the house without Sephie, even for a few hours. Bear was sitting with him on the sofa, watching him worry, grinning to herself. He thought of her in the pub, all the lads that would be looking at them, knowing Lily was on her hen night. She probably wasn't even thinking of him, unless it was happy to be out of his house finally. But actually, she was missing him too.

"So, what's going on with you and Sirius?" Miranda asked, raising her eyebrow as she brought the drinks back to the table. Sephie sighed at the familiar question. "Well, I live in his house. We're roomies. That is all." She took a sip of her drink. Lily rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on," she said. "You two have more of a relationship than...well...things that do stuff."

"Yeah," Regina chipped in. "You can't tell me you've lived in the same house as Sirius Black for almost six months and nothing has happened."

"Well," Sephie pretended to think. "We did learn that football game Lily told us about, and I taught him some Greek.". Miranda nodded. "Was one of the Greek phrases 'I love you'?" she asked. Sephie glared at Miranda. "Why?"

"Oooh," Regina smiled and rubbed her hands. "That is soo a subconcious thing.". Sephie laughed. "Oh you have got to be kidding me," she said, shaking her head. Lily nodded, grinning. "I knew it, I knew it. Four fucking years, but I knew it."

"What?" Sephie asked defensively. Regina giggled and Miranda leaned in. "Come on, we know you've kissed Sirius before. It's obvious. You went to meet him that time, came back flustered, and didn't talk to him for about five days, remember? When you got with Jack?"

Sephie froze. "No...um.."

"Oh, Sephie, don't be silly. You got it on with Sirius, then Sirius got jealous cos you were with Jack, so you broke up with Jack, then Jack got jealous, and you stood up for Sirius. Come one, Seph. We're not stupid." Lily said, taking a sip of her drink triumphantly as Sephie looked around nervously.

"Nothing is going on," She insisted. "Okay, so we kissed, once, a long time ago. That was it-"

"Oh, and your party," Alice said. Sephie glared at her in shock. She shrugged. "Seph, that room looks over the boat house. I was in there with Frank, saw everything.". Regina nearly dropped her glass. "Oh, my, god, Seph. You two are soo meant for each other, I mean, I so saw this in Ancient Runes in sixth year, I told Alice-"

"Yeah, I agree," Alice nodded. "I mean, what is there not to like? He looks after you and he's changed for you. And you've got a dog together. Not to mention, he is pretty damn good looking. I mean, I most certainly would."

"Alice!" Regina gasped. "You can't say that about Sephie's man!"

"Oh my god," Sephie breathed, "Can we please talk about something else."

"Okay, okay," Lily nodded. "But just think who's wedding it'll be next?"