They say that I can't last a day in the real world, I say you wouldn't survive one night in mine.
Repeating Apologies
Riley ran up the stairs to the girls dorm to see Lily and Mary sitting on her bed, talking avidly.
"What kept you so long, Riles?" Lily smiled mischievously.
"Shut up," Riley said trying to be serious but smiled. "Get off my bed, I'm mad at you."
"Why?" Lily asked, standing up.
"You done that knowing what would come of it even though I have a boyfriend!"
Mary looked between the two of them like it was a tennis match.
"In my defense, I didn't know he was going to kiss you! James did however.."
"Ohhhh, James now is it?" Riley teased. "Not Potter?"
Lily blushed and went over to her own bed. Riley and Mary looked at each other then squealed.
"No way, you like James now! I knew it!" Mary exclaimed.
"I do not!" Lily said. "Plus, Riley, we were talking about you! What are you going to do about Sirius and Brandon?"
"I told Sirius I'd make up my mind by tomorrow…"
"It's best you sleep on it," Mary said. "I know who I'd chose if I were you."
Riley raised her eyebrow and looked at Lily who nodded.
"Same," Lily said. "I'd chose Sirius."
"And you?" Riley questioned Mary.
"Sirius. You were so much happier with him around. Brandon has made you happy but not like Sirius."
"But that was when we were friends."
"So?" Lily said. "It would be the exact same but you'd do couple shit! C'mon Riles."
"But I'd be hurting Brandon. I like them both but…"
"It's Sirius!" Mary said. "Brandon was a distraction from Sirius wasn't he? Riley, it's always been Sirius."
"I'm going to sleep on it, goodnight ladies!"
With that, Riley closed her curtains and changed into her pajamas then crawled into bed. She trusted herself to make the right choice. She had to. She didn't know how Sirius would take it if she chose Brandon and if she did, he may not want to be her friend at all but if she dumped Brandon…she had nothing to lose, right?
X
"Don't make me go."
Riley was sitting at the edge of her bed, still in her pajamas while Lily ran about the room getting ready for the day's classes.
"Riley, I swear to Merlin, I will dress you myself! Hurry up and move!"
The ferocity in Lily's voice made Riley run to the bathroom and force herself to do her make up by wand (she was still getting use to the make-up thing) which was never the best. She threw her hair up in a high messy pony tail and put her skirt and shirt on quickly.
"I'm ready!" she exclaimed, stumbling out of the bathroom. "I'm ready."
"Good," Lily said calmly. "Now before we leave, I have to ask what your decision is."
Riley bit her lip and opened her mouth.
"Tell me you're undecided and I will make the decision for you."
"I'm just afraid that if Sirius and I break up…it won't be the same anymore."
"But if you never try you'll never know, will you?" Lily questioned.
"Let's go."
They had walked to the Great Hall in silence, Lily trying to make small talk. They got to the doors when Riley stopped abruptly.
"See if you say you've changed your mind," Lily started, "I'll kill you right here and now."
"No, it's not that," Riley said. "I don't know what I should do first. Dump Brandon or tell Sirius?"
"Do it in that order. Go straight to the Ravenclaw table and-"
"Riles!"
Riley froze in her spot and turned around to see Brandon jogging down the stairs.
"See ya!" Lily whispered in her ear then walked into the Great Hall.
Riley cursed under her breath and put on a smile. As Brandon got closer, she was his eyes were puffed up and his nose was red. He didn't say anything when he reached her, he just hugged her tightly. She stroked his her and soothed him although she didn't know why. He pulled away and smiled at her weakly.
"What's wrong?" she asked him as he took her hands.
"My uh," he sniffed, his voice shaky. "My grandparents house had the dark mark over it early this morning."
Riley didn't know what to say. She couldn't say anything. She started at him, her mouth making an 'o' shape. She pulled him into another hug as she saw the threat of tears start again. Riley wasn't aware of how long they had been standing like that but the Marauders walked out, Sirius was wearing the biggest smile until he saw the pair. Riley looked at him with sad eyes as he gave her a thumbs up as if to clarify she had chose him. She shook her head sadly and mouthed 'I'm sorry.' to him.
"What are you in for the first few periods?" Brandon asked her. "I know you said it's your O.W.L's and you don't want to miss any classes but-"
"It's fine," Riley said. "Honestly."
Brandon took Riley's hand and they walked to the old classroom where they had went previous times. Riley summoned the pillows and made the place comfortable as possible. She then sat down next to Brandon who put his arm around her and they sat in silence. Riley couldn't dump him now of all times, she'd need to put it off for a while.
"I love you, y'know that?" Brandon said.
Riley looked up at him, shock hitting her instantly. She didn't know what to do so she just nodded. It was then he leaned down to kiss her. While they kissed, she couldn't help but think of Sirius and herself last night. It wasn't the same, it wasn't as meaningful. Before she knew it, she was lying down on the pillows, Brandon still kissing her but he had moved onto her neck and all of a sudden, she knew where it was going.
"Brandon," she said and put a hand on his chest. "Brandon, stop. This wont help your hurt."
He seemed to refrain and looked down at her with sad eyes. "I'm so sorry," he told her.
"It's okay," she said and sat up. "I'm going to go to class, okay? Maybe you should go see Dumbledore or get Jamie. I'm sure you can go home to be with your family."
Brandon stood up and offered her a hand to help Riley up. She took it and hugged him one more time before leaving the room and heading to Care of Magical Creatures. As she walked down, she wondered what to tell Sirius and she kept imagining his reaction in her head. Then she thought of their kiss last night. It was perfect. He was soft with her, tender. Everything was right. How could she throw that all away?
She walked down the hill and saw the class sitting around Hagrid's hut.
"Sorry I'm late, Professor," Riley said when she arrived and sat next to James and Sirius. James smiled and Sirius ignored her.
"Very well," Grubblyplank started. "As you can see, I have set up several pens of magical creatures; ten to be exact. Each group two pens of their own. Now, what I wish for you to do is take a creature from each pen and put it into either the 'Harmful' or 'Harmless' pen. Off you go!"
Everyone groaned as they stood up and walked slowly to the group of magical creatures.
"So we've got flobberworms, fire crabs, unicorns, salamanders, blast-ended skrewts, nifflers, bow truckles, kneazles and that pen is empty so I'm going to assume that they are the thestrals," Sirius told them. "I'm very aware of where they all go, what about you two?"
"Can I explain myself?" Riley almost begged.
"Explain what?" Sirius asked as walked into the pen with the flobberworms and picked one up. He walked it back to where they had been sitting and placed it in the 'Harmless' pen.
"What you saw in the Entrance Hall, it's not what you think," Riley almost continued but looked at James.
"I'll ehm, go tame the fire crabs," James said and left them.
Riley turned back to Sirius. "Early this morning, Brandon's grand-parents house had the dark mark aboce it. I was comforting him. I was going to chose you, Sirius but I can't leave him now of all times."
Sirius didn't say anything. He looked around and then smiled and hugged her.
"You're the best, you know that?"
Riley laughed. "I know but that doesn't mean public displays of affection, Black. I'm still with Brandon, remember."
Sirius pouted and Riley smiled then walked off to help James, the only brave soul who was stupid enough to go into the pen and was now getting flames shot at him by multiple different fire crabs.
X
The rest of the day was great after that morning. It was good having Sirius back as a friend and just a little bit more. On their way up to the common room, Riley explained to Lily what had happened with Brandon.
"That is awful!" Lily exclaimed, horror on her face.
They got to the top of the stairs where the Fat Lady's portrait was to meet Claudia standing against the wall. Riley looked at the Marauders and Lily and nodded towards the portrait and moved aside to talk to Claudia. Once they were gone, Claudia gave Riley the Evening Prophet.
"I'm going to guess you haven't read this yet," Claudia told her calmly.
Riley looked at her sister with a confused expression and opened the paper to read the headline: 'MURDERER OF COUPLE CAUGHT.' Riley saw the picture of what she presumed was Brandon's grand-parents house with the Dark Mark above it then went on to read the article.
'After the house of Mr and Mrs Parker was found this morning with Voldemort's Dark Mark symbol hanging above it, the Aurour department set out immediately to catch the murderer. Early this evening, due to the couple's house being enhanced with a charm to trace back every spell cast in the area of the home, they caught the culprit. Flavio Martinez, a successful business trader in the wizarding world's wand was seen to have been used at the time of the couple's death, in their home. He was taken immediately to Azkaban and his wife is now being question though she is thought to have no part in it whatsoever. Martinez was found in his family home, writing a letter to a fellow Death Eater. He did not deny the murder.'
Riley looked up from the paper, completely shocked. Her father had killed Brandon's grand-parents. Her father was a Death Eater. Her father supported Voldemort. She didn't know what to think. She looked at Claudia who was looking smug.
"Don't you dare tell me you approve of this!" Riley yelled, throwing the paper full force at her sister. "Don't say it's how to make this word right, do not tell me you support that vulgar man!"
Claudia smiled and caught Riley between the banister of the stairs and herself.
"It's funny how much you missed when you went out that walk with Regulus," Claudia said, slyly. "We had a nice little visit and everything. Not like you going out was intentional."
"You're one, aren't you," Riley stated.
"Shh," Claudia said and put a finger to Riley's lips. "It's got to stay a secret, hermanita."
"Tú no eres mi hermana, ya no," Riley spat and pushed Claudia off her. "You're a disgusting little piece of shit."
Riley didn't wait for Claudia to react. She gave the Fat Lady the Gryffindor password and went straight to her bed, ignoring everyone in the common room.
Well isn't this a nice long chapter? I went to bed after I uploaded the last chapter with no idea where I wanted to take it all and then I just came up with this idea and I must say, I like it a lot! It'll really help with where I want to go with the story so yep!
Translations:
Hermanita - Baby Sister
Tu no eres my hermana, ya no - You're not my sister, not anymore.
Abbey x
