Chapter 36

Rose stared at the letter for a whole five minutes before setting it down with trembling fingers. She then stared at it some more, just sitting there so innocently on her nightstand. As if it hadn't just turned her whole world upside down.

She'd never felt so conflicted in her life. Only a few months ago, her biggest inner conflict had involved fancying a boy who was chasing her best friend. Somehow, fancying a boy who actually liked her back seemed even worse.

How was she supposed to act? Not even her wild imagination could decide. One second she was picturing herself walking up to him in the halls and confessing her own feelings. Then it went the other way, where she refused to even look him in the eye until the end of the school year.

At this point, the latter seemed like a more likely response. She'd never really been fancied before. Not like this. Not by someone she actually liked in return.

The romantic in her wanted to do nothing more than sit in her room and read the letter all morning. The practical side of her – which apparently resided in her stomach – demanded that she go get food.

She finally made herself move and get dressed. She grabbed the letter almost as an afterthought and stuffed it into her pocket. She needed some advice.

She hurried up to the Great Hall and spoke to Cassie before she'd even fully taken her seat.

"I need help."

"With what?" Cassie asked around her ketchup covered sausage.

Rose didn't answer in words, instead pulling out the slightly rumpled letter and handing it to her. Cassie read through it at the speed of light, blue eyes wide and smile growing.

"This is great! I told you he still fancied you!" she whispered.

Rose shook her head and stuffed the letter out of sight. "I feel…I feel like it's a trick or something." She admitted. Cassie raised an eyebrow.

"A trick? What do you mean?"

Rose sighed, staring at the choices of food before her. Her stomach demanded food one moment and seemed revolted by the very thought of it the next. She finally forced herself to grab a small pancake, drizzling syrup over it in troubled silence.

"It's just…all that stuff he said before."

"Like his family and whatnot?"

"Yeah."

Cassie sighed. "Rose, do you honestly think Sirius is so spiteful that he'd date a girl just to piss off his family?"

Rose sighed, putting down the syrup and watching as the think liquid spread from her pancake and across her plate. "I want to say he wouldn't Cassie. But how can I be sure?"

Her friend shook her head. "Ask yourself if you honestly believe him to be like that, Rose. He said some dumb stuff, so what? I said worse and you forgave me."

"That was different."

"Not that different. And if you're still not sure…ask yourself if it's a risk worth taking."

Rose didn't answer and Cassie gathered up her stuff. "Better eat quick. Class starts soon." Rose nodded and shoved away her uneaten food, grabbing her bag and standing.

Before she could head outside, Cassie smiled down at her. "Rose…I want you to be happy. And I think Sirius could be a big part of that if you let him."

She left and Rose sighed, walking through the large front doors. She still wasn't sure what to believe.

She wanted to believe Cassie was right. But there was that nagging doubt in the back of her mind that refused to go away.

Her distraction was even obvious to Professor Sprout, who had to stop her from pulling plants rather than weeds more than once.

"My dear, what's wrong?" she finally asked.

Rose sighed and sat back. "Just…boy trouble." Sprout smiled.

"I remember those days. Troubled ones they were for me as well when I was your age."

Rose looked up. "Really?" she had a hard time thinking of her dumpy teacher as ever having been a student. Sprout laughed.

"Indeed. I met my husband here after all. Took him ages to even notice me, let alone ask me to go to Hogsmeade with him."

"And…when he finally asked you. Were you conflicted at all?"

Sprout nodded. "Certainly. Here was a handsome young boy asking me out on a date, when he'd never even spoken to me before."

"What did you do?"

"I took a chance." Sprout said with a smile. Rose bit her lip.

"How did you decide?"

The dumpy witch smiled softly. "I thought to myself that yes, there was a chance that I may get hurt. But there was also a chance that I could be very happy. And not a day has gone by since then that I haven't been grateful that I took that chance. Because he's made my life a joy."

Rose smiled herself and nodded, but Sprout could probably see the conflict in her eyes.

"Rose…have you ever visited the greenhouses at night?"

Rose blushed, wondering if she might get in trouble for admitting that she had. Thankfully, the woman only smiled.

"As have I. I find that the plants make this a lovely place to think. Here's the spare greenhouse key. And – though I shouldn't be encouraging you to break the rules – I believe you'll enjoy it tonight. The full moon causes some of the plants in greenhouse four to glow, you know." She said with a wink.

Rose smiled happily and nodded. "Thank you, professor."

"Nonsense, my dear girl. I just need you to stop trying to pull up my Carnivorous Carnations." The woman teased.

Rose giggled and pocketed the key. "Right. Sorry about that." She said, quickly getting back to work.

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Sirius howled happily as he and his friends ran from the castle. Remus was the only one still in his human form, but they all knew it would only be minutes before he too transformed thanks to full moon overhead.

It happened in a mere instant. One minute, Remus was running alongside the buck, dog and rat, and the next he was bent over with a growl. His limbs stretched and shifted and bones cracked and reformed until he was in full werewolf form. Everyone slowed as he shook and stretched, getting used to the feel of his animal form once more.

Sirius nudged him and Remus snapped back, but thanks to the presence of his friends, he held onto the memory of who he was. Sirius gave a wolfish grin and loped across the grounds, only to stop short a moment later.

He sniffed the air and noticed Remus doing the same. There was someone else out here!

Sirius snapped at Remus's arm when the werewolf wanted to go and investigate. It was too dangerous! James took the hint and used his antlers to push Remus towards the Whomping Willow. Peter climbed up onto his shoulder, squeaking in his friend's ear to distract him from the tantalizing scent of prey.

In the meantime, Sirius went to see who was out this late at night. The scent was so familiar…

He spotted a short girl hurrying towards the greenhouses, looking over her shoulder warily. Sirius's ears pricked in his happiness when he recognized the figure as Rose.

He loped forward, and slowed when he heard the girl gasp. She froze, trying not to look in his eyes and realized she was trying not to challenge him. She thought he was going to attack!

On the contrary, he was going to take advantage of the situation. He went to her side and sat, tongue lolling happily. Rose giggled lightly and hesitantly reached out to scratch behind his ears. Sirius's eyes closed and he gave a soft woof of happiness.

"Who are you then? We're not supposed to have dogs on the grounds." She said with a grin. "I've seen you before though." She realized

Sirius's ears pricked in curiosity and she shrugged, seeming know exactly what he wanted to ask. "I was in my dormitory and I looked out the window. I saw you running." She smiled softly again. "I was jealous, I wanted to run like that at the time."

Sirius gave her a look, the big puppy dog look he knew the girls loved, and she giggled. "Just boy troubles. Nothing terrible." She assured him. "In fact, that's why I'm heading to the greenhouses now. Would you like to come with me?"

Sirius was tempted, but he knew his friends were waiting. He shook his head – not caring that it was a very un-dog-like thing to do – and licked her hand. "Alright." She whispered. "Maybe I'll see you again sometime."

She scratched his head one more time and hurried over to the greenhouses. Sirius gave himself a doggie smile and turned, sprinting across the moonlight filled grounds towards his friends.

So Rose was off to think about him, was she? That seemed like a good sign to him.

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Hurray for advice, and an even bigger hurray for Marauders mischeif! I know I haven't focus on this part of the lives of the boys, but don't worry, I haven't forgotten :D Also, this story is over 60,000 words and it's not even fully posted yet. And I write is in less than 30 days...so I'm going to attempt NaNoWriMo with my next story, lol. Even if i'm late starting ^^;

Please review and let me know what you think!

Your Humble Authoress,

Whisperwings