CHAPTER 36

It was a fair amount of time before Sirius and Anne "got on with it", as James had so eloquently put it. A grueling school schedule and difficulty finding a place that would give them some semblance of privacy made it hard for them to even get a chance to get past a quick kiss in the corridors. But Sirius was determined to get at least some time with his girlfriend. He was going to use James's Marauder's Map to help him out.

"Bye, Sev," said Anne brightly.

Sirius was standing in the Slytherin common room, gazing around the room curiously, completely oblivious to the glares he was getting from more than one student, his brother Regulus in particular. Anne leaned down and grazed Severus's shiny forehead with an absent peck before joining Sirius to leave.

"Bye, Anne," Severus replied darkly.

She didn't catch his tone and bounded out of the room on Sirius's arm, and as soon as they were past the guardian suit of armor, he wrapped his arms around her and brought her close for a deep, passionate kiss. Anne was half dazed when he pulled away.

"What's gotten into you, Mister Black?" asked Anne with a raised eyebrow.

"Just glad to finally be out and about with my favourite girl," he said with a grin.

Sirius pulled out the map and tapped it with his wand, murmuring the incantation, and Anne watched over his shoulder with wide eyes as the Marauder's Map came into appearance.

"Whoa," she said softly.

"James's doing," Sirius told her.

They skillfully avoided any contact as they made their way through the castle. Sirius scratched his head. The Astronomy Tower was occupied, the empty classroom on the second floor was taken, even the greenhouses proudly displayed "Lily Evans" and "James Potter", their two dots so close they were practically on top of each other. A close call from Filch sent them on an unfamiliar path through the corridors.

"If only we had a place to go to be alone!" Sirius said aloud.

They stopped in their tracks. In front of them had suddenly appeared a tall doorway. Sirius glanced back to the map, flipping it over and turning it, but was unable to find the room they had just come upon. Anne was the first to test the door. It swung open to reveal a beautiful bedroom, tall canopy bed and a crackling fireplace.

"Guess you got your wish," said Anne.

She went to the couch and sat down in front of the fireplace, a bit to Sirius's disappointment for he was hoping she would make straight for the bed. Sirius sank down next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, letting her snuggle in against him.

"Wonder what this room is?" Anne asked quietly.

"Don't know. It isn't on the map," he shrugged. "But I'm glad we found it."

"Me too," said Anne.

She turned to him and brought her lips to his, and he relished the feeling of her small hand running through his shaggy hair. He kissed her, his tongue darting into her mouth as he pulled her close to him. He heard her let out a soft whimper and the sound lit his body on fire. His hands touched her face, her back, her arms, her breasts, before resting at her hips. Needing air, they broke apart, both breathing raggedly and clouded eyes.

"The bed might be more comfortable," he whispered nervously, inclining his head toward the four poster bed in the room.

Anne grinned shyly and shrugged, blushing. Sirius gallantly lifted her up from the sofa and carried her to the bed, depositing her on the soft blankets and crawling in next to her. She resumed kissing him and he let his hands explore more bravely than they ever had, though his fingers trembled slightly as he delved below the waist. Her encouraging moans kept him from completely coming apart in nervousness.

"I'm totally mad about you," whispered Sirius against her lips.

"Are you?" she asked with a smirk between kisses.

Sirius nodded and kissed her gently along her jaw and against her ear.

"I've never been in love before," he said, so softly she almost didn't catch it.

Sirius was frozen in fear that she wouldn't share his sentiments. He closed his eyes, pausing from the attention he was giving her neck, waiting to hear what she would say.

"It's an amazing feeling, isn't it?" whispered Anne as she kissed the side of his face.

That was enough for them. They weren't like Lily and James. Anne didn't wear her heart on her sleeve, eager to spill her emotions for any who wanted to hear them. And Sirius wasn't a verbose young man. Though they hadn't said the words, they didn't need to. They knew.

"Have you done this before?" he whispered hoarsely as he perched himself gently on top of her.

Anne bit her lip and nodded. Sirius felt his chest constrict.

"Just tell me it wasn't with my brother," said Sirius, his eyes closed as he waited for her response.

"Ew, no!" shrieked Anne with a giggle.

Sirius chuckled and resumed his mouth's attention to her neck and lips. She cast a contraceptive charm on herself and gazed into his steely grey eyes. And when he felt her, truly felt her, for the first time, it was rapturous. James's words had not even begun to describe it. He hissed against her ear, unable to last more than a few minutes, and collapsed on top of her, lavishing kisses on her passionately.

Rolling over onto his back to catch his breath, he pulled her against him, her auburn hair tickling the side of his face, but he was too relaxed and comfortable to bother with brushing it away. She draped herself over him, resting her head against his chest.

"Wow," she whispered.

Sirius chuckled and kissed the top of her head.

"Yea," he agreed.

After a few moments of silence, but for their heavy breathing, Anne propped herself up on her elbow and looking into his eyes, her green eyes sparkling.

"I had never made love before," said Anne in a low whisper.

Something bubbled up in his chest, whether it was pride or love, or both, he wasn't sure. They made love several more times over the course of the night, and early in the morning before the sun had even begun its climb into the sky, they stole back to their dormitories. Sirius kissed Anne quickly and gave her a roguish wink as he dropped her off at the suit of armor. She giggled bashfully and disappeared inside.

When Anne walked into the room, Severus was asleep on the sofa, obviously up waiting for her. She sat down next to him and waited for him to stir awake.

"Morning," she said brightly.

"Oh, Merlin," groaned Severus. "You were out all night."

"Sev, you didn't have to wait up," offered Anne.

"Now I wish I hadn't," he grumbled.

"I'm nearly seventeen now, anyway," said Anne with a shrug. "It's no one's business if I want to-"

"Stop," said Severus, putting his hands on his ears. "I don't want hear about that sort of business anyway."

Anne considered him for a moment and his onyx gaze dropped to the floor.

"I was just worried about you," he added quietly.

Anne grinned.

"I love you, Sev," she said absently, and headed up to her dormitory to try and get some sleep.