Nothing, nothing in the world, could have prepared Harry for the next day.

Sirius was waking him, and his face was solemn. "Get up, Harry. Come downstairs."

Harry sat up. "What's wrong? Sirius, tell me. What's wrong?"

Sirius gulped, and met his eyes, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Harry, I… there's been an accident. An attack by the Death Eaters. It seems… they knew where the Order was meeting, somehow, and… they attacked."

Harry froze. "Where were they meeting?" Sirius averted his eyes, and Harry shook him. "Sirius, where?"

Sirius swallowed again, and blinked. "The Burrow."

Harry was out the door and rushing downstairs even as Sirius spoke. The blood pumping through his veins had his ears roaring, and his heart suddenly felt cold and heavy, as if it had turned to lead. As he entered the foyer, he saw Minerva McGonagall with Madam Pomfrey, the two of them with swollen eyes and wet faces.

"Where's Ron? Where's Hermione? Ginny? Where are they?"

McGonagall lifted her chin, taking a step towards him. "Harry, Arthur's in the study. I think you should join him."

Harry's face pinched, and he looked to the sitting room. Kingsley Shacklebolt was there with Bill, and he saw Mad-Eye Moody against the fireplace, staring at the flames. They looked up and acknowledged Harry solemnly as he walked through, and the boy entered the study with his heart racing. Arthur Weasley turned to him from Snape and Lupin, who was looking a bit broken. Arthur wore a gash along his forehead, which Evie was tending to. She stepped back as Harry approached.

"Where are they? Where's Ron and Hermione? Is Ginny alright? Tell me."

Arthur took a deep breath. "They're alright."

Harry let out a breath that seemed to lower him several inches. But he shifted as he realized that everyone was grim. "Then where are they? Why aren't they here?"

"They're with Tonks and Molly, Harry." Lupin had spoken. "They wanted to take Neville by his home before they brought him here."

Harry frowned. "Why- Neville? Why is he coming here?"

"He and his grandmother have been meeting with us for a while, ever since Dumbledore…" Arthur's voice trailed off. "It seems that… when they attacked… I suppose she was just slower than she thought she was…"

Harry breathed. "She's… she died?"

Arthur nodded. "She was hit with a Killing Curse before we could fight them off."

Harry's world lurched. He sat down on the steps leading to the map, which still resembled a heavy black curtain, no doubt forever ruined by Quinn's knife. He finally realized why everyone was so grim. Neville Longbottom, the clumsy boy who had lost not one parent but both, had lost yet another family member. He shifted. "Neville… is he..?"

"He's quiet. Hasn't spoken since he realized it. But Kingsley took a bad hit, and Moody got himself laid open battling it out with one of them. We had to get here as soon as possible."

Harry frowned. "Why not St. Mungo's?"

Mad-Eye Moody was coming towards them, his voice low and gravelly. "You haven't been keeping up with the news, Harry. St. Mungo's isn't safe anymore. No place is, but here." He looked at Snape. "And even here there are some that are still under question."

Harry could see that Moody's face now bore a new scar, running from the side of his head to behind and below his ear. The skin was pink and glistening, and Harry knew Evie had patched it up. "Are you all staying here now?"

Arthur looked at Evie. "For now."

She looked at him, then to Harry. "I thought perhaps you could choose a room for Neville, since you know him. If there's anything he likes, or enjoys, please let me know."

Harry nodded, but he didn't think Neville was going to care what room he was in, or what Evie tried to occupy him with.

Neville was going to feel just like Harry did when Dumbledore died.

He had apparently fallen asleep, and woke to Hermione hugging him, and he quickly returned it, then he and Ron even managed to show just a little emotion as they greeted each other.. He sat up, and with a quiver of excitement, saw Ginny. He smiled at her. "Hi."

She smiled back. "Hi."

Ron plopped down on the couch beside him. "You've been missed. I just wish we were here under better circumstances."

Harry straightened. "Neville. Where is he?"

Hermione frowned. "He's already upstairs with Evie. She gave him something as soon as he arrived, and it almost knocked him out cold."

Harry shook his head. "I don't think even her potions are going to help him out much."

Ginny sat down in one of the armchairs, running a hand over the dragon skin. "I'd heard you two talk about this place, but I never would have believed it. It's amazing."

Harry nodded a bit sharply. "Oh, yeah, it's great to be stuck in here while your friends are getting attacked."

Ron pursed his lips. "It's for a reason, Harry. That's what we wanted to tell you."

Harry turned to him. "You know why?"

Ron nodded, and a bit guiltily. "Extendable Ears. They try to talk about you out of earshot, but thanks to Fred and George..."

"Who, by the way, sent you this," Ginny said, handing Harry a piece of parchment and a quill.

He made a face. "Thanks. What is it?"

"Write on it and see."

He shrugged, and wrote his name across the middle of the sheet.

And suddenly, he heard a deep voice boom through the room. "HARRY POTTER!"

Hermione, Ginny, and Ron had all covered their ears before it had happened, but Harry leapt out of his seat, sending the parchment and quill flying. "What," he said, "was that?"

Ron picked the dropped objects from the floor nonchalantly. "Panic Parchment, they call it. If you're ever unable to speak, it speaks for you."

Hermione wrinkled her nose. "Well, that's what they called it for you. They sell it under Shocker Stationary- they've got a whole stack of it in the front of their shop, and you should see the people's faces whenever they think they're signing up for a mailing list and instead get their names screamed back at them from thin air."

Ginny nodded. "It's quite fun to watch, actually."

Harry shook his head, putting the parchment on the table carefully, making sure not to touch the quill to it. He looked at Ron. "What were you saying about Extendable Ears?"

Ron snapped to attention. "Oh, yeah. Well, when we were at the Burrow, Dad was talking to Kingsley and Bill. Apparently Evie's let Dad in on some stuff, because he was telling them that 'Dumbledore's protection remained through the phoenixes'."

Harry tightened. "Wait- he mentioned the phoenixes?"

Ron nodded. "And he said something about Hogwarts, but that's when Mum found the ears under the door..."

Harry suddenly stood, smacking his forehead. "I can't believe it's taken me this long to tell you!" He told them everything about his trip with Evie to Hogwarts, and how Snape feared he knew too much, even to the day before when Quinn had killed Beckett right in front of them and Snape had tried to use Legilimency against him.

Hermione was frowning. "You don't honestly believe that she's resurrecting Dumbledore, do you? That's ridiculous, Harry- there's no spell that will bring someone back from the dead."

Ginny had moved to the floor at his feet. "Harry, I know you loved Dumbledore, but… you know that there is no way he can come back from the dead. And even these people told you that."

"But Quinn denied it, and then later, he pretty much admitted what was going on." Harry looked at each of them. "Why are they keeping it from me?"

"Maybe for your own good, Harry- what if they don't want your hopes sky-high?"

He looked at Hermione heatedly. She always had a point, and sometimes he hated her for it. He decided to change the subject, since it was doing no good talking to them about it. "So how is Neville? Mr. Weasley said he hasn't spoken since it happened."

Her face fell. "It's pathetic, Harry. He won't talk or anything. He won't even cry. I wish he would at least cry- I don't think it's sunk in yet. She was all he had, you know- all his other relatives are so distant, and his parents..."

"Yeah, Hermione,, I know." Harry remembered all too well Frank and Alice Longbottom, tortured to insanity and now forever residing at St. Mungo's.

Ginny pulled her knees to her chest. "She died fighting- but poor Neville, it can't be much comfort. I mean, he's all alone. No one at all, really. Just like… just like…"

"Like me," Harry said. But it wasn't entirely true, for he had been blessed to get Sirius back, and to be brought here, and he really didn't feel alone anymore, not here, with Ron and Ginny and Hermione…

He stood. "Should we go up and see him?"

Ginny shook her head. "I'm sure he's out of it by now."

Harry walked to the fireplace and stared at the flames. It was so horrible, poor Neville, always shy and insecure, and the closest person he had taken away by the same people who had taken away his parents…

"Wait a minute," he said suddenly. "How did the Death Eaters know where you were meeting?"

The three of them shared a look. Ron spoke. "No one's seen Mundungus Fletcher in days."

Harry's eyes widened. "You… they think that…"

"We didn't use a Fidelus charm, Harry- we just met like we were having a birthday party or something. Someone had to have leaked, and… it would just seem that he would."

Harry shifted. "Cyrus."

Ginny frowned. "Who?"

Harry stood. "Cyrus. He had to go through Mundungus's mind. How do we know he didn't find out where you would be meeting and told the Death Eaters before he died?"

Hermione nodded. "Harry, you're right! I wonder if the others thought about that. It makes sense."

Harry paced across the room, his mind racing. It was all coming together, all the loose ends, and it all fell on Cyrus and Beckett. Beckett had told Draco where in the house to Disapparate, and had easily 'slipped' away to help look for the Boggart. That gave Draco the chance to escape.

Which made it easier to get in good with Voldemort. If Beckett help deliver the very one Voldemort had been searching for, he and Cyrus would move up the ranks quickly. But why had Cyrus been cursed? And why had he come back here to wave it in their faces?

Quinn poked his head in the sitting room. "Harry?"

Harry tensed a bit. Quinn hadn't shown one sign of his violent demeanor since the outburst, but the memory was still clear in Harry's mind. He smiled. "Hi, Quinn. I don't think you've met Ginny."

Quinn flashed his hundred watt smile and offered his hand, then bent and kissed hers. "Any young lady who steals the heart of my friend earns my respect in the dearest."

She smiled widely at him, and her cheeks turned a bit red. She glanced at Harry, who was more at ease, seeing this familiar side of Quinn again. "Did you want to see me?"

Quinn straightened. "Severus is adamant about continuing your Occlumency and non-verbal lessons. But I hardly think you need it, after seeing you blast him last night. What was that you used?"

Harry swallowed, improvising as best he could. "I… don't know. It happened pretty fast. He was wide open, and… I couldn't resist."

Quinn watched him, and finally chuckled. "I would've loved to have had a teacher like that." He swallowed, and his smile dropped quite a bit. "Cyrus was always cold and detached- he would always bark at me if I forgot one little thing. I could only imagine what would have happened if I had done that to him."

They all shared a look, and decided not to tell Quinn he had just described Severus Snape's teaching tactics perfectly.

Harry smiled at him. "I'm really sorry about all that's happened, Quinn. I really am."

He nodded, and replaced his grin. But it didn't go to his eyes this time. "It's alright, Harry. Things have to be bad before they can get better." He clapped his hands. "Enough of this- you're ruining my good mood. What do I tell Severus?"

Harry looked at the others apologetically. "I have to. It's really important. But it'll be over soon, I promise, and I'll meet you down here for dinner, okay?"

They all nodded, and Harry gave them a smile as he followed Quinn out of the room. But Hermione was suddenly on her feet, calling to him, and he turned, telling Quinn he'd catch up. Hermione pulled him back into the room, her voice a hushed whisper. "I have to tell you something else."

Harry nodded. "Fine. What is it? I don't want to keep Snape waiting. He's different now, but not that much."

Hermione peeked over to see if Ron and Ginny were listening, and seeing them studying the dragon head in the table, turned back. "I found out something. About Evie."

Harry was suddenly interested. "What?"

She lowered her chin. "Moody was talking to Arthur, and I was in the kitchen with Molly, helping her out. They must have forgotten I was there, because they started talking about Snape. And loads about what had happened when Evie and Sirius were engaged."

Harry frowned. "Of course! He was working for the Order with my mum and dad back then. Surely they would have known her!"

"Well, apparently not too well. Apart from your parents and Lupin, she stayed out of the social circles. She was a bit backwards, I'm afraid- a lot like Snape, actually. But it turns out that Moody found that Snape had been good friends with some of the known Death Eaters, and he went mental. Started blaming her for everything."

"Because he thought that she was passing information to Snape, and he suspected Snape all along."

"It seems that Moody showed up at Sirius's place, and the two of them had some sort of falling out, because Moody thought she was using Sirius to get information. He didn't trust her. And Sirius had threatened to leave the Order altogether if Moody didn't stop making accusations."

Harry remembered when Evie and Moody had squared off, and now saw what could have been behind their stiffness. He looked back to Hermione. "Well, that explains a lot."

She tightened her lips. "And there's something else."

He raised his eyebrows. "What?"

She swallowed, and shifted. "Well, the night your parents died, it seems that Evie's father was also murdered."

Harry tilted his head. "What?"

She nodded. "They found him stabbed to death. It was really grisly, to hear Moody talk about it. And he was a really rich man, apparently, because he left a mountain of gold to Evie, but she never claimed it. She..."

"Disappeared," Harry finished.

Hermione nodded again. "Now I guess we know why."

"But, who did it? Who killed him?"

"That's the funny part. They never found out. They were sure it wasn't Death Eaters, because there was no magic used and there was no Dark Mark. And he was a dark wizard, Harry. He supported Voldemort, even though he wasn't a Death Eater himself."

Harry stared at her for a long time. Evie had only mentioned her father once, and even she had described him as evil. But who would have killed him so cruelly, and who would have had enough hate for him to do it?

"Hermione," he whispered.

She frowned at him. "What?"

"Do you…. do you suppose that… that Snape might have had something to do with it?"

Hermione grimaced. "I'd be lying if I said it hadn't crossed my mind. After what you told us, it seems like Evie's father hated Snape, and gave him enough reasons to want him dead."

"But how could he have gotten away with it?"

Hermione looked at him, and Harry realized what she was about to insinuate. He shook his head wildly. "No. No way. Dumbledore would never have covered up for such a thing. Ever."

"How do you know, Harry? If Evie had made some pact with him, and if she had begged him, swore that Snape was sorry, and had changed… It seems Dumbledore might have considered hiding it if he thought he could turn Snape around. Her father was, after all, a supporter of Voldemort..."

"You're standing here, talking about Dumbledore like he was some warlord, or assassin. I won't hear it. If Snape had confessed this- any of this- to Dumbledore, he'd have told him to go straight to the Ministry and turn himself in. And if he didn't go willingly, Dumbledore would have taken him in."

Hermione looked skeptical. "All I'm saying is, it looks a bit suspicious, doesn't it?"

Harry gave her a dirty glare. She always had a point.

Snape was waiting for him, the bottle on the piano as always, and he was taking a strand of memory from the side of his head even as Harry walked in. "It's about time, Potter."

Harry swallowed. "My friends had just gotten back. We were catching up and I didn't realize the time."

Snape didn't offer any sharp answer, and simply turned to him. "I trust you have prepared yourself?"

Harry nodded, and placed himself a few paces in front of Snape. Snape lifted his chin. "Very well."

The new rule was no speaking, and Harry readied himself as he waited for Snape's attempt. It came, and he forced his Occlumens, and Snape was pushed back a step.

"Better than last time." Snape lifted his chin. "Again."

Harry parlayed the next attempt successfully, and the one after that, and the next ten or so. Then came the non-verbal assaults, and Harry had managed to block a few hexes from Snape successfully with a Shield Charm, but throwing them was another story. Snape seemed to know what was coming before the words had even formed in Harry's mind. "You must learn to concentrate," he barked, "it's easy when all you have to worry about is keeping me out, isn't it? But to combine that with the spell, it's rather difficult."

There was a bite to his words, and Harry swallowed a retort. His head was starting to ache, and he rubbed his temples.

"The more you practice, the more accustomed you get, Potter."

Harry shot him a look, feeling the last few days starting to take affect on him, and shifted. "What were you looking for last night?"

Snape tensed, and Harry watched as he turned to the piano. "I was testing you. Might I say, you did a very good job repelling me."

Harry took a step towards him. "That's not true. You were looking for something."

Snape had whirled around, and glared at him for a while. "I was looking for a shred of evidence that you had indeed learned to keep your guard up. And I believe I have already told you that you succeeded." He turned and walked towards the door. "That's enough for today. You seem distracted, and due to recent events I cannot blame you."

Harry frowned at him. He was lying, just like everyone else in this house, and it suddenly angered him. He wanted answers, any kind of answers, but there was nothing in this world that would get Snape's attention.

Except…

"I know about Evie's father."

Snape's shoulders jolted as he stopped dead, and he spun around. "What did you just say?"

Harry wondered if this had been a mistake, but he couldn't stop. "Evie's father. He was killed the same night as my parents. Tell me what you know about his death."

Snape was staring at him hard, and Harry put up an Occlumens just to be safe. Snape walked towards him, tilting his head. "On the contrary, I think you should tell me what you know, seeing as how it doesn't concern you."

Harry took a deep breath. "I know he was killed. He was stabbed to death, no magic. I want to know if you know something about it."

Snape was frowning. "Where did you hear this?"

"Her- Mad Eye Moody," he lied, and he watched as Snape's face smoothed with anger.

"Alastor Moody is a paranoid fool, Potter, and I suggest that you take anything he tells you lightly."

"Sirius Black says he was the best Auror the Ministry ever had."

Snape arched an eyebrow. "Sirius Black also says that he was once accosted by a veela who wanted to take him away and ravish him, but he found her too unattractive."

Harry lowered his chin. "Why can't you tell me anything about Evie's father?"

"Because it is none of your business." He stared at him for a while, then turned to go.

"It was you, wasn't it?"

Snape stopped at the door, then tilted his head back. Harry took a step towards him. "You hated him so much, because he abused you and Evie. Sirius told me what he had done to her, and I can only imagine that if he would do that to his own daughter, there's no telling what he'd do to his half-blood nephew."

Snape had whirled around, and Harry took a step back. His eyes were wide with rage, and his face looked positively ashen. "This is none of your concern, Potter," he whispered slowly.

Harry was feeling brave, a little too brave, and he stepped just a couple of feet away from the very angry-looking man in front of him. "It is if it involves Dumbledore. Did he cover for you? Did he let you get away with it, like you got away with killing my parents?"

Snape's wand was suddenly halfway up, then he seemed to realize something and lowered it. His face had hardened, and his lips trembled as though he were about to have some sort of outburst. He took several deep breaths, then seemed to regain his composure.

"Your eyes look precisely like your mother's."

Harry watched as the man stared at him for some time, then lifted his chin. "Dinner will be ready soon. You should join your friends."

He turned and stormed out, leaving the door banging open against the wall. Harry stood for quite some time, there alone in the dark, and finally turned to retrieve his jacket from the piano.

And there, beside it, was the bottle that Severus Snape had apparently forgotten all about.

Evie had closed the door to Neville's room as she slipped out, and leaned against the wall.

So much death, and so soon. It was all coming too fast, and for a moment she cursed Albus Dumbledore for ever bringing her into all this. But she owed him, more than anyone else would ever know, and she had made a promise. And the constant reminder of it was under this roof.

Her guilt from striking him had broken her, but her temper had once again gotten the better of her. It had been her curse, holding everything back until one simple event brought all of it forward, and she had taken it out on Severus. Of all people in this house, of all the times before then she could have lost control, it had to be Severus.

She walked down to the second floor, making her way to the north wing. So much had happened to them, just in these months, and even though Christmas was coming, the mood had fallen so low that it seemed the holiday would be pathetically solemn this year. Perhaps it was time for another charm on the place. She would do her best to see that everyone woke up in the morning with a reason to smile at something, whether it be as small a something as their own noses.

Quinn's door was shut, and her eyes lingered on it as she passed. She had betrayed him, and any thought of explaining had been pushed aside as she had seen his outburst. There was no way for her to tell him, not now, not with so much on him. It was better for him to believe that she was still here for him. She was, after all, just not like he wanted her to be. She could never just forget Quinn, for he had been a dear friend even before he'd become a lover, and she would always be willing to help him in any way she could, but she could never love another the way she loved Sirius Black.

She had almost climbed into bed when she heard a soft knock at her door, and she frowned as she approached it. She opened it a crack, and let out a breath as she saw him, standing there leaning against the doorway with a hard look on his face.

"Don't even try to send me away," he said, "I'll just go out in the yard and howl all night."

She opened the door, and he walked in, taking a look around. Her room was huge, and he could see a portrait of a woman that hung above the fireplace. She bore a remarkable resemblance to Quinn, and Sirius thought it must have been his mother. He frowned, hoping it was nothing like his mother's portrait.

Evie was pulling a robe on, jerking her head towards the balcony. He followed, and shot a glance back to the portrait, wondering if he had been right in any way.

It was cold, and he was barefoot, and his shirt didn't do much to protect him from the wind. Evie, on the other hand, though in that thin silk robe and nightgown, seemed too bothered to even notice that snowflakes were blowing around. She crossed her arms.

Sirius huddled against the bite of chill. "Why out here?"

"Because you will leave much sooner."

He gave her a dubious look. "Charming, Evie."

"You really shouldn't be here, Sirius."

He took a step towards her, trying to be as smooth as possible while his entire body threatened to wrack with shivers. "You really shouldn't be ignoring me."

"I'm not ignoring you."

"What do you call it, then? You didn't meet me in the ballroom last night like Tilly asked you to, and you didn't speak to me all day."

She cocked her head at him. "In case you haven't noticed, it's been a rather hectic day. I've had other things on my mind."

"Like Quinn?"

She closed her eyes. "Yes, Sirius, as a matter of fact, I have been thinking about Quinn. And a few other things, like this war, which we have no idea how to win. Neville Longbottom, who is now practically alone in this world. Harry, who we know Voldemort is looking for. Why Mundungus Fletcher is gone. How much Cyrus and Beckett told the Death Eaters. How on earth I am supposed to do all of this without the aid of Cyrus, who taught me everything I know. That is what I've had on my mind, Sirius. You know, the important things."

He raised his eyebrows. "Oh, so I'm not important."

She glared at him. "Why do you always do this? I've got so much on my shoulders, Sirius, and you manage to bring even more..."

"Yesterday you seemed to think you'd brought it on yourself."

She closed her eyes again. After a long pause, she said, "I'm sorry. You're right. I apologize."

He nodded, fighting even harder against the urge to shake from the cold. "It's alright. I guess I've been expecting a bit much from you. I thought it meant something."

Evie straightened. "What did you just say?"

"I guess that it was just… a moment of weakness. I can understand that."

She was in front of him. "That is not true. I… a moment of weakness? Sirius, I…" She shook her head. "That was no moment of weakness."

"But you seem to regret it."

She took his face. "I regret nothing. I may be sorry that Quinn has been through so much, and I have failed him, but… I do not, and will not, regret making love to you."

He shifted, looking at her guiltily. "I have to know something. It's driving me insane. I have to know, and… when you went to him, when you went to his side, did you… did..."

"No." She shook her head. "No. I… I wouldn't do that."

He seemed to sink with relief. "I'm sorry, I..."

"It's alright. I'm afraid Quinn and I aren't as… close as you may have thought."

He stared at her guiltily. "Have you… have you two ever…?"

She dropped her eyes. "Of course. Long ago."

He frowned. "Long, long ago?"

She nodded. "That was a moment of weakness, Sirius- and… I never seemed to get around to telling him that. For fear of hurting him, I suppose."

He was avoiding her eyes, looking at everything but her. "Why did you do it?"

She stared at him. "I've already told you."

"No you didn't."

"Yes I did- I told you, he was so like you, in his ways, and his humor, and… I wanted that, so badly, Sirius. But it… I was a fool, I suppose, to have thought it would be the same, but… it wasn't. And Quinn, he was always so understanding, and kind, and I learned to care for him for those reasons. I couldn't simply walk away from him, Sirius."

"But this was long ago. What changed?"

She met his eyes. "I learned of your innocence. I learned of your death." She swallowed hard. "I felt as though I had betrayed your love by turning to him. I couldn't bring myself to look at him in that way again. And Quinn, he..."

"Couldn't forget, just like I couldn't."

She stepped close, and rubbed his arms. "I know I should have told him otherwise, but… then… you weren't here. You weren't here, Sirius. And if you had been..."

"I'm here now, and it doesn't seem to be making that much of a difference. Between Quinn and saving all of creation, I'm so far back in queue that I fear I'll have to soon take a number to even speak with you at breakfast."

She dropped her hands to her sides. "I can't do this with you, not now, not with you like this." She walked to the doors and went in.

He followed her, quickly and a bit gratefully. "Like what? Like what? What am I like?"

She turned and glared at him for a second, then moved towards him. "Bitter, and angry, and hurt, and bothered because you aren't the center of my universe."

He let out a huff. "That is..."

"Entirely true. Admit it."

"I don't have to admit anything, especially when it's wrong. I just have a problem with the fact that you're acting like the other night never even happened!"

"That is..."

"Entirely true. Admit it."

She narrowed her eyes at him, and he smiled cheekily. "Feels different when the shoe's on the other foot, doesn't it?"

She shook her head. "Do you know how you still annoy me, the same way, after all this time?"

He took a step towards her. "Good."

Her head tilted ever so slightly. "You still get that tone to your voice whenever you think you're right about something."

He nodded, moving to her. "Mm-hm."

She swallowed. "And I've noticed you still do that thing with your fingers, when you tap them on the table all the time."

"It drives you insane, doesn't it?"

She breathed. "And you still hold your fork the same way, and it makes that..."

"That little scraping sound that you hate so much? Yes, I know." He took another step.

Her chin was high. "You even stare at me the same way when you think you have me backed into a corner."

He was so close to her now that she could feel his breath on her face. "Do I?" he whispered.

She nodded, and looked a bit drunk. If anyone could turn sheer anger into the sudden need for a heated kiss, it was Sirius Black. She knew all too well.

When he did kiss her, she almost buckled as her knees fell weak, and she leaned in to him, relishing what seemed to be so right, and so perfect, and it would be all too easy to just give in, and take him over to the bed, and...

She pulled away. "Wait, Sirius, just… stop. Just for a minute."

He breathed against her ear. "Alright, but I'm counting."

She pushed him back. "Listen, I… this is… this is Quinn's house, Sirius. And for me to… for me to..."

He had straightened. "I figured you hadn't told him. He hasn't tried to cut my throat yet."

She looked at him. His voice was icy, but she really couldn't blame him. "Sirius, I can't… he's been through so much! He's lost everyone, even at his own hand, and I… I can't just pull away from him now, not when he's all alone."

He was staring at her. "But… you… what are you saying?"

She let out a long breath. "Quinn shouldn't know about this, not yet. Severus seems to think he's in a very fragile state right now..."

"There it is! Ha! I was waiting for it, and you didn't disappoint me!" He was walking towards the windows, nodding and wagging a finger at her over his shoulder. "I knew it was bound to come up!" He heightened his voice to mock hers. "'Because Severus says…'"

She let her head fall back. "You are still the most..." she let out a growl and walked to the cabinet above the chair, removing a bottle. He turned. "What are you doing?"

"Drinking brandy so I don't have the urge to strangle you."

He made a face. "Oh, Evie, you really shouldn't do that! You know how friendly you get whenever you drink brandy! And Severus says that you should stay away from me..."

"I wouldn't touch you right now if I had imbibed a keg, Sirius Black!"

"Ooh, there she blows!" Sirius was backing away, his eyes wide and his hands up.

She slammed the bottle to the table and stormed over to him, shoving him to the door. "Out."

He was laughing, and it enraged her, but that was why he was doing it. "Should I warn the house that you're about to explode? Or would you rather give us a nice fireworks display in time for the holidays?"

She pushed him out, and went to slam the door behind him, but he suddenly flung himself against it. "You're beautiful when you're angry, you know that?"

"Sirius Black, you are the most annoying, childish, incompetent..."

"Handsome, charming, and virile man you've ever met. Admit it."

He raised his eyebrows, and he had that stupid quirky grin on his face, and she had suddenly pulled him in, her lips pressed against him so hard his back slammed against the wall.