Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Harry Potter franchise. Any recognizable characters/locations/magic-thingies from the series belong to JK Rowling and Warner Bros. Author's Note: A giant thank you to my betas, who were able to get this chapter back to me in a reasonable amount of time despite our crazy schedules. I really hope you lovely people who continue to read/review/follow this story enjoy this chapter.

Sirius had kept it to himself for a couple days, allowing time for Remus to recover before he brought the news to their attention. Needless to say, his friends were just as displeased about Snape's spying as he was. However, they seemed to disagree over what was to be done about it.

"What if he finds out Moony's secret?" Sirius insisted. "We can't just ignore it!"

"Indeed, we cannot!" James said. "We're going to have to be more careful next time."

"I say we put a dungbomb under his bed," Peter suggested.

Sirius frowned and shook his head. "Not good enough. If Snivellus had found out, Remus would be finished."

"But he didn't," James said. "I say we leave him alone for now."

"He was following me, Prongs! He knows something's up."

"Maybe, but what's the point in getting revenge when he hasn't done anything yet?"

Sirius groaned. "I can't believe you're not taking this more seriously. We need to teach him a lesson!"

"I can't."

"Evans wouldn't have to know you had anything to do with it."

James gave him a funny look. "You know she'd automatically blame me. I'm sorry but I don't want to jeopardize my chance with Lily when nothing's happened yet."

"They key word there being 'yet'," Sirius said, darkly. "He's up to something."

"I promise he's not going to find out!" James swore.

"What do you think we should do, Moony?" Peter asked.

Remus, who had been relatively quiet since hearing the news, spoke up. "I agree with James."

Sirius gave him a wide-eye look of disbelief. "You don't want to do anything? Why not? It's your secret at risk here."

"Exactly, it's my secret, so I think it should be my decision," Remus said, calmly. "I don't want him to find out but I also don't feel right about retaliating when he hasn't done anything yet."

Sirius pouted.

After a long moment, Remus cleared his throat again. "Maybe, it would be best if you lot didn't sneak out to see me anymore."

The three boys gave him an incredulous look.

"Don't be daft," Sirius said, dismissing the thought outright.

"I admit I don't particularly like the idea either but it seems like the safest decision for everyone involved. Snape can't know! That information in his hands is dangerous. After last year, I'd hate to think—"

"What do you mean?" James asked, concerned. "What did he do last year?"

Remus sighed and shook his head. "I'm not entirely sure that he did do anything. But I have my suspicions..."

"What?" Peter urged him.

"I think he might have been the one that poisoned Evie's little sister."

Sirius stiffened. "What?"

"Well, he's a Slytherin which means he had opportunity and he's also exceptional at Potions."

"But whoever it was posed as Evie which means they'd need one of her hairs for a Polyjuice potion," James interjected.

"Evelyn said that her hat went missing from her dormitory."

"So, it was probably a girl then. How would he be able to get the hat?"

"Maybe he's not working alone," Sirius suggested.

"I could be dead wrong. In fact, I probably am but he was just the first person that came to mind when Evie was telling me about it."

"Did you tell Evie?" James asked.

"No, she wouldn't have let him get away with it," Remus answered. "She was baying for blood back then."

Indeed, Evelyn would have taken revenge on him without hesitation. Maureen could have died. While Sirius was not particularly fond of the sickly girl, he knew how important she was to Evelyn. His sweetheart had been a wreck when it happened, going back and forth from furious to terrified for her sister's health. He understood why Remus chose not to tell her. Sirius wasn't sure he should tell her either, even now, months later. Evelyn liked to think of herself as a rational person, but she was actually intensely emotional. He knew her well enough to know, that she wouldn't handle the news well. Better to save her from the pain he decided. He would take care of it for her.

"You made the right decision," Sirius said.

Remus nodded but Peter gave him a confused look. "I don't understand. Just a minute ago you wanted revenge for him following us. Why wouldn't you tell Evie so that she could get revenge on him for poisoning her sister?"

"First of all, we have no proof, Wormtail," Remus said.

"Besides, she would just agonize whether or not to get back at him," Sirius explained. "If she did give in and retaliate, she'd spend all of her time feeling guilty. If she didn't, she'd wish she had. Trust me, she's more emotional than most." He smirked to himself. "She hates that."

James smiled at his love struck friend. In the years that he'd known Sirius, James had never seen him develop such a strong attachment to a girl. Sirius was different, but in the best way.

"She's a complex one," James smiled at him.

"If you only knew."

She was standing at the sinks, washing her hands, when she heard someone vomiting rather violently in the occupied stall. She turned off the taps and, drying her hands on her robes, went to investigate. While she was not nearly as compassionate as Lily was, she had a good deal of experience with sickness. What if it was Maureen? She would want someone to be sympathetic enough to stand behind her, holding her hair and rubbing her back soothingly. She knocked on the cubicle's door.

"Are you in need of assistance?"

The toilet flushed and soon the stall door opened. It was Maureen. Evelyn stepped back at the dark look her sister gave her. Maureen moved past her to the sinks where she rinsed out her mouth and splashed her face. Evelyn was afraid to speak to her, after what had transpired in the woods outside of Hogsmeade village. However, her reservations weren't as important as he sister's health.

"Maureen, are you well now? Perhaps you should go and visit Madame Pomfrey. She might have something she can give you to relieve your upset stomach."

Maureen's eyes met her own in the mirror. Those dark eyes, nearly black, weren't as gentle as they once seemed. Now, in her eyes there was resentment and malice. The glaring absence of the sweet tempered girl she had once known was all Evelyn could see in them. She looked away.

"Have you been eating well? Are you dizzy?"

Maureen turned to face her, her stringy hair hanging in her face. "Stay away from me."

"Maureen, I know you're upset but you're not well. Please just let me..."

"You're a hypocrite!" she spat.

Evelyn hung her head and sighed. She had been afraid of having this conversation, but she knew it had to occur. "I understand how you might perceive me as such. However, the situations are entirely different."

Maureen crossed her arms over her flat chest. "Oh, really?"

"Regulus Black is a deviant who didn't truly care for you. Sirius is different. You also blatantly lied to me about—"

"You lied by omission, Evie." The name that had been given to her was now robbed of all affection by her sister's tongue.

"How was I to tell you anything?" Evelyn asked. "You demanded that I keep my distance and yet you become angry with me when I respect your wishes. I just can't seem to win, Maureen."

"You're supposed to be taking care of me," she said, rubbing her stomach gently. "But you persist on spending your time with those creatures of dirt."

Evelyn felt ice run through her veins. "Maureen, you are my sister and I love you. So I beg you to please refrain from asking me to sacrifice my friends."

"You really think they're your friends?" Maureen chuckled darkly. "You're deluding yourself."

"Why are you behaving this way? Saying these things? I'm your sister."

"Yes, and as such you should realize that your loyalty belongs to me."

Evelyn stepped back and gave her sister a hard look over the rim of her glasses. "Loyalty? I have been nothing but loyal to you. I have always put you first and I don't regret it for an instant. I just wish you could reciprocate."

"Reciprocate? This past year you have been absent."

"At your behest!" Evelyn reminded. "You wanted this, Maureen! It's entirely unfair to be upset with me for having a life outside of you. While you are always my main concern, I am not your slave!"

Maureen went to speak again but Evelyn rushed forward and grabbed her hands desperately.

"Please Maureen! For once think of my happiness! I have always taken yours into consideration, have I not? Even when I had reservations. Please don't tell father about my friends, about Sirius. I'll be more attentive if that is now your wish. Just please... allow me this one joy for myself."

Maureen pulled her hands away and said nothing. She looked at the ground for a moment as if in deliberation. She walked around Evelyn and opened the door, throwing her one last glance over her shoulder.

"End it now, or I shall do it for you," she said, evenly.

The door swung shut behind her and Evelyn felt her chest constrict painfully. She took a shuddering breath and closed her eyes, to hold back tears. She wanted to scream at her sister, she wanted cry at how unfair it was. But she didn't. She turned to the sink and splashed her face with cool water as she tended to do when she felt overwhelmed. She put her glasses back on and took a deep, steadying breath.

She didn't want to believe her sister could be so selfish and unforgiving but the truth was staring her in the face. A small part of her willed herself to hate Maureen, maybe it would be less painful to have heard those things if she did. But Evelyn couldn't hate her, not really. Maureen was still her sister and despite her obvious faults, Evelyn loved her. However, things between them had now changed.

They sat side by side, legs brushing against each other. They were to go home tomorrow for the Christmas holidays, and wouldn't see each other for weeks. He was going to miss her, more than he was willing to admit to himself. After how close the two of them had grown in the last few months, he couldn't imagine going a day without seeing her, let alone weeks. So, he had asked her to break curfew with him so they could make the most of what little time they had left before they boarded the train tomorrow.

They sat in an empty classroom, quietly talking about unimportant things. Everything and anything, except family. Right now the subject was a little too raw for her. She knew it was possible that she would soon be forced to end their relationship. All the same, Evelyn made no indication of it to him. She didn't want to say goodbye any sooner than she had to. So she revelled in his company for what was probably the last time.

"Can you guess what's over my head?" he asked, cheekily.

"Every clever remark?" she quipped.

"Remember that I have your present hostage, so don't get cute."

She glanced up at the mistletoe, amused by how it had suddenly appeared. She leaned over and kissed him gently.

He took her hand. "I wish you would let me send it to you."

She squeezed his hand gently. "I've already explained why that cannot be." Mr Gray was likely to burn anything he sent her.

"I know but I'd rather you open your present on Christmas morning. That way you can't smack me," he joked, opening his book bag to retrieve her gift.

It was clothing, she could tell. She anxiously opened it, prepared to dislike whatever it was. She was very particular about her apparel and having someone else pick something out for her gave her pause.

She tore at the paper and unfolded the black shawl with red roses on it. The material was soft to the touch and the shawl itself was very elegant looking. It was not at all something she'd wear but she smiled gratefully at him.

"It's beautiful," she said, softly. "Thank you."

"You hate it."

"No!" she vowed. "I love it, truly. I've never owned anything so lavish."

He shook his head and looked away. "I'm awful at gift giving. I knew I should have gone with the fudge!"

She placed a hand on his cheek and coaxed him to turn and look at her. She brushed her lips against his in a soft whisper. "I would not lie. It's not something I would have chosen myself, but I love it. I love that you would think me worthy of such finery." She kissed him firmly. "How dare you think me a liar." She smiled against his lips.

He kissed her again then reached up and covered her hand with his, nuzzling his face into her palm.

"My turn," she said, pulling away from him. She reached into her own book bag and pulled out two items covered in cloth.

He took one of the items from her, unwrapped the cloth and found a mirror underneath. He did the same with the other and found another identical mirror.

"I know I'm a handsome bloke, luv," he joked, not understanding. "...and it's awful nice of you to remind me, but..."

She elbowed him and took back one of the mirrors. "They're two-way mirrors. You give one of them to someone else and no matter where they are, if you say their name to the mirror, you can talk to them through it. I got the idea when you were telling me about you and James having to serve separate detentions."

He put the mirror back in his lap and kissed her fiercely, when they pulled away for air, he was smiling at her. It wasn't his usual cheeky smirk, but a genuine smile stretched across his face.

"I think I'm going to have to test them out," he said. "And since you won't let me owl you..."

She smiled, looking down at her lap where the second mirror lay. She let her fingers graze over the surface of the mirror. She would not have to be without him during the holidays, and that feeling made up for all the uncertainty her sister had left her with. She raised the mirror and pressed her lips against the glass.

"I'm looking forward to it."

Reviews are motivational and would be greatly appreciated!