A/N: Thanks for the review Kat! I like Dinah and Lucy's friendship too, but then I'm sure I'm biased. The dynamic between the couples is going to get more interesting soon and hopefully it's a good change :-) I like Remus and Tonks too. I think they're a good balance for Lucy and Sirius though we don't get to see much of them. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 39

Yanking on her Ravenclaw hat, Lucy left her gloves in her pocket, refusing to wear them and have to remove her ring, and rushed down to Severus's rooms. They hadn't made plans to sit together for this quidditch match but Lucy was hoping they wanted to again. She wanted to catch them before they left for the pitch so she didn't have to search the stands for them.

The dungeons seemed particularly cold and damp today, Lucy thought, shivering as she passed through the spot where she first heard Bellatrix Lestrange. She shook the thoughts out of her head as she reached the closed office door. This time she didn't hesitate to knock.

"Who's there?" a male voice, presumably Severus's, demanded. He sounded annoyed.

"Um, Lucy?" she responded, unsure if she should have come down here after all.

A bunch of girlish giggles came through the door. Either Dinah was in there too or Severus had a new girlfriend. She was pretty sure it was Dinah though, he didn't seem the type to go around romancing many girls at once. The door unlocked and Dinah called, "You can come in, Lucy."

She opened the door to be greeted by the sight of Dinah sitting on a rather red Severus's lap. Her arm was around his shoulders. She blushed a little before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a handkerchief, holding it out to Severus with her left hand, "Um, here. I don't think that's really your color."

Lucy heard Severus growl as he snatched the handkerchief, glared at Dinah, and wiped his lips.

"Um, sorry. Put it on this morning, didn't think," Dinah said, her gaze shifting to Lucy's hand. "No gloves this time? You could have used the necklace thing like before," she said, referring to the engagement ring.

"Nah. This time I've got this," she said pulling her Tudor Rose necklace out and showing it to Dinah. "One of the things he noticed," she grinned. "He had it custom made. I've recently gone from having minimal jewelry to an ample supply. It's getting a little ridiculous."

Dinah laughed. "You think you have that problem. Today I had to decide whether to wear the bracelet with the necklace or the bracelet with the earrings or toss aside formality and wear all of them and mix metals," she grinned and kissed Severus on the cheek to soften the scowl he was still wearing. "Ultimately, I went with the garnets. Oh, and your necklace is lovely by the way."

"Thanks," she felt her face go a little redder as her gaze slid to Severus, "Don't be embarrassed. After all you, ah, walked in on me and Sirius in a similar position before one of the Order meetings if you'll remember."

"How could I possibly forget?" he did not look pleased as he recalled the incident. "Now, I assume you're here because you want to go to the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff game?"

"Gryfflepuff game," Dinah corrected. He sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Well, um, yes if you two want to go…what in the world is a Gryfflepuff?"

"Me," Dinah beamed. "I was in both houses, remember?"

Lucy laughed, "Oh right. A Gryffindor and a Hufflepuff. Got it. Did the two of you want to go then or should I leave you to…resume your previous activities?" Lucy knew if she'd been in Dinah's position she'd have had a hard decision on her hands…well, maybe not. Sirius would probably decide one way or the other.

Dinah frowned, taking time to think about her options. "We'll go, I think. I want to see who wins. You don't mind going with a couple of teenagers though, right?" She slid her hand into Severus's and gave Lucy a small smile. "It's just your job to take away points if anybody makes fun of us."

"I'll do my best, but you'll make my job easier if you go below the bleachers to snog. With any luck though you'll run into Agrona and Derwent down there." She hadn't seen the girl outside of class since she'd come to her office crying but she was hopeful the couple had patched things up by now.

"There will be no... snogging in public," Severus said through gritted teeth.

"Darn," Dinah laughed. "Agrona and Derwent? They haven't been talking much in class lately that I've noticed."

"Yeah, she came to me a couple weeks ago, crying. She's got no clue what's gone on but he just stopped talking to her. Never broke up with her or anything. Just stopped talking. She thinks maybe someone said something to him but she doesn't know…"

"He's been recently spending time with a group of Slytherins who hold Death Eater values in high esteem," Severus spoke up. "I don't know why or what any of them may have said about Miss Huntingdon, but I suspect it may be similar to Speasy and Yates's issue. It wouldn't surprise me if one of them suggested she was taking advantage of him; him being Muggle-born."

"I wondered if it was something like that. I saw him in the library that day I found you there with the romance novels," Lucy nodded, thinking more about Derwent then what she'd just said.

Severus gave a little groan when Lucy mentioned the romance novels, causing Dinah to crack a smile. Then he continued: "The only time pureblood or Death Eater bent Slytherins associate with Muggle-born Slytherins...or often half-blood Slytherins as well," he sighed, "is when they have something they want. Mr. Lympsham is highly skilled in my class. That's probably why they're using him. And mark my words, they are using him."

Lucy sighed, "I wish he could see that. Of course I couldn't see that Nick was just using me at first so I suppose it's a part of growing up. I doubt saying anything to him would help…" she looked down at the floor, sad for the couple and the boy who only wanted friends. "Should we get going then? I know I'm incredibly early but I wanted to catch you before you left…"

"Sure, let's go," Dinah stood from the chair and walked over to a hook in the wall, grabbing her warm outer robes to put on over her Muggle dress.

"Here," Severus stood, grabbing a scarf and wrapping it around her neck with an affectionate gaze. "Don't forget one of these this time. It's colder today than it has been during the week," he kissed her, and then went to grab his own outer robes.

Dinah smiled and slipped her gloves on. "I have you to thank for half of this, you know," she said to Lucy.

Lucy laughed, "Really, now?"

She grinned. "The Valentine's escapade put us halfway into dating mode. Then we went the rest of the way ourselves," she gave Severus an indulgent smile and looped her arm into Severus's. "Shall we go?"

"If we don't want to be late, then yes," he led them to the door and opened it, gently dropping Dinah's arm when they exited into the hall.

They were mostly silent walking from the school down to the pitch. When they had climbed partway into the stands Lucy pointed out a rather dark, secluded corner. "That's a good spot there, in case you were wondering," she grinned.

"Enough!" Severus snarled, his face flushed and his head darting back and forth to the students around them, some of them staring a little but most of them wrapped up in quidditch. After a moment he sighed; "Do you think everyone knows?"

"We haven't done much in public, so I don't think they know know, but...well, I'm pretty sure they've all at least gotten the message that there is something between us," Dinah answered.

Lucy sighed, wondering what it would have been like to be sixteen with Sirius. She laughed. They probably wouldn't have got on at all. She'd been pretty bookish then, not that she wasn't now but…well, it was different somehow. He probably wouldn't have looked twice at her. She'd been pretty invisible back then, or at least it'd felt that way sometimes. Or maybe, she thought, just maybe they would have repeatedly gotten in trouble for making out all the time. She grinned. Maybe she could talk him into sneaking in here and snogging a bit.

"I doubt anyone knows much more than they did before the youthening. It's just now they're witnessing the more…hormonal side of you," Lucy said, bringing her thoughts back to the younger couple.

"Which makes everything entirely more obvious," Dinah sighed as they settled into their seats. "Either way, nobody's said anything on that subject. It's more laughing at us because we look like children than anything."

"Mm," Severus agreed uneasily, ending up in-between Dinah and Lucy in the Hufflepuff stands, "We barely made it in time."

"Hey, you said you didn't care one iota about the Gryfflepuff game," Dinah teased, clapping as the team members were introduced and flew onto the pitch.

Lucy grinned, looking over at Dinah, "The Gryfflepuff games were always weird for me. On the one hand I had Tonks rooting for Hufflepuff and she was my friend but then I had cousins on the Gryffindor team…and my own house wasn't playing so…divided loyalties."

She nodded. "I can understand that. I was similar, except I reached the point where I didn't really care. Either one could win and please me. I guess that whole thing is why I never got extremely into Quidditch. Or any of the house rivalries for that matter."

"Mmm," Lucy responded, not really knowing what to say to that. "I think, in general, Muggle-borns aren't quite as into Quidditch as the rest of us. Not that it's an us and them kind of thing. That's not what I meant."

"I don't know if that's necessarily true in all cases, but I'd agree that it is in some," Dinah said. "There are a lot of other sports in the Muggle world that they come in knowing quite a bit about, so Quidditch is added to that but it doesn't replace it. I could have asked a question about that in my surveys."

"Surveys that will never be finished," Severus teased.

"Oh, hush!" she laughed and nudged him. "They will be, just not anytime...soon."

Lucy laughed, "Ahh, I know all about soon. It's another word for never. Students tried that with assignments early in the year. Mum said it when she was hoping I'd forget about something she wasn't keen on doing or explaining. Soon…"

Dinah laughed, too. "But I really do intend on finishing them. Yeah, though, soon is one of those famous last words, isn't it? Lucy? Are you okay?"

She shook herself out of her depressing thoughts, "Yeah, sorry. It just sort of sneaks up on you sometimes. You know?"

"Mm, yeah I think so," Dinah agreed; "Like the thing with the houses earlier. It was hard being divided between two houses and dealing with people's bitter feelings. I would sometimes dwell on my Hogwarts years and how hard they were, but," she smiled and threw her scarf over her and Severus's laps like she'd done before with the robes. "That doesn't bother me so much, anymore," she finished, moving to sit closer to him.

Lucy laughed, "Keep that up and everyone will know. I'm glad it doesn't bother you now though. Kids can be cruel and the ones who were mean to you don't really matter now. I mean look at me and Nick. Thirteen years ago he was important…now he's just some brown-noser trying to move up in the Ministry. He doesn't matter to my life at all."

"Yeah," Dinah agreed. "I didn't get the most favorable impression of him when I met him at Slughorn's party."

"Oh, trust me. That was a good impression. I barely kept Sirius from punching him in the face. Though truth be told, if he'd called me Lulu one more time I might have done it myself. Take his wife and child to America to be safe," Lucy muttered, "Yeah, way to care about others Nick."

"That is unfortunate, but the war would have reached those shores eventually, either way," Severus said, "There was not anywhere to hide or be safe. Even had he not participated in any fighting, just staying in Britain would have been a strong move. Shown that he was intelligent enough to realize that there was no place to hide."

"Exactly my point. Nick is an idiot. I mean I get wanting to be safe but even if I hadn't joined the Order I would have stayed. Not everyone could fight. That doesn't mean they were cowards. It just means they couldn't do it for one reason or another. Sorry I didn't mean to get all political on you," she said, clapping when Gryffindor scored.

Severus nodded his approval at the pitch. "It would be preferable if Gryffindor wins."

"What?" Dinah and Lucy both turned shocked glances on him and spoke at the same time.

He chuckled slightly. "Slytherin's chances are better in that case, especially with the current score standings. They have a remaining game with Hufflepuff but have already defeated Gryffindor. If Hufflepuff wins this game, a win against Slytherin in May will carry greater threat."

Lucy nodded, "Makes sense. Ginny's on Gryffindor so I'd prefer them to win but then Hufflepuff could use a win too…" Though she didn't say it out loud, Lucy thought it was understood that Hufflepuff wasn't really known for winning many Quidditch matches.

Dinah shrugged; "Well, like I said, either way is okay with me."

"Soo," Lucy said awkwardly into the sudden silence that fell on them, "Seen any fox around lately?"

Dinah laughed; "No, not since you. I've seen some snakes though. They like to sun themselves on warm days," she grinned.

"Mmm," Lucy said, leaning her head back and enjoying the sun herself, "I know how they feel. It's been so nice lately it's easy to forget about those storms…"

"Yeah...the last one was pretty mild. No dementors," Dinah agreed.

"It was hardly noticeable in Hogsmeade. No voices last time either."

"Good," Dinah paused. "Oh no, we forgot to mention that to Dumbledore!"

"Perhaps because we didn't ask Lucy if she wanted that mentioned to Dumbledore," Severus said calmly, turning to look at Lucy. "Do you?"

Lucy looked around them, suddenly worried one of the students would over hear them. "I don't know," she shrugged, "Dumbledore knows about before but…" she turned to look back at Severus and Dinah, "The two of you are the only ones that know, but if you think it's important he knows, if it'll help you with whatever it is you're working on, then I suppose it's all right."

"It might help. Don't worry," Dinah smiled; "He's not going to think you're crazy either. We'll make sure of that."

"Thanks," she said, smiling back, "that's good to know."

"I got an owl yesterday," Sirius said, casually as he sent their empty dinner plates back down to the kitchen Wednesday.

"Oh?" Lucy said.

"Yeah. Some lawyer wants me to go out to the Lestrange mansion and help figure out what goes where or to who or whatever."

Lucy sat abruptly on the couch, the breath having gone out of her. "When?"

"Tomorrow and Friday. I probably wouldn't be back until Saturday morning…maybe you could make plans with Dinah or something."

Lucy shook her head, "No, that's okay. I'll be fine for one night I'm sure," she paused for a few moments, "The Lestrange's you said? Like Rodolphus and Bellatrix?"

"Yes. It was the family home but they lived there."

"Don't go," she begged him, tears filling her eyes.

"I'm coming back," he reassured her, his hand framing her face. He tried to memorize her features, her fear, and she was afraid, making him nervous that maybe he was lying.

"You don't know that. Don't go," she pleaded again.

"I have to. They asked me to help clean up the Lestrange estate. There's stuff in there that was Bella's, things that belong to the Black family. Andromeda and Narcissa are coming too, but most of that stuff will come to me. I have to go."

"No, you don't. Please."

His hands slid from her face down to her throat to better feel the pulse that was pounding there. "What is wrong? What's got you so frightened? There's nothing there. The Lestrange's are all dead and the Aurors have been through the house. Nothing's going to happen."

"I hear her," Lucy said, "I used to dream about her, she'd get in my head and I had trouble getting her out. Those weren't real. I know that. I've always known that. But now…I can be walking along, going about a perfectly normal day, or be teaching a class, even going to a meal and I hear her. It's not in my head. I hear her just as plain as I hear you. I killed Sirius Black," Lucy mimicked Bellatrix's voice, "Please. Don't go."

"Lucy," he whispered, shifting to sit next to her and pulling her into his lap. "How long has this been going on?"

"I don't know," she said, clinging to him, "Ever since the Hufflepuff Ravenclaw game. That was the first time…it only happens during those storms, but please, you can't go to that house. You can't."

He sighed. Sirius didn't know whether to believe her or not. He didn't think Lucy would lie to him but hearing voices… "Lu, Bella's dead. She can't harm us."

"But…but you were dead."

"Not really. It felt like it but I wasn't really dead. If I had been I wouldn't be here now. You only hear her during the storms…there must be a connection then and the weather's been nice lately. I'm sure everything will be fine and if it's not Harry will be around this week. It's his turn to patrol Hogwarts. Dumbledore will be here too and you used to be an Auror. I'll be okay and so will you. Voices can't hurt us."

He heard her sniffle and felt her wipe her face on the shoulder of his robe. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," he said, stroking her face, "Absolutely. There's no reason that it shouldn't be. You'll be here teaching as usual. The only difference will be you'll stay here Friday. If I get back early I'll come get you. Okay?"

"Okay," she said, but he got the impression she didn't quite believe him.

Thanks for the review Kat! I like Dinah and Lucy's friendship too, but then I'm sure I'm biased. The dynamic between the couples is going to get more interesting soon and hopefully it's a good change :-) I like Remus and Tonks too. I think they're a good balance for Lucy and Sirius though we don't get to see much of them. Hope you enjoy this chapter!