A/N: You guys...I AM SO SORRY FOR HOW LONG THIS UPDATE TO COME! Right, so I went off for my little holiday which was brilliant, but on my way back I became extremely ill so I've spent the last week or so holed up in bed with a fever and a cold and unable to do much, and staring at a screen when sick was next to impossible for me...anyway. I'm kind of better now, but they switched up my shift up at work so things are a bit topsy turvy but I'm going to try my best to get back on a tight writing schedule with consistent updates for you lot! Anyway, here we go:


Sirius and Rowan had not been a couple for very long when they got into their first official fight.

And ladies and gentlemen, it was big. To say the least.

In the fortnight they had between leaving Hogwarts and departing for their holiday in America, everyone had been more or less rather busy. Peter called this the "limbo time", the in between time before everything starts up again.

Marlene, Remus, James, Lily and Sirius were all house hunting.

Remus wanted privacy, James wanted a house and Sirius wanted space.

Lily had gone on to make a general in the Wizarding Armed Forces proud and had gone all out in wedding planning mode with Sergeant Marlene McKinnon at her side, faithfully going through catalogues, looking at venues and other what not.

Rowan has devoted her entire time and energy towards the last rounds of practising for the Baranabus Finkly Competition which was going to happen in a couple of days. Her brother Kol stood by as her spotter in case she injured herself and her parents were packing up their things in order to go back to Romania with the rest of their relatives and friends until Voldemort and his followers were no longer targeting them.

Needless to say being this busy didn't prevent Sirius and Rowan from getting into their first fight. The first thing Sirius did after staying at the Potters for the first week was book a room at the Leaky Cauldron, wrench open the flat listing and then got his screwed over by terms he had no idea what they meant.

Flat listings, he soon found out, had a language of their own that he had yet to learn. He had no idea what the hell half ads meant and more often traipsed into flat showings and finding himself completely bowled over by the person who was showing the flat.

Rowan had thrown herself down in a booth at the Leaky Cauldron mentally and physically exhausted. Sirius came bounding down the stairs and grinned when he saw her tired face. Kissing her quickly he ordered drinks and food and observed her.

"You look like hell love,"

"Cheers to you to you too, git," she retorted sipping at her wine.

"So how's practice going?"

"As well as it can when there's only two days before the competition…how's the house hunting going?"

"Impossible. Finding a place to live is impossible and mind boggling." Sirius ranted.

"Better you than me, thank god Kol already found us a place,"

"He found us a place?" Sirius asked surprised.

Rowan gave him a strange look. "Yeah,"

"Well that's awfully nice of him," Sirius said feeling relieved and a little weirded out at the same time.

"Well yeah he's my brother, of course he's gonna help his little sister out and find her a place to live, plus it'll make my parents feel stressed knowing that we're going to be living together,"

"Wait, you're parents are cool with it? I thought they were all traditional and stuff!" Sirius interrupted.

"Sirius, we've grown up in the same house! We have essentially lived together for most of our lives,"

"Spending the last seven years at Hogwarts doesn't count of growing up and living together!" Sirius said loudly.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" he asked utterly lost.

"Kol and I…we're going to be living together. He found a little flat with two bedrooms and we're adding our own bathrooms and yadda yadda yadda."

"Whoa whoa whoa, you and Kol are living together?!" Sirius shouted slamming his tankard down on the table.

Rowan raised a brow. "Uh yeah? We're family and the only ones left here…"

"I thought you and I were going to live together!" Sirius exploded.

Rowan's mouth dropped open in surprise. "Why the hell would you think that?"

"We're together! Everyone else is shacking up!" Sirius threw up his hands.

"If everyone jumped off a cliff, would you do that too?" she tossed back. "Besides, we just got together, for crying out loud we're not getting married nor do I have any intention any time soon!" she added.

"But, but," Sirius sputtered.

"What 'but'? Sirius how can assume such things! There is no way we're living together!" Rowan said loudly.

"But you're going to be living with your brother! What about me?"

"Sirius, we both are people who like a lot of space, in fact, we like a lot of fucking space. If we live together, we're gonna be around each other all the bloody time, we will drive each other crazy and then we'll hate each other. Then we break up. Sirius Black, do you want to break up?!" Rowan said gesturing with her hands.

"No." Sirius muttered.

"Good cos I don't want to either. I kind of like you you know?" Rowan said grumpily.

"But..but…I want to be around with you. WE SHOULD MOVE IN TOGETHER!" Sirius yelled waving his wand causing sparks to fly out.

"What the hell are you two you yelling about?" Peter asked plunking himself down next to them. James and Remus joined them. Both look utterly bewildered.

"Apparently Rowan is going to live with her brother and not me," Sirius groused.

"So?" James asked as he waited for his drink to arrive.

"So?! We're together! We should be living together! All of you are living together!" Sirius said pointing fingers at Remus and James.

Remus shifted. "Erm…well maybe not anymore…"

Sirius' eyes widened. "What?! Why?!"

"We can't really agree on a place to live, I want a lot of privacy because of you know…and she wants to live in the city, in a flat and all that and we can't see eye to eye and I obviously can't tell her why I want privacy…"

"Remus John Lupin you haven't told her that you're a werewolf yet?!" Rowan hissed.

"…No…." he answered in a small voice.

Rowan swore and slapped the back of his head. He let out a yelp of pain and stared at her. "What the heck was that for?"

"You're even a bigger idiot that Sirius here is. Rule number one in relationships, you tell each other important things."

"Rule number two, you don't lie," she added.

"She'll hate me, dump my arse and never speak to me again," Remus said petulantly.

"Augh I can't talk to you anymore. Nor can I talk to you. You both are idiots. And I don't need your stupidity to infect me." Rowan stood up decisively. She tossed Sirius a withering stare and he stuck his tongue out her.

"Oh good that means you can come and take a look around at some bridesmaid dresses!" Lily announced appearing from nowhere with Marlene at her side.

"Where have you two been all day?" Rowan demanded.

"We've been cake tasting!" Marlene replied brightly.

"What?! And you went without me?" Rowan complained.

"Well…we're now going to go dress shopping," Lily said.

"Oh that sounds like a boatload of fun. You bring me in for this, and you know I despise dress shopping but nooooooo you leave me out for cake tasting!" Rowan said sarcastically.

"Rowan honestly tell me, would you eat any of the cake?" Lily said placing a hand on her hip referring to Rowan's dislike for sweets.

A pause.

"No…" Rowan muttered. "But seriously, why do I have to miss out on all the fun stuff? Cake tasting is still way more entertaining then dress shopping…well at least I have the hen's night out extravaganza to plan…"

"Oh yeah about that, there's not going to be a hen's night or anything like that…" Lily interrupted.

"WHAT?!" Rowan exploded clapping her hands on her head and staring at her friend incredulously. Remus stifled a titter as Rowan's face became increasingly grumpy as Lily began explaining why she wasn't indulging in a bachelorette party.

"Well at least let's go out and have a tea party in the woods and take some shrooms or something…"

"We are not going to go and have a party in the woods and do shrooms!"

"But we need to have some FUN!" The Marauders heard Rowan protest as she made her way out the door.

"That girl…" James said fondly.

"Yeah, that girl…the girl who doesn't want to live with me," Sirius muttered under his breath.

"Why doesn't she want to live with you again?" Peter asked sipping his beer.

"Cos apparently she thinks it'd be a terrible idea and that'd we break up after being around each other so much," he mumbled.

"Well…she does have a fair point, it is you two," James said reasonably.

This didn't sit well with Sirius. "See! Why the heck does everyone say that! What you all mean by "us two" what is wrong with us two?" he said loudly.

"You two are the most mercurial people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. You two are both alpha males. Very independent, reckless, you both like a lot of space and stuff." James explained with a maddeningly patient air.

"And stuff?" Sirius echoed.

"And stuff," Peter reiterated.

"Oh yes. The stuff. Relationship killer," Remus sighed thinking of his own stuff.

"I despise the stuff," Sirius grumbled staring at the bottom of his empty tankard.

"But you if you really want to live with her…you know what you need to do?" Peter spoke up.

"Imperio her?"

"Talk to her, you daft, daft prat." Peter sighed.


Marlene and Lily echoed the same sentiments to Rowan while they were examining potential bridesmaid dresses. In the week and half they had been out of school Lily had already made up a list that nearly had ten thousand things to do and it was never too early to scout out dresses when there was about two months till the big day.

"You girls…I just don't think it's a good idea. I do not want Sirius and I to go from an "I" to a "We"," Rowan sighed shoving aside a rack of dresses.

"You're not even looking!" Marlene protested.

"Stick me in a dress, in a kilt, in a bloody pyjama suit, whatever you bloody want, just don't put me in anything orange or lime green. I do not look good in those colours and when I wear neon colours or lime green, I look like a cheap tart,"

"As opposed to an expensive one?" Lily raised an eyebrow.

"If I'm going to degrade myself I might as well look like an expensive tart," Rowan grumbled.

Marlene giggled and studied a dress. "What do you think about this one Lils?"

"If you like it, do ahead and try it on," Lily said encouragingly.

"Well aren't you a cool as a cucumber bride…" Rowan laughed throwing herself down on a chair.

"I don't want to turn into one of those horrible monsters just because I'm going to be a bride," Lily replied in a haughty manner.

"That's what you say now…"

"Try this one on," Lily shoved a dress in Rowan's arms.

She made a face but went into the changing room anyhow. Irritated she shimmied into the dress and then made a face in the mirror. No. No. No. No.

"NO." Rowan said loudly through the door.

"Let me see,"

"This is horrendous," Rowan flung open the door and crossed her arms over her chest tightly.

"Let your arms down you silly goose, let me see,"

She let her arms dropped and stared crossly at her mate. Marlene and Lily broke out in gleeful smiles.

"You look hot as hell," Marlene grinned.

"Sirius would love you in this dress,"

"Of course he would! You can see my bloody knockers in this dress! It's too low." Rowan cursed.

"Darling, lesson number one in fashion, for you, nothing is too low," Marlene said in a matter of fact.

"And pray tell, me, why is that?"

"Because you've got bits that are…" Marlene floundered. Rowan stuck her tongue out. "Yes I know. Because I've got next to nothing bits, therefore I can wear clothes that make me look as trampy and tarty as possible. That's just bloody brilliant."

"When you're on a girl's night out and want to get some, then yes, it is quite brilliant."

"I already have some and I don't think Sirius would be too pleased if I brought some extra stuff along," Rowan wryly said.

"With Sirius I don't think you'd need any extra some, that boy has the looks of a Greek god," Lily said in a frank voice.

"You're engaged!"

"That doesn't mean I can't speak my opinions," she said serenely.

"Face it Rowan you're a lucky little minx," Marlene pointed out handing her another dress.

"You don't think I know that? Believe me, Sirius Black is….I can't think of enough words to aptly describe him, but seriously you don't think I know how bloody lucky I am. There are a million other girls who are infinitely better suited towards him, who don't try to blow themselves up on a daily basis or will run him into the ground. I still don't know what happened in Potions but why on earth Sirius wants to be with me still astounds me. Which is why I don't want to live with him. If we live together we will ruin each other." Rowan said at her wits end.

"Rowan, your level of self esteem astounds me. For someone who can kick a Slytherin's arse, say no to You-Know-Who, you sure have an awfully low level of self esteem in yourself. I do not approve." Lily said not impressed.

"It's not the same thing. I really care about Sirius. I don't want to make him unhappy. If he's around me all the time, believe me, I will make him unhappy. I make myself unhappy just being around my goddamn self all the bleeding time." Rowan cried out.

"Why?!" Marlene asked frustrated.

"Because she's manic depressive," Lily said quietly.

Marlene's mouth opened in surprise. "Pardon?"

"I'm a manic depressive. I go through periods of time where I'm happy, or ok, for some time then all of a sudden I become depressed for months at a time. You have no idea how hard it is, it maintain some façade to show off to everyone. If you ever saw me how I really am, none of would be able to be mates with me. My moods don't change in months, they change in days, hours even. Someday I just wake up sad and I have no idea why. When I'm depressed or very angry I get really violent and I inflict a lot damage on things."

Marlene didn't say anything. "And this doesn't want you to move in with Sirius because…"

"Because I don't need him to deal with me in my moods. When I'm in low periods or black moods, I like a lot of space. I don't talk to anyone, I don't like being with anyone or doing anything. I don't need to burden him down with my stupid stuff because he doesn't need any more on his plate. Plus I cannot financially support myself and if I shack up with him, it'd be as if I'm depending on him. And Rowan Forlani does not depend on anyone!" she said through gritted teeth pulling her regular clothes back on.

"You're mental you know that?" Lily shook her head.

"I'm independent. And I like it."

"No, you're not thinking of the big picture here Ro. Listen to me, you want to know why Sirius wants to live with you? Besides for the fact that you're together now and that he most likely loves you, he wants to be with you because you're one of his links to Hogwarts. And you know what Hogwarts was to him? His home. That place was his home for seven years, and for the last four and half years, you became apart of that home for him. He wants to make a home with you!" Marlene said impatiently.

Rowan just looked at her with a look of slight disgust on her face. "That's the most stupidly sentimental statement I've ever had the displeasure of hearing."

And then after a pause she added, "It's too soon. I'm not one of the girls who just jumps into things just cos she has a effin boyfriend."

"Oh and running off to the States for a two month holiday together isn't too soon?" Lily challenged.

"That's different. We were going to go as mates before, nothing is that different than going as a couple,"

"Oh Rowan….it makes a world of difference." Lily shook her head.


So everyone was stuck in their housing situation. Remus still hadn't told Marlene that was a werewolf, Lily and James had no idea what kind of house they wanted and Sirius and Rowan were still in a fight. It was a jolly good week for all parties around.

Rowan pushed all thoughts of housing and Sirius aside during the second week because at last, after waiting for so long, the Baranbus Finkley Competition had arrived. She had rented a room in the Leaky Cauldron for one night, not wanting to distract herself by bunking in with Sirius in his room, knocked herself out with a heavy sleeping position and slept for nearly nine hours.

She woke up feeling nervous and grim. Showering quickly, Rowan neatly tied back her hair in it's usual bun, replaced the numerous hoops in her ears with little studs and put on a little make-up. She shrugged on her nicest dress robe and then shoved her feet in her combat boots. Just because she was going to the bloody Wizarding Gamot did not mean she had to sacrifice her entire personality. Besides the dress robes were so long you couldn't see most of the boots.

Rowan bypassed saying good morning to Sirius seeing as she was still a little miffed at him and plus she did not want to wake him up, she tramped down the staircase and spotted Professor Dumbledore, (was he still to be called Professor Dumbledore? She wasn't in school anymore but Mr. Dumbledore sounded faintly ridiculous) sitting serenely at a table with a nice breakfast spread in front of him.

"Good morning Sir," she said a little timidly. She hated how she sounded. She was Rowan Forlani goddamnit. She cleared her throat and sat down across from him.

"Good morning Miss Forlani! How are you feeling?" He asked putting down the Daily Prophet.

"Nervous," she replied curtly.

"As one would expect. I recommend eating some breakfast. Settle your nerves. Help yourself," he pushed a plate of buttered crumpets towards her.

Rowan felt very odd sitting across from her former Headmaster eating crumpets and drinking tea. At some point he handed her an extra newspaper which she was grateful for.

Then there was nothing left but to go to the bloody competition. Finally the pair of them stood up and made their way out of the Leaky Cauldron, bidding Tom, the toothless innkeeper good bye. They walked briskly down the street and stopped by a dilapidated telephone booth. Dumbledore stepped in and pressed a few buttons. Rowan was a bit too preoccupied to notice the cool female voice that was speaking and was startled when Dumbledore pressed a badge into her hand. ROWAN FORLANI: COMPETITOR.

"What the hell is this for?" she asked pinning it to her dress robes anyway.

"Identification. The Ministry insists on it for security reasons," Dumbledore replied cheerfully.

"Oh yeah security reasons…" Rowan muttered as they descended underground.

She eyed the magnificent reception hall of the Ministry of Magic with a wary eye. There were a whole lot of official, busy looking people. Official busy looking people who kept an eye on the rest of the magical population.

She felt distinctively uneasy here but tried not to let her nerves get the best of her. She had bigger fish to fry than to worry about whether or not government workers were giving her the stink eye or not.

The voices in her head began to yammer as she followed Dumbledore blindly as he made his way expertly through the crowd. The pair of the remained silent as they entered the golden gated elevator.

"Just do your best Rowan," Dumbledore said in a mild voice as he led her down a long corridor.

Rowan didn't say anything, but merely lifted her eyes up at him. Although there was no smile on his face, his eyes were bright, hopeful. They had faith in her. her lips curved slightly. "I will,"

He nodded and bowed slightly at her before opening a heavy door for her. "Good luck,"

The room beyond the door appeared to be dimly lit, she could barely make out ethereal looking bodies moving about the room. But that was ok. She liked the dark. An enigmatic smile appeared on her face. "Time to play," she said striding in.


A/N: Still trying to map out sequence of events for the Order and such, but we're getting there! I hope everyone has been well, I would love to hear what you all think and if you have any ideas or suggestion, please let me know and review! :) xoxoxoxo