A/N: In which James sweeps Lily off her feet, sort of, and plans are made.

gwenwesley: Just wait until they're adults. The scenes I have planned where they're awkward 35 year olds skirting around each other... ;)

ScarletSea: It was a bit dry, but now we can focus on the parts of the story that we all want to :)

Toffeeloveryes: It won't be too long now, don't worry! Things will be moving pretty fast after this chapter.

laura-firewalker: True, it wasn't very helpful, but Dumbledore's response is necessary for what I have planned! Also I'm still totally on board with Sirius calling Vivian 'Vivi' as their relationship gets more stable, so that will definitely start happening soonish

Guest1515: That does seem to be the general verdict ;)

a-reads: I think Gavin and Vivian are better as friends as well. I am going to have so much fun writing their relationship once they're both adults. I can already picture Gavin getting all snarky and bringing up embarrassing memories whenever Vivian annoys him. Anyhow though, there will be a Marauder reaction in the next chapter! As for the love letter plot, you'll find out what happens soon!

megancl99: Thanks! I have a lot planned for this story. It will eventually be taken through the HP books, second war, etc., so there's way more to write! I've had a lot of fun writing Vivian and Sirius's story, so I'm glad that everyone seems to be enjoying it as well :)

Newreader: Thanks so much! My original muse for Vivian was Kaya Scodelario, but I do really like Lily Collins too and am starting to think that she might make a better face claim. I don't like getting too caught up in that though, so I haven't given it too much thought tbh

remifoster1313: I love the handholding/supporting scenes too, it just shows how far they've come! I think it's just because we're all so used to seeing them hating on each other that them being supportive is such a shock lol. As for the agent plot, I'm really excited to finally be able to write that. We're getting much closer to the end now, so things will start moving really quickly after this chapter. Anyway, you stay healthy too! I'm planning on shutting myself inside unless I absolutely have to leave the house lol. Who knew that there would come a day when I could utilize my carefully honed antisocial/loner skills like this? ;D On a positive note, I will be writing like crazy if I end up having my hours cut, so...that's both good and bad I suppose...?

FreePhoenix13: Thank you! I wish I could update more, but like you said, what can we do? ;) Really glad you like the story. Season 1 is almost finished at this point, and I have lots planned for season 2/other stories in this universe, so I'm hoping to be able to update more frequently in the future. We'll see!

Hope you all enjoy and I shall see everyone next Sunday for Chapter 52!


Chapter 51 | Non potest amor cum timore misceri

[Love and fear exclude each other]

Alchemy isn't really Vivian's thing. It's more complicated and volatile than Potions because of its incorporation of a large number of other subjects – runes, charms, even transfiguration. It's ritual magic, a subject not often taught because of its multidimensional complexity. Still, it's fascinating enough to keep Vivian occupied while she waits.

Sirius is taking his time, it seems. Classes ended nearly forty-five minutes ago, and she's been waiting for at least twenty minutes for him to show up. She would be getting impatient if not for the book she'd randomly picked up. The subject is a bit dry, but she finds herself leaning against the bookshelf and flicking through the pages anyway. Before long, she's rather invested in learning the methods of infusing ingredients with magic before adding them to your potion – so much so that she doesn't even hear Sirius's approach until he's right next to her, leaning down to see what has her so distracted.

Her eyes flick up at him as he does, slightly startled at his sudden appearance. The feeling is quickly replaced by the unquenchable urge to push his hair away from his eyes as he leans forward, and she tightens her hold of the book in order to quell the desire. This is all too new still. She doesn't entirely know how to conduct herself around him.

"Why are you reading a book about Alchemy?" he asks, as if this is the most boring thing imaginable.

Vivian sends him a dry look. "Because you're late, Black. You're lucky I didn't just leave."

He just hums and responds, "Sorry. Got a bit caught up with James's latest drama."

She raises an eyebrow and scoffs, "What'd he do to Evans this time?"

Sirius looks amused at the question and pushes a hand through his hair with a shrug. "Absolutely nothing. She's going ballistic that he keeps ignoring her and he needed a pep talk to keep at it. He was so close to caving during dinner last night."

She lifts her eyes from her book. "You mean he nearly stopped ignoring her and tried to woo her again."

His answering nod is prompt, as if the way he shrugs off his best mate's girl problems. In a thoroughly offhanded voice, he says, "I've been telling him since third year, if you want to make a girl like you, you have to treat her like – " And then he pauses, cutting his words off quite suddenly as a flustered expression comes over him.

Vivian snaps her book shut and peers at him closely, eyebrows raised. He seems to flush even more at her sharp gaze, clearing his throat and looking anywhere but at her.

"Well?" she murmurs, her voice drawling just so. She fights back a smirk and quietly demands, "You have to treat her like what, Black?"

When he doesn't respond, Vivian turns her full attention to him. She tosses the book onto the floor and steps towards him, watching him intently as he presses his back against the bookshelf and stares into the distance somewhere above her head.

"You know, like a princess or whatever," he says, a bit too nonchalantly.

Now, anyone who knows anything about Sirius Black would know that treating girls like princesses isn't really his thing. That's not to say that he doesn't treat them well, but plying them with gifts and letting them have their way is more along the lines of Potter's strategy. Sirius is much too independent and headstrong for all that. Armed with this knowledge, as well as the recollection of how quickly he had shut himself up, Vivian has a strong inclination that he was about to say something entirely different.

She shuffles closer, gets into his personal space, and quietly murmurs, "You're lying." Then, in an equally quiet voice, she demands, "How long as you liked me, Sirius?"

The question makes his eyes dart down to hers quite suddenly; storm grey sliced with lightning.

"That's not fair," he murmurs. He seems to have remembered himself, because he no longer looks flustered. No, now he looks like Sirius Black ought to look: reckless, intense, and perfectly impulsive. His eyes flash with what looks like desire, but he doesn't reach for her even though it's obvious that he wants to.

"You can't actually be telling me that the reason you've been such an arsehole our whole lives is because you've liked me all this time," Vivian says, sending him an expectant look.

Sirius rolls his eyes and pushes a hand through his hair again, but he hesitates just long enough to make her wonder if perhaps it's true after all. She catches his eye and waits.

Finally, Sirius sighs and mutters, "If I did like you, then I didn't realize it. Honestly, you're making me look bad."

She snorts and drawls, "You hardly need any help on that front."

A few months ago, a quip of that nature would've annoyed him. He would have sneered an insult right back at her and it would have doubtlessly spiraled into a shouting match, complete with hexes. Now, it only makes him want to retaliate in other ways.

He pushes off of the bookshelf and rises to his full height, leaning slightly into her as he breathes, "I think you've always made me crazy in one way or another, Vivian."

The way her breath catches makes him want to close the distance between them. His blood is beginning to rush through his head, heart quickening as he imagines pressing her against the shelves and snogging her senseless.

Vivian snaps her fingers in front of his face and he jerks back slightly, not expecting the move. She rolls her eyes at him and drawls, "Mind out of the gutter, Black. We have things to discuss." There's something in her eyes, though, that makes him wonder if perhaps she wouldn't be adverse to being snogged against a bookshelf after all.

Even so, he shifts away from her and says, "Right. We do. And my mind wasn't in the gutter."

She snorts. He thinks he hears her mutter, 'yeah right', but decides not to pursue it. If he has any say, though, he's going to snog her against that shelf at some point in the near future, and he's got a feeling that she's not going to mind as much as she lets on.

"So when were you going to tell me about going to Hogsmeade to see that agent?" he asks instead, crosses his arms again as he leans against the bookshelf beside her.

She huffs, "Considering that every time we're alone you end up kissing me, I haven't exactly had an opportunity."

At this, Sirius sends her an incredulous expression and snorts, "You're the one who keeps kissing me." Then, in a smug tone, he adds, "Just can't help yourself, can you?"

Vivian elbows him in the side and gruffly denies, "I do not. In any case, I was thinking about telling you."

He narrows his eyes at her. "Only thinking? What happened to us being in this together?" When she doesn't immediately respond, Sirius hesitantly murmurs, "You know…my Uncle Alphard just died. That's what Dumbledore wanted to talk to me about."

He doesn't mention the other thing the Headmaster wanted to speak about, but it's rather difficult to keep the Order of the Phoenix to himself when he wants to tell her so badly.

Vivian glances over at him and frowns. "Were you close to him?"

He rubs the back of his neck and mutters, "Yeah. Well, he was the only person who ever seemed to care about me when I was a kid, anyway. He left me everything. I'll bet mum is pissed."

He grins at this as if the thought makes him immensely pleased, but Vivian suspects that he's just trying to cover up his sadness. It's a pureblood thing – to appear invincible, even when you aren't. Sirius might not be a Slytherin, but he was raised by a whole family of them, and Vivian can see through his nonchalant grin as easily as breathing.

She hesitates for only a moment before knocking her hand against his. The action makes him glance over at her, but Vivian keeps her eyes straight ahead as she quietly wonders, "What will you do with the money?" With deliberate slowness, she curls her fingers through his, pretending to be engrossed with studying the titles of the books that span the opposite shelf.

Sirius is silent for a long moment. He's still looking at her when he whispers, "Repay the Potters for taking me in. Maybe find a place to live." He swallows tightly, pausing again, and then adds, "…What do you think about staying in London?"

Vivian jerks her head towards him so quickly that her neck aches from the abruptness of it all.

"…What?" she stupidly asks.

Sirius is staring at her with surprisingly solemn eyes. The stormy grey seems darker, like smooth granite after its been polished and lacquered, varnished over to a high, expectant shine.

"London, Vivian. What do you think?" he repeats, eyes twinkling very quietly at her.

When she just stares at him in bewilderment, he shrugs, "I'm partial to the busyness of it all, you know? Though I wouldn't necessarily be against moving to the country either."

He grips her hand a little more firmly when she tries to wrangle free. In a breathless voice, she whispers, "You're moving too fast, Black. I – I can't – that's just not – I hate London."

Sirius raises his eyebrows at her and calmly says, "Alright. We can try the country, then. Might be nice, not having too many neighbors."

His eyes flash at her and she swallows, suddenly needing a bit more space. Merlin, this was not what she was expecting.

Vivian steps back, trying to shuffle away, but Sirius is still gripping her hand and merely moves with her. She tries scowling at him, but it only makes him look amused, and she remembers why she had been so adamant about hating him, before. Thing is, though, that hatred isn't quite the right word to describe what Vivian Blair is feeling in this moment.

"We only just started doing – whatever it is we're doing!" Vivian hisses at him, though she's not angry.

No, anger isn't the right word either.

"You can't just talk about me living with you as if it's been the plan all along, Black!" she adds, sounding frustrated.

Though…frustrated isn't quite right…

"But even if it was, I don't think I appreciate the fact that you're just deciding where you want us to live without properly asking my opinion," she bristles, feeling quite…quite…what does she feel?

She doesn't figure it out until she finally looks up at him and sees the way he's staring at her. Quiet, impassioned fire has lit up the corners of his eyes. He takes a step towards her, hand still gripping hers, and she finds herself holding her breath as she shuffles back.

"Vivian," he murmurs, eyes blazing quietly. "My name is Sirius."

She pauses for half a second and then snorts, "Well I'm relieved that you know that, at least."

A challenging look blazes through his eyes at her attempted brush-off. It makes something inside of her tremble, as if her heart has shifted a little to the left. Vivian clears her throat and takes another step back as something thrills through her chest. It's a strange feeling, really. It's warm and intense, like banked embers on the edge of a hearth; a searing glow that makes her breathless and thunderstruck. There's a small part of her that wants him to keep following her back, until there's nowhere left to go.

"Sirius," he repeats lowly, as if she's a child learning her first word. She's not sure she appreciates that, either, but it's a bit difficult to think when he releases her hand to instead flatten his palm against her waist.

He shuffles them back until she feels the shelf behind her and whispers, "Say it," as he leans closer.

Her breath catches again. His mouth is suddenly only a hairs breadth away, and she's overcome by the sheer need to drag him into her and never let go. It's strong and urgent and she feels her eyelids flutter as his right hand loops around her waist to join the other, thumbs digging just so into the divot of her hips. Her head spins and she's becoming breathless, so much so that when she inhales, it's a wonderfully rattled sound and it makes his eyes dart down to her mouth.

For a moment, they just linger there like that, as if they are two opposing planetary bodies adrift in an otherwise empty universe, their gravities pushing just so against the other; just enough to lock and align. And then one pushes too far, and the other gets trapped in the pull, and when Vivian raises her hands to slide them up his chest and breathe, "Sirius," he crashes into her.

Well, he did say that he was going to snog her against the bookshelf, didn't he? But this is somehow different. It's transient in a way it's never been before; and at the same time, it clamors with a reality that sets them firmly in place. Two gravities fighting for power.

"Sirius," she whispers again, and pushes her hands into his hair.

He lets out a low sound that scrapes against the edges of his voice. Her back is pressed more firmly against the bookshelf but she doesn't mind, even when he curls her arms around her and clenches his fists into the back of her shirt, drawing her hips forward as the force of his kiss pushes her head against the shelf.

Her teeth sink into his bottom lip and she growls, "Sirius," and when he lets out that low sound again, she feels desire unfurl through her like a flag slowly opening against the wind.

"Say it again," he says, begs even – she's never heard his voice lower to such a pitch or form such a tone and she feels a sharp jolt of warmth press through her body when she hears it.

Salazar.

"Sirius," she says, more urgently this time, and pulls his head back to drag her lips down his neck.

He sighs out and reaches up to clench one of his hands against the shelf behind her head, as if he means to anchor himself there; like he thinks that he's very much in danger of drifting away and getting lost in her ocean.

Her lips follow the path of his collar bone. When her tongue skims over his skin, Sirius swallows thickly and hoarsely murmurs, "If we don't stop, I'm going to do something incredibly reckless."

In response, Vivian leans back, catches his eye, and purrs, "Sirius."

That's all it takes for him to groan, curl his fingers around her hair, and drag her into him.

Her breath catches again at the forcefulness of the action, but she's not about to complain. Her heart is beating hard and fast in her chest. She finds herself very curious to see just how reckless she can make Sirius Black.

Apparently very reckless, if the way he hooks his hands under her thighs and lifts her up has anything to say about it. Vivian lets out a gasp that is quickly muffled by his mouth, and clenches her fingers into the collar of his shirt as he presses her to the bookshelf. She instinctively curls her legs around him, not thinking about the consequences of the action – of the way it causes her skirt to ride up or effects that this has on the beautifully reckless side of him, which seems to be on a very short leash right now.

"Fuck," he hisses, and slips his hands around her thighs, a low moan leaving his throat at the softness of her skin.

A searing heat trickles through her, so tempestuous that she forgets herself. She's about to tighten her legs around him, to press their lower bodies together completely, when a sudden gasp from the other end of the aisle makes her tear her mouth away from his.

"Vivian?" Mauve hisses incredulously, and shuffles back as if she's tempted to bolt. Her eyes flit to Sirius, who is breathing heavily and still tucked between Vivian's legs.

"Mauve," Vivian gasps breathlessly, pushing at Sirius's chest to let her down. Her cheeks flush deeply at the way Mauve is staring at her, obviously shocked.

Sirius lowers her to the floor, still breathing erratically. He looks a bit lost now that he's not fueled by that recklessness. He stares at Vivian as if he's examining his work – mussed up hair, swollen lips, rumpled uniform – and smiles smugly, not seeming to mind that they have company.

Vivian doesn't look at him. She's too embarrassed. She suddenly can't believe that she'd let him press her against the bookshelf like that, in public.

Well, sort of. This part of the library is rarely ever frequented, which is why Mauve's presence is so shocking.

"What are you – um. Doing here?" Vivian asks. She has to clear her throat because her words are a breathless mess, and thinks she sees Sirius's smug smile widen slightly upon hearing her voice.

Mauve glances over her shoulder towards the main section of the library before stepping further into the aisle. Her face is red, too, probably because she absolutely wasn't expecting to see Vivian so wantonly snogging Sirius Black, the boy she loathes.

"What are you doing here?" Mauve asks instead of responding to the question.

Vivian blushes deeper and chances a glance over at Sirius, who now has his arm propped against the bookshelf as he watches her.

"Yes, Vivian, what are you doing?" he murmurs, looking annoyingly pleased with himself. He reaches over to tug at a strand of her hair and smirks, "Honestly. You really shouldn't be seducing me in the library like this. People might get the wrong impression."

Vivian's mouth drops open. She bats his hand away and shoots Mauve a horrified look. "I didn't – I wasn't seducing – it's not what it looks like, Mauve."

Mauve's expression turns several shades more bewildered. Sirius just snickers.

"You absolutely were seducing me, Vivian," he breathes to her, as if he just wants to make sure she knows.

She sends him an annoyed look, but can't hope to stop herself from glancing down at his lips despite him being such an aggravating little prat.

The action doesn't escape him, because Sirius smirks wider as he leans in to murmur in her ear, "See you in detention, Godric," before he squeezes her waist and promptly brushes past her towards the entrance of the aisle. As he passes Mauve, he sends her a nod, and makes sure to smirk once more at Vivian before he disappears.

That – arsehole.

Vivian releases the breath she hadn't even realized she was holding and groans, slipping down the shelf until she's sitting on the ground. She runs her fingers through her hair as she tries to collect herself.

"You were snogging Sirius Black," Mauve says incredulously, clutching the book she's holding as she stares at Vivian, shock still coursing through her eyes. "I thought you hated him."

Vivian bites back another groan and mutters, "It's kind of a long story." Then she lifts her head with an expression of belated panic and insists, "You can't tell anyone, Mauve. Mulciber would kill me if he knew."

Mauve steps closer to Vivian and snorts, "Why would I? I don't even talk to Mulciber." But, since Vivian still looks a bit panicked, she adds, "I won't rat you out to anyone, don't worry."

She watches Vivian let out a relieved sigh and groan, "I can't believe I let him do that. He's just so…"

"Fit?" Mauve helpfully supplies, and laughs quietly when Vivian sends her a despondent look. "He's Sirius Black. I'm sure any girl would let him snog her senseless against a bookshelf." She sends Vivian an amused smile and sits down beside her.

A brief silence falls, until…

"So that's how you spend your detentions, huh?" Mauve coyly wonders, and Vivian elbows her with another groan.

"Shut it, McCallum," is all she mumbles in response, and blushes again.


For the whole of the next day, Vivian can't stop thinking about what Sirius had asked her in the dimly lit Alchemy section of the library. She floats through her classes as if in a daze, thoughts churning with images of a potential future. Living with Sirius in a country house, just him and her. Waking up to him pressing kisses to her neck. Doing all the things they haven't had the chance to do – new and wondrous and simple things, like eat breakfast together and spend actual time getting to know each other properly, without the fear of being caught. They aren't daydreams, of course (Vivian Blair absolutely doesn't daydream), but they certainly do keep her mind occupied as she sits in Defense Against the Dark Arts and pretends to pay attention.

It's a bit difficult, though, because all she can think about is -

"We can try the country, then. Might be nice, not having too many neighbors."

The corner of her mouth edges up just so. He's an aggravating twat, but he does have a way with words.

"Now let's get some practice in, shall we?" Anderson says. He waves his wand and the notes on the blackboard disappear. "You'll have the rest of the class to go over whatever defensive spells you need extra practice with. NEWTs are only a few months away, after all! I'll come around the room and offer assistance – and absolutely no dueling, or you'll be shipped off to the Headmaster's office faster than you can blink."

The class begins to shift desks out of the way as per Anderson's request. Vivian helps, then pulls out her wand and considers what she needs extra help with. It's as she's doing this that Adrian sidles up beside her and drawls, "I know exactly what spell you need to work on, Vivian."

She sends him an eyeroll and responds, "It's nearly finished. No need to pester me about it."

It's not nearly finished, and to be honest, Vivian doesn't think it ever will be, now, but she's not about to say any of that to Mulciber. Thoughts of life after Hogwarts have never been so bright. As long as Sirius is with her, then she doesn't need to finish this task, right?

Mulciber shrugs. The Slytherins don't seem very interested in practicing their spellwork, because they are all just talking amongst themselves while the other students begin to wave their wands around. Some of them break off into pairs, like James and Sirius. Vivian watches them out of the corner of her eye as she leans against the edge of her desk. They're working on their protective wards, but they don't seem to need the practice, which is probably why they're passing the time by coming up with the craziest hexes they can to test out the strength of the other's spell.

She could do with some practice in protection charms, come to think of it…but with Adrian and her fellow Slytherins just loitering around, she ends up tucking her wand back into her robes, feeling a bit awkward at the thought of being the only Slytherin to take part in the class.

Adrian crosses his arms and looks down at her. "My mum was thinking August would be nice. What do you think, love?"

Vivian immediately sneers, "Don't call me that." Then, belatedly hearing the rest of his words, she sends him a quizzical look and asks, "August?"

He looks vaguely amused at her confusion, and loops an arm around her waist as he leans in. Eyeing her body in a way that Vivian doesn't much like, he drawls, "Our wedding. Have you forgotten about it already?"

Vivian clears her throat and elbows him off of her. "Course I haven't forgotten," she stalls, looking anywhere but at him. As her eyes sweep over the room, they land on Sirius's, and she feels a bit startled to realize that he's watching her. His gaze is a bit dark as he narrows it on Mulciber, who is looping his arm back around her waist and dragging her into his side again.

"Get off of me," she mutters to him, even more annoyed now that she has Sirius's attention on her. Sirius, who has proven to her countless times and in countless ways just how reckless he can be, and who wouldn't be afraid of making a scene. If he does make a scene, it could put everything at risk. It might even make Mulciber question her loyalties. Or, at the very least, wonder why Sirius Black of all people seems to be looking out for her.

"Why should I?" Mulciber murmurs, grasping her waist harder. "You'll be mine soon enough."

Thankfully, an interruption comes before Sirius can lose his temper, which Vivian can already tell is happening even though she's trying not to look at him directly. The distraction comes in the form of one Lily Evans, who doesn't mean to step into the role of Vivian's personal savior. Her part to play in Vivian's current dilemma is in fact very much accidental. It's also very much hilarious.

If Sirius hadn't paused from his spellwork to stare down Mulciber from across the room, then James probably wouldn't see the way Lily stumbles backwards into a desk upon attempting to dodge a stray spell. James certainly wouldn't have noticed the fact that no one else is near enough to Lily to stop her from falling backwards, and he wouldn't have had the chance to gallantly stick his arm out to catch her waist at the perfect moment. Lily wouldn't have gasped and clung to him, and James wouldn't have looked so incredibly cool, as if he was some sort of living embodiment of one of Mauve's muggle superheroes, who rescues at least three incredibly beautiful and very well-endowed damsels in distress before even sitting down for breakfast.

Truly, the way she just falls right into his arms is practically something out of a poorly written romance novel, which is probably why it has half the class turning to raise their eyebrows at the pair. Lily gapes up at James, her fingers clenched so tightly into his sleeve that her knuckles turn bone white. And then, shaking out of his daze, James's mouth curls up just so at the edges as he watches Lily's face begin to blush a bright red, and the class begins to chatter amongst themselves as James suavely pulls Lily into a standing position.

At her side, Mulciber snorts, but Vivian is too busy watching as Lily blushingly extricates herself from James's arms and darts back over to her friends. The glances she throws at Potter makes it clear enough that his charming rescue had some sort of effect on her, because once James's lovestruck stare is pulled away from Lily, the edge of her mouth tilts up in an equally lovestruck way.

Vivian's eyebrow raises at the sight, though Potter doesn't seem to see it. He's too busy getting hauled off to the side by Sirius, who is muttering something to him with a dry expression. He's close enough for Vivian to catch some of the words, namely these:

" – told you, you have to treat her like you think she's a troll, Prongs – "

Vivian eyebrows raise even higher. Sirius Black is such an arse, honestly. She doesn't know why she likes him so much.

But oh, maybe it's the way he kisses her as if he can't breathe without her – maybe it's the way he looks at her as if he sees her, every part, every piece, like she's a kindred soul that he intrinsically understands. Maybe it's the warmth of his hands and his eyes and his concern. The way it rises up in him with all the force of a strong wind. Maybe it's the fact that he wants her for the long haul – or else why would he mention moving in together after graduation?

Merlin. Sirius Black wants her.

A quiet smile curves over her mouth. She stares at him across the classroom and feels a bolt of happiness slowly unfold from within her. It nearly overwhelms her, as if it is filling in all the gaps that existed in her person, before; the cracks that had formed because of her parents and her housemates and the fear she's been grappling with for months now, until she suddenly feels as if she could do anything, be anyone.

Suddenly, she doesn't care if she's the only Slytherin participating in class. She reaches into her robe to retrieve her wand and looks down at it for a moment as memories fill her mind. She feels this overpowering urge to try – just to see if she can succeed. Maybe a part of her wants to know if Sirius Black really, genuinely, makes her happy, or if she's just fooling herself somehow.

Mulciber is watching her in confusion as she grips her wands and closes her eyes, thinking about the way Sirius had said –

What do you think about staying in London?

She lets thoughts of him fill her mind. Memories shudder through her like pebbles tumbling over each other.

You can't just go around kissing other blokes when you're with me.

Stop fighting it, Vivian.

I could make you happy.

He could make her happy. In fact, he does.

Before she's even fully aware of it, the tip of her wand glows a bright blue, so vibrant and encompassing that even Professor Anderson notices from across the classroom. Her eyes open and promptly fill with mesmerized shock as a form suddenly darts from the blue light and flies into the air, and the entire room becomes so silent that a pin could drop and they could all hear it as clear as day.

"Merlin – that's – twenty points to Slytherin!" Anderson exclaims happily, sounding quite pleased that at least one member of Slytherin house seems to be taking his class seriously. He begins to ramble on about Patronuses, but Vivian is too busy staring at the glowing blue creature in shock to hear what he's saying.

What the fuck, though.

As her side, Mulciber mutters, "Seriously? That's your Patronus?"

"Shut up," Vivian tells him, sounding dazed.

Her eyes lift to Sirius's, who looks like he's seconds away from bursting out into laughter at her predicament. She makes sure to scowl at him, and flicks her wand his way to direct the creature forward. Before he's prepared, it bursts through him so quickly that he ends up nearly toppling over, which takes care of the laughing smugness that had only just captured his expression. Well, almost.

He no longer looks like he'd like to laugh. Now, when he rights himself and turns to look at her, his eyes are shining proudly, and, well…

If she happens to send him a giddy smile in response, he's the only one who notices.


"A lion! That's what I like to call irony," Sirius laughs later that evening, after Filch leaves them to complete their detention and hobbles off. Tonight, they'll be mopping the entranceway, but they haven't actually gotten started yet because Sirius is too busy laughing at her.

Vivian rolls her eyes and mutters, "At least it's better than a scraggly mutt."

He snorts out another laugh and hooks his arm around her waist, dragging her into him with a grin. "Ah don't be like that, Godric. To be honest, it was actually really hot."

She pauses upon hearing this and sends him a bewildered look, which he seems to take pleasure in because his grin turns several shades more smug.

"…Hot?" she repeats, feeling a blush creep up her neck. She elbows him a bit, trying to create more space between their bodies, but Sirius just tugs her closer and presses his lips against her cheek.

"Mmm," he hums, back her up against the wall. His hand slips around her waist and his smile grows when he hears the way her breath catches. Merlin, he loves that sound…

Feeling a bit breathless now that he's kissing his way over her jaw, Vivian mumbles, "I fail to see how casting a Patronus would be hot." Still, she tilts her chin up to give him more access, and sighs out when his lips begin to trail a scorching path down the column of her neck.

Sirius just murmurs, "You know…it's just the fact that you've got a Gryffindor heart. It's incredibly attractive." He lifts his head to flash a grin at her before continuing to kiss down her neck, pleased with how easily it is to make her squirm against him.

Amid the daze of heat unspooling through her mind, Vivian somehow manages to grouse, "I do not have a Gryffindor heart. Just because my Patronus is a lion doesn't mean – Sirius - "

He lets out a low groan upon hearing his name and keeps sucking at her skin.

"We have a detention to complete," she breathlessly reminds him, but pulls him closer anyway.

Against her neck, he growls, "Our last detention. Better make the most of it."

Her only response is to tunnel her fingers into his hair and pull his head back, leaning in to capture his lips with hers. He's just starting to sink into the kiss when she stops it, though, drawing her mouth away before he can properly lose himself to her.

"I guess we should probably get started," he mumbles, not sounding at all enthused. His eyes dart down to her lips as if he's hoping that she'll refute his words. What she does instead in slightly more shocking.

Vivian just scoffs and pushes him back so as to slip her hand down the front of her shirt. The look on his face as she does this is equal parts baffled and hesitant. His eyes zero in on her movements with a focus that makes her smirk at him. The smirk only widens when she procures her wand, which she had wedged beneath the strap of her bra.

"Bloody hell, woman. A warning would've been nice," Sirius mutters, trying to force his mind down more innocent avenues. Then, somewhat belatedly, he raises an eyebrow and remarks, "How did Filch not realize you gave him a fake wand?"

She rolls her eyes and steps into the middle of the hallway. As she waves her wand and spells the mop to start cleaning, she snorts, "Please. He's a useless Squib."

Sirius watches her every movement and smirks, "We tried that for a while, but after second year, he caught onto us."

"Well that's because you're all unintelligent Gryffindors," is Vivian's immediate response, much to his amusement.

Sirius's mouth twitches up. So does hers, when she glances over at him.

"Unintelligent Gryffindors?" he repeats, and reaches to pull her into his side. "I'm not sure I appreciate that comment, Godric."

She elbows him and scoffs, "Don't call me that." Then she turns to finish up her incantations, and when she's done and she looks back at him, she murmurs, "We've probably got a while before Filch comes back."

His eyes flash into hers, and she holds back a shiver.

With an air of nonchalance, Sirius says, "There's a passageway a few corridors down that will take us to the statue of Deidra the Diviner."

Now, every student who knows the slightest bit about Hogwarts will know that Deidra the Diviner is located not far from the steps leading up to the astronomy tower on the seventh floor. Conversely, every student who knows anything about Sirius Black will know that he is of the mind that bringing a girl to the astronomy tower is extremely cliché. Vivian finds herself raising an eyebrow at the suggestion, and Sirius finds himself shuffling just a bit at the knowing look she's sending him.

"Sirius Black wants to go to the astronomy tower?" she drawls sarcastically, but inside feels an undeniable sense of giddiness at the thought.

He clears his throat and gruffly mutters, "Well, we could just stay here, but I reckon Filch might have a heart attack when he sees us."

She bites the inside of her cheek and murmurs, "…Why's that?", even though she well knows.

Sirius grins at her and shrugs, "You kiss like a banshee, love. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but – "

"I really don't know why you're still talking, Sirius," Vivian interrupts, and turns down the hallway to find that passageway. Sirius has to jog to catch up.


Now, let us take a breather and check in on a different set of destined lovers – according, at least, to one James Potter, who has spent much of his evening in the warm and cheerful Gryffindor common room. The scene is set: a roaring fire, ambient lights illuminating the crimson tapestries upon the walls, and a corner filled with laughter as Remus, Peter, and James congregate together and gossip about their absent friend.

"It's true!" James exclaims, in response to Remus's thoroughly disbelieving expression.

Peter leans back in his chair as he pulls open a pumpkin pasty. His face is set into a look of perplexed disgust, no doubt because he still isn't completely on board with the idea of Sirius and Vivian being a thing.

As for Remus, he just rolls his eyes and snarks, "Oh come off it, Prongs."

James turns to him with raised eyebrows. "What, you don't believe it happened, Moony?"

His friend huffs and flips the page of his History of Magic textbook with an unimpressed look. "I'm just having a hard time believing that Vivian would let him anywhere near her, is all. I bet he's just making something up to get a rise out of you."

James opens his mouth to deny this, but before he can, an annoyed red-head storms over to their table and he swallows said denial back.

"Here," Lily says brashly, and shoves a piece of parchment into his chest. "It's the patrol schedule for next month. Gavin was handing them out after dinner but he didn't see you."

Despite their moment in Defense Against the Dark Arts, James is still trying to maintain his latest tactic of ignoring her, so he just clears his throat and mumbles, "Yeah, thanks," before tucking it into his book bag and falling silent. He also still very much aware of the way Lily had rejected him during dinner the other night and isn't too keen on being around her right now.

Lily seems a bit taken aback by his brush off. After all, it isn't like him to overlook an opportunity to woo her. She studies him for a long moment, noting the mussed up hair and downturned eyes, and then grits out, "I need to talk to you about something. Over there." She points to the other side of the common room.

James casts a wary look to the corner in which she's gesturing to, and frowns, "I don't know, I have a lot of homework to – "

"Just come on," Lily says impatiently, and pulls him along with her. James casts a frightened glance at Remus and Peter as he's dragged off to the corner that Lily had gestured at. At this hour, it's one of the only empty spots in the common room. The majority of Gryffindor house is piled into the room. At the circular tables, students are working on assignments. Near the door, a riotous game of Exploding Snap is being had. No one seems to take note of Lily and James, which is both good and bad. Good, because it lends them a sense of privacy even in the busy space. Bad, because no one will notice if Lily decides to murder him. He wouldn't be surprised if she was still pissed about the Veritaserum incident.

"So…er…what did you want?" James asks awkwardly, running a hand through his hair and making it stick up even more than it already is.

Lily clamps down the desire to smooth it back and pulls her cardigan around her frame as she clears her throat. "Right. I was told that it was bad form…asking you to ask me out and then rejecting you just to make a point, that is. So I wanted to apologize."

James is not expecting this. His eyebrows jerk up in surprise, and Lily clears her throat again before hastily adding, "And also – I figured I should…erm…thank you for catching me. In class today. When I tripped."

When James's eyebrows jerk up even higher, she tears her eyes from his and uncomfortably mumbles, "It was very…gallant of you."

His mouth drops open in shock. Lily shifts on her feet and watches the game of Exploding Snap with far more interest than she actually has.

"…Was it?" he finds himself faintly wondering.

"Yes, well, anyway. About our deal," she says, changing the subject briskly and turning back to him. She lifts her chin sharply. "Tonight is Sirius and Vivian's last detention, and since they haven't gotten together yet, that means that you – "

"We have gotten together, Evans. Do you live under a rock or something?" Sirius suddenly drawls from a few paces away, his voice quiet enough not to carry beyond the corner that James and Lily are currently standing in. His sudden appearance has the pair of them startling in surprise as they turn to stare at him. What they see is definitely not what they're expecting.

Mussed up hair is usually James's thing, after all, but Sirius Black is definitely sporting it at the moment. In fact, based on the rumpled uniform, messy tie, and bruised lips, it's clear what he's just been up to. If all of these things weren't incriminating enough, one needs to look no further than the very obvious love bite that's currently occupying his neck.

Of course, the smug, self-assured grin is also extremely telling, as is the way he suavely leans against the wall and smirks, "She really knows what she's doing. I think I'm still in shock, to be honest."

James snickers as Lily's mouth drops open.

"…You're lying," she splutters after a moment. "There's no way – "

"I'm irresistible to women, Evans," Sirius smoothly interrupts, looking far too pleased with himself. "And Vivian is definitely a woman, let me tell you."

At this, James makes an amused choking sound as he tries to stop his laughter, and Lily's mouth drops open even more as she blushes at the innuendo of his voice.

"How far did you get, mate?" James asks, then sees the offended look on Lily's face and awkwardly backpedals, "Erm – I mean, right, I hope you treated her with the respect that all women deserve." He nods smartly and pushes his glasses up.

Sirius rolls his eyes at him and pushes a hand through his hair. "Please. You should tell that to her. She nearly ripped my shirt trying to – uh. I'll tell you later, I guess," he hastily says, glancing over at an indignant Lily. "Point is that you lost the bet, Evans. James gets to take you out on a date now, and don't even deny that you don't want him to. I saw the way you stared at him like a lovestruck idiot after he caught you today."

James's eyebrows jerk up again upon hearing this. He turns to stare at Lily with a mooning smile as her cheeks begin to blush brightly.

"I did not stare at – and besides, that wasn't our deal!" Lily exclaims. "The deal was that James takes some of my workload – "

"And take you out," Sirius adds.

"Right, and take me – no!" Lily says, adamantly. "You can't just add clauses to a pre-existing deal without both parties agreeing to it. You're such a toerag, Black. There's no way Vivian would stoop that low."

Sirius just sends her an amused look. He doesn't seem all that offended by her words. Lily finds out why a moment later when he elbows James and snorts under his breath, "Not yet, anyway."

James chokes back another wave of laughter. Lily blushes brightly again at the innuendo in Sirius's voice.

"Look, it doesn't matter what your stupid deal was," Sirius drawls a moment later. "All that matters is that James can keep bothering you until you agree to stop being stubborn and admit that you actually really like him."

Lily's mouth drops even further at this, but before she can deny Sirius's words, James quickly cuts in with a hopeful, "Just one date?"

The hopeful tone of his voice makes her falter for a moment too long, and Sirius smirks knowingly. It's that aggravatingly knowing expression that makes Lily frown and snap, "Not in a million years! Honestly!" And with that, she stomps off looking a bit flustered.

James stares after her, a bit more despondent than he had been a moment before, until Sirius nudges him and says, "She really was looking at you all lovestruck today."

That one sentence is enough to uplift his mood once more. James grins bashfully. He rubs his neck and sniffs, "I was pretty cool, wasn't I?"

Sirius snorts. "Completely," he responds dryly.

They fall silent for a moment, and then James glances over at him with a smirk and murmurs, "So. You and Vivian, huh? Moony and Wormtail didn't believe me when I told them."

Sirius shakes his head at him and says, "Course they didn't. We need to keep it to ourselves. The fact that Vivian is crazy about me can't get around the school, Prongs – it could be really dangerous, what with everything going on with the Slytherins right now."

James raises an eyebrow at him and decides not to remark upon the fact that Sirius is also crazy about Vivian. In fact, out of the two of them, he's probably the craziest. He's only been semi-stalking her for months now, after all, and talking about little else but her, and shifting all of the targets of their pranks to her just to make her talk to him – well, James digresses. The bottom line is that Sirius is crazy.

"Right," James says instead, though he can't help but roll his eyes slightly at Sirius's proud voice. Honestly, he just knows that Padfoot is going to be overbearing now that Vivian has finally agreed to look past his insanity.

"So…how far did you go?" James wonders coyly, smirking when Sirius's cheeks flush just so.

He pushes James with a gruff, "I was just a snog, Prongs."

When James's eyes flash with mischief, Sirius's face gets a touch redder.

"Okay, okay. Just making sure she's not taking advantage of my innocent little Padfoot," James crows, only to receive another gruff push as Sirius rolls his eyes at him.

They head back to the table that the other two Marauders are still occupying, James murmurs, "You ought to bring her by so that we can get to know her better, Padfoot. If she's gonna be your official bird, she's got to pass the high standards of our Maraudership."

Sirius sends him a hesitant look. "I don't know…that seems like a bad idea."

James though, merely collapses into his chair and declares, "Tomorrow night behind the greenhouses, then. It's all settled."

Sirius is still obviously hesitant as Remus and Peter raise their heads in confusion to stare at James.

"What's settled?" Remus wonders, raising an eyebrow.

James just grins.

"An interrogation, Moony."

"A conversation," Sirius quickly amends.

"With someone who might become an Honorary Marauder."

"Someone who will bite your head off if you call her that," Sirius rectifies.

"In which we will strive to discover just what intentions she has towards our precious Padfoot."

"You'd better bring your wands because she is going to hex you," Sirius warns.

Remus and Peter merely exchange a wary glance, and remain silent.