No One Does It Better

Chapter 22

I want back my ignorance and bliss

Sirius and I barely spoke the week after the Gryffindor party. I think we were both equally annoyed at each other for not falling for each other's tricks.

In Potions on Monday and Thursday, all we did was theory, so we didn't need to work together. After Transfiguration and Defence Against the Dark Arts, we were with a big group, so we got away with talking to everyone else but each other.

It's not like we weren't civil when we did have to talk, but there was an uncomfortable strain between us. It was almost as if we were waiting to see who would break the ice first. I would be lying if I said it hadn't been torture – even the Cruciatus Curse would have felt easier to handle.

I had heard that Sirius was taking the Ravenclaw from the party, Christie Vain, to Hogsmeade tomorrow - the same day as my date to the town with Cian. I was blindsided by it because, in all honesty, I thought I had managed to damage any potential between him and the Ravenclaw by saying that he had called me their good luck charm but, apparently not.

Ravenclaw's always acted obviously desperate when it came to boys.

'Nova,' Lily called on me after Transfiguration. 'We have a prefect meeting tonight - don't forget.'

I almost let out a groan, but I stopped myself. I had managed to escape the majority of the meetings and patrols this year. I suppose it was only fair that I attend this one now that I was being officially summoned. And, to be honest, Lily scared me sometimes, so I simply smiled and nodded in response.

'I know you don't want to be there,' she replied softly. 'But people are starting to complain that you aren't pulling your weight– especially the Slytherin prefects.'

I rolled my eyes. 'Of course, they are.'

Adaline shook her head with a playful smile. 'We are known for our self-preservation. Some people don't want to work themselves too hard. Speaking of which, Lily, can we go over the Ancient Runes essay?'

Lily, obviously, agreed and we headed down to the Great Hall for the second period of the day. When we got there, Lily headed for the Gryffindor table. Very rarely did we have her or the boys sit at the Slytherin table with us – it really wasn't worth the snarky comments and death stares. Lily sat next to Marlene McKinnon and Alice… Merlin, I had to start remembering names. Her first name is Alice, that's all that matters. And Alice was sitting next to her boyfriend … something Longbottom - who was sitting with Sirius and Remus.

'Is it alright if we sit here?' Adaline questioned the group before we took our seat with Lily. I loved how she had the confidence to do that – I would have sat down quietly hoping no one noticed me. I walked to be on the other side of the table so I could sit across from Adaline and Lily.

'Sure!' Alice beamed at us.

I noticed Marlene roll her eyes at Alice's enthusiasm, but it was a 'yes', so Adaline and I took a seat. Sirius sat a couple of seats down from Lily, who sat next to Marlene. I sat next to Alice, across the table from them all.

'Eugh, Ancient Runes,' Alice said to me, watching the two girls across from us go through both their essays. 'I assume you don't take that class?'

'Absolutely not,' I shook my head. 'I'd rather have Binns teach me every subject before taking that or Arithmancy.'

Alice laughed and I noticed the Longbottom boy chuckle.

'Is your History of Magic essay finished, Nova?' I heard Remus ask behind Longbottom.

'Yes – I can now say I am now officially an expert on The Rise in the Use of House Elves and Why They Are Still Required Today - my parents will be so proud.'

I thought I caught Sirius smirking across the table from me, but I dared not to look to make sure I was right. Marlene, again, rolled her eyes and Alice laughed – I liked this girl.

'May I have a quick skim of it? I'm almost certain I've forgotten about something – I just can't remember what.'

'Of course,' I replied. I reached into my bag and slid it over to him.

'So, you have a house elf?' Marlene blurted out, her voice soaking in disapproval. I saw Adaline look up from her essay, but I kicked her lightly under the table.

'Yes, she's called Reely,' I answered with a sweet but sarcastic smile. 'I'm entirely against having one but she has been in the family for years and she's truly amazing. I don't know what I would do without her in my nice big house all alone. Hopefully, by the time she is passed on to me I can send her here. I know she would love it.'

'So, you wouldn't just set her free?' Marlene pressed, sounding completely condescending with her brows furrowed.

'No, that's quite a misconception about house elves, actually. They want to work. What they don't want is to be physically abused, like the majority of them are.'

I couldn't help it, but my eyes flickered to Sirius. I was almost requesting back up, but he kept his head low during the conversation.

'Sure,' Marlene said and began rummaging in her bag. Now I was the one rolling my eyes.

'Thanks, Nova,' Remus slid my essay back over. 'I forgot about the introduction of the House-Elf Relocation Office in the Ministry.'

I kept the essay out to re-read it before class and watched as Remus began fixing his own work. Alice and her boyfriend were doing what looked like Herbology homework and Marlene was flicking aimlessly through a Defence Against the Dark Arts textbook.

Sirius, being Sirius, was cutting paper up with his wand and transforming them into all different kinds of animals that were running free across the table.

'Where are you taking Vain on tomorrow?' Marlene asked him, while she brushed through pages and watched his animals at the same time.

'She wants to go to Madam Puddifoots,' Sirius replied lazily.

'Are you going to take her?'

I stared so hard at my Elf essay that I thought I was going to set the parchment on fire.

Although I knew about the date, I somehow had found myself wishing it wasn't true. I had seen Sirius throughout the year with numerous girls in the castle, but they meant nothing. They were there to keep him fulfilled – he never took them on dates to Hogsmeade.

I had been the last girl he had asked to Hogsmeade all those months ago. I felt a lump rising in my throat at memory of that day. It had been one of the funniest days I had ever had at Hogwarts - it had made me feel like we had never been apart. I swallowed the lump down. I was not a crier and I would be damned if Sirius Black was the first boy to make me cry.

'Don't see why not.'

I wasn't looking, but I knew he shrugged and I knew he looked at me when he answered.

'I didn't like it that time we went,' Marlene drawled on. 'Anytime I go on a date and that's where they suggest, I tell them the date would be as good as cancelled.'

'I thought we had fun,' Sirius joked with her and I could hear the smile in his voice.

I was beginning to get more pissed off by the second listening to them. If I didn't know any better, I would have sworn Marlene had brought this up on purpose. No one mentioned it, but it was obvious Sirius and I weren't on talking terms right now. It was even more evident because we hadn't been near each other since the party began on Saturday.

'We always have fun,' I heard her reply and I had had enough. Something inside me snapped and I couldn't sit and listen to it anymore.

I shoved everything into my bag and stood up just as the bell rang for morning break. Everyone looked up at me.

'Where you going?' Adaline asked, stumbling over her words at my abruptness.

'Away from here,' I replied curtly and threw one last look at Sirius and Marlene. She was smirking into her book and Sirius just looked at me blankly. My eyes wandered to the little zoo he had created on the table.

I walked out of the Great Hall, smiling to myself. I had been practicing my non-verbal spells this year and I had just managed to set fire to Sirius' parchment animals.

No one spoke to me about what I did that morning. I spent the rest of the day in blissful silence with everyone over it. Potions was just a little awkward, but I was past caring. I was over the rollercoaster of emotions with Sirius, it was best we just stayed at arm's length of each other and stop blurring the lines between friends and flirting.

After dinner, I went searching for the classroom Lily had set aside for the prefects meeting. I decided to leave for it early so that if it became a me vs the other Slytherin prefects, I would be close enough to Lily and James to showcase my ties to the authority figures.

When I got to the room, I walked in to see Lily, James, Remus and Sirius all sitting around a table.

'Nova, hi,' Lily smiled, almost nervously.

I met Sirius' eye and I knew he was waiting to see how I was going to react to him being there.

'He's not a prefect,' I nodded at Sirius and I noticed him chuckle quietly.

'I've got nothing else to do-'

'Not even a Ravenclaw or McKinnon?' I snapped back.

Why did that make me sound so damn jealous?

Maybe because you are, Nova.

Fuck off.

He licked his lips, ready to retaliate when Lily jumped in.

'Sirius, please just go.'

He huffed and stood up from the chair and made to leave. I stared at the two remaining boys and Lily and realised how uncomfortable it was going to be now they had to kick Sirius out just for me to be there. He was their friend before I showed up, and now I was going to have to sit in awkward silence with them.

'Just you stay,' I said. 'I'll leave – Lily just say I'll do whatever patrols they want rid of. I really don't care anymore.'

'No, Nova, just stay-' Remus started.

'I said I'll go.'

I didn't wait for them to answer, I left the classroom and kept walking until I was outside the castle. When the cold air hit me, I leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths and that's when I felt the tears falling down my face.

The Marauders and Lily would always be Sirius' friend first. If they had to choose, they would always choose him and that broke my heart. I didn't want them to choose, I wanted to be part of it.

But being part of it, meant being around the line of girls Sirius had waiting on him.

Now that I had walked back into Sirius' life, I wanted to be the only one that mattered. I wanted to be the only one he showed attention to. No matter what girl Sirius was with, I would always feel pushed to the side – whether she was a friend to him or not, I would always feel second best. I wasn't a second-best kind of girl.

Adaline had been right.

I had fallen for Sirius Black.

Blow Me (One Last Kiss) by Pink

Thoughts?

Sorry it's a day late, I'm moving house next week so life is all a bit hectic!

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