No One Does It Better

Chapter 25

Where you are, I call home

Strength in numbers, I heard

I count two of us

How I was now wandering the hallways of Hogwarts with Sirius Black – whose hand was still on my waist and whom I definitely and completely fancied - was a mystery to me. All of the ideas that I had of being the one in control, making him feel nervous, making him feel on edge and not the other way around had fallen apart.

That was what being madly in love with Sirius Black did to me.

'Red suits you,' Sirius spoke about my dress as we turned down another corridor in the dungeons. 'I've been telling you that for a while.'

'Mmm,' I replied, running my hands down my hips against the silk. I felt his fingers twitch on my back. 'This is the only red I really own.'

I glimpsed at him and caught him smiling, admiring my dress yet again. That look, every time I caught him doing it, sent my heart flying away into the sunset. My only worry was that I was emotionally invested, and he was only physically. There was no denying where this conversation was going to go. I just had to get everything off my chest.

'Why did you invite Chrisite and her friends to the common room after the quidditch match?'

He didn't respond at first, but I was even more thankful that he didn't shrug the question off.

'Did that bother you?' he asked.

I contemplated saying no, I really did. But I didn't want to lie about this anymore. The thought of pretending I had no feelings when I did would just cause another hiatus in our friendship again.

'You know it did,' I looked at him. He was looking down at his feet as we walked, his hair falling into his eyes.

'You don't need to worry about it anymore,' he scuffed his shoe right off the ground. 'She's quite the jealous type.'

My eyes practically bulged out my head with shock. 'What did she have to be jealous of?'

Any girl that was with Sirius knew that no matter what, he was always going to be getting constant attention from other girls. It wasn't like she hadn't known what she was getting herself into.

He smiled down at the ground. 'She seemed to think my head was elsewhere.'

'Elsewhere?' I questioned and began chewing the inside of my lips to the point of drawing blood with the nerves.

'I've never told you, but there has been this girl I've fancied since about fourth year.'

'Oh,' my stomach dropped, and he came to a halt.

I had no idea where we were at this point. The dungeons were so dark, and everything looked the same but what I did know was that we were completely alone with the risk of any interruptions low.

Sirius shifted me around to face him, both hands now on my waist. My heart was about to combust.

'Fourth year,' he started. 'I saw her getting off the train when we got to the castle. It took me a while to recognise her, to be fair, she'd cut her hair and just – she had just grown up. I practically followed her all the way up to the castle, to make sure my suspicions about who I thought she was were right.'

The breath in my throat caught.

'When you turned around and caught my eye that night, do you remember? I knew I'd be chasing you for as long as it took.'

I did remember. It was one of the very few times where acknowledgment between us both was passed. I had felt eyes on me the full way from the train to the castle and it was no surprise when I finally turned around, to see Sirius watching me. I had given him the smallest of smiles and then continued walking, as if nothing had happened.

'Fourth year?' I whispered.

'Fourth year,' he confirmed and pulled me closer to him. 'I've had 4 months of trying to work out how you feel towards me, 3 years pining over you, 6 years of missing you as my best friend and my whole lifetime knowing you're the girl for me.'

I was speechless. I couldn't muster a full sentence in my head to make any sense, so I did the only thing I could think of and I kissed him.

He felt like home. I fell entirely into him as we tasted each part of one another. His hands kept moving from my back to my neck to my hair to my face. His urgency to touch every part of me only made me want him more.

I was in a dream.

He pulled away and I had to supress a groan. He grinned before letting it fall.

'I have acted like an arsehole,' he said. 'I'm sorry.'

'We both did,' I said and traced his jaw with my finger.

'You burnt down my zoo,' he said, his brow furrowed and a playful smile on his lips.

I buried my head into his shoulder laughing. 'Just promise not to make me jealous on purpose again and I'll do the same.'

He lifted my head up and kissed me softly on the cheek.

'I promise.'

I looked into those grey eyes and nothing had felt more right in my life than this moment. I never knew it, but Sirius was always what I needed. From all those times when we were younger – he went and dealt with the boggart we set on Kreacher so I didn't have to see it. He always made sure that I was okay and safe on my broom before seeing to himself. He stuck up for me when I got in trouble - even when I was in the wrong and then he would tell me off later. I was always put to the forefront of his mind when we were little.

'What are you smiling about?' he asked, smiling himself.

'Do you remember when I suggested we make Regulus' bedroom a swimming pool for us to practice? And then we left the door open and flooded the house?'

'Yes,' he chuckled softly. 'I got a right beating for that you know.'

'I know, you took the blame.'

His smile dropped for only a second and then reappeared.

'Well, I am the obvious troublemaker. You're just a sly little minx about it.'

'Oh shut up,' I laughed and pushed him lightly on the chest. 'So, is it safe to assume I can call you, Sirius Black, my boyfriend?'

I played with his tie a little more to distract myself from the question I had just asked. I couldn't quite believe I had said those words out loud, to be honest. He ducked down to catch my eye.

'A lot of girls are going to be very jealous of you,' he smirked.

'And a lot of boys are going to be jealous of you,' I replied, kissing him one last time before pulling away and walking back down the corridor. I pulled him along with my hand 'We need to get back to the party.'

'Nova,' he whined but I ignored him. 'Nova, wait, wait, wait.'

'What?' I stopped walking and turned, a small smile on my face.

'Do you think we should tell everyone?' he asked and pulled me right back into him. 'Or do you think we should keep this to ourselves for just a little while, you know? Enjoy it?'

I kissed his along his jaw and I smiled as I felt him physically shudder around me. 'If that's what you want.'

It was a nice thought, really. No one would be watching us all the time to see what we were doing. No little comments when we decided we want to be alone. It would be nice to keep it our little secret just for a while.

'I want so much right now,' he groaned, and I laughed. Pulling him back to the party once again.

When we made it back to the party, a quick kiss before we entered and we agreed that right now, this was between us. We would just tell everyone we were friends again. I just had to work out how to tell Adaline and Lily that I was completely okay with it.

'Do me one more favour?' I rounded on him before we walked back into the party. He nodded, waiting on my conditions. 'Get James to ask Lily to be his girlfriend already?'

He laughed. 'Understood.'

The moment we entered, it was clear the crowd was dwindling. Lily came rushing up to us, James in tow.

'Well?' she demanded.

'What?' I asked, acting confused.

'Are you two friends? Are you not? I need to know whether I still have to feel awkward almost all the time.'

'Back to normal,' Sirius grinned. 'Prongs, why don't we get these lovely ladies a drink?'

'Where are Adaline and Remus?' I asked, looking around as the boys walked off.

'They just left - Adaline was in a foul mood, something about a sister-in-law. Remus walked her back to the common room,' Lily rushed quickly then looked at me pointedly. 'So?'

'So what?' I said and pretended to rummage around in my bag. I was bursting to tell Lily everything, it was almost torture holding it in.

'Are you two just friends or did you talk about anything else?'

'Just friends,' I sighed and then smiled. 'I'm fine with it, I'll get over him.'

Lily was watching me, concern all over her face but I tried to pay no attention and watched as the boys came back with drinks. James looked like he was going to be sick and I noticed his hands shaking slightly. I caught Sirius' eye as I took my drink from him and smiled into it as I took a sip.

'Lily, will we go get fresh air?' James asked her quietly.

'Of course,' Lily turned her concern. 'James, are you okay?'

'Fine,' he muttered. 'Come on.'

'He didn't realise, did he?' I asked Sirius.

'Didn't have a fucking clue,' he smiled proudly watching him leave with Lily. 'He just assumed and now he is shitting himself in case she says no.'

'That won't happen.'

'We know that, Lily knows that, but James doesn't and that makes it all the more fun.'

'Should we call it a night?' I asked, looking around the room.

All that was left were some former Slug Club members who were enjoying the free drink and food a little too much.

'I'll walk you back,' he nodded and guided me out of the room, his hand against the small of my back.

It wasn't a long walk back to the common room, but I appreciated the sentiment. As we came to turn a corner, we both simultaneously stopped in our tracks at the sound of hurried footsteps headed our way but nonetheless, it still caused whoever it was to turn and run right into us.

'Moony,' Sirius caught his friend from almost falling over us.

'Sorry,' Remus muttered and looked back over his shoulder.

'Are you okay?' I asked, watching his face grow paler.

'Fine,' he replied, mostly speaking to Sirius. 'I'll see you upstairs.'

Sirius didn't let go of his grip. 'Not until you tell us what's got you in a mess. No one attacked-'

'It was just Snape,' Remus snapped. 'He was leaving the Slytherin common room as Adaline was going in and he – he started making comments about how she was brave to be walking around with me at night –'

'That git,' Sirius said.

'I sincerely hope you punched him again,' I spoke at the same time.

Remus shook his head.

'Greengrass, Rosier, Avery and Regulus came, and they started too,' he looked at Sirius and my heart almost shattered. He had tears forming. 'H-He's told them too. What he thinks. He-He's told them, Sirius.'

I watched as Sirius' eyes changed almost immediately and he turned to me. I had never seen rage consume him like this before.

'Get me in there.'

I gaped. As angry as I was for Remus, nothing would be resolved tonight and letting Sirius in to wreak utter havoc in the Slytherin common room as revenge would do nothing for anyone involved.

'I think I should just go to Dumbledore-' Remus pleaded.

'Nova, I need in that common room.'

'Sirius,' Remus spoke dangerously low. 'Leave it. We will go to Dumbledore – Snape knows better than this.'

'Nova, common room. Now.'

I hesitated, caught between them both. Remus was pleading with me silently and Sirius looked murderous. I know we agreed to keep us a secret, but I couldn't let him go through with this, not with the fear it was causing Remus.

'Sirius,' I said and placed both my hands on his cheeks. He was shaking underneath them. 'I think you should listen to Remus.'

'He can't get away with it,' he growled and then looked at Remus, throwing my hands away. 'He should have learned his lesson the last time.'

'The last time?' I asked Remus and took Sirius' hand.

Remus didn't reply for a second. He was looking between us both, his brows furrowed in confusion, but the colour was beginning to come back in his face.

'Long story,' he said slowly and looked between Sirius and I's intertwined fingers. 'Have I missed something?'

'This isn't the time for all of this – that prick is in there spreading shit that isn't his business!' Sirius hissed and pulled has hand away from mine.

'Listen, Remus has said no,' I stated plainly. 'This is Remus' secret. This is Remus' business and he wants to go to Dumbledore so as his friend, that is what you will do.'

I watched as his jaw clenched but the tension in his faced eased and he nodded.

'Sorry,' he murmured to both Remus and me. He pulled me into his side and kissed my temple.

'I'm glad we have cleared this up and we will both go to Dumbledore right now but seriously, how long was I gone?' Remus sounded slightly amused and exasperated.

'We'll take Nova round to the Slytherin Common Room and I'll explain on our way to Dumbledore,' Sirius squeezed my hand as we began to wallk.

'Where was Adaline while all of that happened, Remus?' I asked.

'They looked her in the common room,' he replied bitterly.

'Great,' I replied dully. If Adaline was already moody over meeting Imelda, I did not want to imagine how she was now after being held captive in her own common room.

'We will see you tomorrow,' Sirius said and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

I nodded and gave the two Gryffindors a smile before entering what felt like the pits of hell instead of home for the first time in 7 years.

Excited to see what you think!

Straight to My Head by You Me At Six