Alright, I upped the rating of this fic because I think we'll be headed to more adult themes in the next few chapters. Please let me know if what y'all think! And of course, if you want to see anything specific or spot any issues, please let me know!
The next morning, Sage woke up to the snap of the door shutting. She sat up blearily, rubbing at her eyes, and stood. Opening the hangings surrounding her bed, she noted that the dorm was empty. She had evidently overslept, but not by much, though it didn't really matter since it was Sunday. She dressed in Muggle jeans and a t-shirt and wandered down to the Great Hall for a spot of breakfast before a long day catching up on homework.
She spotted her friends halfway down the Gryffindor table, an empty spot between Sirius and James, as usual. She plopped down without a word and immediately pulled platters of eggs and toast towards her, letting their chatter wash over her until-
"What the hell is that?" James' screeched, gaining the attention of every student around them.
"Wha?" Sage asked thickly through a mouthful of eggs.
"That! On your neck!" Sage's hand flew up to the neck in question and felt the raised skin. She turned to Kylie, who was trying, unsuccessfully, to hide a snicker.
"I thought you said the potion would work!" Sage accused and Kylie let out a snort.
"Did you reapply it after your shower?" She asked with a sardonic eyebrow. Sage mumbled a string of curses under her breath and focused back on her eggs.
"What is that?" James asked again, far too loudly for Sage's comfort.
Sage slammed her fork down and glared at her brother. "Merlin, Jamie, I thought you'd know a love bite when you see one. Or have you not gotten that far with Lily yet?"
"What I do in my spare time is none of your business, thank you very much," James said haughtily. "Why do you have one?"
"What I do in my spare time is none of your business," Sage parroted. "You are not my father, James, so stop acting like it."
"I'm your big-"
"You're a big pain in my arse, is what you are. Move on and let me enjoy my eggs," Sage snapped and James' mouth closed instantly as he eyed her annoyed face. Sage turned back to her plate and caught Sirius glancing at her out of the corner of her eye. "What? Do you have something to say too?"
Sirius took one look at her angry face and shook his head. "Nope," he said, popping the p. Sage looked around her group of friends; Peter quickly averted his gaze, Remus stared at her with a strangely satisfied smile, Kylie looked at her with eyebrows raised, and by the time her eyes swung to Lily and James, who were glancing at each other with surprised faces, Sage felt ashamed of herself.
"I'm sorry," Sage mumbled. Suddenly, her appetite disappeared and the eggs felt like paste in her mouth. She pushed the plate away and slid off the bench. "I'll see you lot later."
She left the Great Hall and turned towards the Gryffindor Common Room, unsure of where else to go for the day. She had gone halfway up the marble staircase when she heard her name called. Whirling around, she saw Demetrius hustling towards her.
"Hey," she said breathlessly, smiling up at Demetrius. She noted that he was definitely taller than her and she felt her shoulders relax.
"Hey," he said with a grin. "I wanted to talk to you about Hogsmeade." Sage's shoulders slumped even farther than their relaxed position and her hesitation showed on her face. "It's alright if you don't want to go," Demetrius said hastily.
"I'm sorry, Demetrius. You're a really awesome person," Sage began, then hesitated.
"But?" He prompted.
"But everything is so fresh with Gideon Prewitt," Sage started. "And then with Marlene's inaccurate, but very public accusations." Sage sighed and looked into his chocolate brown eyes. "I just don't want to get hurt again."
"I understand," he said, taking a step down.
"I'm sorry," Sage said quickly. "I'm really, really sorry."
"It's okay," Demetrius said quickly. "Well, I'll see you around?"
"Of course," Sage said uncertainly. She watched as he turned on his heel and walked back to the Great Hall, shoulders slightly slumped. Sage sighed and headed towards Gryffindor tower, unsure of what to do but knowing that she was not fit to be around people.
Unfortunately, her plans of solitude went up in smoke when she realized that Marlene was in the dormitory, writing what looked to be a letter while perched on her bed. Marlene looked up as Sage walked in, but hastily avoided her eyes and went to roll up the parchment.
"Oh, you don't have to leave," Sage said quickly. "I was just going to lay down for a bit."
"Well I don't want to be associated with a slag, so I'll leave," Marlene said nastily. Sage's heart sank at the words. So much for that olive branch.
"Do you honestly think of me that way?" Sage hated how small she felt in that moment and hated even more that her voice betrayed it.
"First Sirius, now Demetrius Johnson? Everyone saw you leave the party with him. And then you come back with that thing on your neck. Yeah, that seems like slag behavior."
"Oh like you're much better," Sage growled, feeling bile and rage crawl up her throat. "You throw yourself at any guy that will have you! Need I remind you of all the times I covered for so you could skive off Divination and have a quick shag in a broom closet?" Marlene looked at Sage with a mixture of shock and hatred. "You know what? Don't let the door hit you on the way out." Sage stormed to her bed and wrenched the hangings shut, casting a silencing charm so Marlene wouldn't hear the screams Sage tried so desperately to keep in.
She hated Marlene for what she said and she hated herself for responding just as nastily. It wasn't so much that Marlene didn't deserve it; she had been horrible for so long that she, Sage, was getting over the hurt and was beginning to feel angry. But Sage hated that she stooped to Marlene's level. Sage didn't have any problem with Marlene, or anybody, having fun. There's nothing shameful in sex. Just because Sage hadn't found the person she wanted to sleep with didn't mean that sleeping around was inherently bad. But she had lashed out and said things she didn't even believe in because she was angry.
Sage let out an angry huff and kicked off her shoes before climbing into bed. She pulled a pillow close to her chest and laid her cheek on it, willing herself to let go of the anger and fall asleep. Breathing purposefully and slowly, her muscles began to relax and she fell asleep.
Bang!
Sage woke with a start. Something had definitely hit the dormitory door.
Smack!
Groaning, she rolled over and looked at the underside of the hangings, hoping that the barrage would stop. She knew it was one of the Marauders trying to get her attention; only they would be obnoxious enough to think bewitching things to fly at the door was acceptable behavior.
Bang!
"Oh for the love of Merlin's pants," Sage growled, shoving the covers off her body and storming to the door. She ducked under a book and stomped down the steps to see Sirius waiting at the bottom, wand raised. "What?"
"Did I wake you?" Sirius' lips curved into a smirk as he took in her disheveled appearance.
"Gee, what was your first guess?" Sage snarked, reaching up automatically to throw her tangled curls in a bun.
"You kind of look like a lioness with your hair like that."
"I was well placed in Gryffindor, then," Sage grumbled. "Did you call me down to give me fashion advice? Because I have better things to do."
"No." Sirius looked around at the half-full common room. "Come with me." Sage sighed and stared up at his earnest face.
"What do you want, Sirius?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest. She thought she saw his eyes flicker to her breasts before he leaned in to whisper in her ear.
"I'm calling in my favor."
Ignoring the gooseflesh that erupted all over, Sage nodded and followed Sirius out of the common room. He led her to the empty classroom that she had shared that kiss with Demetrius and shut the door.
"What do you want?" Sage asked, sitting on the same desk as before. If she was honest, part of her, a rather large part, hoped he'd kiss her as Demetrius had.
"I want you to go out with me," Sirius said, perching himself on a desk opposite her. Sage gaped at him.
"Pardon?" She asked when she found her voice.
"I want you to go out with me," he repeated. "It wouldn't be real. Just an act for a few months. Until I graduate." Sage felt bile climb up her throat as her heart dropped into her stomach.
"Why?" She asked. Sirius studied her face for a moment before speaking.
"Because I'm tired of the bullshit," he said. "I'm tired of dodging girls left and right. I'm tired of Mary MacDonald thinking that I belong to her just because we hooked up a couple of times."
"Oh poor you," Sage spat. "Too many girls after the famous playboy, Sirius Black."
"I'm tired of that attitude too," he growled, standing and starting to pace. "I'm more than that, dammit!"
"I know you are!" Sage roared, jumping from her seat as well. Sirius stopped his pacing to stare at her. "You are so much more than you ever let anyone see."
"Except you," he stated. "You're the only one who sees me."
"Except James, Remus, and Peter."
"No, they have to work ten times harder to get a glimpse into my head. You completely disarm me, Sage. That's why this would work." Sage let out a tight breath.
"No."
"No, what?"
"No, I won't pretend to go out with you," Sage stated harshly. Sirius' face crumbled.
"Why not? You owe me."
Sage let out a broken laugh, a singular, barbarous note. She stalked the few feet to him, grabbed him by the back of his neck, and pulled him down to meet her lips. She poured everything into that kiss, every bit of desire, admiration, lust, and love she felt for the idiot boy in front of her into the movement of her lips, the arching of her back, the grasp of her hands. And just before she fell over the edge, before she dropped down on her knees begged him to love her, she pulled out of his grasp.
"That's why, you fucking idiot." And then she ran.