21. Books, butterbeer and juries

Tomes and Scrolls, Hogsmeade

Sirius' POV:

"What do you do with these books after you read them?" I asked Emilia, as she pulled out probably the millionth book from the shelf. It was the first Hogsmeade weekend of the year and instead of being surrounded by excited chatter and general chaos, I was enveloped by silence. Because I was in a bloody bookstore. But it was tolerable, because Emilia was here, and she had a way of making things entertaining. Plus, the sunlight coming from the windows hit her just right, and made her glow.

"I put them away," she said in a duh? voice. I smirked. "It's why I prefer libraries. That way you can just return it once you're done. But you can't annotate in a library book. And I know you enjoy that, so."

"Okay, that was one time. It won't ever happen again."

"You'll never read again?" She teased.

"Nothing is worth the trouble Moony's given me after he found out. Something about me being whipped."

She grinned. Putting the book aside, she turned around and looked at me, a glint in her eye.

And I swear, this time, it was Emilia that pulled me behind the endless book-shelves to make-out.

"Wait, someone will-" I interrupted.

"This is a bookstore, Sirius. No one is here," she said, pulling me back in. Okay, I officially love bookstores.

Keeping this a secret was hard, harder than I thought it would be.

Her presence was intoxicating. When she was around me, I couldn't get enough. When she wasn't there, I missed her deeply. Seeing her at meal times, but not being able to acknowledge her presence was near impossible. It had barely been two days since that night at the Astronomy Tower but it felt like we were meant to be- like we'd been doing this forever, like I'd known her forever. I marvelled at how naturally it was all coming to me- dating her, being with her- considering that I'd never actually dated anyone before.

I pulled apart, "Have you ever dated anyone before?" I asked, out of breath.

She didn't move. Her arms still around me, and cheeks flushed, she replied, "Yeah, I dated Lucas Broad last year. Why?"

I frowned, "You mean tall, brunette, Hufflepuff?" He was the guy that Moony told me about, the one who had his arm around her the other day at the party.

She nodded.

"He's two years older than you."

"Yeah."

I narrowed my eyes, but didn't say anything. She was friends with her ex? That's a bit weird.

She pulled away completely, and I found myself missing her warmth. "Can you be jealous later? I have to go."

I could feel my cheeks warm up. "I'm not jealous."

"Sure, babe. Whatever you say." I smiled at the nickname.

Before I could reply, she kissed me again, more forceful this time, a lot more passionate. She should not be kissing me like this in public. Her tongue swiped my lower lip, and then entered my mouth, stroking the side of mine.

She suddenly pulled away. "Bye," she grinned, picking up her book, and walking up to cashier to pay. How was she not winded right now?

A moment later, she was out onto the main street, mingling with the rest of the student body.

I waited a minute, and then made my way into the crowd, looking for the Marauders.

The rest of the day, we roamed through Hogsmeade- paying visits to Honeydukes, Zonko's, the likes. It was almost sundown and we were in Three Broomsticks when I saw her again. My breath caught in my throat when she walked in. I loved that she still had that effect on me.

"You know, you didn't really have to bother with the whole animagi thing. You're a puppy now," Remus laughed. "For Emilia," he explained to Peter, who looked confused.

I grinned.

"Can we talk about literally anything else," James groaned dramatically, downing his butterbeer.

"You're just jealous," I said to him. He flipped me off.

"Emilia actually said something really interesting the other day," Remus said. "She was talking about how she wished we had something that would allow us to see who was where in the castle. She just said it because she didn't want to patrol, but-"

"We should add it to the map," James said, eyes shining. Remus nodded.

"That's brilliant," I breathed. "I think I saw a book about tracing and mapping at T and S earlier. We could use that."

The table fell silent. Remus arched an eyebrow, "You were at T and S?"

Shit. "Umm, yeah."

They all burst out laughing, "What is she doing to you?" James managed to say.

I rolled my eyes, "I'll get refills," I said, in an effort to shut them up.

At the bar, Sadie was in front of me, giving her order.

"Hey," I said. She turned. I'm sure she recognised me, but she didn't show it.

"Sadie, right?" I asked.

She nodded. "I'm Sirius," I said, extending my hand. When she took it, I kissed her knuckles. Might as well lay it on thick right?

Her reaction said otherwise. She pulled her hand from my grasp, "I get it, I'm the best friend," she said, eyes comically wide. "You don't have to be so extra."

"Right, because you've been rooting for me."

She narrowed her eyes, "What gave you that impression?"

"She told me," I said.

She shook her head, "Uh-uh. I'm rooting for her, not for you. Wizengamot's still out on you."

I was confused for a beat, "Oh, you mean jury."

"No shit."

"You're muggle-born?"

"Uh-huh."

I was about to reply when someone tapped my shoulder. I turned around- Marlene.

She cocked her head, "Heard you got all booed- up," she grinned.

I narrowed my eyes, "Now where did you hear that?"

"They told me," she said, pointing to our table, where Evans and Dorcas were currently chatting to the boys.

"Don't pass it along," I said.

Madame Rosmerta came up just then, with Sadie's order. Marlene and I gave her ours, and she nodded and turned away. I refrained from flirting, because obviously Sadie was not into that.

She picked up her drinks, "Maybe quit smoking," she said, and then walked away.

I frowned.

"Cute girl," Marlene said. "But what's with all the hush- up?"

I sighed, "Take notes, McKinnon. Step one of keeping a secret, don't talk about it in a public place." I picked up my drinks and walked away.