FOREVER

Year Five

Part Six

Subtitled: In which "Sirius and Anna Finally Get Their Act Together"…With a Little Help.

A/N - Sorry this is soo short but I hope its pretty good, this took me awhile to write and there are like five other versions of this plan but I had to can them for various reasons, sot hats why this took so long to get out J . Sry! Thanks to everyone who reviewed and Enjoy

P.S. - The flashbacks are in Italics.

******

Anna smiled and jerked playfully on Sirius' hand, which was entwined with hers. He opened her eyes sleepily and smiled at her.

"Hey." He said softly, blinking his eyes as they adjusted to the light.

"Hey."

"I guess we never made it to bed, huh?" Sirius asked, noting that he was still on the couch in the Gryffindor Common Room.

Anna eyed the books, papers, and quills strewn about. "Guess not." She said, not looking upset in the least over this turn of events.

Sirius settled back contentedly. He had actually studied for the end of year exams (AKA OWLS), granted it was at the urging of his soon-to-be six month long girlfriend, Anna, but it was still a step forward. They had stayed up almost all night studying and as much as Sirius longed to sleep in like he once did in his days of freedom, BA, as he referred to them (Before Anna). In all honesty, he was just glad to have an excuse to spend time with her. He chuckled as he thought of the reactions people had when they found out that they were dating.

***** Flashback*****

Early January/End of Christmas Break

"About bloody time." Remus smirked as he passed the potatoes.

Lily, and James just smiled, looking very pleased with themselves.

Roslyn and Harry, looking suspiciously like a couple, had grinned and congratulated each other on a plan well-thought. They congratulated James and Lily on a job well done, and finally, they congratulated Anna and Sirius on finally getting their act together.

Annabelle was absolutely thrilled.

Peter and his girlfriend, Sarah, were also excited, but in all honestly, not particularly surprised.

*****End Flashback*****

Lily sat in the common room window and sighed happily. She pet Tina II, her cat, absently as she sketched her friends cuddling in the early morning light. She smiled contentedly at the thought that this had been partly her doing.

*****Flashback*****

December 11, 10:00 AM

"Sirius! Wake up!" Lily called and pounded on her cousin's door.

"Uh." Sirius moaned. "What time is it?" He asked sleepily.

"10:00 am. Come on!" Lily yelled impatiently.

"You've GOT to be kidding." He laughed. "Go away! Its waaay to early to get up."

"Sirius! Come on!" Lily whined. "I promised I'd help you with your homework, remember?" She called and knocked again.

"Lily it's the first bloody day of vacation! It can wait!" he yelled sounding thoroughly irritated.

"It can't wait, this is the only day I have open and do you want help or not?" Lily lied quickly through her teeth. She made a mental note to make plans for the rest of vacation. She would say anything just to get him to come out of his bloody room.

Sirius groaned and shuffled to the door. "Alright, alright, I'm up." He muttered and walked back into his room.

Lily waited rather impatiently for him to get ready. They were already behind schedule. "Ok." He said finally and stepped through the door. "Let's go."

Lily glanced at her watch and frowned. Part A complete. Starting Part B.

*****End Flashback*****

James walked tiredly down the stairs to the common room but stopped short when he saw the nearest couch. On it, situated quite happily, were Sirius and Anna cuddling. James chuckled as remembered the part he had played in bringing the two together. He smiled and sat near the bottom of the stairs and watched as he remembered

*****Flashback*****

December 11, 10:15 AM

"Yeah, the brooms are in here." James said and opened the door directly in front of him.

"Are you sure that you have an extra one?" Anna asked as she walked into the small room and turned on the light.

"Yeah, pretty sure anyway." James said. He took a deep breath and shut the door firmly behind them. Just then, he heard the familiar click that told him that Lily had locked the door. Now, for the hard part.

*****End Flashback*****

Tina II Purred contentedly in Lily's lap as Lily scratched her ear absently. Lily frowned thoughtfully as she stretched her memory. What had happened next. Oh yes, she remembered.

*****Flashback*****

December 11, 10:12 AM

"We're not going to study, are we, Lily?" Sirius asked as he yawned.

"What makes you say that?" Lily asked distractedly as she checked her watch fort he tenth time.

"Well for one, you don't have your book and for another you keep looking around nervously as though something is going to blow up." Sirius said sounding very amused.

Lily ran a hand through her hair and sighed. "Okay, so we're not going to study, exactly." She admitted grudgingly.

Sirius raised his eyebrows. "So, what, exactly did you drag me out of bed for?"

Lily bit her lip as they rounded the corner. "Um." She said nervously as they approached the broom closet. "You'll see."

Sirius looked at her questioningly but before he could ask, she pulled a key out of her pocket, stuck it into the key hole and locked the door. Lily, looking very satisfied, then sat down against the wall opposite the door.

Sirius was now wondering if maybe he should call a doctor. "Lily, is there any particular reason you just locked that door, or are locked doors just more fun to stare at then open doors."

Lily glared at him and opened the vent next to her for air, supposedly. She then patted the space beside her.

Sirius stared at that space doubtfully for a moment before grudgingly sitting next to her. Suddenly voices came out of the vent next to Lily.

Sirius jumped, Anna was speaking.

"James, can I borrow this -…Why is the door closed?" Anna's voice filtered through the vent, surprised.

"You know why." James' voice said quietly.

Sirius' eyebrows shot up in alarm and glanced at Lily in surprise.

Lily put a finger to her lips in response. Something in her eyes stopped him from speaking.

"What's going on?" Anna asked sounding mildly amused.

"Hopefully something we both want." James said, his voice deathly serious.

Anna laughed. "Come on, James, stop messing around, its supposed to rain later, I want to fly a bit before it does."

"Who's messing around. Come on Anna, there's no reason to hide. Lily explained everything to me. "

In the Broom Closet

10:17 AM

Anna's smile suddenly fled from her face. "What are talking about, James?" she asked apprehensively.

"Its okay, I know why you turned Sirius down, Lily told me, its because you want me." James said and took a step closer to Anna. Silently praying this would work, he leaned in and kissed her.

Anna pushed him gently away. "James…I..I can't."

"Why not?" He asked.

"Because I don't like you, I like someone else. " She said and took a step back.

James took a step closer, making like he was going to kiss her. She was against the wall now. "Who?" He asked intensely and leaned in again.

Anna pushed him back and got out from her position against the wall. "SIRIUS!" she cried urgently. "Sirius OKAY??"

Suddenly there was a click at the door and the door flung open. Sirius was standing there looking absolutely enraged. He looked at James, then at Anna, then back at James again, as though deciding between them. And then suddenly, in two strides, Sirius walked to James and punched him square in the jaw.

James grasped him jaw and cried out. "OW!" He said, glaring. "What was that for!" Sirius continued to stare furiously at him while the girls looked on, confused. All of the sudden, Sirius seemed to remember something and his glare softened. He whirled around and faced Anna.

"I like you!" She blurted out as if this were a new discovery.

Sirius smiled and kissed her softly. Slowly they broke apart.

"Want to go for a walk." She whispered as though afraid speaking straight out would break the moment. He nodded and they walked out together.

Lily was left with James.

"Are you okay." She asked, wincing at his red jaw. "That's gonna bruise."

"Yeah." He said and touched his chin resentfully. "The things I do for him, jeeze."

She smiled. "Sorry. I guess I forgot to tell him that this was all planned. I thought it was all pretty self -explanatory but apparently he thought that I had just caught you or something and I wanted him to see for himself."

"Apparently. " He sighed and fingered his bruised chin. "Its okay."

"Come on." She said as she walked to the door. "Let's get you cleaned up. We can explain everything to Sirius later."

*****End Flashback*****

Lily and James, at opposite sides of the common room smiled, things had turned out really well.

A/N - Major Fluff, I know! I'm like drowning in it!!