Untitled

A/N: I'm surprised at myself; I'm happier and happier with this story… even if many people aren't reading it. *sigh* Anyhow, I'm going to keep writing it and posting it anyways, because maybe eventually somebody will read it.  Well, I already have two reviews that I am very proud to have so thank you to the both of you who reviewed (you know who you are *grins*).

~*~*~

CHAPTER VI – Skipping Classes?

~*~*~

Rather than going to the Slytherin common room; Erin made her way to where she knew Professor McGonagall's office was.  Once there, she carefully knocked on the door, hoping the Professor was still awake.

After a moment or two Erin heard footsteps, and the door was pulled open by Professor McGonagall.

"What are you doing up so late Miss Moonshadow?  You should be in your common room and asleep," was the very first thing out of Professor McGonagall's mouth at spotting the young witch.

"I have something I need to ask you Professor," Erin said.  "It's about Remus Lupin; do you have any idea where he could be?"
"What do you mean dear?"

"I have not seen Remus in any classes and he hasn't been around for any meals all day; and to my understanding James, Sirius and Peter woke this morning to a Remus-free dormitory.  Where could he be?  We've looked everywhere."

"Apparently not everywhere," said Professor McGonagall.  "I saw him early this morning; he went outside.  My guesses are he's probably out by the lake or in the Shrieking Shack."

"Thank you Professor," Erin said with a nod.  "You wouldn't mind if I… went to find him, would you?"

"Well, it is long after curfew and you should probably go back to your common room," Professor McGonagall said.  "Although… you seem worried; and so I think I can allow it this once.  Take this so if Filch or anyone catches you they'll know I allowed you permission to be out after curfew," she handed Erin what seemed to be some sort of stone.  Erin nodded, and then moved off towards the Entrance Hall to go outside after thanking Professor McGonagall.

Luckily on the way out Erin was not caught.

She wandered the grounds, taking a long look near the lake to see if he was there.  She searched the Quidditch pitch, including the change rooms and every row of seats.  She then moved to the Whomping Willow.

It was not just Remus's refuge once a month; but it was hers as well.

She picked up a long stick, and prodded the knot, then moved into the tree, walking down the long tunnel to the Shrieking Shack.

Sure enough, that's exactly where Remus was.  He was sitting in a dark corner of the room, hugging his knees to his chest, face buried in his knees.

Slowly, Erin made her way over to Remus.  "Remus?" she asked softly.  Clearly he had not heard her come in because he jumped and his head shot up, looking up at her.  It looked as though he had been crying; he had tearstains on his cheeks and his eyes were slightly red.  "Remus what's wrong?  We've been looking for you all day."

Remus just turned his gaze away from Erin, as she knelt down in front of him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Come on Remus, you can tell me," Erin said softly, watching him.

Digging the note he had received late the night before out of his pocket, he handed it to Erin so she could read it.  Erin took her hand off his shoulder, unfolding the note she began to read it.

It read (remember this people; I suck at writing official letters):

To Remus Lupin

We are sorry to inform you that both your parents have been killed by Lord Voldemort.  They were killed tonight (September 2nd) while they were having dinner.

Deepest apologies.

And then it went on with the signature of the Minister of magic and the auror who had found out that Remus's parents had been killed.  Erin didn't bother to read the signatures.  She lowered the note enough to look at Remus, before fully lowering the note and setting it on the dusty floorboards.

"Ooh Remus, I'm so sorry," Erin said softly; Remus merely nodded once, not turning to face her.

Erin frown, and moved so she was sitting beside Remus, leaning over she hugged him gently, head against his shoulders and arms around his waist.  Remus didn't respond to it at first, but then, slowly, realizing he needed the comfort he stopped hugging his knees and wrapped his arms around Erin to return the hug.

~*~*~

By the next morning, James and company woke again to yet another Remus-free dormitory.  They made their way down to the Great Hall, and were surprised that now both Erin and Remus were missing.

"Ooh great, now we have two people to look for," Sirius groaned.  "Don't tell me we're just all going to disappear one by one!"

"Relax Padfoot, Erin probably went looking for Moony after curfew last night," James said, as he took his seat at the Gryffindor table.  "She probably found him too…"

"So why aren't they here then?  Why didn't she bring him back right away, hmmm?  Do you think they could be doing something they shouldn't be?"

"Erin and Remus?  Highly doubt it," Suzuki said as she passed.

"Suzuki's right," James said.  "Erin's not that kind of person; and Moony certainly isn't either.  I'm sure that they're fine."

"But then there's the possibility that something bad happened to the both of them," Lily said as she actually sat down beside James, Suzuki across from her.

"Looks like we're going to have to start the search all over again; which means skipping classes and breaking off into organized groups," James said.

"Skipping classes?" Lily said hesitantly.  "Groups?  With you boys?"

"Yes, skipping classes, gathering into groups and with us boys," Sirius said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"All right, we're going to," James conjured up a basket.  "Put all of our names in here and randomly pick them out.  Whoever's name you pick out you're paired off with.  One of us will be in a group of three, because there's not enough to split into identical groups."

They all nodded; and after having their names written on small pieces of parchment and tossed into the hat, they decided to start with Sirius.  "Okay, Peter, you'll pick last, because by then we'll be paired in groups of two and you'll be tossed into one," James instructed, and Peter nodded.

Sirius, James, Lily and Suzuki all pulled names out of the basket.  James got Lily's, and Lily got James.  Sirius got Suzuki and Suzuki got Sirius.

"All right Peter, now that we're paired off, me with Lily, and Sirius with Suzuki, you pick a name from in there.  If you pick my name or Lily's, you're in our group, if you pick Suzuki or Sirius's, you're in their group."

Peter nodded, and stuck his hand into the basket, pulling out someone's name, he looked at it.

"Who are you with?"

"Padfoot and Suzuki," Peter answered quietly.

James nodded slightly; he had hoped Peter would be with him and Lily to ease up some of the tension they had with each other; so he wouldn't have to deal with being ignored the entire time, but, again, his luck failed.

My luck always fails, James thought to himself.

"So, let's start the search!" Sirius said, standing up.  The others agreed and got to their feet as well.

~*~*~

CHAPTER VII – Search ::Sirius and Suzuki::

~*~*~

A/N: Here's the next chapter!  Enjoy.  Romance shall spark between Suzuki and Sirius in this chapter.

After they had split up into their respected groups with the instructions on where each group was to search, they began.  Suzuki, Peter and Sirius were to search the dungeons through to the fourth floor.

Sirius and Suzuki were walking alongside each other in the dungeons; leaving Peter scampering to keep up.

"Wormtail if you can't keep up why not just give up?" Sirius asked with annoyance as he looked over his shoulder, hands in his pockets.

"I can to keep up!" Peter squeaked, but tripped over his own feet and fell face first onto the floor.  Sirius snatched Suzuki's hand at that exact moment and broke into a run, Suzuki running with him.

They rounded a few corners before they slowed to a stop, panting.  They had lost Peter, and Sirius seemed quite proud of himself.

"Didn't want him in the group?" Suzuki asked.

"No, not really," Sirius answered.  "I don't even think he should be on the search.  He just can't keep up; we need to find these guys before something bad happens to them.  And especially if something bad has already and is currently happening to them."

Suzuki nodded slightly.  "So, while we're on this search, why not tell me a little about yourself?"

"Well, I absolutely adore playing pranks, and hanging around with my friends.  I'm not usually that worried about my friends though, if they go missing for one day, because it could mean they're off snogging or something."

Suzuki laughed slightly.

"Although, Remus wouldn't go missing passed lunch unless something was wrong," Sirius said.

"Why do you guys usually call each other by those strange nicknames?" Suzuki asked, hand in her pocket, still clasping Sirius's hand with her other hand.

"Ooh… um, I'm not sure if I should tell you," Sirius said.  "Maybe some other time… but I'd have to talk to James first."

Suzuki seemed a little put-out but nodded.  "Well, I already know why you call Remus Moony, same reason that Erin disappears with him once a month."

Sirius nodded.  "I figured that you knew that much; I mean, Erin probably talks about disappearing with Remus and why, not to mention the fact they both come back with horrible bites and scratches, and look like they came out on the bad side of a fight."

"And it's even harder for Erin because her body can't take magical healing; it makes her really sick, and she ends up coughing up blood," Suzuki said, and Sirius nodded.

"I always wondered why Remus just took the magical healing and Erin was all wrapped up in bandages and bandaids.  Well, now I know."

Suzuki nodded simply once.

They moved up to the first floor to search up there for any sign of Erin and Remus having had no luck down in the dungeons.

"So, Sirius, what's your family like?"

"Family?  Um, well, I don't get along with them very well," he answered.  "A lot of them work for Voldemort; or think I'm worthless."

"That's horrible!" Suzuki said.

Sirius just shrugged.  "I'm used to it by now," he answered.  "It's been happening for so long, it would feel a little strange to go home to a nice, peaceful house for the summer."

"I suppose it would feel strange, but it would be a lot nicer," Suzuki said.  "Maybe you could stay with me this summer?"

"Really?"

"Well, I'd have to ask my parents of course, but it's worth a shot," Suzuki said.  Sirius nodded and smiled.

"Thanks Suzuki."

"No problem Sirius."

~*~*~

Suzuki and Sirius had finished their search by now, and were now just seated in the Gryffindor common room where they had been told to go whenever it was they were finished.

The two of them sat in silence for quite a long time.

"So…" Sirius said, in a poor attempt to break the silence.  "What would you like to do now?"

"I don't know, what would you like to do?"

"Play some sort of game?" Sirius suggested.  "Or possibly plot some more pranks?"

Suzuki smirked.  "Nothing can take your mind away from those pranks, can they?" Sirius smiled sheepishly.

"Nope, of course not," Sirius said.

Suzuki and Sirius then spent their time waiting for the others plotting pranks, until they were tired of writing them down and wanted to do something else.

"Shall we play a game now?" Sirius asked.

Suzuki nodded.  "Yes." She answered.  "What sort of game?"

"Tag, hide and seek… some sort of muggle game like that," he answered.  Suzuki thought for a moment and then nodded again in response.

"Tag it is, but you're it," Suzuki said, tapping his shoulder she took off out of the common room.

"Hey!" Sirius instantly got up and raced after her to try and catch her.  This game between the two of them went on for several minutes; before Sirius did catch Suzuki, pinning her to the wall, holding onto her wrists.

Suzuki laughed slightly; eyes sparkling as she watched Sirius.  Slowly, Sirius leaned forwards and kissed her on the lips, after several long moments of watching her intently.

Softly Suzuki returned the kiss.

What the Hell am I doing?  This is going to earn me a slap and absolutely no respect from Suzuki… and aren't the Professors out on duty now?  Wait, why do I even care?  I've been caught doing worse… but Suzuki'll get in trouble too… and I don't want her to.

Wow, Sirius is good at this… even if it is just gentle… wait, where'd that come from?  Maybe we should stop… nah.

After a moment however Sirius broke it, pulling back.  He looked at her.  "Hey, Suzuki?"

"What?"

"Will you go out with me?"

"Sure Sirius," she said with a half smile.

"Thanks," Sirius smiled, and leaned in and kissed her lightly once again.

~*~*~

A/N: Ew… FLUFF.  I'm drowning in that crap right now.  Anyhow, there will be more fluff, snogging, trouble, and other such things in the next few chapters… the next chapter is Lily and James, then it's going to be Remus and Erin… and wherever the Hell they are.