By Sweet 16 Movie Buff!
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It was early one morning that found Sirius down in the common room, seated across from a sleeping Jillian, curled up on the couch with Chocoball. One slender hand rested on the sleeping cat, the other arm curled under her pillow. He studied her for the longest moment, taking in the slight part of her lips, the way her chest rose and fell as she breathed.
He hadn't slept well again last night. The strange nightmare had come again as it came every night now, but the torment was always different; beating, hexing, burning, raping . . . He shuddered at the memory of that last one. It had been the one that had woken him at four this morning, gasping and drenched in a cold sweat. It had sent him downstairs to make certain Jillian was still there and had not disappeared since he had left her.
There was a mew from the couch as Chocoball awoke and slipped out from under Jillian's hand to land on the floor. The little chocolate kitten scampered away up the stairs to the boy's dormitory, leaving Jillian and Sirius alone. Jillian moaned and rolled onto her back, unfolding her arms above her and stretching her toes to the foot of the couch. She saw Sirius out of the corner of her eye, and tossed her head to the side to smile at him.
"Morning," she said softly, her voice still sleep heavy. "How long have you been awake?"
"Not long," he lied.
"Oh," she moaned again, twisting her back ever so to crack it. She lay with her arms extended above her head, smiling at him.
"You know that you snore, don't you?" he asked with a grin.
"I do not, I purr," she corrected indignantly, "Women purr, men snore."
"Purring or snoring or whatever you call it, you still breathe rather heavy for a girl," he grinned wickedly at her. In mild retaliation, Jillian stuck her tongue out at him. She watched as he picked up a camera that one of the second years had left in the common room.
"Don't even dream about it, Black," she warned him, when he twirled the dial to a new frame.
"About what? This?"
Jillian looked up only long enough to be blinded by a bright flash of light and hear the loud click of a shudder.
"Sirius!" she screamed, throwing the blankets away to chase after him, "Give me that!"
"It's not so terrible if you squint at it long enough!" he laughed over his shoulder as he slipped through the portrait and out into the school.
"Sirius, I'm going to ruddy murder you!" she shouted at him, laughing. Leave it to Sirius Black to see the end of the holiday as a time to torment her.
She heard his laughter ringing off the stone as he disappeared down the stairs. Jillian scrambled down the stairs, jumping the trick one, in hot pursuit, shouting insults at him that she really didn't mean.
"You slimy bugger! Come on," she gasped as they bounded onto the second floor, "This isn't funny any more!"
"Yield, McKee?" he shouted back.
"Never!"
She was tight on his heels, catching a glimpse of his leg as he rounded a bend. She had him . . .
Abruptly someone grabbed her around the middle and a warm hand clamped over her mouth to stop her from screaming; it was Sirius. His face had gone oddly solemn and still, his ears perked as he listened. He put a finger to his lips, motioning her to be silent. Jillian nodded and his crushing grip lessened. They slipped into a gap between a suit of armor and the wall. Jillian was pressed tight against Sirius's chest, her ear so close she could hear his heartbeat.
Then she could hear what had made him stop so suddenly.
". . . not act over the holiday? All the students will be at home; it would be easiest then - " lumberous footsteps approached, growing louder and clearer as it neared.
"Because, you twit, He doesn't want it to look like just another raid," snapped a second voice that made Sirius visibly stiffen. He would know Severus Snape's oily voice apart from any other.
The footsteps stopped in the center of the hall, pausing only feet from Jillian and Sirius. Jillian closed her eyes and willed her heart to be silent. There was a certain tension in the air, a certain feeling of foreboding that surged into the hall with the two newcomers. They shouldn't be hearing this that was for certain.
Sirius craned his head around the helm of the armor, trying to see what was going on. His muscles twitched and strained painfully for his attempt and the only thing that was clear was a burly shadow to which Snape only could peer over its shoulder.
It was the burly student that seemed rather apprehensive; his head darted from side to side, searching, "But right under Dumbledore's nose . . ."
Severus replied silkily, his tone icy and strained in his irritation, "That's exactly what the Dark Lord wants, Warren. He wants it to happen exactly under Dumbledore's nose."
The voices soon faded, and it was another long moment before either Jillian or Sirius spoke. They stood crammed in between the suit of armor and the wall, pressed together chest to chest.
"Did . . .did they just . . ." Jillian found it hard to breath.
Sirius nodded mutely.
"Did you see what they looked like?"
"Only Snivellus," he sighed, raking his fingers through his hair in disappointment.
"We have to tell someone," she said at last, so quietly it was barely above a whisper. "We have to tell McGonagall or Dumbledore or someone."
"Tell them what?" Sirius asked impatiently, "That we were eavesdropping on two of the most obvious Death Eaters in Hogwarts and heard them mention Dumbledore and Voldemort in the same conversation? Yeah, that will go over real well . . . twenty points to Ravenclaw and Gryffindor for stating the obvious!"
"I'm sorry, all right," she snapped back, stung by his words, "It was a stupid suggestion, okay? I'm sorry.""It's okay, I . . . I just don't know, all right?" he said by way of an apology, though his tone was a little harsher than he meant. It was frustrating to have stumbled on something so vital, and yet having heard nothing that could be of use. He could sense Jillian's frustration as well, thrumming from her body through the angry stiffness with which she rested her hands on his shoulders.
With a sudden jolt he realized that there was very little room between them. They were pressed torso to torso. His hands had unknowingly gripped her upper arms at some interval, drawing her closer. Her body was so soft; even the sharp pinch of her hipbone in his thigh wasn't unpleasant. He abruptly dropped his hands to his sides, "Um . . .Jillian . . ."
"Yeah?"
"Maybe we should get out of here."
"What?" Then she too seemed to realize her position, "OH! Oh, bloody hell, I'm sorry!"
She stumbled out from behind the suit of armor, tripping on its pedestal and her elbow knocking the halberd situated in its gloved hand. The suit of armor turned his helm and seemed to give her a reproachful glare from within the slit.
"I'm sorry," she apologized to it, her cheeks glowing.
And despite himself, Sirius laughed, "You're too clumsy for your own good, Jilly."
"Well it was your fault," she accused with a smile, glad that he hadn't noticed she hadn't quite minded being crammed so tightly next to him.
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AN EXTRA DISCLAIMER . . .
My Dad was reading this one book (I think it was a John Stanford novel, Hidden Prey or something) and the main character was a woman who fell asleep in her partner's car. So the line, "I do not, I purr . . .Women purr, men snore," is from that book, though I couldn't tell you which one it is. It was just one of those cute lines you had to put in somewhere.
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THANK YOUS!
Kirie Himuro – No, thank YOU! I'm glad that chapter cheered you up, and made your day a little bit more sufferable. I'm sorry about your row with your friend, though, those really suck monkey butt. Just know that I will forever have an upper-chapter in my fics for you!Kat-firefly – Your new chapter is just fine! It gives the story a bit more of an interesting plot (not saying it wasn't interesting before, because it was interesting). And of course the story isn't over yet! I still have to explain what Voldemort's plans are, and what Toby's revenge will be, and the ever present question will Sirius and Jillian EVER get back together . . . ::shakes head:: There's just too much left un-answered, I'm sorry but I'll just have to finish it. :)
Moon Burst – The cat, Chocoball, is a tribute to my own three cats (Salem, Hobbs, and Chloe). When Chocoball was nibbling on Jillian's fingers and then licked them, Salem does that too when you wrestle with him. They're all so sweet.
Anyway, Toby seeks her vengeance on Mitra in Chapter 8 so you may not yet have to worry. I love the way your fic is going though, it's really awesome and unique, PLEASE post the next two chapters!
Nicky Black – Okay, I can't answer your first two questions, but I can answer that last one about Mitra and why he's still going out with her. Wait . . . I actually can't answer that one either, because it's explained in Chapter 8! Or sorta of explained anyway. Oh, damn, I hate having to keep everyone in anticipation! Maybe I'll post two chapters today . . .By the way, when are you going to update your Black Rose fic? I really did like the direction it was taking and I'm still really curious about her mother. You haven't given up on it have you? I truly hope not.