"No, you've got it all wrong, flick your wrist more," Kira said. Avery frowned.
"Fine, if you're so amazing, do it yourself." Kira picked up her wand and, with a casual flick of her wrist, changed the pen into a feather, muttering the incantation.
"Now, you try." Avery flicked his wrist and the pen turned white, and slightly feathery. Kira groaned. They had been trying for two hours now. It was after ten and Avery hadn't improved much even after three weeks. "Can we stop now? I'm really tired. I'll see you next Wednesday," Kira said, standing up.
"What about Saturday?" Avery asked suspiciously.
"I'm not coming," she said.
"And why not?" Kira paused slightly, thinking.
"I think you're getting better. You only need one practise a week."
"Bullshit. It's the full moon this weekend, isn't it?"
"I wouldn't know."
"What are you planning on doing? It's a bit stupid running around with a werewolf, especially Lupin. He could slip up and bite you," Avery said.
"Lupin isn't a werewolf," Kira said firmly. Avery stood up, circling her again.
"Really?"
"Stop it," Kira said, her voice shaking ever so slightly.
"Stop what? Not scared of me, are you, Lyrin?" She glared at him as he stopped, and looked down at her. She felt a horrible feeling of deja vu as he caught her face in his hand. She shuddered at his touch and pulled away.
"Leave me alone."
"Or you'll do what? Call your darling boyfriend? I hardly think Black can save you now," Avery sneered. Kira turned away, the taunt about Sirius ringing in her ears.
"I don't need his protection," Kira said softly.
"I forgot, an expert dueller, aren't you." Kira spun around just as Avery shouted: "Scourgify!" She fell to her knees, coughing and choking on the pink bubbles. Avery laughed before muttering the counter curse. Kira crouched on the floor, trying to regain her breath before shouting:
"Impedimenta!" Avery was thrown off his feet and fell back onto the floor. He groaned before rolling over and standing up to face her.
"That hurt," he said. Kira hiccupped a pink bubble, but didn't break eye contact. "Petrificus Totalu -" but she cried:
"Protego!" Avery's spell was deflected and smashed into a pile of books, which fell to the floor.
"Good, very good," Avery sneered. Kira faced him, and stood still as he moved forward. She watched him, ready to block a spell, unsure what he was going to do. Swiftly he stepped forward and kissed her roughly, his tongue searching her mouth hungrily. Kira's breath was knocked out of her, and she stumbled backwards in surprise, but his added weight made it impossible for her to keep her balance and they fell to the floor. Avery's hands roamed over her as she struggled with his body on top of hers.
"Get off me," she hissed, trying to regain her breath. He smiled down at her.
"You don't know how good you look when you're angry." She lifted her knee in between his legs and was able to push him off as he clutched his groin in pain. Quickly she got up and ran to the door, slamming it behind her before sprinting up the stairs, away from the dungeons.
Kira lay with her head resting on Sirius' chest, watching the shadows dance across the wall. He was asleep, one arm wrapped about her waist. She sighed before gently pushing away and getting up off the sofa. She went and stood by the window, breathing in the cold night air and staring out at the clouds. A pair of arms wrapped about her shoulders and she jumped slightly, before settling back into Sirius' warm chest.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly.
"Nothing, it's just, I can't come on Saturday." Sirius turned her in his arms to face him.
"Why not?" he asked, his brow furrowed.
"Avery will never let me. If I go, it's like just proving to him that Remus is a werewolf." Sirius pulled Kira close and she closed her eyes.
"You're tired," Sirius muttered, lifting her gently back to the sofa. She tried protesting but Sirius silenced her by gently covering her lips with his own. He lay down next to her, enveloping her smaller body in his arms and pulling a blanket to cover them. "Goodnight, Kira," he said softly. She didn't reply, and he thought she had already fallen asleep. "I love you," he whispered, before closing his eyes and settling down. Kira smiled.
"I love you too," she breathed, but Sirius was already asleep.
Please review! I would appreciate any thoughts or critisms you have!