Chapter 15

The end of the year was fast approaching. Exams were upon them before they knew it. Riddled with guilt, Noelle threw herself into the preparation for her exams. Even though she had spent the night with Sirius, and it seemed as though things were well on their way to being normal, she found it hard to look him in the eye. Somehow, he looked smaller, less significant to her, and she couldn't figure out why. She was beginning to find his chatter annoying and immature, and the little flaws that she had never noticed were driving her up the wall. She couldn't stand how he tugged at his earlobe when he was tired, or the way he gestured with his fork if he was trying to make a point during dinner. Lately she had rolled her eyes at him more than she ever had in her life. It didn't help that she couldn't take her eyes away from Severus, and from what she had seen, the feeling was mutual.

After lunch one day, while the rest of her classmates were in Transfiguration, Noelle decided to take a stroll to the owlery to visit Etoile. She had just left the dining hall when she caught sight of Severus ahead. Taking a breath, she argued with herself over whether she should call to him. He saved her the trouble.

Almost as if he had sensed her, he slowly turned around. When their eyes met, she smiled apprehensively at the expression on his face. She glided to his side and pecked him on the cheek.

"Your nose looks much better." She said softly.

He cupped her face in his hands and turned it into the light. "Your eye is almost back to normal, huh?"

She nodded and pulled away from him slightly. Reaching for her hair, she nervously turned to the window.

"Beautiful day, non?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

"Noelle, there's no need to change the subject. I know you're back with him, though I can't for the life of me understand why, after the beating he gave you." She quickly shook her head, but he wouldn't let her interrupt. "I don't want to hear it. He's an animal. You have no idea what he's capable of." The anger in his dark eyes was apparent even though he tried to hide it.

"I know what he did to you." She blurted out before she could stop herself.

He looked shocked. "You do?"

With her head down, she nodded.

"And you still find it necessary to be with him?" he said, his voice going higher in pitch with every word. "I didn't want to tell you, because I figured that he would never behave like that to you. How long have you known?" he questioned.

"Since just after the fight." Ashamed, she swung her gaze from him.

Severus shook his head incredulously. "You're baffling, Noelle. You truly are. How can you trust him at all, knowing what he is capable of?" he thundered at her.

She shook her head, tears flying off her cheeks. He looked at her with disgust, and began to back away from her.

"No, please. Don't go away!" she pleaded. "Severus, I need you!"

He stopped in his tracks and looked closely at her.

"You need me? For what? Late night study sessions in the dungeons? Or maybe to antagonize Black even more for you? You just love the idea of guys fighting over you, don't you?" he taunted.

Noelle's navy eyes narrowed. "How dare you? From him I could expect this, but not you!"

He laughed bitterly. "Listen to yourself. You could expect him to treat you like this, but still you stay with him? What kind of hold does he have on you?"

Now she laughed sardonically. "I wish I knew. But somehow, I always manage to forgive him."

She tilted her head and she looked like a child. "Severus, I love him." She said simply.

Those words tore through his heart and he ducked his head. He took a deep breath before he spoke. "Noelle, I think it's best if we stopped being friends. I can't handle seeing you with him every day, knowing his character, and how he can do no wrong in your eyes."

The hurt was blatant in her face, but he pushed forward.

"I really think it's for the best." He said, his voice tight.

She gaped at him, not believing that he was just going to toss their friendship away.

"But, what about..." she stammered.

"The other night? I won't tell anyone. It's no one's business but ours anyhow. But Noelle, I really think that this is for the best."

Swallowing her protests, she nodded. "Perhaps you are right." She lied.

Not him, not Severus, she panicked. He gave a sharp nod and spun on his heel, his robes billowing behind him as he strode down the corridor.

Noelle leaned against the stone wall, clutching her hand to her chest. Her lungs seized and she swore under her breath. She grabbed the ledge and tried to steady herself, taking slow, deep breaths.

Bending over, she put her head between her knees and tried to relax. The wheezing grew louder and her chest rattled with her efforts. She brought herself upright again and found herself staring right at Severus. Her face was blood red and she was practically hyperventilating. He took her into his arms and pushed her hair off of her face. He removed a small vial from his robes and handed it to her.

Wordlessly, she uncorked it and poured the contents into her mouth. Instantly it was like ice water was soothing her raw throat. Cautiously, she took a breath, then another one. With wide eyes, she took in the slightly smug Severus Snape in front of her.

"I figured it out two nights ago." He said softly.

"This will work? For good?" she said in a strangled voice.

"If you take it right when your chest starts to seize up, it will prevent the attack from getting any worse."

She flung her arms around him and squeezed him tightly.

"Noelle, I didn't mean it. Any of it. I couldn't stand it if you weren't in my life." He whispered fiercely into her ear.

Overwhelmed with relief, she hugged him tighter.

A resounding bell echoed through the halls and they broke apart. Severus ran a hand through his dark hair and nervously glanced down the corridor. "I'll write that potion out, and teach you how to make it." She nodded happily and placed the vial into her pocket.

"How do you feel?"

She beamed. "Wonderful. Like a new person."

"Good. I'll see you later, alright?" He was already halfway down the hall as he said this.

She waved and headed towards Charms to meet up with Lily.

Lily was studying her notes and checking them against her textbook. She barely looked up when Noelle plopped down in the seat next to her, and just grunted when Noelle said hi. Shaking her head slightly, Noelle pulled a quill and parchment out of her bag. James and Sirius sauntered in just as the warning bell rang.

Professor Flitwick hopped onto his stack of books and began his lesson. Even though she tried to be interested in his lecture about Conjuring charms, but she was practically exploding with happiness. Severus had done it. He had developed a treatment, just as he promised. Suddenly she realized that he was the only person who had ever kept a promise to her.

A poke in the back made her jump and she turned in annoyance. Sirius was balancing his chair on the back two legs, and he gave her a wink. She rolled her eyes and turned back to the front of the room. She completely gave up on any possibility of paying attention and drifted off, her chin in her hand, and her eyes glazed.

She didn't know that daydreams could be so real. She saw herself, slightly older, maybe nineteen or twenty, standing at a mirror wearing an elaborate white gown. Even she had to admit that she looked beautiful, but there was something in her navy eyes that she couldn't put her finger on. Her blonde hair was intricately piled on her head, her makeup and nails perfect. Her complexion was pale; her figure more slender than usual. The image in the mirror raised her glance and Noelle was able to look into her eyes easier. What she saw made her gasp. There was pain, sorrow, and worst of all, grief. But grief for who? It looked to be her wedding day, why should she be grieving? Noelle reached out to comfort her older self, but just as she made contact with her arm, she felt herself be jostled awake.

Scowling angrily, she glared at Sirius.

"What?" she asked crossly.

"Aren't we cranky? Class is over." He said, pointing at the clock.

"Oh. Sorry."

She stood quickly and stuffed her things back into her bag.

"Noelle, what's wrong with you?" he asked.

"Nothing. I'm fine. I'm just tired." She offered him a weak smile and he relaxed.

"Want to go take a nap?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"Do you ever give up?" she said, only half teasing.

He pretended to think very hard, "Nope. Never."

She sighed in exasperation. "Not today. I have too much work to catch up on."

He pouted and she groaned.

"No Sirius, not today. Stop it."

"Fine. I understand." He stuck his lower lip out slightly and she laughed in spite of herself.

"Maybe later, alright?" she said.

He nodded and looked a little happier. He leaned towards her and dropped a quick kiss on her forehead.

"I have to run. I've got to look for something before dinner."

She nodded and he left the room quickly. Lily was at the door, chatting with James when Sirius pushed by them both, nearly knocking James over. He threw an apology over his shoulder as he rushed down the hallway. James glared after him and held his hand out to Lily. Noelle's eyebrows shot up in amazement as they strolled down the corridor hand in hand. Glancing around, she realized she was the last student in the classroom. She shook herself slightly and headed for the door.

She wasn't hungry at all. Deciding to catch up on some homework, she made her way slowly to the library. She started for the table she always studied at, because it was secluded and she wasn't likely to be bothered. To her surprise, there was already a student there. He spun around fearfully as she approached. She smiled charmingly.

"I am sorry, I did not realize that someone was already here."

He smiled back, and something inside her twinged. There was no warmth in his smile whatsoever. His dull eyes were cold and hard, the smile not quite reaching them.

"It's okay. I was just leaving anyways." He said nervously, his eyes dropping to the floor.

Hastily he shoved his belongings into his bag and in the process, scattered papers and quills everywhere. Noelle stooped down to help him. As she reached for a bottle of ink that had rolled under the table, she spied a hard bound notebook that looked very familiar. She made to pick it up, but it was quickly scooped up by the mousy boy. Straightening up, she handed him the ink.

"I'm Noelle Lemieux." She said.

"I know who you are." He said, his voice cracking slightly.

She looked at him questioningly.

"Everyone knows who you are. I mean, you're going out with someone who is pretty popular." He stated, the jealously barely concealed.

She rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "That means nothing to me. But I am afraid that I do not know your name."

He shifted his bag to his other shoulder and stuck out a plump hand. "Peter Pettigrew."

She took his hand and shook it firmly. "Very nice to meet you, Peter."

He bobbed his head. "Yes, you too. I must be going."

He lurched away from her, between the tall bookshelves. Narrowing her eyes, she watched him leave, wondering why on earth he had Sirius' notebook.

At dinner downstairs, Sirius was pretending to be sick while James and Lily tried so desperately to keep their eyes away from one another. After one too many snorts, James whipped around on the bench.

"Like we didn't have to watch you make an absolute ass out of yourself trying to get Noelle's attention." He whispered from between clenched teeth.

That shut Sirius up for a while and he returned to shoving food into his mouth and arguing with Remus over why they couldn't manage just one more prank on the Slytherins before the year was through.

"But why not, Moony? We've only got another week before we have to head home, and then we'd have to wait all summer. Besides, next year is our last year here, and we have to take N.E.W.T.s."

He paused to gulp some pumpkin juice. "And why are you so against pranking them all of a sudden?" he asked, his grey eyes narrowing.

Remus smiled wryly at him. "Don't you ever get sick of it, Padfoot? Don't you think it's about time we grew up and grew out of this?"

Sirius looked surprised. "No. Why? Should I?"

Remus laughed slightly. "I'll think about it, alright?"

Sirius didn't look happy, but at least he dropped the subject. Belching loudly, he stood up from the table, grinning wickedly at the disgusted look Lily gave him.

"What?" he asked innocently.

"Since Noelle isn't here, I felt I had to stand in for her." Lily said testily.

Sirius stuck his tongue out at her and she chucked a crust of bread at him. He ducked it and sauntered out of the hall.

As he turned the corner to climb the stairs to Gryffindor tower, he bumped into a shorter boy.

"Sorry about that, mate." He said as he reached to help steady him.

The boy stared up at him incredulously. A bit unnerved, Sirius smiled back at him and hurried up the stairs, fully aware that he was being watched.

Now was as good a time as any, he thought, watching Sirius make his way up the stairs.

"Sirius!" he called out, hoping that his voice wouldn't crack. The tall dark boy turned on the stairs, a question in his eyes.

"Did you lose something?" Peter asked.

He could see the wheels in Sirius' head turning rapidly.

"No. Why?"

"No reason. Just thought that this belonged to you." He said, digging in his bag and removing a notebook.

Sirius' grey eyes widened and he practically flew back down the stairs.

"Where did you find that?" he whispered.

"Oh, in the Great Hall, about two weeks ago."

"You've had it all this time? Why didn't you return it to me?" he fired at the Hufflepuff standing before him.

"I have my reasons. If you want them, and your notebook back, you and James Potter need to meet me. Tonight. And we can discuss the terms of our agreement." He said smugly.

"What? What agreement? We, need to meet you? For what? It's my notebook, and I'd like it back. Now." He demanded.

"I already told you how you can get it back." Peter said, his voice wavering slightly. "Those are the conditions. And I really don't think you want to involve any professors in this matter, do you?"

Sirius blanched so fast that Peter thought he would pass out.

"I didn't think so. Tonight? Let's say the Charms classroom, around 11 pm." Peter smiled cunningly. "See you then."

He spun on his heel, leaving Sirius Black speechless and clutching the railing for support.

He didn't know how he made it back to the tower. His legs were shaking and he couldn't see straight. He mumbled the password at the Fat Lady and she swung forward to let him in. He passed through the entryway, holding the stone walls for support. The common room was full of students, talking and laughing. Noelle was curled on the couch in front of the fire, reading a thick book. She saw him stumble into the room and leapt to her feet.

"Sirius! What is wrong? Are you hurt?" she questioned rapidly, her eyes flying over his body, checking for signs of injury.

He couldn't speak, his lips seemed glued together, and his tongue felt triple its normal size. She quickly placed her hand on his forehead, checking for a fever, anything that would be an indication of what was wrong with him.

"James." He managed to say. "Get James."

She nodded and stood up straight. She flew up the stairs of the boys' dormitory and banged on the door marked 'Sixth Years'. After a moment of silence, she banged again.

"James! I need you, straight away! There's something wrong with Sirius!" she pleaded through the heavy oak door.

The door swung open and she braced herself on the jamb, panting slightly. James stood there, his hair even more unruly and his cheeks deeply flushed.

"What's going on? What's the matter with Sirius?" he asked.

"I do not know. He came into the room, he could barely walk. Something is wrong."

She reached for her hair and tugged at her braid. He pushed by her and hurried down the stairs. Noelle peered into the room. Lily was sitting on a bed in the corner, trying desperately to look inconspicuous.

"Lily! What are you doing?" she asked.

Lily flushed a deep burgundy. "We were talking! I swear, that's it!"

Noelle folded her arms over her breasts and tapped her foot.

"Okay. Okay! We were kissing. Are you happy now?" Lily confessed.

"Yes, but you are the one that should be happy, you were the one being kissed, chère." Noelle said teasingly. Lily tossed a pillow at her.

"Why are you always throwing pillows at me?" Noelle said grumpily as she ducked out of the way.

"Because if I threw the bed at you, I might get hurt." Lily said, trying to keep a straight face. It didn't work. Both girls erupted in giggles that quickly turned into full out howling with laughter. Once they had managed to catch their breath, Lily slid off of James' bed and followed Noelle out of the room.

"What's going on with Sirius? Is he sick?" Lily asked.

Noelle shrugged. "I do not know. He looked pretty sick. He was very pale and shaky. But he can be pretty dramatic."

The girls reached the bottom of the boys' staircase.

"Where on earth did they go?" Noelle questioned, her navy eyes searching the common room.

"Maybe James took Sirius to the hospital wing." Lily suggested. Noelle nodded slowly.

"Perhaps."