You'll be glad to know that this fic is gonna end soon. Just a bit more. The NEWTs are coming in the next post so it should end quickly. . Maybe I'll start posting my Lily fic.

Post 69

Friends, I told him. We could be friends. But his answer always was,

"I don't want us to be just friends, Reine. I want us to pick up the pieces and continue where we left off."

"You can't just make everything normal again, Sirius, like nothing happened! I don't know if you know this, but you can't change what every girl thinks with just a look, Sirius. Not me!"

"But I already tried to tell you, she forced-"

"And a strong, young man like you couldn't push her away. I heard it went on for fifteen minutes."

"Reine! Please!"

"Sirius if you love that girl so much, then go ahead! Date her! Kiss her all you want because I don't care anymore. Now you can, why don't you?"

"I don't love her!"

"Shut up, Sirius. Actions speak louder than words. Move on with your life, I have with mine. And I'm happy."

"I know we were meant to be together..."

"Didn't you hear what Tina said, Sirius? The one who loves me will never make me cry. I'm sure there is another girl for you Sirius... and there is another guy for me."

My voice trembled. It was hard saying those words to him, but the heaviness in my heart pushed those words out of my mouth.

"You don't understand... I didn't mean to!"

"I can't forgive you this time, Sirius... even if she did make the first move. It was the fact you went on with it."

"Fine! I'm sorry! What else can I do to make you forgive me?"

He had dropped to his knees. His pleads rang across the empty hallway. His eyes quivered as they looked into mine. I breathed in heavily and let out an uneven shuddering sigh.

"Nothing..."

His eyes prodded me for mercy.

"Nothing..." I repeated.

I gave him one more chance.

"Friends?" I extended my hand for him to take. To accept my friendship.

To my surprise, he took it. He wrapped his fingers gently over my hand and shook it slightly. I smiled weakly. I was glad.

Today, life had almost gone back to normal. I had moved on. Sirius had to. Even though every week I see him with a different girl under his arm, I felt a slight tinge of jealousy in my heart. But it was deep down, almost unfathomable.

Sometimes, I would turn around in my seat and see Sirius watching me. He hasn't stopped trying though and he would say discreetly...

"Remember that night we had at Hogsmeade?" he would say, voice full of reminiscence. "Unforgettable wasn't it? We had so much fun. I'm sure you'd like that, especially now."

"No, I have a lot of work to do."

"Would you fancy a visit to the kitchens tonight? I can't remember the last time we went there... it ended in a food fight, didn't it?"

I smiled down at my scroll, caught unawares. "Yes..."

I remember it clearly.

"You threw that cream puff at me and –"

"You wiped the cream on my face..." I continued.

"The house elves were running around trying to clean things up."

"Yeah..."

"Would you like to go again?"

I shook my head slightly suddenly aware of what was happening. "No, no... I'm too busy."

The exams loomed over us like a dark monster, waiting for us to get nearer. Teachers were frantic. Classes often extended until dinner time where teachers would feed you with last minute reminders and theories that would prove important. Students were stressed beyond their breaking point, and too many have broken down in misery.

The news came in that day, during Potions.

An owl flapped through a tiny narrow hole at the top of the wall. I was amazed at its accuracy. It fluttered once around the room and glided gracefully, perching itself on the teacher's chair. Normally, owls never deliver letters during classes, all of us and the teachers had to wait either during mail time or outside school hours.

With a look of pleasant surprise, Professor Valentina glided towards her table and took the letter from the owl's leg. She peeled the cover of the envelope demurely and pulled out the letter. Her eyes darted back and forth and briskly she folded up the paper.

"Miss McKinnon, may I see you for a minute?"

I jumped, hearing my name. I left my bubbling cauldron, knowing that if I left it to boil for too long, it'll be ruined. Curious stares followed me as I went up to the front of the class.

"All of you," she barked to the class. "Continue with your potion!"

There was a shuffle and everyone's gaze dropped to their simmering cauldrons.

"Yes, Professor?" I urged.

"You might want to read this," she handed me the letter and I took it, my hands slightly trembling.

"What is it?" She didn't reply, but my question was quickly answered as I read the list.

Professor Valentina,

Please pass this note to a student of your care, Reine McKinnon.

Attached behind the note was a longer scrap of parchment.